Internationals: Flamini And Diaby Injured, Walcott Scores

Arsenal midfielders Mathieu Flamini and Abou Diaby both suffered injury scares as a reserve side from France faced the Democratic Republic of Congo.

21 year-old Diaby, who has featured for France only three times, failed to start the game with a calf problem. France manager Raymond Domenech moved to to ensure that the injury was minor, though, meaning that the midfielder should be fit to rejoin the Arsenal squad on Monday as they host Blackburn at the Emirates.

"He has a small concern with the calf, I did not want to take a risk, so he remained at rest," said Domenech to allay the concerns of Arsenal fans.

Mathieu Flamini is more of a doubt, although it has been reported that the 23 year-old's ankle injury is not a serious one. Flamini has been one of the driving forces behind Arsenal's title push, and while Brazil captain Gilberto Silva is ready to step in in the case of a more serious injury, Arsene Wenger will be hoping that Flamini recovers in time to face Blackburn.

In other international news, Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy featured for his country for the first time in France's 0-0 draw with the Congo.

Theo Walcott also showed some of his promise by scoring a thunderous goal against the Republic of Ireland in a 3-0 victory for England's U21 squad. Walcott picked up the ball on the left flank before cutting inwards and releasing a right-footed rifle into the far corner of the net. He was taken off to a standing ovation five minutes before the end of the match.

Arsenal Close In On Freeman Transfer

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stated that the North London giants are close to signing 15 year-old Gillingham starlet Luke Freeman. The English striker is the youngest player ever to have featured in the FA Cup after coming on against Barnet in the first round of the competition at the tender age of 15 years and 233 days.

Wenger, who has been criticized for relying too heavily on foreign players, emphasized that most of his current youth crop are English, and that he would continue to spend on young English talent.

"Yes, we will be pushing [the Freeman deal] through," said the Arsenal boss.

"I met the boy and I like him. He has personality and he looks alert. He's a striker and to play in a first team at 15 years of age is something special.

"We were quite well on the case and we are very positive that we will find an agreement with the club without going to compensation. We will pay them a transfer."

Wenger, who is renowned for his talent-spotting ability, is well aware of the risk taken in signing such young players.

"The more you go down [in ages] the greater the margin of error," he said. "Sometimes you see a player at 13 and you think 'absolutely amazing' then two years later he has disappeared.

"But our target is to produce good players and I believe we are on the right road with the way we want to work throughout the Club.

"I know how much the English national team means here to people. To contribute to that would be a big pride as well. At the moment it is not my first responsibility.

"But I have been accused of only buying foreign players and I would like to contribute to the quality of English football."

"I want to buy English," he added.

Almunia For England And Lehmann To Germany

Arsenal's current first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia could become England's national team keeper, as he has never been called up for Spain and is in the process of acquiring English citizenship.

The keeper proved his worth to Arsene Wenger this season, replacing long-time Arsenal and Germany number one Jens Lehmann as the club's first-choice keeper. However, he has yet to get a cap for a national team.

"They (Spain) have never, never called me," said Almunia.

"If other people want me, I have to study my situation and take a decision because it is good for me - I will not close myself to anything."

"I always say I have to wait to see what is happening at that moment, or which goalkeeper England has, or which goalkeeper Spain has, look at the situation and take a decision," he continued.

"It would be a big decision but I wouldn't care if I had two days to take it."

Meanwhile, the player he has replaced, Jens Lehmann, is pondering a move away from the North London giants.

"I would not leave this club just because I was on the bench. But if I am going to change clubs, I would have to make my decision by the beginning of January and I expect to do that in little over a week," said Lehmann.

"That is just a week away and I am not actively looking for another club.

"I have had offers, but I can say that for the moment there is nothing concrete.

"I have spoken with nobody at Manchester City, perhaps Arsene Wenger spoke with someone from Wolfsburg and my lawyer has spoken with people from other teams, but I can’t say which clubs."

Arsene Wenger: Quota Will Kill Premier League

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is firmly opposed to Sepp Blatter's proposed player quota. The FIFA President's plan would limit each team to only five foreign players, decimating the Arsenal squad.

Wenger, who's team is often criticized for its lack of English players believes that the quota would destroy the EPL's reputation as the best footballing Premier League in the world.

"It would kill the Premier League at the moment for being the best league in the world, certainly," said Wenger. "Why? Because you can see a massive reduction in the quality. If you have the choice between 200 million players or 50 million players, it is less good. It is as simple as that.

"It will protect the bad players, or those who are not good enough. Also, if the best English players play with the best world-class players, then they will be even better and develop quicker." The Arsenal boss also feels that it is not his job to look out for nationality, but rather to search for the best players he can find. Even at a British football club, that could mean anyone from anywhere in the world.

Wenger told Arsenal.com: “I would not be very happy [if it happened] because I feel sport is linked with quality. Our purpose is to push the level of the game as high as we can to give people entertainment. If one day you say 'sorry, you cannot play. I know you are better but you are not from the right place', then I would not be happy."

There's another reason Wenger would be unhappy: Arsenal's last starting XI was made up entirely of foreign players. If FIFA were to implement their plan, Theo Walcott (our only British player) would stay alongside 5 foreign players, leaving Arsene Wenger to find an entirely new football team.