ARSENAL has been listed as one of the clubs that could secure the signing of Wilfried Zaha this summer once again.
It's suggested Marseille are balking at his wage demands and that could leave a string of Premier League clubs monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have been handed a boost in their hunt for Declan Rice, with West Ham eyeing his replacement.
Eintracht Frankfurt star Djibril Sow, 26, is on the shortlist if the Hammers captain Rice leaves this summer — with the Gunners favourites to land the England star.
And Arsenal new third has been leaked – though it has divided fans.
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- Emillia Hawkins
EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal could SHELVE Rice and Caicedo deals
Mikel Arteta is reconsidering Arsenal’s summer transfer strategy following this week’s painful defeat at Manchester City.
The club had been planning to make just two major signings and had allocated up to £150million to bid for central midfielders Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
But Arteta feels other areas of his squad also need strengthening.
And now they are exploring ways to finance moves for two more defenders and possibly another winger.
Arteta’s rethink comes after noting his team’s title challenge was undermined by centre-half William Saliba’s injury absence.
- Jack Figg
MORNING, GOONERS
Declan Rice and Granit Xhaka spearhead the transfer speculation on the Gunners' weekend off.
Talk of England midfielder Rice opting for the Emirates this summer in a possible £100million deal has soared.
That's partly because West Ham are again being linked with a potential replacement – Eintracht Frankfurt's Djibril Sow.
Meanwhile, it's claimed Mikel Arteta is ready for a bold clear-out this summer involving senior players as well as fringe men.
First-choice midfield workhorse Xhaka is the surprise name on the suggested list.
And Newcastle target Kieran Tierney – ousted by Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back – is another player whose future could be under threat.
As for transfer speculation over incomers, reports in France say the Gunners could come back in for Wilfried Zaha.
It's suggested Marseille are baulking at a free transfer swoop for the Crystal Palace attacker due to his wage demands.
Arsenal and Chelsea are said to be monitoring the situation.
- Ian Tuckey
Zaha speculation reignites
Wilfried Zaha is a summer target for Marseille, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Or that's the claim from reports in France as the winger nears a possible free transfer exit from Crystal Palace.
It's suggested Marseille are baulking at his wage demands.
And that could leave a string of Prem clubs monitoring the situation.
- Ian Tuckey
Hammers eye 'Rice replacement'
West Ham are looking at Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow as a potential replacement for Arsenal target Declan Rice.
Hammers head of recruitment Rob Newman is believed to have watched the Swiss international in last weekend’s Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund.
He also started all four of Switzerland’s games at the World Cup.
Sow is about to enter the final year of his contract and could be available for as little as £20million — especially as Frankfurt are set to miss out on European qualification.
Rice is reportedly top of an all-star target list for Arsenal ahead of this summer's transfer window, according to reports.
Arsenal are stepping up plans to revamp the squad after guaranteeing a spot in next season's Champions League.
- Ian Tuckey
Nev blasts senior Gunners
Gary Neville slammed FOUR Arsenal players for failing to “pull the team together” during their 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.
Speaking on The Overlap, he said: “I look at Martin Odegaard, fantastic professional. Oleksandr Zinchenko, great professional.
“But when you actually get to the highest pressurised moments in the biggest matches in the crux of the season, are they leaders then?
“Arsenal’s senior players, Partey, Zinchenko, Odegaard, in the most difficult period – when those younger players like Saka and Martinelli needed that guidance, Jesus needed telling to stop running around and just stand up front and be really disciplined in how you play – they didn’t impact the rest of their teammates on the pitch, I don’t believe.”
- Ian Tuckey
Granit future in doubt
Grant Xhaka could be on his way out of Arsenal this summer, according to reports.
And outcast defender Kieran Tierney is also said to be at risk of the chop.
SunSport revealed the Gunners are preparing a mass clearout at the Emirates this summer to fund their spending spree.
Now the Daily Mail state the Swiss midfielder and Scottish left-back are among those who could leave with Arsenal ready to listen to offers.
Xhaka, 30, joined the club in 2016 and has racked up 292 appearances – winning the fans back over again in recent years.
This season he has proved a key man in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI on the left on the midfield three.
- Ian Tuckey
The Art of recovery
Mikel Arteta admitted that Man City were the better team in their Premier League decider.
He said: “The analysis is clear: the better team won the game. They were probably at their best, especially in the first half, and we were nowhere near our level.
“When that happens, the gap becomes too big and in the first 30 minutes we didn’t do all the basic things that you have to do against an exceptional team, in terms of competing, winning duels and understanding what the game requires.
“We got punished and we could have been punished even more.”
