Gunners defender nearing EXIT, Mikel Arteta on Barcelona links, Sergi Roberto boost
Marquinhos on the move
Arsenal ace Marquinhos is close to a return to Brazil ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline day.
According to the Evening Standard, the 20-year-old is expected to leave the Emirates after two loan stints to Norwich and Nantes.
Fluminense are described as the frontrunners to land the winger but Corinthians are also keeping tabs.
The Brazilian transfer window does not close until March and talks are said to be ‘accelerating’ for the Brazil Under-23 international.
Takehiro Tomiyasu absence extended
Arsenal will continue to be without Takehiro Tomiyasu due to the Asian Cup.
Tomiyasu helped Japan reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
The versatile defender started at centre-back during a 3-1 victory over Bahrain and will now face the winner of Iran vs Syria.
The quarter-final tie will take place on Saturday.
Callum Wilson boost
Arsenal could make a late swoop for Newcastle star Callum Wilson before the January transfer window slams shut on Thursday.
According to The Evening Standard, the Magpies could be forced to sell Wilson for a bargain £18million.
Newcastle insist that the player is going nowhere, which is the same position they had on Kieran Trippier.
So, it’s not easy, but if they receive an important proposal because of Financial Fair Play, that could be a different situation.
Wilson could be open to the move.
Fabrizio Romano
Sousa joins Aston Villa
Arsenal academy graduate Lino Sousa has joined Aston Villa.
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Villa agreed a deal to sign Sousa on a permanent move!
The full-back is expected to complete his medical in the next few hours.
Rangers, Galatasaray and Juventus were also keen on the 19-year-old but he opted for the Villans.
Silvestre on Osimhen
Ex-Arsenal player Mikael Silvestre doesn’t believe Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen would be an upgrade compared to Gabriel Jesus.
Silvestre told bettingexpert.com:
Osimhen, also a top player. Maybe a little bit more pragmatic in front of goal than Gabriel Jesus. I don’t think he’d necessarily be an upgrade.
He’s a different type of player [than Jesus]. Osimhen doesn’t drift as wide as Jesus.
You always want your No9 to score as many goals as possible but he’s [Jesus] contributing to Arsenal’s attack in different ways.
His movement, dragging defenders out of position and he’s making a lot of runs behind, stretching the block. He’s a key player for Arsenal’s success.
Mikael Silvestre
Oh no Wo
Arsenal fans are worried on-loan goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has “lost the plot” after a calamitous mistake in the FA Cup.
Okonkwo is spending this season on loan at Wrexham as Ben Foster’s replacement at the League Two club.
And, after a brief return to the Emirates for jaw surgery in December, he started in between the sticks for the Welsh outfit during the 4-1 loss in the FA Cup clash at Blackburn.
However, the goalkeeper showed his inexperience with a nightmare moment in the first half at Ewood Park.
Wrexham had taken a surprise early lead before Sam Szmodics’ equaliser just after the half-hour mark.
And then just two minutes later, Rovers were gifted the lead by Okonkwo as Sam Gallagher did well to flick the ball down the left channel and was in a race with a Wrexham defender to get to the ball first.
But the 22-year-old rushed far out of his box and was beaten to the ball by Gallagher who simply rolled an easy finish past the helpless goalkeeper and into the unguarded net.
