Here is your Arsenal morning digest on Sunday, February 21.
Rodri heaps praise on Arteta
Manchester City star Rodri says that Mikel Arteta's tireless work ethic is his best quality as a manager.
The Spanish holding midfielder joined City in the summer of 2019 and worked with the Arsenal boss when he was the assistant manager to Pep Guardiola.
Rodri has now admitted that he learned a lot from Arteta during his days at the Etihad Stadium as the two teams prepare to go head-to-head this afternoon.
"Mikel has been very important for this club in the past few years," Rodri told Sky Sports. "I worked with him for six months, and in this short period, he taught me a lot of things in training about how to position myself in games.
"I'm lucky as both he and Pep played as midfielders, so it was easier for them to teach me how to play.
"He's such a nice guy and I believe his best quality is that he works like an animal in order to help his players improve.
"I appreciate what he taught me a lot. He has his own identity as a manager and needs time to develop his team."
Read the full story here.
Gunners handed Aouar boost
Arsenal may have been handed a boost in their bid to sign Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar this summer.
The Frenchman was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium last summer but the Gunners and the Ligue 1 outfit could not agree on a fee.
Aouar was reportedly valued at £55million last summer, but the latest developments coming out of Lyon could mean he will be available for cheaper at the end of the season.
The French club confirmed on Wednesday that a combination of the coronavirus pandemic and a decrease in television rights has seen them lose around £96m.
Lyon also lost out on a significant amount of money after they failed to qualify for this season's Champions League.
Read the full story here.
Agbonlahor makes Willian claim
Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Arsenal would not be able to sell Willian now following his slow start to life at the Emirates.
The Brazilian winger signed a three-year deal in north London as he signed on a free contract after leaving Chelsea.
The 32-year-old has struggled to cement a regular place in the Gunners side and has been heavily criticised for his performances in a red and white shirt.
But speaking to talkSPORT, Agbonlahor has claimed that Arteta will not be able to offload Willian easily now.
“Willian for me, it’s a difficult situation Arteta is in. He is probably thinking to himself, ‘I am not going to play this guy. I have got young players who are more hungry, more determined to play for Arsenal’," the ex-Aston Villa striker said.
“But he has got a three-year contract, so you can’t get rid of him because I don’t think anyone is going to take him at the moment, so you might as well use him when you can.”
