Arsenal and Mexico forward Carlos Vela is already keen to start for Arsene Wenger’s side, when the Gunners take on League 2 side Barnet tomorrow afternoon at Underhill in the traditional pre-season opener.

Arsenal manager Arséne Wenger has included him in the squad, which is a mixture of first team and Reserve players. Vela is expected to start alongside with Denmark international Nicklas Bendtner or on the left hand side.

The Mexican starlet has waited three long years to wear the red and white Arsenal jersey and now it seems that his dream is about to come true.

Vela joined up with the Gunners this week after his holiday in Cancun and had his first training session with his new team-mates on Monday at London Colney, Arsenal’s training complex.

Kick-off at the Underhill Stadium in Barnet, Hertfordshire is at 3pm local time.

Catch the game live on Arsenal TV, build up starts from 2:45pm.

 Predicted Lineup

Almunia

Sagna - J. Hoyte - Nordtveit - Clichy

Walcott - Denilson - Ramsey - Traore

Bendtner - Vela

Article by - A.Zimmermann

Arsenal striker Carlos Vela has given his first official interview after rejoining the Gunners for pre-season training, speaking on a whole manner of subjects to Arsenal.com

You can read in full what the 19 year old had to say below.

On finally linking up with Arsenal:

“I am very proud to finally be here and I am truly very happy,”

“I have been waiting three years for this moment and now I am here I will work very hard to earn my place in the first-team and I hope to be at this club for a very long time.”

Meeting up with his new team-mates, and settling in

“The players have received me very well and been very welcoming. Of course, it takes a few days to get used to everything new but, little by little, I will find my place and be ready to perform for the team.”

His views on the time spent on loan in Spain

“It has helped me, first of all it taught me what it was like being away from your home country - that helped me grow up as a person and as a player. I think that the Spanish and English style of football is the best in the world. I think also that playing against the best players in the world can only help me grow as a player.”

On how playing for a bigger club will help him develop, and on targets reached at Osasuna.

“Yes to be honest the (Osasuna) team wasn’t the strongest in the division but it is in that kind of situation you learn more. The whole experience was a big lesson for me.

I think that I achieved the targets I had there because I had more minutes on the pitch, gained more experience and today I am here at Arsenal, which was the ultimate aim.”

His views on which position he will be playing in for Arsenal.

“The manager hasn’t said anything to me about that yet,” he added.“But it isn’t a problem for me as Arsene Wenger can judge for himself what position is best for me to play. It is good to have the option of playing in both positions in case of injuries or if a player is missing.

“Above anything else I just want to play in the first team, it doesn’t matter what position.”

 

His ultimate aim for he season

“I hope that this season we can be fighting to win the league.”

Article By - J.Sanderson & A.Zimmermann

Arsenal striker Carlos Vela has revealed he is willing to accept the rigours of the Premier League to become a better overall player.

Vela linked up with his new team mates on Monday, and admitted before hand that he was nervous, but excited about his return to London.

“Yes (I’m Nervous) because i will meet new people, with a different language. I know everything will be difficult, but I’m very motivated and delighted to arrive.”

The 19 year old then spoke about how Arsenal can develop his game, and believes the Premiership is the perfect place to help nurture his talents.

“It (The Premiership) is important for further progressing as a player.”

While he will be living on his own in London, having close friend Giovanni Dos Santos living near him is something which will make the transition easier.

“I’m glad to have a friend here, we will be safer together because we understand a lot about (English football).

“Of course England has the best league, but i also think the Spanish is great”

Article By - J.Sanderson & A.Zimmermann

Arsenal Legend and former Gunners skipper Thierry Henry visited Mexico to take part on a promotion tour for his personal sponsor Reebok. Henry gave a press conference, where he talked about Arsenal forward Carlos Vela, as well as Vela’s best friend and new Tottenham signing Giovani dos Santos.

Henry said: “Carlos is a very good player, as he arrived at Arsenal I was there, but I don’t know why he had to go to Spain to play more before he went back to Arsenal. He proved this year with Osasuna that he is a great player and that will be able to do important things for him in the English Premiership”.

Article by - A.Zimmermann

Arsenal forward Carlos Vela will travel to London next week to join Arsene Wenger’s Premiership side for pre season training. Vela is expected at the Gunners Shenley based training complex on the 14th of July, and will then start pre season training with his new teammates.

Vela will be not involved when Arsenal begin proceedings with the traditional match against Barnet Football Club at Underhill Stadium.

The team will then travel to Burgenland, Austria, for their anual trainings camp where the team will face Szombathelyi and Burgenland, before the Squad travel to Germany to take on VFB Stuttgart in another pre season friendly. Vela has told close friend of his desire and excitement to pull on the number 12 shirt.

