3pm Arsenal news LIVE: Aubameyang to Barcelona or Madrid, Henry signs for Montreal Impact, Bellerin Serie A interest – The Sun
ARSENAL have some thinking to do as enter the international break off the back of a disappointing 2-0 loss at Leicester.
Top of the board's list of priorities will be deciding whether to keep faith in manager Unai Emery after picking up just two points from four Premier League games.
And there is also speculation over the future of Hector Bellerin and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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DANI CEBALLOS will refuse a return to Real Madrid while Zinedine Zidane is manager, according to reports.
The midfielder – currently on loan at Arsenal – has become a hit with Gunners fans since he signed in the summer and could be closer to making the switch permanent.
The 23-year-old reportedly asked for the original loan deal not to include an option to buy as he wanted to return to the Spanish giants.
But his bad relationship with Zidane means he will opt against a move back to the Bernabeu, according to Spanish outlet AS.
Ceballos reportedly held talks to discuss his Real departure with Los Blancos president Floretino Perez last month.
He is alleged to have asked Perez to find an arrangement with the Gunners, with £31million reportedly enough to convince Los Blancos to sell.
El Desmarque also suggested Ceballos asked Perez to meet with Arsenal in January to try and sort out a deal.
Ceballos hinted last month insisted he is happy in London, and he revealed he is “where he wants to be”.
BARCELONA are reportedly 'upset' at passing up the opportunity to sign Arsenal ace Gabriel Martinelli in the summer.
The 18-year-old – who signed for the Gunners from Brazilian outfit Ituano for £6million in July – has been a revelation at the Emirates following his arrival.
Martinelli – who featured for Brazil's U23s in their 1-0 win against America yesterday – has banged in seven goals in nine games in all competitions for the North Londoners.
Manchester United were another club to snub the teenage starlet despite Martinelli training with the Red Devils four times between 2015-2017.
And the forward even spent time with Barcelona's prestigious La Masia earlier this year, but the Catalan club decided against making a move.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Blaugrana are kicking themselves that they didn't pursue their interest in the player.
They add that Barca chiefs are upset that they failed to act on their intuition over Martinelli.
The Daily Mail state that the Spanish side are monitoring the striker as they identify him as a possible target in the future.
FUTURE Arsenal manager?
HENRIKH MKHITARYAN believes Unai Emery's tactics at Arsenal hampered his attacking contributions to the side.
The 30-year-old was shipped off to Roma on a season-long loan in August following a number of disappointing performances for the Gunners.
Mkhitaryan joined the North London side from Manchester United in January 2018 in a swap deal with Alexis Sanchez going in the opposite direction.
But he has flattered to deceive at the Emirates – netting just nine goals in 58 games in all competitions.
In his only full season under Emery, the attacking midfielder chipped in with six goals and seven assists in 38 matches.
Mkhitaryan – who featured in three games for Arsenal this season before being offloaded – has insisted that he would have fared better if not for Emery's tactics.
He told FourFourTwo: “He paid more attention to tactics, so my role changed.
“I was starting as a winger, but had to build play with the defensive midfielder. It’s why I couldn’t contribute as many goals or assists.
“I like to play more freely and move wherever there’s space, but you have to do the job that the manager asks.”
THERE'S no stopping Sokratis in the gym.
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