ARSENAL could target N'Golo Kante, with the Chelsea midfielder stalling on signing a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
The World Cup winner, 31, has had injury troubles in recent seasons and has been offered to the Gunners and Spurs, according to reports.
Emirates star William Saliba could sign a new contract with the Gunners, Mikel Arteta has confirmed.
Saliba, 21 gained the attention from Europe's top clubs – including Spanish giants Barcelona, having secured the Young Player of the Year award in Ligue 1 last season.
On the pitch, the Gunners made it four wins out of four with a stunning 3-0 victory over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
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Stay up to date with all the latest from the Emirates…
- Alex Terrell
Kan we kick it? Yes we can
N'Golo Kante has reportedly been offered a shock switch to Arsenal or Tottenham.
The injury plagued midfielder has played just twice for Chelsea this season.
Kante is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
And the Blues have "absolutely no intention" of handing him a new deal, according to Foot Mercato.
The 31-year-old's injury record means Chelsea are reluctant to pin him down to an extension, with Kante earning a reported £170k-a-week on his current deal.
But the French World Cup winner is intent on staying in London.
As a result, his agents are claimed to have offered him to both Arsenal AND Tottenham.
- Joshua Jones
Good morning Arsenal fans
Mikel Arteta’s high-flying Gunners are feeling giddy at the top of the Premier League – and now at the top of Europa League Group A too.
Thursday’s 3-0 win against Bodo/Glimt was an eighth in succession at the Emirates and sets the Londoners up nicely for the visit of Liverpool on Sunday.
Arteta rang the changes by bringing in eight new players that didn’t start Saturday’s derby with Spurs, but his young stars did him proud.
Goals from Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and Fabio Vieira capped a routine success in N7.
The result left Gooners with plenty to celebrate, and Gabriel Jesus reckons the Arsenal faithful are among the best fans in the business.
The Brazilian has paid tribute to his new supporters for making him feel so welcome since his big-money move from Manchester City.
Meanwhile, another of this season’s stars – William Saliba – has revealed he is loving life at the club.
But Mikel Arteta has admitted that he feared for his relationship with the French centre-back after loaning him out for the past three seasons.
All appears rosy between the pair now, and there is the suggestion that talks over a new, extended contract for the 21-year-old will soon begin.
Arteta and technical director Edu have been keen to tie down the club’s best young assets, namely Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
And there may soon be a new deal on the table for Reiss Nelson.
The 22-year-old midfielder was handed a cameo at the end of Thursday’s match after impressing staff in training.
When asked if Arsenal may keep the player beyond this season, Arteta replied: “Yeah, 100%.”
- Sam Dymond
Familiar feeling for table toppers
Top of the Premier League, and now top of Europa League Group A – and the Gunners have a game in hand over the two sides in third and fourth.
One of those, Bodo Glimt, were swept aside at the Emirates this evening by a much-changed Arsenal side.
Mikel Arteta's team have now won nine of their games this season in all competition, only dropping points when losing at Manchester United.
- Sam Dymond
Gunners flying at the Emirates
Fabio Vieira has just pinged in a third goal against Bodo/Glimt at the Emirates but, on the touchline,you can bet Mikel Arteta is already thinking about Sunday's Premier League match with Liverpool.
The leaders welcome Jurgen Klopp's Reds to North London at the weekend, and, for the first time in years, they are favourites to take all three points.
Arsenal's recent impressive home form will have been a major factor in the bookies' reasoning.
The Gunners have won their last seven Premier League matches in front of their own fans, their best run at the Emirates since a run of ten in 2018-19 under Unai Emery.
However, it's worth urging caution: Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last nine home League games since March 13.
- Sam Dymond
Gunners in charge at break
Arsenal are in complete control of their Europa League group game with Norwegians Bodo/Glimt.
Mikel Arteta's men lead 2-0 at the half-time break courtesy of Eddie Nketiah's opener and Rob Holding's header.
The scoreline takes the Gunners to the top of Group A as it stands, and ahead of their opponents, who are yet to muster a shot on target.
Keep up-to-date with the second half with our live blog.
- Sam Dymond
Youthful options on the bench
As well as a host of first team stars, Mikel Arteta has included a handful of youngsters among his substitutes for tonight's game against Bodo/Glimt.
Midfielders Reiss Nelson, Catalin Cirjan and Matt Smith are all on the bench, and will be hoping for some minutes to impress.
The action at the Emirates kicks-off in ten minutes time, and you can follow it live.
