ARSENAL already have their sights set on a replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to reports.
The Gunners are said to be battling Barcelona for Man Utd's Mason Greenwood, who is said to be unhappy at Old Trafford.
And they are also reported to be keen on former Barca midfielder Arthur, who has been out in the cold at Juventus.
Aubameyang was stripped of his Arsenal captaincy earlier this week and has now been frozen out of the squad indefinitely.
SunSport can also reveal that Mikel Arteta has ordered him to train alone, perhaps for as long as two months.
However, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has offered the striker a sympathetic ear if he needs one.
Tuchel, who coached Aubameyang at Dortmund, said: "I will [speak to him] at some point. I feel sorry that he is in trouble.
"I believe in his positive character but I am not involved in this situation or his club. It is just about my picture & relationship".
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- Kostas Lianos
Arthur interest
Arsenal are keeping tabs on Juventus ace Arthur ahead of the January transfer window.
That is according to Calciomercato, who claim that the Gunners would be interested in getting the midfielder next month.
The Brazil international is hoping to leave Juve in January for bigger and better opportunities.
The 25-year-old's deal with the Banconeri runs out in 2025
- Kostas Lianos
Greenwood interest
Manchester United ace Mason Greenwood has emerged as a surprise transfer target for Arsenal.
That is according to Elnacional, who report that the Gunners, Juventus and Barcelona are monitoring Greenwood.
The north Londoners may need to add a striker to their ranks next summer with both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette out of contract, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has fallen out of favour.
Arsenal, Juve and Barca won't 'hesitate' to make a bid for the England international should he become available
GETTY IMAGES - Etienne Fermie
MORNING ARSENAL FANS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been banished from Arsenal first-team training and will continue to be exiled from Mikel Arteta’s plans until the end of 2021 at the earliest.
The striker’s future at Emirates is looking increasingly bleak following the decision to strip him of the club captaincy on Monday, for what Arsenal called his ‘latest disciplinary breach’ after returning late from an agreed trip to France to collect his sick mum.
The Telegraph report the 32-year-old has not been involved in first-team training at the club’s London Colney HQ this week, a development that casts further doubt over his future in north London.
Instead, the striker has been training alone, away from the squad. Arteta confirmed on Friday that Aubameyang would not be considered for the weekend game versus Leeds and it is understood his non-inclusion in first-team affairs will continue until he leaves for Africa Cup of Nations duty at the end of the month.
Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Arteta has revealed he has held NO talks with the club about extending his contract at the Emirates.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Leeds, Arteta was asked whether he has held discussions with the Gunners over his future.
To which he said: "No, we haven’t discussed anything like that.
"I think we have many other priorities at the moment that are far more important than that.
"I don’t know [if we will have talks in the summer], really I’m not thinking about that.
"I’m just trying to get the best out of the team, trying to cope with all the situations that we are facing at the moment. Things will happen naturally.”
Arteta has also dropped a hint that youngster Martin Odegaard is in contention to become the next captain of Arsenal.
Speaking during his Friday press conference ahead of Arsenal facing Leeds, Arteta told reporters: “He’s a very young player but already has a lot of experience at different clubs and international level.
“I agree in the last few weeks he’s getting close to his best level and the ceiling for him I don’t know where it is because of talent and desire he has and how much he wants to improve.
“We have a tremendous player.
“He is a natural leader if you look for perfect professional he wouldn’t be very far from that.”
- Kealan Hughes
No new deal for Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed he has held NO talks with the club about extending his contract at the Emirates.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Leeds, Arteta was asked whether he has held discussions with the Gunners over his future.
To which he said: "No, we haven’t discussed anything like that.
"I think we have many other priorities at the moment that are far more important than that.
"I don’t know [if we will have talks in the summer], really I’m not thinking about that.
"I’m just trying to get the best out of the team, trying to cope with all the situations that we are facing at the moment. Things will happen naturally.”
- Kealan Hughes
'A problem Arteta didn't need'
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has sent a warning message to Mikel Arteta and Edu over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
He told Sky Sports: "It's a problem and a problem Arteta didn't need, but now it's a big challenge for Arsenal to rebuild their attack and it is going to depend on some very clever and inspired recruitment.
