ARSENAL cruised past Norwich as they hit four against the Premier League's bottom club.
And Atletico Madrid, rather conveniently, are reported to be interested in Matteo Guendouzi, while Arsenal still want Atleti's Thomas Partey.
Follow all the latest Arsenal news and transfer gossip below…
BANNED WORDS
Sky Sports have added the phrase “nitty gritty” to their list of banned words due to its “slavery links”, per a leaked email.
The broadcasting giants have been putting together a list of words and phrases they fear could offend.
Match reporters and commentators are said to have been sent the message in a bid to ensure they are aware of the connotations particular phrases have.
And “nitty gritty” has emerged as one such phrase that must be avoided.
While there is some debate over the origin of the phrase, it's believed it refers to the debris left after a slave ship was emptied.
However, the list of banned words is said to have sparked uproar amongst some Sky Sports staff – who claim they now face an “absolute minefield” every time the go on air.
GOOD MORNING ARSENAL FANS
Well what a day Wednesday was for Gunners supporters!
The North London giants are up to seventh in the Premier League table after thumping Norwich 4-0 at the Emirates.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang banged in a double, and in doing so brought up 50 Premier League goals quicker than any previous Arsenal player.
Granit Xhaka also got on the score sheet, as well as debutant Cedric Soares who drilled home from outside the box.
Fans were already in a jolly mood before the game after it was announced that academy graduate Bukayo Saka has penned a long-term deal at the club.
The 18-year-old's previous deal was due to expire next year, leading to speculation he could be sold in the summer.
But the futures of Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi continue to look uncertain after they were left out of the squad that beat the Canaries.
In other news, Arsenal have refused to allow William Saliba to stay at St Etienne on loan because the French club would not give them assurances over his long-term fitness.
Now the disappointed teenager will miss this month’s French Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain.
And finally, Arsenal are considering a straight swap with Lyon for Memphis Depay and Alexandre Lacazette, according to Le10Sport.
The former Manchester United winger left Old Trafford for the Ligue 1 side in 2017 and has 14 goals and 2 assists in all competitions this season.
ARSENAL RATINGS
Dani Ceballos – 7
Yet another performance that exaggerated why Mikel Arteta needs to secure his signature permanently.
He bossed the midfield as he tore Norwich apart with his precision passing and tough tackling.
In the first half, he won all of his aerial duels, racked up the most interceptions and won the most fouls.
Granit Xhaka – 8
The midfielder silenced his critics as he doubled Arsenal's tally before half time.
He picked up the ball in the box before he buried his strike in the far corner from a tight angle.
Xhaka, who was booed off the pitch and stripped of captaincy in October, now looks back to his best under Arteta's watchful eye.
He even put on the armabdn after Aubameyang was replaced by Nicolas Pepe.
Kieran Tierney – 8
The former Celtic star tormented Norwich's defence when he bombed up the left wing.
He threaded the ball through to Aubameyang before Xhaka's strike made it 2-0.
Reiss Nelson – 6
It was a quiet display from the 20-year-old, but he did show glimpses of brilliance when he had the ball at his feet.
In the first half, he registered 100 per cent passing accuracy and created the most chances.
But he was hauled off and replaced by Joe Willock in the 57th minute.
Alexandre Lacazette – 4
The striker looked like Arsenal's weakest link at the Emirates.
He was dropping back to hunt for possession – which left Aubameyang isolated up top.
Lacazette missed a headed effort in the first half then he sent a left-footed strike wide of the woodwork from close range.
Pepe will be expecting to start against Wolves after that performance from Laca.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 9
The striker made Arsenal history when he slotted home the opener in the 33rd minute.
He scored 50 Premier League goals for the Gunners in fewer games than any other player.
Aubameyang forced Tim Krul into making a imstake before he slotted the ball into an empty net.
The striker then put the game to bed as he made it 3-0 to the Gunners in the 67th minute.
