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Unai Emery drops key injury update on Granit Xhaka ahead of Newcastle United game

By
Sri Aswin
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Granit Xhaka

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has said that Granit Xhaka’s involvement against Newcastle United could be determined by a late fitness test at the weekend.

The Switzerland international suffered an adductor injury during his country’s 3-3 draw against Denmark in an Euro 2020 qualifier and he has missed the training session on his return to club duty.

In a press conference covered by Football.London, Emery confirmed that Xhaka was voluntarily rested from the training session on Friday but he should make a recovery prior to the Monday night league showdown against the Magpies.

The Spanish tactician also dropped fitness updates on Aaron Ramsey and Konstantinos Mavropanos with the former managing to recover from a minor thigh problem sustained while training with the Welsh national side.

He said: “We trained this morning and some players rested for giving them one day more to train with us tomorrow. Aaron Ramsey, Mavropanos. They can be ready for Monday.

“Xhaka also rested today, we’re going to wait [until] tomorrow and Sunday but the first previews from the doctor is that he can progress to be ready for Monday.”

Xhaka has been heavily involved in terms of the club’s progress this year and he has been much more mobility and accurate with his distribution when compared to the beginning of the season.

As such, his absence could leave a potential void with Lucas Torreira currently suspended and one of Matteo Guendouzi, Denis Suarez or Mohamed Elneny could be tasked to partner Ramsey in central midfield.

Winter recruit Suarez has certainly earned the least amount of gametime compared to Guendouzi and Elneny this year, but the Spaniard could stand a chance of making his maiden competitive start for the side after impressing during a friendly game against Al-Nasr during the international break.

Arsenal are currently fourth in the league standings with 60 points, but they stand the opportunity of propelling to third by the conclusion of the gameweek, should arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur fail to come up with maximum points at Liverpool.

Arsenal’s plan A and plan B for transfers in the summer

By
The Long Shadow
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Predicted Arsenal Line-up

It won’t come as a surprise to Arsenal fans that next season’s campaign may be heavily affected by the success or failure of both the chase for a Premiership 4th place and the Europa League campaigns.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the Emirates bean counters already have their budgets in place for both eventualities.

Plan A:

Is probably based on Arsenal winning the Europa League or securing a qualifying spot by finishing 4th in the PL. In the event, additional funds will be made available to complement the planned transfer funds.

It will also include a percentage of any sales revenue that the club manages to bank in the summer.

Plan B:

Is based on failing to qualify for the Champions League or winning the Europa League, which will see the club work on a smaller transfer budget and the need to sell off its surplus squad players.

It will also see a greater reliance on academy players that Unai Emery feels are ready to take the final step to the first team.

Maitland-Niles and Iwobi are already established to a degree but this plan could see the inclusion and continuing development of Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, Cohen Bramall, Joe Willock, Bukaya Sako and Ben Sheaf.

Of course, should all go well, with Arsenal using plan A, it’s still possible to introduce some of the youngsters as they have already done so far. Whatever way it goes, under Unai Emery, there is a genuine optimism and excitement about the next few years ahead.

Arsenal boss want five summer signings including this World Cup winner

By
Sri Aswin
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Unai Emery Arsenal

Arsenal are understood to be planning five signings during the summer transfer window with Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti and Bayern Munich’s David Alaba at the top of manager Unai Emery’s wishlist.

The north London side have endured another mixed campaign in the Premier League and they are currently lying in the fourth position in the table with eight games left for the season.

According to The Independent, the Gunners hierarchy are said to be already planning for the summer where they could pursue as many as five players to enhance the club’s prospects of competing for the league title next term.

The same report adds that Umtiti and Alaba are among the top names on the club’s radar, with the former appearing more likely to part ways with his respective club at the end of the season.

Umtiti had been a regular feature for the Blaugrana during the course of the previous season, but he has not enjoyed the same run this term with injuries restricting him to just eight starts in the Spanish La Liga.

