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    Arsenal ‘ready to offer £71m transfer fee for Juventus striker Vlahovic’ after missing out on Mudryk to rivals Chelsea

    ARSENAL have turned their attention to Dusan Vlahovic after missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk, according to reports.The Gunners were linked to the striker last January but he decided to join Juventus.
    Arsenal could make a £71million move for Dusan VlahovicCredit: Getty
    Gabriel Jesus then arrived in the summer and Mikel Arteta was looking to strengthen his squad further with the signing of Mudryk, but he joined Chelsea instead.
    Arsenal are now looking at other targets and could make a move for Vlahovic, report Calciomercato.

    It is claimed the North Londoners are preparing a £71million for the Serbia international.
    Juventus could be tempted to let him leave due to the financial problems at the club.
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    Vlahovic, 22, has also attracted interest from Manchester United and Chelsea after scoring 16 goals in 36 games for Juventus.
    Arsenal are keen to add to their forward line and there are a number of players they could sign.
    Reports emerged claiming the Gunners wanted Raphinha but the winger has rejected Arsenal in favour of staying at Barcelona.
    Instead director of football Edu could turn to Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha or PSV Eindhoven winger Noni Madueke, who is subject to interest from Chelsea.
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    Arsenal have also been linked to Leandro Trossard, who could be available after falling out with Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, with his agent revealing the Belgian does not plan to renew his contract. More

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    Arsenal wonderkid Arthur Okonkwo recalled from Crewe and sent out to Sturm Graz after impressing on loan transfer

    ARSENAL have recalled Arthur Okonkwo from Crewe and instantly sent him back out on loan to Sturm Graz.The 21-year-old goalkeeper joined the Gunners academy and has risen through the ranks.
    Arthur Okonkwo has been recalled from Crewe by Arsenal and sent to Sturm GrazCredit: Getty
    He was sent out to the League Two club to get first-team experience in the summer but his displays have now earned him a move to the Austrian giants.
    He kept 10 clean sheets in 34 outings at Crewe.
    And that has led to Arsenal opting to invoke their option to recall him and send him to a club higher up the football pyramid.
    Okonkwo said: “I’m happy to have landed here in Graz at SK Sturm, a big club in Austria.
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    “I know that you have big ambitions and goals here — just like me personally, so I am convinced that I am in the right place for the next step in my development.
    “I look forward to getting to know the team and doing my part next spring to ensure maximum success.”
    Sturm Graz are currently second in the Austrian Bundesliga behind leaders Red Bull Salzburg.
    The youngster will now be competing with current No.1 Jorg Siebenhandl for a start.
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    Siebenhandl, 32, has won two caps for Austria.
    Okonkwo is under contract at the Emirates until June 2024.
    He is yet to make a first-team appearance for the club. More

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    Arsenal star William Saliba out for revenge on Man Utd – the only team to beat Prem leaders in the league this season

    WILLIAM SALIBA is out for revenge against Manchester United – who remain the only team to beat table-topping Arsenal in the Premier League this season.Marcus Rashford hit a double as Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils won 3-1 against Saliba’s Gunners at Old Trafford in early September.
    Arsenal’s William Saliba (left) battles Manchester United’s Marcus RashfordCredit: PA
    Saliba and Arsenal are on a revenge mission against Man UtdCredit: Getty
    Mikel Arteta’s side responded brilliantly by winning ten and drawing two of their next 12 Prem games, with the latest victory coming at rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
    But Ten Hag’s men have also gone from strength to strength in recent months, winning their last nine on the trot in all competitions.
    French star Saliba said: “We know we have a big game next week. 
    “We know they beat us. They are the only team to beat us this season in the Premier League and we want to beat them again at home. 
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    “We will prepare this game very good I think, and I hope we will win in front of our fans.”
    Sunday’s clash at the Emirates is all set up to be one of the most exciting matches between the two juggernauts since the Noughties.

    Those were the days when Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson’s United were slugging it out for the title.
    Arsenal’s victory at Spurs put them eight points clear at the top of the table – indeed they have dropped just SEVEN all season.
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    But Ten Hag’s in-form side could be within six of Arteta’s side if they beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday and could even cut that gap down to three with a victory next weekend.
    Arsenal are in the driving seat, however, but Arteta says they will have to remain “almost perfect” if they are to win the title and is targeting at least 90 points to achieve it.
    Centre-back Saliba has been a huge part of their success so far, having returned from a hat-trick of loans back to France at the end of last season.
    The 21-year-old admitted he could never have expected the Gunners to be so clear at the top at the stage.
    Yet he did get the feeling there was something happening here during pre-season.
    The defender, who scooped the Ligue 1 young player of the year award last term while farmed out to Marseille, said: “When I came here of course we wanted to be in the lead.
    “But I didn’t imagine we are where we are in January. 
    “But after the summer, when I saw the team and the mentality, I told myself: ‘Yeah, we can do something this season’.”
    Arsenal have a young side with the likes of Bukayo Saka, 21, Martin Odegaard, 24, and Gabriel Martinelli, 21, all key players.

