PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG hit a stunning hat-trick as Arsenal finally got a win on the board with a 6-0 victory at West Brom in the EFL Cup.
And Mikel Arteta has confirmed the Arsenal captain is set to stay at the club this summer, while also giving an update on the injury sustained by Bukayo Saka.
And on the incoming front we've got the very latest on Houssem Aouar, who Lyon are now ready to farm out on a loan-to-buy basis.
However, it is Spurs who are reported to be most likely to make their interest concrete.
Meanwhile Joao Felix has replied to Arsenal's Instagram post on the future of Lucas Torreira.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Get all the latest transfer news, gossip and updates below…
- Thomas Blow
WILLIAN EXIT TALKS ONGOING – ARTETA
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Willian and his representatives are in talks to leave the Emirates in the coming days.
The Spanish coach said: "We are having some conversations with him and the agent, and we are evaluating the position that we are in at the moment."
- Thomas Blow
AUBA GOING NOWHERE – ARTETA
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will not be leaving the Emirates this summer.
The Spanish coach told the press: "Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is our player and he will remain here."
- Thomas Blow
AOUAR LATEST
Arsenal have been handed a boost in their bid to sign Houssem Aouar as Lyon will now accept a loan deal, according to reports in France.
The Gunners had made Aouar one of their top targets last summer but their £32million bid was rejected by Lyon, who were demanding £55.5m.
The French club have been actively looking to sell Aouar during the current window and had even reduced the 23-year-old’s asking price to just £25m.
But Lyon have received no firm offers and with the transfer deadline looming, they are willing to compromise even further to complete a deal.
- Thomas Blow
MORE ON WILLIAN
It's thought Willian, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea last summer, could be set to join Brazilian club Corinthians shortly.
There were high expectations following the winger's move to North London after the end of his Blues playing career.
But Willian has struggled to replicate the dazzling form that helped Chelsea win two Prem titles, the FA Cup and Europa League.
The Brazil international appears to have fallen behind Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in the race for a starting spot.
And Willian was also absent from the Arsenal squad that thrashed West Brom 6-0 in the second round of the League Cup.
Credit: Getty - Thomas Blow
WILLIAN 'REMOVES' ARSENAL FROM BIO
Willian has reportedly removed Arsenal from his Instagram bio – hinting at a potential departure.
Watch this space…
- Thomas Blow
BRUY OH BRUY
Manchester City will be without Kevin De Bruyne against Arsenal on Saturday after the midfielder failed to shake off an ankle injury.
The Belgian has had little luck with injuries of late, having been forced out of the Champions League final before battling a fresh blow at Euro 2020.
The ankle problem he picked up in the summer has not gone and national team boss Roberto Martinez hasn't called De Bruyne up to his latest squad.
And the manager ruled the 30-year-old out of City's weekend game when confirming the decision.
Martinez told reporters on Thursday: "Kevin is not available. He played a few minutes against Tottenham, but was sore afterwards.
"He won't play this weekend – and then his progress will be looked at."
- Thomas Blow
ELNENY LATEST
Mohamed Elneny is expected to remain at Arsenal but they may sell him if they receive an adequate bid, according to reports.
It was recently rumored the Egypt international might leave North London to return to Besiktas, where he had spent the 2019-20 season on loan.
It was also believed newly-promoted Watford were interested in Elneny’s services and were prepared to make an offer for the 29-year-old.
These rumours were refuted by TheAFCBell, who claim a club source said they hadn't receive any offers from the Hornets or any other club.
- Thomas Blow
GUNNERS CONFIRM TORRIERA LOAN
Arsenal have officially confirmed Lucas Torreira has joined Fiorentina on loan for the 2021-22 campaign.
The club said: "Everyone at Arsenal wishes Lucas all the best in Italy with Fiorentina this season."
- Thomas Blow
YOU-TURN
Arsenal supporters loudly chanted 'Arsenal Fan TV, get out of our club' at the end of their League Cup victory against West Brom.
