ARSENAL are investigating William Saliba after a video surfaced on social media of him recording a team-mate's sex act.
Meanwhile the Gunners have discovered that they will play Benfica in Rome next week.
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Follow all the latest from the Emirates below…
- Joe Miles
THAT'S A PAR
It could take Arsenal THREE YEARS to break back into the top four of the Premier League.
That is according to former Gunners star Ray Parlour, who has urged the club to back Mikel Arteta in the transfer window.
He told talkSPORT: "Arteta has got to show he's got a plan going forward. It might take three years to try to challenge that top four or try to challenge for the league.
"But we know money does make it easier and that's where the board comes in.
"If they think they've got the right man, please give him a chance by giving him a little bit of money."
As things stand, the Gunners are slumped in the bottom half of the table after 23 matches.
- Joe Miles
AUBA AND OUT
Arsenal should NOT leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench, claimed Garth Crooks.
The star striker did not make the starting XI for the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.
But ex-Tottenham star Crooks told BBC: "I know Nicolas Pepe scored against Wolves last week.
"But can Arsenal really afford to leave someone of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's class on the bench? I don't think so.
"Having got his team back on track with some decent results, Mikel Arteta's meddling again."
Aubameyang, who earns £350,000-per-week, has just five goals in 19 Premier League games this season.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Joshua Jones
MORNING GUNNERS FANS
Both of Arsenal’s Europa League games against Benfica will be played on neutral territory, Uefa have confirmed.
Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, the two sides are unable to meet in England or Portugal for the last-32 clash.
UK restrictions mean Arsenal’s entire travelling party would have to quarantine in a hotel for ten days after playing in Portugal.
Benfica’s ‘home’ game will therefore take place at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on February 18.
Arsenal will then play their ‘home’ game in Athens – 2,000 MILES away from the Emirates – on February 25, with Olympiacos’ Karaiskakis Stadium welcoming the clubs.
In other news, Marc Overmars will not be joining the Arsenal boardroom, according to reports.
It had been suggested that the Ajax chief could be returning to North London in an executive role.
But Football.London report on the club being happy with their management setup with little interest in the Dutchman.
Meanwhile, the same news outlet claims that Thomas Partey could be fit for Arsenal’s match with Leeds.
The Ghana star has played in the Gunners’ last seven games having battled a number of injury problems since signing from Atletico Madrid.
And finally, the French Football Federation are reportedly set to open an investigation into the behaviour of William Saliba after a recording of a team-mate’s sex act was leaked on social media.
The Arsenal youngster – currently on loan at Nice – could end up in hot water after an old recording of a team-mate openly masturbating in the dressing room did the rounds on Snapchat.
The video, believed to have been filmed around three years ago, shows Saliba in a France national team tracksuit.
- Jake Lambourne
TOP PRIORITY
Arsenal will focus on signing a left-back in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Gunners are eager to bring a new left-sided full-back to the Emirates with manager Mikel Arteta admitting the club were 'short' in that position.
The Spaniard wants a new recruit to support first-choice Kieran Tierney with Sead Kolasinac expected to leave on a permanent basis.
And here, SunSport take a closer look at the FIVE most likely options for manager Mikel Arteta, according to odds supplied by bookmakers Coral.
Click HERE to see who could be brought into the Emirates.
- Jake Lambourne
REISS IN PIECES
Reiss Nelson needs more game time at Arsenal, according to former Gunners striker Kevin Campbell.
The midfielder has struggled for game time this season and Campbell told Football Insider a January move away would have done him a favour.
He said: “Reiss Nelson is still in and around the squad and we’ve seen injuries happen and players having to come in and hit the ground running.
“He went on loan last season and done okay, so he’s had a long spell of first-team football.
“But I think he needs more football because he’s not really getting a lot of football at Arsenal.
“It was an interesting one [loan speculation] but it hasn’t quite happened for him.”
- Jake Lambourne
ART DEALER
Arsenal icon Paul Merson believes Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will leave the club permanently in the summer after departing on loan in the winter transfer window.
Willock linked up with Newcastle – and even scored on his debut, while Maitland-Niles signed for West Brom.
Sky Sports pundit Merson said: "It’s massive three months for Arteta to see who’s going to be there for him and who’s not.
"He’s allowed a couple of players to go out on loan and I personally think in doing that, he doesn’t see them at Arsenal next season.”
- Jake Lambourne
FEELING BLUE
Arsenal fan and YouTuber Chunkz did a Fifa forfeit match with Chelsea and Mason Mount.
And it didn't go well for the Gunners supporter…
Take a look at what happened below.
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- Jake Lambourne
SALIBA PROBE
The French Football Federation are reportedly set to open an investigation into the behaviour of William Saliba after a recording of a team-mate's sex act was leaked on social media.
The Arsenal youngster – currently on loan at Nice – could end up in hot water after an old recording of a team-mate openly masturbating in the dressing room did the rounds on Snapchat.
