Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Mbappe ‘willing to join Gunners’, Chelsea ‘in battle for Williams’, Neto updates
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KYLIAN MBAPPE is reportedly “willing” to sign for Arsenal in a blockbuster move so he can follow in the footsteps of his hero Thierry Henry.
Elsewhere, the Gunners are reportedly eyeing up a summer move for Wolves winger Pedro Neto.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams ahead of a potential summer transfer.
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Gunners 'open to selling Kai'
Arsenal will reportedly consider selling £65million summer signing Kai Havertz at the end of the season.
Spanish outlet Fichajes suggest the Gunners are “running out of patience” as the former Chelsea attacker struggles to tie down a specific role in the team.
The 42-cap German, 24, has notched five goals from 33 matches this term.
And publicly, Emirates boss Mikel Arteta is strongly supportive of the ex-Bayer Leverkusen star's impact.
Arteta said: “His confidence is growing and he feels more secure on that field.
"Overall, though, taking that apart, the performances that he shows on the pitch and his aggression, is top. (They are) really good.”
'Branthwaite is United's TOP target'
Arsenal are reportedly interested in Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been rated as Manchester United's main summer target.
claim United want the centre-back, 21, as Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans will be out of contract at the end of the season.
Chelsea and Real Madrid have also been linked with the 6ft 5ins England Under-21 star.
Meanwhile, Victor Lindelof's future at Old Trafford could also be in doubt in the summer, despite the Swede signing a 12-month extension.
Harry hails Saka and 'world class Rice'
Harry Redknapp praised Declan Rice for his "world class" display and "subdued celebrations" after scoring an "absolute screamer" against this old club.
Rice and England team-mate Bukayo Saka made former Tottenham chief Redknapp's Prem team of the week following Sunday's 6-0 demolition of West Ham.
Ex-Hammers player and manager Redknapp admitted it was a "hard watch" for him personally.
But he told : "I have to include Declan Rice in my team this week. What a performance against his old club.
He was booed by the West Ham fans but he showed his professionalism, remaining focused on the game and putting in a world-class performance.
He showed his class with his subdued celebration after he scored an absolute screamer. What a strike!
And Redknapp said of winger Saka: "The lad just keeps on coming up with the goods.
"Another two goals for him after he ran rings around the opposition. He took his penalty with confidence and topped it off with a sublime second."
Utd and Arsenal in Neto boost
Wolves could listen to summer offers for Manchester United and Arsenal target Pedro Neto.
Molineux boss Gary O'Neil might have to sell an A-lister to fund his own transfer plans.
Credit: Rex And Portuguese wideman Neto is rated the main contender - with this Saturday's Prem opponents Tottenham also thought to be keen.
O'Neil reportedly wants a new striker, centre-half and winger - but has to do so within strict Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Liverpool are among the many Prem giants previously linked with Neto, 23.
'Bukayo needs a rest'
Arsenal have been urged to give Bukayo Saka a break.
The England winger has been a driving force in the Gunners' revival back up to third in the Premier League.
But Rio Ferdinand believes, aged just 22, Sako should still be managed carefully.
The ex-Manchester United defender and TNT Sports pundit said: "I think Saka’s been unreal.
"I actually think he needs a bit of a rest, so many games for a young kid."
Big Ben moment coming soon
Versatile Gunners' defender Ben White is finally tipped to tie up a new contract.
Arsenal have been keen to retain the England ace and Japan full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu to lengthy deals.
And The Telegraph believe White could be first on the dotted line as negotiations are at an "advanced" stage.
Blue cards even for keepers
Even goalkeepers will face 10 minutes in the sin-bin if blue cards are trialled next season.
Last week it was reported that football lawmakers want to introduce sin bins to the game in a major disciplinary change.
And claim that keepers will not be immune of the new rule.
That means managers will be forced to choose between putting an outfield player in goal or making a substitution.
'Strange' of Rice not to celebrate - Seaman
Legendary Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman told he found it "strange" that Rice did not celebrate his brilliant goal against West Ham.