Article by - A.Zimmermann & Jamie Sanderson

Last Thursday saw Arsenal launch their brand new home kit for the next two seasons, and as fans rush out to buy the replica jersey, one name and number combination has seemed to be rather popular.

Whilst many Gooners chose the more established first team players to have on the back of the tops, the Carlos Vela shirt has been selling in rapid numbers, despite the fact the Mexican starlet is yet to play for the club.

The intrigue around his imminent arrival at the club has seen many friends of the blog snap up the Vela 12 kit, who have informed us of many Gunners also buying the 19 year old’s replica shirt.

You can see how the name and number looks on the new kit below.

Article By - J.Sanderson & A.Zimmermann

Former Argentine football player Jorge Valdano has heaped praise on Arsenal striker Carlos Vela, saying he made the correct choice to go on loan rather than trying to break into a competitive Gunners strike force at a young age.

Speaking with El Mercurio Online, Valdano spoke of his admiration for the 19 year old:

“Instead of staying in the Reserve or youth team at Arsenal without competing, he went to smaller teams to play every Sunday. That is the only way you can learn”

Valdano also admitted his disappointment that the Mexican FA chose to appoint Sven-Göran Eriksson who was officially unveiled as coach last week.

“Eriksson is going to find it [Mexican football] and unknown project. From this it will create uncertainty”

“He will certainly have complications”

However, Real Madrid technical director Ivan Zamorano has rebuffed these claims, and says Sven has the experience and credentials to be a huge success.

“Eriksson will overcome this problem very quickly, with his intelligence because he has very intensive experience”

Article By - A.Zimmermann & J.Sanderson

Arsenal striker Carlos Vela will begin his much needed holiday this week, after spending the last few days in London organising his housing situation.

The 19 year old will be living in the same apartment block as fellow countryman Giovanni Dos Santos, but the pair will not be staying in the same flat. Both players do not have girlfriends, and had previously lived with family members, but must now undertake there new adventures alone.

Carlos had been used to having his parents around him in Spain, but says they will not follow him to North London

“This past year my parents and a brother lived with me, but now I will be alone again and I’ll see how I go,”

Close friend Gio Dos Santos recently signed for rivals Tottenham, and despite the obvious rivalry between the two players, Vela admits the pair can help each other to integrate to the English culture

“It seems that we are following each other and hopefully we can make quick transition to life in England and that we both do well”

The Gunners forward is currently taking English language lessons, meaning everything is set for hid debut against Juventus in pre-season.

As CV News told you two months ago, Vela is now in his native Mexico, holidaying and relaxing in Cancun.

Article By - A.Zimmermann & J.Sanderson

Arsenal Football Club have today confirmed the official Squad numbers for the next season. Vela has been allocated the number 12 shirt and is now expected to wear it for the first time, when the Gunners try to safe the Emirates Cup title.

Carlos has now finished his adventure with Mexico and is expected in the next few days in London, to clear his house situation and other personal terms, before flying back to Cancun, Mexico to spend his holiday with his family. 

Article by - A.Zimmermann 

Arsenal striker Carlos Vela scored his third goal in three games as Mexico romped minnows Belize in Monterrey on Saturday evening (local time) .

The fixture was the return leg of the CONCACAF division first round, and with Mexico already having a two goal advantage from the first leg, it seemed Belize had an impossible job on their hands. Vela scored the opening goal last week, and continued that trend as his left footed drive beat Shane Orio after just seven minutes.

Fernando Arce started the excellent move, and found Carlos just inside the box. He jinked away from his marker before firing a low shot inside the corner. Vela should have had another goal shortly after, as he first failed to connect with Villaluz’s cross, before flicking the rebound off the post.

Then followed some excellent team play from the Arsenal man, before Andres Guardado saw his right footed shot deflect off a Belize defender and roll over the line. Orio has been fantastic during the game, but was left helpless as Andres’s shot took a huge deflection on it’s way in.

The third goal was a real team affair as Pineda, Vela, and Villaluz all combined to setup Fernando Arce who smashed the ball beyond Orio after a quick counter attacking move. Arce kept composed to drill his effort home in an impressive night for all concerned.

A goal before half time from Arce was matched by a goal after it by the same man. Vela found Perez on the right hand wing, Perez showed the defender the ball, and as he attempted to tackle, quickly whipped it away and crossed for Arce to slot in from close range.

Osioro and Borgetti came on for Guardado and Arce after the interval, and after a brief spell without action the goals were flowing again. Pineda’s chipped cross was flicked home by Borgetti before he helped himself to a further two goals on his home ground.

A trade mark poaching finish was added to by a wonderful jinking solo strike. He took on the whole Belize back line before rifling home. It finished 7-0 on the night, and 9-0 on aggregate.

Carlos completed the full 90 minutes, in another hugely important Mexico win.

Article By - A.Zimmermann