10am Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Eriksen for Xhaka swap deal, Szoboszlai deal BOOST, Moller impresses in training – The Sun
ARSENAL resume their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a tough trip to face Leeds United.
Off the field, the Gunners are reportedly eyeing up a shock January swap deal for Christian Eriksen while new signing Nikolaj Moller is excelling in training.
Follow all the latest Arsenal transfer gossip below…
- Joe Miles
ART ATTACK
Willian has also predicted that Mikel Arteta will be considered one of the best managers in the world.
He told FourFourTwo: “He'll be a top manager, I've no doubt about it.
“The potential is there, as is the ambition.
“In a few years he'll be considered one of the best managers in the Premier League – and the world.”
- Joe Miles
WILL I NEVER
Willian has revealed why he did not join Barcelona before signing for Arsenal this summer.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, the ex-Chelsea star claimed the Spanish side did not put an offer in for him.
The 32-year-old said: “There are always rumours, but I didn't know about any other official offer.
“Indeed, there was a lot of talk about Barcelona for the past few seasons, but I wouldn't have gone there just because they're Barca.
“I wouldn't go to any club without hearing about their targets and what they wanted from me.”
- Joe Miles
NUN BUT YOU
Leicester City are set to battle it out with Manchester United and Arsenal for Sporting Lisbon's Nuno Mendes, according to reports.
The 18-year-old left-back has earned plenty of plaudits since breaking into the Sporting first team after lockdown.
He is now the first-choice left-back for Ruben Amorim – starting all nine matches this season and helping unbeaten Sporting to the top of the league.
And according to the Daily Mail, Premier League table-toppers Leicester are considering making an approach to sign Mendes.
- Joshua Jones
GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno has rushed to Mesut Ozil's defence and insisted he 'is still part of the team' despite the midfielder's exile.
The creative midfielder has been left out of the Premier League squad and hasn't played for the club since March but Leno said he's handling the situation well and is 'absolutely loyal'.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Elneny is one of 16 Premier League players who has tested positive for Covid-19 during the international break.
He will likely have to isolate and miss Arsenal's next Premier League game – a trip to Leeds.
And Eddie Nketiah fired two goals as England Under-21s beat Albania 5-0.
- Kiro Evans
HAPPY MAN
Great night for two-goal scorer Eddie Nketiah:
- Kiro Evans
LEVA STAYER
Levante keeper Aitor Fernandez claims Arsenal wanted him as Emi Martinez's replacement.
Instead Alex Runarsson arrived at the Emirates as Bernd Leno's understudy, despite Fernandez insisting the Gunners and Athletic Bilbao showed summer interest in him.
And Spaniard Fernandez claimed he was happy to remain with his unfashionable La Liga side after being a key man in keeping them up.
He told AS: “The club transmitted calm and I wanted to stay.
“We looked at the fact I'd got the affection of the fans.
“It's true there was contact with Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal.
“Quite a lot of clubs have asked and it's true those two did ask. I feel I have lots of support at Levante.”
- Kiro Evans
STEADY EDDIE 2
It turned into a great night for Eddie Nketiah who bagged two goals in a 5-0 rout of Albania.
The Under-21 side shone with quality all night, and Nketiah's second was another great goal.
He cut in from the left and bent a ball into the bottom corner beyond the keeper's grasp.
All in all, an encouraging and impressive night for the Arsenal star.
- Kiro Evans
STEADY EDDIE
Good news, Arsenal fans – Eddie Nketiah has got in on the scoring act for England's Under-21s.
He makes it 4-0 for the youth side against Albania with a really well-taken goal.
The 21-year-old has to juggle the ball on his toes around the penalty spot to evade defenders before he eventually knocks it past the keeper's feet.
- Kiro Evans
A REAL BATTLE
Arsenal reportedly have a surprise new opponent in their bid to land long-term target Dominik Szoboszlai – Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants became alerted to the 20-year-old's talent while scouting Erling Haaland while the pair played together for Red Bull Salzburg, according to AS.
Madrid are now interested in both outstanding players and could cause some problems for Arsenal who were hoping to bring in winger Szoboszlai in January.
- Kiro Evans
HEIR WE GO
Arsenal have reportedly not offered a contract to Dennis Bergkamp’s son Mitchel.
The Dutch midfielder, 22, had been training with Steve Bould’s U23s after being handed a trial last month.
But Goal claims Bergkamp Jr has not been kept on by the Gunners, despite his dad being one of their most iconic players.
Mitchel was hoping for a shot with Arsenal after leaving Dutch second-division side Almere on a free transfer.
- Kiro Evans
NO BERND BRIDGES
Bernd Leno has Mesut Ozil insisted is 'still a part of this team' despite his prolonged exile from Arsenal's first team.
The creative midfielder has been left out the Premier League squad and hasn't played for the club since June, but Leno says he's handling the situation well.
- Kiro Evans
MO PROBLEM
Covid-struck Mo Salah has thanked people for their support and promised to rally back after his spell out in quarantine.
The Liverpool star caught the virus during the international break and adds to a list of Reds' absentees as the Premier League inches towards a return.
- Kiro Evans
TEST OF WILL
Willian will have to return a negative Covid test before being allowed to train with Arsenal after a trip to Dubai, reports say.
The Telegraph claim the Gunners were today trying to establish the full facts of Willian’s outing, which came as a surprise to the club and was only realised after a picture of himself with a restaurant owner arrived on social media.
The restaurateur, known widely as 'salt bae', put the pic on his Instagram on Monday night of the two of them.
