New mega update, 21 August 2020: Auba says no Arsenal paperwork yet, Pat Rice leaves, Gabriel medical, Williams injury & much more

Arsenal have moved closer to the signing of Gabriel Magalhaes, are the only side to make an offer for Houssem Aouar, announced another arrival, launched their away kit, learned who they will play in the first game of the 20/21 season and a few other things.

Lyon's French midfielder Houssem Aouar reacts after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais and Girondins de Bordeaux on November 3, 2018, at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central eastern France. (Photo by Alex MARTIN / AFP)
Lyon’s French midfielder Houssem Aouar reacts after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais and Girondins de Bordeaux on November 3, 2018, at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, central eastern France. (Photo by Alex MARTIN / AFP)

Arsenal news & gossip roundup Mega Update #4

Arsenal news

Kieran Tierney ‘scared’ to go back to Parkhead because of fans

Kieran Tierney (via Arsenal.com)
Kieran Tierney (via Arsenal.com)

Kieran Tierney has revealed on the Keeping the ball on the ground podcast that his house in Glasgow was vandalised with someone spray-painting ‘Judas’ on it.

“Some people make it out to be what it’s not and it’s not that at all.

“Weeks before when Arsenal had bid people were like that “you’re a rat if you go, you’re terrible, you’re never a Celtic fan”.

“I’m like “this is breaking my heart reading this” and as soon as this gets announced it’s going to blow up.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 14: Kieran Tierney of Celtic applauds the fans at the final whistle during the Scottish Cup Semi Final between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 14, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – APRIL 14: Kieran Tierney of Celtic applauds the fans at the final whistle during the Scottish Cup Semi Final between Aberdeen and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 14, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

“And the worst thing I did when it got announced was go on Twitter. Thousands of tweets, threats and all sorts.

“When I went home two days later after signing, there was spray paint on the walls, ‘Judas’ outside my bit.’

Asked if he’d been back to Celtic Park, Tierney replied: “No, I’m scared!”

Premier League fixtures released

Fixtures 1920x1080 1
Arsenal’s 20/21 fixtures via Arsenal.com

Arsenal away kit launched

arsenal away 2021 launched
Arsenal away kit 20/21 launched via Arsenal direct

Arsenal finally released their 20/21 away kit and it looks exactly like the marble/serial killer effect shirt we’d all been expecting.

Kieran Tierney
Kieran Tierney

Willian on Luiz and Arsenal’s Brazilians

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Willian has been speaking about his fellow Brazilians at the club, Gabriel Martinelli, David Luiz and Edu.

Arsenal injury news

No new updates but you can keep up-to-date on all Arsenal injuries and news here.

Arsenal club gossip

Mohamed Elneny wanted but not wanted

Mohamed Elneny with Besiktas (Photo via Nabd.com)
Mohamed Elneny with Besiktas (Photo via Nabd.com)

Mohamed Elneny has returned to Arsenal after his loan spell with Besiktas that didn’t go very well.

It doesn’t seem like he’ll be back for long, however, with a host of clubs in Turkey wanting him.

The Daily Mail report that Elneny impressed on loan at Besiktas despite the fact he was sent off in his first game and suspended for 3 games before spending half the season on trike or threatening to go on strike over pay

Arsenal have, of course, taken his number 4 shirt and given it to William Saliba.

Mesut Ozil back?

Will we ever get to see Mesut wear this on the pitch?
Will we ever get to see Mesut wear this on the pitch?

You could ask why Arsenal would bother getting Mesut Ozil to pose in their new away kit given most think he’ll never wear it.

I’ve a sneaky feeling, however, that with Raul Sanllehi gone, Mikel Arteta might start picking Ozil again…

Arsenal women news

Vivianne Miedema helps launch the kit Arsenal women will wear on Saturday night
Vivianne Miedema helps launch the kit Arsenal women will wear on Saturday night

Arsenal vs PSG Feminines

Arsenal women flew out to Spain on Thursday morning (via Arsenal.com)
Arsenal women flew out to Spain on Thursday morning (via Arsenal.com)

Arsenal continue to prepare for their Champions League quarter-final game against PSG Feminines this weekend.

The squad flew out on Thursday morning looking like a Hannibal Lecter tribute band (wear masks, save lives).

You can view the Arsenal squad here.

