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MIKEL ARTETA is plotting an overhaul at Arsenal with three Spanish stars on his summer transfer wishlist, but he admits the Gunners have a number of different plans depending on how the coronavirus crisis is resolved.

And the future of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still up in the air, with the FA president in his native Gabon calling on him to join a more ambitious club.

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

  • GUNNER CUT PAY

    Arsenal have told their players they can avoid salary cuts by qualifying for the Champions League.

    With the global coronavirus pandemic wreaking financial havoc, the Gunners are drawing up plans.

    They have been without match-day revenue – which plays a big part in covering their £230million annual wage bill – for over a month now with action suspended.

    And the Daily Telegraph say Arsenal have tentatively opened talks with their players over the idea of a wage cut – but the proposal did not meet with widespread approval.

  • MORNING ARSENAL FANS,

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should quit Arsenal for “a more ambitious club”, claimed the president of Gabon's FA.

    Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs that have been linked to the Gunners striker.

    Aubameyang has not won a trophy with Arsenal since he arrived from Borussia Dortmund in 2018.

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has insisted the Gabon international does not need to win titles to be considered as a world-class striker.

    But president of the Gabonese FA Pierre Alain Mounguengui has urged him to chase silverware elsewhere.

    He told ESPN: “I don't want to say that Arsenal aren't ambitious, but Arsenal don't have ambitions as high as some other clubs as far as Europe is concerned.”

    Juventus are in for Dani Ceballos.

    Ceballos is currently on a season-long loan with Arsenal from Real Madrid.

    This now adds to the queue for the youngster with the likes of Real Betis and Valencia also interested in swooping him up this summer.

    Meanwhile, Arsenal are still hopeful of tempting Willian to make the switch across London from Chelsea.

    Mundo Deportivo state that Barcelona are also keen on the Blues winger but are turning most of their focus towards fellow Brazilian Neymar.

  • PERFECT TENS

    Arsenal are interested in signing Napoli striker Dries Mertens this summer, according to a report by Il Mattino.

    The Belgium international is out-of-contract at the Italian giants at the end of the season and the Gunners are keen on signing him on a free-transfer.

    But the Gunners are not alone in their pursuit of the 32-year-old as Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are also keen on the attacker.

  • FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

    Hector Bellerin is wanted in Spain after eight years at Arsenal, according to the Mirror.

    The right-back is being courted by La Liga duo Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, with both aiming to lure him back to his home country.

    Bellerin is a popular figure at the Emirates, but with both Spanish sides having a greater chance of Champions League football than the Gunners, they will be hoping an ambitious bid for the former Barcelona academy prospect could yield results.

  • ART TO HEART

    Mikel Arteta has comforted pal Pep Guardiola after the heartbroken Manchester City boss lost his mother to the coronavirus.

    Guardiola is back at the family home in Barcelona following the death of 82-year-old Dolors Sala Carrio on Monday.

    And Arteta was among the first to offer his sympathy — having been English football’s firstCovid-19 sufferer last month.

    Arsenal boss Arteta, who spent four years as Guardiola’s right-hand man at City before replacing Unai Emery at the Emirates in December, said: “I have been in touch with Pep and it’s really sad news.

    “I know his family really well and I send my condolences to them all and hope that they can come through this all together.

    “He was worried about his parents before this happened because they are getting older, and they have been trying to isolate them.

    “Things are really complicated back in Spain at the moment. They have taken even stronger measures to deal with the situation and it is critical at the moment.”

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