- Ian Tuckey
Stelling quitting after 25 years
Jeff Stelling has announced he's stepping down as Soccer Saturday host – after a whopping 25 YEARS at the helm.
The 68-year-old's final broadcast – which will no doubt be watched by thousands of long-time fans of the show – will be on May 28.
An emotional Stelling announced his departure live on air and received rapturous applause from the pundits in the studio and the film crew behind the camera.
He said: "I've been at Sky for more than 30 years and loved every moment of my time as part of the Soccer Saturday team.
"It is now the right time to move on and give Sky Sports viewers a break from my relentless rants, bad gags and over-the-top celebrations of Hartlepool United goals.
"It's been a lot of fun – for me at least!"
Footie fans were quick to react to the news of Stelling's departure.
One tweeted: "Sad to see Jeff Stelling stepping down at Sky Sports.
"An absolute titan. Simply won’t be the same without him."
Another said: "Gutted Jeff Stelling is leaving Soccer Saturday. He was fantastic in it. End of an era."
- Ian Tuckey
The (new) kit hits the fan
Arsenal fans were left divided after an image of the club's potential new third kit was "leaked" online.
Several variations of Arsenal kits for the 2023-24 campaign have been shared online in recent weeks.
And many of the club's supporters are not happy with any of them.
A new image of a potential blue third shirt emerged on social media earlier this week.
One person tweeted: "Omggg it got even worse!" Another added: "So no good kits for next season." A third wrote: "Looking like 3 straight L's for Adidas next season."
While another claimed: "Not great but not as bad as I thought it was gonna be."
Other Arsenal fans appeared to love the new style and design.
One person took to Twitter to say: "Wonderful kit, will definitely buy it." Another chimed in: "Definitely getting this."
A third joked: "This is gorgeous." And another added: "Take my money already!"
- Ian Tuckey
Nev slams four Gunners
Gary Neville slammed FOUR Arsenal players for failing to "pull the team together" during their 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.
The Gunners were ripped apart on Wednesday evening as Pep Guardiola's men took a huge step towards the Premier League title.
The result leaves Man City just two points behind Arsenal with two games in hand.
And Neville feels the likes of Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka should have done more to arrest the situation at the Etihad.
Speaking on The Overlap, he said: "I look at Martin Odegaard, fantastic professional. Oleksandr Zinchenko, great professional. But when you actually get to the highest pressurised moments in the biggest matches in the crux of the season, are they leaders then?
"Arsenal’s senior players, Partey, Zinchenko, Odegaard, in the most difficult period – when those younger players like Saka and Martinelli needed that guidance.
"Jesus needed telling to stop running around and just stand up front and be really disciplined in how you play – they didn’t impact the rest of their team-mates on the pitch, I don’t believe."
"Xhaka at Anfield [referring to the incident with Trent Alexander-Arnold], Partey’s performances in the last few games, I think Zinchenko gave a goal away in one game as well – the Liverpool game and maybe West Ham as well – and Odegaard had probably his most difficult game as well against Manchester City.
"And then if you think of the huddle that Zinchenko did [against Southampton] and then Odegaard came over and said, 'Break up'.
"So those four players that are the leaders in that team have not been able – at the moment those younger players needed it – to really pull them together and keep them calm and composed. That to me has been apparent these last few weeks.
- Ian Tuckey
Xhaka and Tierney could exit in summer
Granit Xhaka could be on his way out of Arsenal this summer, according to reports.
And outcast defender Kieran Tierney is also said to be at risk of the chop.
SunSport revealed the Gunners are preparing a mass clearout at the Emirates this summer to fund their spending spree.
Now the Daily Mail state the Swiss midfielder and Scottish left-back are among those who could leave with Arsenal ready to listen to offers.
Xhaka, 30, joined the club in 2016 and has racked up 292 appearances – winning the fans back over again in recent years.
This season he has proved a key man in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI on the left on the midfield three.
- Jack Figg
Piers to that
Piers Morgan's feud with Lord Sugar has taken a surprising turn as the Apprentice star offered an "olive branch".
But not is all as it seems as Lord Sugar hid a thinly veiled jab at his former friend.
The pair have been loggerheads ever since the pandemic – with them both taking various swipes at each other.
Yesterday, Lord Sugar posed with a beer, asking Arsenal-supporting Piers to join him for a drink.
But the beer was called "misfiring gunners IPA" – in a dig at Arsenal's latest form in the title race.
"Hey Piersy, if you're passing by, pop in for a beer," said Lord Sugar.
Piers didn't take the mocking lying down and replied: "Love to, we can drink to Arsenal being top of the League and 21pts clear of Spurs. Cheers!"
