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ARSENAL are licking their wounds following a FOURTH-straight Premier League defeat.
And Mikel Arteta is said to be so angry with Granit Xhaka that he’s willing to sell him in January.
Follow all the latest transfer gossip from North London below…
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NOT TURNING HIS XHAK ON GRANIT
Mikel Arteta is not ready to give up on Granit Xhaka despite the midfielder’s sending off against Burnley.
Arteta said: “He’s not the only player who has had a rocky moment.
“What I can say about Granit is that his professionalism and commitment with his team is maximal.
“We all know he’s had a moment where he’s lost it and I know the reason why. But what I can’t do is just throw everything he’s done away because he has made a mistake.
“We all make mistakes and I am here to protect the platters when they deserve it.
“And for sure Granit is one of them for the way he approaches every training session, the way he wants to do things in the right way all the time.”
Credit: AFP or licensors -
TAKING THE MIK
Mikel Arteta refuted any suggestions that Arsenal are in a relegation battle but opened up about their disciplinary woes.
He said: “I want to think that we are in a blip and the way we are losing makes me believe that.
“But we need to start winning because if you don’t you start dropping and dropping and that’s not the situation we want to be in.
“We’ve had six red cards and only two have been discipline- Pepe and Granit.
“The others were two late tackles by Eddie and Auba and two actions when a player is in on goal and the defenders is trying to defend it.
“They are not six disciplinary red cards. They are two and they have been dealt with.”
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LIKE A BOS
On December 15, 1995, football changed forever.
The European Court of Justice allowed footballers within the European Union to change team when their contract expired without a transfer fee being paid.
Jean-Marc Bosman, the man who successfully pushed for the ruling, failed to revive his career after the dispute that led to the lawsuit.
But many others have followed his lead and pulled off amazing free transfers that launched their careers.
From Paul Pogba to Robert Lewandowski, these Bosman transfers are a big part of any club’s market dealings.
Here, SunSport reviews a line-up of the best-ever free transfers on the ruling’s anniversary.
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EITHER AOUAR
PSG are reportedly ready to negotiate a deal for Arsenal target Houssem Aouar in the summer.
French media have revealed talks between Lyon and Les Parisiens in the autumn that almost led to a move for the midfielder.
But there was neither the time nor the funds, amid the coronavirus pandemic, to thrash out a deal.
According to RMC Sport, Lyon’s price tag and a desire to send Aouar back to his old club on loan led to an amicable end to negotiations.
And the two Ligue 1 clubs are prepared to restart talks in the coming months.
PSG want to bolster their French contingent to meet Uefa squad quotas on homegrown players.
Meanwhile, Lyon are aware that the 22-year-old will be out of contract in 2023, meaning his price may fall after next summer.
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TIER-RIBLE
Just FOUR Premier League grounds can now let in fans after London was moved into Tier 3 Covid restrictions from midnight tonight.
The announcement by health secretary Matt Hancock forced Arsenal, Fulham and West Ham to rip up plans to host 2,000 home supporters in tomorrow’s Prem games.
Instead, the only clubs now allowed supporters are Liverpool, Everton, Brighton and Southampton.
Craven Cottage was bouncing despite the limited number of fans during Sunday’s draw with Liverpool.
But instead the Thames-side ground will be silent, apart from the sound of the players on the pitch, when the Cottagers face Brighton.
There will be fans inside Anfield for tomorrow’s top of the table clash between Liverpool and Spurs.
That will be the only Prem ground to open the turnstiles this midweek.
And this weekend will see supporters only at the St Mary’s and Goodison on Saturday – with Manchester City and Arsenal the respective visitors – and the Amex on Sunday, when Brighton host Sheffield United.
Arsenal, who have hosted fans twice so far this month, were forced to confirm a ‘full refund’ for supporters who had been successful in the ballot for the game with Southampton.
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PEP RALLY
Mikel Arteta has limited options for his midfield line-up against Southampton on Wednesday.
But Nicolas Pepe could be given an immediate recall after his three-match ban ended.
Saints travel to an empty Emirates Stadium for the 6pm kick-off, the Gunners’ first since London entered Tier 3 of coronavirus restrictions.
Here is how we predict the Gunners will line up.
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ON THE MOVE
Granit Xhaka’s days at Arsenal are numbered.
The midfielder appears to have finally broken Mikel Arteta’s trust with Sunday’s red card and reports suggest he could be on his way out of the club as soon as January.
And Paddy Power think he’s likely to head to Italy.
Inter Milan are the 11/4 favourites for his signature while former club Borussia Monchengladbach are second favourites ahead of AC Milan and Roma.
West Ham make up the top five options for Xhaka with David Moyes’ side impressing this season.
Granit Xhaka next club odds (Paddy Power)
- Inter 11/4
- Borussia Mgladbach 8/1
- AC Milan 10/1
- Roma 14/1
- West Ham 20/1
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ART ATTACK
Mikel Arteta admits his players are not happy and the Arsenal manager is feeling the pressure with the team sliding towards the relegation zone.
The Gunners slumped to a fourth successive home league defeat against Burnley on Sunday.
Arsenal’s dreadful form in the Premier League has seen them drop to 15th in the table and piled the pressure on the manager heading into the Southampton home game on Wednesday.
Reports of dressing room unrest have emerged recently and the Arsenal manager admits it is impossible to keep all the squad happy.
Arteta said: “When you have the squad we have at the moment it’s impossible to have 31 happy players in the camp.
“I don’t know any club who has that.
“But when you lose again these things are going to come out to try to put…
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