6am Arsenal news LIVE: Man City defeat, Lacazette to LEAVE, Aubameyang to stay, Fraser rejects Bournemouth deal – The Sun

June 18, 2020

ARSENAL are preparing to face Manchester City as the Premier League returns tonight with a clash that will pit Mikel Arteta against his former boss Pep Guardiola.

And the Gunners have reportedly told agents that Alexandre Lacazette is far more likely to leave the club than captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Follow all the latest transfer gossip and Gunners news below…

GOOD MORNING ARSENAL FANS
Mikel Arteta was quick to rue the Gunner's bad luck as two first half injuries and an error-strewn David Luiz compounded them to a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
The Arsenal boss told Sky Sports: “Everything went wrong from the first minute when Granit [Xhaka] got injured and we had to change the plan a little bit.
“Every possible accident that could have happened did today and [hopefully will] not [again] in the rest of the 10 games we have left.”
Arteta went on to address Luiz's horror performance, admitting that the Brazilian owned up to his mistakes and his Etihad showing won't be a factor in the decision to extend his contract.
The Spaniard added: “This won’t change things, no. Whatever we’re going to do or we did before today’s game, we’ll keep it internally.
“(Luiz) spoke in the dressing room. he is someone who is very honest and straightforward. He’ll talk to you guys and explain his feelings.
“My opinion about David hasn’t changed. From the moment I joined, what he’s done for the team, what he’s done for me, it [my opinion] won’t change because of his performance tonight.”
On a brighter note, Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Thiago Silva with the Brazilian defender willing to take a pay-cut to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Premier League.
According to the Telegraph, Silva has made it clear he isn't seeking money and is willing to take a huge drop in his £325,000-a-week wages.
LU SHOCKER
It was an unhappy return to football for Arsenal as they meekly fell to a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.
The loss was one negative, with the sending off of substitute David Luiz another.
The floppy-haired defender replaced Pablo Mari who came off injured, but was heading to the changing room himself in the second half.
He tugged back Riyad Mahrez in the penalty area, then Kevin De Bruyne stepped up to send Bernd Leno the other way.
That made it 2-0, with Raheem Sterling scoring the other in the first half.
Here, SunSport's Martin Lipton rates Arsenal's players' performances in their first game back in Project Restart.
MAN CITY 3 – 0 ARSENAL
The champagne will have to stay on ice on Merseyside this weekend.
Liverpool old boy Raheem Sterling made sure that Jurgen Klopp’s men will have to wait even longer to take the Premier League crown.
A slip from Manchester City here would have meant the Reds could have clinched it with a win at Goodison on Sunday evening.
And how sweet would that have been after waiting for such a moment for 30 years – and a little bit more?
However that never looked likely once City had shaken the cobwebs off and found their stride.
Read Martin Blackburn's match report HERE.
BRAZIL NUTS
Gary Neville said he was “lost for words” at how bad David Luiz was against Manchester City.
The Arsenal defender got a straight red and was responsible for conceding two goals.
Jamie Carragher said the Brazilian has to leave the Premier Club club after this horror show.
Error-prone Arsenal defender Luiz came on as a substitute for Pablo Mari in the 23rd minute.
And Neville's fellow Sky Sports pundit Carragher said that was the exact moment Pep Guardiola's side got into the game.
Luiz was to blame for Raheem Sterling opening the scoring with his first goal of 2020 just before the break.
And Kevin De Bruyne converted from the spot after Luiz brought down Riyad Mahrez after the restart.
Luiz was shown a straight red for the tug on the ex-Leicester man.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Arsenal were plunged into an injury crisis after losing Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari within just 23 minutes of the Premier League restart.
Xhaka was carried off on a stretcher after appearing to roll his ankle while tracking back eight minutes after kick-off against Man City.
Insult was added to injury after replays showed the knock occurred when he crashed into team-mate Matteo Guendouzi.
While centre-back Mari looked to injure either his Achilles or calf around quarter of an hour later after a coming together with Raheem Sterling.
He was replaced by David Luiz, who could be making one of his final few appearances in a Gunners shirt.
GHOST GOAL
Hawkeye have revealed that an unprecedented blockage stopped their goal-line technology system from awarding Sheffield United a winning goal at Aston Villa.