The former England stopper said: "What a goal it was not to celebrate! To see him not celebrate was strange for me, because it was just such a good goal and the icing on the cake on an incredible day for him and the club.
“It was a brilliant performance from Arsenal. I actually did an Arsenal VIP tour on the day and as I was going around as the first half had just started, so everybody had got it on their phone. Every table that I went to, all the fans that had come were all saying, ‘it's one nil, oh, it's two, it's three, it’s four.’ It was great!
"I was so happy for Declan because he was getting a lot of stick from West Ham fans. He got a lot of stick at the Emirates recently when they beat Arsenal, so I was so happy for him for turning it around on Sunday.”
Credit: Getty Arteta praises Trossard and Havertz
Mikel Arteta has praised the way Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz linked up against West Ham.
The manager said: "It’s something very different & the way I had the game in my head & the spaces & behaviours that they have, how we could hurt them the most with Leo & Kai in those positions & then we saw that in the executions - credit to them, they did really, really well.”
Credit: Rex
Smith Rowe picks up ankle injury
Emile Smith Rowe has picked up an ankle injury in training.
According to The Times, he suffered the ankle injury trying to leap over a slide tackle in training on Thursday.
He landed awkwardly & suffered some bruising & swelling.
The player was keen to try & play through the pain, but Arsenal decided not to take any risks.
Big Arsenal representation
Arsenal had four stars named in Alan Shearer's Premier League team of the week.
Arsenal quartet Ben White, William Saliba, Declan Rice & Bukayo Saka were all named in the XI.
And Mikel Arteta was named as manager.
Mbappe's Madrid move up in the air
Kylian Mbappe's move to Real Madrid is growing increasingly uncertain, according to reports.
Reports have recently suggested Mbappe, 25, has agreed a deal with Real Madrid for next season.
However, PSG are doing everything they can to keep their main man.
The Ligue 1 giants are hoping to tie Mbappe down with a new deal as they are not convinced Los Blancos' offer will steal their superstar, The Athletic claims.
It is believed Madrid's proposal was lower than what they put on the table back in May 2022 for the striker with Mbappe still sitting on the fence about the move.
The forward has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal among the names mentioned.
Credit: Rex Arsenal's record
Arsenal have more goals from set-pieces than any other team this season.
And that's without counting penalties.
The Gunners have scored a whopping 16 set-piece goals this season, the majority coming from corners.
They have also scored all seven of the penalties they have been given this season.
Arsenal in advanced talks for Ben White contract
Arsenal are in advanced talks to extend Ben White's contract.
The versatile defender has featured in 33 matches for the Gunners this season.
According to The Telegraph, talks are now advanced and close to being signed.
Credit: Getty Players wanted Nwaneri sub
Mikel Arteta has revealed that several of his players asked him to bring on 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri during their 6-0 win over West Ham.
Nwaneri was handed his second Premier League appearance off the bench at the London Stadium.
When asked about his performance after the match, Arteta explained: "There is something you have to earn in your team and that’s the trust of your team-mates.
"I had two things. One the players on the bench whispering ‘bring Ethan in’ which is a great thing to hear. The second thing is for your team-mates to give you the ball all the time.
"If they do that, it’s because they really trust you and you only have to see how many times he was involved to see that. It’s a great sign."
Arsenal fans love Jorginho's latest gesture
Arsenal fans are convinced that Jorginho will be a manager one day after his gesture from the bench during Arsenal's 6-0 victory.
That comes after it appeared that Jorginho got in the ear of Mikel Arteta and told him to bring on youngster Ethan Nwaneri with the game sewn up.
Nwaneri came on for 13 minutes at the end of the game .
The Italian has been a fan of Nwaneri for some time after gaining his UEFA B coaching license while working with Arsenal's Under-14s a few years ago.
And Aaron Ramsdale appeared to confirm the ex-Chelsea star was the one pushing for 16-year-old to be given another opportunity as he wrote on social media: "Get Ethan on @jorginhofrello."
Fans believe Jorginho is future manager, with one saying: "We have to keep him as a coach when he’s done playing."
