Bleacher Report - Arsenal

Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Breaking Down Latest Summer Transfer Buzz for Gunners

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

With the end of the 2012-13 Premier League season, the summer transfer window (and the subsequent rumor mill that accompanies it) is seriously starting to heat up.

Clubs can't technically sign players until the end of the final game of the season—the 2013 UEFA Champions League final for Premier League clubs—but that doesn't mean they won't be looking to try and wrap up deals for certain players right now, so they can sign them come July 1.

And being a strong club with a serious transfer budget this summer, Arsenal has been linked with moves for a slew of different players this transfer season.

Who are the latest players linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium?

Read on for all the latest summer transfer buzz for the Gunners.

Lukas Podolski, Arsenal

Having signed with Arsenal over the 2012 summer transfer window, Lukas Podolski is being touted as a possible departure as soon as this summer, with the German forward refusing to rule out a possible move to Italian champions Juventus despite his current contract at Arsenal.

Podolski was quoted in Bild vi a Goal.com as saying:

Of course I feel honored [to be linked with Juventus]. But, the fact is, I have a contract with Arsenal. There's no reason to leave the club. However, in the football-business, a lot of things are conceivable.

Whether that helps or doesn't help calm the fears of Arsenal fans still remains to be seen, but it appears unlikely that Podolski will leave this summer.

The German international is under contract at the club until 2016.

Ashley Williams, Swansea City

Swansea City defender Ashley Williams has reportedly quelled speculation about his possible departure this summer, telling Sky Sports that he has no desire to leave the Liberty Stadium in 2013.

As far as I know [I'll still be here next season]. I don't know anything about it, I just read it in the papers like everyone else. If someone comes in and the club want to do that you have to sit down with the chairman and talk about it. I can't really think that at the moment, I play for Swansea City and I would never be disrespectful to the club, my fans and my team-mates.

Williams had previously been linked with a move to Arsenal over the summer, and with the Daily Mail reporting the future of captain Thomas Vermaelen is in doubt, centre-back could be a position the Gunners look to strengthen in 2013.

The 28-year-old Williams is under contract at Swansea until 2015.

Yaya Sanogo, Auxerre

According to comments made by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, the Gunners are reportedly very close to signing up-and-coming French striker Yaya Sanogo over the summer window. Wenger was quoted via The Daily Mirror as saying that talks were very "advanced with him" and that he was "very confident" that the transfer will take place in the next few weeks.

Sanogo is currently playing for Ligue 2 side Auxerre but is a big and powerful forward who has shown he has some serious talent and a great future ahead of him.

The 6'3" striker set a goal-scoring record in the French national under-16 team, and has netted nine goals in 19 games (including seven in two games) this year.

Arsenal will reportedly only have to pay a small compensation fee for Sanogo.

Luke Shaw, Southampton

Arsenal are reportedly set to miss out on highly-coveted Southampton defender Luke Shaw, with the south coast club unwilling to sell him over the summer transfer window.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has said via The Daily Mirror that Shaw will be at the Saints next season "for sure." The teenage defender is currently rated as a £10 million prospect and has already attracted the interest of several other Premier League clubs such as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Julio Cesar, Queens Park Rangers

With the Gunners reportedly looking to try and sign a new goalkeeper over the summer transfer window, they could well end up making a move for Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Rangers were relegated this season from the Premier League and have all but confirmed that Cesar will leave the side as a result, with Arsenal the most likely landing spot.

The Daily Mirror reports that because the Hoops want Cesar off their books quickly, they are prepared to work through a cut-price deal for the shot-stopper this summer.

Cesar, 33, has the advantage of already being based in London, though it is not yet known whether Arsenal will make a move for the Brazilian international.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

Read more Arsenal news on BleacherReport.com

What Arsenal Fans Expect from Arsene Wenger This Summer

James McNicholas — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 -0400

Arsenal may have secured qualification for the Champions League, but there remains a lot of work ahead for manager Arsene Wenger.

Beating Tottenham to the top four was a thrilling way to climax the season, but it does not represent the height of Arsenal's aspirations. It is merely the minimum requirement.

Champions League qualification must be used as a springboard to launch an assault on the major trophies next year.

If Arsenal are to be truly competitive in 2013-14, there are several measures Arsenal fans expect Arsene Wenger to take.

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6 Biggest Positives for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal Right Now

Willie Gannon — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 -0400

Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League for the 16th time. The Gunners overtook fierce North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to claim the coveted place in UEFA's premier cup competition. The Gunners, unbeaten in their final 11 matches, will take a number of positives into next season.

Here, Bleacher Report looks at five of the biggest positives for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal right now.

Positive No. 1: Santi Cazorla

Santi Cazorla had a more than memorable season for the Gunners. The 28-year-old was something of a low-key signing, even though he cost around £16 million. (h/t The Sun) But from day one, he was brilliant.

In a misfiring season where the Gunners gave rise to Spurs-like levels of inconsistency, Cazorla was the one constant shining light for Wenger and Co.

Using his left foot like a wand and his right foot like a light saber, the 5'6" Spaniard is capable of cutting any defense to pieces with his incredible vision and eye for goal.

He weighed in with 12 goals and 16 assists from 48 games for Arsenal. With Barcelona and Real Madrid being knocked out of the Champions League in the most unexpected manner, the Gunners may just have to fight to hold on to their new star.

There can be no doubt he is a class act, and fellow B/R writer Charlie Melman reckons Cazorla is the key player if Arsenal are to wrestle the title from Manchester United's grasp next season.

Positive No. 2: Jack Wilshere

Quite simply, when Jack Wilshere plays, Arsenal are a completely different team. The English international is destined to have a massive season for club and country next term.

The 21-year-old is easily the most outstanding midfield-dictator in the Premier League. He controls the ebb and flow of matches with metronomic beauty and plays with a maturity that belies his tender age.

There can be no doubting that Wilshere is the most important player at Arsenal. Wenger must choose his summer signings wisely a build a team to protect and get the best out of the future star.

The main problem for the Gunners regarding Wilshere is that he is prone to injury. As the World Cup in Brazil nears, he will be called upon by Roy Hodgson to lead England's midfield.

Wenger knows all about Wilshere's importance for club and country. He battled with Stuart Pearce in 2011 over the then-19-year-old. England wanted the youngster to play in the European U-21 finals. Le Prof warned England over his use in March, and will be sure to issue similar warnings come next season.

Positive No. 3: The Checkbook

Arsenal's and Arsene Wenger's transfer policy since 2004 has blighted the club like an ugly scar. To return to where they were in the halcyon days of the Invincibles, Thierry Henry and Double-Doubles, the Gunners need to sign a number of top-class players to revive their ills.

Depending upon who or what you read, Wenger has either £70 million, £150 million, or £35 million to spend in the summer.

Whichever way you look at, it the Gunners need to spend and spend fast to improve the team.

The Daily Mail is reporting that Wenger will spend this summer and quotes the Frenchman as saying;

The last three months is a springboard for next season. We have to transfer that belief into the start of next season, we need stability and to strengthen.

Is it spending a lot on one player or buying many players?

We want additions, but we want to keep the structure and spirit and quality of the team.

What all that adds up to is that, for the first time in years, Wenger has seemingly committed to make major signings in a transfer window.

Positive No. 4: The Spirit of the Team

Wenger achieved what he set out to do at the start of the season. He guided Arsenal to the promised land of fourth place in the English Premier League. A last-day victory over Newcastle United was enough to see off Tottenham Hotspur, who finished fifth.

In March, after Arsenal lost at White Hart Lane, finishing fourth looked almost impossible. Spurs were playing some of the best football in the EPL this season and had just moved seven points clear.

The Gunners spent the 10 days following the Spurs defeat reflecting upon what might have been. But rather than shrink back into their shell, they came out fighting.

Their season turned on the 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena. Between Feb. 16 and March 3, Arsenal lost 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, 3-1 to Bayern Munich (both games were at the Emirates) and Spurs. Their season was all but over.

That 2-0 win opened up a glimmer of hope for Wenger and his team, and they charged right in.

Eleven unbeaten games later and Arsenal had finished fourth.

Talking to Sky Sports, Wenger heaped praise on his team and commended their great spirit;

I'm proud of the character and the spirit, especially with all we had to deal with during the season.

The players are special. I've told them many times and they've shown it. In the last two months they have been absolutely exceptional.

It's a good basis, as well, on a longer term to go into next season on such a strong run.

I'm very proud. We were very far behind Tottenham and even after defeat there (at White Hart Lane) we've shown character and attitude to come back and make 73 points, which is three points better than last season.

I have had many groups in my life and the focus and the desire to do well was always exceptional. It's one of the best groups I've had in my life on that front.

The combination of quality and attitude has been great, and that's why I always had faith that we would come back.

Positive No. 5: Tottenham's Agony equals Arsenal's Ecstasy

In any other year, the Gunners would not even dream of celebrating finishing fourth. This season was a little bit different, though. Spurs and Arsenal share a long and heated rivalry. In recent years, the White Hart Lane-based outfit has not had the players or finances to challenge the Gunners' dominance.

Under the chairmanship of Daniel Levy, Spurs have grown as a club. They now possess one of the best training grounds in the world and are almost ready to build a new stadium. They have the potential to be a coming force in the Premier League.

Arsenal's victory over Newcastle, which guaranteed Champions League qualification over Spurs, could have huge ramifications for years to come. Financially, it has denied their North London rivals a massive UCL revenue stream.

This potential loss of £25 million, combined with Arsenal's potential gain of £25 million and another £25 million through gate receipts, means the gap between the two clubs could be as much as £100 million next season.

Andre Villas-Boas put on a brave face when he said (h/t Yahoo Sports):

I said before this game that, whether we made it into the Champions League or not, we would have to raise the bar again because our competitors will do the same.

We got ever so close, but they will do their job in [the transfer] window and we will do ours the Tottenham way, scouting properly and looking for good grabs in summer window to make it a stronger squad.

Fortunately for Arsenal the "Tottenham way" means that Spurs will not be competing in the same transfer market.

Positive No. 6: Arsene Knows Best

Between fan protests, poor results, falling to 10th place in the English Premier League for the first time since 1994, calls for his head and the club's AGM in October being hijacked by irate fans, to say that 2012-13 has been a tough season for Arsene Wenger would be the understatement of the footballing year.

