ARSENAL are still waiting for news on Project Restart as the Premier League looks to get back on its feet.
Meanwhile Unai Emery has revealed that Wilfried Zaha would be an Arsenal player and Nicolas Pepe elsewhere if he had had his way last summer.
Follow all the very latest updates and gossip from the Emirates below…
GOOD MORNING GOONERS,
Aaron Ramsey wanted to sign a new deal at Arsenal but didn't feel valued “financially” by the club, says recently-axed former boss Unai Emery.
He told The Guardian: “[Initially] he wanted to stay.
“He needed to negotiate a new contract and they didn’t reach an agreement. The club had doubts about renewing for a certain sum.
“Ramsey wanted to feel valued. It was a financial matter; I can’t get involved. And I still didn’t know him well when I arrived. He’s important but I can’t say what they should pay him.”
That’s not all the ex-gaffer had to say as he also revealed he wanted WIlfried Zaha rather than Nicolas Pepe last summer.
Meanwhile, Gooners everywhere are praying for club legend Kenny Sansom.
He is fighting for his life after allegedly being beaten up in a drunken fight.
The 61-year-old is being treated at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital after falling and seriously injuring his head during the row.
Stay right here with Sun Sport for all the very latest Arsenal news.
YOU MES-SED UP
Mesut Ozil could have been the Arsenal captain, but the dressing room didn't want him to be, claims Unai Emery.
He told the Guardian: “I wanted a high level of participation and commitment in the dressing room. I respected him and thought he could help.
“He could have been a captain but the dressing room didn’t want him to be.
“That’s not what I decided; that’s what the players decided.
“Captains are ones who have to keep defending the club, the coach, teammates.”
REAL DREAM
Dani Ceballos may currently be at Arsenal, but he still wants to become a regular for his parent club Real Madrid.
The Gunners have already expressed their lack of interest in extending the loan spell for Los Blancos man.
Now the midfielder is hoping to be part of Zinedine Zidane’s team next season.
He said: “I am happy and I have a contract with Real Madrid. I am 23 years old, I have still got so much to offer.
“Now I feel much more a player and I am prepared for any challenge that comes my way.”
'HE BEAT US ON HIS OWN'
Unai Emery says he was desperate to sign Wilfried Zaha but the Arsenal board overruled him and snapped up Nicolas Pepe instead.
Emery told the Guardian: “We signed [Nicolas] Pepe. He’s a good player but we didn’t know his character and he needs time, patience.
“I favoured someone who knew the league and wouldn’t need to adapt. Zaha won games on his own: Tottenham, Manchester City, us. Incredible performances.
“I told them: ‘This is the player I know and want.’ I met Zaha and he wanted to come.
“The club decided Pepe was one for the future. I said: ‘Yes, but we need to win now and this lad wins games.’ He beat us on his own.
“It’s also true he was expensive and Palace didn’t want to sell. There were a series of decisions that had repercussions.”
PRAY FOR KENNY
Arsenal legend Kenny Sansom is fighting for his life after allegedly being beaten up in a drunken fight.
The 61-year-old is being treated at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital after falling and seriously injuring his head during the row.
The Mail Online report Sansom has been unable to help police with their enquiries. A tweet from the former England international read: “Kenny is currently ill in hospital. He is being well cared for and does not have COVID-19.
“Kenny’s family and close friends kindly ask the media to respect his and their privacy, plus that of the healthcare workers treating Kenny.”
SHKOD GOALS
Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has praised Mikel Arteta’s coaching after taking over as Gunners boss.
The German said: “He's a little like a professor. He knows exactly where he wants the players to be when on the ball and how to react when losing the ball. It's very special.
“When I pass I am usually only focused on where to be if we lose the ball but he wants me to contribute offensively too.
“So we constantly need to make an option for the player on the ball.
“When you are 28 and you play in different countries with other coaches you think you know everything but then he came in and there are things I've never known before.”
WILF-FUL THINKING
Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery has revealed he would have preferred to sign WIlfried Zaha rather than Nicolas Pepe last summer.
