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“No doubt”, Many Arsenal fans feel this is a hint that midfielder will sign new contract

By
Nithyanand
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Predicted Arsenal Line-up

Arsenal fans are confident that young midfielder Bukayo Sako will sign a new contract after seeing the youngster’s latest Instagram post.

The 18-year-old has been one of the best players for the North London club this season notching up 3 goals and 10 assists. However, his current contract is due to expire next year and the club are keen on extending his contract.

The midfielder’s Instagram post has a photo of him as a kid in Arsenal colors but what caught the eye was the caption below the picture. It said:

“kid with a dream”

This has led fans to believe that Saka is all set to extend his contract which is due to expire next summer. He has shown maturity beyond his age given that he has played a lot of games in the unfamiliar position of left-back.

But with rumors of Liverpool circling(via Sun) around the player, fans will certainly be feeling a little happier after seeing this particular post. It is good for the Gunners and Saka himself to get the contract situation sorted as soon as possible. This will prevent other clubs from trying to snatch him away from the Emirates.

Here is the Instagram post:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAntGhXhtJT/

Here are some of the Twitter reactions from fans:

Due to injuries suffered by first-choice left-backs Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney, Saka had been forced to deputize there. But now that they both are getting back to full fitness, we could see the 18-year-old back on the wings where he likes to play.

One aspect of Saka this season that has been very impressive is the maturity that he has shown on the ball. This is excellent given how little top-level football he has actually played. He links up well with his teammates and this has allowed him to get all those assists. Whether he is playing as a defender or further forward, he is always an option to spring some attacks.

And even early into his reign as the Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta had spoken about what he liked in Saka. This will be encouraging for both the fans and the player as it shows that the manager wants him to stay at the club. We hope that an announcement comes sooner rather than later.

David Ornstein speaks out on Arsenal’s transfer interest in Philippe Coutinho

By
Nithyanand
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Former BBC Journalist David Ornstein has spoken out on reports linking Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho with a move to Arsenal.

On Monday, Le10 Sport claimed that the North London club were reportedly set to initiate talks with Philippe Coutinho’s agent in a bid to sign him this summer.

In the latest edition of his ‘Ornstein & Chapman podcast’ for The Athletic, David Ornstein revealed that he didn’t hear anything about the Coutinho to Arsenal story. He said:

“I have no information on this. I don’t know anything about it. So if it is happening, it’s beyond my knowledge. 

“That’s not to say it isn’t. It’s just that I don’t know anything about it if it is.

“We do know the links, which are apparent, between Arsenal’s Raul Sanllehi, their technical director Edu, and Coutinho’s agent Kia Joorabchian.

“We’ve seen a number of deals already done between those parties, and that’s, in part, I’m sure, why the links have arisen.”

He was also queried regarding Saliba’s situation, Ornstein said that a number of factors could impact the arrival of the young defender which also included the quarantine regulations in place in the UK.

Here is the podcast, skip to 43:30 minutes in for the Arsenal updates.

Coutinho has been spending the season on loan at Bayern Munich but they are not willing to make the move permanent. Despite scoring 8 goals in the Bundesliga this season, the midfielder could be on his way out of Germany and back to the Premier League.

Ornstein also states that this news could be the result of his representatives using the media to push this story. The Brazilian agent Kia Joorabchian already has links to North London in the form of his clients David Luiz and Cedric Soares who play for Arsenal now.

If Coutinho was to become an Arsenal player, it would give the attack a facelift as he is an attacking midfielder capable of finding the back of the net. He would fit into the formation that manager Arteta likes to play. The relationship that the club shares with his representatives could be the key.

Coming to Saliba, he was signed by Arsenal last summer but was sent back to his club Saint-Etienne to spend another season on loan. But with the French football league done and dusted due to the Coronavirus pandemic, he might return to England.

Saliba is a highly regarded young center back and it is to the Gunners’ credit that they were able to snap him up at such a young age before other clubs could get their hands on him.

Arsenal might be forced to extend midfielder’s contract after Roma decision

By
Nithyanand
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Mkhitaryan

Arsenal could be forced to extend Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s contract after Roma opted against signing the Armenian on a permanent deal, according to reports in Express.

The 31-year-old joined the North London club back in 2018 in a swap deal that saw Alexis Sanchez join Manchester United. However, the midfielder has not been able to hit the heights that he showed at Borussia Dortmund where he was one of the best-attacking midfielders in the world.

