ARSENAL return to Premier League action this weekend as they welcome Newcastle to the Emirates.
Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka is hoping to be back in the next month, with recovery going well.
He suffered medial knee ligament damage during the North London derby and has been out ever since.
Xhaka is open to leaving Arsenal for Borussia Monchengladbach on a FREE when his contract expires.
The club risk losing Alexandre Lacazette at the end of the season for NOTHING, with the club refusing to discuss a new deal till the end of the season.
The striker, 30, is in the final few months of his £200,000-a-week deal and can open talks with overseas clubs in January.
Renato Sanches has responded to reports linking him with a host of clubs, including Arsenal.
Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
- Joshua Mbu
AUBA BACK
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has found his feet again at Arsenal.
- Joshua Mbu
MERS PREDICTS
Arsenal legend Paul Merson predicts the Gunners to get back to winning ways after their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool.
The Gunners welcome bottom of the table Newcastle to the Emirates at the weekend.
Merson told Sportskeeda: “I would expect Arsenal to get back on the horse against Newcastle. They proved that they’re flat-track bullies last weekend."
- Joshua Mbu
GAB THAT
Arsenal are preparing for their Premier League clash against Newcastle at the weekend.
- Joshua Mbu
GUNNING FOR GLORY
Summer arrivals Aaron Ramsdale and Ben White are amongst some of Arsenal's most expensive signings ever.
- Joshua Mbu
RAM RAID
Aaron Ramsdale wants to face a red-hot Cristiano Ronaldo when Arsenal travel to Manchester United next week, writes JOSHUA JONES.
The Gunners head to Old Trafford on Thursday in what looks set to be Ralf Rangnick’s first game as interim boss.
Ronaldo, 36, has scored just one Premier League goal in his last SEVEN appearances, dating back to September.
But with his heroics for United in the Champions League, he is now just one strike shy of 800 career goals.
Even so, Ramsdale insists he would prefer a ‘full-on battle’ with the Portuguese superstar than a quiet night between the sticks.
The Arsenal goalkeeper said: “I’d never thought I’d play against Ronaldo, but I really hope he’s on it against us because it gives me a chance to test myself.
“As much as you want to go somewhere like Old Trafford, there’s no better feeling than getting on top of someone and saying I’ve had a full-on battle with Ronaldo.”
- Joshua Mbu
ART OF WAR
Mikel Arteta is ready to ring the changes for Arsenal’s weekend bout against Newcastle, writes ANTHONY CHAPMAN.
The Gunners are still reeling from their 4-0 battering at the hands of Liverpool.
Arteta could now make three changes to his regular starting XI to face Newcastle.
Aaron Ramsdale is sure to stay in goal ahead of Bernd Leno.
And the defensive trio of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White and Gabriel have all been in good form.
However, youngster Nuno Tavares struggled against Mo Salah at Anfield and is set to be replaced by fan favourite Kieran Tierney at left-back.
- Joshua Mbu
ARSENAL VS NEWCASTLE
When is Arsenal vs Newcastle?
- This Premier League clash is the early offering on Saturday, November 27.
- Kick-off is at 12.30pm GMT.
- When the sides met here last season, goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka saw the Gunners win 3-0.
Which TV channel and live stream can I watch it on?
You can catch this game live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate.
Coverage will start at 11.30am.
BT Sport and BT Broadband customers can stream all the action on the official app, available on your mobile, tablet, PC or games console.
NEXT FIVE
Bottom of the table Newcastle travel to Arsenal next.
COULD END IN TIERS
Arsenal's Kieran Tierney has a good shot of playing at next year's World Cup.
Scotland were drawn into Path A, and they'll play Ukraine at Hampden.
Path A:
- Scotland vs Ukraine
- Wales vs Austria
But should Scotland get through, they'll play away, possibly against WALES in the play-off final.
- Justin Lawrence
GUNNER STAY
Mikel Arteta isn't worried about any of his Arsenal stars leaving the club to join minted Newcastle.
The Gunners face the money flushed Toon this weekend but Arteta can't envision any of his Gunners jumping ship to play for their opponents.
The Spaniard doesn't think his troops can be lured with money because they feel valued at The Emirates.
When asked if he was worried about Newcastle stealing his stars, Arteta said: "No. I think players should stay at football clubs when they feel that they belong somewhere, when they feel important to it, when they feel valued in every single aspect and when that's the case, normally players want to stay.
"When players start to decide something else, it's because they need something different in their futures, and that happens with any club that has financial power to convince anybody, or has other capacities.
"Sometimes it's not the financial power, sometimes it's sporting reasons, sometimes family reasons, sometimes it's a problem of adaptation. There are many different cases."
- Justin Lawrence
BLUES CRUISE
Arsenal legend Ian Wright is sceptical about Manchester United’s chances against Chelsea despite Ralf Ragnick’s appointment.
United are on the verge of naming Ragnick as interim head coach for six months.