"The striker position looks to be a gaping hole in the squad that needs to be filled, no matter what happened with Aubameyang and happens with the other strikers in the squad.
"I'm sure they are very busy in the recruitment department, the analysts and others scouring the world to see what is out there.
"Of course, it's harder to do that when it comes to a striker because everyone is after that next striker at a decent price, so they are going to have to be sharp in the transfer market."
- Kealan Hughes
'A way back' for Aubameyang
Arsenal chiefs will demand Mikel Arteta reintegrates Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang into the first-team squad, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker claimed Aubameyang’s mega wages will mean they will not let him sit on the sidelines for an extended period.
He said: "Something must have happened. But that’s Arteta’s choice. As club captain, you can’t be breaking the rules. It’s what is best for the club.
“There is a way back. It happened to [Granit] Xhaka, he lost the armband and came back and played.
“When you’ve got somebody earning what he is earning, the club will demand he is brought back in at some point. With the money, they are paying they will want to use him.
“He’s still one of their best players. I’m sure in due course he will be back involved.”
- Kealan Hughes
Sanchez over Aubameyang for Barcelona
Barcelona are reportedly in line to sign former attacker Alexis Sanchez on loan from Inter Milan in January, which could scupper a move for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
With finances tight, a loan deal seems the most likely option, and former Barcelona and Arsenal winger Sanchez is said to be close to joining on loan, with Luuk de Jong going in the opposite direction.
This is according to Sport, which reports there is an agreement in principle for the loan swap to go ahead.
- Kealan Hughes
Aubameyang Arsenal future in doubt
Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been offered to the three Italian giants in AC Milan, Inter and Juventus.
According to Rudy Galetti, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s intermediaries are currently at work on finding a new club for the forward.
it appears neither of the three teams has the financial power to meet Auba’s hefty wage packet, thus ruling them out of the race.
However, with a record of scoring 68 goals in just 128 Premier League matches, the former Dortmund star has no shortage of suitors.
In fact, the two Spanish giants in Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the clubs considering a move for the Arsenal forward
- Kealan Hughes
'One of the great players'
Takehiro Tomiyasu has sung the praises of Arsenal team-mate Gabriel Martinelli after his goalscoring display against West Ham.
He told the club's Youtube channel: "I think Gabi (Martinelli) is a great player.
"I made an assist for him against Newcastle. I thought it was too long a ball but he is fast and has the technique to score.
"I think he is one of the great players in the world."
- Kealan Hughes
Price set for Arsenal target
Arsenal are one of several clubs reportedly eyeing Yuri Alberto ahead of the January transfer window.
Arsenal have reportedly got in touch with Andre Cury, Alberto’s agent.
Goal.com have since provided an update, claiming the Brazilian club wants no less than £22million.
As well as the Gunners, Zenit St Petersburg and Shakhtar Donetsk are also eyeing the Internacional ace.
- Kealan Hughes
'A lot more to come'
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has backed Gabriel Martinelli to keep showcasing his ability, believing there is more to come from the youngster.
Talking to Sky Sports, Smith was full of praise for Martinelli, saying: “There's a lot more to come from (Gabriel) Martinelli, without question.
“He's had a difficult spell over the last year or 18 months or so. He had his injury, of course, and maybe his confidence has taken a hit, but he has come back into the fold and playing somebody like that out on the left is a way of bringing them back into the team.
“Maybe in time he will become a central striker, we'll have to wait and see on that one, but you think back to when he burst onto the scene, he was a revelation.
“I remember the game at Stamford Bridge where he ran half the length of the pitch and scored with a calm finish.
"There's a big talent in there for sure, and that shouldn't be ignored or discarded. I'm sure it won't be."
- Kealan Hughes
"Tierney has all the qualities"
Ian Wright has told the Kelly & Wrighty Show that Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney is the “outstanding candidate” for the Arsenal captaincy.
He said: "Tierney is the outstanding candidate. He lambasts people, he plays and leads by example.
