The Winning Potion

FABIANSKI EXTENDS STAY

Lukasz Fabianski has renewed his contract until 2016 after months of negotiations with Arsenal.

The Polish keeper whose contract was set to expire at the end of the season, rejected two previous offers before finally penning a three and a half year deal worth £3 million.

Fabianski has appeared three times this season and seems content to play second fiddle to compatriot and Arsenal number one Wojciech Szczesny.

January 2013 Part 1

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Arsenal 3 - 1 Manchester City
Giroud (11) Wilshere (38, 45) – Ayew (13)





2 – 3
Simpson (67) Obita (83) - Gnabry (13) Mertesacker (39) Walcott (84)
(Arsenal will face Hull City at The Circle in the fourth round)



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Arsenal 2 – 1 Aston Villa
Giroud (45) Mertesacker (67) - Bent (23)



V
Arsenal 4 - 2 Fulham
Podolski (41) Hangeland O.G. (46) Walcott (56) Gibbs (80) – Berbatov (61) Emanuelson (69)

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Sunderland 1 - 3 Arsenal
Fletcher (18) – Giroud (43, 72) Koscielny (59)
(Arteta out for 11 days with a damaged elbow)

ANDERSEN SIGNS FOR ARSENAL

Lucas Andersen has made to move to London after Arsenal activated his £3 million release clause.

The 18 year old Dane signs a five year deal on £20,000 a week after leaving Ajax just months after arriving at Amsterdam.

Andersen joined Ajax from Aalborg in the summer for £1.1m and impressed Arsenal in the 14 games played this season.

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LIVERPOOL WIZKID JOINS GUNNERS

Arsenal has blown their record signing with purchase of Liverpool prodigy Raheem Sterling for £36 million.

The English international was reportedly unhappy when Arsenal’s £30 million bid was knocked back with a £58 million price tag and the 18 year old’s discontent led to drop in price.

Sterling admitted it was a massive honour to receive such individual praise from a person such as Thierry Henry and that the opportunity to join Arsenal was too good to refuse.

Arsenal will pay Sterling £60,000 a week throughout five years after playing 24 games for Liverpool, scoring ten.

Sterling may not be the only high profile player to leave Liverpool this transfer window as Luis Suarez’s unhappiness at Anfield continues and Jose Mourinho’s reignited interest in Steven Gerrard pointing towards a possible move to Chelsea.

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January 2013 Part 2

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Southampton 0 - 3 Arsenal
Schneiderlin (4) Giroud (65) Andersen (69)


1 – 2
Benteke (47) - Mertesacker (28, 70)
(2 – 4 Agg. to Arsenal)
(Arsenal will face West Brom in the final after a 2-1 aggregate win v QPR)



1 - 1
Fabianksi O.G. (32) - Cazorla (14)
(Replay Due – Winner will face Swansea City in the 5th round)
(I can explain my fellow readers. Fabianski had an absolute howler and I had to chase the win with 10 men due to injuries. Wilshere hit the post and Giroud has a goal ruled offside – unfairly)

THEO CROCKED

Theo Walcott will be out for four months following his injury in Arsenal’s FA Cup tie versus Hull City.

The England international was stretchered off minutes before his entry after an unpunished tackle from Hull’s Paul McShane and scans have revealed Walcott will be out of action due to a broken foot.

This will come as a bitter blow for Arsenal after the ever present winger appeared 29 times, scoring five and creating 15 goals.

The inform Walcott may not feature any more this season, prompting a tussle in between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and new signing Raheem Sterling for the vacant spot.

January 2013 Part 3

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Arsenal 4 – 0 West Brom
Foster O.G. (26) Giroud (42, 90) Podolski (46)

Barclays Premier League Table

Barclays Premier League Player of the Month

Olivier Giroud

Barclays Premier League Manager of the Month

THIERRY HENRY

Arsenal’s EA SPORTS Player of the Month

Per Mertesacker

This month was so hard to choose as there were 4 or 5 that were amazing. Eventually it was down to Olivier Giroud & Mertesacker but I had to opt for Big Mert. There won’t be a back-up centre back in the world that is playing as well as the BIG Friendly German. Per has been immense this season and found some goalscoring form this month.

Manager Movement

Norwich City – Steve Bruce – New Manager

Thierry’s Verdict – “Who would have thought we would be 9 points clear of Manchester United in January at the start of the season? Even more so, we have a final to participate in. Another fantastic month for the Mighty Arsenal. Now to finish off Hull in the FA Cup and take the Carling Cup home. Arsenal are coming back!”

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Winter Transfer Window 2013

Chelsea – Klass Jan Huntelaar £14.5m – Pedro Rodriguez £10m – Paulo Ferreira RELEASED – Hilario RELEASED

Fulham – Carlos Kameni £2.4m





Paris Saint-Germain – David Villa (Loan)





Schalke – Sami Khedira (Loan)





Ajax – Carlos Carmona £3.3m





AC Milan – Alessandro Diamanti £5.25m
Fiorentina – Jo Inge Berget £2.1m – Didac Vila £2.2m
Roma – Camilo Zuniga £7m





Celtic – Thomas Ince £13m





Atletico Madrid – Romario (Free)

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