Arsenal News: Everybody's Talking

Hey there! How are things wherever you are? I'm doing quite well, and today I'm off to Mumbai to catch the Iron Maiden live. There are lots of us going from Bangalore to the show, so it will be quite a ruckus—we’ll show the posers how its done!

Onto all things Arsenal now.

Cesc has come out to make a few statements; so have Le Gaffer, Martin Keown, and Flamini. But it’s all good stuff, and could you really expect anything else from a Gunner? I have to say, though, I’m not so sure this would hold true for Cashley had he stayed with us.

Wenger has confirmed the signing of 15-year-old Luke Freeman from Gillingham for an undisclosed sum, saying that, "He has a good eye for the goal, is brave and has a good, positive personality...He is only 15 years old of course, so we need to be patient—but he's a very interesting prospect...He is another one for the future."

Well he is indeed one for the future. You can find out just a little bit more on our
new signing here.

Cescy, who was just a little quiet on the pitch after his flamboyant goal scoring at the start of the season, speaks about his midfield partner and friend Mathieu Flamini:

"He has taken my role...I said to him tonight, 'Come on, Mathieu, you are doing my job!' He deserves it though. I'm happy for him and hopefully he will get more goals from midfield...He was amazing, not just tonight, but he has been amazing all season. I'm a big fan of his. He's hyperactive, on and off the pitch. I don't know how he does it but he has so much power...With his encouragement we play better. He has so much passion for the game. He enjoys it and he hates losing.”

The 20-year-old added: “I definitely want him to [sign a new deal]. He is a very big player for us, not just this season, but the seasons before as well. He has improved a lot with the ball as well...He has stepped up this year. As have [Emmanuel] Adebayor, Gael [Clichy] and all these kind of players. We need them so badly.”

A nice pat from the young Spaniard, but I’m not sure what he meant about the Flamster taking over his role. I'm guessing he meant as a goal-getter from midfield.

Cescy’s also right about Flamini's passion. I'm sure we couldn't agree with Fab more. That’s why it's so important to get Flamini a new deal...quickly!

While we are talking about the Flamster and his new deal, the man in question has come out and said this:

"My priority is to stay here. I'm very happy here. I'm happy to play in the team and everything is good. My representatives are talking with the Club and I hope everything will be good. I want to play game after game. The rest, we will see later."

That’s reassuring indeed. Let’s hope we can get it all sorted out now.

He also speaks about his partnership with Fabregas in the centre of midfield:

"We are very close on and off the pitch. We chill with each other off the pitch. That is important. But when we have to speak on the pitch we are doing it and finding a solution.”

More on what Flamini has to say right here. This makes for a good read, so go for it. Martin Keown and Arsene has spoken about Abou Diaby here.

Diaby has signed a long-term deal with us and will stay on till 2012. "He could be as influential as Paddy Veiera,” says Wegner.

Diaby does look like a decent prospect indeed and adds more bulk to the midfield. He has guile the physical strength to drive forward, and that’s something we occasionally lack.

The Mank picked up three points yesterday and that puts them on top again—but just barely. We have a very interesting weekend to look forward to. The Mank takes on the Scum at the hellhole that is the Lane, while we go away to play City.

More on all of this later...

Have a good one, Gooners!!