Robin van Persie will wear the Arsenal No 10 shirt next season.

The Dutchman has taken on the number vacated by William Gallas, whose contract ended on June 30.

Van Persie follows in the footsteps of his compatriot Dennis Bergkamp, who donned the No 10 shirt during his Arsenal days.

Carlos Vela has also changed his squad number. He is now No 11.

Anyone who has already pre-ordered the new Arsenal No 10 or 11 shirts from Arsenal.com with Robin van Persie's name and number will receive their shirt with the new squad number.

Anyone who has pre-ordered or bought the new Arsenal shirts with ‘Vela 12' from Arsenal.com can return their shirt to exchange it for one with the updated number. Proof of purchase will be required.

Further to their hugely debated involvement at this summer's World Cup Finals in South Africa, Arsenal Football Club has decided to forbid the use of vuvuzelas within Emirates Stadium with immediate effect.

This decision has been taken to ensure the enjoyment and safety of supporters on Matchdays, which is of paramount importance to the Club.

Robin Van Persie has given worried Arsenal fans a boost by confidently declaring: “I fully expect Cesc to be our player this season.”

As has been the case for the last couple of seasons, the future of Cesc Fabregas has been a major topic for public and media debate.

The rumours have flown around with even more vigour with the Arsenal captain playing on the World Cup stage and again being linked with a return to Barcelona.

It’s going to happen one day, that’s for sure, but Van Persie thinks – and hopes – his club skipper will stick around a bit longer.

The Dutchman, who relies so heavily on Fabregas for those threaded through balls that create so many openings: “He is our captain and we want to keep him

“That is why we didn't listen to any offers. We do not just give in because somebody wants somebody from us.

“I believe Cesc loves the club and I am confident the story will end there. We want Cesc at our club next season and that is it. The talking has stopped and we never wanted it to start."

Van Persie added: “It is vital for a striker to have a midfielder behind you who is looking for you when he has the ball. In fact, it can make the difference between winning the World Cup or not.

“I have that connection with Fabregas. When I play with Cesc behind me, it is pure magic. He has an incredibly quick mind. He is always thinking three steps ahead."

Thomas Vermaelen is unfazed by the fact he will have new central-defensive partners next season and has been impressed by Laurent Koscielny's performances in training.

Arsène Wenger recently stated that he expects both William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre to sign for other clubs after their Arsenal contracts expired on June 30.

Koscielny has joined the Gunners from Lorient and Johan Djourou missed all but the final game of last season through injury.

That means Vermaelen is likely to be playing alongside less familiar team-mates this season. But for him that isn't a concern and the Belgian is already well aware of the qualities his defensive colleagues bring to the side.

"It doesn't matter for me who I play with," he told Arsenal.com. "You know each other's qualities and you know how the players play.

"I didn't know Koscielny before but I have seen him in training. He is a good defender, he puts pressure on the attackers all the time and he is tight with his marking.

"I have played alongside him a few times in training and that has gone well. He is a good defender.

"Djourou had a long injury last year, for almost all of the season. I think for him it is good to be back. I know him well and he is a quality player."

Jack Wilshere says he just wants to play this season.

However, the 18-year-old hasn't yet spoken to Arsène Wenger and says he'll have to see what the manager decides.

Wilshere spent the second half of last term gaining valuable first-team experience on loan at Bolton. He played 14 times for the Trotters and says that has made him even more hungry for first-team action.

Speaking to Arsenal.com in Austria, the midfielder outlined his main target for the new season.

"I just want to play," he said. "I haven't spoken to the boss yet, so I'll speak to him and see what happens.

"My loan spell was good overall. I got some games under my belt and that was the main objective of it, to come back with some more experience.

"I think when you play you are used to it and it makes you want more, so you come back even more hungry."

Arsène Wenger says the groin injuries suffered by Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner "do not look big."

The pair have not travelled to Austria for this summer's training camp but the manager expects them to return to action shortly.

"Bendtner has a groin [injury] and Denilson has a groin [problem] as well," Wenger confirmed in an interview with Arsenal TV Online.

"The injuries do not look big but at the moment they cannot fulfil full training sessions. They will be one week behind the rest [of the squad]."

Laurent Koscielny relishes a physical challenge.

