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Arsenal make first contact to sign Juventus star, will need to pay €15m to complete deal

Mehdi Benatia

Life seems to be going pretty well at Arsenal these days as the team is on an unbeaten streak that has reached fifteen games now.

But as we all know, there is always some room for improvement. The team and the board have realized this as they are targeting more players.

One of them is the Juventus center back Mehdi Benatia who as per reports in tuttomercatoweb is unhappy at the Italian club.

The Gunners are interested in bringing the Moroccan to the Emirates as they have established contact to get the transfer rolling and it seems that the player is very willing as well.

If a deal is to be done between the two clubs, the amount paid by Arsenal would have to be at least €15m as that is the valuation that Juventus have placed on the defender.

At the moment it can be said that the Gunners are a little short in the center back department. While they do have players coming back from injury, one feels that getting another player into the team would be a good move.

This bit of news is also interesting as it comes a little while after the news of Laurent Koscielny and him being reportedly on his way out. If the Arsenal captain was to leave the club, it would make sense to get a player like Benatia in the club as he has a lot of experience at the highest level.

As shown by the transfer of Sokratis, the Gunners are willing to sign players who are older as well. This will provide a good backup to the center backs that are already at the club.

The primary objective for the Gunners is to get back into the Champions League and for that to happen, it will require the contribution of the entire squad. And if players like Benatia were a part of the club, then it improves the chances of Arsenal. As there is still some time left for the transfer window to open, we will have to wait and see what happens.

Arsenal ready to offer Aaron Ramsey in a bid to complete deal for 22-year-old forward

Arsenal Stadium

It is a well-known fact that the Arsenal board have removed the contract offer that was put in front of Aaron Ramsey. As a result of that, they are now to looking to sell him as he will leave for free at the end of the season.

And as per reports in Corriere dello Sport, the Gunners are interested in offering him as a makeweight in order to bring Patrik Schick from Roma.

The Czech Republic player who mainly plays as a striker is said to be a target for the London club and their efforts to sign him have intensified after the injury suffered by Danny Welbeck.

This has left the Gunners a little short in the forward department and the board thinks that the 22-year-old would be the right fit for the Gunners.

Also, the fact that he can play as a winger is something that is sure to have piqued the curiosity of the Arsenal scouts. Arsenal do need a player who is comfortable playing on the wings and the Roma player is someone who is used to playing on the right-hand side.

The idea behind offering Ramsey is that the Italian club would be willing to reduce the price that they would have otherwise been asking for Schick.

This could really work in favor of the Gunners as Ramsey is someone who would definitely be wanted by a club like Roma. He would slot right into their midfield and also, the Czech is not all that integral to their plans.

Though Schick has not had the best of seasons so far, he is still a player who is immensely talented and has a very high ceiling. So, it would be worth it to take a shot at him and bring him to the Emirates. But, if any deal is to be made, the Gunners will have to act quickly as there are others who are interested in him as well.

‘Time Bomb, Sell in January’, Some Arsenal fans destroy player after Wolves draw

Granit Xhaka

Arsenal were able to keep their undefeated streak going against Wolves but they were lucky to do that, to be honest.

The Gunners did not play particularly well and they almost ended up losing the match. Fans were generally upset with the performance of the team but there was one player who was singled out.

Xhaka made a mistake that led to Wolves opening the scoring. Though Xhaka had a good game otherwise, this one mistake was enough to rile up the fans.

A lot of them took to Twitter to show their frustration with Granit Xhaka. Some of them even suggested that he should be sold.

Here are some of the reactions:

https://twitter.com/GurjitAFC/status/1061661578364362752

https://twitter.com/caalluumm00/status/1061662498322038786

https://twitter.com/BlackScarfAFC/status/1061661574413324289

Yes, it is good that the Gunners were able to extend their unbeaten streak but this performance left a lot to be desired. There were many moments during the match where Wolves could have and should have scored but they failed to take their chances.

Now that the international break is upon us, it gives the team some time to think about how they have playing over the last few weeks. This period will give the players some time to rest and probably, they will be able to play better when they do come out again after this particular break.

A player like Xhaka has been very impressive this season especially since the arrival of Lucas Torreira as the Uruguayan has helped protect the midfield and it has helped Xhaka excel at his natural game.

In a long season such as this, mistakes are going to happen so the team must be prepared to deal with them. As for the fans, it is okay to criticize a player like Xhaka but they must support the team until the end. Only if the team has the support of all the fans will they be able to achieve any kind of success.

 

Arsene Wenger confirms he has not turned down a move to Real Madrid

One of the questions that many of us had when Arsene Wenger left his post as the Arsenal manager was where he would end up next. There is still seemingly no answer yet for that question.

Recent reports claiming that the Frenchman has agreed on a deal to become AC Milan’s next boss. However, Wenger clarified that the reports are not true.

