ARSENAL have been given a boost in their pursuit of Leeds' forward Wilfried Gnonto, according to former Premier League striker Jermaine Beckford.
He said: “I’m starting to worry a little bit, one of the biggest issues at Leeds, currently, is that there are a couple of players who should be playing in this situation."
Meanwhile, William Saliba is set to miss the Gunners' clash with Chelsea next week, with concerns growing that the Frenchman may miss the rest of the season.
Elsewhere, Aaron Ramsdale has refused to give up on the title and issued a rallying cry after Arsenal fell to a 4-1 defeat in their "title decider" against Man City.
In other news, Arsenal are reportedly battling Aston Villa for the signature of Lens star Lois Openda.
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- Giacomo Pisa
Mikel wants to move on
Mikel Arteta admitted his side were beaten by the better team in Manchester City, but urged his team to "move on" following the defeat.
He told club media: "We have to accept that the better team won.
"They were much better than us, they were more efficient, especially in the first half. They competed for every ball, with a different intensity, purpose and determination.
"We lost too many of those duels and we ended up defending when we were in really good positions, defending in open places against those players which is the last thing that you want to do.
"We have to move on. We will be very silly if this affects us in the next few weeks, so this is a difficult one we have to accept the reality and then we have to move on.
"We have to try to help the players and paint the reality of where we are. Today they played against a team that were the best at that level. It’s who can keep at that level, that is the question."
- Tony Robertson
Keown trolled by Jordan and Scholes
Martin Keown may take some time before he lives down his Mikel Arteta "boss" comment.
Ahead of Arsenal's 4-1 loss to Man City, Keown was heard calling Arteta "boss" at the start of his interview on BT Sport.
Within moments of the exchange colleague Paul Scholes had taken to Instagram with a host of laughing emojis, asking: "Did Martin Keown just call Arteta boss."
Ex-Crystal Palace chief Simon Jordan and fellow talkSPORT host Jim White got their own jabs in when seeing Keown.
Jordan said: "That was ghastly," before Keown insisted it was a sign of respect.
However, Jordan then savaged Keown by saying: "It’s sycophantic and a bit cringey. My bum went tight like a snare drum!"
Though Keown was not about to take it laying down, hitting back: "Your bum can do whatever it wants – you can make some stupid comments, you’re making lots of them today! But I am very respectful and I appreciate what he’s trying to do at the club."
- Tony Robertson
Dec the halls
Declan Rice has once again been reported to be at the top of Arsenal's transfer wish list this summer.
Following months of extensive links, Rice now tops an all-star list ahead of a Champions League campaign next season, according to The Telegraph.
The list in question is said to also have Moises Caicedo and Mason Mount – who has had exploratory talks to join the Gunners.
Ivan Fresneda is also on the club's list.
- Tony Robertson
Ramsdale rallying cry
Aaron Ramsdale has refused to give up on the title and issued a rallying cry after Arsenal fell to a 4-1 defeat in their "title decider" against Man City.
Speaking after the game, the England stopper said: "We’re going to be disappointed now but we haven’t played nine months of Premier League football and played the way we wanted to play to give up with five games to go.
"If anything is going to happen in football it is going to be this league it is going to happen in.
"It might not do but stranger things have happened in the Premier League.
“You see how tight it is at the bottom, you see how tight it is at the top so we are going to be pushing every game – with five games left and we need to win five games – and we will see how that ends at the end of the season."
Aaron Ramsdale is refusing to give up on the titleCredit: Getty - Tony Robertson
Arsenal boost in Gnonto pursuit
Arsenal target Wilfried Gnonto “doesn’t know why” he is not playing at Leeds, according to Jermaine Beckford.
Speaking to William Hill, Beckford revealed a direct chat he had with the winger who has five goal contributions in the league this season.
He said: “I’m starting to worry a little bit, one of the biggest issues at Leeds, currently, is that there are a couple of players who should be playing in this situation.
“Wilfried Gnonto, he’s fantastic, he’s so positive, driven and direct with the ball. He gets the play up the field and doesn’t mind defending.
“He’s a fantastic player, but he isn’t playing. He didn’t even come off the bench for the last couple of games.”
“I’ve spoken to him directly about it and he doesn’t know why. But I think he should be playing, there’s Rodrigo, Patrick Bamford as well, Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra.
“There are so many great attacking players in the team, the issue seems to be at the other end of the field – conceding for fun.”
Gnonto has previously been linked with transfers to the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.
- Tony Robertson
Arsenal to miss out on Rangers wonderkids
Rangers have reportedly beat Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle to the singings of Jack Wyllie and Calum Adamson.
According to the Daily Record, the pair will sign two-year-long professional contracts starting in the summer with the Scottish giants after making the step up from the Ibrox academy.
The report suggests North London duo Arsenal and Spurs both made approaches to sign Wyllie.
- Tony Robertson
Supercomputer predicts Prem table
A supercomputer has predicted the final outcome of the Premier League table.
And with Arsenal's title charge faltering, they have been predicted to finish the season five points off of first place Man City.
