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Date of birth: 22 October 1949
Nationality: French
Playing career: AS Mutzig, FC Mulhouse, AS Vauban, RC Strasbourg
Coaching career: RC Strasbourg (assistant coach), AS Cannes (assistant coach), AS Nancy-Lorraine, AS Monaco FC, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Arsenal FC
Arsène Wenger was never covered in glory as a player, but has more than made up for his lack of playing success in his time as a coach, turning Arsenal FC into one of Europe's top teams thanks to his incredible eye for a bargain and his astute footballing mind.
Born in Strasbourg in 1949, Wenger worked at RC Strasbourg and AS Cannes before AS Nancy-Lorraine offered him his big break into management. He impressed sufficiently to be offered the job as coach of AS Monaco FC in 1987. Within a year Monaco scooped the French championship and Wenger the Manager of the Year award. He reportedly turned down France and FC Bayern München to continue at Monaco, although he did move on to Japan and enjoy tremendous success with Nagoya Grampus Eight.
Appointed by Arsenal in September 1996, Wenger became the first foreigner to win the Premiership title in 1998, adding the first of four FA Cup triumphs to boot. The Gunners lost the 2000 UEFA Cup final to Galatasaray SK but claimed another double in 2002, and in 2004 played some swashbuckling football en route to becoming the first team since Preston North End FC in 1889 to negotiate a top-flight season unbeaten. Already given the freedom of Islington for his success in north London, Wenger's status would rise to God-like levels should he steer Arsenal to UEFA Champions League glory.
UEFA club competition milestones
• This season has witnessed Arsenal FC advance to the semi-final stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time although they have already been involved in both UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Cup finals.
• The London club played in three UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals, triumphing in the 1993/94 season when they overcame Parma FC 1-0 thanks to Alan Smith's 22nd-minute goal. The other finals ended in narrow defeats by Valencia CF and Real Zaragoza in 1979/80 and 1994/95 respectively. Following their elimination from the 1999/00 UEFA Champions League at the end of the group stage, Arsenal advanced to the UEFA Cup final only to lose on penalties to Galatasaray SK at Copenhagen's Parken stadium.
UEFA club competition honours
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1993/94
Ten-year record
• Arsenal are making their eighth successive attempt at winning the UEFA Champions League with their best performance before this season being two quarter-final appearances in the competition during the 2000/01 and 2003/04 seasons. On the first occasion, the Gunners lost on away goals to Valencia CF after the two sides shared four goals, while more recently, Chelsea FC denied them a place in the last four with a 3-2 aggregate success that included a 2-1 victory at Highbury.
1996/97: UEFA Cup, first round
1997/98: UEFA Cup, first round
1998/99: UEFA Champions League, group stage
1999/00: UEFA Cup, finalists having transferred from the UEFA Champions League group stage
2000/01: UEFA Champions League, quarter-finals
2001/02: UEFA Champions League, second group stage
2002/03: UEFA Champions League, second group stage
2003/04: UEFA Champions League, quarter-finals
2004/05: UEFA Champions League, first knockout round
2005/06: UEFA Champions League, semi-finals
2005/06 season
• In the 2004/05 season, Arsenal trailed Chelsea by 12 points in the English Premiership, finishing second ahead of Manchester United FC by a further six points. The second-placed finish provided Arsenal with an automatic spot in the group stage, extending their sequence of never having played a qualifying round match in the competition.
• Arsenal advanced to the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League group stage as one of the 16 automatic qualifiers.
• With five victories from their opening five engagements, Arsenal qualified with some ease for the knockout stages. The only blemish to their record came on Matchday 6 when they were held to a scoreless draw by AFC Ajax. Otherwise, the record books show ten goals scored and two conceded from their six matches.
• A daunting trip to the Santiago Bernabéu to face Real Madrid CF was the Gunners' reward for topping their group, but a Thierry Henry goal separated the sides before they battled out a scoreless draw in the return leg in the English capital, thus providing Arsenal with their third trip to the quarter-finals in the last six years.
• Arsenal then reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time in their history after a goalless draw away to Juventus earned them a 2-0 aggregate win. The Gunners had earlier won in London as goals in each half from Cesc Fabregas (40) and Thierry Henry (69) gave them a two-goal advantage that Juve were unable to breach.
Key facts
• To date, the Gunners have played 79 matches in the UEFA Champions League, winning 36, drawing 22 and losing 21. In that time, Arsenal have scored 111 goals and conceded 83.
• Their overall European Champion Clubs' Cup record (including all qualifying round matches) reads, played 89, won 41, drawn 23 and lost 25 with 132 goals scored and 93 conceded.
• Overall, Arsenal have played 143 matches in UEFA club competition with 68 wins, 38 draws and 37 losses. In those matches, they have scored 225 times while conceding 147 goals.
Records
UEFA club competition
• Biggest win
0-7: R. Standard de Liège v Arsenal FC
03.11.1993, 1993/94 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, second round, second leg
Having won the opening leg 3-0 in London, Arsenal heaped further misery on Standard, running up seven goals without reply in a season in which they went on to win the competition. Kevin Campbell (42 and 80 minutes) scored twice with other goals from Alan Smith (3), Ian Selley (20), Tony Adams (36), Paul Merson (72) and Eddie McGoldrick (81).
• Biggest home win
6-1: Arsenal FC v FK Austria Wien
18.09.1991, 1991/92 European Champion Clubs' Cup, first round, first leg
Four second-half goals from Alan Smith (51, 53, 65 and 65 minutes) including two in a minute effectively ended Austria Wien's interest in the competition. Andy Linighan (37) and Anders Limpar (77) started and finished the scoring with Andy Ogris (56) getting the Austrians' consolation.
• Biggest away win
0-7: R. Standard de Liège v Arsenal FC (see above for details)
• Heaviest defeat
0-3: Arsenal FC v FC Internazionale Milano
17.09.2003, 2003/04 UEFA Champions League, group stage
The Gunners' group stage campaign got off to the worst possible start against Inter as goals from Julio Cruz (22), Andy van der Meyde (24) and Obafemi Martins (41) condemned them to a 3-0 defeat at Highbury. Arsenal would eventually recover to advance to the knockout stage, gaining revenge for the 3-0 reverse in London by defeating Inter 5-1 at the Giuseppe Meazza.
4-1: FC Spartak Moskva v Arsenal FC
22.11.2000, 2000/01 UEFA Champions League, second group stage
Arsenal opened the second group stage with a comprehensive defeat at the Luzhniki stadium despite taking the lead after two minutes through Silvinho. Marçao (29 and 50 minutes) scored either side of the interval before Egor Titov (77) and Robson (82) rounded off a comfortable win for the Russian side.
3-0: FC Shakhtar Donetsk v Arsenal FC
07.11.2000, 2000/01 UEFA Champions League, first group stage
With their qualification assured for the second group stage, Arsenal failed to trouble Shakhtar in the Ukraine with Serhiy Atelkin (34), Andriy Vorobey (57) and Olexiy Bielik (66) scoring for the home side.
2-5: Arsenal FC v SK Spartak Moskva
29.09.1982, 1982/83 UEFA Cup, first round, second leg
Trailing 3-2 from the opening leg in the Soviet capital, Arsenal found themselves four goals in arrears to Spartak at Highbury following goals from Sergei Schvetsov (22), Sergei Rodionov (56) and Fyodor Cherenkov (65 and 72). Chris Whyte (74) and Lee Chapman (89) scored Arsenal's consolation goals, sandwiching an Edgar Hess (78) strike for the visitors who advanced 8-4 on aggregate.
• Heaviest home defeat
0-3: Arsenal FC v FC Internazionale Milano (see above for details)
2-5: Arsenal FC v SK Spartak Moskva (see above for details)
• Heaviest away defeat
4-1: FC Spartak Moskva v Arsenal FC (see above for details)
3-0: FC Shakhtar Donetsk v Arsenal FC (see above for details)
UEFA Champions League (group stage to final only)
• Biggest win
5-1: Arsenal FC v Rosenborg BK
07.12.2004, 2004/05 UEFA Champions League, group stage
Arsenal concluded their group stage campaign with a 5-1 defeat of Rosenborg at Highbury, spreading the goalscoring plaudits among five players - José Antonio Reyes (3), Thierry Henry (24), Cesc Fabregas (29), Robert Pirès (41) and Robin van Persie (84) with Erik Hoftun (38) on target for the visitors' consolation.
1-5: FC Internazionale Milano v Arsenal FC
25.11.2003, 2003/04 UEFA Champions League, group stage
Three goals in the last five minutes condemned Inter to a four-goal defeat with Thierry Henry (25 and 85) and Robert Pirès (88 and 89) both scoring twice as the Gunners gained revenge for their 3-0 home defeat on the opening matchday.
0-4: PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal FC
25.09.2002, 2002/03 UEFA Champions League, group stage
Ahead after 20.07 seconds through Gilberto Silva, Arsenal added three second-half goals through Fredrik Ljungberg (66) and Thierry Henry (81 and 90+2) to complete a comfortable victory in Eindhoven.
