Russian to link up with Arshavin at the Emirates?

Rumours circulating in today's press have seen Pavel Pogrebnyak linked with a move to Arsenal this summer.

Pogrebnyak, 25, a tall and powerful striker has scored 4 goals in 12 games for Zenit this season and has also managed 5 goals in 14 games at international level. He is a potent finisher with both feet, he is also good in the air and also a free-kick taker.

The Zenit St.Petersburg striker formed a potent partnership with Andrey Arshavin while the winger was in St Petersburg and they have also linked up at international level,although an injury prevented Pogrebnyak from taking part in last years' European Championships.

Emmanuel Adebayor has been linked with a move to AC Milan this summer and if that move materialises, Arsenal could be tempted to raid Zenit for the second time in six months.

Arshavin has been a revelation since his move to London, the highlight being his four-goal haul against Liverpool at Anfield last month. If he could link up with Pogrebnyak again, the pairing could be a handful for Premier League defences next season.

Click on the video for more of Pavel Pogrebnyak in action:

Arsenal 3-0 Villarreal, Wednesday 15 April 2009

The Emirates was buzzing as the teams came out of the tunnel. After a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Villarreal, Arsenal fans sensed a place in the semi-finals for only the second time under Arsene Wenger, the players duly obliged.

Arsenal's players moved the ball around effortlessly like a toreador baiting a bull. Villarreal, efficient and dangerous for long periods in the first leg had lost Marcos Senna, their prize bull, ahead of the game. With another of their star turns, Santi Cazorla out injured, The Yellow Submarine were lacking creativity and Arsnenal,s passing and inventiveness was too much for the Spanish side.

Arsenal had problems of their own. Injuries to Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, William Gallas and Johann Djourou and Bacary Sagna's illness meant that Arsenal were left with only one of their first-choice back five but the defence was rarely troubled.

The home side started the brighter of the two teams and took the lead within ten minutes as Theo Walcott latched onto a Cesc Fabregas flick to lift the ball over the advancing Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

Emmanuel Adebayor calmly made it 2-0 on the hour mark after some good work by Robin Van Persie, then after Walcott was fouled in the area, Van Persie stepped up to blast a penalty into the back of the net to make the game safe at 3-0.

Lukasz Fabianski replace the injured Almunia in goal and Kieran Gibbs came in for Gael Clichy at left-back to make his first start in the competition. Mikael Silvestre replaced Gallas and Eboue slotted in at right back after Sagna was taken ill earlier in the day.

Andrey Arshavin remained cup-tied for the competition so Samir Nasri took up the left-wing berth. The in-form Alex Song kept his place in the side ahead of Denilson in the holding midfield role alongside captain Cesc Fabregas, while Theo Walcott started on the right.

Van Persie recovered from a groin strain to partner Emmanuel Adebayor upfront.

There was a return for Arsenal legend Robert Pires in the Villarreal midfield and Bruno replaced their captain Marcos Senna.

The game started at a fast and frantic pace with both teams creating early chances. Theo Walcott's dangerous cross caused panic in the Villarreal defence. Fabreags picked the ball up on the left and chipped a cross in to Van Perise who could only head over under pressure from Gonzalo Rodriguez.

Villarreal had an earl chance to score. Ex-Manchester United striker, Giuseppe Rossi, floated a free-kick into the area, it reached Diego Godin, but the defender's scissor kick was straight at the Polish 'keeper.

Arsenal had another chance soon afterwards, Fabregas cut the ball back to Adebayor who seemed to be caught in two minds when he'd maybe should have shot first-time.

The home side were starting to build up momentum and it showed in the 10th minute. Eboue's pass was cleverly back heeled by Fabregas to Walcott, wrong-footing Godin. The England winger raced onto the ball and as Villarreal goalkeeper Lopez rushed out, Walcott deftly lifted the ball over the Spaniard and into the far corner. It was a finish worthy of such an occasion

Arsenal looked to build on their advantage, but it was Villarreal who responded better after the goal. Pires and then Bruno both tired their luck but the Arsenal defence stood firm.

Twenty minutes after their first goal, Arsenal almost scored again. Van Perise curled a free-kick towards the corner of the goal and Lopez parried it, but only as far as the onrushing Adebayor. The Togoleses hitman seemed certain to score but his weak header was almost turned into his own net by Pries but Rodriguez saved the ex-Gunners blushes and cleared off of the line.

Arsenal fans and players alike thought it was in, but replays showed the referee made the correct decision.

Just before the break, Villarreal had a guilt-edged chance of their own. Godin broke free from his marker as a corner was swung in, and the centre-back directed a header towards goal. Luckily for Arsenal it cleared the crossbar.

The general feeling at half-time was one of optimism among the Arsenal faithful, but with Arsenal's defence looking less than convincing at times and with the pressure of away goals, the team needed to concentrate in the second period.

Arsenal and Villarreal continued trade neat moves with Pires, elegant as ever, moving to a more central position. But Arsenal were starting to turn the screw.

The pace and movement was starting to cause problems for the away defence, and fifteen minutes after the restart, it was 2-0 to the Arsenal.

Cesc Fabregas' powerful header was picked up by Van Persie, who jinked onto his left-foot. As two Villarreal defenders closed him down, expecting a shot, the Dutchman released Adebayor in the area, who coolly passed the ball past Lopes into the corner of the net with the outside of his boot.

Abedayor has been criticised at times for his lack of instinctive finishing but this finish which was his sixth in sixth Champions League games would prove many doubters wrong.

The players celebrated with a jig in the corner bizarrely matched on the bench by Arsene Wenger.