ARSENAL RATINGS
Emiliano Martinez – 7
Arsenal's No2 keeper was almost left red-faced after Ben Godfrey went for goal with a long ditstance strike in the early stages.
But luckily for the 27-year-old, he was saved by the woodwork.
The long-serving Gunner made a string of good saves including his effort to stop Kenny McLean's free kick.
Shkodran Mustafi – 5
Mustafi put in a solid display in the first half, but he was swapped for Rob Holding during the interval.
Norwich posed very few threats going forward, but the centre-half managed to clear the danger every time they came close.
David Luiz – 6
The Brazilian is on a mission to redeem his reputation after his horror show against Manchester City.
And tonight he showed his team-mates exactly what he can bring to the team.
For Arsenal's second goal, he fired an inch-perfect long ball up the pitch to the feet of Tierney.
Sead Kolasinac – 5
Norwich called for a penalty after Kolasinac collided with Todd Cantwell inside of the area.
There was contact, but VAR confirmed the referee's decision to not award a penalty was the right one.
Hector Bellerin – 5
The Frenchman looked dangerous as he pressed up the pitch on the right hand side.
He enjoyed his share of possession, but failed to feed the strikers as much as he should have done.
In the eighth minute he had the perfect chance to pull the back to Aubameang, but wasted the opportunity and his cross was blocked.
ART DEALER
FULL-TIME
It's all over at the Emirates and Arsenal have run riot in North London.
A fantastic performance from the hosts has lifted them up to seventh in the Premier League table.
For Norwich, they remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
ARSENAL 4-0 NORWICH
Cedric Soares has scored on his debut and what a strike it was too!
The right-back took fire from outside the box and it nestled in the bottom right corner.
Remarkable!
ARSENAL 3-0 NORWICH
It's Aubameyang again and that's surely game over!
The ex-Brussia Dortmund striker latched on to a misplaced pass from Norwich forward Josip Drmic to slot past Krul.
A huge relied for Arsenal as Norwich were enjoying a lot of possession.
ARSENAL 2-0 NORWICH
We are back underway at the Emirates!
Will Arsenal retain their lead or will Norwich fight their way back?
HALF-TIME
The Gunners go into the break two goals to the good thanks to strikes from Aubameyang and Saka.
Mikel Arteta will be delighted by the performance from his side, but know they have to defend this lead.
Norwich almost equalised on the stroke of half-time, but Emiliano Martinez expertly tipped behind a free-kick.
ARSENAL 2-0 NORWICH
What a strike from Granit Xhaka!
David Luiz found Kieran Tierney with a fantastic pass, with the left-back then slipping in Aubameyang.
He then cut the ball back for Xhaka who smashed the ball through Tim Krul's legs.
Brilliant performance so far from the Gunners.
ARSENAL 1-0 NORWICH
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has broken the deadlock!
It is exactly the same goal that Eddie Nketiah scored against Southamton last week.
The Gabon striker pounced on Tim Krul and tapped home into an empty net.
Goals don't come simpler than that.
GAME ON
Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole and Martin Keown have all chosen to keep wearing Black Lives Matter badges tonight.
Their decision came after fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp ditched his BLM badge in the wake of controversial tweets by the movement.
Ferdinand and Cole were part of Sky's coverage while Martin Keown was part of BT Sport's coverage.
Black Lives Matter UK has come under recent scrutiny after it shared tweets about Israel and defunding the police.
Jamie Redknapp was joined by colleagues Gary Neville, Patrice Evra and Kelly Cates in not wearing the badge last night.
KICK-OFF
We are underway at the Emirates!
Both sides are desperate for points as Arsenal strive towards European qualification.
While the Canaries need a win to boost their survival hopes.
KEEP UP TO DATE
Follow the SunSport match blog between Arsenal and Norwich for all the updates at the Emirates.
Click HERE to follow the action.
MASTER-FUL
The Premier League has offered itself up as a nationwide “guinea pig” to lead the way back for fans at sports events.
League chief executive Richard Masters revealed he had told the Government-backed cross-sport working group that football will try out any dry runs that could open up the turnstiles.
