Ian Wright criticises Arsenal forward for not trying hard enough

By

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05-02-2020

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has criticized Nicolas Pepe for not showing enough desire in performances so far this season.

The North London club signed the winger for a club-record fee of £72m, but things haven’t really worked out in his favour so far. Though he has shown glimpses of his brilliance, it has not come through consistently enough.

Ian Wright who was talking on the BBC Radio Five Live show took notice of the fact that the Gunners need more from the forward, he said:

“We definitely need more out of him, I’d like to see him play more and getting the creative players ramming the ball down his throat to get him taking on players.

“In Arsenal’s current state in respect of money we cannot afford to pay that kind of money for somebody and three managers now are not really sold. That can’t happen, we’re not in that luxurious position. Whatever happens we’ve got to get a tune out of Pepe and quick. Three managers have benched him.

“I’m not seeing enough movement from him, not seeing enough hunger from him to want to make something happen and he needs to start doing that because questions are starting to be asked.”

It is always tough for a player to move to a country and instantly hit the ground running, but when a player arrives with this kind of a price tag he is expected to start showing his worth instantly.

But based on the bits and pieces that he has shown, the manager will be hoping that he can do it on a more consistent basis. He is still young and might take time to properly adapt to the surroundings and show the tricks, flicks and goals that made Arsenal splash the cash on him.

Now there is a two week break and the Gunners are off to Dubai for a training camp. This will be a good opportunity for the winger to show manager Mikel Arteta what he is made of.

There is a lot of pressure on Pepe being the record signing but he has to put that behind him and focus on his game.

Once he starts contributing on a more regular basis, the pressure will automatically melt away. A lot of football is still to be played and Pepe is sure to have a part to play in it.

Barcelona confirm interest in signing Arsenal forward

By

Nithyanand

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05-02-2020

It has not been too long since the January transfer window ended but it seems some clubs have already started drawing up plans for the upcoming season with Barcelona certainly being one of them.

The Spanish club are reportedly targeting the potential signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and this was confirmed by their sporting director Eric Abidal.

Speaking to Sport(via Metro), he said:

“I know him (Aubameyang). He has a profile that has depth. He is important, and in his team he is decisive.

“It is good to bring this profile of player who can be in the market and can help you. We’ll see what will happen.”

The 30-year-old’s contract is up at the end of next summer and the forward has still not signed an extension with the North London club.

The report in Metro further claims that Barcelona tried to make a move for the forward in January but that was not entertained by Arsenal. That makes sense as the club would have not have had enough time to find a suitable replacement.

It would be ideal for the club to let the forward leave in the summer if he is not keen on signing the extension. Although we haven’t heard Aubameyang’s version yet, what will make the fans happy is the fact that the club’s captain has recently revealed his love for the club.

Ever since he made his move two years ago, he has been the North Londoner’s standout player. He has won the Premier League Golden Boot and is the team’s leading scorer this season. The fact that he was made the captain is proof of how integral he has become to Arsenal.

Perhaps the reason that might make Aubameyang want to move is the desire to play in the Champions League. If that is the case, the Spanish club would certainly be a great option. We will have to wait until the summer to see what happens with this possible transfer.

If the striker was to leave, he can do so with his head held high as the forward has given his best whenever called upon. But if the North London club are serious about keeping him, they will have to get his contract situation sorted as soon as possible.

Arsenal settle for a draw against Burnley

By

George

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03-02-2020

Arsenal against Burnley used to be a match that would have been decided before the teams even stepped on the pitch.

However, with Arsenal struggling big time Burnley proved more of a challenge for the North London club than they have used to with a disappointing match finishing goalless at 0-0.

Both teams were somewhat disappointing on the day, with David Luiz calling Burnley’s playing style as ‘anti-football’ and Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta complaining about Burnley’s pitch saying “conditions were difficult”.

In the first half, Arsenal looked as if they could score two or three, but the finishing on display was poor, with the normally sharp Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missing a clear opportunity in front of goal after a great long ball by David Luiz and failing to convert a similar chance after being played through by Granit Xhaka.

It was only Burnley’s equally poor finishing that enabled the Emirates club to stay in the game. As per usual, Bernd Leno was key in Arsenal keeping the single point.

