ARSENAL are preparing for the trip to Aston Villa as the fixtures come thick and fast.
And the Gunners will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing 2-1 to Wolves in the week, a match in which they went down to NINE men.
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Follow all the latest from the Emirates below…
- Joe Brophy
LU JOKING
Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes it was the right call to dismiss David Luiz’s appeal against his red card vs Wolves.
Keown told talkSPORT: “I think the FA have got this right. The back four should work as a group and it didn’t happen.
“He (Luiz) has got 30 yards to work out what decision to make. It must be in his mind having been sent off twice before for this in the past and he makes a run and doesn’t slow down at any point.
“He allows his opponent to make contact and in the referees directive, it has to be a penalty and a sending off. I have some sympathy, but the player involved should know better.”
- Joe Brophy
BREAK APART
Premier League clubs don't have to let their Portuguese or South American stars represent their national teams in March.
Clubs are usually forced by FIFA regulations to release players for international duty.
However, an exemption until the end of April was added in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
UK rules mean anyone returning from a 'red list' country – which includes Portugal, all of South America and parts of Africa – will need to quarantine for 10 days.
- Joe Brophy
KNOCKOUT BLOW
Premier League clubs were embroiled in a furious row over proposed changes to the Champions League, REPORTS MARTIN LIPTON.
The latest meeting of the 20 ‘shareholder’ clubs was dominated by a terse and tense debate over the plans, explained for the first time by League chief executive Richard Masters.
At the height of the bust-up, which saw a scheduled two-hour virtual meeting lasting more than three hours, one club chief even threatened to SUE Uefa.
Masters outlined the latest proposals, which have emerged after a series of meetings between Uefa bigwigs and representatives of a small number of members of the European Club Association, including Manchester United.
Uefa, seeking to ward off the genuine threat of a breakaway European Super League, is proposing extending its blue riband competition to 36 clubs, four more than the current 32.
- Joe Brophy
AUBA THE MOON
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be set to be restored to the starting line-up against Aston Villa after returning in the defeat to Wolves.
- Joe Brophy
ICYMI
Inter Milan could reportedly let FIVE players leave in the summer including Arsenal target Achraf Hakimi.
Manchester City have also keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old full-back this season.
Inter Milan desperately need to raise £146million to ensure they can compete next season.
Transfer fees combined with the coronavirus pandemic have plunged the club into financial crisis.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter Milan could get rid of five players in the summer.
- Joe Brophy
WIL I NEVER
Arsenal defender David Luiz says team-mate Willian does not have to prove anything at the Emirates.
He told ESPN Brasil, per Goal: “Everyone knows the player Willian. And everyone knows Willian’s potential. And he doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone after so many years at the highest level.
"He’s in a moment which is not so pleasant on the individual level because things are not happening.
“But he’s an experienced, intelligent guy, who knows what he should know, and what he must do every day."
- Joe Brophy
WAITING FOR MAIT
Arsenal legend Michael Thomas has advised Ainsley Maitland-Niles to change position to make it at the Emirates.
He told Caught Offside: “I’m not sure if he would get into a top team as a central midfielder, but he could have a real chance as a right back.”
- Joe Brophy
ODE TO JOY
Arsenal fans have been clamouring for Martin Odegaard to be handed his first start this weekend following this finish in training.
- Joe Brophy
OVER THE MOON
Marc Overmars is reportedly is open to making a stunning return to Arsenal – as the Gunners' director of football.
The Dutchman left Highbury 17 years ago to join Spanish giants Barcelona before ending his career with Go Ahead Eagles.
Overmars, 47, was appointed as Ajax's director of football in 2012 and has flourished in the role, helping identify a number of top players and selling them on for big fees.
But according to De Telegraaf, the former Netherlands international is looking to leave the Johan Cruyff Arena.
And they claim Overmars would be open to joining the Gunners if they tried to acquire his services.
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- Joe Brophy
NOT THE REAL DEAL
Zinedine Zidane insists he 'really wanted' Martin Odegaard to stay at Real Madrid this season.
He told reporters: "Odegaard? He wanted to leave, we talked two, three times about it.
"He wanted to play and I told him to stay and fight for his place.
"I've always wanted him in my team but it was his decision. I wanted him in my team.