Amidst all the furor, Wenger still managed to guide his team to fourth place in the English Premier League. The longest-serving manager in English football and the EPL, now that Sir Alex Ferguson has retired, continues to prove he is a great manager.

Over the last two seasons, the Gunners have lost Robin van Persie, Alex Song, Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to rival clubs. Each and every time an important player parts ways with his beloved Arsenal, he replaces them with aplomb.

Next season, he is expected to add to the squad in a significant manner.

If he brings in the right players, Arsenal will challenge for the title, because like the old saying goes; Arsene knows best.

Bleacher Report's Premier League coverage has been nominated in the 2012-13 EPLTalk awards. Cast your vote here.

Were you happy with Arsenal's performance this season?

Leave your comments, thoughts and predictions for next season in the section below!

You can follow me on Twitter @WillieGannon.

And listen to me here, on the Hold the Back Page soccer podcast.

Read more Arsenal news on BleacherReport.com

Arsenal Summer Transfer News: Tracking Latest Rumours and Updates

Charlie Melman — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:31:26 -0400

Arsenal's season has only just ended, so you know what that means: Transfer season is upon us once again!

Yes, with no actual football to occupy ourselves with over the long summer, we must desperately speculate about any potential arrivals and departures around the Emirates Stadium.

Perhaps there might actually be a summer of big spending in the cards for Arsenal? The club is flush with money from new sponsorship deals, and chief executive Ivan Gazidis has recently reiterated the organization's desire to challenge for the title again.

Throughout the week, I'll be keeping this slideshow updated with the latest Arsenal transfer stories, complete with some critical analysis. Make sure to check back regularly.

----LAST UPDATE: TUES MAY 21---

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Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Should Stop Chase for Ashley Williams This Summer

Dan Talintyre — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:32:28 -0400

Having been linked with a potential move away from Swansea City, defender Ashley Williams has again reiterated his desire to stay at Liberty Stadium this summer.

The Welsh international captain had previously been linked with a potential move to North London over the transfer window, but he told Sky Sports that his focus was solely on Swansea, and that he fully expected to be playing with them next season.

As far as I know [I'll still be at the club next season]. I don't know anything about it, I just read it in the papers like everyone else. I play my football for Swansea City and now I'm just going away and looking forward to a holiday.

The season's been such that since the cup final we've had so much work to do that I haven't really thought about it. If somebody comes in and the club want to do that you have to sit down with the chairman and talk about it.

I can't really think about that at the moment, I play for Swansea City and I would never be disrespectful to the club, the fans and my team-mates.

That's it really, I can't say any more than that.

According to Transfermarkt, Williams was rated as a £5.3 million transfer target and would no doubt have been a strong addition to the Gunners' back line.

Williams was very impressive in central defense this year and was a huge reason behind Swansea's cup victory. He was strong in the air and on the ground, and with excellent passing skills and captaincy credentials, he was seemingly a very strong transfer prospect for any club to pursue.

However, without any real desire to leave Liberty Stadium, Arsenal would be wise to stop their chase for Williams this summer and focus on other prospects.

Not because Williams isn't worth it, but simply because they don't need him.

They are more than covered when it comes to central defenders.

Even with Thomas Vermaelen struggling at times this season, the North London club appeared to find a great combination in Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. The two have very different strengths, but they work very well together and combined well throughout the year. They became a dominant force in defense.

That was shown most clearly in their many clean sheets and the fact that they remain the only central pairing in word football this season to have stopped Bayern Munich from finding the back of the net.

Arsenal are therefore unlikely to sell either player this summer transfer window, and with Vermaelen the club captain, it seems unlikely they'll sell him in 2013.

Thus with three central defenders, there is no real need for another central defender—especially one that would want constant starting appearances and game time.

Arsenal have other needs in defense—namely in goals and at right-back—and they would be much better off pursuing those targets.

Especially given that Williams doesn't even want to leave Liberty Stadium this summer.

Just what interest Arsenal had in Williams is something we'll never know, but whatever desire there was, they would be smart to quickly end it this summer.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

Read more Arsenal news on BleacherReport.com

Arsenal 2012-13 Review and End-of-Season Awards

Michael Cummings — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:38:48 -0400

The 2012-13 season is over for Arsenal, and now comes the time to take stock.

Was it a successful season for the Gunners? Was it a failure? Somewhere in between?

Today I'm recapping Arsenal's season and handing out end-of-season awards to players, staff, moments and whatever else strikes my fancy. Keep reading to find out how I rated the season.

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Arsenal: How Arsene Wenger's 2012/13 Performance Stacks Up to Years Past

James Dudko — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:24:58 -0400

Arsene Wenger's 2012/13 performance compares favorably with any achievement during his time in charge of Arsenal. By securing another top-four finish in the context of the 2012/13 season, Wenger has produced a minor miracle.

He has done it by cleverly boosting competition in arguably his weakest-ever squad. The Frenchman has also displayed a tactical flexibility few ever give him credit for.

Wenger began the season facing up to losing his most talented player, Robin van Persie. After the Dutchman had slyly manipulated his way through the exit door, Wenger was tasked with replacing a 37-goal striker.

That ruined the original intention to have Lukas Podolski provide greater support for van Persie. It sent Wenger scrambling into a market not containing a like-for-like replacement.

Even after signing the more bullish Olivier Giroud, Wenger still needed to identify the right type of forward to support Arsenal's combination play.

Podolski, Giroud, Gervinho and Theo Walcott were all auditioned to mixed success. Wenger had to find the right balance for a team with new players in key positions.

Not only did the forward line lack structure, but so did the midfield. The late sale of Alex Song left a void in midfield.

Wenger gambled that dropping veteran schemer Mikel Arteta deeper was the answer. Yet, while his new-look team lacked a structure and identity, Wenger relied on a new approach to team defending to yield early successes.

That involved working with new assistant manager Steve Bould to emphasize dropping more players behind the ball. Arsenal didn't press in numbers and had a more disciplined approach to defending deeper.

While that crafted some initial positive results, the balance of the attack suffered. That forced Wenger into another shift.

His search for balance continually led to parts of a winning formula but never a full picture. Like a master craftsman, it was up to Wenger to do the rendering.

However, he had to hone and reshape his grand design during the season, when results are all that counts. His necessary tweaking and retooling often led to failings on the pitch, most notably cup exits to Bradford City and Blackburn Rovers.

Yet despite the inevitable swarm of criticism that followed each high-profile loss, Wenger did not relent. He continued working feverishly to mold the right blend of players and tactics to keep Arsenal competitive.

When his new-look midfield balance was wrecked by yet another injury to Abou Diaby, Wenger brought Jack Wilshere into the fold. After it became evident that Wilshere and Santi Cazorla did not complement each other as a central partnership, Wenger made another adjustment.

He shifted Cazorla out wide, despite his successes in the middle, and pushed Wilshere further forward. That meant altering his original 4-3-3 dynamic to something more akin to a 4-5-1.

It was more defensive in structure and intent than Wenger has often favored, but it worked. Since Wenger moved Cazorla to the left, giving Arsenal four true midfielders, the Gunners have been a more cohesive team.

However, it is Wenger's handling of individual players that has been so impressive this season. The contract saga involving Theo Walcott grew into a distraction.

It added weight to the arguments that Arsenal had become too weak to retain star players and were now a selling club. Yet after dealing with the mercenary tactics of van Persie and the inflated ego of Song, Wenger used the Walcott dilemma to his advantage.

First, he stood firm and dropped Walcott from the starting 11. The message had the desired effect. Walcott took every opportunity he was given to prove he should be starting.

Whether he was doing it for Arsenal or for potential suitors was irrelevant. A player marked by chronic inconsistency was now delivering on a regular basis.

After letting Walcott stew in domestic cup duty, Wenger finally unleashed him back on the English Premier League. However, rather than let Walcott's improved form become a bargaining chip for the player to hold the club to ransom, Wenger kept Arsenal in the driving seat in negotiations.

He indulged Walcott's long-held desire to play as a central striker. This was not a capitulation in a contract standoff.

It was a calculated risk worth taking at the time. The move paid immediate dividends, leading Arsenal to some positive results at the turn of the year.

It also put the ball in Walcott's court. Arsenal had done all they had to do to keep him; now it was purely down to the player. By the time Walcott put pen to paper, he had proved his worth to the squad on the field and his commitment to his teammates off it.

Wenger's skill in resolving Walcott's contract problem left Arsenal with a better player and a more unified squad.

Similar man-management success stories occurred at goalkeeper and central defence. When Wenger dumped Wojciech Szczesny to the bench, it forced the cocky young stopper to commit to improving his game.

It let Szczesny know that despite a perceived lack of competition, his place was far from guaranteed without the performances to justify it.

While Szczesny may always remain inconsistent, he certainly played his part in Arsenal's late run to fourth place. Key saves against Queens Park Rangers and Wigan Athletic were proof of that.

Dumping club captain and starting centre-back Thomas Vermaelen sent a more team-wide message. Wenger let every player know they were not above reproach.

His recent squads have often been seen as too comfortable, but dropping Vermaelen showed the ruthless streak many felt Wenger lacked. He did what was necessary to improve Arsenal's fortunes.

He let Per Mertesacker become the leader at the back. The German formed a stout combination with Laurent Koscielny, who was magnificent in the season's final months.

Yet, as well as both played, neither can feel comfortable with Vermaelen lurking. In the same way, the Belgium international knows that if he wants to save his Arsenal career, he must make the most of his next chance.

While changes at the heart of his defence made Arsenal more solid, it was Wenger's willingness to adopt a more defensive structure that proved to be the key.

Once he paired Aaron Ramsey alongside Arteta, to form a two-man base in midfield, Arsenal became a stingy outfit. They still dropped off in deep areas, but Wenger and Bould encouraged more pressing in advanced positions.

They also got the team to defend in packs, particularly in wider areas. In the season's last two months, Wenger crafted a plan that enabled Arsenal to carve out wins and protect leads.

He is often portrayed as the symbol of football snobbery and intransigence. Wenger's insistence on playing the beautiful game, no matter what, is one of the favorite retorts of his critics.

However, he proved, not for the first time, that he is prepared to sacrifice flair if it means earning results. In the final 10 games of the season, a run which produced 26 points from 30, Arsenal kept five clean sheets and allowed only five goals.

That type of solidity wouldn't have been possible without tactical adjustments, and any other manager would receive plaudits for that improvement.