The report states that the North London club were hoping to recover some of the money that they had spent on Mkhitaryan, but that has been dealt a blow now.

Instead, the Italian giants are now proposing another loan for the 2020/21 season after which they will buy him for a set fee. So, Arsenal will have to extend the midfielder’s contract or find a suitable buyer this summer.

His displays for Dortmund resulted in a move to Manchester United but he could not replicate the form that he had shown in Germany. Mkhitaryan was sent on loan to Italy at the start of this season and has gone on to have a good spell there so far.

In the 17 games that he had played in the Serie A, he had contributed with six goals and three assists. And speaking to the Armenian Embassy, he made it clear that he would prefer to be with Roma rather than returning to Arsenal. According to Express, he said:

“I’m happy to play in Italy. I had heard the fans here were crazy in a good way. But I didn’t think they really were. I’m very happy to play for Roma and their fans.”

The problem for the Gunners right now is that the contract of Mkhitaryan is set to expire in June 2021. And with him on a £180,000-a-week deal, they will either have to extend it or let him go on a free.

But based on Mikel Arteta’s comments very recently there is still a possibility that the midfielder might remain at the Emirates club. Having such huge contracts on the books will not help the club make big moves in the transfer market so, it is better to solve this situation as soon as possible.

Arsenal to begin transfer negotiations with agent of former Liverpool midfielder

By
Nithyanand
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Mikel Arteta

Arsenal are reportedly set to initiate talks with Philippe Coutinho’s agent in a bid to sign the midfielder from Barcelona, according to reports in Le10 Sport.

The 27-year-old is currently on loan at Bayern Munich but the German club are reportedly not keen on making the deal permanent as they will have to part with a fee in the region of £105m.

The report in Le10 Sport further claims that Barcelona are looking to offload several players in order to fund new signings this summer and Coutinho is one of the players on that list.

Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the former Liverpool midfielder, but Arsenal are now keen on bringing him to North London as Mikel Arteta considers him a dream signing. The Emirates club have made arrangements to begin negotiations with his agent Joorabchian.

Since making a big-money move away from England, the attacking midfielder has found it a little difficult to nail down a place in the Barcelona team and as a result of that he joined Bayern Munich on loan during the summer of 2019.

Coutinho enjoyed a highly successful spell in England with Liverpool so he will already be used to the rough and tumble of the Premier League. As the manager normally likes to set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, it will suit the playing style of Coutinho who has spent the majority of his career playing as an attacking midfielder.

The Brazilian has scored 8 goals in the Bundesliga this season including a hat trick showing that he’s not lost his eye for goal. Fans will be excited if this move transpires as Coutinho is a pacy and skillful player that can cause havoc to the opposition defense.

The one major factor that could play a role in this deal is whether Arsenal are able to make it to the Champions League this season, but with the Premier League still suspended that could be difficult to determine.

Coutinho would be a very exciting addition to the Arsenal squad. But fans shouldn’t get too excited as there are a lot of factors that still play a part in whether this deal goes through or not as we will have to wait to see whether Arteta gets his man.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles set to leave this summer after falling out with Arteta

By
Nithyanand
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Ainsley Maitland-Niles

When the summer transfer window opens, Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be on his way out at Arsenal, according to reports in The Athletic.

The young midfielder who also plays as a full-back has fallen out of contention with current manager Mikel Arteta and is expected to leave. The 22-year-old was a regular during the reign of Unai Emery but has not been playing much under Arteta.

The report further states that one of the reasons for his falling out with the manager is that he has shown up late for training on a couple of occasions and this has not gone down well with the boss.

Daily Star further claims that one of the clubs that are interested in signing him is Italian giants AC Milan. Milan want a new presence for their right-back position as they are looking for a player to replace Davide Calabria and Andrea Conti

And Maitland-Niles who normally plays as a right-back finds himself in a position where there is a lot of competition. Players such as Hector Bellerin and Cedric Soares are specialists who play on the right-hand side of the defense and they also have Calum Chambers who can deputize there as well.

Due to the number of options that Arteta has, we could be seeing the departure of one of these players and given that Maitland-Niles hasn’t played much since January, he could be the one to be shown the door.

