GUNNERS OPTIMISTIC ON FABREGAS
Arsenal hope Cesc Fabregas will be available for Wednesday night's Champions League quarter-final second leg with Juventus but Emmanuel Eboue faces a fitness test.

Ivory Coast defender Eboue (groin) is rated with only a "30%" chance of starting but has travelled to Turin along with Fabregas (foot) and fit-again Sol Campbell.

England international Campbell is expected to be in the squad for the first time since the start of February, while midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has recovered from his calf problem.

Arsenal are without veteran Dennis Bergkamp (groin), although he would not have travelled anyway because of his fear of flying. Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor is cup-tied - and left-back Ashley Cole (ankle), Pascal Cygan (hamstring) and long-term absentee Lauren (knee) are all out.

Juventus striker Alessandro del Piero has been ruled out.

The Italy international has been one of the form players for the Turin giants this season and even became the club's all-time leading scorer.

Del Piero missed the first leg with the injury and now Juve will be without their talisman as they attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit.

Chelsea plan Arsenal raid
Chelsea are planning to make a summer raid for Arsenal and England defender Ashley Cole according to The Sun.



The Premiership champions and the Gunners defender have already been punished for their Park Lane meeting last year but if the report is correct, Cole could be heading to West London anyway.



The 25-year-old is said to be happy at Highbury but at the end of the day money talks and with Arsenal having a host of excellent young defenders coming through their ranks, they could be willing to sell Cole.

Ronaldo back in Real squad for Arsenal clash
Real Madrid striker Ronaldo has been recalled for Wednesday's Champions League match against Arsenal after being dropped against Atletico Madrid at the weekend.

The three-times winner of the World Player of the Year award has come under fire for failing to live up to his billing in recent matches.

The Brazilian was also accused of putting his own interests before those of the team after making a thinly veiled threat on the eve of Real's 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal in the first leg.

The 29-year-old said he was reconsidering his future at the club because of the criticism he has received from Real Madrid fans.

He was dropped after last week's 2-1 defeat at Real Mallorca and replaced by Antonio Cassano against Atletico.

The Italy striker, who joined Real in January from AS Roma, scored Real's opening goal in their 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu - earning praise from fans and the media for his lively performance in attack.

Real's new president Fernando Martin, who took charge of the club following the shock resignation of former chief Florentino Perez last week, has pledged to take a hard line against the club's under-performing Galacticos.

Ronaldo, who has played just one Champions League match this season because of suspension and injury, scored a hat-trick for Real in their 4-3 defeat at Manchester United the last time he played for the club on English soil.

Playmaker Zinedine Zidane and defender Ivan Helguera were also included in the squad despite picking up minor knocks in the Atletico de Madrid game.

Barcelona denies deal for Arsenal?s Henry
Barcelona vice president Ferran Soriano has denied claiming the club has agreed to a deal to sign Arsenal striker titi henry(Thierry Henry) in the summer.

Henry’s contract expires in June 2007 and he has yet to sign a new contract with the Premiership club, leading to speculation he could be heading for the Nou Camp.

The rumors gathered pace on Monday when Barcelona daily Sport claimed a deal had already been struck with the French international.

But Soriano said, “We have made no contact with Thierry Henry and no contract has been agreed with him.”

Soriano stressed, though, that the club would be looking to strengthen its squad at the end of the season, and dismissed claims that Portuguese midfielder Deco would be sacrificed to fund new arrivals.

“We do have the financial capacity to make new signings in the summer and we do not have to sell,” he added. “We have no plans to sell Deco.”

Fellow defenders Ashley Cole (thigh), Gael Clichy (foot), Pascal Cygan (hamstring), Lauren (knee), Kerrea Gilbert (back) are all out.

El-Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Faye, Jay-Jay Okocha and Radhi Jaidi could return for Bolton after African Nations Cup duty.

