ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed the club will open transfer talks with Real Madrid over a deal for Martin Odegaard ‘in the next few weeks’.
Elsewhere, Wilfried Zaha has insisted again he would leave Crystal Palace for a ‘top’ club with reports of Arsenal and Tottenhm interest.
And, there’s been a big change in the backroom with club legend and Under-23s coach Steve Bould dismissed.
Dennis Bergkamp has told Arsenal fans that Daniel Ek is STILL interested in buying the club off Stan Kroenke.
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ICYMI – CE-BYE-LLOS
Dani Ceballos has taken to Instagram to thank Arsenal fans as he departs the club for a second time.
The Spaniard has spent the last two seasons on loan in North London.
And while things largely haven’t gone well on the pitch in that time, Ceballos, 24, still has plenty of amazing memories to take back to Madrid with him.
None more so than helping the Gunners win the FA Cup last season.
GOAL OF THE MONTH?
Here’s the Nicolas Pepe strike that has been nominated for May’s Goal of the Month award.
Pick that one out.
WILL TO WIN
Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe has been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for May.
And he’s joined on the shortlist by on loan star Joe Willock.
The pair have been put forward for the award alongside Aaron Ramsdale, Gareth Bale, Christian Benteke, Sadio Mane and Rodrigo.
Nicolas Pepe has been in hot form this monthCredit: Reuters
EM-BELIEVABLE
Arsenal are ‘seriously considering’ a move for Norwich star Emi Buendia, according to reports.
The Argentine impressed for the Canaries this season, as Daniel Farke’s side romped to the Championship title.
And according to Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners have ‘re-started talks’ with his representatives having held conversations in December.
Buendia, 24, won his second Championship title this seasonCredit: PA NIC OF TIME
Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe has been nominated for May’s Premier League goal of the month award.
The Ivorian winger finished the season in red hot form for Mikel Arteta’s side.
And it is his beauty against West Brom that has earned him the nomination.
He will be up against goals from Danny Welbeck, Bertrand Traore, Luke Thomas, Ferran Torres, Edinson Cavani, Phil Foden and Steven Bergwijn.
Nicolas Pepe slapped a beauty past West BromCredit: AFP MUY BUEN
Arsenal and Aston Villa are in a transfer fight for Emiliano Buendia, according to reports.
The Norwich playmaker, 24, enjoyed a stunning season helping fire the Canaries to a second Championship promotion in his three years at Carrow Road.
But Daniel Farke faces a huge battle keeping hold of his star man this summer.
Arsenal were linked with him last year and look set to revive their interest.
According to The Telegraph, the Gunners may be forced to act quickly if they want to secure the Argentine.
It is thought Aston Villa are prioritising a new No10 and preparing a bid.
Norwich ace Emiliano Buendia is a transfer target for Arsenal and Aston Villa PICK THAT OUT
Arsenal Women’s star Vivianne Miedema has won the WSL’s goal of the season.
And not bad to do it in a North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!
TAKING THE MIK
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been nominated for May’s Premier League Manager of the Month award.
The Spaniard guided the Gunners to wins in their final five domestic matches of the campaign.
These results included a stunning 1-0 win at Chelsea, but wasn’t enough to seal the North Londoners European football for next term.
Arteta, 39, is up against Marcelo Bielsa, David Moyes and Jurgen Klopp for the gong.
Mikel Arteta guided Arsenal to five domestic victories on the bounceCredit: PA OD ONE OUT
SunSport Exclusive by Tom Barclay
Brighton have joined the race for Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard.
The French forward, 23, is also being chased by Leicester and Arsenal.
But the Seagulls hope their promise of a regular starting berth could convince Edouard to head to the South Coast.
Former Paris Saint-Germain kid Edouard may find it difficult to dislodge first-choice Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho should he go to the FA Cup-winning Foxes.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s interest is understood to be dependent on whether Alexandre Lacazette stays or goes this summer.
Odsonne Edouard has plenty of Premier League interestCredit: PA
CALLING A CEB
Outgoing loanee Dani Ceballos has wished Arsenal a hearty thanks on social media this afternoon.
The Spaniard, 24, wrote: “Thanks @Arsenal and thanks to all Gunners.
“I wish you all the best and the success that I’m sure will come.
“Let’s go Gunners!
“Goodbye
“THANKS FOR ALL!”
WILF HUNTER
Tottenham and Everton have reportedly joined the race for long-term Arsenal target Wilfried Zaha this summer.
The 28-year-old winger is once again facing an uncertain future as he looks to depart Selhurst Park in his quest to win silverware.
And with just two years left to run on his contract in South London, the Ivory Coast international is unlikely to pen a new deal.
According to Goal, both Spurs and the Toffees are chasing Zaha, while long-term admirers Arsenal are now claimed to be eyeing up Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia instead.
Credit: Alamy CIAO JOE
Joe Montemurro is rumoured to be close to becoming Juventus Women’s head coach following his Arsenal departure, according to reports.
The 51-year-old is top of the Serie A Women’s side’s shortlist for the role according to the Italian newspaper Affari Italiani.
Speculation has grown following the news of Rita Guarino’s decision to leave the Italian champions after four years at the helm.
Guarino, 50, had been in charge since the Old Lady’s women’s team was established in 2017.
Juve, who crushed Inter Milan in their final Serie A game of the 2020-21 season, won their fourth top-flight title this year.
And the Turin juggernauts have dominated the Italian women’s game since their creation winning one Cup and two Super Cups.