The good news for the North Londoners is that the player is under contract until 2023 which means that they can charge a huge fee for him. Whatever happens with the future of Maitland-Niles, it is important to find a solution as quickly as possible.

By doing this, Arteta can prevent any disharmony from happening in the team. And it is better for the future of the player if he goes to a club that wants to play him on a consistent basis.

While it would be a loss to see him leave, the manager must have players that he completely believes in and that they can contribute.

Arsenal ready to sign William Saliba’s teammate, player keen on transfer move

By
Nithyanand
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Arsenal signed William Saliba from French club Saint-Etienne and are reportedly keen on signing another defender from the same club, according to reports in the Express.

Wesley Fofana who plays a center back has been impressive this season and has notched up 14 appearances so far this season. Express claims that the 19-year-old has attracted interest from several clubs including Everton and Arsenal.

The report states that Saint-Etienne manager Claude Puel knows that he will struggle to keep hold of his young stars, so the former Leicester City boss is hoping to strike a deal that sees Fofana sold but then loan him back for another season.

It further claims there is interest in Fofana from Italy as well but the young center back would prefer to play in the Premier League and this gives Arsenal a bit of an edge.

Arsenal signed Saliba on a similar deal last summer and the North London club were lauded for making an astute signing as the Frenchman is highly regarded and is thought to have the potential to become one of the world’s best center backs.

From what Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has said, the club and the board are already making plans for the summer. As per Express, he said:

“I have to tell the club what we need, where we think we can improve and where we want to end.

“And if we all end with the same thing, we put a plan together to try and execute it and make the process as short as possible.”

This will be encouraging to the fans as it shows that there is already a plan in place and that could include the arrival of talent such as Fofana. With his partner Saliba already making his way to London, it would mean that the North Londoners would have solidified their defense for many years to come.

The backline has always been a problematic area for Arsenal and it is good to see that they are trying to do something about it by being proactive and finding talent that can do the job in the long run.

Arsenal keen on transfer move for £20m star, player is interested in joining

By
Nithyanand
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Arsenal Stadium

Arsenal are ready to make a transfer move for left-back Nicolas Tagliafico who currently plays for Ajax, according to reports in The Sun.

The report states that the player is also keen on making a move as he is looking for a new challenge after his successful spell in Amsterdam. Any deal to bring in Tagliafico will cost the North London club around £20m.

The Sun further claims that the defender is being watched by a number of clubs over the past few seasons including the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

The North London club are reportedly keen on signing a left-back this summer, to allow promising youngster Bukayo Saka to play in his favored position. Saka has been a revelation this season as his adventurous play has got him many assists.

Due to injuries suffered by first-choice left-backs Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney, Saka has been forced to play in an unfamiliar position. But to his credit, he has done well on the left side of the Arsenal backline.

The youngster has still managed to contribute in an attacking sense and is more than decent on the defensive end. The potential signing of the Ajax left-back will free up Saka so that he can play on the wings.

Tagliafico has been linked with other clubs so the Gunners will have to fend off some serious competition to get their man. The chief executive of Ajax and former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has confirmed that the Dutch club will not stand in the way of a player such as Tagliafico leaving. According to Metro, he said:

“Last year we made verbal agreements with Onana, Tagliafico and Van de Beek to stay another season and then we look to help each other and find the next step in their careers.”

“Nothing has changed. There won’t be a 50% discount. The clubs can forget about that.”

By showing that they value Saka, Arsenal will be hoping that they can convince the youngster to sign a new deal and keep him at the club for a long time. Tagliafico is a good player and can prove to be a valuable asset for the Gunners. If they really want to get their man, they will have to move quickly and beat other clubs to the left-back.

“Is he coming back”, Some Arsenal fans are convinced that midfielder will return

By
Nithyanand
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Santi Cazorla

Santi Cazorla was a player who thrilled fans with his quick feet and skills on the ball when he was part of the Arsenal squad.

However, after being out of action for an extensive period of time due to a horrific leg injury, he left the Gunners and joined former club Villarreal in the summer of 2018.

The 35-year-old’s current contract at Villarreal runs out this summer and the midfielder has already admitted(via Mirror) that he would love to make a return to the North London club in some capacity, given the fact that his injury robbed him of a “proper goodbye” in 2018.

Arsenal’s official twitter handle posted a picture of the Spaniard in club colors, with a caption saying:

“Santi. That’s it. That’s the tweet.”

