Here are the Arsenal evening headlines on Monday, December 28.
Gunners handed Puig boost
Arsenal are interested in signing Riqui Puig next month and now Barcelona are willing to let the youngster leave the club, according to The Athletic.
The Gunners have sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old recently, and could look at him as a cheaper alternative to the likes of Houssem Aouar and Julian Brandt - who they have also been linked with.
Puig hasn't been selected to start a single match under Ronald Koeman this season, with the Barca boss not impressed by the midfielder's work-rate in training, the report states.
Koeman has now made the Spain Under-21 international available in the January transfer window, and Mikel Arteta could be keen to add him to his ranks.
Wright's verdict on Chelsea win
Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes his old club were "magnificent" in their 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day.
The Gunners ended their run of seven straight Premier League games without a victory over Christmas and Wright was left really impressed as the ever-growing pressure temporarily lifted over Arteta.
The former Arsenal striker told Optus Sport: “They were magnificent. You would have struggled to find Arsenal fans who would have been confident going into this game.
"The changes, the intensity, everything we said they didn’t have, was evident.
"They rode their luck a bit but I think they deserved the luck they got because of the way they played – with a lot more intensity and forward progression and in the end, we got the result and I’m delighted."
Read the full story here.
Gunners identify Bellerin replacement
Barcelona are reportedly keen on signing Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin, and now the Gunners have identified his potential replacement.
According to the Mirror, Arteta has already earmarked his side's replacement for Bellerin if he does indeed depart from the Emirates Stadium.
The Spaniard has been linked with a move to Barca, and Tariq Lamptey has now been identified as a potential replacement.
Lamptey, who signed for Brighton & Hove Albion from Chelsea in January, has been in fine form down on the south coast this season.
The ex-Blues full-back still has two and a half years left on his contract at the Amex Stadium, but Arsenal could look to make a move if Bellerin does move back to Spain in the near future, according to recent reports.
