ARSENAL have reportedly reignited their interest in Inter Milan talisman Lautaro Martinez.
Milan are said to be strapped for cash and the Argentinian could be one of the players sacrificed to raise money.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta is in search for a versatile left-sided defender with Bologna’s Aaron Hickey is top of the transfer list according to reports.
And legendary Gunners manager Arsene Wenger believes that Unai Emery was treated “unfairly” during his tenure in North London.
Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the Emirates in our live blog…
Saliba’s Will power
Arsenal loanee William Saliba reiterated his desire to stay at Marseille for next season.
Saliba has thrived on loan at L’OM this season, having appeared in a whopping 49 matches across all competitions.
Speaking to Amazon Prime via GFFN, the centre-back said: “My wish is to finish the season well, to leave on a good note in case I don’t come back.
“It would be my pleasure to come back no matter what. It’s not as if I know I’m not going to come back, it’s Marseille, it’s my club”
More from Wenger
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger ranted about the structure of the Europa League – a trophy that Villarreal manager Unai Emery has won four times, most recently last season.
Wenger added: “But as well, there’s a lot to talk about because, for example, is it right that the teams who are not successful in the group stage can play the Europa League?
“Because out of ten years, the teams who are not successful in the Champions League were winning the UEFA Cup.
“So that transformed a non-success into a success”
Weng that got away
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger believes that Villarreal manager Unai Emery was unfairly treated at the Emirates, as shown by how he took his team to the Champions League semi-finals.
Asked by beIN SPORTS host Richards Keys if Emery was “unfairly treated” by the Gunners, Wenger said: “Certainly, yes.
“Because they didn’t give him a lot of time”
Keane and Vieira patch things up
Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira shared a hilarious story of him and legendary Manchester United rival Roy Keane going out for ice cream together.
Vieira told Sky Sports’ Saturday Social: “We were walking back to the hotel and went to an ice cream shop, some fans saw and couldn’t believe it was Roy and myself walking around eating ice cream together.
“He was the one who paid, the better player never paid so he was the one who had to pay for the ice cream.”
Credit: Mark Robinson – The Sun Khayon Edwards pens professional contract
Khayon Edwards has ended speculation over his Arsenal future by penning his first professional contract at the Emirates.
According to The Athletic, Edwards put pen to paper on extending his stay at the Emirates last week.
The forward, who has had his season cut short due to injury, is now tied down in North London until 2025.
The 18-year-old is now due to continue his development for the Under-23s instead of being shipped out on loan in his quest to break into the first team
Whole Lauta love
Inter Milan are set to sell at least three players in the summer, and one of them could be Arsenal transfer target Lautaro Martinez.
That is according to TuttoSport, who report that Inter’s owners Suning need to raise cash yet again to balance their books.
And it’s reckoned one man in the firing line is Lautaro, whom the Gunners are still eyeing as they desperately need attacking reinforcement.
Other players who could be sacrificed include Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni.
Out of all of them, three could be on the way out
Wizard of Os
Arsenal target and Napoli star Victor Osimhen will cost an eye-watering £100million, according to transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio.
Speaking to wettfreunde, Di Marzio said: “I don’t think he will be sold for £80m because he was bought for £70m.
“So, I think that [Napoli owner Aurelio] De Laurentiis is very smart to buy and very difficult when he has to sell the players.
“I don’t think he will let Osimhen go for less than £100m – minimum.
“So, it depends on which club in Premier League will have all this money to spend in the market only for one player”
Leao blow for Arsenal
Newcastle are set to move for AC Milan star and Arsenal target Rafael Leao in the summer transfer window.
But according to reports in Italy, it is now the Magpies that are leading the race to sign Leao.
According to La Repubblica, the Toon and Paris Saint-Germain have so far made the biggest efforts to try and recruit the winger.
It’s claimed that Newcastle and PSG would both be willing to quadruple the Portugal international’s £25,000-a-week salary
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Dein on Chelsea takeover
Ex-Arsenal part owner David Dein will be part of the UK government’s strategy to decide where the Chelsea takeover cash goes after the takeover is complete.
