ARSENAL are looking to ditch as many as SEVEN players in the summer window.
£72million club record singing Nicolas Pepe is one of the names that Mike Arteta is prepared to let go.
Meanwhile, former Premier League defender Kolo Toure believes Arsenal have learnt from their previous mistakes as they attempt to tie down star man Bukayo Saka to a long-term deal.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Toure said: "One mistake that Arsenal made down the years, they had key players that loved the club and they let them go."
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Work of Art
Kolo Toure has labelled Mikel Arteta "inspiring" after the manager's extraordinary season at the Emirates.
The former Arsenal defender, who was sacked as Wigan boss earlier this season, believes Arteta is doing an incredible job - but has warned him about the threat Manchester City will bring in the final weeks of the season.
He told Sky Sports: "He's [Arteta] been incredible. What he is doing as a young manager is inspiring us. You can see the energy he is bringing.
"He was really lucky to work with one of the best managers in the world in Pep Guardiola - learning from him was vital. But with Man City, they have the experience and Arsenal have to be really careful they don't slip because this Man City team will give everything they have until the last game."
Tour de force
Kolo Toure believes Arsenal have learnt from previous mistakes as they move to sign Bukayo Saka to a long-term deal.
The Gunners have previously lost players on frees or been forced to sell due to not getting their best stars to sign contracts.
And Toure told Sky Sports: "One mistake that Arsenal made down the years, they had key players that loved the club and they let them go. You must keep those players because these players are the players that are going to lead the team for you.
"These are the players you can rely on. these are the players that when it's tough they will put their bodies on the line because they love the club."
Firing Squad
Nicolas Pepe is one of seven players who Arsenal are believed to be ready to let go.
Pepe has not started a Premier League game for the Gunners since October 2021 and has made it clear that he does not see a future for himself in North London after falling behind Bukayo Saka in the pecking order.
The club are also prepared to listen to offers for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares and Alex Runarsson but know that few of that list are likely to attract substantial bids.
Nic of Time
Arsenal are ready to ditch £72million club record signing Nicolas Pepe - but fear they might have to pay him to leave.
The 27-year-old winger is currently on loan at Nice but is not part of Mikel Arteta’s plans.
But he still has another year of his £140,000-a-week Emirates contract to run and has attracted no offers from any potential buyers.
Nice, owned by Manchester United bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have suggested they may be willing to sign Pepe on a permanent deal in the summer.
But there has been no indication that they are prepared to pay a transfer fee for the player who became the most expensive signing in Arsenal’s history when he joined them from Lille in 2019.
Tough Tasks Ahead
Before you know it, club football will be back and Arsenal will be dropped right back into the most important period the club have had for some time.
Here are the immediate games Gunners fan can look forward to from next week.
April 1 - Leeds (H)
April 9 - Liverpool (A)
April 16 - West Ham (A)
April 21 - Southampton (H)
April 26 - Manchester City (A)Thanks Grandad
Leandro Trossard has revealed how important his grandfather was in his career.
The former Brighton man has made an instant impact since arriving at the Emirates in January.
He told club media: "My grandad really inspired me, especially when I was younger.
"He didn’t play himself, but he helped me a lot throughout my career. He was always there for me, supporting me, coming to games and everything.
"In fact, he was the one training me to use my left foot as well. He always used to say that if you want to be a top player, you need to develop both feet. He said you have to be two-footed and he helped me with that."
St James' Change
Arsenal's trip to Newcastle in May has had its kick-time changed as broadcasters pick their TV games.
Instead of taking place on Saturday as originally planned, the game will now kick off at 4.30pm on Sunday.
There may be plenty riding on the game with Arsenal looking to claim their first title since 2004 while Newcastle are aiming to get into the top four.
All Eyes on the WSL
Arsenal fans missing out on their weekend fix due to the international break can still watch the Gunners in action today.
Arsenal Women have a huge clash with North London rivals Tottenham that is live on Sky Sports and kicks off at 3pm.
Jonas Eidevall's side are part of a four-way title charge that sees them currently fourth and trailing league leaders Chelsea by five points eight games to go.
Arsenal are looking to bounce back from their Champions League quarter-final first-leg loss to Bayern Munich in midweek.
Free For All
Nicolas Pepe could be the latest big money star to leave Arsenal for nothing this summer.
If Pepe does leave Arsenal this summer, the Gunners will have lost £340million worth of signings without making back a penny in the time since Mikel Arteta took over.
While things on the pitch are looking rosy with Arsenal top of the Premier League, off the pitch Arteta has not been afraid to flush out big names on big contracts.
Since he took over in 2019, ten players have left the club for nothing including the likes of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
Odegaard heaps praise on Arteta
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard admitted he has been left "surprised" by boss Mikel Arteta.
The playmaker heaped praise on Arteta, who has led the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table.
Odegaard told TV2 in Norway: "It has surprised me, actually. How detail-oriented he and the whole team are.
"I’ve never encountered anything like it, with people who see football that way and who see details as specifically as he does.
"It can be simple little things or more big things. It’s extremely detailed and a lot of little things we talk about, watching videos after every game and all that.
"It’s fun working with him and the team. It works."
