ARSENAL are battling with Liverpool for the signing of Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Elsewhere, the Gunners are reportedly among a number of Premier League clubs who are keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen hot property Moussa Diaby.
It has been claimed that Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Newcastle are all showing interest in the Frenchman too.
Meanwhile, the Gunners go into the international break as top of the Premier League table after beating Brentford 3-0.
And Ethan Nwaneri, 15, smashed the Premier League record for the youngest top-flight appearance as he came off the bench.
Stay up to date with all the latest from the Emirates…
- Kostas Lianos
More from Xhaka
Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka shared a funny story from the Brentford game after Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest ever Premier League player.
Xhaka added: “You have to protect him as he is very young but if he keeps going like this with his hard work he has a big, big future.
“It’s not only me that feels old. I spoke with one Brenford guy and I told him this guy was 15 and he looked at me and said: ‘F*** me, we are looking old!’.
“When you have 15 years difference you think ‘OK the time is not gone but it is on the way’. But we are enjoying him, he is enjoying us as he has the quality.
“He is not with us a lot in training. I have maybe seen him twice or three times now.
“He is very shy, of course, but the time will come when he will be more with us but you have to protect him and help him.
“Football is not everything for him and for us but yes, the club will help him and the experienced players have to help him”
- Kostas Lianos
Xhaka praises Nwaneri
Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka praised youngster Ethan Nwaneri after becoming the youngest ever Premier League player.
Xhaka said: “We have to check the passport first! I am joking. To have a guy who is 15 and is nearly 15 years younger than me.
“He looks old when I see him, but the club can be proud of a player like him.
“He has a big future. I am doing my coaching licence and I have trained the under-16s.
“You can see a big difference with him and the other guys. He is very, very special"
- Kostas Lianos
Ethan Nwaneri record
Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest ever player to compete in the Premier League at the young age of 15.
Teenager Nwaneri came on for the Gunners against Brentford in the 90th minute as he replaced Fabio Vieira at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The schoolboy was promoted to first team training this week having made his Under-21 bow at the beginning of September.
The attacking midfielder – who's yet to sit his GCSEs – earned a spot in Mikel Arteta's squad with Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith-Rowe unavailable due to injury.
Nwaneri, who was born in 2007, becomes the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League.
The record was previously held by Liverpool's Harvey Elliott, who was 16 years and 30 days old when he came on for Fulham.
Nwaneri, on the other hand, is only 15 years and 181 days old
- Kostas Lianos
Arsenal eye Diaby
Arsenal are keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby along with other four Premier League clubs.
Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle are also said to have sent scouts to monitor the 23-year-old this season, though the Blues were present as Diaby scored his side's second against Atletico Madrid.
The France international has featured 134 times for Leverkusen scoring 36 goals, 17 of which came last year.
A fee of £50-£60million is believed to be enough to convince the Bundesliga giants to sell the winger.
However, this could go even higher with so many big names interested
Credit: Getty - Kealan Hughes
Good morning Arsenal fans
Arsenal have renewed their interest in Manuel Locatelli.
According to CalcioMercato, The Gunners have renewed their interest in him after failing to sign a central midfielder over the summer.
Mikel Arteta’s side saw a trio of deadline day bids rejected for Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz, while interest in Youri Tielemans never materialised into a bid.
Massiliano Allegri and Juventus have lost patience with the 24-year-old Italian and are now consequently prepared to sell him.
Meanwhile,
Arsenal star and ‘coach’ Granit Xhaka has lauded 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri following his record breaking debut against Brentford.
Nwaneri was not even alive when Arsenal moved to the Emirates.
But Xhaka, who also revealed he has been doing his coaching badges and has trained the Under 16 side said: “He looks old when I see him, but the club can be proud of a player like him.
“He has a big future. I am doing my coaching licence and I have trained the under-16s. You can see a big difference with him and the other guys. He is very, very special.
“You have to protect him as he is very young but if he keeps going like this with his hard work he has a big, big future.
“It’s not only me that feels old. I spoke with one Brenford guy and I told him this guy was 15 and he looked at me and said: ‘f*** me, we are looking old!’.”
