ARSENAL finally return to action tomorrow night after nearly THREE weeks off.
And it's Wolves up for Gunners in the Premier League at Molineux.
Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka has again been linked with a move to Jose Mourinho's Roma this summer.
And Bruno Guimaraes has revealed why he snubbed Arsenal – saying he wanted to WIN the Champions League with Newcastle.
Keep up to date with all the latest Arsenal transfer news here at SunSport
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- Ian Tuckey
Lacazette stays skipper
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Alexandre Lacazette will remain as the club’s captain until the end of the season.
The 30-year-old inherited the armband from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the Gabon international was axed as skipper in December due to disciplinary issues.
And with the ex-Borussia Dortmund marksman leaving to join Barcelona, Arteta has addressed who his permanent successor is.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s away clash at Wolves, the Spaniard was asked if Lacazette will be captain until the summer.
To which he said: “Laca is the captain at the moment yes.”
Arsenal are likely to already be thinking about who their next skipper will be with Lacazette set to become a free agent.
The ex-Lyon ace has commented on what type of leader he is for the North London outfit, while also naming four potential successor’s for the captain’s armband.
He told Arsenal Media: “When you start the game, from the first man to come on the pitch, even during the game, the signal to give you the armband is a good moment."
- Ian Tuckey
Arsenal target Isak wants elite move
Alexander Isak fears Arsenal can’t fulfil his Champions League dreams, reports suggest.
The Real Sociedad striker is thought to be high up Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta’s list of targets after being snubbed by Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic joining Juventus.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure to Barcelona underlined Arteta’s need to boost his firepower.
But the Daily Mail say Sweden star Isak wants to play in Europe’s top domestic competition.
And Arsenal are currently sixth, two places off the qualification spots.
It’s understood the Gunners bid £57m for Isak in January.
But Sociedad stood firm by demanding the reported £74.7m release clause.
Credit: Getty - Ian Tuckey
Zouma video made me sick
DAVID SEAMAN: I’LL never forget how Arsenal manager George Graham used to tell us: “Remember who you are, where you are and who you represent.”
Kurt Zouma has very clearly lost sight of who he is representing and has really let his team down.
After The Sun published the video of him abusing that poor cat, so many fans were rightly disgusted.
To see him starting on Tuesday night horrified many Hammers supporters.
When me and my wife Frankie saw the video we felt sick.
We found it really hard to sleep that night. We’re relieved to hear his cats have been taken into care.
After The Sun published the video of him abusing that poor cat, so many fans were rightly disgusted.
To see him starting on Tuesday night horrified many Hammers supporters.
When me and my wife Frankie saw the video we felt sick. We found it really hard to sleep that night. We’re relieved to hear his cats have been taken into care.
Both of us have always had cats and now we have two rescues from Cats Protection — Willow and Smokey.
We also often foster pregnant and feral cats which we keep in their own room — some having been treated horribly in abusive situations. This episode really shows that, no matter who you are, abusing animals is never OK.
- Ian Tuckey
Would Dom answer Gunners' strike dilemma?
Everton ace Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s been hotly tipped with a move to Arsenal, and here’s how he compares to the Gunners’ current main striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Calvert-Lewin has missed most of this season through injury, meaning he has only made SIX league appearances this term.
However, it hasn’t stopped him from being level on goals with Arsenal talisman Lacazette whose also scored three times although he’s played 10 more games.
Both have scored three despite the Frenchman playing TEN more games.
Lacazette appears to be the more creative out of the two though, picking up three assists and playing 14 key passes to Calvert-Lewin’s five.
The 30-year-old – who has been linked with a move back to his old club Lyon when his contract expires – has also completed 14 more dribbles than the England international.
Calvert-Lewin is known for his dominance in the air, and it’s no surprise to see he has won 33 aerial duels to Lacazette’s 13.
- Ian Tuckey
Gunners eye Villa ace Luiz
Arsenal are ready to rev up their hunt for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz in the summer.
Villa reportedly rejected three bids for the Brazilian in January.
Tottenham have also been linked with the 23-year-old.
And it could mean the two fierce London rivals duelling for Luiz, possibly for around £32million.
Credit: Reuters - Ian Tuckey
Arteta: Laca stays skipper
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Alexandre Lacazette will remain as the club's captain until the end of the season.
The 30-year-old inherited the armband from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the Gabon international was axed as skipper in December due to disciplinary issues.
