PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has committed his future to Arsenal by signing a bumper three-year contract at the Emirates.
Emi Martinez has said his goodbyes after a move to Aston Villa, while we've the very latest on the transfer front as the Gunners have been offered two Atletico Madrid players for Alexandre Lacazette… but not Thomas Partey.
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Get all the latest news and transfer gossip from North London here…
TWO FOR ONE
Atletico Madrid are reportedly ready to offer Arsenal TWO players in exchange for Alexandre Lacazette.
The Spanish side are looking for a striker and rate Frenchman Lacazette highly.
According to MARCA, they are offering both Vitolo and Thomas Lemar to the Gunners in exchange for the forward.
Lemar has been linked with Arsenal before, having failed to make an impact since joining Atletico in 2018.
ART ATTACK
Mikel Arteta is reportedly planning to sign TWO midfielders after reaching an agreement with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
According to The Mirror, Atletico Madrid's Thomas Partey and Lyon star Houssem Aouar are the top of his wishlist.
Earlier this week, the manager confirmed the club are still “active” in the transfer market.
He said: “We are looking at different options. I would say we are active in the transfer market with players in and out.
“At the moment the squad balance is not the ideal we want to achieve so there is still some work to do.”
DAVE DENIED
David Brooks is set to stay at Bournemouth this summer.
The Welshman had been linked to Leicester and Manchester United and Arsenal in the past.
But the Cherries value the midfielder at more than £50million and do not want to sell.
Brooks, 23, was on United’s radar last summer but missed most of the season with an ankle injury that required TWO surgeries.
That long-term problem is likely to scare off any potential suitors from making a massive offer that Jason Tindall’s recently-relegated side could not turn down.
AUBA-ACHIEVER
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyangis on course to break Ian Wright's Arsenal scoring record.
Wright's long standing record sees him sitting second in the list.
The charismatic goal machine bagged 185 goals for the Gunners in the 288 games he played in red and white.
He sits second behind one of the North Londoners' greatest ever players – Thierry Henry who netted a staggering 228 goals in 377 appearances.
Wright's record gave him a total goals-per-game (GPG) ratio of 0.64.
And Aubameyang is marginally edging him with 0.65 GPG thanks to his 72 strikes in 111 matches since his £57.4million arrival in 2018.
The former Borussia Dortmund striker played 44 times for the Gunners last season and 51 the campaign before – averaging out at slightly less than 48 games-per-season.
KOL ME MAYBE
Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly interested in bringing Arsenal left-back Sead Kolasinac back to the Bundesliga.
The 27-year-old has lost his place in the starting XI under Mikel Arteta with Kieran Tierney and Ainsley Maitland-Niles preferred instead.
With the Gunners looking to offload players in order to raise funds to sign Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar, Kolasinac has been put up for sale by the club.
West Ham have been linked with a move for the ex-Schalke defender, but Leverkusen are said to be leading the race to secure his services.
According to Sport Bild via Sport Witness, the German outfit are 'seriously' thinking about signing the Bosnia international.
They claim that the club are looking to spend the cash they received from selling Kai Havertz to Chelsea, and want to bring in a top defender.
KOL ME MAYBE
Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly interested in bringing Arsenal left-back Sead Kolasinac back to the Bundesliga.
The 27-year-old has lost his place in the starting XI under Mikel Arteta with Kieran Tierney and Ainsley Maitland-Niles preferred instead.
West Ham have been linked with a move for the ex-Schalke defender, but Leverkusen are said to be leading the race to secure his services.
According to Sport Bild via Sport Witness, the German outfit are 'seriously' thinking about signing the Bosnia international.
They claim that the club are looking to spend the cash they received from selling Kai Havertz to Chelsea, and want to bring in a top defender.
It has been claimed that Leverkusen will step up their pursuit of Kolasinac this week.
And the report adds that Arsenal would be willing to part ways with the player should they receive a bid in the region of £9.1million.
CHU ARE YA?
Former Arsenal starlet Chuba Akpom is reportedly set to return to England to join Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough.
The 24-year-old has been in impressive form since joining Greek giants PAOK from the Gunners in 2018.
Former England Under-21s forward Akpom starred last night as his side defeated Benfica in the Champions League qualifying stages.
But despite just needing to overcome Russian club Krasnodar to seal a place in the group stages, PAOK are believed to be willing to let him go.
And reports in Greece claim a deal has already been agreed between them and the Championship side.
NEVER GO BACK?
They say never go back… but don't tell Gareth Bale.
The Real Madrid star is nearing a stunning loan deal to return to Tottenham after seven years away.
After a somewhat tepid time under Jose Mourinho, Spurs fans will be desperate for their former hero to bang in the goals like the good old days.
Bale notched 56 goals and 58 assists in over 200 appearances before his £85million exit in 2013.
But, with a dodgy injury record and a poor relationship with Zinedine Zidane leading to plenty of time spent on the sidelines, there will be plenty of doubters ahead of his return.
