Aarons eyed to replace Bellerin EXCLUSIVE, Camavinga £50m No1 transfer target, Smith-Rowe ‘offered new Arsenal deal’

TUCH N GO

Mikel Arteta has hailed the work Thomas Tuchel has done at Chelsea.

He told the club’s website: “Probably they’ve been the best team in the league in the last few months, what Thomas [Tuchel] has been able to do since he arrived has been exceptional.

“He put the team in two finals, the way the team is looking, how solid they are defensively as well, how composed and regular they have been in their performance has been excellent.”

PJAN OF ACTION

Barcelona are reportedly keen to sign former Arsenal target Jorginho in the summer and are willing to offer Miralem Pjanic in exchange.

The Bosnian moved to the Nou Camp in a high-profile switch from Juventus last year, but he has failed to live up to expectations in Spain.

According to Sport, Barca are keen to offload the player at the end of the season, and have identified Chelsea midfielder Jorginho as a possible replacement.

The Catalan side are even exploring the viability of a swap deal involving the pair.

Mikel Arteta was linked with a swoop for Jorginho last summer after he fell out of favour under former Blues chief Frank Lampard.

FINE ART

Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to play for the “pride in the shirt” against Chelsea.

He said: “I think it is the pride in the shirt that we wear [that motivates us], and that we want to win.

“Winning is going to put us in a much better position in the table, which is going to make us… the chance to finish where is mathematically possible, but it doesn’t depend on us at the moment.”

ZAK ATTACK

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Borussia Monchengladbach star Denis Zakaria ahead of the summer transfer window.

That is according to 90Min, who claim that the Gunners are so keen on Zakaria they would be willing to let Granit Xhaka go the other way.

Xhaka moved to the Emirates in 2016 after four impressive years at Gladbach.

Zakaria is out of contract in 2022 and the midfielder is expected to seek pastures new this summer

TUCHEL ON FA CUP

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel insists his players are fully concentrated on Arsenal and not Saturday’s FA Cup final against Leicester.

Tuchel said: “We just have an eye on the players’ workload and on the statistics that we have, who is maybe overloaded on high speed and from that we will decide who is at risk of injury. Everyone who is not at risk of injury will be available for the game.

“It’s not the time to manage the game on Saturday now. Now is the time to manage the game on Wednesday.

“We’re in the middle of a race for the top four and cannot judge games”

TUCHEL ON KOVACIC

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Mateo Kovacic will be unavailable for Wednesday’s clash with Arsenal but is very pleased with the way Billy Gilmour has filled in.

Tuchel said: “He [Kovacic] is not ready for tomorrow, we have to postpone it to Wembley. His personal race is on to make it to the squad for Wembley.

“Billy Gilmour had to step up now because we miss Kova so much and we play normally always with a double-six, so we were rotating constantly between N’Golo [Kante], Jorgi[Jorginho] and Kova. Once we miss Kova now for so many games, so many weeks, it was on Billy to step up and I was very happy that he could deliver when it was needed.

‘So full credit for that, but Kova is a big loss with his ability to drive with the ball, his speed on the ball, without the ball. Kova is such a positive character and unique player, a real fighter on who you can always rely in games and training.

‘We really miss him, he is a good match with Jorgi and N’Golo in all combinations. So it’s a big miss and I can’t wait until he’s back in full team training. He’s taken some steps in the right direction and I hope he can rejoin team training after our game with Arsenal.”

RING THE BEL

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has identified Atletico Madrid ace Moussa Dembele as a potential replacement for Alexandre Lacazette.

Lacazette has been linked with an imminent exit from the Emirates ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Gunners may move for Dembele who’s been playing on loan at Atletico.

However, the striker has been struggling for form as he’s only registered one goal this season

SZCZEDING LIGHT

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has poured cold water on reports suggesting that Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will return to the Emirates.

This comes after former Gunners star Jack Wilshere claimed the north Londoners’ failure comes down to the loss of “proper Arsenal people” from the club.

Arteta said: “I think it’s very important to have people that they’ve been here, that they have the experience, that they are well respected here.

“We have a lot of them as well around the training ground, at the stadium. So I don’t know if Jack refers more to the type of people or players, or just people that are recognised with the DNA of the club.

“Honestly I cannot talk about an individual”

CHECKMAIT

Manchester United are keeping tabs on West Brom loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles ahead of the transfer window.

That is according to the Daily Mail, who claim United as well as Everton are considering a summer move for Maitland-Niles.

However, both clubs view him more as a right-back rather than a midfielder.