Kevin Davies (ankle) faces a fitness test but Khalilou Fadiga, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed and Henrik Pedersen are out.



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Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Flamini, Senderos, Djourou, Song, Larsson, Fabregas, Gilberto, Diaby, Reyes, Hleb, Henry, Adebayor, Almunia, Ljungberg, Pires, Bergkamp, Lupoli, Muamba, Connolly.

Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Hunt, Ben Haim, N'Gotty, Jaidi, Gardner, Giannakopoulos, Faye, Okocha, Nakata, Nolan, Diouf, Davies, Jansen, Walker, Vaz Te, Borgetti.



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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"At the moment the most important thing is to win on Saturday.
"It is much more important to come back we have a good opportunity to come back into the Champions League.

"Liverpool are only five points away from us and Tottenham are four points away and we have a game in hand."


Bolton boss Sam Allardyce:
"Fourth spot at the end of the season could be up for grabs and it's vital we start picking up wins.
"If we are going to sustain our push for a Champions League place, then we must turn our draws into three points.

"We still have two games in hand on some teams. Maybe this year we will be able to take advantage of the vulnerability of some of the top clubs."



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BIG-MATCH FACTS


ARSENAL meet their bogey club Bolton for the third time this season and are seeking a first goal and first win. It was a fortnight ago when the Trotters released the Gunners' grip on the FA Cup at the Reebok through a solitary score from Stelios Giannakopoulos. Now they're looking for all three points from Highbury to leapfrog the Londoners in the Premiership table. But Arsene Wenger's side, who are two places and two points superior, and desperate to close the four-point gap on arch rivals Spurs in fourth place to keep in touch with the Champions League qualifying places.

Since their 13-game winning run in home Premiership matches was brought to an end by Chelsea on 18 December, the Gunners have only won every other game on home territory, and if that pattern is to be extended they must beat Bolton. Arsenal find themselves third in the Premier League's "home" table, although only Chelsea have won more games and scored more goals on their own patch. Liverpool lie second in that table, who the Gunners meet at Anfield next Tuesday, ahead of the Champions League trip to Real Madrid seven days later.

The Gunners have won eight and drawn two of the last 10 home League matches against the Trotters. When the pair last met at Highbury in September 2004, four goals were shared. It was the first time the Londoners dropped points last season, after a Henrik Pedersen goal five minutes from time denied Wenger's side another victory.

BOLTON WANDERERS are on a five-match unbeaten streak in the top tier, and are yet to lose in any competition in 2006, although they're without a win in four League games on the road and six points outside the top four.

The Trotters have weighed in with their best ever points return to this stage of a Premiership season. Although they're away League record from 12 outings is won four, drawn four and lost four, Wanderers are second only to Chelsea in top flight clean sheets away from home. The champions have managed six - Bolton five.

Wanderers have won their last two matches against Arsenal, but have never won a Premiership match at Highbury, and this is their last opportunity. The Trotters knocked the Gunners out of the FA Cup when they last won at the north London stadium in 1994. Their last League victory there was 1-2 on 13 January 1962, when they completed the 'double' over Arsenal for only the third time in their history.


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REFEREE:
Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)


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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

ARSENAL


Club stats
Fixtures
5th 40 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 5th
Lowest could realistically fall: 7th

Not managed back-to-back victories in six Premiership outings, since beating Charlton (0-1 a) and Portsmouth (4-0 h) on Boxing Day and 28 December respectively.
Kept clean sheets in six of the last eight Premiership matches.
The current tally of 40 points after 24 games is Arsenal's lowest in the Premier League since they garnered just 29 in the 1994/95 campaign.
Scored 38 goals in the top table. Only Chelsea (52) and Manchester United (49) have found the net more often. ?
Shipped just 19 top flight goals. Only Chelsea (13) and Liverpool (17) can better that.
Completed 14 Premiership matches since a score draw (1-1, away to Tottenham on 29 October).
Netted more goals in the first quarter of top divison encounters than any other club (11).
Scored more goals in the last 10 minutes of highest League clashes than any other club (10).
Awarded more penalties in Premiership matches this season than any other club, but only three of their six spot kicks have been converted.

