ARSENAL are targeting three points against Everton on Monday Night Football after defeat to Manchester United.
And reports suggest that the Gunners are eyeing up a swoop for Toffees frontman Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
While Raheem Sterling is said to find the idea of a move to Arsenal "extremely attractive".
And Dejan Kulusevski continues to be linked to the Premier League, with North London rivals Spurs and Arsenal said to be interested.
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- Giacomo Pisa
DOU A JOB
Amadou Haidara will become Ralf Rangnick’s first signing next month – if Manchester United pay his £32million release clause now.
The RB Leipzig midfielder was tipped for an Old Trafford move the minute Rangnick was announced as United manager.
Yet it was not expected to happen until the summer, when his clause with the Bundesliga side kicks in.
But if United are willing to cough up the full amount in January, Leipzig have given a broad hint that they will let him go at once.
Sources in Germany claim Rangnick – who took him to Leipzig from Salzburg two years ago – has already spoken to Haidara’s agent Volker Struth, and a deal is all but agreed.
The only sticking point was the fact he is off to the African Cup of Nations with Mali, although it is not said to be a major hurdle.
- Giacomo Pisa
HAPPY MONDAY'S
Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored eight goals in nine Premier League games played on Mondays.
Aubameyang averages a goal every 85 minutes in the Prem on Mondays.
The Gunners captain is without a goal since mid-October, but will be looking to lace up his scoring boots on his favourite day of the week.
- Giacomo Pisa
GO AND GET HIM
Former Premier League striker has urged Arsenal to make a move for Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Gunners have been linked with a move for the England international, who has been out since September with a fractured toe.
Prior to that he had scored three goals in three Premier League games at the start of the season.
Bent said on talkSPORT: “I’d take him tomorrow at Arsenal. And you know why it is? Because you know what you’re getting with him.
“He works hard, he can hold the ball up, he can score goals, he’s unbelievable in the air. I think he’s got the potential to play however Arsenal want to play him. And he’s at a good age as well, good presence. Yeah, I’d take him.”
- Giacomo Pisa
NOT SO HAPPY HUNTING GROUND
Arsenal are without a win in their last three Premier League away games against Everton.
The Gunners have drawn one and lost two out of their last two trips to Goodison Park.
Mikel Arteta will be desperate to put an end to that run tomorrow, especially after losing against Manchester United in midweek.
- Giacomo Pisa
MORGAN DIG
Piers Morgan has doubts over Mikel Arteta's ability to take the club forward following West Ham's 3-2 win over Chelsea today.
The outspoken Arsenal fan took to Twitter after the result at London Stadium.
He said: "West Ham have beaten Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City & Manchester United this season. Arsenal have lost to all of them.
"That’s why I’m not buying into Arteta’s ‘trust in the process’ mantra. I don’t trust his process."
- Giacomo Pisa
LEVEL PEGGING
Arsenal and Tottenham are reportedly locked in a battle to sign Juventus forward Dejan Kulusevski.
And neither side have taken the advantage over the other in signing the Sweden international.
According to Calciomercato, both have ‘opened preliminary talks’ with the 21-year-olds agents.
And both clubs are said to be keen on a loan deal with the option to buy.
Juve though would prefer to sanction an immediate permanent deal, and are willing to listen to offers in the region of £25million.
Credit: Getty - Giacomo Pisa
PAUL PREDICTS
Arsenal travel to Everton with the Toffees not having won in their last EIGHT Premier League games.
Rafa Benitez is under real pressure at Goodison Park, and Paul Merson believes that will continue after Monday's game.
He said, via Metro Sport: "The way Everton are playing at the moment, however, Arsenal will back themselves this weekend.
"I think Rafael Benitez has about 90 minutes left at Goodison Park.
He went on to say: "Arsenal were unlucky the other day, and I thought they missed too many chances against United.
"They need to come back and win this game – they’ve been beating the teams they should be beating this season, and I think they’ll be able to turn the screws on Everton."
- Giacomo Pisa
'SOMETHING GOING ON'
Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes all may not right with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after he was hooked against Manchester United.
He said on talkSPORT: "It seemed very strange. You’re chasing the game, it was very open, and Aubameyang incidentally just missed a really good chance to score. He might have been offside, and then the manager takes him off.
"You start to wonder if all is well between the player and the manager, because at that point if he is the focal point of the team and the leader, top goalscorer, I’m not sure why he’s coming off.
"We’re speculating. There’s been issues with this player but he’d be my captain, without doubt.
"At the time he was made captain, there were very few to look to but at the point he was the right captain.
"But I’m looking at him now and thinking sometimes the body language, he’s not as ruthless as he used to be and there might be something going on behind the scenes."
