Upson dismisses Gunners link

Italian boss keen to follow in footsteps of Frenchman

By Hayley Paterson   Last updated: 31st January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Upson dismisses Gunners link

Upson: Happy Hammer

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Matthew Upson has ruled out an Arsenal return because he is enjoying being a part of Gianfranco Zola's West Ham revolution.

The England defender has been heavily linked with a return to the club he quit in 2003 as the Hammers look to balance the books.

And with Arsenal team-mates William Gallas and Kolo Toure at loggerheads, Arsene Wenger would welcome the calm and assured Upson into the heart of his defence as they battle to keep in touch with the Premier League title race.

However Upson has shunned reports he could follow Craig Bellamy out of Upton Park and does not want to turn his back on Zola's West Ham.

"I'm happy to be putting down roots here," reports the Daily Star.

"There was speculation, but I was always confident I was stopping around.

"The club pointed out their intentions at the start of the transfer window and, to be fair to them, they've pretty much stuck with them, which is impressive.

"It shows there is an intention for success at the club. I'm enjoying myself and all the other players are, and I think the manager is too."

Unbeaten

Upson gets another chance to show his former club what they are missing on Saturday when West Ham, who are unbeaten in their last seven games, travel to the Emirates Stadium.

Meanwhile Zola seems keen to follow in the footsteps of the Arsenal boss by bringing through his crop of young talents such as James Tomkins and Jack Collison.

The defender and midfielder have proven they are suited to top flight football and new signing 19-year-old Savio will also be looking to make an immediate impression for his new club.

On the Arsenal boss, Zola said: "It is wrong to question him. What Arsene Wenger has done for the club is a great thing.

"There are two ways: you can either spend £200million and get top-class players and win titles like that - or another way you can go is to get young players and develop them to build up a team."