GABRIEL JESUS has all but agreed to join Arsenal, according to reports.
David Ornstein claims that the deal between the Gunners and the Brazilian is “pretty much done and dusted”.
However, he adds that there is yet to be any contact between Arsenal and Man City.
Ornstein also states that Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains another target for the North Londoners.
Arsenal have also been offered another Brazilian winger-cum-striker in Everton’s Richarlison, according to reports.
Meanwhile Piers Morgan says he has told Cristiano Ronaldo to move to North London.
And Roma are said to have to told Arsenal that they will need to stump up £67m to sign Tammy Abraham.
Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the Emirates in our live blog…
Arteta set to add
Boss Mikel Arteta could look to add more faces to the dressing room with the Gunners’ return to European football looking likely.
Next Arsenal captain?
Arsenal are yet to name their next permanent club captain after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure.
Alexandre Lacazette has taken the armband for now, but his contract is up this summer.
Kieran Tierney and Martin Odegaard are two of the favourites to take up the gig.
Wolves ‘resigned to losing’ Neves
Wolves are ‘resigned to losing’ star man Ruben Neves.
The news comes as a boost to both Manchester United and Arsenal, who have expressed an interest in the midfielder.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Wolves are sounding out potential replacements for the 25-year-old.
Any interested club may have to fork out upwards of £50million for Neves.
Hammers up next
Arsenal take on West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday.
UCL spot could be decided by incredible PLAY-OFF
The Premier League could have play-offs for the title AND the last Champions League spot next month.
League rules allow for a play-off for key spots if teams are locked together on points, goal difference, goals scored and the head to head results.
So far, that has never happened in the history of the competition.
But with just five matches left, it is still possible that Liverpool and Manchester City could face off in the ultimate title showdown.
And Spurs and Arsenal could also duke it out over 90 minutes for the right to play in Europe’s elite competition next term.
Granit Xhaka: Premier League stats so far
Midfielder Granit Xhaka has been an important player for Arsenal this season.
He has formed a strong partnership with Thomas Partey.
Lille prepared to sell David
Lille are prepared to sell Arsenal transfer target Jonathan David this summer.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, David is one of “some players” last year’s Ligue 1 champions are willing to part with.
He could be picked up for under £50million.
Nketiah praises Gunners’ academy
Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has hailed the academy in a recent Q&A.
Toney’s Premier League stats
Ivan Toney has 12 Premier League goals to his name this term.
Do you agree with Parlour?
Parlour says Arsenal should go for Toney
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has recommended his former club sign Brentford’s Ivan Toney to bolster their striker department.
Toney has had a strong season with the Bees, netting 12 goals in the Premier League.
He has more goals than Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang combined this term.
Aubameyang departed the club in January with four Prem goals to his name, leaving boss Mikel Arteta with just four-goal Lacazette and Chelsea brace hero Nketiah to work with.
He told talkSPORT: “The strikers they’ll be looking at, they’ll also be looking at the other clubs interested in those strikers.
“You don’t want to be getting into bidding wars.
“How many clubs will be after Toney, if he’s available?
“That’s the sort of striker I would be trying to get at Arsenal.”
‘Emery is a top manager’ – Enrique
Villarreal defender Jose Enrique has argued that Arsenal were “not patient enough” with Unai Emery.
When speaking to LordPing, he said: “I love Unai Emery. He lives the game, he’s a tactical manager who really studies the game and I know because I see the games and I know players that have played under him in the past and they play under him now.
“They tell me how it is and I believe Arsenal were not patient enough with him.
“Arteta didn’t start the year well, but he won the FA Cup in his first year and Arsenal put their trust in him, gave him the budget and the players that he wanted, and then he delivered.
“People work really hard for the team and he’s proof that he’s a top manager. “
Credit: PA ‘Looney Tunes defending’
Man Utd stars Jadon Sancho and Alex Telles were brutally mocked for trying to mark Arsenal ace Eddie Nketiah.
The United pair tried in vain to block Nketiah in Arsenal’s 3-1 over Manchester United on Saturday.
The hapless duo attempted to sandwich the Arsenal striker during the Premier League clash.
