Here are your Arsenal evening headlines for Friday, July 31.
Arsenal have chance to sign Coutinho for just £9m
Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Philippe Coutinho for just £9million, according to the Independent.
Coutinho, 28, joined Barcelona in January in 2018 from Liverpool but has struggled to establish himself at the Camp Nou.
He spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, although the German side were unwilling to sanction a permanent transfer.
Barca are now keen to move Coutinho on and the report claims both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the chance to sign him.
The Gunners deal is slightly different, however, with Barca proposing a swap deal involving Matteo Guendouzi. The Frenchman’s future at the club is unclear with a rift forming between the player and Mikel Arteta.
Arteta outlines FA Cup’s importance in Aubameyang future
Arsenal boss Arteta isn’t concerned that the FA Cup final could be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s last game for the club.
Aubameyang is in the final year of his contract and is currently in negotiations with the club about extending his stay at the Emirates.
The former Borussia Dortmund striker has been linked with a host of elite sides, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, after scoring 27 goals in all competitions this season.
Speaking ahead of the FA Cup final against Chelsea, Arteta spoke confidently about the club’s chances of keeping Aubameyang.
“No, I don’t have that fear,” he said. Although the Arsenal boss admitted that lifting the trophy could help to convince the captain to stay at the club.
“What I said is it’s a package at the end. You need a lot of ingredients on the table to persuade a player of his level to be at this football club.
"Don’t forget that he still has a contract here with us. We wanted to keep him and do it in a more long-term way but at the moment he’s with us and I think he should be really proud of where he is as well.”
He added: "Winning the trophy helps to really believe and feel, ‘Wow, I want to experience more of these moments.’
"If you are wearing the armband and you are able to lift that cup, it’s such a moment - this is going to help for sure.”
Aubameyang sends FA Cup final warning to Chelsea
Aubameyang is keen to be the next Arsenal captain to lift the FA Cup, stating: “It’s our competition.”
Aubameyang, 31, has been in fine form for the Gunners this season and is ready to cap it off with a trophy.
No club has won the FA Cup more times than Arsenal and they will be optimistic of securing a 14th FA Cup against Chelsea on Saturday.
“I can’t wait for the final - my first in this famous competition,” Aubameyang wrote in his captain’s notes ahead of the final Premier League game of the season against Watford.
“I know it’s tough for supporters that they can’t be there, but we understand how much it means to them, particularly when we play local rivals too.
“As players we know what the FA Cup represents to this club. We could see the amazing banners of all our wins at the semi-final - it’s our competition.”