- Sam Dymond
Arteta rings the changes
Mikel Arteta makes eight changes to the side that started theNorth London derby for tonight's Europa League contest with Bodo/Glimt.
Only Gabriel, Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli retain their place in the side to face the Norwegians.
30 Turner; 18 Tomiyasu, 16 Holding, 6 Gabriel, 3 Tierney; 23 Sambi Lokonga, 34 Xhaka; 27 Marquinhos, 21 Fabio Viera, 11 Martinelli; 14 Nketiah
- Sam Dymond
Forwards face off on Sunday
Erling Haaland aside, Sunday's match between Arsenal and Liverpool pits two of the Premier League's in-form centre-forwards against each other.
But while Gabriel Jesus' impact with the Gunners was expected, the recent performances of Roberto Firmino have surprised.
Liverpool's number nine has so far outshone his more illustrious teammates Mo Salah and Luis Diaz, as well as record signing Darwin Nunez.
Which Brazilian will come out on top this weekend?
- Sam Dymond
Arteta lords Nelson impact
Mikel Arteta has been speaking about youngster Reiss Nelson in glowing terms ahead of this evening's Europa League clash with Bodo/Glimt.
The 22-year-old winger is expected to start for the Gunners against the Norwegians, and will be hoping to make the most of a rare first team opportunity.
Nelson, who spent last season on loan at Feyenoord, has entered the final year of his contract at the Emirates, but Arteta believes the player has the ability to earn another.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” the Arsenal boss replied when asked by the Evening Standard if the youngster could be offered a new deal.
“That is why he is here, because we want to have that opportunity with him. He was willing to take that opportunity and again it’s down to him to show it now on the pitch.
“Out there [in training] he is showing it every day, how he is working, a lot of things that he has changed and improved in many things that, in our opinion, could have been better. Now he is on the right track, now he needs to perform.
“After the spell that he had last year on loan, we wanted him back to see if there are any changes, and there’s a prospect that we can really take to the next level.
“We think the potential is there and we think we’ve seen something in Reiss that is special.”
- Alex Smith
Jesus on Arsenal welcome
Gabriel Jesus has revealed an incredible story of how Arsenal supporters made him feel at home at his new club.
Jesus said: "I went to a Brazilian restaurant here and I was waiting in my car outside and a lot of Arsenal fans came to say welcome.
"I feel [welcome] you know because it's different from City, of course.
"I think City had a lot of impact in the last 10, 15, 20 years and then Arsenal before had a lot and it's different.
"So, I feel that welcome, the way they come to talk with me and say 'welcome, yeah we are [here for] you, supporting you until the end'. I was happy as well with the fans at City but it's different."
- Sam Dymond
Kante linked with Arsenal move
N'Golo Kante has once again been linked with a move across London to Arsenal.
According to Foot Mercato, Chelsea have decided that they will not be renewing the contract of the French midfielder when it comes to an end in June.
The 31-year-old is keen to remain in both the Premier League and London, and so naturally the Gunners have been linked.
However, sources close to the North London club have suggested that such speculation is wide of the mark.
Reports surfaced in the summer that Kante was an option for Mikel Arteta, but those stories were also rubbished.
- Alex Smith
Arsenal favourites for Europa League
It has been predicted by a super-computer that Arsenal will win the Europa League.
They have been given a 13% chance of lifting the trophy.
Ajax, Liverpool and Barcelona have been handed a 6% chance of winning the competition with the computer expecting them to drop down from the Champions League.
Manchester United are ranked third given a 5% possibility.
- Alex Smith
Petit doesn't rate Alexander-Arnold
Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit does not seem to be a fan of Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The right-back's form has not been impressive in the Premier League and Petit has criticised him.
He said: "Sometimes during this season I have felt embarrassed to watch Alexander-Arnold."
Petit labelled him as "one of the worst" defenders without the ball in the Prem.
- Alex Smith
Petit takes aim at Liverpool
And Emmanuel Petit did not stop there as he criticised Liverpool prior to their meeting with Arsenal.
He said: "There are so many weaknesses. There are so many things that are not working with Liverpool. There is something that’s broken with this team.
"Mentally, they are not the same unit they have been for the last four or five years. Physically as well.
I think with the fact [Sadio] Mane has gone, you can see something is missing up front as well. [Mohamed] Salah is a shadow of himself at the moment.
"The midfield don’t control the tempo anymore, they are not playing with character and personality. And in defence, my God. So many individual and collective mistakes, easily avoidable mistakes.
"They are not the same players they used to be. They don’t have the same concentration, the anger to beat the other team, to hurt them, to put pressure on them.
