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Arsenal hold talks with defender’s agent ahead of possible January transfer

By
Nithyanand
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Arsenal are eager to strengthen their defence and are reportedly in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykola Matviyenko, according to reports in Express.

The report states that Mikel Arteta is keen on strengthening the defence this month with RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano being the top target. A loan move for Boateng is also an option but Arsenal will reportedly prefer a cheaper permanent transfer.

Mykola Matviyenko’s agent has confirmed that the North London club are in talks with his client. Speaking to Ukrainian outlet Zbirna, he said:

“In recent times, my colleagues and I have been in constant contact with Arsenal representatives and have held meetings.

“The Gunners’ confidants have already contacted Shakhtar, and we hope that these negotiations will succeed.”

Matviyenko has played 23 matches for the Ukrainian team this season including the six group stage Champions League games as well. Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen his defense owing to the club’s poor defensive record this season

Another reason why Matviyenko is being considered could be due to the versatility that he offers. Apart from playing as a center back, he can also slot in at full-back. This will be particularly useful as Arsenal currently have both their left-backs out with injury.

Having the Ukrainian means that he will be able to deputize for Kieran Tierney or Sead Kolasinac should one of them get injured.

So, getting a young and talented player like Matviyenko will definitely go a long way in helping Mikel Arteta in his efforts to propel Arsenal back into the Champions League. Fans will be hoping that the club will make some swift transfer this month.

23-year-old midfielder in talks with Real Madrid to end his Arsenal loan spell

By
Nithyanand
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Dani Ceballos

Dani Ceballos is reportedly looking to end his Arsenal loan spell this month to improve his chances of playing for Spain at the 2020 Euro’s, according to reports in Spanish radio show Carrusel Deportivo.

The report further states that the midfielder has told Mikel Arteta of his desire to move away from the North London club.

The 23-year-old also told his parent club Real Madrid about his intentions to leave and the Spanish club are looking to end his loan agreement this month.

Ceballos has been on the sidelines very often due to a muscle tear injury. Even when he has been fit, the midfielder has not been preferred by manager Mikel Arteta. This might have played a part in the midfielder making up his mind on leaving.

He started out in a very impressive manner early on in the season. But since then, his loan spell has not gone as well as he would have liked. But it remains to be seen if Arsenal can convince him to stay at least until the summer.

If Ceballos was to leave, it will leave the Gunners a little light in the midfield. The decision might come down to what plans Mikel Arteta has for the Spaniard. Fans had taken a liking to him with his skill on the ball and dribbling reminding viewers of former Arsenal player Santi Cazorla.

The midfielder is at a stage in his career where he has to play on a regular basis. And with the Euros coming up this summer, it is understandable that he is looking for more game time.

There is not much time left till the end of the January transfer window so a decision will have to be made quickly. The club needs a settled squad, if they are to claw their way back into the Champions League.

It does not help if there are players who want to leave. For the sake of the team, the future of Ceballos should be sorted out as soon as possible.

Mikel Arteta impressed with Arsenal’s resolve against Chelsea

By
Nithyanand
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Mikel Arteta

Arsenal did really well to get a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The fact that the Gunners were able to do this after going behind twice during the course of the match was impressive.

In the 26th minute, David Luiz prevented Tammy Abraham from scoring after a mistake from Shkodran Mustafi. This saw the Brazilian getting a red card and a penalty being awarded to the Blues.

But despite conceding, Arsenal kept fighting and found the resolve needed to get a point. Mikel Arteta was impressed with the way his team fought back to force a result. According to Independent, he said:

“The spirit, character, fight and leadership was there. When someone makes a mistake and someone has to take a red card for him it can happen. 

“What has to happen is you have to stand up for him and every single player did that. If you put in everything, anything can happen.”

Though it wasn’t to be a win, there will be a lot of positives to take away from the game. The fact that the team didn’t give up despite being a man down will make the manager happy. Players were forced to play in unfamiliar positions and they still managed to be impressive.

The best example of this would be Granit Xhaka who moved from midfield into the center of defense. The other would be Bukayo Saka who played as a left-back though he normally plays as a left-winger. Arteta’s tactical move of not making a substitution and keeping Xhaka on the pitch proved to be a masterstroke.