In the last two seasons Wenger has lost his three best players in van Persie, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas. While he has struggled to reproduce the same quality, he has molded a squad based on greater resilience and unity.

He spent the 2012/13 season altering and adding to a new design on the fly. He moved players into different positions and developed them in new roles. He spurred other members of the squad to improve their form. Wenger kept Arsenal moving even after embarrassing defeats that might have crippled other clubs.

In doing so, he earned UEFA Champions League entry for an incredible 16th season in a row. He beat a Tottenham Hotspur club that boasted the Player of the Year and spent big to land Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Moussa Dembele and others.

Becoming a major force in the EPL title race and a legitimate contender for the Champions League is the next step for Wenger. However, Arsenal's miracle worker proved in 2012/13 that he is still the best man for the job.

Read more Arsenal news on BleacherReport.com

Arsenal 2012-13 Review and End-of-Season Awards

James McNicholas — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:19:18 -0400

Arsenal fans were able to end the 2012-13 season on something of a high, celebrating Champions League qualification after their victory over Newcastle United. Their pleasure was augmented by the fact that they snatched a top-four spot from neighbours Tottenham Hotspur.

It had looked impossible. Back in March, Spurs' victory over the Gunners gave them a seven-point lead. However, Arsene Wenger's team then responded brilliantly to pip their rivals to the post.

Despite the elation of the final day, this was anything but a uniformly successful season for Arsenal.

Over the next few slides, we discuss the merits of Arsenal's 2012-13 campaign and highlight the individual players and moments most worthy of recognition.

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Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Julio Cesar Would Be Smart Summer Pickup for Gunners

Dan Talintyre — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:03 -0400

Arsenal are reportedly favorites to land Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar over the summer transfer window, with the relegated club forced to sell off the 33-year-old.

The Daily Mirror reports that a deal is "expected" to happen this summer, and that Rangers "are convinced the Emirates is his most likely destination."

Whilst it might seem like a strange move for the Gunners to make, it's actually a very smart move—and not just because it adds another squad player to their squad.

Read on to see the biggest reasons why Cesar would be a great summer pickup.

Proven Premier League Performer

Having played in London all year at Queens Park Rangers, Cesar has shown himself to be a world-class goalkeeper. The Brazilian international was the sole reason why Rangers weren't relegated much earlier on in the season and was simply superb when called upon—which, in Harry Redknapp's QPR this season, was pretty often.

According to Squawka, Cesar only chalked up six clean sheets all season, but he made an average of 3.5 saves per game and 2.55 saves between goals. As the table below highlights, compared to some of the greatest Premier League goalkeepers, both of those statistics are astounding.

Goalkeeper	GA	SPG	SBG
Julio Cesar, Queens Park Rangers	37	3.50	2.55
David De Gea, Manchester United	26	2.54	3.09
Joe Hart, Manchester City	31	1.16	1.48
Petr Cech, Chelsea	35	1.74	1.85
Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur	29	1.31	1.21
Wojciech Szczesny, Arsenal	24	1.75	1.75

Key—GA (goals against), SPG (saves per game), SBG (saves between goals).

Cesar is a proven performer in the Premier League and has shown to have great presence inside the box. He is very strong in the air and is therefore well equipped for the English game, and he is also very strong coming out against oncoming attacks.

He's already based in London, too, so he wouldn't have to move far.

Arsenal Need an Experienced GK

However, in terms of the Gunners, the biggest thing is that they need an experienced goalkeeper. Both Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny are under 30, and whilst both are strong, there's another element missing from the goalkeeper ranks at the Emirates Stadium.

What's missing is experience.

Szczesny is clearly a talented goalkeeper who is the clear No. 1 at Arsenal in the future, but what he doesn't have is experience. He's still very young and is nowhere near his peak, and he needs an older goalkeeper at the club to help him strive towards being a better shot-stopper.

Back in 2012, Arsenal tried to sign Mark Schwarzer to fill that "older goalkeeper" role, but the transfer fell through at the last minute, and there's been nothing since.

Fabianski is too prone to mistakes to be a good leader of Szczesny, and he, too, is only 28. Thus moving for Cesar—who is not only a very good goalkeeper but a leader and experienced at 33 years of age—would be a very smart move by the Londoners.

Andrew Mangan of ESPN thinks Szczesny works best when he's facing competition, and he most certainly would have that in Cesar. It would also mean that in the case of freakish injuries—like at the start of this season—Arsenal could have more confidence in playing their third-string goalkeeper against the Premier League's elite.

Unlikely to Break the Bank

Currently listed by Transfermarkt as costing £3.5 million, the Daily Mirror reports that QPR could be willing to sell Cesar for even cheaper than that this summer.

QPR are likely to allow the 33-year-old, who they signed on a free [transfer], go cheaply so they can get his £70,000-a-week contract off the books and they are convinced the Emirates is his most likely destination.

For Arsenal, this is an absolute no-brainer of a transfer.

If they can get a goalkeeper like Cesar—who still has at least three to five very good years left in him—for less than £3 million, then they've got an absolute steal.

Arsenal have a strong transfer budget this summer having qualified for the Champions League and are likely to make a number of key moves, and it'll be important that the squad players they look to sign—like Cesar—don't end up costing them too much and hurting their chance at landing a big-name player.

Cesar's small transfer costs won't hurt the Gunners at all, and it will still allow them to make whatever other moves they'd want to make throughout the summer.

By all accounts, Cesar would be a very sharp move for Arsenal to make.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

Read more Arsenal news on BleacherReport.com

Ranking the 2012-13 Premier League's Top 5 on Fanbase Satisfaction Levels

Willie Gannon — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:01 -0400

The 2012-13 English Premier League season is over. After some 380 matches, the shouting has stopped, the nets have been taken down and the last ball has been kicked in anger.

Manchester United won the title in the easiest way possible. Manchester City flopped. Chelsea and Arsenal qualified, yet again, for the Champions League at the expense of poor old Tottenham Hotspur. And Gareth Bale won an unprecedented trio of playing awards after a quite phenomenal season.

The EPL boasts some of the greatest fans in the world, but were they satisfied with their team's performance during this campaign?

Here, Bleacher Report looks at the EPL season's for the top five and grades their season, managers and fanbase satisfaction levels.

Were you happy with your team's performance this season?

Leave your comments, thoughts and predictions for next season in the section below!

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Newcastle vs. Arsenal: What Season's Final Match Meant for Both Clubs

Matthew Celentano — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:18:48 -0400

On a "Super Sunday" in which the title race was done and dusted weeks ago and the relegation dogfight had already been sealed, the only drama was the competition for fourth place between Arsenal and Spurs.

Ironically, the two games played by the North London clubs were the least exciting. Arsenal snatched a 1-0 win at Newcastle through a scrappy second-half Laurent Koscielny goal, while Spurs beat Sunderland 1-0 courtesy of yet another Gareth Bale wonderstrike.

Well, that was that. Both teams won the games that they were expected to win, Arsenal finished in fourth place a point above Tottenham, and the only real drama on the day was this hilarious moment where Spurs fans thought Newcastle had equalized against Arsenal.

Here's what Newcastle vs. Arsenal meant for the two clubs today, starting with the home side.

What it meant for Newcastle

Newcastle United made sure that an extremely disappointing season didn't end in total disaster by securing their Premier League status last weekend with a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers.

That win meant the Magpies went into the last day of the season with pretty much nothing to play for, and Alan Pardew said himself that he didn't care if his side lost 4-0 (via Metro), before eventually stating (via BBC) that the comments were a "joke."

In reality, Newcastle's 1-0 loss to Arsenal was meaningless. The tumultuous season meant that the team's objective had essentially become avoiding relegation, and with Newcastle already confirming their safety there wasn't much of an incentive besides giving the home fans something to cheer about on the final day.

That being said, full credit must be given to the Newcastle side that played against Arsenal. Despite having little motivation, they went out there with a spirited performance and their sturdiness at the back really frustrated the Gunners—if only they had defended like that all season.

What it meant for Arsenal

Where do you even begin?

Assuming Spurs would do the business against Sunderland (which they did), Arsenal needed all three points against Newcastle to wrap up fourth place and the coveted Champions League football that comes with it.

In all honestly, it was a relatively poor performance from the Gunners who once again showed that they are capable of grinding out results with 1-0 wins. It was all too fitting that Laurent Koscielny was the goalscorer, as the Frenchman has been an integral part of Arsenal's rock solid defense in recent weeks.

Firstly, the win means that Arsenal will now play in the Champions League for a 16th consecutive season, which is arguably Arsene Wenger's greatest ever achievement after the Invincibles season. Champions League football has been Arsenal's saving grace during the last seven trophyless years, as it confirms the Gunners' status as a top class team despite the lack of silverware.

Speaking of silverware, a top-four finish gives Arsenal a steady platform which they can build upon this summer in order to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title next season. It's much easier to attract players to a club with Champions League football, something that gives Arsene Wenger an edge when competing with other European giants for top class players.

It doesn't look like there'll be any key players leaving this summer, so provided Wenger spends his money right, Arsenal will be in a very strong position to end their trophy drought next season.

Perhaps the most glorious implication of all about Arsenal's win over Newcastle is the confirmation that the Gunners have finished above bitter rivals Spurs for an 18th consecutive season, hushing talks of a power shift in North London. It says a lot that Arsenal's worst season in recent memory saw them finish above a Spurs side that recorded their best ever points tally. Simply put, a lot more is needed for a power shift than just one fixture.

All in all, Arsenal can enjoy yet another season in the top four and bragging rights for now, but they've got a big summer ahead of them which will include some important transfer market business, as well as a pesky Champions League qualifier that comes with fourth place.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Yaya Sanogo Is Perfect Summer Signing for Gunners

Dan Talintyre — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:44:13 -0400

While many Arsenal fans will be looking for a big-name player as their first summer signing, the Gunners have apparently decided to go down a different route.

According to comments that manager Arsene Wenger made via the Daily Mirror, Arsenal are set to sign Auxerre striker Yaya Sanogo over the start of the summer transfer window, with the club only having to pay a small compensation fee for the French Under-21 international.

We are advanced with him [Sanogo], but it's not done. I'm very confident (it will be done). He is a young striker who is promising.

He has some talent. Big talent.

The news might come as a shock to come Gunners fans, but the reality is that Sanogo truly is a perfect signing for the North London club to make this summer window.

