MIKEL ARTETA has been nominated for February's Manager of the Month award having won all three games during that period.
Rio Ferdinand encourages the Arsenal hierarchy to go and get a deal done for Manchester City forward, Gabriel Jesus.
Bukayo Saka is happy and in love with the club according to Fabrizio Romano despite not signing a new contract as yet.
And the Gunners are reportedly showing interest in talented Dutchman Noa Lang.
Stay up to date with all the latest from the Emirates in our live blog…
- Sam Dymond
Gunners given Watkins green light
Arsenal have been given the go-ahead to approach Ollie Watkins, according to Football Insider.
Steven Gerrard is said to be willing to listen to offers for the 26-year-old, who he is doesn't see as the ideal striker to take the club forward.
Watkins has been a mainstay of the Aston Villa attack since Dean Smith paid £28million in 2020 for the player he previously worked with at Brentford.
The Gunners require urgent reinforcements in attack following the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last month, and Mikel Arteta is said to be an admirer of Watkins.
Watkins has only managed six Premier League goals so far this season, having struck 14 last term.
- Gary Stonehouse
Good morning Gunners fans
Arsenal are reportedly poised to lock horns with bitter arch-rivals Tottenham in a transfer battle to sign Torino defender Wilfried Singo.
Singo, 21, has emerged as a transfer target for both the Gunners and Spurs following his impressive form this season.
CBS claim the right-back is available for just £15million.
But that has also caught the attention of Liverpool, who want a deputy for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Meanwhile, Juventus chief Pavel Nedved reckons his team have signed the ‘next Ronaldo’ in Dusan Vlahovic.
The Italians snapped up the striker ahead of Arsenal in January.
And Nedved feels the Gunners have missed out on football’s next big thing.
He said: "I’ll be honest, Vlahovic surprised me too. There are comparisons to some of the tops like Cristiano Ronaldo.
"I knew he was a very good player, but he was born in 2000 and if he continues with this mentality, he can really do great things."
Finally, Arsenal have been advised to sign Man City star Gabriel Jesus by Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand.
The Brazilian striker could be available this summer, and Arsenal need a new forward.
Ferdinand told Vibe with Five: "If I was Arsenal, I would go and buy Gabriel Jesus."
- Anthony Chapman
Next up for Arteta's Arsenal
Let's take a look at Arsenal's next five fixtures…
- Anthony Chapman
Singo when you are winning
Arsenal are reportedly poised to lock horns with bitter arch-rivals Tottenham in a transfer battle to sign Torino defender Wilfried Singo.
Singo, 21, has emerged as a transfer target for both the Gunners and Spurs following his impressive form this season.
CBS claim the right-back is available for just £15million.
But that has also caught the attention of Liverpool, who want a deputy for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
- Anthony Chapman
Arsenal face battle for Spence
Bayern Munich have joined Arsenal and Tottenham in the race for Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence, according to reports.
The 21-year-old is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from Middlesbrough and has attracted the attention of some huge clubs during his spell.
According to Sky Sports, the German giants have been scouting Spence and will continue to do so in the coming weeks.
But the Gunners have had him on their radar ever since they were subject to a 1-0 defeat against Forest in January.
Following the game Ian Wright described his performance as 'one of the best right-back performances I have seen for a very long time'.
- Anthony Chapman
Arsenal's most expensive transfer signings
Nicolas Pepe remains Arsenal's biggest signing of all time, costing a staggering £72million to sign from Lille in 2019.
The next-biggest is the £57.4m fee paid for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Will Arsenal set a new record this summer?
- Anthony Chapman
Arsenal’s loss is Juventus’ gain
Juventus chief Pavel Nedved reckons his team have signed the ‘next Ronaldo’ in Dusan Vlahovic.
The Italians snapped up the striker ahead of Arsenal in January.
And Nedved feels the Gunners have missed out on football’s next big thing.
He said: "I’ll be honest, Vlahovic surprised me too. There are comparisons to some of the tops like Cristiano Ronaldo.
"I knew he was a very good player, but he was born in 2000 and if he continues with this mentality, he can really do great things."
- Anthony Chapman
Newcastle plan Fabian Ruiz swoop
Newcastle are reportedly set to launch a £40million bid for Napoli star Fabian Ruiz.
That’s despite facing fierce competition from Man Utd, Arsenal and other European giants.
Corriere dello Sport claims Newcastle failed to land the midfielder in January due to their precarious position in the table.