In the second half, there were a few more chances for the North London side coming from Hector Bellerin who ignored Lacazette for an attempt at goal himself and from Aubameyang who’s shot just brushed the outside of the post in one of the closest attempts for the Gunners in the whole match.

Arsenal once again got lucky after Burnley’s Rodriguez had a shot that hit the crossbar late in the game but was just inches from a goal.

At the end of the day, Arsenal didn’t deserve a win and were quite lucky to even get a point. This game does not look good for their chances of moving up the table in the last stage of the Premier League.

Can Arsenal seriously finish in the top 4?

By

George

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02-02-2020

It wasn’t long ago that Arsenal fans were less than satisfied with the club’s ambitions when Arsene Wenger was delivering consistent top 4 finishes season after season.

Since the Gunners’ last Premier League win in the 03/04 season to the 15/16 season, the North London club has finished in 4th 6 times, 3rd 4 times and 2nd twice before finishing outside of a Champions League position for the first time in the 16/17 season. Since then it has felt as if the club has just spiralled lower and lower.

This season, after a very poor start under Unai Emery, the North London club are in 10th place with 14 games to go; this means a possible 42 points to be won with the club needing to grab most of those points to have a genuine chance of finishing in top 4.

With Arsenal’s current team this looks to be unlikely. Betting site SkyBet giving the North London side 1/20 odds to make it to the top 4.

As it stands the Gunners are 11 points off the top 4 and are yet to play some of the top teams including Man City and Liverpool, the top 2 teams in the League currently.

Defensive weakness has been the primary aspect that has let Arsenal down this season in the Premier League, sitting on a goal difference of -2.

The Emirates club have tried to bridge that defensive gap with the signings of Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari, improving the prospects for Mikel Arteta’s side to rise up the table.

Tactically, under the new head coach Arteta, Arsenal have felt sharper and, most importantly, more positive in their playing style than they did under Unai Emery. If the Gunners can utilise the attacking force of Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette and Ozil alongside the stronger defence then points should roll in.

Ultimately it could be too late for Arsenal to finish in the top 4, a huge gap of points means that the Gunners’ place is dependant heavily on other teams slipping up.

The atmosphere at the Emirates has been struggling more than it has done in many years and the idea this could be turned around in such a short amount of time is hard to believe.

What seems most likely is that Arteta’s side will push on and improve their results to claim a probable top 6 finish to confirm their place in the Europa League, it isn’t exciting but it is a must for Arsenal to stay a top side.

Dani Ceballos to stay at Arsenal for the rest of the season

By

Nithyanand

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31-01-2020

Dani Ceballos who joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid will reportedly remain at the Emirates for the rest of his loan spell, according to reports in Daily Mail.

There were reports earlier that he was close to ending his stay with Arsenal but it seems he has decided against this now.

The report in Daily Mail claims that Ceballos had talks with manager Mikel Arteta over his future at the club and has had a change of heart. The midfielder will now remain at the Emirates until his loan spell ends in the summer.

The 23-year-old was contemplating leaving due to a lack of game time but it looks like Arteta has cleared any doubts he might have had.

The Spaniard arrived when Unai Emery was the manager and had a very good start to his Arsenal career. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in November and was sidelined for a considerable amount of time.

When there was talk about Ceballos leaving the Gunners, Valencia was being sounded out as a potential destination that would have allowed him to return to the Spanish League. But fans will be happy to know that the midfielder didn’t go ahead with that deal and decided to stay back.

Ceballos’ early impression was so good that he was being thought of as the next Santi Cazorla. This was in part due to his dribbling skills and ability to go past players. But that was then, it will be interesting to see how he does under Arteta. We got a taste of that when Ceballos came on as a substitute against Bournemouth in the FA Cup.

Though he didn’t contribute with a goal or assist, he kept things moving and was always willing to look for a pass. This is something that would have pleased the manager who wants his team to keep moving the ball.

Arsenal take on Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday. This would be a good chance for the Spaniard to stake his claim if he is asked to play. There is a lot of quality in him and fans will be wanting to see more of that in the coming weeks.

If Ceballos can come good once again, it will play a big role in helping the team achieve the targets they want to.

Arsenal and Tottenham submit transfer offers to sign 26-year-old midfielder

By

George

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31-01-2020

In what could lead to an extremely interesting last few hours of the January transfer window, Arsenal have been linked with a last-minute move for a midfielder.