Read on to see the biggest reasons why.

Extremely Talented Player

First and foremost, it must be noted that Sanogo is an extremely talented player despite only playing a handful of games for Ligue 2 side Auxerre.

Sanogo is 6'3'' with an excellent combination of strength and speed and has the size and skill required to become a very dominant Premier League striker.

He is more raw than most players, but his upside is greater than that of Olivier Giroud, who the club signed over last year's summer transfer window period.

Sanogo's career has been littered by injuries thus far, but given that his role will primarily be as a squad player, that shouldn't be too much of a big deal for Arsenal.

This is especially true given his keen eye for goal and poaching ability that saw him break the French national Under-16 goalscoring record (per the Daily Mirror).

Playing alongside the likes of Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Giroud should see plenty of chances fall his way.

Transfer Cost

As highlighted above, Arsenal will pay next to nothing to sign the youngster this summer—paying just a small compensation fee to Auxerre for his services.

For that, the Gunners need to pull the trigger.

Arsenal will reportedly have a strong transfer budget to operate with this summer and will be eying off moves for some of the biggest names in world football.

Thus, to sign a player with tremendous upside and potential for a paltry fee is incredible. It will allow the Gunners to make several other big moves, and even in the worst-case scenario where he doesn't become a good striker, Arsenal will be comforted by the fact it hardly cost them anything to sign him.

His current transfer value is less than £500,000, according to Transfermarkt, and that will no doubt go up once the Gunners sign him. Which, again, in a worst-case scenario would likely still see them make a very easy profit off their signing should it turn out to be a transfer flop.

Sanogo is under contract until June 30, 2013, so the Gunners will be free to sign him on a free transfer fee after that date and the transfer window officially opens.

This Isn't the "Big-Name" Deal

Perhaps the biggest key reason behind why a deal is so good for Arsenal is that it doesn't at all hinder whatever other transfer plans they might have for the summer.

Signing Sanogo doesn't mean they cannot chase Stevan Jovetic (per the Daily Mail) or Loic Remy (per the Daily Mirror), and neither striker is going to be "put off" by them signing Sanogo into their squad for the year ahead.

Any new arrivals up front aren't going to be threatened, and the Gunners will barely even notice the compensation fee coming out of their strong transfer budget.

This isn't the "big-name" player that Arsenal fans are crying for, and most importantly, the deal doesn't stop Wenger from making that move later in the summer.

It's the epitome of a win-win deal for the North London club, and given Sanogo's tremendous potential, it can seemingly only go up from here for the Gunners.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

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Newcastle vs. Arsenal: Arsene Wenger Proves Worth as Gunners Secure 4th Place

Tom Kinslow — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:28:54 -0400

There are few constants in this world. You have life, death, taxes and Arsene Wenger in the Champions League.

Despite prophecies of negative spirals and various other obituaries for arguably the greatest manager in Arsenal's history, he found a way to keep his squad in Europe's most elite club tournament for one more season.

For all of the talk of Wenger being past it, of being too cheap and being too stubborn to fix a broken system, it was his gambles in the second leg against Bayern Munich in the knockout stages of the Champions League that swung the campaign.

Telegraph Sport previously shared this scene on Twitter:

Most managers wouldn't have dropped keeper Wojciech Szczesny for Lukasz Fabianski and they certainly wouldn't have dropped club captain Thomas Vermaelen for Laurent Koscielny. Those changes inspired a great performance from a club in dire need of a spark and started the run that ended up with a Champions League place in Wenger's back pocket.

Koscielny took the chance and never looked back, as he was vital to the defensive discipline down the stretch and once again scored the winning goal that put the Gunners into a Champions League place with a twirling strike early in the second half.

Szczesny's demotion was a wake-up call for a talented but inconsistent keeper. When he returned to the starting 11 following Fabianski's rib injury, his play was markedly improved. Both gambles could have backfired, but Wenger knew his team and knew his players, and it led to another improbable run to end the season in which Arsenal won eight of their final 10 Premier League matchups.

For all of the criticisms lobbed at Wenger over eight trophy-less years, the stark reality of the matter is that there are few managers in the world who could have managed the type of consistent performance shown by Arsenal since their move from Highbury.

Regardless of your opinion of Wenger's offseason spending, the truth is that he has been severely hamstrung by the financial constraints created by the construction of Emirates Stadium. There won't be silverware to go with it, but the consistency at the club since the move is one of Wenger's greatest achievements as a manager.

Now, it seems as if Wenger is seemingly set to lead Arsenal into a new age of success, as the club is seeing an influx of profit from increased commercial deals. First there was the new deal with Emirates to extend the kit sponsorship deal through 2018 and the stadium sponsorship through 2029 for £150 million (per the BBC).

There are also reports of a massive kit manufacturing deal with Puma, which according to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, would pay the club £170 million starting with the 2014-15 season. These are deals that represent a massive increase over the old deals and would give Wenger a massive transfer kit to work with for the foreseeable future.

This is a vital summer for Arsenal and Wenger, and with Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United all going through periods of readjustment with new managers, it's important that the Gunners make a serious statement of intent in the transfer market.

There is a strong core in place, and without any major star angling for a summer move, Arsenal have a chance to stake their claim among England's elite, and no Gooner should want anyone other than Wenger at the helm after yet another miracle run to the Champions League.

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Laurent Koscielny the Catalyst Behind Arsenal's Top-Four Recovery

Sam Tighe — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:33:36 -0400

At one stage this season, Arsenal looked dead and buried.

Tottenham were comfortably ahead in the race for UEFA Champions League football, the Gunners had dipped as low as eighth in the English Premier League table and many had already concluded that the race for the top four was done.

But one man formed the basis of Arsenal's resurgence, and that man was Laurent Koscielny.

The Frenchman finished the 2011-12 season very strongly and looked a certainty to man the centre of Arsene Wenger's defence come the start of 2012-13.

Injury prevented him from taking his spot, though, and so commenced a merry-go-round of central defensive trials as Wenger attempted to find his strongest pair.

Thomas Vermaelen, the captain of the club, was a mainstay be it centrally or on the left. That left a dogfight between Koscielny and colleague Per Mertesacker to take the other spot.

Some Gooners suggested a switch to a three-man defensive line was necessary to incorporate them all—it's an ideal way of masking Mertesacker's lack of pace and frees up the full-backs into wing-back roles.

This indecision and uncertainty harmed the side's form for more than four months. It's arguable that the only position that doesn't prosper from squad rotation is centre-half.

But Wenger stuck to his usual 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid and kept the faith in his players. Questions were asked, but eventually form picked up—Koscielny displaced Vermaelen in the starting XI and formed a consistent, formidable partnership with Mertesacker.

Of the final 10 games Arsenal played, eight were won, two were drawn and none were lost.

That's title-winning form, and the minimal five goals conceded during that time was the perfect reaction after losing 2-1 to Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Over that stretch, Koscielny was the Gunners' most influential player.

His contribution in the final two games underline his style, commitment and clutch ability to come up big when needed.

Against Wigan Athletic, when tensions were running high at 1-1, the Frenchman made an acrobatic hooked clearance to stop the Latics taking the lead. His side, growing in confidence, went on to win 4-1.

That left them one victory away from assuring Champions League qualification, and that victory came courtesy of Koscielny's solitary strike in a 1-0 victory at St. James' Park.

Mertesacker and Kieran Gibbs had been caught out of position early on only for Laurent to bail them out with some superb defensive covering. After Mikel Arteta came off injured, the Frenchman took on leadership responsibilities without the armband: vocal, commanding, dominant.

Koscielny is fully appreciated by Arsenal fans and is now the unquestioned No. 1 central defender at the club.

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Newcastle vs. Arsenal: Rating All the Gunners on the Final Day

Charlie Melman — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:57:49 -0400

Arsenal did just what any fan would expect them to do Sunday: They qualified for the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Newcastle at St. James' Park.

Did it have to be this difficult? No, of course not. But that's how Arsenal go about things, and one would expect nothing less from the Gunners this season.

As has been their custom of late, they took the hard way, gritting out a victory by one goal to nil, making every Arsenal fan bite their nails and have a minor heart attack when another Gareth Bale wonder goal late on gave them no margin for error.

In the end, though, Tottenham could have won 10-0 and it would not have mattered because Arsenal shut up shop after Laurent Koscielny's fortuitous opener and refused to let a surprisingly springy Newcastle side in.

Remember that the Gunners are not quite in the Champions League yet: They still have to win an annoying, two-legged qualifier in August to dine at the adults' table. And fourth place is not a trophy.

But finishing in the top four for 16 straight years is quite an accomplishment. And Champions League qualification was necessary for Arsene Wenger to build upon his already successful core.

For the last time during the 2012-13 Premier League season, let's take a look at how all of Arsenal's players did. Any feedback is welcome in the comments.

Happy St. Totteringham's Day everyone!

Substitutes:

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 7

After coming on for the hurting Mikel Arteta in the 28th minute, Oxlade-Chamberlain added a bit of attacking bite to Arsenal's midfield that was not present during the Spaniard's time on the pitch.

The fact that Wenger chose not to do the obvious and move Oxlade-Chamberlain to the left flank while putting Santi Cazorla in his typical attacking midfield role speaks volumes about where this kid's future lies.

Olivier Giroud: 6

Most of his duty after replacing Lukas Podolski consisted of holding the ball up and, toward the end of the game, wasting time. It was an unspectacular task, but he performed it well.

Jack Wilshere: N/A

Arrived in the 89th minute at the expense of the ever-excellent Santi Cazorla and didn't have much time to do anything.

It was interesting that he was not introduced when Mikel Arteta left early on, but that's down to fitness. Here's hoping his impending ankle operation goes well.

Starters:

Wojciech Szczesny: 7

Newcastle only had one shot on goal, so Szczesny was not particularly busy. But the Magpies tried numerous long balls and through-balls, which he had to be alert to cut out before they became too dangerous.

Bacary Sagna: 6.5

In what might have been Bacary Sagna's final game as an Arsenal player, he turned in a solid, if unremarkable display, mostly controlling his right flank.

It typified much of his Arsenal career: He got the job done and does not warrant much discussion.

Still, he occasionally let a winger slip by him and was not particularly productive in attack. There was a bit too much of the new Sagna.

Per Mertesacker: 5.5

The man who has perhaps been Arsenal's most consistent player of the season put in a performance that highlighted all his faults.