Arsène Wenger's latest acquisition also says he's strong in the air and reads the game well, attributes he is hoping to show at the Emirates Cup next week.

The French defender has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence, joining Arsenal just 12 months after leaving Ligue 2 side Tours for Lorient. Now he's ready to test himself in the cut-and-thrust of the Premier League.

"I like physical challenges and I'm a player that can anticipate situations," Koscielny told Arsenal.com. "I feel that I read the game well and one of my strengths is challenging for the ball in the air.

"However, being at Arsenal, I know that I will have to work harder on all of those points to reach a higher level."

The defender, along with fellow new signing Marouane Chamakh, is likely to make his first appearance at Emirates Stadium in the Emirates Cup. It runs over the weekend of Saturday July 31 and Sunday August 1 and Koscielny is eagerly anticipating his first match in front of the Arsenal faithful.

"I just hope I will be able to play and give my all to win both our matches in the Emirates Cup," he said. "I'm excited about seeing the supporters and stadium for the first time and I am very motivated and confident for the Emirates Cup.

"We play against two very big clubs in AC Milan and Celtic, and I can't wait to wear the Arsenal shirt at Emirates Stadium."

French outfit Lyon will compete with Arsenal, AC Milan and Celtic for the trophy. Koscielny played against them three times for Lorient last season and says even though they did not win Ligue 1, they are still the biggest team in his homeland.

"Lyon were champions for a long time in France and dominated the country's football for a long period," he said.

"For the past two seasons they haven't won the French league title but they still have plenty of very good international players like Lisandro Lopez, Michel Bastos and Jimmy Briand.

"Lyon are the biggest team in France, they have a very good defence with powerful players like Cris and Sissoko.

"They have very strong individual players and as we all know, they did very well in last season's Champions League. Along with Marseille, in my opinion they are the number one team in France.

"They are a very good team to watch and the whole Emirates Cup will be a great experience for all the supporters."

Tickets for the Emirates Cup are currently on sale. Click here for more information.

All tickets for Day One of the Emirates Cup are now sold out. However, you can still purchase tickets for Day Two, which sees AC Milan take on Olympique Lyonnais before Arsenal face Celtic. Click here for more information.

-Johan Djourou has warned the rest of the Barclays Premier League to expect a more aggressive Arsenal next season.

Arsenal leaked 41 goals - nine more than champions Chelsea and some 13 extra than Manchester United, who had the meanest rearguard in the top flight.

Djourou, however, insists that is all about to change, as the Swiss international prepares to return from a long-term knee injury.

"It is true that 41 goals is too much when you are playing for the top places," the defender said.

"I think sometimes we are missing a bit of aggression.

"It is not that we are not good enough, because the team is good enough.

"We have top players at the back, top players all over the pitch. It is just that we have to be stronger as a unit."

Centre-back Djourou missed almost the entire campaign last season, playing just once against Fulham on the final day.

"Now it is time to step up and start," the 23 year old declared.

"I will always say that, but now I am mature enough.

"We will have to see with the injury because when you have it for so long it is difficult to come straight back into things.

"But I played 90 minutes against Strum Graz and it went well.

"I have to get other games under my belt and hopefully I will be ready."

-Laurent Koscielny is excited about his looming first season with Arsenal.

Koscielny, 24, arrived in what is understood to be a £10m switch from French club Lorient, and has already impressed during his two pre-season run-outs, against Barnet and then Sturm Graz.

The 24-year-old centre-half accepts it will be a significant step up to the hustle and bustle of English top-flight football, but is relishing the battles which lie ahead.

"I like physical challenges and I am a player that can anticipate situations," Koscielny said.

"I feel that I read the game well and one of my strengths is challenging for the ball in the air.

"However, being at Arsenal, I know that I will have to work harder on all of those points to reach a higher level."

-Thomas Vermaelen says Arsenal will challenge for the Premiership title this season.

Vermaelen believes they are capable of competing with the best in the business and has brushed off claims that the Gunners remain too lightweight to land the title.

"The spirit in the camp is good," he said. "We have a good young group who are very aggressive and want to improve. I think people will always say we can't compete - it is not the first time.

"But we have to do what we always do which is work hard and play our own game. Then we can compete.

