Arsenal news LIVE: £80m Toney tipped as ‘priority’ in January, £17.2m ‘bid’ for striker, Mikel Timber injury update

Welbeck ‘could’ make Emirates return

Robert de Zerbi has revealed that Danny Welbeck “could” be on the bench for Brighton in Sunday’s clash against Arsenal.

The former Gunner left the club after five years in 2019.

Nelson on Nketiah link-up

Reiss Nelson has revealed that team-mate Eddie Nketiah is always "on" him to try and assist him.

He said: "He’s on me to try and assist him a lot so I always have it in the back of my mind if I can get an area where I know he can turn and get the shot off, I will play him and he done the business."

Paul Merson’s transfer tip

Arsenal hero Paul Merson has named Brentford star Ivan Toney as a priority target for his former club as well as Chelsea.

I think Ivan Toney could be in demand. Sometimes you become a better player when you are out of the game. But will Brentford sell him?

I don’t think they can afford to, especially with a couple of their players going to the Africa Cup of Nations. Does Toney want to go? Will he want to show some loyalty to Brentford? It’s a really hard one to call.

It is a lot of money. I do think he is a really good player, but he hasn’t been at a top club yet and we are seeing that with David Raya and Moises Caicedo at the moment.

It’s so different playing for Brentford, no disrespect, to playing for Arsenal or Chelsea. There’s so much scrutiny playing for the top clubs. It might just be worth the risk. I feel Arsenal and Chelsea might need Toney if they are to do anything this season.

Paul MersonSky Sports

In the money

Arsenal have accumulated a staggering bonus of £66million for qualifying into the round of 16.

And fans know exactly what forward they want to spend the extra cash on.

One supporter said: "Just enough for Douglas Luiz."

While another fan added: "Toney should be a small case then."

And a fourth even joked: "That's one year of Mbappe's salary if we sign him😂."

Last 16 draw

Arsenal will find out their opponents for the Champions League knockouts on Monday.

Here are the teams left in the competition.

Arsenal's next Champions League opponents

Here's who Arsenal could face in the Champions League's Round of 16:

• Copenhagen
• Napoli
• Inter Milan
• Lazio
• Paris Saint-Germain
• RB Leipzig
• Porto

Paul Merson's transfer tip

Arsenal hero Paul Merson has named Brentford star Ivan Toney as a priority target for his former club as well as Chelsea.

I think Ivan Toney could be in demand. Sometimes you become a better player when you are out of the game. But will Brentford sell him?

I don't think they can afford to, especially with a couple of their players going to the Africa Cup of Nations. Does Toney want to go? Will he want to show some loyalty to Brentford? It's a really hard one to call.

It is a lot of money. I do think he is a really good player, but he hasn't been at a top club yet and we are seeing that with David Raya and Moises Caicedo at the moment.

It's so different playing for Brentford, no disrespect, to playing for Arsenal or Chelsea. There's so much scrutiny playing for the top clubs. It might just be worth the risk. I feel Arsenal and Chelsea might need Toney if they are to do anything this season.

Paul MersonSky Sports

Arteta on PSV

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta claims Tuesday's 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League showed the team still has improvements to make.

A tough match. We made eight changes. There were good moments and moments where we lacked that cohesion, especially in the timing and the way we pressed against a really good side.

When you don’t get the timing right you have to defend open spaces. We had to do that a few times tonight and it nearly cost us the game.

We had some very good moments as well. I’m really happy with the attitude of each player and how they tried.

Mikel Arteta

Why Arteta didn't field youngsters

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta didn't field youngsters Ethan Nwaneri, Lino Sousa and Reuell Walters against PSV Eindhoven because he didn't want to throw them against a team that hasn’t lost at home in nearly two years.

Arteta also wanted to give an opportunity to Emile Smith Rowe after his injury hell.

I don’t think it was the right context. Making eight changes already, to throw them in there against a team that hasn’t lost at home in nearly two years, I didn’t think it was the right moment.

I wanted to see how the game developed, but it was too much I think for them and as well we had three little issues, and we had to play the subs, and we had no room because we really wanted to play Emile as well.

Mikel Arteta

More on Leonardo

Arsenal target Marcos Leonardo will definitely leave Santos in 2024, claims transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

Marcos Leonardo will leave Santos in 2024 for sure, there’s no doubt and it’s not even about the club’s recent relegation.

There are many links, but it’s still at the early stages with agents meeting clubs.

There’s nothing concrete or close with Arsenal so far, despite speculation.

Fabrizio RomanoCaughtOffside

Nketiah on Havertz

Arsenal ace Eddie Nketiah praised team-mate Kai Havertz and insists every new player needs time to adapt at his new club.

He is a great player. It was always going to take time to adapt, being at another club and coming in, it’s normal it takes time.

I think he has done well and he has just won player of the month.

He is really starting to shine and he has got a lot of qualities.

Eddie Nketiah

Arteta on Rice

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explained why he deployed Declan Rice at centre-back against PSV Eindhoven.

Rice was deployed in defence after coming on as a substitute at the Philips Stadion.

We are very short at the back.

I really wanted to try if something happens, how we’re going to resolve that situation. I thought he was really good.

Mikel Arteta

Reiss Nelson message

Arsenal ace Reiss Nelson sent a message to manager Mikel Arteta after his performance against PSV Eindhoven as he claims when he is "injury free" he can do a "great job" for the team.

