Kylian Mbappe has addressed a request for him to join Arsenal as he prepares to announce his next club.

The striker has been linked with moves to several top clubs across Europe, as he has yet to finalise his decision on his next destination.

It’s been communicated to PSG that he will not be extending his stay, sparking interest from elite European clubs vying for the signature of the 2018 World Cup winner.

Real Madrid has long been considered a likely destination for Mbappe, with the club having tracked him since the early stages of his career.

While Arsenal would undoubtedly benefit from his addition, it appears unlikely that Mbappe will consider a move to the Emirates at the end of this season.

Cesc Fabregas is confident that Arsenal will be too strong for Sheffield United in the upcoming Premier League match on Monday. Mikel Arteta’s side has displayed impressive form in 2024, maintaining an unbeaten streak in league games since the start of the year.

The Gunners’ outstanding run positions them well ahead of the game against Sheffield United, and the Blades are expected to face challenges in containing Arsenal’s performance. With Liverpool continuing their formidable run, Arsenal finds itself in a situation where maintaining a winning streak is crucial.

While Arsenal faces several tougher matches before the end of the season, securing maximum points in the upcoming match against Sheffield is imperative for Arteta’s side.

Fabregas said, as quoted by the BBC:

“I see Arsenal at the moment as too strong. I see them confident.

Kai Havertz is a player who significantly divides opinion as he endeavours to establish himself at Arsenal. His unexpected and somewhat unpopular signing in the last summer transfer window raised eyebrows among Arsenal fans, as the move for a player who hadn’t enjoyed a particularly spectacular spell at Chelsea was not anticipated.

Despite the initial scepticism, Mikel Arteta was confident in his choice, believing that Havertz would prove to be a valuable asset for the team. The German player faced challenges in the early stages of his Arsenal tenure, with fans often questioning his impact in each game.

However, in recent weeks, the former Bayer Leverkusen youngster has shown remarkable improvement and has become one of the key players at the Emirates. He has contributed significantly, scoring important goals that have played a crucial role in winning over the fans.

Havertz’s outstanding performances seem to be garnering attention not just from supporters but also from his fellow professionals.

While speaking to Goal.com on TikTok, Manchester United star Diogo Dalot was asked the player he thought had the best football IQ and his answer was simply: “Havertz.”

In red-hot form, Viktor Gyökeres is becoming increasingly hard for Arsenal to overlook, potentially emerging as their next goal-scoring machine. The striker has been in exceptional form this season, registering an impressive 31 goals for Sporting Club across all competitions. Despite joining Sporting Club from Coventry only in the summer, he has quickly become their leading scorer.

Initially considered an alternative option if Arsenal fails to secure Victor Osimhen or Ivan Toney, Gyokeres’ outstanding performances have elevated him to a crucial target on Arsenal’s shortlist. Mikel Arteta’s team is now viewed as a serious contender for his signature. However, reports from Team Talk suggest that securing Gyokeres might pose a challenge for Arsenal, as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is also interested in acquiring him.

With PSG in need of a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who is set to depart at the end of the season, they are actively seeking a quality addition to their squad. The French club has expressed interest in both Gyokeres and Osimhen, setting the stage for a potential duel with Arsenal to strengthen their respective teams.

Just Arsenal Opinion

Gyokeres has been fantastic, and most Arsenal fans would be delighted to see him in our colours next season. 

Mikel Arteta has selected his dream five-a-side team from his former teammates, including a controversial name.

Arteta, now establishing a successful managerial career, enjoyed a distinguished playing career with stints at Barcelona, PSG, Rangers, Everton, and Arsenal before retiring.

Choosing a five-man team from his former teammates is undoubtedly challenging, but Arteta has included some intriguing names.

‘Ronaldinho has to be there,’ said Arteta, as quoted by Metro Sport. 

‘I never saw anything like it, he was 19 or 20 years old at that time and I never seen anybody do the the kind of things he could do with the ball at that pace.

Arsenal recently released its financial report for the 2022/2023 season, and it was positive.

Despite not participating in the Champions League last term, the Gunners’ financial outlook remained favourable.

This is encouraging news because they have the potential to generate more revenue by reaching the knockout stage of the Champions League this term.

They stand a chance to increase their earnings further if they defeat FC Porto and progress to the quarterfinals of the competition.

Financial analyst Kieran Maguire has shared insights into what Arsenal can anticipate in terms of their finances at the end of this season.

Arsenal was recently linked with a surprising move for Mykhailo Mudryk, with reports suggesting the Gunners maintained interest in the Ukrainian player. Initially considered favourites to sign him from his former club, Chelsea ultimately secured his services.

However, since joining Chelsea, Mudryk has struggled in West London, leading to speculation that he might be better off playing for Arsenal. Reports even suggested that Arsenal could pursue him if given a second chance to add him to their squad, potentially rescuing him from his challenging time at Chelsea.

Contrary to these rumours, journalist Dean Jones has responded by stating that Arsenal no longer has any interest in Mudryk. Additionally, he mentioned that the Ukrainian player is focused on contributing to his current club and helping them overcome their challenges.