The tech company said that the “occlusion” was the first they have seen in 9,000 Premier League games in which the system has been used.
A statement read: “The seven cameras located in the stands around the goal area were significantly occluded by the goalkeeper, defender and goalpost.
“This level of occlusion has never been seen in 9,000 matches that the Hawk-Eye Goal Line Technology system has been in operation.
“The system was tested and proved functional prior to the start of the match… and confirmed as working by the match officials.
“The system has remained functional throughout.
“Hawk-eye unreservedly apologises to the Premier League, Sheffield United, and everyone affected by this incident.”
AGUEEEEEEEEEEER-NO
Sergio Aguero has been dropped to the bench for the start of tonight's match.
The Argentine ace has 23 goals and three assists under his belt already this season.
Here's how he compares to Arsenal talisman Aubameyang…
Keep up to date with all the action with our SunSport live blog HERE.
GUNNERS TEAM NEWS
David Luiz starts on the sidelines alongside Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette.
AUBA TO YOU
Arsenal fans torn between Leno and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when asked to answer this one…
PARTEY OVER
Thomas Partey is available for a summer exit from Atletico Madrid, according to reports.
That is according to Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague, who told his YouTube channel: “Even his dad has said that his buy-out clause is €50million (£43.5m), so if anyone wants him, he is available.
“That is true. Atletico Madrid are pushing him out the door as well.
“Because the club are saying, 'Well we cannot do anything if a club comes in with 50 million'. Almost wishing that the 50 million arrives.
“They are saying that they believe Thomas won't stay there next season. Isn't that another way of saying that he is for sale?
“And they believe that it will be the Premier League and they have indications that Arsenal will be the one [to sign him].”
KICK OFF
Football fans could be allowed back into stadiums next season, the Culture Secretary revealed this evening.
As the Premier League returns to TV screens tonight, he said there were “intensive discussions” on getting fans into stadiums by next season, which is expected to start in September.
Oliver Dowden told the daily press briefing: “By the return of the new season, we might be in a position whereby some fans could start to return to stadiums.”
” (We are doing) intensive engagement (and discussions) on how we could get that done safely.
“Clearly we will look at positioning of fans, where they are relative to each other but there's all the issue about how you get in and out of stadiums in a safe way, and how you have access to conveniences and everything else.”
GO GET HIM
Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Thiago Silva with the Brazilian defender willing to take a pay-cut to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Premier League.
The 35-year-old is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the summer after eight years of service with Les Parisiens confirming he will not be offered a new deal.
The Gunners will be alerted to the fact that Silva is ready to lower his wage demands as he dreams of competing in England.
According to the Telegraph, Silva has made it clear he isn't seeking money and is willing to take a huge drop in his £325,000-a-week wages.
They state that the seven-time Ligue 1 winner is prioritising a move to the English top-flight, such is his desire to play in the Premier League.
FEELING LUCKY?
Mikel Arteta has reportedly added a sense of drama to his strict approach at Arsenal – dishing out fines based on a 'Wheel of Fortune'.
Day-to-day infringements such as arriving late for training and phones going off in team meetings are being dealt with in a novel way by the Gunners boss.
According to The Athletic, Arteta implemented the Wheel of Fortune style trial as a way of adding a sense of humour to his disciplinarian style.
The offending player is then at the mercy of a series of forfeits, from cash fines to cleaning the dressing room or polishing the captain's car.
And there is still the opportunity for an escape as one option on the wheel is a free pass, letting the guilty party off the hook.
EUROPA TOURNAMENT IN GERMANY
UEFA has confirmed the Champions League will be completed in a 12-day last eight mini-tournament held in Lisbon in August.
And European football bosses still hope that fans can be allowed in the stadiums to give some atmosphere.
But Manchester City will not know until next month whether their last 16 tie with Real Madrid will be completed at the Etihad or in Portugal.
European bosses also agreed that the Europa League will be played to a finish under a similar format in Germany.
And Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin revealed that all issues over the postponed Euro 2020 tournament had been resolved with the matches played in the 12 scheduled cities across the tournament next summer.