Good morning, Arsenal fans
Up to eight senior Gunners could be offloaded this summer.
That's top of the weekend speculation - with Emile Smith Rowe the surprising name on the list.
It's claimed Arsenal will make a decision on the injury-hit England wideman at the end of the season.
The other seven players are out on loan - Nicolas Pepe, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares and Alex Runarsson.
But the Gunners reportedly might have to pay £72million club record signing Pepe to leave.
The Ivory Coast winger, 27, is with Nice for the season.
But he has another year left on his £140,000-a-week deal - amid suggestions no club has shown serious interest in buying him.
Boss Mkel Arteta still expects to tie Bukayo Saka and William Saliba to new long-term deals soon – following on from Gabriel Martinelli’s.
Loanees under threat
Playersloaned out by Arsenal face face a huge fight to be retained whne they return this summer.
That's the claim tonight after more talk of a summer clear-out.
The players mentioned are: Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares and Alex Runarsson - plus of course Nicolas Pepe.
Pepe heads list of Gunners fighting for future
Arsenal sporting director Edu could look to offload as many as seven players this summer - to free up cash and squad places for manager Mikel Arteta.
Despite topping the Prem by eight points from champs Manchester City, boss Arteta still believes the Gunners are just a work in progress.
He expects to tie Bukayo Saka and William Saliba to new long-term deals - following on from Gabriel Martinelli's.
But he is also tipped to have a mini clear-out - with Nicolas Pepe likely to head any list of outgoing stars.
Making Emile of big decision
Arsenal are preparing to make a decision on Emile Smith Rowe, according to reports.
Smith Rowe has struggled with injuries throughout the season, which has seen game time limited.
And with Arsenal’s Last 16 exit from the Europa League, Smith Rowe will be a casualty of the fewer games they now have to play.
According to Football.London, the expected arrival of Declan Rice will leave Mikel Arteta with a decision to make on Smith Rowe, with even fewer opportunties to play in midfield.
The January arrival of Leandro Trossard have already seen Smith Rowe’s playing minutes ducked.
Something to grab Gnonto?
Wilfried Gnonto is at the centre of a transfer battle as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City eye the Leeds star, reports suggest.
Leeds find themselves in one of the Premier League’s most competitive relegation battles ever despite Gnonto’s own impressive performances.
And whether or not they escape the bottom three could impact on Gnonto’s future at the club.
Relegation may mean the club could have to sell the 19-year-old winger at a bargain price and there are no end of Premier League clubs interested in him.
Fans love all the Ras-matazz
Arsenal fans all said the same thing after reported transfer target Rasmus Hojland ran riot for Denmark in his international debut.
The Atalanta hitman - who has been compared to Erling Haaland - led the line for the Danes in their Euro 2024 qualifier against Finland on Thursday night and bagged a hat-trick in the Nordic clash.
Hojland's man-of-the-match display quickly did the rounds on Twitter and impressed many of the Emirates faithful.
One Arsenal fan tweeted: "Hojland is the next Haaland ."
Another said: "We need Hojlund @ Arsenal."
And another said: "Players linked with Arsenal scoring today 9Declan Rice and Hojlund)."
One remarked: "Arsenal, kindly bring Hojlund Rasmus to the carpet."
Denmark chief Kasper Hjulmand was full of praise for Hjoland - who the Gunners are reportedly willing to splash £44million - after the match.
Do you know the way to San, Jose?
Alexis Sanchez has revealed Jose Mourinho persuaded him to snub Manchester City and join Manchester United by promising him the No.7 shirt.
Sanchez completed a shock move to Old Trafford from Arsenal in January 2018, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving the other way.
A reunion with former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola at the Eithad was on the cards for the Chilean before he moved to the red side of Manchester.
But Mourinho twisted his arm by promising him the iconic No.7 shirt.
Sanchez said: "I was about to go to City. I spoke to Guardiola every day, he told me happy birthday.
"He was like my dad. He was my dad at Barcelona and he was like my dad at City.
"We talked, we talked every day, he sent me messages.
"And everything was ready, there was a player who was going to go to Arsenal.
"Then [Arsene] Wenger tells me you are not leaving because the other player did not want to come and they do not have another.
"Suddenly the cell phone rings. Mourinho tells me: 'Alexis, here is the seven [shirt] available for you.'"
Mac Allister would be top Gunner
Premier League legend Andy Cole has tipped Arsenal to sign Alexis Mac Allister this summer.
However, he does not believe he can work in tandem with the club’s primary target Declan Rice.
Speaking to King Casino Bonus, he said: “Alexis Mac Allister would be a good buy for Arsenal and could replace Granit Xhaka.
“But then if Declan Rice went too, how would they all fit in? Mac Allister had great energy and contributed to some great goals in the World Cup.
“They will make an absolute fortune on him because he only cost them £7m, I can see him going for at least £60m in the summer.
“Fair play to Mac Allister, he’s come from South America and impressed straight away and at a fashionable club like Brighton too.”
Veiga fancies Real over Prem giants
Rumoured Manchester United and Arsenal target Gabri Veiga would prefer to join Real Madrid,
That's according to reports in Spain amid claims Liverpool are also keep on Celta Vigo's 20-year-old midfielder.
