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Lukas Podolski has his say on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Arsenal future

By
Nithyanand
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Aubameyang

Lukas Podolski, who spent two and a half years with Arsenal remains a popular figure with the fans and often speaks out his mind about the club, with the latest being about Aubameyang’s future at the North London side.

The Gabonese striker will have one year left on his contract at the end of the season and although there have been talks between both the parties, no deal has been finalized yet.

Earlier, it was being reported that Spanish giants Real Madrid were interested in signing the Gabonese forward and Lukas Podolski feels that Aubameyang could leave the Gunners this summer, and backed the club to re-invest in the squad.

Speaking to Sky Sports(via Express), he said:

“When you have a fantastic season like he had, many clubs are interested. When a player has a wish to play for a big team or a dream to play in Italy or Spain, or like Aubameyang and his link with Real Madrid.”

“If he has a dream to play for this club when he’s young, then why not?. As a player, you have to take this chance to play for a club like that. Of course for Arsenal, it’ll be a big loss if they have to sell him but this is the business of football.

“My opinion is you lose a big player, he had a fantastic season with a good scoring record, but you can make money on a player, sell him and you can invest in new players.”

Since joining the North London club in the 2018 January transfer window, Aubameyang has gone on to become a revelation. His goal-scoring consistency was rewarded, as the club handed him the captain’s armband.

If the striker was to leave, it will be a big blow as Podolski states, given how integral he has become to the functioning of the team. The only bright side of him leaving will be the funds that are available to buy other players.

If Aubameyang does leave then any interested club will have to pump a hefty transfer fee. That can be then used to address parts of the squad that needs reinforcements. It is clear that Mikel Arteta values the contribution of the striker very highly and would like to retain him, but the ultimate decision resides with the player.

It will be interesting to see if the striker does leave the Emirates and goes to a club like Real Madrid. If he does, whoever Arsenal do decide to bring in, will have a huge void to fill. Fans will be hoping that whatever happens, Mikel Arteta and the board will be prepared.

24-year-old French striker responds to Arsenal transfer speculation

By
Nithyanand
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Predicted Arsenal Line-up

Arsenal have recently been linked(as per Daily Mail) with Serhou Guirassy who has put in a string of impressive performances for Amiens in Ligue 1.

The forward notched up 9 goals along with an assist before the season came to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic. This run of form has caught the eye of clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham United, the Daily Mail further claimed.

Earlier this week one of his representatives Mark McKay has only added further credence to the reports linking him with a move away from France. According to Metro, he said:

“A number of clubs in England and across Europe have shown an interest in Serhou after he performed so well for Amiens.

“Serhou’s preference has always been to play in the English Premier League, but Amiens will evaluate all offers that come in for him and make a decision from there.”

Reacting to the news linking him with some of the Premier League clubs, the striker took to Twitter to clarify:

“Glad to hear about the interest from English clubs. However please be careful, the ONLY agent authorized to speak on my behalf is my agent Moussa Sissoko.”

The forward is a nice prospect especially for the Gunners who are said to be looking at the Frenchman as a possible long-term replacement for current captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Guirassy has impressed this season with his power and skill on the ball. He has also shown that he has an eye for goal as well.

If the North London club are serious about getting their man, they will have to part with a fee in the range of (£13-17.5m), according to Metro. This would be a great value for money for a player who is going to enter his prime. The only question is if the Gunners will be able to fend off interest from their Premier League rivals.

We might have to wait for a while until we get some clarity regarding the transfers. Arsenal do have a history of signing talented forwards from France with the best examples being Nicolas Anelka and of course, Thierry Henry.

Guirassy has the attributes needed to become a success at the Emirates if he does end up making the move.

Arsenal submit bid to sign 27-year-old defender this summer

By
Nithyanand
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Mikel Arteta

Arsenal have reportedly submitted a bid to sign PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa, according to reports in Spanish publication Sport.

The 27-year-old is out of contract in the summer and had a lot of suitors in January but the French club decided to keep him, despite the player making it absolutely clear that he will leave in the summer.

The report in Sport states that Arsenal and Napoli have made interesting bids for the French star. Barcelona are also in the race to sign the defender this summer but the Spanish club will have to sell Junior Firpo before making a move.

Firpo came from Spanish side Real Betis only last summer but has failed to impress during his short spell at the Catalonia club. As a result of this, they are looking to move him on and bring in another player who can play in that position.

If Arsenal were to get their man, he would be added to the left-back rank that includes Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac. Injuries to the duo have seen manager Mikel Arteta make youngster Bukayo Saka play in an unfamiliar position this season.

