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The Gunners’ 4-2 triumph over Aston Villa helped them resume their Premier League championship defense, and their first victory in four games came just when their schedule was starting to get tougher. With the victory over Aston Villa in a six-goal thriller, Arsenal snapped a four-game losing streak in impressive fashion and reclaimed the lead in the Premier League standings. The Gunners entered the game with low confidence and their chances of winning the title dwindling after one draw and two losses, one of which was to Manchester City. However, Mikel Arteta’s team kept that from happening at Villa Park with two late goals.

Arsenal, which has been at the top of the league since the early part of the season won their game-in-hand at a crucial time when they were on a troubling run of four games without a victory overall. Arteta now needs to find a method to inspire his team ahead of the game against Leicester City to see if they can duplicate their rekindled effort against Aston Villa. The Gunners regaining form has increased the confidence of bettors who place wagers using Football Betting guides, to make the best choices.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard have both performed at a high level for Arsenal’s assault this season, which has also been spectacular and has clicked into full gear. Since Thomas Partey’s injury, new addition Jorginho has successfully filled the void left in the midfield trio of Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard, and Thomas Partey. Saka has been in fantastic form, laying a solid framework for Arsenal’s offensive approach.

The tactical adjustments made by manager Mikel Arteta are responsible for the Gunners’ success this season. This season, Arteta has taken a more practical approach, emphasizing possession and full direct play. Arsenal’s victories over Chelsea and Liverpool serve as instances of how successfully this strategy has performed against elite opposition.

There has been a lot of optimism among fans about Arsenal’s strong start to the season as they believe the team can keep up its momentum and contend for the title. Fans will be excited to see Arsenal snap their lengthy trophy drought after the team’s last Premier League championship in the 2003–04 campaign; the year of the Invincibles!

Conclusion

Following several difficult tests, Arsenal is now leading the Premier League standings after a solid start to the 2022–23 campaign. Particularly outstanding have been the team’s attacking displays. The tactical adjustments made by manager Mikel Arteta have been crucial to Arsenal’s success this year, with a more practical approach paying off.

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by varun gandhi | July 12, 2022 · 7:15 am

With only a year left on his contract at the Allianz Arena, the £58.5m-rated star has been linked with a return to the Emirates Stadium.

According to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs, Arsenal is keeping an eye on Gnabry’s status after missing out on acquiring Raphinha, who is expected to join Chelsea or Barcelona.

Gnabry, who was admired by former manager Arsene Wenger, only appeared 18 times during his initial tenure with the Gunners, but each of those came while Mikel Arteta was still on the field, which could aid the Spaniard if negotiations begin.

Since leaving north London, the 26-year-old has risen to become one of Europe’s greatest attacking players, helping him win many trophies with Bayern Munich.

But Gnabry might cost Arsenal around £50 million, which is comparable to what they would have had to spend for Raphinha, but they know that waiting 12 months could see them secure the German on a free transfer once his contract expires.

As a result, despite Arsenal’s interest in re-signing Gnabry, O’Rourke does not anticipate him to return to the Emirates until the end of the season.

“I think Gnabry has been on the radar of Arsenal, although I don’t think it’s a deal they’ll be able to do this summer.

“Obviously his connections with the club having previously been there before he returned to Germany, so he knows all about the club.”

Despite not reaching the heights of prior years, it was another great season in terms of goals and assists.

He scored 17 goals and set up 10 assists for his teammates to help Bayern win another Bundesliga title, with his WhoScored rating ranking sixth in the squad.

Only Robert Lewandowski (35) has more goals than the ex-Gunner, and only five other Bayern Munich players had more assists in Germany’s top division.

Gnabry was also among the top six players in terms of shots, critical passes, and dribbles per appearance, demonstrating that he’s still a classy operator at the highest level and would thus be an excellent acquisition for Arteta, whether this summer or in 2023.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star reported in April that Spurs manager Antonio Conte is also interested in Gnabry.

However, Arsenal and Tottenham are set to face stiff competition from Real Madrid for his signature.