Arsenal loan news

Fully up-to-date

Arsenal youth news

Tim Akinola with Huddersfield Town (Photo via Akinola on Instagram)
Tim Akinola with Huddersfield Town (Photo via Akinola on Instagram)

Arsenal announced the signing of central midfielder, Tim Akinola. The 19-year-old had been released by Huddersfield Town on a free transfer.

He will go into the u23s along with George Lewis who was also announced this week.

Arsenal youth gossip

Kayden Harrack with Queens Park Rangers (Photo via Harrack on Instagram)
Kayden Harrack with Queens Park Rangers (Photo via Harrack on Instagram)

Arsenal will reportedly take former Queens Park Rangers teenager Kayden Harrack on trial next week, with West Ham United also in the race for the youngster.

Harrack can play at centre-back or in midfield. It’s probably more likely he would feature in midfield at Arsenal, given the options the academy already have at the back, plus the impending addition of Jonathan Dinzeyi from Spurs.

Arsenal transfer gossip

Lyon's French midfielder Houssem Aouar (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Metz (FC Metz) and Lyon (OL) at Saint Symphorien stadium in Longeville-lès-Metz, eastern France, on February 21, 2020. (Photo by JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP)
Lyon’s French midfielder Houssem Aouar (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Metz (FC Metz) and Lyon (OL) at Saint Symphorien stadium in Longeville-lès-Metz, eastern France, on February 21, 2020. (Photo by JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP)

Arsenal are apparently the only club to make an offer for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, presenting a cash-plus-player deal to the French club.

Gabriel dos Santos Magalhaes of Losc Lille during the during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Valencia CF and Losc Lille at Estadio de Mestalla on November 5, 2019 in Valencia, Spain (Photo by Maria Jose Segovia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Gabriel dos Santos Magalhaes of Losc Lille during the during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Valencia CF and Losc Lille at Estadio de Mestalla on November 5, 2019 in Valencia, Spain (Photo by Maria Jose Segovia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Arsenal appear to be on the verge of sealing Gabriel Magalhaes signing from Lille with multiple outlets reporting the deal being very close to done.

Some even say the contract is agreed and we already know the €30m fee is set, offered and accepted.

That being said, Lille president Gerard Lopez says the club have made a recommendation to Gabriel over whether to choose Arsenal or Napoli implying no decision has been made yet.

And it was reported that he’d had his medical on Thursday.

FERRARA, ITALY - JULY 09: Andrea Petagna of SPAL looks on during the Serie A match between SPAL and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Paolo Mazza on July 09, 2020 in Ferrara, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
FERRARA, ITALY – JULY 09: Andrea Petagna of SPAL looks on during the Serie A match between SPAL and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Paolo Mazza on July 09, 2020 in Ferrara, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Arsenal have ‘come forward’ for Napoli’s Andrea Petagna in recent weeks, according to Calciomercato via Sport Witness. I had no clue who he was and, when, I saw this photo I thought he was about 35. At least.

He’s not, he’s 25. Honest.

Petagna spent last season on loan with SPAL where he played 37 times (36 Serie A) and scored 12 goals (all league) with one assist. He was the 14th highest goalscorer in the Italian league for 19/20, scoring one more than Paul Dybala.

Non Arsenal football news

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: A copy of the new tabloid sized The Guardian newspaper with its new masthead is pictured for sale on January 15, 2018 in Bristol, England. In a cost-cutting move, publisher Guardian News & Media has ditched the distinctive Berliner size after just over 12 years and outsourced the printing of the tabloid to Trinity Mirror. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

From the papers

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur shakes hands with Demarai Gray of Leicester City after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 19, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 19: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur shakes hands with Demarai Gray of Leicester City after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho wants to bring Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale, 31, back to the Premier League club. [Cuatro]

Tottenham want to take Liverpool’s 21-year-old England Under-21 striker Rhian Brewster on loan. [Football Insider]

They also apparently want Ainsley Maitland-Niles:

Paris St-Germain’s 35-year-old Brazil centre-back Thiago Silva, who is leaving the French club after the Champions League final, has been offered to Chelsea. [Telegraph [£]- subscription required]

Agreement on personal terms is holding up 20-year-old England winger Jadon Sancho’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United. [ESPN]

Chelsea will sign Germany midfielder Kai Havertz, 21, on a five-year deal this week if Bayer Leverkusen can reduce the £18m difference in their valuations of the player. [Telegraph [£]

New mega update, 21 August 2020: Auba says no Arsenal paperwork yet, Pat Rice leaves, Gabriel medical, Williams injury & much more