Mertesacker looks particularly vulnerable when a pacey player with technique runs right at him. Hatem Ben Arfa sent shivers down his spine multiple times, and there was one incident in the first half when Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa easily nutmegged him and nearly set up Papiss Cisse for a goal.

Laurent Koscielny: 10

Where to start? Koscielny has been Arsenal's best defender during the run-in and was easily their best player when it mattered the most.

Yes, he scored the goal that sent Arsenal into the Champions League. For the second year in a row.

But he was absolutely everywhere at the back, hurling himself around with abandon to make crucial tackles and interceptions and probably saving at least one goal in the process.

Koscielny has just the right blend of Mertesacker's aerial stature and Thomas Vermaelen's technical ability. If he can keep up this form in August, he'll be an automatic starter.

He was an automatic 10 after his game against Newcastle.

Kieran Gibbs: 5

From Arsenal's best player on the day to arguably their worst. Gibbs did not turn in an utterly disastrous performance at left-back, but it was certainly among his worst of the season.

Many of Newcastle's most threatening attacking moves (and there were many, during various periods of pressure), came down his wing. There was at least one instance when Santi Cazorla was forced to play left-back because Gibbs was so far up the pitch.

With a little less luck and excellent defending by other Arsenal players, one of last season's final-day heroes could have cost them this time around.

Mikel Arteta: 5

Arsene Wenger took a big risk in starting an injured Arteta in midfield, and he's lucky Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain filled in so capably after the Spaniard was hauled off on 28 minutes.

Arteta's injury hampered him, and he couldn't get as involved in the game as he usually does. He still has a couple more seasons at Arsenal after a consistently great campaign. Wenger's willingness to use him when he was obviously below 100 percent fitness was very telling.

Aaron Ramsey: 7.5

Would you expect anything less than full effort from Ramsey in a game that required it?

Once again, the heretofore maligned Welshman contributed in all areas of the game, pressing Newcastle deep within their own half (sometimes in their own third) and constantly getting involved in Arsenal's attacking moves.

It will be interesting to see how he fits into Arsenal's stacked midfield next season.

Tomas Rosicky: 7

Like Ramsey, Rosicky was constantly on the move, constantly fighting to win the ball and shifting the ball around when in possession.

His performance was unspectacular but necessary in a game that did not require, or allow, flashy attacking midfield play.

Santi Cazorla: 7

What an incredible first season for Santi Cazorla. Appreciate his accomplishments, but don't get too used to it, because there is bound to be some regression to the mean next year.

As always, he was the fulcrum of Arsenal's attack, constantly drifting toward the middle from his position on the left flank.

Though I still believe that he is unnecessarily marginalized on the wing, Arsene Wenger's willingness to play him slightly out of position demonstrates just how badly he wants his talismanic little Spaniard to play. Amazingly, Cazorla played in every single Premier League game during his debut season.

Theo Walcott: 7.5

Walcott fades into anonymity during far too many games, but he refused to do so against Newcastle.

By and large, his movement off the ball was effective. He attempted a couple threatening crosses, one of which was headed out at the far post as a last resort by Mathieu Debuchy. And he played an instrumental role in nearly all of Arsenal's counterattacks, nearly scoring on one at the start of the second half.

If not a performance worthy of £100,000 per week, it certainly demonstrated why Arsenal were so desperate to re-sign Walcott last winter.

Lukas Podolski: 6.5

It will be interesting to see what Arsene Wenger does with Podolski when he regains some fitness ahead of next season.

His lingering ankle injury has been the subject of much discussion in recent weeks and could explain why he has been substituted so many times this season. Perhaps after a summer of repair and recovery, he will be able to be more effective as both a winger and a striker.

Podolski's mostly mediocre performance was not due to injury or fatigue. He merely dropped into midfield at every opportunity, failing to provide Arsenal with the target man they often needed.

In the end, of course, it was of no matter. Podolski, like nearly all of his teammates, will just have to concentrate on improving for Arsenal's Champions League run next season.

Follow @charliemelman

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What Clinching a Champions League Place Means for Arsenal

Timothy Rapp — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:02:01 -0400

Somehow, they did it.

Despite a slow start to the season and a seven-point deficit to Tottenham on the league table after a 2-1 loss to Spurs on March 3, Arsenal went undefeated in their last 10 games (eight wins, two draws) and secured a fourth-place finish and berth in the Champions League with a 1-0 victory against Newcastle on Sunday.

So what exactly does a spot in the Champions League mean for the Gunners?

For one, it keeps the team's streak of appearances in the premier European competition intact. Arsenal have now qualified for the Champions League for a 16th straight year, a staggering level of consistency for Arsene Wenger's troops.

But Arsenal have another streak that fans are more concerned about—no trophies since 2005's FA Cup triumph.

In an effort to end that streak and return Arsenal to the level of winning titles rather than scratching and clawing in the final weeks just to finish in the top four, Wenger will supposedly have a lot of money to spend during this summer's transfer window.

That will surely be attractive to prospective targets, but so will the opportunity to play in the Champions League. In fact, that's probably the largest benefit for Arsenal—the ability to sell the chance to play in Europe's most prestigious tournament next season.

Without question, the team needs help at holding midfield, could use an upgrade at striker and will probably seek a new right-back as well. Outside of an often-restrictive wage structure, Arsenal can offer prospective players top-notch facilities, a place in the Premier League and the chance to play European football.

It's a nice package to sell.

Plus, Sunday's win ensured that hated rivals Tottenham will be limited to playing in the Europa League next season, which could be the difference between Gareth Bale leaving this summer and sticking around.

Surely, he would have stayed if Spurs had qualified for the Champions League. Now, however, the overtures from wealthier clubs—we see you whispering in Bale's ear, Real Madrid—may be too tempting for the superstar to ignore.

And on the other hand, Sunday's win should guarantee that Arsenal's top stars aren't once again poached away. Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere would probably be the most appealing players for European clubs, but each signed contract extensions this year, so it's hard to imagine either leaving anyway.

Arsenal have a nice, young core in place, and this season showed a lot of grit and determination. Plus, the defense improved dramatically. With an upgrade at striker and a true holding midfielder on the roster, it isn't hard to see the Gunners competing for a league title next year—maybe making a deep run in the Champions League as well.

Arsenal fans may have become infamously pessimistic in the trophy drought that has nearly stretched a decade now, but there are plenty of reasons for optimism heading into the summer.

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Arsenal Clinch Champions League Place with 1-0 Win vs. Newcastle

Timothy Rapp — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:27:31 -0400

At times, it was a long and rocky season for Arsenal, but the Gunners handled their business in the end, defeating Newcastle 1-0 on Sunday and assuring a spot in the Champions League next season.

Laurent Koscielny struck the vital blow early in the second half off a free kick to give the Gunners a crucial lead. After that, it was a nervy passage of play where the Gunners desperately tried to cling to three points.

The win had the added bonus of keeping hated rival Tottenham out of the Champions League again this season. The Gunners will still have to qualify for the group stages with a play-in, but their destiny is firmly in their hands, and they will have the ability to strengthen the roster before then.

Arsenal's year did not begin on a positive note. Star striker Robin van Persie refused to sign a contract extension with the club over the summer and was eventually sold to Manchester United. One of the team's top players from a year ago, Alex Song, was then sold to Barcelona.

And the team opened the season with just two wins in their first six games, drawing three and losing to London rivals Chelsea.

But while the team would struggle against top competition all season (1-5-2 against Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham) and once again go without a trophy, Arsenal managed to earn a coveted top-four place on the table by going unbeaten in their last 10 games, winning eight of those contests.

Theo Walcott's contract dispute was a major storyline at the beginning of the season, but he eventually signed an extension and made himself one of the Premier League's most dangerous weapons this year (21 goals and 14 assists in all competitions).

Santi Cazorla proved to be one of the top signings in Europe this summer (12 goals and 13 assists). Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski didn't exactly replace Van Persie, but the duo did combine to score 28 goals. Jack Wilshere returned from injury and played well, while Mikel Arteta was a rock in the midfield.

Even the defense was solid, overcoming injuries and turnover at the keeper position, allowing just 37 goals on the season, second-fewest in the Premier League behind Manchester City (31).

While a top-four finish is nice, Arsenal fans will be clamoring to win trophies next season and will hope management opens up the wallet and signs several big names to bolster the squad. The team could use a clinical striker to lead the line, while a holding midfielder, right-back and even an upgrade at keeper should be on the shopping list as well.

Arsenal will be playing for the Champions League again next season. Now, Gooners will be hoping the team can play for a trophy in the 2013-14 campaign as well.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Analyzing What Makes Target Yaya Sanogo Special

Tim Daniels — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:24:57 -0400

Most of the early transfer talk surrounding Arsenal concerned links to marquee names such as Wayne Rooney and Stevan Jovetic. But it appears the first splash Arsene Wenger wants to make involves lesser-known striker Yaya Sanogo.

Wenger confirmed that the Gunners are working toward an agreement with the 20-year-old French youth international but cautioned no deal is complete yet, according to John Cross of the Daily Mirror.

We are advanced with him, but it's not done. I'm very confident (it will be done).

He's a young striker who is promising. He has some talent. Big talent.

Sanogo has shown terrific ability in front of goal for both Ligue 2 side Auxerre and France's youth national team. He's found the net eight times in 12 league matches during the current campaign—an impressive rate even against a lower level of competition.

The most important thing to realize about the Gunners' target is that he's still very raw. He's had no trouble scoring, but the difference between where he's played so far and the Premier League is gigantic. It would be a major jump.

There would be a transition period before he's ready to make an impact with Arsenal. While he possesses the potential to fill the void atop the club's formation in the future, it won't happen right away next season. So that search should continue into the summer.

That said, it's hard not to be intrigued by his upside. Sanogo is 6'3'' with a combination of strength and speed that makes him an ideal player to lead an attack. He can win a ball in the air one minute and run past a defender the next.

Injuries have held him back, though. Robin Bairner of Goal.com explains the constant issues that have held him back in recent seasons.

Looking at the player's injury record gives a clue as to why. He has been beset by problems throughout his young career, including a broken leg that kept him out of virtually the entire 2009-10 campaign and a torn adductor that saw him sidelined for much of the following season.

To make matters worse, he has been plagued by a series of more minor issues over the course of the last year and will on Friday, assuming he is selected to play against Clermont, only feature in five consecutive matches for the first time in his career.

