ARSENAL are stepping up their interest in Wolves ace Pedro Neto who is reportedly tempted on making the switch to the Emirates this summer.
And if the Gunners fail to land top target Neto, then they could turn their attentions to Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio who has been offered to Arsenal according to reports.
However, Mark Irwin exclusively revealed that the North London outfit are not expecting to make anymore signings before the deadline next week.
And keep up to date with all of the latest gossip and team news around Arsenal's mouth-watering match against Fulham this evening.
IN: Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko
OUT: Alexandre Lacazette (released), Nuno Tavares (loan to Marseille)
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- Nyle Smith
Arsenal team news for Fulham
Mikel Arteta's men are hoping to continue their impressive start to the season when they welcome London rivals Fulham to the Emirates this evening.
And the Spaniard has confirmed that everyone apart from Reiss Nelson is in contention to feature at some point in the game.
During Arteta's pre-match presser, he said: "Everybody has trained this week and everybody is fine, so hopefully we’ll have a full team to select from, apart from Reiss [Nelson] who has been injured for a few weeks now."
Which means Gunners fans could finally get to see summer signing Fabio Vieira play for the first team.
- Chisanga Malata
Good morning Arsenal fans
Arsenal are not expecting to make any more signings before next week’s transfer deadline despite Nicolas Pepe’s loan move to Nice.
Mikel Arteta had been hoping to buy another winger to replace £72million club record signing Pepe and provide competition for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
But an inquiry for Wolves’ Portuguese international Pedro Neto has been rebuffed.
And the club are not going to pay silly money after already forking out £120million to sign Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos this summer.
Arteta said: “Part of the plan we have been preparing for the last two months was that Pepe could leave and now that is a reality.
“We have done our business in a different way this year.
"We bought players at the start of the window before getting others out and that was a bit more risky.
“Now we have let a player go and maybe we’ll be able to recruit somebody else.
"But it’s not a guarantee and we must wait to see whether that will be possible.
“Nico was here for three years and he had some very good moments and others where he hasn’t really contributed much.
“He wasn’t responsible for the price the club paid for him but he needs to play football again and it was the best decision for everyone to allow him to go.”
- Jack Figg
Art project
Mikel Arteta is poised to stick to his winning formula when Arsenal face Fulham on Saturday as he is set to name an unchanged team for the fourth match in a row.
The Gunners have picked up maximum points from their opening three Premier League games to leave them sitting pretty at the top of the table.
Crystal Palace, Leicester and Bournemouth have all been dispatched with relative ease with Arsenal scoring nine goals and conceding just twice.
At this stage last campaign, the North London outfit were bottom of the league having lost their first three games – scoring zero goals and letting in nine.
But following the additions of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, as well as the reintegration of William Saliba, Arteta’s side are beginning to look like the real deal.
Up next for Arsenal is a London derby against newly-promoted Fulham, who have surprised pundits and fans by their free-flowing football so far this term.
Here is how SunSport think Arsenal will line up in full.
- Jack Figg
Gunned down
Giorgio Chiellini has lifted the lid on his failed move to Arsenal in 2001 and says he was a “fool” to reject the club.
The ex-Italy international claims the Gunners offered him a huge salary when he was just 16, but felt it would be a betrayal to leave Livorno.
Arsene Wenger was keen to bring the defender to North London, but Chiellini has revealed he was too loyal to Livorno, a decision he now regrets.
The nine-time Serie A champion has stated that he was offered a whopping 200million Italian Lira-a-year by Arsenal, which was roughly around £66,000-per-year.
Speaking to So Foot via Goal in February 2021 about his failed move, the 38-year-old said: “In hindsight, I was a fool to decline that offer.
“I was 16, I played in Serie C, I got a huge offer for just under 200 million lira-a-season.
“I didn’t feel ready. If I had accepted, it would have given the impression of betraying Livorno.”
