Another week and the Robin Van Persie saga continues to rumble on with no discernible end in sight. Just what is it with the Gunners and the transfer window? Each year, without fail, they become embroiled in a summer long hullabaloo concluding with Arsene Wenger losing a star player and cutting a forlorn figure for the first half of the season. And whilst he continues to hope for a Van Persie U-turn the Frenchman appears to have learned from his past mistakes. In Oliver Giroud and Lukas Podolski he has two strikers highly-regarded around Europe acquired at a rock-bottom combined price of £22 million. It’s also emerged in the last seven days that Spain international Santi Cazorla is primed for a move to the Emirates Stadium further strengthening Wenger’s attacking options and proving that he see’s life after Van Persie, who’s exit continues to look inevitable as three of the continents leading clubs battle for his signature. It could be said that in this period of transition letting the Holland forward leave is a necessary step that the club must take in order to remain on the evolutionary path.

This week on FFC should Thomas Vermaelen be named the new Gunners captain and which Arsenal old boy fancies a return to the Emirates.

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Best of FFC

Forget RVP, Paulinho Could Bring The Best Out Of Arsenal

Should suitors think twice before bidding for Robin van Persie?

Now or never for Arsenal ace

The next Arsenal captain?

What Future Do Arsenal Fans Envisage For him?

Are these really necessary for Premier League clubs?

A potential transfer coup for Arsenal?

Will his return prove a Shrewd Move for Arsenal?

Arsenal closing in on £16m deal for Santi Cazorla

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Best of WEB

Ambitions – The Life And Death Of A Football Club – A Cultured Left Foot

Are we ever going to get rid of him? – Gunnersphere

Am I a fan or a Muppet? – Online Gooner

An obvious observation? – Gunnersphere

Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Daaaaan! Dan! Dan! – Arseblog

Cazorla deal nearing a close | Robin training with a good attitude | Would you relegate Spurs given the chance? – Le Grove

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Defender signs! Midfielder Next? Wenger to sign Malaysian player & New Coach set to join…. – Highbury House

Will Arsene Really Replace With Fernando & Trigger £28M Release Clause? – Transfer Tavern

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Quote of the Week

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He is a world class player and we do not want to give him away. If he is determined to leave then that is up to him, but giving him away is not on our agenda.

“To be honest I do not understand him at all. I understood Cesc Fabregas wanting to go home to Barcelona last summer. I had sympathy with that. But I thought Robin was happy at Arsenal. Especially after the season that he had with us.” Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood wants Robin Van Persie’s suitors that he won’t be sold below his valuation

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Featured Video

So with silly season in full swing, rumours are flying out left, right and centre at the moment, with no club escaping the ludicrousness of the rumour mill. One cheeky little rumour that did catch my well trained eye – well when a bottle of wine is around that is –  was that of a £12 million bid from Real Madrid for Manchester City and England international Micah Richards.

This got me to pondering for a number of reasons, and exactly what Mourinho was thinking was a prominent one, but that aside, it has got to be just about the only English player who has been linked with a move abroad this summer, whilst a huge number of foreign players arrive transfer window after transfer window.

Think about the international teams at the Euros, or even a World Cup. Most have players who play in all the major leagues across Europe – most except for England that is.

Of course there are the occasional whispers of  Lampard to Inter Milan, or Rooney to Madrid, but these are most likely created by an anonymous tip off to a tabloid paper from the player’s agent themselves around contract negotiation time.

It is so rare that a genuine move materialises for an English player to go abroad – you can count them on your hands for the past few years –Owen, McManaman, Woodgate, Gazza, Beckham, Lineker, Keegan and Ince. Even the younger players do not seem interested or required for a move – Elliot Kebbie is the only one who has made the move to La Liga in recent times, but why is this?

Is it simply because other clubs view English players as not tactically or technically gifted enough? Or is it the players themselves unwilling to have a dramatic change in life or culture for even just a couple of years?  Everyone knows footballers are not exactly renowned for their IQ scores, but  if Joe Cole (who Lampard claimed isn’t the sharpest tool in the box)  can spend time on loan at Lille in France, anyone can do it – yes, Wayne, even you!

It seems a shame that English players do not take advantage of such moves that could be open to them, where they can improve their game by playing in a new league  – perhaps the Premier League is so good that players do not need to move abroad – yet the lack of players abroad arguably has an effect on the national team, and not a positive one.

Nearly all other national teams, even the German one, have players who have spent time playing in a variety of other leagues, and it is this experience that they bring to the table and use to improve their team further during international tournaments.