It gave North London club someone who would be calm on the ball. His aerial prowess also came to the fore as he and Mustafi combined to neutralize Chelsea to a large extent.

For a long time, Arsenal have been accused of being too soft and were regarded as not being tough. Even forward Alexandre Lacazette spoke about how the team needed to be tougher. But this is the kind of result that will go a long way in setting that image right.

It is not easy to play with 10 men but the character that Arteta was talking about was key in getting the North Londoners a positive result. This should be used as the blueprint for other games where they will find the going a little tough. Arteta will be feeling more confident in his team on the basis of this display.

‘Outstanding, unreal’, Many Arsenal fans impressed with midfielder’s display against Chelsea

By
Nithyanand
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Granit Xhaka

Arsenal showed impressive resolve and character to leave Stamford Bridge with a draw after going behind twice. David Luiz was sent off early on which put the Gunners under tremendous pressure throughout.

The sending off forced Mikel Arteta to make a tactical shift that pushed midfielder Granit Xhaka to the center of defense. He went on to produce a commanding display that has gone on to wow fans all over.

Here are some of the reactions from Twitter:

Given the clash that the midfielder had with Arsenal fans a few months ago, it looked like he might be leaving the club this month. But since the arrival of Arteta, Xhaka has found a new lease of life and has proven to be highly impressive.

This was evident in the way he coped with the Chelsea attack last night playing in an unfamiliar position. Xhaka and Mustafi played impressively together and kept their London rivals at bay.

The midfielder will be happy to see this reaction from fans given how fractious the relationship between the two was, not too long ago. Given that David Luiz will be suspended due to his red card, there is every chance that Arteta persists with the Swiss as a center back.

His calmness on the ball and leadership qualities came out yesterday and showed why Wenger and Emery stuck with him despite the struggles. Though the North London club were unable to get a win, they will be happy with the way they fought throughout the match.

This could prove to be a turning point in the course of the season and may push Arsenal to reach greater heights. The next match is away at Bournemouth in a 4th round FA Cup tie.

If they can carry the same spirit they showed at Stamford Bridge, they will ultimately put the points on the board. And for that to happen, it helps that the club has players like Xhaka who are willing to play in unfamiliar positions. Arteta will be hoping that his players can kick on from here and finish the season strongly.

Arsenal agree deal to sign PSG star on a free transfer this summer

By
Nithyanand
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Arsenal Stadium

Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain full-back Layvin Kurzawa on a free transfer this summer, according to reports in France Football(via Sun).

The report further states that the North London club were keen on signing the defender this month, but their plans were derailed by PSG boss who reportedly wants to keep hold of the player until the summer.

The 27-year-old will reportedly sign a 5-year-deal with the Gunners once his contract with PSG expires in the summer. The Sun further claims that Arteta has given a seal of approval to make the defender his first summer signing.

PSG manager Thomas Tuchel expressed his desire to keep hold of the defender ahead of PSG’s match against Lorient. This is what he had to say:

“Layvin is number two behind [Juan] Bernat in the left-back position. We need him and Layvin will play against Lorient.”

The left-back position is one area where the North London club are facing issues as both Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac have been facing recurring injury concerns. This has seen winger Bukayo Saka being asked to deputize there and to his credit, he has performed admirably.

But the team would be better off having a natural full-back play there. This is where the potential signing of Kurzawa will go a long way in solving that problem. It would have been more beneficial to get him this month.

Though he is a defender, he is excellent at the attacking end and even has a Champions League hat-trick to his name. All of these are qualities will be appealing to Mikel Arteta who likes his left-back to push up and provide width.

The French defender was a hugely impressive member of the Monaco side but his form at PSG has not been consistent at that level. If he is able to recapture some of his earlier form, it will prove to be a shrewd signing by the Gunners.

The team needs to be strengthened if the club is serious about getting back into the Champions League.

Alexandre Lacazette frustrated by naive Arsenal after Sheffield draw

By
Nithyanand
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Alexandre Lacazette

Arsenal were leading against Sheffield United for most of the game but they gave away a late equalizer ultimately sharing the spoils.