Arsenal star William Saliba has indicated he would be open to the idea of signing a new contract with the club during an interview with Sky Sports.
The young French defender has been a standout performer this season – despite fears in the summer that he would never play for the club.
The 21-year-old joined the Gunners in 2019, but spent the next three seasons out on loan in his native France.
And such was his performances at Marseille last term, the Ligue 1 club were desperate to keep him.
However, Mikel Arteta wanted him back at the Emirates, and he has subsequently started every Premier League game this term.
The defender told Vicky Gomersall, “I’m at home here. I like London, I like the club, I like everything.”
Saliba’s current deal at the Emirates runs until 2024.
- Tony Robertson
'He is very, very special.'
Arsenal star and 'coach' Granit Xhaka has lauded 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri following his record breaking debut against Brentford.
Nwaneri was not even alive when Arsenal moved to the Emirates.
But Xhaka, who also revealed he has been doing his coaching badges and has trained the Under 16 side said: "He looks old when I see him, but the club can be proud of a player like him.
“He has a big future. I am doing my coaching licence and I have trained the under-16s. You can see a big difference with him and the other guys. He is very, very special.
“You have to protect him as he is very young but if he keeps going like this with his hard work he has a big, big future.
“It’s not only me that feels old. I spoke with one Brenford guy and I told him this guy was 15 and he looked at me and said: ‘f*** me, we are looking old!’."
Read the full story here.
- Tony Robertson
FA Cup replay scrap considered
Premier League clubs are reportedly considering plans to SCRAP replays in the FA Cup.
That’s as part of a “New Deal for Football”, which could also see sides play U21 sides in the Carabao Cup.
The Times claims the proposals are at the heart of talks at Wednesday’s Premier League shareholders’ meeting.
Discussions will take place over ideas to potentially deliver £250million in extra funds to the EFL while also reforming parachute payments.
And one proposal is to permanently cut FA Cup replays in the third and fourth rounds from 2024.
As for the Carabao Cup, teams playing in Europe could field their U21s in a bid to freshen up the competition – or even withdraw entirely.
- Tony Robertson
AC Milan interested in Luiz
AC Milan are reportedly monitoring the situation of Douglas Luiz.
Luiz is out of contract next summer, and unless he signs a new deal he will be free to sign elsewhere for free upon contract expiry.
However, according to reports from Italy, Villa could sell the Brazilian in January in order to make some money, with Milan considering the midfielder as an option.
Luiz was the subject of a number of bids from Arsenal on deadline day, but none of the bids were accepted by the Midlands outfit.
- Tony Robertson
Arsenal interested in Locatelli
Arsenal have renewed their interest in Manuel Locatelli.
According to CalcioMercato, The Gunners have renewed their interest in him after failing to sign a central midfielder over the summer.
Mikel Arteta's side saw a trio of deadline day bids rejected for Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz, while interest in Youri Tielemans never materialised into a bid.
Massiliano Allegri and Juventus have lost patience with the 24-year-old Italian and are now consequently prepared to sell him.
- Tony Robertson
Mouss be good
Arsenal and Chelsea are among FIVE Premier League clubs who have reportedly sent scouts to watch Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby.
Tottenham, Man City and Newcastle are also said to have sent scouts to monitor the 23-year-old this season, though Chelsea's were present as Diaby scored his side's second against Atletico Madrid.
Diaby has featured 134 times for the German club scoring 36 goals, 17 of which came last year.
A fee of £50-£60million is believed to be enough to convince Leverkusen to sell the winger.
However, this could go even higher with so many rich big names interested.
- Tony Robertson
Arsenal North London derby boost
The North London derby may be two weeks away, but Arsenal have been handed a big boost ahead of the game.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has pulled out of France's Nations League games with a thigh injury, which has left him doubtful for the game on October 1st.
It means backup goalie Fraser Forster would need to step up to make his first appearance for the club.
A win for either side in the derby could take them top of the league, with just a point separating the two teams as it stands.
- Tony Robertson
Wright on Xhaka
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has revealed his delight with the turnaround of Granit Xhaka at Arsenal, after being one of his "staunchest critics."