"Tierney has all the qualities, he is someone Mikel will love and respect. He will do exactly what the manager wants."
- Kealan Hughes
'Would be a great signing'
Jack Wilshere believes Newcastle should sign former Arsenal player Aaron Ramsey.
He told talkSPORT: "He would be a great signing for them. It’s a massive club, Newcastle. He obviously had a successful spell at Arsenal, went to Italy, he hasn’t played as much as he wanted to.
"He’s probably wanting to get back here, he’s got a young family. He can go to a] big club, who are potentially going to be even bigger in the next four/five years."
- Kealan Hughes
Vlahovic 'could fit the bill'
Arsenal legend Alan Smith has backed the club to sign Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic if they are 'clever and quick' in January.
Mikel Arteta's side are understood to face competition from Manchester United and Tottenham in the race to secure his services.
Smith told Sky Sports: "Getting a proven Premier League striker is big bucks. Do Arsenal have that kind of cash?
"If they did fork out £60m or £70m it stops them from strengthening other areas of the team in the transfer market. They'd be putting all their eggs in one basket.
"I'd probably guess they'd go down the road of a younger player from Europe. Somebody like Dusan Vlahovic, who still won't be cheap, could fit the bill.
"Like I said before, a lot of clubs are after that type of striker so let's hope Arsenal can be clever and quick in the transfer market. They'll need to be."
- Kealan Hughes
'I'm not thinking about Arsenal'
William Saliba has spoken about what life was like at Arsenal, revealing his exlusion motivated him to improve.
In an interview with Eurosport he said: "I’m on loan. But I pretend I’m there for many years. I’m not thinking about returning to Arsenal [right now]. I give myself to Marseille. I don’t think about what will happen afterwards.
"There are hard times. I hadn’t played a game for six months.’
"You have to fight in a career. We must take that as a lesson to go further. It gave me a little slap to say: ‘You are nobody!’ You can be bought for 30 million euros, arrive in a club and we put you aside.’
"I took this experience by being positive. I feed on it. I know what it’s like not to play for six months. Today, I want to play every game."
- Kealan Hughes
'I'd expect him to impress'
Arsenal cult hero Jack Wilshere has been backed to return to the club on a short-term deal by former team-mate Emmanuel Frimpong.
Speaking to SunSport via Freebets.com, the 29-year-old insisted Wilshere would be one of the best midfielders at the club.
He said: "Why not? If it's for a month to give him a chance to prove himself.
"Obviously, Jack is very close to Mikel, but it’s going to be a big ask for Jack as he's not played all season. To come straight back into the Arsenal team, that’s a lot of pressure.
"People will be looking at him, expecting him to deliver and I don't think it's fair to put that much pressure on anyone, no matter how good a player Jack is.
"I'm not at the training ground but I’d expect him to be impressing in training – he’s still one of the most technically gifted and he's as good as any midfield player within the current Arsenal squad."
- Kealan Hughes
Keown wants Aubameyang welcomed back
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown is hoping that there is a pathway back for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Mikel Arteta left him out of the squad once again.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Keown said: “I understand why the captaincy was taken away from him but I feel a bridge should be built between the club, the manager and the player to get him back onto the pitch.
“The team did exceptionally well on Tuesday night, they’ve moved into the top four, but they’ve got Leeds away with lots of games over Christmas to come so you want him back in the fold as quickly as possible.
“I think back to the William Gallas situation when he was stripped of the captaincy. They gave him a pathway for him to come back into the team so I can’t see why that can’t happen here.
“I sincerely hope it’s not the club blocking Aubameyang coming back in. There’s got to be a path for the player to come back at some point.”
- Kealan Hughes
Gone from bad to worse
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been banished from Arsenal first-team training and will continue to be exiled from Mikel Arteta’s plans until the end of 2021 at the earliest.
The striker’s future at Emirates is looking increasingly bleak following the decision to strip him of the club captaincy on Monday, for what Arsenal called his ‘latest disciplinary breach’ after returning late from an agreed trip to France to collect his sick mum.
