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      Arsenal set to ditch SEVEN players including record signing Pepe – but fear they’ll have to PAY £140k-a-week flop to go

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      ARSENAL are ready to ditch £72million club record signing Nicolas Pepe – but fear they might have to pay him to leave.The 27-year-old winger is currently on loan at Nice but is not part of Mikel Arteta’s plans.
      Nicolas Pepe is set to leave ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Albert Sambi Lokonga is another player who could be ditched by ArsenalCredit: Getty
      There are seven players the club who could be on the chopping blockCredit: Getty
      But he still has another year of his £140,000-a-week Emirates contract to run and has attracted no offers from any potential buyers.
      Nice, owned by Manchester United bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have suggested they may be willing to sign Pepe on a permanent deal in the summer.
      But there has been no indication that they are prepared to pay a transfer fee for the player who became the most expensive signing in Arsenal’s history when he joined them from Lille in 2019.
      Pepe has not started a Premier League game for the Gunners since October 2021 and has made it clear that he does not see a future for himself in North London after falling behind Bukayo Saka in the pecking order.
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      Yet his current wages are seen as a stumbling block to any potential departure and Arsenal are almost resigned to having to pay at least part of the £7million he is still due from his contract.
      Since Arteta was appointed Arsenal boss in December 2019, Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Lacazette, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Sead Kolasinac, Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers and David Luiz have all left the club for no fee.

      If Pepe joins them on the scrapheap, that will be £340m-worth of signings allowed to depart for nothing.
      Sporting director Edu justified that policy last summer when he claimed: “When a player is 26 or older, has a big salary and is not performing, he’s killing you.”
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      But Pepe might not be the last of the Arsenal give-aways this summer as there are a number of other players currently out on loan who are unlikely to return to the club.
      They are ready to listen to offers for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares and Alex Runarsson but know that few of that list are likely to attract substantial bids.
      And there is also uncertainty regarding the long-term futures of Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and Folarin Balogun as Arteta prepares for another summer upgrade to prepare his squad for a return to the Champions League next season.
      Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been on loan at Southampton this seasonCredit: Getty More

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      Ex-Arsenal star Mesut Ozil snubbed Barcelona for Real Madrid thanks to ‘disappointing’ Pep Guardiola

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      MESUT OZIL has revealed that a “disappointing” experience with Pep Guardiola led to him snubbing Barcelona in favour of Real Madrid.The former Arsenal winger announced he is hanging up his boots at the age of 34 on Thursday.
      Mesut Ozil has blamed Pep Guardiola for him snubbing Barcelona back in 2010Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He says Jose Mourinho went all out to get him to sign for Real MadridCredit: Getty
      Ozil decided to call time on his career midway through Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir’s season.
      He thanked all of the clubs he played for, including the Gunners and Real Madrid, but admitted that injuries in recent months had taken their toll.
      Ozil’s retirement brings to an end a career stacked with trophies, with the playmaker once regarded as the best No10 in world football.
      Bursting onto the scene with Schalke in 2006, Ozil became a certified Bundesliga star when he joined Werder Bremen in 2008.
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      But it was his epic performances for Germany at the 2010 World Cup which secured a £13million move to Real Madrid that same summer.
      However, it could all have been very different if the then Barcelona manager Guardiola had made a bit more effort to meet him.
      Speaking to Marca about his exit from Werder Bremen, he revealed: “That was a decision between Real Madrid and Barcelona. And in the end it was not a matter of money.
      “I don’t know if this is known, but I visited Madrid and Barcelona at that time and the difference was Jose Mourinho.
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      “Mou gave me a VIP visit to Real Madrid. He took me to see the stadium and all the trophies they had won. That gave me goosebumps.
      “The visit in Barcelona was less enthusiastic and what was more disappointing is that Pep Guardiola didn’t bother to meet me.
      “Before that trip I really liked Barcelona’s style of football and I could really imagine playing with them, but Madrid went all out.
      “So Jose Mourinho was without a doubt the most important factor in my decision. After my visits, my decision was one hundred percent clear: I wanted to be a Madridista.”
      Ozil won the LaLiga crown and the Copa del Rey during his time in the Spanish capital before Arsenal came calling.
      The Gunners paid £42.5m for Ozil in 2013, with him quickly becoming an Emirates cult hero.
      Ozil ended up with 44 goals in 254 for Arsenal, winning an incredible three FA Cups in four years.
      And it was during this time that he lifted the World Cup with Germany at Brazil 2014.
      But back at Arsenal, Ozil started to find his minutes limited under Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta following Arsene Wenger’s exit.
      And Ozil eventually moved to Turkey with Fenerbahce in January 2021 after having his contract terminated.
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      Ozil lasted 18 months with the Istanbul giants before joining city rivals Basaksehir last summer.
      But he failed to score in just eight appearances for his new side before calling time on his career, last playing in a Super Lig defeat to Kayserispor on February 2.
      Mesut Ozil spent three years at the Bernabeu before joining ArsenalCredit: PA:Empics Sport More