Credit: Rex Features - Jack Figg
Are they four real?
Gary Neville slammed FOUR Arsenal players for failing to "pull the team together" during their 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.
Speaking on The Overlap, he said: "I look at Martin Odegaard, fantastic professional. Oleksandr Zinchenko, great professional.
"But when you actually get to the highest pressurised moments in the biggest matches in the crux of the season, are they leaders then?
"Arsenal’s senior players, Partey, Zinchenko, Odegaard, in the most difficult period – when those younger players like Saka and Martinelli needed that guidance, Jesus needed telling to stop running around and just stand up front and be really disciplined in how you play – they didn’t impact the rest of their teammates on the pitch, I don’t believe."
- Jack Figg
Work of Art
Mikel Arteta admitted that Man City were the better team in their Premier League decider.
He said: "The analysis is clear: the better team won the game. They were probably at their best, especially in the first half, and we were nowhere near our level.
"When that happens, the gap becomes too big and in the first 30 minutes we didn’t do all the basic things that you have to do against an exceptional team, in terms of competing, winning duels and understanding what the game requires.
"We got punished and we could have been punished even more."
Credit: Getty - Jack Figg
Royal move
The Premier League have asked clubs to play the national anthem on the weekend of the King's coronation.
The ten games in matchweek 35 have been scheduled to avoid clashing with next Saturday's ceremony.
And in a gesture of support for the new monarch, the Daily Mail report the Premier League contacted the ten home teams to strongly suggest a series of moves to mark the occasion.
That includes playing God Save The King as players stand around the centre circle.
Clubs are also being encouraged to display the official portrait of the King and The Queen Consort and the Coronation Logo on the big screens and on social media and an article in the matchday programmes.
It is said the majority of the home clubs have agreed to play the song.
However, some fans have been known to boo the anthem in the past.
And it could put clubs in a difficult position as they would likely face criticism if they did not play it or if it was met with jeers inside the stadium.
- Jack Figg
Flop Gun
Gary Neville claims he knew that Arsenal would get "battered" by Manchester City before the game had even kicked off.
The Gunners suffered a 4-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday.
Speaking on The Overlap, the former Man Utd defender said: "I think coming to Manchester City in a game like this, I think it warranted potentially looking at the game differently.
"If you're conceding goals against Southampton, Bournemouth, and West Ham, you're definitely going to concede goals against Manchester City.
"We have a group don't we [with Jamie Carragher], a group chat and honestly I saw them in the tunnel and I said: 'Arsenal are going to have to do very well here not to concede four.
"Literally in the tunnel, you just thought, they're going to get absolutely battered, I didn't think that really a week ago or a few days ago, I thought it would be tight."
- Jack Figg
Tough daddy
Jermaine Jenas used a bizarre analogy to explain Arsenal’s title-crushing defeat at Manchester City.
That’s by claiming the manner of the loss was like “fighting my dad.”
Many summed up the match as “men vs boys.”
But Jenas found another novel way of describing Arsenal’s performance.
The ex-Spurs star and TV pundit told BT Sport: “I think the manner of the game said a lot to me as well.
“It was a bit like, you know when you’re a young teenager and you get to that age where you get a bit of bum fluff on your chin and you think ‘you know what, I could fight my dad here’.
“Or you could fight your older brother, then they’ve got you in a headlock and you realise very quickly you can’t fight them anymore. It was a bit like that."
- Jack Figg
Art dealership
Mikel Arteta is reconsidering Arsenal’s summer transfer strategy following this week’s painful defeat at Manchester City.
The club had been planning to make just two major signings and had allocated up to £150million to bid for central midfielders Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
But Arteta feels other areas of his squad also need strengthening.
And now they are exploring ways to finance moves for two more defenders and possibly another winger.
Credit: Reuters - Jack Figg
Gran
Grant Xhaka could be on his way out of Arsenal this summer, according to reports.
And outcast defender Kieran Tierney is also said to be at risk of the chop.
SunSport revealed the Gunners are preparing a mass clearout at the Emirates this summer to fund their spending spree.
Now the Daily Mail state the Swiss midfielder and Scottish left-back are among those who could leave with Arsenal ready to listen to offers.
Xhaka, 30, joined the club in 2016 and has racked up 292 appearances – winning the fans back over again in recent years.
This season he has proved a key man in Mikel Arteta's starting XI on the left on the midfield three.
Credit: Getty - Jack Figg
MORNING, GOONERS
The Gunners have reportedly held talks with next Tuesday's opponents Arsenal over signing Mason Mount.
