Arsenal news LIVE updates: All the latest from the Emirates
Friday January 19
Alexis Sanchez farewell wish
06:00: Former Arsenal star Ray Parlour can’t see Alexis Sanchez pulling on an Arsenal shirt again, but if he does, he wants to see one thing.
The 29-year-old is set to become the Premier League’s best paid player on wages worth £500,000-a-week before tax when he eventually completes his move to Manchester United.
However, Parlour would love to see Sanchez play for Arsenal one last time just to see the reaction of the Gunners supporters.
“I can’t see him playing at the weekend,” Parlour told Sky Sports’ The Debate.
“I’d like to see the reaction of the crowd as well knowing that he is nearly signing for United with an Arsenal shirt on.
Sanchez revelation
05:30: Manchester United chose to pursue Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez after the Red Devils’ 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in December, according to reports.
Sanchez is closing in on a move to Manchester United with the Arsenal star expected to seal a move to Old Trafford in the next 24 hours.
The Chile international will move to the Red Devils despite for months being keen to link up with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
For United, it will represent a significant boost, particularly given fans’ disappointment at their 2-1 defeat to City on home soil last month.
And the Manchester Evening News say it was that crushing setback that led United to chase a deal for Alexis Sanchez.
Olivier Giroud claim
05:00: Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud’s agent has been coy about a potential move to Borussia Dortmund for his client.
Arsenal are hoping to tie up a deal for wantaway Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang supposedly already agreeing a three-and-half-year contract.
It is also said Dortmund have approached the Gunners over Giroud, but supposedly it has no bearings on Aubameyang’s switch.
And Guardian journalist Ed Aarons quoted Giroud’s agent, Michael Manuello, who was pressed about a possible move to Germany for his client.
He said: “Today it is just rumours but tomorrow it could become a reality. Maybe.”
Arsene Wenger jibe
04:30: Arsene Wenger has conceded Alexis Sanchez’s impending move from Arsenal to Manchester United isn’t as painful as when Robin van Persie left.
With the Chilean leaving, Henrikh Mkhityaryan is expected to come the other way as part of a swap deal.
And Wenger has admitted he was more sorry about when Van Persie departed.
“I would say that our fans today know that Sanchez will not extend his contract, and they have accepted that idea,” Wenger said.
“And the fact that it will not be one-way traffic, it will be other-way traffic as well [with Mkhitaryan], so that makes the whole thing a bit smoother maybe, a bit less disappointing.
“We lose a player yes, but we could gain another player of top level as well.
“When it was with Van Persie it was a similar case, in the fact that he had only one year to go.”