ARSENAL are on the verge of signing winger Martin Odegaard on loan.
The Real Madrid starlet headed to London to undergo a medical on Monday ahead of a £1.8m loan switch.
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Follow all the latest from the Emirates below…
- Marc Mayo
GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may miss out again when Arsenal take on Southampton today.
The striker was absent for the FA Cup defeat to the Saints due to personal issues.
And he is set to be absent when the two sides play each other in the league.
Gabriel Martinelli could instead continue on the left, with Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka also supporting lone striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Meanwhile, former Arsenal star Alan Smith believes flop signing Willian has ‘lost his hunger’.
He told Stadium Astro: “What was his motivation for coming across London and joining Arsenal?
“At the moment, it’s easy to say it was for the money, pure and simple, and he has lost that hunger.
“That’s how it seems from the outside looking in.
“His performances have just not been good enough. It’s a big problem for the manager.”
Finally, ex-Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor reckons club captain Jack Grealish would snub a move to Arsenal if the opportunity arose.
He told TalkSport: “There are so many clubs out there that would love to have him.
“Have Arsenal even got the money if they wanted to get him?
“I think the way Arsenal are at the moment, where they are in the league, their last 10 years, for me they aren’t one of the top six teams in the league.
“Even if they did have the money, I don’t think he’d choose to go to Arsenal anyway. That’s a shame with Arsenal’s big history in football.”
- Anthony Chapman
BUEN IN ROME
Arsenal still want to sign Emi Buendia despite landing Martin Odegaard.
Football London claims the Norwich winger could yet make his way to London this month.
That’s despite Arsenal agreeing a six-month loan for Real Madrid playmaker Odegaard.
Buendia has been setting the Championship alight with Norwich, and the Canaries could demand a big fee for his services.
- Anthony Chapman
WHERE THERE’S A WILL
Former Arsenal star Alan Smith believes flop signing Willian has ‘lost his hunger’.
He told Stadium Astro: “What was his motivation for coming across London and joining Arsenal?
“At the moment, it’s easy to say it was for the money, pure and simple, and he has lost that hunger.
“That’s how it seems from the outside looking in.
“His performances have just not been good enough. It’s a big problem for the manager.”
- Anthony Chapman
ALL GUNNS BLAZING
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may miss out again when Arsenal take on Southampton tomorrow.
The striker was absent for the FA Cup defeat to the Saints due to personal issues.
And he is set to be absent when the two sides play each other in the league.
Gabriel Martinelli could instead continue on the left, with Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka also supporting lone striker Alexandre Lacazette.
- Anthony Chapman
FROM SUNSPORT’S MARTIN LIPTON
Prem chiefs believe they are winning the Covid battle after reporting the first clear testing round this season.
The latest two sets of samples saw eight positive cases out of 2,518 tests of players and club staff.
But all eight positives came from the first testing round between January 18 and 24.
And the second set, conducted between Friday and Sunday and seeing 1,112 players and staff giving samples, brought the clear round.
That compares with last week’s tally of 16 positives, 36 the previous week and a record 40 across the week straddling January 1.
Prem bosses brought in a series of enhanced Covid protocols and measures on January 7, which has had a major impact.
The last previous clear round had been from the final set of tests of Project Restart at the end of July.
- Anthony Chapman
STRIKE FORCE
West Ham have reportedly pulled out of a move for Stade de Reims striker and Arsenal target Boulaye Dia.
France Football claims the Ligue 1 side’s refusal to budge from their £13.5million valuation has seen the Hammers back off.
David Moyes is keen on signing a replacement for Sebastien Haller, who joined Ajax earlier this month.
West Ham will continue to monitor Dia but a move looks unlikely unless the price comes down and they will instead focus on new targets.
It means Arsenal have a free run should they decide to follow up their interest with a formal offer.
- Anthony Chapman
DONE DEAL
Sokratis has completed his free transfer to Olympiacos.
The Greek defender agreed to mutually terminate his Arsenal contract earlier this month.
Sokratis had fallen out of Mikel Arteta's plans and now finds himself back on home soil.
- Anthony Chapman
BRU-WOAH
No player has been involved in more Premier League goals during the last year than Bruno Fernandes.
The Man Utd star has contributed to a stunning 45 goals in his first year at Old Trafford.
That puts him ahead of Spurs' Harry Kane, Liverpool's Mo Salah and Man City's Kevin De Bruyne.
- Anthony Chapman
NO GREAL DEAL
Ex-Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor reckons club captain Jack Grealish would snub a move to Arsenal if the opportunity arose.
He told TalkSport: “There are so many clubs out there that would love to have him.
“Have Arsenal even got the money if they wanted to get him?
“I think the way Arsenal are at the moment, where they are in the league, their last 10 years, for me they aren’t one of the top six teams in the league.
“Even if they did have the money, I don’t think he’d choose to go to Arsenal anyway. That’s a shame with Arsenal’s big history in football.”
- Anthony Chapman
ODE TO JOY
Versatile midfielder Martin Odegaard is on the brink of a loan move to Arsenal.
But just where will the Real Madrid man play under Mikel Arteta?
Here are some options for the Gunners as they look to clinch a top four finish…
A 4-2-3-1 shape with Odegaard as the No10 A 4-3-3 with Odegaard cutting inside on his left foot A 5-3-2 with Odegaard linking midfield and attack - Anthony Chapman
WHAT A MES
Fenerbahce have come up with a novel way of paying Mesut Ozil’s wages… by asking fans for donations!
The ex-Arsenal man is earning around £67,000-a-week in Turkey – still some way off his £350k-a-week in London.
President Ali Koc said: "We have a request for our fans. Please continue to support us, we are also dependent on your financial support.
"On the day of the signature, I will ask you to break a record. With an SMS campaign.