The Spaniard, who was axed in December, told The Guardian: “We signed [Nicolas] Pepe.
“He’s a good player but we didn’t know his character and he needs time, patience.
“I favoured someone who knew the league and wouldn’t need to adapt.
“[Wilfried] Zaha won games on his own.”
FIRST DAY
Thierry Henry has revealed what he said to Arsene Wenger on Cesc Fabregas’ very first day at Arsenal.
Speaking to Fabregas on Puma Football’s Instagram, Henry said: “I remember the first time you trained with us and I looked at you… I’m sorry I had a bad haircut but that haircut you had was pretty bad.
“I looked at you and in those days the shirts were too big for anyone but on you it was like you had a dress on it was so big.
“I looked at the boss and said: ‘Who the hell is this?!’ and he said ‘Oh it’s the kid he won the World Cup with the U17s’ and I went ‘Oh that’s him he finished best player or top scorer or whatever it was’.
“So I remember people were talking about you. I saw you coming and man… I saw you and then the team it was you against Patrick [Vieira] and Gilberto [Silva] and went ‘oh my gosh all the very best’ but then you started moving the ball around, playing one-twos.
“People like Patrick and Gilberto couldn’t get near you and that’s when we knew you could play with us straight away. Then you go and score in the Carling Cup and the rest is history.”
TOP BAR
Arsenal have allegedly contacted Inter Milan over Nicolo Barella – a player highly-rated by the legendary Andrea Pirlo.
The star came through the ranks at hometown club Cagliari and moved to the San Siro on a year-long loan deal with an obligation to buy with a four-year permanent contract kicking in thereafter.
But Mikel Arteta is keen to try and bring the 23-year-old to the Emirates once the summer window opens.
In late 2018, Pirlo said of Barella: “He is one of the best players in Italy. So in the national team he has to play.”
EASY RVPEASY
Robin van Persie revealed he left Arsenal for Manchester United as he wanted to play for a team that “knew how to win”.
The striker only lifted the FA Cup during his eight-year spell with the Gunners from 2004 until 2012.
He told Premier League productions: “Ferguson made the difference for me in my choice to choose Manchester United.
“Because of the way he manages, the stories I heard, because of the players that were there.
“I really wanted to win and when I look at that team of [Ryan] Giggs, [Michael] Carrick, [Paul] Scholes, [Nemanja] Vidic, [Rio] Ferdinand they were all winners, they won it all.
“I was in that period of my life where I felt like a winner but I wasn't so I had to win.”
OUCH
Ex-Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has revealed how he has lost around £6 million on poker ever since he started playing as a teen.
But despite his massive losses, the Danish international striker insists he does not have a “problem” although he admits he has lowered his stakes nowadays.
Bendtner said: “I have lost lots of money – a totally unrealistic amount.
“I’ve played a lot of poker in my life. I've been playing against a professional poker player since I was 19.
“It is difficult to put an amount on how much I have lost, but it is around 50 million Danish crowns – £6m.
“This was on gambling, fun and trouble. I wouldn't say I've had a gambling problem at all. I've always been able to control it.
“However in the past I played in really big games. One night in London things got out of control, and they could have ended up really wrong.
“It ended up not so badly. It was something I could have lived with. But from that night on, playing in high-stake games has been over for me.
“Since then I have chosen to play for far smaller amounts. Now I mostly play for the sake of the game.
“I’m due to host a poker night with a new group of friends. We just put in 100 crowns – £12 – each.”
CHOPSHOT
Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has revealed the inspiration behind his famous “chopshot”.
He bounces his shot off the floor as opposed to a conventional chip shot and it has proved successful on numerous occasions.
The German World Cup winner scored against both Crystal Palace and Bournemouth last season with the manoeuvre and also famously versus Liverpool back in 2017.
Ozil said: “If I’m running in front of the goal and the goalkeeper is jumping like that, sometimes if you make a chip the defender can run and clear it.
“If you chip the ball it will go slowly to the goal, if you do it like this it’s still a chip but quicker. “If you do it like that with power so the ball is going over the goalkeeper, don’t forget they are always jumping to the left or right.
