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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes claims Arsenal are making £51m transfer mistake

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Paul Scholes has cast doubt on Arsenal’s decision to pursue Martin Zubimendi in a £51 million transfer deal from Real Sociedad. The former Manchester United midfielder questioned not only the Spaniard’s overall quality but also his potential fit within Mikel Arteta’s system at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have long been in discussions with Zubimendi, with the 26-year-old seen as a top priority for Arteta ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

Talks have been ongoing for months, and there were concerns within the club that Real Madrid might swoop in for the midfielder.

However, recent reports indicate that Zubimendi has now agreed to personal terms with the Gunners and is expected to complete his move once the window officially opens.

With veteran midfielder Jorginho likely to leave north London and Thomas Partey also rumored to be on the move, Arsenal are looking to reshape their midfield. Zubimendi is believed to be earmarked for a deep-lying role, providing defensive cover while allowing Declan Rice more freedom to push forward.

Despite Arteta’s vision, Scholes isn’t convinced the move makes sense. Speaking on The Overlap, he questioned whether there’s even a real need for the Spanish international.

Scholes said he believes Rice is more than capable of playing as a defensive midfielder and doesn’t view him as a natural attacking option, as many suggest.

Recalling a past performance, Scholes pointed to a Europa League match where Zubimendi faced Manchester United and didn’t leave a strong impression.

On the other hand, Gary Neville offered a completely different perspective. The former United captain and pundit praised Zubimendi’s qualities and supported Arsenal’s pursuit of the Spanish international.

He argued that Arsenal still lack a midfielder who can dictate the tempo and maintain control in high-pressure games. In Neville’s view, even though Rice and Partey are strong players, neither excels in terms of receiving and distributing the ball under pressure in the same way Jorginho does.

Zubimendi brings with him experience from over 200 appearances for Real Sociedad, as well as a European Championship title with Spain from Euro 2024. Neville believes this pedigree could be exactly what Arsenal need to unlock their midfield’s potential and add composure in key moments.

In addition to Zubimendi, Arteta is targeting a new striker to elevate the team’s attacking options. The Gunners have shown interest in several forwards, including Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, and Liam Delap.

The need for a new presence up front has become pressing as Arsenal have now gone five consecutive seasons without silverware. Their second-place position in the Premier League is under threat with just two matches left, and stiff competition from Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa.

Arsenal face a tough test against a resurgent Newcastle side this weekend before ending their campaign with a match against bottom-of-the-table Southampton. With significant changes expected in the summer, Arteta’s squad could look quite different by the time the next season kicks off.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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