SETTABLOID

Edu Gaspar is set to leave Arsenal after resigning from his post as sporting director on Monday.

The Brazilian has been at the Emirates Stadium since 2019, but is now set to depart in order to join Evangelos Marinakis’ multi-club system. The Greek billionaire is the owner of Nottingham Forest as well as Olympiacos and Rio Ave in Portugal.

Since 2019, Edu has done a huge job in overhauling the Arsenal squad, getting rid of huge players like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Brazilian has also been associated with the incomings of a number of high profile players, such as Kai Havertz and Declan Rice.

Gabriel Martinelli: Edu had not technically joined Arsenal when Gabriel Martinelli arrived in north London. The former Invincible had his finger prints over the deal though, and for just £7million it has turned out be an absolute steal.

Martin Odegaard: Initially brought in on loan, Martin Odegaard didn’t quite set the world alight in his first half season at Arsenal. The signs were there though, and the Norwegian was brought in on a permanent for just £30million. He has gone on to be one of the greatest signings in Arsenal’s history and is a world class talent. Arguably the best deal of Edu’s tenure.

Arsenal unexpectedly dropped three points against Newcastle United in the Premier League. Their latest defeat saw them drop down to the fifth position on the points table. The table-toppers Liverpool are already seven points ahead of them.

The Gunners are now focusing on their next battle which is scheduled against Inter Milan in the Champions League. It will be a crucial game for them for the prestigious competition as well as the confidence before the upcoming high-voltage games.

4-4-2 Arsenal Predicted Lineup Vs Inter Milan

Defence

As usual, David Raya will be seen operating between the sticks. No doubt he will have a busy night this midweek. Right-back Thomas Partey hasn’t been convincing enough and this opens room for Ben White’s case in the starting XI.

Gabrie Magalhaes played the previous game despite knee concerns. It means he is ready to feature and partner up with William Saliba at the heart of the defence. Jurrien Timber retains his spot as the left-back in the side.

Midfield

Martin Odegaard is in the final stage of his recovery but might not start the game. He is expected to get some minutes in the later half of the game.

Mikel Arteta would like to continue with Mikel Merino and Declan Rice in the middle of the park.

Attack

Bukayo Saka remains an undisputed pick for the right wing with Gabriel Martinelli operating on the other side of the pitch.

Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz also mark their presence in the attacking line. However, both need to be more clinical in the final third.

Paris Saint Germain have reportedly ‘offered’ Arsenal £80million for the services of centre-back William Saliba, which is an offer describe as ‘hard to refuse’.

The Gunners have seen Saliba rise into an important position at the club since he joined in 2019. Though it took until 2022 for him to actually play for the Gunners, he has done so very consistently across three seasons now.

Beyond a game he was sent off in and his subsequent suspension, the Frenchman has not missed a single minute in either the Premier League or Champions League this term.

But his position at the club is now under threat, with Fichajes reporting that PSG have ‘offered’ €95million (£80/$103.5m) for Saliba’s services.

It is believed his performances have caught the eye not only of the French giants, but other big European clubs, too.

The report suggests the offer will be ‘hard to refuse’ for Arsenal, but that they are looking to keep Saliba for a long time.

Arsenal are optimistic about having captain Martin Odegaard back in the lineup for their crucial Champions League showdown against Inter Milan on Wednesday. The playmaker has been sidelined since late August after sustaining a significant ankle ligament injury while on international duty with Norway, following a 1-1 draw with Brighton.

Odegaard has recently resumed light training and is reportedly nearing the final stages of his recovery, a welcome boost for Arsenal as they search for creativity in midfield.

Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle came too early for Odegaard’s return, but he could make his comeback in Milan. This fixture marks the first of two key matches for Arsenal this week, as they are also set to face Chelsea on Sunday in a tough Premier League clash.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Magalhaes, despite concerns over a knee issue, paired with William Saliba in the defence against Newcastle. Mikel Arteta’s defensive injury worries appear to be easing, though Riccardo Calafiori is expected to remain sidelined, and Takehiro Tomiyasu continues his recovery from a knee injury.

