ARSENAL were close to doing a deal for Philippe Coutinho in the summer – but reports suggest the deal fell through at the last minute.
Meanwhile, we've the very latest on Mesut Ozil's future at the club while Jorginho has revealed he was open to a move across London in the summer.
Follow all the latest Arsenal transfer gossip, news and updates below…
- Joshua Mbu
SAY WAT?
Troy Deeney says he happily bumps into Arsenal stars in Sainsbury's and claims there are no hard feelings over his 'cojones' jibe.
The Watford hero famously accused the Gunners of lacking 'cojones' after inflicting a 2-1 defeat in 2017.
That came during Arsene Wenger's final season, when the North London club were screaming out for a change of leadership.
But despite questioning the Gunners' stars bravery and bravado, he insists there is no bad blood.
He said: “I see their players in Sainsbury’s or the petrol station and say hello, it’s nothing personal. I went up to them in the NBA game in London that year to make sure they knew that.
“People say it was revenge Arsenal relegated us but it was a really bad season and we just happened to get relegated there.
“I had a few memes from Arsenal fans and you take it on the chin.”
- Joshua Mbu
A FAMILY THING
Episode two of Ian Wright's series is out and on today's episode he speaks to Arsenal trio Aubameyang, new boy William Saliba and Hector Bellerin!
- Josh Graham
EXPLAIN THE MES
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere shed some light on Mesut Ozil's plight by revealing how 'draining' it is to be continually left out the side.
Wilshere is currently without a club after seeing his West Ham deal terminated by mutual consent this month.
Ozil hasn't played since March and was not included in Mikel Arteta's Prem or Europa League squads.
Wilshere told BBC Sport : “People will say what they want and footballers get paid well, but there is nothing more draining and saps your confidence more than when you know you are not going to play, that no matter what you do in training, or what the other players are doing, even if you lose 3-0, you are not going to get an opportunity.”
- Josh Graham
JOR-DROPPING
Arsenal were linked with a move for Chelsea's Jorginho at the back end of the transfer window.
And now the Brazilian Blues vice-captain has admitted he was 'open to negotiations'.
Jorginho told ESPN Brazil: “I believe that every player is open to negotiations. So I believe there was something they talked about. And in the end it was decided that I remain here.
“Now my head is here and we’re going to do a great job with Chelsea, which I always wanted to do.”
- Josh Graham
WEN I RULED
Arsene Wenger has revealed he could have quit Arsenal back in 2007 – 11 years before his exit.
Real Madrid, England and Paris Saint-Germain have courted the Frenchman.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Wenger revealed he was torn after his ally, former Gunners chief executive David Dein was axed by the club in 2007.
The Frenchman, known as Le Professeur, said: “Maybe when David Dein was sacked in 2007 that was the moment when I could have said bye-bye.
“I felt torn between my loyalty to the club and my loyalty to David. He asked me to stay but at first I didn’t feel comfortable with the idea.
“I didn’t understand why he had to go. But I knew as well that the club was going into a new stadium, the most sensitive period of its lifetime.
“I could have really hurt Arsenal had I left then. And I did have options. Real Madrid twice, Paris Saint-Germain two or three times, England two or three times. It was difficult.
“You want everybody to support you, and when they don’t it’s quite difficult. You do think, “Why am I here? Why am I doing this? What do I want to achieve?”
- Josh Graham
LEED TIME
Arsenal's November clash against Leeds has been moved back a day.
The Prem game was originally scheduled for Saturday November 21.
But it will now take place on Sunday, November 22.
THe game will kick off at 4.30pm live on Sky Sports.
- Josh Graham
TV TIMES
The Premier League has revealed the next batch of TV picks – without any word on which games will be shown on pay-per-view.
Manchester City v Liverpool is the biggest match scheduled to be live in the next phase of games, as the champions in the last two seasons go head-to-head.
That clash has been moved to November 8 and it will be part of a Sky Sports Super Sunday, kicking off at 4.30pm.
The earlier game that day will be Leicester against Wolves, the two sides who were battling for Champions League spots most of last term.
- Alan Scott
GOOD MORNING, GUNNERS FANS
Arsenal reportedly eyed a shock move for Philippe Coutinho over the summer.
But the deal fell through when Barcelona failed to sign a replacement.
Fabrizio Romano claims the Gunners were alerted to Coutinho's availability after his Bayern Munich loan ended.
Arsenal were keen on a deal but Ronald Koeman eventually blocked it after Barca struggled to find a new face to sign in Coutinho's place.
Meanwhile, Ainsley Maitland-Niles has revealed why he snubbed a move to Wolves over the summer.
The England international said: “There was a lot of speculation going around, but I chose to stay at the club I love.
“I am happy with my decision and I am sure the manager is happy that I stayed as well.
“It was about the manager having faith in me and him letting me know what’s going on and the situation.
