ARSENAL have been handed a boost as Serge Gnabry has refused to sign a new contract at Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, the club are reportedly preparing to sell £70m record signing Nicolas Pepe for just £25m.
Elsewhere, Erling Haaland’s transfer move to Manchester City could help Mikel Arteta land top target Gabriel Jesus.
And the Gunners are reportedly one of four Premier League clubs to begin ‘discussions’ for Argentine international Paulo Dybala.
Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the Emirates in our live blog…
It’s under way: West Ham 0 Arsenal 0
The Gunners kicked off – follow all the action and reaction with our LIVE BLOG.
Tomiyasu back after four months out
Fit-again right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu makes his first Prem start since January 1 as one of three Arsenal changes at West Ham today.
Rob Holding comes in for injured centre-back Ben White, while Gabriel Martinelli replaces Emile Smith Rowe.
Follow all the action and reaction with our LIVE BLOG.
Team news: West Ham vs Arsenal
Arsenal must win to return fourth – because of Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Leicester.
Follow all the action and reaction from today’s final Prem game (KO 4.30pm) with our LIVE BLOG.
WEST HAM: 1 Fabianski; 5 Coufal, 4 Zouma, 3 Cresswell; 24 Fredericks, 41 Rice, 16 Noble, 8 Fornals; 10 Lanzini, 22 Benrahma, 20 Bowen
ARSENAL: 32 Ramsdale; 18 Tomiyasu, 16 Holding, 6 Gabriel, 20 Nuno Tavares; 25 Elneny, 34 Xhaka; 7 Saka, 8 Odegaard, 35 Martinelli; 30 Nketiah.
Xhaka ‘ready’ to be skipper again
Granit Xhaka is ‘ready’ to skipper Arsenal again – two years after losing the role following a huge fall-out with fans.
The in-form midfielder believes mutual love has been restored after ‘absolute hate’ from Gunners’ supporters led to an infamous confrontation when he was substituted in October 2019.
Xhaka, 29, seemed likely to leave the club but claims he is now once more a leader on the pitch ‘without the armband’ and would happily take the captaincy again.
The Swiss superstar said he reached ‘boiling point’ 21 months ago after receiving threats to maim him and kill his wife, plus fans hoping his daughter got cancer.
And when he was booed at the Emirates after being taken off in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, he cupped his ear, took his shirt off and went straight down the tunnel.
Now, though, a transformed Xhaka is enjoying one of his best seasons in six years with Arsenal.
And asked about the captaincy by Sky Sports, he said: “I will never say never. I was not ready for that again.
“A captain of Arsenal can be without an armband and I am trying to lead the game and the players without the armband.
“But if tomorrow someone from the football club comes and asks if I want to take it I will be here because I know I am ready again to do it.”
Campbell backs Gab grab
EX-Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has backed their pursuit of Manchester City frontman Gabriel Jesus.
He told Football Insider: “The great thing about Jesus is that he can play on the left and the right as well as through the middle. He is a goal threat and a workaholic who knows how to win.
“Mikel Arteta obviously knows him very well from his time at City. I still think Arsenal will need another striker as well as him though.
“We are short in that department. I think Jesus would be a really good signing though.”
Xhaka open for captain role again
Granit Xhaka is open to becoming Arsenal captain again.
Xhaka said: “I will never say never. I was not ready for that again.
“A captain of Arsenal can be without an armband and I am trying to lead the game and the players without the armband.
“But if tomorrow someone from the football club comes and asks if I want to take it I will be here because I know I am ready again to do it.”
It’s Your call
Youri Tielemans is set to decide on his next club as speculation grows he could be set for a move to the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham.
It is reported Tielemans has told people close to him he is prepared to make a move, with his preference being Real Madrid.
But Premier League clubs will be keen to try and hijack a deal for the 24-year-old.
Journalist Sacha Tavolieri tweeted: “Youri Tielemans would have told those around him his preference for a departure to Spain.
“Real Madrid, interested, could position themselves concretely in the coming weeks… To be continued.”