It comes amid suggestions Mikel Arteta will chase at least three major summer signings.
That follows Wednesday's 4-1 humbling at Manchester City that confirmed to many that table-topping Arsenal still lack title quality.
City will go top by a point – plus still have a game in hand – if they win at Fulham tomorrow.
It's claimed the Gunners have held discussions with Chelsea over a possible summer swoop for England midfielder Mount.
And as Declan Rice remains Arsenal's top target it suggests an exciting few months of transfer gossip for fans.
Meanwhile, keeper Aaron Ramsdale insists the Gunners can still claim the top-flight crown
He said: “With five games left we need to win five games – and see how that ends.”
Finally, Rangers will reportedly fend off the Gunners, Spurs and Newcastle to keep whizkids Jack Wyllie and Calum Adamson.
- Ian Tuckey
'Title race over but don't scapegoat Holding
EXCLUSIVE: Unfortunately for Arsenal, their game against Manchester City looked like men versus boys, writes TROY DEENEY.
As a result, Mikel Arteta’s dream of lifting the Premier League title is done.
That result has shown me that City are just on another level in every department, as they are to a lot of teams in this country.
Rodri showed Thomas Partey there is another level. Erling Haaland showed that to Gabriel Jesus. Kyle Walker showed Gabriel Martinelli.
Kevin De Bruyne stepped up and made that game look easy. Jack Grealish grew into it. The higher the stakes, those bigger players say, ‘Let’s have a bit of this’. Arsenal didn’t have that.
Their squad depth right now is vulnerable. They need three or four players over the summer to be in a position to compete on all fronts. Arsenal tried to press, which was actually very good, and nick it high up.
But then City just clipped it into Haaland and he was so strong and powerful.
I felt sorry for Rob Holding. He got the short end of the stick, even though Gabriel got bullied just as badly.
Is it because Rob is English so we have to give him a bit more?
Ben White was also poor. Oleksandr Zinchenko was awful. So, the abuse of Rob was strange, and he even ended up scoring.
READ TROY'S FULL VERDICT HERE
- Ian Tuckey
Arteta only needs new centre-back, midfielder & striker!
Ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith says the Gunners need a new backbone – a centre-back, midfielder and striker in the summer transfer window.
Mikel Arteta’s Prem leaders are now just two points clear of Manchester City, who have two games in hand, following their 4-1 Etihad outclassing of Arsenal last night.
West Ham skipper Declan Rice is expected to be Arteta’s priority target.
And Smith told Sky Sports: “I think you’re probably looking through the heart of the team, through the centre.
“We’ve obviously seen how they’ve suffered without Wiliam Saliba and the drop-off was quite drastic really, no manager would want to see that so they miss the Frenchman.
“Thomas Partey has been a bit in and out this season, when Xhaka didn’t play they missed him certainly.
“There’s been a lot of attention on Arsenal’s central midfield, possibly Declan Rice coming. That’s going to be a saga in the summer. Where’s the West Ham midfielder going to end up, it looks like he’s going to leave the Hammers.
‘Possibly another forward to compete with Jesus, they’ve got Eddie Nketiah but I think the centre-half and the central midfielder that will start games.
“[Jakub] Kiwior, the defender who came in in January, could develop into a very good player so that might be a bit premature because they bought one in Kiwior but Mikel Arteta didn’t feel he was ready yet and Rob Holding got the shout.”
- Ian Tuckey
Chelsea hold 'Mason talks with Arsenal'
Chelsea have held “exploratory talks” over the potential sale of Mason Mount to Arsenal, according to The Telegraph.
They report Arsenal opened discussions as they look to pack out their squad with quality ahead of a Champions League campaign next season.
Mount recently took to Instagram to post a positive update following “minor surgery” which is set to keep him out for a few weeks.
- Ian Tuckey
Red Devils to face Gunners in summer friendly
The Red Devils confirmed this afternoon that they will take on Arsenal in New York this summer in a pre-season friendly.
It is the third game of pre-season to be announced by the club.
The game will take place on July 22 at MetLife Stadium, and is the first fixture on the tour of the USA.
Erik ten Hag and Co will then take on Wrexham in San Diego on July 25, and Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas on July 30.
There is still one more tour fixture to be announced.
- Ian Tuckey
Gunner miss out on whizkids
Rangers have reportedly beat Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle to the singings of Jack Wyllie and Calum Adamson.
According to the Daily Record, the pair will sign two-year-long professional contracts starting in the summer with the Scottish giants after making the step up from the Ibrox academy.
The report suggests North London duo Arsenal and Spurs both made approaches to sign Wyllie.
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