But with the Magpies looking on course to avoid relegation, they believe they can finally lure Ruiz to St James’ this summer.
- Anthony Chapman
Neville issues Super League warning
Gary Neville has called for the government to put legislation in place to protect English football from a possible European Super League.
He said: "The ESL is back on the table – Real, Barca and Juve are pushing.
"It’s critical we accelerate the Fan Led Review recommendations through Parliament with legislation to protect English football.
"That will allow any new proposals to be viewed with independence."
- Anthony Chapman
Arsenal's jam-packed trophy cabinet
It's been a while since Arsenal added a shiny Premier League title to their trophy cabinet.
With the Gunners on the rise under Mikel Arteta, will another one be on its way shortly?
- Anthony Chapman
Torreira in awe of teammates
Lucas Torreira was in awe of some of his Arsenal team-mates at The Emirates.
The Fiorentina loanee said: “Every time I go to the national team, I try to make the most of my proximity to certain champions. I have been lucky enough to meet many of them.
"At Arsenal, in the dressing room, Mesut Özil and Alexandre Lacazette sat next to me. Madness.
"You can imagine; me drinking and them next to me. Here we are, in London."
- Anthony Chapman
Rio backs Jesus for Arsenal
Arsenal have been advised to sign Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus by Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand.
The Brazilian striker could be available this summer, and Arsenal need a new forward.
Ferdinand told Vibe with Five: "If I was Arsenal, I would go and buy Gabriel Jesus."
- Anthony Chapman
Guendouzi takes swipe at Arsenal
Matteo Guendouzi took a final parting blow at Arsenal as he completed a permanent move to Marseille.
The midfielder boomed: "It was a carefully considered choice. There were very good discussions with the president, with the coach and people in my family.
"We really made the best decision altogether. For me, it's the best choice I've made in many years."
- Anthony Chapman
Mkhitaryan hangs up his boots
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has retired from international football aged 33.
The Armenian earned 95 caps and scored 32 goals during an impressive 15-year national team career.
Mkhitaryan had captained his nation since 2015.
But the former Man Utd and Arsenal star has decided to call it a day – having last played for them in a 4-1 defeat to Germany back in November.
- Anthony Chapman
Next up for Arteta's Arsenal
Let's take a look at the Gunners' next five fixtures…
- Sam Dymond
Gunners says yes to Noa
Arsenal are said to be 'extremely' interested in Club Brugge winger Noa Lang, according to French media.
The Dutchman has been watched repeatedly by representatives from the Emirates, while there has also been alternative Premier League attention from Leicester.
Lang has been captained three times by the Netherlands, and has contributed eight goals and 12 assists for Bruges in all competitions this season.
It is understood that a bid of around €35million will be enough to tempt the Belgian club into doing business.
The 22-year-old would certainly fit in well at Arsenal. He's been sent off five times in his career, including twice in the past eight games.
- Sam Dymond
Impressive Gunners on a roll
Arsenal return to action on Sunday after a ten-day break, and will be hoping to do what Manchester United couldn't – score against Watford.
The signs are good for the Gunners too, considering that they have found the net in all 15 of their Premier League meetings with the Hornets.
In fact, it's only against West Bromwich Albion that Arsenal have a better 100% Premier League scoring rate, having struck in all 26 games against the Baggies.
And, of course, the recent form of Mikel Arteta's team is impressive too. Since losing consecutive league games to Manchester United and Everton at the start of December, Arsenal have taken 22 points from 27 available to them in the Premier League (W7 D1 L1) – no side in the division have claimed more over the past nine matches.
- Sam Dymond
Manager of the Month nominations
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is in the running to be named the Premier League's Manager of the Month for February.
The Gunners won all three of their league games last month, twice defeating Wolves while also seeing off Brentford.
The Spaniard is nominated alongside Newcastle's Eddie Howe, Southampton's Ralph Hasenhuttl, and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp.
- Sam Dymond
Rio: Jesus can save Arsenal
Rio Ferdinand sees Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus as the perfect player to head Arsenal's attack next season.
The Gunners are short of options up front after the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last month, and have so far failed to land any of their desired transfer targets.
Speaking on the Vive with FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand told transfer expert Fabrizio Romano: "If I was Arsenal, I would go and buy Gabriel Jesus."
