ARSENAL are reportedly close to signing Villarreal wonderkid Yeremy Pino for a cut price £33m.
Unai Emery's Champions League semi-finalists have only made the Conference League this season, meaning savings have to be made.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have also bid for Fiorentina and Serbia defender Nikola Milenkovic, according to reports.
And cult hero Hector Bellerin is reportedly set to terminate his contract.
The right-back's agent is in London to negotiate the parting of ways as the Spaniard looks to return to Betis, where he spent last season on loan.
Arsenal are still very interested in Youri Tielemans though, and have also been linked with AC Milan's Sandro Tonali.
Get all the latest transfer news from around the world…
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- Justin Lawrence
Arsenal transfer targets assessed
Arsenal have more chance of signing Cody Gakpo from PSV than they do of acquiring Bayern Leverkusen ace Moussa Diaby.
That's the view of sports reporter Dean Jones who told Give Me Sport: " Diaby is going to be a hard one. Leverkusen basically just don’t want to lose him at this point.
"They feel like they’re going to have a good season, so I don’t think that doors going to open.
“Cody Gakpo is still one to look out for if they look abroad for the signing.”
- Justin Lawrence
Xhaka speaks on captain role
Granit Xhaka has insisted he doesn't need to be captain to lead at Arsenal.
He told The Athletic: "Of course, you don’t need [the captaincy to lead].
“Everyone can see the leaders in this team. Of course, you need a captain for the team when we need him.
"But I don’t believe a lot in the armband. At the moment I have a feeling that it’s not only one, but a lot of people who are so good in this team who can speak with and they will help you.
"This is what makes a big difference at the moment.”
- Justin Lawrence
Why Arsenal pair can't sleep
Arsenal's losses give keeper Aaron Ramsdale and Granit Xhaka sleepless nights, the midfielder revealed.
He said: "Me and Aaron [Ramsdale], for example, can't sleep when we lose.
"Nobody can see that this makes me very disappointed and very sad that people say we don't get everything from the club. This is bulls***, you know. It's difficult in England to bring people to the training ground. In Germany it's different.
"In Germany you have two, three, four thousand people that come every day."
- Justin Lawrence
Jesus tipped for lead role
Gabriel Jesus has been tipped to lead Arsenal to the heights Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette weren't able to.
That's the opinion of Rio Ferdinand who told William Hill: "I think he goes and gives Arsenal what they’ve been missing.
“He’s somebody that they can rely upon up front to score the goals. They’ve had (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang, who was indifferent at times. They’ve had (Alexandre) Lacazette, who didn’t get to the level they were expecting.
“Jesus goes in there and the fact that he’s now the designated number nine and the man they’re relying on, with that responsibility, I think his confidence will give him another 10% minimum.
"At City you weren’t seeing the best Jesus because he always thought, ‘I’m always going to get pulled out of the team, they’re always going to put someone else in instead of me, they’ll play a false nine instead of me’ – and that does something to your confidence.”
- Justin Lawrence
White sparks injury fears
Ben White has sparked injury fears ahead of Saturday's clash against Leicester having been spotted wearing a knee brace in training.
However the fact he was still training with the brace on could show that his problem isn't too serious.
Still, if Mikel Arteta decides to rest the ex-Brighton ace, he may decide to start Takehiro Tomiyasu over him instead.
- Justin Lawrence
Arsenal face Bowen battle
Arsenal face a tough task convincing West Ham to sell prized attacking asset Jarrod Bowen.
That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who told Caught Offside: "There’s been increased speculation surrounding Jarrod Bowen in recent days.
“There are no Arsenal offers for Jarrod Bowen so far. The winger has always been highly regarded by many top clubs but I’m not sure West Ham want to lose a key player like him.
“For now, nothing is happening, and it wouldn’t be an easy negotiation.”
- Justin Lawrence
Mari to Monza confirmed
Pablo Mari is the latest star to leave Arsenal.
Lucas Torreira left the Gunners for Galatasaray this week, and now Mari's followed suit.
Mari's agreed terms with Serie A side Monza who he'll spend the season with, Fabrizio Romano reported.
An option to buy clause has also been inserted into the deal, Romano added.
- Justin Lawrence
Ramsdale reveals Xhaka bust-ups
Aaron Ramsdale has revealed that he's had a few bust-ups on the pitch with Granit Xhaka.
He said on Arsenal's Amazon Prime documentary: "We’ve had a few arguments on the pitch, me and Granit, but a type of person who can be a great leader is someone who just forgets about it when you get in the changing room.
"He’ll have different ways to speak to different people.
“It gets the best out of me and him together when we have a little argument. We get back in the changing room and everything is fine.”
- Justin Lawrence
White reveals price tag stick
Arsenal star Ben White has revealed how youngsters gave him stick over the price the Gunners paid to sign him.
White joined the Gunners for £50m from Brighton last summer, and younger football fans weren't impressed.
