6am Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Partey transfer LATEST, Ozil future still in doubt, Martinelli out for rest of 2020 – The Sun

July 17, 2020

ARSENAL take on Man City in their huge FA Cup semi-final this weekend.

And on the transfer front, Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be sold for £20m as the saga surrounding Thomas Partey rumbles on.

Get all the latest news and transfer gossip from North London here…

GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS
SunSport can exclusively reveal Arsenal face missing out on target Malang Sarr because they delayed making their move to sign him this summer.
The Gunners have approached the representatives of the France Under-21 international to see if he would be interested in making the move to Emirates Stadium.
But Sarr, 21, has already been sounded out by clubs in Italy and Germany about a free transfer deal and it is understood the Arsenal interest has come too late.
Torino have already offered the Nice star a long-term contract and the chance to play regular football in Serie A.
But options in the Bundesliga are also open to him and it is believed he is more likely to move there, seeing it as the best way to continue his development as a player.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have reportedly lodged an offer for Lille centre-half Gabriel Magalhaes – but face a battle to sign him.
According to French newspaper L’Equipe, Napoli are leading the chase for the 22-year-old Brazilian.
Chelsea have also been linked with a summer bid.
It’s reckoned Gabriel could be available for just £20million.
Finally, Arsenal are reportedly “still keen” on signing Justin Kluivert from Roma this summer.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Mikel Arteta could get the attacker as he will be available for £27million.
Speculation has mounted that the 21-year-old could be involved in a player exchange deal with Arsenal.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shone at Roma while on loan this season and is keen to make the move permanent.
ALL CHANGE
It could be a summer of big change at Arsenal.
Following the 2-1 win over Liverpool at the Emirates, boss Mikel Arteta pleaded with the Arsenal board to back him in what could be a crucial transfer window.
But who are the people who will decide how much cash Arteta gets?
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT
ARTFUL DODGER
Mikel Arteta claims a lack of investment this summer will hurt Arsenal's future ambitions.
In a bleak warning to the board, he said: “It's a big concern.
“You can see how [Liverpool] build their squad and there is no magic, you need to improve the squad with quality, quality players.
“And we need a bigger squad to compete in this competition. That is the challenge.
“It's a massive job. You only have to look at the difference between the two teams – it's enormous.
“The gap in many areas we can't improve it in two months.”
GIFT OF GAB
Arsenal have reportedly lodged an offer for Lille centre-half Gabriel Magalhaes – but face a battle to sign him.
According to French newspaper L’Equipe, Napoli are leading the chase for the 22-year-old Brazilian.
Chelsea have also been linked with a summer bid.
It’s reckoned Gabriel could be available for just £20million.
JUSTIN TIME
Arsenal are reportedly “still keen” on signing Justin Kluivert from Roma this summer.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Mikel Arteta could get the attacker as he will be available for £27million.
Speculation has mounted that the 21-year-old could be involved in a player exchange deal with Arsenal.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shone at Roma while on loan this season and is keen to make the move permanent.
BALE ARMY
Newcastle are favourites to sign Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, according to Oddschecker.
Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal are also priced to be in the running for the Welshman, who looks destined for a fresh start this summer.
- Newcastle United – 5/1
- Any Italian club – 8/1
- Any MLS club – 8/1
- Tottenham – 10/1
- Manchester United – 10/1
- Juventus – 12/1
- Inter Milan – 12/1
- PSG – 14/1
- Chelsea – 25/1
- Arsenal – 33/1
PIE OH MY
Piers Morgan could not resist trolling Liverpool after their disastrous defeat to Arsenal.
He shared a photograph of Arsenal's squad celebrating as Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk looked on in disbelief.
Alongside it, he wrote: “Thanks for coming, Champs @LFC.”
EXCLUSIVE BY DUNCAN WRIGHT
Arsenal face missing out on target Malang Sarr because they delayed making their move to sign him this summer.
The Gunners have approached the representatives of the France Under-21 international to see if he would be interested in making the move to Emirates Stadium.
But Sarr, 21, has already been sounded out by clubs in Italy and Germany about a free transfer deal and it is understood the Arsenal interest has come too late.
Torino have already offered the Nice star a long-term contract and the chance to play regular football in Serie A.
