TODAY’S ARSENAL NEWS – In Monday’s installment of Arsenal news, the Gunners get their preseason underway, announce a new signing, get their own limited edition official club phone, and try out their best New York accents before heading to the Big Apple.
Arsenal sign France international left back Mathieu Debuchy
After seven seasons with the club, Bacary Sagna has moved to Premier League champions Manchester City on the free transfer. Manager Arsène Wenger moved fast to secure the signature of fellow countryman Debuchy from Newcastle. Debuchy is coming off an impressive first season in England and World Cup campaign, helping France to reach the quarterfinals. The fee is believed to be around £12 million and would make Debuchy one of the more expensive fullbacks in recent seasons. The Frenchman did not appear in Arsenal’s first preseason match but is expected to travel with the team to the United States for their preseason tour.
Arsenal began their preseason on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Boreham Wood
In a match that featured only a handful of first-team regulars and previously-injured senior players, the Gunners easily dispatched Conference South side Boreham Wood. The match featured the likes of Szczęsny, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Abou Diaby, and potential U.S. international Gedion Zelalem, and was a chance for Wenger to see several academy prospects as well. The manager was particularly impressed with 16-year-old Chris Willock, who he praised after the match. Arsenal World handed out player ratings while SBNation’s Arsenal Blog, Short Fuse, recapped the North Londoner’s preseason opener.
Wenger: This is the perfect time to visit USA
Arsène Wenger cannot wait to hit the Big Apple as he believes now is the “perfect time” for Arsenal to visit the United States.
Wenger expects a big reaction from the American public after they embraced the game so wholeheartedly during the World Cup.
“It is the first time since I [started to] go to World Cups that I've been stopped by so many American people,” the manager told Arsenal Player. “I can tell you something I'm completely convinced of - before people didn't know who you were, but now every American guy I met knows Arsenal, knows England and knows the Premier League. “The enthusiasm about soccer in the States is new but big. I expect us to have a good crowd there.
Arsenal FC – the phone
Arsenal partner, Huawei, has unveiled a limited edition version of its’ top model, the Ascend P7. The sleek black metallic smartphone comes with the Arsenal FC logo on the back and features many different wallpapers and photos of Arsenal FC, a special clock that mimics the one found at the Emirates Stadium’s clock end, and of Arsenal’s old Highbury home stadium. It also comes with several apps like FIFA 14, BBC News and Sport, and Yakatak for match updates and discussion between fans.
Warning: horrible New York accents forthcoming
Arsenal FC decided to have some fun with their upcoming American preseason tour, beginning in New York, by getting Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs, Serge Gnabry, and Mathieu Flamini to try out their best New York accents. Each player gives a famous New Yorker line a shot with hilarious results.