    Arsenal moved eight points clear at the top with their win at TottenhamCredit: Getty
    They did bring in two players who had won the Premier League title four times in the last five years in Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, who is currently injured.
    But apart from that pair it is a relatively inexperienced squad that Arteta has flying high.
    Some teams may feel the heat of leading the division – as Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle famously did when blowing a 12-point lead in 1996.
    Yet Saliba said: “It’s better to have this pressure when you are at the top than when you are down at the bottom. It’s better to keep going like this and we don’t have to have pressure.
    “(The eight-point lead) is never enough. We know we have a lot of games to go. 
    After the summer, when I saw the team and the mentality, I told myself: ‘Yeah, we can do something this season’William Saliba
    “We have to be focused because things can change quickly. 
    “If we lose one game, after we can have no confidence, so we have to be focused on keeping going and trying to win. We focus on ourselves.”
    Arsenal are currently trying to tie Saliba down to a new contract.
    His present terms expire at the end of next season, after the Gunners activated a one-year option on his deal last term.
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    Asked if games like Sunday’s North London derby victory could help persuade him to extend his stay, Saliba replied: “Yeah, of course! 
    “The club is speaking with my agent and me, the only thing I can do is [focus on my football]. I am so happy here.” More

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    Nottingham Forest beat Man Utd and Arsenal to £18m Danilo transfer as Palmeiras star becomes 24th signing of season

    NOTTINGHAM FOREST have seen off competition from Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona to land Brazilian wonderkid Danilo.Steve Cooper is on the brink of pulling off an £18million coup to sign the 21-year-old Palmeiras defensive midfielder, who underwent a medical yesterday.
    Nottingham Forest have swooped to sign Brazilian Danilo Santos from PalmeirasCredit: Getty
    The move will see Danilo team up with his former Palmeiras teammate, and new Forest fans’ favourite, Gustavo Scarpa at the City Ground.
    He will become Forest’s 24th signing since they gained promotion to the Premier League in the summer.
    The youngster has attracted interest from Europe’s big hitters since he inspired Palmeiras to win back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles in 2020 and 2021.
    Forest will now turn their attention to trying to pull off their biggest statement signing of all, Roma’s Italian international forward Nicolo Zaniolo.
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    The 23-year-old has struggled at Jose Mourinho’s Europa Conference League winners lately, following an injury hit season.
    But Cooper is hopeful he can beat Spurs boss Antonio Conte to land the hugely talented former Inter Milan frontman, who has 11 caps for Italy and would cost around  £27m.
    The attacker arrived from Inter in 2018 and has gone on to make almost 100 Serie A appearances since.
    However, his status with Mourinho’s side is under huge scrutiny after he was recently jeered by his own supporters.
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    Fans turned on the Italian international during the 1-0 Coppa Italia victory over Genoa on Thursday.
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    Zaniolo is under contract at the Stadio Olimpico until 2024.
    Talks have already taken place over an extension, but there has been “no progress” during the negotiations.
    And his performances and general attitude of late has allegedly “irritated” Roma’s top brass.
    He was originally valued at around £44m by Roma, but with his contract dwindling, that is said to have dropped significantly.
    Zaniolo, whose goal clinched the Europa Conference League crown last season, has scored two and provided three assists in his 17 appearances this term. More

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    Man Utd and Arsenal in Luiz Henrique transfer fight as Erik ten Hag targets 22-year-old Real Betis winger

    MANCHESTER UNITED and Arsenal are reportedly set to lock horns in a transfer battle for Real Betis star Luiz Henrique.The winger, 22, has caught the eye with his impressive displays in both LaLiga and the Europa League this term.
    Real Betis star Luiz Henrique is on Man Utd and Arsenal’s radarsCredit: Rex
    The Brazilian has scored three goals and produced five assists so far and is now attracting attention from the Premier League.
    His standout moment of the campaign came last Thursday when he shone for Betis against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals.
    Henrique provided both assists in the 2-2 draw before he and his teammates suffered penalty shootout heartache.
    ABC Sevilla are now claiming that both United boss Erik ten Hag and Gunners manager Mikel Arteta have been monitoring his performances.
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    They state the English clubs have sent scouts to watch Henrique in action this season on several occasions.
    However, it also adds that a switch during the January transfer window seems unlikely.
    United have already added Wout Weghorst to their forward line and are not expected to do any further business until the summer.
    But Premier League leaders Arsenal are desperately looking for reinforcements.
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    Chelsea beat them to the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk and new reports state that their alternative target Raphinha has snubbed them to stay at Barcelona.
    Henrique came through the ranks at Fluminense in his homeland before going on to play 118 times for them, scoring 14 times and grabbing 13 assists.
    He only moved to Betis last summer and is under contract there until 2028. More

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    Tottenham vow to ban fan who kicked Arsenal star Aaron Ramsdale as they release statement after shameful attack