Scored nine goals in last two home League games, but won only one of them - beating Middlesbrough 7-0 on 14 January, then losing 2-3 to West Ham on 1 February.
BOLTON WANDERERS


Club stats
Fixtures
7th 38 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 5th
Lowest could fall: 8th

Undefeated in seven in all competitions.
Won three and drawn four, since losing 4-1 at Manchester United in the Premiership on New Year's Eve.
Unbeaten in five Premiership matches (one win, four draws).
Lost one of 10 top tier encounters since the beginning of December - the defeat being 4-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford on 31 December.
The Trotters previous best after the first 23 games of a Premiership season was 32 points in the season before last.
Posted 33 points after the first 24 matches in each of the last two Premier League saesons.
Scored fewer goals than any other club in the top half of the Premiership table.
Finished all square eight times. Only Aston Villa have more draws in the top table (nine).

Drawn three of the last four away League games - two were goalless.


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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

ARSENAL


Squad profiles

Thierry HENRY is the second highest scoring Premiership player of the season with 19 - two behind Ruud Van Nistelrooy. He's also three behind the Manchester United striker in the race for the Barclays Golden Boot with 15.
12 of Henry's 15 League goals this season have been scored at home.
Goalkeeper Jens LEHMANN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Arsenal's Premiership matches this season.
If involved, Phillippe SENDEROS will be playing three days before his 21st birthday.
BOLTON WANDERERS


Squad profiles

If he plays, Gary SPEED will be extending the Premiership appearance record to 471 (Leeds, Everton, Newcastle and Bolton), and will be making his 550th appearance in English top flight football.
Goalkeeper Jussi JAASKELAILEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Bolton's Premiership matches this season.
Stelios GIANNAKOPOULOS scored in both of Bolton's League and Cup games against Arsenal this season, and in three of the last four matches against the Gunners.


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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Arsenal 2-2 Bolton Wanderers
18 September 2004 - Ref: Phil Dowd
Arsenal scorers: Henry 31, Pires 66
Bolton scorers: Jaidi 63, Pedersen 85



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THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE:
Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Arsenal
28 January 2005 - Ref: Howard Webb
Bolton scorers: Faye 20, Giannakopoulos 32



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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Arsenal 42 wins, Bolton 33, Draws 30
Prem: Arsenal 6 wins, Bolton 3, Draws 4


HEAD TO HEAD at Arsenal
League: Arsenal 30 wins, Bolton 7, Draws 15
Prem: Arsenal 4 wins, Bolton 0, Draws 2

Defender returns to Arsenal training
THE Arsenal defender Sol Campbell returned to training yesterday having said he was feeling better after a trip to the continent.

Campbell had not been seen by the club since walking out of Highbury after being substituted at half-time in Arsenal's 3-2 defeat by West Ham Unitedlast Wednesday, but reported for duty at the London Colney training complex.

The London Evening Standard said the England international arrived in England on a Eurostar train from Brussels on Sunday night. "I've been away since Thursday on a trip to the continent. Things are OK and I'm feeling better," the paper quoted Campbell as saying.

He missed Saturday's 2-0 win at Birmingham City and team-mate Robert Pires said he was taking time off to deal with personal problems.

Campbell's lawyer issued a statement saying that was not the case: "Sol is absolutely fine. He needed time and space to gather his thoughts," Bon Battu said. "He has no personal problems whatsoever and will be back training next week."

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said after the Birmingham game that he had spoken to the player, who was at fault for West Ham's first two goals.

Asked if he had forgiven him for walking out, the Frenchman said: "There is not a lot to forgive. There was no acrimony in the dressing room, it was just that he was not well and you just have to accept that."

