Arsenal transfer news

LEANDRO TROSSARD netted an injury time winner to ensure Arsenal survived after blowing a two-goal lead to Leicester at the Emirates.Mikel Arteta’s team knew they had the chance to make a considerable gain in the title race after seeing Manchester City draw with Newcastle earlier in the day.Gabriel Martinelli got Arsenal underway against LeicesterCredit: EPALeandro Trossard netted a deserved goal on the stroke of half-timeCredit: ReutersA superb James Justin double levelled it up at the EmiratesCredit: GettyTrossard netted an injury time goal to ensure the Gunners claimed victoryCredit: PAThe players seemed to get the message loud and clear and came flying out of the blocks as Gabriel Martinelli got the opener after 20 minutes for his first league goal since April.Martinelli then set up Leandro Trossard just before half-time to hand them a 2-0 lead. Leicester threatened a second-half comeback as a James Justin header deflected off of Kai Havertz to wrong foot David Raya moments into the second half.Justin netted an equaliser with a world class volley that Raya could do nothing about even at full stretch, and despite heavy pressure, they were unable to find a way past Mads Hermansen.READ MORE ON ARSENALThat was until Trossard managed to squeeze an injury time shot in thanks to a deflection off of Wilfried Ndidi to ensure the Gunners did not lose ground in the title race.Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Gunners against Leicester.David Raya – 6After quiet first half Spaniard had to be alert in the second. Quick distribution allowed Arsenal to sustain attacking pressure.Could do nothing for the goal after being wrong-footed by the Havertz deflection and was at full stretch for Justin’s world class equalising volley.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSJurrien Timber – 7Showed off both sides of his game with some good early interceptions before a superb low cross to set up Martinelli’s opener.Skied a shot over the bar following a goal mouth scramble in the second half.Fans convinced Leandro Trossard was handed unique punishment by Arteta after Arsenal star’s red card against Man City William Saliba – 7William Saliba generally fared well against Jamie Vardy, but was caught out by giving away the free-kick Leicester scored fromCredit: GettyExpertly marshalled Jamie Vardy whenever caught in a one-v-one situation in the first half. Gave away a free-kick against the Foxes ace which ended up going in after a deflection off Havertz.Gabriel Magalhaes – 7After being centre of attention against Tottenham and Man City, the Brazilian had a more low key day dealing with the Foxes. His problems today were more on the ball than off.Saw one near post header miraculously saved by Hermansen in the second half.Riccardo Calafiori – 6Closed down a dangerous chance early on after some sloppy midfield play from Thomas Partey, often tucked into midfield when in possession and looked very comfortable in the role.Went missing for Justin’s equaliser and was booked in the second half for a trip on Facundo Buonanotte. Denied by a goal with a far post header by a superb Hermansen save.Thomas Partey – 5The game seemed to overrun Thomas Partey todayCredit: GettyCaught out on the ball in the opening stages by Ndidi but recovered to play some nice passes.Seemed absent from the midfield at times when asked to defend.Declan Rice – 6Made some good runs into the attacking third and was always able to offer an option. Delivered some dangerous corners and provided energy in midfield, even if much of the rest of his impact on the game was limited.Saw a pass into Havertz on the edge of the area result in a penalty appeal waved away.Kai Havertz – 7Back in midfield role today and looked assured in much of his play. Nodded a header agonisingly wide in the 37th minute. Saw Leicester’s goal just after half-time deflect in off his chest to wrong foot Raya.Only denied a foal by a world class save by Hermansen and was denied a penalty moments later. Showed desire to get to the far post a score a last minute goal and make it 4-2 after a Jesus run.Bukayo Saka – 7Usual bright self and tested the gloves of Hermansen early on before smart switch to play in Martinelli, who should have done better before skying his shot over the bar. Moments later played in Timber before he set up the opener.Gabriel Martinelli – 8Martinelli grew in confidence throughout the gameCredit: EPANaughty tackle from ex-Spurs man Oliver Skipp didn’t dampen his spirits as he ended his goal drought by netting from Timber’s low cross. Arsenal’s most dangerous player in the first half and ended with an assist for Trossard on the stroke of half-time. Faded in the second half and did not get back in time for Justin’s equaliser before being hooked for Sterling.Leandro Trossard – 9Tigerish work leading the line and forced a number of high turnovers, one of which led to a good Martinelli chance being saved by Hermansen. Got a goal for his efforts with a deft side foot into the bottom corner on the stroke of half-time.Struck the wood work in the 58th minute and should have scored after Arsenal won the ball back high. Was eventually the match winner with a scruffy injury time strike from close range.SubsRaheem Sterling (on for Martinelli 74 mins) – 5Didn’t make much impact after coming on.READ MORE SUN STORIESEthan Nwaneri (on for Partey 85 mins) – 7First act after getting the ball was to dribble and curl a shot to the far corner, which was destined for the net if not for a superb Hermansen save.Gabriel Jesus (on for Trossard 94 mins) – 6Dribble and shot helped Havertz net a last minute goal. More

