Bayern Munich linked with €60m offer for 21-year-old Arsenal target

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08-10-2018

If there is one position where Arsenal do need players, it would be on the wings. It is an area where the Gunners do not really have too many options.

This is due to a combination of both departures and a lack of arrivals. But, as per reports in Calciomercato, it is understood that the club are keeping tabs on one of the most exciting wingers around in the form of Cengiz Under.

The Roma player who has been impressing ever since he made a move to Italy is under the radar of many clubs across Europe. Apart from Arsenal, it is said that the other clubs interested in him would be Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

Of the clubs that are looking at the player, it is the German giants who have the advantage at the moment. They are the ones who are closest to sealing a deal regarding Under. Roma are willing to let him go for a hefty price and that would be somewhere in the region of 60 million Euros.

If the Gunners happen to be serious about getting Under to the Emirates, it is time for them to make a move. Given how competitive the market is, they can easily end up losing him and that is something that the club will look to avoid.

The major reason for Bayern Munich being interested in the Turkish winger is that they want him to replace Arjen Robben. The Dutch winger who is getting on in terms of age, is no longer the player that he once was.

So, it makes sense for the club to look at other options. It is clear that no matter which club he ends up at, Under will be a real asset to the team. And if Arsenal happen to be the lucky ones who get him, then it will go a long way in helping the squad.

The transfer window still has a long time to go so, it will be fascinating to see how things unfold in the coming months.

“Exceptionally bad, needs to be sold”, Many Arsenal fans unhappy with star’s display

By

Nithyanand

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08-10-2018

When your team wins a game 5-1 and scores many beautiful goals, one would assume that there would be nothing to complain about.

But that was not the case with a section of fans who were really unhappy with the performance of Hector Bellerin. They took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction and had some choice words for the Spaniard.

Going by the reaction of some these fans, it would appear that they are really unhappy with the performance of the Arsenal right back. And to be honest, this reaction is not something that is new as it has been happening for quite some time.

Here are some of the reactions:

https://twitter.com/KingSouthgate/status/1048909444023767040

Bellerin has lost it

— 22 (@ZINOZEEN_) October 7, 2018

https://twitter.com/UncleJ0seph/status/1048905963179319297

Bellerin has been awful

— Dennoh (@dennoh_) October 7, 2018

Iwobi has been exceptional. Bellerin exceptionally bad.

— Agent Michael Scarn (@Tootenbacher06) October 7, 2018

Unpopular opinion: Bellerin needs to be sold.

— MP (@ManFromBrookln) October 7, 2018

I’d imagine/hope a right back is top of Arsenal’s list of priorities for next summer. Bellerin has regressed massively and is only getting worse. Does so much off the pitch, hard to believe he’s focussed on being the best he can be

— George (@wheresmyarsenal) October 7, 2018

It appears that the defending part is what is causing people to react in such a way. There is not much to be said against the attacking input in the game of Bellerin. He is always willing to provide an outlet on the right for the Gunners.

A reason for the defensive problems that the Spaniard is facing could be the fact that he very rarely has enough cover for him on the right side. Very often, he is on his own and that allows the opposition team to double team him.

It has to be remembered that Bellerin is still very young, despite how long he has been the first choice for Arsenal. So, it would be better if the fans are a little bit more patient with his displays.

But, it is not fair to the fans to always be patient even when there are mistakes being made. So, if Bellerin really wants to change the tide of the opinions around him, he will have to tighten up his defensive game. When that happens, he will surely find that the fans are warming up to him. For now, it is better to focus on protecting the right side of the Gunners defense.

Deal agreed, Arsenal to complete £13m transfer move for 24-year-old star in January

By

Nithyanand

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06-10-2018

The January transfer window may be far away but that does not stop a club from being linked to players. Arsenal, as we all know are always subject to this.

And if reports in Express are to believed, there is a £13m deal in place for the Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almiron to join the Gunners in the winter transfer window.

Almiron who plays for Atlanta United in the MLS has been very impressive since making a move to the States. This has not gone unnoticed as a lot of clubs have been monitoring the midfielder’s progress.

Arsenal seem to have a stolen a march on their rivals and have gone ahead and sealed a deal to bring him to the Emirates. This was heavily hinted at when the manager of Atlanta United said:

“Almiron’s future is already decided and he will go to England in the European winter market,”

This is a very strong indication that the midfielder is on his way to join Unai Emery and his team. The deal sounds a little surprising to be honest as the name of Almiron has not really been linked that often with the Gunners.

