Hector Bellerin’s Arsenal future is in doubt because the Spanish full-back is “furious” with manager Arsene Wenger after being dropped for the defeat against Brighton at the weekend.
The Daily Express says that Bellerin was expecting to start against Brighton but only found out two hours before the match that he was on the bench. The 22-year-old was “livid with the decision”, says the Express, and feels he is being “made a scapegoat for the Gunners’ recent poor run of form”.
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It has been reported this week that Mikel Arteta is in the running to replace Arsene Wenger once the long-serving Arsenal boss finally leaves his position. But it seems not everyone at the Emirates wants former Arsenal midfielder Arteta to take over from Wenger.
Leno lined up to replace Cech
According to reports in Germany, Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno is being lined up by Arsenal to replace Petr Cech.
The Metro says that Leno is under contract at Leverkusen until 2020 but has a £22m release clause. Italian side Napoli are also interested in signing Leno, but the 26-year-old says he will only move if he is guaranteed to be first-choice goalkeeper.
He said: “If I go abroad, it would not be as a number-one contender, but only as clear number one.”
1 March
Jack Wilshere set to quit the Gunners
The Sun reports that Jack Wilshere will leave Arsenal at the end of the season unless he’s offered a “significantly improved contract”.
Midfielder Wilshere’s contract expires this summer and he’s been in negotiations with the club to extend his deal at the Emirates. It’s reported that Arsenal want the injury-proned 26-year-old to take a 25% cut to his current £120,000-a-week salary.
The Sun says Wilshere is “stunned” by Arsenal’s offer. Despite Arsene Wenger claiming talks are “progressing well”, the two camps are miles away in their negotiations.
Arsenal boss Wenger said this week: “I want Jack to sign very quickly and I am happy to find the pen for him. Talks are progressing but the decision belongs to him and we have to respect that. Our desire has been clearly expressed and numbered and, after that, the player has to find satisfaction as well.”
Giggs: Ramsey must sort his future
Wales manager Ryan Giggs has urged Aaron Ramsey to “sort his Arsenal future out early”, the Daily Mirror reports.
Ramsey’s Arsenal contract expires next year and Giggs doesn’t want the midfielder to be left in limbo. Speaking at the Laureus world sports awards, Giggs expressed his belief the 27-year-old should stay at the Gunners.
“I hope Aaron sorts it out sooner rather than later,” he said.
Martinez denies Inter move is complete
Arsenal target Lautaro Martinez hasn’t yet completed a move to Inter Milan and could still sign for the north London club or for Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
According to talkSPORT, the Argentine striker, who plays for Racing Club, is close to a deal with Inter but says nothing is certain.
Martinez said: “As of today, there is nothing concrete about it. The transfer has not been concluded. Of course, there are meetings and offers, but that’s it. I am a Racing player and want to do my best for Racing. Everything will become clear the day there is something concrete.”
26 February
Arsenal transfer news: Mesut Ozil, Malcom, Jose Gimenez
Cascarino: Gunners need nine new players
Tony Cascarino believes Arsenal must sign “at least nine new players” in order to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Writing in The Times after the Gunners’ 3-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday, Cascarino says there must be an overhaul at the Emirates and that Arsene Wenger and Mesut Ozil should go.
“They are now, by some distance, the worst of the big six and need at least nine new players to turn it around,” he wrote. “I include [Mesut] Ozil in that too, even though they’ve recently given him a new £350,000-a-week deal. That also shows that almost every decision being made at that club, off the pitch, and on it, is the wrong one.
“It is a mess and the only way that the club can change is by getting in a new manager and, even then, there is so much work to do that they might need to go through three of them before reaching the level their fans feel that they should be operating at.
“I really cannot think of a worse collection of players to rebuild with and whoever eventually takes over from Wenger has a massive job ahead.”
Which players should Arsenal get rid of?
In The Sun, Mark Irwin has had his say on which players Arsenal should keep or sell. Among the stars that Irwin says should depart include:
Shkodran Mustafi: “Too slow”
Calum Chambers: “An accident waiting to happen”
Sead Kolasinac: “Wenger realised he cannot play at full-back”
Granit Xhaka: “Cannot tackle and can only pass sideways”
Alex Iwobi: “Midfielder has gone backwards this season”
Alexandre Lacazette: “Difficult to see where the striker fits in at the Emirates now Aubameyang is on board”
Danny Welbeck: “Too many injuries mean the England striker has lost his confidence and lost his way”
Dortmund join race for Malcom
Borussia Dortmund are the latest club to be linked with Bordeaux star Malcom. The Brazilian winger is wanted by Arsenal, Tottenham and Bayern Munich and now Dortmund have joined the race for his signature, the Daily Mirror reports.
Wenger targets Atletico’s Jose Gimenez
Atletico Madrid central defender Jose Gimenez is a top target for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger this summer, the Daily Express reports. The Uruguay international, 23, has a £57.3m release clause in his contract. Arsenal’s interest in Gimenez comes after reports that Liverpool look likely to sign Lazio’s Stefan de Vrij on a free transfer at the end of the season.
26 February
Arsenal transfer news: Thierry Henry, Malcom, Andre Silva
Henry: I want to replace Wenger
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry wants to return to the club for a third spell - but rather than coming out of retirement to play for the Gunners, he’s after the top job.
The former France striker, who scored a club-record 228 goals for Arsenal, said yesterday that he wants to replace Arsene Wenger as manager at the Emirates. Under-pressure Wenger has one year left on his current contract but many Gooners want to see him out now.
Speaking on Sky Sports following Arsenal’s dismal 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, Henry said it would be a “dream” to take over.
According to Metro, the Belgium assistant coach said: “Listen, I still have a job to do with Belgium, but it will be a dream for me. Interested? Yes. Who wouldn’t be? But I have respect for the man in charge still.”
While some fans would like to see the club icon in the hot seat, Football.London’s Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts says that appointing Henry would be a “disaster” for the Gunners.
Watts writes: “One potential candidate to replace Wenger should he leave is Thierry Henry. There is talk that Josh Kroenke - who is close to Henry - wants him to take the reigns once Wenger has gone. But Henry should be nowhere near the list of possible replacements. It would end in disaster.
“There is no pedigree there, no experience and no reason for him to get the job. By all means get him on board and on the coaching set-up, but not as manager.”
Bayern to pip Arsenal and Spurs to Malcom transfer
Bayern Munich are in pole position to sign Bordeaux winger Malcom, according to the Daily Mirror. The Brazilian, who turns 21 today, was a target for both Arsenal and Tottenham in the January transfer window, but it now appears that German giants Bayern are lining him up as a replacement for either Arjen Robben or Franck Ribery.
Striker Silva set for AC Milan exit
Arsenal target Andre Silva could leave AC Milan this summer after failing to impress in Italy. The Portuguese striker, 22, signed for Milan for £34m last year but has not settled in Serie A. The Daily Mirror says that Silva’s agent is talking with the Milan board about his client’s future. If Silva is allowed to leave Milan, Arsenal could make a move for the player, whom they have long admired.
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