Arsenal have confirmed that Mexico international striker Carlos Vela has signed a new long-term contract.

Vela, 20, joined the Gunners in January 2007, but spent the next year-and-a-half on loan in Spain with the likes of Salamanca and Osasuna.

The skilful striker made his Arsenal debut last season and showed fans his vast potential with a blistering Carling Cup hat-trick against Sheffield United.

Vela has featured more prominently under manager Arsene Wenger this season, making eight first-team appearances while he is also a regular for his county having won 19 caps.

Delighted

“We’re delighted that Carlos Vela has signed a new long-term contract with the club,” Wenger told the club’s official website. “Carlos is a fantastic talent and we have already seen glimpses of this during his performances.

“Let’s remember, he is still only 20 years old, so there is still a huge amount to come from this boy. We have invested a lot of time in Carlos, as we put him in Spain for two years to get some good experience.

“Now he’s back with us, we’re working hard with him every day and he is a very exciting player. We’re looking forward to seeing Carlos score many goals in an Arsenal shirt for a long time to come.”

Thrilled

Vela is thrilled to commit his long-term future and is looking forward to helping the club win their first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.

“I’m very happy to sign a new contract and I’m very excited to be spending more years with Arsenal,” said the Mexican starlet.

“I just want to work hard and help this great club win trophies. I want to stay here for a long time and it’s a great responsibility.

“I will keep working hard to show the boss and all the fans why I’m here.”

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Everton are in talks to bring USA international striker Landon Donovan to Goodison Park on loan from LA Galaxy.

With the Major League Soccer season having finished, the Toffees are keen to strike a deal similar to the one which will see Donovan’s team-mate David Beckham head back to AC Milan next month.

David Moyes is eager to bolster his squad for the second half of the season with Everton hit hard by injuries and struggling towards the wrong end of the Premier League table.

The experienced forward, who is set to captain his country at the World Cup this summer when USA will meet England, spent a similar spell with Bayern Munich last season.

“Landon is a player David Moyes has identified as someone he would like to bring to the club,” chief executive Robert Elstone told the club’s official website.

“We are working to make that happen and hope we can reach agreement soon with all the appropriate parties.”

Donovan could join his new team-mates on 2nd January if negotiations are successful before heading back to Los Angeles in March for the new MLS campaign.

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Stoke boss Tony Pulis will not divulge the outcome of a meeting with James Beattie because he does not want to break a ‘golden rule’ as they attempt to move on after an alleged dressing room bust-up.

Reports suggested the pair had come to blows at Emirates Stadium last weekend after Pulis demanded his players reported for training on Monday, which had originally been scheduled as a day off.

The decision affected the Christmas party plans of Stoke’s squad, much to Beattie’s alleged disgust and the player’s future was thought to be in doubt at the Britannia Stadium.

Pulis, though, has discussed the matter with Beattie and insists the striker remains a part of his plans, with a place in Saturday’s team to face Wigan up for grabs.

“It’s been different with a lot of focus on matters away from football,” Pulis told Sky Sports News.

Respect

“But I’ve been in football 17 years and I know what to expect. I’ve always had certain golden rules and one is what happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room for lots of reasons.

“One is respect: respect for that group and the players. It should be kept within the group.

“I’ve never felt the need to come out and discuss things that have happened.

“We’ve had a meeting with the group on Monday, where James was involved, and I’ve had a meeting with James himself.

“As far as I’m concerned a line has been drawn under it and we move on.”

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Michael Owen felt that Manchester United’s 3-1 win over Wolfsburg was a team effort despite the striker scoring all three goals.

The former Liverpool man struck a minute before half-time and added two more against the run of play in the final 10 minutes, after Edin Dzeko had equalised for Wolfsburg.

However the 29-year-old, Owen is 30 next week, admitted that United had flourished as a team after numerous injuries had decimated their defence.

Patrice Evra, United’s only recognised defender in the entire squad, started alongside Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Park Ji-Sung in an unfamiliar backline.

“Me getting three goals will probably grab the headlines, but it was a great team performance,” Owen, who took his season tally to seven, said.

Absentees

“I was playing deep with us having so many players out and we were trying to protect the back four.”

The win for the Red Devils made sure they finished on top of the group and Owen is now hoping for a favourable draw in the last-16.

“It’s great being top so we play at home second,” he added. “But I’m not going to lie, you want as weak a side as possible.

“If a team’s got to first or second in the Champions League, there’s no weak sides, although you obviously want to avoid the big boys.”

Man. Utd v Aston Villa 1st Goalscorer: Owen, M. 5/1

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas admits the side are too small and need a target man to give them a different option.

The Gunners have been criticised for being too lightweight after going down to heavy defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City in recent weeks.

Fabregas feels Arsenal were found wanting in attack against Chelsea and City in the absence of the injured Robin van Persie and believes the Gunners need a striker in the mould of Didier Drogba to provide them with a different option in attack.

“Throughout the game (against City) we had a lot of possession but didn’t really have anyone to go in behind the defenders, apart from Carlos Vela,” Fabregas told The Guardian.

“We had a lot of similar players who like the ball into their feet. Sometimes it’s true that you need a different kind of option.”

Difference

Fabregas felt Drogba was the difference between Chelsea and Arsenal in the Blues’ 3-0 win at Emirates last month.

“Overall, I saw a Chelsea team that was normal but a team that has probably the best striker in the world,” added Fabregas.

“An average team that has the best striker in the world can always do something and Didier Drogba makes all the difference.

“We dominated for the first 40 minutes without creating too much. Maybe we didn’t have someone whose game is to go beyond defenders, and we were a little small to fight them on crosses.”

The Spanish international admits Chelsea are the side to beat this season and concedes Arsenal cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to challenge for the Premier League title this term.

“We accept Chelsea are currently the strongest side. They are showing more consistency than us. What is for sure, though, is that we cannot afford any more slip-ups,” concluded Fabregas.

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