The Sun - Mr Bendtner: An apology
THE SUN today unreservedly apologises to Nicklas Bendtner after his stunning treble sent the Gunners storming into the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Daily Mirror - Bendtner inspires five-star Gunners
Nicklas Bendtner's hat-trick helped Arsenal make history in emphatic style at the Emirates Stadium by overturning Porto's first leg lead to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 5-0 (6-2 on aggregate) win.

The Daily Mail - Bring it on! Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger eyeing Chelsea or Manchester United after Nicklas Bendtner runs riot
Nicklas Bendtner silenced his critics with a hat-trick as Arsenal roared into the Champions League quarter-finals and Arsene Wenger plotted revenge on Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Daily Express - ARSENE WENGER IN BULLISH MOOD AFTER NICKLAS BENDTNER TREBLE
ARSENE Wenger saw Nicklas ‘Barn Door’ Bendtner fire Arsenal into the Champions League quarter-finals and laid down a gauntlet to Manchester United and Chelsea.

 The Times - Arsène Wenger looks to take on Manchester United or Chelsea after defeat of Porto
Arsène Wenger said last night that he wanted to be drawn against Manchester United or Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals after Arsenal became the first English team to reach this season’s last eight.

The Independent - Nasri wonder goal caps a European night to savour
Arsene Wenger had asked his team for a result last night that was against the odds. They gave him a performance from the gods.

The Daily Telegraph - Arsene Wenger hails Nicklas Bendtner after Arsenal thrash Porto in Champions League
Arsene Wenger praised the confidence of Nicklas Bendtner after the Denmark striker got back on the goal trail with a hat-trick as Arsenal secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Porto at Emirates Stadium.

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The Sun - Wenger: Let’s make history
ARSENE WENGER has urged his team to write themselves into Arsenal folklore by pulling off a famous Premier League and Champions League double.

The Daily Mirror - Arsenal rocked by Gallas injury blow
Williams Gallas has delivered another devastating injury blow to Arsenal's Premier League title hopes.

The Daily Mail - Arsenal suffer early Porto blow as William Gallas setback leaves Sol Campbell exposed in crucial Champions League clash
Arsenal's assault on two trophies received a serious setback with the news that William Gallas could be out for another month. The former captain, out since mid-February, was closing in on a first-team return when his calf muscle gave way as he trained on Sunday. 

The Daily Express - MANUEL ALMUNIA ‘READY AGAIN’ TO SUCCEED
MANUEL ALMUNIA spoke last night for the first time about the heartache behind the hardest season of his Arsenal career.

The Daily Star - ARSENAL'S INJURY CRISIS GROWS
ARSENAL’S injury crisis deepened last night with the news that William Gallas could be out for another month.

The Times - Arsene Wenger takes notice of Arsenal's warnings from history
Any Arsenal fans expecting their heroes to swat aside Porto this evening and reach the Champions League quarter-finals with something to spare would do well to listen to Arsène Wenger.

The Independent - Fabregas absence no excuse says Wenger
Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal cannot use the absence of injured captain Cesc Fabregas as an excuse for failure in tomorrow night's crunch Champions League clash with Porto at Emirates Stadium.

The Daily Telegraph - Arsène Wenger confident Arsenal will prevail despite injuries
No one would dare call Arsenal spineless after the spirited reaction to Aaron Ramsey's traumatic injury, yet tonight they do face the biggest test of their season to date without the central core of their team.

The Guardian - Arsène Wenger: Beating Porto would be an amazing achievement
Arsène Wenger said it would be an "amazing achievement" if Arsenal make it through tonight's Champions League last-16 showdown with Porto after suffering a triple injury crisis ahead of the must-win tie.

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The Sun - Shut your noise, roars Theo
THEO WALCOTT is back on the goal trail and insisted: This will make my critics shut up.

The Daily Mirror - Wenger ready to gamble on Fabregas' fitness
Arsene Wenger last night claimed he is ready to take a huge gamble on Cesc Fabregas - after claiming his captain is even better than Wayne Rooney.

The Daily Mail - Arsenal winger Theo Walcott hopes Burnley strike signals change in 'most frustrating' season and silences critics
Arsenal forward Theo Walcott hopes his match-winning performance against Burnley will have shown people just what he is capable of.  

The Daily Express - JAY EMMANUEL-THOMAS GUNNING FOR BIG TIME
JAY Emmanuel-Thomas has set his sights on making the Arsenal team. But in the meantime Doncaster are more than happy to play their part in his development.

The Times - Bendtner is never going to be as good as he thinks he is
Tony Cascarino: Nicklas Bendtner is one of those players who prompts fierce debate among fans. Is he good enough to play for Arsenal?

The Independent - Walcott's dynamic display confounds critics
While most of the focus was rightly on the stricken Aaron Ramsey following Arsenal's fractious victory at Stoke, Theo Walcott wasn't having the best of times either. Pilloried after his ineffective midweek display for England and struggling for form, fitness and confidence following a series of injuries of his own, the 20-year-old might have retreated into his shell.