A large section of the travelling Gunners shouted and pointed towards those involved in the controversial YouTube channel after the 6-0 win.
Arsenal fans were in fine voice throughout the evening as they backed manager Mikel Arteta and his players in a dominant performance.
But at the end of the game, a large section of supporters began singing: "Arsenal Fan TV, get out of our club."
Many of these fans were pointing in the direction of those who contribute to the divisive YouTube channel, officially known as AFTV.
- Thomas Blow
RAMSDALE'S MESSAGE
Aaron Ramsdale has thanked Arsenal fans on Twitter after making his debut for the club against West Brom.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper wrote: "Thank you for the reception tonight, great performance by the lads and the fans never stopped!
"Looking forward to more games in front of you. Safe journey home."
- Thomas Blow
AUBA REACTS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick against West Brom on his first start of the season.
Speaking to the press after the match, the Arsenal captain said: "We've had a tough start to the season but the commitment of the players has always been there and this can give us something to build our confidence.
"Every hat-trick is special for me. I keep every match ball for my kids and I will try to get all the players to sign this one."
Credit: Getty - Thomas Blow
AUBA THE SLUMP
Mikel Arteta insists it is no coincidence that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back to his best following the return of the fans.
Gunners captain Auba scored a Carabao Cup hat-trick to secure his team’s first win of the season.
The manager said: “Auba is a happy character and he needs that connection with the fans so to have them back is really positive for him.
“I said that the leadership and solutions to win matches has to come from the senior players and this was a good example.
“This result will give us a lot of confidence but I am most pleased with the spirit and togetherness that we could share with our supporters.
“We had some players that needed minutes and with the players we had available tonight it was best for us to have Auba up front leading the attack.”
- Thomas Blow
WILLIAN LATEST
Willian's agent Kia Joorabchian is trying to get the Brazilian winger a loan move from Arsenal to Corinthians.
And Jooranchian told Globo Esporte: "We’re looking forward to making this happen. For me it’s very important to help as much as possible."
But Corinthians are not expected to cover all of his eye-watering £220,000-a-week wages.
- Thomas Blow
ARTETA ON AUBAMEYANG
Mikel Arteta has praised skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after his hat-trick against West Brom on Wednesday evening.
The manager told the club's official website: "I said at the beginning [that] the leadership, the solutions and the tools to win football matches has to come from the senior players.
"The rest has to be complemented to that with the energy, the vibe and the passion that they bring to the group, and not the opposite way around. I think tonight was a good example."
- Thomas Blow
TROPHY CABINET
Arsenal's 6-0 victory against West Brom on Wednesday evening keeps their dream of winning a third League Cup alive.
The Gunners previously lifted the famous trophy in 1987 and 1993.
- Thomas Blow
BIGGEST BUYS
Let's take a look at Arsenal's most expensive signings…
Will anymore names be added to the list before the end of the transfer window?
- Thomas Blow
BEST OF LUCK!
Joao Felix, Granit Xhaka and others have wished Lucas Torreira well after the Arsenal midfielder completed his loan move to Fiorentina.
Replying to Torreira's Instagram post confirming the transfer, ex-Gunners team-mates Xhaka and Emi Martinez both commented 'vamos'.
Felix, meanwhile, wrote 'Vamo Nene' – which translates to 'let's go baby'.
- Thomas Blow
FANS CHANT RAMSDALE'S NAME
Arsenal fans were heard singing Aaron Ramsdale's name last night during his debut against West Brom.
Speaking to the club's official website about the chant, Ramsdale said: "Yeah, it's special.
"I got to celebrate a couple of times with them in the first half, which was nice.
"They sang my name and it always gives you great confidence, things like that.
"[To see so many of them] on a Wednesday night is absolutely outstanding – and I can't wait to see more of them."
- Thomas Blow
FER WARNING
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has tipped Arsenal to scrape a top-half finish in the Premier League this season after their horror start.