And with the ex-Borussia Dortmund marksman leaving to join Barcelona, Arteta has addressed who his permanent successor is.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday's away clash at Wolves, the Spaniard was asked if Lacazette will be captain until the summer.
To which he said: "Laca is the captain at the moment yes."
Arsenal are likely to already be thinking about who their next skipper will be with Lacazette set to become a free agent.
The ex-Lyon ace has commented on what type of leader he is for the North London outfit, while also naming four potential successor's for the captain's armband.
He told Arsenal Media: "When you start the game, from the first man to come on the pitch, even during the game, the signal to give you the armband is a good moment.
- Ian Tuckey
Isak 'wants Champions League club'
Alexander Isak fears Arsenal can’t fulfil his Champions League dreams, reports suggest.
The Real Sociedad striker is thought to be high up Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta’s list of targets after beign snubbed by Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic joining Juventus.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure to Barcelona underlined Arteta’s need to boost his firepower.
Credit: Getty But the Daily Mail say Sweden star Isak wants to play in Europe’s top domestic competition.
And Arsenal are currently sixth, two places off the qualification spots.
It’s understood the Gunners bid £57m for Isak in January.
But Sociedad stood firm by demanding the reported £74.7m release clause.
- Ian Tuckey
Azeez 'back home'
Arsenal midfielder Miguel Azeez has posted he is 'back home' after returning from his Portsmouth loan.
And striker Alexandre Lacazette was first to welcome him on social media, responding with: "Winneeeeer."
Credit: Getty - Ian Tuckey
Arteta: Gunners need more discipline
Mikel Arteta claims he wants to sign better-behaved players to help tackle Arsenal’s poor disciplinary record under him.
Arteta’s two-reign includes players picking up 14 red cards, including two in the past month – the worst record in the Premier League.
And he told the club website: “We played three games out of five with 10 men, and if that’s one of the things in the last 17 games that we continue to do, our chances to be where we are going to be really low.
“We need to maintain the togetherness. We have to keep improving our game model and we have to go game by game.”
Asked how he will tackle the problem, the Spaniard added: “First of all how we raise them throughout our academy, the type of characters that we build and that’s the best way to do it in that pathway.
“Then, in recruitment, the type of characters and personalities that you are signing and making sure that they are the right ones to fit within your culture and then the other one is living by example.
“So when you see certain behaviours daily, they become habits and those habits are easy to follow and once they’re integrated, I don’t think anybody can escape from that and try to do something different, because it gets exposed.”
- Ian Tuckey
Spurs ace Romero is toughest opponent
Arsenal transfer target Victor Osimhen claims Tottenham star Cristian Romero is the toughest defender he’s ever faced.
He said: “Romero, who is now at Tottenham. He was always faster than me every time we faced each other.
Romero, 23, arrived at Spurs from Atalanta last summer in a loan move with a £47m option to buy.
- Ian Tuckey
Garner be special
Former Arsenal left-back Armand Traore has backed Manchester United starlet James Garner to reach the top following his dazzling loan displays for Nottingham Forest.
The 20-year-old linked up with the Reds for the second half of last campaign where he scored four goals in 20 Championship games.
And after committing his long-term future to the Red Devils in August, the England youth international was sent back to the City Ground for the entirety of this term.
Garner has cemented himself as a key player under boss Steve Cooper, with the midfielder supplying one goal and three assists from 27 outings this term.
He starred in Forest’s 4-1 win against Leicester on Sunday where they dumped the FA Cup holders out at the fourth round stage.
Ex-Forest ace Traore told SunSport via Freebets.com, Traore said: “He’s an absolute baller. What a player! And he’s only 20. “You watch him play with such maturity, he reminds me of Xabi Alonso
“This guy makes everything simple and look so easy. He’s hard in the tackle, he’s not scared, his long-range passing, his short range passing is amazing.
“I’ve seen him score goals with both feet, what can he not do? I’d not be surprised if United tried recalling him, but that would a huge mistake for Garner if he did.”
- Ian Tuckey
Calvert-Lewin vs Lacazette
Everton ace Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s been hotly tipped with a move to Arsenal, and here’s how he compares to the Gunners’ current main striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Calvert-Lewin has missed most of this season through injury, meaning he has only made SIX league appearances this term.
However, it hasn’t stopped him from being level on goals with Arsenal talisman Lacazette whose also scored three times although he’s played 10 more games.
Both have scored three despite the Frenchman playing TEN more games.
