ARSENAL are reportedly interested in Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley, with the Scottish club valuing him at around £20million.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Pedro Neto as Wolves have reportedly decided they will NOT be selling him this window.
Mikel Arteta is said to be a huge fan of Real Madrid star Marco Asensio, but the Gunners are reported to face competition from Man Utd.
Arsenal are also said to interested in Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha, according to reports.
IN: Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko
OUT: Alexandre Lacazette (released), Nuno Tavares (loan to Marseille)
- EVERY Premier League done deal this summer
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
- Sam Dymond
Arteta: 'Phenomenal' Pepe needed minutes
Mikel Arteta has praised the departing Nicolas Pepe for his attitude, and said that it's not the player's fault that the club paid so much moneyfor him.
However, the Arsenal boss refused to say whether there was a route back for the winger following this season's loan at Nice.
Pepe arrived at the Emirates three years ago for a club record £72m, but has failed to live up to that price tag.
"It’s been three years and he had some very good moments, and some others where he hasn’t really contributed much in terms of minutes," Arteta said.
"We decided for every party it was the best decision to allow him to go. He needs to play minutes, he needs to play football. He was really adamant to do that and we decided that it would be best for everybody to do it.
"He has tried to deal with the [transfer fee] in the best possible way, he is not responsible for the price a club pays for him. He has tried everything, his attitude is just phenomenal.
"You just have to meet the person because you just love him for the way he is. But then in terms of the decision you have to make on the pitch, who do you select, we made other decisions and obviously that has had an impact in the chances he had to prove his quality."
- Sam Dymond
Gunners to face old adversary
Arsenal will come face-to-face with an old nemesis in the group stage of this season's Europa League.
Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is the man in charge of Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, who have been drawn alongside the Gunners.
Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt and Zurich of Switzerland make up Group A.
- Arsenal
- PSV Eindhoven
- Bodo/Glimt
- Zurich
Follow the live reaction to the draw in our dedicated blog.
It's A for Arsenal
Arsenal have been selected in Group A for this year’s Europa League.
You can follow our live draw over at SunSport.
- Sam Dymond
Arsenal 'compliant' with FFP rules
Mikel Arteta says he has no concerns regarding Arsenal's spending this summer.
An article in The Times earlier this week stated the Gunners are currently on UEFA's watch list as the governing body consider Financial Fair Play.
"We are compliant, and we have heard nothing so I don’t know what that [article] is," Arteta said.
"I think the club has been very disciplined and with a very clear vision of how we want to do things. In that sense nothing changes."
The Londoners have spent in the region of £130m in this transfer window on Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos.
- Sam Dymond
Arteta: Let's keep going
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed his squad are close to full strength ahead of this weekend's London derby with Fulham.
Speaking at his Friday presser, the Spaniard admitted that it was only youngster Reiss Nelson that will be missing.
"Everybody has trained this week, and everybody is fine apart from Reiss, who you know has been injured for a few weeks now," Arteta said.
"We have good momentum, a good energy around the place, and good confidence. Let's keep going."
- Sam Dymond
Matt a man in demand
Celtic’s Matt O’Riley is being tracked by a host of Europe’s top clubs.
ESPN report that Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund are also keeping close tabs on the 21-year-old midfielder.
Indeed, Dortmund were linked with O’Riley while he was a highly-rated teenager at Fulham.
However, Scott Parker repeatedly overlooked the youngster, and he eventually left Craven Cottage on a free transfer before joining MK Dons.
Now O’Riley is valued in the region of £20m after just eight months at Celtic Park.
- Sam Dymond
Prem pair to learn fate
Two Premier League giants will today discover who they will face in the group stage of this season’s Europa League.
Manchester United, winners of the trophy in 2017, and 2019 runners-up Arsenal are both involved in Europe’s secondary competition this year.
And despite its disparaging reputation among clubs of their size, both the Red Devils and Gunners will know that it represents a real chance of silverware – and a route back into the Champions League.
The draw is due to start at midday.
- Sam Dymond
Transfer watch: Tielemans to Arsenal?
The Gunners are still in the market for a central midfielder, but have revealed that they will not be held to ransom in pursuing players.
Leicester have reportedly asked for £35m for Youri Tielemans, but Arsenal are prepared to wait a year until the Belgian is out of contract to land him for free.
