ARSENAL's William Saliba and Bukayo Saka are both close to agreeing new deals at the club.
The Frenchman reportedly wants a "significant" wage hike, while Saka is likely to extend his deal by the end of the season.
Meanwhile, West Ham skipper Declan Rice is understood to be one of Arsenal's top priorities in the summer.
Elsewhere, Barcelona winger Raphinha will cost the Gunners £70m if they wish to open that door again.
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- Kiro Evans
Morning, Arsenal fans
William Saliba wants a big pay rise and the Gunners would rather sign Martin Zubimendi than Moises Caicedo.
That's top of the gossip around the Emirates as the table-toppers warm up for tomorrow's Prem trip to Fulham.
It's claimed Saliba is close to following Gabriel Martinelli by agreeing a new long-term contract.
But as talks continue the Frenchman reportedly wants a "significant" wage hike.
England winger Bukayo Saka is also likely to extend his deal by the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad's one-cap Spaniard Zubimendi and West Ham's England ace Declan Rice are tipped to be the summer transfer priorities in midfield.
Zubimendi is thought to have a release clause of around £52.5m, which would also make him far cheaper than another previous target, Brighton's Caicedo.
And Barcelona winger Raphinha could cost £70m in the summer if the Gunners or Manchester United pursue the ex-Leeds hero.
Boss Mikel Arteta is urging fans to be patient as Gabriel Jesus edges closer to his return.
The Brazil striker is fizzing in training following knee surgery and should be ready by late March.
Lastly, Arsenal might offload Reims' loan sensation Folarin Balogun for just £17.5m-£22m.
- Ian Tuckey
Ex-Red Devils hero reveals he's an Arsenal fan
Ex-Manchester United midfielder Kieran Richardson has admitted he’s an Arsenal fan and will buy a season ticket next season.
The former Sunderland star, 38, also revealed it's only after quitting playing in 2016 that's he's really started to enjoy football.
He told Man Utd News: “I watch football so much now – I did not watch it much as a footballer – I did not really care.
“Now as someone not playing, I enjoy being an Arsenal fan – I am buying a season ticket next season.
“I am an Arsenal fan but when you play for a club, you are not thinking about Arsenal. Whichever club you are at, that is the team you are riding for.
“I knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup and I scored against them.”
- Ian Tuckey
Utd and Arsenal told Raphinha would cost £70m
Barcelona winger Raphinha would reportedly cost his Premier League admirers £70million in the summer.
Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as Chelsea, are thought to have shown interest in the ex-Leeds favourite.
More and more, the 26-year-old is being tipped to depart the Nou Camp after just one season.
Barca need to trim their spending and Raphinha's erratic form makes him vulnerable.
Nonetheless, he's notched eight goals and nine assists for the LaLiga leaders in all competitions.
- Ian Tuckey
Prem stars ponder BBC interview boycott
Prem stars could reportedly boycott interviews with BBC before and after matches in solidarity with Gary Lineker.
Match of the Day hosts staged a mutiny tonight after the Beeb yanked Lineker off air over the Nazi tweet row — plunging the flagship show into chaos.
Ian Wright and Alan Shearer walked out in “solidarity” with Lineker, 62, who had compared the Government’s language around its small boats crackdown to that of 1930s Germany.
The BBC was left scrambling to find a panel for the show, as other stars ruled themselves out.
Now Times journalist Henry Winter has claimed that several players could also boycott being interviewed by the broadcaster.
He tweeted: “Football’s backlash against @BBC intensifies over its treatment of @GaryLineker. Many @premierleague players keen to show support for ex-pro pundits who step aside from @BBCMOTD. And @PFA will also fully support players who face fines for not completing required broadcast duties.”
- Ian Tuckey
Saliba 'wants significant pay rise'
William Saliba wants a hefty pay rise to follow Gabriel Martinelli by signing a new long-term Arsenal contract.
That's the claim from journalist Ben Jacobs as boss Mikel Arteta tries to tie down his starlets.
Centre-back Saliba and England winger Bukayo Saka are his priorities.
And Jacobs wrote in GiveMeSport: “Arsenal’s instant priority was to fend off interest during a period when Saliba was still unsettled, and then give him a chance.
