ARSENAL have made Rennes starlet Eduardo Camavinga their No1 target, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Emile Smith-Rowe is set to be one of the Arsenal players offered a new contract.
Off the pitch, Daniel Ek and his consortium have held a meeting with the Arsenal Supporters Trust as the Spotify founder steps up his takeover bid.
However, the Kroenke family are reportedly planning a huge summer of spending on transfers as they look to get angry Gunners fans on side.
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Stay up to date with every twist and turn from North London in our live blog…
DOWN THE VIC
Arsenal are certainly a club haunted by missing out on signing some pretty big names before they went on to become superstars.
And reports in Italy name Dusan Vlahovic as their latest near-miss.
According to Corriere Fiorentino, the striker was subject to an approach from the Gunners while breaking out at Partizan Belgrade.
Real Madrid were also said to be interested but he signed for Fiorentina and is now worth around £50million ahead of a busy summer.
Add another name to the list…
Credit: AP BERND OUT
Arsenal are ready to put two first-team stars up for sale this summer, according to reports.
Bernd Leno and Hector Bellerin are both named by Footbal.London as on the chopping block in Mikel Arteta’s post-season overhaul.
Permanent sales will reportedly be sought for Ainsley-Maitland Niles, Lucas Torreira, Sead Kolasinac and Matteo Guendouzi, all of whom are out on loan at the moment.
ESR’S FIRST
Emile Smith Rowe scored his first Premier League goal in the 3-1 victory against West Brom.
And it wasn’t a bad way for the 20-year-old to open his account…
ARSENAL’S PREM STATS
Let’s take a look at Arsenal’s Premier League stats following their win against West Brom.
Alexandre Lacazette remains their top scorer in the league with 13.
Willian, despite facing fierce criticism, has assisted five goals – scoring his first in the Premier League for the Gunners at the weekend.
Here’s the data…
BENT WANTS POTTER
Darren Bent believes Brighton boss Graham Potter should replace Mikel Arteta as Arsenal manager.
The ex-Tottenham striker told TalkSport: “I think it is time for Mikel Arteta to move on.
“My patience is up with him. I think Arsenal need to go in a new direction and bring in somebody who can get the best out of that group of players because right now he is not doing that.
“I don’t think players are respecting him like they once did at the very start and I can only see it going one way.”
ESR INJURY UPDATE
Mikel Arteta is not sure if Emile Smith Rowe will be fit to face Chelsea on Wednesday.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the Gunners boss said: “I don’t know [the extent on the injury], he felt something in his hamstring so we took him off.
“Sometimes he cramps and that’s something that’s been happening for a while because he’s still adapting to the league, to the amount of games every three days.
“Hopefully it’s nothing major.”
LOOK AWAY NOW, DAVID SEAMAN
It’s 26 years since Real Zaragoza’s Nayim chipped David Seaman from 40 yards to beat Arsenal in the Cup Winners’ Cup final.
What makes this moment even more painful is that Nayim used to play for Tottenham, winning the FA Cup in 1991.
WILLIAN STUNNER
Willian finally scored his first Premier League goal yesterday in Arsenal’s win against West Brom.
But it was certainly worth the wait!
SQUAD OVERHAUL
Arsenal are planning a major squad overhaul this summer, according to football.london
Reports claim the Gunners are hoping to raise £60million in player sales as Mikel Arteta looks to build a squad capable of competing again.
Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is believed to be top of their wish list.
The 18-year-old has made three appearances for France’s senior team and has been linked with a move to several European giants.
Arsenal are also believed to be interested in Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.
Rumours suggest Arteta will allow Bernd Leno, Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac to leave the club.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENNIS BERGKAMP
It’s also Dennis Bergkamp’s birthday!
The Arsenal legend, who turns 52 today, won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups at Highbury between 1995 and 2006.
Bergkamp also won the Dutch league, the Cup Winners’ Cup and two Uefa Cup titles – and much more – during his illustrious career.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYLVAIN WILTORD
Today is Sylvain Wiltord’s 47th birthday!
The ex-Arsenal star helped the club win two Premier League titles and two FA Cups between 2000 and 2004.
Wiltord also won four French league titles during his career and famously scored a last minute equaliser in the Euro 2000 final, helping France win the tournament.
Here’s the moment he scored the goal that secured the Premier League title for the Gunners in 2002…
ARTETA PRAISES SAKA
Mikel Arteta has praised Bukayo Saka following Arsenal’s victory against West Brom.