“He did that and everything was fine in the end.”
Finally, Carlton Cole has tipped old side West Ham to make a shock January move for Arsenal outcast Mesut Ozil.
He told TalkSport: “West Ham have always liked those kind of players, those magician-like players.
“Arsenal would have benefitted from having him in their squad, but he clearly doesn’t fit in at the moment.”
- Anthony Chapman
EXCLUSIVE BY DAVE KIDD
Troy Deeney says he happily bumps into Arsenal stars in Sainsbury's and claims there are no hard feelings over his 'cojones' jibe.
SunSport’s latest star signing said: “I see their players in Sainsbury’s or the petrol station and say hello, it’s nothing personal.
“I went up to them in the NBA game in London that year to make sure they knew that.
“People say it was revenge Arsenal relegated us but it was a really bad season and we just happened to get relegated there.
“I had a few memes from Arsenal fans and you take it on the chin.”
- Anthony Chapman
EXCLUSIVE BY KARREN BRADY
Another week and another plot put forward to extract billions from football.
The latest comes in the form of a European Super League and based on a scheme for a fixed number of the most prestigious of European clubs to play in a new league of which five clubs will be invited to join from the Premier League.
So, one of the six have been dropped. I’d love to know which one.
But try as they might, I doubt this European Super League will ever get off the ground.
READ THE REST HERE
- Anthony Chapman
WHAT A MESS
Lionel Messi has been warned he will “damage” his reputation if he moves to the Premier League.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas told AFP: “We've been lucky to enjoy him for so many years but Messi should think very carefully about what he does next.
“If Messi left Barcelona, that reputation he has now and that has worked so well for him would be very damaged.
“It's true he could get a better offer financially but the reputation he has after more than 20 years, I think he has to hold onto that.”
- Anthony Chapman
NEW LOOK
Granit Xhaka believes he can form a great midfield partnership with new signing Thomas Partey.
Xhaka said: “He will be the guy who is important for me and as well for the team.
“Everyone in the club can be happy because he has great quality.
“He will bring a good mentality, a good balance in our game because this is what we need a bit more: the mentality to win.
“He played at Atletico Madrid, a different type of football, and he will bring a lot of good quality and mentality.”
- Anthony Chapman
SAL BE BACK
William Saliba could get the nod for Arsenal's clash against Leicester.
Thomas Partey may also be in line for a start after his man-of-the-match performance against Rapid Vienna.
Willian and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may flank Alexandre Lacazette in attack too.
- Anthony Chapman
COUT DOWN
Arsenal eyed a shock move for Philippe Coutinho over the summer.
But the deal fell through when Barcelona failed to sign a replacement.
Fabrizio Romano claims the Gunners were alerted to Coutinho's availability after his Bayern Munich loan ended.
Arsenal were keen on a deal but Ronald Koeman eventually blocked it after Barca struggled to find a new face to sign in Coutinho's place.
- Anthony Chapman
CHECK MAIT
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has revealed why he snubbed a move to Wolves over the summer.
The England international said: “There was a lot of speculation going around, but I chose to stay at the club I love.
“I am happy with my decision and I am sure the manager is happy that I stayed as well.
“It was about the manager having faith in me and him letting me know what’s going on and the situation.
“He did that and everything was fine in the end.”
- Anthony Chapman
PARTEY GUY
It was a man-of-the-match performance for Thomas Partey on his full Arsenal debut.
Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his new £40million signing after the 2-1 Europa League win against Rapid Vienna.
But will Partey get another start when the Gunners take on Leicester this weekend?
- Anthony Chapman
OZ FEST
Carlton Cole has tipped old side West Ham to make a shock January move for Arsenal outcast Mesut Ozil.
He told TalkSport: “West Ham have always liked those kind of players, those magician-like players.
“Arsenal would have benefitted from having him in their squad, but he clearly doesn’t fit in at the moment.”
- Anthony Chapman
RING MY BELL
Anyone else got that Friday feeling yet?
Hector Bellerin certainly does after coming off the bench to help secure Arsenal's 2-1 over Rapid Vienna last night!
- Richard Forrester
GETTING SHIRTY
Adidas have launched a new range of kits in collaboration with Pharrell Williams – but fans are split over the retro design.
Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have been given the treatment by the Humanrace creative director and musician.
Arsenal’s update came from the Gunners’ famous bruised banana away shirt, with the Bayern design also emanating from their early 90s kit.
Adidas collaborator Pharrell said of the range: “History is what shapes the future, and sometimes in order to look forwards, first we need to look back.
“The most important part of the process with this collection was to learn of each club’s legacies and how each defining moment of their histories were captured and preserved from a design perspective.
“Each of the new jerseys are symbols of the five club’s legacies and a true celebration of the universality of sport.”
- Richard Forrester
VARD TO STOP
Arsenal beware… Jamie Vardy is the Premier League’s ultimate Big Six Slayer – and the stats prove it.
