Arsenal transfer news

GARY NEVILLE believes the top-four race will “become a right tangle and mess come February” with the Manchester United legend fearing for Arsenal.The Gunners are currently sat top of the Premier League after 12 games played.
Neville says it isn’t a guarantee of Arsenal finishing inside the top fourCredit: Alamy
Arteta’s men are top of the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
Mikel Arteta’s men have picked up 31 points from an available 34, scoring 30 goals in the process.
In recent weeks, Arsenal haven’t made it easy for themselves, but came away with wins nonetheless.
They were, however, defeated 2-0 by PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League.
And United legend Neville isn’t betting on Arsenal being nailed-on finishers inside the top-four this season.
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The iconic right-back expects the top-four race to “become a right tangle and mess come February” with Arsenal at the thick of it.
Speaking to Mirror Football, Neville said: “City are guaranteed obviously and I think Tottenham will get in there. I want to say Arsenal because I think they will be.
“I think this season will be split into two and I think you’ll see a completely different momentum change and shift at some point in the season. It will just completely change at some point – not at the top, I think City will run away with it.
“But I think Liverpool will come back. We’ve not seen Chelsea, what are they going to do, are they going to hang in there? Are Arsenal going to hang in there? Tottenham, I don’t think will fade away.
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“I think it will become a right tangle and mess come February, March and I think the business end of the season will look completely different to how it looks today. So I will go City, Arsenal Tottenham, United, I think and then I think Chelsea and Liverpool will just miss out.
“But to be honest with you, this idea that Arsenal will definitely get top four, I don’t go along with that yet personally. I think they have got to prove it towards the end of the season even though I’ve loved watching them at the moment and they’re brilliant.”
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, is confident Arsenal will finish up in the top four, as well as North London rivals Tottenham.
Liverpool legend Carragher said: “I think pretty similarly, I do think the north London clubs will both get in it now, I really do believe that, I have loved watching Arsenal they’ve been almost my favourite team to watch this season.
“I think Liverpool will get in there ahead of Chelsea and then the two north London clubs alongside Man City.
“But I think it will be a fight that will go right to the wire and as a Liverpool supporter if you offered me top four now I would bite your hand off because I think Liverpool are in a right fight for that, they could easily finish sixth.
“But I do think Liverpool will stick in there because I do think in that second half of the season we’ve got to see the Liverpool of old at some stage and when Liverpool get back to that it is too much for everybody else in this league, except Man City.
“Whether they ever get back to that consistency it’s going to be tough for them.”
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Both pundits see the Gunners coming in at second behind current champions Man City.
Neville has then gone with Spurs and Man Utd in third and fourth, while Carragher picked Spurs and Liverpool to complete the top-four. More

ATLETICO MADRID are keen on signing in-form Arsenal defender William Saliba, according to reports.The Frenchman, 21, has had an impressive start after finally getting to play for the Gunners.
Atletico would like to sign SalibaCredit: Getty
He was made to wait a couple of years for his opportunity following his £27million 2019 transfer from Saint-Etienne.
The defender spent a number of seasons out on loan back in France at St-Etienne, Nice and Marseille last term, where he impressed.
Saliba’s contract is due to expire next summer but Arsenal have an option to extend a further year.
Nonetheless, Spanish outlet Fichajes are reporting that one of Atletico boss Diego Simeone’s “great wishes” is to sign the France international.
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Atletico were believed to be close to signing Saliba before he joined Arsenal.
The 2021 LaLiga champions are in the market for a standout defender with the likes of Felipe, Stefan Savic and Jose Maria Gimenez all failing to live up to expectations.
A number of other centre-backs are being eyed if Atletico fail to land Saliba with Arsenal desperate to tie their man down to a new long-term deal.
Athletic Bilbao’s Inigo Martinez is an option for Atletico, as is Torino’s Perr Schuurs.
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French champions Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on Saliba.
The player loves living in France which could make a switch to the Parc des Princes attractive.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says when Saliba returned from loan he wasn’t sure whether their relationship was beyond repair.
The Spaniard said this month: “I was really impressed and surprised when I spoke to him.
“The way the relationship started, [I wondered] if there was damage there because he had certain expectations.
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“But he was so committed just to play for Arsenal.
“If I look at how he talks about the club and how much he wants to be here, I have no doubts that he wants to continue to be here.” More

LEICESTER will NOT sell Youri Tielemans in January, insists boss Brendan Rodgers.Tielemans’ Foxes contract expires at the end of the season, with the Belgian unlikely to pen another one.
Youri Tielemans’ Leicester contract expires at the end of the seasonCredit: Rex
Arsenal are interested in signing the 25-year-old, but appear likely to have to wait until next season to do so.
Speaking about Tielemans’ future, Rodgers vowed: “It’s not something we are thinking of and not anything the club have said we need to do.
“We don’t want to be offloading our best players, that’s for sure.
“So there has been no hint or indication we need to generate money and move him on.
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“But, of course, there’s a business side to the club that they will look at.
“We had a number of long chats in the summer. There is clearly no doubt even a young guy who is focused like Youri and very professional, it can have an impact.
“But he has been fully focused. He doesn’t let that affect him. He is a top-class professional, he sees the game how I see it.
“On the field he understands what is happening within the game and that’s all he can do – give his very best – and his recent performances have been excellent.”
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Leicester lost star defender Wesley Fofana to Chelsea in the summer, while long-time stalwart Kasper Schmeichel left for OGC Nice in France.
The Foxes went winless in their first seven matches this term, before finally beating Nottingham Forest 4-0.
Their form has improved somewhat in recent weeks, with Tielemans wearing the captain’s armband in their last four games.
They still find themselves in the relegation zone, however, having picked up 11 points from 13 games.
Arsenal, meanwhile, covet more depth in the midfield area.
Beyond starters Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka they are light in the middle – with Albert Sambi Lokonga and crocked Mohamed Elneny their only other options. More

ARSENAL are reportedly in talks with star defender William Saliba over a new long-term contract with fears he could walk out for FREE next summer.The 21-year-old moved to the Emirates from Saint-Etienne in 2019 for £27million in 2019.
Saliba’s contract expires next summerCredit: Getty
However, he was made to wait until this season to make his Arsenal debut after being loaned out to St-Etienne, Nice and Marseille in the last few campaigns.
Since coming into Mikel Arteta’s side, Saliba has played a key role in keeping the Gunners tight at the back.
He has eight clean sheets in 17 games across all competitions and has conceded just 14 goals.
However, his contract is due to expire next summer meaning he could walk out for FREE.
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Arsenal also hold a 12-month option, but according to The Athletic, the club want to tie the Frenchman down to a new long-term contract.
Should the Gunners hit a stumbling block in negotiations, Saliba won’t be short of options.
In fact, reports suggest Paris Saint-Germain are keen on the defender.
The player loves living in France.
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Arteta says when Saliba returned from loan he wasn’t sure whether their relationship was beyond repair.
The Spaniard said this month: “I was really impressed and surprised when I spoke to him.
“The way the relationship started, [I wondered] if there was damage there because he had certain expectations.
“But he was so committed just to play for Arsenal.
“If I look at how he talks about the club and how much he wants to be here, I have no doubts that he wants to continue to be here.” More