Gunners look for champions league solace
Arsenal will be happy to let their football do the talking once again as they return to Champions League action this week.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is looking for his side to carry their strong second-half showing from the 1-1 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane into Wednesday night’s clash with Sparta Prague, when victory at Highbury would earn a place in the knock-out stage.
Post-match debate from the weekend, though, was once more centred on Barclays Premiership leaders Chelsea, with their manager Jose Mourinho infuriated by Wenger’s comments on his side’s recent form, which had included a draw at struggling Everton and defeat on penalties to Charlton in the Carling Cup.
Mourinho has suggested the Arsenal manager is clearly rattled by the success of the Blues – who face Real Betis in their Champions League group tomorrow night – and should “be worried” with his own side’s fortunes rather than “always talking about” Chelsea.
Whether Wenger will choose to pass further comment in the build-up Arsenal’s European tie on Wednesday night remains to be seen. The Frenchman, though, certainly has plenty of reasons to be positive heading into the match against the Czechs.
Talisman striker Thierry Henry has resumed full training after being ruled out of the north London derby because of a “minor setback” to his recovery from a groin problem, which involved a problem with a muscle higher up his thigh.
And as well as the return of the club’s all-time leading goalscorer – who marked a spectacular comeback from injury with a double strike in Prague two weeks ago to chalk up his milestone – midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is expected to be available after limping off during the second half at White Hart Lane with cramp.
Robin van Persie could also come into the equation against the Czechs, veteran forward Dennis Bergkamp having played the full 90 minutes against Spurs and could be rested to the bench with next weekend’s Premiership trip to Sunderland in mind.
Wenger has been impressed by the form of the 21-year-old Dutchman, who grabbed a brace in the 3-0 Carling Cup win at the Stadium of Light last week.
And defender Kolo Toure believes there is more to come from the attack-minded youngster.
“He came on and tried a few things,” the Ivory Coast centre-half said.
“Robin is a great young player and we will definitely see more from him.”
Toure told Arsenal TV Online: “It was important we got a point against Spurs, and we are now looking forward to the next games coming up.”
The north London club were, meanwhile, today cleared over claims midfielder Mathieu Flamini, 21, was in breach of contract by joining them during the summer of 2004.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed an appeal from French club Marseille, his former employers, who had petitioned CAS to annul Flamini’s contract with the Gunners, claiming they had prior claim on the midfielder through a ’joueur stagiare’ youth-team contract between 2002 and 2004.
On March 31 last year, the club indicated they were willing to offer him a senior professional contract and submitted the new contract to the player on June 29. However, Flamini rejected the deal and signed for Arsenal on July 21.
The Lausanne-based body – sport’s highest court – have, though, now rejected the claim, confirming Marseille were only due the £326,530 (€480,000) “training compensation” fixed by FIFA last year after the French Football Federation had refused to sanction the youngster’s move to Highbury.
The CAS found the French club’s March 31 communication did not constitute a “firm offer of a professional contract as key elements of the future contract such as the salary, were not included”.
Arsenal this afternoon released the following statement, and now consider the matter closed.
“We are pleased that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has supported FIFA’s decision and rejected the claims of Olympique arseille,” the statement read.
“The decision shows that Arsenal Football Club and Mathieu Flamini have at all times acted appropriately in this matter.
“Both the club and the player are looking forward to putting this ehind them and moving on.”