The 23-year-old has impressed on loan and seems set to return to Arsenal at the end of the season

ARTETA MESSAGE TO FANS

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta shared a message to the fans, who’ve grown frustrated after a series of poor results.

Arteta said: “We can’t wait to have them back in the stadium, with the whole stadium or whatever the capacity that we’re allowed to have in the stadium for the last game.

“It’s something that we’ve missed in this process to have them together, to feel what the team wants to do and create that chemistry and get them closer to what we’re trying to do.

“We are trying to finalise everything, with the COVID world, it’s been a real challenge to get any games or pre-season tour sorted out, but hopefully in the next week that will be confirmed and we can announce that, but this is what we’re trying to do.

“Obviously the Euros is going to condition the return dates of the players in relation to what they do in the tournament, so there’s still some question marks”

ARTETA ON CRITICISM

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta addressed all the criticism the club has received from former players, fans and the media amid a poor season.

Arteta said: “I think everybody is entitled to give their opinions and when they have the chance to do that, they have to say what they feel.

“Again, it’s nothing for me to say. I cannot control that. If you ask me what I would like to have around the team and around everything that is related to the football club, is that we have the unity and stability to work. But if it’s not the case, it’s nothing that I can do.

“They are entitled to their opinions. The only way I can prove that is by having a team that performs on the pitch and makes them proud. That’s the only thing that I can do. The only thing I can be judged on is do I create the necessary environment for a top, elite team to compete at the higher level and get everybody in the condition to do their best?

“And after that, do I get the best out of the players that I have? The maximum, whatever the level is, do I get the best out of that? This is how I judge myself and at the end, in the outside world, how I am going to be judged is just with results, nothing else.

“What we’ve done good before, in the past, in the process… it’s irrelevant. It’s only what you get from that result when you are on that pitch”

ARTETA ON TRANSFERS

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also addressed the possibility of certain players leaving the club at the end of the season.

Arteta said: “I think that having a pre-season is going to be really helpful because we haven’t had any time to work together yet, since we arrived.

“But after that, let’s see where we finish next season and the amount of games that we have to play.

“But obviously, in terms of game preparation and time to coach them, it’s much better to be in that position rather than not having any time to prepare between games.

“There are so many things to do because we already have a lot of players on loan and a lot of players with contracts still that we need to sort.

“It will depend what happens with a lot of those players and what we are able to recruit to improve the team, that is going to determine where we are”

ARTETA ON CHELSEA TEAM NEWS

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta discussed Wednesday’s clash at Chelsea and shared some team news.

Arteta said: “Well probably they’ve been the best team in the league in the last few months, what Thomas [Tuchel] has been able to do since he arrived has been exceptional. He put the team in two finals, the way the team is looking, how solid they are defensively as well, how composed and regular they have been in their performance has been excellent.

“We have to see today, there were some issues over the weekend again. We are playing every three days and there is no time to train yet, today is the first day so we will have to wait and see. Yes [there were] some injuries, yes.

“Well the situation with David [Luiz] is that he is not yet recovered, we will see how he does in the next few weeks. The rest are still in contention but we will have to see today how they come”

ARTETA ON CHANGES

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opened about the necessary changes needed in the club after a poor season.

Arteta said during his press conference: “Obviously winning helps and it was our duty to get the points that we needed at home [against West Brom], and to try to finish the season as strong as possible after the disappointment that we had.

“We have already had an incredible amount of changes at the club over the past year or so, more than ever. We are looking to improve and be much closer than where we are at the moment. In order to do that there are certain things that we have to improve.

“Now it is how we evolve, there are a lot of things that had to be done and they have been done, a lot of changes to make and a lot of them have been made. Now it is time to evolve. To evolve you to have to take things so that when they are a little more settled and established, take them to the next level.

“We have made progress in many areas, I would say performance included, and that is supported by many factors that we have looked at. Results-wise, to be where we want to be, it has to be improved”

BELLERIN REPLACEMENTS

Arsenal star Hector Bellerin seems likely to exit the Emirates at the end of the season.

The Gunners are already lining up potential replacements as Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan appear keen to sign Bellerin.

The north Londoners are keeping tabs on Norwich ace Max Aarons as well as Real Betis’ Emerson.

Manager Mikel Arteta has been promised funds in the summer by majority shareholder Stan Kroenke who is looking to fix his relationship with the fans after the European Super League fiasco

FERD ADVICE

Rio Ferdinand has urged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to build the team around Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney.

Ferdinand said on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE: “The only thing to come out for Arsenal are Emile Smith Rowe, Saka and Tierney this season.

