SETTABLOID

There is no chance of Mikel Arteta being sacked if Arsenal don’t win a trophy this season, and the new sporting director will be key to the manager moving the Arsenal project forwards.

Arteta only recently extended his contract, and Arsenal are very happy with him. The only change in dynamic to look out for is the new sporting director, and Andrea Berta is currently the leading candidate at the moment, but interim sporting director Jason Ayto, Dan Ashworth, Roberto Olabe and Thiago Scura have also made the shortlist.

When the new sporting director comes in, the first task will be to develop a relationship with Arteta. Edu and Arteta worked so effectively in the market and Arsenal plan for a similar dynamic.

Right now, Arteta is being supported by the highly-rated Ayto. But once there’s a permanent solution, Arsenal can start planning for the summer.

Arteta remains committed to Arsenal. He was never approached by Barcelona when Xavi left, and there’s no danger of him being sacked.

It will very much be on Arteta’s terms if he ever chooses to leave the Emirates, and that’s simply not on the cards right now. Arsenal are invested in Arteta.

Only those in the Arsenal hierarchy will have an idea as to what plans the club will have for the summer transfer window.

The Gunners still have a few months to wait before they are able to strengthen their squad in the transfer market. A host of names have already been linked with moving to the Emirates Stadium, but one player continues to be mentioned on the rumour mill more than most.

Alexander Isak appears to be one of the most in-demand strikers in Europe going into the summer transfer window. It’s not just Arsenal that have been linked with a move for the Newcastle United star. Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have all been mentioned as potential destinations for the Sweden international.

With Newcastle reportedly demanding a fee in excess of £100million to allow Isak to leave the club this summer, Arsenal will certainly have to splash the cash if they want to bring the striker to North London this summer. If that were to happen, though, it would give Mikel Arteta the opportunity to name an exciting line-up.

At present, Arsenal’s forward options have been impacted heavily by injuries. That will change for the start of next season, before you even add Isak into the mix.

Bukayo Saka will take his place on the right wing and will most likely be supported by Gabriel Martinelli on the left. Isak through the middle as the centre forward may give Arteta a selection dilemma when it comes to one player, though.

Mikel Arteta put his players through their paces ahead of Arsenal’s clash against PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch giants will host the Gunners at the Philips Stadion in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday night.

Arsenal will be keen to return to winning ways after a defeat to West Ham and a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest. The North Londoners have struggled to impress recently, though they’ve been without a senior striker.

In the absence of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, who are both currently nursing injuries, Mikel Merino has been operated as a makeshift frontman. While the Eredivisie champions may fancy their chances against a depleted side, Arsenal remain a force to be reckoned with.

So, with that being said, football.london has looked at five things that you may have missed from training before the Gunners jetted off to the Netherlands.

Arsenal players in good spirits

The Arsenal players seemed to be in good spirits at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Monday. Ahead of what is a huge clash in the wider context of the Gunners’ season, Arteta relaxed his squad with some fun warmup drills and team-building games.

Arteta drops team news hint

During one session, Arteta was snapped holding a small piece of paper – which seemed to have a starting lineup on it. It could have either been for a particular drill or maybe even the team for Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the scribbles and highlighter markings are illegible, but it certainly looks to be a formation or setup or some sort.

It’s back to Champions League action for Arsenal tonight as they take on Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their last 16 clash. The Gunners travel to the Netherlands for the 8pm kick-off.

The return leg will then take place in a week at the Emirates Stadium. In between the two matches, Arsenal face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier League in a game that they must win if they hold any hopes of closing the gap on Liverpool.

PSV currently sit in second place in the Eredivisie, eight points behind leaders Ajax. They come into the game in poor form, having lost to Go Ahead Eagles in both the Dutch Cup semi-final and in the league over the weekend.

Arsenal are also looking to get back to winning ways after following the 1-0 loss against West Ham with a 0-0 draw vs Nottingham Forest. A win in the Champions League would provide a big boost to Mikel Arteta’s side ahead of the end of the season run-in.

While we wait for the game, here is a look at a couple of the stories doing the rounds over the last 24 hours.

Former Spurs man aims dig

PSV Eindhoven’s Ivan Perisic has appeared to aim a veiled dig at Arsenal, saying that the club have ‘lacked’ something to win. Arsenal will come up against former Spurs man Perisic and his PSV team in the first leg tonight (8pm kick-off).

Arsenal and other Premier League clubs will reportedly be able to activate a release clause in the contract of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko from this summer onwards.

The 21-year-old Slovenia international has scored 35 goals in 76 games since signing from Red Bull Salzburg in 2023. Such form has resulted in Sesko being linked with a move to the Premier League and, more specifically, Arsenal, who were touted with a move for the forward last summer. However, Sesko extended his stay in Germany until 2029 by signing a new deal with Leipzig last June.

But now Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claims that Sesko has “formally fixed” a release clause in his contract, starting this summer. Writing on X, Plettenberg said: “Until now, there had only been talk of a verbal agreement, but Benjamin Sesko has a formally fixed release clause in his contract until 2029.

“This clause can be activated starting this summer. It is tied to various parameters – such as games played, goals, and assists – and increases regularly.

Mikel Arteta was in a seemingly determined mood ahead of his Arsenal side’s clash against PSV in the Champions League. Having stepped off his flight from England less than an hour ago and straight into the press conference, he faced a variety of questions.

PSV naturally were a focus in addition to the weight of this Champions League competition and whether with the Premier League now very unlikely, he felt this would somehow focus the team.

Josh Kroenke also visited the training ground before the team flew to the Netherlands. The manager spoke of his happiness to have his club executive there in what is a very important month for the club.

Jurrien Timber has just been in here and said the match tomorrow is a chance for you to change the narrative of the last couple of months following the injury. Do you feel the same way?

Well, it’s a game that really brings a different energy. It’s a competition that puts everybody on their toes. We’ve done a lot already this season here and now is the moment to start to make another strong step in the direction that we want. So, very excited for the game.

Mikel Arteta said he was happy to have Arsenal co-chaiman Josh Kroenke visit the training ground ahead of the midweek fixture.

Arteta addressed the media ahead of Arsenal’s clash with PSV in the UEFA Champions League. The competition marks what is effectively the club’s last hopes of securing silverware as the Premier League title dream has fizzled away.

The pressure has mounted week by week on the manager as it feels like a new player is lost in the same time frame. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are all missing and will be still for some time and in the case of the two centre-forwards, for the rest of the season.

However, Arsenal were granted a rare weekend off from Premier League and domestic cup action to prepare for the game. With no new team news to discuss, Arteta gave an insight into what the side had been up to.

“Well, because of the schedule that we had, give some players, most of the players, some time off as well after the last game that we had and then lead the preparation that we normally do,” he said. “It’s true that we have more time, so we focus a lot of things on us as well and not having to do just game plans and a very short training session related to what’s going to happen in the game. So that was very useful.”

Josh Kroenke was spotted at the Arsenal training ground too and Arteta was asked about his arrival. It comes at a pivotal moment with discussions and reports circulating that Andrea Berta is a key candidate for the sporting director role.