[FM13] The Main Man To The Rescue

Robbie Signs In

Arsenal Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has eased his striking worries by replacing departed Giroud and Podolski by signing L.A Galaxy frontman Robbie Keane for 3,400,000.

Robbie, still a Irish international said he owed it to himself to have one more crack at the Premier League and acknowledged at his age he is coming in as a back up but knows he can still do the job when asked.



Keane who has 128 caps and 56 goals for Republic Of Ireland has been greeted by Arsenal fans who have now learnt to accept if Ole is buying him then he must know he can add something. It will be interesting to see if he can play half the season.

Utility Man Radu Joins Gunners

Stefan Radu - From Lazio - 9,750,000

Stefan Radu, Romanian international has joined Arsenal today in a deal beleived to be worth 9.75m. Radu, who speaks very little english is said to be looking forward to the challenges facing him trying to play centre back and also can play at left back.

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Who Is Stefan Radu

Radu began his career with major Romanian club side Dinamo Bucure?ti. Radu played four seasons of first team football with Dinamo, gaining a reputation as one of his country's brightest talents. However, he only became a key first team-player in the 2006–07 season, when the transfer period left a gap in Dinamo's central defense, a gap which Radu successfully covered, turning over the course of the season from a promising young player into one of the best central defenders in the league, helping Dinamo to win its 18th championship and gaining the attention of several western clubs.

He has often been considered "The new Chivu" by Romanian media. In January 2008, major Italian Serie A side Lazio came calling, and signed Radu on a loan deal until the end of the season, the loan fee was €1 million. Radu impressed and at was signed permanently in June, for a transfer fee of €3.5 million.

Radu made his Lazio debut in a Coppa Italia match versus Fiorentina shortly after joining the team on loan. He has since been a revelation for Delio Rossi's team, as the young starlet has added extra quality to the backline and started all matches he featured in.

By the end of his loan spell, Radu impressed Rossi and club president Claudio Lotito enough to justify a transfer fee of €4.5 million, and has now joined the club on a permanent basis.

On 17 June 2011 he signed a new five year contract. Radu has become one of the most important players for Lazio, a team which he captained during the 2011–12 season. His role at Lazio is usually that of centre back though he has been used as a left back during the last two seasons under Edoardo Reja.

Radu made his debut for the Romanian national team in 2006, following the country's failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Over the course of Euro 2008 qualifying, Radu gained international experience and was selected in the squad for the final tournament in Switzerland and Austria. At Euro 2008 however, Radu remained a substitute and did not see any game time.

On 25 March 2008 he was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian B?sescu for the results on Qualifying to EURO 2008 and qualification to UEFA Euro 2008 Group C with Medalia.

Solskjaer Buys Former United Man

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer today spent 16,250,000 on former Manchester united youngster Paul Pogba who played a blinding season in Juventus last season hence the 16,250,000 fee

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Paul Labile Pogba (born 15 March 1993) is a French international footballer of Guinean descent who plays for Italian club Juventus in Serie A. He operates primarily as a midfielder and is comfortable at playing both in attack and defence. Pogba was described by his former club Manchester United as a "powerful, skilful, and creative" player who has "an eye for goal and a penchant for the spectacular". After his transfer to Juventus F.C. he gained the nickname Il Polpo Paul ("Paul the Octopus") for his long legs that look like tentacles during tackling or running. Due to his performances for club and country, he received the 2013 Golden Boy award, given to the best Under-21 player in Europe.

Pogba is a French youth international having represented his nation at all levels for which he has been eligible. With the under-16 team, he captained his nation to victories at the Aegean Cup and the Tournoi du Val-de-Marne and, at under-17 level, played at the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. He made his debut for the senior French national team on 22 March 2013, in a 3–1 win against Georgia.

Arsenal Unbeaten But Out Of The Champions League

Arsenal Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left bemoaning what could have been as Arsenal crashed out in the qualifying round of the Champions League. Arsenal have played 2 and won two in the Premier League. AZ drew with Arsenal 2-2 at The Emirates but could only manager a goalless draw in Alkmar.