According to The Times, ambassador for the Premier League Dein is urging the government to also save some money to invest into grassroots football in order to help the future generation.
The Blues’ sale has reportedly hit a snag as outgoing owner Roman Abramovich may renege on his pledge not to claim back any loans owed to him.
LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly had been leading the way to take over
Arsenal’s s-Mart choice
Arsenal have reignited their interest in Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez.
The Gunners were linked with a move to bring Lautaro to the Emirates last year and were prepared to offer him a £275,000-a-week deal.
According to The Times, the North Londoners’ interest in the striker has been renewed after being boosted by their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Arsenal are fourth in the English top flight with four matches left to play as they sit two points above rivals Tottenham
Credit: GETTY IMAGES More on Jesus
Transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio added that a potential move to Arsenal may ultimately depend on Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus.
Di Marzio added: “It depends on Gabriel Jesus in the end and if he is okay with playing less with [Erling] Haaland coming.
“It depends on his attitude, knowing another incredible striker like Haaland will arrive.
“When Jack Grealish arrived last year for £100million, Gabriel Jesus stayed, and now he’s playing and Grealish is on the bench.
“So nobody knows if Haaland will arrive and play immediately, and be one of the ‘untouchable’ strikers of [Pep] Guardiola. You never know with him.
“If you don’t do the right tactical movements that Guardiola wants, then you stay on the bench.
“I think Gabriel Jesus is in the perfect situation now in Guardiola’s system. He understands, probably for the first time, what Guardiola is asking him to do”
When Jesus wept
Arsenal have been dealt a transfer blow in their pursuit of Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus is reportedly set to stay at City even if they sign Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland.
According to transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio, the striker is unlikely to leave with manager Pep Guardiola reluctant to offload him.
Di Marzio told wettfreunde: “Seeing him playing against Real Madrid, I don’t think Guardiola will allow him to leave, even if they sign Haaland, which they will, because they are very, very close.
“They still need another striker. A different type of striker. Haaland is a different type. He [Jesus] will stay, because it’s difficult to find a player like him.
“Manchester City doesn’t need to sell a player in order to get funds to buy another player. They have the possibility to buy all the players they want”
More from Holding
Arsenal ace Rob Holding claims Mikel Arteta has helped the team and fans come together.
Holding added: “I think since Mikel has come in there has been a big change in mentality and connecting with the fans.
“That’s why our results have been decent since then them three that we lost. We bounced back and they stuck by us.
“It could have been an easy point to turn on us, but they stuck by us and we’ve had three good results now. Hopefully we can crack on for the next four games”
Rob Holding up
Arsenal ace Rob Holding is braced for fresh competition when William Saliba returns from his loan move this summer.
Holding said: “I have been here six years.
“There have been so many centre-halves in and out the door, so it’s always been competitive. You are at Arsenal. It is going to be competitive.
“I think we are on the same page, in terms of as a team. So, whenever I am needed to help the team, I played the 90 and stepped in for Ben [White].
“Obviously I enjoy playing and I want to play, so if it’s 20 minutes at the end of the game to help the team, I’ll come on and do my best and try and get the lads the three points”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES All Premier League final
An all-Prem Champions League final is the most likely outcome of this week’s semi-final second legs – at least, according to history and the numbers.
Liverpool are firm favourites to progress at Villarreal this evening as they defend a 2-0 first leg lead over the LaLiga side.
And despite Karim Benzema’s last-gasp penalty at the Etihad last week, the odds favour Manchester City withstanding their ordeal by Spanish fire at Real Madrid to ensure the fourth all-English affair in 14 years.
Throughout the entire history of the Champions League, only five out of 21 teams have gone through after losing 2-0 away in the first leg.
In addition, a staggering 76 per cent of teams who have won at home while keeping a clean sheet – 56 out of 74 – have progressed.
And over the 30 seasons since the relaunch of Europe’s premier club competition, victory in the first leg has pointed the way to the eventual tie winner no less than 174 times out of 228
Arsenal ‘will slip up’
Former Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara believes Arsenal will slip up in the race for the last Champions League spot.
