IAN WRIGHT does not want Olivier Giroud to return to Arsenal’s first XI.
The Gunners have impressed in attack at the start of the season without the France international.
Winger Alexis Sanchez has surprisingly switched roles to lead Arsenal’s line but adapted well to his new position.
Regular frontman Giroud came back late to the side in the summer after appearing at Euro 2016 and reaching the final.
And with Arsenal having netted 15 times in six Premier League games this term, the Gunners’ second highest ever scorer believes the 29-year-old could harm that form.
“I thought Sanchez was brilliant up front (against Chelsea),” Wright said on The Sun’s Goals podcast.
“Now you’re looking at it and thinking I wouldn’t like to see Giroud get back into that side because he’s just going to slow that team up.”
Giroud has been limited to just three substitute appearances in England’s top flight this season, but he could feature at the Emirates against Basel in the Champions League tonight (7.45pm).
Olivier Giroud's not scored or registered an assist in the Premier League for Arsenal this season
Wenger is keen to control Sanchez’s game time in the new campaign in order to prevent any more injuries to the ex-Barcelona man.
But summer signing Lucas Perez will also be vying for a start having netted twice at Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup last Tuesday.
With Wenger showing consistency in his league selections, Sanchez could pip both to the team sheet at Burnley too on Sunday (4.30pm).
ESPN FC's Stevie Nicol assesses the ongoing Yaya Toure saga at Man City and believes it's time the club let him go.
sour end to his Manchester City career could be sweetened by the Blues offering the Ivorian his choice of clubs in January.
The reports that Toure will be given the chance to join a club of his choice midseason, in a bid to end the bitter quarrel between the club and his agent, Dimitri Seluk.
Seluk and Guardiola have exchanged choice words with or Yaya will never play again for the Premier League leaders.
A move to Paris Saint-Germain was discussed in the summer, but City pulled the plug over financial demands.
With the situation festering, however, the club may relent to draw a line under the feud.
Juventus are ready to part with €10 million to land Atalanta's super talent , according to .
The Old Lady are ready to pounce in January after Roma had a €5 million offer knocked back and Milan are also monitoring the situation.
The 19-year-old has already struck four times in three games for this season and Juve's director Giuseppe Marotta wants to move now for the Ivorian before his price rises yet further.
Southampton will make an audacious bid for PSG star as boss Claude Puel eyes a reunion with the controversial playmaker.
After mixed spells with Newcastle and Hull, the former Lyon star sparkled with Nice last season to prompt Ligue 1 champions PSG to net him on a free transfer this summer.
The reports that the Saints are now keen to offer Ben Arfa a swift exit after failing to impress new boss Unai Emery. Reported attitude problems have led to the 29-year-old being left out of the last three matchday squads.
Ben Arfa enjoyed his best season in years under Puel, leading to 17 goals and six assists as finished fourth and could jump at the chance to work with him again.
PSG's Thiago Motta has said the club want the Hatem Ben Arfa of last year back, when the winger played brilliantly for Nice.
Everton are targeting Norwich twins and , with the latter scoring a sensational strike to help the Canaries down the Toffees 2-0 in the EFL Cup.
The reports that Ronald Koeman's side are leading West Brom, Crystal Palace, Hull and Swansea in the race for the highly talented duo.
The 21-year-olds are both most comfortable off the left wing and have combined for four goals and an assist this season in the Championship.
- Bayern Munich will hand a new contract to tie the Pole to the Bundesliga giants until 2021, according to .
With nine goals in seven games already this season, Bayern will offer the 28-year-old in excess of €15 million per year.
The wages would bring him level or above Thomas Muller, who earns a similar amount, and put an end to reported interest from PSG and Real Madrid.
- Swansea are eyeing a managerial swap already with being lined up as Francesco Guidolin's successor.
The describes the Italian as a "dead man walking" and that chairman Huw Jenkins now wants to hand the former Manchester United assistant the reigns at the Liberty Stadium.
- Spurs are monitoring Inter's and could make a move in January, according to .