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Solskjaer will now take Arsenal into the Uefa Europa League and now he wants to win the Premier League. He thinks he has bought well and said there might be some activity on Transfer Deadline day.



West Ham United 0-1 Arsenal
Bender (30)

A good solid victory for Arsenal here, they had chance after chance. Benteke and Robbie Keane hit the post. Bender hit his first goal for the club from 25 yards out which is worthy of winning any game.

Arsenal 3-1 Q.P.R
Lewandowski (43), Bennett (70), Pogba (90+1)

Easy victory here for Arsenal in a game Joey Barton got his marching orders after just 3 minutes for a crunching challenge on Robbie Keane. Ole Gunner started this match with Downing, Bennett, Lewandowski, Benteke and Keane and it paid off on the aging Rangers defence.
Paul Pogba came on to net on his debut.

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Arsenal have played one match less than everyone else but have only conceded one goal as Tim Krul keeps his place.



Arsenal 2-2 AZ Alkmar
Lewandowski (6), Benteke (15)

Arsenal gave a good performance but a shocking error by Mertesacker and Vermealen gifted 2 goals for AZ.

AZ Alkmar 0-0 Arsenal
AZ win on the Away goals rule

Arsenal fans are disapointed they did not go through but are optimistic for the Uefa Europa League.

James Rodriguez In

Arsenal make one signing on deadline day in James Rodriguez from F.C. Porto.

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Rodriguez, 22 moves for 21,000,000 and is looking forward to playing for Arsenal. He has been bought in for competition for Stewart Downing.

He is considered to be one of the best young players in the world and within his generation. His playmaking skills has led many to consider him to be the successor of Colombian legend icon Carlos Valderrama (who has declared him as such) thus being referred as 'El Nuevo Pibe' (the 'new kid' in reference to being the successor of Carlos who was nicknamed 'El Pibe'). His dribbling, speed, creativity, ball control, and powerful shots has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo even to the point where he is considered to be his 'South American' counterpart. His talents have been described as 'phenomenal' and acknowledged among many football experts as one of the most talented young prospects in the world.

Rodríguez is one of Colombia's most talented young prospects. Succeeding at an early age with various youth clubs, he's contributed to many club victories as well as with the national team. One of his most noticeable moments hinting his successful future, was a famous rare Olympic Goal he scored with his first club Club Atlético Banfield in the Argentine Primera División at only 16 years of age. He was captain of the Colombian-U20 team, leading them to a victory at the 2011 Toulon Tournament where he was voted the best player. He also captained the U-20 team during the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup where his talents were recognized being a crucial part of the new Colombian golden generation. On the senior national level, he impressed contributing to crucial victories making him a regular at only 20 years of age. He scored his first senior national goal against Peru in a 1–0 victory in less than 6 months after his debut.

Dodgy Defending Cost Dear!

Arsenal and the Capital One Cup is not having a good relationship as they have crashed out at the first time of asking again. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blasted Centre Back Per Mertesacker for his sub standard performance and even stripped him of his captaincy! Thomas Vermealen is now Captain with Santi Cazorla vice captain.

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Arsenal did well in the Premier League and after a couple of dodgy matches ended the month forth. Solskjaer is happy to start to build on that performance and also now plays a 4-2-3-1 formation with Bennett and either Downing or Rodriguez on the left. As usual Bennett has started well but for me the stand out is the contribution Robbie Keane is making. He does only make the bench but him and Benteke are really starting to assist Lewandowski. They just need to start scoring now.

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Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

Stoke City 2-4 Arsenal
Wlshere (18, 45), Benteke (69), Rodriguez (74)

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City
Lewandowski (72)

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Arsenal are sitting forth and the formation now seems like it suits Solskjaer's team, lets hope it makes them play even better!

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Arsenal 2-2 Everton
Bender (49), Bennett (60)
Everton win 4-3 on Pens.

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Vitesse 1-4 Arsenal
Cazorla (2, 27), Lewandowski (11), Vermealen (74)

Arsenal totally and utterly thrashed a very poor vitesse side. Not much else to say really.
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Awards

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Thomas Vermealen capped a good month by claiming second in the player of the month award. He has been the rock at Arsenal's defence this season and is the one that is undroppable at the moment and also been made captain.

