ARSENAL drew 0-0 with Manchester United at the Emirates but had the better of the chances throughout the game.
On the transfer front, the Gunners could recall Lucas Torreira and send him on loan to Monaco after a torrid time at Atletico Madrid.
- CASINO DEALS: BEST SIGN UP OFFERS TO CLAIM OVER £700
Follow all the latest from the Emirates below…
- Daniel Brookes
WILLOCK LOAN LATEST
Arsenal will make a late decision on whether to send Joe Willock on loan to Newcastle, according to the Mail.
The 21-year-old has struggled for regular playing time this season, and he could find opportunities even harder to come by following the arrival of Martin Odegaard.
Newcastle are trying to persuade the Gunners to let Willock spend the rest of the season on loan at St James' Park.
However, the Gunners face a packed fixture schedule when the europa League returns in February.
As a result, Arsenal may not want to lose both Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is also angling for a loan move away before the transfer window closes.
- Daniel Brookes
TRANSFER MERRY-GO-ROUND
Southampton have been rebuffed in their attempt to sign Barcelona full-back Junior Firpo on loan – dashing Arsenal's hopes of signing Ryan Bertrand.
Former Saints manager and current Barca boss Ronald Koeman has blocked a transfer away from the Camp Nou for Firpo, who is also hesitant over a move having recently become a father.
Bertrand, 31, has entered the final six months of his contract at St Mary's and the Gunners had eyed the former Chelsea left-back as a possible alternative to Kieran Tierney.
After missing out on Firpo, Saints could return for Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is hoping to go out on loan before the end of the transfer window.
- Daniel Brookes
FOX ATTACK
Leicester City have entered the race for Arsenal ace Ainsley Maitland-Niles, according to The Athletic.
The report claims the Foxes have been depleted by injuries in midfield and could lose Hamza Choudhury before the end of the transfer window.
However, Arsenal may be reluctant to strengthen a top-four rival by snactioning a loan move for Maitland-Niles.
West Brom, Newcastle and Southampton are also interested in the 23-year-old.
- Daniel Brookes
MAITLAND-NILES LATEST
Southampton have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Ainley Maitland-Niles, according to Sky Sports.
The report claims it is West Brom leading the race for the 23-year-old, who is hoping regular playing time can earn him a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2020.
It is understood the Baggies can offer Maitland-Niles a spot in his preferred midfield position whereas at Southampton, he would more likely be asked to play full-back.
- Daniel Brookes
BUYING DUTCHMAN
Arsenal are considering a deadline day move for Crystal Palace left-back Patrick van Aanholt, according to the Mirror.
The Dutchman, 30, has been sharing left-back duties at Selhurst Park with academy graduate Tyrick Mitchell, and it is expected he would play a similar role with Kieran Tierney at the Emirates.
The Gunners had also been tracking Mitchell but it is understaff Palace see the 21-year-old as their long-term option on the left.
Van Aanholt is out of contract at the end of the season and the Eagles may be tempted to sell now rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.
The Gunners have left themselves short of options on the left side of defence after Sead Kolasinac joined Schalke on loan, with right-back Cedric Soares filling in in their last three matches.
- Daniel Brookes
WILL-ING IT
Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock is a deadline day target for Newcastle, according to the Daily Mail.
The report claims Magpies boss Steve Bruce wants to take the 21-year-old on loan until the end of the season.
Willock has struggled for playing time this season and may find first team opportunities even harder to come by in the second half of the season, following the arrival of Martin Odegaard.
The England under-21 international has made two starts and five substitute appearances for the Gunners this season.
- Joshua Jones
GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS
Arsenal made sure they went unbeaten against Man United in the league this season with a 0-0 draw yesterday.
Both sides put in a turgid performance to slug out a goalless stalemate at the Emirates.
Martin Odegaard came off the bench to make his debut after joining from Real Madrid on loan.
And Arsenal are now ninth in the table, six points off a Champions League spot.
Gunners legend Gilberto Silva is confident Arteta can get Arsenal a top-four finish.
He told Betfair: “For any manager that comes in after Arsene Wenger with the job he did, it is going to be very challenging.
“It was a challenge for Unai Emery, then Mikel Arteta came and for the first six months it was very good and very promising, but at the start of this season they had a lot of difficulties.
“Now, it seems that the team are getting into good form and they have recovered from the start they had.
“They have won very important games and it’s important that they continue that and keep their balance right to keep their consistency in this tough league.
“It’s a tough league for everyone. The important thing for Arsenal is that consistency and if they can maintain that from game to game, then they will have a good chance to finish in the top four.