The Croatian was involved in a heated argument with new boss Frank de Boer as Inter lost to Hapoel Be'er Sheva last Thursday and now appears likely to move on.
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After an impressive display against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup, the FC panel assess Lucas Perez's role at Arsenal.
Former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg says Arsene Wenger has never complained about the financial restraints under which he's had to work in recent times, and has suggested the club are finally capable of signing the players they want now.
Wenger spent big on a trio of players this summer in midfielder Granit Xhaka, defender Shkodran Mustafi and forward Lucas Perez in hopes of landing Arsenal their first Premier League title since 2004.
And Ljungberg has seen the investment as a positive sign for the club going forward.
"He has shown he is a great manager and I think he has been restricted a bit on the financial side in the past," the former Sweden international told Sky Sports.
"He never went to the media to moan about the budget and I think that shows you what a great man he is.
"I think some people wanted some signings in the summer, but everyone knows English clubs have a lot of money at the moment and if you ask for a player they raise the prices. He managed to get the players in the end.
Arsene Wenger received praise from Freddie Ljungberg on Wednesday.
"For Arsene to have been there for that long is a great achievement. And he has been through lots of different parts of the club's development too.
"He took them from Highbury, built a great side, then took them to the new stadium where they weren't able to spend as much on players, but still kept them in the Champions League and now they're maybe getting the players he wants again.
"They were second last year and this year hopefully we can win it."
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Claudio Ranieri is surprised rumours linking Danny Drinkwater with his former club Manchester United have surfaced.
Claudio Ranieri says Leicester do not fear Manchester United one bit, explaining his side are fearless.
ESPN FC's Shaka Hislop assesses whether or not Danny Drinkwater will return to Man United and if he'd benefit Paul Pogba.
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri is relaxed about reports linking Danny Drinkwater with Manchester United and stressed the club have no intention of selling the midfielder.
Drinkwater, 26, with a return to United, whom he left in 2012, despite him with the Premier League champions this summer.
Ranieri, whose side travel to Old Trafford on Saturday, : "I'm very surprised because often it happens one month before the market and not now.
"[Drinkwater] signed a new contract and everything is normal. I think he doesn't have a clause. We don't want to sell anybody. We want to keep our players.
"When I have a player who is wanted by big teams I am very happy because that means we are working very well.
"Sometimes I say maybe the newspaper doesn't have some news and they write some news -- this is OK. That is my idea."
Drinkwater has made 153 league starts for Leicester and helped the club claim the title last season with a series of impressive performances in midfield.
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ESPN FC's Alejandro Moreno and Alexis Nunes discuss the impact that Harry Kane's injury will have on Tottenham.
Kyle Walker has signed a new long-term contract with Tottenham Hotspur that will keep him at the club until 2021.
Walker, 26, is the latest Spurs player to commit his future to the club, following Eric Dier, Danny Rose, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli in agreeing a contract extension.
The England international right-back described the club as "like my second home now" adding that he was "happy to commit my future" to Tottenham.
NEW CONTRACT: We are delighted to announce that has signed a new contract with the Club which will run until 2021.
- Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
"It's a great honour," Walker told Spurs TV. "I want to say a big thank you to the chairman and the manager for putting their faith in me.
"It's been a long stay here but a very enjoyable one. I'm fully enjoying it. It's like my second home now and I'm happy to commit my future to Tottenham Hotspur."
"It's a bright future for Tottenham." admits he's one of the older members of an exciting squad...
- Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
Walker has established himself as one of Tottenham's most consistent performers under Mauricio Pochettino and was an integral part of the team qualifying for the Champions League last season.
He has made a strong start to the current campaign, registering two assists in Spurs' opening five league games and helping Pochettino's men record three clean sheets.
Walker's performances have also earned him a regular spot for England, for whom he has 20 caps so far, and he started Sam Allardyce's first game in charge against Slovakia three weeks ago.
Spurs are expected to confirm more new contracts in the coming weeks, with Jan Vertonghen and Erik Lamela both in talks over new deals.
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The Czech Republic international has been linked with a move to the Gunners since the end of the season and the Daily Mail understand the transfer has gone through.