"I wanted him back from his loan [at Real Sociedad last season] and I told him to stay because the season is still very long and he would have had his chances.
"But he wanted to leave and play. I really wanted him in my squad."
- Joe Brophy
TWO STRINGS TO YOUR ROWE
Arsenal are reaping the benefits of Emile Smith Rowe being 'bullied' in the Championship, says the man who signed him for Huddersfield.
David Webb, Head of Football Operations at the Terriers, brought the Gunners star to the John Smith’s Stadium last year on loan.
He told BBC Sport: “It was a different challenge for him altogether at Huddersfield and I think it really helped him.
“The training was quite competitive and physical, which he enjoyed and he took it on to the pitch. He was getting knocked and kicked and bullied about a bit, but he took it all in his stride.
“That really developed his fighting spirit, which has helped him now because he came into Arsenal when they were in a bit of a dip and they needed that.”
- Josh Graham
GOLDEN GOAL
Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka have both been nominated for the Premier League's Goal of the Month award for January.
- Josh Graham
OWN UP
Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes it was the right call to dismiss David Luiz's appeal against his red card vs Wolves.
Keown told talkSPORT: "I think the FA have got this right. The back four should work as a group and it didn’t happen.
"He (Luiz) has got 30 yards to work out what decision to make. It must be in his mind having been sent off twice before for this in the past and he makes a run and doesn’t slow down at any point.
"He allows his opponent to make contact and in the referees directive, it has to be a penalty and a sending off. I have some sympathy, but the player involved should know better.”
- Josh Graham
ARTWORK
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been recognised for flipping his side's form by being nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month for January.
- Josh Graham
TIME FOR A RUN OUT
Arsenal are set to hand third-choice keeper Alex Runarsson a first Premier League start against Aston Villa this weekend.
The 25-year-old Icelandic international deputised for Bernd Leno in the Gunners' defeat to Wolves earlier this week after the German was sent off for handling outside his area.
How Arsenal could line up against Aston Villa And with back-up shot-stopper Mat Ryan facing a race to be fit for the weekend, Runarsson could well start for the North London side.
The Gunners will also be without centre-back David Luiz after he failed in his appeal against the red card he was shown at Molineux.
- Josh Graham
INTER HIM
Inter Milan could reportedly let FIVE players leave in the summer including Chelsea and Arsenal target Achraf Hakimi.
Manchester City have also keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old full-back this season.
Inter Milan desperately need to raise £146million to ensure they can compete next season.
Transfer fees combined with the coronavirus pandemic have plunged the club into financial crisis.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter Milan could get rid of five players in the summer.
Hakimi has been named alongside Aleksandar Kolarov, Ashley Young, Danilo D'Ambrosio and Matteo Darmian.
Premier League target Hakimi joined Inter from Real Madrid for £36.3million in the summer of 2020.
- Josh Graham
JAN STARS
Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Bernd Leno are both up for the Premier League Player of the Month gong for January after the Gunners' resurgence.
- Josh Graham
ABUSE MUST STOP
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta slammed recent online abuse of players which is hurting football and society.
Arteta said: "There are all types of different abuses and I think it has to be eradicated completely.
"I think social media has a big responsibility on that, because then you talk about the mental health of the players and the public and how exposed they are.
"I am all open and I'm for people to have their opinions, but not just to be insulting people, abusing people and using a screen on somebody's mobile phone to tell them whatever you want, to a person that you don't even know.
"That for me has to be eradicated, because it is causing a lot of damage in football and a lot of damage to public people.
"So I think we have to be really strong on that and I think you guys [the media] as well have a big part to play to support us and the industry here."
- Josh Graham
PEP TALK
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Nicolas Pepe's reaction to being dropped and urged the Ivorian to continue his recent good work.
Arteta said: "Even when we made decisions not to play him, he kept working hard.
"He has improved in a lot of areas and has been much more consistent for 90 minutes.
"He’s a threat at the moment because he’s been scoring goals, he’s been assisting players, he’s been a real threat. He needs to continue doing that."
- Josh Graham
NO MATCH OF THE DAY
Gary Lineker revealed he believed David Luiz's red card against Wolves SHOULD have been overturned.
The Gunners failed with their appeal against the decision and the Brazilian centre-back will be suspended for three games.