- Tony Robertson
Saliba 'set to miss Chelsea clash'
William Saliba's absence has been sorely felt by Arsenal, and no time more so than Wednesday's humbling 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.
However, concerns are growing that he may be out for the rest of the season, with a report from the Evening Standard suggesting he is set to miss the match against Chelsea on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of the City, Arteta said on his injury: "There’s not been a real improvement, unfortunately for him. So we are still waiting.
“We are still hopeful but obviously, it’s another week that has gone by and he hasn’t been able to train with the team.”
- Tony Robertson
De-nied
Kevin De Bruyne gave a cheeky response to a journalist after being asked how he celebrated Manchester City's 4-1 win over Arsenal.
He confessed "most of the team was gone" by the time he got back to the dressing room following his post-match interviews.
De Bruyne had said: "To be fair, by doing about 15 interviews when I got back to the dressing room, most of the team was gone."
- Tony Robertson
gunned down
Arsenal stars were on the end of brutal ratings from the typically harsh French outlet L'Equipe, following their 4-1 loss to Man City.
The North Londoners averaged just 3.7 out of 10.
Gabriel Magalhaes received the lowest grade as he got a 2 after a "nightmare" performance in defence.
Four other stars including Thomas Partey, Rob Holding and Gabriel Martinelli were given ratings of 3.
Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsdale were the only two to earn ratings of five or more, while Mikel Arteta was also handed a rating of 3.
- Gary Stonehouse
MORNING GOONERS
Mikel Arteta insists Wednesday's crushing 4-1 loss at Manchester City is already history.
And as the Gunners take a break until Tuesday's home clash with Chelsea, they are being linked with Belgium striker Lois Openda.
Arsenal's midweek mauling mainly showed up the need for defensive reinforcements as they fell- just two points ahead of City, who have two games in hand.
But it's Lens star Openda who has attracted most transfer speculation over the past 24 hours.
Arteta is thought to want direct striking back-up for Gabriel Jesus.
And Openda, 23, is flying in Ligue 1 with 17 goals from 32 matches.
Meanwhile, it's claimed the Gunners want midfielder Albert Sambi Lokongo to pick up more loan experience, despite struggling for starts at Crystal Palace.
Finally, ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes Arteta needs to recruit a whole new backbone – a central defender, midfielder and frontman.
Much of that is for squad strength, following centre-back William Saliba's costly injury.
But Smith feels prime target Declan Rice could be a direct replacement for "in and out" Thomas Partey in mid-pitch.
- Ian Tuckey
Gunners eye longer Lokonga loan
Arsenal are keen on loanee Albert Sambi Lokongo getting more game time at Crystal Palace.
The Belgian went out on loan to Selhurst Park in January but has struggled for regular starts.
But Fabrizio Romano reports that the Gunners “trust his skills and potential” but want him to get more game time in.
The well-connect journalist adds they will discuss another loan move with him next season.
- Ian Tuckey
'Gunners need 3 players for a new backbone'
Ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith says the Gunners need a new backbone – a centre-back, midfielder and striker in the summer transfer window.
Mikel Arteta's Prem leaders are now just two points clear of Manchester City, who have two games in hand, following their 4-1 Etihad outclassing of Arsenal last night.
West Ham skipper Declan Rice is expected to be Arteta's priority target.
And Smith told Sky Sports: "I think you’re probably looking through the heart of the team, through the centre.
"We’ve obviously seen how they’ve suffered without Wiliam Saliba and the drop-off was quite drastic really, no manager would want to see that so they miss the Frenchman.
"Thomas Partey has been a bit in and out this season, when Xhaka didn’t play they missed him certainly.
"There’s been a lot of attention on Arsenal’s central midfield, possibly Declan Rice coming. That’s going to be a saga in the summer. Where’s the West Ham midfielder going to end up, it looks like he’s going to leave the Hammers.
‘Possibly another forward to compete with Jesus, they’ve got Eddie Nketiah but I think the centre-half and the central midfielder that will start games.
"[Jakub] Kiwior, the defender who came in in January, could develop into a very good player so that might be a bit premature because they bought one in Kiwior but Mikel Arteta didn’t feel he was ready yet and Rob Holding got the shout."
- Ian Tuckey
Forget the City loss – Mikel
Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal stars to quickly get over the disappointment of the Man City loss.
The Gunners boss said: “We have to accept that the better team won. They were much better than us, they were more efficient, especially in the first half. They competed for every ball, with a different intensity, purpose and determination.
“We lost too many of those duels and we ended up defending when we were in really good positions, defending in open places against those players which is the last thing that you want to do.
“We have to move on. We will be very silly if this affects us in the next few weeks, so this is a difficult one we have to accept the reality and then we have to move on.”
- Ian Tuckey
KDB reveals City master-stroke vs Gunners
Kevin de Bruyne revealed how Manchester City tactically outmanoeuvred Arsenal in last night's 4-1 Prem win.
Two-goal KDB explained he had been instructed to run off Erling Haaland from deeper positions, targeting the space in behind Arsenal midfielders Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey depending on which of them was pressing.
