Live Blog
- 1 Aug 2020, 1:25
- Updated: 1 Aug 2020, 1:25
ARSENAL were beaten 2-1 at Tottenham in a poor quality London derby as their European hopes took a massive hit.
And the next day Man City’s successful appeal against their two-year European ban made it a double whammy, leaving them four points off the 7th position which will be required for a Europa League spot.
Follow all the latest Arsenal news and transfer gossip below..
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Etienne Fermie
HAVEN’T THE HART
Former Gunners striker John Hartson has claimed that he would “get rid” of all three centre-backs that started against Spurs on Sunday.
The Welshman told Stadium Astro: “Ideally, I’d like to replace all three, Mustafi, Kolasinac and Luiz, but I don’t think he’s going to replace all three.
“Rob Holding does okay when he comes in, still relatively young, I think the two full-backs (Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin) are decent, Leno in goal, I like Ceballos, Torreira, Xhaka he seems to like.
“For me, I would get rid of all three [defenders] if I possibly could but I don’t think that’s going to happen, but, all three of them I’m not sure they’d get in of any of the top four teams.”
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FAN-TASTIC
The Government will allow fans to return to Premier League games from the beginning of next season, according to reports.
Prem clubs have reportedly already started consulting with supporter groups to prepare for a “partial return” but after the latest coronavirus update from the Government, fans could be forced to wear face masks if they wish to attend.
The EFL were set to hold trial matches which would have seen a small number of fans in attendance on the last day of this season.
But they have been cancelled.
However, the Football League as well as England’s top flight are working on a method to admit fans at the start of next season, according to the Mail.
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MARC OF THE TIMES
Tottenham may be interested in bringing back former academy winger Marcus Edwards, but the player himself would prefer to sign for bitter rivals Arsenal, according to reports.
The 21-year-old has a £13.4million release clause in his contract at Portuguese side Vitoria, having left Spurs last summer.
But according to GiveMeSport, he would rather join Arsenal than return for a second shot at the Lilywhites.
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Dave Fraser
MORNING ARSENAL FANS
Arsenal star Hector Bellerin is “desperate” to quit the club – but has been snubbed by Bayern Munich due to his poor defending, according to reports.
The Bundesliga giants had been linked with a move for the Spaniard – but Sky Sports in Germany says the Bavarians are “not after” him.
Despite being under contract until 2023, Bellerin is valued at a mere £20million.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has insisted nothing has changed regarding Mesut Ozil after the German was again omitted from the Gunners matchday squad.
Commenting on Ozil, Arteta said: “He’s still in the same position as he was last week or two weeks ago.
“And we said that we would manage everything internally.”
Pressed on what exactly he meant by that, he added: “That I have nothing to say.”
In other news, Kieran Tierney has been named as Arsenal’s Player of the Month for June – fending off competition from Bukayo Saka.
A club statement said: “The defender finished with 40 per cent of the vote cast, with Bukayo Saka in second place and Granit Xhaka in third.”
And finally, Jamie Redknapp has urged John Stones to make the next big step in his career by joining Arsenal.
The Mail columnist said: “Arsenal need a centre back, and Mikel Arteta knows Stones from his City days. That could be a good fit.”
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Jake Lambourne
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OZIL’S DECLINE
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KE-OWN GOAL
Martin Keown believes Mikel Arteta has to stick to one system following the defeat away at Tottenham.
Writing for the Mail, he said: “Arteta needs to decide which way he wants his team to play — three or four at the back — and buy players who suit his preferred system.
“Harry Kane and Son [Heung-min posed problems. We saw Shkodran Mustafi diving in — maybe that’s because he doesn’t feel he’s going to get cover from [David] Luiz behind him.
“Choose your system, Arteta, and buy accordingly.”
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COVID TESTING
The Premier League have released a statement after the 13th round of coronavirus testing.
Thye said: “The Premier League can today confirm that between Monday July 6 and Sunday July 12, 2,071 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, one person has tested positive.
“The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency.
“No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and results will be made public after each round of testing.”
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LOSS OF EARNINGS
Premier League clubs are set to lose out on some big money by the end of this season with no fans in the stadiums.
Here is how the losses break down for every club.
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TIER WE GO
Kieran Tierney has been named as Arsenal’s Player of the Month for June – fending off competition from Bukayo Saka.
