Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been faced with questions on what would be the role of Gabon International Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when his team resume hostilities against Tottenham in the North London derby.

This question has become necessary with Eddie Nketiah facing a ban after being handed a red card in Leicester City draw game following his tackle on James Justin.

It is no longer news that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not been playing as a central striker despite his goals tally at the club and there could be a need to have a formidable force when Arsenal meet Tottenham in their next game.

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Mike Arteta has therefore given the answer “NO” as he claims to have a number of options for the central striker role and will put then into consideration.

Alexander Lacazette has not been in the best of form for the past few games as he has not been consistent with goal scoring. This is the reason why it was asked if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be given the nod to lead in the attack ahead of anyone.

Arteta noted that there is a need to keep up the firepower of the team without losing its balance and that will strongly inform the choice of players for the game.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Arsenal’s leading goal scorer this season having scored 23 so far, with 20 coming in the English Premier League.

Hardly will a day go by without speculations of Arsenal parting ways with France international Alexandre Lacazette ahead of the summer transfer window.

L’Equipe are the latest to report that the former Lyon striker is being linked with a move to Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan with all clubs establishing contact with the North London outfit.

Some reports claim that the Gunners will favour a move for the striker to Spanish La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid as a bait to land their major target Thomas Partey.

The Gunners are keen on Partey to add depth to their midfield and create a cover for the shaky defence.

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Howbeit, this comes as a temptation to the Gunners who are obviously not interested in Laazette’s exit.

The France international has two years left to run out his contract with Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he wants to have more of the player, adding that there will be talks of a contract extension at the end of the season.

But the fact that Arsenal will land some financial benefits, as well as sanction other target deals, could tempt the club to let go of Lacazette, making him the sacrificial lamb.

Alexandre Laazette was on target in the Gunners last EPL game and there are hopes that he has a lot to score at the Emirates Stadium.

The situation for Arsenal midfielder, Matteo Guendouzi seems to be getting worst with reports by The Athletic claiming that he has been banished from first-team training for the last two weeks.

It is claimed by David Ornstein that the France International has been working alone with one of the club’s fitness coach, as instructed by manager Mikel Arteta.

Matter Guendouzi is being accused of attitude issues and that has been messy since his post-match confrontation with compatriot Neal Maupay during the 2-1 Premier League defeat at Brighton on June 20.

Efforts to calm the 21-year-old has yet to yield any result and the situation irritates Arteta who is not ready to have such attitude in his team.

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Matter Guendouzi joined the Gunners with a great prospect but that seems to be dying. He has not featured in Arsenal’s last four games.

Reports even claimed that Matteo Guendouzi has told the club hierarchy of his decision to leave Arsenal at the end of the season.

It is feared that the development with Guendouzi and his soar relationship with Mikel Arteta could be marking his end at the Emirates Stadium.

With reports that he is wanted at the La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid, Arsenal could add him in the deal that will bring in Ghana international Thomas Partey to the Emirates Stadium.

French Ligue 1 outfit Monaco seems to be resigning to fate over keeping their star player Wissam Ben Yedder who is also top on Man United’s wanted list.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to prove a point next season and that begins with equipping his team with the 29-year-old striker as a major target in the summer window.

Wissam Ben Yedder, who turns 30 in August is believed to be experienced and the quality needed at the Old Trafford.

The Red Devils can boast of a handful of strikers including Marcus Rashford, Antonio Martial and Mason Greenwood, adding to the presence of Nigerian international Odion Ighalo but that has not stopped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from making strikers a priority.

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However, Man United will have to battle for the signature of the Monaco player as a number of clubs are in his chase.

Meanwhile, it seems the player will be available for a fee of £36 million as the Ligue 1 outfit are reported to be out in search for his replacement.

Monaco have identified former Arsenal
striker Donyell Malen as a target ahead of the summer window.

The 21-year-old has found the net 28 times in 71 appearances since joining PSV Eindhoven in 2017, making him fit for the challenge at Monaco.

Tottenham manager has blasted Arsenal for a post he claims to be mocking his side.

The North London outfit suffered a defeat against Sheffield United and Arsenal posted on their Facebook page, highlights of their FA Cup win at Bramall Lane last weekend, with the caption: “It’s not easy beating Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.”

The Portuguese boss feels offended with Arsenal’s post and claims their North London rivals do not have any success to celebrate, hence have no moral right to mock his team for suffering a defeat.

Mourinho told Sky Sports that if the Gunners were top of the league or fighting for top four, they wouldn’t enjoy the problems of others.

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He noted that Arsenal are not in a better position than his team in any way but stressed that he is not sure the person behind the post is the club manager, Mikel Arteta or any of the players but one of the club media team.

The former Man United boss, therefore, issued a threat ahead of their North London derby clash on July 12, stating that “we will be waiting for them”

Tottenham will be playing their game against Everton later on Monday but there is no doubt that Mourinho already has the game against Arsenal in mind.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is keen to land Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin in the coming summer transfer window, according to reports.

The flying winger has been in top form for Newcastle since the restart of the season and the highlight of his performance is the hat-trick he scored against Bournemouth.

The France international is reportedly ready for a move with Newcastle ready to let him leave for the right price. Allan Saint-Maximin joined the club for a fee of £20 million and they will be hoping to make some profit from his sale.

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With speculations that Arsenal will be doing away with Alexandre Lacazette in the summer window, Allan Saint-Maximin could be a good replacement and he could as well join the Arteta team without Lacazette’s exit.

This is because manager Mikel Arteta made it very clear that he will now make more use of the former Lyon striker in the coming games, noting that he has got a lot to offer his team.

The Spanish boss, therefore, stated that he will be waiting patiently for the end of the season to have contract extension negotiation with the former Lyon striker as the focus, for now, is to secure a ticket for European football ahead of the coming season.

Against all odds, Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta still has his head up high on the bid to secure a Champions League qualification for next season.

About two weeks ago, the Gunners were not sure of qualification to the Europa League and the Champions League respectively but that seems to be turning around following their victory against Wolverhampton.

With Arsenal hosting Leicester City on Tuesday, a win will further brighten their chances and Mikel Arteta is urging his players to do more to win the game, stressing that there is no room for error in the game.

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Five games are left to the end of the season, Arteta believes Champions League football is still possible but they must win all games to stand the chance.

Leicester City with 58 points will face Arsenal who boasts of 49 points, 8 behind fourth-placed Chelsea and 6 behind fifth-placed Man United, a win against the Foxes will mean a lot to the North London outfit and have an effect on the EPL table.

Mikel Arteta stated that preparation for his team is key and they must remain focused and committed in all of their remaining games.

No doubt, a Champions League qualification for Arsenal will mean a lot to Mikel Arteta as the manager in charge.

There are indications that Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette will not be leaving the club anytime soon against claims that he is one of the players that could be swapped for newcomers.

The France international is listed alongside Lucas Torriera and Matteo Guendouzi as players who could be swapped for Atletico Madrid player Thomas Partey.

It is claimed that the Gunners are keen on the Atletico Madrid player and are ready to swap any of the above-mentioned players in the deal.

The chances of this happening are now very slim with manager Mikel Arteta claiming that Lacazette has enough to offer the club.

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According to him, he has under-used the France international in the past and will now consider him for more roles in the coming games.

Lacazette was on Arsenal’ score sheet when they defeated Wolverhampton by 2-0 at the weekend.

Arteta has now confirmed that Lacazette needs to have more opportunities in the future which means he is highly needed at the club and will not be sold in this summer window.

Arteta is hoping to keep his best legs after stating that the club is not a selling one.

The North London outfit are more focused on securing a Europa League ticket ahead of next season.