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      Mikel Arteta suffers wardrobe malfunction during Arsenal clash with Liverpool as fans say ‘never mind a new striker’

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      CROTCHETY Arsenal fans found something to distract them from FA Cup woe against Liverpool – Mikel Arteta’s trousers.Viewers wondered if the Gunners’ boss “had “ripped” his slacks where he would least want to as he sat in the dugout during Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat against Liverpool.
      Mikel Arteta had bigger things to worry about than his trousers as toothless Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup to LiverpoolCredit: Reuters
      Observers pondered how Arteta’s trousers got damaged down the middle
      But it was split decision over what could have caused the grey patch on the crotch area of the Spaniard’s clothing.
      One viewer summed up the mystery: “What’s going on with Arteta’s trousers?
      And unfortunately many of the responses were no less certain.
      “Has Arteta got a split in his trousers,” asked one.
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      And another observer claimed the pressing matter had left him “crying” with laughter as he pondered: “Has Arteta ripped his trousers?”
      Many fans were similarly creased-up with amusement.
      But on the pitch Arsenal took their eye off the ball, at least in front of goal.
      Poor finishing cost them dear as Liverpool sneaked into the fourth round with a late double.
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      A Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick glanced in off the head of Gunners’ defender Jakub Kiwior on 80 minutes.
      Then Luis Diaz strode away to neatly round off a counter-attack five minutes into stoppage time.
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      One fan responded to the Gunners’ waste of 18 attempts on goal by posting: “I’m actually worried we actually have lost the ability to score.”
      And amid pleas for Arsenal to splash out on new strikers, Arteta must wonder how his current bunch failed to trouser at least one of their five efforts on target. More

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      Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea among Prem giants in transfer battle for Brazil wonderkid dubbed ‘Little Messi’

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      PALMEIRAS teen sensation Estevao Willian is attracting interest from THREE Premier League clubs.Willian recently broke into the Brazilian powerhouses’ first team following a string of impressive displays for their youth sides.
      Estevao Willian has made waves for Palmeiras at the tender age of 16Credit: GETTY
      The Brazilian is being tracked by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester UntedCredit: GETTY
      Word has spread quickly about the 16-year-old midfielder’s talents, so much so that Spanish giants Barcelona are already plotting to swoop for him.
      But according to reports, they’re not the only clubs interested in acquiring his services.
      According to Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are all tracking the teenager’s progress.
      They claim the Premier League trio are “bidding hard” to try tosnap up the starlet – who has a whopping £51million buyout clause.
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      The Spanish sporting newspaper also claims French champions Paris Saint-Germain are among the versatile midfielder’s suitors.
      But the quartet’s respective bids to sign him could be scuppered by the teen – who has been dubbed the Little Lionel Messi – himself.
      Mundo Deportivo claims “Messinho” has his heart set on playing for Barca and the Palmeiras brass will respect his wishes by snubbing other offers.
      Willian revealed his desire to play for the Catalans last year, telling Mundo Deportivo: “[My dream is] to play for Barcelona.
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      Estevao Willian dreams of playing for Spanish giants BarcelonaCredit: EPA
      “Which is one of the best clubs in the world.
      “I was born watching Neymar, Messi and Suarez play for Barcelona, and that’s the dream I have.
      “I watch almost every Barca match. I’m a fan of the club.
      “I have a great admiration for the players who play there, and I hope to be there too.
      “Yes, it would be a dream come true.” More

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      Arsenal name striker Eddie Nketiah’s transfer price amid Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke links

