Gooner Talk

Paris Saint-Germain director of football Leonardo has confirmed that the Ligue 1 side wanted Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as their new manager before they appointed Carlo Ancelotti last month.

The Paris giants’, who were taken over by new Qatari owners last summer, had been looking for an experienced manager since sacking Antoine Kombouare in December.

Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the spearhead of Qatar Sports Investments, made a ‘tentative enquiry’ over bringing Wenger to Parc des Princes last month but did not even receive a response from Arsenal officials.

“It was normal that for a project in France, when you are looking for a new manager, you think of a French coach”, Leonardo told French football TV show Telefoot.

“It is natural that the name of Arsene Wenger came into my head.”

Wenger, who after 14 years with Arsenal is already the club’s longest-serving manager, signed a new contract until 2014 almost two years.

Stay tuned to our build-up towards Saturday’s Premier League clash away to Sunderland. All the latest team news can be found on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Arsenal’s past, present and future all scored as an impressive Gunners side demolished 10-man Blackburn 7-1 at Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger’s men scored early on through Robin van Persie’s tap-in, before Morten Gamst Pederson struck a sumptious free-kick to equalise.

However, two goals in two minutes from van Persie and highly-rated youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put Arsenal back in front where shortly after Rovers defender Gael Givet received a red card.

Second half strikes from Mikel Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, van Persie made it 6-1, before Arsenal legend Thierry Henry scored a trademark goal to complete a terrific Gunners performance.

Arsenal are a top priced 1.3 with Betfred for their “must win” game against Blackburn at the Emirates this weekend.

Things haven’t gone right for the Gunners since the New Year, and they have not won any of their last four games in the Premiership and currently sit in seventh place as a result.

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The way the transfer window in the summer of 2011 at Arsenal was handled, let alone this January, has been proven to have been exceptionally poor. Park is not an Arsenal player. Shirt sales in Korea and a good attitude are all he has brought. Thierry Henry being used in a 4-3-3 is an inefficient use of his strengths and exaggerates what he is no longer able to do – rather than what he can. Why are Arsenal in this position? I think Wenger has written off this season and does not feel he can get the players of the requisite calibre to regain a Champions League place during January, so he will persist with players that he probably knows cannot without a significant turnaround of Arsenal’s injury situation. 

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Arsenal failed to find the net against a resilient Bolton side on Wednesday evening in what was a frustrating game for Arsene Wenger’s men.

Arsenal’s Starting XI v Bolton: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Ramsey, Song, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, van Persie (c).

Subs: Fabianski (GK), Coquelin, Benayoun, Arshavin, Rosicky, Park, Henry.

Top goalscorer Robin van Persie could have given the Gunners an early lead, but his header was cleared off the line by David Wheater.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should have done better soon after, but the winger could only fire wide after being put through by Van Persie.

David N’Gog was Bolton’s most lively player of the first half as he saw one effort saved by Wojciech Szczesny before another ruled out for offside.

The Gunners came to within inches of taking a second-half lead as Van Persie struck the post and then the crossbar.

Thierry Henry was introduced, but he failed to make the breakthrough for Arsene Wenger’s side.

Mark Davies could have won it for the Trotters in the final minutes, but the midfielder put his effort wide after cutting into the area.

Leave your thoughts on the match in the comments section below.

Tomas Rosicky is expected to be offered a one-year contract extension by Arsenal, after his agent flew in for talks with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger yesterday evening.

The Czech Republic skipper has started just five Premier League games this season, which has sparked speculation over his future at Emirates Stadium.

Rosicky’s representative, Pavel Paska, arrived in London last night following reported interest from Fulham, although that was quickly dismissed as ‘press speculation’ by the Czech’s agent.

French tactician Wenger has been mulling over Rosicky’s future in recent weeks and its no surprise that contract talks have begun, with Wenger a massive admirer of the former Borussia Dortmund player’s professionalism and determination to return from long-term injury.

Arsenal’s injuries in midfield (Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin & Mikel Arteta) and several assured cameo appearances from Rosicky look to have earned the 31-year-old an extension expected to be in the region of £50,000-per-week.

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