A club statement said: “The Scotland international was in fine form throughout June, playing all four of our games and impressing with his energy and commitment at left back or left wing back.
“Tierney was named man of the match in our Emirates FA Cup quarter-final victory against Sheffield United, and won a legion of fans for turning up to the game carrying a Tesco bag instead of a wash bag.
“The defender finished with 40 per cent of the vote cast, with Bukayo Saka in second place and Granit Xhaka in third.”
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EGO WRITING CHEQUES’
Piers Morgan has rekindled his ongoing feud with Aaron Ramsey, claiming he still doesn’t rate the Welsh midfielder.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “Ramsey and I had a few little skirmishes.
“No question he was unlucky with his injury, he was a certainly a good player and I’d be very happy if he came back to Arsenal and did what he did before, which was a very good squad player.
“But I always felt with Ramsey that the ego was writing cheques his footballing body couldn’t cash in.
“If he was the benchmark for the team we weren’t going to compete.
“He’s a very good footballer, but he’s not a top, top footballer.”
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PUSH ‘N PAUL
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has laid into the Arsenal defence following the defeat against rivals Spurs.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “Against Spurs, I don’t care if you’ve got Pep Guardiola sitting on Jose Mourinho’s lap, on top of Sir Alex Ferguson’s lap, on top of Arsene Wenger’s lap and all four of them are one manager: if you’ve got a defender who can’t pass the ball five yards to another defender, you are in trouble.
“When the manager puts on a training session and you’re doing five-yard passes to start off with, everybody is moaning ‘What the hell are we doing this for? Who can’t pass the ball five yards?’ But that is why.
“It’s concentration, so you can keep on doing it without even thinking about it, like you’re brushing your teeth in the morning.
“Footballers are so obsessed with pass percentages. Defenders want 88, 89, 90 per cent pass completion, but they’re all five-yard passes to each other! Who cares? Honestly?
“There are so many stats now, and players are scared of them, so try to play the easy ball!
“All these players should care about is keeping clean sheets: that should be like scoring a hat-trick for a defender. You want defenders who think that way.”
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TAKING THE MIK
Mikel Arteta has lifted the lid on why Rob Holding didn’t feature against Spurs.
Speaking to the Gunners website at why Holding didn’t play, Arteta said: “Sometimes it’s the position, sometimes it’s the momentum of the players, when we don’t concede in three or four games in a row everything is really positive.
“Obviously when you concede two goals like today… Why are we not playing someone else?
“Rob has done really well when we’ve demanded him to play and he will be ready to play when we demand him to do so I’m sure.”
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ART ATTACK
Mikel Arteta has insisted nothing has changed regarding Mesut Ozil after the German was again omitted from the Gunners matchday squad.
The ex-Everton ace was quizzed on the former Real Madrid playmaker following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat in the North London derby against Tottenham.
Commenting on Ozil, Arteta said: “He’s still in the same position as he was last week or two weeks ago.
“And we said that we would manage everything internally.”
Pressed on what exactly he meant by that, he added: “That I have nothing to say.”
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13th Jul 2020, 14:50
ROLL ON STONES
Jamie Redknapp has urged John Stones to make the next big step in his career by joining Arsenal.
The Mail columnist said: “What’s next for John Stones? One of Virgil van Dijk’s biggest assets is his decision-making.
“He knows when to play and when to put the ball into row Z. With Stones, that’s been a downfall.
“He is quick, strong and brave in the air but he’s made high-profile mistakes. Stones is still only 26 — the same age Van Dijk was when he joined Liverpool.
“He is young enough to mould, but has only started once in the league under Pep Guardiola since January.
“Arsenal need a centre back, and Mikel Arteta knows Stones from his City days. That could be a good fit.”
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13th Jul 2020, 14:05
GROUNDS FOR COMPLAINT
Fuming fans have forced Arsenal into changing their Twitter background picture after it featured an image of them losing at Spurs’ stadium yesterday.
The Gunners updated the image used as their background last night, leaving fans baffled.
Having just lost 2-1 to North London rivals Tottenham, Arsenal changed their picture to one of their own team losing at the home of their fierce rivals.
The picture stayed there for hours before they finally caved into fan pressure.
One Spurs supporter tweeted: “Nice background… too late to change it now.”
