1pm Arsenal news LIVE: Martinelli exit fears, Ozil free transfer, Mertens blow as Inter keen, Kurzawa interest – The Sun

MIKEL ARTETA is urging the nation to 'be sensible' after winning his own personal battle against coronavirus.

But on the transfer front, Arsenal may let teenage sensation Gabriel Martinelli leave if the price is right – while Mesut Ozil could be released when his contract expires.

Follow all the latest Arsenal news and gossip with our blog below…

  • ZLAT'S ENOUGH

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic is reportedly ready to leave AC Milan just three months after rejoining over a string of decisions made by former Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis.

    The 38-year-old signed for the Rossoneri in January on a six-month deal, but his second spell could already be coming to a swift end.

    According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Swedish maverick has been left unhappy by the club sacking chief football officer Zvonimir Boban.

    Boban had been instrumental in bringing the striker back to the San Siro, and the ex-Barcelona forward is now said to be worried that Paolo Maldini could lose his job.

    The report adds that Ibrahimovic is of the belief that former Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis – now executive at Milan – could wield the axe on club legend and technical staff member Maldini.

  • JUST A LILLE BIT

    Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti would rather join Chelsea than Arsenal… but the Blues prefer Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, according to reports.

    Prior to the suspension of the Premier League, the Blues sat in a Champions League qualification position – despite having the leakiest defence of any team in the top seven.

    And boss Frank Lampard is keen to recruit a new defender to help shore things up.

    The Daily Star claim the club have made initial contact with Barcelona regarding Samuel Umtiti.

    But the Frenchman is currently a back-up plan for if they fail to land Gabriel from Lille.

  • DAN DEAL

    Dani Ceballos could push for a move back to Real Betis instead of staying with either Arsenal or Real Madrid, Spanish reports claim.

    The midfielder's loan with the Gunners expires at the end of the season, with a decision yet to be made on whether he will remain at the Emirates or return to the Bernabeu.

    According to Estadio Deportivo, Ceballos does not want to give up on his dream of succeeding at Real Madrid.

    But he could be forced to leave the club for good and will favour a switch to Betis, where he played from 2014–2017.

    It is claimed the 23-year-old is aware of the mass competition at Madrid, and with Euro 2020 pushed back a year, Ceballos wants to secure regular football to push for a place in the Spain team.

  • SERGE FORWARDS

    Lukas Podolski revealed that he saw the emerging star of Serge Gnabry coming through at Arsenal.

    A young, German with bags of talent, Podolski could see the similarities between his fellow winger and himself a few years earlier.

    It did not work out for Gnabry at the Emirates – but he is proving he has the ability to cut it at the very top level now with Bayern Munich, as Tottenham and Chelsea discovered in the Champions League earlier this season.

    Speaking on his compatriot, Podolski told FourFourTwo: “He was unlucky and had a few injuries. He did well in training.

    “Off the pitch we spent a lot of time together, going for dinner. But sometimes football is like that, or you find a manager who gives you more confidence.

    “Serge can shoot with both feet, and he is powerful and quick – a bit like me, only I don’t have a right foot like him! I’m really pleased that he’s doing well at Bayern.”

  • AS LUK WOULD HAVE IT

    Despite feeling he was not given a fair shot at Arsenal, Lukas Podolski holds no resentment with Arsene Wenger and lauded the Frenchman for his wisdom.

    He was a catalyst for changing football in England but was as influential off the field as on it in the German's eyes.

    He told FourFourTwo: “He was a great manager and I really like him as a person, too.

    “He was like a grandpa: a very intelligent man, who was nice to talk to. He could speak lots of languages and never yelled.

    “He was Arsenal: he created everything. Arsene created a style of playing. He was the man who oversaw the club’s move to the Emirates Stadium, and won so many trophies there.”

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