Ferdinand - Saka is not world class
TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand has claimed Bukayo Saka is not a world class player.
That's despite Saka becoming the youngest player in more than 40 years to reach 50 goals for Arsenal.
Ferdinand said: "[On whether Saka is world class]Not yet. Listen, I think Saka's been unreal. I actually think he needs a bit of a rest, so many games for a young kid.
"But I think, it's almost like what is world-class? He hasn't done it in the Champions League, has he? I'm talking in the nitty-gritty stages.
"Saka's top, don't get me wrong. He's not world-class yet."
Saka surpasses 25 goal contributions
Bukayo Saka has 26 goal contributions in 31 games in all competitions this season.
The winger has emphatically answered his critics after what some said was a slow start to the season.
The winger added two more goals to the tally in Arsenal's 6-0 rout of West Ham.
Arsenal legend's birthday
Arsenal legend Liam Brady turns 68 today.
Brady was the talisman of Arsenal in the 1970s and led his team to an FA Cup before leaving for Juventus.
He then went on to become the club's academy manager, bringing through the likes of Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshere and Cesc Fabregas.
Mourinho on celebration police
Legendary manager Jose Mourinho has had his say on Arsenal's celebration police.
Mikel Arteta and his team were roundly criticised by pundits including Jamie Carragher after defeating Liverpool 3-1 a fortnight ago.
Mourinho took to Instagram to settle the debate around Arsenal’s celebrations once and for all.
Posting a compilation of some of his wildest party moments during matches, the Special One quoted his favourite catchphrase in a caption: “What do I think of managers’ celebrations after a victory?
“’I prefer not to speak’.”
Arsenal to win the league?
Arsenal will win the league this season, according to the predictions of a supercomputer.
The algorithm took into account Arsenal's latest 6-0 victory over West Ham and now has Arsenal as favourites for the title.
It has Arsenal winning the Prem on goal difference ahead of Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta warning
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta fired a warning to the team's Premier League title rivals after hitting West Ham for six.
We are maintaining and building some momentum now. Performances have been strong as well as results in recent weeks.
We need to maintain that because other teams are doing that as well. We are not the only ones. We need to recognise that so now on to Burnley.
We know the standards that we are facing. It’s what we have to do at this level if we want to be successful. What I smell is a team that wants to be better and better.
The way they trained this week they are totally focused after Liverpool saying now it’s a big test and now we have to go to another level to best West Ham. We’ve done that against West Ham.
The way we performed, the way we played. Such a big score in a really difficult place tells you a lot about how well the boys played today.
Mikel Arteta
Credit: Alamy Bukayo Saka's frustration
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka was gutted he didn't net a hat-trick against West Ham.
We were 4-0 up in the first half and I think we could've scored many more, including myself, but we still smelt blood and went for the kill.
We're happy. To be honest, I'm really happy to achieve that [50 goals], but not sure I can be happy today.
I missed some chances that I thought I could've scored. But obviously it's a great achievement, so I'm proud of that.
Bukayo SakaA captain's assessment
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard praised his team-mates' ruthlessness in front of goal against West Ham.
It was a really good game and strong performance. I think coming from a big game, a big win, and to come here and back it up with this performance is a brilliant sign.
During the game as well, we just wanted it more and more and I really liked the performance and the mentality of the team.
We always want to improve, we always want more. I think we showed that today during the game as well.
When you go three or four nil up, it's easy to drop a little bit, but we just kept on going and wanted more. That's why I really liked today.
Martin OdegaardRoy Keane on celebration police
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has defended Arsenal after they were accused of over-celebrating against Liverpool.
It happens but you can't get carried away, but that's the nature of the best.
Teams get excited and get giddy, we see it every week now. Obviously we saw Arsenal get criticised last week, but we see teams every week now [celebrate] when they get a big result.
Yes, celebrate and get photographs, but as we know, there's a long way to go in that league challenge and you can't get too carried away.
We know what football does to you, it kicks you in the teeth.
Roy Keane