The Leicester strike ace has scored more goals against the top sides than any other player over the past three years.
Vardy does it at a better rate than any rival, too.
In 34 top-flight matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, Vardy has found the net 21 times.
That works out at 0.62 goals per game – boosted by his hat-trick in the 5-2 win against Man City last month.
And he is even more deadly against the Gunners, with seven goals in his last six clashes with the North Londoners.
That bodes well for the Foxes as they prepare to take on Arsenal on Sunday night.
- Richard Forrester
ART OF DECEPTION
Mikel Arteta has been slammed by Mesut Ozil’s agent for failing to give an ‘honest explanation’ for the playmaker’s exile from the side.
The Gunners’ strong start to the season has been marred by an ongoing spat with the German.
And the player’s agent, Erkut Sogut, has pushed back against Arteta‘s claim that the coach had simply failed to get the best out of the midfielder.
Sogut told ESPN: “Arsenal fans deserve an honest explanation, not saying, ‘I failed Ozil’.
“You didn’t fail Ozil. You failed to be fair, honest and transparent and treat someone with respect who has a contract and was loyal all the time.
“Every single person outside knows he hasn’t treated him fairly. He didn’t give him a chance to show himself this season.
“If he is still under contract, the player should have the option to stay and fight for his place. Mesut hasn’t been given that.
“Everyone says he’s training well. Per Mertesacker said this publicly. I spoke with at least five team-mates who say he is training great.
“They say Mesut is one of their best players, and they cannot understand why he is left out. So it can’t be the training — if it is not the pitch, what are the footballing reasons?
“If you talk, you should tell the truth that the Arsenal fans deserve otherwise don’t talk at all.”
- Richard Forrester
NOT DON YET
Arsenal are keen to re-sign Donyell Malen despite selling him to PSV Eindhoven for just £540,000 in 2017, according to reports.
The 21-year-old's scintillating form for the Dutch side has seen the striker appear back on the Gunners' radar.
Malen has bagged 33 goals and 16 assists in 78 games for PSV.
And he could soon be on the way back to the Emirates, according to Dutch outlet Soccernews.
Malen spent two years in Arsenal's academy having joined from Ajax's Under-17s in 2015.
- Richard Forrester
GREAT MAIT
Ainsley Maitland-Niles revealed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta convinced him to stay in North London over the summer.
The 23-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Wolves to replace Matt Doherty who joined Jose Mourinho's Spurs for £15million.
Maitland-Niles said: “There was a lot of speculation going around, but I chose to stay at the club I love.
“I am happy with my decision and I am sure the manager is happy that I stayed as well.
“It was about the manager having faith in me and him letting me know what’s going on and the situation. He did that and everything was fine in the end.
“He just installed a lot of confidence in me that I had in myself, but maybe I didn’t know how to bring out. He has helped me do that.
“We work well as a team together and he knows how to get the best out of me, and now I am learning to get the best out of myself more regularly now.
“I can only thank him along the way and carry on the run of form we have had.”
- Richard Forrester
HEADING WEST?
West Ham could be the perfect destination for ‘magician-like’ Mesut Ozil, according to Hammers cult hero Carlton Cole.
Arsenal have cast Ozil out in the cold and former striker Cole reckons a spell in East London could benefit all parties.
Things between Ozil and the Gunners have got bitter with the playmaker branding them ‘disloyal’.
And Irons legend Cole reckons he would slot in just fine at his old club.
Asked whether Ozil would be a good fit at London Stadium, Cole told talkSPORT: “Of course.
“West Ham have always liked those kind of players, those magician-like players.
“Arsenal would have benefitted from having him in their squad, but he clearly doesn’t fit in at the moment.”
- Richard Forrester
HIGH RISK HIGH REWARD
Mikel Arteta is refusing to play it safe after Arsenal passed themselves into danger during their Europa League opener.
And he will continue to urge goalkeeper Bernd Leno to start attacks from the back despite last night’s nervous performance in Austria.
The German international’s howler gifted Rapid Vienna a 51st minute lead before goals from David Luiz and substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saved his bacon.
But though Leno continued to struggle with the ball at his feet, Arteta insisted: “If anything it’s my fault because I demand to do those things.
“But even though we conceded another late chance with a second misunderstanding at the back, I will keep encouraging Bernd to play it out in the right moments.
“It’s part of our game model but we need to understand when we can pass it out and when we should kick the ball into the stand.
“That’s a big part of what we are trying to do but to recognise that from the outside is much easier than to do it from the inside.
“We need a better understanding of where the pressure is coming from because you have a split second to make a decision and to make the right pass when the opponents are waiting for that.
“But Bernd has the courage to do it and we have been very successful doing it with the amount of goals we have scored in important games.
“So we will keep working on that because it’s necessary that the goalkeeper is involved in our build-up to play the way I want.”
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