Credit: Getty - Jack Figg
Fulham up next for Gunners
Arsenal are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League on a maximum nine points, and will expect to keep their winning run going when hosting Fulham on Saturday.
The impressive Cottagers may be unbeaten on their return to the top-flight, but travel to the Emirates on Saturday teatime having NEVER won away at the Gunners.
Opta nerd Orbinho tweeted earlier in the week that in 30 home games with Fulham in all competitions, Arsenal have won 24 and drawn six.
- Jack Figg
Art of the draw
Arsenal handed a tough clash with PSV in the Europa League group stage as they prepare to return to European competition.
The Gunners, who were the first team to be drawn, have been placed in Group A alongside the Dutch side, Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt and Swiss club FC Zurich.
Due to the World Cup in November, the six matches are crammed into three blocks of back-to-back gameweeks.
Those will be played on September 8, September 15, October 6, October 13, October 27 and November 3.
The final will take place on Wednesday, May 31 next year at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
- Jack Figg
Not Auba yet
Thomas Tuchel's hope of a reunion with ex-Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is stalling over personal terms.
The Barcelona striker wants a deal for at least two years while Chelsea are only prepared to offer a one season contract.
Aubameyang is 33 and Chelsea are mindful of his age and committing to a long term agreement – broadly in line with their policy on older players.
It is still hoped a compromise will be reached and that the former Arsenal captain will return to the Premier League before next Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Tuchel wants Aubameyang to join him at Stamford Bridge and provide the outlet needed in front of goal as an out-and-out centre forward with bags of experience.
- Jack Figg
Next five fixtures for Gunners
Arsenal have taken maximum points from their first three games of this Premier League season – but how many will they take from their next five?
Here are the teams that lie in wait, starting with Fulham at home tomorrow teatime;
- Jack Figg
Top of the flops
After Arsenal agreed to farm out Nicolas Pepe on loan to Nice, an extraordinary pattern of transfer activity was completed this summer.
It meant that Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and the Gunners have all allowed their club-record signings — who cost a combined £313.5million — to depart without a single penny being recouped in transfer fees.
There is little surprise that those four members of England’s ‘Big Six’ have been left trailing in the wake of Manchester City and Liverpool in recent seasons, with such haphazard and shambolic recruitment.
And no wonder that clubs on the continent talk of ‘stupid English money’, knowing they can fleece filthy-rich Premier League sides in the market.
First, United’s £89m man Paul Pogba was allowed to leave Old Trafford for Juventus on a free — for a second time — after a largely miserable six-year spell for the French World Cup winner.
Then Chelsea sent £97.5m Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan, after a single season at Stamford Bridge, for a modest loan fee of £7m — so desperate was Thomas Tuchel to get the big Belgian striker out of the building.
Last week, Spurs loaned their most expensive recruit, Tanguy Ndombele — a £55m buy from Lyon in 2019 — to Napoli. There is an option, but no obligation, for the Italian club to buy the French midfielder next summer.
And Pepe’s loan move to Nice completes the set.
- Jack Figg
Maits rates
There are no less than THREE clubs battling for Arsenal misfit Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
TalkSport claim West Ham, Southampton and Bournemouth are all keen on the versatile midfielder.
Maitland-Niles is way down the pecking order under Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
And Arsenal are ready to cash in now with the player’s contract up next summer.
Credit: Getty - Jack Figg
Pierre we go
Ex-Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has a deal until 2025 at Barcelona although there is a chance to re-negotiate at the end of this season.
He played for Tuchel previously at Borussia Dortmund and the pair remain close.
Chelsea are reluctant to hand out long-term contracts to players over 30 and have encountered problems in the past with this.
Defender David Luiz and winger Willian left as a result.
Current captain Cesar Azpilicueta was tempted to leave in the summer when Barcelona offered him a longer contract than was on offer at Stamford Bridge, although he stayed in the end.