Gnabry’s contract is coming to an end in June 2023. This has caused him to be concerned about his future.

Sky Sports in Germany reported a month ago that Bayern Munich wants to sell the winger this summer for roughly 40 million euros (£34 million).

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by chris darwen | September 29, 2021 · 10:23 pm

Safe to say the club’s seems to be heading on a good path having recorded straight four wins, three from the Premier League and the 3-0 smashing of AFC Wimbledon at the Emirates for the EFL Cup third round competition.

Next up, we travels on the way down to Falmer Stadium to take on Graham Potter’s Brighton and Hove Albion side in the Premier League. Ahead of this match, top-notch Premier League prediction service in the likes of Soccer-picks would no doubt have us strong favourite for all three points in this match.

So elsewhere, there are report we have not given up hope of signing Marco Asensio from Real Madrid, according to a report.

The Gunners had a £34m bid rejected for the winger in the summer, with Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti keen to keep him at the Bernabeu.

However, Asensio has started just two of the first seven La Liga games of the season and could be sold in January as Real Madrid look to raise funds for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Braut Haaland.

The Daily Star states that Mikel Arteta remains interested in taking the 25-year-old to North London and will make another bid for him once the transfer window re-opens.

Asensio showed his talent with a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 6-1 win over Real Mallorca last week. Leicester City, Everton and Leeds United were all also interested in signing the Spaniard in the summer and it remains to be seen how the transfer saga will unfolds in January.

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Filed under Arsenal, gooner news, News, Transfer Bollocks

by chris darwen | August 28, 2021 · 12:13 pm

Holla, our torrid start to the 2021/22 Premier League continues and likely to be put to final test today as we prepares for a trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on the title holders Manchester City.

The 2-0 defeat at Brentford was followed up with another lost at home to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea side. The below-par performances from the team has seen questions raised over the future of Mikel Arteta’s as the Gunners boss and a win today would go a long way to ease pressure up his sleeves.

That said, let take a look at our predicted lineup for today:

1. Between the sticks and in defence

Bernd Leno (GK) :-Aaron Ramsdale is gunning for his spot, but Leno will likely retain his place for a little while longer at least.

Cedric Soares (RB) :-With Hector Bellerin still pushing to leave, Arteta doesn’t have many options on the right. Expect Cedric to start ahead of Calum Chambers.

Rob Holding (CB) :-Gabriel is back in training but isn’t ready to return yet, while Ben White remains out with COVID-19, so Holding will keep his spot here.

Pablo Mari (CB) :-Injuries mean Arsenal don’t have any other options at centre-back. Mari will start.

Kieran Tierney (LB) :- The star of Arsenal’s defence, Tierney had a rough day against Chelsea but will be determined to bounce back with a bang for this one.

Prediction:

As a die-hard Gunner, I would never put a bet up against my club and owing that, I’m still of the opinion seeing my side get a point today at the Etihad, if not three points betting with soccer-tips.

2. Middle of park and the midfield

Granit Xhaka (DM) :-Once billed as a potential replacement for Rodri at Atletico Madrid, Xhaka will be directly up against the Spaniard on Saturday.

Albert Sambi Lokonga (DM) :-With Thomas Partey still out injured, Lokonga’s baptism of fire is set to continue.

Bukayo Saka (RM) :- Saka has been battling a minor knee injury but is likely to be fit enough to start.

Martin Odegaard (AM) :-Fresh off completing 60 minutes against West Brom in midweek, Odegaard will make his return to Premier League action against City.

Emile Smith Rowe (LM) :-Likely to start on the left on paper, expect Smith Rowe to rotate with Odegaard to try and overwhelm City’s back line.

3. In attack

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) :-Back from COVID-19, Aubameyang should be ready to go for this one and he may end up rotating his time with Alexandre Lacazette, whose recovery from the virus is a little behind his team-mate’s.

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by chris darwen | July 25, 2021 · 9:20 am

Many famous football players have flourished when they made the move to Arsenal. Thierry Henry, one of the EPL top scorers, is one such player who achieved tremendous success after moving to the London side from Juventus. However, there are many examples of others who failed to shine at the Gunners, despite receiving many opportunities at the club.