White told Arsenal's All Or Nothing documentary on Amazon Prime: "I've got some little kids absolutely giving me stacks, they were mugging me right off.
"They were like ''£50million? You're s***."
- Justin Lawrence
Another Arsenal flop joins Marseille
French side Marseille is fast become the destination for Arsenal flops.
The Ligue 1 outfit have brought in former Gunners Matteo Guendouzi, Sead Kolasinac.
They also added Nuno Tavares to their ranks on a loan deal for the season.
And now Alexis Sanchez is the latest ex-Gunner to head to Marseille.
He's agreed personal terms with the club, and a deal will be finalised once his medical is complete.
Marseille revealed the news on their website.
- Etienne Fermie
Morning Arsenal fans
Arsenal have seen a bid for Fiorentina centre-back Nikola Milenkovic rejected, according to reports.
According to reports, an offer was made for Milenkovic.
But the defender, who is valued at around £18.5million, saw the offer rejected by Fiorentina.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Villarreal ace Yeremy Pinto has been handed a major boost.
That’s because the La Liga outfit are willing to sell the 19-year-old for a fee of £34m-£42m.
William Saliba is getting all the plaudits after his performance in Friday’s season opener against Crystal Palace.
Premier League legend Alan Shearer reckons Saliba is “exactly what Arsenal needed” after his impressive debut.
It was his first appearance for the Gunners, three years after signing for the club for £27million.
Centre-back partner Gabriel described the Frenchman as “the best”.
He said: “For me, Saliba is the best! He’s very young, very promising and a very good player.
“I am so happy to play with him, together. He has now started in the Premier League and he was so good.”
Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka has revealed how his Arsenal career has been saved by boss Mikel Arteta.
- Alex Cole
A Pint for Arteta
Arsenal’s pursuit of Villarreal ace Yeremy Pinto has been handed a major boost.
That’s because the La Liga outfit are willing to sell the 19-year-old for a fee of £34m-£42m.
And the Gunners are in pole position to land the startet, along with Liverpool, according to AS.
- Alex Cole
Norton-Cuffy sees a way in
Arsenal youngster Brooke Norton-Cuffy reckons he is not far away from “knocking on the door” of the first-team.
The 18-year-old has agreed a new deal with the Gunners.
And the right-back is now targeting a spot in Mikel Arteta’s side after being rewarded for his hard work.
When asked about his first-team chances, he told Scouted Football: “It’s impossible to say how close you are.
“All you have to do is keep performing well, keep improving and carrying on your momentum.
“But I don’t feel far away from knocking at the door – let’s put it that way.”
- Alex Cole
Torreira speaks after Galatasaray move
Lucas Torreira is “happy and excited” to have penned a permanent deal with Turkish giants Galatasaray.
The 26-year-old’s move was made official yesterday.
But in his message on social media, Torreira did not mention the Gunners.
He wrote: “I am very happy and excited to be a new @GalatasaraySK player.
“I am convinced that this is the beginning of a long and successful history together.
“Thank you for trusting me and I promise to leave everything for these colours. Let’s go Gala!”
- Alex Cole
G-Nev impressed with Gunners start
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has warned the Premier League Arsenal will be a real threat this year.
Following on from their opening day victory against Crystal Palace Neville lavished praise on The Gunners, revealing his thoughts on Arsenal’s new front-four.
He told Sky Sports: “I think the way in which Arsenal play will mean there is no problem for (Gabriel) Jesus to play in the left channel or the right channel if he sees an opportunity.
“They have the ability to interchange and that front-four are so exciting. They’ll cause massive problems.
“They were electric in that first 15-20 minutes and they will blow teams away.”
- Alex Cole
Zinchenko a touch of class
William Saliba may have earned the plaudits against Palace, but it was another Arsenal debutant that did the hard graft all over the pitch.
New signing Oleksandr Zinchenko filled in for Kieran Tierney at left-back, and showed his versatility in getting forward whenever possible.
And the Ukrainian also highlighted his willingness to play centrally, often coming inside to support and create.
Zinchenko is expected to move into a central midfield once Tierney has fully regained fitness.
- Alex Cole
Xhaka predicts a 'big, big future' for Arsenal
Xhaka was actually signed as Arteta’s midfield replacement when he was recruited by Arsene Wenger in a £30million deal from Borussia Moenchengladbach in the summer of 2016.
Now in his seventh season at the club, he says: “I have seen all the good things as well as all the bad stuff, although it was never as bad as people outside the club were saying
“Of course the group is a lot younger now. Before we had more experienced players but every player has his own character and I have a lot of good relationships with guys, no matter their age or nationality.
“I don’t believe a lot in the captain’s armband because everyone can see the leaders in the team and there are a lot of good people in this team who can speak with you.
“If anyone needs my help, they know I am always here, trying to assist with the experiences I’ve already had.
It’s a shame I only have two more years on my contract because we are building something very special here with Mikel and I am seeing a big, big future for this club.
