ARSENAL are set to beat Spanish giants Real Madrid in the race to sign striker Dusan Vlahovic in January, according to reports.
Elsewhere, Kai Havertz has discovered a new role during his international duties with Germany.
Meanwhile, Ivan Toney is torn over whether to make a January move or to remain at Brentford until at least the summer, SunSport can exclusively reveal.
Our source said: A lot of people assume Ivan will be on his way after Christmas, but no deal has been done – and nothing has been decided.
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- By Ciaran Wiseman
Bellerin 'proud' of Arsenal graduates
Hector Bellerin is "proud" of Arsenal's current crop of academy graduates.
The Spaniard has also tipped his former club to improve year on year under Mikel Arteta.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he explained: "From the players, obviously Bukayo (Saka), Eddie (Nketiah), Gabi (Martinelli) – I've shared loads of moments with them, and I've seen Bukayo and Reiss (Nelson) go through the ranks.
"To me, I feel very proud of them. But it's also the staff, the people that have been there since I moved into the first team at 18 years old."
- By Ciaran Wiseman
Arsenal handed injury boost
Arsenal have been handed a boost with Gabriel Jesus edging closer to a return.
The striker has not played for four weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Sevilla last month.
However, he was included in Brazil's latest squad and has trained with the national team ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Argentina.
Jesus is understood to be in contention to start the match and could make his Gunners return after the international break.
- By Ciaran Wiseman
Rice hails Saka
Declan Rice has hailed his Arsenal and England team-mate Bukayo Saka.
Speaking to the BBC, he explained: "He is so composed and relaxed. I think he has realised now he is not getting the freedom he had last year or the season before."
Saka has scored six goals and provided eight assists for the Gunners so far this season.
"He is a pleasure to play with," Rice added.
Credit: EPA
- By Ciaran Wiseman
Arsenal target Spanish defender
Arsenal are reportedly targeting a move for Valencia youngster Yarek Gasiorowski.
The Gunners had a previous deal for the teenager blocked by changes to rules for signing players under 18 after Brexit.
However, Diario AS report Arsenal are keen to make a move once again.
Gasiorowski made headlines last week by scoring a hat-trick from centre-back for Spain under-19s against Moldova.
The 18-year-old has also made four appearances for the Valencia first-team so far this season.
- By Dylan Terry
Arteta's VAR rant 'unnecessary'
Mikel Arteta's VAR rant has been branded "unnecessary" by former Arsenal chief David Dein.
The Gunners boss slammed the officials following his side's controversial loss at Newcastle earlier this month.
"He felt aggrieved — but it was a bit of misdirection," explained Dein.
"Arsenal only had one shot at goal so you can’t say they deserved to win."
- By Ciaran Wiseman
Competition for Zubimendi
Arsenal face competition for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
The Gunners are one of a number of clubs who have been linked with the 24-year-old in recent weeks.
According to Sport, though, Barcelona will make a move for the Spanish international next summer.
Mikel Arteta's side are reportedly planning to trigger Zubimendi's £52million release clause in January.
Credit: Alamy - By Jon Boon
Fati targeted
Ansu Fati is a target for Arsenal, according to reports.
Fati is currently on loan at Brighton, where he has begun to show signs of his promise.
According to Football Transfers, the Gunners and Liverpool are looking into the possibility of signing the forward.
Lionel Messi once lauded Fati as a "amazing" target.
- By Jon Boon
Dein rant
Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has criticised Mikel Arteta for his passionate VAR rant.
“In 101 minutes of football we only had one shot at goal, so you can’t really say that the team deserved to win," he told talkSPORT.
"It is what it is. "There is a process in place for how they deal with these things and I just think it was a little bit unnecessary.
"I don’t think it did the image of the club any good."
- By Jon Boon
Odegaard's fitness
Norway boss Stale Solbakken has delivered a promising update about Martin Odegaard's fitness.
He said: "I've just come from a 45-minute talk with Martin. He is getting better and better and gradually stepping up.
"It has been more or less three weeks without any special training, so it is important to take things step by step.
"Both he and Arsenal probably hope that he is available for the Brentford match."