The video, believed to have been filmed around three years ago, shows Saliba in a France national team tracksuit.
In the clip, the defender, 19, turns on his front-facing camera and pans it around his surroundings.
While many of his team-mates – claimed to be a France youth squad by French outlet RMC Sport – are in full tracksuits, the player in question is slumped naked on a sofa surrounded by his pals.
Sitting immediately next to Saliba, the player can be seen openly masturbating while using his phone. It is as yet unclear who leaked the X-rated video.
- Jake Lambourne
EUR MOVING
Both of Arsenal's Europa League games against Benfica will be played on neutral territory, Uefa have confirmed.
Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, the two sides are unable to meet in England or Portugal for the last-32 clash.
UK restrictions mean Arsenal’s entire travelling party would have to quarantine in a hotel for ten days after playing in Portugal.
Benfica's 'home' game will therefore take place at Rome's Stadio Olimpico on February 18.
Arsenal will then play their 'home' game in Athens – 2,000 MILES away from the Emirates – on February 25, with Olympiacos' Karaiskakis Stadium welcoming the clubs.
Uefa have also confirmed away goals WILL still count double, despite both legs going ahead abroad.
- Jake Lambourne
HEN DO
Arsenal goalkeeper Mat Ryan has revealed watching a documentary on Thierry Henry convinced him to support the club.
He told the club's website: "I was a young kid at my friend’s house and we were watching television at the time and on came a documentary of Thierry Henry.
"Being a football lover, me and my friend sat there watching and we were just in awe of his achievements and what he was doing in this documentary.
"It was obviously a montage of highlights, of goals he’d scored and the success he’d helped contribute to at Arsenal with what they’d won in those times.
"From that moment on, I basically fell in love with him and the club and became an Arsenal supporter. I have been, I was going to say until this day, but I guess when I was down there in Brighton and signed there, you guys became a rival.
"So I guess a little less so then, but it’s still a club that had a special place in my heart and now even more so than it ever has in the past because I’ve got the opportunity to represent them now."
- Jake Lambourne
UEFA SHAKE-UP
Uefa is increasingly confident its planned Champions League revamp will be agreed by next month – despite opposition from leagues.
A virtual meeting over the proposals with the 55 Uefa member associations found no significant issues.
Uefa wants to replace the current group stage of the Champions League with a 36-team single table.
Each side will play 10 opponents of varying strengths under the so-called “Swiss system”, with the top eight automatically qualifying for the knock-out stage and the teams between ninth and 24th playing off to join them.
SunSport revealed in December the most controversial aspect of the proposals, with three of the four extra places being awarded via Uefa’s “coefficient” of previous European results.
That could see up to six Prem sides in the competition when the restructure – due from 2024-25 – comes into effect.
- Jake Lambourne
IN LAC
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the future of Alexandre Lacazette, with the striker's deal to expire in 2022.
Speaking on the Blind Gooner YouTube channel, he said: "This is an interesting situation because last summer he had an opportunity with Atletico Madrid, he was one of the options, but they decided to sign different players.
“For sure the situation of his contract is like ‘ok, we either extend the contract in the summer, or the player is leaving.’ Just because they can’t have the risk of him going for free.
“Let’s see also the situation of Italian clubs, because Lacazette was appreciated with Juventus, but they are happy with [Alvaro] Morata."
Before adding: "At the moment Arsenal are happy with his performances, his mentality also in training because also I’m told that he’s training so well in the last weeks and everything."
- Jake Lambourne
OD TO JOY
After his impressive cameo against Aston Villa, will Martin Odegaard get his first Arsenal start on Sunday against Leeds?
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- Jake Lambourne
UNAI WORK WELL TOGETHER
Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi has named former Gunners duo Mesut Ozil and Unai Emery as the best player and coach he has worked with.
Guendouzi is due to return to the Emirates at the end of the season following the conclusion of his loan to Hertha Berlin.
But that did not stop the 21-year-old from controversially naming two departed Gunners as the greatest duo he has been involved with.
When asked to name the best player he has ever played with, he unequivocally told The Mirror: “Mesut Ozil.
“Technically, whether he’s on the pitch during a match or on the training ground he has a technical ease.
“He reads the game better than everyone else. He’s a player I’ve loved playing with.”
The youngster was then asked who the best manager he has worked under is, to which he simply replied: “Unai Emery.”
- Jake Lambourne
PHIL YOUR BOOTS
Man Utd icon Phil Neville is closing in on a Brit double swoop at Inter Miami.
SunSport understands a deal to bring Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross will be completed this week.
And former Arsenal full-back Kieran Gibbs, 31, is in talks and looks set to follow Shawcross to MLS after deciding to quit West Brom.
His contract at the Hawthorns expires at the end of the season and he’s keen to move to South Florida.
Neville and owner David Beckham have wasted no time getting to work and sorting out the problems which hampered Miami’s first season in the League.