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      ARSENAL have named their asking price for striker Eddie Nketiah, according to reports.Despite signing a new contract in the summer of 2022, the forward has failed to become a permanent fixture in the Gunners’ starting XI.
      Eddie Nketiah’s future with Arsenal is well and truly up in the airCredit: EPA
      Arsenal are interested in signing Brentford ace Ivan Toney this monthCredit: ALAMY
      The Gunners are willing to accept a £30million offer for Nketiah if they can get ToneyCredit: GETTY
      Nketiah has fallen behind Brazilians Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli in the Emirates pecking order.
      Crystal Palace were keen on signing the striker before he put pen to paper on a new deal but still hold an interest in signing him.
      But they’ll have to stump up at least £30million to acquire his services, according to The Daily Star.
      SunSports understood the Gunners are willing to part company with Nketiah as they’re hot on the heels of Brentford ace Ivan Toney.
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      The Star claims Arsenal are also interested in signing Bournemouth ace Dominic Solanke and will sanction the sale of Nketiah if either player is brought in.
      Arteta, however, has seemingly poured cold water on the prospect of winter reinforcement, telling Sky Sports: “That’s a possibility.”
      He added: “Unfortunately, Jurrien [Timber] has a very long-term injury.
      “He’s doing really well but is still far from training with the team.
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      Eddie Nketiah wants to stay and fight for his place in Arsenal’s starting XICredit: GETTY
      “It’s what we have, with Tomi [Takehiro Tomiyasu] having to leave.
      “We’re open for the transfer market, but the emphasis is of making the most of the players we have.
      “We’ll work with the club to understand if there are any possibilities, and whether we have any good options.
      “But first of all, we will focus on the players we already have.”
      Despite his lack of first-team football, Nketiah is determined to stay and fight for a place in Arteta’s starting XI.
      He told FourFourTwo last October: “It was just my love for the club.
      “London’s home, the club is home, but I’ve been an Arsenal fan all my life and that played a big part.
      “Talking to the manager and the plans he had for me, and the fact he needed me… I knew I wanted to learn, develop and help this club.”
      Nketiah could lead the line for the Gunners this afternoon in their FA Cup third-round clash with Liverpool after it emerged Jesus is a major injury doubt. More

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      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta drops huge transfer hint around future of out-of-favour midfielder Emile Smith Rowe

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      MIKEL ARTETA insists Emile Smith Rowe remains part of his plans – despite him falling down the pecking order at the Emirates.The midfielder has been a regular benchwarmer for Arsenal as of late, with his lack of first-team football prompting suggestions he could leave the club this month.
      Emile Smith Rowe has fallen down the pecking order at ArsenalCredit: Rex
      The midfielder has been linked with a move away from the EmiratesCredit: ALAMY
      Mikel Arteta insists the 23-year-old is part of his plansCredit: REX
      SunSport understands Chelsea are one of several teams interested in snapping up the England international, who Arteta insists isn’t for sale.
      When pressed about potentially selling the 23-year-old, the Spaniard said: “That was never part of our plans.”
      Arteta, however, will be willing to hear Smith Rowe out if he decides he wants to move on to pastures new.
      The Gunners chief said: “This is a two-way conversation all the time with players.
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      “I love listening to them about how they are feeling, what is the best thing for them, or what they want to do.
      “Because you really have to be aligned with them and how they are feeling and they have to feel important.
      “This is still the biggest part of the season to play now and we have to be patient, and he will have his chances.”
      Arsenal ended 2023 with consecutive defeats to West Ham and Fulham, losses which raised questions over the strength of their squad.
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      Mikel Arteta has hinted Arsenal WON’T make any winter signingsCredit: GETTY
      But Arteta has hinted winter reinforcements WON’T be on the way this month.
      He admitted to Sky Sports: “That’s a possibility.”
      He added: “Unfortunately, Jurrien [Timber] has a very long-term injury.
      “He’s doing really well but is still far from training with the team.
      “It’s what we have, with Tomi [Takehiro Tomiyasu] having to leave.
      “We’re open for the transfer market, but the emphasis is of making the most of the players we have.
      “We’ll work with the club to understand if there are any possibilities, and whether we have any good options.
      “But first of all, we will focus on the players we already have.”
      Arsenal will be back in action this afternoon, welcoming Liverpool to the Emirates for their FA Cup third-round clash. More

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      I’m an Arsenal legend who scored winner in FA Cup final with a broken nose… now I run a plumbing company

