Still you should buy new quality player to replace Capt. Fabregas as playmaker, Mr. Wenger

'Arsenal Kini Lebih Solid'

Rossi Finza Noor - detiksport

London - Arsenal kini tengah memburu playmaker asal Rusia, Andrei Arshavin. Namun, seandainya Arshavin gagal didapat, Arsene Wenger mungkin tak akan kecewa karena Arsenal disebutnya sudah jauh lebih solid.

Arshavin dibidik Wenger karena manajer asal Prancis ini membutuhkan unsur kreativitas di lini tengah. Apalagi gelandang Zenit St Petersburg tergolong cukup berpengalaman, hal yang tentunya cukup berguna mengingat skuad Arsenal banyak dihuni pemain muda.

Namun, hingga kini kepastian proses transfer Arshavin masih belum jelas. Pihak The Gunners dikabarkan agak kurang setuju dengan bandrol yang diberikan Zenit, yakni sebesar 20 juta poundsterling (sekitar Rp 336 miliar).

Meskipun demikian, kondisi tersebut tak terlalu dikhawatirkan Wenger. Ia sudah cukup percaya dengan kondisi skuadnya saat ini yang disebutnya jauh lebih solid dibandingkan pada awal musim, di mana ketika itu mereka tampil cukup labil.

"Sangat jelas kami sudah jauh lebih solid dalam beberapa pekan terakhir," ujarnya seperti dilansir Sportinglife. "Sebagai tim kini kami lebih baik dalam bertahan dan saya pikir krativitas akan kembali seiring terbangunnya kepercayaan diri."

"Dan ketika Anda bermain konsisten, kepercayaan diri juga akan datang dan dengan demikian sisi kreativitas permainan juga akan datang," tandasnya.

Arsenal akan mengawali laga perdana mereka di Premiership tahun ini dengan menjamu Bolton Wanderers, Sabtu (10/1/2009). Saat ini mereka masih berada di posisi lima klasemen sementara dengan koleksi nilai 35, atau berselisih tiga angka dengan Aston Villa yang menduduki urutan empat.

( roz / roz )

Valencia Categorically Deny Villa Will Leave

The 'will he? wont he?' David Villa transfer saga has been one of the longest-running stories in Spanish football in recent years. It was Real Madrid who circled in the summer to secure his services, and now in January it is big-spending Manchester City who want to land the Spanish international.

The player himself has vehemently denied that he would be moving to pastures new, and now the club have deemed it necessary to release a statement to re-assure supporters of Los Che that their prize asset will not be sold.

Speculation has been abound that Valencia's far from stable financial situation would lead to key players being sold to balance the books, but this morning the club first of all denied that both parties had reached an agreement to allow the player to leave, and secondly that they would allow any other club to enter into negotiations regarding a possible transfer.

Simply Not True

Valencia's vice president Fernando Gomez stated in a communication to the Spanish press that the club had already demonstrated in the summer that they have no intention to sell Villa, saying the player is 'valuable' and 'one whose performance can only increase.'

He continued by saying, "It is flatly untrue that the club has agreed anything with the player or his agent.

"David is happy at Valencia and we are extremely satisfied with his involvement and performance. It is irresponsible that this information would be released on the day of such an important game (against Atletico Madrid)"

Villa opened the scoring from the penalty spot in his sides 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid, a victory that moved Los Che into second position, albeit temporarily, in the Primera Division table.

Paul Macdonald

Ex-Fiorentina Director Sees Roma Future For Pazzini

Giampaolo Pazzini looks poised to leave Fiorentina after four years during the January transfer window.

A host of clubs are said to be in contention to secure his services but former Gigliati transfer guru Fabrizio Lucchesi believes AS Roma would be an excellent choice.

“He could certainly play for them, as he is a quality player,” Lucchesi told Fiorentinanews.com.

“I reckon that much will depend on the system and the tactics that Luciano Spalletti will employ during [Francesco] Totti’s absence. But Pazzini can totally fit into their squad.”

Lucchesi captured the 24-year-old from Atalanta in 2005, but his stint in Tuscany has been overshadowed by the towering presence of Luca Toni and now Alberto Gilardino.

Sampdoria and Palermo are also allegedly keen to reel him in this month, but Premier League side Everton could join the hunt.

“I feel Pazzini is one of the brightest Italian prospects,” continued Lucchesi. “He can still improve, but he needs to play more in order to mature.

“However, I won’t rule out the possibility of him staying put in Florence, as the transfer market is odd and plans can change overnight.”

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

Bayern Munich’s Lukas Podolski Confirms Roma Link

Lukas Podolski has grown frustrated at his peripheral role at Bayern Munich and could opt to move on during the January transfer window.

Roma are in the hunt for a hitman to better cope with Francesco Totti’s absence and reports in the peninsula allege that the Germany international has ended up on their shopping list.

“I know that Roma are tracking me and would like to sign me,” Podolski told German weekly Bunte.

“I would have no problems in moving there, as they are a big club, even though I doubt Romans can speak Kolsch…”

Kolsch is the dialect spoken in Koln, where the 23-year-old grew up and started his footballing career, and the Bundesliga side are also allegedly interested to re-signing him.

“I need to play and cannot keep sitting on the bench,” insisted the striker. “I am not comfortable staying in Munich anymore and I feel it’s time to leave.

“I think I’m ready for an experience abroad, including Italy, but I know that a number of sides are after me in England too, namely Manchester City and Tottenham.

“My final choice will not be influenced by money, as my only desire is to play, possibly for a big side.”

Vince Masiello, Goal.com