Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Premier League clubs ‘want Smith Rowe’, Gunners ‘leading chase for Simons’, Toney drops hint

Taking the Mik

Arsenal have surprisingly recalled Mika Biereth from Motherwell with the Scottish side dubbing it a "major disappointment".

Biereth has featured 15 times for the Steelmen this season, contributing six goals and five assists.

But the Gunners have now cut the 20-year-old's season-long loan short.

And Motherwell claim the North Londoners will look to farm the Denmark Under-21 international out to another club.

Chelsea fans want Fabregas

Chelsea fans are hoping Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas will be their future manager after revealing who he is studying.

I study other coaches. Not the coaches themselves but their philosophies.

I am just at the beginning and do not pretend I know everything.

At the moment, [Roberto] De Zerbi, [Pep] Guardiola and Mikel Arteta are the three I follow in the Premier League and get most ideas from.

Cesc FabregasSky Sports

Gunner be bad

Arsenal fans will be fuming with Manchester United legend Gary Neville after hearing who he thinks will finish above them this season as he made a bold top-four Premier League prediction.

I made a statement that I think Tottenham will finish second this season.

With the five players they have coming back – Dejan Kulusevski, Heung-min Son, James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma.

If they kept them fit, and with the run they’ve got, they could push Arsenal and Liverpool to second place. Is that a mad statement?

Gary NevilleSky Sports

Tone it down

Clubs would have to "be thick" to fork out £100million on Brentford star Ivan Toney who has been linked with Arsenal this month, claims William Gallas who told Gambling Zone:

How much would Arsenal or Chelsea pay for him Some clubs are thick. They don’t realise that there’s too much money in football so they’ll pay £100m for Toney.

That means the player has to be an international player. He has hardly played for England.

How can you explain to me that his price is £100m? If you buy a player for £100m, he has to be a young player.

Spending £100m on a 27-year-old is too much. Either you spend £100m on an international player or a young player that a team can invest in for the long-term.

William Gallas

Arsenal striker set for Championship move

Arsenal youngster Mika Biereth is set to move on loan to Sheffield Wednesday.

The striker had his season-long loan spell at Motherwell cut short this week in order to make the move happen.

Biereth scored six goals in 15 appearances for the Scottish Premiership side.

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell was left fuming at the Gunners' decision to recall the 20-year-old.

He said: “It’s a major, major disappointment. This was a little bit unexpected.

“The conversation was that Mika would stay here until the end of the season just last week unless something big came on the table for Arsenal that they couldn’t turn down.

“They believe there’s an opportunity to send him to another club that takes him that step beyond where we are just now.”

Gunning for Eagles

Arsenal need to get their season back on track with three points against Crystal Palace tomorrow.

The Gunners have won just ONE of their last seven games in all competitions.

Saturday's London derby offers the perfect opportunity for Mikel Arteta's side to get some points on the board and kick start a potential title charge.

Gunners back at Colney

Arsenal were training at London Colney again today after their warm-weather camp in Dubai.

The Gunners get back into action with a London derby against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

Saka shares Ljungberg advice

Bukayo Saka has revealed the one piece of advice he keeps in mind from former coach Freddie Ljungberg.

Saka played under the Arsenal icon during his brief spell as interim boss at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking to TNT Sport, Saka discussed what Ljungberg told him about keeping cool in front of goal.

He said: "Because I was strong every time I was in front of goal I just used to smash it.

"Freddie is the one who taught me to be more calm and just finesse the ball.

"So when you see me finessing the ball - part of that has come from Freddie."

Arteta press conference

Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal fans not to expect a fully fit squad for another few weeks.

The Gunners spent a week in Dubai for a warm-weather training camp in a bid to turnaround their campaign after one win in seven in all competitions.

The likes of Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jurrien Timber have been carrying long-term and short-term injuries.

Jesus [knee] and Zinchenko [calf] are expected to be in contention to face Crystal Palace on Saturday having trained with the rest of the squad in the Middle East.

However, Partey [thigh], Vieira [groin] and Timber [knee] remain out for the next few weeks at least.

But when asked, Arteta remained tight-lipped, explaining: “Yeah we still have a few unfortunately on that list who we haven't managed to get back yet.

“Hopefully they are much closer and some of them are in a better place than we expected. We are touch and go with a few.”

Arteta press conference contd.

Ben White and Bukayo Saka have also been nursing some knocks while continuing to feature for Arsenal last month – but have had a much-needed January break.

Arteta added: “[Dubai] was great. It was a phenomenon camp in every sense. We worked really hard on the things we wanted to do.

“We recharged our batteries and the context of the environment in the beautiful weather helps.

“The togetherness and moments we shared together were great, so yeah we're fully recharged.”

Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe – who has made just one Prem start all season – is said to be wanted by West Ham on loan this month.

SunSport understands that Arsenal and Arteta have no intention of letting the player go, and Smith Rowe himself is desperate to stay in North London and fight for his place after recovering from several injury set-backs over the past few years.

Arteta said: “I’m really happy with Emile. He’s in the right trajectory. Now, he’s settled, he’s training really well.

“We know he’s got incredible qualities and we’re really happy to have him. 

"What he needs now is chances to put all the desire and quality that he has on the pitch. In order to do that we have to give him minutes.”

Arsenal want to keep Smith Rowe

Arsenal reportedly want to keep hold of Emile Smith Rowe despite interest from West Ham.

The Hammers have approached Arsenal to try and take the 23-year-old on loan until the end of the season.

But Sky Germany report that a deal is unlikely to come to fruition this month.

It is said that the Gunners have informed their London rivals they want Smith Rowe to stay.

Talks are understood to be ongoing.

Who might be fit?

Arsenal could be without a number of stars when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Gunners have two players away on International duty while a number of others are set to miss the clash through injury.

However Mikel Arteta is sitting down in front of the press this afternoon and could give some positive updates ahead of tomorrow's London derby.

They are potentially without the following players:

• Takehiro Tomiyasu (Asia Cup)
• Mohammed Elneny (Afcon)
• Thomas Partey
• Jurrien Timber
• Fabio Vieira
• Oleksandr Zinchenko

Keeper extends stay

Arsenal Women goalkeeper Manu Zinsberger has extended her stay with the north London club.

The 28-year-old is delighted with her new contract and told the official Arsenal website: "I’m so happy to have signed a new contract with this club.

"I’m so motivated to continue to develop myself as a goalkeeper but also grow as a person – and with the progression that’s taken place here on and off the pitch since I joined, I know this is the right place for me to do that.

"When I step out onto the pitch, hearing the crowd cheering us on, it’s a feeling I can’t describe. The passion our supporters bring lifts us up and together we can go so far.”

Smith Rowe could play up top

Arsenal have been struggling to find the back of the net in recent weeks and don't look likely to bring a new centre-forward through the door this month.

With their sub-par finishing, one former Gunner thinks Emile Smith Rowe could offer some much needed goal threat.

Adrian Clarke, who played for Arsenal between 1993 and 1997, thinks Smith Rowe could be the answer to Mikel Arteta's problems.

Speaking on the Handbrake Off podcast, he said: “I would say it’s left-side number eight, that’s his best position but I genuinely believe he could fill any of the front five spots.

"He’s played wide left and been excellent, he could cover Bukayo Saka, I’d like to see that actually, Saka comes off on 70 minutes, give Emile a chance in that position because he’d take up more half spaces and we can get Ben White on the outside.

"He can play on the wing, either number eight spot, and as a withdrawn number nine as well because he’s a finisher, his finishing is one of his best qualities and one of the best in the squad."