He tweeted:

“Arsenal have been linked with a new move for Mudryk in the summer – but there is no plan for that.

Ben White concurs with Mikel Arteta’s assessment that Arsenal needs to enhance their game to succeed in the Champions League.

In their recent UCL match against FC Porto, the Gunners suffered a defeat, with Porto appearing more experienced and adept at the tactical aspects of the game.

The Portuguese side demonstrated a mastery of the “dark arts” and showcased a greater streetwise approach compared to Arteta’s team.

This Champions League campaign marks Arsenal’s return to the competition for the first time since 2017, and they haven’t reached the quarterfinals in a decade.

Porto, being a frequent qualifier for the competition and often advancing to the latter stages, displayed a tactical prowess that got under Arsenal’s skin, leading to their defeat.

Mikel Arteta is still in his first stint as a senior manager, with Arsenal entrusting him to lead their team while he was serving as an assistant coach at Manchester City.

While Arteta was performing admirably as Pep Guardiola’s assistant, Manchester City attempted to retain him at the end of 2019. Despite their efforts, the Spanish coach decided to depart.

Taking a chance, Arteta accepted the job at Arsenal, marking a significant risk for the club as they appointed a relatively inexperienced manager.

The former midfielder has demonstrated his coaching prowess, and he recently reflected on his early days at the club, which were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arteta disclosed an unlikely source of inspiration for him during the challenging period of the pandemic.

Former Chelsea and France star, Frank Leboeuf, has bestowed the title of “world-class player” upon William Saliba. The defender has been in outstanding form since making his debut for the Gunners after spending several seasons out on loan.

Initially, when Mikel Arteta assumed the role of Arsenal’s manager, he did not seem overly impressed with the Frenchman, leading to Saliba being sent out on loan at least twice. However, this decision has proven to be remarkable, as Saliba returned to London as a vastly improved player.

Having represented France at the World Cup and played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s return to the Champions League, Saliba has established himself as one of the key contributors to the team’s success. His consistent performances have earned him a spot as one of the first names on the team sheet at the Emirates, solidifying his status as a major asset for Arsenal.

Leboeuf said, as quoted by Express Sports:

“I think William Saliba is already one of the world’s best centre-backs, if not the best. When he got injured last season Arsenal lost the title, not much more needs to be said about him than that. He has made some mistakes this season, but who doesn’t?

Ben White is lucky to have worked with Marcelo Bielsa and Mikel Arteta., two great managers who have played an important role in his career.

He worked with Bielsa when he played for Leeds United and has been under Arteta since he moved to Arsenal.

White came to the Emirates as a centre-back, but the outstanding partnership between William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes means he has been forced to play as a right-back.

He is doing well in that role at Arsenal and has been one of the finest players in his position in the league, even though he is not as technical as most fullbacks are.

The defender was asked about the most demanding of both managers he has worked with and said to The Guardian:

Martin Odegaard showcased outstanding form as Arsenal secured victory against Burnley this afternoon, earning praise from Ian Wright and numerous Arsenal supporters.

Odegaard has consistently been a stellar contributor to the Gunners’ success this season, exemplified by his role as the club’s captain.

In the match against Burnley, the Norwegian maestro once again controlled the midfield, posing significant challenges for Arsenal’s opponents throughout the game.

Burnley struggled to contain most Arsenal players, with Odegaard particularly standing out for his tactical acumen and his ability to provide essential service to his teammates, enabling them to continue posing a threat to their opponents.

Impressed by Odegaard’s performance, Wright couldn’t contain his admiration and took to Twitter to express his thoughts, stating: “Odegaard has been so good,” accompanied by five clapping hands emojis

Arsenal has emerged as one of the most in-form clubs in Europe this year, and the statistics behind their stunning run have been unveiled.

Under Mikel Arteta’s guidance, Arsenal secured a resounding 5-0 victory against Burnley, marking another instance where they scored at least five goals in consecutive games. This second half of the season stands in stark contrast to the previous campaign, where they experienced a loss of momentum at this stage.

The impressive win against Burnley has propelled Arsenal to score an astounding 21 times in their last five matches. This goal-scoring spree is noteworthy for a team that faced struggles in front of the net in preceding seasons.

Journalist James Benge, closely monitoring Arsenal’s remarkable form tweeted after the Burnley victory:

“In their last five games, Arsenal have given up shots worth 1.7 expected goals.

Mikel Arteta has expressed his delight in working with his current group of players, highlighting their exceptional commitment and ability to secure victories consistently.

In the latter part of the previous season, Arsenal struggled, losing momentum in the title race, and their form suffered a significant dip, ultimately leading to them missing out on the title.

This season, the team has learned from those mistakes, demonstrating improvement at a crucial stage rather than seeing a decline in their performance levels. The players’ commitment has notably eased Arteta’s responsibilities, and he is impressed by their conduct in games, acknowledging how they make his role as their coach more manageable.

After the game, he was asked about Arsenal’s stunning start to 2024 and said to the BBC:

“Individually and collectively, the purpose they are playing with, the form the players are in, even at 3-0 4-0 they want more.