In times gone by, it could be put down to club loyalty, with players like Giggs or Scholes having the chance to move if they so wished, but preferring to stay at the club they loved, yet in the mercenary modern game, there are very few who feel like this – see Nasri, Cashley and now RVP for further referencing material on this point – but it is safe to say, club loyalty is not paramount anymore.

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Of course, players are now more keen than ever to end their playing days in the MLS or Asia for a big pay check, but this is not comparable to a move to a Real Madrid or AC Milan at the peak of their powers, and from the looks of things, sadly for the players and the English National team, this does not look set to change any time soon and more worryingly the only reason  for a lack of change is that the majority of English players simply are not rated by top European clubs.

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Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has warned his side that they will have to contend with being favourites for their Europa League play-off away at Greek side Atromitos tonight. Newcastle begin their European campaign tonight after an impressive fifth-placed finish in the Premier League last season.

Pardew told the Guardian, “For Atromitos, it’s a big game- we are a big scalp for this team, we are under no illusions about that.” Pardew believes that defeat tonight would not only reflect badly on themselves but also on the Premier League, “We must look upon ourselves as ambassadors for the Premier League. We believe it’s the strongest league in Europe, and we need to replicate that in terms of the performances we put out.”

The Newcastle manager also accepts that the game in Greece is hardly ideal, with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea only two days away. As a result, Pardew has decided to leave key players Fabricio Coloccini, Cheik Tiote and Demba Ba at home, “We have brought everybody who is fit. We have got three or four younger players who we would like to have brought but unfortunately they are injured too, so the senior group is all here.”  Despite this, Newcastle are still expected to field a relatively unfamiliar outfit tonight.

So what do we know about Greek side Atromitos? They were founded in 1923 and finished fourth in the “Super League Greece” last season. The more ardent football fans will remember a couple of familiar faces in the Atromitos line-up tonight. The man trying to keep Newcastle at bay will be the former Liverpool reserve goalkeeper Charles Itandje. Additionally, at left-back is the former Liverpool, Rangers, Portsmouth, Southampton and Birmingham City Frenchman Gregory Vignal.

Newcastle have been prone to the odd upset in the past, none more famous than a 1972 FA Cup third round replay when non-league Hereford United defeated a first division Newcastle United side 2-1. However, Newcastle have also been the instigators of a crushing victory, including a 13-0 victory over Newport County in 1946 and an 8-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in 1999.

Under Pardew, Newcastle are a good side.  If they display the consistent levels of performance they have displayed since the beginning of last season they will progress to the group stages of the Europa League comfortably.

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Liverpool owner John W Henry has written an open letter to the club’s fans, explaining the side’s transfer strategy and rejecting claims that the side have failed in the recent window.

The Reds did not bring in a new striker before the end of August, leading to frustration from the Anfield faithful given that Fabio Borini and Luis Suarez are the only two remaining forwards at the club.

However Henry has defended the Merseyside club’s stance.

“I am as disappointed as anyone connected with Liverpool Football Club that we were unable to add further to our strike force in this summer transfer window, but that was not through any lack of desire or effort on the part of all of those involved,” he said in an open letter to the fans, published in Sky Sports.

“They pushed hard in the final days of the transfer window on a number of forward targets and it is unfortunate that on this occasion we were unable to conclude acceptable deals to bring those targets in.

“A summer window which brought in three young, but significantly talented starters in Joe Allen, Nuri Sahin and Fabio Borini as well as two exciting young potential stars of the future – Samed Yesil and Oussama Assaidi – could hardly be deemed a failure as we build for the future.

“Nor should anyone minimise the importance of keeping our best players during this window. We successfully retained Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Luis Suarez. We greatly appreciate their faith and belief in the club. And we successfully negotiated new, long-term contracts with Luis and with Martin.

“The transfer policy was not about cutting costs. It was – and will be in the future – about getting maximum value for what is spent so that we can build quality and depth.

“Spending is not merely about buying talent. Our ambitions do not lie in cementing a mid-table place with expensive, short-term quick fixes that will only contribute for a couple of years.

“Our emphasis will be on developing our own players using the skills of an increasingly impressive coaching team. Much thought and investment already have gone into developing a self-sustaining pool of youngsters imbued in the club’s traditions.

“We are still in the process of reversing the errors of previous regimes. It will not happen overnight. It has been compounded by our own mistakes in a difficult first two years of ownership. It has been a harsh education, but make no mistake, the club is healthier today than when we took over.

“Finally, I can say with authority that our ownership is not about profit. Contrary to popular opinion, owners rarely get involved in sports in order to generate cash.

