ARSENAL know the exact date they will return to Premier League action, with a trip up the M6 to Man City scheduled for June 17.
And the Gunners' new away kit has been leaked while Mikel Arteta is still desperate to sign Philippe Coutinho but may have to settle for a loan deal.
Get the latest news, gossip and updates from the Emirates here…
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MANY LACA RETURNS
Arsenal posted a hilarious alternative commentary video on their Twitter to celebrate Alexandre Lacazette's birthday.
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LOAN RANGER
Arsenal will have to settle for a loan deal if they are to have any chance of signing Philippe Coutinho, according to ESPN.
Barcelona are keen to recoup over half the £142m fee they agreed with Liverpool for the Brazilian, which would price the Gunners out of the market.
However, they are willing to loan Coutinho out for a £10m fee.
But even if a deal can be agreed with Barcelona, Coutinho's £250,000-a-week wages may prove a stumbling block for the Gunners and Tottenham.
Most of the Arsenal squad have already agreed a 12.5 per cent pay cut, meaning wages the likes of Coutinho's could be out of the question.
And ESPN state that would put Chelsea in pole position to land the former Liverpool man, but so far they also have been unwilling to accept Barca's demands.
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STAT ATTACK
Arsenal's Premier League stats up until the football blackout.
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There will be four matches on Sundays too, at 12pm, 2pm, 4.30pm and 7pm.
In order to fit in all games on TV, new kick-off times will be introduced.
Friday and Monday games will be at 8pm, while Saturday will have FOUR matches starting at 12.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm and 8pm.
Midweek games, played on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays, will have 6pm and 8pm starts, allowing fans to watch footie all evening.
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Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters confirmed earlier reports by saying: “Today we have provisionally agreed to resume the Premier League on Wednesday 17 June.
“But this date cannot be confirmed until we have met all the safety requirements needed, as the health and welfare of all participants and supporters is our priority.
‘’Sadly, matches will have to take place without fans in stadiums, so we are pleased to have come up with a positive solution for supporters to be able to watch all the remaining 92 matches.
“The Premier League and our clubs are proud to have incredibly passionate and loyal supporters. It is important to ensure as many people as possible can watch the matches at home.
“We will continue to work step-by-step and in consultation with all our stakeholders as we move towards resuming the 2019/20 season.”
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IT'S BACK
Premier League chiefs have confirmed England's top flight WILL return on June 17 – with Manchester City vs Arsenal starting the action.
New kick-off times have been announced and all 92 remaining matches will be televised.
As part of the plans to show every game, four matches will be shown for free on BBC for the first time.
However, all safety requirements must be in place for Project Restart to go ahead.
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HOMES FROM HOMES
Liverpool's remaining home games as well as some major London derbies will reportedly be played at neutral venues.
The measures will be taken in order to deter fans from gathering outside the stadiums, according to the Times.
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OH DANI BOY
Arsenal fans shared their shock after Dani Ceballos became the latest star to show off his new lockdown hair with some supporters comparing him to Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish midfielder had been forced to abandon his usual cropped gelled look to debut his longer curlier locks at training this week.
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Still, in reply to one tweet asking if Arsenal fans would have Wenger back, one joked: “I would even take him as a player.”
Another posted: “That shouldn't be a question. We need him there at our club.”
A fellow supporter wrote: “He's got the eye to spot crazy talented youngsters, he understands the club more than anyone.”
Another reply read: “Hundred percent but he’d never do it.”
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WENGER IN
Arsenal fans have called for Arsene Wenger to “come home” as the club's new chairman after Sir Chips Keswick announced his retirement.
Lifelong fan Sir Chips, 80, stood down today after 15 years on the club's board.
And almost as soon as it was announced, Arsenal supporters took to social media to demand a return of Wenger.
Funny, really, considering how vociferous the Wenger Out movement was during the French legend's final few years in North London…
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OUT FOR BLOOD
Arsenal's new 2020-21 away kit has been leaked and the blood-splatter design has left fans totally unimpressed.
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FRASE THE OFFER
More competition for Arsenal to consider as Galatasaray enter the mix for Ryan Fraser.
The Bournemouth winger is out of contract in the summer and has long been linked with the Gunners.
But Turkish outlet Takvim name Gala as another party keen on the Scot, along with Tottenham.
And they will evaluate whether to launch an official bid when the season comes to a close.
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'AN HONOUR'
Sir Chips Keswick has released a statement to the Arsenal website upon the news he is leaving the club.
The 80-year-old first joined the board in 2005 and has served as chairman for seven years.
It read: It has been an honour to be the chairman of this great football club. Arsenal has always held a special place in my life and that will remain the case in the future.
“I made my plan to retire at the end of this season clear to the board, before the global health crisis we are now experiencing.
“The club is in safe hands with Stan and Josh, the board and the executive team. I know Arsenal will emerge strongly from this situation and I look forward, like all our supporters around the world, to seeing the team in action as soon as possible.”
The Gunners have confirmed that the board is now made up on Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke, Lord Harris and Ken Friar.
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BREAKING: SIR CHIPS RETIRES
Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick has announced his retirement from the role after seven years.
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JOHNNY ON THE SPOT
Former Arsenal forward John Hartson wants Arsenal fans to make their minds up on David Luiz.
There were plenty of Gooners annoyed at yesterday's reports that the centre-back will leave the club when his contract expires in June.
