ARSENAL defender Ben White has been left out of Gareth Southgate's England squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Gunners' legend Thierry Henry has reportedly rejected the opportunity to become France women’s boss.
Arsenal host Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 clash, and SunSport have the latest team news.
Gabriel Jesus is expected to be involved at the Emirates for the first time since November 2022.
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- Ian Tuckey
Prem is 'biggest dream' for Osimhen
Victor Osimhen still dreams of playing in the Premier League, reports claim.
However, there are suggestions that the Napoli goal machine – linked to Arsenal and especially Manchester United – would also be open to joining European giants Bayern Munich.
The 24-year-old has scored 23 goals in 28 games in all competitions this season.
He has fired Napoli to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history, and they are also 18 points clear at the top of Serie A.
But Sky in Germany say his "biggest dream" is to play in the Premier League.
Manchester United and Chelsea are thought to be keen on his signature.
- Ian Tuckey
Partey and Odegaard tipped to be rested
Arsenal midfielders Jorginho and Fabio Vieira are expected to start tonight against Sporting.
Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate slightly but still name a strong side.
And reports suggest that the duo could come in for Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard, allowing them to rest for the Premier League run-in.
- Alex Smith
Arteta ready for European nights
Mikel Arteta is looking forward to a big knockout European match tonight and hoping for a special atmosphere.
“We haven’t had big European nights for three years due to COVID especially. [Thursday] is probably the first one that we’ve had for a while and hopefully, we’ll build a really good atmosphere and enjoy it.
"Our supporters will be there against a really good team that is going to put a big challenge in front of us.”
- Alex Smith
Jesus return tonight?
Gabriel Jesus could be back playing for Arsenal this evening in the Europa League clash with Sporting.
The Brazilian not played since the World Cup due to undergoing knee surgery.
Reports claim that Arsenal know he cannot play a full match yet and are weighing up whether to hand him a start or sub him on from the bench. He may have an hour of action in him.
- Alex Smith
Henry rejects management offer
Gunners legend Thierry Henry has reportedly rejected the chance to become France women’s boss.
Get French Football claims the icon had been lined up by his country’s FA to replace Corinne Diacre, who was sacked last week.
Henry was headhunted by a panel specially created to find a new manager, which included Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.
But despite being “flattered” during talks with the group, Henry eventually turned down the opportunity.
Aulas confirmed: “I personally asked him about it. His answer was not affirmative.”
Henry is believed to be waiting for the right occasion to return to management following spells with Monaco and Montreal Impact.
- Alex Smith
Draw simulated
Arsenal landed a horror tie in our simulated Europa League quarter-final draw.
SunSport put the eight pairs of teams facing off in last-16 action tonight into a virtual hat before the real deal in Nyon tomorrow.
And the randomised selections threw up a bumper set of fixtures.
The Gunners or Sporting were drawn against Juventus or Freiburg.
Juve hold a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg while Arsenal drew 2-2 in Lisbon a week ago.
- Alex Smith
Two Arsenal stars in England squad
Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka have made the England squad.
The Three Lions face Ukraine and Italy in Euro qualifiers.
Ben White was left out the squad. This comes after he left the World Cup camp early last year.
- Alex Smith
Made his Marq
Arsenal fans are fuming after loanee Marquinhos' controversial red card in the Championship.
The winger was loaned out to Norwich during the January transfer window to build up some experience.
The Brazilian was sent off with a straight red card in the second minute of stoppage time after an elbow on Huddersfield's Josh Ruffels.
One fan tweeted: "Marquinhos red. Anti-Arsenal agenda is real and beyond EPL. How is this even a red???"
Another reaction read: "Never a red."
- Alex Smith
Ten Hag slammed by Gunners
Arsenal fans have slammed Erik ten Hag after the Manchester United boss commented on the Gunners’ lack of injuries.
Mikel Arteta‘s men are flying high at the top of the Premier League table, five points ahead of defending champions Manchester City and a further 11 in front of Man Utd.
But Ten Hag did argue during a press conference on Wednesday that his team have been hampered with injuries in a way Arsenal have not.
Speaking ahead of their Europa League last-16 second leg against Real Betis, he said: “When you see the whole season, we had some setbacks, also some shortages of players.
“But every time we dealt with it and it’s about the players who are available and every time there was a team on the pitch.
“But what is true is I think, till now, we had only one game when we had a squad available totally.
“One game where I could say, ‘okay now I can pick my team [only] for a tactical approach’ and that was perfect. It was against Man City at home. It was the only time in this season.
“At other times, in every game we had one player suspended, one player is injured, or has illness so we have to deal with it now.
“Of course, you hope it is like Arsenal. Almost all the time, their squad is total available.”
- Alex Smith
Saka the best NOT Haaland
Ex-Arsenal and Manchester City star Bacary Sagna insists that Bukayo Saka is the best player in the Premier League this season – not Erling Haaland.
Norwegian forward Haaland fired Manchester City into the Champions League last eight by netting FIVE times in just 35 minutes on Tuesday to take his incredible season tally to 39 goals in 35 games.
