Arsenal transfer news

DECLAN RICE has been credited with helping Martin Odegaard find his shooting boots again. The Arsenal midfielder anchored his side to a remarkable 7-1 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.Martin Odegaard scored twice as Arsenal demolished PSV EindhovenCredit: GettyThe Gunners midfielder netted Arsenal’s fourth goal just after the breakCredit: ReutersEagle-eyed fans spotted Rice pointing for Odegaard to shoot rather than passing to himCredit: Amazon PrimeRice put in a dominating performance in midfield as the Gunners ran riot at the Philips Stadium.But it was his captain Odegaard who stole the headlines after ending his four-game goal drought. The Arsenal skipper netted just after the break to give the Gunners a 4-1 lead.It was just his third goal in his last 21 games. READ MORE ON ARSENALAnd eagle-eyed fans spotted Rice literally pointing the way as Odegaard bore down on goal.Rice desperately gestured for the Norwegian to shoot rather than pass to him with the goal gaping. He pointed straight at the goal, with Odegaard obliging and lashing past keeper Walter Benitez. One fan laughed: “Wow, thank god Declan pointed at the goal to inform Odegaard where it was otherwise he would not know.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnother said: “Telling the guy to pull the trigger for once, actually got it on target aswell. Hope he hits form now.”A third said: “Declan Rice made sure Odegaard doesn’t pass it to him.”Striker who Arsenal sold for just £4m last summer bags THIRD hat-trick in seven games while Gunners struggle for goalsWhile a fourth commented: “Tonight we saw Odegaard & Rice at their best. And that’s the result. Dominating midfield & so many chances/shots created: brilliant when at their best.”Odegaard added another goal just 20 minutes later as Mikel Arteta’s men turned on the style. A delighted Rice said: “We were fluid.”We had the enthusiasm, the drive and hunger you need in the knock out phase of the Champions League. “But we’ve been playing like this all season. We feel we’ve been playing well as a team sometimes we score five sometimes two sometimes we don’t score but tonight we did well. “We had the opportunity to score more second half especially.”Arsenal ratings vs PSV as Nwaneri comes of age in Champions League drubbing but rash Lewis-Skelly is hooked earlyARSENAL steamrolled a hapless PSV side to all-but book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.The Gunners started without a recognised striker once again but unlike at Nottingham Forest last week, goals were not a problem in Eindhoven.A quick-fire double from Jurrien Timber and Ethan Nwaneri around the 20th minute put the Gunners in control in what was an assured display.Every Arsenal player impressed and they were clinical with their finishing.Only Myles Lewis-Skelly will feel a little disappointed as he was hooked after half an hour to avoid him picking up a second yellow.It was a shame as the youngster was performing well on the ball – he played a key role in the build-up to the opening goal.But he could not be trusted by Mikel Arteta after he dived and caught his man with a challenge that could easily have resulted in a second booking.It was another careless moment that allowed PSV back into the match as Thomas Partey conceded a penalty that was converted on the stroke of half-time.But the Gunners did not rest on their laurels and came out racing after the break, scoring twice in two minutes to put the match, and the tie, to bed.Here is how SunSport’s Kealan Hughes rated the Gunners’ display…Rice also singled out Ethan Nwaneri after the teenager again found the net during a breakthrough campaign.He added: “He’s 17-years-old and he’s on the biggest stage. “We’ve taken them [youngsters] under our wing and they deserve to be playing. “You should see them train – they have no fear and want to perform.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Even if [Bukayo] Saka was here Ethan would still be getting minutes because he’s that good and works so hard in training. “Same with Myles [Lewis-Skelly] despite having to come off for the yellow card tonight, we have so many top young players.” More

MIKEL ARTETA’S goal-crazy Arsenal can smell the quarter finals with a stunning result that eclipsed one of the greatest European nights in their history.Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles battered Inter Milan 5-1 at the San Siro back in November 2003 – Thierry Henry running rings around Javier Zanetti and co.Arsenal are all but through to the Champions League quarter-finalsCredit: APJurrien Timber opened the scoring with a back post header inside 18 minutesCredit: GettyBefore Ethan Nwaneri doubled the Gunners lead three minutes laterCredit: EPAMikel Merino capitalised on some horrendous defending for 3-0Credit: APPSV’s Noa Lang’s penalty gave the home side hope before half-timeCredit: APMartin Odegaard extended made it 4-1 seconds into the second halfCredit: GettyLeandro Trossard added a fifth as Arsenal rout PSV in EindhovenCredit: AFPClub captain Odegaard hit PSV for sixCredit: GettyRiccardo Calafiori made it a magnificent seven!Credit: GettyTwenty two years on and a woeful PSV outfit could have done with Zanetti – even at his current age of 51 – at the back as the Gunners went