GR-EIGHT Month For The Gunners!

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Arsenal really stepped up to the plate this month and demolished two teams. Arsenal ended the month unbeaten and the only poor result really coming against Brighton and Hove Albion. The first team to get thrashed was Gladbach in the Europa League. Elliott Bennett finally got his season going. He set up 5 of them.

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However the next team to get smashed was Watford. They got beat Eight nothing. This was the match Robert Lewandowski tore through the Watford team. He bagged four goals and Robbie Keane also scored his first goal for the club. 'I am very happy that I have got my season up and running.' Said a delighted Keane.



Newcastle United 0-0 Arsenal

This was one of the most entertaining 0-0 draws that you will ever see. Robbie Keane did everything other than score!

Arsenal 1-0 Norwich
Bennett (74)

Norwich were lucky to only lose 1-0. Arsenal had so many shots on goal it was silly and Elliott Bennett saved Arsenal with a STUNNING strike form 25 yards out.

Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
Lewandowski (34)

Arsenal 8-0 Watford
Lewandowski (13, 35, 49, 74), Keane (21), Bennett (26), Oxlade-Chamberlain (47), Pogba (59)

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Arsenal climb to forth in the table only 3 points behind the leaders. There domolishion of Watford was just stunning. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can not wait to play the rest of the season and does think Arsenal can launch a genuine title challenge.



Arsenal 2-1 Roma
Bennett (20), Mertesacker (48)

Gladbach 1-6 Arsenal
Rodriguez (7,90), Benteke (25), Lewandowski (47, 56), Wilshere (81)

Arsenal have a 100% record in the Uefa Europa League this season. Gladbach might not be the best team around, but to go to any German club and win 6-1 is nothing short of unreal. Lewandowski and Benteke have perform amazingly well this season, espeicially together in Europe.

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Vermealen Goes One Better This Month!

Thomas Vermealen, second in the Player Of The Month last month carried on his amazing, awesome form and claimed first in it this month. He outperformed everyone this month.

Irish Legend Retires From International Football

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Robbie Keane, today announced his retirement from International football.

'I am very sad to say that I have decided to retire from international football. I have really enjoyed my time at Republic Of Ireland and would like to thank all of the Irish fans that have supported me for the 15 years I have played for the national team.'

'I thought it was right to go out at the top of the international stage. I am still Captain but its time for me to concentrate on Arsenal, who I am throughally enjoying playing for.'
Keane was selected by Mick McCarthy as part of the Republic of Ireland squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, scoring three goals in Ireland's four games. Keane scored an injury-time equaliser against Germany in the group stage match as the Irish surprised many by holding the former champions to a draw. This was the first of only three goals which Germany conceded in the tournament (the other two were scored in the final by Brazilian legend Ronaldo). In the Round of 16 match against Spain, he scored a last-minute penalty to force the game into extra-time and a penalty shoot-out after the Irish had gone a goal down early in the first half, but eventually lost 3–2 on penalties.

Keane became Ireland's leading goal scorer during a match against the Faroe Islands on 13 October 2004 when he scored his 22nd and 23rd goals. The first of these goals broke Niall Quinn's old record of 21 goals.

Keane won his 100th cap against Argentina in a 1–0 friendly defeat on 11 August 2010. This match was also the first international football match at the new Aviva Stadium. He scored his 45th international goal against Russia in October 2010. It was the first time Ireland had lost a game in which Robbie Keane had scored. Previously, Ireland had won 26 and drew 10 of the 36 games in which Keane had scored (Note: This counts the 1–1 result against Spain in the knockout stages of the 2002 World Cup as a draw. Ireland lost in a penalty shootout). He broke the record for most appearances as a captain on 26 March 2011, beating Andy Townsend's record and also scored a goal in the process.

Robbie Keane ends his international career with 132 caps and 56 goals which is just shy of a goal every other game. What an OUTSTANDING achievement for the striker.