• Biggest home win
5-1: Arsenal FC v Rosenborg BK (see above for details)
• Biggest away win
1-5: FC Internazionale Milano v Arsenal FC (see above for details)
0-4: PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal FC (see above for details)
• Heaviest defeat
4-1: FC Spartak Moskva v Arsenal FC (see above for details)
3-0: FC Shakhtar Donetsk v Arsenal FC (see above for details)
• Heaviest home defeat
0-3: Arsenal FC v FC Internazionale Milano (see above for details)
• Heaviest away defeat
4-1: FC Spartak Moskva v Arsenal FC (see above for details)
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Thierry Henry's importance to Arsenal FC this season has been greater than ever. Taking over the captain's armband from Patrick Vieira has brought added responsibility to a man already looked upon to provide pace, goals and inspiration in a young and inexperienced team. "You can see a more responsible, commanding attitude in him," manager Arsène Wenger said as Henry warmed to his new role earlier this season. "The team is growing together with Thierry slowly becoming the leader on the pitch." Both Henry and Arsenal took time to adapt to life without Vieira; that transformation is now complete.
No box fox
Injury kept the French international out of the Arsenal's first two UEFA Champions League ties, but he was back with a bang in October, scoring twice in the 2-0 win away to AC Sparta Praha. His second goal was his 186th for Arsenal, making him the club's record scorer in all competitions - not bad for a one-time winger not known for his scoring prowess. "He was not a typical goalscorer when he started," said Wenger who moved Henry into the centre after signing him from Juventus in 1999. "He was not the guy hunting in the box. It is inexplicable that this guy who was not interested in scoring goals can end up scoring so many."
Stylish and spectacular
It is a mystery few defences can solve, including Real Madrid CF in the first knockout round. Collecting the ball near the halfway line in the first leg the 28-year-old ran at the Merengues defence, riding three challenges before shooting beyond Iker Casillas without breaking his stride. It was the only goal over 180 minutes; Henry had proven the difference. The 28-year-old is elegant and stylish, a master of the spectacular, but above all the ruthless finisher of Arsenal's slick passing. He leads by example, setting the standard for his young team-mates to aspire to in terms of skill but also work-rate, tracking back in defence or dropping deep to win the ball even when asked to lead the line alone as he did against Madrid. Arsenal's hopes rest on the shoulders of one man, but with Henry in the side they can never be discounted.
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Key facts
• Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals three times since the turn of the millennium, but have never gone further. In 2003/04 they completed the entire English Premiership season unbeaten but were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by domestic rivals Chelsea FC.
• Arsenal's nemesis in recent seasons has been John Carew, whose goals for Valencia CF eliminated them in 2000/01 and 2002/03. The Norwegian striker now plays for Olympique Lyonnais, whom Arsenal could meet in this season's final.
• Arsenal's first foray into the European Champion Clubs' Cup came in 1971/72, when they lost 3-1 on aggregate to AFC Ajax in the quarter-finals. The Dutch side went on to win the competition, the second of three straight triumphs.
• After a 20-year wait, Arsenal returned to the competition in 1991/92 but were knocked out in the second round by SL Benfica having defeated FK Austria Wien in the previous stage.
• Arsenal's inaugural UEFA Champions League campaign took place in 1998/99, but they were overshadowed by fellow Premiership side Manchester United FC, who lifted the trophy while the London club fell at the group stage.
• Manager Arsène Wenger had one taste of the European Cup before moving to Highbury in 1996. He took AS Monaco FC into the competition in 1988/89, but the French champions fell – yet again at the quarter-final stage – to Galatasaray SK.
• Arsenal won their first major European trophy in 1969/70 when they lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, and followed that up with the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1993/94, while they also lost in the final of the latter competition in 1979/80 and 1994/95 to Valencia and Real Zaragoza respectively. More recently, they reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 1999/00, but lost on penalties to Galatasaray after a goalless draw.
Team tactics
• Arsène Wenger abandoned his usual 4-4-2 formation in the Round of 16 tie against Real Madrid CF, instead opting for a 4-5-1 with Thierry Henry operating as an unorthodox lone striker with licence to drift out to the left. In this lineup, Fredrik Ljungberg supports the Frenchman from midfield, while José Antonio Reyes and Aleksandr Hleb occupy the left and right flanks respectively. Brazilian international Gilberto provides defensive steel, allowing the supremely creative 18-year-old Cesc Fabregas to concentrate on distributing the ball.
• The defence which twice kept Madrid at bay was a makeshift one, featuring Mathieu Flamini at left-back in the absence of the injured Ashley Cole. The central partnership of Philippe Senderos and Kolo Touré seems to be blossoming with English international Sol Campbell also out injured, while Touré's Ivory Coast compatriot Emmanuel Eboué is a dynamic runner at right-back having taken over from Lauren, who will miss the rest of the season. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann adds valuable experience behind a youthful defence.
• With January signing Emmanuel Adebayor ineligible and veteran Dennis Bergkamp rarely asked to complete 90 minutes, Robin van Persie is the likely candidate to partner Henry up front if Wenger opts to return to 4-4-2. If he does, then Ljungberg or Hleb would drop out from midfield, although Reyes can also operate in a more advanced role.
Last five seasons
2000/01: The English side eased through the first group stage, but the second group stage proved rather harder. They eventually edged into the last eight ahead of Lyon, who finished level with Arsenal on eight points, despite winning just two of their six matches. In the quarter-finals Arsenal defeated Valencia 2-1 in the first leg at Highbury, but a 1-0 reverse at the Mestalla took the Spanish side into the last four on away goals.
2001/02: Arsenal again qualified automatically for the UEFA Champions League group stage, and progressed in second place behind Panathinaikos FC. The established order was turned on its head in the second group stage, however, as Bayer 04 Leverkusen and RC Deportivo La Coruña went through to the last eight and Arsenal and Juventus were eliminated.
2002/03: Another ultimately disappointing season in the UEFA Champions League for the English club, who again fell at the second group stage. Victory against AS Roma on Matchday 7 put them in pole position, but four draws followed and a defeat against Valencia on the final matchday meant Arsenal lost out to the Spanish side and AFC Ajax.
2003/04: The highlight of an anticlimactic campaign came in the group stage, when Arsenal pulled off an impressive 5-1 victory against FC Internazionale Milano at the San Siro. Despite remaining unbeaten in winning their domestic league title, Wenger's team came unstuck against English opponents in the quarter-finals, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Chelsea.
2004/05: The UEFA Champions League followed a familiar pattern again as Arsenal negotiated the early stages before running out of steam. This time a Round of 16 tie against FC Bayern München proved their undoing, as a 3-1 first-leg defeat in Munich left them too much to do in the return fixture at Highbury, and they bowed out after only managing a 1-0 victory in the second leg.
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Arsenal defender Ashley Cole is set to put his injury nightmare behind him with a return to the squad for Monday's Premiership trip to Sunderland.
Cole, 25, played 90 minutes for the reserves on Thursday evening, having fully recovered from an ankle problem sustained in February.
The full-back has been hampered by injuries since October, with a broken bone in his foot and a thigh problem.
His return will boost his chances of making the England's World Cup squad.
The World Cup in Germany gets under way on 9 June and Cole will be hoping to get back to be fully match fit to ensure his selection by England manager Sven Goran Eriksson. The left-back broke a bone in his foot in October and suffered a three-month spell on the sidelines before sustaining a thigh injury in January and an ankle problem the following month.
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Arsenal will be without four of their heroes from Villarreal for the game at Sunderland on Monday afternoon.
Alex Hleb (knee) is doubtful while Gilberto (ankle) and Mathieu Flamini (hamstring) are definitely out. Jose Antonio Reyes will also be missing after having his wisdom teeth out. On the upside, Ashley Cole is likely to be included in the first team squad for only the second time since October 2.
All the newly injured players could be fit for Thursday’s trip to Manchester City. However Philippe Senderos, who injured his knee against Tottenham last Saturday, is expected to be missing for three weeks. Theo Walcott suffered a knee injury himself in the Reserves on Thursday night and will not be involved at the Stadium of Light.
“We have a few injuries,” said Wenger at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “Alexander Hleb is doubtful for Monday, he has a little knee problem. Gilberto will be out certainly with an ankle problem.
“We have Flamini (hamstring), Senderos (knee) and Reyes, with the extraction of his wisdom teeth. But they could be back on Thursday.
“Theo Walcott got injured in the Reserves last night and came off after 10 minutes, but we think it will be a question of days rather than weeks.”
Cole played another 90 minutes in that 3-1 victory at West Ham. Having not had a recognised left back for six months, Wenger now has two. Gael Clichy came on for the injured Flamini at El Madrigal on Tuesday.
“Ashley played last night and came through well," said Wenger. "He had no problem today, and will be available for Monday.
“At the back I do not think there will be lot to change, maybe Ashley can come in I do not know yet but Clichy has done well. Sol Campbell will play at centre back though.”
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Arsène Wenger does not want to take on the role of England coach and, despite the FA's widely reported interest in Luiz Felipe Scolari, still feels the job should go to a domestic manager.