RAHEEM STERLING has hinted at what is next after hanging up his playing boots, but does not want to go down the traditional route.The Arsenal star bagged his first goal for the club since his loan transfer from Chelsea in the 5-1 win over Bolton in midweek.Raheem Sterling has hinted at what he wants to do after hanging up his bootsCredit: GettySterling said he does not want to follow the traditional routeCredit: GettyThe 29-year-old has come in as an experienced head who knows how to win titles, and hopes to see that rub off on his team-mates in their bid to win a first Premier League title since 2004.However, Sterling has now opened up on what he wants to do later on, and does not want to follow the traditional route many players take by going into coaching.Speaking in Arsenal’s matchday programme ahead of their clash with Leicester, Sterling said: “I don’t know about coaching yet, but maybe something to do with working with young players and trying to help them handle what’s next and prepare them for that. “I get real joy out of helping people. Being any sort of help to people on a football pitch gives me real joy, so it might not be coaching but something along those lines, working with players, but not maybe as a traditional coach. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”More about helping the young players with different things, but I don’t know – it’s a way off yet. That’s something for the future. “There is a qualification I want to do, not on the coaching side, but I will focus on playing first I think.”Sterling has already set up a charity foundation in his name to that end, aiming to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.But the former Liverpool and Manchester City star revealed one aspect of the game he loves.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSSo much so that he will emulate the role when watching football matches at home.He said: “I absolutely love the analysis side. That’s my favourite part of it now. Doing the analysis on your opponents, knowing what they are going to do and what you have to do against them. Raheem Sterling showing off skills in Arsenal training session”I just think it’s amazing, because that is football. You have to be totally prepared for anything the opposition can throw at you, and then you have to be more ready than them to deal with it. “I think whoever does that side of the game better more consistently will come out on top. I love it when we do that with the coaches and that’s something I would like to be involved with as well. “I think it’s really interesting and when I’m in those meetings, I love listening to their analysis and making the plans. “When I’m watching the game at home I always like to try and identify what both teams are doing. “Not just watching the game or what’s happening but really see why certain things are happening or why they aren’t. “I think that’s a side of the game that’s really grown in the past few years, and the environments I’ve been in have allowed me to see the game more in that way.”Sterling revealed he gets joy out of helping young people, and has set up a charitable foundation in his nameCredit: The Raheem Sterling Foundation More

TRYING to attack Manchester City with 10 men would have been as idiotic as wearing flip flops in the rain, according to Mikel Arteta.And the Arsenal boss has remained defiant amid criticism over his tactics and suggested he will continue to do whatever it takes to win.Mikel Arteta made a bizarre analogy when discussing team tacticsCredit: GettyThe Gunners have come off the back of a gruelling run of three away games on the spin – Tottenham, Atalanta and City – before their mid-week Carabao Cup home win over Bolton.Five points from a possible nine is no mean feat, but the manner in which they acquired those points has come under immense scrutiny from fans, pundits and rival players alike.The Battle of the Etihad saw an enthralling contest end 2-2 after John Stones’ last gasp equaliser as Arsenal almost pulled off a famous win having played over an hour with 10 men following Leandro Trossard’s sending off just before half time.In the aftermath, Stones labelled Arsenal and Arteta’s methods of time wasting and so-called ‘dark arts’ as “dirty” while Bernardo Silva raged: “There was only one team that came to play football.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRoy Keane piled in by calling the North Londoners “dinosaurs” with just 22 per cent possession and three shots on target, while Graeme Souness believes Arsenal have an “inferiority complex” when it comes to big clashes.But ahead of welcoming Leicester to the Emirates today, Arteta has hit back by telling his doubters to remember the “context”.Asked about the criticism, he said: “That is a war you cannot win, no? On one side: ‘I don’t like it’. On another side: ‘I don’t like it.’ So where do I go?“Don’t get involved in it. It doesn’t make any sense. It is very clear.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“I want to win. The way we prepare the games and the way we want to play, for sure. In our way. But understanding the context.“I want to wear flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt, but with [rainy] weather? Ethan Nwaneri’s rise at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta’s guise”I think I would be very silly to do that. ‘I am very brave’ — yeah but tomorrow you are sick.“I don’t want to be on YouTube because we’ve been so silly. “I want to be on YouTube because we’ve done the right thing in May, and for the right reasons and lifting what we want to lift and achieve.“So, in order to do that we have to be very efficient in what we do. I did what I believed was the right thing to be as competitive as possible to win the game.“We get negative criticism. Where we are, after what we’ve been through in the last three games… that tells you the expectations. So, we have to raise the level, that’s it.”Arteta insists relationship with Guardiola can’t be damagedBy Jordan DaviesMIKEL ARTETA insists nothing can damage his relationship with Pep Guardiola – not even the spiciest of title fights.The Battle of the Etihad last weekend saw Arsenal and Manchester City produce a Prem epic that ended 2-2 after John Stones’ 98th minute equaliser.There is no love lost between these two English juggernauts right now – yet Guardiola this week said the “relationship doesn’t change” with his old friend Arteta.And Arteta – who worked under Pep at City between 2016 and 2019 – said: “In sport it will never get in my way a personal relationship. That’s for sure.