Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Real Madrid star in ‘cut-price deal’, Forest set £100m price tag for Arsenal target

Brentford star apologises for tackle

Brentford captain Christian Norgaard has apologised to Gabriel Martinelli for a tackle that the Arsenal winger claimed could have broken his leg.

“He accepted my apology and shook my hand,” said the Brentford skipper.

“He thought the tackle was maybe harder than I did, but he was fine and [Declan] Rice as well - he said it’s part of football, you try and make these tackles to stop transitions and there was no evil intention in the challenge.

“Looking back at it, maybe it was a bit harder than I wanted it to be, but I would never set out to hurt a player intentionally.

“Sometimes you end up in situations like I did with Jordan Pickford at Everton, where I got a straight red card (which was overturned), but it was never intentional.”

Injury update on Gunners duo

Ben White and Thomas Partey are both injury doubts for the second leg against Real Madrid.

Arteta said of White: “Ben White couldn’t be in the squad because he felt something again post-training yesterday, so that limits the solutions we have.”

And of Partey: “We didn’t expect the issue with Thomas that we had to take him out. He felt something so we didn’t want to take any risks.

“We don’t know [the diagnosis], I haven’t spoken to the doctors yet. So they will check him now and see how he is.”

Real Madrid star fires warning

Real Madrid stalwart Lucas Vazquez believes his side can do the unthinkable and overturn the 3-0 deficit from the first leg.

He said: "It's difficult, but if there's any team in the world that can turn this situation around, it's us in front of our home fans at our ground.

"We'll see a different game on Wednesday and if we all stick together, we'll come through it."

More from Edu

Former Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar wished his successor Andrea Berta the best of luck at the Emirates.

It was never easy, but our intense work, united by a true team spirit, made me feel fulfilled throughout all these years!

If I’m only now sharing this message, it’s because I’ve been on garden leave in recent months and, out of respect for the club and everyone involved, I preferred to wait until the final official day of my contract to publish this.

I wish Arsenal FC all the best and every success, and I also send my warmest wishes to the new Sporting Director Andrea, who now takes on this beautiful role.

I leave with a peaceful heart and immense pride in what we’ve built together!

Edu GasparInstagram

Edu Gaspar statement

Former Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspa has released an emotional tribute to fans after his final day with the club.

Thank you, Arsenal. Thank you, Gunners! With a heart full of gratitude, today formally I close one of the most meaningful chapters of my professional life.

After five and a half years, my journey officially as Sporting Director of Arsenal FC has come to the end.

I joined the club in July 2019 as Technical Director, with the challenge of bringing Arsenal with the mission of bringing Arsenal back where it belongs among football’s elite, driving a cultural shift, keep competing for trophies, and making Champions League qualification the minimum expectation for a club of Arsenal’s size.

Later, I had the honour of becoming the first-ever Sporting Director in the club’s history, a milestone I will always carry with great pride.

And throughout this process of rebuilding, you the fans were an essential part of everything!

To the supporters, my most sincere thank you! The support, the energy, and the connection we felt again in every match were simply special.

The Emirates became an amplified version of the old Highbury atmosphere! To have experienced this alongside you is something I will never forget.

EduInstagram

I BID YOU EDU

Edu releases lengthy statement as Arsenal gardening leave finally expires

Arsenal transfer boost

Real Madrid are "highly unlikely" to sign William Saliba from Arsenal this summer.

According to The Athletic, Real chiefs would rather Saliba run down his contract than pay big money to sign him sooner.

The reigning Spanish champions are keen to either swoop for the centre-back on a free transfer in 2027, or in a cut-price deal 12 months earlier.

It's claimed that Los Blancos' chiefs have a very good relationship with the France international's team of representatives.

The reigning European champions are also interested in Bournemouth ace Dean Huijsen.

However, Huijsen is more likely to move to another Premier League side as Real do not want to pay his £50million release clause.

Bayer Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah could be a more experienced option.

MAD DECISION

Arsenal in major transfer boost as Real Madrid 'make decision over top target'

Martinelli lashes out

Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli accused Brentford captain Christian Norgaard of a “nasty” foul that could have broken his leg on Saturday's 1-1 draw at the Emirates.

In the moment, if my foot was on the floor, he could break my leg.

He said he didn’t mean it. I believe him but still he could have broken my leg.

For me it was red. It was nasty.

Gabriel Martinelli

'IT WAS NASTY'

Raging Martinelli hits out at Brentford star who got away with 'leg-breaker'

Arsenal target Kerkez

Arsenal have entered the race for Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez ahead of the summer transfer window. 

Kerkez seemed Liverpool bound, with the defender potentially going in to replace Andy Robertson but the Gunners have entered the conversation.

With Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney likely on the way out - and Myles Lewis-Skelly more comfortable in midfield - some depth at left-back may be needed.

Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are also more comfortable in the middle of defence.

Morgan Gibbs-White price tag

Arsenal have been linked with Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of the summer transfer window.

Gibbs-White has also attracted interest from Manchester City and Liverpool.

Forest, though, have slapped a £100million asking price on the playmaker. 

City are looking for a Kevin De Bruyne replacement, while the Gunners and the Reds are searching for another cog in midfield.

Jorginho concern

Following Jorginho's forced exit during the 1-1 draw with Brentford, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is worried about the midfielder ahead of his team's second Champions League quarterfinal matchup against Real Madrid.

"He said he could not breathe properly so it might be to do with one of the ribs," Arteta said when asked for an update on Jorginho after the match. "It is strange because Jorgi normally carries on so that means it is something significant I think."

Additionally, Arteta "didn't want to take any risks" by forcing Thomas Partey off with an injury, while Arsenal continued to monitor Ben White's workload following his recovery from knee surgery by leaving him out of the matchday squad.