The Frenchman will celebrate a decade in charge at Arsenal this September. It has been a period of unprecedented success and the jewel in Wenger’s crown could be a few weeks away when they take on Barcelona in the Champions League Final.
The 55-year-old’s name is always mentioned when England have to appoint a new coach. There was a groundswell of support for an English coach this time around but it appeared early on Friday that the Football Association would be appointing Scolari, a Brazilian. That interest may have cooled so, the question remains, would Wenger be interested?
"I am very honoured that some people think I could do the job but I am not a candidate,” he said at Friday’s press conference before the Portugal manager suggested he might pull out of the race. “I am completely focussed on what I am doing at Arsenal.
"I have said all along that I feel this country is ready for an Englishman and that would be my choice. I have no doubt about the quality, the class and the personality of Scolari. He is a good choice. I know him well. I met him a few times. He came here when he was Brazilian coach to watch Gilberto. I like him as a man and as a coach. But I think England are ready for an England manager this time."
Wenger is not just ruling himself out of the top job in this country. He feels international management anywhere would involve a dramatic change of pace.
“I can not say never,” he remarked. “But at the moment it has never crossed my mind. I am very happy with what I do. I like to get up in the morning and do something with my day, every day. Also I feel in a club you get more freedom. In the national team you depend a lot on the quality of players who are available.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to back down from his explosive touchline row with Tottenham boss Martin Jol during the North London derby.
The Frenchman was fuming when Spurs did not kick the ball out of play, as two Arsenal players appeared injured, in the build-up to Robbie Keane's opening goal at Highbury.
Thierry Henry came off the bench to equalise but Wenger fumed afterwards and felt Jol was not telling the truth when claiming he had not seen the incident.
"For me, it's behind [me]," he told Sky Sports News. "I said at the time what I felt and what I saw and I don't bear any grudge against anybody after that.
"I just felt I didn't enjoy what happened. I didn't like it and came out with it after.
"If I'm wrong, I'm sorry but that's how I saw the whole story and I cannot say much more about it."
Wenger riled at the suggestion that he should apologise to Jol for apparently calling the Dutchman a "liar".
"Why? What was very strong language?" countered the Arsenal boss.
"I suppose that story, you check the story on television, I just said if I was wrong, I am sorry.
"I'm not convinced that I was."
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England left-back Ashley Cole has played down suggestions that he will be leaving Arsenal this summer.
Cole has two years remaining on his Gunners contract and has been linked with a big-money move to Real Madrid.
The 25-year-old was fined last year for breaking Premier League rules by discussing transfer to Chelsea.
But he said: "I'm staying. Who said I was leaving? There has been a lot of speculation about me leaving but I've not thought about it."
Cole will return to the Gunners squad at Sunderland on Monday and aims to make his first appearance for the first team since he came on as a substitute against Middlesbrough on January 14.
A thigh strain and then ankle problems have kept him out since then, but he returned to action in the reserves on Thursday.
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Barcelona winger Ludovic Giuly believes Thierry Henry will leave Arsenal for the Catalan side this summer.
In January striker Henry, 28, pledged to stay at Arsenal, but since then he has repeatedly been linked with Barca.
Giuly told the News of the World: "We speak on the telephone all the time and we have had a conversation recently. I think he's coming.
"He will get a great welcome in Barcelona because everybody is excited thinking about him in our shirt."
Arsenal and Barcelona will contest the Champions League final on 17 May at the Stade de France in Paris.
Giuly added of Henry: "He is one of the world's top players and can only make our team better."
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Arsenal FC have confirmed their midfield player Abou Diaby "suffered a fractured, dislocated ankle" towards the end of yesterday's 3-0 defeat of relegated Sunderland AFC, ruling the 19-year-old out of the UEFA Champions League final against FC Barcelona on 17 May in his native Paris.
'Unacceptable'
Diaby, who has played 12 Premiership matches and appeared in two UEFA Champions League games since his January transfer from AJ Auxerre, was hurt late in the game following a Dan Smith challenge which incensed Arsène Wenger. The Arsenal manager said: "In my opinion the injury is a shame because it was a bad kick and an unneeded one. It is a big blow to lose a player like that. It is one thing to lose a player but it is the spirit of the way he has been kicked is just not acceptable. "
Missing out
Diaby left the field on a stretcher and will now miss the remainder of the season. His injury will also be felt across the English Channel, as Diaby was set to earn a place in the France squad which will compete at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship from 23 May. Diaby made his U21 debut against Slovakia on 28 February but now joins Toulouse FC defender Daniel Congré and LOSC Lille Métropole midfielder Mathieu Debuchy in being ruled out of the tournament in northern Portugal.
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Arsenal FC kept alive their chances of catching Tottenham Hotspur FC in the English Premiership's fourth position by winning 3-0 away to relegated Sunderland AFC today.
First-half frenzy
The UEFA Champions League finalists, who started the match seven points behind their north London rivals but with two games in hand, won at a canter once Sunderland defender Danny Collins had headed into his own net on 29 minutes. Cesc Fabregas doubled the lead in the 40th minute with a cool finish from Thierry Henry's pass, before the Frenchman made it three with a 43rd-minute free-kick.
Diaby blow
The only negative for Arsenal was a late injury to midfielder Abou Diaby who left the field on a stretcher after being the recipient of a mistimed tackle. England's fourth UEFA Champions League qualifying spot remains Tottenham's to lose, however, with the White Hart Lane club being four points above Arsenal with one match remaining compared to the Gunners' two.
Old Trafford draw
In Monday's evening games, meanwhile, Manchester United FC were held to a 0-0 draw by UEFA Cup finalists Middlesbrough FC at Old Trafford. The result moves United one point above Liverpool FC and into sole possession of second place in the Premiership. However, the hosts were left to rue a second-half penalty miss by Ruud van Nistelrooij. Elsewhere, Nigel Reo-Coker's first-half goal gave FA Cup finalists West Ham United FC a 1-0 victory at relegated West Bromwich Albion FC.
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To some, a victory in the Champions League Final might have a sense of “closure” for Arsène Wenger. Beating Barcelona would give him his “holy grail” in his 10th season at Arsenal and the last the Club will ever enjoy at Highbury.
However, for the man himself, it is the end of nothing and the start of everything.
“I have said before that the only thing we have missed since I started here was to do well in the Champions League,” remarked Wenger before the weekend fixtures. “At the moment as long as we don't do it you feel that people will always question why we didn't.
“I'm very happy that we've got to the Final and I want to finish the job on May 17 in a great way.
“But I don't think it will be the end of anything at all. I think it's start of a new era because this is a very young team. Players like Cesc Fabregas, Philippe Senderos, Mathieu Flamini, Emmanuel Eboue, Robin van Persie and Jose Antonio Reyes - they have started with the Champions League Final at their age. It's just the[beginning] for them.”
The question of Wenger’s future will arise if, to make a massive assumption, Arsenal do lift the Champions League trophy in Paris. What do you win if you are the man who has won everything?
The 56-year-old is not thinking in those terms at this stage and anyway he concedes that, whatever happens, his heart will belong at Highbury
“I don't know, I don’t know,” he replied when asked if this would be his last job in football. "I always honour my contracts and my [current] contract runs out in 2008. Of course part of it was to stay through to the opening of the new stadium and keep the team going. After 2008, what I will do? I don't know.
“But Arsenal is the club of my life. I have been here from the age of 45 to 55. It's an age in your life when you have enough experience not to be stupid.
“But,” he added with a laugh, “you can still manage to be stupid sometimes.”
“Still I have managed to be successful in my time [at Arsenal] so, of course, it will always be my Club."
Ronaldinho & Thierry Henry face the media
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Details have been issued of the media open days to be staged by the UEFA Champions League finalists FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC in the week leading up to the final at the Stade de France on Wednesday 17 May. The open days will give media representatives the chance to interview coaches and players. UEFA said today that due to heavy demand, there may not be other opportunities to do so before the teams arrive in Paris.
Barcelona
Barcelona have scheduled their media open day for Wednesday 10 May at the Camp Nou, starting with a training session at 11.00CET on the pitch at La Masía adjacent to the stadium. The interview session will begin once training has been completed. Accreditation will be required. Requests should be sent to Francesc Orenes using premsa@club.fcbarcelona.com by Friday 5 May, indicating any preferences for interviews. Accreditations for the international media can be collected at the reception in the Barcelona offices (Access 11). At the Camp Nou, media should use Access 7 and Gate 15 (Porta 15). Local media with season passes do not require additional accreditation.
Arsenal
Arsenal will hold their media open day 24 hours later on Thursday 11 May. The event will take place at the Arsenal training complex at London Colney. The nearest town is Shenley, Hertfordshire. As in Barcelona, the open day will commence with a training session at 11.00 local time (12.00CET), with the interview session getting under way at approximately 12.30. A press card will be required in order to gain access.
