Here are the Arsenal evening headlines for Friday August 28.
Arsenal target Houssem Aouar’s response to transfer links
Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar has attracted the attention of plenty of clubs in recent years, with his performances in this season’s Champions League only adding to the interest.
Arsenal are one of the clubs mentioned in connection with the French under-21 international, and his answer, when quizzed about a potential Ligue 1 exit, is unlikely to see the talk die down.
In an interview with L’Equipe, as translated by Get Football News France, Aouar was asked whether leaving Lyon without having a chance to say goodbye to the fans would be difficult.
“I haven't left yet. So I haven't asked this question,” the midfielder said, before reiterating that he was still currently a Lyon player.
While attempting to remain coy throughout, he did admit “that one is very tough” when quizzed about what he wants to do next, before returning to the script and turning his attention to ensuring his club continue their positive start to the season.
No doubt there will be some Arsenal fans encouraged by the vagueness of Aouar’s answers, but it remains to be seen whether he does end up leaving Stade de Lyon before transfer deadline day.
Arteta expects Arsenal business to be done before October 6
This season’s transfer deadline day will be later than usual, occurring several weeks into the new Premier League season, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta doesn’t expect things to go down to the wire for his team.
The Gunners have already added free agent Willian to their ranks, as well as wrapping up permanent deals for Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares following loan spells, while the arrival of Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes is understood to be imminent.
"I’m confident we’re going to do everything we can together to achieve the target we had [for] before October 6," Arteta said ahead of this weekend’s Community Shield.
"If we are not able to do that it’s because we couldn’t reach that level or somebody beat us with our planning. It’s very clear what we want to do, we are aiming for that and hopefully we can achieve it or get really close to achieving it."
Arsenal have been linked with a number of central midfield targets as they look for a permanent partner for Granit Xhaka. A permanent move for former loanee Dani Ceballos has been mooted, as has a swoop for Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey.
Former Gunners target reportedly desperate to leave Crystal Palace
Wilfried Zaha has been on Arsenal’s radar for a number of years, with the Gunners reportedly keen on the Crystal Palace man last summer before eventually moving for his compatriot Nicolas Pepe.
The winger has been a key man at Selhurst Park since rejoining from Manchester United in 2015, but may now be allowed to leave for the right price following Palace’s move for QPR playmaker Ebere Eze.
According to the Guardian, the Ivorian is desperate to move on in the current transfer window, but is prepared to start the season as a Palace player and move closer to the October transfer deadline.
“If he feels he just does not want to be with us any more, that would be sad,” Eagles boss Roy Hodgson said in July, and there has been reported interest from Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain over the summer.
Zaha, who turns 28 later this year, has 30 goals and 20 assists for Palace across the last four Premier League seasons.