Lacazette appears to be the more creative out of the two though, picking up three assists and playing 14 key passes to Calvert-Lewin’s five.
The 30-year-old – who has been linked with a move back to his old club Lyon when his contract expires – has also completed 14 more dribbles than the England international.
Calvert-Lewin is known for his dominance in the air, and it’s no surprise to see he has won 33 aerial duels to Lacazette’s 13.
- Ian Tuckey
Isak 'has Arsenal doubts'
Alexander Isak fears Arsenal can't fulfil his Champions League dreams, reports suggest.
The Real Sociedad striker is thought to be high up Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta's list of targets after beign snubbed by Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic joining Juventus.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure to Barcelona underlined Arteta's need to boost his firepower.
Credit: Getty But the Daily Mail say Sweden star Isak wants to play in Europe's top domestic competition.
And Arsenal are currently sixth, two places off the qualification spots.
It's understood the Gunners bid £57m for Isak in January.
But Sociedad stood firm by demanding the reported £74.7m release clause.
- Ian Tuckey
Mikel wants to sign better-behaved players
Mikel Arteta claims he wants to sign better-behaved players to help tackle Arsenal's poor disciplinary record under him.
Arteta's two-reign includes players picking up 14 red cards, including two in the past month – the worst record in the Premier League.
And he told the club website: "We played three games out of five with 10 men, and if that’s one of the things in the last 17 games that we continue to do, our chances to be where we are going to be really low.
"We need to maintain the togetherness. We have to keep improving our game model and we have to go game by game."
Asked how he will tackle the problem, the Spaniard added: "First of all how we raise them throughout our academy, the type of characters that we build and that’s the best way to do it in that pathway.
"Then, in recruitment, the type of characters and personalities that you are signing and making sure that they are the right ones to fit within your culture and then the other one is living by example.
"So when you see certain behaviours daily, they become habits and those habits are easy to follow and once they’re integrated, I don’t think anybody can escape from that and try to do something different, because it gets exposed."
- Ian Tuckey
Arteta tells Auba: I was the solution
Mikel Arteta has hit back at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by declaring he was ‘the solution’ in their turbulent relationship – NOT ‘the problem’.
Former Arsenal captain Aubameyang, 32, lashed out at Arteta after completing a shock free transfer to Barcelona on deadline day.
However, the Gunners gaffer has come out swinging in response, laying the blame for the breakdown in their relationship at Aubameyang’s feet.
Arteta declared: “I’m extremely grateful for what Auba has done at the club for his contribution since I have been here and the way I see myself in that relationship is the solution not the problem.”
- Justin Lawrence
Arteta on Balogun's loan exit
Mikel Arteta has explained why he decided to let Folarin Balogun go on loan to Middlesbrough in January's transfer window.
Arteta told Arsenal's media: "Well, again and with Flo especially and the amount of minutes that he played here, and the level that he shows when we could only play with the under 23s, it’s not fair.
"We want to develop that player, to maximise his potential – which is huge. We have to try to expose the player as quickly as possible to the level that he needs to be exposed.
"I was really confident that for him it was the right option, and he was convinced. So when that happens we have to let the player go, and evolve."
- Justin Lawrence
How Pepe can save Arsenal career
Kevin Campbell reckons Nicolas Pepe can save his Arsenal career if he sparks into action during the second half of the Premier League season.
And if he can't, Campbel doubts Pepe will have a future at the club.
He told Football Insider: “Pepe does have quality, we know that. But he is up and down in the Premier League. This is his third season at Arsenal. We’ve seen flashes of brilliance but no consistency.
“If he produces for the last half of the season then he may have a future at the club. I’m not holding my breath though.”
- Justin Lawrence
Lacazette names future Arsenal captains
Alexandre Lacazette has handpicked four teammates that he reckons can succeed him as Arsenal captain in future.
Lacazette thinks either of the Gunners centre-back's Ben White or Gabriel Magalhaes will do a good job as captain.
And he's also got faith in Albert Sambi Lokonga and Kieran Tierney's leadership abilities.
Lacazette said, reported by the Metro: "There is some future captains. Gabriel, big Gabi, has got presence, leadership at the back. I think when he’s going to be more fluent with English, it will help a lot.
"Ben White as well, he’s more quiet maybe, but by the way he plays he can be a good leader and maybe with edge can build up.
"Sambi Lokonga, but he’s already been a captain in the past so it’s not hard to say he can be a good captain.