Final arrangements
Media arrangements preceding the final have also been confirmed. Arsenal will stick to their routine of not training at the venue, while Barcelona will train at the Stade de France on Tuesday 16 May. Their session is scheduled to start at 19.00CET and will be open to the media. Arsenal's training session at London Colney on Monday 15 May will be open to the media for 15 minutes, and the gates will be opened at 12.00.
Pre-match plans
At the Stade de France, Arsenal, represented by manager Arsène Wenger and two players, will hold their pre-match press conference at 17.45 on Tuesday 16 May. Barcelona's press conference, featuring coach Frank Rijkaard and two players will follow at approximately 18.30. Accreditation will be required for the press conferences and the Barcelona training session, and only media whose applications have been approved by UEFA will be able to attend. Accreditations can be collected from the accreditation centre adjacent to the Stade de France on Monday (16.00-18.00) or Tuesday (10.00-13.00 and 15.00-20.00). On the day of the final, the accreditation centre will be open from 10.00-21.00.
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Arsenal are considering taking legal action against Sunderland's Dan Smith following his challenge on Gunners midfielder Abou Diaby.
The 19-year-old Frenchman was left with a fractured and dislocated ankle in the wake of the challenge, which rules him out of the Champions League final.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and several of Diaby's team-mates were left fuming following the incident on Monday.
And Wenger said on Wednesday legal proceedings were now being considered.
Shortly after the incident, the Gunners boss said: "It is frustrating and unacceptable because the player had no intention of going for the ball in my opinion."
And now Wenger has suggested that Smith should be banned for the same length of time Diaby is on the sidelines injured.
"I felt, having watched the game, that there were bad intentions there and I will take legal advice to take this game further.
"The player should be banned as long as Abou Diaby does not play. When you see that he gets a yellow card it is just horrendous."
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Ashley Cole will make his first start since October 2 when Arsenal visit Manchester City on Thursday night.
The left back has been troubled by foot and ankle injuries for much of this term. Since the discovery of a stress fracture while on England duty late last year, the 25-year-old has played just 56 minutes against Middlesbrough on January 14 and 25 minutes at the Stadium of Light on Monday. That is set to change.
"Ashley Cole will play tomorrow night,” said Arsène Wenger at his pre-match press conference. “Gael Clichy is rested.”
Cole is one of a number of established names returning to the Arsenal squad.
“Alex Hleb is back in the group,” said Wenger. “Jose Antonio Reyes and Freddie Ljungberg too. Dennis Bergkamp is rested but Gilberto is back in the group.”
Striker Emmanuel Adebayor is out with a sinus infection
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Arsenal's Thierry Henry has added to his growing list of accolades by being named Premiership Player of the Season.
The France international, 28, is the leading Premiership goalscorer with 24 strikes and has also picked up this season's football writers' award.
He surpassed Cliff Bastin's club goal-scoring record in October before going on to become the first Arsenal player to score 200 goals for the club.
He also took over the Arsenal captaincy following Patrick Vieira's departure.
Matt Appleby, from the Barclays Awards Panel, said: "Henry has graced Arsenal's last season at Highbury in magnificent style.
"He combines moments of brilliance and entertainment with match-winning goals.
"No wonder he was described by one opposition manager as 'unplayable'."
His 24 goals have come in 30 Premiership appearances in 2005/2006, including 17 goals at Highbury.
Frank Lampard won last year's prize after guiding Chelsea to the Premiership title.
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The Football Association has written to Manchester City's David Sommeil after allegations he was racially abused by Arsenal's Robin van Persie.
Arsenal defeated City 3-1 at Eastlands on Thursday and Sommeil informed referee Graham Poll of the alleged incident during the first half.
"We went to see Poll, he informed us there had been an allegation of racial abuse," said City boss Stuart Pearce.
Poll spoke to both players individually on the pitch following the incident.
Pearce added: "None of my players mentioned it to me at half-time or after the game.
"But if someone does come and speak to me about it, it will be taken very seriously."
The incident was believed to have taken place after a tussle in the penalty box.
The FA is now awaiting Sommeil's response before deciding whether to launch a formal inquiry.
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Manager Arsene Wenger believes West Ham could do Arsenal a favour on Sunday as the Gunners battle with Tottenham to finish fourth in the Premiership.
The Hammers host Spurs and Arsenal play Wigan as the race for a Champions League berth goes down to the wire.
"We have to do the job and win our game but it's in the interests of West Ham to win their match too," said Wenger.
Spurs are missing some injured players but boss Martin Jol said: "We have been unlucky but we are strong enough."
Striker Robbie Keane is extremely doubtful but Jol said he could take a risk on the stand-in captain.
"Robbie is probably the one I would risk but it is still 90-10 against him playing. It is all down to whether he can play with the injury - a twisted ankle.
We intend to give everything and a bit more to make everyone at this club and the supporters as happy as can be ~ Martin Jol
"But for the last four or five matches we've had to cope with injuries and done well. That's the only thing you can hope for.
"It is probably the biggest game of my managerial career.
"It is in our hands to finish above the other teams. We never lost a back-to-back match and the last time that happened was in 1950. That shows our mentality because we were not in a situation where we could afford to lose games for the last couple of months.
"We will give it a real go against West Ham. That's what we intend to do - to give everything and a bit more to make everyone at this club and the supporters as happy as can be."
Wenger backed West Ham to put on a "professional" display against Tottenham the week before their FA Cup final against Liverpool.
"If you have a cup final it is better to play well in the game before, because you never recover completely after losing the game before," he said.
"If they go into the FA Cup final having lost against Tottenham they will not win the cup final, I tell you.
"I think he (Alan Pardew) is a real professional; I have no doubt about that.
"We played at Man City, and they played like it was a cup game. Three days before we had played at Sunderland, and they played like it was a cup game.
"Once we have a doubt about that, a big charm of English football will have gone.
We will not miss out on Sunday because of the party - we will do the job first and party after ~ Arsene Wenger
"For me, once that is in your mind you are lost."
And he expects his team to remain focused on the job in hand despite it being the last match at Highbury.
"We have done what we wanted to do and will finish the job. I am confident we will finish the job on Sunday - then it is down to Tottenham," he added.
"What is good in a club is that every year down to the last day of the season there is something at stake. That is a real luxury.
"We will not miss out on Sunday because of the party. We will do the job first and party after.
"The team is highly focused and motivated; the team has progressed enormously and is ready to be a force in the Premiership again.
"I hope it will be enough to be in the Champions League next year."
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As the sun set on the last-ever matchday at Highbury, Thierry Henry was one of the last people to leave the pitch.
His love affair with the stadium began way back on August 7, 1999 when Henry was involved in the Frank Sinclair own goal which clinched victory against Leicester. More than six years later, Henry bid Highbury farewell with a delicate kiss of the turf after completing his hat-trick against Wigan.
“My celebration said it all,” said the ground’s most prolific striker. “I kissed the ground goodbye.”
Having reluctantly walked off the pitch long after most of his team-mates had gone home, Henry explained why the ground was a little more special to the more senior members of the squad.
“I think it's was a bit strange everyone left like that,” he said.
“But at the end of the day I think some of the players in the team are really young and haven't won a lot here, so maybe it was less special for them.
“But Dennis [Bergkamp] is still here, I'm still here, Ashley [Cole] was there. People who played a long time here were sitting there enjoying it. Me and Ashley were saying to ourselves ‘we don't want to leave’. Highbury is just a special place.”
But despite the overwhelming nostalgia of the day, Henry exhibited one of the qualities that have elevated him to such star status — his peerless professionalism.
“Party? No. I'm going to go home, to chill - and now I'm definitely starting to think about the Champions League Final,” he said.
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Theo Walcott has been named in England's provisional squad for this summer's World Cup in Germany.
The 17-year-old was a surprise inclusion when Sven Goran Eriksson announced his squad on Monday. Walcott is one of only four strikers in the party, alongside injured duo Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.
Walcott could now make his senior international debut before he appears for Arsenal's first team, but Eriksson believes the teenager will be an asset in Germany.
"It's a big gamble, I know it is," he said. "I am excited to see him, he's a big talent. And pace in football today is worth a lot."
Walcott joined Arsenal from Southampton in January after making five goals from 13 starts in the Championship this season. He scored on his reserves debut at Portsmouth in February and netted again in his second game against Charlton.
Subscribers can now watch highlights from those two reserve games on Arsenal TV Online, plus an exclusive video montage of Walcott in action and his first interview after joining Arsenal.
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Thierry Henry believes Arsenal fully deserved to finish fourth in the Premiership.
Tottenham had occupied the final Champions League spot for most of the season but their defeat at West Ham on the last afternoon of the season allowed Arsène Wenger’s side to re-take that position for the first time since December 3.
The game at Upton Park was in doubt for a time when a number of Tottenham players went down with food poisoning on Sunday morning. However, for Henry, the two sides have been handed an even share of ill-fortune this season and, over 38 games, the better one came through.
“I know there is going to be a lot of talk about who deserved it or not,” said the 28-year-old Frenchman. “At the end of the day, the table does not lie.
“I heard they [Tottenham] had people with food poisoning, but the only thing I can say is did anyone bother when we had nine players out? No.