Marouane Chamakh

Marouane Chamakh had made a big name for himself at Bordeaux. The former Morocco international had helped the Girondins win several major trophies, including the Ligue 1 in 2009. Famous for his excellent heading ability and link-up play, the forward notched 56 goals for the French side in 230 league appearances. When Chamakh joined Arsenal on a free transfer in the summer of 2010, fans were greatly excited to see his play at the Emirates Stadium. He looked very promising in the beginning for the Gunners but soon fell out of favour with Arsene Wenger after failing to make a big impact. During his time in London, he managed to score only eight goals in 40 league matches. Chamakh went on to join West Ham on loan in January 2013 before signing for Crystal Palace. Arsenal released him from the club after the expiration of his contract in 2014.

Nicklas Bendtner

Nicklas Bendtner is an academy graduate of Arsenal who spent a long time at the London side. However, his spell at the Gunners wasn’t successful on the whole, with his off-field antics, injuries and inconsistency stopping him from living up to his true potential. The Danish footballer made 171 appearances across all competitions for the Londoners, scoring 47 goals and creating 22 assists in the process (stats from Transfermarkt). Although regarded as a flop at Arsenal, Bendtner also had some memorable moments at the London side when he showed how good he can be on his day. One of these displays came in the 5-0 win over Porto in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2009. The forward smashed three goals to became the second player in the club’s history to earn a hat-trick in the European competition. He also has the distinction of scoring the fastest goal by a substitute in the Premier League, with the Dane striking against Tottenham Hotspur in 2006 six seconds after leaving the bench.

Shkodran Mustafi

Shkodran Mustafi is also one of the biggest flops at Arsenal. The Gunners splashed a tremendous £35 million to secure a deal for him in the summer of 2016. Before arriving in London, the centre-back had proved his skills at Sampdoria and Valencia. There were lots of expectations that he would do well at the Emirates Stadium. However, the German defender failed to make an impact at the Premier League outfit, despite being given plenty of opportunities. He developed a reputation for errors and so became a target of criticism from the Gunners’ fans. Mustafi clocked up 151 appearances across all competitions during his time at the club, netting nine goals and creating five assists in the process. Arsenal failed to finish in the Top Four last season. They are currently scouring the market for signing talented players like Ben White in this transfer window, as per thefootballreports.com.

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by chris darwen | June 5, 2020 · 11:12 am

Manchester City welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium in what would be the first Premier League game in more than two months due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Citizens, who are on the verge of qualifying for next season’s Champions League competition, battle Arsenal who are struggling to qualify for Europa League competition as they sit in the ninth position.

It won’t be out of place to predict an outright win for the Manchester club if both teams’ form before the Coronavirus-enforced break is to be considered. However, this is football where anything is possible. As the Gunners faithful continue to hope that Mikel Arteta’s side will record a surprise result against Manchester City, we make a quick rundown of three unlikely players who could help the team do the unthinkable.

1. Nicholas Pepe

Are you surprised to see his name in my list? You don’t have to be shocked. The Ivory Coast international is obviously a good player who can easily score goals, but that hasn’t been happening since he joined the team last summer.

Pepe has had too many underwhelming displays this season, especially against big teams, and it would be a huge surprise if his goal against Guardiola’s men end up being the difference between both teams. He is no doubt one player who could win many matches for Arteta’s men, but just like many other Arsenal fans – would be surprised to see him do that in this encounter.

2. Granit Xhaka

Granit Xhaka is another player who could surprisingly help the Gunners overcome City’s pressure come July 17. Though the Swiss midfielder is yet to find the back of the net this campaign, his revitalization under Arteta has been wonderful. He could break his personal deadlock against City’s goalkeeper Ederson in the much-anticipated encounter.

3. David Luiz

The last time David Luiz scored a goal was over eight months when he found the back of the net against Crystal Palace in a game that ended 2-2. The Brazilian is known for scoring from set-pieces and he could do the same for the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium.

