Arsenal unveil replacements for Van Persie, Song

Wilshere and The Ox ready to step in to void

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  • Staff
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Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (R) challenges Blackburn Rovers' Jermaine Jones during their English Premier League soccer match at the Emirates Stadium in London April 2, 2011. (REUTERS)

The mood in the Arsenal camp is upbeat. This is despite the departures of Alex Song and Robin Van Persie.

In fact, the Gunners have gone about the losing of two key players with an uncharacteristic gusto.

That is perhaps because they already have their replacements in sight.

Lukas Podolski yesterday unveiled Arsenal’s replacement for Robin van Persie — Jack Wilshere.

The England youngster has been given RVP’s No 10 shirt for this season.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits Wilshere, 20, is still not expected to return until October following his troubling ankle and knee injuries which required surgery.

Meanwhile, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sees himself as the replacement for Song, who left the Emirates for Barcelona.

Wingman Oxlade-Chamberlain reckons he has what it takes to step inside and move into the Cameroon star’s role in the centre of the park. 

The Ox said: “They are big shoes to fill but you’ve got that anywhere at Arsenal.

“Alex Song was a great player for us and he was a big player for us — but we’ve got a strong enough squad. I’m definitely confident of that and I’m definitely confident of filling Alex’s role.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain turned 19 this month and is the son of ex-England wideman Mark Chamberlain.

He arrived at Arsenal from Southampton in a £15m switch last August.

Oxlade-Chamberlain hopes to return from an ankle injury at Stoke.

 

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Comments

  • michael 26 August 2012 09:57 0 1
    Everyone knows mr wenger... you can see cazorla leaving next season for 30m 2 man city
  • Greg 26 August 2012 03:37 0 1
    Mvilla and biglia would be great for us in the defensive midfield role! Please sign them now mr wenger!
  • goon 26 August 2012 01:47 0 1
    watching rvp play for man u is making physically sick even when they lost i got no happiness or satifaction from their loss and today to watch him score in that disgusting sorry excuse of a football shirt makes me mad. someone please wake me up from this nightmare i just cant see giroud and podolski scoring as much as rvp did on hes own. This one hurts!
  • damilola oxlade 26 August 2012 00:57 1 0
    Mr wenger please make sure u sign ganso, ben arfa ,maher capoue,mbiwa, mbengue and lure nuri sahin to the emirates in january transfer window, please spend this dough .can u imagine di mateo is directly hurling insults to the club , u and the fans please do something ,i am looking forward to seeing the gunners lift the league led by the verminator please d o something mr aw
  • Kennyjos 26 August 2012 00:43 1 0
    Up gunners...gunners should try and gun every club down this season by replacing song with tiote...and also gives the players opportunity to release shot at a close range
  • Richtens 26 August 2012 00:39 0 1
    Mr wenger.will really need DM,let forget about song or rvp and move on.we need sharp striker and Dm.so wenger do something fast.tiote or m'villa.
  • Greg 25 August 2012 23:25 1 0
    We should try and sign jan mvilla and fernando llorente before the transfer window closes to add more fire power and strength to the team! Forget about rvp and song they were not true gunners! Corzola podolski and giroud will shine for us keep the faith gunners!
  • rodman 25 August 2012 21:48 1 0
    tiote didnt play today, meaning he is leaving for the emirate
  • gunner boy 25 August 2012 21:01 0 1
    arsene i swear 2 god u are unreal,you sell song for a profit and u throw a winger in2 fill the absence,because u wont spend the money,arsenal are a selling club end of story,sellen our best players just 2 make money,
  • tony 25 August 2012 18:00 0 1
    ilove aresnal
  • Amapakabo 25 August 2012 17:05 4 1
    Up gunners. We should buy Neymar 4 RVP replacement &M-VILLA 4SONG
  • Justus 25 August 2012 15:44 1 2
    Hi,mr wenger we need quality signings so dat we can also challenge this season.DO SOMETHING.
  • ibrahim Danbaba 25 August 2012 15:24 0 2
    Wenger to do someting b4 aug.31st b'cos we r lackin attackin,depensive middfield and a goal keeperr.up gunners
  • simon 25 August 2012 15:03 1 1
    I like number ten (10) shirt wilshere
  • Mustapha darma 25 August 2012 15:01 3 1
    Tiote is the right replacement of alex song,and let wenger try it and see.
  • ezeh 25 August 2012 13:39 6 1
    poldoski/gerund could replace rvp but we really need tiote or m'vila as dm.. i just pray arsene does not fool us
  • Arsenal 25 August 2012 11:00 2 1
    @ Lebbi....Did you not know by now (Wenger confirmed in the french interview)tht Poldy and Giroud replaced RVP and Bednter. We just need DMF and probably Right Back
  • Lebbi 25 August 2012 10:05 7 0
    I tink ma wenger shld move for a DM.its very important and he has to replace mr VP.

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1 = Man Utd 38 28 5 5 43 89
2 = Man City 38 23 9 6 32 78
3 = Chelsea 38 22 9 7 36 75
4 = Arsenal 38 21 10 7 35 73
5 = Tottenham 38 21 9 8 20 72
6 = Everton 38 16 15 7 15 63
7 = Liverpool 38 16 13 9 28 61
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10 = West Ham 38 12 10 16 -8 46
11 = Norwich 38 10 14 14 -17 44
12 = Fulham 38 11 10 17 -10 43
13 = Stoke 38 9 15 14 -11 42
14 = Southampton 38 9 14 15 -11 41
15 = Aston Villa 38 10 11 17 -22 41
16 = Newcastle 38 11 8 19 -23 41
17 = Sunderland 38 9 12 17 -13 39
18 = Wigan 38 9 9 20 -26 36
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