Yet Sagna claims Saka is a better player, speaking to The Games Cabin, the Frenchman said: “He [Saka]’s been the best player in the Premier League this season.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Erling Haaland is crowned PFA Player of the Year but up until now I don’t see any other player that’s had a bigger impact on their team than Bukayo.”
And on Saka, 21, the ex-full-back added: “Many of the players in Arsenal’s team deserve massive credit as they’ve been really solid but I believe the way that Bukayo has been improving, the way he’s been attacking, the way he’s been creating and scoring goals has been really important for the team.
- Alex Smith
Arteta's new name for subs
Mikel Arteta admits that he never stops thinking of new motivation methods to keep his Arsenal players on course for a Premier League and Europa League double.
The manager has even taken to referring to his substitutes as "impactors" after a long summer chat with former England rugby coach Eddie Jones and a number of other leading coaches from various sporting fields.
He said: “It’s something that we wanted to change and I discussed it with a few people to help us find something that particularly suited us.
“It’s the best way to express how we feel about the subs and how they have to feel about their role, especially on match days.
“The idea is to replace somebody and make the team better or to do something different to win the game.
“And the more you repeat that phrase, the closer you get to the mentality of having an impact on the game rather than just being a sub.
“I’m not saying it makes the players on the bench feel less disappointed because everybody wants to start.
“But every manager has their own way of doing things and this is about managing the group so they know their role and making sure that everyone is still motivated to help the team.”
- Alex Smith
Happy Birthday
Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott turns 34 today.
He won three FA Cups with the Gunners, scoring a total 108 goals in 397 games for the club.
Walcott is now at Southampton and has played 12 times this season.
Credit: Getty - Alex Smith
White set to miss out on England squad
Arsenal defender Ben White is set to miss out on Gareth Southgate's England squad for the upcoming international matches next weekend.
White was in the Three Lions group for the World Cup, but he left camp early for 'personal reasons'.
AC Milan star Fikayo Tomori could take his place, according to reports.
- Alex Smith
Arteta admits lucky to not be sacked
Mikel Arteta has admitted he might be "lucky" to still be in the Arsenal job.
This stunning season comes after mediocre league campaigns under the Spanish boss which yielded only an eighth-place and fifth-place finish in his two full seasons in charge.
Asked by ESPN if he would have lasted in the job without the FA Cup win, Arteta said: "I don't know. Looking back, obviously a lot of things have happened.
"To start your managerial career with no experience at any level and face straight away that success and then having two years of COVID, with all the challenges that we have internally at the club, externally at the club, probably I am lucky to be sitting here today looking back with how it could have developed.
"I have always been fascinated with the journey and living every single day like it is the last and I think you have to take this job especially like this because every day there are lessons, there are challenges.
- Alex Smith
Toney makes Arsenal joke
Brentford striker Ivan Toney mentioned Arsenal in a joke after netting two in last night's win over Southampton.
The Bees are flying in the Premier League and are in the hunt for a European place after causing the Gunners problems several weeks ago.
Toney joked that perhaps his team could catch Arsenal in the hunt for the title.
He said: "It's a tough league but hopefully we can catch Arsenal."
- Alex Smith
Too soon for Kiwior
Arsenal's January signing Jakub Kiwior is expected to be named on the bench for tonight's clash with Sporting.
The centre-back made his debut for the club in the return leg last week, but Mikel Arteta clearly thinks he is not up to speed yet as Rob Holding will reportedly start in his place.
Kiwior signed for a fee of £21m from Italian side Spezia.
Credit: Getty - Alex Smith
Jorginho and Vieira to start
Arsenal midfielders Jorginho and Fabio Vieira are expected to start tonight against Sporting.
Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate slightly but still name a strong side.
And reports suggest that the duo could come in for Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard, allowing them to rest for the Premier League run-in.
- Alex Smith
Team News
Arsenal will be without Eddie Nketiah for tonight's clash with Sporting.
The striker has been out since the beginning of March with an ankle problem.
Reports suggest that Mikel Arteta will name a strong side, but their is expected to still be some rotation with the likes of Matt Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney all coming into the starting XI.
- Alex Smith
vs Sporting
Arsenal are back in action this evening looking to make it through to the quarter-final stage of the Europa League.
The Gunners drew 2-2 in Portugal last week and Mikel Arteta is expected to name a strong side tonight.
The match kicks-off at the Emirates Stadium at 20:00.
- Gary Stonehouse
Morning, Arsenal fans
Mikel Arteta revealed Eddie Nketiah is weeks away from returning – while Gabriel Jesus could again be on the bench tonight.
Arteta's Prem leaders host Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League last 16 level at 2-2 from last week's first leg.
But Nketiah's injured foot is still in a boot and fellow striker Jesus is still unlikely to start following his own comeback.
That means Arteta could again use Gabriel Martinelli as his main frontman, flanked by Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka.
The Spaniard said of Jesus' weekend cameo: "It was great to see him back. You can feel the happiness of everyone.
"We have to manage his minutes, his involvement in the squad and the team.
"He's feeling good and every day he's training he says his sensations are better and better, so that's really positive."
But of Nketiah Arteta said: "He's still a few weeks away and we need to be patient.
