Your Arsenal morning digest on Friday, February 25.
Lacazette praise
Mikel Arteta lauded Alexandre Lacazette following Arsenal's last-gasp win against Wolves on Thursday night.
Speaking after the game, Arteta said: "Yes and that’s what we need as a team now. We are building a team with a lot of young talent.
"I said to them at half time if you want to be top in May we’re going to have to overcome results three or four times to be there."
When asked how hard it would be to replace the Frenchman, he added: "Yeah but we don’t know what’s gonna happen at the end of the season.
"What he needs to do is put aside his future. We don’t have contracts that last 20 years and that’s part of our job."
Takehiro Tomiyasu warned of future struggles
Arsenal legend Lee Dixon has warned Takehiro Tomiyasu that because he quickly adapted to the physicality of the Premier League, he may struggle more in the future.
“Sometimes people come into the Premier League and it takes them a while to settle down,” Dixon said in an interview with The Athletic.
“Others just take to it straight away — but then it starts to become a grind later on. Perhaps, with this most recent injury lay-off, we have seen the first indication of that wear beginning to show in Tomiyasu.
"A physically strong lad like Tomiyasu, it’s not a problem for him to adapt quickly. But the actual nuances of the league and playing different opposition and doing it on a regular basis might become a problem. The starting point is brilliant — but let’s talk about him after 100 games.”
Arsenal to consider Granit Xhaka offers
Arsenal will consider offers for midfielder Granit Xhaka this summer and are willing to let him leave, football.london understands.
The news comes amid reports that Roma will make another move to sign the Switzerland midfielder this summer after previously failing in a move two windows ago.
Xhaka appeared all set to leave the Emirates at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, only for an impressive display at Euro 2020 to convince the Gunners to offer an extension to his contract.
But with two years remaining on his deal come the summer, Arsenal are open to cashing in.