“They were saying ‘Arsenal are not playing well’, ‘Arsenal are not the team they used to be`.
“But that is how it is in the game - sometimes you do have people who are ill, or turn up with a headache and are not on the team sheet. That is the way it is.
“Nobody had any sympathy for us when Ashley was missing, when Sol was missing - we had to deal with it and play.
“You have to give the lads credit for what they have turned around.
“I heard so many people saying: ‘what a shame, if they win the Champions League, then maybe Tottenham can appeal’.
“I was always saying to myself at home ‘but they are not fourth yet. The League has not finished. They do not need to change anything because Tottenham are not there’.
“I said to the lads you only sing at the end - and we were singing at the end today [Sunday].”
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England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed he picked Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott for the World Cup despite never having seen him play a match.
The 17-year-old striker was the shock inclusion in the 23-man squad.
"I've seen him perhaps three times in training," said Eriksson. "At Arsenal training on Saturday I saw him play 11 against 11 on a half pitch.
"You can see how good the technique is because space is very small. And I saw him do some finishing."
Arsenal signed Walcott from Southampton in January in a deal worth up to £12.5m but he has yet to make his Gunners debut.
"If you expect Walcott to have the impact Pele had in 1958, we are talking about the wrong things" ~ Sven-Goran Eriksson
Walcott will miss Arsenal's Champions League final against Barcelona on 17 May to join the England squad.
Wenger has told Eriksson he can take Walcott to next week's England training camp in Portugal as long as the Gunners are not hit by new injuries.
Eriksson said he had been getting regular updates on Walcott from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and England's youth coaches ahead of this summer's tournament in Germany.
"I was starting to think about him in January, February and March," stated Eriksson.
"The first thing I had to check was whether he can handle it and everyone we spoke to said yes. He is a very steady boy.
"I don't think Walcott or Arsene Wenger thinks he is going to play seven games of 90 minutes in the World Cup.
"If you expect him to have the impact Pele had in 1958, we are talking about the wrong things but I am excited about it."
Eriksson said Walcott could play in the injured Wayne Rooney's role, off the main striker, if the Manchester United star does not recover in time after breaking a bone in his foot.
However, Eriksson said he also planned to use Chelsea's Joe Cole in that position.
England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence says Walcott is believed to be quicker than Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry.
"According to tests Theo is quicker than Henry now. If he is then that is some talent" ~ England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence
The teenager's express pace is thought to be a major factor in his shock selection.
"He is quicker than Henry apparently and I've seen him in youth games where he is exceptionally quick," Clemence told BBC Sport.
"I've not seen a race between the two of them but according to tests he is quicker than Henry now. If he is then that is some talent."
Eriksson's right-hand man, Tord Grip, has closely followed Walcott during his rapid rise.
"The first time I saw him was over a year ago in a tournament in Portugal," Grip told BBC Sport.
"He played in a 4-3-3 system to the right and did well and then I followed him at Southampton where he got into the first-team and played some Championship games.
"Then we followed him since he became an Arsenal player.
"I've been to the Arsenal training ground three or four times and seen him training and in matches.
"He is an exciting player and has got the potential to be very good so, why not take a gamble and see if he can do well for us?
"I think his best position is central striker."
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Ashley Cole does not see himself as Arsenal’s No 1 left back at the moment.
On Sunday, the 25-year-old defender made only his second start since October 2 because of injury, a day later he was named in the England squad for the World Cup. But given the form of Mathieu Flamini and the return of Gael Clichy, Cole does not assume he will be first choice for his club side right now — even though the Champions League Final is eight days away.
"I've probably come back at a good time to try to get my place back off Mathieu Flamini and Gael Clichy, who are in front of me,” said the Stepney-born defender.
“I won't say I will be No 1 again because Flamini should be fit soon. But I've played two games and hopefully I will get my place back.”
Flamini hobbled off with a hamstring injury during the Champions League Semi-Final second leg. It opened up the opportunity of a return for Cole but it was unbearably cruel on the young Frenchman.
If he and Clichy return to fitness this week the left back will be arguably the most keenly contested position in the build up to the Champions League Final.
"Of course [it is cruel on Flamini],” said Cole. “I'd lost my place to him and Clichy but if Flamini is not fit and I play, I'm not going to argue about that.
"I spoke to the manager and said I don't expect to play in any game. He is an honourable man and if I don't play, that's down to him.
"We shall see [about the Final]. You never know. I've trained hard and worked hard. You need games to get fit. Flamini is out now and you could say he is not going to be fit.
"So I'm going to be positive and if I play, I play. If I don't, I don't."
If May 17 could be the greatest night of Cole’s career then Sunday was probably the most bittersweet. A dramatic comeback secured victory over Wigan and fourth place in the Premiership then the Arsenal ‘family’ said goodbye to Highbury.
"It's very sad,” said Cole. “I've been coming here since I was 10 years old so I'm gutted to be leaving such a great stadium with the great memories I've had here, the great games and the great pitch to play on. It's always going to be hard to leave such a great stadium like this.”
Cole obviously found it more difficult than most. He joined Thierry Henry and Robert Pires out on the podium in the middle of the pitch long after stadium’s countdown clock had reached Days 000, Hours 00, Minutes 00 Seconds 00.
"I was just soaking up the day and stayed out there for as long as I could,” said Cole. “It was a great atmosphere out there so Thierry and Robert and me wanted to stay out there for the last moments.”
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Arsene Wenger admits he is thrilled at having guided Arsenal to the final of the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners have been regular challengers for top honours domestically, but have fallen short in the Champions League during Wenger's reign at Highbury.
Arsenal have underperformed in The Premiership this season, but they brushed off their domestic travails to claim a spot in the European Cup final in Paris later in May.
Wenger feels The Gunners deserve their place, having taken the scalps of Real Madrid and Juventus en route to the final, and is looking forward to leading out his team in Paris.
"There has been a big doubt about Arsenal in Europe for years, even when we were dominating the championship," said the French tactician.
"That's why I am very happy to get to the final when nobody expected us to and with a side who had no chance at the start.
"We have knocked Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal out and we have every right to believe we can win the final.
"Domestically we have done very well but at European level we have just been a fraction out.
"Overall, I always feel it is difficult to win everything every year.
"We have been in the FA Cup every year; we have done well in the championship in the last 10 years - and now we have a good opportunity to show we have got it in Europe."
Barcelona are lying in wait at the Stade de France and Wenger admits it will be a special feeling to take on the Catalans in the French capital.
"I would go anywhere in the world to play a Champions League final but I am very happy to play in Paris," he added. "There will be big expectations and hopes that it will be a fantastic football game."
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Uefa have told Tottenham that they will not be handed a Champions League reprieve if Arsenal win the tournament.
Last season Liverpool were given a back-door entry when they won Europe's top prize, but there were no rules in place to dictate whether the holders should be granted automatic entry.
At the time, Everton - who finished fourth - were left sweating over their place, but, in the end, Uefa relented and gave Liverpool special dispensation to defend their crown.
To avoid a repeat of that, Uefa confirmed before the start of the season that any place for the champions - who did not qualify via the league, would then be taken from their association's already allotted allocation.
Therefore, should Arsenal win the Champions League, the side who finishes fourth will not be allowed entry - which looks like being Spurs.
"I am afraid I have to tell Spurs that there is no alternative," Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson told Reuters.
"This time around, we are prepared. We have put the rules in place and those rules will stand.
"Of course on the pitch, Spurs will feel hard done by and it is a difficult decision, but England will only have four teams and Arsenal will be invited back if they are champions."
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Arsenal starlet Cesc Fabregas says he is desperate to repay Arsene Wenger for the faith shown in him, with a UEFA Champions League final against former side Barcelona fast approaching.
The gifted Spaniard has flourished under the Gunners boss ever since he moved to Highbury in search of first team football, and, after turning 19 on Thursday, is already closing in on 100 appearances for the London side.
Fabregas' remarkable rise has been fostered by Wenger's unwavering faith in his young charges at Highbury, but the midfielder's sternest test yet will surely come against his former employers Barca in Paris on May 17.
After leaving Catalunya in 2003 Fabregas could surely have not envisaged playing in such a high profile game within three years, as well as pushing for a place in Spain's World Cup squad, and the visionary midfielder says he now aims to repay the man who made it possible.
"I felt the project here was very good for me. I talked to Arsene Wenger before I joined," Fabregas told The Mirror.
"At Barcelona, I was one of the captains in the Under-15s but they never pushed me up so I could play with people older and learn quicker.
"They said nice things about me but they did not act on it. So I thought the move to Arsenal was a good thing, not just for the football but for personal reasons.
"I am really happy with the choice I made. This club had confidence in me. They gave me the opportunity, especially Arsene Wenger.
"I will always be grateful to him. Now I have to pay him back.
"I would not be playing in the final of the Champions League or making my debut for Spain without him.
"Because of the trust he showed in me, I even have a chance to go to the World Cup. I really appreciate everything he has done and I want to pay him back."
Whilst Fabregas is at the vanguard of Arsenal's bright crop of young talent looking forward to next season in the Emirates Stadium, the club will reflect on a long and prosperous history when they play their final game at Highbury on Sunday against Wigan.