Of late, he has been playing second fiddle to Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique for the central defensive duties and The Independent suggests that the potential arrival of Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax could see the Blaugrana cash in on the World Cup winner.

Elsewhere, David Alaba does not face a similar situation with Bayern, but there has been the extended speculation linking him with the Gunners following the recent acknowledgement over his boyhood support for the Gunners.

A report from The Mail last month claimed that the Gunners could work on a reduced £45m budget for the summer and in such a case, the club have pretty much no chance of pursuing the defensive players mentioned above.

However, the budget could be significantly enhanced with the club’s return to the Champions League next term and that could define the business during the forthcoming transfer window.

Arsenal are scheduled to host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Monday night.

‘I’m sure we could get him,’ some Arsenal fans drool over the prospect of signing 26-year-old defender

By
Sri Aswin
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Unai Emery Arsenal

A section of the Arsenal supporters believe that the club have a good chance of signing David Alaba in the summer after Bayern Munich’s latest transfer announcement on their website.

The Bundesliga holders recently confirmed that they have signed Lucas Hernandez on a club-record fee ahead of the summer, and this has excited a few Gunners fans, who feel that Alaba could be on the move.

Here are some of the best tweets;

https://twitter.com/walker8701/status/1110947050181591050

With the signing of Hernandez, Alaba could be forced to relinquish his left-back role to the Frenchman, though that may not necessarily hamper his gametime.

The 26-year-old may have largely featured on the left side of the defence at Bayern, but he has shown for Austria that he can comfortably slot into an attack-minded or central midfield role.

Elsewhere, Hernandez’s main position of strength remains the central defence and the Frenchman could yet feature in the position without affecting the role of the boyhood Arsenal supporter.

Regardless of this, a move for Alaba appears distant for the Gunners in the summer, given the club could work with a limited £45m kitty, which may not even cover up the fees for the Bayern graduate.

The club’s transfer plans may change with the qualification for next season’s Champions League, but the central defensive and right-back positions appear more of a concern ahead of next season.

Arsenal’s inability to keep regular shutouts could urge the need for a new central defender in the summer. Meanwhile, the right-back or right wing-back role may need more strengthening, given regular choice Hector Bellerin likely to miss the beginning of next term as a result of the long-term knee injury.

Unai Emery’s focus is firmly on qualifying for the Champions League

By
The Long Shadow
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Arsenal Stadium

Arsenal face Napoli in the quarterfinals of the Europa league and one could be forgiven for thinking that a trophy is top of Unai Emery’s wish list.

It isn’t, Emery’s priority is the 4th place slot in the Premier League, although he wouldn’t be adverse to picking up silverware, the Europa cup specialist already has one eye on the summer transfer window and the other on next season’s campaign.

His objectives of recruitment and rebuilding rely heavily on the funds generated by the Champions league with funds seemingly in short supply.

It’s rumoured that Emery is looking to bring in two or three players, with a significant amount of existing personnel going in the opposite direction.

Once again, depending on what comes in from sales, will help determine who and how many arrivals come to the Emirates. In the meantime, if Emery got to the Europa League semi-finals and secured 4th slot or higher, it will be seen as a solid season.

Some fans may argue with that, the fluffy self-centered tossers that only tolerate success but they’ve been apparent on and off all season through the peaks and troughs.

Those that have derided the Spanish coach’s efforts fail to see the complexity of the problems he inherited and it may be a while longer before Arsenal hit their groove.

All in all, so far at least, the coach has fulfilled the expectations of the majority of fans as he seeks to re-establish the club on the domestic and European stages.

‘Baller’, ‘Elite’- some Arsenal fans praise midfielder after friendly win over Al-Nasr

By
Sri Aswin
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A section of the Arsenal supporters were impressed with the showing of Denis Suarez during the Gunners’ 3-2 friendly win over Al-Nasr in Dubai on Tuesday.

