Here are your Arsenal evening headlines for Friday, June 12.
Arteta rejects joke Aubameyang move
On a video call with Prince William, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the Duke of Cambridge shared a joke about joining Aston Villa.
The call, which included Aubameyang, Prince William, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker and head coach Mikel Arteta, was to unveil changing the name of the FA Cup final to the Heads Up FA Cup Final in support of the Heads Up mental health campaign after Emirates, who also sponsor Arsenal, relinquished the rights.
“I just wanted to say Pierre that obviously I hope that you're at Aston Villa next year,” Prince William joked with the Arsenal striker, who has a year left on his contract and has been linked with a move away from the club in the summer.
However, while Bellerin, Mertesacker, and Aubameyang laughed at the joke, Arteta, with a smile, simply held up his finger and wagged it, suggesting that Aubameyang would not be allowed to go anywhere.
Bellerin stalling on new deal
Hector Bellerin is said to be stalling on a new deal as Arsenal chiefs sweat over his future following his return to fitness earlier in the year.
After overcoming an ACL tear he suffered last January, Bellerin is set to play a key role in the final stretch of the season, starting on Wednesday against Manchester City.
However, with Arsenal sliding away from the top six, per Express Sport, he is waiting to make a decision on a new contract.
The report states that Inter Milan and Juventus are “sniffing around” and that the club is keen to offer him a new deal as a result. Bellerin, though, wants to see what progress the team makes as they look to reclaim their place in the top six of the Premier League before committing his future to the club.
Bellerin, who is the longest-serving player at the club and current vice-captain, signed a six-and-a-half-year deal in 2016 and still has three years remaining on his contract.
But Arsenal are eager to lock down their stars after seeing several big-name players leave for cheap in recent years.
They are again facing that disastrous scenario with Aubameyang this summer and do not want a repeat with Bellerin.
Arsenal yet to make concrete move for Jonathan David
After it was reported by Goal that Arteta is keen on a striker should either Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette leave in the summer, the Telegraph now reports that the Gunners have yet to make a concrete approach for Gent attacker, Jonathan David, who was named as a potential replacement for either of the pair.
The now-20-year-old Canadian enjoyed a prolific season in the Belgian league, scoring 18 goals and adding seven assists in 2,095 minutes.
This followed a 12-goal, six-assist season when he was only 18.
Sam Dean of the Telegraph, however, claims that Arsenal are aware of David and have watched him, but that there is no official or concrete movement on a potential signing at this early stage.
With the season set to resume this week, clubs have largely put transfers on the backburner.
Nevertheless, with Aubameyang and Lacazette potentially departing in the summer, Arsenal could be busy in the striker department this summer, and David represents the high-potential young talent that the club has sought in recent years.
