ARSENAL will be without centre-back William Saliba for their huge make-or-break clash with Manchester City next week, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have been dealt a major blow in their efforts to sign both Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo in the summer.
This is due to Premier League rivals Newcastle earmarking them for a transfer after reportedly switching to a more aggressive and spend-happy transfer policy in the summer.
Elsewhere, Arsenal have reportedly offered Reiss Nelson a fresh deal amid interest from Brighton and Aston Villa.
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- Kostas Lianos
Saliba injury blow
Arsenal's Premier League title hopes have suffered a major blow with fears William Saliba may not play again this season.
The Gunners hoped Saliba would recover from a back injury in time for next Wednesday’s Prem showdown at Manchester City.
But manager Mikel Arteta admitted: “He is not progressing as quick as we hoped — it’s a bit delicate.
“There is some improvement but he is not at the level needed to throw him onto the pitch to compete in this league.”
Asked if the injury could sideline Saliba until next season, Arteta added: “I don’t know. Probably next week we are going to have more certainty.”
- Gary Stonehouse
Morning, Arsenal fans
The Gunners fear William Saliba could be out for the season and Mikel Arteta is unsure if Oleksandr Zinchenko will return against Southampton tonight.
Those defensive issues could turn out to be a major factor in the title race as the Gunners attempt to go seven points clear of Manchester City this evening.
Rob Holding again seems sure to deputise, including at City next Wednesday, when Pep Guardiola's men will have two games in hand.
Arteta said of left-back Zinchenko: “It’s not certain. It’s a muscular injury and it needs some time to heal."
And he was far more pessimistic over Saliba.
The Spaniard said: “He is not progressing as quick as we hoped — it’s a bit delicate.
“There is some improvement but he is not at the level needed to throw him onto the pitch to compete in this league.”
Meanwhile, claims Real Madrid could lure Arteta have been shot down.
Ally McCoist reckons there’s “no chance” the rumours shared by Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand will come true.
- Ian Tuckey
Sali-barred
Arsenal's title hopes have suffered a major blow with fears star centre-back William Saliba may not play again this season.
The Prem leaders hoped the France defender would recover from a back injury in time for next Wednesday’s showdown at Manchester City.
But Gunners boss Mikel Arteta admitted: “He is not progressing as quick as we hoped — it’s a bit delicate.
“There is some improvement but he is not at the level needed to throw him onto the pitch to compete in this league.”
Asked if the injury could sideline Saliba until next season, Arteta added: “I don’t know. Probably next week we are going to have more certainty.”
Saliba, 22, has been a defensive rock alongside Gabriel as Arsenal chase a first title since 2004.
- Ian Tuckey
Arteta hits back over 'mascot snub' claims
Mikel Arteta has hit back at accusations that his Arsenal players snubbed a young mascot before last week’s 2-2 draw at West Ham, writes MARK IRWIN.
The club have been battered since a video was posted online of Arteta and his players all ignoring the eight-year-old girl as they signed a replica shirt ahead of the game.
The footage was actually posted by Arsenal’s social media team and has led to claims that Arteta and his players were rude in failing to react with the young fan.
But the Arsenal boss pointed out: “First of all this video comes from Arsenal TV and shows just a fragment of the picture.
“Nobody has seen what happened before and afterwards and I think it is not fair.
“When you speak about the connection we have built with our supporters, this is what we do every single day.
“If you talk to the parents of the young mascots they will tell you that they had that most amazing day.
“So when you ask about the perception of my players, I don’t think they’re regarded in a negative way at all.”
- Ian Tuckey
Zinchenko 'not certain' for Saints clash
Mikel Arteta is unsure if Olesandr Zinchenko will make tomorrow's Prem home game with Southampton.
And fellow defender William Saliba is definitely out – despite hopes earlier this week he might make an unlikely return.
Boss Arteta said of left-back Zinchenko: “We will see with that one. It’s not certain.