"They don’t run together anymore. They used to run together, like a unit, and the opponent would be scared of them."
- Alex Smith
Petit slams Liverpool
Ex-Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has criticised Liverpool after their poor start to the season.
Petit said: "When you look at Liverpool at the moment, they look so sloppy, terrible.
"Something has been broken in this team. This could be the last chance for Liverpool to make something of this season, if they lose to Arsenal, they will be 14 points behind after nine games. It’s a huge gap."
The Gunners and Liverpool meet this weekend.
- Alex Smith
Arsenal could bid for Taremi
Arsenal could bid for Mehdi Taremi of Porto, claims Portuguese newspaper A Bola.
Gabriel Jesus is the first choice No.9 with Eddie Nketiah as back-up.
But the young striker hinted at wanting more game time.
Taremi has a chance to impress Gunners fans at the World Cup as he faces England as he is likely to be in the Iran team.
- Alex Smith
Saliba could sign new contract
William Saliba wants to stay at Arsenal, according to Mikel Arteta.
There has been some interested in the young centre-back after he made a fine start to the season continuing to impress following his loan spell at Marseille.
Arteta claimed he had "no doubts" Saliba will stay in North London amid talk there he may be handed an improved contract.
- Alex Smith
Smith and Awe in first-team training
Arsenal youngsters Zach Awe and Matt Smith have both been kept in first-team training are impressing manager Mikel Arteta.
Smith is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Gunners after being named on the bench a few times.
He has spent time out on loan at Charlton and Doncaster in previous seasons.
- Alex Smith
Patino praised
Arsenal's on loan star Charlie Patino has been praised by Blackpool manager Michael Appleton.
He said: "He is 18 years old, he can deal with the ball in any area of the pitch, go past people left side, right side.
"I said when he came to the club that he’s as good as anyone I’ve seen dealing with the ball and with good movement of the ball, as you’ve seen tonight, he can play as a six, as a ten and as an eight.
"He’s got a really, really good future ahead of him.
“He was outstanding tonight, especially in that second half. He controlled the game, it was his game, he played at his tempo when he wanted to speed it up he speed it up, when he wanted to slow it down he slowed it down, when he wanted to switch the play he did it.
“It was a very mature performance from a very young lad.”
- Alex Smith
Cedric remains injured
Cedric remains out and will not feature tonight for Arsenal, according to reports.
The Portuguese international is nearing a full return and has been in first-team training this week.
But tonight's game versus Bodo/Glimt comes to soon for him with Takehiro Tomiyasu set to start at right-back.
- Alex Smith
Martinelli misses Luiz
Gabriel Martinelli has said that everybody at Arsenal misses David Luiz.
The Brazilian winger said: "He is a sensational man, a man who deserves everything he achieved and a person everybody here misses.
"He was quite important to me when I arrived, giving me advice on my moves.
"At that moment, I was playing more of a striker role, so I was always close to him in training sessions and he would give me guidance."
- Alex Smith
How might Arsenal line-up
Arsenal could name this side to face Bodo/Glimt this evening.
Their could be many changes as Mikel Arteta rests key players for the game versus Liverpool at the weekend.
Reiss Nelson is set to start as is Eddie Nketiah.
- Alex Smith
Arteta drops Nelson hint
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dropped a big hint that Reiss Nelson could be handed some minutes this evening.
Nelson has played 48 times for the Gunners and spent last season out on loan at Feyenoord.
Arteta said: "After the spell that he had last year on loan, we wanted him back to see if there are any changes and there’s a prospect that we can really take to the next level.
"We think the potential is there and we think we’ve seen something in Reiss that is special. He’s been a part of our academy system and now he’s going to have an opportunity.
"He’s been out for almost three months with an injury, he’s back now, he’s fully fit and he’s ready to play. He just needs minutes now."
- Alex Smith
Luiz still a possibilty
Arsenal made a bid for Aston Villa midfielder on deadline day that was turned down.
And with the Brazilian's contract at Steven Gerrard's side expiring at the end of the season a deal could be on for January.
However, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano: "Luiz remains on the list but nothing has been decided yet for January."
- Alex Smith
Knutsen slams Spurs's approach
Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen has hit out at Antonio Conte for his tactics used against Arsenal.
When breaking down the Gunners he slammed Spurs' style of play of defending deep and counter attacking.
He said: "Arsenal leave space in behind them which we will have to exploit.
"We need to be aggressive in the low block, high intensity in the high press, and we will have to control the ball.
"Tottenham only defended, Zurich only defended – if you do that you won’t stand a chance against them."
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