SETTABLOID

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.

Josh Kroenke has been seen at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground this morning as the Gunners gear up for a crucial period.

Mikel Arteta’s side had a week away from competitive action as the FA Cup reached the quarter-final stage. Arsenal were left to stew over their midweek draw with Nottingham Forest, which saw them slip 13 points off the pace in the Premier League title race.

PSV Eindhoven stands in their way of Champions League progression, with the first leg set to take place at the Phillips Stadion on Tuesday.

The Arsenal director’s arrival in the capital amid an important period for the club.

As things stand, Thomas Partey’s contract at Arsenal is set to expire in the summer alongside fellow midfielder Jorginho.

Jorginho looks almost certain to leave Arsenal, however, it’s a different case with Partey and the midfielder’s contract situation still appears to be unresolved.

Partey has played 39 games under Mikel Arteta this season and his injury record has significantly improved in comparison to his last two or three campaigns at Arsenal.

Amid a series of fitness issues for the Gunners this season, Partey has been readily available, fulfilling roles at right-back and in his preferred defensive midfield role.

Of course, Arsenal want to sign Martin Zubimendi in the summer which suggests that Arteta is envisioning a major midfield revamp.

But with Arsenal pushing to sign Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, perhaps Partey might still have a future at the club.

Arsenal signed Partey from Berta’s old club Atletico Madrid in 2020, a deal that the sporting director negotiated with the Gunners.

Although, given that Arsenal paid Partey’s release clause, Berta didn’t have much say in the Ghana international leaving.

Arsenal nerves will be jangling ahead of their Champions League last 16 first leg with PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday evening.

The Gunners travel to the Netherlands low on confidence and in underwhelming form following their defeat to West Ham United and draw at Nottingham Forest over the past ten days. Dropped points have seen them fall well behind in the Premier League title race, with European glory arguably their only chance to secure a much-needed piece of silverware under Mikel Arteta.

Significant misfortune with forward injuries leaves Arsenal in a frustrating position heading into the final few months of the campaign. They have blanked in their last two matches and look unlikely to score too many until at least one member of their injury-stricken attacking unit returns to the fold.

With fitness issues in mind, here is how Arsenal could line up midweek.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs PSV (4-3-3)

Arsenal need some magic from their young star Ethan Nwaneri / David Rogers/GettyImages

GK: David Raya – Arsenal’s goalkeeper has had little to do in recent weeks despite his side’s slump, with the Gunners still boasting a well-organised and rigid defensive shape.

RB: Jurrien Timber – Ben White’s recent return from injury will allow Timber some well-earned rest in the coming weeks but the Englishman is unlikely to leap back into the lineup in Eindhoven.

CB: William Saliba – Saliba will be tasked with keeping the fairly immobile but powerful Luuk de Jong under wraps. The Dutch striker has scored 15 goals and provided nine assists this term already.

CB: Gabriel – An excellent intervention helped Arsenal secure their point at the City Ground last Wednesday and the Brazilian may have to make some more last-ditch tackles on Tuesday against one of Europe’s most relentless attacking teams.

LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly – Lewis-Skelly was suspended last time out against Forest but the youngster could return to the lineup in favour of Riccardo Calafiori against PSV. He offers an attacking threat from left-back that Arsenal may require given their injury woes.

CM: Martin Odegaard – Arsenal desperately need some Odegaard magic in Eindhoven as they aim to secure a positive result to take back to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg. The Norwegian has failed to score or assist in his last four.

CM: Thomas Partey – Jorginho replaced Partey against Forest but the Ghanaian remains the first-choice holding midfielder in Arsenal’s three-man engine room.

CM: Declan Rice – Arsenal could use some attacking influence from Rice, too, with the England international having improved his form since the turn of the year after a mediocre start to the season.

RW: Ethan Nwaneri – The talented teenager looks set to torment opposition defences every single time he gets on the ball but those around him are not always on the same wavelength.

ST: Mikel Merino – Merino’s impressive brace from the bench against Leicester City looks more like a one-off with each passing match in which he operates as a number nine. He puts his body about well enough but is clearly out of his depth.

LW: Leandro Trossard – The Belgian has often stepped up with sizeable goals during his Arsenal career, including a crucial strike against Porto in last year’s Champions League round of 16.

Arsenal return to action on Tuesday as they face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. The Gunners travel to the Netherlands for the first leg of their round of 16 clash, with the second leg pencilled in for March 12 at Emirates Stadium.

With Mikel Arteta’s side trailing Liverpool by 13 points in the Premier League, the Champions League is perhaps Arsenal’s last chance of silverware this season. Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid await in the quarter-finals but PSV will be a tough test for the north Londoners, with Peter Bosz’s side currently second in the Eredivisie.

Arsenal appear set to lose five first-team squad members this summer when their agreements with the club end.

Raheem Sterling will be the first to depart, with the player’s loan deal from Chelsea concluding when this season ends. Neto is another who will return to his parent club, Bournemouth, before the summer transfer window begins.

Kieran Tierney is another due to leave, with Celtic confirming they have already reached a pre-contract agreement to sign their former defender when his contract ends at the end of June. Jorginho and Thomas Partey are also in the final few months of their current deals, but the latter could remain at the club, reportedly.

Arsenal reportedly want to agree a new one-year contract with Partey, who is said to be open to agreeing an extension and keen to stay in north London. According to Caught Offside , the Gunners have reportedly held talks with the player’s agents.

Partey, though, is said to be in no rush to decide his future due to interest from Barcelona and Juventus. That is despite Mikel Arteta reputedly being ready to keep the Ghana international for

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been encouraged to make a summer move for Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, who is highly sought after as contract negotiations with his current club appear to have hit a snag.

The German midfielder has made his mark in the Bundesliga since joining Bayern back in 2015, boasting an impressive collection of silverware including eight Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokals, and the prestigious 2020 Champions League trophy. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season and renewal talks stalling, Arsenal have displayed interest in acquiring the 30-year-old talent.

Former Tottenham Hotspur player Michael Dawson has highlighted Kimmich as an ideal successor to Thomas Partey and Jorginho in a discussion with Sky Sports. “I think he’s a very, very good player. He’s done it for a long time in Germany at the age of 30. His contract is coming to an end and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be renewed,” said Dawson.

“The reason Arsenal are probably looking at this is because you go, ‘Is Jorginho going to go? Is Thomas Partey going to go?’, so you need to replace them. And if he’s a free agent then you get the experience, the quality that he possesses and it’s a no-brainer really on that front.

“Kimmich, I can see why they would go for him, of course. The experience and what he could bring if those two players [Jorginho and Partey] do leave Arsenal. You’re bringing in someone who is tried and trusted… no-brainer.”

Partey and Jorginho are set to leave the Gunners this summer, with their deals expiring at the end of June. football.london understands progress has been made in a potential deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who could form somewhat of a dream midfield for Mikel Arteta, should both he and Kimmich join the club.