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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 60,00.html

Who? His name doesnt sound metrosexual enough to me to be a legit Arsenal signing!

The Australian generally doesn't print rubbish (even if it is a murdoch production), so there must be something in this. I watch fox sports all the time, but somehow this alleged interview he gave slipped under my radar. I live in Sydney and have watched him rise in the last few years, and he's probably one of the brightest prospects in Australian football. 22 years old, better technically than your average Australian player, good stamina and workrate, comfortable as a fullback or central midfielder. Obviously I'm slightly biased because I'd love to see an aussie at Arsenal, but I think he'd give good value for money as a versatile squad option.

Another link with some agent quotes:

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23629132-23215,00.html

Mark Milligan , that is priceless . Being an Australian , it does make you feel just a bit proud.

Sounds decent. Those quotes sound fairly concrete, so I wouldnt be suprised if something is going on. However, Wenger takes loads of guys on trial. Whether they sign is another matter.

Very true glovegun, Wenger takes numerous people on trial and signs only a portion. Never seen the guy play so cant comment at all with regards to him signing.

Quite a credible source. Looks likely to happen as well.

Isn't him the u23 captain? I have seen him in the oylmpics matches and the match against Singapore as well. Good prospect, can play in central defence as well if I am not wrong.

He'll have to do a lot to dislodge Sagna but let's see if he's better than Hoyte..

Alright so what is he? RB, CM, CB and LB? He would be a good squad player if he could play well in all positions. If he's better than Hoyte then why not? Nothing wrong with backup.

Quite a credible source. Looks likely to happen as well.

Isn't him the u23 captain? I have seen him in the oylmpics matches and the match against Singapore as well. Good prospect, can play in central defence as well if I am not wrong.

Yes he's the U23 captain.

Alright so what is he? RB, CM, CB and LB? He would be a good squad player if he could play well in all positions. If he's better than Hoyte then why not? Nothing wrong with backup.

He's rarely played at centreback. He is comfortable as a fullback on either flank, or as a centre mid. He's definitely more comfortable on the ball than Hoyte. Defensively it's difficult to compare the two because Milligans' only played in the A-league, but I don't think he's as solid as Sagna. Think Owen Hargreaves for style, stamina and versatility.

The top article says speculates he might be Flamini's replacement...hmmm.

Its funny. Last year we never expected the Sagna signing because we felt there were other positions that needed strengthening. It turns out that we were wrong as Sagna has been a revelation at RB.

Here we are again, first signing (based on the links above) of the season and he's a fullback. Wenger obviously feels that fullbacks are the key to our game and without them we're not the same.

Unless of course as suggested he's being lined up as a midfielder.

If its true and he's as good as people say (although biased) then he's be a welcome addition to reinforce defensive and midfield positions.

Setantasports.com can confirm that Arsenal are showing an interest in Mark Milligan, but reports that the Australian has already agreed a move to The Premier League are premature at present.

It has come to light that the versatile 22-year-old missed a national squad training camp ahead of the Beijing Olympics in order to travel to Europe to discuss a potential move with a number of suitors.

It was even claimed that the Sydney FC star was poised to move to Emirates Stadium subject to the awarding of a work permit after impressing Arsène Wenger during a trial period in North London.

Milligan’s agent, Tom Brookes, has now confirmed for the first time that The Gunners are following his client who made a big impression when helping Australia qualify for the Olympic finals this summer.

Any talk of an imminent switch to North London appears to be wide of the mark though as Arsenal have not yet tabled a formal offer to the highly-rated player.

Brookes told setantasports.com: “Mark has had interest from Arsenal but has not been offered terms at this stage.”

Milligan previously saw a move to Metz break down when Sydney FC refused to sanction his transfer to the French club.

However, he is now out of contract with the Australian club and seems set to leave the A-League in order to try his luck in Europe.

http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/ ... -Milligan/

Is he right or left footed?

He isn't related to Spike Milligan is he?

Very random signing (if true!) I must add, anyone else got any more info on him?

HAHA Im actually distantly related to this guy. My great Aunt's daughter's (from a previous marriage)step son.

Anyway I wouldn't have thought he'd be Arsenal quality. He's right footed and played in central midfield for Sydney FC but has played in defence.

And for the Aussie's out there I can confirm after he got off the plane from the world cup in Germany he sat down with his father and knocked off a carton. Hes very Aussie.

Thats quite a distant relation!

Can play across the back 4. Probably better cover for Clichy even though he is right footed.

Technically better than Hoyte and more versatile. Played most season in MF for Syd FC.

I don't think this would be the worst transfer made considering we'd be signing him for a pittance.

Left and right back maybe, fellow looks lighter than Flim Flam...

I think Wenger realises that our backup fullbacks need to be comfortable on the ball. Our passing game relies heavily on our fullbacks being having a reliable touch and some passing intelligence, but outside Sagna and Clichy, no-one in the squad does it at the required level, and our overall play suffered when even one of them wasn't playing. Having Milligan as a backup fullback would go some way to remedying this problem. He can play centre mid, but I think Wenger would've bought him with the fullback positions in mind.

