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Back pages: Gunners push for Gyokeres dealpublished at 08:03 14 May
08:03 14 May
It is not just our gossip column that is lasering in on Arsenal's hunt for a new striker.
The back pages of the Daily Express, the Mirror and the Star all lead on the matter, specifically that the Gunners are pushing to sign Sporting and Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres.
The 26-year-old has been in sensational goalscoring form since moving to Portugal from Coventry in 2023 and has been linked with several Premier League clubs as a result.
Huijsen dreams of joining Real Madrid, but the Premier League's top two, along with Chelsea are prepared to trigger the defender's £50m release clause to get the deal done this month. (Fabrizio Romano, external)
Meanwhile, Arsenal want to sign Sporting Lisbon's 26-year-old Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres, who has an agreement with the Portuguese side that he can leave if another club agrees to pay about £60m. (Mirror, external)
As well as Gyokeres, Arsenal are also interested in RB Leipzig's Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko, 21. (Sky Sports, external)
Arteta faces selection dilemma for Newcastle matchpublished at 17:30 13 May
17:30 13 May
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal have an important game against Newcastle on Sunday as they look to secure their place in the Champions League next season.
Mikel Merino is going to be suspended following his red card in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday, while Declan Rice is also a doubt after missing the match at Anfield with a hamstring issue.
Leandro Trossard also had to be withdrawn with a knock and it could mean that Mikel Arteta will have to be creative in a match that the Gunners need a result.
It is a familiar feeling for Arteta, whose side have been plagued with injuries. Alongside Merino and Rice, the Arsenal manager will be without Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Jurrien Timber did not play on Sunday against Liverpool and was not fit enough to come off the bench, leaving another question mark for Arteta.
The Arsenal backline still has options despite the injuries but in midfield is where the issues start.
With both Rice and Merino unlikely to feature, that leaves one of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ethan Nwaneri or Myles Lewis-Skelly as alternative options.
Jack Henry-Francis has been on the bench in recent weeks but it is very unlikely that Arteta puts him in against one of the Premier League's most dominant midfields.
Lewis-Skelly's natural position is in the centre of midfield and he could shift into that position with Riccardo Calafiori coming in at left-back.
Gabriel Martinelli caused issues for Liverpool when he shifted centrally and scored in the draw on Sunday.
Arteta highlighted how his pace causes defences problems and he could be used there if Nwaneri or Raheem Sterling come into the attack, in the event that Trossard is not fit enough to be included in the starting line-up.
Transfer Q&A: Should Arsenal go all out for Isak?published at 15:10 13 May
15:10 13 May
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport's football news reporter Alex Howell has been answering your questions on the transfer window.
Guy, Nottingham: As an Arsenal fan, I understand the need for a proper striker, but I'm not sure spending £150m on Alexander Isak is the best use of our money. Do you think we would be getting a Benjamin Sesko or Jonathan David for a cheaper price and then strengthening other positions like left wing or attacking midfield, or splashing the cash on one complete game-changer like Isak?
Alex: That problem is exactly why Arsenal have hired Andrea Berta. There is no doubt that Isak would take Arsenal up a level. He's proven that he is a top-level forward, and his goal record this season shows that again.
Signing him is very difficult and is made even harder if Newcastle get into the Champions League.
Sesko has been monitored for a while, is younger and would fit the Arsenal profile.
I think Arsenal need an attacking midfield player as well as a forward to supplement their attack.
'Arsenal might be down, but they'll never be out'published at 12:14 13 May
12:14 13 May
Laura Kirk-Francis Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
When Luis Diaz scored in the 22nd minute on Sunday to put Liverpool 2-0 up, I confess that I turned the TV off and went for a walk. I'm not proud of it, but it has been an already exhausting week for Arsenal fans, having lost at home to Bournemouth last weekend and exited the Champions League on Wednesday nigh Sometimes it's just too tempting to run away from reality.
It seems that exhaustion is a sentiment shared by both fans and players alike. Despite the Gunners' chaotic and vulnerable first half, there were still plenty of 'what if' moments and missed chances that fans have grown all too familiar with this season.
It was therefore a rather pleasant surprise when I turned the TV back on to see how bad the damage was, to be met with a 2-2 scoreline.
This game was perhaps a perfect summation of Arsenal's season. When it's been bad, it's been rotten. Mikel Arteta's fury with his team's first-half performance was perhaps a reflection of months of frustration, as much as just the 45 minutes prior.
And yet, the Gunners clawed their way back to 2-2 with an excellent second half performance. Whatever Arteta said at half-time clearly worked.
