ARSENAL legend Mesut Ozil has RETIRED from professional football at the age of 34.
The German was playing for Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir until he decided to retire due to recent injuries.
Elsewhere, the Gunners are interested in a summer move for RB Salzburg striker Noah Okafor for a deal worth around £25million.
Meanwhile, Tomiyasu has been ruled out for the rest of the season after he hobbled off the pitch last Thursday with a knee injury against Sporting Lisbon.
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- Dylan Terry
Arsenal pay tribute to Ozil
Arsenal have posted a message on social media thanking them for his time at the club.
The World Cup winner, 34, announced his retirement this morning.
- Dylan Terry
Arteta on Tomiyasu injury
Arsenal will be hoping they are not missing Takehiro Tomiyasu for too long.
The defender missed Sunday’s win against Crystal Palace after picking up an injury early in the game against Sporting Lisbon three days earlier.
He was spotted leaving the Emirates on crutches and has pulled out of the Japan squad.
Arteta said on Sunday: “We’ve had one assessment, they need to have another assessment tomorrow, but it’s not looking good, that’s for sure.
“Looking at Tomi, he’s not someone who exaggerates things. He was really concerned straight away, and we are concerned.”
- Dylan Terry
Grealish reveals hilarious Saka confrontation
Jack Grealish has revealed he jokingly confronted Bukayo Saka after the pair linked up on England duty.
Speaking to The Times, he said: "I'm playing for City on the wing, he's playing for Arsenal on the wing and we're both going for the Premier League.
"But that is another thing that the manager here at England has done so well.
"We feel like a group of team-mates that are together. Back at your club, you're rivals but everyone just clicks here.
"He's a great lad, Bukayo. In the game the other week, I went past someone and then me and him went shoulder to shoulder.
"I thought, 'He [the referee] has got to give it as a foul', because I can’t have Bukayo saying that he bodied me.
"I pulled him up on that this morning and he said it was never a foul!"
- Dylan Terry
Man Utd favourites to land Osimhen
Manchester United are favourites to sign Victor Osimhen.
That's according to Betfair, who've installed the Red Devils as 3/1 frontrunners to clinch the Napoli centre-forward's signature later this summer.
Chelsea are considered second favourites at 7/1 with Betfair.
Paris Saint-Germain are offered at 9/1, but that price could drop.
And Arsenal are also in the conversation at 10/1.
- Dylan Terry
Arsenal legend Ozil retires
Arsenal legend Mesut Ozil has retired from professional football aged 34.
Ozil has decided to call time on his career midway through Istanbul Basaksehir's season.
The German World Cup winner then told teammates he was quitting this week.
It brings to an end a career stacked with trophies, with Ozil once regarded as the best No10 in world football.
The Gunners paid £42.5m for Ozil in 2013, with the playmaker quickly becoming an Emirates cult hero.
Ozil ended up with 44 goals in 254 for Arsenal, winning an incredible three FA Cups in four years.
And it was during this time that he lifted the World Cup with Germany at Brazil 2014.
- Dylan Terry
Aubameyang could see contract terminated
Former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could have his contract ripped up for the second time in the space of 18 months this summer.
Chelsea man Aubameyang left Barcelona on transfer deadline day last August and joined the Blues in a £10million deal.
But the former Arsenal star’s return to London has quickly developed into a nightmare.
He has fallen well out of favour since Thomas Tuchel was sacked days after his arrival and has since only managed 123 minutes of football without starting a single game this year.
The Gabon international was also axed from Graham Potter's Champions League squad after Chelsea’s huge January spending spree.
And all of this has led to Spanish publication SPORT claiming that “everything indicates that he could be released this summer” by the Blues.
- Dylan Terry
Soccer AM set to end after three decades
Sky Sports show Soccer AM is set to be axed at the end of the season after nearly 30 years on the air.
Bosses have decided to bring the long-running fan favourite to an end with just ten episodes left.
That will take the morning programme to the end of the current season.
Staff were told on Tuesday that the programme would be ending.
And they were also informed that they would be made redundant in May.
A source told The Sun: "It was a complete bombshell. Morale is at an all-time low, they are raging. It's going to be an interesting watch over the next few weeks."
- Dylan Terry
Arsenal interested in right-back Boey
Arsenal are reportedly lining up a summer bid for Galatasaray star Sacha Boey.
That’s as Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta looks to bulk up his squad with more options for cover.
And Turkish outlet Aksam claim Galatasaray defender Boey is at the top of his shopping list.
