Making it three ’n’ easy
Arsenal boss vows to be fair with misfits
Maitland-niles
ARSENAL want to secure the future of three players as they look to tie down Pierre-emerick Aubameyang before the start of the season.
Aubameyang has agreed a new three-year £250,000-a-week deal in principle, with the club hoping to announce it, which would be a huge boost for Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners boss also wants to fend off Wolves’ interest in Ainsley Maitland-niles after the midfielder celebrated his 23rd birthday with his first senior England call-up.
Maitland-niles has three years left on his deal. He is not one of the club’s top earners but if he stays then he could also be in line for a new contract.
They are also keen to keep keeper Emiliano Martinez after Arteta picked him ahead of Bernd Leno for the Community Shield.
That was a huge statement of faith from Arteta in Martinez who has made it clear that he wants to be No.1 but faces a battle with Leno for the starting jersey.
Aston Villa are among the clubs interested but Arteta does not want to sell Martinez or Maitlandniles and is hoping to raise cash from other sales to help carry on funding his summer transfer plans.
They are close to completing a £27m deal for Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes while they want a midfielder with Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey in their sights and they have held talks over another loan deal for Dani Ceballos.
Rob Holding is set to leave on loan, with Newcastle keen, while Matteo Guendouzi is up for sale after falling out of favour last season.
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MIKEL ARTETA vowed to be honest with his misfits as he prepares to wheel and deal.
Arteta named a team full of players with uncertain futures for Saturday’s Community Shield and they stunned Liverpool with victory.
But some of them could be gone before the transfer window closes on October 5, despite humbling the champions.
Man of the match Ainsley Maitland-niles is wanted by ambitious Wolves and defender Rob Holding is on the verge of a loan move to Newcastle.
Forgotten man Mo Elneny, who spent last season on loan at Besiktas, is available to the highest bidder.
And goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez threatened to quit if he doesn’t keep his No.1 spot.
That was just the starting line-up. Lucas Torreira didn’t make the squad amid talk of a return to Italy with Torino or Fiorentina. And
ARSENAL win 5-4 on pens
Alexandre Lacazette, who is still in quarantine, didn’t either as the club listens to offers.
At least one thing’s certain – star man Pierre-emerick Aubameyang scores big goals in big games.
He struck twice in Arsenal’s FA Cup final win over Chelsea, scored a belting opener here, and then hit the winning spot-kick in the shoot-out. His future, the most unsettling thing hanging over the club for months, will shortly be resolved when he signs a new contract.
But Arteta admits it’s an uncertain time for everyone else as the club tries to raise money by shifting players from a bloated squad.
He said: “It’s another challenge. The Premier League is trying to accommodate the transfer window in the best possible way.
“We have to try to adapt. It’s not ideal. It creates a lot of uncertainty in the club and in the players’ minds about the future. “But we try to be fair and honest with everybody, and do our business in the right way.”