Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross has hit out at claims by Arsene Wenger that he and Robert Huth are guilty of deliberate fouls.

Wenger accused the 22-year-old centre-half and team-mate Huth of continuously fouling Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes during last month's Premier League clash, saying they were acting more like rugby players than footballers.

Stoke have complained to the league about Wenger's comments, as it is not the first time the Arsenal boss has aimed criticism at Shawcross.

Earlier in the year Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey received a horror leg break at the Britannia after going in for a tackle with Shawcross, and Wenger was furious with the challenge in the aftermath of the game.

However, Shawcross claims there were no such tactics used against Spurs and believes the French coach is pursuing a personal vendetta.

He told The Sentinel: "I don't mind people having their opinions, but if it's not a game involving his players then I don't see the point of bringing up me and Huthy.

"I've watched the video again and at no point did I go anywhere near Gomes.

"I didn't think I had, but I didn't want to say I hadn't touched him before looking at the whole video to make sure."

Shawcross added: "He's obviously got something against me. It's just weird. He brings my name into it.

"He always seems to have a problem with Stoke, our manager and certain players.

"Criticism doesn't bother me, unless it's a false accusation like this one.

"It's just disappointing he came out and said something that wasn't needed.

"He could have said there was a problem week-in, week-out in the Premier League, but he shouldn't have named individuals."

Stoke have yet to pick up a single point in the league this season and Tony Pulis' men will look to rectify that when they take on Aston Villa next Monday.

Phil Jagielka has warned John Terry and Rio Ferdinand that he is ready to keep his place in the England team on a permanent basis.

The Everton centre-back started the recent friendly win over Hungary and was again selected in international boss Fabio Capello's first XI for last weeks' Euro 2012 qualifying victory over Bulgaria.

Jagielka, who has been in excellent form for his club at the start of the season, is again expected to start in Switzerland on Tuesday, with Terry and Ferdinand both absent through injury.

And the 28-year-old is hopeful that he will remain at the front of Capello's thoughts when Terry and Ferdinand return to fitness and are again available for selection.

Jagielka said: "It's always hard to displace players like JT (Terry) and Rio. But I would like to think I can.

"If Rio and JT come back fit for the next squad and they are in form and they get picked, they are not bad players to be behind.

"But I'd like to put real pressure on them, that's what it's all about and I'm sure the manager wants that as well.

"The manager has always said he wants to pick form players, so if I can keep playing international football and keep keeping clean sheets then, hopefully, it cranks up the pressure a bit."

Jagielka was a target of Arsenal in the summer and Arsene Wenger is reported to have had two bids rejected by Everton.

The former Sheffield United star is flattered by the interest from one of the Premier League's heavyweight sides, but is concentrating on life at Goodison Park.

Jagielka said: "It's nice, obviously, for a club like Arsenal to be linked with me. But nothing happened. I stayed as an Everton player and I love playing for Everton.

"We have not had the greatest of starts to the season, but I'm sure we'll pick up. It's nice, nice to get two England starts and be linked with one of the big boys."

Cesc Fabregas has hinted that if it was down to him, he would have secured a switch to Barcelona this summer.

The midfielder was strongly linked with a return to his Catalan roots throughout the transfer window, with both parties making it clear that they wished to reach an agreement.

However, the deadline for deals passed last week and Gunners skipper Fabregas remains on the books at Emirates Stadium.

The World Cup winner is not the type of player to mope around and go through the motions as he attempts to force through a move to Camp Nou.

He is, though, a proud Barcelona native and admits his continued presence in North London is only down to Arsenal's stubborn refusal to discuss a deal with their Spanish rivals.

Fabregas is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail: "Barcelona did all they could to sign me but Arsenal told me I had to stay, that there was no way they were going to let me go.

"In the end I had to stay but the content of my conversation with Arsene Wenger will remain private."

While Fabregas is staying put for now, it does appear to be only a matter of time before Barca get their man.

They are confident a move can be put in place next summer and have already left their No.4 jersey open for his arrival.

Barca stars Xavi and Andres Iniesta, who have publicly called for a deal to be done throughout the summer, are also confident that their international colleague will soon be joining them back in his homeland.

Xavi said: "If the signing has not happened this year, it will happen next."

Iniesta said: "When you talk with him (Fabregas), you realise how excited he was about the prospect (of joining Barca)."

Arsenal youngster Thomas Cruise has revealed that he is hopeful of sealing a loan move this season.

The 19-year-old defender has made just one senior appearance for the Gunners to date.

And he is keen to land a temporary switch elsewhere in a bid to gain regular first-team experience.

"I'd like to go out on loan this season and get experience, something which would be a big benefit for me," Cruise told the club's official website.

"If the chance arises, I'd like to move to a team that likes to play a good passing game. Also, as well as defence, I'd like to play in midfield where you see a lot of the ball and are more involved.

"Obviously I'd like to get into the Carling Cup squad but if I don't get that chance, I'll happily go on loan.

"Then hopefully when I come back I could get involved in the first team. But I haven't spoken to the manager yet."

Marouane Chamakh has warned Premier League defenders that he will get better once he adapts to the English game.

The 26-year-old striker was signed on a free transfer this summer from Bordeaux by Arsenal and opened his account in*their second game - the 6-0 demolition of Blackpool.

The international break will see him on duty with Morocco, but he is keen to get back to domestic business with Arsenal.

"I am delighted to be back in my country as an Arsenal player," he told skysports.com.

"I am settling in well and the coach [Arsene Wenger] is doing his best to make me feel welcome at the club.

"I know that once I get settled, my game will improve a lot. The players have welcomed me also and I feel part of the family and the morale in the squad is good.

"We want to win the Premier League this season and we are all focused on that."

Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin feels he is playing a different style of football from when he first arrived at the Emirates.

The 29-year-old has shown fluctuating form since signing for the Gunners from Zenit St Petersburg for £15million in January last year.

While the Russian international has shown glimpses of pure genius, such as his memorable four-goal feast at Liverpool, he has also displayed a tendency to drift in and out of matches.

Arshavin, who has netted two goals already this Premier League season, feels his play is "more effective" but "less sparkling" than it was when he joined the North London club, and admits he struggles himself to explain his inconsistencies.

"The year and a half in England has significantly changed me," Arshavin told Russian newspaper Sport-Express.

"I became calmer, more professional and spend more time with my family.

"As for football I can say that my style has also altered - it is more effective, but less sparkling. I don't remember when was the last time I scored a really beautiful goal.

"It is frustrating. I tried to analyse this, but can find no answers.

"It is likely that my injuries last year had an effect, because on three occasions I was out for a month, but it is feeble to talk about injuries."

Arshavin is part of a Gunners attacking outfit that has never been short of firepower, with rejuvenated England winger Theo Walcott scoring four goals already this campaign.

However, weak spots in defence have been highlighted in recent seasons, prompting manager Arsene Wenger's captures of Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny this summer.

And centre-back Thomas Vermaelen insists strong defensive form is key to Arsenal's title challenge.

Important

"It sounds silly, but as a defender you are happier after a 6-0 win with the clean sheet than if you have scored one goal but you concede two," Vermaelen told Arsenal TV Online.

"Maybe for some people they are not happy to hear that, but for me the most important thing is to defend and to defend as a team as well, and then we will get further as a team.

"If we defend first then we can win games. After that we will see."