News

Arsène Wenger has confirmed he intends to hang onto Henri Lansbury and Ryo Miyaichi, as speculation about their futures intensifies.

Lansbury has consistently been linked with a return to loan club Norwich City during the summer, while some have also suggested he may be used as a a potential make-weight in the club’s search for a Premier League centre back. Henri is yet to feature for the first-team since returning from the Under 21 European Championships, but that’s down to a fitness issue.

Wenger moved during his pre-Emirates Cup press conference to set out his stance on Lansbury.

“Henri has the talent to play for Arsenal football club, and he has a chance to play for us this season.”

Lansbury may well get a chance to impress during the Emirates Cup, as registration problems relating to his work permit situation are expected to rule Ryo Miyaichi out. However, Wenger did confirm his desire to keep the Japanese winger at the club for the forthcoming season.

An indication of which youngsters will be involved should come tonight, when Neil Banfield selects a Reserve XI to take on Borehamwood.

Arsenal are putting the finishing touches to their work permit application for Ryo Miyaichi.

The 18-year-old has sufficiently impressed Arsène Wenger during pre-season, in which he has featured in every game. Wenger has now given club officials the green light to try and secure Miyaichi’s stay in North London, as he prepares to make his Emirates bow at this weekends Emirates Cup.

Arsenal are hopeful of receiving a decision by the middle of August. Should the application be rejected, Feyenoord Technical Director Martin van Geel has told Voetbal International he intends to fly to London to try and re-sign Ryo on loan.

The Gunners have had mixed success with recent work permit bids, but it’s hoped Miyaichi has done enough, despite his lack of international appearances, to be granted permission to join the Arsenal first-team ahead of the new season.

Dagenham & Redbridge have signed James Shea on a season long loan, following the news that Daggers legend Tony Roberts has retired. Roberts will now become Arsenal’s full time Reserve goalkeeper coach.

Shea linked up with the League Two outfit last week, and played 90 minutes of their friendly against Leyton Orient. The 20-year-old has now agreed terms on a loan move, and is on the bench for Dagenham’s clash with West Ham tonight.

James was recommended to manager John Still by Roberts, after the 41-year-old decided to call time on a professional career in which he made almost 600 professional appearances. Tony will now become Arsenal’s full time goalkeeper coach, working mainly with the Reserves and Under 18’s. This is a role he has held for a number of years, in tandem with his playing duties.

Shea is expected to be Dagenham’s first choice for the forthcoming season, as they look to win promotion back to League One.

Ipswich Town expect to complete the signing of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in the next 24 hours, subject to a medical.

Arsenal accepted two bids of £1.1 million from Ipswich and their Championship rivals Burnley over the weekend, after Arsène Wenger told the 20-year-old he does not feature in his first-team plans. Emmanuel-Thomas turned down the opportunity to talk to Burnley, and was in Suffolk today for talks.

Ipswich had hoped to complete the transfer this evening, but despite the delays, they still hope Jay will be registered in time for their pre-season friendly with Colchester United tomorrow night.

Jay, who is Arsenal’s longest serving player, showed glimpses of his potential during loan spells with Blackpool and Doncaster Rovers, but a difficult season at Cardiff City left many wandering if he’d ever replicate his emphatic form shown in the Under 18 and Reserve teams.

Arsenal may have been frustrated with his attitude and application at times, but their acknowledgement of his ability is noted with the fact a sell on fee has been included in the deal.

Arsenal have begun the process of trimming their Reserve and Youth squad sizes ahead of the new season, with several young Gunners expected to leave the club in the coming weeks.

The tough decisions kick started last week, when Jamie Edge and Steven Smith were both released, with more to follow suit. Edge, a £200,000 signing from Cheltenham Town in 2009, struggled to develop his game with Steve Bould’s Under 18’s, and he joins Ireland Under 17 defender Smith in looking for a new club.

Arsenal are also prepared to listen to offers for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Rhys Murphy, with the latter heading North for training with Middlesbrough this week. Boro’ have struggled to raise funds all summer, so should Murphy sufficiently impress, it’s likely he’ll only go loan.

Elsewhere, Dagenham & Redbridge are looking to sign James Shea on loan for next season, after he played for them in a trial game against Leyton Orient. Shea would provide competition for Daggers legend Tony Roberts, who will step up his role in coaching Arsenal’s Academy goalkeepers.

Mark Randall, Thomas Cruise and Roarie Deacon were all released earlier this summer.

Arsène Wenger has named four of the clubs promising youngsters in his squad to face FC Cologne this weekend. Ryo Miyaichi, Emmanuel Frimpong, Benik Afobe and Conor Henderson will all travel to Germany, along with summer signings Gervinho and Carl Jenkinson.

Afobe, as we told you earlier in the week, will travel after being pulled out of the England Under-20 squad. He’s joined by versatile midfielder Henderson in earning a first callup to the first-team during pre-season. Conor gets his chance after Henri Lansbury failed to prove his fitness in time.

Arsenal are expected to confirm the full travelling squad shortly.

Pedro Botelho is expected to join La Liga new comers Rayo Vallecano on loan in the next 24 hours.

The Brazilian had been hoping for a chance to break into the Arsenal first-team, following four successive loan spells in the Spanish Segunda. The latest, a season spent with FC Cartagena, was his best yet. Pedro turned himself into a hero in Murcia, scoring four goals in 39 appearances.

However, despite that impressive form, Arsène Wenger told the 21-year-old he would not be given a chance at Arsenal until he’d played in La Liga. A deal appeared close to join former manager Juan Ignacio Martínez at Levante, but that fell through last week.

Pedro has now arrived in Spain to begin his season long loan move, in the hope that its his last spell away from the Gunners.

Benik Afobe has been withdrawn from the Arsenal Reserve squad due to play Hastings United tonight. The 18-year-old is now poised to be included in the first-team for their clash with FC Cologne this weekend.

Afobe has been given the chance to impress after the club pulled him out of the England Under-20 squad last week. The news comes after Costa Rican forward Joel Campbell saw his transfer collapse, with Benik hoping to prove to Arsène Wenger that he doesn’t need the Sparissa youngster.

You can follow full updates of tonight’s game with Hastings United on my Twitter feed.

Joel Campbell will have a medical this evening ahead of the completion of his transfer to Arsenal, his father Humberto has confirmed.

The deal was all but sealed last night, when Richard Law met with both player and family following a rival bid from another Premier League team. Law managed to persuade the family to ignore that interest, and after increasing the initial £930,000 bid to over £1 million, all parties are happy.

Humberto Campbell confirmed the plans for a medical this evening, in an interview with La Prensa Libre.

“These tests will be in the Cima hospital and supervised by the people of Arsenal.” Everything is virtually ready.”

Campbell senior also confirmed Arsenal will be lodging a bid for a special talent work permit, but this may have to wait until after the Under 20 World Cup.

More to follow.