The French ace, 22, has been playing in Turkey for over 18 months after previously starring at Rennes and Dijon.
The star is tied down to Gala until 2025, and they will want at least £10million this summer.
- Dylan Terry
Saka praises Holding for Palace display
Bukayo Saka has praised centre-back Rob Holding after his impressive display against Crystal Palace.
The 27-year-old had to fill in for the injured William Saliba and made his first league appearance against the Eagles for the title-chasing Londoners.
And he produced a solid display at the back in the Gunners’ commanding 4-1 win.
Saka said of his teammate: “I gave him a big hug when he came into the changing room because he deserves it.
“He was magnificent. We need that, you know, when he’s coming in to stay at the level that we’ve been playing.
“He was unbelievable today, so credit to him.”
- Dylan Terry
Arsenal's title run-in
So Arsenal head into the international break with an eight-point advantage over Manchester City.
But can they hold on as the Premier League prepares to enter the final two months of the season?
Here is what lies ahead for both sides.
- Dylan Terry
Pepe's future remains uncertain
Nicolas Pepe reportedly “needs to show more” in order to get wish and seal a permanent move from Arsenal to Nice.
According to L’Équipe, the ace wants to stay with Nice beyond the end of his season-long loan from Arsenal.
And the club are open to the idea of keeping him at the Allianz Riviera stadium.
However, club chiefs “want to see more from the player before making an attempt to retain him” for next season.
Pepe only has one year remaining on his contract with Arsenal.
And the Gunners are likely to want to try and offload him and recoup some sort of fee back rather than lose him for nothing 12 months later.
- Anthony Chapman
Good morning Arsenal fans
Aaron Ramsdale reckons Arsenal are much calmer this season – which might ease the frustration of Takehiro Tomiyasu being ruled out for the season.
Doctors delivered the verdict on Japan defender Tomiyasu following knee surgery.
He hobbled off early in Arsenal's Europa League exit against Sporting Lisbon.
The blow comes as keeper Ramsdale explained one reason why the table-topping Gunners are flying – after missing out on fourth place on the final day of 2021-22.
He told the Standard: “At the end of last season, we panicked in certain games.
“I think we have learned from [that]. “I think we know how to deal with that a lot better now.
“For the majority, we know what is needed and how to play and how to conduct ourselves."
The Gunners are reportedly one of the Prem giants keen on Fulham's Joao Palhinha.
The Portugal anchorman is also thought to be interesting Manchester United.
- Ian Tuckey
We don't panic like last season
Aaron Ramsdale claims one secret to Arsenal’s success is being calmer than last season.
The England keeper believes the table-topping Gunners have learnt from the pain of missing out on a top-four spot to Tottenham on the final day of last term.
He told the Standard: “At the end of last season, we panicked in certain games.
“I think we have learned from [that]. “I think we know how to deal with that a lot better now.
“It doesn’t mean we’re not going to go into a game and panic again. But for the majority, we know what is needed and how to play and how to conduct ourselves.
“We are a young team we had a really tough one last year missing out on the top four and to Tottenham then it’s even more [tough], so we’re learning game by game.
I think huge credit goes to the staff but also for our failure last year.”
- Ian Tuckey
Arsenal and Utd high on list of fined clubs
Prem and EFL clubs have shelled out a staggering £1.3million in fines this season for abusive and aggressive behaviour.
SunSport today reveals the astonishing sums collected by the Football Association when punishing foul-mouthed players and managers.
In the wake of Fulham's FA Cup quarter-final meltdown with three red cards in a mad 40 seconds on Sunday – with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Marco Silva still to discover their punishment – another 54 teams from the 92 have been fined.
Arsenal have paid out the biggest amount in the Prem this season with fines totalling £185,000 while Manchester United and Everton have also parted with six-figure sums.
There are just five Prem clubs which have yet to be charged for poor on-field behaviour.
The FA have issued more than 100 fines to Prem and EFL clubs, totalling a remarkable £1,279,375.
Mitrovic will be a head on the FA’s disciplinary spike, and rightly so, for his appalling conduct towards Chris Kavanagh in Fulham’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat.
But five years after Wembley re-launched its “Respect” campaign, the disrespect has plunged to an all-time nadir.
Of the 20 Prem clubs, no fewer than 15 have fallen foul of the FA, with aggregate fines of a stunning £932,500.
Mitrovic’s looming fine, alongside those for Fulham and boss Silva, will comfortably take that tally over the £1m mark – a badge of shame for the Prem.
- Ian Tuckey
Piers Morgan names his all-time top Gunners
No Cole, no Sol? No bother!
