ARSENAL’S DOUBLE RAID: GUNNERS EYE PSG STAR BRADLEY BARCOLA & £43M LEFT-BACK
Arsenal is making a strong push for PSG's Bradley Barcola, who is unhappy with his role, and is tracking £43.7M German defender Nathaniel Brown.
Arsenal is reportedly eyeing a Paris Saint-Germain star, along with a couple of other clubs, and they also have their eye on another player whom they really like.
The Gunners are doing great in the Premier League right now. They're also second in goals scored. With more goal-scoring options up front, they could be even more dangerous.
It's said that PSG's Bradley Barcola could be that guy.
Arsenal Making a Play for Barcola
PSG has started talking to Barcola's people about a new deal. He's had five goals and three assists this season.
They've offered him more money, but Barcola and his agent are thinking about their options. Premier League teams are getting involved.
Liverpool has also been linked to the French attacker.
Arsenal is reportedly making a strong move for Barcola. He might not be completely happy with his role at PSG, which could open the door for a transfer.
Clubs in Saudi Arabia also want him, but that's not his priority.
German Left-Back on Arsenal's Radar
Arsenal might also add players in other positions. They're looking at German left-back Nathaniel Brown.
The Gunners, Manchester City, and Barcelona reportedly really like the defender, who has played for Germany twice.
He could cost around €50 million (£43.7m) after scoring one goal and assisting three this season.
A source added that his defensive skills, game sense, and how he adapts make him good for English football. Plus, Premier League clubs can afford his wages.
Sources confirm that Brown is on Arsenal's radar and wants to move to England to help his career grow.
Will Arteta Leave?
It's not certain if Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta will stay with the team in the long run. Even though the Gunners have been second for three seasons in a row, and made it to the Champions League semi-finals last season.
Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit thinks Arteta might want a change at some point.
He said he might want to go back to Spain and get a club where he played when he was young. If he wins something this season, he might think he has achieved it with Arsenal after almost seven years, and maybe it is time to find something else.’
I would understand. Barcelona is one of the best clubs in the world, with its lifestyle and family. He would go to Barcelona. He would fight for the title in Spain, but not the Champions League.”
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