Chelsea and Barcelona are largely in agreement over Aubameyang with a fee of around £25m to be paid – but it now needs the player and the club to sort out terms.
- Jack Figg
ICYMI
Nicolas Pepe becomes the latest big-name player to join Nice this summer.
Aaron Ramsey completed a free transfer following his release by Juventus and Kasper Schmeichel ended his 11-year stint as Leicester’s No1 goalkeeper for another shot at European football.
Both players, as well as defenders Jean-Clair Todibo and Dante, started against Maccabi Tel Aviv tonight.
Credit: AFP - Jack Figg
Net loss
Arsenal are not expecting to make any more signings before next week’s transfer deadline despite Nicolas Pepe’s loan move to Nice and Pedro Neto interest.
Arteta said: “Part of the plan we have been preparing for the last two months was that Pepe could leave and now that is a reality.
“We have done our business in a different way this year.
"We bought players at the start of the window before getting others out and that was a bit more risky.
“Now we have let a player go and maybe we’ll be able to recruit somebody else.
"But it’s not a guarantee and we must wait to see whether that will be possible.
“Nico was here for three years and he had some very good moments and others where he hasn’t really contributed much.
“He wasn’t responsible for the price the club paid for him but he needs to play football again and it was the best decision for everyone to allow him to go.”
- Jack Figg
Max power
Allan Saint-Maximin is going NOWHERE, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has said.
But speculation surrounding his future isn’t going away and Betfair have the tricky winger at 2/1 to sign for Tottenham.
Reports from France claimed Manchester United might be about to test the water and take a gamble on the winger to help bolster their attacking options.
Chelsea are next best in the betting at 7/2 after they were strongly linked with a move earlier this summer.
They have brought in Raheem Sterling who can play in the wide positions but have offloaded Timo Werner and others could follow.
Arsenal know a thing or two about tricky French players that play out wide and Betfair have them at 11/2 to strike a deal for Saint-Maximin.
While you can get 9/1 on a return home to France with Nice or Monaco, while Barcelona are given the same odds.
- Jack Figg
Gunned down
Giorgio Chiellini has lifted the lid on his failed move to Arsenal in 2001 and says he was a "fool" to reject the club.
The ex-Italy international claims the Gunners offered him a huge salary when he was just 16, but felt it would be a betrayal to leave Livorno.
Arsene Wenger was keen to bring the defender to North London, but Chiellini has revealed he was too loyal to Livorno, a decision he now regrets.
The nine-time Serie A champion has stated that he was offered a whopping 200million Italian Lira-a-year by Arsenal, which was roughly around £66,000-per-year.
Speaking to So Foot via Goal in February 2021 about his failed move, the 38-year-old said: "In hindsight, I was a fool to decline that offer.
"I was 16, I played in Serie C, I got a huge offer for just under 200 million lira-a-season.
"I didn't feel ready. If I had accepted, it would have given the impression of betraying Livorno."
Credit: Getty
- Jack Figg
Art of the draw
Arsenal handed a tough clash with PSV in the Europa League group stage as they prepare to return to European competition.
The Gunners, who were the first team to be drawn, have been placed in Group A alongside the Dutch side, Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt and Swiss club FC Zurich.
Due to the World Cup in November, the six matches are crammed into three blocks of back-to-back gameweeks.
Those will be played on September 8, September 15, October 6, October 13, October 27 and November 3.
The final will take place on Wednesday, May 31 next year at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
- Jack Figg
Just a Tuch off
Thomas Tuchel's hopes of a reunion with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are stalling over personal terms.
The Barcelona striker wants a deal for at least two years while Chelsea are only prepared to offer a one-season contract.
Aubameyang is 33 and Chelsea are mindful of his age and committing to a long-term agreement – broadly in line with their policy on older players.
It is still hoped a compromise will be reached and that the former Arsenal captain will return to the Premier League before next Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Tuchel wants Aubameyang to join him at Stamford Bridge to provide the outlet needed in front of goal as an out-and-out centre forward with bags of experience.