Here, SunSport details four comeback kids Bale can look to for inspiration including Arsenal legend Thierry Henry – and three he dare not emulate HERE.
TAKING THE MIK
Mikel Arteta has a worse managerial record at Arsenal than his unpopular predecessor Unai Emery.
Gunners fans are loving life under Arteta with his exciting brand of football and the FA Cup and Charity Shield wins.
But stats reveled today by SunSport show him behind Emery in various key statistics.
RUN SCARED
Arsenal target Runar Alex Runarsson was forced to delete tweets calling Arsene Wenger a “French f*** and dumb” ahead of his proposed transfer.
The Gunners are closing in on a £1.5million deal for the Icelandic goalkeeper.
But he frantically tried to save face by axing a series of tweets posted nine years ago slamming the legendary Arsenal boss.
The first, from April 21, 2011 and originally written in Icelandic, said: “Hell, this Wenger guy is stupid.”
That was sent the day after squandering a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 in a North London derby with Tottenham.
Another, posted on June 15, read: “Arsene Wenger is a little too stupid frenchf***.”
And a third, from August 21 that year, reads: “Arsene Wenger is definitely the dumbest man on this planet frenchf***.”
It is not totally clear what infuriated Runarsson so much, although by the latest tweet the Gunners had sold Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona.
They went on to lose Samir Nasri to Manchester City and get stuffed 8-2 by United soon afterwards.
WELCOME BACK
EFL clubs will welcome up to 10,000 fans across the country this weekend as the League steps up its Covid-19 pilot programme.
League chiefs have agreed with Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden that matches with up to 1,000 supporters will be staged at 10 venues across the three divisions.
In the Championship, Luton’s game with Derby, Preston’s visit to Norwich and the clash between Middlesbrough and Bournemouth will see the turnstiles partially opened for the first time since March.
The League One games featuring Charlton against Doncaster, Blackpool versus Swindon, Northampton’s trip to Shrewsbury and Hull’s match with Crewe are on the approved list.
And in League Two, three games – at Forest Green, Carlisle and Morecambe – will have fans inside.
Carlisle’s Brunton Park, ironically, saw the last League Two game with supporters, a crowd of 2,822 for their win over Newport on March 10, 48 hours before English football went into lockdown.
There is still no clarity about whether the Government is willing to extend the numbers allowed in from October 1, amid recent clampdowns and fears of a resurgence of the virus.
LURE OF LEGACY
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed what convinced him to stay at the Emirates and sign a new long-term deal – and it all came down to one word.
The Gabon frontman told Arsenal legend Ian Wright: “I had quite a lot of time to think about it.
“I mean I’m thinking about it since a year [ago].
“I also had a chat with Mikel, that I think gave me something very clear about the future of the club and about me.
“He was straight and honest, and that’s what I like because we are always honest. He said ‘okay, you can maybe leave. I don’t know what your mind is [thinking] right now but you can leave and go for trophies at other clubs or you can stay here and have a legacy.’
“This, for me, was the key word.”
GUNNER MISS YOU
Aston Villa have finally confirmed the £20m arrival of Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal.
The goalkeeper, 28, has penned a four-year contract with Dean Smith's side after he was told Bernd Leno would be No1 at the Emirates.
After a decade in North London, Emi Martinez wanted to say a public farewell to the club and its supporters.
SPUR OF THE MOMENT
Olivier Giroud has admitted that he was so desperate to leave Chelsea in January that he nearly joined Tottenham.
The Frenchman told So Foot: “During the last three days of the transfer window, I was in the coach's office to find a solution.
“I was hoping Chelsea would find a replacement for me.
“For my part, it was not the solutions that were lacking. I almost signed for Lazio, Inter.
“I was even so determined to leave that I even almost signed for Tottenham.”
S-MART DECISION
After a decade in North London, Emi Martinez wanted to say a public farewell to the club and its supporters.
In a video message, he said: “Thank you Arsenal. For me, I could not be happier to leave through the front door with the Arsenal fanbase supporting me and the club supporting me.
“I had 11 years at the club, and even if it was a hard road for me, and I suffered through my time at Arsenal, today I am happy and I tried to show young goalies how work pays off.
“When you work hard, you are not going to be happy the whole time, you are going to have frustration, bad times in life.
“They all understood at Arsenal and they support me for my decision. The Arsenal fanbase were always there for me, I felt their love.
“Even when Bernd got injured this season, I received loads of messages like 'we trust in you', 'you are our goalie'. That made me confident, made me win games and made me the keeper I am today.
“They understood my story and they love the way I worked in the club. I am so glad to be part of the Arsenal family for 11 years.”
EMI AWARD
Aston Villa have finally confirmed the £20m arrival of Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal.
The goalkeeper, 28, has penned a four-year contract with Dean Smith's side after he was told Bernd Leno would be No1 at the Emirates.
