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    Arsenal to back Mikel Arteta’s Premier League title bid and bankroll January transfer splurge

    ARSENAL will back boss Mikel Arteta with £50million of hard cash in the January transfer window to prevent their title bid being wrecked by burn-out.Arteta wants to add at least two more players to his squad to help them maintain their blistering start to the season.
    Arteta wants at least two new faces in JanuaryCredit: Getty
    Brazil star Danilo is attracting interest from ArsenalCredit: Getty
    Ukraine star Mudryk has a number of top clubs after himCredit: AP
    Yeremy is one of Villarreal’s main menCredit: Getty
    And owner Stan Kroenke is ready to finance another spending spree despite splashing out £130m in the summer to sign Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos.
    Few people at the Emirates expected the team to be challenging for the title this summer and have been pleasantly surprised to see opening a healthy lead over Big Six rivals Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs.
    But now they are only two points ahead of Champions Manchester City following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Southampton.
    And little more than a quarter of the way into the campaign, there are already concerns that the surprise table toppers are already starting to feel the pace.
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    Arteta has been relying on a core group of 15 starters in Premier League but has also been forced to select a number of those players in the Europa League group games.
    He is particularly keen to ease the workload on Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka, who have featured in all 15 Arsenal games so far this season.
    Plans to make another bid for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz have been scrapped after he recently signed a new long-term contract.
    Now Arsenal could revive their interest in another Brazilian midfielder, the 21-year-old Palmeiras star Danilo.
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    Arsenal made two unsuccessful bids for Luiz on transfer deadline day but also sounded out Palmeiras about a potential deal for Danilo.
    They were prepared to pay £22m but the Brazilian League leaders were not interested in selling their young star while they were still involved in the Copa Libertadores.
    But with the Brazilian season finishing before next month’s World Cup finals, Arsenal believe that Palmeiras could be willing to cash in on Danilo in January and will test their resolve with an improved £26million bid.
    They are also in the market for another winger and are currently keeping track of Shakhtar Donetsk’s young Ukrainian international Mykhaylo Mudryk and Villarreal’s exciting 20-year-old Yeremy, who would both cost somewhere in the region of £25m. More

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    Arsenal in transfer blow with Marco Asensio set to sign new three-year Real Madrid contract after showdown talks

    REAL MADRID ace Marco Asensio is set to sign a three-year contract extension at the Bernabeu, according to reports.The Spaniard, 26, has been linked with a move to Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham since bursting onto the scene at Los Blancos in 2016.
    Marco Asensio is set to sign a three-year extension at Real MadridCredit: AP
    According to SER, however, Real want to hold showdown talks with the winger’s representatives to extend his stay in Madrid – including a bumper pay rise.
    The Spain international has struggled to break into Carlo Ancelotti’s line-up with Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and 2022 Ballon d’Or Winner Karim Benzema ahead of him in the pecking order.
    Previous reports suggested Asensio wasn’t with his bit-part role in the team – but he appears to have changed his mind after a string of opportunities off the bench.
    Therefore, the versatile attacker could put pen to paper on a new deal with the reigning European champions.
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    His agent Jorge Mendes, though, appears to want a longer deal with an even higher wage bill.
    Nevertheless, Real are keen to hold on to Asensio and will push for a response before the 2022 World Cup – with the star tipped to be called up by Spain boss Luis Enrique.
    Arsenal appear keen on adding more firepower up front with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard firing on all cylinders already.
    The same goes for Tottenham, who want to add reinforcement next to Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski.
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    Liverpool, on the other hand, are still looking for someone to restore Sadio Mane’s influence down the wings.
    Plus, manager Jurgen Klopp recently lost Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota to injury. More

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    Arsenal ‘ready to make transfer offer of £52.5m and Albert Sambi Lokonga’ for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