Brandt new Arsenal star
Arsenal are plotting a summer transfer for Borussia Dortmund playmaker Julian Brandt, according to reports.
Brandt’s contract with the Bundesliga outfit ends in 2024, but he is not part of the clubs plans beyond the end of the season, according to BILD.
With Dortmund keen to move on the midfielder a cut price deal of just £16.5m is expected to be enough for Arsenal to secure his services.
Arsenal kit ‘leaked’
Arsenal appear to have accidentally leaked their home shirt for next season.
Eagle-eyed supporters reckon they’ve spotted it in the background of a video on the club’s media channels.
In a clip featuring stars Bukayo Saka and Vivienne Miedema, a kit can be seen hanging in the background.
And it appears to match a design shared by Footy Headlines in March.
The adidas shirt has been inspired by Arsenal’s Nike effort used between 1994 and 1996.
That kit boasted a white polo collar, with a lightning zig-zag pattern running vertically down the jersey.
Neves alert for Arsenal
Arsenal are on high alert after reports that Wolves are willing to hear offers for Ruben Neves.
He has repeatedly been linked with a move away from Molineux, with Arsenal among those keeping an eye on him.
The Times reports that Wolves are open to selling Neves, with there being an acceptance around the club he is a “Champions League-level player”.
With two years left on the Portuguese star’s deal, the Times claim the club would not stand in his way.
Eriksen to Arsenal?
Martin Keown thinks Christian Eriksen could do well at Arsenal..or with rivals Tottenham.
Keown said: “I think he [Eriksen] would step aside [at Brentford] if he could return back to a Spurs, or an Arsenal, somebody of that ilk.
“Maybe he deserves that opportunity.”
Arsenal transfer difficulties
Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal can’t go for big-money signings like their rivals.
Which is why Arteta revealed that the Gunners will have to find other strategies to get the players they want.
Arteta said: “I don’t think we are in a position where we can do that, so we have to find other ways to do it.”
Xhaka on Arsenal
Granit Xhaka reckons he is a good example for the young players at Arsenal.
The Swiss star fell out of favour with Arsenal fans but has won them back over with his performances of late.
And he feels seeing other rising stars at the club can be inspired by his fall and subsequent rise.
He said to Football Daily: “You’ve got to be strong mentally and know how to win games of football – perhaps when you don’t deserve to – Manchester United’s players haven’t been able to do that.”
Rosicky’s is Prem ref’s favourite
Premier League official Martin Atkinson revealed Tomas Rosicky was his favourite player to deal with – after the former Arsenal star invited him to ref his testimonial in the Czech Republic.
Atkinson, 51, said: “I’ve been lucky that I’ve got on with the vast majority of players but one that stands out is Tomas Rosicky.
“I always got on really well with him. We just pleasantly got on, not best mates or owt like that but he was always really respectful.
“And when he left Arsenal, when he retired eventually, an unknown email came through and it was from Sparta Prague asking if I will go out and referee his retirement game.
“You just never expect that and it was just a nice thing.”
Arsenal’s transfer interest backed
Kevin Campbell has backed Arsenal’s pursuit of Gabriel Jesus.
He told Football Insider: “The great thing about Jesus is that he can play on the left and the right as well as through the middle. He is a goal threat and a workaholic who knows how to win.
“Mikel Arteta obviously knows him very well from his time at City. I still think Arsenal will need another striker as well as him though.
“We are short in that department. I think Jesus would be a really good signing though.”
Hleb cried after Arsenal exit
Former Arsenal star Alexander Hleb has revealed he burst into tears when ex-boss Arsene Wenger decided to sell him.
Hleb said: “It’s still difficult for me to explain why I left Arsenal.
“I was absolutely happy there. Arsene completely trusted me, it was idyllic. And then I decided to leave.
“I was on vacation and agents and managers convinced me that I had to go to Barcelona. To be honest, I didn’t really understand what I was doing. At some point, I realised, ‘Oh god! I’m leaving Arsenal!’
“When Arsene said that it was a matter of hours, I felt devastated. It was really hard for me to accept that. Wenger did everything to make me stay at Arsenal.