Rumour rating: ⚽️ ⚽️
- Sam Dymond
Zaha still on the radar
Arsenal's pursuit of another wide forward has seen them rekindle their interest in Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha.
The Gunners have been long-term admirers of the Eagles ace, having first contacted Selhurst Park officials when Unai Emery was in charge.
And, according to transfers guru Dean Jones, a shock deal could develop in the final week of the transfer window.
"[Pedro Neto and Yeremi Pino] are not the only two names Arsenal are looking at," Jones told The Done Deal Show.
"In the background, there is Wilfried Zaha. That deal is not moving forward at the moment, but Zaha is definitely one of those players that ticks the boxes and that Arsenal have an eye on.
"We will have to wait and see if they go down that path, Zaha is obviously in red-hot form at the moment."
- Sam Dymond
Gunners may not Net-o Pedro
Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Pedro Neto with Wolves having no intention of selling the winger this summer.
SunSport understands that the Gunners are willing to fork out up to £35m for the 22-year-old winger.
But Wolves are demanding at least £50m despite already signing a ready-made replacement in £27.5m Goncalo Guedes from Valencia.
Despite Wolves' £50m valuation of Neto, it has been claimed that they have insisted the forward is not for sale.
Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has confirmed Arsenal are keen on Neto, but could struggle in securing his services.
He told GiveMeSport: "As far as Wolves are concerned, they’ve got no intention of selling in this transfer window, and their stance is that he is not for sale.
“However, money talks, it just depends if Arsenal were to make that interest formal, how much they would test that resolve of Wolves by going in with whatever money they thought deemed fit for Pedro Neto.”
- Kealan Hughes
Good morning Arsenal fans
Former Lille star Nicolas Pepe has moved back to France after signing for Nice for the season.
But the deal does NOT include an option for the French side to buy the winger next summer.
Some Gooners had a right laugh after finding former captain Per Mertesacker's LinkedIn profile as his bio contains a story about fining team-mate Nacho Monreal.
The ex-German centre-back joined the Gunners in 2011 and played for them for seven years before hanging up his boots.
Since then, he has been a part of the backroom staff, occupying various roles before landing the job as manager of their academy side.
But that has not stopped him from creating a LinkedIn profile in which he reveals a brilliant anecdote about fining Spanish defender Monreal for wearing a poncho.
He wrote: "Have developed excellent leadership skills as senior figure at club.
"Chosen by the manager to be responsible for enforcing club's strict penalties on player behaviour (for example, fining players for inappropriate dress or improper language. Once fined Nacho Monreal £10k for wearing a poncho on match day)."
- Jack Figg
Top of the flops
After Arsenal agreed to farm out Nicolas Pepe on loan to Nice, an extraordinary pattern of transfer activity was completed this summer.
It meant that Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and the Gunners have all allowed their club-record signings — who cost a combined £313.5million — to depart without a single penny being recouped in transfer fees.
There is little surprise that those four members of England’s ‘Big Six’ have been left trailing in the wake of Manchester City and Liverpool in recent seasons, with such haphazard and shambolic recruitment.
And no wonder that clubs on the continent talk of ‘stupid English money’, knowing they can fleece filthy-rich Premier League sides in the market.
First, United’s £89m man Paul Pogba was allowed to leave Old Trafford for Juventus on a free — for a second time — after a largely miserable six-year spell for the French World Cup winner.
Then Chelsea sent £97.5m Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan, after a single season at Stamford Bridge, for a modest loan fee of £7m — so desperate was Thomas Tuchel to get the big Belgian striker out of the building.
Last week, Spurs loaned their most expensive recruit, Tanguy Ndombele — a £55m buy from Lyon in 2019 — to Napoli. There is an option, but no obligation, for the Italian club to buy the French midfielder next summer.
And Pepe’s loan move to Nice completes the set.
- Jack Figg
Rem-mem-ber me?
Erik ten Hag is reportedly urging Manchester United to seal an £8million return for Memphis Depay.
The 28-year-old was expected to rip up his Barcelona contract for a move to Juventus.
But with a deal now seemingly collapsed, Sport claims United are ready to pick up the pieces with an official £8m bid.
Ten Hag is desperate to boost his attacking options before next week’s transfer deadline.