"Kieran as well because I think he’s been a captain as well in the past for the national team a few times. You can see some future captains, or leaders."
- Justin Lawrence
Wolves star speaks on Arsenal match
Wolves star Toti Gomes is confident that his team can give Arsenal a run for their money when the two clubs face each other on Thursday.
Gomes told Wolves' media: "Of course, Arsenal are one of the best teams in the Premier League, we all know they have a good coach and good players.
“We have to look to our team and know we have good players and a good team, and we also can surprise them and go face to face with them.”
- Justin Lawrence
Calvert-Lewin vs Lacazette
Everton ace Dominic Calvert-Lewin's been hotly tipped with a move to Arsenal, and here's how he compares to the Gunners' current main striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Calvert-Lewin has missed most of this season through injury, meaning he has only made SIX league appearances this term.
However, it hasn't stopped him from being level on goals with Arsenal talisman Lacazette whose also scored three times although he's played 10 more games.
Both have scored three despite the Frenchman playing TEN more games.
Lacazette appears to be the more creative out of the two though, picking up three assists and playing 14 key passes to Calvert-Lewin's five.
The 30-year-old – who has been linked with a move back to his old club Lyon when his contract expires – has also completed 14 more dribbles than the England international.
Calvert-Lewin is known for his dominance in the air, and it's no surprise to see he has won 33 aerial duels to Lacazette's 13.
- Justin Lawrence
Who's the fastest
Arsenal transfer target Victor Osimhen claims Tottenham star Cristian Romero is the toughest defender he’s ever faced.
He said: “Romero, who is now at Tottenham. He was always faster than me every time we faced each other.
Romero, 23, arrived at Spurs from Atalanta last summer in a loan move with a £47m option to buy.
- Justin Lawrence
Arsenal's potential Wolves line-up
Arsenal return to Premier League action on Thursday following the winter break as they travel to Wolves.
They resume their campaign with a couple of injury concerns, most notably right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu who is still struggling with a calf problem he picked up back in December.
Cedric Soares is also a worry, but Arteta will be hoping one of the pair can start the game.
But the Spanish manager will welcome back Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey as the return from suspension.
Gabriel Martinelli has been preferred to Emile Smith Rowe on the left in recent times – while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is no longer an option following his move to Barcelona.
Bukayo Saka will almost certainly start, but whether or not Nicolas Pepe is selected will likely impact which flank the England star occupies.
Smith Rowe could also play as Arsenal's No10, but Martin Odegaard is expected to retain that position.
Current skipper Alexandre Lacazette is set to lead the line up front.
- Justin Lawrence
Arteta hits back at Aubameyang
Mikel Arteta has hit back at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by declaring he was ‘the solution’ in their turbulent relationship – NOT ‘the problem’.
Former Arsenal captain Aubameyang, 32, lashed out at Arteta after completing a shock free transfer to Barcelona on deadline day.
However, the Gunners gaffer has come out swinging in response, laying the blame for the breakdown in their relationship at Aubameyang’s feet.
Arteta declared: “I’m extremely grateful for what Auba has done at the club for his contribution since I have been here and the way I see myself in that relationship is the solution not the problem."
- Justin Lawrence
Arteta's faith in Lacazette and Nkietah
Mikel Arteta has placed his faith in Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nkietah to lead Arsenal's front-line after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exit to Barcelona.
And Arteta has no intention of rushing to find a replacement for Aubameyang if the player isn't the right fit for the club.
He told Arsenal's media: "We have three strikers. We have Laca and we have Eddie with us and they are both more than capable of scoring goals and they have shown that over the years with us.
"Again, when we have to replace or improve the squad, it can only be with a player that we are certain of.
"Fist of all, that they're the right person and the right character to join and then they're a player with the quality to straight away impact the performance of the team and our capacity to build a future around him as well."
- Justin Lawrence
Arteta opens up about Aubameyang transfer
Mikel Arteta has revealed that Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang's move to Barcelona was the best thing for all parties.
And now Aubameyang's gone to Spain, Arteta's fully focused on the future.
He told Arsenal's media: "I think it ended up in the best possible way for everybody.
"I think when things change and the context changes, this is part of football. What we did yesterday or a month ago is not relevant.
"It's what we're doing today and what we're going to be able to do in the future and you have to make the decisions and we all made the decision that the best thing to do was to move on and now he plays for Barcelona."
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