French forward Alexandre Lacazette spoke after the match about how the North London club should be less naive. Speaking to RMC Sport(via Metro), he said:

“They were not very dangerous but this match summarises how we are this season. We are winning the match but don’t get it over the line.

“We are quite naive at the moment. We need to be nastier and more consistent in the 90th to 93rd minutes of matches.

“Especially when we can do better than this. We have the players required. It is a shame.”

The Emirates club have let some matches slip away in the later stages recently with an example being the game against Chelsea. The Gunners were leading until the 80th minute but conceded two late goals.

Lacazette’s point about the club needing to be nastier has to be thought about by the whole team. Sometimes you need to be a little crafty in breaking up play, disrupting the opposition’s rhythm to win.

Manchester City are amazing at this part of the game which is popularly known as tactical fouling. And on the basis of Mikel Arteta’s first few games, the Gunners seem to be slowly transitioning to that kind of play.

Arsenal need to get back to winning ways if they are to make it back into the Champions League. The year started off on the right note as they beat rivals Manchester United. But since then, they have not been able to win a Premier League match and that will be a little concerning for Arteta.

The North Londoners will be playing Chelsea on the 21st and this will be a great chance for the club to make a statement against their local rivals. Chelsea are currently 10 points ahead, so this will be one way to reduce that deficit.

Arsenal have looked promising under Arteta’s leadership, it is just that the team has to ensure that they keep their heads up for the entire game. If they are able to do that, the Champions League is still a possibility.

Arsenal face battle to sign Brazilian midfielder as Lyon open transfer talks

By
Nithyanand
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Predicted Arsenal Line-up

One of the players that has been actively linked with a move to the Emirates this month is Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes(as per Mirror).

However, according to reports in L’Equipe(via Get Football News France), the North London club will be facing some competition in bringing him to the Emirates.

The report states that French club Lyon have already opened talks with Athletico Paranaense to sign the 22-year-old defensive midfielder. The report also states that Lyon would be willing to seal a deal in the summer if they are unable to complete it in January.

Goal have earlier reported that Benfica have made a bid for the player but that was valued below what the Brazilian club had in mind. In order to get Bruno, the buying club would have to come up with a fee that is between £21m and £25m.

Bruno has been an impressive member of the Paranaense team and has started to attract attention from European sides. His skill lies in picking the right pass which makes him an ideal player for teams like Arsenal.

The Emirates club are good at possession football and look to progress the ball at every given opportunity. If Arsenal are able to get him into the team, it will help manager Mikel Arteta in solidifying the midfield.

And since there is going to be competition to get the midfielder, the club will have to move quickly to seal the move. Bruno is currently in Colombia with the Brazilian Olympics team where he is the captain.

He would represent a good signing as he would complement the style of play that Arteta wants to implement. Whether the Gunners are able to get a deal across the line during this transfer window remains to be seen.

Arsenal currently in 10th place and are ten points behind 4th placed Chelsea who they play on the 21st. This is a great chance for the Gunners to get back into the running for the Champions League spots.

Apart from getting a win, fans will be hoping that the club does make some moves in the transfer window.

Arsenal vs Sheffield United Preview

By
George
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Arsenal Celebration

Arsenal will be facing Sheffield United at home on Saturday in the Premier League. The game will certainly be a challenge for the Gunners as Sheffield sit four places above them in the table, separated by four points.

The recently promoted club have been brilliant this season and have surprised many with their impressive consistency and ability to hold up against Premier League giants.

In the last few games however, the side from the North of England has faced tough opponents in Manchester City and Liverpool, losing both 2-0 before a good win over West Ham of 1-0.

Sheffield have surprised with some fiery attacking play, with some of their key players including Raul Jimenez who has scored a very respectable 8 goals and created 6 assists. It will be a good test of Arsenal’s struggling defence if they can keep him out.

For Arsenal, there remain multiple players injured who would otherwise feature. Hector Bellerin, Sead Kolasinac are both doubtful for Saturday’s game with the long term injuries of Kieran Tierney and Calum Chambers also sidelining them.