Credit: AFP - Jack Figg
Phil of praise
Mikel Arteta has been lauded as “unbelievable” and a “great coach” by Phil Foden following Arsenal’s stunning start to the season.
Speaking to Amazon Prime’s YouTube channel, Foden was asked what Arteta was like as a mentor to him.
Quick to gush over the Arsenal gaffer, he said: “Unbelievable, you know.
“I remember working with him closely after training on some things I needed to improve.
“I know how good he can be as a coach – I think in the right ways to play football. He’s definitely a great coach.”
Credit: Getty - Sam Dymond
Next five fixtures for Gunners
Arsenal have taken maximum points from their first three games of this Premier League season – but how many will they take from their next five?
Here are the teams that lie in wait, starting with Fulham at home tomorrow teatime;
- Sam Dymond
Arteta: 'Phenomenal' Pepe needed minutes
Mikel Arteta has praised the departing Nicolas Pepe for his attitude, and said that it's not the player's fault that the club paid so much moneyfor him.
However, the Arsenal boss refused to say whether there was a route back for the winger following this season's loan at Nice.
Pepe arrived at the Emirates three years ago for a club record £72m, but has failed to live up to that price tag.
"It’s been three years and he had some very good moments, and some others where he hasn’t really contributed much in terms of minutes," Arteta said.
"We decided for every party it was the best decision to allow him to go. He needs to play minutes, he needs to play football. He was really adamant to do that and we decided that it would be best for everybody to do it.
"He has tried to deal with the [transfer fee] in the best possible way, he is not responsible for the price a club pays for him. He has tried everything, his attitude is just phenomenal.
"You just have to meet the person because you just love him for the way he is. But then in terms of the decision you have to make on the pitch, who do you select, we made other decisions and obviously that has had an impact in the chances he had to prove his quality."
- Sam Dymond
Gunners to face old adversary
Arsenal will come face-to-face with an old nemesis in the group stage of this season's Europa League.
Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is the man in charge of Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, who have been drawn alongside the Gunners.
Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt and Zurich of Switzerland make up Group A.
- Arsenal
- PSV Eindhoven
- Bodo/Glimt
- Zurich
Follow the live reaction to the draw in our dedicated blog.
- Sam Dymond
It's A for Arsenal
Arsenal have been selected in Group A for this year’s Europa League.
You can follow our live draw over at SunSport.
- Sam Dymond
Arsenal 'compliant' with FFP rules
Mikel Arteta says he has no concerns regarding Arsenal's spending this summer.
An article in The Times earlier this week stated the Gunners are currently on UEFA's watch list as the governing body consider Financial Fair Play.
"We are compliant, and we have heard nothing so I don’t know what that [article] is," Arteta said.
"I think the club has been very disciplined and with a very clear vision of how we want to do things. In that sense nothing changes."
The Londoners have spent in the region of £130m in this transfer window on Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos.
- Sam Dymond
Arteta: Let's keep going
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed his squad are close to full strength ahead of this weekend's London derby with Fulham.
Speaking at his Friday presser, the Spaniard admitted that it was only youngster Reiss Nelson that will be missing.
"Everybody has trained this week, and everybody is fine apart from Reiss, who you know has been injured for a few weeks now," Arteta said.
"We have good momentum, a good energy around the place, and good confidence. Let's keep going."
- Sam Dymond
Matt a man in demand
Celtic’s Matt O’Riley is being tracked by a host of Europe’s top clubs.
ESPN report that Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund are also keeping close tabs on the 21-year-old midfielder.
Indeed, Dortmund were linked with O’Riley while he was a highly-rated teenager at Fulham.
However, Scott Parker repeatedly overlooked the youngster, and he eventually left Craven Cottage on a free transfer before joining MK Dons.
Now O’Riley is valued in the region of £20m after just eight months at Celtic Park.
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