Arsenal news LIVE: Lacazette set for Gunners reunion in Dubai Cup as Barcelona target Patino transfer – latest

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Arsenal World Cup friendlies

Arsenal will travel to Dubai and play two friendlies as part of their preparations for the Premier League return on Boxing Day.

Mikel Arteta’s side face Alexandre Lacazette’s Lyon on 8 December at Al Maktoum Stadium.

They then play AC Milan at the same venue five days later.

Arteta said: “Dubai is a fantastic place and the football facilities there are first-class.

“The Dubai Super Cup also gives us the opportunity to test ourselves against two strong sides in Lyon and AC Milan – it’ll be a great experience for the squad.”

Lethal Eddie

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale reckons Eddie Nketiah is one of the toughest players to face in training.

Nketiah is yet to score in the Premier League this season, with his only strikes coming in Europe, but Ramsdale believes he's one of the best at London Colney.

He said: "I’d say Eddie Nketiah is probably one of the hardest to come up against in training finishing wise."

"He's just a goalscorer man, he’s top."

Barcelona want teenage star

Barcelona are interested in signing Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino, according to .

The 19-year-old has made just two appearances for the Gunners, but has caught the eye while out on loan at Blackpool.

Patino has registered two goals and two assists in 15 Championship games and turned in a man of the match display in the derby victory over Preston last month.

Midfield duo facing off

Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey will put their club affiliations to one side when they come up against each other later this week.

The duo have been two of Arsenal's key performers this season, but have now turned their attention to the World Cup.

And they'll be hoping to come out on top when Switzerland play Ghana in both of their final games in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Neville tips City for title

Gary Neville has described Arsenal as a class act, but reckons Manchester City will still end up as champions.

The Gunners head into the break sitting five points clear at the top of the Prem having dropped just five points all season.

But the Sky Sports pundit expects City to come out on top.

He said: "I said last week that I thought Manchester City would win the title by 15 points - I'm going to hang in there with that prediction.

"But Arsenal are making me doubt that. They've been fantastic, they are the class act of this first 14 games.

"We want a title race, we want there to be competitiveness in the Premier League and not for one team to run away with it every single season."

"I don't think they'll win the title, I think City will. I do think they will get into the top four but I still think it will be interesting come February and March with Arsenal where they end up."

Christmas No.1

Arsenal's victory at Wolves on Saturday means they're top at Christmas for the first time since the 2007/2008 season.

The Gunners have dropped just five points in 14 games and opened up a five point lead after a Martin Odegaard brace secured a 2-0 win at Molineux.

Remarkably, Mikel Arteta's side are 14 points better off than this time 12 months ago and an incredible 23 from two years ago.

Gunners want Thuram

Arsenal are interested in signing Borussia Monchengladbach man Marcus Thuram, according to .

But the winger, who’s already racked up 10 Bundesliga goals this season, is also wanted by Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

The 25-year-old is out of contract next summer and could be snapped up for nothing, however.

VARsenal

Arsenal would be second in the Premier League without VAR.

The Gunners would be two points worse off and drop below Manchester City if the Video Assistant Referee wasn’t involved.

Fortunately, they have been able to rely on VAR and are instead five points clear.

Gabby and Jesus arrive

Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli met up with the rest of their Brazil teammates on Monday.

The duo have been in outstanding form for Arsenal this season, directly contributing to 18 Prem goals.

And they'll be hoping to make the difference when the 2002 winners get their campaign underway against Serbia on 24 November.

Not Gunner stop

Bukayo Saka met up with his England teammates on Monday and one of them about Arsenal's outstanding form.

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker said: "Are you guys going to stop winning?"

Saka responded: "Don't worry about that bro."

The Gunners opened up a five point gap by beating Wolves on Saturday.

Arsenal to compete in Dubai Super Cup

Arsenal will travel to Dubai and play two friendlies as part of their preparations for the Premier League return on Boxing Day.

Mikel Arteta's side face Alexandre Lacazette's Lyon on 8 December at Al Maktoum Stadium.

They then play AC Milan at the same venue five days later.

Arteta said: "Dubai is a fantastic place and the football facilities there are first-class.

"The Dubai Super Cup also gives us the opportunity to test ourselves against two strong sides in Lyon and AC Milan – it’ll be a great experience for the squad."

Goal of the month

Thomas Partey has won Arsenal's goal of the month for October for his stunning strike against Tottenham in the North London derby.

That was one of two contenders on the list for the midfielder, who produced a similar strike in the 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Partey gained 51 per cent of the votes, beating his other goal which came second and Jordan Nobbs' strike against FC Zurich.

Good morning Arsenal fans

Arsenal remain top of the Premier League table ahead of the 2022 World Cup break with five points ahead of second-placed and title rivals Manchester City.

The Gunners have amassed 12 wins out of 14 league matches, of which they have only lost one and will be back in action on Boxing Day against West Ham at the Emirates.

But Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger believes City will beat his former team for the Premier League title.

That is despite the legendary manager's loyalties and the Gunners' blistering start to their campaign.

Wenger told beIN Sports: "Yeah, personally I would put them just behind City. [Arsenal are] the second-best team to have a good chance to win the Premier League because Man City at some stage will focus highly on the Champions League.

"I think [Arsenal are City's best challengers]. And after we don’t know about Liverpool but they are already 11 points behind and 10 points behind Man City is a mountain to climb.

And SunSport columnist Piers Morgan wants Arsenal to sign Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after his explosive interview on Piers Morgan: Uncensored.

Morgan believes Ronaldo would lead the Gunners to the top of the Premier League alongside Gabriel Jesus.