Speaking to Peacock, he said: "The way that Arsenal press the opposition is top, it's class.
"It's almost impossible to play from the back, especially when its a goal kick – it's like a set piece, and we know we had to play longer today and we tried a couple of things in training.
"I tried to get a little bit deeper and then tried to run off Erling when he kept the ball, and I think we found that a couple of times.
"I think in the first half we created some chances this way, and it was important to set the tone.
"Normally we play with two number eights and I think he [Guardiola] wanted a little bit more control because of the way they press.
"So Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan] would be a double six and I had to choose more the moments, depending on who presses out of Xhaka and Partey – if Partey was pressing I would try to go on his back and the other way round, and it was difficult for [Rob] Holding and Gabriel.
"[They had to decide] do they have to go with me or are they staying with Erling. I couldn't find the moments in the first half, and obviously they switched a little bit in the second half, but I was a little more free today."
- Ian Tuckey
Supercomputer tips Gunners to miss top-4 next season
A supercomputer has tipped Arsenal to finish FIFTH next season and pile more misery on Gunners fans.
Mikel Arteta’s side remain top of the table but are now underdogs in the Premier League title fight after being beaten by Man City.
But a number-crunching supercomputer at Neue Casinos Online has predicted the Gunners to drop out of the top four next season.
It predicted City to win the 2023/24 crown with Newcastle second, Liverpool third and Man United making up the top four.
Chelsea and Spurs will follow Arsenal in 5th, according to the boffins who put together the data.
- Kiro Evans
Door Open
Arsenal have joined the hunt for Lens star Lois Openda, according to reports.
The Gunners are on the search for a new striker to provide competition for Gabriel Jesus.
And Openda fits the bill after scoring 17 goals in 32 Ligue Un games this season.
Arsenal are interested in signing the forward and could make a move this summer, according to Fichajes.
- Kiro Evans
Tough Night
Rob Holding was not the first defender to be given the run around by Erling Haaland, and he won't be the last.
But the former Bolton centre-back did struggle to contain Man City's wave of attacking talent.
He has been deputising for the injured William Saliba.
Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images - Kiro Evans
Coming Up
Arsenal might have to win all of their remaining games if they are to stand any chance of winning the title after last night's defeat.
Here's how their remaining games look:
May 2: Chelsea (H)
May 7: Newcastle (A)
May 14: Brighton (H)
May 20: Nottingham Forest (A)
May 28: Wolves (H) - Kiro Evans
'Have to move on'
Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal stars to quickly get over the disappointment of the Man City loss.
The Gunners boss said: "We have to accept that the better team won. They were much better than us, they were more efficient, especially in the first half. They competed for every ball, with a different intensity, purpose and determination.
“We lost too many of those duels and we ended up defending when we were in really good positions, defending in open places against those players which is the last thing that you want to do.
“We have to move on. We will be very silly if this affects us in the next few weeks, so this is a difficult one we have to accept the reality and then we have to move on.”
- Kiro Evans
It's Not Sal Good
In an alternative universe where William Saliba does not limp off injured against Sporting Lisbon, how does the Premier League table look?
Things have gone south for Arsenal around the time their brilliant young defender became injured.
Their creaky defence conceded three against Southampton and gave away two-goal leads against Liverpool and West Ham.
And then there was last night with the Gunners failing to fend off the terrifying duo of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
Credit: Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images
- Kiro Evans
Lokonga Latest
Arsenal are keen on loanee Albert Sambi Lokongo getting more game time at Crystal Palace.
The Belgian went out on loan to Selhurst Park in January but has struggled for regular stars.
But Fabrizio Romano reports that the Gunners "trust his skills and potential" but want him to get more game time in.
The well-connect journalist adds they will discuss another loan move with him next season.
- Kiro Evans
Ode to Joy
There were few positives for Arsenal last night but one did come in the form of their captain.
Martin Odegaard, 24, made his 100th for the London club last night having signed in 2021.
He has quickly proven to be a leader and brilliant creative midfielder.
The star was still in his teenage years when Real Madrid bought him to much fanfare in 2015 and he is most certainly living up to his potential.
Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images - Kiro Evans
All Goon Wrong
A supercomputer has tipped Arsenal to finish FIFTH next season and pile more misery on Gunners fans.
Mikel Arteta's side remain top of the table but are now underdogs in the Premier League title fight after being beaten by Man City.
But a number-crunching supercomputer at Neue Casinos Online has predicted the Gunners to drop out of the top four next season.
It predicted City to win the 2023/24 crown with Newcastle second, Liverpool third and Man United making up the top four.
Chelsea and Spurs will follow Arsenal in 5th, according to the boffins who put together the data.
- Kiro Evans
White v Foden
England players Ben White and Phil Foden had a dramatic confrontation at the end of last night's game at the Etihad.
As the referee blew his whistle to signal Man City's 4-1 win over Arsenal was complete, players began shaking hands and heading to the dressing room.
But it got heated in one exchange as White caught up with Foden.
The pair got into an angry exchange within seconds before the Man City man aggressively shoved the defender.
Bernando Silva, Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva intervened before several players from both teams were involved in a melee.
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