But Uefa risks a backlash from its biggest clubs after agreeing that a total of EIGHT international matches can be played in the autumn, with the expanded League of Nations part of triple-header blocks in October and November.
PUSH COMES TO JOV
Arsenal look set to miss out on the signing of Luka Jovic with the Real Madrid striker reportedly keen to join AC Milan at the end of the season.
The 22-year-old has endured a frustrating and disappointing season at the Bernabeu in his opening year in Spain – scoring just twice in 24 games in all competitions.
Jovic – who penned a six-year deal with Los Blancos when he joined from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer – looks to be on the move again with Real ready to cut ties on the forward.
It had been speculated that Mikel Arteta earmarked the player as a possible replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should the Gabon international depart the Emirates.
But SunSport previously reported how the Gunners face competition from Milan in the race to prise Jovic away from Madrid.
And now it appears that Jovic has made up his mind on where he wants to be playing next campaign.
TRICK UP THEIR SLEEVE
Arsenal stars sampled their training kit for next season… as they prepare to get this one back underway.
Boss Mikel Arteta put the players through their paces at London Colney ahead of their match with Manchester City tonight.
And with the new Adidas gear having dropped today, Gunners stars tried it for size in the sunshine.
Skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can be seen in one photo firing up a shot on goal in the pale yellow sleeveless shirt – adorning sponsors Fly Emirates on the torso.
The design features blue and pink trim with navy shorts, as well as of course the classic three stripes.
The new top will set fans back £35, while the long sleeve variation preferred by Shkodran Mustafi and Alexandre Lacazette is an extra fiver.
OP FOR CEDRIC
Cedric Soares is set to undergo surgery after injuring his face in an accidental challenge with Bukayo Saka.
According to the Athletic, the Portuguese-German defender, 28, has not played a minute of football since arriving on loan from Southampton.
He appeared in the club's 'take a knee' photograph last week with a swollen eyesocket.
PREDICTED XI
Here is SunSport's predicted line-up for Arsenal tonight.
How we think they could pan out.
NEW LOOK ETIHAD
Arsenal's trip to Manchester will take in a stadium that's got a new look with no fans.
Some might say it's the same as the old look with no fans, etc.
ART OF CORRECTION
Mikel Arteta was furious with some of his Arsenal stars after the Gunners slipped to a 3-2 defeat to Championship side Brentford last week, it's been claimed.
Despite the match being just a warm-up for the return of the Premier League, Arteta, 38, was unhappy by the application of certain members of his squad.
And according to The Athletic, the Spaniard laid into his players after the game – making his unhappiness perfectly clear.
The performance also gave Arteta a “few more pointers” as he continues to assess his squad.
Edu revealed Arteta’s roasting, saying: “I remember a match we lost or drew at home and didn’t have the best performance.
“But the way he talked to the players I really liked. It’s easy to connect to people when you win because everyone is happy, you feel amazing.”
TOUGH FIXTURES
Here is the average position of every opponent for each Premier League team.
Tough run-in for the Gunners?
AUBA VS AGUERO
Here is how the Gabon star stacks up against Argentinian legend Aguero tonight.
CATCH FRASE
Ryan Fraser has REJECTED a short-term contract to see out the season at Bournemouth.
SunSport revealed a week ago that the Scottish winger was due to depart the Cherries at the end of June, despite their looming relegation battle.
And now the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham will be able to swoop for Fraser and seal an early summer bargain.
TREEMENDOUS IDEA
Hector Bellerin has offered to plant thousands of trees for every Arsenal win to help combat climate change.
GAP GETTING BIGGER
Mikel Arteta is now finding out that life as Arsenal boss is not all it is cracked up to be, writes MARK IRWIN.
Only six months into his first manager’s job, he is already wondering if he has been sold a pup by the Emirates executives.
When he accepted the opportunity to replace Unai Emery shortly before Christmas, he thought he was returning to a football superpower.
Ahead of tomorrow's return to Prem action at the Etihad, Arteta admits: “The fact we’ve not been in the Champions League for the past three seasons has put an enormous amount of financial pressure on the club.
“We haven’t achieved the goals we wanted in that time — there is a reason for that.
“We’re trying to put a plan together to improve what we have. If we stand still, the gap to the top teams will become bigger and bigger.”

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