- By Jon Boon
Arsenal women on song
Arsenal Women defeated Brighton 3-0 in the WSL on Sunday.
Goals by Stina Blackstenius, Caitlin Foord and Frida Maanum secured all three points against the Seagulls.
The Gunners now march up to second, three points off leaders Chelsea.
The title race is, perhaps, back on.
- By Jon Boon
Premier League clubs lost fortunes
THE first winter World Cup cost Premier League clubs a whopping £255MILLION in “lost” wages.
Players were out for five extra days per injury on average once the top flight resumed on Boxing Day following the halt caused by the dash to the desert.
The study by insurance group Howden shows the impact on Europe’s leading leagues of the Qatar tournament which caused a six-week disruption to the domestic calendar.
While Fifa’s insurance policy covered injuries sustained during the World Cup, issues sustained after the tournament were surveyed.
Back-to-back major tournaments at club and international level from this summer are likely to have an even bigger impact in coming years.
And it will only increase the pressure for Uefa and Fifa to think again about their seemingly endless expansion drive.
Remarkably, despite sending 16 players to the World Cup — a total only exceeded by Spanish giants Barcelona — Manchester City suffered less than their rivals.
- By Jon Boon
Shocking Rice stats
Arsenal star Declan Rice is already justifying his massive £105million transfer fee.
But shock stats show that Granit Xhaka – the man he replaced – is doing even better this season.
Despite playing less total minutes than Rice, the Swiss ace is actually present for MORE minutes per game on average.
Shock stats show Xhaka plays around 88 minutes per game for Leverkusen, with Rice on the pitch for an average of 85 minutes.
And Xhaka certainly dominates when it comes to win rate, boasting an incredible 91 per cent to Rice’s 67 per cent.
He is more technically proficient too, clocking up 1,097 passes to Rice’s 721.
- By Jon Boon
Havertz praise
Julian Nagelsmann was full of praise for Kai Havertz playing for Germany at left-back.
“I don't see this as a risk for him, but as a very, very big opportunity to play a key role at the Euros," the ex-Bayern boss said.
"Kai said he wanted to do it, wanted to try it — for a first time in an unfamiliar position, he did extremely well."
- By Jon Boon
Sanchez's poo reveal
Alexis Sanchez has fumed that POO trickled into the showers after Chile's home clash with Paraguay.
The match took place at Colo Colo's 43,595-capacity Estadio Monumental David Arellano.
Sanchez and Co endured a frustrating evening, drawing 0-0 with Paraguay despite Robert Rojas' 44th minute red card.
Things got even worse, however, when they attempted to take their post match showers.
Explaining the vile situation, the former Manchester United and Arsenal star fumed: "At the Colo-Colo stadium I was sitting stretching and excrement from ourselves in the shower came out of the drain."
- By Jon Boon
Merse backs Luiz swoop
Paul Merson understands exactly why the Gunners are targeting Douglas Luiz.
He told Sky Sports: "Douglas Luiz is the most underrated player in the Premier League. No-one talks about him. He turns up for Aston Villa week in, week out.
"He's box to box, he scores goals and passes the ball extremely well. He's just a very good player.
"Villa have got a good team. They have a lot of underrated players."
- By Jon Boon
How Gunners could line up after January window
Kai Havertz could be set to kickstart a miniature mid-season revolution at Arsenal after performing in a new role over the international break.
Havertz was signed from Chelsea by Mikl Arteta to play on the left side of Arsenal's midfield.
However, after a low-key start in the new role, the Gunners may be open to exploring a change.
Reports have linked Arsenal with a transfer for Ruben Neves and Florian Wirtz.
Havertz, well known for his versatility, could also facilitate this change after he was handed by new position by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann.
The 24-year-old scored after just four minutes for his national team while playing at LEFT-BACK against Turkey.
Arsenal could even have a new face up front after reports in Italy linked them with a January transfer for Juventus ace Dusan Vlahovic.
- By Jon Boon
Arsenal 'to beat' Real Madrid to Vlahovic
Arsenal are set to win the race to sign Dusan Vlahovic in January, according to reports.
