Patrick Van Aanholt is a target for Arsenal (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson says it would be a ‘real surprise’ if Arsenal were to sign Patrick Van Aanholt before the transfer window closes.
The Gunners are keen to sign a back-up to Kieran Tierney given the Scot’s injury problems and Van Aanholt had been identified as a suitable alternative to the former Celtic skipper.
Van Aanholt is a huge attacking presence down Palace’s left-hand side and he’s regularly been linked with moves away from Selhurst Park since signing for the club in 2017.
However, though Hodgson says the 30-year-old is good enough to play at the Emirates, the former England boss says the Dutchman is set to stay in south-west London.
Arteta is keen to sign a back-up to Tierney (Photo by ANDY RAIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Asked about the interest in the defender, Hodgson said: ‘No, nothing I know about.’
‘Is he good enough to play for Arsenal? Yes, but it would be a real surprise to me.’
Arsenal are expected to be one of the busiest clubs on Deadline Day, with Arteta admitting this morning that the club are working on comings and goings.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is attracting attention from Southampton and West Brom, whils Shkodran Mustafi could join Schalke.
Arteta admits there could be arrivals and departures.
‘The last day of the transfer window is always unpredictable so things can happen,’ said Arteta.
‘They might happen, they might not happen. We are on it.’
Judd Trump became the first player ever to retain the German Masters title (Picture: WST)
Judd Trump continued his incredible spell of success on Sunday night be becoming the first player to retain the German Masters title and he charts his remarkable winning run back to a key victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The world number one claimed his fourth ranking title of the season with a 9-2 victory over Jack Lisowski as he remains on course to match, or even break, the record he set last campaign.
Trump became the first player ever to win six ranking titles in a season last time around and he could well repeat that feat in the coming months.
The Juddernaut’s ascent to the undisputed finest player on the planet has been building for years, but really gathered pace when he claimed the 2018 Northern Ireland Open title.
Victory over the Rocket in Belfast proved to be a turning point in his career as before that triumph Trump had won eight ranking titles in seven years. He has since won 12 in 26 months, taking his tally to 21.
When asked if he could ever have imagined the success he has enjoyed since Belfast, Trump admits that he never would have predicted it.
‘No, because I don’t think I’d won an event for about 24 months, or a long period of time,’ Trump told Bet Victor.
‘Something just clicked into gear and as soon as I got that first win against Ronnie it gave me the confidence to go on from that.
‘I played well in the Masters, played well in the Worlds and it’s all just kind of unfolded from there, really, one thing has led to another.’
Trump was not at his very best in the German Masters last week, but still managed to see off the likes of Ding Junhui and come back from 5-1 down to beat Barry Hawkins 6-5 in the semi-finals.
He is not playing in the Shoot Out this week, but still has the Welsh Open, Players Championship, Gibraltar Open, WST Pro Series, Tour Championship and World Championship to target for the rest of the season.
It would be a brave punter that would back against Trump winning at least two of those six events and matching his record of last season, which would be an even more incredible feat given there are less tournaments this campaign.
‘I’m just enjoying my snooker, you’re always going to enjoy it whenever you win,’ said Judd.
Trump has been to the final of six out of nine events this season (Picture: Getty Images)
‘It’s just important for me to keep doing the right things, I’ve not stopped practicing hard and I’ve kept up that momentum, not rested at all really over the past couple of years.
‘I’ve put in the work and fully getting the rewards for it.’
Lisowski is hoping to replicate some of the success of his good friend as he continues his hunt for a first ranking title, losing in his fifth final on Sunday.
HIs ranking final opponents so far have been Trump (twice), Neil Robertson (twice) and Mark Selby so he is just hoping for a slightly easier draw next time.
‘I’m not going to get too down on myself,’ said Jackpot. ‘There are a lot of events coming up and it is a good time to be hitting form. I’m definitely doing that.
‘Hopefully I can nick a title soon, as long as I don’t keep running into Judd in finals!’
Aubameyang and Lacazette were both doubts (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta is facing a nervous wait over his two main striking options ahead of Arsenal’s midweek clash with Wolves.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed the 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Saturday due to his mother’s health issues, and currently remains in quarantine.
Arteta was hoping to welcome him back to the fold but he admitted the situation remains uncertain.
‘There’s still some things to clear up,’ said Arteta when asked about Aubameyang’s availability for the clash with Wolves.
‘Maybe yes, maybe no. We don’t know. We’re still doing some paperwork at the moment.’
Aubameyang’s absence will be felt harder if Alexandre Lacazette was deemed to be unavailable, although Arteta does not expect that to be the case.
Lacazette landed badly (Picture: Getty)
The French striker had to go to hospital after Saturday’s game after landing heavily after a challenge with Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire.
He had tests after he landed on the back of his neck but was given the all clear to go home.
And now Arteta hopes he will be fine to face bottom-half Wolves.
‘We have to follow the protocols, we have to test him and make an x-ray,’ added Arteta.
‘He was completely fine after the game, he was fine yesterday, he has slept well and I’m expecting him to be available.’
Bukayo Saka missed Arsenal’s draw with Manchester United (Visionhaus)
Mikel Arteta has revealed that Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney are both doubts for Arsenal’s clash with Wolves on Tuesday evening.
The pair missed Arsenal’s goalless draw with Manchester United on Saturday evening as Saka has been struggling with a hip problem, while Tierney remained sidelined with a calf issue.
