Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta has praised Nicolas Pepe's attitude at Arsenal but says the winger needed to head out on loan to play the minutes he craves.

When asked if the £72m fee paid by the Gunners in 2019 weighed heavy on the winger, Arteta said: "I think Nico has tried to deal with that in the best possible way. He is not responsible for the price that a club pays for him.

"He has tried everything, his attitude is just phenomenal. You have to meet the person because you have to love him for the way he is.

"But in terms of the decisions you have to make on the pitch and who you have to select, we have made other decisions and obviously that has had an impact in the chances he has had to prove his quality.

"It has now been three years since he joined the club and he has some very good moments, some others where he hasn’t really contributed that much to the team in terms of minutes.

"We have decided for every party that it was the best decision to allow him to go. He needs to play minutes, he needs to play football and he was really adamant to do that."

On whether Pepe's exit means Arsenal will bring in a replacement before the transfer window ends, Arteta said: "If we can implement the plan that we have we will try to do it.

"In the plan that (Pepe leaving) was something that could happen, now it’s a reality. We have been preparing the last two months in order to achieve what we want. Whether that’s possible or not we will see."

Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Arsenal's match against Fulham tomorrow.

Here are the key lines:

• Arteta says "for every party it was the best decision" to allow Nicolas Pepe to go out on loan because "he needs to play football".

• On whether Pepe will be replaced in this transfer window, he said: "We have been preparing the last two months in order to achieve what we want. Whether that’s possible or not we will see."

• He said "we are compliant and have heard nothing" after reports Uefa are looking at Arsenal for Financial Fair Play breaches.

• On Saturday being his 100th Premier League game in charge, he said: "It’s such a privilege to be in this football club reaching that number."

• Hector Bellerin is one of a number of players "still discussing their futures".

• Everyone except Reiss Nelson is available to face Fulham.

Follow Friday's Premier League manager news conferences

Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, 22, is on Jose Mourinho's midfield shortlist at AS Roma as he looks to replace the injured Gini Wijnaldum. (AS Roma Live, via Express), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Ainsley Maitland-Niles "just needs to play football" after the Arsenal midfielder was linked with moves to Southampton, Bournemouth and West Ham.

That's the view of Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards as he weighs up what next for an England international whose career has stalled over the past two seasons.

"I can't quite believe he is still at Arsenal," Edwards told the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast. "He's been on the fringes of the first team there since 2016 and never really made it.

"But there is a really good player there with talent, ability and quality. He needs to move."

Southampton and Bournemouth have been mooted as destinations for a season-long loan with Maitland-Niles entering the final year of his contract.

"I think it's likely he'll end up at one of them," said Edwards. "He just needs to go and play football and I hope he can go on to have the career we thought he would have when he was 20."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles. (Mail), external

Southampton and Bournemouth are also discussing a possible deal for Maitland-Niles, with the Gunners potentially open to a loan move with an option to buy. (TalkSport), external

Meanwhile, Arsenal are not expected to move for Lucas Paqueta from Lyon, despite reports they were interested. (Express), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Alex Howell, BBC Sport football reporter

Arsenal are now the only team in the Premier League with a 100% record after their first three games.

The Gunners have come up against teams they would be expected to beat if they are to get into the Champions League, which is their aim this season.

However, the manner in which they have got the wins is what has really caught the eye. They’ve scored nine goals and only conceded two, which shows the additions they have made all over the pitch are having the effect Mikel Arteta hoped for.

The match against Bournemouth was a perfect example of that. William Saliba helped keep a clean sheet and scored an excellent goal, Oleksandr Zinchenko was impressive, and Gabriel Jesus caused havoc and created space for Martin Odegaard - who scored two goals in the game.

There will be tougher matches to come against the traditional 'big six’, but the games against the mid and lower-placed teams is where Arsenal have slipped up in previous years.

Although it’s only three games into this campaign, it shows the club has prepared well for the challenges ahead.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko says he "can't wait" to watch all the games in the Ukrainian Premier League after the competition resumed for the first time since the Russian invasion six months ago.

Shakhtar Donetsk and Metalist 1925 Kharkiv were the first teams to take to the field in an act of defiance and an attempt to raise the spirits of a nation.

Speaking to the Arsenal website, Zinchenko said: "It’s important for the country and all Ukrainian people because nobody was ready for this situation. People are still suffering and we need to fight every single day everywhere, but we need to keep going, live our lives and carry on.

"People deserve the lives they had before. I’d like to say a massive thanks to the Ukrainian Federation, and president Zelensky who said we needed to play our competition in Ukraine.

"I know it’s not going to have the best facilities but we need to keep going and that’s the most important thing for all Ukrainians. I can’t wait and I’ll watch all the games if it’s possible.

"It’s difficult for me to imagine how it’s going to be. There could be a siren and the players need to stop at some point, but it’s so important to show the rest of the world that the Ukrainian people don’t give up, and in any situation, they carry on. It’s all about our people."