Asked on Twitter if he hoped the North Londoners would sign CR7, the journalist responded: "Yes, actually.

"He’s exactly what we need. Ronaldo and Gabriel Jesus would take us to the title."

Finally, United have joined Arsenal in the bidding war for Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhailo Mudryk, as per SunSport's Daniel Cutts.

SunSport understands United have been tracking Mudryk for a while, with scouts keeping watch, while manager Erik ten Hag has been keen on him since his days as Ajax boss.

However, Shakhtar are reluctant to let one of their prized assets go on the cheap, and would demand a substantial fee for the winger.

It is unlikely the Red Devils will go for the Ukraine international in January, after having major investment in the squad over the past summer.

Sutton on Arsenal chances

Arsenal have what it takes to win the Premier League title if key players avoid injuries, claims Chris Sutton.

Sutton believes the Gunners can capitalise on Manchester City's "mistakes" and that everyone in football knows they are strong contenders.

The ex-Chelsea ace also stressed that the January transfer window will be important for the North Londoners - if they can strengthen their squad they could go all the way.

Sutton further believes that manager Mikel Arteta will try to downplay their chances but inwardly will be believing something else

Mudryk on Arsenal fans

Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhailo Mudryk revealed he is surprised by all the messages he is getting from Arsenal fans amid the Gunners' interest in signing him.

Mudryk told Vlada Sedan, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife: “One surprise for me was how many Arsenal fans followed me.

“No other club’s fans have interacted as much as them. Telling me that they are waiting for me, saying ‘Come to us’.

"One of my recent posts has over 500 comments saying that”

Mudryk's transfer tip

Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhailo Mudryk revealed he would only agree to join another team if the manager promised him he would at least get a chance to play.

Mudryk has received intense interest from Arsenal ahead of the January transfer window.

The winger said: “I would first want to know from the head coach that even if I wasn’t a guaranteed starter, that I’d receive a chance.

“Essentially I need to hear directly from the manager what he envisages my role to be in his side”

Jesus' Spurs snub

Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus didn't mention rivals Tottenham among his team's Premier League title threats this season.

Jesus said: "We cannot look to others.

"We know Man City , obviously I know them more than most of the people. But we have to do our job. We know the Premier League is not easy, it is the toughest league in the world.

"It is not only Man City - it is Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea. What can we do? Just focus on ourselves that is all"

We want Chu

Arsenal are targeting a January swoop for Villarreal ace Samuel Chukwueze.

That is according to , who claim the Yellow Submarine could look to cash in on Chukwueze while they still have negotiating power - with his contract expiring in 2024.

The winger has been on the Gunners' radar for several years and Mikel Arteta's side missed out on the chance to sign him for just £4million in 2018.

The Nigeria international has since gone on to impress and has caught the attention of several other Premier League clubs, such as Everton and Aston Villa

Ben's White watch

Arsenal star Ben White didn't watch football when he was growing up and didn't know club legend Patrick Vieira.

White told Sky Sports: "No I never watched football when I was younger, still don't now.

"I just loved the game, I was always playing it - never watching it. So I don't know too much about older generations."

White added: "I know [Vieira] was a very good player. But I wouldn't know the details. I'm quite busy, I'm always doing something"

Hec of a move

Roma are eyeing up a move for Barcelona ace and former Arsenal star Hector Bellerin.

Bellerin has started just three times for Barca across all competitions so far this season and his inactivity is now seeing him being linked away from the Nou Camp.

According to , Roma are interested in bringing the full-back to Italy.

Jose Mourinho's side is keen to sell current right-back Rick Karsdorp and if they are able to offload him then the Spaniard is being looked at as an ideal replacement

Tears and jeers

Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli revealed how he sobbed at being called up for Brazil’s 2022 World Cup squad.

Martinelli said: “I'm very happy, it's one of the most important moments in my life and in my family's life as well - I'm buzzing. I'm so excited to go there and be part of this team.

“I cried a lot, I couldn't even talk and I was with my family and on the phone but I needed to turn the phone off and call them later because I couldn't even talk.

“I think it will be good for my career and to play in the World Cup will be amazing. I'm so excited to go there and I'm prepared for the challenge and and I hope we will win it”

Arteta on sickness bug

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta opened up on the sickness bug that hurt Granit Xhaka and four other players.

Arteta said: "He [Xhaka] wasn't feeling good, he was sick.

"He could not carry on. Unfortunately we have another four players with the same symptoms, so I don't know exactly what happened.

"There were a few players not feeling great. Obviously we could not make three or four substitutions during that period.

"The good thing was that under the context, playing every three days, away from home, we still manage to come here and play well and win the game"

Gunner be sick

Arsenal were ravaged with illness before their 2-0 victory against Wolves with a number of top stars suffering from a sickness bug.

Granit Xhaka and four others were not fully fit for the big Premier League match.

The Gunners' manager Mikel Arteta reverted to his strongest XI after their midweek EFL Cup exit to Brighton, but he was forced to bring Xhaka off after just 16 minutes.

The midfielder was not nursing an injury, but instead was hunched over

Redknapp's top Gun-ner

Jamie Redknapp has picked out Arsenal star Martin Odegaard for special praise - calling him "influential".

Redknapp said: "Odegaard’s had a great season.

"A lot of people talk about different players, if [William] Saliba gets injured what might happen to the team but I think you have to put him in that bracket as well.

"He’s such an influential player for the team the way he controls the game. [Gabriel] Jesus is having a bit of a moment, he’s playing well and doing a great job for the team but not got the goals.

"That’s when you need your midfield players, wide men, can they chip in and make the difference? So for him to get two goals is just so important for the team"