Tierney had trained in the build-up to Arsenal’s draw with United, while Saka was not risked due to the Gunners’ busy fixture schedule.
Asked if Tierney and Saka will be available for the match against Wolves, Arteta said: ‘We don’t know yet.
‘Today we’ve got a training session and they haven’t been able to train with us yet, so I think it will be really difficult for them.
‘But I don’t know, we’re going to try to last-minute see how they are feeling.’
Kieran Tierney has been sidelined due to a calf injury (Getty)
Martin Odegaard was also given his Arsenal debut on Saturday as the 22-year-old came on as a second-half substitute against Manchester United.
And Arteta is open to starting the on-loan Real Madrid midfielder against Wolves.
‘Let’s see today how everybody is,’ Arteta said when asked about the possibility of naming Odegaard in his starting line-up.
‘We have some other issues in the last few days as well, so today we’ll have a better picture of who is available to play tomorrow.
‘Then we’ll put the players who are completely fit to start the game.’
Gary Neville has picked out three world class Premier League players (Picture: Getty Images)
Gary Neville says there are just three world class players in the Premier League and none of them play for Manchester United.
The Red Devils legend was reflecting on Mohamed Salah’s performance in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday and decided that the Egyptian is undoubtedly world class.
Salah scored two excellent goals in the victory over the Hammers, with the second especially catching the eye as he brought down a long pass from Xherdan Shaqiri with one touch and finished expertly with his second.
Neville was blown away by the quality of the Liverpool man and puts him in a bracket with just two other players in the Premier League in terms of being genuinely world class.
The likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba miss out on his assessment, with Manchester United’s bitter rivals at the Etihad and Anfield doing very well.
‘We very rarely give the tag of world class, and we do have some world-class performers in the Premier League,’ Neville said on the Gary Neville Podcast.
‘There’s Kevin De Bruyne and I think Alisson is a world-class goalkeeper, but Salah is a world-class forward and striker.
Mohamed Salah produced two moments of magic as Liverpool’s recovery continued with a 3-1 win at West Ham in the Premier League.
‘That first touch and second touch was something different. It was an unbelievable goal. One of the best goals I have seen, certainly this season. I’m not going to say any season because we have seen some great goals, but it really did catch our eye.
‘Everybody at home will just think wow, what a goal!’
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was understandably delighted with Salah after the win at West Ham, also praising his second goal as world class.
The strike was Salah’s 21st of the season as his remarkable form since arriving at Anfield in 2017 continues.
‘Actually, he scored a goal against Tottenham; it didn’t count, I know that, but it was a brilliant goal,’ Klopp said.
‘That was a good sign for him, for sure. He played a super game tonight, he was involved in everything — flexible, kept the ball, passing was good and his control of the game was good.
‘The first goal is just a super smart goal, the goalkeeper could not see the ball because it was a crowded box and he chipped it into the far corner.
‘And the second, what a counter-attack, two passes until Mo got the ball and the first touch was outstanding, world class.’
Arteta thinks the move would be good for Willock (Picture: Getty Images)
Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock is poised for a move to Newcastle United on loan as Steve Bruce looks to bolster his squad on transfer deadline day.
Willock has made 17 first-team appearances under Mikel Arteta this season, scoring three goals, but has been limited to just two starts in the Premier League.
It’s thought he might benefit from a spell away from the Emirates on loan and Newcastle have emerged as the most likely contenders.
Willock is one of two loan deals Bruce’s team is pushing for on deadline day, according to The Telegraph.
Leicester star Hamza Choudhury is also lined up for a move to the north east.
The Willock deal is currently more likely, although it’s still unclear if he will agree to move to Newcastle.
Willock is poised to join Newcastle on loan (Picture: Getty Images)
Choudhury has agreed to move on loan but his hopes of an exit could be denied by injury problems at Leicester.
Bruce is due to speak to Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers to get a firm yes or no on that deal.
Arteta believes that a move to Newcastle would be the ideal test for Willock at this stage in his career.
Bruce is expecting a firm answer within the coming hours.
Mikel Arteta has let Matt Smith move out on loan again (Picture: Getty Images)
Arsenal midfielder Matt Smith has moved to Charlton Athletic on loan for the rest of the season after being recalled from his previous loan at Swindon Town.
The 20-year-old has been a regular in the Swindon team so far this season, making 24 appearances for the side struggling near the foot of the League One table.
He has moved back to London and up the League One table by joining Charlton for the rest of the season, with the Addicks seventh in the table and very much in the hunt for the play-offs and a return to the Championship.
Smith has been at Arsenal since the age of seven but is yet to make a senior appearance for the Gunners, although he has come close.
The youngster has been on the bench in the Premier League and was an unused substitute in the FA Cup final last season when Arsenal beat Chelsea to lift the trophy.
Smith (L) was on the bench as Arsenal won the FA Cup last season (Picture: Getty Images)
Smith said of his move to The Valley: ‘I’m really excited, I’m really looking forward to getting started. I feel I can learn a lot off the manager and from the experienced players here.
‘It’s a new challenge for me and ultimately I want to come here and help the team get promotion and have a strong second half to the season.’
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer added: ‘I think he suits the way we play, he’s an energetic midfielder. I like that he looks to play forward every time he receives the ball, he’s going to be another good addition to our squad.
‘We know with players we’ve had previously from Arsenal, they are all good and comfortable on the ball and importantly he has played men’s football before so he should hit the ground running.’