But Wright doesn’t think that will be enough to stop Thomas Tuchel’s relentless Chelsea.
He said: “We’re talking about a Thomas Tuchel Chelsea side that is going to be ruthless with what they do.
They’re not going to change. You’re going to have to deal with Reece James and what he can do.
“Unfortunately for Chelsea, (N’Golo) Kante might not be fit. But the way they play in the system, if you’re organised, and you stay in your shape, you’re probably going to break through the Manchester United side.
“I don’t know what they can do that’s going to curtail and stop Chelsea or slow them down for them to then impress themselves on Chelsea.”
- Justin Lawrence
NOT SMART
Arsenal legend Martin Keown doesn't get why the club didn't do more to keep ex-boss Arsene Wenger at the club when he left as manager.
New Gunners boss Mikel Arteta stated he wants Wenger to come back to the club to help out, but Keown thinks the Frenchman should've offered a advisory role sooner.
Keown said to the Mail: "I never understood why, when Arsene Wenger left Arsenal, he wasn’t moved upstairs. If anyone should have a seat in the club’s boardroom, it’s him.
"He had so much to offer. He still does. He is one of the game’s great visionaries and life’s leaders and they don’t come along very often."
- Justin Lawrence
COME ON RON
Aaron Ramsdale wants Cristiano Ronaldo to be at his best when Arsenal face Manchester United.
Playing against Ronaldo is a dream come true for Ramsdale and he wants the United attacker to give it his all so he can test his goalkeeping skills.
He said to Amazon’s Black Friday Live event: “I’d never thought I’d play against Ronaldo, but I really hope he’s on it against us because it gives me a chance to test myself.
“As much as you want to go somewhere like that (Old Trafford) there’s no better feeling than getting on top of someone and saying I’ve had a full-on battle with Ronaldo.
- Justin Lawrence
PEP TALK
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is keen to see Nicolas Pepe prove himself at the club.
Pepe's not been a regular starter for the Gunners this season but Arteta has faith that he can turn things around.
He said: “We’re interested in Nico performing at the level he can do.
“He’s had some really good moments since I’ve been here, some moments where he hasn’t participated that much but, like everybody else, it’s part of football and part of the world in any football team.”
- Justin Lawrence
ED IN HIS HANDS
Arsenal technical director Edu has recalled the time he was sent to jail after arriving into England with a fake Portuguese passport.
The 43-year-old had agreed a deal to join the Gunners from Corinthians in the summer of 2000, but was made to wait until the following New Year before linking up.
Edu had believed the passport secured by his agent was legitimate, though he was stopped by border control after touching down in Blighty.
However, unbeknownst to Edu, his agent at the time had supplied him with a counterfeit passport in a hurried effort to get his transfer to Arsenal over the line.
He was then held by Brazilian authorities for 10 hours while the situation was being investigated which is when the tears came flooding down.
Edu explained to The Athletic: “When I got there, I realised how serious the situation was. That’s when I started to cry — ‘Man, I’m in prison’.”
- Justin Lawrence
WISH GRAN-TED
Arsenal star Granit Xhaka will be welcomed back to Borussia Monchengladbach with open arms, according to the club's sporting director Max Eberl.
Xhaka recently expressed his desire to return to the German side he left to join Arsenal.
But since his departure, the Swiss midfielder's reportedly maintained a close relationship with Monchengladbach.
And during their conversations, Xhaka's let it be known that he plans to re-join them, Eberl claims.
Eberl said: “Granit had a great time here.
We are pleased that he has a very close relationship with the club and the region.
“We still have irregular contact.
“He has already hinted at it several times.”
- Justin Lawrence
WENGER BOOST
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour thinks the Gunners squad will be given a major boost if ex-boss Arsene Wenger returns to the club to assist Mikel Arteta.
Arteta revealed yesterday that he would love it if the Frenchman was closer to him at the Emirates.
But although Parlour sees Wenger's return to the club he left in 2018 as a positive, he's not sure if the FIFA chief will be keen on the idea.
Parlour told talkSPORT: “You could see he adored #AFC.”
“I’m sure the Arsenal players would get a massive lift if they saw Arsene Wenger!”
“Whether he wants to get back into Arsenal now, I don’t know.”
- Justin Lawrence
HOWE DO YOU DO?
Newcastle have confirmed that Eddie Howe WILL return to the dugout for tomorrow's clash with Arsenal.
The new Toon boss, 43, was forced to watch his first game in charge last week from his hotel room after testing positive for Covid-19.
Jason Tindall was on the touchline as Newcastle drew a thriller with Brentford 3-3 at St James' Park.
But after returning a negative Covid-19 test this morning, Howe will be back in the technical area at the Emirates as the Magpies continue their hunt for a first win of the season.
- Justin Lawrence
DEFENSIVE MAGIC
Mikel Arteta is thoroughly impressed with the chemistry that his Arsenal defensive duo Gabriel Magalhães and Ben White, along with keeper Aaron Ramsdale are building.