The former Gunners boss has also been linked with both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid job in the recent past and it seems a decision has not yet been made.

Speaking to beIN sport on Real Madrid expressing interest, Wenger said:

“I haven’t made any decision on my future yet. Do I go straight away into management again or not?”

“To be honest Real Madrid have not come back to me so I have not had to turn them down.”

“I take every problem when I have to face it and try to find a solution. At the moment I do not have that problem. I will decide in January what I will do.”

Wenger might still end up at AC Milan, as the French boss already knows Gazidis very well and it would not be a surprise if the American manages to bring him to the San Siro.

No matter where Wenger ends up going, it is safe to say that he will have the support of many Arsenal fans who will be happy to see their former manager back in action.

It is natural for some people to think that the Frenchman would have taken some time off before becoming a manager again. But given that this is Wenger we are talking about, his love for football means that he will be itching to make a return to the touchline.

As someone who has won a lot of admirers as well as trophies, it will be interesting to see how he handles the challenge of managing one of the bigger clubs.

Arsenal willing to put €50m on the table to sign 23-year-old forward

There has been a lot of change that has happened with Arsenal this season but one aspect that has not changed a lot are the transfer rumors.

While some of them are a little hard to believe, others seem much more credible. One such report in Telefoot has the Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe, who the Gunners are interested in bringing to the Emirates.

The deal to bring the player would be in the region of €50m as he is considered to be one of the hottest young prospects playing in the French League. Pepe who plays for LOSC Lille has been one of their top performers this season.

This form that the winger has shown has not gone unnoticed by many of the top clubs in Europe as there is a significant amount of interest in Pepe.

It is known that the Gunners could do with the signing of a winger especially as they do not have anyone at the moment who is well suited to playing there.

The style of play that manager Unai Emery has brought to the club is one that focuses on a lot on counter attacks and the pace that Pepe has will be a real asset for that.

Though Pepe is left footed he is very comfortable playing on the right-hand side and this is where Arsenal do need some form of reinforcement.

For Arsenal to be successful in capturing Pepe, they will have to beat off competition from the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. But, if they do manage to pull it off, they will be getting one of the best young players in Europe at the moment.

The January transfer window is not very far away so there is every possibility that we will be seeing some sort of movement regarding this deal.

The Gunners will have to act fast in their quest to sign Pepe and that is sure to make the fans happy. Let us wait and see what happens.

BBC Sport Journalist responds to Arsenal’s significant start to the season

Arsenal Celebrations

It is safe to say that the start that has been made by the Gunners is better than what many predicted when Unai Emery came in.

After one of the toughest starts any team could be handed, Arsenal have bounced back in superb fashion by going on an unbeaten streak that has touched 14 matches.

Those outside the club have also taken notice of this with popular pundit Gary Lineker taking to Twitter to give his take on Unai Emery and his men.

This is what the former England striker had to say about the team’s performances so far:

“Have to say, Arsenal’s progress under Emery is significant.

Well, I didn’t have to, but sod it.”

A reaction like this is one that many people have had regarding the way in which the Gunners have been playing so far. They have shown spirit and passion in every game and shown that they will not give up.

It must be said that this was a little bit missing in the final days of the reign of Arsene Wenger as there were many times when the team looked like it just gave up.

That change in mindset has been a key feature of the success that the Gunners have enjoyed so far in the season. This was quite evident in the match against Liverpool as well.

When Arsene Wenger left after more than two decades at the club, there was a sense of fear mixed with optimism at the club. Fear due to the fact that rebuilding after such a legendary reign was going to be difficult. Optimism due to the fact that a new voice was coming to the club and that things were going to be different.

Arsenal have established a blueprint for how they should play for the rest of the season. It is up to the players now to make sure that they keep in mind what made them tick. And if the Gunners continue this way, there is a real chance of getting silverware.

“Broken, No future at Arsenal”, Many Arsenal fans slam star’s performance against Liverpool

Mkhitaryan

Though the Gunners could not get the win against Liverpool, it was important that they did not lose the match.

There were a number of players who put in excellent performances including Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira and Rob Holding. But on the other hand, there were some players who were not up to the mark.

Fans were quick to voice their opinion on Twitter about Henrikh Mkhitaryan in particular who was quite underwhelming.

Here are some of the best reactions that the Arsenal fans had:

https://twitter.com/Murphy1Sam/status/1058791585322844163

For those who saw the match, it was clear to see that the Armenian found it difficult to help out the Gunners. Though there were times when he was able to initiate attacks, he was wasteful too often and that ended up hurting the team.

The real problem for the Gunners is that they do not really have any player who is suited to playing on the right side apart from Mkhitaryan.

All the other options that the team has at its disposal are much better suited to playing off the left hand side. This includes players such as Iwobi, Aubameyang and Welbeck.

The other reason for the selection of Mkhitaryan was the partnership that he seems to have developed with the right-backHector Bellerin. Their link-up has helped Arsenal score quite a few goals this season.