He told BBC Match of the Day: "For me, Granit Xhaka is a player that we’re finally see play like he does for Switzerland. He’s playing in a position that suits him, playing more offensively.
"He’s playing with real authority and confidence. Lately he’s been able to find space and from there he can be really dangerous because, for me, he’s got easily one of the best left-foots in the Premier League.
"It’s a great cross for the Jesus goal, it’s fantastic. He can also do the defensive stuff, he gets back and get his foot in there. He set the tempo for Arsenal off the ball.
"I’m really pleased for him because I was one of his staunchest critics. But now we’re seeing the best of Granit Xhaka."
- Kostas Lianos
Shearer on title hopes
Alan Shearer suggested that a Premier League title push is not likely for Arsenal.
Instead, the Newcastle legend believes that a top-four finish is a much likelier scenario.
Shearer added on his BBC column: "I still think Arsenal's main target is a return to the top four for the first time since 2016, and they have not done too much wrong so far.
"Their next two league games at the start of October, at home to Spurs and Liverpool, will tell us more about whether they can sustain this strong start but, right now, their fans will be enjoying what they are seeing"
- Kostas Lianos
Shearer on Arsenal
Alan Shearer praised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta amid an amazing start to the season.
Shearer wrote on his BBC column: "Only four of the Arsenal team who started that defeat against Brentford began Sunday's game too – Ben White, Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli.
"In just over a year, Arteta has not just built a different team, he has transformed the mood of the whole club. He deserves great credit for that, because he got a lot of criticism after the way they started last season, with three straight defeats.
"This time, they have won six out of their first seven league games and go into the international break at the top of the table. They deserve it too"
- Kostas Lianos
Arsenal pay tribute
Arsenal paid tribute to Her Majesty The Queen on the day of her state funeral.
The Gunners issued a post on Twitter with all of their teams observing a moment of silence in her honour
- Kostas Lianos
Are Lu kidding?
Former Arsenal ace David Luiz squared up to Fluminense bad boy Felipe Melo as five players were sent off in the feisty Fla-Flu derby.
Luiz is back playing in his home country of Brazil for Flamengo following a long and successful career in Europe.
With Flamengo trailing 2-1 late on, tempers flared and the referee showed a staggering total of five red cards in the whole match.
Flamengo's Marinho was given his marching orders for a rough challenge and a brawl ensued.
Luiz, who initially tried to play peacemaker, was dragged into a war of words with ex-Juventus ace Melo.
The referee, as well as players, stayed in between the pair to prevent any further chaos
Credit: Rex - Kostas Lianos
Take the Myk
Arsenal have suffered a setback in their pursuit of Shakhtar Donestk star Mykhaylo Mudryk as Newcastle have emerged as rival bidders.
The Gunners have been interested in Mudryk but pulled out of a deal in the summer due to the high fee Shakhtar were demanding.
Despite reports also suggesting the winger had agreed personal terms with Arsenal – the transfer was not completed.
And now the Magpies want to hijack a deal, according to Football Insider.
Eddie Howe has supposedly given the green light to the signing that could be worth £26million.
The Toon want to bolster their attacking options to support new big money signing Alexander Isak
- Kostas Lianos
Gabriel trolls Toney
Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes has added salt to Brentford ace Ivan Toney's wounds after brutally trolling him following an emphatic win at the Gtech Community Stadium..
The Bees barely heard a peep out of Toney as he was outshone by the Gunners' stars William Saliba, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira.
And Gabriel rubbed in the defeat even more when he tweeted after the game: "Nice kick about with the boys."
The tweet was a nod to the striker's cheeky “nice kick about with the boys” tweet after Brentford inflicted a humbling 2-0 defeat over Arsenal on the opening day of the 2021/2022 season
- Kostas Lianos
Guendouzi on target
Marseille ace Matteo Guendouzi cancelled out his own goal with a superb header against Rennes on Sunday.
Guendouzi put the ball into his own net just 25 minutes into the Ligue 1 clash.
The midfielder attempted to intercept a low driven cross from Hamari Traore, but the ball instead slipped past Pau Lopez and into the goal.
