Here are your Arsenal morning headlines for Friday, 25 September.
Lyon update on Aouar move
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has poured cold water on reports that star midfielder Houssem Aouar will leave the club to join Arsenal before the transfer window closes.
The central midfielder - who starred in the Ligue 1 club’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season - had been heavily linked with a move to the Gunners.
However, Aulas has doubted the club’s capacity to pull off such a deal in the current financial climate and tipped the star to stay in Lyon.
"Financially, Arsenal are like everyone else (in a tricky spot)," Aulas told Le Progres, as per football.london.
"And Houssem could say to himself that the best thing would be to stay with us.”
Lacazette to be sacrificed?
One way Arsenal are considering funding a deal to sign Aouar is by selling striker Alexandre Lacazette.
That is according to a report in Independent, as cited by football.london, which claims Lacazette - formerly of Lyon - could be sold to raise funds for any deal.
It appears that the only way possible for the Gunners to afford to strengthen their squad is by selling first-team players and the French striker, who has just two years left on his contract, may make way.
Gunners backed on Partey, Aouar deals
Arsenal have been backed to sign both Thomas Partey and Aouar from Atletico Madrid and Lyon respectively.
The club’s former striker Kevin Campbell has backed the North London club’s sporting director, Edu, to get both deals completed in what would be a stunning double swoop.
Campbell told GentingBet, via the Express: "Central midfield is the key area for Arsenal and there’s talk of Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar, from Lyon and I think they’re the two key positions.
"Thomas Partey is a defensive type midfielder, but he's got so much to his game, he can go box to box and really, he can do it all.
"Aouar is a creative player who can play numerous positions across midfield and even across the front.
"So, I think those are the two players who have been heavily linked to the club and are in talks of coming in.
"I think Arteta and Edu will get it done, in the end. I'm not sure how quick it will be and it might be right up to the deadline date, but I think Arsenal will get it done."