“It’s a muscular injury and it needs some time to heal, and we are not there yet.”
- Ian Tuckey
Wenger on Boehly
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger has hit out at Chelsea owner Todd Boehly after his dressing room visit.
Asked if he would put up with Boehly’s antics, Wenger told beIN Sports: “No, I wouldn’t, that was always clear in my mind. I always put that in my contract.
“The advice I give to young coaches when they make contracts, I say make what is important for you, put that clearly in your contract that you are the only one.
“Nobody can buy a player without your agreement, nobody can interfere with the team, and you are solely responsible for managing the team.
“After that you stand in a different way because usually when a club wants you, you are in a strong position.
“Once you’ve lost three games and you want to put that in a contract it’s already more difficult.”
- Ian Tuckey
Gab enjoys call of beauty
Gabriel Jesus has revealed the reason behind his phone-call celebration – which has been ringing off the hook as of late.
The £45million Arsenal man has been in fine form since returning from a knee injury in March – scoring four goals in his last five appearances.
The Brazilian has whipped out his answering-the-phone celebration for each of those goals – prompting fans to wonder why he picks up his imaginary mobile.
And he's revealed it's in homage to a pre-match call he received from his mum ahead of his appearance in the Selecao's 2016 World Cup qualifier with Venezuela.
The 26-year-old recalled: “It was a joke with my friends, a ‘Hello, mother’. My friends know why. My mother knows too. It was a celebration for them.”
Jesus doesn't just pick up the phone when he scores a goal as a nod to that pre-match call from his mum. It's also of a tribute to the struggles they overcame as a family.
He continued: “When we were kids, my mom would be calling me all the time to find out where I was. And if I didn’t pick up, she’d start calling all my friends.
“When I pick up the phone, it is in honour of my mother and our struggle. But it is also in honour of my friends and family and Coach Mamede and everyone in Brazil who helped me get here.”
- Ian Tuckey
Saka and Martinelli are Prem's 'breakout stars'
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have been rated the "breakout stars of the Prem this season.
The Arsenal wingers are both expected to start tomorrow's home clash with Southampton.
And Liverpool legend John Barnes told Bonuscodebets: “Mitoma has obviously impressed me a lot. Brighton does very well when it comes to integrating players, like MacAllister, Caicedo, Ferguson and so on.”
“Bukayo Saka has been very good and like Martinelli, he is a young player that performed quite inconsistently last season.”
“Saka and Martinelli have been the breakout players for me this season."
- Ian Tuckey
'No chance' Mikel will quit for Real
Claims Real Madrid could lure Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta have been shot down.
Ally McCoist reckons there's "no chance" such rumours shared by Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand will come true.
Many think Carlo Ancelotti's successful reign at Real will end in the summer.
And Ferdinand says he's heard the Spanish giants will "come knocking" for Arteta, leaving the Gunners "coach-less".
But fellow pundit McCoist told talkSPORT he believes the Emirates chief will stay to develop his Prem leaders' youthful squad.
Ex-Aston Villa skipper Gabby Agbonlahor agreed, adding: "I think he will stay for a few more seasons at least."
- Ian Tuckey
Gabriel has made 'significant leaps'
Arsenal legend Robert Pires is not surprised by Gabriel Martinelli’s success this season.
Pires told Apostagolos: “I wouldn’t necessarily call it [Martinelli’s form this season] a surprise, simply because he’s incredibly talented and we’ve known that for a while.”
“Now, like many of his teammates, he has made significant leaps forward this season.
“He has also become more consistent, although he can certainly continue to develop.”
Credit: AFP - Ian Tuckey
Prem confirms dates for finale
The Premier League has confirmed the dates and times of a number of games in the pivotal season run-in.
And they include potentially title-deciding clashes involving Arsenal and Manchester City.
The Prem have released the confirmed schedule for Matchweek 37, the penultimate match before the end of the season.