“If our relationship was damaged because one draws and the other one wins or the number of times that they’ve beaten us, I would not talk to him anymore.“They have beat us… they won the last four Premier League titles and our relationship continues to be the same, so what has to change for that relationship to be over?“That’s not our relationship, especially the relationship that I consider both of us have.“Because I love him, I respect him, I admire him and I admire his team and everything that he does. This is sport. One thing is our profession another is our personal relationship.”Arteta’s Arsenal were accused of playing “dirty” and using the ‘dark arts’ to frustrate City – something that Pep said was not a problem, calling it “brilliant… more than perfect”.On if it is hard to remain friends with the outside noise and intense rivalry between the Gunners and City, Arteta continued: “If those accusations effect you it’s because maybe they’re true.“If they don’t and you know and you do what you believe is right and you show your integrity it doesn’t have to be.“There are opinions and if you don’t like opinions then you shouldn’t be sitting in the position that I am. It’s quite simple. Don’t take it personal. It’s part of our job.“The things that you really care about make sure you handle them in the right way. That relationship [with Pep] I really care about.“The same with a lot of people in that staff and players that I spent really important years of my life with.“When you get to know those people in the good and the bad, when things go your way, and they don’t go your way, then you understand them much better.“For me it’s not a surprise and I’m very comfortable with that.”In Arteta’s first season in charge of Arsenal in the 2019/20 campaign, they finished 35 points off of Pep’s City – but have closed the gap having finished two points behind them last term.On whether he is now enjoying the fact there is now a real rivalry between the two clubs, Arteta added: “I prefer this reaction much more than someone clapping my back after the game and saying: ‘Well done, you guys are in the right direction’. This is why I do what I do.“This is an emotion I cannot control but I have to be as competitive as possible, the reaction of someone else is different.”Arsenal have the longest average delay time of any side in the Prem this season with 31.8 seconds, and have picked up 14 yellow cards for time wasting since the start of the 2023/24 campaign – only Wolves [15] and Chelsea [17] have more.On if you need a nasty streak to win titles, Arteta added: “You have to control and dominate every scenario if you want to compete at the level that we are aiming for and the opposition that we have.“The best in the world are doing almost everything in football. That’s the level and that’s what we have to try to do.”Arsenal now face the Foxes, Southampton and Bournemouth in their next three Prem outings, but Arteta has his methods for ensuring the intensity of previous games continues.On their preparation to face Leicester, he explained: “I asked the players the question [on Thursday], to write it: ‘What are the difficulties and the challenges here?’“And they were very clear about it, so they know what is coming, and they know this league so far is so good, and they know that we’re going to need to be at the top level to beat them.“[The notes] are in the dressing room, on the walls.”No.1 David Raya remains a doubt after seen limping following the City draw and missing Wednesday’s 5-1 third round thrashing of Bolton.A late fitness test is required, with summer signing Neto potentially set to make his debut for the club after joining from the Cherries.Ben White and Jurrien Timber will be available after also being rested this week, but Mikel Merino [shoulder] and Martin Odegaard [ankle] remain missing.READ MORE SUN STORIESArteta said: “If you put me in this scenario before the season with the fixtures that we had, I would be very pleased with how we got out of that.“We have an exceptional group. A lot of players are taking a role in their leadership of the team. They embraced the challenge and I’m really happy for that.”Arsenal player ratings vs BoltonETHAN NWANERI will remember this night for the rest of his life after scoring twice on his full Arsenal debut.The Gunners eased to a 5-1 victory over Bolton in the Carabao Cup third round.See how their players, young and old, rated at the Emirates.Jack Porter – 6He may be 16 years old but he did not show it tonight. Had one scare when his pass was blocked by Aaron Collins and the ball flew over but other than that he did not put a foot wrong.Josh Nichols – 6Encouraging signs from the right-back although he was not really tested in a defensive capacity.Jakub Kiwior – 6Dealt with Bolton’s many crosses into the box but was far too high up the pitch, along with Calafiori, which allowed the visitors to break and score.Riccardo Calafiori – 7A Rolls-Royce defender who carries himself a bit like David Luiz, minus the erratic decision-making. Defended well and went close with a long shot.Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7Looked very comfortable in possession and saw plenty of the ball. Excellent composure for a young head and linked with Sterling well.Jorginho – 6Kept things ticking over but in truth it was quite an easy night for the Italian.Declan Rice – 7Took his goal very well and everything Arsenal did went through him.Ethan Nwaneri – 9A night to remember for the 17-year-old as he capped his first start for the club with his first goals. Showed great poaching instincts.Bukayo Saka – 9Typical Saka performance and he was a constant threat with his delivery, whether in open play or from corners.Raheem Sterling – 9A threat throughout and he is back playing with a smile on his face, which is great to see. Worked hard and got his deserved goal when he poked in from two yards out.Gabriel Jesus – 5Plenty of energy and panache up front but without the finishing to match – a familiar tale of his Arsenal career.See how the Arsenal subs rated here More