"And we’ll now see talks ramp up because it’s clear Arsenal view Saliba as integral.
“Now it’s a case of terms being agreed. Saliba will want a significant pay rise, while Arsenal are hoping for a slightly longer deal than all parties first anticipated.
“Talks continue, but Arsenal are calm about the situation. The full expectation remains Saliba will extend.”
- Ian Tuckey
Arteta urges paitence over Jesus
Mikel Arteta hopes Arsenal fans will be patient over Gabriel Jesus's return.
The Brazil striker has trained well and could return in late March.
The star summer recruit from Manchester City hasn't played since knee surgery for a World Cup injury.
And ahead of Sunday's Prem trip to Fulham, Arteta says the Gunners "won't rush" Jesus.
- Ian Tuckey
We've got strong Will
William Saliba believes Arsenal’s latest 2-2 draw with Sporting CP shows the Gunners never give up and can always come back to get a result.
He said: “As always we never give up and we scored the second goal. We have a game back home and we will give everything to win.
“We conceded two goals and the most important thing is that we didn’t lose and we have another game.
“It’s always bad to concede two goals and one from a set piece and one from a counter-attack but it’s ok, we didn’t lose, it’s the most important [thing] and we have the next game at home.
“We know that they can score but we know that we can come back always. We never give up and that’s a good mentality from the team.
“We will do this every time. It’s always better to lead but when we don’t lead we have to come back.”
- Ian Tuckey
No penalty for celebration vs Cherries
Arsenal have escaped punishment for their wild celebrations against Bournemouth.
Pandemonium ensued at the Emirates last Saturday when Reiss Nelson bagged a 98th-minute winner to maintain the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Jubiliant substitutes poured onto the pitch to celebrate the potentially season-defining goal and the wild scenes were reported by ref Chris Kavanagh.
The celebration of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was also noted in Kavanagh’s report.
An FA investigation quickly ensued but will yield no punishment.
It was thought a fine could be imminent due to FA rules over player and staff conduct.
- Ian Tuckey
Nuno 'very unlikely to play for Arsenal again'
Nuno Tavares is tipped for a permanent exit when the Arsenal left-back returns from his Marseille loan in the summer.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Newcastle target Kieran Tierney are thought to remain way ahead of the Portuguese 23-year-old in Mikel Arteta's thinking.
And journalist Ben Jacobs told TEAMtalk: “With Tavares, I think it’s very unlikely that he’ll play for Arsenal again.
"That’s just a positional kind of thing. Zinchenko, Tierney, at the moment, is still there, Tomiyasu there, as well.
“When I look at Tavares, I don’t really see him as an Arsenal left back.
“What’s interesting about the Marseille spell at the moment, where he’s on loan, is that he’s scoring goals.
“Arsenal’s concern, in my view, is around those defensive qualities, whereas what he’s showing at Marseille is that he can be very enterprising from an attacking point of view."
- Ian Tuckey
It's just not Wright
Ian Wright has pulled out of Match of the Day after the BBC's decision to take Gary Lineker off air.
The England and Arsenal legend tweeted: "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity."
The pundit made the decision shortly after the BBC pulled Lineker from the presenting the Premier League highlights programme this weekend.
In a major U-turn, the broadcaster announced Lineker would be suspended from his presenting duties after previously saying he would face no disciplinary action.
They added the suspension will remain in place until an agreement is reached on his social media use.
Wright is a regular pundit on the show alongside Newcastle and England icon Alan Shearer.
It comes after Mr Lineker sparked major backlash this week when he took to Twitter to hit out at the Illegal Migration Bill, which bans migrants who arrive on small boats from settling in Britain.
- Ian Tuckey
Sam stunned by City selling Gab & Zinchenko to Arsenal
Sam Allardyce cannot believe Manchester City sold Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal last summer.
He told the Tippy Tappy podcast: “He’s (Guardiola) going to get some stick though for selling those players to Arsenal if they win the league.
“All the fans will look and say ‘look at what it’s cost us’ if they don’t win the league, he’ll be right under the cosh I think.
“It’s his buddy isn’t it, he was with him for years and he helped him get the job at Arsenal and now he’s given him two quality players to go.”