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      Watch Oleksandr Zinchenko’s bizarre outburst as he plays footgolf against Arsenal team-mate Granit Xhaka

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      OLEKSANDR ZINCHENCKO has left Arsenal fans in stitches as he showed off his competitive side while playing footgolf.The defender took on a challenge against team-mate Granit Xhaka and continued to show his winning mentality as he screamed when things went a little wrong.
      Oleksandr Zinchenko took on Granit Xhaka at foot golfCredit: @ProD_Soccer

      The Ukrainian left fans laughing with his scream during one of his shotsCredit: @ProD_Soccer

      During the game, the two Gunners stars try to get footballs from inside one corner flag segment to the one on the opposite side of the pitch.
      Xhaka goes first and gets straight down the byline, while Zinchenko tried to put a bit more curl on the ball.
      For Xhaka’s second shot, he continues down the line and gets fairly close to the target.
      The Ukrainian, on the other hand, misses again and lets off a bizarre scream as his effort rolls just short of the corner.
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      They both managed to complete the challenge with their third kicks.
      Although fans were much more interested in Zinchenko’s outburst.
      One fan tweeted: “Zinny’s primal scream when he’s short on the 2nd shot. Competitor through and through.”
      A second commented: “Zinchenko screaming after the second kick is killing me.”
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      A third wrote: “That scream though 🤣🤣🤣.”
      While a fourth said: “Why did Zinchenko scream like that😂😂😂.”
      A fifth added: “Zinchenko screamed like he’d been shot.”
      He also recently sent the Arsenal fans wild with his incredible technique while participating in Puma’s control challenge.
      He took on Puma employee Cameron in a control challenge and on his first attempt produced a cool backheel to knock the ball up in the air before keeping it up several times with equally impressive flicks with the outside of his respective boots.
      During his next go at controlling a long-range ball from across the pitch, he produced a quick no-look head turn before trapping it dead with his left peg.
      But it was his third one that left fans drooling as he produced a spin in the air while controlling it perfectly with the heel of his lethal left foot.
      The fans will be hoping to see more of the passion from the former Manchester City star when Arsenal return to Premier League action against Leeds on April 1.
      The Gunners are currently eight points clear of second-placed Man City with ten games left to play. More

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      Arsenal fall behind Leeds in transfer race for ‘the next Riyad Mahrez’ with wonderkid set for Barcelona exit

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      ARSENAL have fallen behind Leeds United in their battle for ‘the next Riyad Mahrez’, according to reports.Despite the Whites being dangerously close to the bottom three, they are still looking at targets for next season.
      The 18-year-old Ilias Akhomach is reportedly close to signing a 4-year deal with LeedsCredit: EPA
      Leeds find themselves lagging 13 places behind Arsenal in the Premier League, but reports in Spain claim they are close to beating them to the signing of Barcelona wonderkid Ilias Akhomach.
      The teen won’t renew his relationship with Barcelona, instead looking to join a new club for next season with Sevilla, Club Brugge and AC Milan among those linked.
      He is out of contract in the summer.
      While the Gunners have been closely following the skilful winger, Leeds have apparently pulled out a lead, having been in advanced negotiations to sign Akhomach.
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      Spanish outlet El Chiringuito even claim Leeds have agreed a four-year deal with the 18-year-old, who has impressed with his stunning talent on the pitch.
      Akhomach has had a string of solid displays for Barcelona’s second string, earning comparisons to Manchester City ace Mahrez.
      He even got a call-up to the first team during the 2021-22 season, where he ended up making three appearances for the Catalan giants.
      His entourage are confident that Leeds will stave off relegation, but if they do drop to the Championship then he will STILL sign with them, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.
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      The team managed to pull themselves back up the table after a win over Wolves last weekend.
      Arsenal may be set to miss out on the Akhomach, but they have been tipped to land some other big names.
      Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda is rumoured to be leaving for Arsenal in a £13million winter move, and West Ham captain Declan Rice is another key target for the Gunners this summer according to reports. More

