Here are your Arsenal morning headlines for Sunday, May 31.
Arsenal tipped for Coutinho move
Philippe Coutinho looks set to be on the move from Barcelona this summer and the Gunners are one of a number of clubs linked.
Bayern Munich – where Coutinho is on a season-long loan arrangement from Barcelona – have an option to buy the Brazil international for €120m at the end of the campaign but multiple reports suggest this will not be exercised.
The Brazilian’s career has stagnated since leaving Liverpool in January 2018 but as highlighted by football.london, a move back to the Premier League now appears likely and the Emirates would be an ideal destination.
It is suggested that Coutinho - who has scored 21 goals in 76 appearances for the Catalan club - could be a de facto replacement for Mesut Ozil in Mikel Arteta’s side.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Leicester City and Newcastle United are the other four English clubs said to hold an interest in the playmaker.
Gunners boost for Cherries Fraser?
Arsenal hopes of landing Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser have been boosted as the winger shares an agent with boss Mikel Arteta.
The 26-year-old’s deal at the South Coast club is due to expire this summer and he has been strongly linked with a move to the Gunners with Tottenham also said to be in the running.
Fraser will be a free agent and his profile would make him an ideal candidate for Arsenal in a time of great economic uncertainty in football.
However, former striker Darren Bent has tipped the winger to join his former clubs Spurs, telling Football Insider: "If Spurs truly want to go and get Ryan Fraser, they’ll go and get him no matter what."
Arsenal squad has ‘big hole’ - Bergkamp
Gunners legend Dennis Bergkamp believes there is ‘a big hole’ in the current team that Mikel Arteta must address.
The Dutch playmaker has seen plenty of positive signs under Arteta’s stewardship but believes there is too big a gap between the team’s midfield and attacking players.
"I watched Arteta’s first game in charge at home [a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea]," he told The Daily Mail, as cited by the Evening Standard. "In that game it was clear to see what his intentions were with the team.
"The front four would chase the ball and put pressure on the opponents, but the midfield stayed behind. There was a big hole.
"He’s working on it, but it needs time and maybe different players.
"Slowly you can see them trying to play a possession game. Everyone on the ball has three options, triangles on the pitch. It’s much better than before.”