Meanwhile, his contract saga might likely affect his performance on the pitch as he is heavily linked with a move out of the club this summer. This is why he makes my list of unlikely players whose goals might help Arteta record first victory over his former boss.

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Filed under Arsenal, Arteta, General Musings, gooner news, Match Day Postmortem, Premier League

by chris darwen | June 2, 2020 · 10:27 am

Arsenal defender David Luiz’s future continues to be subject of speculation among transfer media outlets. The Brazilian is presently linked with a departure from the Emirates Stadium just after a year with Mikel Arteta’s side.

It is believed that Arsenal manager and the club’s hierarchies are hoping to convince the 33-year-old to remain with the team for another season due to his experience and importance to the youngsters coming through the ranks.

Unfortunately, the World Cup-winning centre-back seems to have made up his mind over his future following his recent comments in which he revealed his desire and determination towards seeing that he reunites with Benfica next season.

According to him, he is in talks with Vieira to know if he stands a chance of joining the team in the summer as he could leave the Gunners as a free agent by the end of this campaign.

It should also be recalled that the former Chelsea star told Brazilian TV station SporTV, as reported by Football London, that he loves to return to Benfica before the end of his career.

He told the North American media outlet that he loves the Portuguese club so much that he wouldn’t mind losing any trophy in order to play for Bruno Lage’s side once again.

The information David Luiz is passing across to his current employers is simple — this is the right time to dump the English Premier League for the Portuguese Premiera Liga side.

Judging by the turnout of events, it is high time the Gunners intensify their search for a new defender who will take over from the want-away star.

It is obvious Arteta and his employers have a very slim chance of seeing Luiz in North London beyond this season; hence, there is a need to make wholesome changes to the defensive formation.

The backline has been poor throughout this term having conceded 36 League goals in 28 games despite the presence of the highly-rated and experienced defender.

Now that Luiz spell as a Gunner is as good as over, Arteta must add another experienced and quality player who can serve as a source of inspiration to the youngsters on and off the pitch.

Newly signed defender 19-year-old defender, William Saliba, who is on loan at Ligue 1 side Saint-Étienne, is reportedly seen as Brazilian’s replacement by the club’s executives but it appears too early for Saliba to step into the vacuum that would be created by Luiz’s departure. Just as predicted by former Arsenal star Martin Keown.

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by chris darwen | May 31, 2020 · 8:25 pm

The date has been set, players are getting ready and managers are finalizing their tactics ahead of the Premier League’s return date. According to the Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, the English Premier League is set to return on the 17th of June after a two months break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the most exciting feature on the return date is scheduled to take place at the Emirates Stadium where the Gunners will play host to second-place Manchester City. The Etihad Stadium outfits haven’t been in their best form throughout the season as they surprisingly dropped some points in matches and many tipped them to win outrightly.

Arsenal, on the other hand, is struggling to qualify for next year’s Champions League competition as they currently occupy the 9th position. A win for the North London club will boost their hope of finishing among the top clubs while Manchester City’s dream of beating Liverpool to the trophy (which is almost an impossible task) will receive a major boost.

However, the most fascinating aspect of the upcoming encounter is the fact that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be up against his former boss Pep Guardiola. It should be recalled that the Spaniard was Guardiola’s right-hand man when the Citizens clinched their second consecutive Premier League title last season. All eyes will be on the former Arsenal midfielder to see how his players would fare against the In-form Manchester City team. As much as the Gunners faithful are expecting Arteta to prove a point against his ex-boss, the encounter comes too early for an inexperienced tactician who could fail to live up to fans’ expectations.

Firstly, the manager hasn’t gained the required experience to record a surprise result against Manchester City. He has overseen just 15 games as first-team manager which is nothing compared to Guardiola’s 627 Matches. Another reason why the clash comes too soon for the Gunners is the fact that they might struggle for form due to the prolonged Coronavirus-enforced break. Just as Arsenal players, Guardiola’s men are equally going to be affected by the long break but Guardiola’s experience might just be the difference between both teams.