“It’s important that they win their bigger games and keep their consistency, otherwise it is going to be so hard.”
- Anthony Chapman
KANE YOU BELIEVE IT
Arsenal continued to rock the WWE anthems through the Emirates PA system during their clash with Manchester United.
As Mikel Arteta’s stars entered the pitch for the second period, they were met by the sound of ‘Hell, Fire and Brimstone’, Kane’s theme.
Just 24 hours before the WWE Royal Rumble extravaganza, the iconic theme music of wrestling legend Kane echoed around the Arsenal home.
- Anthony Chapman
EXCLUSIVE BY MARTIN LIPTON
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been branded the puppet master behind the Super League project which threatens to rip up the fabric of European football.
LaLiga boss Javier Tebas said: “It is obvious that Gianni Infantino has been party to meetings and hosted the club organisation to be able to work on the Super League.
“He has been working on it and has even been encouraging them to set it up.
“In the documents that we have related to the Super League there is the mention of a code name W01, which clearly refers to Mr Infantino. That is his code name.
“If I am wrong, I will apologise. But we have information and the facts seem to be there. I think people are telling me the truth.”
- Anthony Chapman
FROM SUNSPORT’S DUNCAN WRIGHT
Worried Premier League clubs are still in the dark over whether they will lose some foreign stars to ten days of quarantine.
Fifa have yet to rule on whether England’s top flight can stop their South American and Portuguese players from taking part in March’s scheduled World Cup qualifiers.
New UK Covid-19 travel regulations mean anyone returning from ‘red list’ countries, including Portugal and those in South America, must spend ten days in isolation at an airport hotel.
World football chiefs are set to hold talks with South American and Portuguese officials before deciding on whether to relax the rule on clubs’ releasing players.
This was allowed last year following the start of the pandemic.
- Anthony Chapman
EXCLUSIVE BY MARTIN LIPTON
Liverpool and Manchester United have been accused of plotting with Fifa and Real Madrid to ‘DESTROY’ football.
LaLiga chief Javier Tebas says the ‘greedy’ Premier League giants have spent months scheming over an ‘obscene’ £4.6billion European Super League.
The Spaniard insists United’s US owner Joel Glazer and Liverpool’s John W Henry have been working with Fifa president Gianni Infantino plus Madrid supremo Florentino Perez on plans that will ‘ruin’ the game.
Tebas stormed: “This would be a disaster for football, it would destroy the ecosystem and balance of the game in Europe.
“This whole underground project started with Infantino and Perez — but the Glazers and Liverpool were active too and held meetings.
“They have all tried to keep it secret, before the stories emerged in October and since.”
- Anthony Chapman
ODE TO JOY
Martin Odegaard came second in a half-time Man of the Match poll for his Arsenal debut against Manchester United – despite not even playing.
The new Gunners loanee, 22, was glued to the bench for the opening 45 minutes of the tense clash at the Emirates.
But that didn't stop Norwegian telly viewers from flocking to name Odegaard player of the half.
At the midway point, the Real Madrid ace had racked up 26 per cent of the fan vote for Man of the Match among TV 2 viewers.
Only United maestro Bruno Fernandes with 36 per cent came higher.
Incredibly, as the game wore on, Odegaard began to pick up more and more of the vote.
After 75 minutes, and still on the bench, the loanee had rocketed to 41 per cent of fans' votes – the highest of any player.
But Odegaard finally did come on to make his Gunners debut as the game ended 0-0.
- Anthony Chapman
VERDICT
It has taken Thomas Partey the best part of four months to make his presence felt at Arsenal.
But the £45million Ghanaian is finally starting to show why the Gunners put in so much effort to pinch him from Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day.
READ OUR ARSENAL VERDICT HERE
- Anthony Chapman
RATINGS
David Luiz and Thomas Partey shined in Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Man United.
But Cedric Soares’ poor performance showed why the Gunners desperately need Kieran Tierney back.
READ OUR ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS HERE
- Anthony Chapman
GAME OVER
It's full-time at the Emirates and the game has ended Arsenal 0 Man United 0.
The second half was as low-key as the first except for a terrific Alexandre Lacazette free-kick which hit the crossbar.
It means it's a point each for either side but Mikel Arteta will be the happier man as United are now three points behind league leaders City having played a game extra.
READ OUR FULL MATCH REPORT HERE
- Anthony Chapman
HIGHLIGHT REEL
David Luiz’s clearance against Manchester United was a 'highlight' for him, claims Red Devils legend Roy Keane.
