ARSENAL are keeping on top of Marcus Rashford's transfer situation at Manchester United with the striker yet to agree on a new contract.
His deal expires in 2024 and the England star has yet to commit to United long-term.
The FA are set to investigate Arsenal fans hurling Prime bottles at Kevin De Bruyne during the loss against Manchester City.
De Bruyne scored the opening goal and pulled the strings last night as Pep Guardiola's side landed a huge blow on their title rivals
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- Kiro Evans
Shameless
A Spurs fan has admitted kicking Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale during the North London derby.
Joseph Watts, 35, was held after tensions flared at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month.
Ramsdale, 24, was booted in the back as he went to get his gloves and bottle from the side of the goal. Watts had clambered onto an advertising board to aim the kick at the England star.
Watts admitted assault by beating when he appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court today. He also pleaded guilty to going on to an area adjacent to the playing area and throwing a missile on to a football playing area.
- Kiro Evans
Art of War
It’s four games without a win in all competitions for Arsenal for the first time this season.
Mikel Arteta is facing his first wobble of the season and will need to find quick solutions to keep Arsenal fighting for the title.
It’s a trip to Aston Villa at lunchtime tomorrow.
Mikel Arteta faces his Arsenal predecessor Unai Emery tomorrowCredit: Richard Pelham - Kiro Evans
More to Come
Erling Haaland has warned he will score MORE once finds the chemistry with his Man City team-mates, writes SunSport's Martin Blackburn.
The Norwegian netted his 32nd goal of the season in the crucial 3-1 win at Arsenal on Wednesday.
And Haaland said: "I'm really happy but, in my opinion, there's more potential for this team.
"I'm not going to sound arrogant but it should be more. I could have scored more and I should have had more chances.
"Sometimes it's frustrating if the players don't see me or make a choice to do something else. When we learn about each other properly the goals will come."
- Kiro Evans
Halsey's Take
Former Prem ref Mark Halsey has given his taken on the controversial Arsenal penalty against Man City – and said he disagreed with Anthony Taylor.
The ref gave Arsenal a first-half spot kick after Ederson clashed with Eddie Nketiah.
But Halsey said: "The Manchester City keeper came out and Nketiah got his shot away before the momentum of both players saw a coming together, so I wouldn’t have awarded a spot-kick.
"This is the sort of incident that you often see in the Premier League where no foul is given.
"Taylor made a subjective call by pointing to the spot – which is what refs’ chief Howard Webb wants – and because it was not a clear and obvious error then VAR did not get involved."
- Kiro Evans
100 Up
Perhaps missed amid the title clash hype was Gabriel making his 100th Arsenal appearance against Man City on Wednesday.
The defender, signed from Lille in 2020, has been central to transforming the Gunners' defence from flaky and weak to becoming something far more reliable under Mikel Arteta.
The 25-year-old has 10 goals in that time.
It's 100 Arsenal apps for the centre-back warhorse Gabriel - Kiro Evans
Door Open for Ascensio
Carlo Ancelotti has admitted he doesn't "care much" if Marco Asensio stays at the club.
The 27-year-old, who has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, is out of contract at the end of the season.
And Ancelotti said: "He looks good to me, so I don't know if he stays or not. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. I don't care much.
"We have some important challenges this season. The most important thing is that he contributes like last year. Let him continue as he is doing now. Then the club makes the most appropriate decision in the end."
- Kiro Evans
Close Run Thing
With Arsenal and Manchester City both now level on points, the next few games could be crucial in deciding where title ends up.
Here's how both teams' upcoming league fixtures look, with the pair both managing to avoid some of the Prem's larger fish but facing awkward away trips.
Arsenal
Aston Villa (A), Leicester (A), Everton (H), Bournemouth (H), Fulham (A)Man City
Nottingham Forest (A), Bournemouth (A), Newcastle (H), Crystal Palace (A), West Ham (H) - Kiro Evans
Art Attack
Mikel Arteta insists he has “more belief” Arsenal can win the Premier League despite their defeat to Manchester City.
The Gunners were beaten 3-1 by the Cityzens at the Emirates on Wednesday, which resulted in Pep Guardiola’s side leapfrogging them at the top courtesy of goal difference.
But boss Arteta told BBC Sport: “They still have it [the belief], I can sense it. They feel they can do it.
“I have more belief than I had before the game. With the performance and the level the team put in, we had the feeling we could beat them. Until the second goal we had them.
"The difference was in the boxes, they had three chances and they put them away. We had chances and we didn't put them away."
- Kiro Evans
Silva Lining
Bernardo Silva has hailed Arsenal as the new version of Manchester City's 2018 Centurions.
The Gunners' surprise title charge has taken the league by storm with a club-record 50 points by the midway – but they are currently stumbling.
City won 3-1 at the Emirates on Wednesday night to go top but Silva said: "Arsenal have a great team with a lot of energy. We will fight until the end, knowing that we are going to fight against a very tough side that reminds me of us five years ago.
"They are so young, they are so good. But we're here and want to win again. We know it's not going to be easy but we will fight."