With this post, fans are convinced that the midfielder could be set to return to the Emirates. Cazorla was a beloved figure during his time in England and apart from his talent, his constant smile made him such an endearing player to fans all over.

If the Spanish midfielder is to come back to the club, it would make fans very happy especially if it is in a coaching capacity under his former teammate Mikel Arteta. The positive response from the fans can be seen by the fact that many had posted glowing tributes to the former Arsenal man. Here are some of the reactions:

https://twitter.com/Gooner_Eurychus/status/1263502819245592579

Cazorla and Arteta have a good rapport, given that it was the current Arsenal boss who helped him settle down in a new country when he made his move to London and it would be interesting to see them reunite in coaching roles.

This would be a great opportunity to give a much-loved player a chance to finally say goodbye to the fans that adore him. Whether he comes back as a player or as a coach, the door will always be open for him at the Emirates.

Cazorla has proven to be a good signing for Villarreal as he has shown the quality he possesses on numerous occasions and has chipped with a few valuable goals as well. Fans will be hoping that the return materializes soon.

Arsenal in talks to complete £25m transfer move for Borussia Dortmund defender

By
Nithyanand
-

Arsenal are looking at bringing in Swiss center back Manuel Akanji who currently plays for Borussia Dortmund, according to reports in German outlet Fussball Transfers.

The report states that the North London club held proper talks with Dortmund regarding the player last year. However, one of the reasons that prevented a move was the fact that the German club ended up selling fellow center back Abdou Diallo to PSG.

As a result of this, Dortmund decided to keep hold of Akanji. The defender has gone to become an important member of the team, having appeared in 24 of the 26 Bundesliga matched.

Fussball Transfers further claims that although Arsenal held talks during the reign of Unai Emery, it is said that current manager Mikel Arteta is also interested in the player and the Gunners began talks in January. Dortmund would demand around £25m(via Sun) for Akanji.

The Swiss youngster is excellent in the air and is a good passer as well. And with senior defenders such as Sokratis and David Luiz getting on in terms of age, it would be the right time to bring in someone of the caliber of Akanji.

The center-back will turn 25 soon and would be entering the prime of his career, so Arsenal would do well to lure him to the Emirates. And if Arteta is serious about getting his man, the Gunners will have to pay a hefty fee.

Another factor that could play a role in this transfer is the potential permanent signing of Pablo Mari who is currently on loan at the club. Perhaps if other defenders were to leave, it would leave the door open for Arsenal to sign Akanji.

He would add a lot of quality to the club’s defense as he has already impressed in both the Bundesliga as well as the Champions League.

With football on a break right now due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the Gunners board will have time to figure out what they should do.

Dani Ceballos reiterates his desire to succeed at Real Madrid

By
Nithyanand
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Dani Ceballos has admitted that he might end his loan spell at Arsenal this season by returning to his parent club Real Madrid.

The 23-year-old joined the North London club on a loan deal and the midfielder got off to an impressive start. But he suffered a hamstring injury in November which ruled him out for three months.

The Spaniard has reiterated his desire to return to Los Blancos as he feels they are the ideal team to succeed. Speaking on his future to Spanish outlet TVE, he is quoted by the Mirror as saying:

“I am a Real Madrid player… and any player in the world would like to play for Real Madrid.

“I have a contract with them for three more years and they are the ideal team to succeed.”

Going by his comments, it looks like the youngster will mostly end his stay at the Emirates and move back to the Bernabeu. According to Daily Mail, although the midfielder’s contract will expire on the 30th of June, Arsenal will reportedly request Real Madrid to keep him for the rest of the season.

It has to be noted that in the last few games before the suspension of the league, Ceballos was regularly picked by manager Mikel Arteta. And to his credit, the Spaniard looked more like his old self.

His partnership with Granit Xhaka in the middle of the pitch helped bring some balance to the way the Gunners were playing. If Ceballos does go back to Madrid, Arsenal will have to look at bringing someone else in to replace him.

The good news is that the team already has Lucas Torreira as a ready-made replacement that can slot into the midfield. The Premier League is currently suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak and there is no confirmation yet as to when the matches will resume.

When the season gets back on track, Ceballos will still have a role to play and fans will be hoping that he can contribute as long as he is a player for the club.

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