9am Arsenal news LIVE: Lacazette balloon UPDATE, Kumbulla transfer LATEST, Saka ‘may leave’ if no European football – The Sun
ARSENAL fans are eager to hear more news of Project Restart after the Bundesliga restarted this weekend.
It looks set to be a busy summer at the Emirates, and we've got the very latest on Marash Kumbulla, Alexandre Lacazette and Bukayo Saka.
Follow all the latest updates from North London below…
OH DIERE
Arsene Wenger's furious reaction to Arsenal's stunning 6-1 defeat to Manchester United in 2001, featuring a first-half Dwight Yorke hat-trick, has been revealed by Jeremie Aliadiere.
The Frenchman told Goal: “Arsene went absolutely mental. We got smashed in that first-half when Igor Stepanovs was playing at the back.
“It was a joke. Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke were absolutely killing us. I wasn’t even in the squad, I was just there as 19th man or something. And when I saw him losing it like that I was like: ‘Wow!’. I’d never seen him going that crazy before.
“He was throwing bottles across the room, they were going everywhere. He was shouting and swearing – and Wenger never usually swore. He was just going absolutely mental.
“He wasn’t doing it at anyone in particular because he didn’t want to start point fingers, but he was just going crazy for about five minutes before he started to calm down a bit.”
BOWLED OLA
Arsenal were yesterday linked with Valencia goalkeeper Neto but there is one more shot-stopper reportedly on their radar.
Paris Saint-Germain's Alphonse Areola is being eyed as a potential back-up to Bernd Leno, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Frenchman has spent the season on loan at Real Madrid but is set to return to Paris in the summer with Andriy Lunin ready to take over on the Blancos bench.
MORNING ARSENAL FANS
Alexandre Lacazette has found himself in hot water after a picture emerged of the French striker inhaling from a balloon.
The Daily Star has uploaded footage that appears to show the French footballer with a balloon at his lips.
Arsenal have since issued a response to the story and have insisted that it will be dealt with behind closed doors.
A statement released by the club, cited by Goal, read: “This is a private matter which we are taking seriously. It will be handled internally.”
Meanwhile the Gunners have joined Chelsea in the race to sign Barcelona outcast Neto.
The Barca flop has made just four appearances across all competitions since he arrived at the Nou Camp from Valencia last summer.
As reported by the Express, the Gunners are looking to snare the 30-year-old away from the Catalan giants to provide competition for Bernd Leno.
In other news, Arsenal are reportedly lining up a bid for Argentina’s rising star Thiago Almada.
Mundo Deportivo reports that the Gunners have joined Inter Milan, Manchester City and Manchester United in pursuit of the Velez Sarsfeld magician, 19.
And the North Londoners are reportedly confident of beating rivals Tottenham in the race for Feyenoord's teenage sensation Lamare Bogarde.
Football Insider claim that the Gunners have joined both Spurs and Chelsea in pursuit of the 16-year-old Dutch midfielder.
Finally, Arsenal are battling to sign Hellas Verona centre-back Marash Kumbulla, according to the Mirror.PETIT PROBLEM
Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit has named his dream Premier League five-a-side team but found no room for any Gunners players.
The Mirror reports that the Frenchman included Liverpool duo Alisson and Andrew Robertson in defence.
In midfield, Petit has gone attacking and has named Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes from rivals United.
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino is the striker the World Cup winner has picked to lead his line.
RESULTS DAY
The Premier League will discover how many players have contracted coronavirus when they meet to vote on Project Restart on Monday.
All 20 top-flight teams have been tested for Covid-19 over the weekend — many for the first time — and should receive the results today.
In the absence of an overwhelming number of positive diagnoses, the clubs will give their official backing to taking the first tentative steps out of lockdown today.
If all goes according to plan, every team in the top flight will return to training in small groups of five or less this week.
Yet while the majority of players and managers are ready to give a cautious green light to phase one of the plan, many are unconvinced about the next stage.
That will involve full contact training with an eye to resuming the Premier League fixtures on June 12 or June 19.
BACK OF THE NET
Chelsea have been joined by Arsenal in the race to sign Barcelona outcast Neto.
The Barca flop has made just four appearances across all competitions since he arrived at the Nou Camp from Valencia last summer.
As reported by the Express, the Gunners are looking to snare the 30-year-old away from the Catalan giants to provide competition for Bernd Leno.
Despite only keeping eight clean sheets in 30 games, the Germany ace has made a series of impressive saves throughout this term.
Neto was linked with a move to the Emirates last summer as replacement for departing stopper Petr Cech, but the deal was said to have fallen short of the Brazilian's expectations.
This time round Mikel Arteta will face stiff competition from Chelsea, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis and AC Milan.
PIERRE PRESSURE
Barcelona icon Xavi has urged the Catalan giants NOT to splash out on Premier League stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sadio Mane.
The former midfield general rates the quality of Arsenal skipper Aubameyang and Liverpool ace Mane but feels they would not fit in well at the Nou Camp.
Xavi, who now manages Qatari club Al-Sadd, feels the superstar duo – who shared the 2018-19 Premier League Golden Boot with Mo Salah – may have trouble adjusting to Barca boss Quique Setien's style of play.
He said: “Mane and Aubemayang can kill you in open space. But Barcelona need players who know how to move in small spaces.
“I am thinking about player who would adapt to Barcelona and it’s not easy to find one. Samuel Eto’o was perfect as is Luis Suarez right now.”
GUNNERS ROUND-UP
The return of the Premier League is inching ever closer – and there looks set to be a busy summer ahead at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta is primed for a big clear out, although one player Gunners fans will be desperate to keep hold of is Bukayo Saka.
The youngster has made a big impression after breaking into the first-team this season, but Darren Bent fears he could leave for Liverpool if Arsenal don't kick on next term.
He told Football Insider: “Look, I hope [he stays] because he’s a top, top talent.
“He’s an absolutely great talent but we know what it’s like.
“It’ll get to a point where if Arsenal aren’t progressing at the rate he’s thinking, then we’ve seen it happen before.
“We hope he doesn’t go anywhere but that’s the kind of weird predicament Arsenal are in.”
While Arsenal are battling to sign Hellas Verona centre-back Marash Kumbulla.
The Mirror cites reports from Italy claiming that the Gunners have lodged an enquiry over the 20-year-old, who has been dubbed the new Giorgio Chiellini.
However, Mikel Arteta's side face stiff competition from Everton, RB Leipzig and Inter Milan for the £27million-rated Albanian.
And finally, Arsenal have stated that they are taking photos which show Alexandre Lacazette inhaling from a balloon ‘seriously.'
The Daily Star has uploaded footage that appears to show the French footballer with a balloon at his lips.
Arsenal have since issued a response to the story and have insisted that it will be dealt with behind closed doors.
A statement released by the club, cited by Goal, read: “This is a private matter which we are taking seriously. It will be handled internally.”
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