Australian Montemurro has Italian parents and spent five years as a player in the country.
ARSENAL BACK SAKA AFTER ENGLAND CALL-UP
ARSEN-ALL OVER
Willian is keen to quit Arsenal and re-join Chelsea just 12 months after leaving on a free, according to reports.
The Brazilian forward, 32, walked away from Stamford Bridge last year after the Blues refused to offer him a three-year contract extension.
Chelsea famously refuse to offer more than one-year extensions to players over the age of 30, but were willing to compromise and hand Willian a two-year deal.
But Willian instead opted to sign a three-year deal at Arsenal.
Things haven’t gone smoothly for the winger though, after a tricky debut season in North London.
It’s now believed Willian and is keen to quit the Emirates – with a number of clubs monitoring his situation.
Willian believed to have offers from across Europe, with David Beckham’s Inter Miami also keen.
But Sky Sports now say the forward is keen to head back to Chelsea, where he played over 300 times in seven years – helping the club win two Premier League crowns.
ENGLAND’S EUROS SQUAD BY CLUB
‘BACKED OFF’
Jamie Vardy “backed off” from a move to Arsenal from Leicester after a meeting with Arsene Wenger in 2016.
The Gunners matched the £20million release fee clause inserted in the striker’s contract at the time and soon opened talks with the hotshot.
Vardy, who had just returned from Euro 2016 with England, scored 24 goals to fire Leicester to their magical Premier League title win the season previous.
The ex-Fleetwood marksman looked set to leave the King Power to join Arsenal only to change his mind late on, and he still remains at the Foxes.
He previously told Sun Sport: “I’ve always said the brotherhood at Leicester is unbelievable.
“It wasn’t that big a decision, it was quite easy, this is where I wanted to be.”
Now Dick Law, who was Arsenal’s transfer negotiator at the time, has now revealed how the deal broke down.
He told The Athletic: “The deal with Leicester was done, the deal with the player was done.
“He came down to visit with his wife Rebekah, he sat on the couch in front of Arsene…and then he backed off.
“On his way back to Leicester I get a call from the player saying he wants to think about it overnight. At that point, you know it’s bad news.”
HEROES & VILLAINS
Arsenal finished two places below where they were expected to in the Premier League this season, according to a Premier League supercomputer
But Wolves and relegated Sheffield United were the biggest disappointments of the campaign.
Dean Smith’s side avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth on the final day of last season but have transformed themselves this campaign.
But the Blades were a revelation in 2019-20 before capitulating this season and dropping into the Championship.
After Villa, West Ham and Newcastle were the next biggest over-achievers.
Both sides finished five positions higher than Bettingexperts’ supercomputer predicted they would at the start of the campaign.
SAKA THE ONLY ARSENAL PLAYER IN ENGLAND SQUAD
Bukayo Saka is the only Arsenal player to be named in England manager Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man Euro 2020 squad.
Credit: Getty ENGLAND’S PROVISIONAL 33-MAN SQUAD FOR EURO 2020 (ARSENAL PLAYERS IN BOLD)
GOALKEEPERS: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield Utd).
DEFENDERS: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Man City), Ben White (Brighton).
MIDFIELDERS: Jude Bellingham (Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (West Ham/Man Utd), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).
FORWARDS: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Mason Greenwood (Man Utd), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
CONTROVERSY
CIES Football Observatory have named their Premier League Team of the Year leaving fans utterly furious.
Another top-flight season is in the books with Manchester City reclaiming their title from Liverpool.
In an exciting season, the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Mohamed Salah, Luke Shaw, Ilkay Gundogan and N’Golo Kante set the league alight with their incredible play.
Yet bizarrely, NONE of those star names made CIES Football Observatory’s best XI for 2020-21.
Even more astonishingly the team did include the likes of Granit Xhaka and Victor Lindelof.
ARTETA NAMED FOR PL MANAGER OF THE MONTH
MAT FINISH
Mat Ryan has hinted he could prolong his stay at Arsenal following his loan spell from Brighton.
The boyhood Arsenal took to social media where he uploaded a number of pictures from his time at the club.
Captioning the Instagram post, he said: “Have had a blast with this last chapter experiencing all that’s been involved in representing Arsenal.
“Have learnt so much and enjoyed every minute of it.
“To the many great people around the club whom I’ve had the pleasure of associating with, thank you for making me feel welcome and making the transition into the family a very easy one.
“I look forward to continuing the relationships well into the future. Excited for what the future will bring.”
SO NEAR YET SO VARSENAL
Arsenal would have finished FOURTH without VAR this season.
A SunSport study of all the decisions overturned by Stockley Park shows the Gunners were the biggest “sufferers” from the system.
If all on-field original decisions had stuck, Mikel Arteta’s men would have earned four more points.
That would have been enough to take them above Tottenham, West Ham AND Chelsea and steal the final Champions League spot.
Instead, Arsenal finished eighth and OUT of Europe for the first time since 1995-96.
SAND STORM
Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge has dropped a hint regarding his future amid interest from Arsenal.
Berge has fuelled speculation that he could link up with Mikel Arteta’s side after posting a picture of him with Odegaard on his Instagram story on Monday night.
Berge shared a photo of the two enjoying a meal out, with Arsenal fans left convinced they was discussing potential moves to the club.
PERFECT PEPE
Who loved this strike on the final day to give Arsenal a comfortable victory over Brighton?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