But options in the Bundesliga are also open to him and it is believed he is more likely to move there, seeing it as the best way to continue his development as a player.
GOON SQUAD
In 2012, former BBC Reggae radio host Robbie Lyle took his passion for Arsenal to another level.
Irked by listening to pundits talk about his club, he wanted to hear from the so-called 'real fans' and air them on a YouTube channel he originally christened Arsenal Fan TV.
Since then, the channel has grown to 1.18m subscribers, made stars out of Gooners like Troopz, Ty and DT, polarised the club's fanbase, and was forced into a name-change when club officials deemed it detrimental to their brand.
READ MORE ABOUT ARSENAL FAN TV’S EPIC RISE HERE
NO JO-KING
Jose Mourinho has hit out at what he sees as unfair questioning over his Tottenham team selection.
He believes no other ‘Big Six’ Premier League manager is asked about players as much as he is.
The Special One moaned: “Look, that is a question you normally do to me but you do not do to Frank Lampard, to Jurgen Klopp, to Pep, to all the coaches of the big clubs with big players.
“Frank Lampard plays [Christian] Pulisic, you don't ask him why he doesn't start Hudson-Odoi or something.
“When Pep Guardiola plays someone and Bernardo Silva is on the bench, you never ask about Bernardo Silva.
“It looks like I am the only guy that has to play 15 players from the start, or I am the only guy who doesn't have the right to have good players on the bench.”
WTF?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Arsenal fans in their anger after Trent Alexander-Arnold escaped a red card for his a horror tackle on Bukayo Saka.
The studs up challenge was reminiscent of the one that saw VAR dismiss Eddie Nketiah against Leicester just a week earlier.
Gooners were livid at what they deemed a lack of consistency after Alexander-Arnold escaped with just a yellow card.
His challenge in the 48th minute caused plenty of backlash on social media.
Aubameyang led the way, roaring: “WTF didnt Even get the VAR on this one”.
One disgruntled Gooner said: “If there was any consistency in refereeing, that Trent tackle was as much a red as Eddie’s last week.”
KOSTA'S NEW DEAL
Arsenal have also announced that Konstantinos Mavropanos has signed a new contract.
The 22-year-old defender, who has been on loan at Bundesliga 2 side Nuremberg since January, will spent next season at Stuttgart.
He made 12 appearances for the German second-division strugglers and became a key figure in saving them from relegation this season.
A Greece Under-21 international, he has made eight first-team appearances for Arsenal since joining from Greek side PAS Giannina in January 2018.
MAV LOAN
Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos has joined Stuttgart on a season-long loan.
The defender, 22, spent last season on loan at Nuremberg in Bundesliga 2, but has been snapped up by the top flight German club.
Sporting director Sven Mislintat said: ”We are very happy that we were able to sign Konstantinos Mavropanos for one season from Arsenal.
“We’ve known each other since our time together at Arsenal, so I’ve been watching his development for some time.
“Konstantinos is strong in the tackle, quick and suits us very well with his skill and ambition.”
REISS 'N EASY
Former Arsenal academy boss Andries Jonker said developing Reiss Nelson has been one of the easiest gigs in his career.
He tole the Mirror: “Everybody could see his talent, and by everybody I mean absolutely everybody.
“Whether it was a coach or the opposition coach or a parent or a grandparent watching.
“Everybody would recognise the talent of that little boy.
“In youth football, you always have players who everybody who sees the player thinks, ‘this is a special one, he might be able to make it’.
“I think Reiss Nelson was a great example of that. I saw him first when he was 14, and there was hardly any doubt about it, he was very talented.
“It’s a long way from there to the first-team, but you could see he had the talent.”
BIG CONCERN
Mikel Arteta has “big concerns” over his summer transfer budget – or lack thereof – as he sent a defiant message to the Arsenal board.
When asked about his summer budget, Arteta told Sky Sports: “It's a big concern.
“You can see how [Liverpool] build their squad and there is no magic, you need to improve the squad with quality, quality players.
“And we need a bigger squad to compete in this competition. That is the challenge.
“It's a massive job. You only have to look at the difference between the two teams – it's enormous.
“The gap in many areas we can't improve it in two months.”
WELCOME TO THE GUN SHOW
Arsenal ran out for the second half against Liverpool with the sound of WWE star Triple H's theme tune blaring.
Fans loved the choice of music and it seemed to do the trick for the Gunners as they hung on to pull off a shock 2-1 win over Liverpool.
Speakers at the Emirates Stadium blasted out Motorhead's The Game just as the Gunners stars jogged back onto the field after the interval.
Fans went wild when they noticed the tune and flooded social media with hilarious comments.