It's a concern, there's no doubt about that. Players who receive the injury-prone label early in their careers often have a hard time shaking it. The endless issues also tend to become a mental battle, although Sanogo has bounced back strong each time.

For Wenger, it all comes down to risk and reward.

The risk is that injuries will stop him from reaching his sky-high potential and keep him from ever making a serious impact with the Gunners. On the flip side, the reward is Premier League experience allows him to grow as a player and he becomes the lead striker Arsenal lost when Robin van Persie left.

Add in the fact Wenger only has to pay a compensation fee, and it's clear the potential reward outweighs the inherent risk.

Sanogo has all the tools to become a star. Taking a chance on him while his stock is still low could pay off in a major way for Arsenal down the line.

They just have to hope he can remain healthy enough to start putting his finishing ability, strength and speed into one total package. It's going to take some patience from the Gunners, but that's something the club should understand going in.

Arsenal have to take some chances to keep up with the likes of Manchester United. Sanogo is an example of one they should take, and it sounds like they are close to doing exactly that.

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Arsenal's Vital Summer Transfer Window Needs to Boost Title Challenge in 2013-14

James McNicholas — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:00:00 -0400

The signs are that Arsenal have the cash reserves to make a real impact in the transfer window this summer.

Many feel they need to.

The battle for Champions League qualification is something of a red herring to Gunners fans, who are more concerned by why they're set to finish some 20 points behind leaders Manchester United than whether or not they scrape a point ahead of neighbouring Tottenham.

If Arsenal are to return to their rightful status as title-challengers, there are several improvements they need to make to the squad.

Go to the next slide to discover how Arsene Wenger needs to spend his transfer war-chest.

Begin Slideshow

Newcastle United vs. Arsenal: Complete Premier League Preview

James McNicholas — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:00:00 -0400

There may only be one game left in the Premier League season, but Arsenal still have plenty to play for. After a surging run in the latter portion, they're now set to pip Tottenham to the post for Champions League qualification. A win on the final day would seal the deal.

Newcastle have already achieved their primary aim of surviving relegation. Their win at Loftus Road last week left them home and dry. Manager Alan Pardew was so relieved he even said he didn't mind if they were thrashed in this fixture.

Since then, he's retracted that statement. Newcastle have a responsibility to give Arsenal a competitive game, and will hope to cause an upset that propels Tottenham in to the top four at Arsenal's expense.

Key Players

Newcastle will look to Hatem Ben Arfa to unlock the Arsenal defence. Such is his importance to the Magpies that he was asked to play through the pain barrier to help them in their relegation battle.

Arsenal's key man is creative midfielder Santi Cazorla. The Spaniard assisted all four goals in their recent victory over Wigan and will hope to cause similar damage on Tyneside.

Form and Previous Meetings

Arsenal are on a terrific run, leading the Premier League's current form table. In the second half of the season, only Manchester United have taken more points.

Newcastle have had a difficult season but a victory at QPR last week transformed their fortunes and ensured they will be in the Premier League next season. The relief at St. James' was palpable.

Arsenal fans will remember the 2011 iteration of this fixture with a huge degree of anxiety. Arsenal led by four goals at half-time, only to be pegged back by a remarkable second half culminating in a last-gasp Cheick Tiote equaliser.

Gunners fans will be hoping for less drama in this particular match.

Team News and Potential Starting Lineups

Newcastle's major change will be in goal. Rob Elliot is suspended after being sent off at QPR. With first choice Tim Krul still out injured, veteran Steve Harper will be called upon for what could be his final game for the club.

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is set to continue at left-back in place of Massadio Haidara.

Arsenal could make a change at left-back. Although Kieran Gibbs impressed in their last match against Wigan, Arsene Wenger has generally preferred to field Nacho Monreal away from home.

Mikel Arteta is likely to miss out with a calf problem, so Jack Wilshere could step up from the bench to take his place.

Olivier Giroud has returned from a three-match suspension and should come straight in to the side in place of Lukas Podolski.

Permutations

For Arsenal, the situation couldn't be clearer: win and they are guaranteed to beat Tottenham to a top-four spot.

In fact, all they need to do is match Tottenham's result against Sunderland. After Arsenal's mid-week victory over Wigan helped secure the Mackems' safety, the Gunners will be hoping for a favour from Paolo Di Canio's side to ease their path in to the Champions League.

Incredibly, should Chelsea draw at home to Everton and Arsenal win by a single goal while scoring two more than Chelsea, the two London sides will end the season level on points, goal difference and goals scored. This would call for a historic application of the Premier League's C14 rule, forcing the two sides to meet in a one-off play-off for third place.

Newcastle don't have too much to play for. However, if results go their way, they could finish as high as 10th, which would be remarkable for a side threatened with relegation just one week ago.

Prediction

Generally in these end of season matches, the side with more at stake emerges victorious.

Arsenal should be too strong for a Newcastle side who recently shipped six goals at home to Liverpool.

The Gunners should have enough to triumph and take the remaining Champions League qualification spot.

Newcastle 1 - 3 Arsenal

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Arsenal Transfer News: Breaking Down Latest for Gunners Prior to Summer Window

Tyler Conway — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:24:57 -0400

Arsenal might not be preparing for a Manchester United level of upheaval this summer, but the impending transfer window should bring plenty of changes.

Arsene Wenger won't be following Sir Alex Ferguson on the list of legendary managers leaving or anything, but he will be tasked with fixing a roster in need of improvement. The Gunners need a win versus Newcastle United on Sunday to lock up a chance at qualifying for the Champions League.

While that may seem shocking for such a consistently competitive side, Arsenal’s journey to fourth (or third) place is actually quite surprising considering what a season of turmoil it has been. The departures of stars like Robin van Persie loomed over the 2012-13 campaign, exposing some gaping holes in player development—something usually not seen under Wenger.

That’s expected to lead to a big spending summer for the Arsenal boss.

The Gunners have long been among the most conservative sides on the transfer market, often choosing youth over high-priced veterans. But with spending expectations high for this summer, Arsenal have been linked to plenty of top names hitting the market.

With that in mind, here is a complete breakdown of all the latest news and notes from Holloway.

Hamburg Goalkeeper Rene Adler Not Considering a Move?

It's not exactly talking out of turn to say the Gunners will desperately be looking for a new top keeper this summer. The Lukasz Fabianski era hasn't worked out the way anyone expected, and Wojciech Szczęsny is still just 23 years old—far too young to take over a side looking for a Premier League championship next season.

Though Szczęsny has been in fine form of late—a key to Arsenal’s late-season surge—the search for next season’s keeper has long been underway.

One of the most prevalent names has been Hamburger SV’s Rene Adler. John Cross of the Mirror reported last month that Adler topped Wenger’s list after the club said “thanks but no thanks” to paying astronomical sums to Sunderland's Simon Mignolet and Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic.

The 28-year-old Adler joined Hamburg just last year but helped put together a strong campaign. After finishing 15th in the Bundesliga standings in 2011-12, Hamburg has ascended to seventh place thus far. Much of that has been due to Adler.

But with goalkeepers in demand and Adler among the most talked-about assets for Hamburg, there has been plenty of speculation. It’s understandable—just don’t bother Adler about it.

Downplaying the Arsenal speculation, the German-born Adler seemed just fine playing in his home country’s league in an interview with Sport-BILD (h/t Sky Sports).

"I am under contract with Hamburg, that is a fact,” said Adler. “I can say that I have not thought about leaving or considered a transfer since I joined Hamburg (in May 2012)."

Adler is under contract until 2017 with Hamburg. And if his recent quotes are any indication, don’t look for him to break that pact anytime soon.

Julio Cesar Leaving QPR, but Won’t Comment on Arsenal Move

With Queens Park Rangers in dead last in the Premier League table and headed for relegation, the club is expected to be selling off parts left and right. That’s especially the case for veterans, whose services could certainly be used elsewhere.

One such roster casualty will be goalkeeper Julio Cesar. The 33-year-old keeper came over from a long-term stint with Inter in 2012 and was one of a select few positives from QPR’s season. He often kept the damage to a minimum despite dreadful defense in front of him, proving that there is little if any atrophy in his game.

While Cesar had been benched lately for Rob Green, that move was more preparatory for Harry Redknapp than anything. The QPR boss said that Cesar will be leaving this summer via a transfer because he is “not a player for the Championship,” according to Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Independent.

With confirmation he’s leaving out of the way, speculation began about him moving a hop, skip and a jump over to Arsenal. Again, the Gunners’ desperation for a goaltender is not exactly being spoken about in hushed tones.

Reports have even surfaced that Cesar heading to Arsenal is all but a done deal. The star keeper wouldn’t comment on that possibility in an interview with SporTV (h/t the Mirror), but the possibility seems open after a coy response:

It is confidential. My future today is a question mark. I have three more years on my contract, but the manager has already made it clear that it will be hard for me to stay at the club. I am happy he thinks that way, it is a sign that my work is being recognized. I dedicated as much as I could to QPR.

While Cesar’s coyness doesn’t tell us much, this has long seemed like a perfect match. The goalie has long stated his desire to stay in London even if QPR was relegated, and joining a club like Arsenal would represent a massive step forward.

Nothing is for certain, but we’d be shocked if Cesar landed anywhere else this summer.

Arsenal Wants Extension, Bacary Sagna Not So Sure

Most of the transfer window news focuses on new players being brought in. The incoming players are far more intriguing than the ones you’ve already gotten to know and thus get more attention during the always-active summer window.

But adding new players means nothing if equally talented ones are walking out the door.

Such is the case for Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna. The Frenchman has been with the Gunners since 2007, and many consider him the best right back in the Premier League. However, his contract expires next summer and negotiations have been a long and arduous process.

A 30-year-old veteran with a ton left in the tank, it’s no surprise that Sagna has seen a ton of interest elsewhere. French giant Paris Saint-Germain have been linked to Sagna, as the high-spending side hoped to bring him back to his home country.

The likelihood of that move remains fluid. It was once deemed a mere formality that Sagna would walk this summer, with Arsenal looking to get anything they could before his contract expires. But the situation has grown less dire of late, and there seems to be real hope that the two sides can work on an amenable pact.

Still, Sagna isn’t making any commitments about his future—at least not publicly. Speaking with French publication Le 10 Sport (h/t the Mirror), he was about as noncommittal as a person could possibly be.