Cech lost his place as Chelsea's number one to Thibaut Courtois at the start of last season and told owner Roman Abramovich and manager Jose Mourinho he wanted to leave for first-team football.
The deal will be Arsenal's first of the summer and Arsene Wenger will hope 33-year-old will bring quality and experience to his side.
And his first match for Arsenal could be against the Blues in the Community Shield on August 2.
The arrival of Cech at the Emirates is likely to see either Wojciech Szczesny or David Ospina, who has been linked with Turkish side Fenerbahce, leave the club.
Earlier today, Chelsea captain John Terry claimed Cech, who spent 11 years with the Blues and won 13 major trophies, could win Arsenal 15 points if he joined them and understood his reasons for leaving Stamford Bridge.
He told talkSPORT: "There’s talk of Arsenal signing Petr Cech and, if they do get him, he will strengthen them for sure. He will save them 12 or 15 points a season.
"Petr was an unbelievable professional last year. When you get left out of the team it can be hard to accept but, when he came in [to the side], he was exceptional.
"He deserves a lot of credit for that. We understand he wants to play first-team football but nobody wants to see him leave the club.
"He’s going to be sorely missed and will improve any side he goes to."
The Spain defender is reportedly looking for a new club this summer after Real Madrid refused to meet his £10million-a-season wage demands.
According to reports, United are keen to use David De Gea's move imminent move to Real to their advantage by proposing a straight swap deal with the goalkeeper and Ramos.
However, while Wilkins admires Ramos' versatility, he has his doubts over the 29-year-old's poor disciplinary record.
Sergio Ramos is a red card walking
Ray Wilkins
"Manchester United will want something back from Real Madrid if they let David De Gea leave," Wilkins told talkSPORT. "Sergio Ramos has been around the block and he knows the score, especially in Champions League.
"He’s a red card walking, though. He gets het-up when things don’t quite go his way.
"Madrid have played him at full-back and as a holding midfield player, he’s very versatile."
Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal is reportedly resigned to the fact he'll lose his first-team goalkeeper to Real this summer, with De Gea keen on a return to Spain.
But, according to the Daily Mail, the Dutch tactician is looking to take advantage of the situation and hopes to land Madrid's Ramos for nothing in exchange for the keeper.
Ramos, who is also a target for Chelsea, is reportedly looking to leave the Bernabeu in the summer after Real refused to give in to his £10million-a-year wage demands.
The La Liga giants are believed to have slapped a £46m price-tag on the Spain defender and are prepared to pay £25m to land his compatriot De Gea.
Joe Gomez moved to Anfield after playing only 24 Championship games for Charlton last season.
The England U19 international, who can play at either full back or central defence, finally completed a dramatic rise to Premier League stardom after being drafted into Charlton's U18 squad when he was only 13.
It's a bit surreal and it hasn't really hit me yet
Joe Gomez
Since then Gomez, who starred in the England U18s European championships success last summer, has also represented his country at U16 and 17s level.
His move now clears the way for Uruguayan Sebastien Coates to complete a £2million move to Sunderland where he spent last season on loan.
Gomez said last night: "It's a dream come true. It's a bit surreal and it hasn't really hit me yet. But I'm buzzing and just excited to get started."
Hector Bellerin says Cesc Fabregas was pivotal in his move to Arsenal
The 20-year-old left Barcelona's academy in 2011 to join the north London club - a move identical to the one made as a youngster.
And Bellerin admits it was Fabregas' rise into the Arsenal first team that inspired him to make the switch.
He said: "Cesc was a big inspiration. To see someone who made the same move and success, for me it was very important to see that happen.
"It was an important move for me, moving away from my family and friends and my city.
"But to see someone has succeeded as I said was really important and he showed that if you work hard, if you want it enough, you will always have a chance."
And that chance has been duly taken by , who snapped up the right-back position following an injury to Mathieu Debuchy.
The Spain under21 international made 20 Premier League appearances for the Gunners last season and has certainly given Arsene Wenger a selection headache ahead of the new season.