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      ANDY LINIGHAN is the retired FA Cup final goalscorer who is now unblocking toilets for a living.Linighan scored a historic winner for Arsenal in their 1992-93 Cup final replay with Sheffield Wednesday.
      Andy Linighan won the 1992-93 FA Cup final with ArsenalCredit: REX
      Linighan scored a 119th-minute winner against Sheffield Wednesday with a broken noseCredit: REX
      Linighan now spends his days unclogging pipes and toiletsCredit: REX
      His 119th-minute header saw the Gunners run out 2-1 winners and become the first English club to win the Cup Double.
      Linighan’s commitment to getting his head on the ball was made even more remarkable by the fact he was nursing a broken nose from a controversial Mark Bright elbow.
      And after his playing days came to an end in 2002, he committed himself to ensuring people’s pipes and toilets were unblocked.
      Shortly after hanging up his boots, Linighan set up Linighan Plumbing Service – which is based in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
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      It’s not surprising that Linighan decided to become a plumber after retiring as he learned the trade as a teenage apprentice.
      A Twitter account allegedly belonging to the 61-year-old describes himself as: “[A] retired football player who has now got a profound love for plumbing.
      “Currently run Linighan Plumbing Services. Average footballer, Excellent Plumber.”
      Rumours circulated that Linighan used the “Average footballer, Excellent Plumber” motto on the side of his van.
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      Andy Linighan celebrates scoring the winning goal with Tony AdamsCredit: REX
      But he dispelled them by saying: “I bumped into Ray Parlour at the last game at Highbury.
      “I think I made a joke or something about this van and sign and the next thing talkSPORT are calling to ask if it’s true.
      “Ray Parlour. Cheeky chappie. I don’t even have a van.”
      Linighan has fond memories of his FA Cup final heroics for George Graham’s side.
      Recalling the moment – in which he had to once again battle in the air with Bright – Linighan told The Daily Mail: “John Jensen took a shot and it went for a corner, a minute left.
      “John says to me, ‘Big man, it was going for the top corner’. This is John Jensen who scored one goal for Arsenal.
      “Paul Merson takes the corner, plenty of pace on it. We did this corner at Norwich before I joined where I’d stand on the edge of the D with Ian Butterworth.
      “He’d spin round and I’d attack the middle. I headed it flush and that was that.”
      Linighan and his Arsenal team-mates, unsurprisingly, celebrated their Cup triumph by partying into the early hours of the morning.
      He revealed: “That night we went to Sopwell for a big party. I left with some friends at 2am and we got pulled over.
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      “The bobby put his head in the car, saw me sleeping in the back and said, “He scored the winning goal tonight.
      “‘On you go son.’ That was a good night.”
      Andy Linighan and his Arsenal team-mates partied until the small hours of the morningCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD More

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      Mikel Arteta knows what FA Cup pressure feels like as Arsenal face Liverpool with the spotlight on him once again

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      MIKEL ARTETA is used to feeling the heat before an FA Cup game.It is four months shy of a decade since the Spaniard captained Arsenal to victory at Wembley – coming from 2-0 down to beat Hull City 3-2.
      Mikel Arteta captained Arsenal to the FA Cup under Arsene Wenger in 2014Credit: AP:Associated Press
      Arteta lifted the trophy as manager in 2020 to ease pressure during his reignCredit: Getty
      It was a victory that ended the club’s nine-year wait for a major trophy, easing the pressure and strain on legendary boss Arsene Wenger.
      Arteta smiled when recollecting: “The feeling in that dressing room, we wanted to do it for Arsene. I remember talking about it with a lot of the players.
      “They were a few difficult years and we wanted to deliver for him. It was a way of giving something back.”
      Six years later, Arteta emulated the great Frenchman by leading Arsenal to more FA Cup glory, this time as manager – at a time when his own position was being questioned.
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      Coming from behind again, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second half winner saw off Chelsea 2-1, albeit at an empty Wembley in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak.
      Arteta recalled: “I was very nervous. You are so willing to make that next step and bring silverware to the club. We didn’t want to let anyone down. It was really reinforcing.”
      And so, here we are again. Another FA Cup clash and another testing period in Arteta’s North London reign, with questions being asked once more.
      Two successive Premier League defeats have seen Arsenal drop from a Christmas Day top spot to fourth – with current leaders Liverpool in town on Sunday looking to inflict more pain in the cup.
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      The chance to take a dent out of a title rival is on offer, as well as the incentive of not playing again in the league until January 20th – a potentially vital break for Arsenal before getting back down to business and regaining their place atop the Prem summit.
      But Arteta is refusing to be drawn into the narrative of sending Liverpool a message, insisting his only focus is on rebuilding momentum and raising spirits after losing to West Ham and Fulham.
      Arteta said: “I don’t know where that confidence is – we cannot measure it. It is not a fact. It is more perception.
      “All I have done is told the players how good they are, accept we haven’t hit the levels that we wanted and we move on. We need to believe again and be consistent.
      “There were periods in the game against Fulham where we didn’t hit the levels that we wanted to earn the right to win a football match.
      “We want to continue on that road that has taken us so far, much further than a lot of people expected or imagined and we need to continue to do that.”
      Arteta will be keen to avoid a replay later this month – scuppering his plans to take his players and their families to Dubai for some winter training in the sun.
      In that respect, he is expected to put out a near full-strength team with Oleksandr Zinchenko in contention to return after missing the New Year’s Day loss at Fulham.
      Arteta added: “We have to give opportunities to certain players, that’s for sure.
      “We have to decide whether Sunday is the right moment and environment to do that. That’s a question we will have to resolve in the next two days.”
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      Arsenal earned a draw on Merseyside in the Prem on December 23rd, and on whether the Emirates can ever be as hostile as Anfield, Arteta said: “It will be our own one. We are really happy with the atmosphere that we have created.
      “Can we tweak it and make it even more hostile? I think we can. That’s the next step. Sunday is going to be another big one.” More

