Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gunners ‘line up three-man striker list for summer’, Osimhen TWIST, Chelsea eye Ramsdale

Premier League table

With the Gunners in action on Monday against Sheffield United, nothing but three points will do to stay in the title race.

Here's how it stands at the top of the table.

Arteta robbed

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou beat rival gaffer Mikel Arteta to the award for London's best manager.

The Spurs boss took home the trophy from the London Football Awards despite sitting 11 points behind Arteta's Arsenal in the table.

The 58-year-old has completely transformed Spurs since his arrival from Celtic in the summer with the club playing attractive attacking football and competing for European places.

However fans were still left puzzled by Postecoglou's prize with the Aussie manager still some way off achieving a top four spot and relatively new to the Premier League.

And it would appear even Postecoglou recognises that he is fortunate to win the award as he joked in his press conference about the honour.

Gunners should feel aggrieved

Arsenal should feel aggrieved over Liverpool's injury time winner against Forest.

There was controversy when the Reds were given a drop ball, after the game was stopped because of a head injury to Ibrahima Konate.

One minute, 50 seconds later, the ball went up the pitch for Nunez to head home.

And former ref Mark Clattenburg has weighed in with his opinion.

"[Forest] should have had the ball back," Clattenburg told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"If the referee stops the game, he has to give the ball back to the team in possession. That was Forest."

Rice on Arsenal title mood

Arsenal stars cannot believe they missed out on Premier League glory last term, insists Declan Rice.

Last year Arsenal were the best team in the league, obviously they slipped up at the end and Manchester City always come on so strong. The word what they say now is that they can't believe they lost the league from being eight points ahead.

This year everyone in the team, including the manager and the staff, has learned from their mistakes, we are stronger, we have more belief and if we go a goal down, we still have that confidence and mental strength that we can push on in games.

The league is so strong this year, anything can happen and there are 12 games to go, but the main thing is that we are right in it.

At Christmas we had a wobble, we lost two games on the bounce, which was not good, but we have won big games at home recently, which have been important.

Come the end of the season, we will see who wins it, but to play in it has been special, it has been an honour.

To go head to head with the top teams every week with the pressure, it has been so good. Me and the lads are enjoying it, long may it continue and we will see what happens.

Declan Rice

Pepe causes financial loss

Arsenal reported £52.1million in losses in their 2022/23 accounts with Nicolas Pepe’s dramatic decline in value contributing.

The Gunners’ latest financial accounts for the year ending May 31 2023 show that “impairment write-downs on certain player registrations” amounted to £18.1m.

That figure is believed to largely relate to former North London flop Pepe, having joined from Lille as the club’s then-record signing for £72m in 2019 on a five-year deal.

After several mediocre years, scoring 27 goals in 112 games, the Ivory Coast international had his contract ripped up last September before moving to Turkish side Trabzonspor.

The total cost of Pepe’s Emirates tenure is thought to have cost Arsenal more than £100m, including his transfer fee and wages.

Excluding the Pepe fees, Arsenal made a loss before tax of £34 million last season, down from a loss of £45.5 million the previous year.

More on Gyokeres

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed Arsenal are facing competition for Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres but none have made a move yet.

Although there are many clubs that are attentive to Viktor Gyokeres at the moment, none have made a move as yet, nothing is happening now. It’s one for the summer.

His conditions are that he has a €100m release clause then we will see what happens in the summer – but we know how difficult is to negotiate with Portuguese clubs.

Many clubs have also sent their scouts to watch him, Arsenal for sure multiple times – but also others are closely monitoring the situation.

Fabrizio RomanoCaughtOffside

Viktor Gyokeres latest

Arsenal are "increasingly following" Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres "with greater interest" in preparation for a possible summer swoop.

That is according to A Bola, who report the Gunners are following Gyokeres with immense interest ahead of next season.

However, the North Londoners aren't the only ones keeping tabs on the striker.

The Sweden international has amassed a staggering 31 goals and 11 assists in 34 appearances this season.

More from Parlour

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour went into full detail as to how a prank he and Dennis Bergkamp put together led to Igors Stepanovs' arrival - much to Martin Keown's displeasure.

But Martin is such an easy target because he bites. Once someone bites it's too tempting.

Dennis seldom missed a trick because Martin would kick him every day in training.

He always came out with a blinder to explain it to Dennis: 'I'm just getting you ready for what you are going to face in the match'.

When we got back to the training ground at London Colney a week later we had a surprise though.

Igors was sitting there. I said: 'What are you doing here? ' 'They signed me,' he said. 'Four-year contract.' Incredible.

Ray ParlourtalkSPORT

Parlour reveals Bergkamp prank

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour revealed how a prank he and Dennis Bergkamp played on Martin Keown resulted in the signing of Igors Stepanovs in 2000.

Martin Keown was always worried about people coming in to steal his position. If we had a centre-half on trial, Martin would say he was useless.

This big guy from Latvia, Igors Stepanovs, turned up. He was a unit, but seriously, he was not up to standard. A few of us were on the bench watching as he played in this trial game.

Stepanovs is out there and every single pass he made, the boys started applauding, just because we knew Martin would be getting a bit steamed up by it.

Dennis Bergkamp was sitting behind Arsene [Wenger] and kept doling out these compliments about this defender. 'Great header! Unbelievable tackle!'

Igors kicked this one ball 20 yards away from where it was meant to go but it still went to one of our players so we all stood up clapping. Martin's muttering: 'He's not that good.' He started to point out where he missed a tackle or a header.

Ray ParlourtalkSPORT

Arteta's pre-match ritual

Former Arsenal youngster Matt Smith opened up about manager Mikel Arteta's unique pre-match preparation.

We had meetings at the hotel before the match and there would always be a game or something silly to get everyone switched on and working together as a team.