"I hope we can compete for the title this year and I'm convinced we will."

-Andrey Arshavin expects Arsenal to sign Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Arshavin is expecting more signings to arrive at Arsenal before the start of the season, but he has already been impressed by new recruits Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny - even if he work out the latter's surname.

"We don't pronounce it, his name is restricted to Laurent," said the 29-year-old. "Both he and Chamakh look not back - nobody doubts that they are good players.

"They say that the signings haven't finished. We have four goalkeepers and we conceded none the two (pre-season) matches played so far.

"But, seriously, if we're talking about (signing Fulham goalkeeper) Schwarzer, it looks like that is off the agenda."

- Arsenal will make an improved offer for Everton defender Phil Jagielka.

The London club have already had a £10million bid for the 27-year-old turned down but will build the pressure this week.

Everton boss David Moyes has often stated Jagielka is not for sale but Arsenal are refusing to give up.

They are prepared to increase their offer to £15m knowing that is the minimum to elicit a flicker of acknowledgment from Merseyside.

- Arsenal ace Andrey Arshavin has heaped praise on the young players he's playing with in preseason.

Jack Wilshere has impressed in pre-season, setting up two goals in the 4-0 win at Barnet before playing a part in the 3-0 victory over Sturm Graz and Arshavin hopes the 18-year-old can be as good as a new signing for the Gunners.

Arshavin said: "Wilshere, (Emmanuel) Frimpong and (Havard) Nordtveit have trained with the first team from day one, so no one considers them beginners.

"If Wenger calls them up to the first team, it means each as talent. The rest depends on themselves.
Wilshere is only 18, but he has worked with the first team already for two or three years - longer than me. He went on loan last season, but I hope this season that he really helps us."

-Former Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva has been told to learn Russian as he settles at new club Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Ukrainian champions have made the demand as part of Eduardo's new £50,000 a week contract.
Eduardo said: "I'll spare no effort to learn the language, especially since a lot of the words in Russian are similar to Croatian. I'm ready to talk to anyone, but, honestly, I don't really like talking to journalists!"

He had to pass two medicals before sealing the move, with particular attention paid to the ankle that was infamously shattered at Birmingham in 2008.

Eduardo, who is not expected to play for a fortnight, insisted he had long since put that incident behind him as he prepares for a new career.

"It's all behind me,' he said. 'I'm ready psychologically and physically. I've played in the English championship, so there are no problems (with the ankle).

"The only problem now is to prepare for the Ukrainian championship."

-Arsenal are watching Tromso defender Kara Mbodj.

The Arsenal's Scandinavian scout Bobby Bennett made a check on Mbodj in action on the weekend. He has also been watched personally by Gunners chief scout Steve Rowley.

Senegalese Mbodj, 20, joined Tromso from the famed Diambars Academy, which was launched by former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, now of Manchester City.

-Arsenal youngster Pedro Botelho has signed on-loan with Spanish Segunda Liga Cartagena.

The Brazilian fullback, 20, is again being shipped out to Spain after failing to secure a UK work permit. It will be his third season on-loan in the country.

Former Gunners defender Pascal Cygan is now on the books at Cartagena.

-Arsenal fullback Kieran Gibbs says he's fit and firing after six months out of action with a foot injury.

The left-back was injured in a Champions League game against Standard Liege last November and hasn't featured in a competitive match since.

"My foot is all fine at the moment and I'm all ready for the new season," he told Arsenal.com.

"I feel good. My foot's not causing me any problems and there has not been a lot of reaction to the metalwork I had in there.

"I'm still at that stage when I'm just happy to be running and free to play football again."

- Arsenal's quest for a goalkeeper continues with the Gunners in the market for Cagliari stopper Federico Marchetti , according to Italian reports.

The Sportitalia TV channel said that Cagliari president Massimo Cellino had put the goalkeeper up for sale and that "the only real club that is pushing for his signature is Arsenal."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is looking to bolster his crop of 'keepers in light of the unreliable form of Manuel Almunia and the error-prone performances of Lukasz Fabianski.

The Gunners have recently targeted Fulham stopper Mark Scharwzer and Dutch World Cup goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

27-year-old Marchetti, who replaced the injured Gianluigi Buffon in the World Cup for Italy, is contracted to the Serie A club until 2014 and is valued at €5M-7.5M.

