Arsenal transfer news

MIKEL ARTETA has revealed that Arsenal’s medical staff were left “trembling” during the game over Gabriel Martinelli’s fitness.The winger was a fitness doubt going into the game and was only fit enough to come on from the bench, replacing Leandro Trossard at half time.
Martinelli was a severe dount heading into the gameCredit: AP
But the Brazilian forward more than paid off the risk to play him, scoring the only goal of the game with a deflected strike in the 86th minute.
Arteta revealed after the game that his medical staff were not best pleased at the risk of playing Martinelli.
Arteta was asked how important it was to get Martinelli back in the team and said: “First of all he was great. And thank you because he’s made a huge effort to be in this game.
“Nobody believed that he was going to be available but he kept saying ‘I’m gonna be there.’
READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
“All the medical staff were trembling. But he was there and we needed him because Lenadro Trossard was injured after 30 minutes and he was excellent.”
Arteta was then asked if the win sent out a message that Manchester City weren’t going to waltz to the title and replied: “Well it certainly sends a message to our team that if we keep doing what we’re doing and stay humble and work hard then we’re a very difficult team to beat.”
Arsenal’s victory puts them joint top of the table going into the international break behind rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The two have the same number of points but Spurs have scored more goals under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Arsenal will be aided by the fact that Bukayo Saka and William Saliba have been able to pull out of their international team’s fixtures as they continue to nurse injuries.
Given tonight’s injury to Leandro Trossard, he too, might withdraw from the Belgium squad.
The Gunners will return to action when they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 21.
They then take on Sevilla three days later at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium. More

MANCHESTER CITY stars Kyle Walker and Erling Haaland were involved in a furious bust-up after the champions were condemned to back-to-back defeats for the first time in almost five years.Gunners coach Nicolas Jover enraged the duo as they were walking off at The Emirates, a little after Gabriel Martinelli’s 86th-minute winner earned Mikel Arteta his first ever win over City.

Erling Haaland and Kyle Walker clashed with Arsenal’s backroom staff
Haaland appeared to have locked horns with Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover
The incident took place at full-time when the City players went to the tunnel
The win moved Arsenal level on points with north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table, trailing Ange Postecoglou’s side on goals scored.
City are two points off the pace but their frustration boiled over at the end when walker squared up to Arsenal set-piece coach Jover.
The Gunners’ dead-ball expert, who joined the club from City in July 2021, said something in the direction of the City bench which enraged Walker, who stormed over to confront Jover supported by Haaland.
A number of City staff and coaches then piled in before Arsenal’s security staff split the two camps and ushered Walker and Haaland down the tunnel – both still clearly upset.
Read More on Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
City lost 1-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates after Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner
Unused substitute Jack Grealish also had to be guided down the tunnel and away from trouble while injured Arsenal man Bukayo Saka moved to calm down Jover.
The German-born French assistant was booked during Arsenal’s game earlier this season and is known for being more than happy to share his opinion on the touchline.
City boss Pep Guardiola said: “I know what happened but I don’t want to say anything. They know it.”
Asked if he was happy with Arsenal’s conduct, the City boss added: “Yeah, absolutely.”
Most read in Football
Arsenal boss Arteta claimed that he did not see the altercation.
Despite falling to back-to-back defeats for the first time since December 2018, Guardiola is relaxed about his side’s chances of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
City have come from behind in the League before, Arsenal were eight points clear at one point last season, and Guardiola is confident it can be done again.
The Spanish boss said: “No team has ever won four in a row. We are in October. Sometimes it is good going behind, it is not the first time. Last year we were much more behind than here.
“The season is long, people will come back and we play against Brighton and [Manchester] United. Continue. Now we have two defeats in a row and then we have the internationals.
“Hopefully they come back fit and then we go again. Maybe it is a little bit better to be there and see what we have to do to catch them. We know exactly what we have to do and we do it.” More