- Ian Tuckey
'Balogun could go for £17.5m'
A modest price tag placed on Arsenal frontman Folarin Balogun is attracting the interest of a European giant, while a journalist has claimed Newcastle may yet bring him up north.
Journalist Steve Kay recently reported Newcastle are sizing up Balogun. In his words, the Magpies are ‘considering making a bid’ in the next transfer window.
How much Balogun might cost if given the greenlight to go by Arsenal wasn’t stated. However, a fresh report out of Italy has shed light on that front, as well as putting AC Milan in the mix.
Gazzetta dello Sport report Arsenal’s current valuation of Balogun is a somewhat modest £17.5m-£22m.
- Ian Tuckey
Gunners 'would prefer Zubimendi to Moises'
Arsenal would ‘prefer’ to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi over Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo this summer, according to transfer expert Steve Kay.
Zubimendi will prove to be a cheaper purchase, too, as he is believed to have a release clause of £52.5m in his contract.
On Twitter, Kay said: “Arsenal would prefer to sign Martin Zubimendi over Moises Caicedo in the upcoming summer window alongside midfielder Declan Rice.
“AFC tried to sign the Sociedad player in January before Caicedo but he wanted to keep loyal to the Spanish club until the end of the season.”
- Kealan Hughes
Ex-United star spots Tierney flaw
Former Man Utd defender Paul Parker has explained why he “would never want” Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney at Old Trafford.
Parker told MyBettingSites: “No, no, no, no I would never want Kieran Tierney at Man United. He is always injured. He is not a terrible player but he wouldn’t be an upgrade from Luke Shaw or Tyrell Malacia. Not in a million years.
“He is an old school left-back. He is always going up that line. He is always working in a straight line and is not contributing to the play like Oleksandr Zinchenko or other modern full-backs.
“He is everything that a traditional full-back is but he has not added anything new to his play. He should learn from Zinchenko, who is the best full-back in the league and it’s incredible that Man City did let him go. I don’t get it.”
- Kealan Hughes
Arsenal star set to leave
Nuno Tavares is “very unlikely” to play for Arsenal again, according to Ben Jacobs.
Speaking to TEAMtalk, Jacobs explained: “With Tavares, I think it’s very unlikely that he’ll play for Arsenal again. That’s just a positional kind of thing.
“Zinchenko, Tierney, at the moment, is still there, Tomiyasu there, as well.
L'Equipe have claimed Mikel Arteta and his staff were “often annoyed with his behaviour”, before agreeing to let him go on loan.
- Kealan Hughes
Arsenal avoid Bournemouth celebration punishment
Arsenal have escaped punishment for their wild celebrations against Bournemouth.
Pandemonium ensued at the Emirates last Saturday when Reiss Nelson bagged a 98th-minute winner to maintain the Gunners' lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Jubiliant substitutes poured onto the pitch to celebrate the potentially season-defining goal and the wild scenes were reported by ref Chris Kavanagh.
The celebration of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was also noted in Kavanagh's report.
An FA investigation quickly ensued but will yield no punishment.
It was thought a fine could be imminent due to FA rules over player and staff conduct.
- Kealan Hughes
Saliba impressed by Arsenal belief
William Saliba believes Arsenal’s latest 2-2 draw with Sporting CP shows the Gunners never give up and can always come back to get a result.
He said: “As always we never give up and we scored the second goal. We have a game back home and we will give everything to win.
“We conceded two goals and the most important thing is that we didn’t lose and we have another game.
“It’s always bad to concede two goals and one from a set piece and one from a counter-attack but it’s ok, we didn’t lose, it’s the most important [thing] and we have the next game at home.
“We know that they can score but we know that we can come back always. We never give up and that’s a good mentality from the team.
“We will do this every time. It’s always better to lead but when we don’t lead we have to come back.”
- Kealan Hughes
Allardyce shocked by Arsenal buys
Sam Allardyce cannot believe Manchester City sold Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal last summer.
He told the Tippy Tappy podcast: “He’s (Guardiola) going to get some stick though for selling those players to Arsenal if they win the league.
"All the fans will look and say ‘look at what it’s cost us’ if they don’t win the league, he’ll be right under the cosh I think.
“It’s his buddy isn’t it, he was with him for years and he helped him get the job at Arsenal and now he’s given him two quality players to go."