two better with a seven-goal Euro humbling.In fact, they were the first team EVER to score seven in an away knockout tie.While Wenger had Henry, Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg at his disposal, Arteta has pulled off the same feat without a recognised striker and Mikel Merino leading the line.The Spanish midfielder got in on the act – alongside Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard, Riccardo Calafiori and a Martin Odegaard double in this Eindhoven rout.READ MORE ARSENAL NEWSIt is the first time Arsenal have ever scored more than three goals in a Champions League knock-out game away from home.Regardless, Arteta will be praying to have the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli back for a near-confirmed blockbuster last eight clash with either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid next month.The last meeting between these two in December 2023 produced one of the dullest group stage dead-rubbers in living memory, finishing 1-1.Fifteen months on, PSV’s Philips Stadion redeemed itself by hosting a real humdinger of a last 16 first leg tie with goals, gaffes and gasps aplenty – largely in Arsenal’s favour.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe Dutch giants did their best to give the Gunners a near-perfect perfect European away-day with some diabolical defending.But Arteta’s boys this term love to flirt with danger as Myles Lewis-Skelly somehow escaped a THIRD red card in 38 days for two quick-fire fouls before being hauled off after 35 minutes.Mikel Arteta bizarrely hints Arsenal should be mid-table but still won’t give up on title A comical implosion from the hosts in their own backyard should have seen the visitors home and hosed in Eindhoven after Merino’s 31st minute strike to make it 3-0.But an unnecessary clothesline of Luuk de Jong in the box from Thomas Partey handed PSV a lifeline in the form of a Noa Lang penalty just before the break.Arteta labelled this a “big moment” in Arsenal’s season, and one can only imagine the size of the meltdown had they somehow managed to muck this one up.Luckily for them, they saved one of their best performances for months to face a team with leakier foundations than Old Trafford.Within two minutes of the second half, Odegaard and Leandro Trossard ensured it was job done – the Arsenal skipper grabbing another late on.Arsenal ratings vs PSV as Nwaneri comes of age in Champions League drubbing but rash Lewis-Skelly is hooked earlyARSENAL steamrolled a hapless PSV side to all-but book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.The Gunners started without a recognised striker once again but unlike at Nottingham Forest last week, goals were not a problem in Eindhoven.A quick-fire double from Jurrien Timber and Ethan Nwaneri around the 20th minute put the Gunners in control in what was an assured display.Every Arsenal player impressed and they were clinical with their finishing.Only Myles Lewis-Skelly will feel a little disappointed as he was hooked after half an hour to avoid him picking up a second yellow.It was a shame as the youngster was performing well on the ball – he played a key role in the build-up to the opening goal.But he could not be trusted by Mikel Arteta after he dived and caught his man with a challenge that could easily have resulted in a second booking.It was another careless moment that allowed PSV back into the match as Thomas Partey conceded a penalty that was converted on the stroke of half-time.But the Gunners did not rest on their laurels and came out racing after the break, scoring twice in two minutes to put the match, and the tie, to bed.Here is how SunSport’s Kealan Hughes rated the Gunners’ display…Whisper it quietly, but in this sort of form, could Arsenal produce a special European journey this season? Perhaps, but they will come up against better defences than this in their own training sessions.Arteta made two changes from the drab 0-0 showing at Nottingham Forest last week, bringing in Lewis-Skelly for Calafiori and Partey for Jorginho.And despite failing to score in their last two Prem outings with the makeshift front three of Trossard, Nwaneri and Merino, that trio was entrusted again for this one.Nwaneri’s start broke more records, becoming Arsenal’s youngest ever player at 17 years and 348 days to start in a Champions League knock-out game and the third youngest Englishman to do so after Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.The teenager started with a swagger, a beautiful cross to the far post almost putting it on a plate for Gabriel, while Odegaard had a tame shout for a penalty waved away after a VAR check.Arsenal were purring. Declan Rice found the net but for a very tight automated offside call.It almost came back to bite them with PSV’s one and only decent chance in the 16th minute – Ismael Saibari smacking the post with an open goal gaping and Flamingo firing wide.Two minutes later and Arsenal were ahead – Rice’s peach of a delivery headed in by Timber. The away end was still bouncing when Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri instantly combined to add another.But keeping with recent form, Lewis-Skelly, 18, showed his immaturity with two clumsy tackles inside two minutes that should have resulted in a red card.Myles