Bukayo Saka has notched a brace in each of his last two matches for Arsenal, and the forward expresses his hope to achieve a hat-trick soon. As a pivotal player for the Gunners, Saka has showcased significant development in becoming a more clinical player this season.

His two-goal performance in the victory against West Ham was followed by another brace against Burnley today. Saka’s growing reliability is evident, highlighting his potential to play a crucial role in Arsenal’s pursuit of success in the league or Champions League this term.

After the victory, the attacker told the Arsenal Media:

“I’m really pleased. 

“I’m enjoying my football, but obviously I need to keep focused. But yeah, of course I’m happy to score two, two weeks in a row and hopefully the third one will come soon.

Following Arsenal’s 5-0 victory against Burnley this afternoon, Kai Havertz disclosed that the team puts in significant effort to maintain their form. Despite challenges from Liverpool and Manchester City, Arsenal continues to destroy opponents, with Burnley being the latest victim.

Watching Arsenal play has become a source of joy, as the team consistently displays a stylish performance in all their league matches since the beginning of the year. While the fans relish their victories, Havertz emphasised that achieving such results requires a substantial amount of hard work behind the scenes.

The German told Premier League Productions:

“I think we are in a good moment. Won all of the games so far this year. It feels good but behind all of that was hard work. There are many more hard games to come, the next one’s on Wednesday in another competition. 

“We have to continue that hard work. We wanted to start the game very well, we lacked that a bit at West Ham. The early goal was very important for us. We scored another couple of good goals and we’re happy with the win.”

Chris Sutton was impressed with Arsenal’s win against Burnley this evening and praised them for keeping the Premier League title open.

Liverpool had defeated Brentford earlier in the day to move five points clear of Mikel Arteta’s men, and the Gunners needed to win to remain close to the top.

Mikel Arteta’s men have been fantastic in 2024 and were understandably confident ahead of the game.

They made another quick start by scoring inside the first four minutes to show their intent, and Burnley never recovered from going behind that early.

Arsenal showed yet again that they are a team that everyone should respect as they went on to score four more goals, and Sutton said on BBC live:

Arsenal secured a 5-0 win against Burnley this afternoon, staying two points behind Liverpool and keeping their title hopes alive. The Gunners had scored nine goals in their previous two games before the match against the Clarets and started the game with full intent. They took the lead just four minutes into the match, marking yet another fast start from the lads, who cannot be stopped at the moment.

Burnley continued to struggle and received more yellow cards than clear-cut chances before Arsenal doubled their lead through a Bukayo Saka penalty. It was the perfect first half for Mikel Arteta’s men, who went into the break having to do very little defending against Burnley.

Two minutes after the restart, starboy Saka extended Arsenal’s lead with a delicious strike into the top corner. Burnley’s main attacking threat was Datro Fofana, who posed problems for Gabriel and William Saliba on some occasions with his physicality and speed, but Burnley did not look like the hosts.

The Clarets soon conceded a fourth from a well-worked Arsenal move finished off by Leandro Trossard. Despite substituting Saka, Trossard, and Ben White, Arsenal continued to dominate, and Kai Havertz put the icing on the cake with a fifth for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Arsenal won yet another game on the road in emphatic fashion, making Liverpool and Manchester City aware that this will be a very tight title race.

Arsenal embarks on a journey to Burnley with the aim of securing three crucial points to sustain their title challenge. Mikel Arteta has unveiled the lineup he believes can clinch the victory.

𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎

Unchanged from last time out

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!! pic.twitter.com/6oo3HkXYdx

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 17, 2024

The divisive nature of football by Ben Dungate

More than ever, I am noticing the divisive nature of football and the effect it seems to have on ordinary people. The historical violence football has incited will long live in the memories of those that witnessed it first hand, or grew up during the era where barely a weekend went by where the news wasn’t filled with scenes of police battling with ‘fans’ in the street, with tear gas and Molotov cocktails passing in mid-air, both sides embroiled in a war neither partly really understood.

In today’s society, thankfully, outbreaks of this nature are very rare, at least in the West of Europe. However, despite the streets no longer being littered with the fall-out of such events, the seedy underbelly of fanatical football support still lives, only now it is mostly hidden away online in the comments sections of football forums and fan sites, where no one is safe even from their own fans. Dare to cast aspersions on a particular favourite and the metaphorical firebombs are instantly launched from all sides. Because in today’s ultra tolerant society, intolerance reigns supreme.

A differing opinion is met with scorn and sarcasm, and occasionally with a well-thought out erudite counter argument; but only very occasionally. Fans cannot and will not stand for a view that doesn’t align with their own and will die on a hill for their chosen one.

But it doesn’t need to be this way. What is wrong with considering how an opinion was arrived at before declaring it to the world? How about pausing before writing that reply – to really assess what you’re writing and why you’re writing it. By all means engage in polite debate with your fellow supporters, because when conducted appropriately and in the right manner fan forums are tremendous places where some truly insightful people share their deepest thoughts on the team, the players, and the game in general.