Meanwhile, Southampton were successful in overturning Jan Bednarek's dismissal for a similar challenge.
- Josh Graham
MORE LUIZ ON WILLIAN
David Luiz told Willian to calm down and things will finally happen for him at Arsenal.
The Brazilian defender told ESPN Brasil: "So he’s a guy who will go through this, he will go through this moment and he’ll still bring a lot of joy to Arsenal, to this club. Because there’s this turbulence, just as I had in the first months.
“It’s not easy, you change clubs, from one rival to another, you have all the cannons facing you. Everything you do people will compare.
"Supporters on one side who loved you are sad because you left and are nervous. Supporters on the other side, who cheered against you, are like, ‘I’m not going to like this guy who came from the other side’.
“You end up feeling, in a way, just a little until you adapt. My first months weren’t easy, and that’s what I try to pass on to Willian. ‘Calm down, things will work out, things will happen. Just keep working because you’re you, there’s no way to change. You’re a great person and you’re a great player. Calm down. Things are going to happen’.
“That’s what we try. Everyone already loves Willian here, so I know that things will happen in the best possible way soon.”
- Josh Graham
WILLI OR WON'T HE
Arsenal star David Luiz has backed his fellow Brazilian and Gunners team-mate Willian to pull himself out of his current slump in form.
The former Chelsea star has struggled to settle North of the river and ex-Blues pal Luiz is backing him to come good.
David Luiz backed Willian to come good at ArsenalCredit: Reuters Luiz told ESPN Brasil: "The person Willian, few people know him. But those who know, can’t not say that they love him. Because everyone loves him as a person.
"The player Willian everyone knows. And everyone knows Willian’s potential. And he doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone after so many years at the high level.
"And he’s at a moment which it’s not so pleasant at the individual level because things are not happening.
"But he’s an experienced, intelligent guy, who knows what he should know, what he must do every day.
"You don’t see Willian murmuring to train, you don’t see Willian not training. He’s always dedicated, he’s looking for the best, to improve, to grow. You don’t see Willian with an ugly face on the bench. All those things."
- Gary Stonehouse
GOOD MORNING ARSENAL FANS,
Mikel Arteta insisted the club are managing Kieran Tierney’s fitness as well as they possibly can.
The Gunners boss said: “It’s a different injury in this case. Kieran is a player that really pushes himself and he has to be able to perform physically at his best because he cannot help himself.
“Even in training he can’t help himself. We are trying to manage him in the best possible way and find every possibility to give him the best chance to be fit as soon as possible, and we are here to support him as much as we can.
“What I want is that he’s fit to play for us as soon as possible, then if he’s fit and he’s ready to represent his country, there we go, it’s one of his dreams and he needs to fulfil that. But what I want is for him to play for Arsenal.”
Meanwhile, David Luiz will serve a suspension after losing his appeal against a red card in Arsenal’s defeat to Wolves.
The Gunners confirmed in a statement on Thursday that they were ‘disappointed’ having ‘worked really hard’ to have the ban quashed.
It read: “The Football Association have confirmed to us that the red card given to David Luiz on Tuesday against Wolverhampton Wanderers will stand.
“We have worked really hard to overturn David Luiz’s red card.
“We presented our case to the FA but are disappointed that our appeal has been unsuccessful.
“We accept the FA’s decision and continue our preparations for Saturday’s match against Aston Villa.”
And finally, Patrick Vieira has joined the race to become the new Bournemouth manager.
The former Gunners midfielder is being linked with the role, while ex-Chelsea pair John Terry and Frank Lampard are also being talked up as potential candidates, according to The Mail.
- Joe Brophy
£80M JACKPOTTY
The Premier League's fourth-placed team could miss out on a Champions League spot next season.
But such an £80million-plus hit for a Prem giant would need a chain of events as unusual as, say, Liverpool losing home league games to Burnley and Brighton in the same week…
Only five teams from any country can compete in the Champions League in the same campaign.
So Prem representation for the following campaign would first be threatened if English clubs won the Champions League AND the Europa League in one term.
That's because the winners of those two tournaments automatically qualify for the Champions League.
- Joe Brophy
STAR BOY
Arsenal fans are hoping that youngster Bukayo Saka continues his amazing run of recent form.
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