Both players will boost a defence which was in desperate need of leadership and experience last term.
- Jake Lambourne
WHERE’S YOUR ED AT
Eden Hazard has revealed his admiration… for Arsenal.
The former Chelsea ace, now of Real Madrid, could not help but be attracted to the French connection in North London.
He told On The Front Foot magazine: “When I was little the team I watched the most was the French national team
“For me, the players I looked up to were Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, and it’s difficult for me to admit because of my relationship with Chelsea, but I really liked the Arsenal team at the time.
“They had players like Robert Pires, [Sylvain] Wiltord and [Patrick] Vieira, so it was mainly French players that I followed growing up.”
- Marc Mayo
LOCKED IN
Earning a victory in his first Newcastle appearance, Joe Willock has spoken highly of the atmosphere at his new club.
The Arsenal loanee scored in the 3-2 win over Southampton after sealing the switch from the Gunners.
He told NUFC TV: "It was buzzing.
“We were all fighting together. That was the mentality of the team.
"From the first day I got here, I could see that it was a very close-knit group and they wanted to fight for each other. I'm happy it showed today."
NINTCHDBPICT000634882702Credit: PA:Press Association - Marc Mayo
BREAK THE BANK
Manchester neighbours City and United have lost the most money in the last 10 transfer windows ahead of the likes of Paris Saint-Germain.
In tenth overall, Arsenal's outlay of £515m is over £300m less than Premier League rivals Chelsea.
But they have only sold £253m worth of talent having seen a number of big names leave the Emirates on free transfers.
Mesut Ozil was the latest name to have his contract paid off while Aaron Ramsey also joined Juventus for nothing.
Arsenal also unbelievably sold Bayern Munich superstar Serge Gnabry for just £4.5m to Werder Bremen.
- Marc Mayo
WIDE OF THE MARC
Marc Overmars will not be joining the Arsenal boardroom, according to reports.
It had been suggested that the Ajax chief could be returning to North London in an executive role.
But Football.London report on the club being happy with their management setup with little interest in the Dutchman.
- Marc Mayo
ROME AWAITS
Arsenal are set to travel to Rome for the away leg of their Europa League tie with Benfica.
Travel to Lisbon is not possible while the UK remains on Portugal's red list of coronavirus nations.
The return leg in London is also up for question with Portugal on the UK's red list.
- Marc Mayo
PUSH & PAUL
Mikel Arteta’s decision to let Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles leave on loan has shown Mikel Arteta’s true opinion of the pair.
That is according to Paul Merson, who told Sky Sports that the players could be sold in the summer unless they impress.
The ex-Gooner stated: “It’s a massive three months for Arteta to see who’s going to be there for him and who’s not.
“He’s allowed a couple of players to go out on loan and I personally think in doing that, he doesn’t see them at Arsenal next season.”
- Marc Mayo
MED ALERT
Kieran Tierney’s success in Scotland encouraged Arsenal youngster Zech Medley to try his luck north of the border.
The defender signed for Kilmarnock in a deadline day loan deal.
And he said: “Along with having an opportunity to play first-team football, that was the biggest attraction for me.
“This will be a great career experience. The gaffer and Kieran both did brilliantly up here are now doing well in the Premier League so it shows that if you can succeed here then you can push on.”
- Marc Mayo
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Jack Wilshere was just 16 years and 256 days when he became Arsenal’s youngest Premier League player in 2008.
Here, SunSport looks back at his debut and where each side’s record-holder is at now.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty - Marc Mayo
WOMEN REPRESENTED
Arsenal's women's team will send three representatives to the upcoming England meet-up.
Leah Williamson, Jordan Nobbs and Lotte Wubben-Moy feature in the 20-player squad selected for this month's training camp by interim coach Hege Riise.
Full England squad:
Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Birmingham City), Sandy MacIver (Everton), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City),
Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Everton, loan from Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Manchester City)
Forwards: Bethany England (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Ellen White (Manchester City)
- Marc Mayo
TIM’LL FIX IT
Mat Ryan has revealed how Mikel Arteta’s old Everton pal Tim Cahill helped seal his move to Arsenal.
The goalkeeper told the Socceroos Podcast: "I made a phone call to Tim Cahill originally, with my ambitions wanting to stay at the highest level of the game. In my experiences I’ve heard stories and seen myself just how far a little conversation between people can go.
"Knowing how respected [Cahill] is in the game I just said, ‘If he felt it was worthwhile, or if he thought I had what it takes to be a Premier League goalkeeper…’, I just asked if he could listen out to hear if anyone was looking out for a goalkeeper.
"I think he was the one that probably planted the seed in Mikel Arteta’s mind," the Socceroos goalkeeper said.
"Given my scenario with me wanting to stay at the top, realising and recognising the January window for a goalkeeper is very difficult to move.”
Credit: Action Images – Reuters
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