Our Thought

This is not to say that Arteta doesn’t stand a chance against his former boss. This is football where nothing is impossible, but the Gunners fans shouldn’t expect too much from the young manager who obviously needs more time before delivering consistent results.

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by chris darwen | May 28, 2020 · 7:38 pm

Arsenal have reportedly commenced transfer negotiations with Barcelona for former Liverpool playmaker Phillippe Coutinho who has endured a difficult time since he left the Reds two-and-a-half years ago. The Brazilian and Barcelona was far from his best during his debut season with the Camp Nou outfits who paid £142m to Liverpool for his services.

As part of their decision to cut their losses, the Catalans accepted a season-long offer from Bayern Munich for Coutinho’s services prior to the start of this season. Though the playmaker hasn’t really returned to the beastly form he is known, he has shown glimpses of brilliance for the Bavarians this campaign having scored eight goals in 22 league matches.

It was initially reported that the Bundesliga powerhouse might explore the €120m release clause in the deal with the Blaugranas in the summer transfer window, although the German club has publicly debunked the report. Bayern’s decision to turn down the chances of signing the attacking midfielder on a permanent deal has ultimately offered Premier League side Arsenal a great opportunity to bring Coutinho back to England’s top-flight league next season.

According to the transfer report making headlines via Football London, the Gunners are more than ready to complete the 27-year-old’s signature before the next campaign.

Is Arteta making the right choice by targeting a player who seems to have past his prime or Can Arteta help the player return to his best form once again? Here are three reasons why Arteta’s desire to bid for the Brazilian star is a great and welcome idea.

1. Getting used to the Premier League would not be a problem

Coutinho is no stranger to the English Premier League and its physically demanding nature having played 152 league matches for Liverpool (Premierleague.com). The Barcelona playmaker knows what to expect from English opponents, hence he won’t find it difficult to hit the ground running as soon as he joins the Emirates Stadium outfits.

2. His experience makes him Ozil’s perfect replacement

Mesut Ozil’s future has been a subject of speculation for some months as the German star continues to be linked with a move out of North London. Though the Gunners have reportedly made a list of youngsters who could replace the unsettled star, Coutinho appears to be one of the best players for the Gunners playmaking position due to his experience and obvious quality.

3. His versatility and goalscoring potentials

Signing Coutinho arguably means getting a three-in-one player because he can feature as an attacking midfielder, a right-wing, and a left-winger. He could swap positions with Nicholas Pepe or Lacazette during matches depending on Arteta’s tactics and formation.

Apart from his versatility, Coutinho has proven to be a goalscoring midfielder who can inspire the team to victory if the strikers fail to find the back of the net. Having played 39 games in all competitions this season, the Brazilian star has been involved in 17 goals (Transfermarkt) which means he is guaranteed to score some important goals for Arteta’s side.

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Filed under Arsenal, Arteta, gooner news, Premier League, Transfer Bollocks

by chris darwen | May 25, 2020 · 8:48 pm

Arsenal completed an unexpected deadline-day move for Chelsea defender David Luiz so much to the surprise of many football fans across the world.

Though many Arsenal fans believed Unai Emery would sign two or more players during the final day of the transaction period, only few persons would ever have imagined seeing Luiz at the Emirates Stadium prior to the start of the campaign. This was as a result of the intense rivalry between both clubs; there were few hours to the end of the summer transfer window and the Brazilian star wasn’t getting any younger.

David Luiz’s departure was sanctioned by Frank Lampard, the deal was sealed by both clubs and the Brazilian was unveiled to the Gunners faithfuls who had mixed feelings about the players move to the Emirates Stadium. How has he fared, nine months after the famous move from West London to North London? We take a look at his performance under Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta to see if he deserves to be offered a new contract or not.

Defensive Duties

The Brazilian has been a mainstay in Arteta’s starting lineup since he joined the team and he has somehow lived up to expectations. He has featured in 32 matches in all competitions and has a record of 1.5 aerial duels won per game. He won 75 tackles in all competitions before the season was brought to an unexpected break in March.