Almiron has had an amazing season so far as he has notched up 12 goals and 13 assists. As a player who can also play on the wings, he is more than capable of making a positive contribution to the Gunners squad.

There is a suggestion that he could be brought in to replace the outgoing Aaron Ramsey who is set to leave the club after there was a snag in the contract negotiations.

This would be another step in letting Unai Emery shaping the squad the way he wants it. If he is able to bring in the players that he really wants, it will be easier for him to implement the style of play that he wants. If Almiron is indeed coming to the club, it is exciting news for the fans as he is a player who will be able to give that something extra.

Arsenal make €3.5m-a-year contract offer to sign Marotta

By

Nithyanand

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06-10-2018

Given the situation of contracts regarding Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck, it seemed that the troubles for the Gunners were starting to be off the pitch.

That seems to have become worse with the departure of Ivan Gazidis, who has left the club to join AC Milan.

Now, as a result of that, it is only natural that the club is looking to get someone to replace Gazidis and that man could be the outgoing Juventus general manager, Beppe Marotta, if reports in Tuttosport are to be believed.

The North London club have reportedly made a €3.5m-a-year contract offer to sign Marotta. He is to leave the Italian club in the month of October and it appears that he is not going to be taking a break from the game when he does leave the club.

If the Gunners are able to pull this appointment off, it would be quite a coup for them as he is one of the best around in the footballing world. Marotta is someone who knows what it takes to be successful both on and off the pitch.

Another club that is interested in getting the services of the outgoing general manager as well and that club would be Inter Milan. The one thing that could work in the favor of the Gunners, is the financial package that they are willing to offer.

It is said to be much higher than what Inter are ready to give their prospective CEO. Arsenal have already made some important additions in the form of Vinai Venkatesham and Raul Sanllehi and if a personality like Marotta was to be added to that mix, it is only going to benefit the club.

This season is a very important one as it is the first time that the club has had a new manager in more than two decades. If there is going to be some form of turmoil behind the scenes, it is bound to have an impact on the pitch. In order to avoid such a situation, it would be better for the Gunners to get a stabilizing influence such as Marotta.

Arsenal interested in completing £30m transfer deal for 23-year-old forward

By

Nithyanand

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05-10-2018

Arsenal are always being linked to players whether the transfer window is open or not. And having a new manager at the helm means that the man in charge will be looking to shape the squad in the way he wants.

In that vein, Arsenal are being linked to a winger, Nicholas Pepe who plays for Lille in the French League.

If reports in Mirror are to be believed, the deal could cost the Gunners as much as £30m. The Ivory Coast international has had a great start to the current season where he has contributed five goals and five assists in just eight games.

This kind of a start has not gone unnoticed as there are many clubs who are circling around the winger for his signature.

Lille are in a position where they can charge such a high fee as the contract situation of Pepe puts them in a strong position. But if Arsenal are serious about landing the youngster, that is what they will have to pay.

Getting a player with this kind of a profile is going to be a big help for the Gunners as they do not have too many players who can play on the wing. With the departure of players such as Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott and the loan move of Reiss Nelson, there is a real dearth of wingers at the club.

Though Arsenal do have players who can play on the wings, they are not the out and out winger that Pepe is. It will also provide a different option for the Gunners to use. This will give the other players a rest so that the squad can handle all the competitions that they are in.

It is important for a squad to have players who can do all kinds of jobs if and when it is required of them. By getting a player such as Pepe, the Gunners would go some way in ensuring that this happens.

A star is born, Smith-Rowe stakes his claim for an Arsenal shirt

By

The Long Shadow

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05-10-2018

On the odd occasion, football offers up a surprise or indeed a memorable moment that we, as fans, recall again and again in conversation. It may be the sight of an exquisite goal but in Arsenal’s group E match against Qarabag, it was the emergence of Emile Smith-Rowe.

At 18 years of age, he delivered a masterclass of concentration and class. He was willing to run, to chase, to get in the right areas and work tirelessly.

His goal in the 53rd minute was the reward for his efforts, underlining his natural talent. If he manages to develop as expected whilst keeping his feet on the ground, we may have witnessed the first of many special performances in this youngsters career.

The encounter was as expected. Qarabag were extremely capable and competitive and Bernd Leno, was kept nice and busy. It was a match that was to change at pivotal moments and at times, it went against the run of play. Arsenal are becoming adept at soaking up pressure and then scoring timely goals.

This has been the case in recent matches such as the Watford game where they had to show resilience by throwing bodies behind the ball and fire fighting for long periods, only to deliver a sucker punch.