The Telegraph report the 32-year-old has not been involved in first-team training at the club’s London Colney HQ this week, a development that casts further doubt over his future in north London.
Instead, the striker has been training alone, away from the squad. Arteta confirmed on Friday that Aubameyang would not be considered for the weekend game versus Leeds and it is understood his non-inclusion in first-team affairs will continue until he leaves for Africa Cup of Nations duty at the end of the month.
- Kealan Hughes
Clubs battling for Arsenal star
Arsenal star Dinos Mavropanos is being targeted by clubs in the Bundesliga and Premier League, according to football.london.
The 24-year-old has impressed on loan at Stuttgart this season, where he's scored five goals for the German side this season.
Mavropanos is set to leave Arsenal permanently next summer, though the Gunners have a 10 per cent sell-on fee.
Borussia Dortmund and West Ham are both monitoring Mavropanos' progress in Germany, with a number of European clubs interested in signing the Greek international next summer.
Stuttgart paid a €500,000 loan fee for Mavropanos and they have an obligation to buy him for €3,000,000 next summer.
- Kealan Hughes
'Leeds will be feeling low'
Mark Lawrenson has backed Arsenal to leave Leeds United with all three points on Saturday evening at Elland Road.
Lawrenson has predicted that it will finish 2-1 to the Gunners, despite their poor away form becoming a problem.
He said: “Leeds will be feeling low after they were hammered by Manchester City on Tuesday, and injuries have taken their toll on Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
“So, although Arsenal’s away form has been decidedly ropey of late, I fancy them to get something at Elland Road.
“The Gunners still need to be more consistent on the road but they are up in fourth place, which is pretty much as good as they could hope for.
“Mikel Arteta’s side don’t always play well but they are rarely a pushover these days, which is a good sign.”
- Kealan Hughes
Life continues without star Aubameyang
Arsenal are looking to build on back-to-back Premier League victories when they travel to Elland Road to take on Leeds this weekend.
Now they are hoping to end a run of three away defeats on the bounce as they take on a Marcelo Bielsa side desperately lacking in confidence following a 7-0 hammering from champions Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta's men have recently suffered defeats on the road at the hands of Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton.
But they now occupy a Champions League place for the first time this season – even without former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
- Kealan Hughes
'He is a natural leader'
Mikel Arteta has dropped a hint that youngster Martin Odegaard is in contention to become the next captain of Arsenal.
Speaking during his Friday press conference ahead of Arsenal facing Leeds, Arteta told reporters: "He’s a very young player but already has a lot of experience at different clubs and international level.
"I agree in the last few weeks he’s getting close to his best level and the ceiling for him I don’t know where it is because of talent and desire he has and how much he wants to improve.
"We have a tremendous player.
"He is a natural leader if you look for perfect professional he wouldn’t be very far from that."
- Kealan Hughes
Striker search continues
Arsenal are actively looking for a new striker, and Arthur Cabral is on the club's transfer shortlist according to French outlet Jeunes Footeux.
The same outlet mentioned Arsenal’s interest in Jonathan David earlier this week, but they now add that the Gunners are also pursuing Arthur Cabral of FC Basel.
Cabral is in fantastic form this season, scoring 27 goals in all competitions before the turn of the year.
But Arsenal could be rivalled in their pursuit by Barcelona and Paris St Germain.
- Kealan Hughes
Gunner leave in January window?
Arsenal are exploring January loan options for Omar Rekik as they look to aid his development with first-team action, report The Athletic.
Rekik is highly thought of at London Colney and has been a key figure for Kevin Betsy’s youth side this season.
Two muscle tears halted the centre-back’s progress after his arrival in January 2020 from German side Hertha BSC, but he has played more regularly this campaign, making 13 appearances in all competitions.
- Kealan Hughes
Aubameyang successor
Ray Parlour wants Kieran Tierney to become Arsenal’s new skipper after Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang was stripped of the captaincy.
When asked who he would have as captain, Parlour told talkSPORT: "Tierney – that’s what I’d like to see.
"If [Aaron] Ramsdale was a centre-half, he’d be number one."
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