Villarreal now needed two goals to advance to the semi-finals, a task which looked virtually impossible given Arsenal were starting to get into an ominous rhythm.

The away players heads seemed to drop and Arsenal continued to play attacking football. Theo Walcott was proving to be Arsenal's best outlet and when the young winger turned, Godin made a challenge. The defender seemed to make contact with the ball first and then Walcott but the referee awarded a penalty, much to the disdain of the Villarreal players.

Sebastian Eguren took his protests too far, however, and after touching the referee was awarded his second yellow card of the game. It seemed to take an eternity for the Uruguayan to leave the field, but Van Persie was not put off and powered the penalty past Lopez, cue more dancing.

With the game seemingly over, Wenger replaced all three goalscorers with Saturday's FA Cup semi-final in mind. Nicklas Bendtner, Abou Diaby and Denilson came on.

The fans, in the comfortable knowledge that they were through to the semi-final of this competition, started to honour Robert Pires with the traditional chants of "Super, super Rob..."

The man who was withdrawn by Wenger in Arsenals Champions League final defeat to Barcelona would be disappointed once more but as the final whistle went the ex-Gunner was given a standing ovation befitting of his legendary status as one of the invincibles.

Great Dane starting to make an impact?

Nicklas Bendtner has not always been at the top of the list of Arsenal fans' first-choice strikers, but things are starting to change.

The 21 year-old Dane has been on a good run of form recently. Having been misquoted by some sections of the press at the weekend, which published that he said he should be playing every game, he formed a good partnership with Eduardo on Monday night, scoring a headed goal from a corner.

This goal takes his tally to 9 for the season, equalling his goals scored for the whole of last season. He has also made more starts than substitute appearances this season, showing Wenger's faith in the forward. Bendtner has now scored 18 goals in 34 starts for the club, which on the face of it is an impressive strike rate.

Bendtner has found himself deployed in wider positions than normal of late, but he said: "Obviously it's not my favourite position but I'm happy to do a job there if the boss asks me to. When I look back though I think I have done quite well there so it's been good for me, it's helped me develop as a player."

With Emmanuel Adebayor out and Eduardo still regaining full-match fitness, Bendtner may be given more opportunities to add to his tally in the next few games.

Arsenal 1-0 Bolton, Saturday 10 January 2009

Thankfully football won today, but only just. It took Arsenal 85 minutes to break through Bolton's stubborn defence. Bolton never make it easy for Arsenal and today was no exception, the game was heading for a dull 0-0 until substitute Nicklas Bendtner nipped in at the far post to give the Gunners a much-needed win.

It was a bitterly cold day and the game kicked off in a flurry of snow, and gradually the game warmed up even if the conditions didn't.

Arsenal welcomed back Kolo Toure who had been flirting with an Arsenal exit, Diaby partnered Denilson in midfield and Eboue took up the right-wing position.

Bolton were without their dominant captain Kevin Nolan due to suspension, but Kevin Davies, a constant thorn in Arsenal's side over the years started on the right.

Within the first 10 minutes the diminutive Samir Nasri started to pull the strings in midfield, and the in-form Robin Van Persie looked lively upfront.

Van Persie shot just over after controlling a loose ball, and then headed straight at Bolton 'keeper Jussi Jaaskalainen. He then volleyed a ball into row Z, but the Arsenal faithful were confident of the breakthrough.

Bolton offered little of attacking threat, and Arsenal continued to have most of the possession. The visitors continued to stifle the Gunners putting most of their players behind the ball and Kevin Davies became the scapegoat with a few niggly fouls.

The half-ended 0-0, which provided everyone time for a couple of cups of tea to stave off the Arctic conditions.

Arsenal started the second-half brightly but were just finding it difficult to break down the Bolton defence.

Johan Elmander, the Bolton striker, limped down the tunnel and was replaced by Mustafa Riga.

After some quick passing with Adebayor, Van Persie again seemed to make a chance out of nothing as he held off a couple of defenders to toe-poke an effort onto the post.

Wenger sensed he needed to do something, and he brought on Carlos Vela for Abou Diaby who despite playing well in recent games, had had a fairly ineffectual game today.

The crowd, who have warmed to the young Mexican, were suddenly expectant, hoping his pace and directness could give the team something it had been lacking up until now.

They were right, with Nasri now in the centre pulling the strings and Vela and Clichy on the left, Arsenal were suddenly finding more space.

Nasri's exquisite pass let in Adebayor who almost had too much time. Just as he shot a defender lunged in and blocked the ball.

It seemed only a matter of time, but time was running out.

Nicklas Bendtner was brought on in place of Emmanuel Eboue who had one of his better games, to add some height and an extra attacking threat.

He could have scored with his first touch. Nasri floated in a corner and the Dane connected with the ball but not well enough to trouble Jaaskalainen.

Arsenal had Bolton pinned in their box and the pressure finally told. Clichy slipped Van Perise in with a fantastic ball, the Dutchman chipped a cross to the back post and Bendtner slid in to half-colley the ball past Jaaskalainen.

The Dane, who has not had the best of times recently, could not hide his delight.

After all the hard work, Arsenal almost let it slip. Bolton went straight up the other end and created a guilt-edged chance. Chris Basham raced down the right and pulled the ball back to Kevin Davies; unmarked he had time to place the ball, but luckily for Arsenal fans shot stright at Manuel Almunia.

Aaron Ramsey was brough on to replace Eboue, as Arsenal looked to tie things up. Carlos Vela almost made it two, but decided to shoot as he ran into the box, when he should really have passed to the unmarked Van Persie.

But it did not matter, at the final whistle the sense of relief so often felt in home games this year filled the ground, and Arsenal had won another must-win game .