“They generally get involved with a club in order to compete and work for the benefit of their club. It’s often difficult. In our case we work every day in order to generate revenues to improve the club.

“We have only one driving ambition at Liverpool and that is the quest to win the Premier League playing the kind of football our supporters want to see.

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“That will only occur if we do absolutely the right things to build the club in a way that makes sense for supporters, for us and for those who will follow us.

“We will deliver what every long-term supporter of Liverpool Football Club aches for,”the American concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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James McFadden is desperate to secure a contract with Sunderland after being taken on a week-long trial with the Wearsiders.

The Scotland international has been without a club since his release from Everton in the summer and is eager to join Martin O’Neill’s revolution at the Stadium of Light.

His agent Rob Segal spoke to The Journal, “He is training with Sunderland at the moment and hopefully he will join them if that’s an option.

“It is a great club but I don’t know where we stand at the moment.”

McFadden would offer cover to Sunderland’s improved attack, offering back up to Louis Saha and Steven Flecther whilst also putting pressure on the Black Cats in wide areas. Throughout his career the 29 year old has been competent out on left wing, and currently James McClean is the only orthodox left-winger on Wearside.

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A key player for Birmingham City McFadden has struggled to play football since a knee problem left him unavailable for most of 2011. A year long stint at Everton,  for the 2011/2012 season followed his release from City. The season saw the Scot rarely used with David Moyes preferring Nikica Jelavic and Royston Drenthe in McFadden’s best position.

Former England international Chris Waddle has suggested that Liverpool FC midfielder Steven Gerrard is capable of playing in defence for England.

The ESPN pundit who received 62 international caps sees no reason why Gerrard can’t convert to full back or centre back when his legs are not up to being a box to box midfielder anymore.

He pointed to the regular conversion rate that the Germans have of turning midfielders into successful defenders and has also provided support for playing Carrick in the centre back role in England’s next game.

Waddle went onto add that we need to fully utilise our star players right up to retirement .

“We pigeonhole a player in a position, then we say, ‘He hasn’t got the legs now, get rid of him’. Put him in a different position,” he told The Independent.

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England take on San Marino at Wembley this Friday in a 2014 World Cup Qualifier.

Manchester City captain Vincent Komapny has dismissed concerns surrounding his form ahead of club’s Champions League tie with Ajax

The Belgian centre-back was a key performer during the Citizen’s Premier League winning campaign last season, but his performances during the new season have been below par.

The former Hamburg man was played his part in James Milner’s sending-off against West Brom at the weekend after his mistake left the England international exposed.

However, the 26-year-old is not concerned by his recent performances:

“I can only say I have a long career ahead of me, anyone who says it won’t happen again would be lying.” He told ITV Football.

“But I feel great. Maybe we are focusing on the wrong topic.

“When it comes to character and spirit and strength to overturn situations – you can only achieve that collectively. There is no such thing as a one-man team.”

After suffering defeat against Real Madrid and drawing with Borussia Dortmund, City’s hopes of advancing from Group D have taken a hit.

But Kompany admitted that the team knew it would be tough and that Ajax will provide another stern test:

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“It’s a very tough group, we always knew that. There are no easy games and this is no different.

“It’s very tight, but it makes it more exciting.”

Real Madrid look set to lure keeper David De Gea away from his current club Manchester United this January.

The La Liga Champions are currently on red alert where the keeper is concerned according to the Daily Mail after De Gea complained of feeling “homesick” and still struggling to fit in at the club and indeed in the Premier league after last season expressing surprise at the physical nature of English football.

De Gea admits losing his grip on the number one jersey: “I don’t believe I have been at the top in the last couple of months but with each game I am rediscovering my level.”

Despite declaring his intention to become first choice once again Real Madrid are confident that their relationship with De Gea’s agent Jorge Mendez will be the tipping factor in securing the deal with the agent not only being close to manager Mourinho, but also the representative of a host of key Madrid players including Pepe and Di Maria.

Madrid captain and current keeper Iker Casillas has already issued a glowing review of the youngster claiming “he will pension us all off” and supporting the player in the wake of criticism due to his age and performances, noting that he too experienced similar comments and that “between us all he has to be looked after.”

With such a glowing endorsement from the man De Gea calls his “point of reference” and indeed a growing unhappiness in Manchester a move to his former city rivals is not as unlikely as it once seemed for the Spaniard.

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Making your debut for a new club can be as daunting an experience as they come. But playing your first cup game for your employers can be equally as intimidating given what is riding on the outcome of one game.

