Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed “some exits are planned” as the summer transfer window draws to a close.
The Gunners have spent the most money of any Premier League side this summer, and Arteta admits his squad may be reduced before the window closes on August 31.
“I don’t know what will happen [in the transfer window]. A few days to go. Some exits are planned,” Arteta said.
“We know what we will face on the weekend [away to Manchester City] will be a different game.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s hat-trick helped Arsenal to a welcome first win of the season as they beat a young West Bromwich Albion side to reach the Carabao Cup third round.
Aubameyang marked his first start of the season with two first-half tap-ins and a curling finish after the break.
He also acrobatically set up Nicolas Pepe for the third, with Bukayo Saka slotting in the Gunners’ fourth.
Alexandre Lacazette came off the bench to fire in his side’s sixth.
The win could have been even bigger too, with Martin Odegaard hitting the outside of the post from a tight angle and Pepe striking the bar with a chip.
With the Gabon striker among the goals, Pepe and Saka opening their own accounts for the season and Lacazette adding to the competition up front, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta can be more optimistic about facing Manchester City in the Premier League this coming weekend.
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has been given until October to save his job, according to the UK Telegraph.
The Gunners have started the 2021/2022 season miserably losing their first two matches.
Arteta’s men lost 2-0 to newly-promoted Brentford on the opening day, before another 2-0 defeat at the Emirates against Chelsea on Sunday.
Although Arteta has claimed silverware in successive seasons since his arrival in 2019, with FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs, he is now under pressure.
The Spaniard was heckled by furious fans after the Chelsea game, with the supporters asking him to resign.
However, the board will remain patient with the 38-year-old until after the international break and give him a chance to turn things around.
Arsenal’s dismal start to the season is their worst in over 100 years.
A 2-0 defeat at Brentford over a week ago was followed by the same result on Sunday – at home – to Chelsea.
Even at this very early stage of the season, the Premier League table doesn’t make pleasant reading for Arsenal supporters with their side second bottom, on zero points and a goal difference of -4.
Such is their early-season struggles, the 2021/22 campaign is the first time in their 118-year history that they have failed to score and failed to win either of their opening two games.
Having lost two Premier League games on the spin, manager Mikel Arteta has now suffered 20 Premier League defeats during his Arsenal reign.
Unfortunately for the Spaniard, he has reached that unfortunate milestone after just 60 games.
In comparison, legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger didn’t reach 20 losses until his 116th match in charge.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has told fans to judge him in three years’ time.
Pessimistic Arsenal supporters reckon Arteta will do well to last another three months in the job but the Premier League’s youngest manager is not in any mood to chuck in the towel.
Arteta insists: “I totally agree that Arsenal should not accept mediocrity.
“I know that people have the intention to bury us and try to criticise us but it is nothing new and I am not interested in that.
“I am not pointing at anyone, just expressing obvious feelings about some very disrespectful things that have been said.
“We need to put things into perspective because it’s one day of Premier League football under incredible circumstances and we have the whole season ahead of us.
“We knew the external consequences of that defeat at Brentford but any negativity that’s going to surround this club will be outside of these walls.
“I just want constructive people around me but if you don’t feel pressure in football then I think you’ve picked the wrong profession.
“We all have a responsibility to do our best but unfortunately the circumstances are uncontrollable so you have to adapt and do the best you can.
“You know you are going to be judged on results, but it doesn’t mean that you are doing a good or bad job because you win or lose football matches. I have had bigger challenges during my 18 months here and a lot of things have occurred during that time.
“Maybe now is not the right time to look at everything because a lot of people are not interested in analysing what has happened.
“But in two or three years’ time, when we look back with perspective, we will say ‘what happened makes a lot of sense’.”
Arteta remains convinced that the club’s long-term future is bright.
He says: We have a lot of positive new energy that is coming up.
“We needed to address a lot of issues that we had with the balance of our squad and define a model that can be sustainable in the short, medium and long-term.
“We have brought in a number of young players who are at different stages of their development but who sit perfectly with what we are trying to do.
“It shows you the project we are building.
“Some already have experience in the Premier League and some are coming from abroad but with a great education as well.
“And I think you can see the level they already have but still the margin for improvement they will have at this club.
