7am Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Martinez Villa MEDICAL, Aubameyang new contract LATEST, Partey talks, Aouar linked – The Sun

ARSENAL are set confirm their star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has signed a bumper new contract.

Plus we've got the very latest on the Thomas Partey saga and reaction to the Gunners dominant 3-0 win over Fulham as they kicked off their season in style.

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Get all the latest news and transfer gossip from North London here…

  • GOOD MORNING ARSENAL FANS

    What a way to start the season!

    The Gunners thrashed Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage thanks to a hat-trick of assists from man-of-the-match Willian.

    It took them just nine minutes of the new campaign to prove they meant business when Alexandre Lacazette fired them ahead.

    And the visitors almost doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Willian’s free-kick struck the base of the post after Lacazette had been fouled on the edge of the penalty area.

    Fulham were as good as finished four minutes into the second-half when new signing Gabriel Magalhaes was allowed to head in virtually unchallenged from Willian’s corner.

    And eight minutes later it was definitely all over after Aubameyang took Willian’s crossfield pass on his chest and curled an unstoppable shot inside the far post.

    Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta said: “ I wanted to see my team determined to come to this ground with a lot of energy and do the things we've practised in training.

    “The new signings have been training very well – for Gabriel it was a big shock to come to a small ground like this in the Premier League, but he did so well.

    “All the boys tried really hard and played well.”

    BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand said: “Arsenal can't get carried away, the win was over a newly-promoted team.

    “But, there seems to be a real confidence in the squad and there is some real depth in the squad.

    “I do see a big difference coming out of the Arsenal changing room, seen through the soundbites like Lacazette's, compared to a year ago.”

    In transfers, SunSport can exclusively reveal Arsenal are ready to up their bid for Brentford keeper David Raya.

    The Gunners will go as high as £10million for the Spaniard, who would be Bernd Leno’s back-up.

    Brentford may sell as Raya — who turns 25 on Tuesday — is keen on the chance of Prem football.

    His arrival would also allow Arsenal to clear Emiliano Martinez’s move to Aston Villa.

    The Bees plan to look at Charlton’s Dillon Phillips as a replacement.

  • JAD ENOUGH

    Premier League clubs are calling a halt to transfer business amid growing fears about a second wave of coronavirus.

    The impact of the pandemic is a major factor in Manchester United’s reluctance to pay Borussia Dortmund £100million for Jadon Sancho.

    And the uncertainty about when or if fans will be able to return, not to mention the possibility of a new lockdown, is putting the frighteners on almost every club except big-spending Chelsea.

    A source said: “Covid is back and everyone is s***ting themselves.

    “Most clubs have spent all their money and those that haven’t are concerned about doing business in the current situation.”

  • RAYA HOPE – EXCLUSIVE

    Arsenal are ready to up their bid for Brentford keeper David Raya.

    The Gunners will go as high as £10million for the Spaniard, who would be Bernd Leno’s back-up.

    Brentford may sell as Raya — who turns 25 on Tuesday — is keen on the chance of Prem football.

    His arrival would also allow Arsenal to clear Emiliano Martinez’s move to Aston Villa.

    The Bees plan to look at Charlton’s Dillon Phillips as a replacement.

  • THREE NIL TO THE ARSENAL

    What a result at Craven Cottage.

    Arsenal threw down an early gauntlet to the top four contenders as they kicked off the new Premier League season in style.

    Six weeks after lifting the FA Cup at Wembley, Mikel Arteta’s team were straight back into the groove with an emphatic win at newly-promoted Fulham.

    CLICK HERE TO READ MARK IRWIN’S MATCH REPORT FROM THE BANKS OF THE THAMES

  • WHAT'S NEW

    Let's take a look at what's new in the upcoming 2020-21 Premier League season.

  • ODS-ONNE EDUOARD

    According to reports, Arsenal have increased their offer for Celtic forward Odsonne Eduoard.

    Arsenal have already had a bid of £15million rejected, but they have since increased the offer to £20million plus £2.5million in add ons.

    Eduoard, a product of PSG’s academy, set the Scottish league on fire last season scoring 22 times in the league.

    The Frenchmen hasn’t featured much since the start to the 2020-21 Scottish Premiership, with Scottish champions Celtic also signing West Ham forward Albian Ajeti for an undisclosed fee.

  • WILLING HIM ON

    More than half of Arsenal's fans gave Willian the man-of-the-match award after he bagged three assists during the Gunners' 3-0 win at Fulham this afternoon.

  • WORK OF ART

    Mikel Arteta was thrilled with the way his team applied themselves as Arsenal thrashed Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage earlier.

  • EL OF A SIDE

    Mohamed Elneny says Arsenal are completely different team under Mikel Arteta.

    The midfielder was on loan at Besiktas last season and reckons there is a different feel at the club now Unai Emery has gone.

  • GUNNING FOR GLORY

    Topless Willian enjoyed a dance as he celebrated shining on his Arsenal debut.

    The Brazilian winger, 32, was filmed by team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cutting shapes in the away dressing room at Fulham.

    Gunners skipper Aubameyang started the Instagram video with himself and Alexandre Lacazette.

    The giggling Gabon star cheered the Frenchman on as he pulled out some moves.

    But then debutant Willian came through the door and the camera quickly turned to him, even though he seemed to have just got out the shower with an Arsenal towel wrapped around.

