It’s Friday and there’s not that much going on but we still have time for Gabriel Magalhaes’ Arsenal medical, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saying he hasn’t received any paperwork to sign, Lydia Williams undergoing surgery, Arsene Wenger on Serge Gnabry, Sokratis becoming a Papa, and more…

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on January 7, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 07: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on January 7, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

All the juicy transfer gossip and updates (men, women, youth) are at the bottom, just before the ex-Arsenal and general football updates.

Below, you will also find Arsenal news (men, women, youth), Arsenal injury news (men, women, youth), Arsenal club gossip, and Arsenal loan news.

Arsenal news & gossip roundup, Mega Update #5

Arsenal news (men)

Arsenal are getting rid of Pat Rice and Stewart Houston

pat rice
Arsenal’s Assistant Coach Pat Rice is carried by the players at the final whistle after he announced he was retiring from his position during an English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns on May 13, 2012 (IAN KINGTON/AFP/GettyImages)

Pat Rice along and Stewart Houston’s long association with Arsenal is coming to an end as part of the club’s behind-the-scenes restructuring.

According to The Athletic, Rice is no longer needed in his role as a video scout, bringing the curtain down on a 56-year association with the Gunners. Houston, who worked as assistant manager alongside George Graham, had been working as a scout and, as you know, Arsenal don’t use those any more.

Rice made 528 appearances for Arsenal after joining as an apprentice in 1964. He then served as Arsene Wenger’s assistant manager for 16 years before cancer forced him to step down.

Rice helped oversee an Arsenal side that won three Premier Leagues and four FA Cups.

Adidas designer explains thinking behind 20/21 away kit

AWAY LUIZ LACAZETTE AUBAMEYANG

Speaking exclusively to Football.London, Adidas creative James Webb said: “Season in, season out we want to keep things fresh and keep people guessing. We don’t want to become too predictable.”

Asked about the reasoning behind Arsenal’s newly-released white away strip, Webb said: “The seasonal direction being ‘United By Art and Football’, it made sense to link the Art Deco period with season two [of Adidas’ kit deal].

“From that, you can’t have the Art Deco of the East Stand [at Highbury] without the Marble Halls so that’s why we went in the white direction.

“Equally, we could have toned down the graphic but we wanted a bold, progressive movement, that punk mentality that’s so unpredictable in setting Arsenal aside from all other clubs in the UK and hopefully the rest of the world.

“The marble is going to be a huge talking point because of the contrast with the graphic itself. We felt comfortable delivering that jersey for the fans because, ultimately, the story is going to sell itself, it’s something the fans will resonate with and it’s quite a unique identity for Arsenal.”

mesut ozil why so stupid 1
5 years on: The Mesut Ozil Conundrum

Arsenal injury news (men, youth)

Gabriel Martinelli after surgery
Gabriel Martinelli after surgery

No new updates but you can keep up-to-date on all Arsenal injuries and news here.

Arsenal injury news (women)

Lydia Williams injured her ankle during pre-season and has since undergone surgery. The surgery went well and she is working hard on her rehabilitation at the club. She is expected to return in the coming months. Everyone at the club wishes Lydia a speedy recovery.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 26: Lydia Williams of the Matildas looks on as FIFA announce the hosts to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the FFA Offices on June 26, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s Lydia Williams has undergone surgery to correct a problem with her ankle, ruling her out of action for the next number of months. Fran Stenson will step in to replace Williams as reserve keeper for the Champions League quarter final match against PSG Feminines on Saturday.

Arsenal club gossip

Arsenal teasing

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his sides second goal during the Heads Up FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 01, 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 Adam Davy/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 01: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his sides second goal during the Heads Up FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 01, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Adam Davy/Pool via Getty Images)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Arsenal dropped more hints that they’re set to announce a contract extension for him imminently.

The S*n, however, are reporting that Auba says the club have still NOT given him a new deal to sign which seems like a bit of a stretch.

“Everyone is showing the pen & paper [emoji] but I still don’t have the papers bruv!” he said in an Instagram live.

He signed off by saying, “Have a good night, enjoy and hopefully great news for everybody.”

Arsenal have an agreement with Aubameyang for a new deal, they just need to get it drafted by their lawyers, his lawyers need to check it and then he will have the papers bruv!

Sokratis changes his mind, wants to leave

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal speaks with David Luiz of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on September 30, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal speaks with David Luiz of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on September 30, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

With just one year left on his current deal and an apparent lack of desire to leave, the Greek defender is now apparently looking for a way out after a phonecall from Mikel Arteta.

Napoli are already interested.

Papa has also become a papa…

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1296552642269806592

The S*n think Hector has been smoking

sun bellerin
via The Sun

With just a picture of an unlit cig in his mouth the S*n have splashed it all over their website. He’s on holiday with his parents. He’s an adult. It’s not illegal to smoke.

What’s the story here?