"I could very well extend my contract here in London but equally I could leave at the end of the season,” Sagna said. “I only have one year left on my contract. We will see.”

So he might leave. Or he might not. Nice to see Sagna is taking his public comment tips from Dwight Howard nowadays.

Follow Tyler Conway on Twitter: Follow @tylerconway22

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Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Thoughts on Bacary Sagna's Arsenal Future

Toni Okike — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:38:12 -0400

Bacary Sagna has been at Arsenal for as long as I can remember.

At the age of 30, he is regarded as one of the senior players in the squad and has been through a lot in his six-year stint with the club. Arriving in the Premier League with a relatively unknown status, the Frenchman worked his way up the food chain in his debut campaign in England, endearing himself to Arsenal fans and winning a place in the 2008 PFA Team of the Year.

From that moment, he set the tone for what has been one hell of a career in North London.

Despite making up a lot of distance further up the pitch to support his attacking winger on a consistent basis whilst performing his defensive duties admirably, Sagna continued to maintain amazing fitness levels. The number of appearances he made in his first four seasons was staggering, in contrast to his injury-plagued campaign last season.

His moment of glory came with a price, as he injured himself after scoring his first-ever goal for the club in that Didier Drogba-inspired 2-1 loss to Chelsea in Stamford Bridge. In the 2010/11 campaign, he managed to score two well-taken goals against Everton in Goodison Park and Leeds United in Elland Road.

His last goal for the club would be his most important goal. It sparked a revival in one of the most enthralling games I’ve witnessed as an Arsenal fan.

In his time at Arsenal, the fans have become accustomed to his eccentric hairstyle, his beautiful Ludivine, his optimal fitness levels, amazing work rate, his influence on Carl Jenkinson and most importantly, his unrivaled consistency—which has been put in question this season.

Suffering two broken legs definitely took a toll on Sagna’s fitness and form, but he should be lauded for trying to come back stronger.

This season, Sagna has been a shadow of the player I once heralded as the S.I. Unit for consistency. His leg injury forced him to stay at home last summer while Laurent Blanc and his Les Bleus traveled to Ukraine and Poland for the European Championships. To be fair, his replacement, Matt Debuchy, didn’t put a wrong foot throughout the tournament till their quarterfinal exit at the hands of Spain.

While Debuchy continued to deputize for his compatriot in the national side, Carl Jenkinson manned the right back position in the start of this season, acclimatizing himself into the role as well as putting up stellar performances in Sagna’s stead.

The Bac Man made his long-awaited return in autumn. He showed his class in some games, while he was an aberration in others.

No thoroughbred Arsenal fan will ever forget his five-star performance against Sunderland this season.

He was drafted into an unfamiliar center back role after Laurent Koscielny picked up a knock in the warm-up, but Sagna’s performance against Sunderland would go down as one of his best in Arsenal colors. Sagna marshaled a defense that held the fort from start to finish. He made a lot of vital interceptions, clearances and headers. He was awesome in every sense of the word.

On the other hand, Sagna has had his fair share of stinkers. One need look no further than the games against Southampton (away), Newcastle (home), Chelsea (away) and most recently, the crunch encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United.

Sagna was culpable for the goals conceded courtesy of some sloppy passes that were intercepted by the opposition. Sagna’s positioning has been downright appalling in some games, with memories of Juan Mata’s early goal in Stamford Bridge ringing bells in my head. When Newcastle visited the Emirates, Sagna made Gabby Obertan look like Ronaldinho.

Against Manchester United, Sagna inexplicably chose to send a sloppy pass that was gracefully received by van Persie. In his attempt to seek redemption, a rush of blood to his head saw the Frenchman scythe RVP inside the box, giving the ref no choice but to point to the spot.

When everybody thought that Sagna was going to be axed like Wojciech Szczesny and Thomas Vermaelen after such an appalling performance, Sagna took to the pitch against Queens Park Rangers in Loftus Road and didn’t do half badly. The fullback also played in the recent mauling of Wigan, and he’ll be odds on to play what might seem like his final Arsenal game in St. James’ Park on Sunday.

In recent times, a mass exodus of Arsenal players have left for greener pastures. When it seemed as if Theo Walcott was going to join the trend, he made a U-turn and signed a long-term deal that would keep him in the club for years to come.

With Walcott’s future sorted out, all eyes were firmly fixed on Bacary Sagna. He was tipped to make a move to the free-spending Paris St. Germain, but the Frenchman pledged his allegiance to Arsenal, according to Sky Sports:

The transfer rumours regarding PSG? I am 100 per cent devoted to my club, I am only thinking about defending the colours of Arsenal until the end of my contract.

The fans are angry with me because they heard about PSG’s interest, but I am not responsible for that. I have never had any contact.

These quotes were said in February. In a strange twist of fate, Sagna has turned things around and has decided to keep his options open (via ESPN):

I could very well extend my contract here in London but equally I could leave at the end of the season. I only have one year left on my contract. We will see.

At the moment I am fully focused on Arsenal. I don’t know what will happen this summer. I have to see the directors again regarding an extension to my contract. Monaco would be a new challenge. I don’t close any door to PSG, Monaco or Arsenal.

With Sagna approaching the same scenario Arsenal faced with Gael Clichy, $amir Na$ri and Robin van P€r$i£, the Gunners hierarchy will be forced to make a decision about his future.

There are only two ways to deal with this scenario.

There is the profitable way, in which the Arsenal decision-makers would look at the prospects of selling a 30-year-old defender to the likes of Paris St. Germain or Monaco, bearing in mind that he has indirectly declared his interest in returning back home to earn some big greens.

With this in mind, Arsenal will reveal their asking price, and if it’s matched by the moneybags of France, Sagna will be theirs for the taking. Like Alex Song’s unexpected sale to Barcelona, the sale of Sagna would bring a plethora of divided opinions among fans, pundits, journalists and the whole nine yards.

The million dollar question will be: Will Arsenal replace Sagna if he’s sold, or will it be time for the Jenkinson dynasty to rise?

Borussia Dortmund’s Lukasz Piszczek has been linked with a move to Arsenal by the Telegraph, and I certainly won’t mind selling off Sagna for one of the most exciting right backs in the business.

There’s also the conservative way, in which Arsenal’s decision-makers will follow the route used in tying Theo Walcott to a long-term contract.

The club would consider the fact that on his day, Sagna is a force to be reckoned with. His past exploits have shown that he’s a dependable player. The club also tied Carl Jenkinson to a long-term deal and would want players like Sagna to be around to nurture the young lad as he continues his meteoric rise in North London.

The club would bear in mind that he has attracted interest from other richer clubs, so they would hand him a new contract extension with a substantial wage rise, tying down Sagna for years to come.

Irrespective of the path Sagna takes this summer, I’ll always have fond memories of the Bac Man that marauded Arsenal’s right flank balancing his defensive and attacking play superbly.

Since the days of Lee Dixon and Lauren Etame-Meyer, Sagna’s performances on the right rank him with the very best in the beautiful game. Arsenal fans are honored to have such an amazing player in every sense of the word.

Sagna has amassed 235 appearances for the club. I can only hope that he would be able to add to this tally next season, but should he decide to seek greener pastures elsewhere, I won’t shed a tear. Arsenal is like the Greek mythical creature, Hydra.

If you take one head out, another pops up.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Shouldn't Overpay to Keep Bacary Sagna

Tim Daniels — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:58:23 -0400

Bacary Sagna has spent the past six seasons holding down the right side of the Arsenal defense. As the offseason approaches, his future is one of the club's biggest question marks. The Gunners shouldn't overpay to keep him at the Emirates.

According to Kevin Palmer of ESPNFC.com, Arsene Wenger is interested in signing the veteran defender to an extension before he enters a contract year, but Sagna wants to keep his options open. Palmer also translated comments made by the right back to French outlet Le 10 Sport:

I could very well extend my contract here in London but equally I could leave at the end of the season. I only have one year left on my contract. We will see.

At the moment I am fully focused on Arsenal. I don’t know what will happen this summer. I have to see the directors again regarding an extension to my contract. Monaco would be a new challenge. I don’t close any door to PSG, Monaco or Arsenal.

Those remarks are worrisome for two reasons from an Arsenal perspective.

First, it shows he's not positive he wants to stay with the club moving forward. The Gunners would be forced to convince him to stay while also trying to come to terms on a new deal. Both tasks are easier said than done, especially with other sides potentially lurking.

The other issue is leverage. Any time big-spending Paris Saint-Germain are mentioned in transfer talks, the price immediately goes up. If the Ligue 1 champions are indeed interested in Sagna, his representatives could use that to drive up his asking price.

So while Sagna has been a stalwart member of the back line for six years, Arsenal must still tread carefully when it comes to handing him a new contract. Every player has their price.

He's coming off a solid, yet unspectacular campaign as the Gunners head into the finale hoping to secure a Champions League berth. Furthermore, at 30, he's nearing the end of his prime and his value will fade once those peak seasons end.

If Arsenal commit to him for the long haul, they must do so with the understanding they are unlikely to receive any offers better or even equal to what he might attract this summer.

It's a tough commitment to make for an aging defender with fading form and limited offensive upside to provide support on the wing. Add in the fact that 21-year-old Carl Jenkinson continues to show signs of serious potential and the Gunners might not want to be locked into a veteran right-back.

Just like Sagna is keeping his options open, so should Arsenal.

If Wenger and Co. can find reasonable common ground with the defender on a new deal, re-signing him would be a good move. But they shouldn't go overboard to do it.

If his demands are too high and another club is showing legitimate interest, the Gunners can feel comfortable moving him and going in another direction—whether it be Jenkinson full-time or a cheaper option on the transfer market to fill the short-term void.

Sagna has been a reliable member of Arsenal for six seasons. He's not irreplaceable, however, and that's what the club must keep in mind.

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Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Latest on Christian Benteke, Gonzalo Higuain and More

Tim Daniels — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:01 -0400

The summer transfer outlook for Arsenal will become a lot more clear following Sunday's match against Newcastle. Either the Gunners will have secured a Champions League spot or they will be headed to the Europa League with Tottenham moving into the top four.

An appearance in the Champions League would likely open up more transfer avenues for manager Arsene Wenger. It puts a lot of pressure on the current squad, which looked terrific in the second half of a key win on Tuesday over Wigan.