After only 4 Minutes, Monreal managed to turn the ball towards the Qarabag goal, only for it to embarrassingly deflect off Sokratis. It whistled in off some part of the Greeks anatomy, possibly thigh or stomach but the traveling supporters weren’t bothered by such trifling details at this point.

They have seen many a European adventure end in failure and in this uncomfortable away fixture anything was acceptable. One of Arsenal’s major failings over the years has been to attempt to fashion the perfect goal by almost walking the ball into the net.

These days, a goal is a goal and artistry is not as important as the end result, a philosophy which has delivered 8 consecutive wins. Mahir Madatov and Filip Ozobic had chances but Leno repelled the majority of advances with confidence in place of the hamstrung Petr Cech.

Arsenal preserved their lead until halftime but it was a slog at times, Qarabag had a handful of decent opportunities but were incredibly wasteful when it was time to pull the trigger. The defence was slightly disjointed and all at sea in spells, but the team worked tirelessly to dent the ambition of the Azerbaijan premier champions.

The second 45 saw the opposition push the envelope in search of an equaliser and it was extremely likely as they proved to be inventive and committed but Smith-Rowe powered in an Iwobi cross and Arsenal had the breathing space they needed.

The Arsenal youngster could have had a goal earlier but was unable to convert a Kolasinac cross. He wasn’t to be denied for long and along with Sokratis and Guendouzi, who appears comfortable on any stage, all three secured their first goals for the club.

Unai Emery felt the need to bring on the big guns in the second half including Ozil, Torreira and Lacazette. The Spanish head coach continues to use his substitutions to meet the changing circumstances and those changes may well have been the final twist of the knife. The class began to show which would eventually overwhelm Qarabag but they didn’t disgrace themselves. They would trouble most sides and it was the absence of good fortune that will irk them the most.

Guendouzi, who is due to represent France put the cherry on top with a dazzling strike, which added insult to injury and he continues to look like an unearthed gem. Iwobi is also worth mentioning, his endeavour and industry continue to shine but unfortunately, Danny Welbeck had a stinker. He covered a lot of distance but was never really a threat or made anything happen.

Despite former Arsenal striker, Ian Wright’s insistence that he be given a new contract, he remains an enigma. If he were in a major film release he would be way down the credits and in no more than a supporting role.

Not Ramsey, Arsenal set to lose another player on a free transfer

By

Nithyanand

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05-10-2018

As far as Arsenal are concerned, they seem to have trouble in the recent past with the issue of contracts. Last season it was Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez and this season it seems to have started with Aaron Ramsey.

And if reports in Mirror are to be believed, there is another name that is set to be added to that in the form of Danny Welbeck.

The English striker is out of contract at the end of this season and it appears that he is willing to wait out his current deal and leave on a free at the end of it.

It is not ideal for a club to be in a situation like this and it is something that the Gunners would wish they had taken care of earlier.

If Welbeck does choose to leave the club, there will surely be a few clubs waiting in line to snap him up. After the new year, he will be able to negotiate with foreign clubs with regards to signing a pre-contract.

The striker’s time at the club has not been as successful as some would have thought but it has not been that bad as well. He has suffered through a lot of injury problems but he has shown that he can be a valuable member for the club whenever he is called upon.

In addition to that, there are very few players in the club who have the skill set that he possesses as his unique playing style does cause defenses a lot of problems.

Welbeck has started this season in fine form having notched up four goals in just seven games. And when you have a player in this kind of form, you will want to make sure that he stays at the club.

The only thing worse than losing the striker would be to lose him on a free. It is up to the Arsenal board to prevent this from happening and if they are smart about all this, they will not let it happen.

Arsenal could agree a £30m deal for Napoli midfielder to replace Aaron Ramsey

By

Nithyanand

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04-10-2018

The Gunners have a repeat of the Alexis Sanchez contract saga as it appears that the club and Aaron Ramsey, have not been able to come to an agreement.

It is understood that it is the club that has decided to pull the offer and that the player was willing to sign it. This has started the rumor mill with regards who the replacement for Ramsey could be.

And if reports from Sport Mediaset are to be believed, that would be the Napoli midfielder, Piotr Zielinski.

Zielinski who signed for Napoli a couple of years ago was one of the mainstays of the Maurizio Sarri era and he has made a strong start to this season as well. He has been able to showcase both his offensive and defensive skills. To be honest, he does share some similarities with the player that he might be replacing at Arsenal.

One of the biggest strengths of Zielinski’s game is his energy level as he is able to bomb up and down throughout the game. This is one quality that will certainly endear him to the Arsenal manager, Unai Emery.