Arsenal women news

caitlin foord arsena
Caitlin Foord

Arsenal women continue to prepare for their Champions League quarter final match against PSG Feminines on Saturday with a series of interviews with Caitlin Foord.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Foord spoke about settling in at Arsenal, Lia Walti, PSG, playing under pressure in hot conditions and much more.

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.

Arsenal youth news

Kayden Harrack

Kayden Harrack with Queens Park Rangers (Photo via Harrack on Instagram)
Kayden Harrack with Queens Park Rangers (Photo via Harrack on Instagram)

Arsenal have offered trial to ex-QPR teenager, Kayden Harrack, next week.

Ex-Arsenal news

West Ham reportedly ‘looking to offload Jack Wilshere’ this summer

NEWPORT, WALES - AUGUST 27: Jack Wilshere of West Ham United acknowledges the fans after the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Newport County and West Ham United at Rodney Parade on August 27, 2019 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
NEWPORT, WALES – AUGUST 27: Jack Wilshere of West Ham United acknowledges the fans after the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Newport County and West Ham United at Rodney Parade on August 27, 2019 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

The Hammers ‘will offer to make up remainder of wages’ if team takes him on for less than current £100,000 per-week salary [Daily Mail]

Arsene Wenger on Serge Gnabry

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 01: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Muenchen at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League group B match between Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Muenchen at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger has been speaking about his regrets when it comes to Serge Gnabry.

Arsenal let him leave when they desperately wanted him to stay and there’s so much to this story that most people don’t know. Like his serious knee injuries that put a question mark over his playing future, which was the reason Arsenal delayed renewing his contract, or Bayern Munich signing him directly from Arsenal via a back door, something even the media and Wenger said happened.

“Let’s not forget Gnabry, I bought him at the age of 15 from Stuttgart and he was injured a lot,” Wenger told beIN SPORTS after Bayern beat Lyon in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday evening.

“He’s creative, he can score goals, right-footed, left-footed, good power, good penetration, very, very clever with the timing of his runs. His tendency was a bit too easy, like I told you about with young, talented players.

“But he has matured a lot and he is one of the dominant players now in Germany.

Hector Bellerin and Serge Gnabry with Arsenal
Hector Bellerin and Serge Gnabry with Arsenal

“No, no [I didn’t want to let him go]. We had an agreement with him. I had given him out on loan to West Brom and he didn’t play a game, came back, he was injured.

“We worked with him very hard for six months and he went out with the German national team under-21s. Bayern made a deal with Bremen and in the end he didn’t want to extend the contract [at Arsenal].”

Could you imagine if this had been a Liverpool youngster?

We’d still be hearing about it. As it stands, Arsenal are just idiots for letting him go according to the vast majority of the media, even though they did all the could to keep him and the player really did owe Arsenal more loyalty than he showed.

Gnabry says, however, in his heart, he wanted to stay with Arsenal.

Arsenal transfer gossip

Gabriel has reportedly has his Arsenal medical

Gabriel dos Santos Magalhaes of Losc Lille during the during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Valencia CF and Losc Lille at Estadio de Mestalla on November 5, 2019 in Valencia, Spain (Photo by Maria Jose Segovia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Gabriel dos Santos Magalhaes of Losc Lille during the during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Valencia CF and Losc Lille at Estadio de Mestalla on November 5, 2019 in Valencia, Spain (Photo by Maria Jose Segovia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

That’s according to the Manchester Evening News. We reported he was set to have one yesterday.

A number of outlets then followed suit with the Daily Mail saying on Saturday morning that Gabriel Magalhaes ‘completes Arsenal medical’ ahead of move to the Emirates from Lille ‘but Serie A giants Napoli still remain hopeful of late hijack for the Brazilian defender.’

Non Arsenal football news

BERLIN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 17: (L-R) Laureus Ambassador Fabio Capello, Arsene Wenger,Former Head Coach Jill Ellis of the Laureus World Team of the Year nominee USA Women's Football Team, Laureus Academy Member Ruud Gullit during the Football Coaches discussion at the Mercedes Benz Building prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards on February 17, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images for Laureus)
BERLIN, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: (L-R) Laureus Ambassador Fabio Capello, Arsene Wenger,Former Head Coach Jill Ellis of the Laureus World Team of the Year nominee USA Women’s Football Team, Laureus Academy Member Ruud Gullit during the Football Coaches discussion at the Mercedes Benz Building prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards on February 17, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images for Laureus)

Ruud Gullit is keen on taking Netherlands job after Ronald Koeman’s departure for Barcelona. It had been reported that Arsene Wenger had personally requested the Dutch job after saying no to Barcelona, but the Frenchman denied those rumours.

“If the national team comes and they ask you, of course (I would take it). It is an honourable job and I think every Dutchman who gets an offer like that would consider it,” Gullit told BeIN Sports.

Manchester United’s Harry Maguire is in a bit of bother

https://twitter.com/delpieri/status/1296738283997859841?s=20

Quick hits

The Daily Mail reports Michael Ballack is recovering well after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour during the coronavirus lockdown period.