Sancho inched in from the left, and Telles encroached on Nketiah from the right.
But when the sharp Nketiah realised what was going on – he simply side-stepped the United stars’ trap.
Sancho and Telles were left looking bemused as the 22-year-old left them in his dust.
Strike a deal
Ray Parlour has urged Arsenal to try and sign Ivan Toney in the summer transfer window.
When speaking on TalkSPORT, he said: “The strikers they’ll be looking at, they’ll also be looking at the other clubs interested in those strikers.
“You don’t want to be getting into bidding wars. How many clubs will be after Toney, if he’s available?
“That’s the sort of striker I would be trying to get at Arsenal.”
‘He gets you goals’ – Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand has said that Gabriel Jesus could have a significant impact if he joins Arsenal this summer.
When speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel, he said: “You speak to players about him, they appreciate him because he puts a good workload in, he has got quality.
“I think if he plays consistently in a team like Arsenal, I think he gets you goals.”
Taking the Mik
Footage shows Mikel Arteta sympathised with Cristiano Ronaldo as the striker complained to the fourth official during Manchester United’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal last Saturday.
Ronaldo, 37, was frustrated with the officials failing to award his side a penalty when Jadon Sancho went down in the box under a challenge from Cedric Soares.
So when Arsenal were instead awarded a penalty moments later Ronaldo rushed over to the sideline to question the officials’ decision-making.
But the Portuguese realised he was fighting a losing battle with Arsenal’s bench camera showing the striker graciously accepting Arteta’s offer of a handshake.
Credit: Reuters Credit: Rex Credit: Rex
Wright move
Ian Wright has urged Arsenal to keep Mohamed Elneny.
When speaking on his Ringer FC podcast, he said: “We are talking about players who came on who do a job for their manager with unbelievable professionalism.
“Elneny may be leaving at the end of the season, you look at that performance and the one against Chelsea, and you can only think to yourself that if Arsenal are trying to build a team to get to the top four, you need that back-up player.
“He has to stay. For him to come in in those two games, which were arguably two of the biggest games in Arsenal’s calendar, those are massive games, and for him to come in – the last time he played was 2 December – and play at that level, you have to say hats off to him.”
Arsenal ‘in contact over Osimhen’
Arsenal have reportedly held talks with the agent of Napoli’s £84million-rated striker Victor Osimhen over a potential summer transfer.
The Nigerian star has been linked with a switch to the Emirates as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attack.
The Gunners look to be stepping up their pursuit of Osimhen, who is continuing to impress in Italy following his 2020 switch from Lille.
In a boost for the North London outfit, it has been said that Arsenal are at the front of the queue to sign him.
And now reporter Freddie Paxton has revealed that Arsenal have been in contact with Osimhen’s agent.
He has stated that the club’s interest in the player is serious, with Osimhen keen to test himself in the Premier League.
Nev-er say never
Wolves are reportedly considering potential replacements for Ruben Neves.
According to Manchester Evening News, they are expecting to lose the midfielder in the summer.
He has repeatedly been linked with a move to Man Utd over the past few seasons.
But, so far this year only Arsenal and Barcelona have registered an interest.
Credit: Reuters Pep talk
Arsenal are reportedly set to hold talks with Nicolas Pepe at the end of the season regarding his future.
The 26-year-old has failed to live up to expectations since arriving from Lille for an eyewatering £72million fee in 2019.
Now, according to the Evening Standard, the Gunners are now discussing his position ahead of the transfer window.
They are keen to sign two new strikers, which could leave Pepe out of contention for a regular place in the first team.
Credit: Getty Mustafi horror
Former Arsenal star Shkrodran Mustafi was robbed inside his own home on Sunday, according to reports in Spain.
The Levante defender was sleeping in his home in Betera, 12 miles from Valencia, when the attack occurred but he was unharmed.
The thieves reportedly stole money, jewellery, watches and bags but fled when they heard Mustafi’s presence, report Superdeporte.
Investigations into the burglary are now underway with police not ruling it out as an activity of an organised gang which has carried out similar raids of footballers’ properties.
The culprits reportedly spent up to half an hour inside the German’s home after entering through a balcony window.