- Kealan Hughes
Arsenal frontman attracting transfer interest
A modest price tag placed on Arsenal frontman Folarin Balogun is attracting the interest of a European giant, while a journalist has claimed Newcastle may yet bring him up north.
Journalist Steve Kay recently reported Newcastle are sizing up Balogun. In his words, the Magpies are ‘considering making a bid’ in the next transfer window.
How much Balogun might cost if given the greenlight to go by Arsenal wasn’t stated. However, a fresh report out of Italy has shed light on that front, as well as putting AC Milan in the mix.
Gazzetta dello Sport report Arsenal’s current valuation of Balogun is a somewhat modest £17.5m-£22m.
- Kealan Hughes
Lokonga heading for summer exit?
Arsenal star Albert Sambi Lokonga could leave in the summer, according to TEAMtalk's Ben Jacobs.
He said: "It never really worked out playing for Arsenal, he never lived up to the billing, and has been forced out on loan as a result and it doesn’t really feel like he’s going to be part of Arsenal’s plans moving forward.
“So it is a very realistic possibility that he goes. He only played six times for Arsenal in the Premier League before the loan move to Crystal Palace.
“That would suggest Mikel Arteta probably doesn’t see him as part of the plans, but he’s only 23. That’s the only caveat.”
- Kealan Hughes
Winterburn makes Smith Rowe prediction
Nigel Winterburn has warned Emile Smith Rowe he may not be able to play in his preferred position now he has returned from injury.
He told Paddy Power: “Emile Smith Rowe's best position is behind the striker. He's a good runner with the ball but unfortunately, he's got Martin Ødegaard – who's been outstanding this season – playing in that position.
“It hasn't really been an issue this season because Smith-Rowe has been injured a lot and he's never really had the opportunity to build up game time and get his fitness back to the top level.
“He can play in number ten, and he could play left, and he can play right so there's a lot of opportunities there for him this season he just needs to get 100% fit."
- Kealan Hughes
Granit Xhaka shares trophy belief
Granit Xhaka believes Arsenal will be able to deal with the pressure of winning silverware in the business end of the season.
Asked if the gunners have the mentality to play two games a week as they chase success in the Prem and in Europa, the midfielder replied: "Absolutely.
"You can see that every team is playing different against us. They are dropping a lot, sometimes they are pressing us as well.
"But this is what happens when you are top of the League – much more pressure than before, for sure. But in general, I think we are doing well. I think there is a good mentality in the team and let's try to keep that."
- Kealan Hughes
Arsenal identify Moises Caicedo alternative
Arsenal would ‘prefer’ to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi over Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo this summer, according to transfer expert Steve Kay.
Zubimendi will prove to be a cheaper purchase, too, as he is believed to have a release clause of £52.5m in his contract.
On Twitter, Kay said: “Arsenal would prefer to sign Martin Zubimendi over Moises Caicedo in the upcoming summer window alongside midfielder Declan Rice.
“AFC tried to sign the Sociedad player in January before Caicedo but he wanted to keep loyal to the Spanish club until the end of the season.”
- Kealan Hughes
Winterburn identifies new Martinelli role
Former Arsenal star Nigel Winterburn believes Gabriel Martinelli should be used as a false nine in the absence of Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus.
He told Paddy Power: “I’m not a big believer in the false-9 position. Leandro Trossard has played that role recently but only because Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have been injured. Without an out and out number nine, Mikel Arteta has had to trust the front line.
“If Jesus and Nketiah aren’t available then Gabriel Martinelli will play that role [number 9]. He’s got real pace to stretch teams in behind. If you’re playing as a centre-forward, you have to link up play and create space and opportunities for yourself, but also for your teammates.
“Martinelli was good when he went into that forward role thanks to his pace and power going forward. I don't see it [lacking a striker] as a problem at the moment."
- Kealan Hughes
Martinelli looks awkward as striker
Dean Ashton believes Gabriel Martinelli ‘doesn’t look natural’ as a striker at Arsenal after Mikel Arteta used the Brazilian centrally during his team’s Europa League trip to Sporting Lisbon.
Ashton told talkSPORT: "They’re able to craft these chances so beautifully.
"But it just doesn’t look natural for Martinelli to be there."
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