German outlet Sport21 are reporting that both Arsenal and their fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur have tabled bids for Juventus midfielder Emre Can, who moved to the Italian giants on a free transfer in 2018.

The report claims that Juventus and Borussia Dortmund have agreed on a transfer deal, but the midfielder hasn’t accepted the German club’s offer yet.

In the season following Can’s move to Juventus, he played 35 games, scored 4 goals and grabbed 1 assist. However, these statistics do not represent the central midfielder’s contribution to the side as he is a strong defensive asset with his strength and ability to tackle as key aspects to his game.

The Sport21 report also states that it is believed that the bid for Can may have to be a minimum of £21 million in order for the player to move this transfer window.

Whether Arsenal feel comfortable spending this much is yet to be seen, but the Gunners could certainly do with Can.

Although almost every aspect of Arsenal’s game has been tested heavily this season, some of the most notable failures have been in defence and within the midfield area.

Granit Xhaka has had a difficult season, to say the least, and Mesut Ozil has been the subject of harsh criticism. Can will be an excellent addition to the Emirates club.

It may be hard to convince the player to move to the Arsenal given their poor position in 10th in the Premier League and the lack of certainty as to whether the club will make it to the Champions League or even the Europa League.

Tottenham will be keen to take the player out of Arsenal’s grasp, so we can only hope that the Gunners make the bid big enough to guarantee the player’s services.

David Ornstein claims Arsenal are on the verge of signing Premier League defender

By

Nithyanand

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30-01-2020

Arsenal completed their first signing of the January transfer window on Wednesday with the arrival of Pablo Mari from Flamengo.

Now, they will be adding to that with the potential arrival of Southampton right-back Cedric Soares. David Ornstein of The Athletic, took to his Twitter account to talk about this deal.

He said:

“Expectation is Arsenal will complete signing of 28yo Portugal full-back Cedric Soares from Southampton within 24hrs. Loan until end of season will earn #SaintsFC £5m inc full salary cover + put #AFC in pole position if they want permanent when free agent in summer.”

Expectation is Arsenal will complete signing of 28yo Portugal full-back Cedric Soares from Southampton within 24hrs. Loan until end of season will earn #SaintsFC £5m inc full salary cover + put #AFC in pole position if they want permanent when free agent in summer @TheAthleticUK

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 29, 2020

Cedric joined Southampton in the summer of 2015 and he has proven to be a dependable presence for the Saints but with his contract up at the end of the summer, it presents the right time for the North London club to pounce and get him to the Emirates.

Though Arsenal have Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to play at right-back, but it seems Arteta might not use Niles in that role going forward. The manager recently said(as per Football London):

“When we are analyzing the opponent and there are some errors that happen on the pitch we have to correct them and try to help the players as much as possible and we can ask Ainsley (to do) a lot of things but he’s not a full-back.”

The youngster has played in the center of midfield for Arsenal in the past so perhaps he could be returning there. The arrival of Cedric means that he will not have to deputize for Bellerin. Cedric can fill in that role and his Premier League experience means that he will be able to slot in without any problem.

And the Portuguese right-back will have an opportunity to impress the Arsenal manager in regards to his capabilities. If he manages to do well, it will help ease Bellerin back into the team who is returning after a long-term injury.

The club can then decide if they want to make the Cedric loan deal permanent or not depending on his performances. It is a low-risk move that will solve an immediate problem and maybe free up Maitland-Niles to play further up the pitch.

Arsenal handed Shkodran Mustafi fitness boost

By

Nithyanand

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29-01-2020

During Arsenal’s FA Cup fourth-round win against Bournemouth, Shkodran Mustafi had to be taken off the pitch on a stretcher just after the hour mark.

Sky Sports claim that the North London club feared that the defender suffered a bad injury and may have ended up damaging his ligaments.

However, the club has been handed some good news with Mustafi said to have escaped any serious damage. Scans have revealed that the injury was only an ankle sprain, meaning he will only be out for weeks and not months.

Arsenal have enough injury problems with Calum Chambers out for a long period of time and it would have further hampered the club’s push for a Champions League spot if the same had happened to Mustafi.

The German had a pretty impressive game until that point as he was handling the Bournemouth attack well and was excellent with his passing.