Another said: “Arsenal’s Twitter background, am I missing something?”
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13th Jul 2020, 12:31
USE YOUR HEADS
Arsenal lead the Premier League in goals conceded from set-pieces after Sunday’s North London derby defeat.
The Gunners have conceded a staggering 46 per cent of their goals this season from corners, free-kicks and penalties.
Their defence has been exposed over and over again, with Mikel Arteta in desperate need of a leader and some aerial presence at the back.
A defensive howler from Sead Kolasinac and David Luiz – as well as a late set-piece headed home by Toby Alderweireld – saw Arsenal throw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 at Tottenham.
The late goal from Spurs was the 44th conceded by Arsenal this season – with 20 of those coming from set pieces.
That’s a staggering 45.5 per cent – more than six per cent ahead of their closest rivals Manchester United (39.5 per cent).
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13th Jul 2020, 11:05
MORE ON RAMBO
Morgan added: “I have watched him at Juventus and apparently they are already looking to sell him on.
“He’s not had many starts.
“Look, if you are Cristiano Ronaldo and you’ve got Aaron Ramsey coming in, I don’t think you are massively impressed.
“That’s my overview of Ramsey – good player, not a great player.”
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13th Jul 2020, 10:04
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Here is how the top four chase looks now.
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13th Jul 2020, 09:57
BREAKING
Manchester City’s European ban has been OVERTURNED, meaning Pep Guardiola’s side will play in the Champions League next season.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has axed their two-year suspension from European football and reduced their fine to just under £9million.
It means the Premier League’s top four will qualify for the Champions League next season, meaning fourth will not be good enough for United, Chelsea, Wolves or Leicester.
While Arsenal are unlikely to make the top four, they had been hoping to climb into the Europa League, but that might be even tougher now.
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13th Jul 2020, 09:22
‘ALD IN HIGH ESTEEM
Gabriel Martinelli is revelling in the heartfelt praise he’s received from Brazil icon Ronaldinho.
And the Arsenal hotshot revealed he was left gobsmacked by the Brazilian comparing him to World Cup star Ronaldo.
Speaking to Arsenal’s YouTube Channel an awestruck Martinelli said: “‘Wow, when I heard that I couldn’t believe it.
“It’s crazy because I was in Brazil until recently, playing in the Copa Sao Paulo, which is a prestigious youth-level competition, but it’s nothing like the Premier League.
“To get here and play in the Premier League for Arsenal, one of the best clubs in the world, and for one of the best Brazilian players of all time to speak to highly of me and compare me with one of the best forwards in football history is something that seems hard to believe.
“You think, ‘could he really be talking about me? Is it me?”
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13th Jul 2020, 09:09
ALARM BELLS
Arsenal star Hector Bellerin is “desperate” to quit the club – but has been snubbed by Bayern Munich due to his poor defending, according to reports.
The Bundesliga giants had been linked with a move for the Spaniard – but Sky Sports in Germany says the Bavarians are “not after” him.
Despite being under contract until 2023, Bellerin is valued at a mere £20million.
Yet Bayern Munich have such issues with the Arsenal right-back’s defensive work they are unwilling to even pay that for him.
Sky Deutschland say Bellerin is “desperate to change clubs” after being left “unsatisfied” with the Gunners’ dreadful season.
Arsenal currently sit ninth in the Premier League after throwing away a 1-0 lead to lose to fierce rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
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sstreet
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
Arsenal have been handed a further blow following their defeat to Tottenham with Hector Bellerin reportedly “desperate” to change clubs.
Sky Deutschland report that Bayern Munich were interested in the right-back but will no longer consider him having grown disappointed with his poor defending.
The German side are also said to be concerned about his injury record.
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13th Jul 2020, 08:19
SHEARER ON NORTH LONDON DERBY
Once upon a time, the North London derby would set even the pulses of neutral observers racing.
But yesterday’s renewal was a really flat and drab affair.
And you cannot entirely blame the lack of a crowd for how poor the fare was dished up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was bland stuff, particularly compared to some of the thrillers of the past at Spurs’ home, like Arsenal’s 5-4 victory in that epic clash in November 2004.
The Gunners had the majority of possession without doing a lot with it.
Aside from their goal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the bar and was denied by a decent Hugo Lloris save.
Spurs won it thanks to a stup