O’Hara said: “Arsenal will slip up. I think they’ve got tough games.
“I think we [Spurs] have got one more tough game, and then it’s the North London Derby.
“That’s like a cup final which could go either way”
Tchouameni bid reminder
Arsenal have joined Manchester United in the bidding war over Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni.
Tchouameni is being eyed by several other top European hitters and transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio says Premier League giants are among the 22-year-old’s top admirers.
But the midfielder could cost £60million after picking up eight caps since his France debut in September.
The Gunners could lure Tchouameni with the possibility of Champions League football next season while United are rebuilding under incoming boss Erik ten Hag.
Victor Osimhen reminder
Napoli star Victor Osimhen “dreams” of playing for Arsenal.
Reports from Nigeria cite Corriere dello Sport, who claim that Osimhen wants a move to the Gunners or Manchester United this summer.
But it seems like the 23-year-old prefers the North Londoners.
Unsurprisingly, the Partenopei will fight tooth and nail to keep their striker.
And they will only listen to offers north of £84million for the Nigeria international
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Nketiah transfer hopes
Arsenal have been backed to keep hold of Eddie Nketiah this summer.
That’s the view of talkSPORT pundit Darren Ambrose.
He said: “I think he’ll stay but whether he’ll stay in Arsenal as a player or go on loan I don’t know.
“Arsenal are building something, he’s 22, and if he is confident enough to one day be the focal point for Arsenal [he might stay and go on loan].”
Arsenal season ticket waiting list
Arsenal have one of the most passionate sets of supporters in the Prem.
But a Gooner wanting to snag a season ticket will have to wait quite some time to get hands on one.
That’s because the current waiting list to become a season-ticket holder can reach upto TEN YEARS, according to Footy Accumulators, via Give Me Sport.
Arsenal eye Akanji transfer
Arsenal have set their sights on Borussia Dortmund star Manuel Akanji.
Akanji seems set for a move away from Germany this summer.
And Arsenal are open to giving him a new home, according to BILD.
The report also states that Juventus are tracking the star too.
Calvert-Lewin transfer advice
Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been urged to shun Arsenal for a transfer to Newcastle.
Calvert-Lewin was given the career advice from Scotland legend Frank McAvennie.
McAvennie said to Football Insider: “I’m not sure why you would go to Arsenal instead of Newcastle.
“They won’t be far off each other soon and only one of those clubs is on the up in my opinion. I think he’s having a stinker if he goes to Arsenal, he has had such a bad season as well.
“So he needs to prove his fitness before thinking about moving on. I think him leaving is nailed on. He’s brilliant on his day but he hasn’t had the chance to show it this season.”
Arsenal/Leeds match prediction
Rob Holding has given his verdict on how Arsenal will fare against Leeds in the Premier League.
He said to the Evening Standard: “We have got to take it a game at a time.
“Obviously, we have got Leeds at the weekend and that’s always an intense game.
“They come and bring energy.
“It will be a tough game, but we are at home with the fans behind us and we can try to chalk up another three points.”
Moved White on
Ben White’s transfer to Arsenal showed the depth of Brighton’s squad.
White moved to Arsenal for a record £50m last summer.
And White’s former Brighton compatriot Lewis Dunk reckons the Seagulls have done just fine without the England centre-back.
Dunk said to The Mirror: “I hope we keep the team together and keep pushing on.
“But we have the depth in the squad to fill in and boys have stepped up. If the time comes and boys move on, like Ben White last year, I was buzzing for him.
“We lost one but we have other people as back-up to come in and perform.”
Arteta receives praise from coach
Mikel Arteta has been praised for the cohesion he’s brought to the Arsenal team.
The praise for Arteta was led by Arsenal coach Steve Round.
Round said to the club’s media: “In Mikel Arteta, we’ve got an exceptional manager – there’s no doubt about that.
“And an incredible person too, the sky’s the limit for him.
“The job he’s done over the past couple of years is amazing – the changes he’s made and how he’s started to develop this exciting, fresh new team.
“He’s building a real togetherness and spirit, not only with the players but within the whole club.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
