Arsenal played some actual football on Tuesday but it’s all about the gossip as you’d expect with an offer from Monaco rejected and Arsenal possibly about to raid Lille again.

Emile Smith Rowe v MK Dons via Arsenal.com
Emile Smith Rowe v MK Dons via Arsenal.com

All the juicy transfer gossip (men, women, youth) and updates are at the bottom, just before the ex-Arsenal and general football updates. Below, if there is any, you will also find Arsenal news (men, women, youth), Arsenal injury news (men, women, youth), Arsenal club gossip, and Arsenal loan news.

Arsenal news & gossipMega Update #8

Arsenal news (men)

MK Dons 1 Arsenal 4

Arsenal sprung a surprise pre-season friendly on fans and then proceeded to win 4-1.

Gareth Southgate admits he’s watching Bukayo Saka

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“He’s obviously with the Under-21s this time and I feel he’s more of an attacking player,” he said. “I know he’s played at left-back and he’s given good contributions there in an attacking sense certainly.

“At the moment left wing-back, left side higher up the pitch, I know he’s played in midfield and on the right as well but that they would be his better positions. He’s a very exciting player.

“It is still early for him but he’s a player we like and we monitoring very closely. I think Phil, in particular, has been patient for his opportunity. We’ve taken our time with that but yeah Saka had a very good season with Arsenal, not in the team at the very end but really good season of progress and he’s a player watching very closely.”

3 called up for England u21 squad despite being Arsenal seniors

Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah reacts after a missed chance during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on July 21, 2020. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP)
Arsenal’s English striker Eddie Nketiah reacts after a missed chance during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on July 21, 2020. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP)

Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka, and Reiss Nelson have been selected for the u21 squad. If they played for Liverpool, Spurs or United they’d be with the seniors. Well, maybe not them all but certainly Saka.

Kolasinac becomes a dad

Arsenal's German-born Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac reacts at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park in south London on January 11, 2020. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP / Getty Images)
Arsenal’s German-born Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac reacts at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park in south London on January 11, 2020. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP / Getty Images)

It looks like Sead Kolasinac was not included in the Arsenal squad for the game against MK Dons as his partner was giving birth. The club have reportedly denied that they are in talks to move the player on, either on loan or in a permanent deal.

Arsenal news (women)

Arsenal women’s match to have 1,000 fans

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - AUGUST 22: Beth Mead of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's first goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Final between Arsenal FC Women and Paris Saint-Germain Women at Estadio Anoeta on August 22, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN – AUGUST 22: Beth Mead of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s first goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter Final between Arsenal FC Women and Paris Saint-Germain Women at Estadio Anoeta on August 22, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s match against West Ham United will trial bringing supporters back to the game with 1,000 expected to be allowed access.

Arsenal women have a Dog’s Day

https://twitter.com/ArsenalWFC/status/1298581366016180224

If you like Arsenal and dogs, then it’s the thread for you.

Arsenal news (youth)

Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinness marked his first start for the seniors with a monstrous headed goal when he scored against MK Dons.

Arsenal injury news (men)

Arsenal issued new updates on Tuesday which we covered in Mega Update #6. You can keep up-to-date on all Arsenal injuries and news here.

Arsenal loan news

There have been no new loans or updates but you can stay up-to-date with our Arsenal Loan Watch page which is regularly updated. Gossip is below.

Arsenal gossip (youth)

Greenwood to Leeds United

Monaco want Smith Rowe

Emile Smith Rowe celebrating scoring for Huddersfield Town (Photo via HTAFC on Twitter)
Emile Smith Rowe celebrating scoring for Huddersfield Town (Photo via HTAFC on Twitter)

Arsenal have reportedly turned down an approach from Monaco to take Emile Smith Rowe permanently.

Arsenal gossip (men)

Arsenal reject Wolves bid for Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Newcastle United want Rob Holding

Arsenal's English defender Rob Holding leaves Arsenal's Colney training centre north of London on May 20, 2020 as training continues for Premier League clubs with a June re-start the intention during the COVID-19 pandemic. - Teams have started socially-distanced training in small groups this week, but several Premier League stars have expressed concerns about plans to resume the season. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
Arsenal’s English defender Rob Holding leaves Arsenal’s Colney training centre (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

They have been told he will cost around £15m even though he cost Arsenal over £18m when they bought him in 2014. The English premium, it seems, does not apply to Arsenal players.

Arsenal interested in Lille’s Boubakary Soumare

Lille's French midfielder Boubakary Soumare celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and Lille (LOSC) on May 5, 2019, at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France. (Photo by ROMAIN LAFABREGUE / AFP)
Lille’s French midfielder Boubakary Soumare celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and Lille (LOSC) on May 5, 2019, at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France. (Photo by ROMAIN LAFABREGUE / AFP)

Arsenal plan to raid Lille again according to the Foot Mercato, this time going after 21-year-old midfielder, Boubakary Soumare.