• Arsenal haven't lost any of their 30 home games against Fulham in all competitions.

• Fulham have won just one of their past 15 Premier League matches against the Gunners - with that coming in January 2012 at Craven Cottage.

• Arsenal are the only Premier League side with a 100% win record after three games. They have won their opening four matches of a top-flight season only four times before.

• The Cottagers are still unbeaten in the league this season - and have only avoided defeat in their first four games of a top-flight campaign once, in 2010-11.

Barcelona are interested in signing Arsenal's 27-year-old Spanish right-back Hector Bellerin. (Sport), external

Wolves' Portugal winger Pedro Neto, 22, is tempted to join Arsenal but a potential £50m move depends on whether the Gunners' Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe, 27, completes a loan move to Nice. (Express), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Oli Price-Bates, The Fresh Arsenal podcast, external

Arsenal flew out the traps in the Bournemouth game. The first half was perhaps the most dominant we’ve seen from this team in a Premier League away game for years. The confidence is flowing.

The Gunners always had a favourable start to the season, but the fact that three games in they are the only team still boasting a 100% record highlights how no game is easy in this league and their performances to date do deserve plaudits.

But, with just over a week left in the transfer market, Arsenal must be alert to off-field opportunities and not settle, despite their fast start.

Bigger tests are to come and Mikel Arteta will want to ensure they’ve built a squad capable of competing in the Premier League and Europe before the fixtures and inevitable injuries begin to pile up.

Attacking depth and another quality central midfielder should now be the focus. The Premier League proven strategy has worked well to date, so perhaps Youri Tielemans and Pedro Neto could be the final jigsaw pieces.

After the 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday, two Arsenal goalscorers have made it into Garth Crooks' team of the week.

William Saliba

He was impressive in Arsenal's opening fixture, scored an own goal in the following game and netted his first goal in English football in the next. Saliba certainly knows how to make an impact.

It's one thing helping your team keep a clean sheet away from home but then to go hunting for goals at the same time is enough to make me sit up and take notice. For a defender he certainly knows how to score a goal. His finish against a Bournemouth side, who on this occasion appeared totally out of their depth, was quite brilliant.

Martin Odegaard

There is something rather cultured about Odegaard's game. He never seems too rushed and he is very comfortable on the ball. His second goal against Bournemouth was considerably better than his first even though both his goals were created by the brilliantly rejuvenated Gabriel Jesus.

Mikel Arteta has made a good choice in appointing Odegaard has his new club captain. The calm and unexcitable Norwegian seems to have a very different temperament to the likes of the recently departed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Granit Xhaka. Both of whom have worn the captain's armband in the past but not, I'm afraid, with any distinction.

Find out who else made Garth's team of the week here

It's another busy week of commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, with live coverage of games across the Premier League and Carabao Cup.

Tuesday, 23 August

• Fleetwood v Everton (19:45)

Wednesday, 24 August

• Tranmere v Newcastle (19:45, Sports Extra)

Saturday, 27 August

• Liverpool v Bournemouth (15:00)

• Arsenal v Fulham (17:30)

Sunday, 28 August

• Aston Villa v West Ham (14:00)

• Wolves v Newcastle (14:00, online only)

• Nottingham Forest v Tottenham (16:30)

All times BST

Arsenal are interested in signing Wolves' Portugal winger Pedro Neto, 22, as a replacement for Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe, who has been linked with Leicester and Nice. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, who is on loan at Reims, has become the first player to score in each of the French club's first three games for 47 years.

Jacques Vergnes was the last player to do it for them - back in August 1975.

The 21-year-old's impressive start also makes him the top goalscorer in Ligue 1.

We asked you for your views following Arsenal's comprehensive 3-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Les: The start to this season could hardly be better. Ultimately, it shows that good preparation and patience will always be key to building something that lasts. Well done, Arsenal.

Qasim: Absolutely brilliant what I’ve seen so far! The control, the game awareness, pinning down the teams. Our young lads are looking tasty. Yes, there will be ugly draws and painful defeats along the way, but if they keep the belief and keep performing near to how they have in the first three games they’ve played they will definitely be on top!

Elliot: Arsenal have a lot of potential this season. I think that with Gabriel Jesus getting assists as well as goals, we are real contenders for the Champions League!

Morgan: Really positive game from Arsenal. We showed how controlling we can be in possession with Partey and Zinchenko. Things are looking a whole lot better this season.

Garry: I know it's only Crystal Palace, Leicester and Bournemouth that we have beaten. Nine goals scored and two against shows our defence has improved so much. Strikers and midfield scoring. Not relying on one player this season. Loving our start. Our tests will come but going to enjoy this start.

Watch all the highlights from Saturday's six matches in the Premier League on BBC iPlayer here.

And if you missed Match of the Day 2 with Mark Chapman on Sunday, it's right here.