“Martin Odegaard is still a really young man but he has huge experience in different clubs and he has a unique talent.
“We needed more options, alternatives, creativity and players that can be role models for this club so I am delighted we have Martin on a permanent deal.
“We lost creative players and we cannot put all of that on to the shoulders of Emile Smith Rowe.
“Emile has never played 50 games at this level and we can’t rely on one player, we need to protect him.
“Martin and Emile showed last season that they can play perfectly together and we need others who are able to do that.”
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has seen his relationship with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang become strained, even as the board’s faith in him begins to waver, according to Eurosport.
The Gunners lost their first Premier League game of the season 2-0 to Brentford last Friday.
Aubameyang was unavailable for the game along with strike partner Alexandre Lacazette.
Their absence was attributed to illness, but there have been suggestions that something else is at play.
It is understood Aubameyang is free to leave if a suitable offer was received, as his relationship with Arteta has soured.
During a pre-season in which the striker failed to net a single goal, there has been noticeable ‘friction’ between the manager and the club’s top earner which has created a problem.
Despite the state of flux Arsenal are currently in and their disappointing start to the season, Arsenal’s board will still give Arteta some time to establish his new-look side.
However, he now needs to show clear signs of progress or risk losing his job before the end of the year.
If Arteta has failed to achieve certain criteria like being in contention for a return to Europe and playing good football by December, then the Gunners’ hierarchy will consider giving him the axe.
That gives the former Everton midfielder 13 games to lay the foundations for a good season.
Granit Xhaka admitted it felt good to be back at ‘home’ after making his Arsenal return against Chelsea at the Emirates on Monday.
The Swiss midfielder, handed an extended break after Euro 2020, scored in the 2-1 loss.
Mikel Arteta was asked about Xhaka’s future after the game, with Roma reportedly interested in acquiring his services.
The Spaniard was adamant that Arsenal were going to keep Xhaka for the 2021/22 campaign.
“Granit is going to be staying with us,” Arteta said. “He’s a player that we value so much he’s a key member of our squad.
“He wanted to play today and I think it’s very clear coming from his side that he wants to be here.”
Taking to Instagram after the defeat, Xhaka appeared to echo Arteta’s words by referring to the Emirates as his ‘home’.
“It felt really good to be home,” wrote Xhaka.
Premier League club Arsenal have transfer-listed six senior players.
The Daily Express says Arsenal have transfer listed six first team stars as they look to generate more transfer funds.
Hector Bellerin is arguably the most significant player to be put up for sale, with Inter Milan allegedly waiting in the wings to end the Spaniard’s ten year stay at the Emirates.
It is also believed Arsenal technical director Edu is trying to flog Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ future with Mikel Arteta’s side also appears to be finite.
Eddie Nketiah also looks to be available to the highest bidder with the 22-year-old entering the final 12 months of his contract. His former academy colleague Reiss Nelson is allegedly wanted by former Arsenal captain and new Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira, who is leading a footballing revolution of his own at Selhurst Park.
Meanwhile, Willian’s move to Arsenal is a deal which simply hasn’t worked for all parties, though the Brazilian could be hard to shift on his mammoth £200,000-per-week wages.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is on the shortlist of Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
After a disappointing end to the season, Barca coach Ronald Koeman is under pressure to keep hold of his job. He is set to meet with Laporta tomorrow to discuss his situation.
Mundo Deportivo says Laporta is expected to show Koeman the door and begin the search for a replacement.
Al Sadd coach Xavi is favourite, though not alone with Arteta also being considered.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez is another being discussed inside Laporta’s board room as he casts a wide net.
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are using the pain of their Europa League semi-final to Villarreal as motivation.
The Gunners have won straight Premier League matches since falling to Unai Emery’s side.
“After, you have to win the football matches to prove that you have reacted as a team,” Arteta said of the reaction to Villarreal after Wednesday’s win over Crystal Palace.
“But the reaction, and the pain in that dressing room, it still hurts. And I think that is what we are using in the final games to show everybody, and show ourselves, that we could have done better but we are not going to give up.
“And we want to challenge to the last day to give ourselves the chance to be back in Europe, and they have the opportunity again to go.”