Kurzawa could prove to be a very valuable addition to the squad as he has a lot of experience playing for two of France’s biggest clubs in PSG and Monaco.

The 27-year-old is also adept at helping the attacking side of things proven by the fact that he is the first defender to score a hat trick in the modern UEFA Champions League and as Arteta likes to make use of his full-back’s in building the attack, it will be helpful to have a player who is proficient in it.

Kurzawa might take longer to take a decision considering the current Coronavirus pandemic which is causing havoc around the world. Arsenal already making a move shows that they have a real interest in bringing the Frenchman to the Emirates and he is one player who will fit into the way the squad plays.

It will be interesting to see how the Gunners are able to beat off competition from others and get Kurzawa.

‘Simply incredible’, ‘Brilliant’, some Arsenal fans are happy with 23-year-old’s display vs West Ham

By
admin
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Some Arsenal fans were delighted with the midfield display from Daniel Ceballos during the club’s Premier League win over West Ham United on Saturday.

The Gunners had a tough derby against the Hammers at the Emirates Stadium and there were fortuitous to come up with the victory, considering the number of scoring chances gifted to the opposition.

Alexandre Lacazette’s 78th minute goal was the difference between the sides but over the course of the game, there were a few standout performers for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Ceballos, who made his third league start on the bounce, was one of them as he excelled with the defensive contribution over the 90 minutes.

Ceballos made an impressive five tackles and six interceptions on the day, as per whoscored, and most of them were on the right side of the Gunners defence.

The Spaniard has not made a major goalscoring contribution since his home debut (two assists) against Burnley but he certainly proved his worth on the defensive side on Saturday.

This was probably his best performance for the north London side and a few of the supporters took to Twitter to appreciate the same.

Twitter Reactions:

https://twitter.com/WorldwideAFC/status/1236340368473559041

Ceballos has formed an impressive midfield partnership alongside Granit Xhaka over the past few weeks and the duo have kept two clean sheets from the previous three Premier League matches.

The Gunners have a tough challenge on their hands against Manchester City on the road in midweek and both midfielders will need to be at their best for the club to register a positive result.

Former Premier League star praises Mikel Arteta for Arsenal turnaround

By
Nithyanand
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Mikel Arteta

Arsenal continued their unbeaten run in 2020 as they emerged 3-2 winners against Everton to keep their top-four hopes alive.

The North London club conceded in the very first minute but came back strongly with Aubameyang finding the back of the net two times while Eddie Nketiah also scored a brace.

Speaking on Match of the Day 2(via Daily Star), former Tottenham and Liverpool forward Peter Crouch was full of praise for Mikel Arteta. He said:

“Arteta has brought a team spirit back to players that seemed disillusioned at the start of the season.

“I think this was typified in their midfield today through Ceballos, Xhaka, and Ozil. They typified Arsenal today and Arteta deserves a lot of credit.

“Him(Ceballos) and Xhaka did the dirty work and allowed Ozil to play and they stayed close to one another all day.

“This is something that wasn’t happening at the start of the season. Ozil played with a lot more freedom and played those incisive passes that we know he can play.”

The midfield trio distributed the ball well in midfield and their range of passing aided Arsenal’s offense giving them that cutting edge. Ceballos, in particular, was impressive as he put in a well-rounded performance on both sides of the pitch.

This run of form bodes well for the remainder of the season as there is still a lot of football left to be played. The Emirates club are still alive in the Europa League and FA Cup.

Players are stepping up when called upon and this was perfectly exemplified by the performance of young midfielder Bukayo Saka. The youngster was playing in an unfamiliar position but still came good and even provided with an assist. He started on the bench but an injury to Sead Kolasinac forced him on but he made full use of the opportunity.

With Manchester City banned from the Champions League for the next two years, a fifth-place finish would be enough to get into Europe elite’s competition. Manchester United are currently in 5th place and are just 4 points ahead of the Emirates club.

If Arsenal can continue this momentum and finish the season on a strong note, there is a real possibility that the club could return to the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta is showing that he is up to the challenge and can take his team forward. If the team can continue to keep up this run there is a good chance that they could end this campaign with some success, which didn’t look possible until a few weeks back.

Player Ratings: Arsenal 3-2 Everton

By
admin
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Arsenal Stadium

Arsenal made it three wins in a row after easing past Everton 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening, despite their defensive frailties.

The North London club started poorly after gifting Everton with the opener, when a routine set piece was dealt catastrophically as David Luiz misguided a header that set-up Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a simple finish.

The Gunners equalized in the 27th minute when in-form Bukayo Saka delivered a pristine cross which found Eddie Nketiah, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net. Just a few minutes later Aubameyang put the Emirates club ahead from a Luiz pass but that was cancelled out by Richarlison who snuck one in from a confusing set piece.

