Arsenal News LIVE updates: Sanchez latest, Wenger on Lacazette, Evans move ruled out

ARSENAL news is coming thick and fast and Express Sport is on hand to give you all the latest updates from the Emirates.

Alexis Sanchez sweats in INTENSE workout

Arsenal news LIVE updates: Follow here for all the latest from the Emirates

Friday 22 September

Wenger wants more from Iwobi

20.25: Arsene Wenger has told Alex Iwobi to add goals to his game.

Wenger thinks the Nigeria star can be a big player for Arsenal but has called on him to be more clinical in front of goal.

“I like the fact that he can play in tight areas, that he turns the game forwards, that he’s very mobile,” Wenger told the club website.

“We forget sometimes that Alex is still a very young player and that there’s a lot more to come from him.

“There must be a lot more to come from him because he has more personality in the game now.

“We expect him to be more efficient in the final third offensively, because you feel there are goals in there and assists too. 

“They have to come out. Add that to the fact that he allows the team to play very well and he will be a top-class player.”

Gunners went for Mertens

14:00: Arsenal reportedly tried to sign Dries Mertens over the summer and could be back in for the Napoli forward at the end of the season.

Italian outlet CalcioMercato have revealed the Gunners were pursuing the Belgium international before he penned a new long-term deal with Napoli.

And they claim the north London club could be back in for him in the summer when his £26m release clause comes into effect.

Last term the 30-year-old was one of the most prolific forwards in Europe, scoring 34 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions.

Arsenal Team News

11:30: Mesut Ozil is in contention to return to the Arsenal team for Monday's Premier League clash with West Brom.

The Germany midfielder has been struggling with a knee injury but is now back in training, while Theo Walcott should be fit despite being forced off with a knock in the midweek Carabao Cup win over Doncaster.

Danny Welbeck (groin), Francis Coquelin (hamstring) and Santi Cazorla (ankle) are missing, as is Calum Chambers who has suffered a recurrence of a recent hip problem.

Arsenal provisional squad: Cech, Ospina, Mertesacker, Holding, Koscielny, Monreal, Mustafi, Bellerin, Nelson, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Wilshere, Xhaka, Elneny, Ozil, Giroud, Walcott, Sanchez, Iwobi, Lacazette.

January swoop for Goretzka

10:30: Barcelona are growing confident of signing Schalke star Leon Goretzka for a cut-price fee in January, reports claim.

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are determined to sign Goretzka and have already opened talks with his representatives.

Goretzka, 22, is out of contract in the summer and will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with a club outside Germany in January.

Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City are also keeping tabs on the situation as Schalke struggle to keep hold of their valuable asset.

Barry: Wenger tried to sign me… twice!

09:25: Gareth Barry has confirmed Arsene Wenger tried to bring him to Arsenal twice.

West Brom travel to Arsenal on Monday and Barry is expected to make history by becoming the all-time Premier League appearance holder.

Barry will surpass Ryan Giggs' record for Manchester United in playing his 633rd top-flight game at the Emirates.

In his pre-match press conference, Wenger revealed he wanted to sign Barry in 2009 but Manchester City won the race ahead of Arsenal.

However, the 36-year-old midfielder has admitted Wenger also wanted to sign Barry in 2014 before he moved to West Brom.

"There were a couple of conversations with representatives and Arsene that he was interested. Before I was leaving Villa and when I was leaving Man City to go to Everton there was a bit of interest too. But it didn't materialise," Barry said.

Why Sanchez isn’t starting…

08:00: Arsene Wenger has dismissed claims he is leaving Alexis Sanchez out of his Premier League XI to deliberately play him in the lesser competitions.

Alexis Sanchez has been in and out of the Arsenal team this season and is yet to hold down a place in the starting XI.

Despite being the Gunners’ standout player last term, he is yet to complete a full 90 minutes in the Premier League this campaign.

This has led to suggestions Wenger is purposely leaving him out of league games to make a point but the Frenchman has dismissed the claims.

“No, not at all, that’s going into quick conclusions. Alexis Sanchez has been out and injured, I thought he was short on Sunday physically,” Wenger said.

“I played him last night to give him more competition. Look, there’s no disguised attitude on my side. I just try to get him back to full fitness.

“The Europa League and League Cup is important, I try to give him competition and get him back to his best. I gave him a long holiday. He came back not very fit, then he got injured. The injury plus the rest was a bit long. I left him on the pitch for 90 minutes so he could have a real go.

“All the players are in my plans he’s not more than any other. Sanchez could have played against Chelsea if he was 100 percent fit at the start.

“In one game I go with three strikers, the three that don’t play will play midweek, no matter the competition.”

Alexis Sanchez in Carabao Cup action for ArsenalGETTY

Alexis Sanchez's next move remains unclear

Pep is sure he wants to join the club but Paris are sniffing

A source close to Manchester City

Alexis Sanchez intrigue

07:00: Manchester City are reportedly worried they could lose out to Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez, according to reports.

The Chilean is out of contract at the end of the season and could reunite with Pep Guardiola, who he previously worked with at Barcelona, at the Etihad.

And now according to The Sun, PSG are looking to hijack City’s interest in the forward.

The report says they want Sanchez to form a formidable attack alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

A source close told The Sun: “Pep is sure he wants to join the club but Paris are sniffing.

“They still have the funds to sign him and can beat City’s wage offer. They will also pay him a huge signing on fee.”

Jonny Evans move ruled out

06:00: Arsene Wenger insists he is no longer interested in bringing West Brom centre-back Jonny Evans to Arsenal.

Evans, 29, has proved to be a vital cog in the heart of West Brom's defence since signing from Manchester United in 2015.

His talents have not gone unnoticed with the Northern Ireland international attracting interest from a host of top clubs.

When asked if he would still like to sign Evans in the future, Wenger said: “No.

“Once the transfer period is over, you focus on your squad and your players.

“You accept that as well from the players who play for their club.”

West Brom defender Jonny EvansGETTY

Arsene Wenger has no intention to sign Jonny Evans

Arsene Wenger on Alexandre Lacazette

Arsene Wenger is pleased with how Alexandre Lacazette is adapting to life in the Premier League.

The striker, who joined for a club-record fee of £52.7million over the summer, has helped himself to two ion the league.

And when asked about his progress, Wenger said: “I think first of all he adapted to the team play, to the way we want to play football.

"He connects well with the other players. He’s disciplined, he works hard for the team.”

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