Granti Xhaka
- Alex Cole
Xhaka a veteran at the Emirates
Not only is Xhaka still at Arsenal, but he is now one of the most important players at the club, even if he cringes at suggestions that he is now the senior statesman of the youngest squad in the Premier League.
He smiles: “English people make out like I’m a grandfather. I’m 29 man!
“But then I see the guys of 17 and 18 coming onto the training pitch and I sometimes feel like ‘f*** me…29’.
“For me, age is just a number. Whether you’re 18, 29 or over 35, all that matters is that you show yourself on the pitch.
“You only play if you deserve it and I give everyone respect and they give it to me.”
English people make out like I’m a grandfather. I’m 29 man!
Granit Xhaka
- Alex Cole
More on Xhaka's love for his gaffer
Xhaka admitted: “Mikel Arteta is the reason I’m still at this football club, because three seasons ago I was gone. My suitcases were packed and I was finished.
“But when Mikel was appointed I had a meeting with him because he wanted to hear my opinion about what had happened and I explained everything to him.
“I remember exactly how the conversation went. I told him ‘it has nothing to do with you’ because I didn’t know him and I’d never played with him.
“Obviously I knew his name, but not the person, and I said ‘I’m gone, I can’t wear this shirt any more’.
“And he said to me ‘give me a chance for six months and if you’re still not happy at the end of the season I’m the guy who will help you – not to run away, but to leave’.
“Normally I would speak with my family and my representatives before making any decision like that.
“But this time I said ‘OK, Mikel, I will stay for you’. And I’m still here.”
- Alex Cole
Arteta saved my Gunners career, says Xhaka
Granit Xhaka has revealed how his Arsenal career has been saved by the man he calls “a freak”, writes Mark Irwin.
Because when Mikel Arteta was appointed as manager in December 2019, Swiss international Xhaka was all set to quit the club.
And it was only a heart to heart conversation with the new arrival which convinced him to give the club one last chance to repair their broken relationship.
Less than two months previously Xhaka had suffered the ultimate humiliation when he was stripped of the captain’s armband by Unai Emery.
The fiery midfielder had reacted furiously to the Emirates crowd sarcastically cheering his substitution, hurling his shirt to the ground as he made his way down the tunnel and telling his detractors exactly where they could go.
He was even more unhappy with the perceived lack of support he received from the club in the immediate aftermath of that incident.
And even though Emery was sacked just six games later, Xhaka had already decided that he’d had enough.
- Alex Cole
Saliba is 'the best', says partner Gabriel
Gabriel Magalhaes has praised William Saliba after the youngster won Man of the Match in his Arsenal debut on Friday.
Saliba signed for the Gunners in 2019 but did not make his bow until the win over Crystal Palace.
And Gabriel reckons the 21-year-old will be a hit at the Emirates.
He told the Evening Standard: “For me, he’s the best! He’s very young, very promising and a very good player.
“I am so happy to play with him, together. He has now started in the Premier League and he was so good.
“The team did very well. They showed intensity and everyone stayed together. It’s very difficult to play here, but our keeper was strong.
“I believe in this team and it was very good. We got a clean sheet and three very good points.”
- Alex Cole
A Pint for Arteta
Arsenal’s pursuit of Villarreal ace Yeremy Pinto has been handed a major boost.
That’s because the La Liga outfit are willing to sell the 19-year-old for a fee of £34m-£42m.
And the Gunners are in pole position to land the startet, along with Liverpool, according to AS.
- Alex Cole
More on Milenkovic bid
Juventus, Inter Milan and Sevilla also approached the Serie A side about signing Milenkovic.
Fiorentina swatted away interest from all of them and are now keen to tie him down to a new deal.
His current contract expires at the end of this season and La Viola are confident they can extend that deal to 2025 as they bid to keep hold of their promising talent.
The Gunners' back three of Ben White, Gabriel and William Saliba impressed on Friday night as Mikel Arteta's men secured a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
But Arsenal's strength in depth at centre-half remains a little concerning given Rob Holding's inconsistent performances at the Emirates.
- Alex Cole
Gunners bid for Milenkovic rejected
Arsenal have seen a bid for Fiorentina centre-back Nikola Milenkovic rejected, according to reports.
According to Corriere dello Sport, an offer was made for Milenkovic.
But the defender, who is valued at around £18.5million, saw the offer rejected by Fiorentina.
- Alex Cole
Shearer impressed by Saliba
Premier League legend Alan Shearer reckons William Saliba is “exactly what Arsenal needed” after his impressive debut.
Saliba picked up the Man of the Match award in Friday’s win over Crystal Palace.
It was his first appearance for the Gunners, three years after signing for the club for £27million.
And Shearer was full of praise for the 21-year-old in his Premier League Team of the Week column.
Shearer wrote on the defender: “A great debut performance and a dominating presence.
“Exactly what Arsenal needed at the back.”
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