One said: “Anyone else hear Triple H theme tune before the second half of the Arsenal v Liverpool game.
“Was expecting him to come storming down the tunnel spitting water every where.”
GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS
Arsenal bounced back from defeat in the north London derby with an impressive 2-1 win against Premier League champions Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s men took the lead at the Emirates through Sadio Mane.
But Arsenal fought back before the break thanks to strikes from Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson.
It means their European dream is still alive, while Liverpool have blown the chance to amass a record number of points.
Meanwhile, Thomas Partey looks set to snub an Arsenal move for a new Atletico Madrid deal.
The midfielder has long been linked with an Emirates switch, with a swap for Matteo Guendouzi recently touted.
But Ghana Soccernet claims Partey has decided to remain in the Spanish capital.
And he will soon pen a new long-term deal worth £130,000-a-week in a huge blow for Mikel Arteta.
Finally, Arsenal defender Sokratis could be heading for the exit door.
The Independent suggest the 32-year-old may be allowed to leave.
Mikel Arteta is set for a summer squad overhaul and Stuttgart are believed to be interested in the player.
The German side could swoop with Sokratis entering the final year of his Gunners deal.
VERDICT BY MARK IRWIN
Whatever Arsenal do in their two remaining Premier League games against Aston Villa and Watford, they are going to end the season with their lowest points total since 1995.
And even this shock victory handed to them on a plate by sloppy Liverpool cannot disguise the size of the task facing Mikel Arteta.
For they still trail Jurgen Klopp’s team by a mammoth 40 points, which would be the furthest they have EVER finished behind the Champions in the club’s history.
So you really shouldn’t read too much into this result.
READ THE REST OF THE VERDICT HERE
RATINGS BY FRANKIE CHRISTOU
Arsenal put their North London Derby woes behind them by responding with a 2-1 victory over Premier League Champions Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
But who was the best man on the pitch?
And did anyone fail to impress?
READ THE PLAYER RATINGS IN FULL HERE
ON THE VIRG
Virgil van Dijk “turned into the most Arsenal centre-back ever” after he gifted the Gunners a goal with a rare error.
The Dutchman showed shades of David Luiz as his mistake allowed Alexandre Lacazette to equalise, setting Arsenal on their way to a 2-1 win.
WAT ON EARTH
Watford supporters are the Premier League’s biggest potty mouths, a study found.
They get a red card for using foul language about their relegation-threatened team online.
But where does your team rank?
WHAT A VARCE
Arsenal fans fumed as Trent Alexander-Arnold escaped a red card despite a horror tackle.
The studs up challenge on Bukayo Saka was reminiscent of the one that saw VAR dismiss Eddie Nketiah against Leicester.
What did you make of the tackle?
FULL-TIME
It's all over at the Emirates and Arsenal have beaten Premier League champions Liverpool 2-1.
The visitors took the lead through Sadio Mane but Arsenal battled back thanks to strikes from Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson.
And Liverpool have now lost their chance to amass a record amount of points in a season.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL MATCH REPORT
DANI BOY
Nigel Winterburn wants Arsenal to keep Dani Ceballos next season.
He told Gambling.com: “Arsenal definitely need to have a creative midfield player. Ceballos is a different type of creative midfield player, different to any other Arsenal have got.
“He’s comfortable on the ball, has a good passing range and likes to get on the ball and take risks.
“You can look at passing stats and say ‘this player has completed 95% of his passing today’ but how effective was his passing? That’s what counts.
“Ceballos is a player who is happy to take a risk with a pass, and maybe that means he has a lower percentage of passes completed but at least he’s trying to make things happen and often he does.
“Sometimes you need a player, either starting or on the bench, who is willing to take those risks, and Ceballos won’t shy away from that.”
‘I’M SORRY’
Sacked Arsenal Fan TV pundit Claude Callegari has issued a grovelling apology for making a racist comment towards Tottenham star Son Heung-min.
He said: “I want to make an apology unfortunately – what happened here a few days ago with the game against Spurs.
“The timing was all wrong when I made the comment and it has caused a lot of offence.
“I want to apologise to Spurs fans and Son for that, for the offence it has caused.
“What can I do? It has caused a lot of offence and I want to apologise, I admire Son as a player.
“It wasn't meant in that way but as it has caused a lot of offence, and it has.
“I'm going to apologise to you, the Spurs fans, and especially Son and his family at how it has come out and there is not more that I can say than that.”
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