“They’ve been top, they’ve been the best players and that’s what he’s got to build around going forward.

“Even Joe Willock has gone to Newcastle and kept them up. He’s got to come back into the fray surely after that little spell he’s had there.

“Those are the guys that Arsenal have to build around going forward”

ARSENAL EXIT

Arsenal are facing the prospect of a massive exodus of players from the Emirates ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to Football London, Dani Ceballos seems set to end his loan stint with the Gunners and return to Real Madrid after a series of errors in Mikel Arteta’s midfield.

Bernd Leno, Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac are also available for transfer.

Stuttgart want to extend their loan deal for Dinos Mavropanos but also want to add a buying clause

KAI PRAISE

Chelsea star Kai Havertz refuses to underestimate Arsenal ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.

The Gunners have been enduring a hapless season but are still not completely out of the European spots.

Havertz said: “Arsenal are also fighting for a European place. They are a very strong side, very dangerous.

“It’s a London derby, so they will be very motivated. But if we play our best football we can win”

FREE WILL

Rio Ferdinand has urged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to give Joe Willock more opportunities next season after his impressive performances recently for Newcastle.

Willock has registered five goals in 11 appearances for the Magpies, where he has been playing on loan since February.

The midfielder’s influence has helped the Toon avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Ferdinand said on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE: “Even Joe Willock’s gone on loan to Newcastle and kept them up, he’s got to come back into the frame surely after that little spell he’s had there”

BEST IN THE WORLD

Rennes star Eduardo Camavinga has taken the world of football by storm thanks to some impressive performances in Ligue 1 that have earned the interest of some of Europe’s biggest hitters.

Camavinga’s agent Jonathan Barnett claims his client has a bright future ahead of him and expects him to become “the best midfielder in the world”.

Barnett told Goal in February: “At the moment, he’s a Rennes player. He likes Rennes and, at the moment, we haven´t really taken to other clubs. It isn’t our position.

“Let’s see what happens later on, but he’s doing well in Rennes and that’s fine. Being the best midfielder in the world, that’s how I see his future, [with] a lot of medals and a lot of trophies”

ROWE ON

Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe looks set to be offered a new contract once the new director of football operations Richard Garlick takes over on May 17.

According to ESPN, among Garlick’s first piece of business will be to sort out new deals with players.

Rowe has been very impressive this season as he has amassed a total of 34 appearances across all competitions.

The 20-year-old’s current contract runs until 2023 but after a breakthrough season this term, he is due to earn a pay rise.

CAM AND GET HIM

Arsenal have made Rennes star Eduardo Camavinga their No1 transfer target ahead of the summer.

That is according to Le10Sport, who claim the Gunners are doing everything in their power to lure Camavinga to the Emirates as manager Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen his midfield.

The 18-year-old is considered as one of the hottest prospects in the market and has earned attention from Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is very impressed with the France international, who will cost an excess of £50million

MAX-ING OUT

Arsenal are among a number of clubs keeping tabs on Norwich right-back Max Aarons.

Gunners star Hector Bellerin is set to lead the Emirates exodus as manager Mikel Arteta plans a massive summer shake-up.

Bellerin wants a new challenge after 10 years in north London and fancies moving to another country, with Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan reportedly interested.

And Aarons appears to be on top of Arsenal’s list as a potential replacement for the Spain international

LOAD OF HOT AAR

Arsenal are keen on snapping up Max Aarons to replace Hector Bellerin, SunSport can reveal.

The Gunners are one of a number of clubs targeting the 21-year-old Norwich full-back.

Arsenal are also interested in Emerson Royal of Barcelona.

Barca currently co-own the Brazilian with Betis but can take full rights for £6m and then sell him on for a profit.

GOOD MORNING GOONERS

SunSport can reveal that Hector Bellerin is set to lead the Arsenal exodus as Mikel Arteta plans a massive summer shake-up.

The Spanish full-back wants a new challenge after ten years at the Emirates and fancies moving to another country.

Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan are both monitoring the situation and could make a move at the right price.

Arsenal hope to raise as much as £35million for a player who still has two years to run on his contract — but may be forced to slash their asking price.

Elsewhere the club are ‘doing everything’ to sign Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes this summer, according to reports.

The three-cap France midfielder, 18, is one of the hottest properties in Europe.

Le10 Sport claim Mikel Arteta and Co have made Camavinga their No1 priority this summer.

The Gunners have endured a nightmare campaign with their misery compounded last week after crashing out of the Europa League to Unai Emery’s Villarreal.

And they hope Camavinga’s presence in midfield could make all the difference next season.

However, the reports have been dismissed by football.london.