The Gunners boss told the official club website: “He’s a kid who has the intelligence to understand different positions.
“Today we asked him to play [left back] because of how West Brom set up, and we believed that we could exploit his qualities there.
“He still has things to learn obviously defensively because it’s been a while since he played in that position, but I think he had the right approach to it.
“That’s the first and most important thing. And then his quality defines a lot of moments.”
MAUR TO COME
Maurizio Sarri could be in line for a shock return to England with either Arsenal or Tottenham, it’s claimed.
The Italian has been out of work since being given the boot by Juventus last August – despite guiding the Old Lady to their 36th Scudetto.
Sarri is said to be eager to get back in the dugout next season, with Italian journalist Carlo Laudisa claiming the 62-year-old could very well return to the Premier League.
During an appearance on Radio Punto Nuovo, he said: “Sarri could go to England.
“The Tottenham solution being the most plausible, but the Arsenal bench could also become free, as [Mikel] Arteta has missed all the Gunners’ season goals.”
Credit: AP:Associated Press LOAN RANGER
Arsenal are in talks with Stuttgart over extending Konstantinos Mavropanos’ loan deal at the Bundesliga side.
The 23-year-old has impressed since joining the German outfit where he has featured in 21 games in all competitions.
Former Arsenal head of recruitment Sven Mislintat, now Sporting Director at Stuttgart, revealed in March he would like to keep the defender for another campaign.
And he has now claimed that both Arsenal and the German club are in negotiations about a loan extension.
Speaking to Kicker, Mislintat said: “[We are] in good talks with my ex-club. We are trying to get a loan.
“Buying is difficult in the current situation. Now there is a bit of back and forth.”
ARTETA DELIGHTED WITH WIN
Mikel Arteta has expressed his delight at Arsenal’s victory against West Brom.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the Gunners boss said: “It’s always the best way to remedy the pain that we had [following the Villarreal defeat].
“To win the game, to score the three beautiful goals that we have done, and create so many more chances.
“As well, I think that when we conceded the goal we looked nervous for a period before we got Thomas on the pitch to recover some control.
“Overall, after not going through to the final, it’s always very important to win the game.”
‘WAITING ALL SEASON’
Emile Smith Rowe has been discussing his goal against West Brom yesterday – his first in the Premier League.
The midfielder told Arsenal’s official website: “It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for all season to be fair.
“I’ve been waiting to score for this wonderful club so it was a dream come true for me.
“B [Bukayo Saka] got the ball down the wing and when he crossed it I just tried to stay as calm as I could and it was a good finish, I’m happy with it.
“I feel like [Bukayo’s] got so much experience now and he’s so versatile. He can play in so many different positions and stuff.
“I feel like we know each other inside out and we’re going to keep carrying on and keep playing games together.”
WHAT A HIT
Nicolas Pepe scored an incredible goal yesterday in Arsenal’s 3-1 win against relegated West Brom.
The 25-year-old has struggled for form during his two-year stint at the Emirates – scoring just 11 Premier League goals – but fans will be hoping yesterday’s strike can kick-start his Arsenal career.
GUNNED DOWN
Martin Keown has blasted Arsenal AGAIN as he backed protests against their owners and said the club is ‘going backwards’.
Keown said on BT Sport: “The fans need to have their say. The club is becoming stagnated. There’s a lack of investment.
“The Kroenkes – do they really love the club? They need to spend massively. Leno won’t sign a new contract. Luiz is leaving.
“Bellerin isn’t signing a new contract. There’s a remarkable amount of players that are uncertain of their futures.
“Arteta needs to take some responsibility. He’s outsmarted himself. He needs to keep it simple.
“I do believe he’s an outstanding coach, he needs to prove he’s an outstanding manager. It’s going to be difficult to back him if he loses again.
“It’s about results. He’s been here 18 months and he’s won an FA Cup, but when we look at league form it’s fallen away.
“The football club is going backwards and they have to arrest that slide.
“How much of the problem is about the manager and how much is about the squad?
“The manager is concerning me because he always blames the players. Massive expenditure is needed. New owners could be the catalyst.”
MORNING ARSENAL FANS
The Gunners beat West Brom 3-1 at the Emirates yesterday to condemn the Baggies to the drop and inflict Sam Allardyce’s first relegation of his career.
Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe put the North Londoners ahead in the first-half before Matheus Pereira gave the visitors hope in the second-half.
But in the 90th minute, Willian scored his first Arsenal goal to seal the win.
Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta said: “It’s always the best possible remedy to the pain that we have: to win a game and to score three beautiful goals.”
Elsewhere, Joe Cole said Bukayo Saka was the best player by a mile against West Brom.
The versatile England ace, 20, was moved to left-back for the visit of the Baggies on Sunday evening having spent much of the season in a more attacking role.
And Saka put in another supreme performance, including an assist for the first goal.
The winger will now be hoping to end the season strongly as he aims to cement his spot in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for this summer’s delayed European Championship.
Saka’s strong showing at the Emirates won’t have hurt his chances either, with ex-England midfielder Cole raving about him. After the game, Cole told BT Sport: “[Saka] was excellent.
“He was a thorn in [West Brom’s] side. His movement was fantastic. He’s so direct, he drives into areas and picks passes out all the time. He was Arsenal’s best player by a mile.”
And finally, Yves Bissouma has reportedly requested to leave Brighton at the end of the season – amid intense interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Bissouma joined the Seagulls from Lille in 2018 for a fee that could rise to £15.7million with add-ons. The 24-year-old has shone bright this season proving he is one of the Premier League’s most talented box-to-box midfielders.
The Mali international’s impressive performances at the Amex Stadium have caught the eye of Arsenal, Liverpool and City.
According to the Sunday Times, Bissouma has asked to be allowed to leave Brighton, who rate him at £40m.
That development paves the way for an intense bidding war between three of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
TOP GUNNER
Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s ‘best player by a mile’ in Sunday’s win over West Brom, according to Joe Cole.
The versatile England ace, 20, was moved to left-back for the visit of the Baggies on Sunday evening having spent much of the season in a more attacking role.
And Saka put in another supreme performance, including an assist for the first goal, as Arsenal eventually edged past West Brom 3-1.
The winger will now be hoping to end the season strongly as he aims to cement his spot in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for this summer’s delayed European Championship.
Saka’s strong showing at the Emirates won’t have hurt his chances either, with ex-England midfielder Cole raving about him. After the game, Cole told BT Sport: “[Saka] was excellent.
“He was a thorn in [West Brom’s] side. His movement was fantastic. He’s so direct, he drives into areas and picks passes out all the time. He was Arsenal’s best player by a mile.”
STAT ATTACK
Arsenal’s seven shots on target tonight is the second-most they’ve managed in a Premier League match this season.
The most? The 12 they registered in the 4-0 win at West Brom in January.
They’re going to miss playing them.
FT: ARSENAL 3-1 WEST BROM
West Brom are beaten in London, and their immediate return to the Championship is confirmed.
Albion gave it a go in the second half, and Matheus Pereira halved the half-time deficit with a superb solo goal, but Willian’s free-kick in the final minute – his first Arsenal goal – condemned the Baggies to the drop.
ARSENAL 3-1 WBA
90. He’s done it! Willian has his first goal in an Arsenal shirt!
The Brazilian won the free-kick with that burst of pace and piece of trickery, and made it clear that he wanted to take it too. For once, he didn’t disappoint.
Central and 25 yards from goal, the forward curled a beauty over the wall and into the top left corner beyond Sam Johnstone.
ARSENAL 2-1 WBA
67. Against the run of play, Mattheus Pereira pulls one back for West Brom in sensational style.
The Albion forward picks the ball up inside his own half, and runs and runs and runs and runs without challenge.
When an Arsenal player finally approaches the forward, he unleashes a peach of a low, left-footed drive into the bottom corner past the outstretched arm of Bernd Leno.
Maybe West Brom are still alive in the Premier League.
SOU-PER MAN
Yves Bissouma has reportedly requested to leave Brighton at the end of the season – amid intense interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Bissouma joined the Seagulls from Lille in 2018 for a fee that could rise to £15.7million with add-ons. The 24-year-old has shone bright this season proving he is one of the Premier League’s most talented box-to-box midfielders.
The Mali international’s impressive performances at the Amex Stadium have caught the eye of Arsenal, Liverpool and City. According to the Sunday Times, Bissouma has asked to be allowed to leave Brighton, who rate him at £40m.
That development paves the way for an intense bidding war between three of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
Liverpool are reportedly most interested in the midfielder as manager Jurgen Klopp has been ‘personally researching’ his character as well as off-field behaviour to make sure he is the right fit for the Reds.
In fact, Klopp sees him as a potential successor to Georginio Wijnaldum, who looks set to exit Anfield on a free transfer once his contract expires in June.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