With Rob Holding making his way back into the team after a long period out with injury, it is important for Arteta to have all hands on deck. This performance from Mustafi would have been encouraging to see after his mistake against Chelsea.

The 27-year-old’s bad pass allowed Tammy Abraham to race through on goal and that eventually led to David Luiz being sent off and Chelsea being awarded a penalty.

If Arsenal are to make a strong finish to the season, they have to focus on being defensively solid. It doesn’t matter how many goals they score but if they keep conceding, it will be hard to catch up with their rivals.

Players like Mustafi need to step up and show that they can be counted upon. With the club announcing the loan signing of Spanish center-back Pablo Mari, it will let Arteta breathe a little easy. And when Mustafi does come back, he will offer the manager more options that will only benefit the club.

Though he has shown his class in bits and pieces, Mustafi has been too error-prone to be trusted. Perhaps this will be the beginning of a new dawn for the German as he can show what made the Gunners splash the cash on him in the first place.

Official: Pablo Mari joins Arsenal on loan

By

Nithyanand

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29-01-2020

Arsenal have officially confirmed their first signing of the January transfer window with the acquisition of Spanish center-back Pablo Mari.

The defender will join the North London club on a loan deal that will also include an option for it to be made permanent in the summer.

Mari joins the club from Flamengo where he had an extremely successful time winning both the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian League.

Flamengo achieved the unique feat of becoming the first Brazilian side in over 50 years to win both titles in the same season and Mari played a crucial part in making that happen.

The 26-year-old was part of the Manchester City squad for 3 years but was not able to make an appearance for them as he was loaned out to Girona, NAC Breda and Deportivo La Coruna over the course of these 3 seasons.

His performances at Deportivo where he played all 38 matches of their league campaign caught the eye of Brazilian giants Flamengo. They brought the Spaniard to South America where he has flourished under manager Jorge Jesus.

This is Mikel Arteta’s first signing as he looks to strengthen his defense. Injuries to Calum Chambers and Shkodran Mustafi more recently had made this a pressing issue.

Though Mustafi will not be out for a long period of time, it will benefit the squad and Arteta to have some cover at the center back area. Mari has five months to show Arsenal and the Premier League what he is made of.

Fans will be excited to see how he slots into the team and the fact that he is left-footed will provide some balance to the way the Gunners like to build attacks from the back.

Now the focus will be to see if anyone else joins Mari during the few days left in the transfer window.

Mikel Arteta: Gabriel Martinelli has an incredible spirit

By

Nithyanand

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26-01-2020

Gabriel Martinelli has been one of the most impressive players for Arsenal this season as the youngster has racked up 10 goals in his first season.

The 18-year-old’s performances have not gone unnoticed with manager Mikel Arteta praising the spirit of the young Brazilian. Speaking about Martinelli, Arteta said(as per Sky Sports):

“I heard a lot of things about Gabi before I joined and the moment I saw in training, it was confirmed the things I was told before.

“I think the way he competes and how brave he is in every decision on that pitch is very unusual for an 18-year-old.

“His fighting spirit is incredible and then he is a threat for goal every time.”

Martinelli who joined Arsenal in the summer has done very well in a new country. In fact, he has become the first teenager to score 10 goals or more for the North London club since Nicolas Anelka.

He has scored in the last two games and his goal against Chelsea where he ran almost the length of the pitch was a particular highlight.

Arteta was also speaking about the need to protect the player and help him to be consistent. He added:

“That is the risk and not just him, but all of us and me included and the club and the people around him.

“We have to support him and protect him. We cannot just give him the license to think he can do that every single day.”

“He needs to play with that freedom where he has the license to do what he wants to do on the pitch, but with the pressure really that it doesn’t always have to be him to do it.”

It is encouraging to see the new manager take an active interest in the player’s development. Players like Martinelli can reach the very top but it is important for them to have a good support system in place.

Arsenal will now turn their focus to the FA Cup 4th round game against Bournemouth and Arteta will be hoping that the Gunners can continue their cup run. And with the captain and top goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still suspended, Martinelli will be expected to produce the goods once again.

Arteta realizes that he has a gem in his hands and fans will be hoping that the manager and club can help nurture the Brazilian into a top talent. Martinelli has shown that he has the goal-scoring touch and it will help the team enormously if he continues doing that.