And he admits, whilst it's going to be tough, he want to hold on to a place in the starting XI.
He told magazine: "I know it is going to be really hard because Debuchy's back and I don't know whether Carl [Jenkinson] is going to be back so it is definitely going to be challenge.
"But, as I say, at the beginning of last season I thought my season was going to be totally different to what it was so when you ask me how I think it is going to be, I simply don't know. All I will do is work hard and try to cement my place in the starting XI."
The Blues romped to the title last term and it was their first Premier League crown in five years.
Chelsea's summer signings all proved to be a hit success, most notably Diego Costa, who hit 20 goals in the league.
I will always back Chelsea as they have the best coach. Mourinho is the boss
John Scales
And Scales, who was speaking at the Twickenham Academy’s 3G pitch funded by the Football Foundation, thinks the Jose Mourinho factor will make Chelsea tough to topple next season.
"Mourinho is probably the most outstanding manager in world football at the moment," Scales told Express Sport.
"I will always back Chelsea as they have the best coach.
"Mourinho is the boss. You saw it with the likes of Rodgers last season. Any chinks in their armour will be exposed.
"I think all the managers will find it tough to win the Premier League next season."
The former Manchester United and England defender also laid into Tottenham striker Harry Kane, claiming English players are "overpriced".
Liverpool have already rejected two bids from Mancehster City for Sterling, 20, and are of the wiger.
United, meanwhile, are Harry Kane's signature during the off-season but Spurs are resolved to keep their man, who says he is happy in north London.
English players are soooo overpriced right now it's a joke! Kane & sterling have huge potential but 40m & 50m...aguero 38m & sanchez 32m!!!
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5)
Look at the amount of PL & CL games I had played in before the move...oh and a world cup! Don't compare me please! There are others
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5)
And Ferdinand said on Twitter that the pair were not worth their valuations, especially considering the price City and Arsenal respectively paid for South American stars Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez.
He wrote: "English players are soooo overpriced right now it's a joke! Kane & Sterling have huge potential but 40m & 50m…Aguero 38m & Sanchez 32m!!!"
Ferdinand then came under criticism from some followers, who pointed out he transferred from Leeds United to the Old Trafford club for around £29m back in 2002.
But the 36-year-old had an answer for his detractors.
"Look at the amount of PL & CL games I had played in before the @manutd move...oh and a World Cup! Don't compare me please! There are others," he wrote.
“Fabio feels like having a new experience,” Marco De Marchi told Corriere dello Sport. “We expected more consideration from Liverpool. There are teams from all over Europe interested in him."
According to the Daily Star, .
The England Under-19 international is believed to have turned down Arsenal and Manchester United in favour of Liverpool, who triggered Gomez's £3.5million release clause at The Valley.
.
“I believe Nainggolan will stay at Roma, but things can change when it comes to Real Madrid,” Ludovico Spinosi told IlSussidiario.net.
The Gunners lifted the FA Cup last season, but the Premier League title has eluded them since 2004.
Barcelona cleaned up last season on the silverware front, winning the treble.
And Cazorla thinks Barcelona are the benchmark for teams like Arsenal.
"If Arsenal can in the future reach the level of Barcelona, that's the goal,” Cazorla told news outlet Goal.
“Barcelona are the reference point for the football world and all of us want to be closer to them.
“All teams want to win and to do it like Barcelona. We at Arsenal like that philosophy too.”
GETTY
Santi Cazorla believes Barcelona are still the reference point for European teams
Cazorla also defended the credibility of the Premier League, and maintains it is not weaker than La Liga, despite Barcelona's Champions League triumph.
He added: "La Liga and Premier League are so different, we shouldn't debate which is the best.
“The main difference is that in Spain there are Barcelona and Real Madrid, the greatest clubs.
“But the Premier League is more open, more fun for the spectator.
"I couldn't choose one which is the best. In Spain, football is more tactical. Here, there are more spaces and the play is more open.
“I don't think that Premier League is worse because Barcelona have won the Champions League.
“The Spanish league has many things to learn from Premier League. It is an example to all leagues.”