We're at the stage of the season where it's obligatory to declare what we have learnt about our team over the past 10 months. For many Arsenal fans, this has been a rollercoaster: the type that makes you feel quite sick and desperate to get off.
But if there's one thing I have learnt, it's that Arsenal might be down, but they'll never be out.
Transfer Q&A: Is Saka unsettled at Arsenal?published at 12:11 13 May
12:11 13 May
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport's football news reporter Alex Howell has been answering your questions on the transfer window.
Alex, London: How much truth is there to the rumours Bukayo Saka is now unsettled at Arsenal and where do you think he will go? Madrid? City? Maybe even Newcastle?
Alex Howell: I don't think there is any truth to that. Speaking about his future before the Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid he said: "I want to win and I want to win wearing this badge so I think it's pretty clear."
The fans love Saka, and he loves being at Arsenal. Of course top level players want to win but I don't feel there's any chance of him leaving.
'There are quite a lot of strikers out there with big egos'published at 08:39 13 May
08:39 13 May
Media caption,
On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discussed the type of striker that Arsenal may look to bring in this summer.
"Mikel Arteta spent his first 18 months [at Arsenal] getting rid of egos - he got rid of [Mesut] Ozil, he got rid of [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang. He wanted players who would buckle to his system," The Observer's Rory Smith said.
"Quite a lot of strikers out there that have quite big egos. They would be available, but they might be quite tricky to work with.
"Victor Osimhen - I think it would not be an easy deal to do - and he will expect things to be arranged in a certain way for him."
Sam: For the first time in a while, I think we can be happy about getting a draw. The first half was shambolic - Liverpool were bullying us. But in the second half, the decision to move Gabriel Martinelli to the middle from Mikel Arteta proved key and it was a brilliant fightback against the champions. Without Mikel Merino's red card, there might have even been a chance we went on to win it.
Phill: Is this season still going? Really though, after that Paris St-Germain tie where we gave so much, and on top of the rough season we have had with injuries and cards, that first half was very expected against a Liverpool who have been supreme this season. I liked that Mikel changed things up and focused down Liverpool's left-hand side.
Rachel: After a disastrous first half, we managed to salvage something from the game and save face. Arsenal were just heading into anonymity as seems to be usual at this stage of the season. I'm proud of the way the players picked themselves up and dug in. Let's see if we can hang on for second place.
Ali: Seemed a bit flat first half, probably post midweek. But whatever Arteta said at half-time worked. Same issues in terms of directness but he's done a fantastic job this season. We just need a few clinical attackers to partner with Bukayo Saka, and a rejuvenated Martin Odegaard.
Lew: First half was so bad from Arsenal - running around like a bunch of headless chickens. William Saliba hasn't been the same since Gabriel got injured and all the Real Madrid rumours. We are missing players and now we have lost two more with Leandro Trossard pulling up and Merino's red card.
Vince: Trossard seldom disappoints and this game showed once more how valuable and underrated he is. He was everywhere and, perhaps with most of Liverpool's defensive attention trained on Odegaard, Trossard had space to dictate play. He single-handedly pulled us level with his energy and if Merino hadn't been sent off, we could have nicked it towards the end. Pity.
Gossip: Italian giants keen on Kiwiorpublished at 07:22 12 May
07:22 12 May
Arsenal centre-back Jakub Kiwior is on the radar of both Juventus and Inter Milan as the 25-year-old Poland defender weighs up his long-term future. (Football Insider), external
'In the first 25 minutes we could have conceded three or four'published at 19:07 11 May
19:07 11 May
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the 2-2 draw against Liverpool: "I'm very upset. We can draw and talk about reaction but I'm not into reaction, I am in action mode. What we did in the first 25 minutes was nowhere near the level.
"After PSG I accept we were the better team and deserved much more. It was unbelievable that we were not through to the final. But today in the first 25 minutes we could have conceded three or four. After that yes, but then we went down to ten men and still had three or four missing [with injury]. That Is what we have to demand from ourselves."
On his half time words: "That stays in the dressing room. Yes, there was a reaction but only after. If you want to win trophies and be better than anyone, with the standards that are set in this competition and the Champions League, you have to be active not reactive."
On Newcastle next week: "I have full trust in all my players and we have full clarity in what we want to do. It will be a tough game and we want to secure the Champions League and the second spot as well. It is a big opportunity."
On the importance of securing second: "If you cannot be the best, then you have to be the best of the rest. That is very important. Again, today we play with ten men, half of our team injured, and some of them playing when they should not, and still we performed in a way we have done for seven/eight months. That is what we have to demand from ourselves."