Nonetheless, the 33-year-old still has to add more qualities to his overall performance if he must remain with the North London club for more seasons. Luiz is definitely one of the most experienced defenders in the team and his young teammates are obviously looking up to him for inspiration. Our ratings —6/10

Goalscoring Record

Though the defender’s main assignment is to prevent opponents from scoring or going past them, Luiz was expected to score some breathtaking free-kicks just as he did during his time at Chelsea and PSG. Unfortunately, he hasn’t replicated such form for the Gunners. His goal scoring ratio has drastically dropped as he has scored just two goals and an assist in 32 games. Our rating 5/10

Conclusion

The Brazilian defender is a great player but his overall performances has dropped a bit, which could affect his chances of being with the North London club for long. Considering his age and his desire to return to his former club Benfica, it might be impossible for Arteta and his employers to retain the Brazilian star after this season. I guess the Gunners executives would love to invest big on a more and adventurous centre-back in the summer transfer window.

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by chris darwen | May 24, 2020 · 6:41 pm

Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette could be on his way out of the Emirates Stadium this summer following his controversial behaviour. The Frenchman was reportedly seen inhaling nitrous oxide, which has further reduced his chances of being with the North London beyond this season.

Though the 28-year-old attacker still has an active contract with the Gunners, it is believed that his recent controversial behaviour might likely force the club to consider incoming offers from interested suitors.

Apart from the recent unprecedented behaviour, the striker’s form hasn’t helped matters in any way. He has to his name this season nine goals from 26 matches in all competitions as he has struggled for form and matches fitness throughout the first half of this season.

Many interested clubs might be happy with the Frenchman’s current situation as it serves as a major boost to their hopes of luring the world cup winner to their respective teams. Speaking of his suitors, who are the two clubs likely to win the race for the former Olympique Lyonnais forward?

1. Atletico Madrid

The Spanish giants have a very bright chance of signing the player this summer as they are guaranteed a Champions League position by the end of this season. According to Spanish news publication AS the Madrid based club see the Frenchman as a perfect replacement for Spanish striker Diego Costa who has been linked with a move away from the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium before next season. The Rojiblancos, if reports bear fruit, are ready to launch a big-money bid for his services as soon as the summer transfer commences.

2. Inter Milan

Former Chelsea head-coach now at Inter Milan dugout, Antonio Conte is strongly rumoured to be a strong admirer of the 28-year-old former Lyon striker. Conte is aware of Lacazette’s goalscoring threats having faced him several during his time at the Stamford Bridge’s dugout. While there are no confirmed reports linking him to the San Siro, former AC Milan player Antonio Cassano advised his compatriot to capture the Frenchman from Arsenal this summer. Lacazette’s move to Inter could also come into fruition should reported Lautaro Martinez possibly move out of the Serie A club before next season as a result of Chelsea and Barcelona’s interest.

Conclusion

Arsenal won’t find it difficult to release the Frenchman, no thanks to his uninspiring form and unruly attitude. However, everything depends on the offers submitted by both clubs as the Gunners would surely love to make a huge profit from the player whose contract remains valid until 2022.

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Filed under Arsenal, General Musings, gooner news, Lacazette, News, Premier League, Transfer Bollocks

by chris darwen | May 23, 2020 · 4:42 pm

Today on gooner news is about the club’s move for Eredivisie youngster Orkun Kokcu this summer which will believe could spell a bad omen for Reiss Nelson should the move materialise.

The Emirates outfit are reportedly on the verge of signing Eredivisie youngster Orkun Kokcu with reports that the club has beaten likes of Chelsea, Sevilla, Valencia and Real Betis in the race for his signature. Arsenal has been a strong admirer of the Turkish U21 international but all their previous efforts to bring him to the Emirates Stadium were fruitless as Feyenoord were unconvinced by the offer submitted by the North London club.

However, emerging reports appears to be positive for the Gunners with reports coming out of the player’s camp via HITC, revealed that the youngster is set to complete his £25m switch to Mikel Arteta’s side as he had already turned down the chance to extend his stay with the Eredivisie side.

