Arsenal legend Martin Keown has said that there were some positives for the Gunners during their recent derby defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Gunners went into the game in good form with 10 points accumulated from the previous four games but they failed to continue the momentum with a victory.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that he is unsure whether the club will extend the contract of David Luiz. The Brazil international’s current deal expires at the end of the month and so far, the hierarchy have not decided on a suitable extension. The north London side have until June 23 to renew the defender’s contract until the end of the campaign and Arteta is hopeful over the extension.
AS Roma manager Paulo Fonseca has said that he is keen on securing the permanent signature of Arsenal forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenia international joined the Serie A club on a season-long loan at the beginning of the season and he has since impressed with six goals and four assists from 20 appearances.
Arsenal favourite Ray Parlour has said that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cannot be regarded as a Premier League great, given he has not spent an extended period of time in the division. The Gabon international recently bagged his 48th and 49th Premier League goals of his Arsenal career and he is on course to become the fastest player in the club’s history to reach the 50-goal mark.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery has said that he has not shut the door for Mesut Ozil to make a comeback to the Gunners first-team. The German attacker has experienced a tough beginning to the current campaign and he has been restricted to just two appearances for the north London giants across all competitions.
Speaking in a press conference, Emery said that he has not closed the possibility of Ozil playing for the first-team. The Spanish tactician added that the midfielder has been working hard in training and he could feature for the Gunners during the forthcoming round of matches, he told reporters: “I didn’t close the possibility of playing for him because I think and I want, if he’s okay, him to be ready and available, training with us and giving a good feeling to us in training every day. He can play, my idea is to use every player and he’s one of the squad who can help us. He has big skills and quality we will need in the next matches. I’m happy now how he is improving, how he is training every day.”
Arsenal’s record signing Nicolas Pepe has acknowledged that his form has not been great for the Gunners but he is hopeful of proving his worth. The Ivory Coast international joined the north London side on a club-record deal amid much fanfare during the summer but he has since to impress and has managed just one goal through the penalty spot.
Speaking to RAC Sport1, Pepe admitted that he has not been performing good enough for the Gunners. He added that he is not worried by the situation and is hopeful of redeeming himself once he is able to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, he told: “My stats have not been good enough or my usual performances, it is not the same as Lille or the Liverpool game earlier in the season. My confidence must come back. I am not very worried. People may be worried about my statistics but I am not. I have to keep working as the level here is different so is the language. It is a new league for me and I must adapt quickly. But it won’t take very long.”
Arsenal have confirmed the departure of Laurent Koscielny to Bordeaux this summer. The 33-year-old had made the intention clear to leave the club after refusing to travel with the first-team squad for the pre-season tour of the United States and the Gunners have now sanctioned his departure after agreeing on a package of around £4.6m with the French outfit.
“Laurent Koscielny is leaving us to join Ligue 1 side Bordeaux. The centre back has made 353 appearances for us since signing from Lorient in 2010. He was part of our Emirates FA Cup-winning squads in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Laurent, who started his career in the French second division at Guingamp in 2004, has played 51 matches for France and was entering the final year of his current contract with us. We decided to sanction his move to Bordeaux once we agreed acceptable transfer terms. We thank Laurent for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best for the future,” a statement read on the club’s official website.
Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi has said that Manchester City are the favourites to secure the Premier League title for the third-straight season next term. The Citizens had a tough challenge last season as they scrapped through to the title by the single point over Liverpool and they now have the opportunity to secure a hat-trick of Premier League crowns.
Speaking to reporters, Iwobi said that the Reds could offer strong competition to the Citizens once more but the latter should dominate the proceedings with the experience of getting over the line in the Premier League title race, he told: "Everyone thought that last season, but Liverpool give them a tough challenge as well.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has urged for patience from the club’s supporters as he looks to transform the side into one of the world’s best. The north London giants have recently stumbled in their top-four pursuit with back-to-back losses against Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers and they are now dependent on Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea dropping points for them to make the top four.
Speaking in a press conference, Emery highlighted that he has the ambition of helping the Gunners to return to their glory days but that will be a long-term process with the elite teams around them, he said: “We want to get with this club to point where we the best club in England and the world. But it is a long process. Sometimes, like today, we need to talk about patience. We want to play in the Champions League but also we know our process needs to be with patience because there are another five very strong teams with very good players and very big performances.”
ESPN pundit Steve Nicol does not believe Arsenal will part ways with either Mesut Ozil or Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the end of the season. The north London side have experienced a mixed set of fortunes across all competitions but they still have a good chance of making the Champions League next term.
Speaking to ESPN, Nicol highlighted that the Gunners would prefer sanctioning the sale of Ozil in the summer but the same won’t happen, considering the hefty £350,000-a-week wages he is currently on, he said: “I’m sure they’d love to [sell Ozil] but it’s not going to happen for that very reason [his wages]. Plus you add the fact that he’s not a regular starter. “So no, he goes nowhere, that’s a miss.”