Smith said: “We are really pleased with the signing of our new goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
“We know how highly Arsenal rated him and we watched his outstanding performances last season in a trophy-winning top side.
“We moved for Emi when we saw the opportunity, as it is rare to be able to buy a top class goalkeeper who hasn’t yet reached their peak age and who can therefore be a key player for our club for the long term.”
AUBA AND OUT
Arsenal would have been locked in a relegation battle with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
BACKS TO THE WAL
Everton will look to sell the likes of former Arsenal stars Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott before the October transfer deadline, according to reports.
Having shelled out big money to recruit the three star names, the Toffees could do with shifting some high-earning players in order to balance the books.
And according to the Mirror, these outgoings could include two of director of football Marcel Brands' signings from just 12 months ago.
Iwobi, 24, has similarly struggled to make an impact at Goodison following his £40m switch from Arsenal, and Everton will listen to offers for the Nigerian international – who didn't even make the bench in the 1-0 win at Spurs.
Meanwhile Theo Walcott, who was signed by Sam Allardyce in January 2018, is another that could face the chop.
HOW AUB-OUT THAT?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has signed a new contract at Arsenal after singlehandedly dragging his team into the Premier League top ten last season.
Mikel Arteta's side endured a torrid 2019-20, finishing eighth on just 56 points – closer to 20th-placed Norwich than champions Liverpool.
SAMBA SWINDLE
Former Chelsea star Oscar says pals Willian and David Luiz want him to join them at Arsenal
He told Fox Sports Brasil: “They [Willian and Luiz] called me. We have good communication.
“Sometimes I talk to them. They said ‘come to Arsenal, come here’.
“But for me it’s a little more difficult. I have a contract with Shanghai, it’s a little more difficult to leave.
“Willian had finished the contract. I was happy that they got together again, and happy that Willian is happy.
“The most important thing is to be happy, regardless of the place. So I hope they are happy there.
“I really want to go back to Europe, [but] not now. At the moment I’m well here in China, I still have my contract here, which I hope to fulfil.
“And I had approaches from some clubs to go back, but the situation is difficult for me to return.
“The first club I’d choose is Chelsea for sure, which is the club I built a very beautiful history with.”
RISE AND FOL
Sheffield United have been left stunned by Arsenal's £15million demands for teenage striker Folarin Balogun, reports claim.
Balogun, 19, is seen as the perfect young option to come and challenge for first-team football under Chris Wilder's tutelage.
But according to the Mail, United have seen a £3m bid knocked back – because the Gunners want FIVE times that amount.
This despite the fact that Balogun has never played a first-team game, and has entered the final year of his contract.
The England youth international will be free to speak to foreign clubs in January, with the Gunners only due a small compensation fee if he decides to move on then.
GOOD MORNING ARSENAL FANS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is reportedly the highest-paid player in the Premier League after penning a new deal at Arsenal.
The 31-year-old ended speculation over his future by signing a three-year deal at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Aubameyang was previously on around £200k-a-week in North London, but his contract will see him pocket more than £350,000-a-week.
Ian Wright thanked the striker during an emotional Instagram live announcement.
Wrighty beamed: “Oh my God I love you man!
“For you to sign for us in a time when we need you the most, when we’ve seen legends leave us when we needed them – you have legendary status.”
In other news, Emiliano Martinez has confirmed his Arsenal exit in a video shared to his Instagram page.
Ahead of his proposed move to Aston Villa, he said: “I'm just grateful for the 11 years at Arsenal, even though it was a hard road for me and I suffered through my time at Arsenal.”
WE WANT HIM
Arsenal have reportedly joined Spurs in the race to sign Toulouse star Ibrahim Sangare.
According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, the Gunners have identified Sangare as an affordable midfield option.
The defensive midfielder is only expected to cost £9.1million to sign on a permanent.
His contract with Toulouse is set to expire next summer.
'HARD ROAD FOR ME'
Emiliano Martinez has sent a farewell message to Arsenal and their fans ahead of his proposed move to Aston Villa.
Speaking on Instagram, he said: “With my family we decided, 11 years at Arsenal and you work 10 years so hard, you leave through the front door today.
“For me I could not be happier to leave through the front door with the Arsenal fan base supporting me and the club.
“I'm very grateful for the 11 years at Arsenal, even if it was a hard road for me and I suffer through my time here.
“But today I'm happy, and I try to show young goalkeepers that hard work pays off.”
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Thank you @arsenal
A post shared byEmiliano Martinez (@emi_martinez26) on
BLUNT BLADE
Arsenal have rejected Sheffield United's bid for striker Folarin Balogun, according to the Daily Mail.
The Blades allegedly offered the Gunners £3million plus add-ons for the highly-rated 19-year-old.
But the Gunners are believed to be demanding a deal worth in the region of £15m.
Balogun has less than a year remaining on his current deal with the North London giants.
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