Although the direction Arsenal take is still to be decided, the rumors have already been floating around for weeks in anticipation of possible offseason moves. Let's examine some of the latest talk involving the Gunners.

Christian Benteke

The most goals Christian Benteke had scored during a campaign in the Belgian Pro League was 16. It tempered expectations as he moved to the Premier League with Aston Villa, but instead of struggling against the tougher competition, he's excelled with 19 goals in league play.

His breakout performance has brought him onto the transfer radar for other EPL sides. Steve Stammers of the Daily Mirror reports Tottenham have made him their top summer target while Arsenal are also very interested in bringing him to the Emirates.

Finding a striker to lead the attack will be Wenger's biggest summer task. Beating out Spurs for a Champions League spot and then swooping in to land Benteke would be huge. The 22-year-old rising star should only continue to improve moving forward.

Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain is another striker option for Wenger to explore. The Argentine international was forced to play multiple roles throughout the campaign for Real Madrid but still managed to tally 15 goals and seven assists in La Liga and Champions League play.

In order to pry him away from the Spanish club, Arsenal would need to offer £22 million, according to David Kent of the Daily Mail. Wenger is said to have long been interested in the striker, who's come into his own over the past few seasons.

While it's a hefty asking price, strikers don't come cheap during the transfer window unless a club finds a hidden gem like Villa did with Benteke. If that's the price Wenger would have to pay in order to stabilize his attack, it would be a wise investment.

Ashley Williams

Switching to the back line, Ashley Williams is a name that keeps popping up in connection with Arsenal. The veteran defender, who's been a bright spot for Swansea in recent years, is certainly ready to make the jump to a bigger club.

As of now, Arsenal feel confident in their ability to get a deal done after further talks with the player's camp, reports Wayne Veysey of Goal.com. He reveals a £4 million gap exists between Swansea's asking price and what Arsenal wants to pay, though.

In the end, that shouldn't be a large enough hurdle if Arsenal is serious about getting a deal done. Adding Williams would provide some much-needed consistency along the back line, which has had an up-and-down campaign for the Gunners.

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Why Arsene Wenger Deserves Credit This Season

Michael Cummings — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:11:24 -0400

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger are in familiar territory again this spring. So how do we rate their performance?

As another season comes to a close, Arsenal and Wenger once again find themselves without silverware. With one match left in the Premier League campaign, the Gunners remain alive in the race for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification, but despite Wenger’s statements to the contrary, that’s no trophy.

Arsenal’s FA Cup and League Cup campaigns ended against lower-league opposition, and the Gunners were eliminated from the Champions League by favorites Bayern Munich. Without the prospect of silverware for an eighth straight season, some fans are starting to lose patience with Wenger, but does Wenger deserve some credit for his work?

B/R World Football Lead Writer Michael Cummings answers that question in the video clip above. Watch the clip and then be sure to add your thoughts in the comments below.

Follow @MikeCummings37

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Report: Gonzalo Higuain Could Be Arsenal's If They Cough Up £22 Million

Simon Edmonds — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:31:30 -0400

The Mirror is reporting that if Arsenal really want to sign Real Madrid and Argentina star striker Gonzalo Higuain, they will have to spend as much as £22 million

Arsenal, who's valuation of Higuain ranks at £18 million, may be forced to spend more than they might have initially wanted for the player, with rumors that their current top transfer target, Stevan Jovetic, may be on his way from Fiorentina to Juventus.

Gonzalo has been a force to be reckoned with in world football for the best part of five years now, but has recently fallen out of favor with the Galacticos.

Karim Benzema has primarily been used as Madrid's first choice striker this year, and with Higuain constantly finding himself resigned to the bench, he is looking for a way out of the club.

Higuain, despite his Argentinian routes, was born in France—and that french connection may be a huge deal when it comes to the side with whom he will eventually sign.

Arsenal have become notorious for their acquisition of French talent since Arsene Wenger arrived at the club back in 1995.

With the exit of Robin van Persie this summer to Manchester United, many fans were unhappy with the replacements brought in to make up for the loss of their world class forward.

Higuian may be the solution to these worries, with a proven Champions League pedigree.

If the transfer does come to fruition, then Arsenal may be in a genuine position to challenge for the Premier League title next season—or failing that, at least one piece of silverware.

Follow me on Twitter: @Eddie_Edmonds

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Grading All of Arsenal's Players for the 2012-13 Season

Shona Black — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:45:03 -0400

With fourth place within reach heading into the final week, there is still time for last-ditch heroics (or indeed blunders) in Arsenal's 2012-13 season, but for the most part, we already know how each of the players will be judged.

It has been an interesting season for Arsenal. There were spells when Champions League football next season seemed an implausible dream; then there were also glimpses of real potential to return to challenger status.

Based on both team and individual performances—i.e. results as well as factors like key passes, goals, assists, clearances and interceptions, for example— here are Arsenal's 2012-13 player grades.

All statistics are courtesy of WhoScored?, Soccerbase, EPL Index and Arsenal.com.

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Premier League: Will Potential Arsenal vs. Chelsea Playoff Signal a 39th Game?

Ian Rodgers — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:43:39 -0400

Do you remember that (frankly ludicrous) idea the Premier League came up with in 2008 surrounding a 39th game?

The notion behind the extended season was to expand the name of the brand by playing a game in countries across the globe, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.

The Premier League on tour received what can be regarded diplomatically as a mixed reaction from supporters while Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson declared it "impossible" in an interview reported by CNN.

However, then Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce, who is now in charge at West Ham, called for the 39th game to be put back on the agenda in an interview with The Sun in 2010.

The Football Association, though, rejected plans to play matches abroad, as BBC Sport reported, while FIFA also dismissed the idea (via BBC Sport) and the plan slipped out of view.

In May 2010, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore told BBC Radio 5 (via The Guardian) that the adverse reaction of supporters to the 39th game had ensured the proposal would not go ahead.

We understand. We got the hairdryer treatment from public opinion and therefore we kind of backed off it (the 39th game). I don't see it in our sights at all.

Now, however, the Premier League may be about to be gifted an opportunity to resurrect the idea of an extended season.

After Arsenal's 4-1 win over Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night, the Gunners could finish the current season with an identical record to Chelsea.

If Chelsea play out a 0-0 draw with Everton at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the campaign on Sunday, and Arsene Wenger's team win 2-1 at Newcastle, the two London clubs will need to play each other in a playoff to decide who finishes third and fourth in the table, as BBC Sport reported.

The potential playoff game would need to be on neutral territory with Wembley a potential venue.

But the Premier League has never knowingly missed out an opportunity to expand its reach and the seeds generated by this possible playoff will not have gone unnoticed.

The 39th game on foreign soil is unlikely to ever occur, but the chance of extending the season is not a new concept.

When Manchester United were chasing down Newcastle in the race for the 1995-96 Premier League title, tickets were printed in preparation for a playoff between the two clubs at Wembley to decide the destination of the championship.

Ultimately, the Old Trafford side won the title on the last day of the campaign as Kevin Keegan's team stuttered in the final weeks.

But will this potential playoff between Arsenal and Chelsea see the Premier League return to the concept of a 39th game in the near future?

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Bleacher Report's Premier League coverage has been nominated in the 2012-13 EPLTalk awards. Cast your vote here.

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Top 10 Arsenal Transfer Targets: Already in the Premier League

Jack O'Riordan — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:15:50 -0400

With the current Premier League season coming to a close, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger knows he is about to enter the merry-go-round that is the summer transfer market. Here is a list compiled of 10 top performers who already ply their trade in the Premier League.

The Gunners' boss may see these players as a more financially viable solution as they may have gone under the radar of other Premier League bosses, and they will know what it takes to make it as top players in England.

With names like Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic being linked with big money summer moves from foreign leagues, to the Emirates, Wenger knows he may win a transfer battle once but there are plenty of other clubs with greater financial backing to pick the cream of Europe's crop.

This may force Arsenal to look closer to home in their transfer dealings, and with Wenger having made a name for himself by identifying what are perceived to be lesser talents and transforming them into world-class footballers, he may scout out the best of the rest of the Premier League in order to strengthen his squad ahead of next season.

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Arsenal Transfer News: Breaking Down What Wayne Rooney Would Bring to Gunners

Tim Daniels — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:04 -0400

The fact Wayne Rooney could leave Manchester United isn't a shock. The possibility has been bantered about ever since he was left out of the starting lineup against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Arsenal emerging as a potential landing spot is much more of a surprise.

The retiring Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Rooney requested a transfer after the campaign. Instead of denying the link between the longtime United star and his club, manager Arsene Wenger would only say he couldn't discuss it, reports Husmukh Kerai of Goal.com.

"Look, I'm not in a position today to speak about any transfer targets. What I am focused on is the short term and after the Newcastle game I give you answers about these questions," the Frenchman told reporters.

When pressed as to whether he could ever see such a star swap Old Trafford for the Emirates, Wenger added: "I just told you!"

The fact Wenger wouldn't rule out a move is news in itself. It's commonplace for managers to flatly deny rumors and speculation, especially during the campaign. The Arsenal boss wasn't willing to go that far when it comes to Rooney—at least not yet.

After enduring a season in which they lacked a true striker to lead the attack, Rooney would be an ideal fit for the Gunners. Perhaps that's why Wenger isn't ready to strike down the link without taking a closer look at how it could help the club.

Most likely, Rooney would assume a lead striker role with Arsenal in a 4-5-1 formation. He held the same position at United before Robin van Persie arrived from the Gunners to take it.

That swap would become an interesting side note to the story, should Rooney take Van Persie's spot at the Emirates one year later.

Rooney atop the formation would allow other Gunners to play their more natural roles. Theo Walcott would play on the wing with Santi Cazorla in central midfield. Wenger could then rotate between Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski on the other side or search for a natural winger opposite Walcott.

It's impossible to overstate the importance of having a reliable goal scorer leading the offense. Arsenal used a committee approach throughout the campaign and while it was very successful at times, not having a go-to striker cost them an even better season.

Rooney would immediately fill that void and give Arsenal a major boost heading into next season. It would also keep him away from another Premier League rival, which is important, too.

Arsenal still has work to do in the final match of the campaign in terms of earning a Champions League berth. That will probably play a crucial role in whether or not Rooney becomes a realistic target over the summer.

As for now, Wenger isn't ruling out the possibility.

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