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA, has offered his unstinting support to the player. Taylor said: "Everyone who cares about football and cares about human beings should be prepared to show some sympathy to the lad. Clearly last week he had a 'beam me up Scotty moment' which we've all had."

Arsenal releases three, Blackburn recruits trio
Mood:  chillin'
The monthlong window closed Tuesday after Premier League clubs spent a record 70 million pounds (US$124.6 million; ?102.2 million) on new players. The previous record of 50 million pounds (US$89 million; ?73 million) was spent last season and the season before.

On the final day, Arsenal winger David Bentley turned his loan move to Blackburn into a permanent transfer, while the Gunners also loaned Jeremie Aliadiere to League Championship Wolves.

But Quincy Owusu-Abeyie's move to Spartak Moscow was Arsenal's surprise transfer. The 19-year-old Dutch forward had scored twice in 23 appearances in the Premier League, Champions League and League Cup. He had also signed a three-year deal with Arsene Wenger's team in July.

"I'm a young player and I need serious playing time at a high level," Owusu-Abeyie said. "Spartak have a chance to play in the Champions League next season. I understood that I needed to change my situation and I've joined a good team.

"Everything has been decided for about a week. Many European clubs were interested in me but Arsenal had refused all the offers."

Arsenal signed Theo Walcott from Southampton and Emmanuel Adebayor from Monaco earlier in the month.

Rovers also tookLiverpool forward Florent Sinama-Pongolle on loan and signed teenage defender Martin Olsson from Swedish club Holgaborgs BK.

"Although it goes close to the wire at times it's important you get the right people in," said Rovers manager Mark Hughes, who has lately been without injured forwards Craig Bellamy and Paul Dickov.

"Obviously our situation changed in the last couple of weeks. I had four strikers, but then I was left with only one. We had to do something. But it wasn't a case of bringing someone in to make up the numbers. Florent is somebody who will add to the squad and have an impact for us.

"David has done well during his loan spell and is a young player with clear ability and a big future in the game."

Danny Murphy's move from CharltonCharlton to Tottenham just minutes before the midnight deadline was one of the biggest transfers on a busy day of trading. The midfielder is trying to win back his place on the England squad for the World Cup having missed out in 2002 because of a foot injury.

"I am looking forward to playing my part in the team Martin Jol is building," said Murphy, who has played eight times for England.

Tottenham also recruited Egypt midfielder Hossam Ghaly from Feyenoord, but sold Michael Brown to Fulham and loaned striker Mounir El-Hamdaoui to Derby County.

The biggest transfer fee was the 3.5 million pounds (US$6.23 million; ?5.1 million) West Bromwich Albion received from League Championship Norwich for Wales striker Robbie Earnshaw. The Baggies spent 1.4 million (US$2.5 million; ?2 million) on Scotland midfielder Nigel Quashie from Southampton.

Dudley Campbell, who scored two goals for Brentford in Saturday's FA Cup upset victory over Sunderland, moved to Birmingham City.

"English clubs have again demonstrated their ability to invest in players," said Dan Jones, Partner in the Sports Business Group at business advisory firm Deloitte. "Despite the lack of recent transfer activity by Chelsea, player spending of 70 million pounds is a record for a January transfer window.

"Overall, the Premiership clubs have spent around 300 million pounds (US$534 million; ?438 million) in 2005/06, moderately up on spending of around 270 million pounds (US$481 million; ?394.2 million) in each of 2003/04 and 2004/05."

Arsenal willing to gamble on Walcott
Mood:  cool
Arsene Wenger has said that by potentially paying over $21 million for 16-year-old Theo Walcott, he is taking a big gamble.


Certainly for a club that has in the past been able to poach such young talent as Cesc Fabregas and Arturo Lupoli from foreign teams for the equivalent of pocket change, it is a substantially greater investment than they have been used to making.

