Here are your Arsenal morning headlines for Sunday, 13 September.
Axed Arsenal talent spotter opens up on departure
The former Arsenal scout who unearthed the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin insists that he is not bitter about his sudden departure.
Francis Cagigao spent more than two decades with the Gunners, having joined the club when Arsene Wenger was the manager.
Arsenal officially announced his departure at the beginning of this month, on the back of the club confirming in August that they had proposed 55 redundancies to staff due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In an interview with Guillem Balague on the Pure Football Podcast, he was asked why he was not staying on at the Emirates Stadium.
Cagigao said: “That’s not really a question I can answer. That’s a question for somebody else.
“You can’t afford to be bitter in life. You have to have a thick skin and get over things quickly.”
Raya lined up as Martinez replacement
Arsenal have opened talks over a possible deal to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, according to Sports Mole.
The Spaniard kept 16 clean sheets last season and the Bees are reluctant to lose the 24-year-old.
However, with Emiliano Martinez set to move to Aston Villa, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to land a replacement back-up option to regular No.1 Bernd Leno.
Raya was not in the Brentford squad for their game against Birmingham City on Saturday, which they lost 1-0.
Lacazette "will be pushed by Nketiah" – Arteta
Alexandre Lacazette looks set to stay at Arsenal – despite Arteta warning him that fellow striker Eddie Nketiah will be ready to take his place if he does not keep his foot on the gas.
Arteta was delighted with the Frenchman’s performance on Saturday as Arsenal beat Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage, but warned him that youngster Nketiah is waiting on the sidelines.
"Yes, he is in my plans, he’s a player I like a lot," Arteta told BT Sport. "But he knows he has Eddie on his back or next to him and he’s going to push him.
"Whoever is in better shape is going to play and it’s the same for the rest of the team."
Lacazette has been linked with Juventus and Atletico Madrid over the summer.