-Arsenal are closing in on Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

The Arsenal have not been back to Fulham since their initial £2million bid for the veteran Aussie 'keeper was rejected last month but they remain interested.

Negotiations are expected to intensify as Spanish Liga interest arrives for senior Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia.

- Osasuna are chasing Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

Almunia has been left under no illusions that Arsene Wenger is ready to replace him as No 1.

The 33-year-old Spanish goalkeeper has also attracted interest from Atletico Madrid.

- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been tipped to sign Bolton Wanderers centre half Gary Cahill moving ahead of Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Aston Villa in the race to sign the talented stopper.

Cahill has been a revelation since moving to the Reebok Stadium from Villa Park gaining a call-up to Fabio Capello’s England squad and attracting interest from England’s top Premier League clubs.

Arsenal have been cut by sports bookmakers as the favourites to land the 24-year-old, with Wenger eager to sign another central defender with veteran Gunner Sol Campbell undecided on his future.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle claimed in May that he would not stand in Cahill’s way if Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa or Manchester United registered their alleged interest in the talented Bolton Wanderers star.

The Reebok Stadium stalwart has endured a superb spell at Bolton since joining the club from Aston Villa in January 2008, and has established himself in the England reckoning for Fabio Capello’s side despite missing out on the World Cup through injury.

Although he remains uncapped at senior level, Cahill’s form has alerted the Premier League top clubs and in particular Arsene Wenger has been perpetually linked with the player as the Frenchman looks to adds another centre-half to his squad after capturing FC Lorient’s Laurent Koscielny.

-Belgium starlet Christian Benteke is interesting top Premier League clubs however the Standard Liege striker is dreaming of a summer move to Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.

Benteke, 19, is a Belgian international of Congolese descent who currently plays for Belgian side Standard Liege. The forward spent last year on loan KV Kortrijk impressing scoring 9 league goals in 24 appearances for the minnows. Stoke City manager Tony Pullis and Birmingham City had been linked with the forward, while the promising youngster has also been watched by Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal scouts. However according to the player’s agent the youngster’s preferred destination is a move to the Emirates stadium.

In an exclusive interview with Benteke’s chief representative Eris Kismet, Sport.co.uk can confirm that a number of Premier League clubs are monitoring the forward famed for his physical presence and goal scoring ability, but a move to work under Arsene Wenger remains the player’s dream.

Kismet said “The situation is that last year he scored 17 goals and made 7 assists in Belgium -so he is wanted. He is a very tall and strong boy at 6ft 3 in. He is still only 19 and he is training with the Belgium national team and I can confirm that several English teams are interested in his services because he has the physical attributes that would suit the Premier League. Even though he is young he has the confidence to succeed.” Kismet revealed.

“There has been no concrete contact but I know that several teams are interested, and as far as I know Standard Liege have not been approached by any Premier League team.

“The first choice of the player this summer is to go to England and if he had a priority it would be to play for Arsenal. It would be a dream come true for him to play at Arsenal. But even if he could develop at another Premier League team it would perfect for him.” Kismet continued.

“But there are also several French and German teams interested. But if no firm offers are made then he will stay and fight for the Championship with Standard Liege.”

Dutch giants Feyenoord have also been heavily linked with the player who despite his tender age of 19 made his debut for the Belgian national side in a friendly against Bulgaria in May.

The forward is a member of Belgium’s so called ‘golden generation’ who include fellow Standard Liege starlets Steven Defour and Alex Witsel, while Anderlecht forward Romelu Lukaku and Lille striker Eden Hazard are also tipped to lead the national team into a new dawn for Belgian football.

- Arsenal are being linked with a move for Ajax centre-back Jan Vertonghen, after he expressed his desire join the Gunners.

Vertonghen, 23, firmly established himself in the side at the Amsterdam Arena last season, with his performances receiving praise from Johan Cruyff among others.

A dynamic left-footer, the Belgian international usually plays at the heart of the defence, but is equally comfortable as a holding midfielder or left-back. His way into the Godenzonen starting line-up was paved after the departure of Thomas Vermaelen to Arsenal last summer – and his international team-mate is attempting to persuade him to follow suit.