Lewis-Skelly escaped a red card against PSVCredit: RexSpanish ref Jesus Gil Manzano decided to show incredible leniency.That was enough of a warning for Arteta, wisely subbing off the kid in the 35th minute for Calafiori.The worst defending of the lot gave Merino a third goal in four games in all competitions, Flamingo laughably falling over on one leg like a… flamingo.The penalty for Lang would have angered Arteta, but he was soon smiling again in the second half with PSV keeper Walter Benitez gifting Odegaard one before Trossard tucked away by the 48th minute.READ MORE SUN STORIESEven the Arsenal fans were losing count, deliriously so up in the heavens. Odegaard made it seven in the 73rd minute and Calafiori in the 85th minute.Eat your heart out, Arsene. This is a REAL Champions League romp. More

TOTTENHAM old boy Ivan Perisic has taunted Arsenal ahead of their “big moment” in the Champions League.The PSV winger claims the modern Gunners are “always missing something” – after going five years without silverware.Ivan Perisic is confident PSV can stun Arsenal in the last 16Credit: RexGunners’ boss Mikel Arteta and defender Jurrien Timber have spoken outCredit: GettyArsenal co-owner Josh Kroenke visited training on the eve of the tripCredit: GettyPerisic’s verdict before Tuesday’s last-16 first leg came as Jurrien Timber urged his Arsenal team-mates to “change the narrative” after a jarring run of poor form and injuries.And boss Mikel Arteta insists “now is the moment to start to make another strong step in the direction that we want”. But with the Gunners still missing big names, the words of Perisic, who was with fierce rivals Spurs from 2022-2024, might hit a nerve.The Croatian legend, 36, said: “It’s going to be tough. They are a really, really good team, a young team with a good coach.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”But over the last years they are always missing something to step up to win something. “I know we’re going to have a good chance to beat them.” I really believe in my team. Tactically we have to be at the top level to show something good against them.” Arsenal co-owner Josh Kroenke visited their London Colney training ground on Monday, before the squad flew to Eindhoven for the tie.Most read in Champions LeagueThe Gunners have suffered recent disappointments amid injury woeCredit: PABEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSIt follows a damaging week in the Prem title race – collecting just one point from games against West Ham and Nottingham Forest to leave the North Londoners 13 points off leaders Liverpool.Asked about Kroenke’s visit, Arteta said: “I am very happy to have him around. He is around a lot of times for big moments.Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to ‘step up’ as focus switches to Champions League “He really wants to be with the team and it is great to have him.“Regardless of where you are in the league, when you come to this stage of the Champions League, it is something else. You feel it in the atmosphere and the energy of the players.“It is something else, in a moment where you are in or you are out. It gives you urgency and gets the best out of you.“It’s a game that really brings a different energy. It’s a competition that puts everybody on their toes.“We’ve done a lot already this season here and now is the moment to start to make another strong step in the direction that we want. I am very excited for the game.”Arsenal are in the middle of a fitness crisis following season-ending knocks to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are targeting returns next month.It has left them incredibly short up top, with midfielder Mikel Merino forced to deputise as a No.9 in the last three league games – scoring twice off the bench in a 2-0 win at Leicester.Mikel Merino was in cheeky spirits before jetting out to EindhovenCredit: GettyTimber says he is fed up with gloomy talk around the clubCredit: GettyBut the past two outings with Merino starting as a striker has seen Arsenal fail to score in a 1-0 loss to the Hammers and a goalless draw at the City Ground – the first time they have failed to find the net in back-to-back league games since May 2023.With the league all but wrapped up for Arne Slot’s Reds, Arsenal must now see the Champions League as their one and only chance to win silverware this term.Arsenal finished the competition’s new 36-team league phase format in third with six wins, one draw and one defeat – just two points off Liverpool in top-spot.And Timber is sick of the negativity around the team. The Dutch defender said: “It is a beautiful game to change the narrative and win.“The motivation is there and it’s an amazing competition to play in. “We showed as well in the group stages that we did really well and we have a good team. We have so much quality in our group.”Arsenal will play Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid should they advance to the quarter finals, but Arteta is not willing to look too far ahead.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Spanish coach added: “The reality is, being a coach, I just look at what is ahead.”It’s an ambition. It’s PSV, being better than them, to have the right to win the game. That’s where we are.”Here’s what comes after Tuesday’s clash for the Gunners More