The Spaniard has struggled for gametime since his loan move from Barcelona last winter and he has been restricted to just six substitute appearances.

As such, there have been lingering concerns whether the midfielder can make the cut with the Gunners, but he managed to showcase some of his qualities in a friendly game against Al-Nasr in the UAE.

The Gunners witnessed an early shock after Ronnie Fernandez found the breakthrough for Al-Nasr in the 14th minute, but Carl Jenkinson levelled the scores before the break after he was teed up by Suarez.

The north London side managed to seize control thereafter with goals from Alexandre Lacazette and club graduate Tyreece John-Jules before Al-Nasr’s second strike, but few fans were more focused on the performance of their winter recruit.

Here are some of the best tweets;

https://twitter.com/cian_afc/status/1110544622206500864

Suarez has looked far off from securing a regular role under Unai Emery and he could once more feature from the bench when the Gunners entertain Newcastle United in Monday night’s league clash at the Emirates Stadium.

However, the Spaniard could be afforded with some playing time in the latter part of the game and it remains to be seen whether he can make the most of the chance, given the recent doubts over his ability to adapt to the pace of the English game.

Arsenal are currently fourth in the Premier League standings. A win over the Magpies could take them to the third position, should cross-town rivals Tottenham Hotspur stumble on the road to Liverpool.

Former player feels Unai Emery has a ‘big issue’ with this Arsenal duo at the moment

By
Nithyanand
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Unai Emery

Adrian Clarke who is a former Gunner and current analyst feels that finding the balance between Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette is a problem for manager Unai Emery and Arsenal.

Speaking on the John Dykes show(as per Express), Clarke is quoted as saying:

“Well they love to combine, that is for sure. But Aubameyang often starts out on the left but he’s not a natural wide man, he will want to join in.

“And I think Unai Emery wants Aubameyang and Lacazette to form a strike partnership ultimately. But it’s about finding the right balance in the team.

“They’re both selfless players, they love to produce combos. But, what happens behind those two? That is the big issue for Arsenal at the moment.”

Emery has shown this season that he is willing to try out a variety of formations for Arsenal. The striker duo have featured alongside each other on multiple occasions, but the boss has mostly preferred to stick with only one striker this season.

The structure of the attack has been dependent on what kind of defense the Gunners play with. If there is a three-man back line, there is a higher chance of both strikers playing together. By not being predictable, Emery has shown that he can adapt tactically based on the opposition that the North London club are up against.

Aubameyang is the leading scorer this season as he has 22 goals in 39 games so far. Lacazette, on the other hand, has 14 goals in 38 games. One of the reasons for this difference between the two strikers is that Lacazette has started a lot of games from the bench.

There are eight games remaining in the Premier League and the Europa League campaign is well and truly alive. So, there is still a lot of football to be played and both these players will get a chance to show their talent.

Given the fact that the Emirates club are in the top four at the moment, it must be said that Emery’s first season in charge is going better than what most would have thought.

Getting back to the Champions League is going to be the main target for the Gunners this season. And Arsenal are well and truly on their way to doing just that. If they are able to add a trophy to that, then this season will be an absolute success for everyone concerned.

Injury boost: Arsenal hopeful that 28-year-old midfielder will be fit for Newcastle game

By
Nithyanand
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Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal are currently not in action due to the ongoing international break. The squad has flown to Dubai to take part in a training camp as well as a friendly against Al Nasr SC.

They will be back in action at home to Newcastle United on the 1st of April. Before that, the North London club are sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

The midfielder was initially expected to feature for Wales in their opening qualifier game against Slovakia for the Euro 2020 campaign. However, a problem with his left thigh has seen him withdraw from the squad altogether.

Evening Standard are now reporting that the 28-year-old has since returned to Arsenal where he is being assessed ahead of the game against Newcastle. The good news from this story is that there is no strain or tear on his thigh and it said to be a matter of tightness more than anything else.

