It was reported during the summer that the Everton and South African international midfielder Steven Pienaar is keen to join Arsenal on a free transfer next summer. the 28 year-old has refused to sign a new contract with the Toffees but has decided to cash in with one last big move while he can.

There are rumours flying about that Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and even Juventus are ready to make Pienaar lucrative contracts, but FanFc reports a “source” as saying: “Steven was very flattered by Arsene Wenger’s complimentary remarks last summer and has made up his mind that he wants to play for him.”

In case you didn’t catch Wenger’s remarks in the summer, he said: “Pienaar has grown this year,” Wenger told Sky Sports. “He was usually a very busy player where the final ball was missing a little bit, but this year he has gained in personality and he has kept his work rate, so he has been much more efficient.

“What also played a big role in his growth was that Mikel Arteta was not there for a while and that he had to take the responsibility of being the playmaker of the team.

“He was one of the best players in England this year. He would get into the Arsenal team. I always had an eye on him since he was at Ajax.”

Could it be that Wenger has already persuaded him to come to the Emirates?

Fabianski went some way to repairing his error-prone reputation with a mature performance in the Champions League on Tuesday night against Partizan Belgrade that was capped with a fantastic penalty save.

Wenger, though, has admitted that Fabianski played only because of an elbow injury to Manuel Almunia and he will await further news on the Spaniard's fitness before deciding whether he will be replaced as his first-choice goalkeeper. Arsenal's recent record against both Manchester United and Chelsea is dreadful – they have failed to win any of the past nine games – but Fabianski believes that victory on Sunday would prove that they can genuinely contend to win the Premier League.

"Yes – we are playing really well," said Fabianski. "The beginning of the season was good. I am ready. I was always ready. I am overall pleased with my performance against Partizan. Not only my saves but I read the game with the crosses and kicked well."

Fabianski's performance in 2-1 and 4-1 defeats against Chelsea at the end of the 2008-9 season contributed to the unfortunate 'Flappy Handski' nickname, but he claims that past criticism has never undermined his confidence.

The statistics, however, show that he has the worst record of any Arsenal goalkeeper since the start of the 2008-9 season. In that time, Fabianski has conceded an average of a goal every 58 minutes compared to one every 94 minutes for Almunia and 90 minutes for Vito Mannone.

"I was never bothered by all the things," said Fabianski. "I was always trying to focus on my job."

Kieran Gibbs had particular reason to be thankful to Fabianski after conceding the penalty he saved against Partizan. "He is a great keeper or else he wouldn't be here at Arsenal," said Gibbs. "Saving the penalty was just as important as scoring a goal for us. I think he felt like he had a point to prove. He has shown great character.

"We do feel for him [after the criticism he had] because we know his quality. He is good in the air, he is a great speaker and he doesn't hide away."

Cesc Fabregas, the Arsenal captain, has returned to training and says that he is working "day and night" to be fit to face Chelsea.

Marouane Chamakh’s growing importance to the Arsenal team may have been overlooked by some but his efficiency has not gone unnoticed by Arsène Wenger.

The Moroccan striker has been thrust into the leading role in Arsenal’s attack by injuries to Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner, and his manager has been impressed with the unassuming way Chamakh has gone about his business since moving from Bordeaux.

“He has a very quiet style but a very efficient one,” said Wenger.

“I believe his influence on the team has not been highlighted enough because if you look at his numbers it’s quite impressive what he has brought to the team.

“With Chamakh what is impressive above the numbers is his work rate for the team and his team attitude is absolutely fantastic.

“I like that he is quiet and doesn’t speak too much and that he works hard.”

Robin van Persie has "no chance" of playing for Holland in the next international break, according to Arsène Wenger.

The Dutch forward has not kicked a ball since August 28 after picking up an ankle injury at Blackburn but Wenger hopes he will return to action in three weeks.

In theory that would make him available for Holland's friendly with Turkey on November 17 and Bert van Marwijk, the Dutch national coach, is reportedly keen to call up Van Persie. But Wenger has other ideas.

"I think the Dutch coach has a good sense of humour," he said. "There is no chance [of Van Persie playing against Turkey].

"He is a few weeks away [from fitness], I think three weeks so that means mid-November."