THERE’S nothing worse than a pundit who sits on the fence, so I’ll get my apologies in straight away.Because when the two best footballing sides face off at the Emirates today, I’m afraid I’ll have splinters in my backside. This one really is too close to call.
Arsenal trail Man City by a point ahead of a clash Harry Redknapp says is too close to callCredit: PA
City are looking to pick up where they left off after beating Arsenal to the title last seasonCredit: AFP
If you put a gun to my head I’d edge towards the draw but I couldn’t go for any outcome even with borrowed money — and it’s no secret I like the odd flutter.
What I do know is Sky Sports can’t be accused of going over the top in billing it Super Sunday and, like the rest of the country — probably the rest of Europe — I’ll be glued to the box.
I just hope that when it’s all over, we’re talking about headline-makers on the pitch and not some geezers in front of a bank of TV screens in West London.
That’s what we’ve had all week after that shocking VAR cock-up at Tottenham last week.
READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
Honestly, you couldn’t make it up. Talk about horrendous.Liverpool are the only side I can see going the distance with Arsenal and Manchester City this season, so you hope that disallowed Luis Diaz goal isn’t decisive at the end.
But although that was obviously the worst VAR call ever, there were plenty of others. I mean, nine bookings and two sendings-off? In a game that was hardly a kick-up.
In case you’d forgotten, this is a contact sport. Fans want to see two teams getting stuck in, and having a go.
It doesn’t mean every challenge is a  yellow card — but that’s how it’s going.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Every tackle isn’t a yellow card. Every review doesn’t have to be a sending-off. If Graeme Souness or Bryan Robson were playing now, they’d be lucky to get a dozen games in.
At least with so many good players on show today, we’ll get a proper match. And with no Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri (left) in City’s side, Arsenal have a right chance.
But City have so much depth you’d still never write them off, and if Erling Haaland gets  the service, there is no better finisher. That’s why I simply can’t separate them.
Both sides have so many potential match-winners — and talking of heroes, Wolves were the unlikeliest of the season after beating City last week.
Almost everyone had them down as no-hopers but they went after City, won 2-1 and have suddenly given the rest of the Premier League hope.
City didn’t just lose the game but also that air of invincibility. Now everyone else is thinking: “Hang on, if they can do that then why can’t we?”
If I managed a bottom-half team against them, I’d be hanging one up in the box and saying: “Get in there and support the centre-forward.”
Yes, I know there will be loads rolling their eyes and calling me a dinosaur, but there are plenty of ways to win a football match.
You can imagine Wimbledon hammering on their dressing-room door before kick-off, yelling: “Get out here you cowards!” I’ve seen that happen more than once.
Vinnie Jones would be shouting:  “Look at him, Fash, he’s s**tting himself.” Half the time he’d be right as well!
It doesn’t mean you’d play that way every week and I’m not saying Wolves did. But it would certainly give you every chance.
Clearly, we’ll see none of that at the Emirates and nothing will be decided today.
If Arsenal get something it’ll be massive psychologically but there’s no way City are going to run away with it this year.
Read More on The Sun
It’s a proper three-horse race between these two and Liverpool. Newcastle will be bang there, too, and Tottenham are in the mix, but that’s about it for them.
As for the rest? Chelsea will struggle to make the top four and United have it all on just to make the top half! More

ARSENAL are set to revive their interest in Wolves star Pedro Neto, according to reports.The Gunners previously tried to sign the winger in 2022, but were unwilling to meet his asking price.
Arsenal are set to reignite their interest in Pedro NetoCredit: Getty
Now Neto is attracting attention once again thanks to his explosive start to the season.
He has one goal and four assists in his first seven games, and played a key role in Wolves’ first goal in their 2-1 win over Manchester City.
Arsenal have been monitoring his situation and could make a bid in January, according to The Mirror.
Neto, 23, signed for Wolves in 2019 and has made 118 appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals.
READ MORE ON ARSENAL
He penned a long-term contract in March that will see him stay at Molineux until 2027.
But Neto is a self-confessed Arsenal fan so could be keen to move if the Gunners make an approach when the transfer window reopens.
Mikel Arteta appears keen to bolster his attacking options, though signing a striker remains the priority.
Brentford forward Ivan Toney, who is still suspended for betting breaches, is their number one target.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Latest reports claim the North London club could even offer Eddie Nketiah to the Bees in exchange for Toney.
Should they miss out on Toney Arsenal could consider a move for Santiago Giménez, who plays for Feyenoord. More