The UK’s latest travel guidance during lockdown says that international travel from England is restricted 'except in limited circumstances such as work or education'.
- Kiro Evans
OFFICIAL SOURCES
World-class playmaker turned social media influencer Mesut Ozil says London is red, as he becomes the latest person to get involved in this annoying and short-lived online trend.
The reference: Donald Trump's many disputed and flagged tweets about the election.
- Kiro Evans
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Former Arsenal frontman Olivier Giroud will consider his Chelsea future in January after his international boss Didier Deschamps suggested he should move on, reports say.
The Blues striker finds himself third choice after the arrival of Timo Werner and the re-emergence of Tammy Abraham.
The Athletic report that the striker was told privately by the France boss that he should consider moving if the situation does not improve.
It leaves Chelsea with another battle to hold on to the 34-year-old following his previous attempts to ditch the club in search of more first team football.
He has been at the club for almost three years since moving to Stamford Bridge in January 2018 from their bitter rivals Arsenal.
- Kiro Evans
HIGH FIVE
Championship clubs are to be allowed five substitutions by the end of this month, according to reports.
England's second-tier appears on the brink of leaving the Premier League in its dust as they become the latest league to adopt a new five-sub rule following lockdown.
The Telegraph report the Championship could follow other European leagues plus the Champions League in allowing five subs instead of the usual three during a game.
The Premier League adopted this rule during project restart in the summer but dropped it upon the new season beginning, despite a hectic, congested schedule.
Top-flight managers such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have called for it's reintroduction, while England boss Gareth Southgate was also critical that the rule was not reinstated and feared more injuries.
- William Pugh
NOT PERSONAL MANN
Jens Lehmann admitted Manuel Almunia never liked him when they were together at Arsenal but the German insisted it was never personal.
Speaking on Arsenal's In Lockdown podcast, the 51-year-old said: “[Manuel Almunia] learnt something new in his goalkeeping life.
“[That] other goalkeepers don't always support him because it's a fight to be number one. He wasn't used to it and I was fighting him in every training session until I got my place back.
“When I left Arsenal, I had a conversation with him and said, 'Manuel, I like you very much as a person, but you need to understand that I had to get my place back. I know you hated me, but I never hated you because it was just a professional relationship'. He was very surprised by that.
“Now, afterwards, we have a very good relationship because you realise that it was never personal. I always knew that he was a very nice guy and a great goalkeeper as well.
“His only disadvantage was that he came into the game, the big game, a little bit late. Sometimes it's not easy to cope with the pressure.”
- William Pugh
IT STILL HURTS
Jens Lehmann says time has not healed the wounds from the 2006 Champions League final.
The Gunners lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris after the German became the first player ever to be sent off in a Champions League final after 18 minutes.
And he told Arsenal's In Lockdown podcast: “No, [it doesn't get easier with time]. You regret it more and more. It was in the spur of the moment and it just happened. It was probably down to the fact that we hadn't conceded any goals and I just wanted to get going.
“I should have dropped off a little bit more but I didn't know how fast [Samuel] Eto'o was. It was the first time I played against him. I was very sorry because Robert Pires was taken off. I went to sit in the stands and my sons came to me and we were very, very sad.
“We could have got a fantastic [result] at the end but Juliano Belletti scored. I met him a couple of years ago and he had good memories of me.
“It was very unfortunate circumstances but have you realised that after that red card, nobody else had been sent off in a final unless it was the 90th minute and the score was already clear and decided. During the major part of the game, nobody has been sent off.”
- William Pugh
FANDEMONIUM
Football fans could be allowed back into stadiums as early as NEXT MONTH, according to reports.
Premier League and Football League clubs could welcome supporters back into stadiums in December under plans drawn up by the Government, according to Sportsmail.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport are said to have submitted proposals which would allow fans in areas where coronavirus infection rates are low to attend games for the first time since March.
While the Government are yet to officially agree to the proposal, the DCMS' involvement is encouraging.
Football fans have long bemoaned not being allowed to re-enter stadiums, while other sports and activities have welcomed back crowds, albeit in limited numbers.
- Jim Sheridan
GUNNERS ROUND-UP
It's almost time to welcome the Premier League back – and Arsenal face a tough game this Sunday.
The Gunners head to West Yorkshire for a clash against newly-promoted Leeds who have made an excellent start to life back in the top-flight.
On the transfer front, several sources in Italy – including Corrierre dello Sport – suggest the Arsenal are looking to trade in Granit Xhaka to land Christian Eriksen.
The 28-year-old has started just 12 Serie A games for the club and is yet to register a goal or assist in 2020-21. That has led to Inter reportedly seeking a good return on their £17million signing.
Xhaka, 28, is seen as a good alternative and Inter may be able to convince the Swiss star to move given Thomas Partey’s increased prominence in the Gunners’ side.
No bid has been launched yet and Eriksen is still thought to have time to improve before Inter commit to a sale.
Meanwhile, Arsenal target Dominik Szoboszlai is set to quit RB Salzburg in January, according to the Austrian giants’ boss Jesse Marsch.
Reports claim the Gunners have already opened talks with Szoboszlai regarding a move in 2021.
But they will have to do battle with a host of European giants – including Bayern Munich – for the youngsters signature.
And finally, Nikolaj Moller – the £450k deadline day capture from Malmo – has been impressing behind the scenes.
Some have already labelled Moller the ‘next Ibrahimovic' and he's in training with the first team.
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