Arsenal transfer news

STUART ARMSTRONG ended Arsenal’s eight-match winning streak as the Premier League leaders suffered a reality check at St Mary’s. Mikel Arteta’s faded alarmingly after an excellent start, which brought an early Granit Xhaka opener, and their lead over Manchester City is now just two points. 
Xhaka opened the scoring in the first halfCredit: EPA
The Swiss midfielder is having a standout seasonCredit: Getty
Armstrong equalised for the SaintsCredit: PA
The way Arsenal started with such energy and swagger, you felt they would canter to another victory but Ralph Hasenhuttl’s strugglers fought back with conviction to earn a deserved point.  
Nobody at the Emirates had been getting too carried away about Arsenal’s magnificent start to the campaign – with a feeling that they might not have the squad depth or experience to make a serious title challenge. 
And it felt as if Arsenal had hit the wall physically as they allowed inferior opposition back into a game they would have expected to win.
Saints had ended a miserable run with a midweek victory at in-form Bournemouth but with their team depleted there was little pre-match optimism around St Mary’s.
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Arsenal may have lost on three of their previous five visits here but this lot had been looking like a very different Arsenal. 
They were full of it early on – a supreme conviction about everything they did. 
Xhaka had an angled shot well saved by the legs of Gavin Bazunu and then the Swiss combined with Gabriel Martinelli to tee up Martin Odegaard, who dragged his shot wide. 
But it took only 11 minutes for the opener to arrive, Bukayo Saka slipping a pass to Ben White on the overlap and the right-back cutting back a low centre which Xhaka met with a stunning half-volley on his weaker right foot.
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Gabriel Jesus could have had a penalty soon after when he appeared to be pulled back by Lyanco and then the Brazilian forward twisted Duje Caleta-Car inside and out but drilled into the side-netting. 
It had been an outstanding opening 20 minutes from Arsenal but then the Saints decided to join in.  
Arteta’s side were pinned back for a long stretch, aerially bombarded by corners, free-kicks and long throws – but they dealt with it all unfussily. 
And Jesus ought to have doubled the lead before half-time, when a defensive mix-up allowed Odegaard to play a saucy scooped pass only for the Brazilian to miscue his volley and allow Bazunu a comfortable save. 
Arsenal struggled to find their first-half fluency after the break and St Mary’s – so quiet except for intermittent groaning – began to find its voice as the Saints stepped up the pressure.
Yet when the Gunners broke, a cute through-ball from Odegaard sending Jesus clear, Mohamed Elyanoussi needed to make an excellent saving tackle just as the Brazilian went to pull the trigger. 
Arsenal’s tempo had dropped, though, and Saints were sensing a way back in well before the equaliser arrived midway through the second half. 
It was a sweeping move, featuring a smart dummy from Joe Aribo and finishing with Elyanoussi cutting in and slippin a pass through for Stuart Armstrong to steer past Aaron Ramsdale.
This proved to be a powerful fillip for Hassenhutl’s side rather than a kick up the backside for Arsenal.
Romain Perraud fizzed a shot wide and Aribo had a shot saved by Ramsdale as Southampton confidence surged, on and off the pitch. 
Arteta sent on Eddie Nketiah for Martinelli, while former Gunner Theo Walcott and striker Che Adams arrived for the hosts. 
As tempers rose, Arsenal coach Nicolas Jover was yellow-carded by ref Robert Jones. 
Odegaard found the net but his effort was disallowed because the ball had crossed the line before sub Kieran Tierney had cut it back to the Arsenal skipper. 
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Nketiah, one of those back-up men who do not look like title-winning players, sent a poor shot wide after more creative work from Odegaard. 
And Arsenal were unable to find a way through in an end-to-end finale.
Arsenal enjoyed the majority of possession More