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      England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley drops huge hint over Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun’s England vs USA decision

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      LEE CARSLEY has confirmed he will still pick Flo Balogun for this summer’s Under-21 Euros even if the on-loan Arsenal forward has not committed his future to England.Balogun, 21, is at the centre of an international tug-of-war with the USA keen to prise him from the Three Lions’ grasp.
      Flo Balogun has been in sensational form for Reims in Ligue Un this seasonCredit: Getty
      He has seven goals in 13 England Under-21 caps, but the USA want him to switchCredit: Getty
      Interim US boss Anthony Hudson has been in talks with the Reims hotshot and his camp, while Gunners and US goalie Matt Turner has said his club team-mate would make an excellent addition to the States’ side.
      Just this week Balogun, who is also eligible to play for Nigeria, said he had not made a final decision as to the country he wishes to play for in the long term.
      Balogun has seven goals in 13 caps for England’s Under-21s side, though is out of Saturday’s friendly against France and Tuesday’s clash with Croatia with a tight hamstring.
      Young Lions chief Carsley has been in regular contact with the forward and hopes he will ultimately commit to England.
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      Yet when asked if he would still select Balogun for June’s major tournament in Georgia and Romania if the forward had not made his mind up by then, Carsley replied: “Yeah I would.
      “I can only go off the relationship that we’ve got and the conversation that we’ve had, he’s never given me any inkling that he’s looking elsewhere. 
      “I have spoken to him quite a bit.
      “He said he was looking forward to the summer and all the rest of it so I will follow that up after camp. I’ll make sure that I go over (to France). 
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      “I’ve been to France a couple of times now to watch the players and I’ll make a point of going over and meeting Flo.”
      Balogun, who has hit 17 goals on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims this season, is the latest player that England face a battle to keep hold of because of having more than one nationality.
      The Three Lions already lost midfielder Yunus Musah to the US, Jamal Musiala to Germany and, most recently, Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey to Ghana.
      Carsley commented: “You can’t twist someone’s arm to play for England. 
      “We can only make him feel as welcome as we can. We rate him highly. We’ve supported him when things weren’t great. We called him into the 21s when he was playing for Arsenal’s U23s because I knew what potential he had. 
      “Obviously he had the loan move to Middlesbrough which was OK. He’s done excellent this season, he’s really going in the right direction.
      Morgan Gibbs-White will captain the England Under-21s against FranceCredit: AFP
      “If you think about the development that he’s on he’s going in the right direction and hopefully we can still be a part of that. He is is a big player for us. 
      “You’ve seen the campaign that we’ve had, he’s been really integral to that. 
      “Beyond the Under-21s we can only hope that he still feels that he’s got a chance with us, and I feel that’s the case. But, you know, ultimately it will be down to him.”
      Meanwhile, Morgan Gibbs-White will captain England’s Under-21s for their clash with France on Saturday at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.
      The Nottingham Forest star was recently namechecked by Gareth Southgate as someone not far away from a senior call-up.
      Carsley added: “Gareth watches probably more games than any coach in the pathway in terms of the Premier League, so he will have seen Morgan play a lot at Forest. 
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      “Like two or three of the players, he’s in a strong position, he just needs to keep going. 
      “The more assists he gets, the more goals he scores, it gives him a stronger opportunity (of making the seniors).” More

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      Declan Rice is destined to play for ‘top side’ amid Arsenal and Chelsea transfer links, says Marco Verratti