- Giacomo Pisa
JON THE ONE
Arsenal are reportedly in the process of scouting Lille striker Jonathan David.
With Alexandre Lacazette out-of-contract at the end of the season and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struggling for goals, the Gunners are keen to add a goal threat to their ranks.
And according to the Evening Standard, the Ligue 1 top scorer has been 'tracked' by the club for some time.
The 21-year-old has Canada international has been linked with a £30million exit from Lille, with the cash-strapped club desperate to source some finances in any way possible.
Credit: Reuters
- Giacomo Pisa
OUT OF ACTION
On loan Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard is set to be out of action for three months after undergoing knee surgery.
The centre-back is on loan at Milwall, who have claimed he will be out until March.
The Northern Ireland international had played more minutes than any other Arsenal player (loan or otherwise) before the injury.
Ballard had been in impressive form so far this campaign, but the 22-year-old is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
Credit: PA - Giacomo Pisa
IN THE HAT
Arsenal will find out their opponents for the FA Cup 3rd round in just over 48 hours time.
Mikel Arteta led the Gunners to the trophy in 2020, and with no European football and the title already out of their grasp the FA Cup offers a good chance to target some silverware.
When is the FA Cup 3rd round draw?
- The draw for the 2021/22 FA Cup third round draw will take place on Monday, December 6.
- There is no specific time yet confirmed for the draw, but it will be held during ITV's coverage of Boreham Wood vs St Alban's City, which kicks off at 7.45pm UK time.
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
- The FA Cup third round draw will be shown live on ITV4 in the UK for FREE.
- You can also live stream the draw from the ITV Hub, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
TOUR WELCOME
Premier League legend Yaya Toure is currently working with Tottenham's academy as he works his way towards earning his coaching badges.
But Mikel Arteta has also revealed Toure has his 'number' if he ever wanted to discuss things coaching wise with the Arsenal boss.
Arteta said: "He has my number because we spent some years together.
"He’s a player I appreciate a lot and he has my number and can ask me the question.
"He certainly has the experience, the expertise and won a lot in the game to add value to the game for sure."
ARTETA ON AUBA
Mikel Arteta has admitted there is some concern as to why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is struggling to find the net at the moment for the Gunners.
The Arsenal captain has not scored in the league since October 22.
And the Spaniard said: "You are always [concerned] when your main striker isn't scoring goals but he is trying his hardest.
"He is aware of how much we need him as a team to score goals and, at the moment, they are not coming but the rest of the things we are asking him to do, he is trying his best."
ARTETA ON TRANSFERS
Mikel Arteta has remained tight-lipped when asked about any potential incomings in the January transfer window.
Instead he insisted the Gunners have to focus on the options already available to them.
The Spaniard said: "I think we have to focus on the players that we have, try to make them better and take more chances than we're doing because we need more margins in games to win games and that's what we have to do without losing our solidity defensively,
"Which we have been good at, and try to add more goals to the team."
EMILE DOUBT
In other injury news Emile Smith Rowe is a doubt for Monday's game against Everton.
He scored in bizarre circumstances in midweek against Manchester United, but had to be replaced after picking up a slight knock.
And with a tight turnaround before the next clash, there may not be enough time for the youngster to recover.
Arteta said: "He had some discomfort during the game and we decided to take him off. He’s been evolving well over the last few days, so we have to wait until tomorrow to see how he is."
- Giacomo Pisa
XHAK BACK
Granit Xhaka has not featured for Arsenal since injuring his knee in the North London Derby win against Tottenham in September.
But Mikel Arteta has revealed it won't be too long before the Swiss international returns to the fold.
Arteta said: "He is progressing well, he is doing all the right things and he’s feeling better but no more news on that.
"It’s very positive because the evolution he is doing is great, he is partially training with the team and he is heading in the right direction.
"This week he has progressed again to a different level, and tomorrow we will assess how he is, have a conversation with him and decide when is the best moment to start to give him some exposure in games."
- Giacomo Pisa
SENIOR PLAYERS STEP UP
Mikel Arteta has been asked to elaborate on the comments that he made calling on senior players to lead the younger members of his Gunners squad.
He revealed: "What I said is that the senior players are the ones who have to lead and the younger players are the ones who have to follow.
"We need that balance in the performances on the pitch and as well off the field.
"We are getting that balance right and we have to continue not to rely too much on the rest and this is a team, it's not two teams that are split, and we need that balance and to manage those moments.
"First of all [I will] keep demanding the best from everybody and ask them for things they can do and they can do well, and do well consistently – and that's what I try to do all the time."
