Four former Arsenal players have recently been making headlines for various reasons, from career shifts to financial struggles and injuries.
David Luiz, who had stints with both Chelsea and Arsenal, suffered a serious sprain to his right ankle during Flamengo’s 2-0 victory against Cruzeiro.
Luiz was stretchered off in what were described as emotional scenes with the player in tears.
Following initial scans, a fracture was ruled out.
The Brazilian defender will miss Flamengo’s next two matches as he continues his treatment.
Luiz, who has had a decorated career winning the Premier League and Champions League with Chelsea and the FA Cup with Arsenal, returned to his home country in 2021 after his contract with the Gunners came to an end.
Meanwhile, in Poland, ex-Arsenal and Germany forward Lukas Podolski is facing a financial crisis at his current club, Gornik Zabrze.
According to German media outlet Bild, the club has significant financial difficulties and players haven’t been paid for two months.
Podolski is said to have offered a loan of £175,000, which was declined by the club.
Gornik Zabrze are awaiting approximately £1.5 million from the sale of Szymon Włodarczyk to Sturm Graz, expected to come through by the end of the month.
Currently 15th in an 18-team league, just a point above the relegation zone, the 38-year-old Podolski has scored once and provided one assist in 11 appearances this season.
Nicklas Bendtner, another former Gunner, has revealed aspirations of becoming the national coach for Denmark.
The 35-year-old retired striker stated that to take up this role, he would have to relinquish his current position as the host of a Danish TV prank show, “Nicklas Pranker”.
Bendtern told the Stolpe Ind podcast: “I would love to be the national coach. Love, love, love.
“There would be speed across the pitch, and we would play 4-3-3 regardless of which players we use.
“A 4-3-3 formation, we would just drive forward, and that is attacking football.
“I have the A coaching licence. But in order for me to progress on to the Pro Licence I have to be affiliated with a club.
“I will have to do that at some point. But right now I am having my ‘acting career’.”
This comes amid increasing pressure on current Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand, whose team is struggling to qualify for Euro 2024.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has recently moved to Turkish side Besiktas, spoke in an interview about the different approaches he observed during his six years at Arsenal compared to his time at Liverpool.
He revealed: “At Arsenal, we always went into those big games thinking, ‘This is going to be really tough’.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain contrasted this with his experience at Liverpool where he said, “there was this unbelievable complete and utter focus where there was nothing else happening but us winning the game.”
Despite achieving success at Liverpool with Premier League and Champions League titles, he admitted that the Arsenal squad often fell short in high-stakes situations, although they did manage to secure three FA Cups during his time at the club.