Arsenal will be eager to pick up from where they left off when face Fulham after the international break. The Gunners will host the Cottagers at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening as they both look to climb the Premier League.
Before the interval, Arsenal enjoyed a 1-0 win over Chelsea, with Mikel Merino securing three important points in the race for the title. While Liverpool have established a comfortable lead over the North Londoners with nine games to go, they've shown signs of weakness.
The Reds have lost each of their last two games, crashing out of the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain and losing to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final. So, with that being said, football.london has rounded up the latest Arsenal news and transfer gossip.
Saka provides injury update
Bukayo Saka has announced his return from injury on social media. The 23-year-old winger suffered a hamstring injury during Arsenal's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace back in December.
Bukayo Saka announces his return from injury on social media
Bukayo Saka announced his return from injury on social media (Image: @bukayosaka87 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHtV1v8o5dJ/)
Saka underwent surgery a few days later, and he's been absent ever since. After three months on the sidelines, the England international has finally returned to first-team training at London Colney.
football.london says: "This is HUGE for Arsenal. There's no need to rush him back into the starting lineup for the Fulham or Everton clashes, so long as he gets minutes off the bench. If he's ready to face Real Madrid... wow!"
Arsenal target compared to Neymar and Mbappe
Speaking on Dutch television channel Ziggo Sport during Eintracht Frankfurt's clash against Ajax earlier this month, Wesley Sneijder heaped praise on Hugo Etikete, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal recently. The former Real Madrid and Inter Milan midfielder said: "I’ll tell you, I’ve seen a lot of this boy.
"Now, I may say something really crazy, but I’ll say it anyway: I think he is a mix between Neymar and Mbappe. I sincerely mean that. He has that grace from Neymar but also the movements of Mbappe. Suddenly accelerating – that’s something Mbappé also has. And he is only 22 years old. There is really a lot of potential in this boy."
football.london says: "That's the ultimate compliment! While I'd be intrigued to see how Hugo Etikete gets on Arsenal, having been impressed with what I've seen of him so far, I fear Eintracht Frankfurt will run away laughing to the bank. The Bundesliga outfit have made MILLIONS from selling strikers over the years – yet neither of which have really warranted their price tag after leaving."
Zubimendi to Real Madrid transfer truth explained
In a column for The Athletic, David Ornstein provided an update on Martin Zubimendi and whether Real Madrid could join Arsenal in the race for his signature this summer. He said: "Without wanting to discredit the reporting of others, I personally haven’t heard this.
"Arsenal are expecting Zubimendi to join in the summer. I don’t know if that means it is completely done but for some time now they have been working on the basis that he will be coming in.
"A huge amount of work went into getting them to that point – while Edu was still in position as sporting director and subsequently when Jason Ayto took over on an interim basis.
"Andrea Berta will be starting soon as Edu’s permanent successor, so we will hopefully learn as bit more on that and other areas in due course."
football.london says: "It sounds like Arsenal are leading the race for Martin Zubimendi. He'd be a great signing for the Gunners – especially if they can sign him for about £60m or so!"
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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