Arsenal fans are convinced Declan Rice will join the club in a summer transfer after a clip from the England camp emerged.

Rice, 24, is in the Three Lions squad that met at St George’s Park yesterday ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.

The West Ham skipper rocked up with a fresh new trim – and Gunners supporters are hoping to see him in a fresh new kit come the new season.

Viewers watching the England arrivals video on YouTube spotted the warm embrace Rice gave Bukayo Saka when he rocked up.

Saka, 21, walked into the room and immediately Rice gave him banter about his recent celebrity phone calls.

Rice shouted: “He’s been on FaceTime with Kim Kardashian bruv, he doesn’t want us anymore.”

The winger laughed and replied: “Do you want me to say hello to you or not?”

Rice then gave him a big smile and a massive hug, telling Saka: “It’s good to see you my friend.”

Luke Shaw and Declan Rice joking about Bukayo Saka FaceTiming Kim Kardashian 😂 pic.twitter.com/BHrpLAPpoc

— utdreport (@utdreport) March 21, 2023

Luke Shaw then welcomes Saka, too.

But plenty of Arsenal fans clipped the video of the touching moment with the West Ham midfielder and want to see more of the same in 2023-24.

One said: “Saka and Rice bromance already okkk.”

Another joked: “Saka: Welcome to Arsenal, Rice. Rice: Thank you, Saka.”

A third added: “You can tell how much every player loves Saka, can’t wait for Rice to be at the Arsenal next season.”

And a final user wrote: “Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka is the bromance we want to see flourish at the Arsenal.”

Rice has rejected the offer of a new contract at the London Stadium.

Keen to stay in London and play in the Champions League, Arsenal could be the suitable next destination for one of the Premier League’s top midfielders.

And Rice will no doubt have the likes of Saka and fellow Gunner Aaron Ramsdale working as Mikel Arteta’s agents to try and convince him to make the switch across the capital.

Declan Rice looks very happy around Bukayo Saka and Ian Wright 👀🔴pic.twitter.com/xO0VC7IjnP

— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) March 22, 2023

Tags: Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Chelsea, Declan Rice, West Ham

Arsenal and Sporting played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday night in Portugal, setting up the second clash in north London nicely.

Mikel Arteta made a string of changes to his starting XI, bringing in the likes of Matt Turner in goal and handing Jakub Kiwior a debut in defence.

Things seemed to be going to plan for the Premier League leaders when William Saliba headed in the opener early on, but a similar header from a corner saw the home side level up through Goncalo Inacio just after the half-hour mark.

The second half was excellent, with both teams really going for it and the match not feeling like the first leg of a tie as the action went end-to-end.

Sporting got their noses in front as Paulinho pounced on a rebound from a Turner save to delight the home fans, but Arsenal levelled again just past the hour, with Hidemasa Morita very unlucky to turn a Granit Xhaka pass into his own goal.

Arsenal will clearly be favourites to progress with the scores level as they prepare for their home leg, but Sporting proved how dangerous they can be and will be a threat again at the Emirates.

It was a low-key start to the game, with Arsenal not at their fluent best due to a number of fringe players coming into the starting XI.

However, they didn’t need a well-worked move or piece of brilliance to open the scoring on 22 minutes, just a well delivered cross and a nicely-timed header.

Fabio Vieira sent an in-swinging corner to the edge of the six-yard box, where William Saliba easily rose above his marker to nod home and put the visitors ahead.

That goal looked all too simple for the Gunners, but Sporting did the same to them 12 minutes later when Goncalo Inacio headed in a Marcus Edwards corner.

It was poor from goalkeeper Matt Turner, on a rare start for the American as he failed to come for the cross, while debutant Jakub Kiwior did not exactly cover himself in glory as he ducked away from the cross.

The pre-season friendly vibe of the start of the game had disappeared and it was becoming a spicy affair, with clashes around the field and three players going in the referee’s book by half-time.

The second half started brightly, with Turner forced into an early stage, but Arsenal also had chances to retake the lead through Gabriel Martinelli and Vieira, the first well saved and the second flashing wide.

Arsenal were starting to dominate but it was Sporting who found themselves in front just 10 minutes into the second half through Paulinho.

Smart work from Edwards played in Pedro Goncalves, who forced a smart save from Turner but Paulinho was quickest to react and poke home.

It was end-to-end stuff despite there being so long left in the tie, with Martinelli bursting through, rounding the goalkeeper but then losing the ball to the speedy Jeremiah St. Juste, while Paulinho had another chance but fired high and wide.

Just after the hour mark Arsenal were level and it was through a huge slice of fortune as Granit Xhaka tried to play in Martinelli and saw his pass cannon off Hidemasa Morita and agonisingly find the corner of the Japanese defender’s own goal.

After the high energy start to the second half, things cooled down somewhat towards the end of the game, with both teams seemingly pretty happy with a draw and substitutions disrupting the flow.

The final whistle came with the scores still at 2-2, with Bukayo Saka forcing a comfortable save late on from Antonio Adan, but few chances coming in the closing stages.

While it is a good result for the Portuguese side, they will have a tough test ahead of them in north London on 16 March, especially as they picked up two suspensions on Thursday night.

Captain Sebastian Coates and the unfortunate scorer of the own goal, Morita, both picked up yellow cards and will miss the trip to England.

Photo Credit: EuropaLeague/Twitter

Tags: Arsenal, Europa League, Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka confirmed that his most recent goal celebration was a tribute to Thierry Henry.

Saka helped the Gunners beat Aston Villa 4-2 in a dramatic encounter at Villa Park as he was the one that equalised after Ollie Watkins’ early opener.