Since 15th February, only Bruno Fernandes (15) has been involved in more goals in all competitions among Premier League players than Arsenal's Mikel Merino (11 – 7 goals, 4 assists).
Sutton's predictions: Liverpool v Arsenalpublished at 10:41 11 May
10:41 11 May
Arsenal were really good against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, and I was impressed by how brave they were, but they still went out of the Champions League.
There will be Gunners fans out there who will think they should be winning more trophies than they have managed under Mikel Arteta, who has still not added to the FA Cup he lifted in his first season, 2019-20.
Arsenal are still heading in the right direction but the biggest problem for me has been their recruitment, especially for them to not sign a striker last summer. There are such fine margins between success and failure at the highest level, and you need someone to put away your chances in the biggest games.
They basically admitted that by trying to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in January and if anyone or anything is to blame for another trophyless season, then that's where it lies.
Now Arsenal need to refocus and make sure they don't let second place slip away.
This game obviously is not the title decider that some people may have anticipated earlier in the season, but I still feel both sides will be desperate to win it.
In terms of the game itself, I really don't know what to expect. Liverpool were way below their best against Chelsea last week, but Arne Slot could go strong here and they may feel they have a point to prove against their nearest rivals.
Similarly, Arsenal could be flat after their disappointment in Paris, or they could come out firing. Hopefully that's the case, and both teams will be up for it.
Arsenal also want to secure Saliba's defensive partner Gabriel Magalhaes to a new contract and he also has two years remaining on his deal.
Saliba has been linked with Real Madrid in recent weeks but said in March that his contract situation was not something he was thinking about.
"I'm really happy here," he said. "I've been here for two years and a half as well. There is nothing. I'm happy here and I want to continue here."
At that time Saliba said that there was "no rush" to sign a new deal and that he wanted to win "big things" with Arsenal.
When speaking before Arsenal's game against PSV, he said: "If you leave this club without winning anything, the fans will forget about you. I want to win big things here."
Arsenal's game with Liverpool on Sunday will be the third time the Gunners have faced the Premier League champions in a season with the title already confirmed, previously drawing 1-1 with Manchester United in 2012-13 and beating Liverpool 2-1 in 2019-2020.
The numbers that point to Gyokerespublished at 16:40 9 May
16:40 9 May
Joe Bradshaw BBC Sport Senior Journalist
Image source, Getty Images
On Thursday, our senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel outlined three potential summer targets to plug the hole up front for Arsenal.
Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres, Newcastle's Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig would all come with strong credentials, intriguing skillsets - and high price tags.
But what can this season's data tell us about the trio?
We took a look.
As the above graph shows, on pure numbers, 27-year-old Gyokeres leads the list.
He has played more minutes than the other two across domestic and European competition, but when whittled down to his metrics per 90, he is comfortably the highest performing.
Most shots on target, most chances created for others and highest goal contributions.
No wonder European scouts have been flocking to Sporting fixtures this season.
Arguably he is playing in the weakest league of the three, but he has still cleaned up, scoring 44 goals in 2024-25, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the autumn.
A criticism levelled at Arsenal during the Champions League semi-finals was a lack of ruthlessness - perhaps unfair given Gianluigi Donnarumma's excellence for Paris St-Germain, but nevertheless an issue that has dogged them this season.
In Gyokeres, Arsenal would get one of Europe's most lethal marksmen. Not only has he bagged 44 goals, his shot conversion rate of 28.4% is similar to that of Erling Haaland (29.2%) in his record-breaking 2022-23 season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans need no reminding of Isak's predatory instincts after his exploits against them in the Carabao Cup semi-finals earlier this year.
Since his arrival at St James' Park three seasons ago, he has consistently been among the most clinical in the Premier League.
Only Chris Wood's barely believable 32% conversion rate for Nottingham Forest edges out Isak's 25% from top spot in this year's striker rates.
As for Sesko, his 20.2% conversion rate does not leap off the page, albeit it is better than Kai Havertz has managed in either of his two seasons at Emirates Stadium.
Of the players to score more than five Premier League goals for Arsenal this season, Mikel Merino has the highest conversion rate of 18.8% - 10% lower than Gyokeres.
One season is a small sample size and this is only a tiny hint at the data Arsenal's recruitment team will be poring over in readiness for the summer transfer window.
Whichever direction Arsenal take will cost a huge amount of money - and it feels like they cannot afford to get it wrong.