Though the 19-year-old is relatively unknown to many Arsenal fans across the world, Kokcu is one of the best teenagers in the world and also in red-hot form at the moment. He’s got speed and his goalscoring ability is not bad for a player of his age. His overall performances for Feyenoord before the abrupt end of the season due to the Covid-19 was inspiring and great, which makes him a good buy for the Gunners should they eventually wrap up the deal in the summer ahead of the other suitors has the reports says.

Any move that will see him an Arsenal player this summer might come as bad news to one of Arsenal’s Hale End academy products Reiss Nelson as he might be pushed down the pecking order under Arteta. The English youngster hasn’t done enough to gain a permanent spot in the team’s starting lineup due to his uninspiring displays in some of the matches he has played under Mikel Arteta’s watch.

Nelson is yet with a goal to his name neither does he has any assist despite registering 11 Premier League matches for the London club both under Freddie Ljungberg and Arteta. Hence, an urgent need for him to up his game if he really wants to be part of the team when the 2020-21 season begins or risks losing his position to the young and versatile Turkish U21 international.

Meanwhile, a loan deal isn’t totally out of proportion for the youngster as he could be shipped out of the club on a loan move to any European side in order to gain more first-team experiences when the next season begins. A loan move to either EFL Championship, Spanish La Liga, Belgium’s Jupiler League or Eredivisie will definitely help his development as long as he is getting regular game-time.

However, let’s keep our fingers crossed and see how events unfold as regards Kokcu’s proposed move to the Emirates Stadium.

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Filed under Arsenal, Arteta, General Musings, gooner news, News, Transfer Bollocks

by chris darwen | May 22, 2020 · 8:37 pm

We discuss today on gooner news, the potential signing of Kai Havertz to Arsenal. The 20-year-old Germany international has been linked to Arsenal in a rumoured £70m move with Manchester United and Manchester City also in the race for his signature.

The German Bundesliga finally returned from its two months break last weekend and so was Kai Havertz who scored two lovely goals for Bayer Leverkusen against Werder Bremen on Monday. The young striker was one of Arsenal’s major transfer targets during the winter transaction period but the German side failed to sanction his sale to the Premier League outfits.

Though the Bundesliga side has made it clear they want to keep their precious jewel beyond this season, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta isn’t giving up on his hope to lure the 20-year-old German international to the Emirates Stadium before next season. In the meantime, we face stiff competition from Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for the player’s services as both clubs are keeping close tabs on his performances.

However, should we end up beating all other interested suitors to his signature, the questions on everyone’s mind would be — what will Havertz bring to the team; is he really needed by the Gunners and who should serve as a sacrificial lamb during the upcoming transfer window?

1. What Will He Bring To The Team?

* Huge Attacking Threat

Havertz is known for his ability to make tireless attacking runs as he can juggle the ball really well. He will definitely add more threats to the Gunners attacking prowess due to his attacking style of play. He knows how and when to dribble, his through balls in the final half of the pitch are impressive and will surely help the Emirates outfits in the desire to lift first Premier League title in 16 years.

* More Depth to the Gunners squad

The player’s versatility is another reason why the Arteta should push on with his plans to capture the 20-year-old star. Havertz has featured as an attacking midfielder, a centre forward, a right midfielder and centre midfielder for club and country. Therefore, signing Havertz simply means adding more depth to the team as he can be called upon to feature at any of the aforementioned positions, depending on Arteta’s tactical approach to games.

2. Is He Needed At The Moment

Judging by the Gunners underwhelming display at the attacking department this season, it won’t be out of place to advise that Havertz should be brought to the team’s set up to support Aubameyang, should the Gabonese remains with the team.

3. Who Should be the Sacrificial Lamb?

Either Mesut Ozil or Alexandre Lacazette should be allowed to leave in the summer in order to create space for the youngster. As much as Ozil is an experienced figure in the team, his overall performances throughout the season have left so much to be desired. Just like Ozil, France international striker Lacazette is also far from convincing and his recent controversy isn’t helping matters. Nonetheless, it is left for Arteta and his employers to decide who should be placed on the outgoing transfer list.