I think my performance was good. I played with a smile on my face. That's the main thing for me. I think I could show my quality in a lot of different ways. I got a lot of joy in the midfield coming inside and linking up with Ed [Eddie Nketiah] so it was really good. And as a whole, as a team, I think it was hard at certain times because we haven’t played with each other for a long time.

A lot of boys hadn't played for a long time as well. Ced [Cedric Soares], Mo [Mohamed Elneny], people like this. But we did well and it's good to get the point. It's been a long time since I've played from the start, especially in the Champions League. It's a beautiful, beautiful occasion and I haven't played in long time.

So for me if I can just keep staying injury-free, that's one of my main things I said at the start of the season. If I can stay injury free, being free with my movements and when I play, I have a smile on my face, I'm sure I can do a great job.

Reiss NelsonArsenal official website

Webb on Arsenal's disallowed goal

PGMOL chief Howard Webb explained why Arsenal ace Kai Havertz had a goal disallowed during his team's Premier League loss at Aston Villa.

The Gunners came agonisingly close to clinching a point late in the game when Havertz thought he had scored from close range, but the goal was immediately ruled out due to a handball.

The law states that any contact with an attacker's hand or arm, which leads to a goal immediately, has to be penalised.

This is a really good on-field decision in that respect. The law requires him to penalise when he sees that contact on Kai Havertz's arm. It's not intentional, but it still has to be penalised.

We see this kind of situation and yet seconds earlier it hits Matty Cash's arm and he doesn't get penalised - he can't be penalised because he has to commit a different kind of offence as a defender, naturally bigger or deliberately handball it.

The law is constantly under review, maybe it will change, but in this circumstance the decision has been given as a disallowed goal, VAR checks the footage, and they see an angle where the ball hits Havertz's arm.

Interestingly, if Eddie Nketiah had scored the goal, it would have stood. It only relates to the goalscorer - in this case Havertz.

Howard WebbMatch Officials: Mic'd Up

Man Utd elimination affects all

Manchester United's European exit is bad news for all English clubs, including highfliers Arsenal.

And if Newcastle join them tonight by failing to make it out of the group stage when they face AC Milan then the Premier League is at serious risk of missing out on an extra Champions League place next season.

The group stages will change next term due to the introduction of a “Swiss-style” format, with four additional teams being added to take the number of clubs competing to a total of 36.

Uefa will award two of the extra four places to the countries who have collectively performed best in Europe during the previous campaign.

Points are awarded by Uefa for wins in the group stage and participation in the Round of 16.

However, United’s exit and Newcastle’s potential elimination could hit England’s association club coefficient average.

England are now third in the table - behind Germany and Italy with Spain just behind - and English clubs would usually gain more points due to their results in the knockouts, but we are now already one team down.

That means the Premier League’s top clubs will now be desperate for Newcastle to beat Milan in their must-win showdown and hope Paris Saint-Germain either draw or lose at already-qualified Borussia Dortmund.

Arsenal cash in

Arsenal have accumulated a staggering bonus of £66million for qualifying into the Champions League's Last 16.

The Gunners scooped up that fund after sealing top spot in Group B on Tuesday in their 1-1 draw at PSV Eindhoven.

And Gooners have already given their say on what forward the money should be spent on.

Manager Mikel Arteta is desperate for a striker to bolster his side's goalscoring prowess in January as they eye European and Premier League glory.

PSV Eindhoven food slammed

Arsenal fans have slammed the catering at PSV Eindhoven after a fellow supporter was served a "depressing" sausage.

The Gunners travelled to the Netherlands on Tuesday and drew 1-1 in the final match of their Champions League group against PSV.

But Gooners were left disappointed by the food options on offer at the Philips Stadium.

That's because one fan was served a dry and old-looking sausage on a burger bun, with no sauce.

Ivan Toney update

Arsenal are still linked with Arsenal star Ivan Toney ahead of the January transfer window.

Toney is set to complete his eight-month suspension following betting breaches in the New Year.

The Gunners are set to then make a move as they are desperate for a striker that would boost their Premier League title hopes.

However, the Bees are not open on selling the England international and are certainly not going to let him go for a friendly price.

Arteta on Timber recovery

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta revealed injured star Jurrien Timber is "flying" as he works his way back to full fitness…

But Arteta also admitted that is not enough to bring Timber back in the near future as he will still be sidelined for a "long time".

Timber is doing very well. He’s flying to be fair, the stage he is right now.

The way he works every single day is incredibly satisfying to watch but unfortunately we’re going to miss him still for a long time.

I think he’s in a really good place.

Mikel Arteta

Leon in wait

Arsenal are set to battle Manchester United for Santos wonderkid Marcos Leonardo.

And it seems like Leonardo is on his way out of Brazil as his agent Rafaela Pimenta has admitted that his days at Vila Belmiro are numbered.

The Gunners, in particular, are considering a £17.2million bid for the striker ahead of the January transfer window.

Already in the previous transfer market he had the possibility of being sold, but Santos’ sporting situation was very particular.

He agreed to stay because he wanted to help out until the end of the championship. He didn’t want to leave because it wasn’t the right thing to do.

But the time has come to move. He wants to have a European experience and his time will come this winter.

Rafaela Pimenta

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