"I lost a friend when he went to Arsenal but for my career it was good. We get on really well. I speak to him sometimes a few times a week,” Vertonghen said.

"I see him with the national team and he sometimes comes back to Amsterdam for a few days when he is free and we hang out together.

"He is one of my best friends and I'm very happy he has been such a success at Arsenal. He tells me really good things about Arsenal and living in London.”

However, the former RKC Waalwijik loanee has cooled speculation linking him with a transfer to the Emirates this summer, but he would be open to a reunion with Vermaelen in a year’s time.

He said: "I heard they [Arsenal] made an enquiry along with a few other clubs. I read something in the newspapers,

"I have always said to myself I want one more year at Ajax, hopefully become a champion and then move.

"I am ambitious. I want to play in the Premier League.

“The Premier League is my favourite competition but I need one more year before I am ready. I always said I don't want to move this year so the clubs never came to me.

"They always went to Ajax and the club always said they didn't want to sell me so I will stay for another year."

-Arsenal youngster Tom Cruise says he can handle the wind-ups about his Hollywood name.

Cruise, 19, who plays left back, said his name was not connected to the film star.

"It actually comes through my family, but I don't really mind. I'm never going to escape it."

The England U19 defender says they go into their Euro semifinal with Spain full of confidence after their 1-1 draw with France.

Cruise said: "There's such a good feeling among us, it was like a win really. Most of us were shattered afterwards, but I couldn't sleep that night. I think there were a few of us like that because you're still
feeling the adrenaline."

On the pre-season workout...
"I believe it was similar for 70 minutes, we played very well. In the last 20 we collapsed a bit physically and you could see that not everybody had the 90 minutes in their legs. But I'm pleased with the two days because we had good opponents - teams who did not give up. I have seen what I wanted to see; the two new players can fit in well and I am pleased with the fact that the young players who played in the two games have done really well. You will be pleased with the fact that they are English, so we are all happy!"

On Jack Wilshere's performances over the weekend...
"He has done really well and I believe Frimpong has done really well as well. He is a bit less of a dribbler but he is a fighter and he is a winner. Here you have a boy who can choose between England and Ghana, so if I was in your place I would have no hesitation and invite him very quickly to play for England. I think he will have a big future. Both of them [Wilshere and Frimpong] will have a big future. At what level is very difficult to predict but both are fighters, winners and are ready to fight for the team and have quality. They have normally a good future, but let's be cautious and not make of them stars before they are stars."

On if this will be big season for Wilshere...
"At 18 years of age you need a bit of patience. I believe he is stronger than last year, physically. The few months he played at Bolton has given him something. He will be used at the Club, of course."

On Wilshere starring at last year's Emirates Cup...
"The problem at that age is [that you need] to be patient; you don't have patience. You have other good players at the Club. If you look at the number of players we have in midfield nobody can guarantee a position to anybody."

On Wilshere's England chances...
"In 2012 he will be 20, so why not. You cannot rule it out, but it is down to performances."

On if he would be worried if Wilshere was called into the England squad soon...
"No. At the end of the day when you are a good football player you have to deal with that. Theo Walcott was at the World Cup at 17 years of age. He had not played one game in the Premier League and it didn't kill him. To play at the top level you have to deal with these kind of situations."

On if he has seen a determination in Walcott to bounce back from missing out on the World Cup...
"He is determined, highly determined. He works very hard. The season will start in two weeks, I cannot say now who will have a great season or not, I just say that we added two players in pre-season and it will be down to them to win their place in the team. I cannot say more than that. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was not very sharp today because he was sick yesterday, but he has some great qualities as well. Theo is sharp physically, he has worked very hard and he is ready to start the season."

On Manuel Almunia's performance...
"He did well. We have two more weeks to decide what I will do. Overall we will play the player who I think deserves to play. It is competition in pre-season and you have to live with that."

On which goalkeeper impressed him most over the weekend...
"Both."

On the two teams Arsenal played this weekend...
"I believe that both teams gave us a different problem. Celtic played at a British pace and that was the game of the highest pace. Milan slowed the pace down and tried to control the game more and slow us down. It is completely different. But Celtic kept going until the end like Milan. But Celtic really need a result at the minute. I believe that they are a good side who needs a result at the moment. They didn't win today, they didn't win in midweek. They know that they play a massive game on Wednesday night and they needed some goals for their confidence and we gave them the chances."