“He even texted me as I was fishing. ‘Alex, I won’t let you go, we need you here.’ I cried when I read it.”
Bowen’s fighting talk
West Ham star Jarrod Bowen is fully focused on Arsenal despite the Hammers’ success in Europe.
He said: “West Ham versus Arsenal is a massive game.
“We respect Arsenal and they’re in a great bit of form at the minute and really pushing for that top four place and we’re pushing to get into that top six, so it’ll be a great game.
“It’s a London derby, they’re in great form and we want to get the better of them.”
Richards makes Gabriel Jesus plea
Micah Richards has urged Man City not to sell key striker Gabriel Jesus amid the Brazilian’s links to Arsenal.
Richards said: “With Man City, we always know they’ll create chances, it’s just about taking them.
“He was linked about potentially moving away, but if it was my decision, he wouldn’t be going anywhere because he’s a vital part of this team.
“The way he presses from the front, the way he reads the play and his all round game has just got better over the years.”
Merson’s Arsenal/West Ham prediction
Arsenal have a huge chance of beating West Ham today, Paul Merson thinks.
He said: “This is the perfect time for Arsenal to play West Ham and beat them.
“This is a nothing game for West Ham, but it could prove to be a massive result for Arsenal.”
Morning Arsenal fans
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has rejected the notion of Arsenal needing to copy Liverpool in order to win the Premier League.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Arteta highlighted Liverpool’s project for comparison, but revealed they were not able to copy The Reds.
Mikel Arteta has also admitted that Arsenal suffer without Thomas Partey in the side.
Arteta said: “The stats are there and they are unquestionable.
“The win rate when Thomas is there is higher. It is something that is not good for us because in the last two seasons he has not been there as much as we want.”
Man Utd and Arsenal are two of four Premier League clubs chasing soon-to-be out of contract Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, reports say.
The Argentine is set to let his contract run out in Turin and will embark on a new adventure.
And according to ESPN, Man Utd and Arsenal are two of four Prem teams interested in signing Dybala.
The report has also revealed that Newcastle and Tottenham are the two other English teams keeping tabs on his situation.
Hickey a target
Bologna youngster Aaron Hickey has reportedly been identified as a potential target by Edu, according to reports.
The left-back is flying in Serie A with five assists and one goal in the league this campaign.
Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli believe Hickey is being watched carefully by the Gunners, who are looking for cover for Kieran Tierney.
Sources add that the Gunners remain unconvinced with Nuno Tavares, and believe the 19-year-old Scot could be fill the role.
Remember him?
Ex-Arsenal star Johann Djorou is unrecognisable as he shares an image on Instagram sporting dreadlocks and a beard.
The Swiss defender retired from the game in 2021, after a spell with Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjælland.
He is best remembered for appearing 140 times for the Gunners from 2004-2013.
And, judging by his choice of shirt in his latest Instagram snap, he still has a soft spot for the North London giants.
Brandt interest
Arsenal could steal Julian Brandt for just £16.5million, according to a reports.
The Borussia Dortmund winger, 25, is seemingly surplus to requirements at the Bundesliga giants, although he has seven goals and eight assists in the league this year.
Germany international Brandt is said to be game for a move overseas, with the Premier League his preferred destination, according to Bild.
The Gunners were linked with a move for the 37-cap star in January, but couldn’t get a deal over the line.
Training day
Arsenal stars Takehiro Tomiyasu and Nuno Tavares were all smiles in training as the Gunners prepare for Sunday’s match against West Ham.
The Japanese star recently returned to the fold after an injury, and is in contention to start.
While Portugal defender Tavares will be looking to build on his goal last week with a solid display.
Credit: Getty Osimhen ‘dreams’ of Arsenal
According to reports, brilliant Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen “dreams” of playing for Arsenal.
Nigerian publication cite a report from Corriere dello Sport that the Napoli forward wants a move to the Emirates this summer OR their rivals Manchester United.
Unsurprisingly, the Serie A club will fight tooth and nail to keep their star man.
And they will only entertain offers north of £84million.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