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      Arsenal lining up transfer swoop for Dutch wonderkid Jorrel Hato, 17, who has already captained Ajax

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      ARSENAL are plotting a move for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, according to reports.The 17-year-old wonderkid has already captained the Dutch giants twice this season.
      Arsenal are plotting a move for Ajax defender Jorrel HatoCredit: Getty
      Mikel Arteta is understood to be keen to bolster his defensive options in the transfer market.
      He remains without summer signing Jurrien Timber, who is expected to be out until at least April with a knee injury.
      Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko is a current injury doubt and Takehiro Tomiyasu is now on international duty at the Asian Cup.
      According to the Telegraph, Hato has now been identified as a potential target by the Gunners.
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      The teenager is predominantly used in central defence but can also play at left-back, with his versatility appealing to Arsenal.
      However, the report adds that a summer move for Hato is being considered instead of a January transfer.
      Hato has been a standout performer for Ajax this season in an underwhelming campaign for the 36-time Dutch champions.
      He has already made 40 first-team appearance before his 18th birthday as well as wearing the captain’s armband on multiple occasions this term.
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      Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman also handed him his senior international debut back in November.
      Elsewhere, Arsenal continue to be strongly linked with Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
      The forward is seen as the preferred target in Arteta’s search for a new striker.
      Brentford, and manager Thomas Frank, remain determined to keep hold of their man this month. More

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      How Arsenal star Declan Rice was on verge of joining Celtic in shock transfer before sliding doors moment

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      BRENDAN RODGERS has revealed Declan Rice came close to signing for Celtic. The England international was subject to heavy transfer interest over the last few years with Chelsea, Manchester United and City all linked.
      Brendan Rodgers revealed Declan Rice came close to signing for CelticCredit: Rex
      Eventually, Arsenal won the race last summer after prising Rice over to North London in a £105million deal.
      But it could have been so different.
      Because Celtic boss Rodgers revealed in his first spell with the club – which ran from 2016-2019 – Rice was set for a move to Scotland.
      He said: “The club will do absolutely everything we can to support what we need and what the team needs.
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      “There is lots of work going on in the background, and I’m pretty sure that in this early period of the month, we can have some joy and get one or two in.
      “Ideally you’d want to get them in (early). Deals can be complicated and things that might have been there for three or four months can fall away.
      “That’s always the challenge – it only takes one injury to a player who was lined up to come in.
      “I remember when I was here the first time, we spent about three months looking for Declan Rice to come in.
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      “Declan was all set to come in and then all of a sudden they (West Ham) had an injury, he stayed and got in the team and the rest is history.
      “That’s not the club’s fault – it’s just the way it goes.”
      Rice made his senior West Ham debut in May of 2017 aged just 18.
      The following season, he made 31 appearances and established himself as a regular in the first team squad.
      Rice, 24, would later captain the Hammers and played 245 times, scoring 15 times.
      He led West Ham to the Europa Conference League trophy before bowing out to join Arsenal. More