The Daily Telegraph - Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas: I've been lucky to escape serious injury
Cesc Fabregas accepts being physical is part of the English game, but feels he has been lucky to escape the type of serious injury suffered by team-mate Aaron Ramsey.

The Guardian - Arsène Wenger avoids risking Cesc Fábregas against Porto
Arsène Wenger says it would be a gamble to play Cesc Fábregas in Tuesday night's Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Porto at the Emirates Stadium and one that he will not be prepared to take if there is too great a risk of the Arsenal captain suffering another serious hamstring injury.

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The Sun - Watch your back, sonny
BURNLEY aim to end their awayday blues by shackling Cesc Fabregas - with a player old enough to be his father.

The Daily Mirror - Walcott: 'I'm facing a fight to make the World Cup'
Theo Walcott has admitted he is facing an uphill battle to force his way into England’s World Cup plans. 

The Daily Mail - Juventus want Arsenal star Robin van Persie in exchange for Brazil hard man Felipe Melo
Juventus will test Arsene Wenger's desire to sign Felipe Melo by insisting on an Arsenal star in exchange. The Gunners boss admits he is still interested in Melo, who he failed to land when the Brazil midfielder left Fiorentina for Juve in a players plus cash deal worth £21million.

The Daily Express - ALEX FERGUSON FEARS ARSENAL BID
SIR Alex Ferguson has admitted old foes Arsenal have re-emerged as a serious threat to Manchester United’s bid for a record fourth successive Premier League title.

The Daily Star - FABIO HAPPY TO WAIT FOR THEO WALCOTT
THEO WALCOTT could end up as the exception to Fabio Capello’s hard-line rule.

The Independent - Shawcross forgiven for tackle on Ramsey
Ryan Shawcross, the Stoke City defender, has been reassured by Theo Walcott that the Arsenal team hold no grudges or ill feeling after his challenge last weekend broke the leg of Aaron Ramsey.

The Daily Telegraph - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: Aaron Ramsey's injury will not end his career
Aaron Ramsey's double fracture to his right leg is not a career-threatening injury, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Thursday.

The Guardian - Referees do not protect Arsenal enough, says Tomas Rosicky
Tomas Rosicky, the Arsenal midfielder, has endorsed the views of his manager Arsène Wenger by claiming referees are not protective enough of the club's players.

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The Sun - Owen: Gunners not shot down
OWEN COYLE has dismissed Arsene Wenger's claim his players are singled out by Premier League opponents for rough treatment.

The Daily Mirror - Arsene... the world's not against Arsenal, it's on your side
This week has provided a fascinating insight into the Arsenal psyche. Arsene Wenger, Arsenal's players and the fans seem to believe the world is against them. But, in truth, almost every neutral - bar Tottenham fans, of course - wants Arsenal to beat Chelsea and Manchester United in our fascinating three-horse title race.  

The Daily Express -  ARSENAL'S AARON RAMSEY GOAL
ARSENAL chief executive Ivan Gazidis said Aaron Ramsey’s horror injury “ripped the heart out of the club” and added that they must win the Champions League or Premier League in his honour.
 

The Times - Arsenal will not pursue Aaron Ramsey compensation
Ivan Gazidis, the Arsenal chief executive, has said that the club will not be seeking compensation over Aaron Ramsey’s injury, despite claiming yesterday that “a bit of the heart was ripped out of the club”.

The Guardian - Theo Walcott a clipped wing as England labour to make inroads
England should have struck the first blow as early as the fifth minute tonight, when Theo Walcott ran on to Wayne Rooney's through-pass and guided the ball carefully across the penalty area into the path of Frank Lampard.

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The Sun - Ivan: I feel so terrible
ARSENAL chief executive Ivan Gazidis has revealed Aaron Ramsey's sickening injury 'ripped the heart out' of the club.

The Daily Mirror - Abou Diaby gives Arsenal major fitness boost after Aaron Ramsey horror injury
Abou Diaby is set to give Arsenal a major fitness boost and return for injured team mate Aaron Ramsey.

The Daily Mail - What are Aaron Ramsey's Arsenal comeback chances?
Aaron Ramsey's horrific leg break against Stoke has put the young star out for six to nine months, leaving his Arsenal and Wales managers, Arsene Wenger and John Toshack to plan without him.

The Independent - Walcott's chance to recover that lost zip of Zagreb
When Fabio Capello yesterday ran through the eight players definitely starting against Egypt tonight he mistakenly mentioned one of them more than once. No surprise that it was Theo Walcott because Capello seems to like him so much, he probably wishes he could pick him twice.

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The Sun - Gunners blast Blues in rich list
ARSENAL have overtaken Chelsea in the 'rich list' of European clubs - while Manchester United are down to third behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The Daily Mirror - Alexander Hleb desperate for Premier League return
Former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb is desperate to return to the Premier League - and has put Manchester City and Aston Villa on red alert.

