Arsene Wenger has given his final team news update of the season ahead of Sunday’s game with Aston Villa.
Arsenal are without Danny Welbeck, of course, whose bad news ran throughout the week, the manager expressing genuine sympathy for the 25 year old yesterday. Per Mertesacker remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also not available because of the knee injury he picked up the week before.
Mesut Ozil, who missed the game against Man City last weekend, is back in full training and expected to take part.
As three midfielders, Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini are set to depart this summer, Wenger said ‘one or two’ might be involved for the final time.
Flamini has an ankle problem which may see him miss out, but it would be nice to see Arteta and Rosicky pull on the shirt one last time.
Hope we can give Tomas and Mikel a great send-off. Ideally on St Totteringham’s Day.
Both of them have been brilliant for the club. Much respect.
I can’t wait to see Rosicky out there one final time. Come on TR7! :’)
Another screamer like he scored against Tottenham, please!
Lets go for St Totteringham’s Day… that’s e least Rosicky & Arteta deserved…
Sadly, there will be no St Totteringham’s Day this year. Newcastle have absolutely nothing, zero, zilch, nada to play for. They’re on vacation. Spurs, on the other hand, are super motivated for this one.
Except a few Newcastle players putting themselves in the shop window perhaps.
What amazing foresight.
We win 4-0 and spurts lose 5-1…
Nothing’s a sure thing as we’ve seen millions of times.
Play em both! Like seeing players leave in the correct way honouring their contracts and moving on people have their opinions on the pair of em but rosicky in particular has given some memorable moments and arteta was ( well still is our captain) COYG
OK, but it’s not a meaningless game. We have to win, I think, or City have to lose if we’re to avoid a CL qualifier. Not that I particularly care whether we qualify or not, but I guess there’s the 20m to consider.
mate rosicky and arteta still have more than enough to turn villa over
Did Wenger say: “And I’m getting a great big new contract! Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa!!!”
I guess offering Wenger a new contract is Kroenke’s way of saying: “Go fuck yourselves,” to the majority of Gooners.
You know: we actually used to be a football club – but it was a long time ago. Now we’re just a joke.
…..A reasonably successful joke by all standard.
Nope, he said that extension story is ‘an invention. Completely false.’
Try again.
Didn’t seem to be the majority of those in the stadium the other day.
One thing that is abundantly clear is that you do not speak for the ‘majority of gooners’
I didn’t take you for someone so gullible fatty
Mate, comments like these are okes!
As a fat man myself, I have to say you’re an utter disgrace to fat Gooners everywhere.
BRILLIANT!! I actually lol’d. Actual lol not just a little chuckle
Thumbed it down without even bothering to read it.
Rosicky getting a farewell or not was the only thing I wanted to know about that game
Do we gooners see Rosicky as an Arsenal Legend? I’m just curious.
no. But as a highly likable player
Great player, saw him in Germany at the 2006 World Cup and he was excellent.
Can’t be a legend, didn’t play enough or win enough. But some great moments eg scoring v Tottenham.
It’s still a game we have to win just in case Newcastle win so sentiment has to be balanced. Rosicky and Arteta on the bench maybe, coming on with 10 minutes to go and the game won but certainly not starting.
If St. Totteringham’s day occurs at least we’ll have a reason to celebrate.
Would be great to see Arteta and Rosicky on the pitch one more time before they leave
St. TOTTERINGHAM should be a wonderful way to give a deserved farewell to Arteta and Rosicky ! I really be so happy if this season could finish with a second spot in the table, just ahed the Spurs.
It’s really sad to see Rosicky play for the last time for us. The guy is loved by EVERYONE! Could have been an absolute legend if it wasn’t for injuries.
One of the few phrases that Wenger said that will forever be in my mind: “If you love football, you love Tomas Rosicky”
Farewell Little Mozart
Thanks to the departing players – I truly appreciate their efforts. However, none of them should be anywhere near the first team
Especially Tom, he’s given 10 years of his life to the club, good and bad times but what a player he was.
maybe hes been offered a 3 year contract so when 2 is mentioned he would definitely say that’s false!!
If you’d watched the press conference (easy to do on arsenal.com) you wouldn’t have made that comment.
It’s very clear what he said.
Thomas deserved a place in the starting 11 any match day for me. Always giving 100% whether we played good or bad. No apathy that we frequently see in other players, always trying to win the ball, to carry the team forward etc and that should be a decisive factor in picking the players IMHO.
And he can play Heavy Metal on his guitar!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=altagi43RIQ
I think it is sad that Rosicky, Arteta and Flamini are not leaving as league and FA cup winners – so could and should have!!!
Sub them in at 70″ if we are winning by some margin. Don’t jeopardize 3rd, and possibly 2nd place, please.
I would still use Rosicky in every game (if I somehow was transformed into AW, he would then be a bit surprised, finding himself at an office in Sweden). TR7 has more “spring” in his legs that Theo, Awobi and The Ox combined.
Mix that with an outstanding technique, a great shot and a clever football brain he still outshines our midfield.
Sad that injuries once agaian ruined his season, but hopefully we will get him a Testimonial!
Dear Football Gods, Please let me go to work on Monday feeling a little boilk, and singing “its happened again!”
Amen.
COYG!!!!
Thank Denis for that, ITS ST TOTTERINGHAMS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!
So the ideal outcome from this weekend: we win, spuds lose, city lose, Manure win, but get dumped out of the CL in the qualifier. Then a vanload of EPO is discovered in Leicester dressing room. Their title is taken off them, Wenger carried shoulder-height through Islington. Too much to ask?
can’t think of a player without a statue that I enjoyed watching more than TR7…
Putting forward the plea for 7th min applause and chants for TR7. Absolute hero
How about a Lego statue for Arteta?? 😉