3pm Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Evan N’Dicka interest, Tierney RETURN, Firpo links, David Luiz red card DECISION

GOLDEN GOAL

Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka have both been nominated for the Premier League’s Goal of the Month award for January.

OWN UP

Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes it was the right call to dismiss David Luiz’s appeal against his red card vs Wolves.

Keown told talkSPORT: “I think the FA have got this right. The back four should work as a group and it didn’t happen.

“He (Luiz) has got 30 yards to work out what decision to make. It must be in his mind having been sent off twice before for this in the past and he makes a run and doesn’t slow down at any point.

“He allows his opponent to make contact and in the referees directive, it has to be a penalty and a sending off. I have some sympathy, but the player involved should know better.”

ARTWORK

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been recognised for flipping his side’s form by being nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month for January.

TIME FOR A RUN OUT

Arsenal are set to hand third-choice keeper Alex Runarsson a first Premier League start against Aston Villa this weekend.

The 25-year-old Icelandic international deputised for Bernd Leno in the Gunners’ defeat to Wolves earlier this week after the German was sent off for handling outside his area.

And with back-up shot-stopper Mat Ryan facing a race to be fit for the weekend, Runarsson could well start for the North London side.

The Gunners will also be without centre-back David Luiz after he failed in his appeal against the red card he was shown at Molineux.

INTER HIM

Inter Milan could reportedly let FIVE players leave in the summer including Chelsea and Arsenal target Achraf Hakimi.

Manchester City have also keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old full-back this season.

Inter Milan desperately need to raise £146million to ensure they can compete next season.

Transfer fees combined with the coronavirus pandemic have plunged the club into financial crisis.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter Milan could get rid of five players in the summer.

Hakimi has been named alongside Aleksandar Kolarov, Ashley Young, Danilo D’Ambrosio and Matteo Darmian.

Premier League target Hakimi joined Inter from Real Madrid for £36.3million in the summer of 2020.

JAN STARS

Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Bernd Leno are both up for the Premier League Player of the Month gong for January after the Gunners’ resurgence.

ABUSE MUST STOP

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta slammed recent online abuse of players which is hurting football and society.

Arteta said: “There are all types of different abuses and I think it has to be eradicated completely.

“I think social media has a big responsibility on that, because then you talk about the mental health of the players and the public and how exposed they are.

“I am all open and I’m for people to have their opinions, but not just to be insulting people, abusing people and using a screen on somebody’s mobile phone to tell them whatever you want, to a person that you don’t even know.

“That for me has to be eradicated, because it is causing a lot of damage in football and a lot of damage to public people.

“So I think we have to be really strong on that and I think you guys [the media] as well have a big part to play to support us and the industry here.”

PEP TALK

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Nicolas Pepe’s reaction to being dropped and urged the Ivorian to continue his recent good work.

Arteta said: “Even when we made decisions not to play him, he kept working hard.

“He has improved in a lot of areas and has been much more consistent for 90 minutes.

“He’s a threat at the moment because he’s been scoring goals, he’s been assisting players, he’s been a real threat. He needs to continue doing that.”

NO MATCH OF THE DAY

Gary Lineker revealed he believed David Luiz’s red card against Wolves SHOULD have been overturned.

The Gunners failed with their appeal against the decision and the Brazilian centre-back will be suspended for three games.

Meanwhile, Southampton were successful in overturning Jan Bednarek’s dismissal for a similar challenge.

MORE LUIZ ON WILLIAN

David Luiz told Willian to calm down and things will finally happen for him at Arsenal.

The Brazilian defender told ESPN Brasil: “So he’s a guy who will go through this, he will go through this moment and he’ll still bring a lot of joy to Arsenal, to this club. Because there’s this turbulence, just as I had in the first months.

“It’s not easy, you change clubs, from one rival to another, you have all the cannons facing you. Everything you do people will compare.

“Supporters on one side who loved you are sad because you left and are nervous. Supporters on the other side, who cheered against you, are like, ‘I’m not going to like this guy who came from the other side’.

“You end up feeling, in a way, just a little until you adapt. My first months weren’t easy, and that’s what I try to pass on to Willian. ‘Calm down, things will work out, things will happen. Just keep working because you’re you, there’s no way to change. You’re a great person and you’re a great player. Calm down. Things are going to happen’.

“That’s what we try. Everyone already loves Willian here, so I know that things will happen in the best possible way soon.”

WILLI OR WON’T HE

Arsenal star David Luiz has backed his fellow Brazilian and Gunners team-mate Willian to pull himself out of his current slump in form.

The former Chelsea star has struggled to settle North of the river and ex-Blues pal Luiz is backing him to come good.

Luiz told ESPN Brasil: “The person Willian, few people know him. But those who know, can’t not say that they love him. Because everyone loves him as a person.

“The…