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Arsenal’s hopes of having Danny Welbeck back in the side in January have been scuppered as reports this morning suggest the striker has had a setback in his rehabilitation from a knee injury.

The England international suffered the injury towards the end of last season, and it while it was hoped he wouldn’t have to undergo surgery, an operation was carried out to repair bruising to his knee ligaments.

Now it appears that the expected return date next month has been pushed back until February at least, which will be a worry to Arsene Wenger.

 

Arsenal linked with Crystal Palace defensive midfielder James McArthur [The Times]

While The Times are carrying the story south of the border, up in Scotland news that Arsenal are chasing Crystal Palace’s defensive midfielder James McArthur is today reported in both the Scotsman and the Scottish Daily Record.

Yesterday McArthur spoke about the links to Arsenal, saying:

It’s nice of the manager to say that but I’m not going to listen to rumours. I am just going to go about my job at Crystal Palace because I am enjoying my football.

McArthur has been an integral part of Alan Pardew’s side this season, playing alongside Yohan Cabaye as the Eagles have begun the season in unbelievable fashion.

 

Arsene Wenger says he’s open-minded about signing players in January after admitting his squad currently lacks depth due to Arsenal’s lengthy injury list.

With Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin deemed long-term absentees and Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky yet to kick a ball in anger this season, the Gunners look increasingly likely to dip into the transfer market to help bolster their title credentials.

“We are open-minded,” Wenger told hisweekly press conference on Thursday.

“We are not the only ones who can decide about the speed of the transfers because we have to adapt to the availabilities and the speed of negotiations and the willingness of clubs to sell.

“We are open to do something because we are short.”

 

Arsenal’s games with Bournemouth and Manchester United have been pushed back a day after Sky Sports selected them for live broadcast. The Gunners game against Swansea has also been pushed back a day

 

We all know the words to describe creative players. Playmaker; provider; creator.

But at his press conference today, Arsene Wenger put Mesut Ozil into a brand new category, saying of the German, “Players who can make you score are very difficult to find and have something special on the vision front and on the technical quality.”

A player who can make you score

 

Arsenal FC ‏@Arsenal 13m13 minutes ago
.@Arsenal are linked with three stars from three different leagues in today's Media Watch: http://arsn.al/JlqdbU

 

James said he would leave real but we need a clean striker now.

 

Arsene Wenger has continued to lavish praise on Petr Cech claiming his summer signing has brought a level of experience that boosts confidence across the squad.

Last weekend’s 2-0 victory at Aston Villa saw the Czech international equal David James’ Premier League clean sheet record – a feat he’s achieved in 223 fewer appearances that the former England international – and further consolidate his credentials as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the modern era.

Reflecting on a meeting with Cech prior to his arrival from Chelsea in June, Wenger noted how impressed he was by the 33-year-old’s all-round knowledge of the game.

“He has brought his experience, his calmness and his leadership as well,” the manager told Arsenal.com. “He has been good and highly focused.

“I don’t want to be detrimental to David Ospina because he was exceptional last year, but Petr Cech has done it all, so he is someone who gives you an aura, a charisma that is always important in the big games for the players.

“I met him before I signed him and we had a long discussion about the game and the job and his position, and I was deeply impressed by his knowledge, by his professionalism, by his detailed knowledge. So since I have not been surprised, because I got the whole package in one go.

“You always look around you in the dressing room before a big game and you think, ‘Are we strong enough?’ And these kind of faces help you to believe it. Also in the big games, the number of shots on target shrinks. But then the one save can be the difference in the end result.”

As things stand the Gunners have the best defensive record in the league; not a state of affairs that has played out too regularly since the move to the Emirates.

“There is no history of teams winning things without having a great goalkeeper,” added Wenger. “I’m now 30 years in the job and as I said the other day you learn over the years that the goalkeeper is the most underrated position in football – and maybe the most vital one for winning things.

“For example when Spain won the 2010 World Cup, in every game [Iker] Casillas saved a one-on-one when it was 0-0 or 1-0, or saved a decisive ball. Even in the final against Arjen Robben – and instead of being 1-0 down you are 0-0. And that at the end of the day makes the difference.