Benayoun Out With Injury

Arsenal's summer loan signing Yossi Benayoun will be out for around a week after picking up a "strain" in the clubs third round tie against League Two side Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday.

The Israeli midfielder scored his first Arsenal goal in the Carling Cup tie, and announced his delight via his official Twitter account, but also delivered the bad news that he joins the Arsenal injury list, saying:

"So happy for the win yesterday and with my first goal for the club but very disappointed as I have a strain and will be out for a week or so."

Luckily for Arsenal and Wenger, Benayoun's injury is not too serious, and the 31 year-old attacking midfielder, who is owned by Chelsea, will only miss the Bolton game on Saturday and perhaps the Champions League group game against Olympiacos on Wednesday 28th.

Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, Sebastian Squillaci, Abou Diaby and Thomas Vermaelen remain injured for Arsenal. Read more about those players' injuries on Arsenal's official website here.

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Alvarez Signs Pre-Contract Agreement With Arsenal

Arsenal have made their first signing of the summer with the bosman transfer of Ricardo Alvarez from the Argentinian club Vélez Sársfield.

The 23 year old was born in Argentina, but has an Italian passport, so would require a work permit, but from who he has been compared to, it will be worth it.

A left footed attacking midfielder, Alvarez has been likened to Barcelona's star player and probably the best footballer in the world, Lionel Messi.

According to FoxSports, the player has signed a pre-contract agreement with Arsenal, allowing the player to join in June. A former Boca Juniors youth player, he has had a very good season at his current club Vélez Sársfield in the Argentina Primera Division.

He has only scored 4 goals in 36 appearances, but it his versatility that has attracted Arsenal's eye. Apparently he can play in any position in the midfield, and although not an immediate starter would add depth to the Arsenal squad.

Wenger promised signings this summer, so Arsenal fans will still be expecting him to spend some money, as this is just a free transfer for an unknown kid (sound familiar?), and the attacking midfield isn't exactly the area that needs improving on. Fabregas, Wilshere, Rosicsky, Song, Diaby, Nasri and Walcott make up the midfield on different days, but it is the defence which worries most Arsenal fans.

Arsenal also have the young Japanese talent Ryo Miyaichi to look forward to when he comes back to the Emirated from his loan spell.


However, it might be worth noting that there is a club called Arsenal de Sarandí who play, like Alvarez's club, in Argentina. The information that Arsenal have signed the exciting youngster in the foreign press, may have been lost in translation, and Alvarez may in fact be signing a contract with the Argentinian Arsenal. My thanks to @Kevin_Mega to bringing this to my attention.

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Wenger: Van Persie, Diaby and Koscielny Out Injured

Arsene Wenger confirmed that Robin Van Persie, Abou Diaby and Laurent Koscielny will all be out of Arsenal's next game against Stoke City with injuries, although Diaby wold have missed the game with suspension anyway. Arsenal host Stoke on Wednesday, but Wenger is positive that the trio will all be fit for Sunday's Carling Cup final clash against Birmingham where Arsenal have the chance to win some overdue silverware.

Wenger said:

"We don't have Van Persie, Diaby and Koscielny available."

"Everybody else is fit. Diaby is suspended. Van Persie has a hamstring problem and Koscielny a back problem."

"Both are short term and they have a chance for the game on Sunday"

Johan Djourou has been in very good form this season, making up for the absence of Thomas Vermaelen alongside Koscielny in the centre of defence, and Wenger will welcome the Swiss back into the side after missing the F.A Cup draw against Leyton Orient.
The Arsenal manager said:

"Johan Djourou is better and will play."

The replay with Leyton Orient in the Cup isn't going to help, as although Arsenal are favourites to win, it is another long 90 minutes and risks injuries or fatigue that they will not want in the lead up the back end of the season, as well as a second leg with Barcelona at the Nou Camp awaiting them.

Arsenals Diaby Wants Barca Transfer "At Some Point"

His teammate and captain, Cesc Fabregas has been subject to several substantial bids from Barcelona, and just a week before he will be up against them in the Champions League, Abou Diaby has expressed his desire to one day move to Spain to play for them.

The 24 year-old Frenchman was speaking upon being asked of the prospect of playing Barcelona in Europe in a few days, and it turns out he is also a fan of Barca's rival Real Madrid:

“At some point I would like to play for Barcelona or Real Madrid, but I would prefer to play for Barca, because I prefer their style.”

Diaby has been compared to the former Arsenal captain, Patrick Viera with his positional preference as well as physical appearance. Wenger once said: "His ability to win the ball back is just like Vieira. He is capable of a very quick transitions from defence to attack and has fantastic strength box to box, nobody can go with him."

Wenger will be needing this quality when his team takes on The Spanish Champions next Wednesday in the Champions League, and Diaby recognises this too:

"We played them last season, and we found them at their highest degree of effectiveness, both individually and collectively. This year will be the same, so we know what to expect. Barca are a great team, and this year they are very strong."

The Arsenal manager will be especially concerned about Lionel Messi - the player who he described last year as "unstoppable" and the best player in the world "by some distance" immediately after the two sides met in which Messi scored all four goals in Arsenals 4 - 1 loss to Barcelona. Abou Diaby highlighted however, that his team should not concentrates solely on the quick feet, trickery and sheer class of Messi, as the rest of the Barca team are just as big a threat:

"Messi is the best in the world. We all know that the Argentine is a great player who can make the difference at any time, but we cannot focus only on him."

If both sides play their football how we all know they can, the game looks set to be an absolute cracker, with beautiful football on show and hopefully plenty of goals. While Arsenal fans will be hoping Abou Diaby doesn't lose his temper and do anything rash like in the Newcastle game, he will be wearing the red of Arsenal for now, and not the blue and purple of Barcelona.