ARSENAL are preparing for a return to Premier League action, but Mikel Arteta admits they have a number of transfer plans depending on how the coronavirus crisis turns out.
Meanwhile captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has reportedly received an approach from Real Madrid while the Gunners are also said to be willing to sell Alexandre Lacazette to Atletico.
Get all the latest Gunners news and gossip here…
VICTOR WANTED TO BE INSTANT WINNER
Lille sensation Victor Osimhen – now being linked with Manchester United – says he rejected Barcelona, Juventus and Arsenal in 2017 as he wanted regular football straight away.
The Nigeria striker, 21, instead joined Wolfsburg and now, via Belgian side Charleroi, is blitzing goals in France.
United loan star Odion Ighalo has tipped his international team-mate to break European scoring records.
And Osimhen told Independent UK: I spoke with Arsene Wenger after the tournament ended and he wanted me to come to Arsenal.
“I had a lot of options. Barcelona; Inter Milan; Atletico Madrid; Juventus and the rest.”
“Arsenal was a good option but it wasn’t the best at the time. I wanted to start playing as soon as I turned 18.
“I wanted to go to a place where I had time to invest in my game and improve physically. Wolfsburg showed me that possibility.”
MOST LETHAL GUNNERS
Jamie Carragher says Arsenal's Invincibles. were the toughest opponents he faced.
The former Liverpool and England defender was on the end of some nasty defeats to the Gunners back in the early noughties, thanks to Arsene Wenger's winning machine.
The 2005 Champions League winner said on Sky Sports: “I think that Arsenal team, the Invincibles – and two or three years around that, that would certainly be the toughest opponent I played at home and abroad.”
PAGE TURNER
Fans have been given their first look at Arsene Wenger's new book – with the Arsenal legend revealing the full inside story of his rise and fall at the Gunners.
The French boss' book Arsene Wenger: My Life In Red And White is set to be released on October 20 this year.
And fans are already speculating as to whether Wenger will “spill the beans” on a host of club secrets in the tell-all, 352-page book.
Wenger, 70, famously led the club to the best period in their history, including the 2003-04 Premier League-winning Invincibles.
WAGE TO GO
Arsenal are still talking to their own players over a 12-month pay cut, with no agreement yet in place.
The club want the players to take a 12.5 per cent cut to their wages.
On the players, a club statement read: “Over the past ten days we have been in discussions with them around the potential financial challenges ahead, and how we are planning for those now.
“These are productive and ongoing conversations around how our players might support their club in an appropriate way.”
GUNNER MAKE IT?
Arsenal are reportedly preparing a close-season move for French defensive prodigy Axel Disasi.
The Reims centre-back has shone this season to inspire his unfancied club to fifth before coronavirus halted the Ligue 1 programme.
Respected sports daily L'Equipe claims Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has been on Disasi's trail since early in January.
And the North Londoners are said to have maintained contact with the 22-year-old and his advisors since then.
Disasi has been dubbed Reims' find of the season after commanding a regular first-team place.
He has effortlessly replaced Bjorn Engels, who left for Aston Villa last summer – making 32 appearances and scoring once.
The Paris-born defender is rated at around £18million and is under contract until 2021.
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