After already having a number of special memories at the old stadium, including his goal against Juventus this season, Fabregas says the weekend will be an emotional time for him.
"Even though I have only been here three years," Fabregas added. "Sunday will be very special for me, too.
"I made my league debut at Highbury. I will always remember that moment. My family was in the stand and it was one of the best feelings I have ever had.
"I was a season ticket holder at Barcelona since I was two-years-old. I played for them for six years.
"It was magnificent there and I learned so much. But the move to Arsenal has made me physically stronger than many people of my age."
After the Wigan clash attentions will be firmly focused on how to defeat the Spanish champions in Paris, and Fabregas believes Arsenal must not waver from their usual attacking style if they are to have a chance of defeating Frank Rijkaard's side.
"If you go and play Barcelona and defend, they are so good that they will create many, many opportunities and they will make it very difficult for you.
"We have to play the same way we did against Juventus and Real Madrid. We went forward from the first minute. When they see you pushing forward, they will be more careful and it will make them think more."
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Sven Goran Eriksson has revealed that Theo Walcott is likely to join up with the England squad instead of travelling to the UEFA Champions League final with Arsenal.
The 17-year-old, who is yet to make his Gunners debut since moving from Southampton in January, was the real shock name included in England's World Cup squad on Monday.
Now Eriksson, who is yet to meet Walcott, has revealed that he will link-up with The Three Lions instead of going to Paris with The Gunners, as they take on Barcelona.
England are heading to Portugal for a pre-World Cup training camp and all players not involved with their clubs will report, but Walcott looks set to be excused by Arsene Wenger from making the trip to France.
"I will meet him [Walcott] on Monday and I will speak to him. If nothing special happens at Arsenal he will come with us," said Eriksson.
"I haven't seen him play live. I've seen him maybe three times in training.
"I was there on Saturday. I saw him play 11 against 11 on a half pitch. You can see how good the technique is because space is very small. And I saw him do some finishing."
Eriksson insisted that he has been thinking about Walcott for a number of months.
"I was starting to think about him in January, February and March," he said.
"I heard about him when he played for Southampton and I started to phone people about him.
"The first thing I had to check was can he handle it and everyone we spoke to said yes. He is a very steady boy.
"I don't think Walcott or Arsene Wenger thinks he is going to play seven games (of) 90 minutes in the World Cup.
"If you expect him to have the impact Pele had in 1958, we are talking about the wrong things but I am excited about it."
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Arsenal star Thierry Henry has no sympathy for Tottenham following Spurs' last day loss at West Ham.
Spurs' defeat coupled with Arsenal's victory over Wigan allowed The Gunners to overhaul Tottenham and claim fourth place in The Premiership.
Such a scenario looked unlikely for much of the campaign, but Arsenal refused to throw in the towel and took the final UEFA Champions League qualification spot in dramatic style.
The achievement has been overshadowed by the controversy which surrounded Tottenham's defeat, as a large number of Martin Jol's squad were struck down with food poisoning on the eve of the match.
Henry feels it is sour grapes for Tottenham fans to point to the pre-game problems for their demise.
"People are going to say Tottenham had people with food poisoning and whatever," Henry told the Mirror. "But did anyone bother when we had nine players out? No.
"They were just saying, 'Arsenal are not the team they used to be, they are missing this, that and the other'.
"No one had sympathy for us. That's how it is at times. Sometimes you have players ill, a bug going round the dressing room in the winter, people turning up with a headache.
"That's the way it is. No one had any sympathy for us when Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, and a long list of people were missing. We had to deal with it. No one cared then."
Henry believes Arsenal deserve credit for their refusal to buckle.
"I know there will be a lot of talk about who deserved it most but the table does not lie in the end," added the French star.
"You have to give us credit for the way we turned it around. At one point we were eighth or something - not even close to the top. There have been so many games when we have come back and got a crucial result.
"So many times people were saying, 'Oh what a shame if they win the Champions League, maybe Tottenham can appeal'.
"But I always said to myself that the league was not finished.
"They were talking about changing the rules but I said, 'They don't have to change anything yet because they're not there'. I said to the lads that you only sing at the end. And we were singing on Sunday."
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Ashley Cole hopes he is finally free from injury and is looking forward to a fine end to the season.
England full back Cole has shaken off thigh and ankle injuries to feature for Arsenal in the last fortnight and is hopeful of playing a part in next week's UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona.
Cole's focus will then shift to the World Cup and he feels he will head to Germany in top shape.
"I feel good," said Cole. "I have not played too many games, but I have worked hard on the training ground with the fitness coaches and the physios, have got myself fit and am ready to go.
"To come back from the thigh injury and then sprain my ankle was a head-wrench, really. I thought I had come back fit and then that happened.
"But I am over it now and am looking to the future."
Despite claiming he is finally free from injury, Cole admits that the fear of breaking down again is always on his mind.
"You are always going to be worried in case you have another setback," he added.
"But I worked really hard on the training ground to get fit and be where I am now, so I just have to look ahead and be positive."
Arsenal have had to abandon plans to sell off 38,500 seats from Highbury to fans because small traces of toxic metal cadmium have been found in them.
The seats were to be sold, priced £19.99, to allow fans a souvenir before the move to the Emirates Stadium.
"The fact that there is a very small risk is enough reason to stop us from releasing them," said managing director Keith Edelman.
"It's very frustrating. I apologise for any inconvenience this has caused."
All fans who placed an order will be reimbursed and the club has pledged it will make a donation on behalf of all purchasers to the David Rocastle Trust.
Other memorabilia will be available at an auction on 29 July, and fans can still buy a one square foot patch of the Highbury pitch for £25.
A statement on the club website explained what the problem was.
"We have been informed that all of the Highbury seats, apart from the directors' box, the dug outs and the executive box seats, contain very small amounts of the toxic metal cadmium," it said.
"The seats are completely safe and are not a risk to health when located within a stadium.
"But it is understood that if the seats are stored inside and used regularly over a long period of time, there is a slight risk that very small amounts of cadmium could be released.
"The club is not prepared to put any of our supporters in this situation.
"Having also received a directive from the European Commission, unfortunately we cannot sell any Highbury seats for individual domestic use."
It is with great regret that the Club announces that we are unable to sell any Highbury seats to our supporters.
We have been informed that all of the Highbury seats, apart from the Directors’ Box, the dug outs and the Executive Box seats, contain very small amounts of the toxic metal cadmium.
The seats are completely safe and are not a risk to health when located within a stadium, but it is understood that if the seats are stored inside and used regularly over a long period of time, there is a slight risk that very small amounts of cadmium could be released.
Although being a very small risk, the Club is not prepared to put any of our supporters in this situation, and having also received a directive from the European Commission, unfortunately we cannot sell any Highbury seats for individual domestic use.
Arsenal Managing Director Keith Edelman said: “It is very frustrating for us to be told that we cannot sell our supporters their Highbury seats.
We have all worked very hard to try to make it happen, but the fact that there is a very small risk is enough reason to stop us from releasing them to individual supporters.
I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.”
All supporters who have committed to purchasing a Highbury Seat will be fully reimbursed within the next five days. The Club will, as planned, make a donation to the David Rocastle Trust on behalf of all purchasers and would also like to remind supporters that the sale of the Highbury pitch and the Highbury Auction will go ahead as scheduled.
Arsenal's run to the Champions League final has seen them eclipse Chelsea's earnings for television income and prize money in the 2005-06 season.
The Gunners have made £52.7m so far while champions Chelsea took £47.5m.
Liverpool made £43.2m from television and prize money while their great rivals Manchester United got £39.9m.
Almost half Arsenal's income has come from the Champions League - victory over Barcelona in the final would bring in a further £2m.
Spurs, the highest-placed club not involved in the Champions League, earned £26.2m, less than half the sum their north London rivals pulled in.
Henk Potts, a football finance analyst with Barclays stockbrokers, said: "The Champions League is the cash cow of modern football and it is so important to the leading clubs to be part of it.
"It is not just the TV and prize money, though that is very lucrative in itself, but it is vital in terms of a club's profile, merchandising and desirability for sponsors."
Liverpool's run to the FA Cup, and qualifying for the Champions League knockout phase, enabled them to earn more than Manchester United, while Middlesbrough's success in cup competitions brought in an extra £5m.
Earnings of Premier League clubs in 2005/06 (prize money and TV cash but not gate receipts or merchandise income).
Arsenal £52.7m*
Chelsea £47.5m
Liverpool £43.2m**
Man Utd £39.8m
Tottenham £26.2m
West Ham £24.4m**
Middlesbrough £24.3m
Newcastle £24.0m
Bolton £23.7m
Blackburn £23.6m
Wigan £22.9m
Everton £22.4m
Charlton £21.0m
Man City £20.6m
Fulham £20.3m
Aston Villa £19.6m
Birmingham £19.4m
Portsmouth £18.0m
West Brom £16.9m
Sunderland £16.1m
* Arsenal earn an extra £2m if they win the Champions League
** An extra £1m goes to the FA Cup final winners
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Robert Pires will not let talk about his future interfere with preparations for the Champions League Final.
