Here are your Arsenal morning headlines for Saturday, May 2.
Arteta cancelled transfer approach for Volland
Mikel Arteta told Arsenal to drop their interest in German forward Kevin Volland once taking over as the Gunners manager, according to ESPN.
The report suggests that former manager Unai Emery held an interest in the Bayer Leverkusen striker and was scouted through 2019.
However, when Arteta took over from Emery in December, the Spaniard marked his own stamp on Arsenal’s player recruitment policy.
Arteta was concerned about Volland’s ability and raised the issue with technical director Edu and Head of Football Raul Sanllehi, and insisted that other areas of the squad needed strengthening before.
Volland has scored nine goals and provided eight assists in 22 games in the Bundesliga this season, but suffered ankle ligament damage in February, which would have kept him out for around three months if the season was still being played as usual.
Saliba’s debut could be delayed even further
William Saliba could see his Arsenal debut delayed even further despite the cancellation of Ligue 1.
The Gunners signed the defender for £25m last summer and loaned him back to Saint-Etienne, where he has spent the whole season.
However, with the French top-flight being cancelled earlier in the week, Arteta’s side could be tempted to recall Saliba.
Saliba is contracted at Saint-Etienne until June 30, and football.london understands the chances of the 19-year-old playing for the Gunners before July are "0%".
The French defender is part of Arsenal’s Premier League B-list because if a player is on the list from the age of 18 until they’re 21, then they will count towards their homegrown contingent.
The Premier League requires clubs to name eight homegrown players in their 25-man squad, and having Saliba as part of this list will be massively beneficial to the Gunners in the long-term.
Wright congratulates Leno over TOTS spot
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has congratulated the club’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno after the German was named in the FIFA Ultimate Team: Team of the Season So Far.
Leno signed for the Gunners in 2018 for £22.5m from Bayer Leverkusen and has impressed for the north London side ever since.
The 28-year-old was ever-present in the Arsenal team in the Premier League – playing every single minute before the season was halted due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Leno posted on Twitter, with a picture of him holding up his Ultimate Team card: “Thanks for voting me in the TOTS so far #FIFA20 #TOTSSF”.
Wright replied: “Yessssssss Bernd #TOTSSF”.
Leno’s team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also named in the side after another deadly season in front of goal.
The Gabon striker, who has been linked with a move away from Arsenal, has scored 17 goals in 26 Premier League games this term.
