Javi Garcia is one of the hottest properties in the market currently, with his scintillating performances he’s grabbing a lot of attention from across Europe.

It is believed that several clubs will be bidding for the former Real Madrid man in the summer, and one club which were reported to have made contact with the playmaker’s agent Manuel Garcia Quillon was Manchester United although the agent himself has rubbished such rumours.

The Spaniard joined Benfica back in 2009, and has hit peak form in recent times. He is thought to be on the radar of several of the European giants, which include clubs from the Premier League, the Serie A, the Bundesliga and also the La Liga.

English champions United were reportedly in advanced talks with the 24-year old’s agent, and were keen to bring the midfield maestro to Old Trafford, but the agent has himself denied such reports. Speaking to Portuguese TV station TSF, he said, “I cannot say anything, no one has talked to me,

“There are no offers, just rumours.”

If reports from Germany are to be believed, Liverpool have intensely scouted Hertha Berlin’s midfielder Raffael, who is thought to be on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s radar, and are planning a summer bid for the Brazilian.

The 26-year old has been in stunning form this season for the German side, having scored five and created another six goals already. Liverpool, along with Arsenal, Lazio and Sampdoria are believed to be interested to land the playmaker.

Liverpool are keen to sign the South American to bolster their inconsistent midfield, and manager Kenny Dalglish would be using his resources to sign Raffael in the summer.

He will face competition from Wenger, who is also eager to infuse creativity in his young and fragile midfield. The English duo would have to fend off competition from the other two Italian sides, and also meet Hertha Berlin’s valuation of (pound) 7 million to sign the midfielder.

More or less, it seems like a two-way tug-of-war between these English giants, and one will have to wait till the summer to see which one of these sides emerges triumphant in luring the attacking midfielder.

Chelsea’s skipper and centre-back John Terry will be undergoing a surgery on his right knee, which will keep him on the sidelines for nearly two months.

The England international has been having a niggling problem in his right knee after he collided with a post while playing against Portsmouth in the FA Cup last month.

He was due to return, and had rejoined training, but his knee just got worse, and Terry will now be going under the knife, which would keep him out for nearly two months, which means that he will be missing England’s international friendly against Holland next week.

The Club released a statement before the UEFA Champions League encounter against Napoli, in which they confirmed the news regarding their captain. They stated, “John has tried hard to be ready for tonight’s game but it was clear after training last night that it was not going to be possible,”

“He will undergo an exploratory arthroscopy in the next day or so, after which the club’s medical team will be better placed to advise on a prognosis.”

Champions League Video Highlights : Marseille – Inter Milan

France Ligue 1 Video Highlights : Sochaux – Lille

France Ligue 1 Video Highlights : Saint-Etienne – Lorient

Champions League Video Highlights : Basel – Bayern Munich

Europa League Video Highlights : Manchester City – FC Porto

Italy Serie A Video Highlights : Siena – Catania

France Ligue 1 Video Highlights : Caen – Auxerre

Chelsea’s playmaker Juan Mata was disappointed after losing against Napoli in the Champions League last night but still hopes that Chelsea will be able to pass into the next round.

Former Arsenal man Samir Nasri encouraged manager Arsene Wenger to continue pushing even though the tide is against the club at the moment.

I have been away on holiday in Paris enjoying the sights and the beauty around me. Until the AC Milan game was on the tv and it made my stomach turn. I had to tell the wife I had gastric flu and not that my pains was from the Arsenal game its self. I think I may have been a single guy had I told the truth.

But moving on I have been reading and seeing small write ups on the return of older players. Steve Bould was a name that was the most regular. What I want to know is who would you bring into this badly beaten side to be by the side of Wenger. It’s not a case of Wenger out, its a case for who should replace Pat Rice and maybe a third party. Robert Pires stated on French tv that they should bring in class for ability and pure strength for the back four. He feels that guts is lacking in this team. And to be fair he may well have a strong point.

For me there is no question in my mind, and there are two names that I would bring to the Arsenal bench. Dennis Bergkamp for one must be re-signed for Arsenal as a mentor for the players. Its not a dream, it’s on the cards and it must be done. Also Martin Keown is another. The dream would be Tony Adams but he is away doing his own thing in management. Martin Keown was also a leader and he is only doing tv at the minute.

Wenger or the board must go for these two guys. Keown and Bergkamp would bring so much more to this Arsenal side. They also will bring talented players from all over. Keown is a no-nonsense guy and he gets it done. One week with that back four and I’m sure there would be a huge improvement of some kind. As for Dennis, he would bring the belief into the players of what they really can achieve at this great club. Bergkamp did the same for Robin Van Persie and I’m sure he would for the new bones at the club.

Gooners who would you bring into the club should Wenger stay and why? Give me your reasons and why they could make an impact. I’ve had a lot of time to think about this and for me Dennis and Martin in my strong opinion are the right men for the job. They have the complete package for the whole pitch from the back to the front. Yes we all know signings and paying the wages is the main course of the menu, but for me we also now have to look at something fresh to help Wenger. Martin Keown for me would be a great leader for the back four. He will scare the living shit out of these players and show them how to attack the man and the ball but in a proper way. Oh and I’m not talking about the vampire moment at Old Trafford with Ruud van Nistelrooy. Dennis, well, I don’t need to say anything about our greatest ever complete footballer at the club (and he was).