On whether the players who played in midfield have changed his thinking ahead of the new season...
"A little bit because at the start of the season I was not convinced that Wilshere and Frimpong could be central midfielders, defensively. There is a little bit more competition than we expected there to be. We were considering even maybe going on the market for a midfielder. We will not do that now."

On if he is still in the market for a centre back...
"We still need a centre half of course. We are still short number wise. Just number wise. [We need] at least one."

On how soon he needs his squad settled...
"We have a squad who is used to playing together and you can see that when you play football; everybody is on the same wavelengths and wants to play the same game. We share the vision of the game we want to play, so I believe for us it is more a problem of belief, confidence and being ready physically than to find a style of play. For me we are 90 per cent there."

On transfers...
"Out we had enough players out - we lost a few players. In, ideally we still want one or two players."

On if he wants to sign them before the Liverpool game...
"I cannot promise you that because we are not close to signing anybody."

On Per Mertesacker...
"I would not like to come out on names because it raises the price straight away by 50 per cent."

On Manchester City's spending...
"I believe that with the amount of money they spent they will be a competitor for the title. If you look at the quality of players they have bought they have top quality, so you expect them to be there."

Havard Nordtveit believes he can follow in Steve Bould's footsteps and make the transition from promising right back to outstanding centre back.

It's 22 years since the Arsenal legend and current Under-18s coach moved from Stoke to North London, and he went straight into the centre of George Graham's defence alongside Tony Adams.

The titles and cups soon followed but it's easy to forget that Bould started his career as a full back, a position Nordtveit has filled with distinction during pre-season.

As it happens, the 20-year-old has filled a number of positions in recent years. He arrived at Arsenal at a centre back in July 2007 but has chopped and changed during three loan spells in three different countries. So where does he think he'll end up?

"You tell me!" smiled Nordtveit.

"I went to Lillestrom for four months on loan and played 17 games at right back. From there I went straight to Nurnberg. I was there for ten months and played one game at centre back and 19 games in central midfield. Then I came back here and played right back.

"So I am not sure, many big players have to take the same road. Steve Bould played right back before he went to centre back, so it is a good experience to play there because when you are playing centre back you know how the right back is thinking.

"I don't think it is negative to play at right back as well."

Tomas Rosicky has won a trophy with every club he's played for - except Arsenal. This season, the Czech international is determined to put that right.

The 29-year-old is now one of the elder statesmen of Arsène Wenger's squad and his experience will be vital in a dressing room that has lost Sol Campbell, William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre this summer.

Rosicky's ability to turn his marker and turn a game will be even more important of course and you sense this could be a special season for him. Last term was the Czech's 'comeback' campaign after an 18-month lay-off so 2010/11 could see Rosicky push on.

The midfielder points out that Arsenal were in the hunt for silverware until April and believes that a minor improvement throughout the squad will see him realise his burning ambition of lifting a major trophy at Emirates Stadium.

"You could see that we were there almost the whole of last season. We were knocking on the door," Rosicky told Arsenal.com.

"But we were still missing something so let's hope we learn the lessons and do not make the mistakes we did last season.

"Every year we want to be successful. We are in a big club, so we want to be champions.

"Winning a trophy is definitely a big ambition for me. In every team I have ever played I have always won something, so it was always my aim to do it here as well."

Young forward Sanchez Watt has today joined newly-promoted Leeds United on loan for the entire 2010/2011 season.

Nineteen year-old Sanchez will be familiar with his surroundings for next season, as he spent the last two months of the 2009/2010 on loan at Elland Road, helping the Yorkshire club to promotion to the Championship.

Sanchez made a memorable first-team debut last season. Being named in the starting line-up for the Carling Cup Third Round match against West Bromwich Albion in September 2009, the London-born striker impressed throughout the match and rounded off a fine performance by scoring Arsenal's first goal in the 2-0 home victory.

Sanchez, full name Herschel Sanchez Watt, featured in all three Carling Cup matches last season. In addition to his scoring debut against West Brom, Sanchez came on as a substitute in the home victory over Liverpool and the away defeat to Manchester City. The young striker was also in the first-team squad, as an unused substitute, in the away UEFA Champions League victory over Standard Liege last September.