“Maybe 300,000, 500,000 or maybe even a million text messages come together. This support will do us very good."
- Joe Brophy
AUBA AND OUT
Mikel Arteta has addressed how much of an issue it will be if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is out for a while.
He said: "Of course it will be a problem because he is a top striker, one who scores [a lot of] goals and he is our captain, a really important player in the team.
"But we have to respect the timings, let’s see – I don’t have enough information to see how things are evolving and hopefully things will go in the right direction."
- Joe Brophy
OD ONE OUT
Martin Odegaard will sit 23rd among the top Arsenal earners – behind flop goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson.
The Real Madrid playmaker, 22, is on the brink of completing his loan switch to the Emirates until the end of the season.
- Joe Brophy
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON
Mikel Arteta has hinted that Alex Runarsson will remain at Arsenal despite the arrival of Brighton stopper Mat Ryan.
He said: “That area of the squad needs three goalkeepers and they need to compete with each other, challenge each other and everyone will get their role.
“After you have your role, you just have to support each other again to get the best out of each other. This is the role, come here and try to make it better.”
- Joe Brophy
TURKISH DELIGHT
Mesut Ozil was beaming during his first Fenerbahce training session after finally completing his move from Arsenal.
The German officially signed for the Turkish side last week after seven and a half years in North London.
- Joe Brophy
AUBA THE TOP
Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard reportedly asked his board to sign Pierre Emerick Aubameyang last January.
The Athletic claim Lamps felt the striker could be an ideal addition for the Blues before he penned a long-term contract.
Yet the report adds that the board didn’t grant his request – with Timo Werner eventually arriving instead over the summer.
- Joe Brophy
VIV'S GUNNER STAY
Joe Montemurro has brushed off speculation of a Lyon bid for Arsenal goal machine Vivianne Miedema.
He said: “From our perspective there has been absolutely nothing.
“And Viv is smiling, she's really happy. She's here to make sure that she does the best for the team.
“These are the discussions that I'm having with her every week and she's training really well.
“I don't think anyone has received anything from anyone. What happens in the future, I can't predict.”
- Joe Brophy
WILL I NEVER
Tony Cascarino has compared Arsenal flop Willian to Alexis Sanchez.
The Brazilian has struggled to make an impact at the Gunners and former striker Cascarino likened him to Manchester United misfit Sanchez.
He told talkSPORT: ““The form of Willian has been extraordinary at how poor he’s been.
“He’s Alexis Sanchez at Man United poor since he’s gone to the club.”
- Joe Brophy
GUNNER KEEP WAITING
Arsenal have sent their fans wild with news of Martin Odegaard's imminent arrival after their limited social media activity this morning.
- Joe Brophy
TOR BLIMEY
Arsenal have reportedly been made a 'take it or leave it' offer from Fiorentina for Lucas Torreira.
The 24-year-old has made just two starts in La Liga on loan at Atletico Madrid this season.
According to Italian outlet La Nazione, Fiorentina have made a bid to take the player on loan until the end of the season.
The report adds that the deal would also include a clause for the Serie A side to sign him permanently for around £9.7m in the summer.
Torreira already has experience playing Italian football having arrived at Arsenal back in 2018 from Sampdoria.
- Joe Brophy
ICYMI
Fenerbahce president Ali Koc has urged fans to help pay for Mesut Ozil’s wages by donating money to the club.
The 53-year-old stated: “We have a request for our fans. Please continue to support us, we are also dependent on your financial support.
“On the day of the signature, I will ask you to break a record. With an SMS campaign. Maybe 300,000, 500,000 or maybe even a million text messages come together. This support will do us very good.”
Text messages for those that will be taking part in the ‘Mesutol campaign’ will cost £2.
- Joe Brophy
C-RYAN SHAME
Arsenal are set to be dealt a transfer blow with Ryan Bertrand close to agreeing a new Southampton contract, according to reports.
Bertrand, 31, has just six months remaining on his Saints deal, putting potential suitors on high alert.
According to The Athletic, however, Southampton are 'confident' that their No3 will put pen to paper before long.
Talks are ongoing, and Saints have 'no intention' of selling Bertrand.
- Joe Brophy
ODE OH DEAR
Martin Odegaard could be another 'embarrassment' at Arsenal just like Denis Suarez, fears Alan Smith.
He told Stadium Astro: "He's had his problems developing at Real Madrid and the last thing Arsenal want is to get somebody in who can't offer anything.
"You think back to Denis Suarez who came to the club and physically he just wasn't ready and then he picked up injuries.
"It was a bit of an embarrassment in the end, so hopefully they will do their homework on Odegaard.
"He's a young player that went to Real Madrid, and so much is expected of him, and as so often happens it doesn't quite materialise like that."
- Joe Brophy
PUT A SOK IN IT
Despite recent reports of a move to Liverpool, Sokratis is reportedly heading back to his native Greece to sign for Olympiacos on a free transfer.
The 32-year-old is on the lookout for a new club having had his contract terminated by the Gunners by mutual consent earlier this week.
Turkish giants Fenerbahce were another possible destination, however it appears that he is on his way to join Olympiacos.
SunSport reported the club were keen to secure Sokratis' services at the beginning of the month.
And now Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed the experienced centre-back will shortly be signing for Olympiacos.
He tweeted: "Sokratis Papastathopoulos will come back in Greece and join Olympiacos."
- Joe Brophy
BLOW YOUR SOKS OFF
Liverpool have reportedly made an approach for former Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
The Greek international is well known to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, having played for him at Borussia Dortmund.
Sokratis is a free agent after Arsenal terminated his contract with the Athletic claiming the 32-year-old has held talks with Liverpool.
Yet the report adds that those initial conversations have not progressed and Sokratis is set to join Olympiakos.
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