FORMER Arsenal chief David Dein is trying to talk “bruised” Arsene Wenger into coming back to the club to see his statue unveiled.The creation of an artistic tribute to ex-manager Wenger is at an advanced stage.
‘Bruised’ former Arsenal manager Wenger is refusing to return to see his statue unveiled, says DeinCredit: Getty
But Dein, who used to be Gunners vice-chairman, claims the Frenchman is yet to give the green light to a ceremony because he is still upset by the way he was forced out in 2018.
Dein told fans at an Arsenal Supporters’ Trust event: “Rather like myself, he is bruised. I don’t think he was treated well.
“I think he is still smarting from that. He was never really given the opportunity to discuss an alternative role at the club.
“That caused friction. There was also interference from board members in what he was doing.
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“He had a difficult time. I do hope that he does come back.
“It’s no secret, there is a statue waiting for him to be unveiled. I hope he does decide to do that. For what he delivered to the club, he certainly deserves it.
“I know he is in two minds. He hasn’t agreed to do it yet. I’m pushing him to try and encourage him that he should.
“It ought to be there, a permanent memory to what he delivered to the club.”
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Wenger, who turned 73 on Saturday, won three Prem titles, a record seven FA Cups and was in charge of the famous Invincibles during his 22 years at the club.
Arsenal are in direct contact with the Frenchman, now Fifa’s head of global football development, about unveiling the statue some time next year.
And Dein insists that he has nothing against owner Stan Kroenke and son Josh, and that he is enjoying the club’s current “renaissance”.
He revealed how Edu, Arsenal’s current technical director, had a sticky start with the club.
The former Gunners midfielder was supposed to join from Brazilian club Corinthians in the summer of 2000.
Dein said: “He was an unusual transfer. I got a call at 3am from the immigration officer at Terminal 3, saying, ‘Mr Dein, we’ve got one of your players here’.
“I said, ‘What’s the problem?’.
“‘Well, his passport is not really good. We’re going to have to send him back home.’”
Edu was entitled to a European passport through his Portuguese and Italian ancestry but the number on the document was out of sequence, revealing it to be a fake.
Dein said: “The agent had tried to fast-track it.
“I spoke to Arsene straight away and said, ‘What do you want to do? It could take six to nine months’. Arsene said, ‘No, we’ll definitely sign him’.
“So I said to Edu at the time, ‘Don’t worry, go back, we’ll get your papers in order, and you will be welcome whenever you come in’.”
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Edu was held overnight at Heathrow but finally signed in January 2001.
He was part of the 2002 Double-winning squad and the famous Invincibles of 2003-4. More

WILFRIED ZAHA has been warned off joining a Big Six club amid links to Arsenal.Former Gooner Paul Merson believes Zaha is playing the best football of his career after netting five times in nine games this season.
Wilfried Zaha has been warned against moving to a Big Six clubCredit: Reuters
There is speculation the winger could run down his contract and leave Crystal Palace next summer, with Arsenal rumoured to be interested.
But Merson advised the 29-year-old to carefully consider his next step – as a move to a Big Six club could backfire.
Merson wrote in his Daily Star column: “Wilfried Zaha plays every week at Crystal Palace.
“He can have a bad game and still start the following match and that might not happen at a Big Six club.
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“I think he should seriously consider his options before running down his contract. He’s a legend at Palace and the manager loves him.
“I see someone like Arsenal coming in for him if they get into the Champions League but do you go there and risk becoming a bit-part player?
“You’re then going on a free. It’s not like you’re Darwin Nunez, who cost £85m and therefore has to play. Will he want to play for one week and then drop to the bench? I’m just not sure whether the grass is going to be greener for Zaha.
“He’s playing the best football of his career and there is a reason for that. He needs to sit down and have a big think about his future.”
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Palace have reportedly offered Zaha a new long-term contract but he has made no secret of his desire to play at the highest level.
The Ivory Coast international wants to play Champions League football and is said to be targeting a move to Liverpool.
Chelsea were also linked with a move for Zaha in the summer and could look to strike a bargain by picking up the winger on a free next year. More

ARSENAL star Gabriel Magalhaes has committed his future to the club on a new long-term deal.The news was confirmed by Arsenal on Friday evening.
Arsenal ace Gabriel Magalhaes has penned a new long-term contractCredit: Getty
And the bumper contract extension comes as a reward for Gabriel following his stunning form under Mikel Arteta this season.
Gabriel has played 83 times for Arsenal, scoring nine goals in the process.
The stylish Brazilian defender, 24, was strongly linked with a move away from Arsenal over the summer.
Juventus tried to land Gabriel just two years on from his £27million transfer from Lille.
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But the Gunners fought hard to keep the centre-back at the club.
And Gabriel’s great performances have now helped guide Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table.
The star beamed: “Arsenal fans, thank you for your support, come on Gooners!”
Meanwhile, technical director Edu said: “It’s great that we’ve agreed a new deal with Gabi. At 24, he’s still a young player and is part of our future.
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“His performances since he joined us in 2020 have been very strong and his positive impact on our results have been clear for everyone to see.
“He has grown so much on and off the pitch, with both his contribution and communication on and off the pitch.
“We all look forward to seeing Gabi continue to grow as an important part of our club.”
And boss Arteta added: “Gabi has shown huge qualities since he joined us.
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“He is a young player with a great work ethic and his consistently strong performances have been hugely important to us over the past two seasons.
“Working with Gabi every day is a pleasure, he has formed strong relationships with everyone at the club and we’re so pleased that he has committed to us on a long-term contract.” More