Arteta does a Benitez
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta doubled down as he insisted his team were the Champions League’s best team and told Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique to “look at the stats”.
Arteta was mocked by Enrique for claiming the Gunners were better than PSG — despite losing their semi-final 3-1 on aggregate.
The Spanish tactician — stopping just short of Rafa Benitez’s infamous ‘facts’ rant — reiterated:
I stand by what I said, 100 per cent. I’ve watched it back, seen all the stats.
When you look at all the important stats, the ones that give you the best platform to win football matches, it’s crystal clear who was better.
With an expected goals of five against three, which we had over the two legs, normally you’re in the final.
If you face PSG and they blow you away, you shake hands and say, ‘We’re not ready still’.
When you look them in the eye, suffocate them in the way we did there, you were the better team.
But it’s not about the winning probability, it’s actually making it count.
Mikel Arteta
More on Zubimendi
Arsenal beat interest from Real Madrid to sign Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi.
According to Foot Mercato, incoming Real boss Xabi Alonso wanted to sign Zubimendi.
Alonso has quit Bayer Leverkusen and is expected to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Santiago Bernabeu.
The same source claims the Spanish tactician asked Los Blancos’ president Florentino Perez to sign the defensive midfielder and help Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah follow him to Spain.
Jens Lehmann divorce
Arsenal legend Jen Lehmann’s wife of 25 years has confirmed the couple have divorced.
Lehmann has long lived separated from his former partner, with Conny moving out of their villa in Starnberg before they called it quits.
Speaking to Bild, Conny was reluctant to go into detail about her split with Lehmann, but said: “I’m single. I’m a happy single.”
The pair had met in 1995 before officially getting together in 1999 and marrying in October of that year.
Conny has two children with Lehmann, 24-year-old Mats and 18-year-old Lieselotta.
Lehmann also adopted Conny’s child from a previous relationship with ex-Borussia Dortmund and Germany midfielder, Knut Reinhardt.
Lehmann was caught up in controversy last year when he was fined £112,000 by a Munich court for a chainsaw attack on a neighbour’s garage in September.
He had been accused of using a chainsaw to hack through the roof beams on his neighbour’s garage by Lake Starnberg, which is in the Bavaria region of Germany.
Martin Zubimeni details
Arsenal have “agreed a deal” to sign Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners have finally agreed to meet Zubimendi’s release clause worth a whopping £50million.
The North Londoners will now have to take “formal steps” to meet the midfielder’s expensive asking price.
The Spain international has also reached a verbal agreement with the Premier League giants.
Zubimendi is now set to sign a “long-term” deal and become Arsenal’s first signing of the summer.
Arsenal ‘agree deal’ to sign Martin Zubimendi
SunSport broke this morning that Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Martin Zubimendi.
The Spanish midfielder has a release clause of £50 million, which the Gunners have reportedly triggered.
Zubimendi has also reached a verbal agreement with the Gunners.
Liverpool preparing to swoop for Arsenal target
Liverpool are preparing to target Malick Fofana, who is of interest to the Premier League champions and Arsenal.
Due to financial struggles, Lyon have to listen to offers for their top stars, Fofana being one, and are looking to secure his signature for less than the €50 million asking price.
The Gunners are prioritising their attack this window, with Gyokeres, Leao and Williams all on their radar for the summer.
Fofana has impressed with 11 goals and five assists this season, and is one to watch is Arsenal fail to land their top targets.
However, Liverpool have stepped up their efforts in acquiring the signature of Fofana, with the future of their key stars in doubt.
Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota’s futures at the club are in serious doubt at the moment, so Liverpool will need to strengthen up top.