However, Arsenal re-took the lead in the opening seconds of second half as Aubameyang delivered a pin-point header from a Pepe cross. It was a contrasting performance from Arteta’s side as they struggled in defense but delivered a stunning offensive display.

Here are Arsenal Player Ratings:

Bernd Leno – 7.5 – Was hesitant during Everton’s second goal, but the defense left him open. He was impressive in the second half as he made couple of reflex saves and was confident, when he had to come out of his line to make an interception.

Hector Bellerin – 6.5 – Was impressive going forward, but was found wanting on a couple of occasions in defense. Had a hand in Everton’s second goal, as he played Richarlison onside.

Shkodran Mustafi – 7 – Another solid performance from the German. Had a few nervy moments and looked sluggish at times, but was solid overall and made some important blocks and interceptions.

David Luiz – 6 – Should have done better for the opening goal, but made up for it with the assist for the second goal. Had some questionable moments in the defense though.

Sead Kolasinac – NA – Was forced off early but was very poor in whatever time he was on the pitch. Was responsible for the first goal and then nearly allowed Iwobi to score.

Dani Ceballos – 7.5 – He is back in form and the Spanish midfielder put in another impressive display. He controlled the game, dropping deep when ever required and then helped Arsenal move forward with his range of passing. A really solid display.

Granit Xhaka – 6.5 – Worked hard throughout the game. Moved the ball well in midfield while also keeping his shape in defense.

Mesut Ozil – 7.5 – A well rounded display from the German as he made Arsenal tick in midfield with some clever touches to get them going. It was a game of quiet influence.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 9 – Scored 2 important goals which helped the side secure the win. He was a huge threat going forward, and also worked hard in tracking back when Everton were on the offense.

Nicolas Pepe – 8 – Another solid outing for the record signing. Was a huge threat early on and grabbed a nice assist for the third goal and almost had a couple more. Has been very consistent over the past few games.

Eddie Nketiah – 7- Did well upfront while also bagging his first goal this season with a great finish. Worked hard and linked-up play very well, which will please Arteta.

Substitutes:

Buyako Saka– 7 – Came on for Kolasinac early on and put in a sensational cross almost immediately. Added some much-needed composure but looked tired at the end of the game giving away ball too cheaply on a couple of occasions.

Lucas Torreira– 6- Came on late to see out the result and provided reassuring presence.

Matteo Guendouzi– 6 – Did well in closing down Everton during the fag end of the game.

Arsenal legend urges club to sort out youngster’s contract situation

By
Nithyanand
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Arsenal Stadium

Bukayo Saka has been one of the most impressive performers for Arsenal this season and already has 8 assists to his name to go along with a few goals.

The 18-year-old who normally operates as a winger has also filled in at left-back and shown admirable poise and calmness in the defensive part of his game.

But with the youngster entering the final 18 months of his contract, there is interest beginning to grow from other clubs. Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour was speaking to talkSPORT about Saka’s contract situation and this is what he said:

“Saka was excellent again on the left-hand side, he had another really good game

“I think he has to get tied down now on a new contract. I think they are trying to organize it at the moment.”

It has been a brilliant first season for the 18-year-old youngster after being officially promoted into the first-team squad in the summer. He also proved his versatility, first displaying his offensive qualities earlier in the season and then seamlessly transitioning into defense under Arteta.

There is rumored to be interest from both Manchester United and Premier League leaders Liverpool. But it would be in the best interest of the North London club to act quickly and make sure that Saka stays in London for years to come.

Arsenal are infamous for failing to tie down their talent to long-term contracts. They shouldn’t allow the talks to delay until the summer when Saka will have just one year remaining and there will be many top clubs vying to prise him away.

It should actually a no-brainer decision for the club. A youngster who is starting week-in and week-out and making a huge statement with his performances, all despite playing out of position.

There is a very talented group of youngsters coming through at the Emirates right now. With Saka leading the way alongside Gabriel Martinelli, the future promises to be bright. Every week, a different young player is blossoming and that in itself is a mouth-watering prospect for the future.

‘Great display, Brilliant’, Some Arsenal players praise forward’s display against Newcastle

By
Nithyanand
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Nicolas Pepe hasn’t really set the stage on fire since his record breaking move to Arsenal, but he is steadily proving his worth with Sunday’s game against Newcastle United being another testament of his potential.

With 2 assists and a goal, the 24-year-old was the driving force as the Gunners breezed past the Magpies. He was one of the bright spots in the first half when the North London club were unable to make any inroads.