    Not one to shy away on the big stage, though, Willian delivered – just as he did on the pitch at Craven Cottage with all three assists.

  • NO THOMAS NO PARTEY

    According to reports, Arsenal remain in the hunt for a star midfielder.

    They have been admirers of both Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid and Houssem Aouar of Lyon.

    The North London side are reportedly still weighing up the options, and will decide whether to bid the estimated £45million it will take to prize Partey from the clutches of Atletico.

    They are also looking into putting an offer in for Aouar, who for a while has been one of Lyon's stand out performers.

  • MARTINEZ MEDICAL

    According to reports, Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is under going a medical at Premier League side Aston Villa.

    The keeper is leaving the club he has been at for 10 years in search of guaranteed regular first team football.

    Aston Villa have a deal agreed for £20million plus add ons, and it's a good deal for both parties considering that Martinez wasn't really in the Arsenal picture until Leno's injury.

  • WRIGHTY'S HAPPY

    It's no secret that Ian Wright loves Aubameyang!

    View this post on Instagram

    @aubameyang97 @aubameyang.papa

    A post shared byIan Wright (@wrightyofficial) on

  • BELLERIN TWEETS

    Bellerin celebrates his 10th season at Arsenal on Twitter.

  • SING AND DANCE

    Aubameyang, Lacazette and Willian have a little dance post-match.

  • CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the first player to score on MD1 in consecutive Premier League seasons for Arsenal since Robert Pires in 2003-04 & 2004-05.

  • ARTETA BALL

    Aubameyang caps off a wonderful team goal to score Arsenal's third.

  • DELIGHT

    Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has netted four goals in three Premier League appearances against Fulham, more than against any other side in the competition.

    Alexandre Lacazette is the first player to score the opening goal of a Premier League season on more than one occasion (also 2017-18 v Leicester).

    Fulham have lost their last 11 top-flight London derbies – including 10 defeats in the 2018/19 season – the longest ever run by a club in top-flight history.

  • PARTY AT PARLOUR'S

    Ray Parlour toasts to Arsenal's victory!

  • ATTACK

    Willian – 9

    The Brazilian made three assists for the Gunners in the first 57 minutes of his debut.

    The ex-Chelsea star played his part in Arsenal's opener before the ball fell to Lacazette.

    He created an assist for new boy Gabriel from the corner spot.

    And a clever whipped ball across the pitch to Aubameyang saw Arsenal make it 3-0.

    Alexandre Lacazette – 8

    Scored the opener for Arsenal in the eighth minute from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

    His movement was good when he was not in possession and he linked up well with Aubameyang and Willian.

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 9

    The striker chased down the ball then fed it back into the box to create Lacazette's opener.

    He scored Arsenal's third goal of the afternoon after Willian switched the ball across to him.

  • MIDFIELD

    Mohamed Elneny – 7

    The 28-year-old made a promising return during his first Premier League appearance since May 2019.

    He dominated the midfield alongside Xhaka and his passing proved why he deserves his spot in the starting line-up.

    Granit Xhaka – 7

    Offered the defence a lot of support when Tierney and Bellerin pressed up the pitch.

    He continued to look to feed the ball up to Aubameyang when he was in possession – which is not something that Arteta will kncok him for.

    Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 6

    The 23-year-old pretty much controlled his side of the pitch from the off.

    He looked confident with the ball at his feet moving forward and still tracked back to help out Tierney.

  • ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS

    SunSport reporter Joe Miles has rated Arsenal's players.

    Bernd Leno – 6

    Made an encouraging return to the squad after enduring a stint on the sidelines with an injury.

    He was quick off his line to save Arsenal from embarrassment in the second minute.

    But it was an easy day at the office for the keeper as Fulham only had two shots on target.

    Rob Holding – 6

    Holding managed to keep the defence organised in the absence of injured David Luiz.

    And he sent fans as he skilfully charged up the pitch and weaved through a sea of Fulham shirts.

    As a result, he has been dubbed the “next Ronaldinho” by some Twitter users.

    Gabriel Magalhaes – 9

    The new boy suffered a nightmare start as he almost gave away a goal after just TWO minutes, but he proved his potential as the game progressed.

    He made the most passes, made the most clearances, had the most touches and won the most duals in the first half.

    And he made an instant impact in the second half as he doubled Arsenal's tally with a header after a corner.

    Kieran Tierney – 6

    Kept being caught out of possession as he pressed too high up the pitch – especially in the first half.

    But the former Celtic star settled down in the second half and linked up with well with Maitland-Niles.

    Hector Bellerin – 6

    The Barcelona target continued to pump good deliveries into the box towards Lacazette and Aubameyang.

    He had no trouble keeping the Fulham forwards at bay, but did receive a yellow card after he dragged Cavaleiro to the ground.

  • EASY-PEASY

    Arsenal come out 3-0 victors over newly promoted Fulham at Craven Cottage.

  • UNSTOPPABLE

    Willian casually provides three assists on his debut, amazing!

  • FULHAM 0-3 ARSENAL

    Willian switches the ball diagonally to Aubameyang, who's making a run into the box on the left.

    He bends the ball into the top corner- bagging his 55th goal in the Premier League for Arsenal.

    Captain fantastic!

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