The Daily Mail - Arsenal leapfrog Roman Abramovic's Chelsea in football's 'rich list' while Manchester United toppled by Spanish giantsArsenal have overtaken Chelsea in the 'rich list' of European clubs while Manchester United have dropped to third place behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The Times - Aaron Ramsey in 'good spirits' after horror injury
Aaron Ramsey is in "surprisingly good spirits" after his horror injury at the weekend, according to John Toshack, the Wales manager.

The Independent - Real become first club to record €400m revenue
Arsenal have overtaken Chelsea in the "rich list" of European clubs while Manchester United have dropped into third place with Barcelona taking their place in second behind their Spanish rivals Real Madrid.

The Daily Telegraph - Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis believes Arsène Wenger is key to prolonged success
Ivan Gazidis has good reason to feel optimistic. Off the pitch Arsenal have just posted half-yearly profits of £35.2 million, and on it they have moved to within three points of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.

The Guardian - Has roughing up Arsenal become part of the plan?
Not for the first time Arsène Wenger finds himself at the heated centre of a debate about aggression and modern football. On one side stand those who believe occasional broken bones remain an unfortunate but inevitable by-product of the game's enduring appeal as a contact sport. Across the divide, there are others, Wenger included, who feel the extreme pace of 21st-century football demands increased cleansing and rule tightening.

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Just a short footnote to all that's being written about that challenge which hospitalised Aaron Ramsey.

Whatever the intention of Ryan Shawcross, he will miss the next three games for Stoke because of his straight red for violent conduct. Ramsey on the other hand is likely to miss the next 30 games and faces several months of painful rehabilitation as he tries to build up the muscle in his leg again.

But I don't want to point fingers with this post. Rather I'd like to commend Stoke's number six, Glenn Whelan, who was first to reach Ramsey after his team mate had scythed him down.

The Irish midfielder may only have just turned 26, but he showed remarkable maturity in staying with Ramsey and talking to him while he was receiving initial treatment. Indeed, while other players on the park could barely look at the youngster, Whelan should be commended for helping to keep the teenager calm, when it would be so easy for someone who suffered such a trauma to go into shock.

Understandably Ramsey's Arsenal team mates were distraught and would have been unable to deal with the stricken Welshman in such a calm manner.

So while various bloggers are calling for the head of Ryan Shawcross, it would remiss not to commend Whelan for his actions. I would hope that Arsenal Football Club would do the same given the compassion that the Stoke midfielder - himself no angel with 46 yellow and two red cards in his career - showed his fellow professional.

There's not really much to say about the challenge that will see Aaron Ramsey in the treatment room for the majority of 2010. The BBC did well on Saturday night to freeze frame the moment of impact and while it did not look malicious, that is immaterial given the damage it did.

But beause footballers - even teenage ones - can be on such massive wages these days, I'd like to sound you all out on a proposed solution that might work both on a domestic and international level - compensation.

Being Arsenal fans we all know about Robin van Persie getting injured season after season while on international duty for Holland. So why not introduce a culture where clubs are compensated for the financial loss of paying a player who is on £3-4 million a year while he isn't available for selection.

It's often the case that the player who is injured as the result of a foul is the victim of a far less talented - and therefore lower earning player. That patently was the case for Ramsey on Saturday. So to suggest that the opposition player should pay simply does not work.

My solution would be that Stoke should then have to pay Ramsey's wages until he is fit for selection again.

That sort of policy would have clubs thinking twice about sending their players out on hatchet jobs. It could also be insured against and would mean that the teams who consistently try to kick their opponents off the park would have to pay the highest premiums.

And of course, the most talented players in the game would be better protected, especially if clubs could pass on some of the financial burden to the guilty players by way of fines. I wonder if Tony Pulis would have been so quick to condemn Arsene Wenger's view of Ryan Shawcross if Stoke then had to pay Ramsey's wages and medical fees for the forseeable future?!

The bottom line with Ramsey is that Arsenal now have a player who in all reality we won't see featuring for the firstteam until 2011. But at the same time the club has to pay the young man's wages, tying up funds that could be used to bring in a replacement.

A culture where the culpable club - be that Stoke or Holland or even Arsenal if one of our players inflicted such an injury on an opponent - would be obliged to pay for a player's full rehabilitation could effectively clean up the game and make moments such as the one that crippled Ramsey on Saturday or Eduardo two years ago, a thing of the past.

It goes without saying that us Addicts wish Aaron Ramsey a full and speedy recovery, but having seen the way that such incidents can disrupt a team's prospects, it would be good to hear some feedback from you Gooners - and indeed fans of other clubs - about a solution that could bring such career threatening challenges to an end. Surely the time for such discussions is now rather than waiting for others to suffer similar injuries...