Depay then scored 12 league goals for Barca last season and would give United real depth up top, as well as on the left flank.
The Holland international was set to join Juventus this week after agreeing to rip up his contract.
But the Italians eventually pulled out after striking a deal for Marseille’s Arkadiusz Milik instead.
Ten Hag now hopes to wrap up a quick deal for Depay as he looks to build on Monday’s win over Liverpool.
Arsenal and Chelsea were among the interested clubs in England linked with the forward earlier on in the summer.
- Jack Figg
Hec of a move
Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a move for former academy ace Hector Bellerin after being priced out of a transfer for ex-Tottenham flop Juan Foyth.
Bellerin left Barca’s youth ranks for Arsenal in 2011.
The Spaniard, 27, went on to make 239 appearances for the Gunners, winning three FA Cups.
However, Bellerin’s career at the Emirates has stalled and he spent last season on loan at Real Betis – the club he supported growing up.
His loan in Spain was a success.
Bellerin helped Betis win the Spanish Cup, and the right-back wanted to stay – but the finances behind the deal couldn’t make it possible.
- Jack Figg
ICYMI
There are no less than THREE clubs battling for Arsenal misfit Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
TalkSport claim West Ham, Southampton and Bournemouth are all keen on the versatile midfielder.
Maitland-Niles is way down the pecking order under Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
And Arsenal are ready to cash in now with the player’s contract up next summer.
Credit: Getty
- Jack Figg
Life of Pie
Emmanuel Petit claims Chelsea’s £25million pursuit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang smacks of a “panic buy”.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is desperate to land Barcelona’s former Arsenal striker before Thursday’s transfer deadline having worked with him at Borussia Dortmund.
Tuchel badly needs reinforcements following the departures of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.
But ex-Arsenal and Chelsea star Petit – a French World Cup winner – said: “Auba looks more a panic buy than something the club have been thinking about for months.
“The transfer market is ending in a few days and Chelsea are in a panic.
“They want to buy defenders, strikers, but they just don’t know what they want.”
- Jack Figg
Pino pines for Arsenal move
Yeremi Pino would love a move to Arsenal and the Premier League.
That’s the understanding of transfers expert Dean Jones, who reports that the Villarreal teenager has again been attracting attention from the Gunners.
Jones told The Football Terrace YouTube channel: “[Arsenal] are still on the case of Yeremi Pino, who scored in a win at the weekend for Villarreal.
“He’s going to continue to play for his club as normal, but I’m told he is very much open to a transfer like this and would be excited to join Arsenal.”
Mikel Arteta has long been an admirer of the Spanish international, but a permanent deal for the winger is not without its complications.
Pino still has five years to run on his current contract with the Yellow Submarine, although it does include a release fee in the region of £67m.
- Jack Figg
Pep talk
Nicolas Pepe becomes the latest big-name player to join Nice this summer.
Aaron Ramsey completed a free transfer following his release by Juventus and Kasper Schmeichel ended his 11-year stint as Leicester's No1 goalkeeper for another shot at European football.
Both players, as well as defenders Jean-Clair Todibo and Dante, started against Maccabi Tel Aviv tonight.
Credit: AFP - Jack Figg
Nice one
French side Nice confirmed the season-long loan of Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe in a bizarre unveiling tweet.
And the deal does NOT include an option for the Ligue 1 team to buy the winger next summer.
Pepe, 27, has struggled to live up to his £72million transfer fee since joining the Gunners from Lille in 2019.
And following the arrivals of attacking players Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira this summer, Mikel Arteta deemed the Ivorian surplus to requirements.
So the record-signing will now spend the 2022-23 campaign back in Ligue 1 trying to rediscover his best form.
However, the announcement video from Nice – posted just before kick-off in their crunch Europa Conference League play-off – was truly strange.
It featured a comic-strip-style 'WANTED' video which showed the club's Allianz Riviera stadium, fans and then Pepe in the red-and-black home shirt.
Nice captioned the post: "Before getting behind our Aiglons, a short manga?"
Pepe was presented at the stadium in front of the fans wearing his new No29 jersey and received a huge ovation from the Aiglons supporters.
- Jack Figg
Back of the Net-0
Wolves have slapped a £50million price tag on Pedro Neto after Arsenal's reported interest.
