Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers flew to Germany last night to watch Gunners target Julian Draxler star for Schalke in the Champions League.

Draxler put in a man of the match performance capped off with a goal as Schalke dumped Basel out of the Champions League and progressed themselves after only needing a draw, with Rodgers picking a perfect night to view the 20-year-old.

Draxler has been a long term target for Arsenal as well as Chelsea, and now Liverpool have shown an interest as Real Madrid supposedly preparing to bring in Luis Suarez next year.

Interest

Although Arsenal’s German contingent of Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski, Serge Gnabry and star man Mesut Ozil has put them at the front of the queue to pick up Draxler, Jose Mourinho is said to be desperate for him to join the Chelsea ranks.

As the January transfer window looms closer more rumours come to the surface although the two that have appeared this Wednesday morning seem to have an inch more truth than normal.

Although I regret that I have to inform you we aren’t being linked with possible scoops for Cristiano Ronaldo or Radamel Falcao, at least not yet.

No we are linked with two youngsters.

Kurt Zouma

John Cross of the Daily Mirror believes we have joined the hunt for supremely talented St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma.

Wenger is apparently keen to buy the £12 million-rated defender after trusted scout Gilles Grimandi gave Zouma a glowing reference.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was in the Sky Sports studios yesterday evening ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Napoli and had some fascinating views on the current gunners team.

His eloquent best, he talked about Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud but most interesting backed up the common belief filling England and maybe crossing Europe that the north London club can beat anyone.

Henry is currently training with the Gunners to keep up his fitness as the MLS has now ended and he has obviously seen a change at the club.

Belief is key

He believes belief has been the difference this campaign, adding: “Just the belief that they have again, the way that they can beat any team at any moment.

Following last night’s 2-0 defeat to Napoli, which still saw Arsenal progress to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, manger Arsene Wenger admitted he will be hoping for some luck in the draw.

Borussia Dortmund’s late win over Marseile meant they finished top of the group because of a better head to head record with Arsenal as they had scored two away goals compared to the Gunners one.

14th time lucky?!

Wenger is now hoping it is 14th time lucky for the Gunners, he added: “To finish second makes the potential draw more difficult.

“In the last four or five years we had a difficult draw. Maybe this time we will be a bit luckier.

The Gunners travel to Naples looking to clinch a place in the knock-out stages of the Champions League, knowing that a draw will see them through in top spot, and only a 3-goal deficit can see Arsenal relegated to the depths of the Europa League.

Following on from victories in Dortmund and Munich, the Arsenal players should have the belief to see this one out; however, the Stadio San Paolo and its notorious fans will be no easy place to get a result from.

Decisive game

Wenger has called the Napoli game a decisive test and believes that his players will not become complacent. Arsenal are in the unusual position of having 12 points in Group F and still not being qualified, and as such the players need to make sure they get over the final hurdle to ensure qualification.