    TOTTENHAM have announced they will immediately ban the fan that kicked Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after the North London Derby.The disgraceful attack took place at full-time after the Gunners beat Spurs 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thanks to Hugo Lloris’ own goal and Martin Odegaard’s goal.
    Tottenham have vowed to ban the fan that kicked Arsenal’s Aaron RamsdaleCredit: Sky Sports
    Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was attacked after full-timeCredit: Reuters
    Ramsdale bickered with opponent Richarlison at the end of the game and the forward angrily pushed the keeper in the side of the head.
    As a steward led the England international away to the edge of the pitch, a supporter sat in the Tottenham section kicked the shot stopper.
    Players from both sides then ran over to try and diffuse the tensed situation.
    But Spurs have taken immediate action by condemning the fan’s behaviour and vowed to issue an “immediate ban”.
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    Tottenham released the following statement: “We are appalled by the behaviour of a supporter that attempted to attack Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at the end of today’s match. Violence in any form has no place in football.
    “The Club has reviewed its CCTV footage to identify the supporter and will be working with the Met Police, Arsenal and Aaron Ramsdale to take the strongest possible action, including an immediate ban from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.”
    Ramsdale put together a stunning performances against Tottenham and kept a clean sheet for Arsenal.
    And the 24-year-old addressed the incident during a post-match interview.
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    Ramsdale said: “The Spurs fans were giving me some stick in the second half and I gave them some back.
    “To the few I did do it to it was probably well-greeted sportsmanship like but then a fan jumped over and gave me a little punch in the back.
    “That’s what happened and it is a shame because it’s just a game of football at the end of the day.
    “Both sets of players tried to bring me away, thankfully nothing happened too drastic.
    “It is a sour taste but I am sure we will enjoy it when we go back to the dressing room.” More

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    Arsenal fans delighted as Gabriel Martinelli lobs Gooner scarf into incredible position at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

    ARSENAL fans were purring after an official club scarf was lobbed onto the Spidercam at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.The Gunners won 2-0 in the North London Derby against Spurs thanks to Hugo Lloris’ shock own goal and Martin Odegaard’s screamer.
    An Arsenal scarf found its way on the Spidercam at TottenhamCredit: AFP
    Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur StadiumCredit: Rex
    The visitors, though, added some more insult to injury after the game as they pulled off quite the prank.
    Gabriel Martinelli was seen to throw an Arsenal scarf on the ground’s Spidercam.
    He then reacted with great delight at his quick-thinking actions.
    Fans were left laughing their socks off on social media after the cheeky scenes went public.
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    One fan posted: “The disrespect, love it!”
    Another tweeted: “Oh this is iconic!”
    A third wrote: “That is f*****g sensational.”
    This fan commented: “Has the scarf got it’s [sic] own twitter account yet?”
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    And that one tweeted: “More of that next week.”
    However, that wasn’t the only image that went viral at Tottenham.
    As tensions boiled over at full-time, a fan kicked Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
    Ramsdale bickered with Tottenham star Richarlison at the end of the game and the forward angrily pushed the keeper in the side of the head.
    As a steward led the England international away to the edge of the pitch, a fan sat in the Spurs section disgracefully kicked the shot stopper.
    Players from both sets of teams then ran over to try and diffuse the tensed situation. More

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    Fans spot touchline spat between Richarlison and Tomiyasu as Tottenham star angrily hits out at Arsenal rival

    RICHARLISON failed to hide his frustration in the North London derby following a tense coming together with Takehiro Tomiyasu. Arsenal took bragging rights back to the Emirates after beating Tottenham 2-0 away from home.
    Richarlison and Takehiro Tomiyasu face off in an off-field spat

    Richarlison was involved in a heated exchange of words with Aaron Ramsdale at full-time, before the Arsenal keeper was KICKED by a disgraceful Spurs supporter.
    But an eagle-eyed fan spotted an off-field spat between the Brazilian and Arsenal defender Tomiyasu on the touchline earlier in the game.
    Tomiyasu put his arm across Richarlison, who then angrily pulled it away.
    The Spurs forward came off the bench and had a late chance denied by stopper Ramsdale, who was named man of the match.
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    But tempers flared after the game with opposing players colliding following the final whistle.
    And it riled up the home Spurs supporters inside the stadium, with one even punting Ramsdale as he went to collect his water bottle.
    He responded to Sky Sports: “The Spurs fans were giving me some stick in the second half and I gave them some back.
    “To the few I did do it to it was probably well-greeted sportsmanship like but then a fan jumped over and gave me a little punch in the back.
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    “That’s what happened and it is a shame because it’s just a game of football at the end of the day.
    “Both sets of players tried to bring me away, thankfully nothing happened too drastic.
    “It is a sour taste but I am sure we will enjoy it when we go back to the dressing room.”
    Aaron Ramsdale kicked by Tottenham fan after the matchCredit: Sky Sports More