ARSENAL fans have hailed the “emotional” moment that saw Kai Havertz record his first goal for the club.Havertz finally broke his duck in his seventh Premier League appearance for the club when he converted from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute.
Captain Martin Odegaard appeared to discuss letting Havertz take the penalty with Gabriel JesusCredit: TWITTER @KIMMOFC
Havertz was handed the ball by Saka to take the penaltyCredit: Rex
And his team-mates were clearly buzzing with the midfielder for opening his accountCredit: Getty
The goal came with Arsenal 2-0 up in the game.
Vice-captain Martin Odegaard had already converted from the spot in the first-half and it looked as though it would be him or Gabriel Jesus to take the second penalty.
Cameras picked up a conversation between Odegaard and Jesus which showed the Gunners captain appearing to say Havertz should take the pen.
Havertz then duly converted as he sent the Bournemouth keeper Neto the wrong way.
READ MORE ARSENAL
It was clear to see what it meant to Havertz and his team-mates as virtually the whole team ran up to join in with his celebrations after he netted his first goal in a Gunners shirt.
Arsenal fans on Twitter loved the moment, with one tweeting: “If this doesn’t make you proud to be a gooner…. I think Jesus was meant to take it. Ø convincing him to give it to Kai. Jesus approves with a nod to Kai. Helping a friend out. Look how happy they are and how relieved he is.”
In the replies to the video one fan said: “Tears in my eyes.”
Another wrote: “I’m just so glad, for him, the team and especially the captain, that he scored. Imagine the meltdown if he hadn’t.”
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
While a fourth wrote: “I love this club . What a captain!!!!!”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta spoke of his delight at his team allowing Havertz to take the penalty and said after the game: “I love to be part of a team that shows the human qualities that they have show, that empathy towards a player that has some question marks to resolve externally… they won me even more.
“I’m thankful to our supporters as they sang his name. Kai deserves that”.
Arsenal went on to win the game comfortably 4-0, with goals from Saka, Odegaard, Havertz and White.
The Gunners are now up to third in the Premier League table on 17 points and are just one point behind leaders Manchester City. More

MIKEL ARTETA is leading the charge of football’s Boys from the Basque Stuff ahead of Saturday’s reunion with old pal Andoni Iraola at the Vitality Stadium.The pair were born just a couple of months apart in 1982 and played for their local team Antiguoko — alongside ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insists the Spanish Basque region creates the best managersCredit: Rex
And Arteta is convinced that there is something special about the northern Spanish region of San Sebastian which also produced Unai Emery, Julen Lopetegui, Pep Guardiola’s assistant Juanma Lillo and Manchester City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain.
He said: “It’s the food! We have the best food in the world in San Sebastian, the best restaurants per square metre and the most beautiful city.
“It has to be linked with that because the quality of life in our city is incredible — the education we get, the way we look after our city and the passion for football that you can breathe everywhere you go.
“On a weekend there are 300 kids playing on the beach.
Read More on Arsenal
“In the region you have Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao and Eibar. All those teams really take care of their academy players.
“They do great work to raise talent and it’s not a coincidence that a lot of players have come through from that area.
“Also, when you are raised in the Basque area, you have the attitude that nothing is good enough.
“You score a goal but you should have scored another. Our families are really, really demanding and you live with that from a young age.
Most read in Football
“And 30 years later here’s Andoni and me together in the Premier League and I’m really happy for that.”
Arteta was snapped up by Barcelona before going on to Everton and Arsenal while Iraola remained in LaLiga, spending 12 years at Bilbao.
The Bournemouth boss is facing his schoolboy team-mate for the first time as a manager and admitted: “I never thought this would happen when we were players.
“It’s the first time we are going to face each other for how many years I don’t know but it will be very nice.
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola started out with ArtetaCredit: Getty
“The other night I met Alex Neil after the Stoke game. It was something new to me because we don’t usually do this in LaLiga and I liked it. There was no beer or wine, there was something to eat but nothing fancy — but hopefully we will find a way to meet Mikel.”
This will be Arsenal’s first meeting with Bournemouth since their crazy 3-2 win at the Emirates back in March, when they were behind after just nine  seconds but snatched all three points thanks to Reiss Nelson’s unforgettable 97th-minute winner.
Arteta added: “That was one of the maddest games I’ve been involved in, especially conceding so early.
“But the way we turned things around and what we lived together in the 97th minute made it a special day that we will remember for a long time.
“I’d prefer it if we can have a game very much more like the one we played at Bournemouth’s ground last season when we won 3-0.” More