Sanchez, who was prolific for the Reserves last season, scoring five goals from just 10 appearances, was also a key member of Arsenal's Under-18 double-winning side in the 2008/09 season. Equally comfortable on the wing or up front, he appeared in all eight of the FA Youth Cup fixtures, netting a brace in the Semi-Final before striking in both legs of the victory over Liverpool in The FA Youth Cup Final.

Sanchez joined Arsenal as a scholar in summer 2007, signing professional terms with Arsenal a year later in summer 2008. His fine performances were rewarded last November, when he signed a new long-term contract with the Club.

Sanchez, who spent February of last season on loan at Southend United, will immediately join up with Simon Grayson's squad ahead of the new season.

Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Sanchez the best of luck during his time with Leeds United.

Arsenal have announced that a record-breaking £818,897 has been raised for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, the Club’s Charity of the Season for 2009/10.

Thanks to the overwhelming support from fans, players, directors and staff, the Club smashed its £500,000 target.

The money raised through the ‘Be a Gooner. Be a Giver.’ campaign will enable Great Ormond Street Hospital to update its current cramped and outdated facilities to build a well planned, modern and spacious Arsenal Lung Function Unit which will be located in the state-of-the-art clinical building (due to open in 2012). The Unit has been specifically designed to cater for the needs of newborn babies right through to teenagers as well as their families. Building work on the new building is already underway.

The money raised smashes all previous fundraising totals for Arsenal’s Charity of the Season initiative, which has been running for seven consecutive years. The figure is testament to the many successful fundraising activities which took place throughout the 12 month partnership, including the charity’s dedicated matchday - Arsenal v Chelsea - in November 2009. All first team players and directors donated a day’s wages to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and supporters were encouraged to do the same. £210,000 was raised in just one day.

Speaking about the partnership, Arsène Wenger said: “It is absolutely fantastic and we are delighted to smash our target of raising half a million pounds for this hospital. The dedication of everyone involved with the Charity and the hospital has been phenomenal and all should be proud of the amazing delivery of fundraising initiatives Great Ormond Street Hospital have introduced to our supporters over the course of the partnership. The fans have been superb with their generosity yet again for our Charity of the Season, and it is thanks to them that Great Ormond Street Hospital patients will have this state-of-the-art Arsenal Lung Function Unit once built.”

Dr Jane Collins, Chief Executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital said: "We are so grateful to everyone at Arsenal Football Club for their support and the fantastic amount of money that has been raised to help us fund a new lung function unit. With Arsenal’s help we can vastly improve the facilities for our patients and their families.”

Dedicated Gooner Barbara Windsor MBE, British icon, former patient and long-time supporter of Great Ormond Street Hospital said: "I'm so proud, as a life-long fan of Arsenal, that they have raised such an incredible amount of money to support Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, a cause I hold very close to my heart. It’s been a while since I was a patient, but on countless visits since, I have seen first-hand the amazing work that goes on. Everyone at Arsenal and all of us fans have helped to make a real difference for thousands of young patients.”

Other partnership highlights include ‘Be a Gunner. Be a Runner.’; a ten lap fun-run around Emirates Stadium which raised over £50,000 with over 300 runners taking part. Arsenal’s staff were involved yet again this year through the ‘Charity Champion’ initiative. Each department within the Club had a nominated Champion throughout the partnership and together, over £40,000 was raised over the season from staff.

Arsenal’s Supporters Clubs were also more involved and nearly doubled their total raised for Teenage Cancer Trust last season, contributing a massive £43,000 to the fundraising target. In particular, Arsenal Hampshire Supporters Club’s Paul Smith lapped Emirates Stadium 51 times in his wheelchair and raised almost £20,000.

The partnership’s finale, The Gunners’ World Ball, was held in May at Emirates Stadium. Hosted by TV
presenter Dermot O’Leary and attended by the first team, Arsène Wenger and a raft of celebrity supporters, the evening was an outstanding celebration of the success of the partnership. Guests were treated to a performance by The Feeling and over £450,000 was raised on the evening.

With the new season commencing on 14 August 2010, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity will be handing the Charity of the Season baton to Centrepoint, London’s biggest youth homeless
charity.