- Kiro Evans
A Roque and a Hard Place
Arsenal have reportedly sent scouts to watch one of football's next generation of wonderkids.
Athletico Paranaense and Brazil youth international forward Vitor Roque, 17, has already attracted the interest of some of the world's biggest clubs.
Barcelona are also interested but it is believed the young star is so promising his club will demand a fee of £50m to let him go.
- Chisanga Malata
Good morning Arsenal fans
Arsenal stars' spirits were "down" after Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Emirates.
According to The Independent, by the time the Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta returned from his post-match media duties, the mood was sombre.
The players were barely saying a word after dropping to second place in the Premier League table behind City.
Arteta attempted to motivate the North Londoners and advised them to understand exactly what led to their loss.
And the FA are to investigate images of City star Kevin De Bruyne appearing to be pelted with bottles during Wednesday's win at Arsenal.
De Bruyne scored the opening goal and pulled the strings as Pep Guardiola's side landed a major blow on their title rivals.
But as the playmaker left the pitch after being subbed off late in the match, the Belgium international appeared to have multiple objects thrown at him by the home fans.
The FA have announced they will promptly investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have joined Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries.
United and the Blues have previously held interest in Dumfries, who is a regular starter at cash-strapped Inter.
But according to Fichajes, the Gunners have joined the Red Devils and the West Londoners in registering their interest in acquiring the full-back's services.
The Nerazzurri need to make around £53million from player sales this summer because of their dire financial situation.
The Netherlands international could command a high fee, easing the Italian giants' financial fears.
Finally, Arsenal have been handed a transfer boost after Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said he doesn't care if Marco Asensio quits the Santiago Bernabeu.
Ancelotti told Diario AS: "He looks good to me, I don’t know if he will stay or not. He may or may not stay, I don’t know, I don’t care much.
"We have a very important challenge this season. The important thing is that he is contributing, like last year.
"Let him continue like this, and the club will make the most appropriate decision"
- Kostas Lianos
Odegaard's Man City criticism
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has bemoaned his side's lack of clinical edge during their 3-1 defeat to Manchester City.
Odegaard said: "We were not sharp enough, in front of the goal and in our own as well. Sometimes chances go in, sometimes not.
"But that is where we need to improve and be more clinical and defend our box.
"As we have said all season, work hard and take it game by game. It is the same now.
"It is one game we have lost here today and now we look to the next one"
Credit: Getty - Kostas Lianos
All hands on Dec
Arsenal target Declan Rice will leave West Ham this summer and his desire to win trophies needs to be respected, according to Hammers legend Tony Cottee.
Cottee told SunSport: “It is different with the likes of Declan or myself. The reason I left the club, and I didn’t want to but I felt I had to because I wanted to go and win something.
“When you don’t win things, it is hard, and the money side is not easy either. If West Ham had a successful team that was winning things, Declan wouldn’t be leaving. There would be no reason to leave.
“He will leave this summer. I said all along that the moment they lost to [Eintracht] Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-final last season was the moment Declan knew he needed to leave. If they had won that and won the Europa League and got into the Champions League, why would he leave?
“Now we are at the stage where Rice is in the prime of his career and wants to play Champions League football. As long as his exit is handled correctly, and I think it will be because he is a really good lad leading in the right way, I don’t think any West Ham fan would begrudge him”
- Kostas Lianos
Erling Haala land
Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland has revealed he forgot manager Pep Guardiola's crucial half-time tactical tweaks before the victory over Arsenal.
Haaland told Amazon Prime Sport: "Small adjustments at half time from Pep, in the end we have quality and we need to get it from every single player, which is what we did today.
"I honestly don't remember, I'm just so happy, I don't remember now. I think we have to play a bit more like this sometimes and that's exactly what we did today. I'm so proud I have to say, of every single guy.
"We can all agree that Arsenal have been the best team this season so to come to their place and play against them is not easy. But we played an amazing game and got three really important points, we're in it again"
- Kostas Lianos
What a Wright mess
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has singled out Gabriel Magalhaes for his "naive" performance against Manchester City.
Wright told Premier League productions: "We were very fortunate that he didn’t give away a penalty because he was offside but for me the pass [for Jack Grealish goal] is into nowhere.
"City are setting traps for him there and as soon as they win the ball, bang, they get the ball back and [Erling] Haaland’s awareness for a striker was very good because he could have easily had a shot but he’s made sure that he passed it on so that they definitely get the goal and go in front.
"For me it came down to a bit of naivety and inexperience but they are the youngest team in the league and you’re going to get those type of mistakes.
"For me Gabriel doesn’t know where it’s going. That’s going to be a problem and it was"
- Kostas Lianos
More from Grealish
Manchester City star Jack Grealish reflected a little more on the win over Arsenal.
Grealish said: “It was massive. For me it was obviously a great night, that's what I've wanted to do, especially recently, I feel like I've been playing well.
“I want to come and affect these big games, last month I scored at Old Trafford to make it 1-0 and I was buzzing thinking I'm going to get the winner here and then we went and conceded twice, so it didn't really mean anything.