It shows league leaders Arsenal will now contest their clash with Nottingham Forest at 5:30pm on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Man City have seen their fixture against Chelsea moved to the 4pm slot on Sunday.
Both games will be broadcast on Sky Sports.
Elsewhere, Tottenham's match against Brentford, which could end up being a decider for European football, has been moved to Saturday's early kick-off slot for BT Sport.
The other end of the table will see West Ham take on Leeds on Sunday at 2pm, which will also be shown on Sky.
- Ian Tuckey
Mikel admits William progressing slower than hoped
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta revealed there will be “more certainty” next week regarding William Saliba’s injury.
Arteta said: “He’s not progressing as quick as we hoped.
“We have to be delicate and we want to be very certain when we push him that he’s ready.
“Next week we will have more certainty”
- Ian Tuckey
Robin red vest?
Real Sociedad ace Robin Le Normand is being targeted by Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window.
Leaked goals since William Saliba’s current injury suggests the Gunners lack top-class cover at centre-back.
And Le Normand, 26, has enjoyed another strong season in LaLiga with Sociedad.
And as well as trying to switch nationalities to Spanish, the Frenchman could yet land a big move on the pitch.
- Kostas Lianos
Marseille 'fed up with Tavares'
Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares is "annoying staff" at Marseille due to his "inability to follow instructions".
According to L'Equipe, right-back Issa Kabore – on loan from Manchester City – "better understands" what is wanted from manager Igor Tudor.
This could see Jonathan Clauss move to the left side as Tavares comes out of the team.
The report added that the Arsenal loanee "still annoys the staff with his efforts" and his inability to consistently follow instructions.
- Kostas Lianos
Wenger on Boehly
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger has hit out at Chelsea owner Todd Boehly after his dressing room visit.
Asked if he would put up with Boehly's antics, Wenger told beIN Sports: "No, I wouldn’t, that was always clear in my mind. I always put that in my contract.
"The advice I give to young coaches when they make contracts, I say make what is important for you, put that clearly in your contract that you are the only one.
"Nobody can buy a player without your agreement, nobody can interfere with the team, and you are solely responsible for managing the team.
"After that you stand in a different way because usually when a club wants you, you are in a strong position.
"Once you’ve lost three games and you want to put that in a contract it’s already more difficult."
- Kostas Lianos
Off the menu
Laura Woods has revealed that she sat next to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta at dinner on Tuesday – and hardly mentioned the Gunners.
Woods told talkSPORT: "I went to the Diamond Club. At the Emirates, they have this event for the Diamond Club and box holders.
"Mikel Arteta was there, Edu was supposed to be there but couldn’t make it. Vinai Venkatesham was also there.
"It was very cool. Before you go and do the event with the Diamond Club members, you get to sit down and have a private dinner with everybody. I got to sit next to Mikel Arteta. It was very cool."
When Ally McCoist asked her what Arteta's table manners are like, she replied: "Exceptional. Speaking of table manners, mine aren’t. What do you think we talked about?
"We spoke about boxing and darts. I said, ‘Have you ever been?’ He said no and I said here’s my tip. Go dressed up and no one will know who you are and you can go right in the pits and enjoy it."
- Kostas Lianos
Thierry Henry advice
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has warned Arsenal to ditch the emotional aspect of their game in order to pip Manchester City to the title.
Henry said: “The last game didn’t reassure me. From Arsenal's point of view, since the beginning of the season, I have been saying you don’t win a title on emotions.
“You can win a cup, the Champions League, maybe even the World Cup. But across 38 games you can’t be too emotional about it, and recently we’ve been too emotional.
“You can feel the emotion coming, but don’t be emotional. There’s a difference. Stay calm.”
Credit: Getty - Kostas Lianos
Martin Odegaard's 'tears'
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard would have had “tears rolling down his face” after Mikel Arteta reportedly took Bukayo Saka out to dinner last week, claims Peter Crouch.
Crouch told his podcast: “The way I’m seeing it is he [Saka] is such an important player for Arsenal and his contract is up in a year’s time.