When the team switched on in the second half, the Ivorian was at the forefront of the Gunners offense. The winger’s performance did not go unnoticed as fans were quick to appreciate him.

Here are some of the reactions:

Pepe got the assist for the opener when he floated in a dangerous cross that was headed home by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Just a couple of minutes later, he was on the end of a pass from Bukayo Saka and Pepe did made no mistake in smashing the ball into the back of the net.

And he was at it again deep into injury time when he ran free after a pass from Joe Willock and squared it to Lacazette who finally ended his goal drought. This is the kind of performance that fans will have been wanting to see ever since the Ivorian arrived in the summer.

There’s so much technical quality in Pepe but he lacks consistency which is kind of understandable considering that it’s his first season in England and as if that wasn’t enough he has already been under three different managers with very different approaches.

It is tough for a young player to go through so many changes, but it’s encouraging to see him put in some fantastic performances and if he can keep up this level, he will be worth every penny Arsenal spent on him .

The North London club are still 7 points adrift of 4th-placed Chelsea who still have a game in hand. A Champions League spot is still far away, but at least they have resumed the League season on a bright note.

Mikel Arteta unimpressed with Guendouzi’s displays during winter break

By
Nithyanand
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Mikel Arteta

Arsenal got back to winning ways as they cruised past Newcastle United 4-0 on Sunday courtesy of goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette which blew away the visitors.

One of the surprising decisions from manager Mikel Arteta ahead of the game was the fact that Matteo Guendouzi was not part of the match day squad.

When queried by Sky Sports‘ Geoff Shreeves on why Guendouzi was left out, Arteta said before kickoff:

“It was a tactical decision.”

However, according to reports in Mirror, the reason behind this move was that Arteta was not impressed with what he saw from the midfielder in the training camp held in Dubai.

This saw a return to the starting eleven for Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos who impressed with his passing and dribbling. Speaking at the post match press conference, Arteta said:

“Dani Ceballos is a good example. He was injured and when he started to train I didn’t think he was fit enough. He completely changed his behavior and trained like an animal. I thought he was the best player on the pitch.”

Matteo has been a constant feature in the team and has looked quite impressive whenever he’s on the pitch. However, it seems the Spanish boss was more impressed with what he saw from Ceballos and that gave him an edge over Guendouzi.

The Europa League game versus Olympiacos on Thursday will be an opportunity for the Frenchman to make a comeback. It is good for the manager to have all these options at his disposal.

It allows Arteta to change the combination in the midfield as he sees fit. This makes it possible to play different teams with the midfield strength that Arsenal posses. Arsenal will want to take the same momentum into the Europa League fixture.

Guendouzi will get more chances to show the manager what he is made of. The winter break and training camp in Dubai seems to have refreshed the players and that bodes well for the rest of the season.

Arsenal struggling to agree new contract with young midfielder

By
Nithyanand
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Arsenal Stadium

Bukayo Saka has been a real breakout star for Arsenal this season excelling in a variety of roles. He has been a revelation playing both on the wings as well as filling in at left-back.

However, his contract situation has put his future at the club in doubt. Saka’s current deal expires in the summer of 2021 and the North London club haven’t made any breakthrough in talks over a new deal, according to reports in Telegraph(via Metro).

The report in Metro further states that some Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are interested in bringing him to their respective clubs and the youngster will have a wealth of choices if he decides on running down his contract.

Speaking to Arsenal’s official website ahead of Sunday’s game against Newcastle, Mikel Arteta said that the club will do the right thing in ensuring the future of their young stars.

“I’m really happy with how they [the young players] are developing. Part of that development is to improve the contract and to tie them to the club.

“But that has to follow a natural process. We have Edu, we have Raul, Vinai and Huss who are in charge of that and I am sure we will do the right thing when players deserve to improve and extend their contracts.”

Due to the injury problems suffered by Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac, Saka has been filling in at left-back and to his credit, he has been pretty impressive. His impressive displays will probably mean that the club will have to move fast or risk losing him.

Saka is one of the club’s biggest young prospects so they will be keen to keep him at the Emirates. Fans will be hoping that the board has learned the right lessons from the saga surrounding Aaron Ramsey. Arsenal couldn’t agree on a deal with the Welsh midfielder and he eventually left on a free transfer to Juventus.

The midfielder was taken off in the first half against Burnley, but it is good to know that he will be back in contention for the game against Newcastle United. He offers Mikel Arteta plenty of options and it is this versatility that makes him an exciting prospect for the future.

The likes of Saka, Martinelli and Nelson are the future and it is important for the club to secure their long-term futures. If a player like Saka is let go, it will send the wrong message across.

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