[saladguy]

That's bad news for Rangers, I feel that Arsenal will probably thrash them.

[Prodigy]

Page last updated at 17:47 GMT, Friday, 07 August 2009

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Arsenal announce signings of La Liga trio

Arsenal have announced the signings of La Liga trio Gonzalo Rodriguez, Ruben Rochina and Thiago Alcantara.

Gonzalo Rodriguez joins from Villarreal for a fee believed to be around nine million pounds, whilst Ruben Rochina and Thiago Alcantara, both products of Barcelona's youth academy, both join for a combined fee of two-hundred and forty thousand pounds. The club has also announced that Gonzalo Rodriguez has signed a four-year deal, whilst Rochina and Alcantara have both put pen to three-year deals.

Rodriguez, who has recently became a regular in the Argentine national side, started his career at Argentine team San Lorenzo, and being involved with the Argentine youth-set up saw him being noticed across Europe. It would be Manuel Pellegrini who would purchase the defender though, when in 2004 Rodriguez made his switch to La Liga with Villarreal, in which he became a first team regular in his first two seasons. Injuries however kept him out for some time during 2006 and 2007, after suffering a tear of his cruciate ligament twice. Despite these set-backs, the 25 year old Argentine returned to top form last season, and this form saw him called into Diego Maradona's Argentine squad, with himself making himself a regular starter in the centre of defence.

Manuel Pellegrini spoke on the third Villarreal player to join Arsenal this season.

"I'm happy that we were able to sign Gonzalo at last. It has being a tough month or so trying to negotiate with Villarreal for Gonzalo, but we have finally got him. We needed a new central defender, I think that's quite obvious. With William [Gallas] now in his thirties, and Johan [Djourou] out injured for what could be three months, we needed a top, top defender, and we've got that with Gonzalo, who was a rock for me at Villarreal and has made some impressive appearances for Argentina. He's another player who I was very close with at Villarreal, after bringing him to Spain, and again I'm very happy he has decided to join us."

Exciting for Arsenal fans are the two acquistions of Ruben Rochina and Thiago Alcantara, both eighteen years of age and joining from the youth academy of Barcelona. Rochina, a striker, and Alcantara, an attacking midfield player, will also both go on loan for the 2009-2010 season, which was confirmed by Manuel Pellegrini.

"It's exciting. Our scouts from Spain recently came back, and I was highly recommended to take a look at these two kids if I could. As we was in Spain, to face Real Sociedad, I watched them play for Barcelona's B team, and from there we contacted Barcelona and triggered the release clauses in their contracts. They're two very exciting youngsters, but they're young, and will more than likely spend this season on loan at a Championship team."

Arsenal also confirmed that Kieran Gibbs and Nacer Barazite will also both be loaned out for the rest of the season, with both joining Watford and West Brom respectively, whilst Dani Parejo, signed for a relatively small fee three-thousand pounds from Real Madrid, has made the move to Derby County.

[Prodigy]

Va-va-voom

Henry grabs goal seconds into his Arsenal return

Last updated: 12th August 2009

Thierry Henry scored within 46 seconds to mark a dramatic return to Arsenal at the Ibrox Stadium, as a late Lee McCulloch goal saw the game finish 2-1.

With a sold out Ibrox Stadium in full force, Thierry Henry on his second debut for Arsenal grabbed a wonderful headed goal as Gael Clichy found his French team-mate in the box within just 46 seconds, momentarily leaving the sold out Ibrox silenced, as Henry ran over to the Arsenal fans and fell to the floor in jubilation.

Rangers, who were left visibly stunned by Arsenal's early goal were struggling as on four minutes Russian Andrei Arshavin was able to jink around two Rangers defenders who were left ball watching, before finding himself on the edge of the area with his cross finding Samir Nasri, who scored on the first game of the last campaign, forced a good save from Neil Alexander, replacing the injured Alan McGregor.

The relentless pressure continued for the Gunners, and on twelve minutes Gael Clichy wasted a half-chance as Thierry Henry's cross left Gael Clichy with an opportunity on the edge of the box, but his shot was spurned wide. Arsenal continued to waste chances however, as Samir Nasri's free-kick was parried to Andrei Arshavin who shot over, and Arshavin had another chance once again just before the end of the first half as he took it past three Rangers players to put his shot just past the post.

With virtually nothing for Rangers supporters to excited about as the first half was dominated by their opponents, the second started in the same fashion, as Arsenal who maybe would of been disappointed to go into the second half with a one-nil lead came close again, as Robin Van Persie, who has recently spoke out about how he'd consider a move to Inter Milan, was found by Henry in the area, but again his shot was saved by the brilliant Alexander.

Rangers though would come the closest in the second half, as on 62 minutes they achieved their first real threat of the game, as Steven Davis' long range effort left Asenjo helpless, as the ball rattled the crossbar and Kolo Toure clearing the ball away, and Arsenal were left knowing that their wasteful dominance could be costly, as Theo Walcott and Matías Fernández were brought on to try and get a second goal.

Despite Rangers' chance, Arsenal appeared to have ended all of Rangers hopes in the tie, after Matías Fernández spurned another Arsenal opportunity with a weak shot at Rangers hero Alexander, he would be involved once again, after a better effort was parried by the Rangers stopper, and Samir Nasri followed in the rebound at the back post, seemingly ending the Rangers dream as Walter Smith held his head in his hands.

As three minutes was held up by the fourth official, a small amount of Rangers fans were heading for the exits, but in spectacular fashion, a game dominated by Arsenal would turn back into only a one goal deficit, as Samir Nasri turned from hero to villain after cheaply losing the ball on the wing, and Steven Whittaker's crossed ball found Lee McCulloch on the edge of the box, where the former Wigan man hit a wonderful strike which left Spanish keeper Sergio Asenjo helpless.

As the final whistle blew, Arsenal could enjoy their first win under new manager Manuel Pellegrini with an impressive performance. Yet the Gunners boss will have to address his sides composure in front of goal, as a tie which should be all but over is still very open with McCulloch's late goal, leaving Rangers with high hopes still of causing a famous upset in the second leg at the Emirates.

This post has been edited by Prodigy: 09 June 2009 - 07:27 PM

[Number 1]

Nice result - but the score on the scoreboard is the wrong way round. Should be 2-1 Arsenal, not 2-1 Rangers lol

[K3V0]

Out of all the good stories I have seen on here over the last year since I joined I must say this is the best, please keep going with this, it is unbeliavable and has so much potential to be an absolute gem of a story!!!

Fantastic work Prodigy, keep this up

[shan0811]

I agree with K3V0 this is the best story ever..

[Prodigy]

TEST

This post has been edited by Prodigy: 10 August 2009 - 08:49 PM