“There might be some buttering up going on there. What do you say if your manager says ‘We’re going for dinner tonight’… do you turn that down?
“Across the newspapers over breakfast, I reckon a little tear will just roll down his face.”
- Kostas Lianos
Arteta on Saka
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that Bukayo Saka is remaining on penalty duties in spite of last Sunday’s crucial miss at West Ham, writes SunSport's Mark Irwin.
Arteta said: “Bukayo takes a lot on his shoulders but he loves the responsibility.
“But if he had any doubts about how much people love him at the club, he has had a very overwhelming reaction from everyone in the building.
“In the end, that can be something very positive which can give him a big lift because everyone acted in an unbelievable way towards him.
“He deserves that because of the way he is and if we get another penalty against Southampton tomorrow I will go on the pitch and throw him the ball to make sure he takes it.”
- Kostas Lianos
Pires on Martinelli
Arsenal legend Robert Pires is not surprised by Gabriel Martinelli’s success this season.
Pires told Apostagolos: “I wouldn’t necessarily call it [Martinelli’s form this season] a surprise, simply because he’s incredibly talented and we’ve known that for a while.”
“Now, like many of his teammates, he has made significant leaps forward this season.
“He has also become more consistent, although he can certainly continue to develop.”
Credit: AFP - Kostas Lianos
Arteta on Saliba
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta revealed there will be "more certainty" next week regarding William Saliba's injury.
Arteta said: “He’s not progressing as quick as we hoped.
"We have to be delicate and we want to be very certain when we push him that he’s ready.
“Next week we will have more certainty"
- Kostas Lianos
Gunners eye Le Normand
Real Sociedad ace Robin Le Normand is being targeted by Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window.
Leaked goals since William Saliba's current injury suggests the Gunners lack top-class cover at centre-back.
And Le Normand, 26, has enjoyed another strong season in LaLiga with Sociedad.
And as well as trying to switch nationalities to Spanish, the Frenchman could yet land a big move on the pitch.
- Kostas Lianos
Arsenal eye Watkins
Arsenal could make a move for Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins this summer.
Fabrizio Romano told CaughtOffside: “I’ve had Arsenal fans asking me about the reports on Ollie Watkins – I can say that I’m not aware of anything advanced at this stage with any club.
“He’s doing excellent and he’s only focused on Villa.
I’m sure he’s capable of making the step up to one of the so-called ‘big six’, but we also have to respect Villa as the project is ambitious and Unai Emery is there to help them grow.”
- Kostas Lianos
Oleksandr Zinchenko returns
Arsenal have been handed a major injury boost in their battle for the Premier League title as Oleksandr Zinchenko has returned to training.
Zinchenko missed the 2-2 draw away at West Ham at the weekend with Kieran Tierney playing instead.
The left-back is now set to face his former club Manchester City on Wednesday at the Etihad.
The Ukraine international could also appear against Southampton tomorrow at the Emirates.
Credit: Getty - Gary Stonehouse
Morning, Arsenal fans
Star defender Oleksandr Zinchenko is eyeing a return tomorrow night and the Gunners are being linked with Ollie Watkins.
Left-back Zinchenko has overcome a groin problem that kept him out of Sunday's draw at West Ham, Arsenal's second successive Prem slump from 2-0 up to 2-2.
But the Ukrainian could start at home to Southampton on Friday evening as the Gunners bid to go seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola's champs, however, would then have two games in hand.
Central defender William Saliba also hopes to make a surprise early comeback from injury tomorrow.
The Frenchman has certainly been missed as the leaky Gunners drew against Liverpool and the Hammers despite early domination.
Aston Villa goal machine Watkins is tipped to attract attention from the Gunners in the summer.
The seven-cap Englishman, 27, is under contract until June 2025.
Finally, Real Sociedad centre-back Robin Le Normand is also regarded as a probable Arsenal target in the next transfer window.
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