But Hartson has called them out as exactly the ones criticising Luiz since he signed from Chelsea last summer.
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BREAKING: PROJECT RESTART ON TRACK
The Premier League is set to return on 17 June with Manchester City hosting Arsenal and Aston Villa taking on Sheffield United.
Project Restart has been handed a huge boost after talks between the 20 clubs were held today.
It is understood that the “majority” of Premier League clubs are keen to get the ball rolling next month.
The initial plan was for football to return on Friday June 12 – but it is now expected to be delayed by just under one week.
Players need more time to get back to match fitness to avoid the risk of injuries.
But the four clubs with games in hand, due to the Carabao Cup final, are preparing for a midweek start before the full resumption days later.
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PO-PO A GO-GO
Police in England have reportedly given the green light for MOST Premier League games taking place at regular venues.
Neutral grounds were touted as a major part of Project Restart but were met with fierce opposition from several teams.
The Mail now reports that police are happy for games to be held across the country, in each of the 20 grounds.
Yet they still hold reservations over a small number of high-profile matches that could still attract fans to gather outside the ground – breaking coronavirus restrictions.
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AUBA AND OUT
Mikel Arteta is on a mission to transform his Arsenal team into title contenders this summer.
But the Gunners boss faces losing his top scorer and star centre-back in the upcoming transfer window.
Paris Saint-Germain are said to be a weighing up a £35million move for contract rebel Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon international, who has scored 20 times this season, has just one year left on his current deal at the Emirates.
And former Chelsea star David Luiz is reportedly set to quit the Gunners next month once his contract expires.
Here, SunSport's Joseph Miles delivers an expert verdict on just how that transformation may pan out…
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UNO MINUTO
Bruno Fuchs is the latest name linked with Arsenal in the gossip columns.
Website Todo Fichajes report on Ajax moving towards a deal with Internacional for the defender.
But the Gunners are keeping a close on eye on things, along with Monaco and Manchester City.
Fuchs is rated at £4.5million and reportedly wants a move to Europe this summer.
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BIRTHDAY BOY
It’s many happy returns for Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette today as the Frenchman turns 29.
The club are celebrating their No9 with a compilation of his best bits at Emirates Stadium.
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MONEYBALL
Latest figures released by financial giant KPMG are not good reading for the Gunners…
The list has named Real Madrid as the world’s most valuable club.
Worth £2.95billion, Los Blancos are just ahead of Manchester United in second – at £2.84bn.
Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool make up the top five with the Premier League leaders rising two places since the previous valuations.
Manchester City are followed by Chelsea in seventh place, falling behind the Reds at a decreased value of £1.88bn.
Tottenham jump up to eighth and Paris Saint-Germain are next.
Hanging on in the top ten, Arsenal’s worth fell 13.2 per cent and is now rated at £1.57bn.
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THERE YOU GHER
Jamie Carragher is “not surprised” David Luiz is set to leave Arsenal.
Reports suggest the centre-back's contract expires next month and the Gunners will not offer a renewal.
And former Liverpool defender Carragher thinks William Saliba's summer arrival means Luiz will be no big loss for Arsenal.
He told Sky Sports: “We know he can lack concentration and make poor decisions and that's cost certain teams. That's why he's moved on in his career.
“I know Arsenal are really excited about the prospect of Saliba coming in who will be joining next season. He's only 19, so I still think they need a little bit more experience in that position.
“To be honest, it's no surprise they won't be renewing David Luiz's contract.”
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MER TO COME
Paul Merson reckons Mikel Arteta will flourish when football returns.
The Gunners’ transfer market plans are set to be held back by the coronavirus crisis and the ex-midfielder believes Arteta will be able to coach his young squad with less pressure.
“I think this situation helps someone like Mikel Arteta. Arsenal need such an overhaul of players that it's actually almost impossible to get that many players in.
“There's now an opportunity for him to work with the current crop, and I think it actually takes the pressure off of Arteta, and now anything is a bonus.
“Arsenal's expectations will be nowhere near as high as they were a few months ago. I think he'll now be given loads and loads of time to build. He's young, he's enthusiastic, and he'll want to work with younger players.
“He's not a Mourinho or Pep Guardiola, who I'd call your Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroys, they're just dealing in majors, nothing else! Arteta is the type who might work from the ground up with lesser players.”
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SAK IT TO ME
Arsenal remain “confident” of signing Bukayo Saka up to a new deal.
Football.London report of the club’s optimism in tying down the young winger past his 2021 expiry date.
Fans had become worried by a cryptic Instagram post by Saka.
He posted on the social media site that he was a “kid with a dream” amid speculation he will have plenty of offers to leave the Emirates.
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COACH TRIP
Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes the coronavirus pandemic will increase the emphasis on coaching ability.
With the quiet transfer market, managers will be forced to work harder to get the best out of their squads – rather than just buying in new talent.
Merson told Sky Sports: “I just don't think clubs are going to be in a position to pay £70m, £80m on players anymore. I don't see that happening.
“I quite like it because now coaches have got to be coaches, they've got to make these players better. I think clubs are going to be really, really cautious in the market.
“For me, this is where coaches become coaches. It's all well and good buying £80m players all the time. Seriously, what do you need to coach an £80m player? If you're coaching an £80m player, telling them what they need to do, he isn't worth £80m.
“The good coaches will come to the fore, and those that aren't will struggle. Some will blossom, some will not.”
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