Masters said he was open to any scheme that would allow fans back, while a working group of top clubs hopes to confirm its own options soon.
And the League boss made it clear that allowing fans back into Prem grounds would be critical in giving the top flight clubs the chance to help teams lower down the football pyramid.
Masters said: “The thing that is missing from professional football from the Premier League is the fans. I don't want to labour the points but the sooner we can get them back inside the stadiums,the better.
“The most important factor for the football economy to return to normal is the return of spectators. Football is willing to play its part in that and to offer up its own ideas and technical solutions.
“But we are also keen to act as a test pilot or a guinea pig for different concepts so that football and other sports can benefit.
“We want to see what will work effectively, keep fans safe and speed up the process in a safe and appropriate way.
TEAM NEWS
The Arsenal XI to face Norwich is out, and once again Mesut Ozil has been left out of the side!
Four changes have been made from the side that beat Sheffield United 2-1 on Sunday.
SORRY SAKA
Bukayo Saka has apologised to Arsenal fans after it took so long for his contract extension to be announced.
Speaking to Arsenal Digital, he said: “I just want to say that I'm sorry it's taken this long, you know. I've seen how much it means to the fans.
“Over this time I've seen how passionate they are, how loving they are and it just means everything to me that I can make them happy. I just hope I can continue to do that.
“I want to thank them for their ongoing support. It means a lot to me. I hope this news makes them really happy that I've signed and extended my contract, I've signed da ting, made them happy!
“I just promise that me and the team are going to try, going forwards, to give them much more to be happy about.”
HART IN RIGHT PLACE?
Joe Hart looks destined to end his uneventful spell at Burnley and look for one final move away to kickstart his career again.
The former England No1 moved to Turf Moor in 2018 but has made just 24 appearances, three coming this season.
The Gunners were linked with the English stopper after Bernd Leno was stretchered off against Brighton this month.
It led to speculation Mikel Arteta could try and make an emergency move for Hart to replace their sidelined No1, though Leno could only be out for four weeks.
A move to the Emirates would likely mean Hart acting as back-up or only playing for a limited time, which has frustrated the former Manchester City keeper for the past few seasons.
Here are the odds on Hart joining the Gunners.
QUICK THINKING
Don't you just love how Arteta starts making the sub in mid-air!
What a moment for the Gunners boss, arguably the most exciting of his reign so far when Ceballos smashed in the winner.
A WRIGHT CHEER-ME-UP
Ian Wright has shared an image of Bukayo Saka signing his new contract.
The legendary Highbury striker shared a picture of the youngster signings the papers with four hearts.
View this post on Instagram
?♥️♥️♥️♥️ @bukayosaka87
A post shared byIan Wright (@wrightyofficial) on
BUKAYO STATA
Let's have a look at how Bukayo Saka's figures stack up this season after he signed a new Arsenal contract.
WHO LOVES SAKA?
Well, the whole Arsenal squad do.
They're all getting on board to support the youngster after he signed his new contract.
These were the comments under his Instagram post.
LINE-UP NEXT SEASON?
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking towards experienced Brazilian Thiago Silva to marshal his defence next season, according to reports.
The 35-year-old is available on a free transfer after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired.
Here is how SunSport thinks the Gunners might line up next season with the experienced Brazilian.
ARCH NEMESIS
The FA Cup semi-final dates have been confirmed.
Manchester United play Chelsea on Sunday 19 July and Arsenal will take on Manchester City the day before with both games taking place at Wembley.
United's clash with the Blues will kick-off at 6pm and will be shown for free live on BBC One and iPlayer.
And the Gunners' game against City will get underway at 7:45pm and will be on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate.
Both matches will be played behind closed doors and the winners will meet at Wembley in the final on Saturday August 1.
- Sat July 18 – Arsenal vs Man City (7.45pm) BT Sport 1
- Sun July 19 – Man Utd vs Chelsea (6pm) BBC One
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