PLUS: One former Gunners star has revealed he regrets not
signing for Man United AND Arsenal Wenger refuses to reveal if he will
shake Jose Mourinho's han
Stunning: Walcott is a reported target of European champions Barcelona
Here are all the latest Gunners stories from today's Daily Mirror...
Wenger confident Cech can handle Chelsea return
Arsene Wenger is confident Petr Cech has the experience to cope with his emotional return to Stamford Bridge.
Goalkeeper Cech goes back to the club he used to call home at lunchtime today for the first time since he quit Chelsea for Arsenal in the summer.
Wenger said: "It is always difficult to go back to your club and play but fortunately he has handled that this season.
Getty
Return: Cech will go back to Stamford Bridge for the first time since joining Arsenal
"That is why I decided to play him as well in the Community
Shield. It is the first step that is important and he has dealt very
well with it.
"I just want him to focus on this game and not be
influenced by that. You can't go there and wonder if you're standing in
the right goal or not.
"He is so experienced that I don't need to talk to him about that."
Wenger refuses to be drawn on handshake-gate...
Arsene Wenger refused to be drawn on whether he will bury the hatchet with Jose Mourinho.
The warring rivals, who have been locked in a long-running feud, will come face-to-face for the first time since last month's Community Shield.
Arsenal's
1-0 Wembley win was overshadowed when Wenger snubbed Mourinho as the
Chelsea boss congratulated the Gunners for their triumph.
But, given the history of bad blood between the pair,
Wenger appeared keen to avoid adding fuel to the fire by discussing
Chelsea's current troubles, Mourinho and their non-existent relationship
ahead of their lunchtime showdown at Stamford Bridge.
Asked about blanking Mourinho at Wembley Wenger said: "I don't want to come back on that."
And when asked if he will shake hands with Mourinho at Stamford Bridge: "I do not tell you more than I just told you."
... but Mourinho WILL seek to end feud
Jose Mourinho will try to make peace Arsene Wenger by offering to shake hands ahead of today's Stamford Bridge showdown. Chelsea boss Mourinho will seek out bitter rival Wenger and look to end their long-running feud before the lunch-time kick-off.
The Daily Mirror/Kent Gavin
Bad blood: Wenger and Mourinho don't have the best of relationships
The managerial rivals did not shake hands after the Community
Shield in August, the first time Wenger had beaten Mourinho in 14
meetings.
But it is understood Mourinho is determined to offer a
hand of friendship to his Arsenal counterpart on Saturday, not
necessarily in the full glare of the TV cameras but possibly in a
private room before the game.
Gunners announce healthy profit - but still lag behind United
Record commercial revenues helped Arsenal
to a healthy profit of £24.7million in the 12 months to end of May -
but turnover came in at £50million LESS than Manchester United.
Figures revealed today show Arsenal's revenue reached £344.5million, up from £301.9million on last year, as the club's new PUMA kit deal came into force.
But turnover was still £50.7million behind Manchester United, who brought in more despite being absent from the Champions League.
Saturday's Arsenal stories from other papers & websites
Barca's Walcott swoop
Reuters
Audacious: Walcott is wanted by Barcelona, reports in Spain claim
Theo Walcott is a shock target of Barcelona, according to reports in Spain. Mundo Deportivo claim the Arsenal and England attacker, 26, is on a transfer shortlist drawn up by the Spanish side.
And the Catalan giants could step up their interest on the back of the serious injury suffered by Rafinha.
The
22-year-old attacking midfielder suffered ligament damage against Roma
in midweek, leaving Barca's squad a player lighter for the majority of
the season.
Petit: I regret not joining United
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has admitted he regrets not signing for Manchester United.
The
Frenchman was wanted by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2001, a year after he left
Highbury for Barcelona, but he went on to sign for Chelsea instead.
Getty
Regret: Emmanuel Petit wishes he'd have joined Manchester United
"I made a lifestyle choice to the detriment of the sporting choice," Petit told Football365.fr.
"And
on the rare occasions that I’ve made that choice, I’ve got it wrong. It
was the same thing when I left Barcelona to go back to Chelsea.
"I gave priority to the social life in London when Ferguson expected me to sign for Manchester United.
"My wife didn’t want to go to Manchester. I’m really annoyed at myself – I should have insisted upon my decision."
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