Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gunners handed Douglas Luiz boost, Amadou Onana ‘open’ to move, Borja Mayoral interest

Why Vieira is No5

Chris Sutton has explained Patrick Vieira's legendary impact for the Gunners - after placing him outside three Manchester legends in the list of all-time great Prem midfielders.

Sutton said of Vieira: "The way he lifted that Arsenal team, the greatest Arsenal team I've ever seen in my lifetime.

'He had everything, brilliant leadership, he was strong, he was robust. Lifted players around him, but he would be in at five. "

Sutton then explained his leading three choices, saying: "The artist Kevin De Bruyne. What can't he do? He's got such unbelievable awareness. Eyes in the back of his head. 

'At number two, Roy Keane. I just would have loved to have been in that Manchester United team in that dressing room.

"I was in awe of him [and of] that whole United team. "He was the leader, he was the catalyst, he was the go-to man, the driving force, so he would be in it too.

'My number one would be Paul Scholes. I mean, what couldn't he do? I think Scholes was every bit as good as De Bruyne in terms of passing range, ability and awareness.

'He was maybe stronger in the tackle than Kevin De Bruyne. But I mean, it's so difficult to choose. But if you look at Paul Scholes' numbers, I think 11 Premier Leagues, he won." 

Set the Tone

Gary Neville is looking forward to Ivan Toney's return after he served an eight-month betting ban.

The Man Utd legend hopes the in-demand striker stays at Brentford and helps them avoid relegation amid talks of a transfer.

Neville said: "I hope Brentford keep him for the rest of the season and I hope Ivan Toney plays at the highest level as well at some point in the near future.

"But I think for Brentford to keep him for the rest of the season will be really good.

“I mean, there’s talk of Chelsea and Arsenal sniffing around him, but I hope he does stay at Brentford to give them a really strong finish to the season and I am delighted that he is back."

Bottoms up

Jakub Kiwior's twerk queen Wag showed off her bum on the beach as they soaked up the sun while on holiday.

Claudia Kowalczyk, known as Claudia Redheaded Babe on social media, has won awards for her twerking skills.

KOW BLIMEY

Kiwior's twerk queen Wag wiggles her bum on the beach as they enjoy holiday

Don't take the Mik

Fans have been poking fun at Mikel Arteta after he was fed steak by Salt Bae as the chef had his arm around him.

The pessimist will suggest this was a bad PR move that has taken the shine away from Arsenal's warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

It is a clip that will be cut, flipped, reshot and reused to mock the Gunners boss again and again after any more bad results or moments.

Mock all you like, but Arteta and his players could be the last ones laughing with the winter break ideal...

HIGH STEAKS

Mock Arteta all you want, but Salt Bae dinner could be gamechanger for Arsenal

Lu beauty

Arsenal have received a boost in their pursuit of Douglas Luiz as Aston Villa are keen to sign Gunners star Emile Smith Rowe, according to reports.

Mikel Arteta's men have been heavily linked with another move for Brazilian Luiz, 25, after they failed to agree a deal in the summer.

Meanwhile, Smith Rowe has been a long-term Villa target and they saw bids of £25million and £30m rejected for the player back in 2021.

Reports suggest the sale of Smith Rowe to Villa may facilitate the signing of Luiz as Arsenal could do a swap or part-exchange deal.

LU READY

Arsenal handed Luiz boost as Aston Villa 'keen to sign out-of-favour Gunners star'

Rosicky's role

Tomas Rosicky currently works at boyhood club Sparta Prague as a director.

He has been in the job for five years and helped them win the Czech First League title last season.

They are once again top of the table after 19 games this season and are in the play-off round in the Europa League.

Rosicky said to The Athletic: "The plan was to bring the honour and the pride back to the club. That meant winning the league and qualifying for the Champions League.

"I’m proud of our progress, but we still need to do the final part.”

“When I started this job, I never had the ambition to do it anywhere else but here.

“This was about a pure love for the club where I started."

'I was mentally destroyed'

Tomas Rosicky has lifted the lid on the impacts his battles with injury had on his mental well-being.

The Czech midfielder was left broken after being told he may have to hang up his boots.

He revealed to the The Athletic: "The worst time is when you don’t know if you will play again. You can see the doctors don’t know what to do with you.

“I remember one doctor telling me I might not play again. I was 27 and coming to my best years as a football player.

"I was mentally destroyed. Everything went blurry, I don’t remember the moments after.

"It’s like your life is ending because you were doing what you love and suddenly you might not have it.

"I could never have made it back if I didn’t have that work ethic to play again, recover, and win trophies.”

Injury woes

Tomas Rosicky's time at Arsenal was plagued by injuries and he once missed 18 months with a total rupture of a tendon in his knee.

Opening up on his fitness issues, Rosicky revealed to the The Athletic: "They tried to reattach the tendon, but it wasn’t successful.

"I kept getting close to training, but every time I couldn’t sprint. It was setback after setback.

"It was difficult, 2008 was the year we thought we would win the league. In the summer there was the Euros, I was the captain of the Czech national team, and I missed it.

“If you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s not easy.

“You’re relying on your family, the people around you, but it’s a very difficult time for them as well.

"They want to help, but sometimes you just want to be alone, you don’t want to drag them into your problems. Sometimes you behave towards them in a way that they don’t deserve."

Title charge

Tomas Rosicky has opened up on the 2007/08 season that saw Arsenal push for the title.

The Gunners eventually fell short - five points behind Man Utd.

Rosicky said to The Athletic: "I wanted it so much, I was almost possessed. I did everything I could to make it happen.

"It was the time where I enjoyed the football side most. The group we had, the quality, how we linked together, how we played.

“There was a lot of friendship inside the group. That can give you a margin. If something happens to your friend, you will protect him. It’s personal.

“But on the other hand, it also became the worst time for me because I got injured in January.

"After that, Robin van Persie got hurt, Eduardo broke his leg, and we didn’t have the strength in numbers to finish it.”

Holiday pals

Arsenal stars Gabriel Martinelli and Fabio Vieira took a break from their warm-weather training camp in Dubai to visit the desert.

The duo drove dune buggies across the sand and posed for snaps alongside their girlfriend Isabella Rousso and Carina Raquel.

Well I Nev-er

Gary Neville thinks Tottenham can finish above Arsenal in the league this season.

Spurs have been hit with several injuries this season and with the likes of James Maddison returning, Neville believes they can boot their rivals out the top four.

He said: "If they keep their players fit, they are a certainty to finish in the top four and I think they can get to second and third.

"With those players back, and if they can get through these next few weeks, I genuinely think they can be better than Arsenal and Liverpool this season."

That's Rich

Richarlison was on the scoresheet for Tottenham again yesterday as he took his Premier League tally to seven.

That is now more goals than any of Arsenal's attacking stars.

This time last year

Arsenal secured 2-0 away win against Tottenham in the North London derby a year ago today.

Hugo Lloris turned a Bukayo Saka cross into his own net before Martin Odegaard netted a stunner.

Arsenal celebrated jubilantly and in the aftermath of the game Aaron Ramsdale was shockingly kicked by a Spurs fan.