But to get him, it is not going to be cheap as the price that the Italian club are quoting is said to be around £30m. And given that the club may lose Ramsey for nothing, it does sound like a deal may be too much for the Gunners.

Though the price may seem a little high, it is worth it when you are paying for a player who is as talented and multifaceted as Zielinski is. Of course, it is always difficult to replace a player who has been as influential as Aaron Ramsey has been to the Gunners.

If the Gunners have identified the Polish midfielder as their man, then the fans would have to put their faith in the club. If Arsenal were to land Zielinski, they are getting a player who is more than capable of filling a Ramsey shaped hole. No matter what happens from now on, the future does promise to be interesting.

Arsenal legend makes fun of Manchester United star Alexis Sanchez

By

Nithyanand

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03-10-2018

The contract situation of Alexis Sanchez was one of the biggest problems that Arsenal had to face in a tumultuous last season under Arsene Wenger.

That eventually led to the Chilean swapping London for Manchester with Henrikh Mkhitaryan coming down south. Not everything has gone to plan for Sanchez as he has found it difficult to make a mark at Manchester United after completing his move earlier this year.

This has led to many people criticizing him and another one has been added to that list with Martin Keown making a humorous statement about the player.

It is no secret that Alexis has been a shadow of the player that he was during his time with the Gunners. So much so that it has been suggested that there is already a rift in the relationship between him and Mourinho.

As for the statement itself, this is what Keown had to say(as quoted by Football.London):

“It’s almost like they’ve signed the brother of the player at Arsenal.”

While it may sound a touch harsh, it is sadly the truth as far as Alexis is concerned. His performances have nowhere been near the level to which he can perform as we have seen in the past.

The problem with players such as Alexis is that because they have performed at such a high level, that is the standard that people expect from them. And when they play below that level for quite some time, people tend to lose their patience.

It is a little hard to pinpoint the exact reasons why this has happened. Is it a case of the manager not being conducive to the way Alexis plays or are there other factors at play? Though this is hard to figure out and with Mourinho burning bridges left and right, the situation may become worse.

We know how good a player Alexis can be, so it is up to him alone to prove the doubters wrong. If he can string together some decent performances coupled with some goals, he will go a long way in making people change their opinion.

Arsenal and Everton: Both teams need to prove a point

By

The Long Shadow

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23-09-2018

It’s a highly anticipated clash between two teams struggling to find form and comfort.
With both new managers, Unai Emery and Marco Silva, trying to work out what their best sides are.

They have their respective problems which include injuries, with either personnel coming back. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Idrissa Gueye and Theo Walcott are all available for Everton but Seamus Coleman will definitely miss the game with a foot injury.

Arsenal’s Treatment room remains overly busy with Konstantinos Mavropanos(groin), Carl Jenkinson(ankle), Laurent Koscielny(right tendon) and Ainsley Maitland-Niles(fracture to left fibula).

Arsenal will have to be mindful of ex-gunner Theo Walcott who has flourished since moving to the toffees and also the link up play with Cenk Tosun, who despite all the promise, has yet to play to his full potential. Then there’s the midfield threat of Gueye and Gylfi Sigurdsson which is likely to cause problems for the Gunners twitchy defence.

It will be an energetic and lively first 20 minutes which may go some way to suggesting which way this fixture will tilt, yet, Arsenal are not exactly inspiring confidence with a number of Jekyll and Hyde performances.

They have been slow to create and lacked purpose and direction at times and Ozil will be key to open the locks to Everton’s defence. I expect Torreira to start, how many times have I suggested that this season? His display against Newcastle indicated that Emery can ill afford to leave him out. He was a constant source of irritation with his quick forward passes and decisive play.

If Emery does exclude him from proceedings, it’s nothing short of negligence. I also want to see him paired with Xhaka because I want to be convinced that the Swiss isn’t just there to make the numbers up. If that’s the case, Ida from the canteen kicked a tennis ball across the Car Park. Perhaps she merits a game.

At this stage of the season both sides are desperate for stability and points. Everton are already looking to be no more than a mid-table side and Arsenal a top six side at best.
The pair need a confidence boost but at least Arsenal squeezed another positive result last time out, whereas Everton’s performance against West Ham saw them soundly beaten and out of salts.

On paper, Arsenal should win comfortably by at least two goals but Silva will try to make it an uncomfortable afternoon by cutting off the gunners supply and adding numbers in defence. Should Arsenal take their foot off the gas or decide they’ve already won on paper, it could result in Everton grabbing the points.