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by chris darwen | · 12:01 pm

It all began on the 25th of May 2016 when a certain Switzerland international completed a stunning £35m move to the Emirates Stadium from Borussia Mönchengladbach despite interests from other interested suitors. He wasted no time before becoming a regular starter under Arsene Wenger despite massive competition for a place in the Frenchman’s team. Though sometimes makes some unexpected howlers, the 27-year-old is seen as an inspirational figure to his teammates on and off the field of play.

Controversial Moment

His importance to the team got to a whole new level when he was reportedly voted as the team captain by his teammate during Unai Emery’s time at the helm of affairs. Unfortunately, that turned out to be the beginning of his trying times as many fans weren’t impressed with the player’s decision to make him the captain.

Things got out of control between the Xhaka and the fans during a Premier League game against Crystal Palace last year. He was booed by his own fans and he furiously replied ‘f*ck off’ while walking off the tunnel. He was immediately stripped of the captain armband and couldn’t make Emery’s team list in many subsequent matches as part of the club’s decision to punish him for his unruly action.

Should He Consider Moving Out Of The Emirates Stadium?

Though Xhaka is enjoying life under Mikel Arteta, he is far from becoming a fan favourite and it is not advisable to remain in a club where you struggle to gain supporters’ affection. It was revealed during January’s transaction period that Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin were strongly interested in his services but he turned down the chance to part ways with the Gunners.

Considering the unhealthy relationship between Xhaka and Arsenal fans, it might be good for the centre midfielder to search for a new team where his services will be appreciated. In addition, the 27-year-old midfielder might fail to command regular action next season if Arteta eventually signs top defensive midfielders, such as Ndidi or Thomas Partey, who are both linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Our Final Verdict

Considering the quality of players who could join the team in the summer and his relationship with the fans, I believe putting an end to his four-year stay at the Emirates Stadium might be the best decision. Returning back to Germany will be a great idea as he won’t spend much time getting used to the ways things are done in the country’s top-flight league.

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by chris darwen | May 21, 2020 · 7:01 pm

Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla revealed to newsmen his desire to be part of Mikel Arteta’s backroom staff if he was given the chance.

The Spanish international, who currently plays his club football with Spanish side Villarreal, was Arteta’s teammate during their days at the Emirates Stadium and he didn’t rule out the chance of reuniting with his countryman in the North London club.

The partnership with the former Everton star will definitely bring the best out of the team as they both know the club’s philosophy and how to integrate it into the team.

Apart from bringing his experience to the team, Cazorla’s switch to the Emirates Stadium will possibly boost the club’s hopes of luring Villarreal youngster Samuel Chukwueze to the team.

Chukwueze, 20, has been a subject of transfer speculations for a while now as he is being linked with a move to top European clubs, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona and the Gunners.

According to Daily Mail, the Nigerian impressive dribbler is being monitored by Liverpool manager Jurgen who is very keen on adding more deadly youngsters to his team.

The media outlet further revealed that the German manager launched a surprise £30m bid for the player’s service but was rejected by Villareal in the winter transfer window.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is also keeping close tabs on his performances for the Spanish side, hoping to compete with Klopp and Guardiola for the player.

However, considering the relationship existing between Chukwueze and Cazorla, it won’t be out of context to say that the North London club might be the player’s next destination.

The Spaniard can easily convince the young winger by letting him know the importance of choosing Arsenal over all other suitors.

He could equally promise him a regular game-time at the North London club — as long as he is in top form — which will surely influence Chukwueze’s decision regarding his next destination.

The highly-rated Nigerian is one of the skilful youngsters tipped to change clubs in the next summer window. He has featured in 30 matches for the Yellow Submarines this season, scoring four goals and four assists before the season was halted due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Other youngsters who are linked with a switch to the North London club include Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz and Feyernoord’s Orkun Kokcu, but nothing is set to happen until the world gets rid of the ongoing global crisis.

Meanwhile, it remains unknown if the Gunners board members are ready and willing to hire Cazorla as Arteta’s assistant considering his lack of coaching experience.

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