The Gunners have been tipped to sign a striker following the injury to Gabriel Jesus, with Eddie Nketiah also struggling for goals.
Arsenal were linked to Vlahovic in the summer and last January, having missed out on the chance to sign him when he opted to join Juventus almost two years ago.
But it appears Mikel Arteta and Edu are set to make another move for the 23-year-old, according to TuttoJuve.
Vlahovic has been out of sorts since joining Juventus although he does have four goals in ten appearances this season.
That means the Serie A giants could be open to selling – if the price is right.
- By Jon Boon
Arsenal legend confirms targets
Arsenal legend Gilberto has appeared to confirm the Gunners are looking to add to their midfield in January.
"I heard that they were maybe looking for some midfielders especially because of Partey being injured at times," Silva told Mirror Sport.
"I'm not sure if it's 100 percent going to happen but obviously, they have to be aware that this is a very short window and very specific. You have to be like a fisherman sometimes, to grab the right player that you really need that's going to help you to win games and to be useful for the rest of the season. Also to improve the way you play.
"It's not about sometimes bringing a player because you need [them]. Speaking to people there, Edu many times, they are working hard to have the data and what they think is right for the club in terms of targets. The market is very competitive as well, sometimes you have to be fast and not lose the opportunity."
- By Jon Boon
Vlahovic battle
Dusan Vlahovic is a long-term target for the Gunners.
The Serb initially snubbed them for a move to Juventus in 2022, but the move hasn't worked out.
Now the Italians could offload him, which will peek Arsenal's interest.
However, TuttoJuve claim Mikel Arteta's side will now face competition from Real Madrid for the centre forward.
- By Jon Boon
Raphinha blow
Tottenham have joined Arsenal and Chelsea in the race for Raphinha.
Barcelona are reportedly keen to offload the Brazil winger after just 18 months.
Chelsea and Arsenal both wanted to sign the attacker from Leeds before he followed his heart's desire and headed to the Nou Camp.
He managed ten goals in his debut season to help Barcelona win LaLiga.
But now Mundo Deportivo state the Catalan giants are open to selling Raphinha for the right price.
- By Joshua Jones
Gunners going away
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were pictured boarding the England team plane as they flew out for their final Euro 2024 qualifier.
Aaron Ramsdale took part in Three Lions training at the Tottenham training ground this morning.
Credit: Getty Credit: Getty Credit: PA
- By Joshua Jones
Dus themselves off
Arsenal are ready to go back in for Dusan Vlahovic, according to reports.
The Gunners missed out on the striker when he joined Juventus from Fiorentina but now he could be on the move again.
Real Madrid could be interested having lost Karim Benzema in the summer but Arsenal could use Thomas Partey as a possible makeweight in the Vlahovic deal.
- By Joshua Jones
Yar the one we want
Arsenal are eyeing a swoop for teenage sensation Yarek Gasiorowski.
The Valencia and Spain star, 18, is attracting plenty of interest for his performances this season.
And that includes a HAT-TRICK for his youth international side from centre-back.
His current contract is until 2025 – with an additional 24-month extension option – with his release clause now standing at £17.5m.
Credit: Getty - By Joshua Jones
Very go-od news
Norway boss Stale Solbakken gave Mikel Arteta and Arsenal fans an early Christmas present with his update on Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners captain missed the last three matches – against Newcastle, Sevilla and Burnley – after suffering a concussion in training.
He was not fit to face the Faroe Islands this week but he is on the mend.
And Solbakken confirmed Odegaard could face Brentford on Saturday.
He said: "I've just come from a 45-minute talk with Martin. He is getting better and better and gradually stepping up.
"It has been more or less three weeks without any special training, so it is important to take things step by step.
"Both he and Arsenal probably hope that he is available for the Brentford match."
- By Joshua Jones
Toney boost for Arteta
Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Ivan Toney.
The Brentford striker, currently banned, is a transfer target for the Gunners.
And the Bees are eyeing up teenage Argentina striker Santiago Castro.
And that could pave the way for Toney to move across London to the Emirates.
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