Romano responded by stating that he expects the Brazilian's role at City to be looked at in the summer: "I'm sure that Gabriel Jesus' situation, alongside of Raheem Sterling's situation, is something that needs to be clarified in the coming months for Manchester City. They're both out of contract in 2023."
Jesus has had something of a stop-start season with City, only managing two Premier League goals in 15 starts.
- Sam Dymond
Arteta one of world's best
Mikel Arteta is currently one of the best coaches in the game, according to a player that the Arsenal manager allowed to leave the Emirates.
Pablo Mari was sent out to Udinese on loan for the season by the Gunners gaffer, but was still full of praise for his former boss.
The 28-year-old centre-back told ESPN: "I have to say [Mikel Arteta] is one of the best coaches in the world because when he does the game plan… I have never seen it like this.
"How he finds solutions for us and makes it easy to play the game: I've never seen something like this. That means he is an amazing coach. To give you the tools to play a game more easily, that's amazing because when you go to the pitch, you already have in your head the type of thing you have to do to play easy."
- Sam Dymond
Tierney: Facing Pepe is 'horrible'
Kieran Tierney has reiterated Mikel Arteta's recent assessment that Nicolas Pepe is a player reborn by revealing that the Ivorian is a nightmare to play against in training.
Arsenal boss Arteta has recently praised Pepe for his attitude since returning from the African Cup of Nations, pointing to his match-winning cameo as a substitute against Wolves just hours after the birth of his second child.
And now Tierney has reiterated the winger's recent resurgence. In conversation with Rob Holding, the Scot lifted the lid on his toughest opponent during practice sessions: "I'd say Pepe all day. I play against him every day and it's a horrible experience. He's good."
Holding backed up the left-back's claim, responding: "Yeah, it’s not nice. I wouldn’t want to have one-on-ones against Pepe every day."
- Sam Dymond
Singo also on Arsenal radar
Another right-back on Arsenal's summer shortlist is Torino's Wilfried Singo.
The 21-year-old Ivorian has impressed in Turin over the past two seasons, and has been tipped for the bigger stage.
Singo already has over 50 Serie A appearances to his name, and won his first senior international caps back in June.
The defender's contract is up in 2023, but it is believed that a bid of £15million will secure his services for next season.
As ever, Tottenham have also been linked with the Gunners' transfer target.
- Sam Dymond
Gunners plotting move for Spence
Arsenal are among a number of top European clubs tracking Middlesbrough right-back Djed Spence.
The 21-year-old has been enjoying a brilliant season on loan at Nottingham Forest, helping the Championship side shoot up the table under Steve Cooper's management while also reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Spence's rampaging performances from defence have captured the attention of those at the Emirates, but Sky Sports suggest that they face competition from north London rivals Tottenham as well as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
The Gunners had looked well-stocked at right-back, but concerns have emerged over the fitness of summer signing Takehiro Tomiyasu following a spate of injuries.
- Chisanga Malata
Morning Arsenal fans
Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Robert Lewandowski as the star’s future remains up in the air.
The 33-year-old Polish striker has less than 18 months left on his deal at Bayern Munich.
He could leave for nothing in June 2023 or, if the Bundesliga giants decide to cash in, possibly go this summer.
That has led to a number of clubs beginning to circle – and now Arsenal have apparently joined the chase.
That is according to FourFourTwo, who state the Gunners are interested in bringing him to the Emirates.
Credit: Getty Meanwhile, Bayern Munich have joined Arsenal and Tottenham in the race for Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence, according to reports.
The 21-year-old is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from Middlesbrough and has attracted the attention of some huge clubs during his spell.Spurs had two bids rejected for the young star on deadline day in January – both were reportedly under Middlesbrough’s £15million valuation.
And Arsenal are also keen on the man who starred in Forest’s 1-0 FA Cup win over the Gunners.
However, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are now in the running to sign him. According to Sky Sports, the German giants have been scouting Spence and will continue to do so in the coming weeks.
Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig are also interested and have been tracking his progress at Forest.
- Dylan Terry
Vardy overtakes Wright as golden oldie
Jamie Vardy finally became the Premier League’s most prolific old timer as Leicester won for the first time in 2022 on Tuesday night.
Brendan Rodgers’ men were the only top-flight team yet to record a victory in the calendar year before they overcame Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor.
The former England striker struck late to make it 94 league goals since he turned 30 years of age.
The finish, his first in the Premier League since he netted a brace against Watford on November 28, saw him surpass the record set by Arsenal legend Ian Wright.
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