The best lard in modern football 🤪we love you Saka 🪴🎂 pic.twitter.com/7toK8tjrH6

— Jakisa Timothy (@JakisaTimothy) February 19, 2023

The winger then celebrated by placing his right hand on the corner flag and his left on his hip while basking in his glory.

Tags: Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Thierry Henry

Manchester United overcame Arsenal in the Premier League clash on Thursday at Old Trafford, beating their rivals 3-2.

Manchester Evening News rates the Red Devils’ peformances:

David de Gea

Prone for the goal when he then sprinted at Martin Atkinson to protest the goal. Good save at 1-1 was vital. 6

Diogo Dalot

Acquitted himself well and his positioning was key to United generating momentum. Always offered United an attacking outlet and key pass for Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal. 8

Victor Lindelof

Often looked uncomfortable at set-pieces and against United’s fluency but there was an occasional key header and defending improves as game progressed. 7

Harry Maguire

Stepped up literally at times to supplement the attack and his passing between the lines was impressive at times. Defended stoutly. 7

Alex Telles

Blemished an otherwise positive performance by being dragged too far inside, leaving Gabriel Martinelli free to find Emile Smith Rowe. 6

Scott McTominay

Put himself about and that aggression gave an exasperated crowd encouragement. More withdrawn in the second-half to shield the back four. 7

Fred

Erred time and again, be it a stray pass or a foul – on an opponent and De Gea. Recovered to tee up Bruno Fernandes. Off the pace when Martin Odegaard struck. Then won a penalty. 7

Jadon Sancho

Sancho was never short of endeavour all night and his surge into the area led to the equaliser and sparked United’s recovery. 6

Bruno Fernandes

Erratic and sloppy but kept going and coolly levelled just before half-time to herald the momentum swing. 6

Marcus Rashford

Rarely looked happy on the right but showed good vision to pick out Ronaldo for United’s second goal when Fernandes was freer. Came off first. 6

Cristiano Ronaldo

Had an appalling first-half and was immediately more threatening in the second when Aaron Ramsdale denied him. Then Ronaldo beat him. And then beat him again. 8

Subs

Jesse Lingard

Offered energy. 5

Anthony Martial

Bought a key foul. 6

Donny van de Beek

Late cameo. N/A

Manager

The formation was questionable in principle but once United rumbled Arsenal’s playing-out-from-the-back approach they had joy and deservedly won. 7

Photo Credit: ManUtd/Twitter

Tags: Arsenal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United

Thierry Henry has expressed his apprehension over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s likely departure in the summer, saying he would be difficult to replace if he left Arsenal.

Aubameyang has been linked with a move away from Arsenal over the past six months, with his contract expiring in the summer of 2021.

Chelsea are one of the top European clubs angling to sign the Gabon international in the summer.

Henry wants Aubameyang to stay at Arsenal – but admits he would understand if he chose to leave the club instead after doing the same thing himself as a player.

He told Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp on Thursday’s The Football Show: “Everybody will do what they have to do. How am I going to tell someone to stay when I left? As an Arsenal fan, you want him to stay, but as a football player, he will assess the situation with his family, with his dad who I know also and will see what’s the best for them.

“If you’re an Arsenal man, you don’t want him to leave but also the guy has a career. I don’t know what’s in his head and where he wants to go, but all I know is that we are definitely going to miss his goals if he does leave. He does score goals and if you take the goals of Aubameyang away, it’s a tough one.

“I respect the decisions of people, I respect what they have to go through and what dream or desire they have but any Arsenal fan would be crazy to say he should leave. We don’t want him to leave but on the other side, you have to understand that the guy may need to see something else.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Lampard is interested in bringing Aubameyang to the club after another impressive campaign for Arsenal.

According to Bleacher Report, Lampard is tempted to make a move Aubameyang for two significant reasons.

Firstly, the Chelsea manager believes he could secure his signing for a similar price that it would cost to bring in Moussa Dembele from Lyon.

And secondly, Aubameyang would add some crucial experience to Lampard’s youthful squad as they look to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City above them.

Tags: Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Thierry Henry

Arsenal have terminated the appointment of Unai Emery and his coaching team after the spate of poor outings by the team.

The Gunners were beaten at home last night by Eintracht Frankfurt after Daichi Kamada’s brilliant double earned the Germans an away victory in the Europa League clash.

Emery came into the match having failed to lead his team to victory in their previous six outings, and defeat made it their longest winless run since February 1992.

Josh Kroenke, on behalf of Arsenal Board, said: “Our most sincere thanks go to Unai and his colleagues who were unrelenting in their efforts to get the club back to competing at the level we all expect and demand. We wish Unai and his team nothing but future success.”

A club statement read: “The decision has been taken due to results and performances not being at the level required.

“We have asked Freddie Ljungberg to take responsibility for the first team as interim head coach. We have full confidence in Freddie to take us forward.

“The search for a new head coach is underway and we will make a further announcement when that process is complete.”

Tags: Arsenal, Unai Emery

Emmanuel Petit has thrown his weight behind Frank Lampard over his decision to sell David Luiz.

According to the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder, the Blues will not live to regret offloading the Brazilian to the Gunners.

The 32-year-old was offloaded after Frank Lampard made it clear that Luiz wasn’t guaranteed a starting spot.

Petit said: “The fact that David Luiz left the club the way he did tells me that Lampard told him he was not going to feature regularly in his team.

“Luiz is 32 years old, and Lampard knows what he’s like as a player and was fine with showing him the door – I don’t think that’s the issue here.

“For me, it should have been done earlier and that’s the problem. I’m not very happy seeing players moving clubs when the competitions are starting, it just causes trouble.

“But for me, Lampard sent a clear message to Luiz by showing him the door, that he is not his priority, so I doubt he regrets his decision.”

Tags: Arsenal, Chelsea, David Luiz, Emmanuel Petit, Frank Lampard