Igor Tudor's men continued to push for an equaliser following the error and just seven minutes after half-time the France international went from zero to hero as he headed the ball past a helpless Steve Mandanda in goal.
The ex-Arsenal ace rose above his marker Benjamin Bourigeaud to direct the ball into the top left corner, leaving Rennes stunned
- Kostas Lianos
Ethan Nwaneri record
Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest ever player to compete in the Premier League at the age of 15.
The teenager came on for the Gunners against Brentford in the 90th minute as he replaced Fabio Vieira at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The schoolboy was promoted to first team training this week having made his Under-21 debut at the beginning of September.
And the attacking midfielder – who's yet to sit his GCSEs – earned a spot in Mikel Arteta's squad with Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith-Rowe unavailable due to injury.
Nwaneri, who was born in March 2007, becomes the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League.
The record was previously held by Liverpool ace Harvey Elliott, who was 16 years and 30 days old when he came on for Fulham.
Nwaneri, on the other hand, is only 15 years and 181 days old
- Kostas Lianos
Mikel Arteta speaks
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists the Gunners are now a "very different team" which is nothing like what they were last season when they lost at Brentford.
Arteta told Sky Sports: "The natural thing to do is to describe what happened here last year as a really bad day. The way I describe it is as a character-building day. A team has to evolve and go through those moments together.
"A team can give up, question everybody and blame other people, or it can look in the mirror, take the lesson and move forward. Today, obviously, you have seen a very different team.
"This is what we wanted. We talked before the game that we had the opportunity to back to the top. Yesterday, they took it away from us, but we wanted it back. We had to show that desire from the first minute and we have done it"
- Sam Dymond
Next five up for Arsenal
Arsenal will resume after the international break as Premier League leaders, but face a tough pair of fixtures to begin October.
The Gunners host local rivals Tottenham on the opening day of the month, and the welcome Liverpool the following weekend.
The schedule looks a little easier after that with trips to Leeds and Southampton before a home match with newly-promoted Nottingham Forest.
- Sam Dymond
Saliba open to new deal
Arsenal star William Saliba has indicated he would be open to the idea of signing a new contract with the club during an interview with Sky Sports.
The young French defender has been a standout performer this season – despite fears in the summer that he would never play for the club.
The 21-year-old joined the Gunners in 2019, but spent the next three seasons out on loan in his native France.
And such was his performances at Marseille last term, the Ligue 1 club were desperate to keep him.
However, Mikel Arteta wanted him back at the Emirates, and he has subsequently started every Premier League game this term.
The defender told Vicky Gomersall, "I'm at home here. I like London, I like the club, I like everything."
Saliba's current deal at the Emirates runs until 2024.
- Sam Dymond
Shearer unsure of Arsenal credentials
Premier League legend Alan Shearer feels Arsenal are still a little short of challenging for the title despite their blistering start to the campaign.
The Gunners have won six of the opening seven games, and go into the international break a point clear at the top.
However, Shearer still believes that the club's main priority should be finishing back in the top four.
"It's not time to talk about them as title contenders yet, but people now know that this is a different Arsenal to the team we saw just 13 months ago," the former England captain wrote in his column for BBC Sport.
"In just over a year, Arteta has not just built a different team, he has transformed the mood of the whole club.
"I still think Arsenal's main target is a return to the top four for the first time since 2016, and they have not done too much wrong so far.
"Their next two league games at the start of October, at home to Spurs and Liverpool, will tell us more about whether they can sustain this strong start but, right now, their fans will be enjoying what they are seeing."
- Sam Dymond
Vieira's first start just Fab
There would have been some concern among Arsenal fans when it was revealed that Martin Odegaard would be missing the match at Brentford with a calf injury.
But Gooners had no reason to fear as Fabio Vieira impressed on his first start for the club.
And the £35m arrival from Porto capped an impressive display with a stunning goal to seal the points.
The midfielder received Bukayo Saka's pass in the 49th minute and slammed home off the post from 25 yards out to cap a 3-0 win.
In doing so, Vieira became the 19th Arsenal player to score on his first start in the Premier League.
However, the 22-year-old is the only one to do so with a strike from outside the box.
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