    ARSENAL are reportedly “willing to do anything” to land Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.That includes having youngster Albert Sambi Lokonga as part of a package deal with £52.5million.
    Arsenal are said to be lining up a bid for Milinkovic-Savic in JanuaryCredit: Rex
    Lokonga will reportedly be part of the swap deal, along with £52.5mCredit: Rex
    Milinkovic-Savic, 27, is a wanted man as his contract expires at the end of next season.
    The Serbian midfielder is set for crunch talks with the Serie A side to discuss his future.
    He has netted four times and assisted seven in 15 games this season for the third-placed team.
    Lazio are said to have slapped a whopping £105m price tag on their prized target.
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    And according to Italian outlet CalcioMercatoWeb, the Gunners will do their very best to persuade them to agree.
    The package involving Lokonga, 23, will be worth around £74m.
    Arsenal reportedly had a £47m bid for the midfielder turned down in the summer.
    But they will return to the negotiating table again soon – much to the delight of club icon Paul Merson.
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    In his column for the Daily Star Merson wrote: “Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the player I would go for.
    “I think Milinkovic-Savic is a lovely player. A really top-drawer player.
    “The way he played for Lazio last season I personally think he is the best midfield player in Italy.
    “I know Manchester United have been linked with him in the past, but why there isn’t a queue of clubs lining up to buy the Serbian, I do not know.
    “I think a lot of clubs are missing a trick.”
    One report suggested that the Serbian would prefer a move to Old Trafford over anywhere else in the Premier League. More

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    Arsenal ‘targeting Frankfurt centre-back Evan Ndicka transfer’ after missing out on Man Utd star Lisandro Martinez

    ARSENAL have joined the bidding war for Eintracht Frankfurt ace Evan Ndicka, reports suggest.The Gunners are still in the market for a left-sided centre-back ahead of the January transfer window.
    Eintracht Frankfurt ace Evan Ndicka has been linked with a move to ArsenalCredit: Rex
    According to the Evening Standard, Ndicka, 23, is one of the North Londoners’ top targets but face competition for his signature.
    Tottenham, Newcastle and Manchester United have also been previously linked with the centre-back.
    Arsenal turned their attention on Ndicka after missing out on Lisandro Martinez, who signed for United last summer.
    Mikel Arteta’s side also failed to land Calvin Bassey, who opted for Ajax.
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    Ndicka stood out for Eintracht last season as he helped them win the Europa League.
    The Frenchman continues to impress in the Bundesliga with a total of 17 appearances already this season.
    The defender poses as a very attractive target as his contract runs out in June.
    Ndicka joined Eintracht from Auxerre in 2018 and quickly rose through the ranks at the Deutsche Bank Park.
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    The 23-year-old has since amassed a total of 10 goals and nine assists in 156 appearances across all competitions.
    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, though, has managed to create a rock-solid defence with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back. More

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    Arsenal and Chelsea transfer blow with ‘Wilfried Zaha set to open talks with Crystal Palace over new long-term contract’

    CRYSTAL PALACE will hold talks with star man Wilfried Zaha over a new long-term contract.That is according to Palace manager Patrick Vieira, who is adamant Zaha, 29, won’t be leaving for free in June when his contract runs out.
    Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has dealt Arsenal and Chelsea with a transfer blowCredit: Reuters
    Palace are set to hold contract talks with star man Wilfried ZahaCredit: Getty
    That would be a significant transfer blow for Arsenal and Chelsea who have been keeping tabs on the winger for quite some time.
    Vieira said: “Wilfried knows what the club think about him, and we know what he thinks about the club.
    “There will be discussions taking place [over a new contract] but for myself and for the club what is important is for him to play at this level and to be consistent and to help those young players around him to grow and we will see what will happen.
    “If Wilfried Zaha has a good day, the team will have a good day.
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    “He’s an important player on and off the field, he’s got the experience and today he was really good in possession and out of possession he worked really hard.”
    Arsenal, Chelsea as well as Roma were eyeing Zaha during the summer transfer window.
    The 29-year-old has long held ambition to play in the Champions League after his disappointing stint with Manchester United almost a decade ago.
    The Gunners have been keeping tabs on the Ivory Coast international since 2019 when former manager Unai Emery considered him a priority before the club opted for record signing Nicolas Pepe.
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    While Chelsea are also looking to add some more firepower to Graham Potter’s faltering attack.
    Zaha has been enjoying a stunning campaign so far with five goals and one assist in 10 Premier League matches. More

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    Southampton 1 Arsenal 1: Mikel Arteta’s side lose ground in Premier League title race as battling Saints grab draw

    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.
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    Arsene Wenger refusing invitation to see his new Arsenal statue unveiled as ex-boss is too ‘bruised’ by sacking

    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

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    ‘Have a big think’ – Wilfried Zaha warned off joining Arsenal by Paul Merson as Crystal Palace star’s contract runs down

    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