- Giacomo Pisa
TOFFEES TROUBLING
Mikel Arteta is predicting a tough test against Everton, despite the Toffees not winning in their last EIGHT Premier League games.
The Spaniard said: "[They are] a team that wants to put things right and win, and on Monday night at Goodison I know what I am going to expect under the lights with the fans they have so it will be a tough game.
"There are a lot of teams that are going through that [poor form] because this is a league has become that competitive that the moment you lose a game or two, the pressure is coming for everybody.
"It is no different there, obviously it's a very special place to go back there because I had some amazing years there, so I'm looking forward to it."
- Joshua Mbu
MERSON PREDICTS
Arsenal legend Paul Merson is predicting a 2-1 win over Everton on Monday night.
He said: "At the start of the Premier League season, the teams that we all thought would finish in the top four were Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, in no particular order. Arsenal have lost to all these teams.
"The way Everton are playing at the moment, however, Arsenal will back themselves this weekend.
"I think Rafael Benitez has about 90 minutes left at Goodison Park. When I played in the Premier League, Everton was one of the hardest places to win a match.
"The place was three-quarters empty this week, and Everton fans are clearly not having any more of Benitez.
"Arsenal were unlucky the other day, and I thought they missed too many chances against United.
"They need to come back and win this game – they’ve been beating the teams they should be beating this season, and I think they’ll be able to turn the screws on Everton."
- Joshua Mbu
GUNNER HAVE TO WAIT
Arsenal will have to wait another week to have a chance to break into the top four.
Before the 12.30pm kick-off, West Ham were just one point ahead of the Gunners and gearing up to face league leaders Chelsea.
Come 2.30pm, the Hammers have won 3-2 at the London Stadium, extending the gap to four points.
Arsenal take on Everton next!
- Joshua Mbu
DAR THE ONE
Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign Benfica forward Darwin Nunez.
According to Traspasos, the Gunners want the Uruguayan but it could take a fee in the region of 40million euros.
Arsenal could lose both Alexandre Lacazette AND Eddie Nketiah next summer, with both strikers running out of contract.
The 22-year-old forward has scored 11 goals and provided two assists in all competitions this term.
- Joshua Mbu
'CAME OUT TO WIN'
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey says the team 'came out to win' against Manchester United in their last outing.
The Gunners lost the game 3-2 with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a brace.
On the result, Partey said: "I think the team came out to win, we did everything we could, we played well, we created a lot of chances and I think that we were unlucky.
They scored two goals and then a penalty. The team tried to improve, go forward and look for a goal, for the equaliser, but in the end it’s football, we have to forget about this game, we have to think of our next game, we have to do better and also to win.
"The team is improving, each and everyone is doing our best. For me, I have to keep on doing my best, keep trying, keep improving, try to come back to my best, because the team needs me, the team needs us.
"I think we’re improving each day and it’s gonna be good. If we want to be at the top it’s normal that we have to fight, we have to be under control and try to win the games."
- Joshua Mbu
BENITEZ PRAISES ARTETA
Ahead of Arsenal's game against Everton, Toffees boss Rafa Benitez has called on his side to follow Mikel Arteta's example.
The Gunners sit a point off fourth after recovering from three straight league defeats.
Ahead of the game, Benitez said: "I think he (Arteta) is doing well and could be an example of a new manager at a new club under pressure from the beginning last year, from the beginning this season.
"Little by little he has continued working the way he wants to work and the team is getting better.
"They have also spent some money and they did well as they have signed some good players."
- Joshua Mbu
MO TO GO
Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny could be on his way to Saudi Arabia.
According to outlet Al-Madina, Al-Ittihad have prepared a contract offer for the Egyptian.
The report suggests the Middle Eastern may already have direct contact with the Gunners over a move.
Elneny looks unlikely to extend his stay in North London beyond next summer, with his deal expiring at the end of the season.
Al-Ittihad could pick Elneny up for relatively cheap.
- Joshua Mbu
AU MY GOSH
Thierry Henry has questioned why Mikel Arteta hooked off Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang with Arsenal chasing an equaliser against Manchester United, writes JAKE LAMBOURNE.
The Gunners captain was replaced by Alexandre Lacazette in the 79th minute at Old Trafford on Thursday night as the North London side lost 3-2.
Speaking on Amazon Prime, Arsenal's all-time top scorer said: "Aubameyang is your captain. He is your goal scorer.
"You put him as your captain. 15 minutes to go, you’re losing 3-2 and you take him off. 3-2 away from home, you need a goal and you take your captain, your symbol, off the field.
"You know he can score you goals so something is not right there."
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