But is it really such a high-stakes bet? Perhaps Wenger remembered the last time he forked over a multi-million pound transfer fee for a young talent? That was back in 1999 when he signed a 15-year-old Jermaine Pennant from Notts County. It was a move that could not be termed a success as Pennant encountered numerous on and off-field problems before eventually being unloaded to Birmingham City last season.

The Pennant outcome supports the conventional wisdom that a great teenager does not guarantee a great player. And of course conventional wisdom becomes such, because over time, it has proven to be right more often than it has been wrong. But there are exceptions.

Almost all of the great players of the last fifty years have shown prestigious talent as youngsters. The likes of Cruyff, Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo, Best, Greaves, Law and Maldini all made their first senior appearances before they turned 18. In the last few years representatives of the next generation — Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi — have dribbled their way down the same path.

Of course on first blush, mentioning a youngster who only took up the game six years ago, in the same breath as such exalted company, would seem preposterous. But those who have seen and have worked with Walcott on a regular basis are convinced that he is not only the real thing but also the next big thing.

George Burley, who recently took over at Southampton and who has never hesitated to give a young player a first-team chance, has no doubts that Walcott is a very special talent. Former boss Harry Rednapp made Walcott the youngest first team Saint ever and quickly opted to play him in a more difficult central role rather a favored wide position.

Both those managers and others rave about Walcott's speed, his balance, and ability to run at defenders. He has been timed at a little over 11.5 for 100 meters which puts him in contention with other Highbury whippets such as Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure and Thierry Henry for the title of Highbury sprint champion. Speed like that cannot be taught.

You also have to consider that the way the deal has been structured significantly reduces the risk to Arsenal. With $8.8 million due up front and the rest only payable on appearances and progress, the full fee should only kick in if Walcott becomes the kind of player that so many believe he can be.

Southampton will receive $1.75 million for every ten Premiership appearances Walcott makes up to fifty, with another $3.5 million coming due based on an assortment of other achievement-based criteria.

In fact, the full fee would have Arsenal paying less than half of what Manchester United paid to take a then almost 19-year-old Wayne Rooney to Old Trafford from Everton in 2004. Those who have seen both players believe that Walcott — although differing in style — compares favorably to a 16 going on 17-year-old Rooney.

It might also have been a bigger gamble if Arsenal had waited until he had gained more experience at Southampton or had even allowed him to go to another club. As Liam Brady, the Arsenal youth coach, pointed out a few months ago, the older a player is when he arrives at a club, the more set in his ways he has become. Bad habits have become ingrained and much more difficult to correct.

The fact that the youngster chose Arsenal over a better financial Chelsea offer is also important. Walcott's decision shows that Chelsea still has some way to go before they become the destination of choice for youngsters looking to complete their football education.

Also while the rest of the Premiership has become resigned to losing the best players of this generation to Chelsea, Arsenal has sent a clear signal that they are not willing to sit idly by and lose the next generation.

The move and the money has brought attention and focus on the rules and regulations governing the movement of young players between clubs in England. Southampton faced a stark choice. Either conduct an auction for the player before his seventeenth birthday — even now Arsenal can't register Walcott to a pro contract for another two months — or watch him walk away with Southampton receiving a minimal amount of compensation.

It is easy to sympathize with Saints supporters and accept that chairman Rupert Lowe's concerns over the contracting of young players are legitimate. While the youth academy at Southampton, and in particular the stellar work of former coach Steve Wigley, has been praised for developing Walcott's talent, the bottom line is that another group of fans will be the long-term beneficiaries.

But a case can be made that given the circumstances it was a good move for the south coast club. Southampton is not showing any sign of returning to the Premiership anytime soon and given that Premiership clubs have been pressurizing Southampton to sell since the kid was 14, the frenzy surrounding the player was only going to increase. A repeat of the Rooney and Everton dilemma was a likely outcome when we saw a phenomenal talent rapidly outgrow and then quickly dominate an entire club