Mustafi has filed a complaint to police claiming the sum of all the possessions stolen tallies to about €1million.
Scott’s scheme
Manchester United star Scott McTominay mischievously tried to stop Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka scoring a penalty against the Red Devils.
As Saka lined up to take the penalty, McTominay crept up next to the unassuming winger and KNOCKED the ball out of his hands.
However, the 22-year-old kept his composure and placed the ball on the spot before thumping it into the bottom corner.
The England ace was subsequently mobbed by his Gunners team-mates while McTominay looked on.
Gunner swap
Arsenal are reportedly set to explore the possibility of including Pablo Mari in a player-swap deal for Udinese right-back Nahuel Molina.
The Gunners centre-back is currently on loan at the Serie A outfit after linking up with the Italian side during the winter transfer window.
He has become a key player under caretaker boss Gabriele Cioffi, with the defender featuring in 11 top-flight matches.
Mari urged Mikel Arteta earlier this month to let him stay at Udinese having rediscovered his love for the game after being deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates.
And Udinese’s sporting director sporting director Pierpaolo Marino recently stated how the club will look to turn Mari’s temporary stay into a permanent switch.
But they could manage to secure Mari’s services for nothing with Arsenal claimed to be readying an offer to sign Molina.
The 24-year-old has put in a number of dazzling displays for Udinese since arriving on a free transfer in September 2020.
According to Il Messaggero Veneto, Arteta is seeking cover for Takehiro Tomiyasu in a sign that Cedric Soares could be moved on.
They state that Juventus and Atletico Madrid are keen on prising Molina away from Udinese in the summer.
But Arsenal could have the upper hand in negotiations as the club want to sign Mari.
The Gunners may now use the Spaniard in a package deal for Molina, who is rated at around £25million.
Red revenge
Francis Coquelin claims Villarreal’s Europa League win over Manchester United was “revenge” against Sir Alex Ferguson.
The ex-Arsenal star admits he was left fuming when United legend Fergie said the midfielder was “out of his depth” in the Premier League.
However, Coquelin has since gone on to become a key figure under Unai Emery at Villarreal.
He joined them from Valencia in 2020, having quit Arsenal two years earlier following 160 appearances and two FA Cup wins.
Coquelin then scooped more silverware when Villarreal defeated United on penalties in last season’s Europa League final.
And he now claims the result was “revenge” for Fergie’s cruel comments, saying: “It was a bit of revenge.
“When I made my Arsenal debut Sir Alex criticised me, so it was a nice turnaround to win against them.
“Plus I think he was in the stands as well, so lifting the trophy in front of him was nice.
“I was looking for him, he must have seen me.”
Gunner stay
Barcelona have reportedly ended their pursuit of Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes after concluding that they cannot afford him.
The Gunners defender has attracted interest from the Catalan giants after a solid campaign with the North London outfit.
And Barcelona were considering an offer at the end of the season as they look to bolster their options at the heart of their back line.
But according to Mundo Deportivo, Barca are no longer pursuing him because they would be unable to finance the deal.
Gabriel would have reportedly cost the Spanish side around £34million.
The hefty price tag is largely a result of Gabriel being under contract with Arsenal until 2025.
It is because of this that the Gunners are in no rush to offload the Brazilian defender.
Credit: PA Rashford’s plea
Marcus Rashford issued a social media plea to find a fan who had his shirt “snatched” away following Manchester United’s clash with Arsenal.
The Red Devils star handed over his match worn shirt to one lucky spectator at the Emirates following the 3-1 defeat.
But Rashford claims upon gratefully getting their hands on his top, the fan he gave his threads to had it grabbed away from them.
Upon discovering the news, Rashford took to Twitter in a bid to find the fan – promising them a brand new shirt.
The 24-year-old wrote: “Someone’s only gone and snatched my shirt out of little man’s hands after I gave it to him.
“Can anyone help me find him so I can send him another one?”
And thanks to the power of social media, it wasn’t too long before Rashford was put in contact with the unlucky kid.
Within an hour of his original post, Rashford Tweeted again saying: “Found him thanks all!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