The Spanish Under-21 international has notched nine goals and three assists for his mid-table LaLiga side this season
But Cadena SER say he'd rather join home-country giants Real than move to the Prem.
Veigas is thought to have a release clause of around 40million euros - about £35million.
Coronation pickin'
The Premier League have confirmed which games have been selected for TV coverage on the weekend of King Charles' Coronation.
New dates for previously postponed fixtures have also been confirmed.
And there are two awkward kick-off times for Manchester United.
There is an 8pm KO for the trip to Brighton on May 4, which will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Then just three days later the away game at West Ham on May 7 will now get underway at 7pm.
That clash will be shown live on BT Sport.
Other games selected for TV include Manchester City vs West Ham (May 3 at 8pm), Liverpool vs Brentford (May 6 at 5.30pm), Manchester City vs Leeds (May 7 at 2pm), Newcastle vs Arsenal (May 7 at 4.30pm), Brighton vs Everton (May 8 at 5.30pm) and Nottingham Forest vs Southampton (May 8 at 8pm).
Just four matches will be played on May 6, the day of King Charles' Coronation.
Bournemouth vs Chelsea, Spurs vs Crystal Palace and Wolves vs Aston Villa will all kick-off at 3pm, with Liverpool vs Brentford to be shown on TV later that evening.
Sansom joy as he rebuilds his life
Arsenal legend Kenny Sansom reveals a life-threatening drink problem robbed him of his best footballing memories - but he's now in recovery.
The former England left-back says booze "ruined my life" but he finally "feels like I'm a dad again".
The Sun exclusively told last month how the 86-cap Londoner, 64, was "proud" to walk his daughter down the aisle.
And he explained to the The Mail how he is putting some shocking low points behind him for more family highs as he continues to get better.
The ex-Crystal Palace hero was in a coma at one stage, unable to eat or drink.
He was diagnosed with Wernicke-Korsakoff and, after he caught pneumonia too, his family were warned he would not be resuscitated if his body failed.
Before that Sansom would often sleep rough - once estimating he downed nine bottles of wine a day.
But as he rebuilds his life he said: "Sometimes I get the hump with myself, sometimes I feel happy.
"I think April will be three years without a drink - that takes some doing.
"Drink ruined my life – that’s one thing I can say for sure. And I know that now, I physically know it, I’ll never drink again."
He added: "I can enjoy my kids and my grandkids.
"I can take them to football matches…I can take them wherever they want, when I want. It’s up to me. It’s all I want to do now."
"I feel like I’m their dad. Whereas before? I was a drunk."
Seven Gunners under threat?
Arsenal sporting director Edu could look to offload as many as seven players this summer - to free up cash and squad places for manager Mikel Arteta.
Despite topping the Prem by eight points from champs Manchester City, boss Arteta still believes the Gunners are just a work in progress.
He expects to tie Bukayo Saka and William Saliba to new long-term deals - following on from Gabriel Martinelli's.
But he is also tipped to have a mini clear-out - with Nicolas Pepe likely to head any list of outgoing stars.
I'm always Gunner scream!
Oleksandr Zinchenko has blasted critics of Arsenal celebrations after admitting he rolls down the window of his car to scream after every game.
Zinchenko joined the club in the summer from Manchester City and has been key in leading the Gunners on an unexpected title charge.
And the Ukrainian revealed he loves to soak in the fervour of the Gunners faithful after every game.
Watch Zinchenko celebrate with Arsenal fans out of car window while driving after wife watches match with GunnersaurusSpeaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "This is one of my favourite corners in London.
"Every time I pass this pub – because it's the way to my home – and every time there is a lot of Arsenal fans.
"Every time I try to put my window down and scream because after (a game) I have incredible energy. And you just want to share these emotions with them."
Arsenal have been slammed on a number of occasions this season for their overzealous celebrations.
He added: "We are not robots, we are human beings. We're just doing our job and when this job is successful, why are we not allowed [to celebrate]? I don't understand.
"Of course we didn't win the Premier League yet and there are still a lot of games to play. But every single game in the Premier League is so tough… that's why we celebrate."
Folarin in talks with England U-21 chief
Arsenal loanee has been in talks with England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley.
Balogun has led a superb season at Stade Reims, but was forced to pull out of the England junior squad through injury.
However, according to Football.London Balogun is weighing up a change of international allegiance.
Due to him being born in New York, United States, he is eligible to represent the USMNT.
This is despite already appearing 28 times for the Three Lions in youth catergories, though Balogun has also appeared for the US Under-18s too.
Arsenal Gnonto battle
Wilfried Gnonto is at the centre of a transfer battle as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City eye the Leeds star, reports suggest.
Gazzetta dello Sport report that City, Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in the Italian, who could come up against England in the Euro qualifier tonight.
Leeds find themselves in one of the Premier League's most competitive relegation battles ever despite Gnonto's own impressive performances.
And whether or not they escape the bottom three could impact on Gnonto's future at the club.
Relegation may mean the club could have to sell the 19-year-old winger at a bargain price and there are no end of Premier League clubs interested in him.
