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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Wenger at Afcon
Legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was spotted at the Afcon final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast.
The Frenchman had a rich history of bringing African players to the fore at Arsenal and his previous club Monaco.
Mourinho's verdict on celebrations
Jose Mourinho has piled into the debate surrounding Arsenal’s celebrations following their win over Liverpool.
The three-time Premier League winner was never one to shy away from toasting victory on the pitch.
He even ran the full length of the Old Trafford pitch after his Porto side dumped Man Utd out of the Champions League in 2004 en route to winning the competition.
And 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’.”
'Bring Ethan on'
Ethan Nwaneri came on as a 77th minute substitute in Arsenal's 6-0 win away at the Hammers.
And manager Mikel Arteta revealed the players were behind the decision to allow him some minutes.
“There is something that you have to earn in your team and that is the trust of your team-mates," Arteta said.
“I had two things. One, the players on the bench whispering ‘bring Ethan in!’, which is a great thing to hear. The other 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 in that. So it’s a great sign.”
Gabriel's words
Arsenal star Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes already knew what they wanted to do before their third goal against West Ham.
The Gunners destroyed the Hammers 6-0 at the London Stadium to put their Premier League title bid into full gear.
Gabriel practically sealed the three points in the 44th minute following centre-back partner William Saliba's opener and Bukayo Saka's penalty kick.
Eagle-eyed Arsenal fans noticed Gabriel and Rice having a secret chat after the visitors got a free-kick from a promising position down the left.
That led to a wonderful combination between the defender and the former West Ham superstar.
Rice delivered a pinpoint cross which met Gabriel who put the ball past the hosts' goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Odegaard's assessment
Martin Odegaard praised Arsenal's ruthlessness in front of goal in their 6-0 mauling of West Ham.
“It was a really good game and strong performance,” Martin said on Arsenal's official website.
“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.”
Arteta purring on Arsenal's form
Mikel Arteta fired a warning to Arsenal's title rivals after hitting West Ham for six.
He said: "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."
Amazing Odegaard stat
Take a bow, Martin Odegaard.
Rice refuses to celebrate
Declan Rice refused to celebrate after scoring against West Ham.
The Arsenal midfielder grabbed his side’s sixth goal with a screamer at the London Stadium on Sunday.
The midfielder lashed the ball first time past Alphonse Areola and into the top corner.
He immediately held his hands up, almost apologetically, and refused to celebrate against his former club.
Player ratings v West Ham
Arsenal were irresistible against West Ham.
Here's how SunSport's Isabelle Barker rated them - with Bukayo Saka leading the charge.
FT: West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
Arsenal triumph and West Ham's demolition at the London Stadium is complete.
The Gunners destroyed their London rivals thanks to a brace by Bukayo Saka and goals by William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard and former Hammers superstar Declan Rice.
A vast number of the home crowd has left the ground since half-time when David Moyes' side was already 4-0 down.
Follow all the live reaction HERE
Word from the ground
Things are looking bleak here at the London Stadium with Arsenal fans waving hordes of West Ham fans to the nearest exits.
Cameras panned to David Moyes' ice-cold stare on the touchline against a backdrop of countless empty seats after Bukayo Saka made it 5-0.
There haven't been any chants aimed at the Hammers boss himself but the fans were serenaded to a chant of "there's nobody here, there's nobody here".
To make matters worse Declan Rice hit an absolute screamer just moments later for 6-0 but chose not to celebrate and only tapped the Arsenal badge instead - prompting more fans out the door.
West Ham fans would be better off leaving at full-time today to avoid the crowds.
Follow all the live action HERE
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
It keeps getting worse for West Ham, but also so much better for Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka completed a brace on 63 minutes and Declan Rice scored against his former club just two minutes later.
The Gunners are now just two points away from Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Follow all the live action HERE
West Ham fans leave
West Ham fans poured out of the London Stadium before half-time after going 4-0 down to Arsenal.
The Hammers collapsed after going 1-0 down via William Saliba's 32nd minute header, a bonkers 15-minute capitulation followed leaving fans shell-shocked.
Bukayo Saka dusted himself down to convert a 41st-minute spot-kick, having been brought down by Alphonse Areola after running on to a through-ball.
Gabriel Magalhaes then nodded home West Ham's old-boy Declan Rice's free-kick on 44 minutes.
And Leandro Trossard bagged Arsenal's fourth two minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Follow all the live action HERE
Half Time - West Ham 0-4 Arsenal
The Gunners are running riot!
Credit: Reuters Full Time - Arsenal Women 0-1 Man City
The Gunners crash out of the FA Cup.
Credit: Reuters
Kick Off - West Ham vs Arsenal
The London Derby is underway!
Credit: AFP Arsenal face injury crisis
Mikel Arteta has opened up on Arsenal's injury struggles ahead of their clash with West Ham today.
The Gunners are missing a number of first team players for the London derby.
Arteta gives injury update
The Arsenal boss said: "Alex is not fit, Jorgi hasn't trained almost all week as he's been carrying an issue and it took him a while to recover on top of that.
"Gabi [Jesus] is not available in the squad and Emile turned his ankle in training so he's not fit to play."
West Ham line-up vs Arsenal
Here is how the Hammers line up...
Arsenal substitutes vs West Ham
Aaron Ramsdale, Cedric Soares, Reuell Walters, Mauro Bandeira, Mohamed Elneny, Jorginho, Reiss Nelson, Ethan Nwaneri, Eddie Nketiah.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey are NOT in the squad.
Arsenal line-up to face West Ham
David Raya starts in goal with Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jakub Kiwior in defence.
Kai Havertz joins Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield.
Leandro Trossard leads the line alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.
Kick Off - Arsenal Women vs Man City
The Gunners are underway in the Women's FA Cup!
Credit: PA Arteta fast-tracks 'jewel' of academy
Mikel Arteta has fast-tracked Amario Cozier-Duberry into the senior squad ahead of Arsenal’s game with West Ham.
Cozier-Duberry, 18, has been hailed as the “jewel of Arsenal’s academy”.
And some even reckon he’s the “next Bukayo Saka” after shining for the Gunners’ youth sides.
But Cozier-Duberry could be on course for his senior bow after he was spotted training with Arsenal’s first team this week.
Mikel Arteta is keen to keep his side’s title run going following an impressive win over top-of-the-table Liverpool.
And Cozier-Duberry could be in line for a nod after grabbing seven goals and two assists under Arsenal youth boss Jack Wilshere.
Credit: Getty Set the Tone
Brentford striker Ivan Toney joked Thomas Frank "doesn't want him" amid transfer speculation after the club's 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the Gtech Community Stadium in recent months.
Chelsea are understood to be interested in signing him, while Arsenal have also been linked with the £80million striker.
Earlier this week, Bees boss Frank admitted that Toney will "likely" be sold this summer.
Toney was asked about the manager's comments after Brentford's 2-0 win over Wolves.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he responded: "I see that as he doesn't want me! The manager has said what he's said but I can't make clubs come and get me.
"I've just got to keep doing what I do and that's score goals. What will be will be."
Credit: Getty Follow our Arsenal WhatsApp channel
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