Arsenal are preparing for their trip to Craven Cottage as Mikel Arteta’s side look to extend their lead in the Premier League. The Gunners have amassed an impressive 16 points from their last seven games.
The international break is over, the English top flight is back in action, and so are the league leaders. Arsenal are scheduled to face Fulham on Saturday night and head into the weekend’s game with just a one-point lead. They will be looking to build on this lead, but will have to face the Cottage without captain Martin Odegaard, who is expected to be out for an extended period due to injury. Express Football has a glimpse of the news released by Emirates ahead of the game, including Viktor Gokeres’ ultimatum and a big-money transfer target said to be too good for the Gunners’ rivals.
Mikel Arteta’s Victor Gokeres ultimatum
Arsenal have been coveting a No. 9 for quite some time this summer, and Arteta’s wish came true with the £64m arrival of Swedish star Gökeres. But his life in north London was not smooth sailing.
He has scored three goals in 10 appearances for Arsenal, which is not terrible by any means, but these numbers are overshadowed by the fact that he averaged 35 goals in two seasons in Portugal.
Arteta remains committed to a striker, but admitted he had to make a tough choice when joining the club. “I told him before the first meeting that the nine I want is nine, and even if he doesn’t score in six or eight games, he can cope with it,” the Spanish coach said.
“If not, you have to go somewhere else because the pressure is off and the expectations are there. So if you’re going to wear the number nine at Arsenal, you have to be able to say, ‘Okay, six games, don’t score.’
Antoine Semenyo said he was too good for Spurs
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has started the season in great form. He has scored six goals in just seven league games, a record bettered only by Erling Haaland. The Cherries currently sit in fourth place.
Such impressive performances have naturally sparked transfer rumors, with Arsenal emerging as the likely suitors. Gabby Agbonlahor believes on talkSPORT that Semenyo, who is valued at £75 million, is not only an instant starter for the Gunners but also has too much talent for rivals Tottenham.
“I look at the league table and name a team where Semenyo doesn’t start on the left. Name one,” Agbongrahore said. “If[Eberechi]Eze plays in the number 10 position, he will start at Arsenal.
“(He is) better than (Gabriel) Martinelli and (Leandro) Trossard. He is better than (Cody) Gakpo. He will start at Spurs. But will Spurs be big enough for him? Because he wants to play in the Champions League. He should be able to do better than Spurs.”
Gabriel also praises Max Dorman
Brazilian centre-half Gabriel, who has just completed international duty, was asked about the most skilled player in Arsenal’s squad. Names like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli may come to mind, but Gabriel had other ideas.
He named Odegaard and Eze, but then told Sky Sports: “I think Max (Daumann) as well. This guy is unbelievable! I’ve never seen a player like him on the pitch.”
Gabriel isn’t the only one impressed with the young talent. New signing Cristian Mosquera recently said: “I don’t want to compare, but his style and the way he plays is similar to Lamine Yamal.”
“His movements are Ramin-like. I couldn’t believe it when they told me he was 15 years old. He’s a really good player and I think he’s going to be world class.”