Given the midfielder’s history of muscle problems this is concerning, but since there is no significant damage, Arsenal are hopeful that Ramsey will be fit for next week’s game.

Though Ramsey will be leaving the Emirates at the end of the season, he has shown time and again that he is an important member of the squad as long as he is playing.

He has chipped in with key goals and assists and is still a vital member of the squad. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Juventus decided to sign him in the first place.

Arsenal will be taking on Al Nasr SC of Dubai on Tuesday. Though a few big names are on international duty at the moment, the Gunners still possess a strong squad with the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil part of the traveling party.

One name that did not make the squad was Nacho Monreal who is suffering from tightness in his calf. The club decided against taking him as a precautionary measure.

Arsenal are in a strong position in the race for the top four as they are in fourth place and are only a point behind Tottenham. Added to this is the fact that they do not have play any of the big six teams which means they have a relatively easier run-in than their rivals.

Arsenal identify 22-year-old midfielder as their first summer signing

By
Sri Aswin
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Unai Emery Arsenal

Arsenal are reportedly looking into a move of Charlton Athletic’s Joe Aribo as they seek to bolster their midfield department during the summer transfer window.

The north London side are bracing themselves for the departure of Aaron Ramsey in the summer and they have already begun their search for a new recruit ahead of next term.

According to The Mirror, the Gunners may have identified their first signing of the summer with Aribo emerging as the prime option to strengthen the centre of the park.

Aribo has enjoyed a fantastic season with League One Charlton, where he has contributed six goals and an assist in their promotion push and this seems to have caught the attention of Gunners scouts.

At present, the youngster has just three months remaining on his contract with Charlton after failing to agree on an extension, and this offers the Gunners with the chance to seal a bargain deal with a compensation fee involved.

Unai Emery has already shown this term that he can help youngsters develop, with Matteo Guendouzi becoming an influential player following his move from French second-tier side Lorient last summer.

Similarly, Aribo could prove an ideal choice with the restricted £45m budget on offer, although that may not necessarily enhance the club’s prospects of closing the gap on the title challengers.

Arsenal return from the international break with a Premier League game against Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium. A win could take them to third in the league standings, should arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur drop points against Liverpool on the road.

Arsenal should replace Mesut Ozil with this Real Madrid star, claims Paul Merson

By
Nithyanand
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Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil who is currently the highest earning player in the Arsenal squad should be replaced with Gareth Bale, according to former Gunners player Paul Merson.

The Arsenal legend who is currently an analyst had this to say about the situation around the German playmaker. Speaking in his Daily Star column(as per Metro), he said:

“I think he suits Arsenal down to the ground as well. If they could get him in and get Mesut Ozil out they’ve had a big result.”

But he also went to say that the more likely destination for Bale would be Manchester United if he was to leave Spain for England. He further added:

“Manchester United looks like the best fit for him. They’ve tried to sign him before and it didn’t come off, but he’s always felt like their kind of player.”

If the North London club were to get Bale, it would be a quite a controversial move given the fact that he has already played for Tottenham in the past. Arsenal’s rivalry with Spurs may prevent this deal from happening.

But as we know from the Sol Campbell deal a long time ago, anything is possible in the world of football and it would not be too far-fetched to see Bale at the Emirates.

For this to happen though, the club will have to offload Mesut Ozil. Earlier on, there were reports(as per Metro) that he was being offered to other clubs in China and Italy.

The German is happy with the Emirates club and it is a little difficult to see him leave the club. Even though he has been in the plans of manager Unai Emery in the recent past, there are still some doubts about their compatibility.

If those issues do continue for some more time, there might be a situation where the German might decide to leave the club for more playing time.

Until then, all that we have will be speculation. It goes without saying that the Gunners would certainly love to have a player of the caliber of Bale in the squad. But, a lot of this will depend on what happens to the future of Mesut Ozil.

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