“But obviously to score here tonight was so important and I'm absolutely buzzing for myself and for the team. You get those must-win games where you speak amongst yourselves and everyone was so concentrated on the game and even myself I was so in the mood and was staying off my phone.
“We just had to win today, that's what I was thinking and luckily we did.
“If I'm being honest, I don't actually think we played that well, I thought Arsenal were the better team, but if you want to win titles you've got to come to grounds like this and win games and that's what me and Riyad [Mahrez] were saying on the bench”
Credit: Getty - Kostas Lianos
Jack Grealish swipe
Manchester City star Jack Grealish admits playing with Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for England helped him fire his team to victory.
Grealish said: “I know Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan] and I knew he was going to pass it. He's so unselfish and I knew he was going to pass it. Him and Kev [Kevin De Bruyne], obviously Kev loves getting assists.
“As the ball was coming, obviously I'm trying to go back across the keeper. I was going to reverse it but then I know Rammers [Ramsdale] from England and we always have banter, so I thought he's going to think I'm going to try and reverse it.
“I was due one of them, just a deflection or something. I was going to take my top off, but I realised I was already on a yellow card so it's a good job I didn’t”
- Kostas Lianos
Marco Asensio boost
Arsenal have been handed a transfer boost after Carlo Ancelotti said he doesn't care if Marco Asensio quits Real Madrid.
Ancelotti told Diario AS: "He looks good to me, I don’t know if he will stay or not. He may or may not stay, I don’t know, I don’t care much."
"We have a very important challenge this season. The important thing is that he is contributing, like last year.
"Let him continue like this, and the club will make the most appropriate decision"
- Kostas Lianos
Arsenal fans 'investigated'
The FA are to investigate images of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne appearing to be pelted with bottles during Wednesday's win at Arsenal.
De Bruyne scored the opening goal and pulled the strings as Pep Guardiola's side landed a huge blow on their title rivals
But as the playmaker left the pitch after being subbed off late in the game, the Belgium international appeared to have multiple objects thrown at him by the home fans.
The FA have announced they will investigate the incident
- Kostas Lianos
Dressing room reaction
Arsenal stars' spirits were "down" after Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Manchester City at the Emirates.
According to The Independent, by the time manager Mikel Arteta returned from his post-match media duties, the mood was somber.
The players were barely saying a word after dropping to second place in the Premier League table.
Arteta reportedly attempted to motivate the North Londoners and advised them to understand exactly what led to their loss
Credit: Reuters - Kostas Lianos
Bernardo Silva lining
Arsenal are the new version of Manchester City’s Centurions, according to the Citizens' Bernardo Silva.
Silva, who worked with the Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta when he was Pep Guardiola’s assistant, said: “Arsenal have a great team with a lot of energy.
“We will fight until the end, knowing that we are going to fight against a very tough side that reminds me of us five years ago. They’re so young, they’re so good, their energy is so nice.
“But we are here and want to win again. We know it’s not going to be easy but we will fight. We have struggled this season to get to that winning run, winning three, four games and then losing one. It’s quite disappointing.
“Hopefully we get to that run and finish this season in the best possible way. I think it is going to go up until the end”
- Kostas Lianos
Arsenal 'feeling down'
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted he and his players are "feeling down" after Wednesday's 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City.
Arteta said: "We are all feeling down, especially because they knew we could do much better today to get a very different result and we just gave the game.
"We have to pick the points because the performances are there for sure. What we've done today against this team, believe me, this was not the game that they wanted to play.
"Games are decided in the boxes and we have given too much away today. We were not ruthless enough to convert out chances. That's what we have to improve on.
"Manchester City demand you to play at the best level. We reached that level in a huge battle and had a feeling we were going to win but then we just gave three goals away and did not put our chances in.
"Bad mistakes are part of football and unfortunately we have done it against a team that punish you"
- Kostas Lianos
Arsenal favourites for Rice
Arsenal are the frontrunners to land West Ham star Declan Rice despite his links to Chelsea.
That is why Chelsea will turn their attention on Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham as they resign themselves to defeat in the race for Rice.
According to the Telegraph, the Blues' owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali will now "move heaven and earth" to sign Bellingham.
SunSport also recently revealed how Boehly was "obsessed" about signing the midfielder
- Kostas Lianos
Arsenal's Dumfries interest
Arsenal have joined Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries.
United and the Blues have previously held interest in Dumfries, 26, who is a regular starter at cash-strapped Inter.
But according to Fichajes, the Gunners have joined the Red Devils and Chelsea in registering their interest in acquiring the full-back's services.
The Nerazzurri need to make around £53million from player sales this summer due to their dire financial situation.
And the Netherlands international could command a high fee, easing the Italian giants' financial fears
Credit: Rex - Etienne Fermie
Arteta: 'There are no excuses'
Mikel Arteta has refused to blame Thomas Partey's absence for Arsenal's defeat to Manchester City last night.
The midfielder missed the game after failing a late fitness test.
After the match, Arteta said: "We don’t know. It’s what happens – it’s part of football.
"There are no excuses. I think Jorgi played a really good game and we’ll have to assess Thomas to see how bad it is."
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