Arsenal are preparing to face crisis-ridden Manchester United as they bid to keep their Premier League title push on track.
The Gunners play after Manchester City this weekend, so are likely to lie second by the time their match against United rolls around on Sunday afternoon. City face Fulham in Saturday’s early kick-off and, despite lying a point behind, still have the advantage due to their game in hand.
Whatever happens between now and the final whistle at the end of the season on May 19, Arsenal will be able to reflect on a successful campaign. And while Mikel Arteta and his players are focused on the final two games, behind the scenes thoughts are already turning to the summer transfer window. Arteta and sporting director Edu have plenty to consider in the off-season and the latest headlines give a flavour of things to come.
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Isak not for sale
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has insisted that Alexander Isak has not been affected by transfer speculation and that the club are planning to keep him this summer. Isak has been linked with Arsenal following a brilliant campaign in which he's scored 24 goals.
Wenger breaks silence on Arsenal visit as he doubles down on title prediction
Newcastle have admitted they may have to sell a star player due to financial fair play constraints and Isak and Bruno Guimaraes are the prime candidates. “I'm planning for them to be here. All my planning is with them in the squad,” Howe said on Friday in his press conference.
“We don't want to sell our best players. That is hugely important for us, it will knock us back some considerable distance because we would have to start again.”
Alexander Isak is a target for Arsenal this summer (Getty Images)Tierney expecting Arsenal exit
Kieran Tierney has admitted there is "every chance" he has already played his final game for Arsenal. The Scotland international has spent the season on loan at Real Sociedad, and although he still has two years left on his Arsenal contract, he is realistic about his future.
“There is every chance,” he told The Athletic when asked if he could have kicked his last ball for Arsenal already. “Look at the squad depth in that position now. They have [Oleksandr] Zinchenko, [Jurrien] Timber, [Takehiro] Tomiyasu, [Jakub] Kiwior. Four players can play there. So if I go back and it’s the same as before then I’m not silly, I know the chances are I’ll be leaving.
“But you never know in football. You get the rare case with [William] Saliba, where he came back after a couple of good seasons (out on loan) but you don’t see it too often with someone who has played for four years, left, and then come back to play again. Stranger things have happened. I could go back and there is a place for me. So I’m prepared for both.”
Kieran Tierney is likely to leave Arsenal permanently this summer (Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)Man Utd without key player
Lisandro Martinez is back in training with United, but won’t feature against Arsenal this weekend after Erik ten Hag intervened. Martinez has been beset with injuries this season and is desperate to return to action, having played just 11 times all campaign.
But Ten Hag doesn’t want to risk rushing him back and could therefore field another makeshift backline. "Yesterday, Licha came to me and wanted to play on Sunday against Arsenal," Ten Hag said on Friday. "But he's not ready yet, he needs a little bit more time to go through the process, but he is so desperate.”
Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay are ready to return after missing the 4-0 loss away to Crystal Palace, but Mason Mount has picked up another injury and won’t feature.
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