“If you show them you will shoot and they are jumping they will never expect that.”
TOR DE FORCE
Lucas Torreira is keen on a move back to Italy after Mikel Arteta put him in a “bad mood”, his agent has said.
Pablo Bentancur told Tuttomercato: “Lucas had been in a bit of a bad mood over some technical differences, then he recovered.
“And the injury arrived, fortunately less serious than expected.
“Today he is completely recovered, I believe he will be a market man,
“I will have to speak to Arsenal. The player would love to return to Italy, but it must be acknowledged that Arsenal treated him very well and behaved great.”
JOE’S LOVE
Arsenal starlet Joe Willock has hinted there is no other club he would rather play for.
The 20-year-old has risen through the academy to become a first-team regular and has clocked up 32 appearances this season.
Now he has told Soccer Bible on Instagram he could not think of anywhere better for him to play.
He said: “Playing for Arsenal is a dream come true.
“It’s my childhood club and a club that I’ve loved ever since I could play football.
“To play for the first-team is amazing and I can’t wait until we’re winning trophies again and we’re shining at the top.”
TAG, YOU’RE IT
Arsenal's long-term transfer target Nicolas Tagliafico has reportedly told Ajax he wants a move to chase “bigger dreams” in a top league.
The Argentina ace has evolved into one of Europe's best left-backs since arriving at the Johan Cruyff Arena in 2018.
Tagliafico has clocked up 38 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch champions this season, bagging five goals and seven assists in the process.
He shone in Ajax's run to the semi-finals of the Champions League last year but now it seems he is ready to move on to pastures new.
TUSCAN SON
Lucas Torreira would “love” a move back to Italy at some point, according to his agent.
But Pablo Betancur has warned any potential Serie A suitors the North London club have kept him very happy so far.
The representative told TuttoMercatoWeb: “I will have to talk to Arsenal.
“The player would love to return to Italy.
“But it must be acknowledged that Arsenal treated him very well and he’s behaved great.”
SMASH 'N RAB
Arsenal are reportedly looking to snare Adrien Rabiot away from Juventus at the end of the season with Mikel Arteta a huge fan of the midfielder.
The 25-year-old – who joined the Old Lady last summer after running his contract down at Paris Saint-Germain – looks set to leave the Serie A side after just 24 games.
Manchester United are also believed to be interested in luring the Frenchman to the Premier League, with the player keen to play in England.
And such is his desire to leave Juventus, Rabiot is said to have went on strike in France and is refusing to return to Turin after being left unhappy over his £7million pay-cut.
According to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, the Gunners are prepared to offer him an escape route out of Juventus.
They state that the North London giants failed in an attempt to bring the five-time Ligue 1 winner to the Emirates in loan in January after a move was blocked.
HEN PECKED
Thierry Henry joked that Cesc Fabregas’ shirt was too big for him during his first Arsenal training session, aged just 16.
Henry said in a chat with Fabregas on Puma Football’s Instagram page: “I remember the first time you… I looked at you and in those days the shirts were too big for anyone but on you it was like you had a dress on it was so big.
“I looked at the boss and said: ‘Who the hell is this?!’ and he said ‘Oh it’s the kid he won the World Cup with the U17s’ and I went ‘Oh that’s him he finished best player or top scorer or whatever it was’.
“So I remember people were talking about you.
“I saw you coming and man…I saw you and then the team it was you against Patrick [Vieira] and Gilberto [Silva] and went ‘oh my gosh all the very best’ but then you started moving the ball around, playing one-twos.
“People like Patrick and Gilberto couldn’t get near you and that’s when we knew you could play with us straight away.
“Then you go and score in the Carling Cup and the rest is history.”
WHAT THE L?
The Gunners have dropped the 'L' from their name to celebrate the Invincibles.
ON THIS DAY
In 2004… well, need we remind you?
All of 26 wins and 12 draws and ZERO defeats later, this moment came.
But it's 16 years since the last title, which feels like a lifetime ago.