Cup competitions, in their essence, are free grey areas as teams battle to progress and avoid elimination. So to score or save a penalty at your first Capital One Cup match and ultimately emerge successful must produce a feeling of jubilation that a player will struggle to replicate throughout the rest of their career.

Obafemi Martins – Birmingham City

The Nigerian international had only joined Birmingham a month earlier but was summoned from the sidelines in the 83rd minute by Alex McLeish with the game poised at 1-1. It proved a masterstroke as Martins capitalised on a mistake from Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny to score the winning goal just six minutes after his introduction and bring the cup back to St Andrews.

Robbie Fowler – Liverpool

Nearly two decades have passed since the Toxteth Terror made a goal-scoring debut as a fresh faced 18-year-old away at Fulham. Alongside club legend Ian Rush in attack Fowler gave the Anfield faithful a taste of what was to come with a superb left footed volley to cap a comfortable 3-1 win. It was the beginning of an inseparable Merseyside love affair.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Arsenal

With a £15 million transfer fee weighing on his shoulders, you couldn’t blame Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for being apprehensive in the early weeks of his Arsenal career. But such was the teenager’s confidence following his move from Southampton that Arsene Wenger threw him straight into the first team fold. A League Cup bow against Shrewsbury saw him notch up his first Gunners’ goal with a stunning 25-yard strike and announce himself to the rest of England.

Paul Scholes – Manchester United

When Sir Alex Ferguson named 19-year-old Paul Scholes in the starting lineup against Port Vale in 1994 it hardly turned any heads. Two expertly taken goals later and the teenage debutant had undoubtedly justified his selection. Who knew that Scholes would go on to become of the greatest players of the modern generation?

Cesc Fabregas – Arsenal

It would be an exaggeration to say the fanfare that followed Cesc Fabregas’ arrival from Barcelona in 2003 was low key. But when the Spaniard made his Arsenal bow against Rotheram in the League Cup a month later, becoming the club’s youngest player at 16 years and 177 days, he was the toast of North London. A remarkably mature display from the midfielder certainly whetted the Gunners’ appetite as he went on to become the heartbeat of Arsene Wenger’s side.

Lenny Pidgeley – Millwall

With a goalkeeping crisis to contend with and a 4th Round tie against Birmingham looming, Millwall called upon the services of Pidgeley signing him on a seven-day emergency loan in 2005. The Chelsea stopper saved Jermaine Pennant’s penalty in the shootout but couldn’t save the Lions from elimination.

Fernando Torres – Liverpool

Goals were always guaranteed for Liverpool following Torres’ arrival from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2007 and he duly delivered his first hat-trick in a red shirt on his League Cup bow. Poor Reading were on the receiving end as the Spaniard demonstrated the ruthless nature that would bring him 81 goals in 142 games on Merseyside.

Jan Budzt – Manchester City

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Arguably one of the more interesting League Cup debuts came in 2005 as League One Doncaster knocked out Manchester City. It was made all the more special by Budzt as he came on for injured goalkeeper Andy Warrington in the 105th minute of extra time and saved two penalties in the shootout to become an instant hero.

Julio Baptista – Arsenal

Despite managing to score three goals in 24 games, Baptista found his scoring touch on his first League Cup appearance for Arsenal. The striker, on-loan from Real Madrid, rattled in four goals and missed a penalty during the quarter final tie against Liverpool at Anfield.

Michael Owen – Liverpool

Goals had been Owen’s currency for over a decade before his decline and during his formative years at Liverpool he couldn’t stop scoring. Grimsby felt the full force of his powers as the teenage striker scored a hat-trick in just under an hour at Anfield on his first League Cup start.

Manchester United target Wesley Sneijder will not be leaving Inter Milan to move to the Premier League, according to his agent.

The Dutch midfielder has been recently linked with a move to big spending Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala and is the subject of long-term interest from the Red Devils.

The 28-year-old has been out of action since September, following an injury sustained whilst in Serie A action against Chievo.

His absence has coincided with an improvement in form for the Milan giants, which has led to reports that they could be tempted to cash in.

However, the playmaker’s agent Soren Lerby claims that his client will not be leaving the club to join Anzhi, or anybody else:

“Wesley doesn’t want to go to Anzhi. I feel that these are just rumours and I don’t know where they’ve come from.” He is quoted by ESPN.

“At this point you should probably ask Anzhi and Guus Hiddink about it. It’s the first time I’ve heard anything about it because Wes is very happy at Inter and has a great relationship with everyone.”

United are believed to have been chasing the Holland international for some time and were said to have made an approach during the summer transfer window.

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A deal could not be reached, but Sir Alex Ferguson is still thought to be keen on adding the midfielder to his Old Trafford squad.