Also a question about the training methods always comes to my mind. The players at the club are always getting hamstring pains. We are either the most unlucky team with this or something is wrong on the training side. It has been raised many times by papers, mags, tv ect. Anyway Gooners I always respect your input and would love to see what you can put forward or on the table as it was. For me the menu is starters-Wenger, main meal-Martin Keown and dessert-Dennis Bergkamp. Is this an Arsenal menu that would attract or should this restaurant be closed down? Please give me your view or who would you target.

by John Collard

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The first article of mine to appear on this website early last year was about Arsenal’s squad depth. I argued that Arsenal clearly lacked depth. Even though Arsene brings in new players every season, my observation was (and still is) that these are just replacements and not real reinforcements to tackle the challenge of squad depth.

Even with these replacements, a lot of laxity has manifested itself. Many of Arsene’s signings are under-par and a Restructure is just the right word. We need a team that can compete not that one which will drop out of all competitions in a space of five days!

The list.

# 1. Squillaci.

Arsene dished out 6 million pounds for the French defender who has failed to shun his calamitous ways. He is a player who is paid for doing nothing. He never plays any football and when he comes on, horrible is an under-statement.

Bottom line – He should catch the early morning bus out of the Emirates.

#2. Almunia.

After impressing at a time Jens Lehmann seemed to lose his sight, Manuel has gone on to be as calamitous as Squillaci. For him, his laws outlast his highs. He was in goal when we lost to Barca in the UCL final, again Barca scored four past him last year, United did the same two years ago…among the many. Given all these, he has no successes to show.

Things went bad when his juniors (of which some were below 20) outclassed him to win the Arsenal Number one jersey.

Bottom line – He is horrible he should move out.

#3. Chamakh.

The North African played chuck Norris’ ‘Missing in Action’ at the just concluded AFCON tourney, in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. After an impressive start to his maiden season, Chamakh has proved to be rustier than we all think. He just cannot take on any defender – even Pascal Cygan!

Bottom line – I think he too should march out.

#4. Fabianski.

Once a promising youthful goalkeeper, Lukasz lost his grip when his understudies Szczesny and Manone rose above him to claim the number one arsenal jersey. You could argue that that by the time Vito came on, we had a goalkeeping crisis, but this does not take way the fact that he (Manone) had played a better game than Lukasz. Fabianski is still a young lad we need to see more of him at a competitive level.

Bottom line – grant him a loan spell to prove himself.

#5. Bendtner.

The Danish forward gives his best at international level contrary to what we see at club level. At Arsenal, Bendtner does more dancing than score goals! Currently on loan at Sunderland, I think he should stay there and negotiate his transfer from the stadium of light.

Bottom line – Just go!

#6. Denilson.

The Brazilian has failed to impress at Arsenal, he wanted out but no offers came for him. He is currently on loan at Sao Paulo – the club he left to join Arsenal in 2006 as a promising junior. Since the departure of both Gilberto and Flamini, Denilson has failed to capitalize on this opportunity.

Bottom line – Let him go!

#7. Djourou.

When you ask about Johan, many will tell you that he is that ‘average defender’. Unlike his predecessor Phillipe Senderos, Djourou has failed to impress despite being one of the longest serving players in the current Arsenal team.

Even when Arsene believes in him, he just cannot rise to the occasion. I do not see him mature into a formidable defender we all thought he would be (considering the fact that many excellent defenders will be already established at Johan’s age).

Bottom line – Its sad but let him go.

Conclusion.

This feature will continue in a few days time, keep on reading JustArsenalFans.com. To be continued…

by Mategyero Daniel

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Emphasis should not be forgotten on the transfer policy of the club. Arsenal sells their best and experienced players and fail to sign players of the same calibre. Instead they invest in mediocre, young and injury prone players. These players lack desire and winning mentality, and perhaps it’s Arsene who fails to inbuild that in them. I pray we end up in a champions league spot because if we continue playing like this we might end up not qualifying for the champions league. And that which will be an hindrance in attracting marquee signings to the emirates stadium. That is, even if Arsene will stop being stubborn, arrogant and loosen the purse strings.

Arsene should stop defending the underperforming players and instead haul them out. These include Arshavin, Johan Djourou, Walcott, Squillaci, Rosicky, Chamakh, and Park among others. Qualifying for the champions league has been our biggest trophy for the past six years which will be usual this year and the fans are not content with that anymore, we need to lift major trophies.The board and Arsene should give utmost attention and the urgency it deserves to the pitch situation because it is the primary secret behind their off pitch success which has put them among the best club in the money league table. For a better tomorrow of the club, Arsene should change his tactics first, dispose the under performing players and make marquee signings. With these the club will again be a force to reckon with and start to lift major trophies and all the fans will be happy again. And it wont be long before Arsenal topple Real Madrid in the money league table.

By-Ajetunmobi Ridwan Olanrewaju – Lagos, Nigeria

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