INVINCIBLES 'SO SPECIAL'
Gary Neville has paid tribute to Arsenal's 2003-04 Invincibles, revealing that they forced Manchester United to change their tactics.
The former Old Trafford ace said: “I think, to be fair, you always think you're going to lose a game in the Premier League, a game that catches you out.
“To keep your concentration and focus for a whole season, to go unbeaten, is so special.
“The Invincibles team were a brilliant team, so difficult to play against.
“There's not many teams who made Manchester United to change the way they play, but that team made us change the way we play.
“We had to adapt to them because they were so good.”
BY GEORGE!
One Arsenal fan has shared George Graham's programme notes from his first game as Gunners boss.
The Scot, now 75, took over at Highbury in 1986 and took charge of his first game against another of his former clubs, Manchester United.
He said: “What I want to achieve at Highbury is obvious; an effective team, challenging for honours and playing attractive football.
“As a new manager, I’m in the process of bringing my ideas into the club and assembling the squad of players I want.
“I shan’t put pressure on myself by setting a time limit to get that done – but obviously the sooner the better.”
Two First Division titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup Winners' Cup later, Graham did a top job… and you'll never guess what the score was in his first game?
BITTER TASTE
A whopping 700,000 pints of beer could be wasted at London's football stadiums – because there's no one to drink it.
Seven thousand kegs of beer are sitting unused across Wembley, the Emirates, Craven Cottage and the London Stadium, worth £3million in sales.
An industry source said: “Stadiums usually stock up on four games worth of beer in advance.
“Its thought £500,000 worth of beer will go to waste by July in the London stadiums as no-ones there to drink it.“
Another issue for stadiums is the beer lines from kegs to pumps won’t have been cleaned since coronavirus lockdown – so some stagnant beer and water will have been left in them.
Last month it was revealed 50million pints of beer will go to waste if pubs remain closed into the summer.
CESC’S FIRST DAY
Thierry Henry has revealed what he said to Arsene Wenger on Cesc Fabregas’ first day at Arsenal.
Speaking to Fabregas on Puma Football’s Instagram, Henry said: “I remember the first time you trained with us and I looked at you… I’m sorry I had a bad haircut but that haircut you had was pretty bad.
“I looked at you and in those days the shirts were too big for anyone but on you it was like you had a dress on it was so big.
“I looked at the boss and said: ‘Who the hell is this?!’ and he said ‘Oh it’s the kid he won the World Cup with the U17s’ and I went ‘Oh that’s him he finished best player or top scorer or whatever it was’.
“So I remember people were talking about you. I saw you coming and man… I saw you and then the team it was you against Patrick [Vieira] and Gilberto [Silva] and went ‘oh my gosh all the very best’ but then you started moving the ball around, playing one-twos.
“People like Patrick and Gilberto couldn’t get near you and that’s when we knew you could play with us straight away. Then you go and score in the Carling Cup and the rest is history.”
MORNING, ARSENAL FANS
You wouldn't put your shirt on Dani Ceballos staying at Arsenal next season – but you might have a little wager on Mauro Icardi coming in.
Loanee playmaker Ceballos says he will be “happy” to return to Real Madrid to see out his contract.
But Icardi’s wife Wanda Nara fuelled rumours of a switch to the Emirates by sharing with her 6.5 million Instagram followers a snap of their son wearing a Gunners top.
The Argentina striker, 27, has been on loan at PSG from Inter Milan but speculation is rising he could be part of a swap deal involving Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners are also reportedly back in the hunt for PSG'S attacking midfielder Julian Draxler.
Fussball Transfers say the Gunners have reached out for “information” on the Germany ace, 26, who is already said to have rebuffed AC Milan.
Meanwhile, another player long linked with the Gunners has hinted he fancies a move.
Argentina left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, 27, said: “Ajax is an amazing club but the Eredivisie is not an amazing competition. One should always have bigger dreams.”
And the latest on RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano is that Barcelona are set to quell their spending – although it still seems most likely the Frenchman will stay put this summer.
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