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      ITALY international Marco Verratti expects Declan Rice to join a “top side” after heaping praise on the West Ham captain.The two midfielders faced off last night as England beat Italy at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in their opening 2024 Euro qualifier.
      Declan Rice and Marco Verratt battled in England’s match against ItalyCredit: Getty
      Rice impressed in the game and scored the first goal of the gameCredit: Getty
      Afterwards Verratti said that Rice will join a ‘top side’Credit: Getty
      Rice starred for the Three Lions and was named man of the match after dominating the midfield.
      The Hammers man also bagged his third international goal as he opened the scoring with a good finish in the first half.
      And after the game, his performance was noticed by PSG star Verratti, who believes that the 24-year-old will get a big move.
      He said: “I really like him as a player.
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      “He provides great balance and shape to the team, and he’s got wonderful physical attributes.
      “He really helps his team out a lot.
      “He’s a number six, a defensive midfielder that England really need.
      “I’m sure that he will end up at a top side because I’ve played against him many times, he never gives up.
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      “He’s got a wonderful attitude, and he’s still very young so he’s got a huge room for improvement.”
      Rice has been linked with an exit from West Ham over the last couple of seasons, with many top clubs interested in his services.
      Arsenal are believed to be his most likely destination with the Gunners planning a summer move.
      Chelsea are also in the running to sign Rice as they look to lure him back to the club after originally releasing him as a teenager from the youth academy.
      Rice has been linked with a move away from West HamCredit: Getty More

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      Arsenal lining up transfer move for Serie A striker ‘who can do more than Erling Haaland’ to join Jesus in attack

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      ARSENAL are considering a move for a Serie A striker who can “do more than Erling Haaland”.Manchester City’s Norwegian forward has racked up the goals in phenomenal fashion in his first season in England and has an incredible 42 in all competitions.
      Rasmus Højlund’s reputation is growing in Italy after a strong run of formCredit: Getty
      But a new contender for his throne could emerge as pundits back Atalanta star Rasmus Højlund to be the next big thing.
      The Denmark international has become a regular for his club since the World Cup break and has hit a purple patch of form.
      The 20-year-old is reportedly being eyed by Arsenal to help boost their attack even further next season.
      Tutto Atalanta report that the Gunners are in the lead for the frontman – and are willing to cough up around £45m to land him.
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      Any deal would represent an amazing profit for Atalanta, who signed Højlund for just £15m last summer from Austrian side Sturm Graz.
      He has seven goals and one assist in Serie A so far in this campaign.
      His physical stature and Scandinavian background has seen the star compared to Haaland.
      But former Leeds winger and football pundit Mike Grella believes Højlund might have even more potential than City’s main man.
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      He said: “I will take the comparison with Haaland very lightly, because he is one of the best.
      “There is also a slight difference between them, which speaks in Højlund’s favour.
      “He can do more than Haaland. Haaland is more the type who duels with the centre-backs and just scores lots of goals.
      “Højlund can dribble past an opponent. He can keep the ball better. Højlund can better help the team on the edge (of the penalty area) or deeper in the pitch.”
      Højlund’s former manager at Sturm Graz Christian Ilzer agrees that the pair have similarities.
      He said: “In some characteristics, they are similar.
      “Both are very fast, they also share determination and the desire to always score. Both Hojlund and Haaland are two very positive youngsters and have great confidence in their abilities.” More

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      Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City in Wilfried Gnonto transfer battle with Leeds star available for a bargain

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      WILFRIED GNONTO is at the centre of a transfer battle as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City eye the Leeds star, reports say.The Italian has enjoyed an impressive debut season at Elland Road, producing a few jaw-dropping moments.
      Wilfried Gnonto in full flight has given defenders much to worry about this seasonCredit: Getty
      Despite his form, Leeds find themselves in one of the Premier League’s most competitive relegation battles ever.
      And whether or not they escape the bottom three could impact on Gnonto’s future at the club.
      Relegation may mean the club could have to sell the 19-year-old winger at a bargain price and there are no end of Premier League clubs interested in him.
      Gazzetta dello Sport report that City, Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in the Italian, who could come up against England in the Euro qualifier tonight.
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      Leeds bought Gnonto for a reported fee of just £4million from FC Zurich last summer and they could now make a tidy profit for him if they do opt to sell.
      Gnonto has two goals and three assists in the league this season, including a very early goal at Old Trafford that left Manchester United stunned.
      The youngster has made early strikes a specialty of his and he managed to also catch Cardiff cold with a belter in the FA Cup back in January.
      Leeds will need Gnonto at his best when the Premier League enters its final stretch next month.
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      Nine clubs are separated by just four points in the desperate scrap for survival.
      Javi Gracia has managed to bag a couple of big results since replacing Jesse Marsh but the Yorkshire club have Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Newcastle and Tottenham on the horizon. More