The start that the Gunners have made is very encouraging to say the least but if they want to go to the next level, it is important that the right-hand side of midfield is sorted out.

Arsenal could have had a solution for that if they had kept a hold of Reiss Nelson but they decided that it was better to send him out on loan. While it is obvious that Mkhitaryan is an extremely talented player, he has proven to be far too inconsistent and fans will be hoping that it changes.

 

Arsenal boss Unai Emery wants £11m midfielder to replace Aaron Ramsey

It is a well known fact that the Gunners have not handled the Aaron Ramsey situation all too well. By letting the player’s contract get to the final year without any resolution in sight, the club has let down the player as well as the fans.

However, one piece of good news is that the club are keen on replacing the Welshman and as per reports from the Express, the player in question, Miguel Almiron is quite a bargain.

The midfielder who plays for the American team Atlanta United is considered to be one of the best young player in the MLS and his performances this season have been a real delight.

This has caught the eye of the Arsenal scouts who see him as an ideal replacement for the outgoing Aaron Ramsey.

If the Gunners were to bring Almiron to the Emirates, the deal is said to cost as little as £11m. Given the prices that are being quoted in the transfer market these days, this feels like an absolute steal.

Though there are other clubs interested in the services of the Atlanta United player, Arsenal have an advantage as they have already initiated talks with the representatives of the player and set the ball rolling as far as a move is concerned.

To lose a player such as Ramsey is a big loss but it is one that the club should be prepared for by this point and by getting a player as talented as Almiron, the Gunners are ensuring that they are getting a quality replacement.

It is sad that things had to end this way between Arsenal and the Welshman but once fans get a glimpse of the player that is coming to replace Ramsey, they are sure to change their tune.

Almiron is the kind of player that can really excite the crowd with his speed and skill on the ball. And the price that he might be bought at makes the deal even better and one that is beneficial to Arsenal.

Arsenal launch £8m transfer bid to complete signing of 26-year-old star this January

Though the focus for the Gunners will now be on the match against Blackpool, there is still a lot of news going around about players that are being looked at.

The January transfer window is some time away but the club is actively targeting players to be brought to the Emirates.

One such player is the Argentine Nicolas Tagliafico who is a target as per reports from TalkSport. The club have reportedly submitted a bid worth £8m for the defender.

The defender who plays as a left-back is said to have caught the eye of manager Unai Emery and the Spaniard has made it a point to get the player to be a part of the Arsenal squad.

Tagliafico has made a huge impression ever since he made his move to the Dutch team as he has gone on to become one of the most important players for them.

This was rewarded with him being selected for the World Cup for the Argentina national team. All of this has grabbed the attention of many clubs and the Gunners are one among them.

Right now, the Arsenal squad does not really have a shortage when it comes to the left back area so it seems a little strange that they are after such a player.

If the Argentine was to come to the Emirates, it would be an indication that one of Nacho Monreal or Sead Kolasinac are going to be sold. Or, there could be a scenario where the Spanish defender is used as a center back instead of a full back.

Every club should always be on the lookout to improve the overall squad and if that is what the Gunners are trying to do, then the fans should be happy.

If Tagliafico was to become an Arsenal player, he is sure to bring a lot of quality to the side and he will be a boost for the squad. He will be joining a team that is on the up and that will surely be an attractive feature.

[Photo]Huge injury boost for Arsenal as key star returns to training ahead of Liverpool game

Sead Kolasinac

Thought most of the Arsenal squad has not suffered a lot of injuries, there is one area that has been affected more than the others. That would be the left back area with both Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac out injured.

In that regard, the Gunners have been handed a boost with the return of the Bosnian defender who was seen in full training with the first team.

The upcoming period will be arguably the toughest test that Arsenal have had to face so far and players need to be fit to deal with the teams that the club will be coming up against.

In the absence of both the first choice left backs, manager Unai Emery has been forced to use midfielder Granit Xhaka as cover. To be fair to Xhaka, he has been able to manage in an unfamiliar position but it is clear that he was not very comfortable.

The other option that Arsenal could have made use of was to introduce Ainsley Maitland-Niles but he himself is just coming back from an injury and it would not have been wise to rush him.

Getting a player like Kolasinac back into the fold is great news for the club as it ensures that the left back position has a player who is naturally suited to playing there.

Here is the pic of Kolasinac back in training:

Embed from Getty Images

Arsenal will be playing Liverpool in the weekend and to deal with the attacking threat that the Reds have, it is necessary to use players in their natural position or the Gunners run the risk of losing the game.

This vital period will show just how much the Gunners have learned under their new manager. Also, it gives the team a chance to bounce team from a winning streak that recently ended as they can show how good they can be. In this kind of time, players such as Kolasinac should show why the club chose to bring him to the Emirates and stake his claim for a place in the first team.