Fans fume at Lewis-Skelly snub
Arsenal fans are not happy that William Saliba beat Myles Lewis-Skelly to a PFA Young Player of the Year nomination.
One claimed: “It should be Under-21 players only.”
Another added: “They really need to rethink the ‘Young’ Player of the Season. Because not having Lewis-Skelly but having 24-year-old Saliba makes no sense.”
And a third wrote: “They need a Rookie of the Year award to go along side this for newcomers/younger players.”
Lewis-Skelly snubbed
Arsenal fans have demanded a rule change to the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award.
The eight stars nominated for this season’s accolade have been announced with Myles Lewis-Skelly missing out.
But to the surprise of Arsenal supporters, 24-year-old William Saliba made the cut instead.
Liam Delap (Ipswich), Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Joao Pedro (Brighton) and Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) complete the list of nominees.
Viktor Gyokeres transfer latest
Arsenal are set to make Viktor Gyokeres one of their highest earners – and could land him for just £60million.
The Gunners are among a host of Europe’s elite chasing the prolific Swede striker.
Gyokeres, 26, has scored 95 goals in 100 games since joining Sporting Lisbon from Coventry City.
The forward cost the Portuguese club £16.8m in the summer of 2023.
And reports suggest Sporting have already agreed a price with Arsenal for one of their top targets.
New sporting director Andrea Berta has placed Gyokeres high on his wishlist as the Gunners look to overhaul their attack.
The Mirror report that there is already an agreement in place on price between the two clubs.
The £60m fee represents a lower figure than the £85m release clause included in the forward’s contract.
But that price tag “could go higher” if clubs pile in for a bidding war in the summer, with Manchester United among those tracking Gyokeres.
Nasri’s Man Utd regrets
Patrice Evra has claimed Samir Nasri regretted snubbing Manchester United in 2011 – despite having just won the Premier League title with rivals City.
Nasri, 37, spent three years with Arsenal before a high-profile move north to Manchester City.
Speaking on the SDS podcast, Evra said: “[Nasri] agreed the terms [with United] and everything [in 2011]. I remember we were going into pre-season and I was on holiday. I text him and say ‘Samir, what time you coming? We can go to training together’.
“There was no answer. I then saw Alex Ferguson, he said, ‘Did you see what your French boy did? He said, ‘He’s going to sign for City’. I said, ‘No boss, you’re joking.”
The attacking midfielder won the Prem in his first season with the club.
Evra continued: “I remember I saw him after they were celebrating [winning the league]. I asked him, ‘You are happy? You made the right choice?’ He said, ‘I made a mistake. I should have signed for United’.”
Arsenal numbers game
Ethan Nwaneri has been given a new shirt number ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Nwaneri has worn the number 53 shirt this season, in which he’s scored nine goals and provided two assists in 36 appearances in all competitions.
But he’ll don a different number for the 25/26 campaign after one of his team-mates vacated their current number.
Nwaneri will be Arsenal’s new number 22 next season, taking the shirt from goalkeeper David Raya, who has taken the No1 jersey.
The Emirates faithful will hope the number 22 shirt will bring Nwaneri the same good fortune it did Invincible Gael Clichy.
The shirt, however, has had a chequered past in recent years, being worn by flops Yaya Sanogo, Denis Suarez and Pablo Mari.
Lewis-Skelly on new kit
Myles Lewis-Skelly appears to be a big fan of Arsenal’s home kit.
The homegrown ace said: “I love our new kit, it looks fresh — I’m excited to wear this in front of our incredible supporters.
“Their energy lifts us and when we step out in the shirt, we feel it more than ever.”
Lewis-Skelly has also suggested that he will keep the No49 shirt, by captioning his kit release post on Instagram with “49”.
His team-mates David Raya and Ethan Nwaneri have opted to change their numbers to 1 and 22 respectively.