The Gunners suffered 2-0 defeats in their opening two matches – firstly away at Brentford and then at home to Chelsea.
Ferdinand told his FIVE YouTube channel: "I would be happy with top ten if I was you lot [Arsenal fans].
"I think you will finish ninth. Let me look at the league table right now, you’re 19th right now.
"Brighton would bang up Arsenal right now! Brighton would be a problem for you lot!"
Credit: Getty - Thomas Blow
RAMSDALE ON PERFORMANCE
Aaron Ramsdale was delighted to win on debut as Arsenal hammered West Brom 6-0 in the League Cup.
He told the club's official website: "We were dominant throughout.
"Obviously West Brom had made changes but you've still got to beat what's in front of you and I think we've done that brilliantly.
"We've passed the ball, the movement from the front four, the lads who came on and it's topped off with some special goals.
"Auba's taken the matchball home and it's a good night all round."
- Thomas Blow
ARTETA REACTION
Speaking to the press after Arsenal's 6-0 win against West Brom, Mikel Arteta said: "When you lose a game, you have to win as quickly as possible.
"Today’s match is going to give us some confidence.
"We had some players playing their first minutes – for example Auba – so to get some minutes and score three goals is going to be great for his confidence.
"Overall I think [it was] a really positive night."
- Thomas Blow
RAMSDALE ON DEBUT
Aaron Ramsdale made his Arsenal debut against West Brom on Wednesday evening, keeping a clean sheet in the 6-0 League Cup win.
He told the club's official website: "Yeah, [it was] special. I wasn't expecting the reception I got, so a big thanks to the fans for that.
"A packed away end on a Wednesday night in the second round of the Carabao Cup shows the passion that the supports have and we put on a good performance for them.
"As debuts go, it's one of the better ones."
Credit: PA - Thomas Blow
BAGGIES DREAM
Aaron Ramsdale made his Arsenal debut last night against West Brom – the club he SUPPORTED as a kid.
The goalkeeper told the Bournemouth Echo in 2019 he was a Baggies fan and looked up to fellow stopper Ben Foster as a youngster.
The former Sheffield United ace said: "Fozzy [Foster] made some great saves in the first half and it was great to share the pitch with him.
"Being a West Brom fan I watched him for a long, long time when he was there."
- Joshua Jones
MORNING ARSENAL FANS
Arsenal thrashed West Brom 6-0 at the Hawthorns last night to progress to the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned from his Covid setback and scored a spectacular hat-trick.
Nicolas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette and Bukayo Saka got the other goals as the Gunners avoided defeat for the first time this season.
And the North Londoners received a favourable draw after the game as AFC Wimbledon were picked out the hat to face the Gunners at the Emirates in the third round.
Earlier in the day it emerged technical director Edu and Mikel Arteta are both under huge pressure to save their jobs.
Arteta admitted after the game Arsenal could still do business before the transfer window shuts.
And it looks like Willian could be one of the first players out the door with his agent Kia Joorabchian working hard to get him a move to Corinthians in Brazil.
Finally Jack Wilshere admitted he is considering retirement at just 29.
Wilshere admitted he has thought about moving into coaching, he has not given up hope of finding the right club – and that could be abroad.
The Londoner admits his tough record with injuries over the years could be putting off English clubs, and he feels he might get a fairer crack of the whip in another country.
In an revealing interview with The Athletic, the 34-cap England international explained: “I’ve said before that I’m open to going abroad. In fact, I probably want to go abroad. I want to try something different. I think it’ll be good for me, for my life, for my family.
“Have a fresh start somewhere where people, clubs, fans don’t think, ‘Oh, that’s Jack Wilshere. He’s going to get injured today’, or, ‘He’ll play five games and that’s it… waste of an investment.”
- William Pugh
ARSENAL DRAW AFC WIMBLEDON
The Gunners will host AFC Wimbledon in the third round of the Carabao Cup in the week commencing September 20.
Source: Read Full Article