It is possible that Wednesday’s clash with Barcelona could be the 32-year-old’s last game in a six-year spell with Arsenal. He is out of contract in the summer and has been talking to other clubs for sometime, including vanquished Semi-Finalists Villarreal. For his part Arsène Wenger is hopeful Pires will stay.
“The situation is quite simple at the moment,” said the French midfielder.
“We’ve got the Final coming up and we’re going to focus on that and then afterwards I’ll decide whether I’m going to stay or leave.
“At the moment I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. I can say that Arsenal has been a fantastic Club for me at every level and in every sense but I need to think as to whether I’m going to stay here or try going to another country.
“But I think at the moment we need to really concentrate on the Final and we need to be allowed to do that because we’re going to have to do absolutely everything we can to win the Final. My personal situation will come afterwards.”
Pires feels Arsenal are coming good at the right time and, although he accepts few people thought they could reach the Paris showpiece, Wenger’s men could just nick it.
“We’ve been on a very good run in both the League and the Champions League,” said the former Marseille midfielder. “I think we’ve showed that no matter what happens we can recover from it.
“Obviously we’ve finished fourth in the Premiership. That was our objective because we’ve got into the Champions League for next year and I think we’ve surprised a lot of people and a lot of teams - Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal — in the competition this year.
“I don’t think anyone expected us to make it to the Final but it often happens that a dark horse gets there. I think that if we carry on playing as well as we’ve been playing recently then we’ve got a really good chance.”
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Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires will end the long-running saga over his future after the Champions League final against Barcelona.
Arsenal's policy is to offer over-30's the maximum of a one-year contract but Pires, 33, wants a two-year deal.
"We've got the final coming up and we are going to focus on that and then I will decide whether I want to leave," he said.
"At the moment I honestly don't know what I'm going to do."
The France midfielder hailed Arsenal as "a fantastic club in every sense of the word".
But he warned: "I need to think about whether I'm going to stay. I need to think about the offer that Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have made.
"The label of outsider suits us best because all the pressure is going to be on Barcelona" ~ Robert Pires
"But now is not the right time to talk about it. We should be concentrating on the match.
"We need to put all our attention to this and asking on whether Arsenal can win and I think we can."
Pires has cited the Premiership win over Liverpool as a turning point for Arsenal who have since lost just once in 13 games to clinch fourth spot in the league and reach the Champions League final.
They have overcome Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal on the way to booking their place in the Paris showpiece next Wednesday.
And, while Spanish side Barcelona will be favourites, Pires says the tag of underdogs suits the Gunners.
"It's less pressure," he said. "When we played Real Madrid and Juventus everyone thought they were going to win but we surprised them both.
"When the roles were reversed and we were the favourites against Villarreal that's when we played our worst.
"So, that's why we think that the label of outsider suits us best because all the pressure is going to be on Barcelona."
Pires also believes that the more football purist style of Barcelona will suit Arsenal's game rather than the more physical opponents the Gunners have had problems with in the past.
He added: "It's better to be playing against a football team like Barcelona.
"It was a similar situation to Real Madrid, perhaps not so much with Juventus, but the final suits us because they are going to try and play football.
"They are going to leave spaces and we can exploit that."
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Kolo Toure will be happy to hand the lead reins back to the more experienced Sol Campbell if they are paired together for the Champions League Final on Wednesday.
The England defender has only played five games since February 1 and even broke his nose during that time. Campbell’s return dovetailed with a knee injury to the unfortunate Philippe Senderos. The Swiss centre back is racing against time to make the Final but, should he not, Toure will be happy to play second fiddle.
“I try to help because I feel the most experienced player when we have Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Eboue in the side,” said Toure.
“But when I play with Sol Campbell he is the main defender. He helps me a lot because he has more games in his feet.”
Hopefully, the likes of Eboue, Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy and, at 25, Toure himself will be the mainstays of the Arsenal backline for years to come.
Whatever happens in Paris, the Ivorian believes this will be the start of something big at Highbury sorry Emirates Stadium.
“We have so many young players,” said Toure. “Eboue, Fabregas, Clichy. When you look at our players we are going to get better and I think in a couple of years we will see more from this team.
“It is great that for such young players we are in the Final of the Champions League. We have worked really hard to be where we are now and we are going to enjoy it. Mr Wenger is a good and clever manager. But we are playing against a very good team and I think it’s going to be exciting.”
Given all those youngsters in the Arsenal squad, the future will be too.
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Thierry Henry will be staying at Arsenal Football Club.
There has been speculation about the striker’s future all season but on Friday morning he stated his intention to sign a new contract with the Club.
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Arsène Wenger hopes to add two players of “great calibre” to the four new signings he has already made.
The Arsenal manager jokingly referred to Thierry Henry as a new acquisition at the press conference to announce his new four-year contract. Wenger also added that the Club’s three teenagers at the World Cup will come back like new players.
But then he spoke about his real transfer intentions.
“Normally we would sign at least one or two players of great calibre,” he said. “It is very difficult but we will try very hard to strengthen the side.
“However we are certainly the only team with three teenage players at the World Cup — Cesc Fabregas, Johan Djourou and Theo Walcott. They are 17, 17 and 19. Those are like new signings and they will come back still under 20 years-old with World Cup experience. Then there is Thierry too. All that makes you strong.”
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Thierry Henry’s decision to stay was crucial to Arsenal’s future development, according to Arsène Wenger.
Manager and captain sat side by side at Friday’s press conference to announce the striker’s new four-year deal. It was the culmination of months of speculation and a rollercoaster campaign. Wenger argues that the lessons of this term will be learnt much quicker with Henry still in the side.
“I believe this season has made a special bond inside the team,” said the manager. “There is much more to come and the [Champions League Final] on Wednesday night re-enforced that feeling among the players.
“I knew this would rely on Thierry Henry’s decision. You can not go much higher up if you lose your best player. It was vital for the team to get this kind of response from him. Of course we would have had to cope with any decision but it is basically insurance for the future.
“He was at a stage where you understand why he goes through that state of mind. I tried to tell him we want him to stay. I never tried to put any pressure on him because I wanted him to make up his mind freely and voluntarily. But if the team can show him we can compete with the best teams in Europe then we had a chance to keep him.”
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The peculiar passion of English football helped convince Thierry Henry that he should see out his career in this country.
At a press conference on Friday to announce a four-year deal, the Arsenal captain said: “This is my last contract. It is where I belong.”
And then he explained why.
“Here, they understand and respect football,” said Henry. “We lost on Wednesday [in the Champions League Final] but when I turned to clap the fans they were still there and they clapped us. In some other countries they would have left or been upset with the team but they understood that on the day we gave everything. We gave it our best shot.
“The season before this we lost 4-2 to Man United. In other Leagues if you lose 4-2 to one of your rivals they will wait for you at the end of the game. Here they clapped and understood that maybe on the day they were better than us.
“I watch other [overseas] games on television every weekend, if it is not Juve, Barcelona or Real Madrid the stadiums are not full. In France if it is not Lyon, Paris or Marseille then the stadium is not full either
“In England I even enjoy playing away from home and getting some stick. It is just the passion that they have here. You can do your job in a nice way and people will always respect what you are doing.”
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Thierry Henry’s decision to stay at Arsenal was made in the wake of the Champions League defeat.
This afternoon the French striker finally ended a season of speculation by putting pen to paper on a four-year deal. And, amid a myriad of factors, the brave yet agonising defeat at the Stade de France had a major influence.
"The game reassured me of one thing I wanted to know - how far I can go with that team,” said Henry. “I know we lost but they showed me they are a team with heart and lots of quality. We can be so proud of what we did.
"I said my decision would come before the World Cup. But I also said I wanted to concentrate on pegging Tottenham back for fourth spot and then the Champions League Final.
“After that was done I was very quick to make up my mind. As a guy that is how I am.
“There were other things that made me stay — my family, London, the fans here and away from home, the press, everyone. All those little things help to make my mind up.
"I always refer to Arsenal as my home. I have been welcomed with open arms, the love I receive here - sometimes from non-Arsenal fans - is something I can't forget about."
Thierry Henry has ended months of speculation about his future by signing a new four-year contract with Arsenal.
The 28-year-old had a year left on his previous deal and had been linked with a move to Barcelona but says he now expects to end his career at Arsenal.
"At one point it crossed my mind to leave," he told a news conference on Friday, two days after Arsenal lost the Champions League final to Barcelona.
"But I think with my heart and my heart told me to stay."
He added: "I've never played in Spain and never will. This is my last contract.
"This is the best country to play football. It's the passion I like. Here you can do your job in the right way - people here respect the players."
Henry said Arsenal's performance in the 2-1 defeat to Barcelona had been key to his decision to commit his future to the club.
"We can be so proud of what we did," he said.
"The game reassured me of one thing I wanted to know - how far I can go with that team. They showed me they are a team with heart and lots of quality.
"In the past year the fans have been more than amazing and after the way we lost on Wednesday, I couldn't let them down.