Some involved tennis balls and other times there were quizzes, which would be about the tactical information on the opposition we’d been learning all week.

You had to get into groups and play things like Pictionary.

It was an ‘are you ready for the game?’ type of thing but it was mad because, at times, it was only two hours before kick-off!

Matt SmithThe Athletic

TOP DRAW

I was in Arsenal academy… Arteta made us play Pictionary before matches

Arteta's view on White

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta views Ben White as his ultimate warrior and it showed during Saturday's 4-1 triumph over Newcastle.

That was when White was given an off-the-ball whack by the Magpies' star Anthony Gordon.

The Gunners' ace then made it his mission to get him back in the following 10 minutes.

The versatile defender did, twice and Gordon barely got a sniff from then on.

Before the game we have instructions of how they are going to do well and what processes they have to be able to hurt us. Gordon was one of them.

My job was to stop him rolling inside so I had to get as tight as possible, otherwise foul him. He’s going inside if not.

Every game, normally the winger is the best player, so it’s always a challenge and I have to do my homework and try to stop him.

I know I’m not going to stop everyone and I know I’m not the best one-v-one defender but I know I can do things to help the team in game situations against their winger.

Ben White

WHITE WASH

Ben White reveals Uno battle with wife and the opponent Arteta told him to foul

Sheffield United vs Arsenal preview

Arsenal visit Sheffield United on Monday in the Premier League and the hosts' manager Chris Wilder could have as many as nine key players out for the huge encounter against the Gunners.

Max Lowe (ankle), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh) and Chris Basham (ankle) are all sidelined.

John Egan (ankle), Ben Brereton Diaz (thigh), Cameron Archer (calf), George Baldock (muscle) and Daniel Jebbison (illness) are facing a late fitness test.

Mason Holgate is still suspended after picking up a red card for a terrible challenge on Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, on the other hand, will be without Jurrien Timber (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (muscle).

But Arteta hinted that Thomas Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus could all be handed a run out at Bramall Lane.

SHEFF UTD VS ARSENAL

Gunners look to build on six-game winning run against Prem strugglers

Jor dropping statement

Arsenal ace Jorginho's agent Joao Santos has dropped a huge hint that a return to Serie A is a serious option with a potential reunion with former Napoli and Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri at Lazio on the cards.

He'd suit Lazio more, for the presence of coach Sarri who already knows his characteristics very well.

But also Juve, who have a great director of sport like Cristiano Giuntoli, who he spent many years with at Napoli.

I would not rule out a return to Napoli with new coach [Francesco] Calzona, who used to work with Sarri before that.

Joao SantosTV Play

JOR DROPPING

Jorginho agent drops hint Arsenal star will return to Italy on free transfer

Taking the Mik

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou beat Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to the award for London's best manager.

Postecoglou took home the trophy from the London Football Awards despite sitting 11 points behind the Gunners in the table.

The 58-year-old has completely transformed Spurs since his arrival from Celtic in the summer with the club playing attractive attacking football and competing for European places.

However, Arsenal fans were still left puzzled with the Aussie still some way off achieving a top four spot and relatively new to the Premier League.

And it would appear even Postecoglou recognises that he is fortunate to win the award.

It's a bit weird because it's only February, and into early March, and I'm not really sure where that fits in terms of recognition.

Having said that it is an acknowledgement of the work that we have done since the start of the year.

And coming back off a disappointing year for the club last year I guess we as a group have made an impact and it's an acknowledgement of that.

Ange Postecoglou

Aaron Ramsdale's potential replacements

Arsenal ace Aaron Ramsdale could leave the Emirates in the summer after losing his place as starting goalkeeper to Brentford loanee David Raya.

Sunderland's Anthony Patterson and Ajax's Diant Ramaj have been earmarked as Ramsdale's potential replacement.

The England international has been linked with a shock move to AC Milan.

Milan keeper Mike Maignan has attracted interest and Ramsdale is seen as a potential successor between the sticks at San Siro.

Find us keepers

Arsenal are among three Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj.

The Gunners are at risk of losing Aaron Ramsdale during the upcoming summer transfer window.

According to transfer insider Christian Falk, the North Londoners hold firm interest in Ramaj.

Manchester United and Chelsea are also understood to be keen on the 22-year-old ace.

Osimhen transfer claim

Napoli star Victor Osimhen wants to join Chelsea over Arsenal, claims Blues' hero John Obi Mikel.

According to Calciomercato, Mikel appeared to be trying his best to get his fellow Nigerian Osimhen to join his former team during a statement he reportedly made at the Web Summit Qatar event.

I think there is genuine interest on both sides. I am convinced that Victor wants to come to Chelsea.

He obviously wants to follow in my footsteps and the footsteps of the Nigerian players who played for Chelsea, like Victor Moses and Celestine Babayaro.

And there is London, a fantastic city: there is no comparison with Liverpool or places like that.

John Obi Mikel

Thomas Partey latest

Mikel Arteta is ready to finally unleash Thomas Partey at Bramall Lane.

The Arsenal midfielder has been out for four months having suffered a thigh injury back in October - and was due to return earlier this year but for a slight setback.

As a result, Partey has played just 15 minutes of football for the club since August.

However, he has now trained on successive days with the first-team and will travel to Sheffield United for the Gunners’ Premier League clash on Monday night.

On Partey’s inclusion against the Blades, Arteta said: “He should be part of the squad. He had a session before the last game and now he’s done two or three consecutive sessions.”

Arsenal team news

Mikel Arteta will be without Jurrien Timber (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (muscle) for tomorrow night's trip to Sheffield United.

But the Gunners gaffer hinted that the trio of Thomas Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus could all be handed a run out at Bramall Lane.