Bukayo Saka was thrilled to dispatch a crucial penalty as England beat Switzerland on spot-kicks in the EURO 2024 quarter-final.

Saka was also the Three Lions’ hero during normal time, scoring a superb equaliser in a 1-1 draw to take the game to extra time.

Having also played in a multitude of positions, it was a stellar evening for the Arsenal star.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is reportedly pushing to make his comeback from an ankle injury in Wednesday’s Champions League league phase encounter with Inter Milan at San Siro.

The Norway international has been sidelined for almost two months with a severe sprain and was believed to have had a wafer-thin chance of coming back against Newcastle United, but he missed out again as the Gunners slumped to a 1-0 defeat on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta will no doubt be pressed for an update on Odegaard in his pre-game press conference, although the Spaniard is likely to keep his cards close to his chest, and he will definitely be missing Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Riccardo Calafiori (knee) in midweek.

With Odegaard absent at St James’ Park, Arteta placed his faith in Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard up front, but all four struggled to impact proceedings.

The former three should all hold their places, but Trossard is certainly at risk of the axe as Arteta rejigs his midfield, potentially moving Thomas Partey back to his more familiar number six position if Ben White is fit to start at right-back.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Merino, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

It was another concerning performance from the Gunners who have lost points in their last three Premier League matches.

Their poor run started with a defeat against Bournemouth and continued at home against Liverpool where they could not beat Arne Slot’s side after taking the lead twice.

Their latest defeat against Newcastle means they have only won one point out of the last nine available in the league.

William Saliba spoke to the media after the defeat against the Magpies and claimed that the Gunners need to win against Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek in order to regain their confidence.

Arsenal travel away to Italy to face Inter Milan in the Champions League and after that, they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar is set to leave the club, according to reports.

The former Gunners midfielder has been responsible for the club’s fine work in the transfer market in recent years. His work alongside Mikel Arteta has led to him being widely thought of as one of the leading sporting directors in football.

Edu returned to the club in 2019 after playing 127 games under Arsene Wenger. His work in the transfer window has helped Arsenal recruit well and sign key players like Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

The Brazilian has become a staple for all of the Gunners’ signings in recent years. In club videos, he always the first to meet new players outside the Sobha Training Centre before posing for pictures with Arteta.

His appointment in 2019 came because of his understanding of the club, having been part of the Invincibles team under Wenger. Then director of football Raul Sanllehi said: “We’re very excited that Edu is joining the team. He has great experience and technical football knowledge and most importantly is a true Arsenal man.

Former Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has announced the successful completion of his UEFA A Licence, marking a significant step toward his coaching ambitions after departing from Arsenal earlier this year. The Egyptian joined Arsenal in 2016 from Swiss club Basel for £5 million, making 161 appearances and helping the club secure an FA Cup title in 2017.

Elneny’s final season with Arsenal was marred by a knee injury that limited him to just eight appearances across all competitions in the 2022/23 campaign. Arsenal narrowly missed out on the Premier League title, finishing second to Manchester City.

Despite his transfer to the UAE, the 32-year-old midfielder has remained committed to advancing his coaching qualifications. On Sunday, he proudly announced his UEFA A Licence completion on X, stating, “I am grateful for the opportunity to develop my coaching skills and knowledge, and I’m very excited for the journey ahead as I continue to grow and make a positive impact in the world of football!”

The Gunners have got lucky this season already in that, as Neville says, Man City and Liverpool are not quite the forces they have been in the past.

City have already lost and drawn twice this season, while Liverpool let Nottingham Forest beat them at home to show they can be got at.

Still, Arsenal are now in a position where it’s two defeats and three draws and those results already look costly.

Essentially, Arsenal cannot afford to drop a single point between now and the new year. Realistically, Liverpool and City will keep on winning games and if Arsenal lose another, it will be game over.