Here is your Arsenal morning digest for Sunday, February 20.
Arteta makes Champions League prediction
Following Arsenal's 2-1 win over Brentford, Mikel Arteta had his say on the Gunners' chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
"It’s a long way to go. We are a little bit closer today because we won our game and it’s what we want to do," the Spaniard said.
"We’ve got to go Thursday again and win our game against Wolves. It’s going to be a really difficult match. We need to play better and better and better. That’s the aim."
Read more here.
Merson claim
Arsenal icon Paul Merson has claimed that Stan Kroenke should use the Emirates Stadium renovation money on transfers.
“Arsenal will never be kings of England winning multiple titles again while Stan Kroenke is busy wasting money refurbishing the Emirates,” he wrote in his column for the Daily Star.
“I still think they’re only one top class striker away from being contenders – but they’ll never stick around at the top long while Kroenke has his eyes elsewhere.
“Go and sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Go and get James Ward-Prowse for the midfield. Don’t spend it on the stadium. What a waste. Seriously.”
Read his full quotes here.
Pepe praise
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Nicolas Pepe, claiming the Ivory Coast international has turned it up a gear in training in recent weeks.
"Since he has come back from AFCON I think I have seen a different Nico as well," Arteta said.
"I don’t know what it is, probably he has realised the importance of the end of the season for him. He had a brilliant end of the season last year. He can replicate that.
"We need him at his best because everybody is going to contribute. We are a really short squad at the moment and we need it and hopefully he has understood that we want to play him.
"I don’t want to have a player like him sitting on the bench and not using him and the moment I have chances, I want to give him a chance.”
Read more here.
