Here are the Arsenal evening headlines on Thursday, September 17.
Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of West Ham clash
Pablo Mari is close to handing Arsenal a boost by returning to action.
The Spaniard signed permanently for the club earlier this summer but has been sidelined with an ankle injury. He remains hopeful of returning to full training by the end of the month.
The Gunners are preparing to face London rivals West Ham at the Emirates this weekend, having started their campaign with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Mikel Arteta will be unable to call upon several first-team players for the clash, and you can read the latest injury news here.
Chris Wilder breaks his silence on interest in Folarin Balogun
Chris Wilder has confirmed that Sheffield United are interested in Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun.
The Mail reported that the Gunners had rejected a £3million bid for the youngster, and this follows news that Brentford had a bid rejected earlier this year.
Balogun is in the final year of his Arsenal contract, and it looks unlikely that he will extend his stay at the Emirates. It is believed the club are holding out for an £8million fee for the striker, although it is unclear if the Blades feel comfortable matching that price.
"Yeah, we made an enquiry. That’s left with the CEO at our club and at Arsenal,” he told Yorkshire Live.
"The striker has been quiet when talking about his future, but he did take to social media recently to issue a single tweet that was somewhat cryptic.
Balogun tweeted an hourglass emoji on the same day Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s three-year contract extension was announced.
It had some Arsenal fans optimistic that the striker had also extended his deal at the club, but there has been no confirmation of that fact.
Leverkusen leading the chase for Sead Kolasinac
Sead Kolasinac is working towards a return to the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen leading the hunt for him, according to Sky Germany.
Kolasinac, 27, joined the Gunners from Schalke but has found himself out of the first-team picture of late. Mikel Arteta has preferred Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Kieran Tierney as a left-wing-back and a left centre-back as part of a three-man defence
Sport BILD have confirmed Leverkusen’s interest while also adding Schalke and Roma as potential destinations for the player.
It is stated Schalke do not have the finances to compete with Leverkusen after they sold Kai Havertz and Kevin Volland this summer.
They also claim Kolasinac is eager to return to Germany, and that he owns a home in Duesseldorf -- 25 miles from Leverkusen -- with his wife, Susubelle.
The report states a fee of close to €10million has been identified, with the fee lower due to the player’s salary, which is €9million a season.