Head Coach Mikel Arteta will have to make tough decisions to make sure the North London club’s defence is ready for this challenge.

As well as the lack of depth at the back, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Arsenal’s top scorer, is still suspended. Alexandre Lacazette may have to play as the sole striker against the Blades, being one of the main goal threats other than Aubameyang.

Although Arsenal have been in better form since the Mikel Arteta took over as Head Coach, the Gunners’ form has still been shaky, with 3 draws, 1 win and 1 loss in their last 5 games. Winning against Sheffield would mean the second home win in a row for Arteta, an achievement he’ll be desperate for to consolidate the team’s form.

This is a crucial time for the Gunners. If Arsenal fail to beat Sheffield at home, it looks like a top four finish will truly be out of sight. Despite this pressure, if Arsenal play the attacking, exciting football they have used under Arteta, a win is likely.

Key player returns from injury in Arsenal update ahead of weekend clash

By
George
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Mikel Arteta

In a recent injury update, Arsenal have made it clear that certain players are still unavailable for the upcoming home game against Sheffield United in the Premier League.

Arsenal’s official website have revealed that Sead Kolasinac has been ruled out for another game with his thigh injury, solidifying the Gunner’s struggle for defensive depth and leaving head coach Mikel Arteta with tough decisions to be made, including whether Bukayo Saka is a firm choice at the full-back position.

Hector Bellerin looks set to miss the game as well, with the club saying the Spaniard is “Being assessed” ahead of the clash with a “tight right hamstring”.

Unsurprisingly, Kieran Tierney and Calum Chambers remain sidelined for the long term, but the club did give updates on their injuries, saying that both players have had successful surgeries. Tierney is entering his rehabilitation process and is aiming to return to the pitch in March.

Chambers, suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament will take significantly longer to recover, with the club’s statement putting the number at six to nine months, ruling the defender out for the rest of the season.

The positive news in the update is that it looks as if Lucas Torreira will be ready to play for the Gunners against Sheffield United on Saturday given he wasn’t mentioned at all.

After the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, the Uruguayan looked like he could have picked up a bad muscular injury. In a press conference after the game, when asked about the midfielder, Arteta said:

“It’s a muscle injury, we will have to assess it with the doctors tomorrow or the day after then we will know more.”

Having the player back in the squad will certainly be a huge boost for the North London side in a time when they have struggled greatly in defence.

Torreira is known for his determined and fiery playing style and being able to quickly turn the game from defence to attack. Without him the Arsenal could have been in trouble on Saturday.

Preview: Arsenal look to continue momentum as they take on Crystal Palace

By
admin
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Predicted Arsenal Line-up

As any long-suffering Arsenal fan can tell you, the last few months have been very turbulent for the North London club.

After a terrible run of form with former manager Unai Emery in charge, Mikel Arteta has taken over as the new head coach of the club and looks like he could turn things around.

However, with Arsenal sitting in 10th place after 21 games, this looks like a difficult challenge for the new head coach.

The Gunners are only one point behind their next opponent Crystal Palace, who have had a mixed run of form, taking 1 win, 1 loss and 3 draws away from their last 5 premier league games.

This team should not be taken for granted, however with players like Wilfried Zaha, Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew all able to capitalise on what has shown to be an extremely weak Arsenal defence.

The Emirates club will struggle to contain these players without a serious rethink of defensive strategy and how to control a game.

Historically the North London club has struggled to deal with teams that play a more direct form of football like Crystal Palace do, often preparing for a quicker, possession-based style of play.

However, recent performances against Manchester United and Leeds United have shown fans that Arsenal under Mikel Arteta can manage against smaller clubs with a more direct style of play in scrappy games.

As well as Arsenal’s recent impressive performances, Crystal Palace are suffering from a major injury crisis, losing 8 first-team players to injuries. All factors considered, it looks like it could be a hard-fought battle at Selhurst Park, but the belief is that Arsenal are the superior team and are the more likely team to win.

Given both team’s poor defenses, however, there will definitely be goals in this game and a lot of pressure on Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno.

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