Celebrity Arsenal fan Piers Morgan has stirred up more controversy – with his best-ever Arsenal XI.
Human nature being what it is, social media whips into a frenzy far easier when people complain about what they see as negatives rather than praise positives.
But it would be interesting to know if the TV presenter and Sun columnist suspected how fans would react to his omission of legends Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell and Ian Wright.
But most Gunners' supporters would surely endorse at least six of his team… surely?
Piers’ greatest-ever Arsenal XI
The celeb’s team naturally contains several members of Arsene Wenger’s golden period in charge.
David Seaman
Lee Dixon
Tony Adams
David O'Leary
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Robert Pires
Patrick Vieira
Emmanuel Petit
Bukayo Saka
Thierry Henry
Dennis Bergkamp
- Ian Tuckey
Balogun vow
Flo Balogun is determined to show Arsenal that he is no flash in the pan after taking French football by storm.
The 21-year-old striker is currently challenging Kylian Mbappe for Ligue 1’s Golden Boot after joining unfancied Stade de Reims on loan for the season.
And it was his failure to get a minute of action during the Gunners’ summer tour to the USA which convinced the ambitious England Under-21 international to prove himself on the other side of the Channel.
Only PSG superstar Mbappe and Lille’s Canadian World Cup star Jonathan David have currently scored more than Balogun’s 17 goals in the French League this season.
He says: “No one would have expected this when I first came to Reims, but to be in this position now is amazing and I need to continue it.
“The more you achieve certain things, the more questions you face. Is it something I can do regularly or is it a fluke?
“So I’m pretty focused and determined to show people that this is not a blip and that scoring goals is something I can do consistently.
“A lot of people might forget that I’m still an Arsenal player but it’s still one of my dreams to play in their first team.”
- Ian Tuckey
No current Gunners in greatest-ever team… says AI
Arsenal's greatest-ever team according to artificial intelligence contains just ONE star that did not play under Arsene Wenger – and no current players.
The Frenchman has also been named as the Gunners' greatest-ever manager.
The ChatGPT system was asked to select the best players from the club's rich history based on statistics and trophies won.
And it has been dominated by members of Arsenal's 1998 double-winning squad.
It went with a three-man strikeforce – meaning Ian Wright plays alongside Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
Old-school defenders Tony Adams, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn make the team.
And the only non-Wenger player is ex-Ireland midfielder Liam Brady, renowned for his stylish left foot.
- Ian Tuckey
Takehiro out for season
Full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Tomiyasu hobbled off the pitch on Thursday with a knee injury against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League Last 16 at the Emirates.
He underwent knee surgery in London earlier today and doctors deemed he will have to miss the rest of the campaign.
Arsenal issued the following statement: "Following his substitution during last Thursday’s Europa League match, subsequent assessments have confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu sustained a significant injury to his right knee.
"Tomi [Tomiyasu] has had successful surgery in London on Tuesday and will be ruled out for the remainder of this season.
"Everyone at the club will now be working hard with Tomi, so he can join pre-season training ahead of next season."
- Ian Tuckey
Fans love Martinelli's Ted Lasso joke
Arsenal supporters loved it as Gabriel Martinelli cracked a Ted Lasso joke to American goalkeeper Matt Turner.
As part of an MLS promotion, the US international goalkeeper has been teaching Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah about his home league ahead of the Gunners' summer tour.
Arsenal fans love it as Martinelli cracks Ted Lasso joke while Turner teaches him and Nketiah about MLS ahead of US tour
Arsenal will take on an MLS All-Star team in Washington DC on July 19.
And Martinelli, 21, hopes that there will be a special guest.
Turner introduced the forward duo to Audi Field, where the All-Star game will take place.
The 28-year-old said: "You're looking at Audi Field, and lucky for us we'll have the chance to play there in the MLS All-Star game on Apple TV."
Nketiah, 23, then said: "The stars are really aligning for us, innit."
And Martinelli added: "Does it mean Ted Lasso will be there?"
To which Turner replied: "I know a few people, I'll see what I can do."
Hit TV series Ted Lasso is currently in its third season and is an Apple TV original, the same platform that broadcasts all MLS matches.
- Ian Tuckey
The run-in awaits
Arsenal go into the international break with an eight-point lead over Manchester City – although they have played a game more than the reigning champs.
But how do their run-ins compare?
Arsenal still must go to Anfield, the Etihad and St James’ Park and host Wolves on the final day.
City, meanwhile, host Liverpool next and – like Arsenal – will host Chelsea before a trip to Brentford to complete the campaign.