But Sky Bet reckon it's more likely he'll stay at Molineux than make the switch to North London in this window.
The Gunners are 6/4 to sign him this summer, with Manchester United next best at 10/1.
It looks therefore that it'll be between Wolves and Arsenal as to where he'll be playing his football this year.
Barcelona, Liverpool and Spurs are 16/1, ahead of Chelsea and Newcastle at 18/1.
West Ham are the outsiders of the lot at 25/1.
- Jack Figg
Netbuster
Arsenal have reportedly been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Pedro Neto with Wolves having no intention of selling the winger this summer.
SunSport understands that the Gunners are willing to fork out up to £35million for the 22-year-old.
But Wolves are looking for at least £50m despite just signing a ready-made replacement in £27.5m Goncalo Guedes from Valencia.
Arsenal are keen to bring in another wide man with Nicolas Pepe set to return to Ligue 1 to link up with Nice on loan.
Despite Wolves' £50m valuation of Neto, it has been claimed that they have insisted the forward is not for sale.
The Portugal international, who has started all three Premier League games this season, still has five years left to run on his deal at Molineux.
Commenting on the player, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has confirmed Arsenal are keen on Neto, but could struggle in securing his services.
He told GiveMeSport: "Number one, there’s definitely interest in him.
"As far as Wolves are concerned, they’ve got no intention of selling in this transfer window, and their stance is that he is not for sale.
“However, money talks, it just depends if Arsenal were to make that interest formal, how much they would test that resolve of Wolves by going in with whatever money they thought deemed fit for Pedro Neto.”
- Jack Figg
Max power
Allan Saint-Maximin is going NOWHERE, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has said.
But speculation surrounding his future isn't going away and Betfair have the tricky winger at 2/1 to sign for Tottenham.
Reports from France claimed Manchester United might be about to test the water and take a gamble on the winger to help bolster their attacking options.
Chelsea are next best in the betting at 7/2 after they were strongly linked with a move earlier this summer.
They have brought in Raheem Sterling who can play in the wide positions but have offloaded Timo Werner and others could follow.
Arsenal know a thing or two about tricky French players that play out wide and Betfair have them at 11/2 to strike a deal for Saint-Maximin.
While you can get 9/1 on a return home to France with Nice or Monaco, while Barcelona are given the same odds.
- Jack Figg
What a Tuch
Arsenal and Man Utd watched from the outside as Chelsea drew seven-time champions AC Milan in a blockbuster Champions League showdown.
But it is routine Group E for Thomas Tuchel's side who also face Red Bull Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
The Blues reached the quarter-finals as defending champions last season.
However, despite a stunning comeback against Real Madrid, they were undone by the eventual champions in extra-time at the Bernabeu.
Now Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori will return to Stamford Bridge as Serie A champions.
Due to the World Cup in November, the six matches are crammed into three blocks of back-to-back gameweeks.
Those will be played on September 6/7 and 13/14, October 4/5 and 11/12 then October 25/26 and November 1/2.
United and Arsenal will find out their Europa League fait tomorrow.
- Jack Figg
Euro stars
The Champions League has returned for another epic season as Real Madrid look to defend their title.
And England's four representatives have discovered their fates in Thursday's draw in Istanbul.
This season's group stage will be packed into just nine weeks ahead of the winter World Cup.
Teams usually get 12 weeks to complete all six matches.
The first games will be played on September 6th.
And the group stage runs all the way until November 2 – just 18 days before kick-off in Qatar.
There will then be a lengthy gap before the knockout stages start.
The last-16 ties run from February 14 to March 15.
The quarters will be played in April, with the semis in May.
And this season's final will take place on June 10 at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Turkey.
- Jack Figg
Phil of praise
Mikel Arteta has been lauded as "unbelievable" and a "great coach" by Phil Foden following Arsenal's stunning start to the season.
Speaking to Amazon Prime's YouTube channel, Foden was asked what Arteta was like as a mentor to him.
Quick to gush over the Arsenal gaffer, he said: "Unbelievable, you know.
"I remember working with him closely after training on some things I needed to improve.
"I know how good he can be as a coach – I think in the right ways to play football. He’s definitely a great coach.”
Source: Read Full Article