I do think the australians are on the rise. I live here now and the amount of coaching being done across the country with the interest in the sport so high, I think there is some real good potential here and it doesn't surprise me that Arsène is shopping here.

Im an Australian Sydney fan and im not too sure how he would cope with our passing game. He is pretty comfortable playing just infront of the back four and his work rate is high. He does make some dumb mistakes (which Wenger seems to like). He has been lined up as a replacement to one of the Defensive Midfielders in the Australian First team. Would be great to see an Australian at Arsenal, and one of Australias brightest prospects at that. Would improve his game 10 fold.

he played/Trained with Juninho so perhaps his passing has improved from that.

I definately am sceptical if this is true as to whether he would make it at the top level.

He has been riding his own hype since he was picked by Guus Hiddink in the 2006 world cup.

looks like wenger's signed another flamini. at firste i thought he'd be good cover for Sagna seeing as wenger doesn't trust Eboue there, but at the same time Traore is the only cover for Clichy. a highly rated versatile player should cover the positions well.

don't see him as a starter though.

Has Arsène not stated in the past that he wouldn't be so interested in signing Aussie's, due to the flights back to Oz for their Internationals etc. I'm sure he said something along those lines when we were linked to Emerton. Although, they play their friendlies in Europe now do they not? Sign some Aussies, and get Oz at Ashburton Grove ala Brazil for their friendlies maybe? (Farfetched and reading too deeply into it I know).

Has Arsène not stated in the past that he wouldn't be so interested in signing Aussie's, due to the flights back to Oz for their Internationals etc. I'm sure he said something along those lines when we were linked to Emerton. Although, they play their friendlies in Europe now do they not? Sign some Aussies, and get Oz at Ashburton Grove ala Brazil for their friendlies maybe? (Farfetched and reading too deeply into it I know).

They already play most of their friendlies at Craven Cottage.

Depends mate... some friendlies are here (AUS), some in Asia, some in europe. Competitive matches can be any where in Asia and obviously Australia...

Id be quietly pleased being Aussie... but I think he is at the very best premier league quality, not top 4 quality. But he can prove me wrong and Ill be delighted.

Depends mate... some friendlies are here (AUS), some in Asia, some in europe. Competitive matches can be any where in Asia and obviously Australia...

Id be quietly pleased being Aussie... but I think he is at the very best premier league quality, not top 4 quality. But he can prove me wrong and Ill be delighted.

Most international friendlies where Australia is the 'home team' are played at craven cottage during the middle of the european season. Heres a small section from the wikipedia of craven cottage.

the stadium has recently hosted a few international games, mostly including Australia. Also, Greece vs. South Korea was also hosted on 6 February 2007. This venue is suitable because most of Australia's top players are based in Europe, and West London has a significant community of expatriate Australians.

I know it only says a few but i remember it being unofficially declared as Australias home away from home.

Sheesh, Mark Milligan!

This is definately a big surprise to my eyes. In no way shape or form would he be a starter for Arsenal, but if he proves himself he may be able to do a Flamini, if he is signed. He's a little taller than Flamini, and a very good build. He's a strong man.

I don't know about this. I've never considered him an Arsenal target. He had a move to Metz thwarted by Sydney FC already, but seeing that he is out of contract now, he can go wherever.

He is comfortable on the ball, as has been mentioned above already. He has played as a centre back for the Olyroos, but I think prefers the DM spot. Also played at CB for Australia during the Asian Cup.

I don't know, I've just never seen him as having the potential to play for an Arsenal. Hope he proves me wrong should he be signed.

Sign him up, he's not that big of a risk and looking at his versatility, it would be good to have a player like that.

Surprised how many australians on here . Went on a vacation there once and you guys are super friendly. Would love it to go back again.

Only bound to be a matter of time before the Aussies get good at football...they're **** hot at every other sport lol. My parent's friends from western Aus. came and stayed with us last year whilst their son had trials at Spurs. Didnt get signed, but he was telling me about how big 'soccer' is getting over there.

Only bound to be a matter of time before the Aussies get good at football...they're s**t hot at every other sport lol. My parent's friends from western Aus. came and stayed with us last year whilst their son had trials at Spurs. Didnt get signed, but he was telling me about how big 'soccer' is getting over there.

Since we qualified for the World Cup and the introduction of the new A-League 3 years ago, it's been rising steadily. They're introducing a Youth competition this year also, which will hopefully improve the quality of the league in the future.

But still, can't see this happening. I just can't believe Mark Milligan is being linked with Arsenal. I just think he was on trial, like so many other players are, and he's making noise about it to probably attract other suitors and say 'I've trialled with Arsenal, surely I'm good enough for your team!'

Of course, don't get me wrong, despite him being a Sydney FC player, he's an Aussie, and I'd farken love to see an Aussie playing for Arsenal. It'd also boost the A-League I reckon, with players moving on to bigger and better things overseas after playing in the A-League.