Arsenal linked with Messi

LISBON, PORTUGAL - AUGUST 14: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 14, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Manu Fernandez/Pool via Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL – AUGUST 14: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 14, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Manu Fernandez/Pool via Getty Images)

Back in 2003 Arsenal tried to sign Lionel Messi but Arsene Wenger said he was ‘untouchable’. Now they’re being linked again but probably had more chance of signing him 17 years ago.

Galatasaray interested in Elneny

Mohamed Elneny started and scored for Arsenal against MK Dons on Monday night but the midfielder seems to have little hope of resurrecting his Arsenal career.

Sokratis to Napoli

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal speaks to Dr Gary O'Driscoll, Team Doctor of Arsenal following a knock to his head during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal speaks to Dr Gary O’Driscoll, Team Doctor of Arsenal following a knock to his head during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Napoli want to sign Sokratis from Arsenal and Italian reports claim the Greek defender has the best chance of replacing Kalidou Koulibaly.

Juventus want Hector Bellerin

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 21: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on January 21, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 21: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on January 21, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

RMC think that Bellerin will leave Arsenal this summer and it has already been reported he has been offered to PSG. Now Juventus fancy a bit.

Ex-Arsenal news

Nigel Winterburn on not selling Rob Holding

7 Aug 1999: Nigel Winterburn and Emmanuel Petit of Arsenal share a joke with referee Alan Wilkie during the FA Carling Premiership match against Leicester City played at Highbury in London, England. The match finished in a 2-1 win to the Arsenal. Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport
7 Aug 1999: Nigel Winterburn and Emmanuel Petit of Arsenal share a joke with referee Alan Wilkie during the FA Carling Premiership match against Leicester City played at Highbury in London, England. The match finished in a 2-1 win to the Arsenal. Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport

Nigel Winterburn doesn’t believe Arsenal should sell Rob Holding as he is the ‘most consistent’ central defender at the club.

Non Arsenal football news and gossip

Manchester United football team captain Harry Maguire (L) leaves a courthouse on the Greek island of Syros, the administrative hub of the Cycladic island group that includes Mykonos on August 22, 2020. - Maguire was released from Greek police custody on August 22, 2020, TV footage showed, pending a hearing on assault charges on the neighbouring island of Mykonos. The £80 million (88 million euros) defender was arrested late on August 20, after what Greek police described as an "altercation" between two groups of British tourists on Mykonos. (Photo by EUROKINISSI / AFP) (Photo by EUROKINISSI/AFP via Getty Images)
Harry Maguire (L) leaves a courthouse on the Greek island of Syros, the administrative hub of the Cycladic island group that includes Mykonos on August 22, 2020. – Maguire was released from Greek police custody on August 22, 2020, TV footage showed, pending a hearing on assault charges on the neighbouring island of Mykonos. The £80 million (88 million euros) defender was arrested late on August 20, after what Greek police described as an “altercation” between two groups of British tourists on Mykonos. (Photo by EUROKINISSI / AFP)
  • Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in prison after his trial on the Greek island of Syros.
  • Maguire has been withdrawn from the England squad by manager Gareth Southgate after being found guilty of assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery.
  • Ronaldinho and his brother, Roberto de Assis, have been released from prison in Paraguay after a judge formally accepted a plea deal the defence team agreed upon earlier this month. The former Barcelona forward and his brother were arrested in March for entering the country with false passports and, a month later, were placed under house arrest at a luxury hotel in the country’s capital, Asuncion, after paying bail of $800,000 each.
  • Real Madrid have won the UEFA Youth League for the first time after club legend Raul Gonzalez coached their Under-19s to a 3-2 victory over Benfica.
  • The UEFA Super Cup could be attended by about 20,000 fans in Budapest as a trial, Europe’s governing body has confirmed.
  • Paris St-Germain and Manchester United are in position to sign Lionel Messi after the Argentine forward, 33, told Barcelona he wants to leave – and both would be willing to pay a fee.
  • Messi decided to hand in a transfer request after he was told “your privileges in the squad are over” by new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman.
  • Striker Jamie Vardy, 33, signed a new contract with Leicester. There are no reports how many times he mentioned he could have signed for Arsenal.
  • Philippe Coutinho would prefer to return to the Premier League than stay with Barcelona – with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea interested in the 28-year-old Brazilian midfielder.
  • All English Football League games will be available to watch from home while matches continue to be played behind closed doors or at limited capacity.
  • Ajax and Netherlands defender Daley Blind collapsed during Tuesday’s pre-season friendly against Hertha Berlin.
  • Leeds United have agreed a deal with Valencia to sign forward Rodrigo Moreno.

You might be wondering why I put the transfer stuff so far down the page when I know that’s why so many of you come to read these updates. Honestly, it’s because these take a looooong time to put together and the longer you’re on the page, the more that helps the site with its rankings. Think of scrolling to the bottom as your way of saying thank you :p

Sometimes you just need all the important Arsenal news, Arsenal injury news, Arsenal club gossip, Arsenal women updates, Arsenal loan news, Arsenal youth news, Arsenal youth gossipex-Arsenal news, Arsenal transfer gossip and main non-Arsenal football news that’s worth reading about all in one, handy to read place.

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