"It was another thing to add and a positive thing to make me stay."
Henry joined Arsenal for £10.5m from Juventus in August 1999 and has gone on to become the club's record goalscorer.
He was recently voted Football Writers' Association player of the year for a record third time.
Manager Arsene Wenger expressed his delight that an eventful week for Arsenal had ended on a positive note.
"I had two aims at the start of the week: to win the European Cup and then to make Thierry stay," said Wenger.
"I only managed one of those but, for the future of the club, that's certainly the best one.
"I believe this season has created a special bond inside the team and there is much more to come.
"Wednesday night reinforced that feeling among the players and if you want to continue that progression it would rely on Thierry's decision. It is basically an insurance for the future."
And Wenger said Henry's decision only increased his confidence about Arsenal's future.
"We are the only club in the world with three teenagers at the World Cup - Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Johan Djourou.
"When they come back, they will be stronger and that will be like three new signings and then over the summer, we will try to sign at least one or two more quality players."
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Leading sports lawyer Mel Goldberg claims Arsenal have little to fear from a Fifa probe into their dealings with Belgian club Beveren.
Fifa is investigating whether a £1m payment made by Arsenal to Beveren breaches conflict of interest rules.
Goldberg told Five Live Sport: "Uefa and Fifa have rules about clubs owning shares in foreign teams.
"I don't think that's happened here because Arsenal say, rightly, they have no control of a foreign club."
BBC's Newsnight learned that the Fifa probe arose from a Belgian police investigation into money laundering.
Arsenal have a public arrangement with Beveren to play friendly matches and loan players to them to gain experience.
The Gunners also signed Emmanuel Eboue from Beveren for £1.5m.
Goldberg added: "There are two sets of rules you need to look at.
"One is the Premier League rules which prevent clubs owning shares or an interest in another Premiership or Football League club. That hasn't happened here.
"Then there are Uefa and Fifa rules which are similar, about clubs owning shares in foreign teams, and I don't think that's happened either."
The Belgian police investigation forced Arsenal to admit they had indirectly loaned Beveren £1m, although previously they had denied putting any money into the club.
A statement from the Gunners said: "Arsenal confirms it has never owned, directly or indirectly, any shares in Beveren or had any power whatsoever to influence its management or administration."
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Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has been voted off the Football Association board by the Premier League.
Dein was voted out of office as one of the Premier League's four representatives in favour of Manchester United chief executive David Gill.
Gill said: "I am looking forward to working with my fellow board members."
Dein, who will continue to sit on the FA Council, has been criticised for his role in finding Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor as England coach.
Dein's removal also comes a day after it was revealed Arsenal could face an FA probe into payments made to Belgian club Beveren.
The Arsenal vice-chairman has established himself as one of the most important figures in the domestic game.
He was co-opted on to the selection panel to find a successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson, with Dein thought to be a prime mover in pushing the cause of Portugal's Brazilian coach Scolari.
Scolari rejected the FA's offer, prompting criticism from Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren's appointment to succeed Eriksson prompted Gibson to questioned why Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had not been pursued more vigourously.
That in turn forced the FA to respond that Wenger stated categorically he did not want the job when approached by FA chief executive Brian Barwick.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho also claimed Dein's FA ties provided an unbalanced fixture list, with Arsenal having five Premiership games at home immediately following Champions League trips, while Chelsea played five away.
Gill, 48, is as influential at Old Trafford as Dein is at Arsenal.
As a vice-chairman of the elite G14 group and an FA council member, Gill has extensive experience of football administration beyond Old Trafford.
Gill will now work with the Premier League's other representatives; Dave Richards, Phil Gartside and Robert Coar, in promoting the league's interests on the FA board.
However, Dein will sit alongside Richards, Gartside and Gill on the less influential FA Council.
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The Football Association have asked Fifa to clarify what rules Arsenal might have broken regarding their relationship with Belgian club Beveren.
Fifa want the FA to look into claims they made payments to Beveren.
FA spokesman Mark Hooper said: "We will await clarification on whether the allegations breach Fifa rules."
Premier League rules prohibit clubs making loans or owning shares but these rules do not apply to dealings with a club based outside of England.
A Belgian police inquiry discovered secret money links between Arsenal and Beveren to fund the club's takeover.
But Beveren club spokesman Dirk Dobbeleir said: "We have nothing to fear.
"A joint venture agreement has been made between Arsenal and Beveren but the police said everything was in order and there was no case to answer.
"We don't know why the media suddenly made so much of the matter though probably because the name Arsenal made it newsworthy."
Fifa communications director Markus Siegler said: "According to the structure of rules which are in place, the FA have to look into the matter.
"Fifa are interested in all cases around the world but individual members must run football in their country.
"They must take responsibility for their members so absolutely this is a case for the FA to deal with."
If found guility, Arsenal could be punished with anything from a fine to being relegated from the Premiership or kicked out of the Champions League.
The investigation, which was shown in a television report on Newsnight on Thursday, suggested that Arsenal had used Belgium's slack rules to recruit players from Africa.
The Gunners signed Emmanuel Eboue from Beveren for £1.5m.
While the FA have been instructed to lead the investigation, leading sports lawyer Mel Goldberg does not think Arsenal have anything to fear.
Goldberg told Five Live Sport: "Uefa and Fifa have rules about clubs owning shares in foreign teams.
"I don't think that's happened here because Arsenal say, rightly, they have no control of a foreign club."
Goldberg added: "There are two sets of rules you need to look at.
"One is the Premier League rules which prevent clubs owning shares or an interest in another Premiership or Football League club. That hasn't happened here.
"Then there are Uefa and Fifa rules which are similar, about clubs owning shares in foreign teams, and I don't think that's happened either."
The Belgian police investigation forced Arsenal to admit they had indirectly loaned Beveren £1m, although previously they had denied putting any money into the club.
A statement from the Gunners said: "Arsenal confirms it has never owned, directly or indirectly, any shares in Beveren or had any power whatsoever to influence its management or administration."
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Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann intends to continue playing for Germany after this summer's World Cup finals.
The 36-year-old is entering his first tournament as Germany's number one keeper having claimed the starting berth from Bayern Munich's Oliver Kahn.
Asked whether the national team remained in his plans after the World Cup, he said: "Yes. I love football.
"It makes for a lot of fun. I am fit, like a 26-year-old. And I am much fitter than when I was 30 years old."
Lehmann also highlighted the similarities between Gunners manager Arsene Wenger and Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann.
"Both have the same philosophy: a quick, direct, attacking style," said Lehmann.
"Klinsmann holds a similar view, he has acted very cleverly and added the right people, for example to take care of our fitness. The training at Arsenal is very similar to the national team practice."
Lehmann also revealed he is not pondering a return to the Bundesliga at this stage.
When asked when he would return to his homeland, he said: "Not next season.
"We (Arsenal) have a new stadium and we will have a very good team."
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Fifa has written to the Football Association requesting it investigates the relationship between Arsenal and Belgium club Beveren.
The BBC's Newsnight programme claims the Gunners made payments to Beveren.
The letter said: "We kindly ask you to carry out an investigation into the relevant relationship between your affiliated club, Arsenal, and Beveren.
"We would be grateful to be updated on the developments and informed of the findings as soon as possible."
The statement added: "We ask you to carry out an investigation to ensure proper clarification of the issue."
Newsnight learned that a police probe in Belgium had concluded Arsenal made secret payments of £1m to Beveren.
Arsenal have admitted providing a loan to Beveren indirectly, but say they have never had a controlling influence over the Belgian club.
Premier League rules prohibit clubs making loans or owning shares but these rules do not apply to dealings with a club based outside of England.
The Gunners have an arrangement with the Belgium club to play friendly matches and loan players.
Arsenal deny allegations of making irregular financial payments to Beveren.
An FA spokesman said: "We have received Fifa's letter asking us to carry out an appropriate investigation into the allegations relating to Arsenal.
"As requested our compliance department will be in contact with Arsenal regarding this matter."
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If Arsène Wenger does make further signings this summer then he will take his time.
In an exclusive interview with the Club’s official website, the Arsenal manager outlined his current thoughts on adding to the acquisition of Tomas Rosicky. Wenger suggested that there were “one or two positions” to strengthen but added that, such was the strength of his young squad, he would be “comfortable” to go into the new campaign with his current roster of players.
At the press conference held on May 19 to announce to retention of Thierry Henry, the manager suggested he’d sign “one or two high-calibre players” over the close season.
“I have already respected my word,” said Wenger when questioned about further signings. “One is in.
“But I give myself time now for the second if it happens because I feel we have plenty of players. Look at our squad. In defence there’s Djourou, Senderos, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Clichy, Flamini plus Hoyte coming back. In midfield, Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb, Rosicky, Ljungberg, Flamini who can still play there and Reyes. Up front as well we have plenty of players too.
“Remember we have players at the World Cup who have not featured for us.”
“I would be comfortable yes [if we brought in no one else] but you never know, we might go for somebody else if the right occasion comes along. There are one or two positions we can still strengthen.”
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