The trio joined the club in the summer but have already gelled like they've been playing together for years.
Which is something Arteta thinks is rare to see in football.
He said: “Obviously their age, how they complement their qualities and as well the chemistry that they are building it’s really important and it’s rare to see it that early.
But they are enjoying playing together and this is something really important and we have to keep evolving.
"Not only with them, but with every player that is involved in those positions.”
- Justin Lawrence
SHOW WIL GO ON
Jack Wilshere has refused to rule out a return to Arsenal's first team in the future.
Wilshere's been training with the Gunners in a bid to keep fit while searching for a new club.
But he could end up staying put by the sound of things.
When asked by talkSport if a return to Mikel Arteta's starting 11 was on the cards, he said: "Erm, I don’t know mate. Honestly, I don’t know."
- Joshua Jones
GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is expecting a big reception for Joe Willock when the academy graduate comes back to North London with Newcastle at the weekend.
Willock was permanently sold to the Magpies in the summer after a successful loan spell in the second half of last season.
Arteta said: “Yeah, I think it will be really nice to have him, we all love and like Joe.
“Obviously, it was a difficult decision to make to let him go, but I think he’s shown that’s what he needs as well to play the minutes that he’s finding there and find a new challenge.
“Yes (I’ve spoken to him), not this week, but I have done it before and he knows the reception he’s going to get.”
Pablo Mari could reportedly be in line for a move back to Copa Libertadores finalists Flamengo.
The 28-year-old Arsenal centre-back joined from the Brazilian outfit in January 2020.
But after playing just twice in the Premier League so far this campaign Mari has become tired of stewing on the bench, according to Mauro Sant’Anna, a Flamengo dedicated YouTuber.
Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana is sick of the media linking him with a move to Arsenal.
He fumed, via HITC: “I’ve wanted to talk about this for some time. (Recently) there was an article about me every day. It was Arsenal, then it was Lyon.
“I’m there tired of it. The media thinks it should inform me about my own life. I still have a contract with Ajax.”
- Kealan Hughes
'BRING BACK WENGER'
Martin Keown believes Arsenal should welcome Arsene Wenger back to the club and offer him a place on the club's board.
He wrote in his column for the Daily Mail: "He had so much to offer. He still does. He is one of the game’s great visionaries and life’s leaders and they don’t come along very often.
"Wenger practically built the Emirates Stadium, thanks to his success, and yet he’s never been back there since leaving.
"If Arsenal are to be seen as one big family, it is only right and proper that the former head of that family should return to the table.
"If he’s got the time to take it on and he’s interested in the idea, Arsenal should welcome him back with open arms.
"Mikel Arteta says he wants him back. We don’t know whether that’s in the boardroom, as an adviser or just that Arsenal’s manager wants his former boss to be present on matchday."
- Kealan Hughes
ASENSIO TO GO?
Marco Asensio is interested in moving to Arsenal as he nears the end of his time at Real Madrid, according to El Nacional.
The Spanish attacker is one of the many players struggling to get regular game time at Madrid.
It has been tough for Carlo Ancelotti to fit everyone into his plans, yet Los Blancos still wants to sign Kylian Mbappe.
Their interest in the Frenchman almost certainly means Asensio will hardly get playing time again.
Tottenham and AC Milan made moves for him months ago, but he turned them down.
- Kealan Hughes
WIL HE COME BACK?
Jack Wilshere is far from ruling out a return to the Arsenal first team, with the Gunners potentially needing reinforcements during the African Cup of Nations.
He told talkSPORT: "I went there, very kindly invited by them to come and train, get my fitness back, which I’ve done.
"I am [training with the first team]. They’ve got a lot of midfielders, they’ve got Ainsley Maitland-Niles…"
Asked whether he has played for the Under-23 side, Wilshere’s replied, ‘no.’ But asked whether he could do so soon, he said, ‘maybe.’
Pushed on whether there is a chance he could play for the first team again he said: ‘Erm, I don’t know mate. Honestly, I don’t know.’
- Joshua Mbu
3 PINTS FOR A WIN
Footie fans could be allowed to drink during games again for the first time in 36 years, writes NATASHA CLARK and NICHOLAS GUTTERIDGE.
The law banning booze in stands could be axed as part of a wide-ranging review of the sport.
Among recommendations is a test scheme for fans to be able to drink alcohol during matches at League Two and National League clubs.
Ministers have welcomed the move, part of a fan-led review headed by ex-sports minister Tracey Crouch.
She said a “small scale and limited pilot” on the sale of alcohol “in sight of the pitch” would help struggling clubs rake in extra cash.
Ms Crouch added yesterday: “This is about the financial sustainability of the lowest parts of the league — such a small change would make a huge difference.”
Research suggests an average League Two club loses around £184,000 a season by not being able to sell booze to fans watching matches.
Source: Read Full Article