- Ian Tuckey
RVP rated Arsenal training poorly compared to Utd's
Ex-Arsenal star Robin van Persie has slated his previous club's training standards after his move to Manchester United in 2012.
Patrice Evra has revealed how former teammate Robin van Persie was shocked by how much harder Man United's players worked compared to his former Arsenal team.
Speaking on the Vibe with Five, Evra recalls Van Persie hammering his former team's lack of dedication.
In contrast, speaking about his new Man United teammates, Evra said: "Robin, he'd say, 'Patrice, I've never seen people so professional. Training the way you're training in the training session'.
'He'd say he'd finish the training session, everyone is in the gym. Before training in the gym, after training in the gym."
"That's why he was like, 'When I was playing at Arsenal, I was still on the pitch and I'd see kids with convertible cars already going to Harrods or whatever'."
The Dutch striker made the controversial move to join the Red Devils for £22.5 million in the summer of 2012 after failing to win a trophy in eight years playing for the Gunners.
Evra told former United teammate Rio Ferdinand: "I don't know if you remember, the way Ferguson managed Van Persie.
"He knows we are animals, if someone doesn't train we are going to say he doesn't deserve to play.'
"But with Van Persie he said: ‘Guys, this guy he won't (be) training every day. Sometimes he's going to be on the side training with his own physio. But I have to manage his injury. But this guy is going to win the league for us’."
- Ian Tuckey
Crock Tomiyasu 'doesn't exaggerate things'
Arsenal will be hoping they are not missing Takehiro Tomiyasu for too long.
The defender missed Sunday’s win against Crystal Palace after picking up an injury early in the game against Sporting Lisbon three days earlier.
He was spotted leaving the Emirates on crutches and has pulled out of the Japan squad.
Arteta said on Sunday: “We’ve had one assessment, they need to have another assessment tomorrow, but it’s not looking good, that’s for sure.
“Looking at Tomi, he’s not someone who exaggerates things. He was really concerned straight away, and we are concerned.”
- Ian Tuckey
Ramsdale reveals one secret to Gunners' success
Aaron Ramsdale claims one secret to Arsenal's success is being calmer than last season.
The England keeper believes the table-topping Gunners have learnt from the pain of missing out on a top-four spot to Tottenham on the final day of last term.
He told the Standard: “At the end of last season, we panicked in certain games.
"I think we have learned from [that]. “I think we know how to deal with that a lot better now.
“It doesn’t mean we’re not going to go into a game and panic again. But for the majority, we know what is needed and how to play and how to conduct ourselves.
“We are a young team we had a really tough one last year missing out on the top four and to Tottenham then it’s even more [tough], so we’re learning game by game.
I think huge credit goes to the staff but also for our failure last year.”
- Ian Tuckey
Joao has wow factor
Arsenal target Joao Palhinha is good enough to make the step up to the next level, says Dimitar Berbatov.
The Fulham midfielder is enjoying a stunning season and is wanted by a host of big-six clubs.
Berbatov told Betfred: “Yes, he certainly has the quality to do so.
“He has everything that a holding midfielder needs. He’s not afraid of challenges, he can pass, he’s great at spraying a diagonal ball and switching the play. He’s also capable of scoring goals too.
“If a team like Manchester United, or a team of a similar calibre, comes for him, then he’s going to think it’s time for the next step and to win trophies.
“He can’t believe that all the hard work is done after one season because remaining consistent is going to benefit his career a lot more. He is good enough to play for Manchester United at the moment.”
- Joshua Jones
Go with the Flo
Flo Balogun is determined to show Arsenal that he is no flash in the pan after taking French football by storm.
The 21-year-old striker is currently challenging Kylian Mbappe for Ligue 1’s Golden Boot after joining unfancied Stade de Reims on loan for the season.
And it was his failure to get a minute of action during the Gunners’ summer tour to the USA which convinced the ambitious England Under-21 international to prove himself on the other side of the Channel.
Only PSG superstar Mbappe and Lille’s Canadian World Cup star Jonathan David have currently scored more than Balogun’s 17 goals in the French League this season.
He says: “No one would have expected this when I first came to Reims, but to be in this position now is amazing and I need to continue it.
“The more you achieve certain things, the more questions you face. Is it something I can do regularly or is it a fluke?
“So I’m pretty focused and determined to show people that this is not a blip and that scoring goals is something I can do consistently.
“A lot of people might forget that I’m still an Arsenal player but it’s still one of my dreams to play in their first team."
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