"It was a nasty injury and he has a big challenge ahead of him. Thank God it could have been worse. So he's not in a bad place."
Jorginho is expected to replace Thomas Partey in midfield against Sporting as Arteta keeps one eye on Sunday's home Prem clash with Crystal Palace.
- Ian Tuckey
Mik's emotion inspire Gunners
Mikel Arteta admits that he never stops thinking of new motivation methods to keep his Arsenal players on course for a League and Europa League double.
The Gunners are five points clear at the top of the Premier League and bidding to reach the Europa League quarter-finals at home tomorrow following last week’s 2-2 draw against Sporting Lisbon.
Arteta explains: “I think every game needs something different and we are always looking at what we have to throw at the boys.
“We try to give them exactly what they need to make the team better and get the right mindset with the right energy and confidence levels.
“Of course if you only judge it on results alone, that’s something different. But the response as individuals and as a group is always really good.
“The way I measure it is by looking in their faces, their attitude, their behaviour and then I can look at the video and analyse what I can see.”
- Ian Tuckey
Mikel reveals Nketiah blow
Mikel Arteta revealed Eddie Nketiah is still a few weeks away from fitness ahead of their clash with Sporting Lisbon.
The Gunners welcome Sporting to The Emirates on Thursday for the second leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie.
And Arteta could be forced to play with a false nine once again since Nketiah is out of action.
The striker injured his ankle earlier this month and has been absent since starring in the 4-0 win over Everton.
He has been in a protective boot since then and is not expected to be back for a few more weeks, according to Arteta.
The Spaniard said in his pre-match interview: "He's getting better. He's still in the boot. He's still a few weeks away and we need to be patient.
"It was a nasty injury and he has a big challenge ahead of him. Thank God it could have been worse. So he's not in a bad place."
One positive for Arsenal is Gabriel Jesus is back available for selection after sustaining a knee injury at the World Cup.
The Brazilian featured from the bench in the 3-0 win over Fulham though it is unlikely he will be risked from the start against Sporting.
Instead Arteta could utilise Gabriel Martinelli up-front once again, joined by Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka on either flank – which worked perfectly at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
- Ian Tuckey
Arteta: I might be lucky to still be boss
Mikel Arteta has admitted he might be "lucky" to still be in the Arsenal job.
The Gunners boss has taken the club to the top of the table and within reach of the Premier League title.
But this stunning season comes after mediocre league campaigns under the Spanish boss which yielded only an eighth-place and fifth-place finish in his two full seasons in charge.
Fans had become deeply divided over the 40-year-old coach with FA Cup success at the end of his first season doing little to quell the frustrations of Arsenal fans.
Arteta has admitted that his previous seasons could have got him the sack.
Asked by ESPN if he would have lasted in the job without the FA Cup win, Arteta said: "I don't know. Looking back, obviously a lot of things have happened.
"To start your managerial career with no experience at any level and face straight away that success and then having two years of COVID, with all the challenges that we have internally at the club, externally at the club, probably I am lucky to be sitting here today looking back with how it could have developed.
"I have always been fascinated with the journey and living every single day like it is the last and I think you have to take this job especially like this because every day there are lessons, there are challenges.
"In one month, it will be different and in two years' time maybe they need something else but it is about today."
- Ian Tuckey
Right time to celebrate
Mikel Arteta has revealed why his players posed with a clock after beating Fulham 3-0.
The Arsenal squad held a replica of the famous 'Clock End' clock after re-establishing their five-point lead over Manchester City on Sunday.
First half goals from Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard earned a comfortable win for Arteta's side.
The players were all smiles at full-time as they posed with the clock, with the hands pointing at 'two' and 'eleven'.
But the Gunners boss revealed there was no significance behind the gesture, revealing it was a private joke.
He told ESPN: "It was something I related to a few days before on where we were as a team and club and what we have to stand for.
"It was something private in the dressing room just before the game and something that's in the history of our club.
"We have to be really conscious of that and when we have that history and we use it in the right way, that's a really powerful thing to have.
"The reality is that every game is so important, the margins are so small and we are now going to have to do something incredible until the end of the season to earn the right to be there."
- Ian Tuckey
Wrighty: Gunners better of with Trossard than Mudryk
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has suggested that missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk in January could have been a blessing in disguise for his former club.
Mikel Arteta's side were heavily linked with the Ukrainian winger before losing out to rivals Chelsea in the January window.
The Stamford Bridge outfit signed the 22-year-old in a deal worth up to £88million.
The Gunners signed Brighton winger Leandro Trossard instead for £21m plus add-ons.
Trossard has adapted quickly to life in North London, scoring once and registering five assists in just nine games.
The Belgian international got a hat-trick of assists in Arsenal's 3-0 win at Fulham last weekend.
Speaking on his podcast Wrighty's House he said: “I don’t care what anyone says, Mudryk, and we’ve seen up to this point, he wouldn’t have done what Trossard has done, what Trossard has been doing, up to this point.”
He added: " Mudryk, for his own sake, I do feel sorry for him because I don’t know if there’s anyone in the history of football whose had to have a transfer of that amount of money with so much politicalness around him. It’s almost unfair.”
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