Brazilian defender Luiz, 33, produced an impassioned response after thwarting a Bruno Fernandes free-kick.
And Keane responded in typical fashion.
Appearing on Sky Sports, the Irishman said: "This is the highlight for Arsenal.
"David Luiz looks like he's scored a goal there himself.
"Delighted with the job he's done… a highlight for him."
- Anthony Chapman
GAME ON
It's half-time at the Emirates and the score is Arsenal 0 Man United 0.
Neither side has set the game alight but Bruno Fernandes' free-kick was nearly turned into his own net by David Luiz.
Meanwhile, Scott McTominay was forced off with a stomach injury in a blow for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
FOLLOW THE ACTION WITH OUR LIVE MATCH BLOG
- Anthony Chapman
SILVA LINING
Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva still believes Mikel Arteta can finish in the top four of the Premier League this season.
He told Betfair: "For any manager that comes in after Arsene Wenger with the job he did, it is going to be very challenging.
"It was a challenge for Unai Emery, then Mikel Arteta came and for the first six months it was very good and very promising, but at the start of this season they had a lot of difficulties.
"Now, it seems that the team are getting into good form and they have recovered from the start they had.
"They have won very important games and it's important that they continue that and keep their balance right to keep their consistency in this tough league.
"It's a tough league for everyone. The important thing for Arsenal is that consistency and if they can maintain that from game to game, then they will have a good chance to finish in the top four.
"It's important that they win their bigger games and keep their consistency, otherwise it is going to be so hard."
- Anthony Chapman
TEAM NEWS
Gabriel Martinelli starts for Arsenal against Man United as he comes in for Bukayo Saka.
The England winger has picked up a hip problem and misses out as a precaution.
Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard is on the bench after joining from Real Madrid on loan.
But there is still no Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after he was given compassionate leave to visit his ill mother.
FOLLOW THE ACTION WITH OUR LIVE MATCH BLOG
- Anthony Chapman
NEW LOOK
Is this how Arsenal could line up next season?
The Gunners are known to be in the market for new attacking midfielders.
If they land Lyon's Houssem Aouar and Norwich's Emi Buendia, Mikel Arteta's side could be in with a real chance of challenging for the title…
- Daniel Brookes
MUSTAFI TICKS LIVERPOOL BOXES
Shkodran Mustafi fits two criteria in Liverpool's search for a new defender.
Firstly, the German is affordable – he is into the last six months of his contract at the Emirates and was believed to be in talks to terminate his deal early.
Secondly, Mustafi's experience at senior level is an important factor.
The Athletic claims the Reds have sent out 'feelers' across Europe to ascertain whether a centre-back signing is realistic before Monday's transfer deadline.
- Daniel Brookes
SAINT LOOK
Arsenal man Ainsley Maitland-Niles seems to fit the bill for Southampton, as he nears a loan move away from the Emirates.
Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is hoping to add to his squad before Monday’s transfer deadline, with versatility a key trait he is looking for.
Hasenhuttl said: “We are looking for players in multiple positions who are more flexible and can play in several roles in my team.
“The most important thing is that he is smart and understands very quickly – just like Theo Walcott did when he came here.”
- Daniel Brookes
SWAP DEAL
Arsenal could be willing to swap Ainsley Maitland-Niles for Southampton's Ryan Bertrand, according to the Daily Mail.
Maitland-Niles is on the verge of a loan move away from the Gunners, with Southampton a possible destination.
And Arsenal could ask for Bertrand in exchange as they have been left short of cover in the left-back position following the departure of Sead Kolasinac.
Bertrand, 31, is out of contract at the end of the season but Saints themselves are short of options at left-back after Jake Vokins joined Sunderland on loan.
- Daniel Brookes
IS SHKODRAN A MUST-HAVE-I?
Liverpool are considering a swoop for Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi.
The Reds' injury crisis went from bad to worse on Thursday night when Joel Matip sustained an ankle injury in the 3-1 win over Tottenham.
Boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted the club could turn to the transfer market before Monday's deadline, with Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk expected to miss the rest of the season.
Mustafi has made just three appearances in the Premier League this season, all from the bench.
- Daniel Brookes
LATER MAIT
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has said goodbye to his Arsenal teammates ahead of a potential loan move, according to the MailOnline.
The 23-year-old is weighing up a move to one of West Brom, Sotuhampton and Newcastle as he seeks regular playing time with the hopes of making the England squad for this summer's Euros.
The report also claims Maitland-Niles may favour playing in his favoured midfield position, despite his recent call-ups coming on the back of some impressive displays at wing-back.
Source: Read Full Article
