{"id":1320,"date":"2026-04-09T10:24:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T10:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1320"},"modified":"2026-04-09T10:24:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T10:24:54","slug":"arsenal-news-mikel-arteta-tipped-for-transfer-swoop-as-viktor-gyokeres-feelings-clear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1320","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta tipped for transfer swoop as Viktor Gyokeres&#8217; feelings clear"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_ac806a\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal continue their Premier League title charge nine points clear at the top while being linked with to a top teenage talent<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<div class=\"Byline_author-and-badge-wrapper__2dsv1\">\n<div class=\"Authors_authors-container__wVWas\" data-testid=\"byline-author\" data-tmdatatrack=\"author\" style=\"--authors-by:&quot;By&quot;\"><span><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_09e96c\">Jake Bayliss<\/strong> Senior Sports Writer<\/span><span>  and <span><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Will Schofield<\/strong><\/span>  Senior Sports Reporter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">09:38, 09 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"35458649\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mikel Arteta\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35458649.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/3_Untitled-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35458649.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/3_Untitled-1.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35458649.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/3_Untitled-1.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article35458649.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/3_Untitled-1.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mikel Arteta could be set to sign a top talent\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mikel Arteta could be set to sign a top talent<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal are gearing up to restart their title charge as the club return to Premier League duty. Mikel Arteta&#8217;s squad will welcome Bournemouth on Saturday as the Gunners aim to stretch their advantage at the summit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The side currently sit nine points ahead of rivals Manchester City, who have contested one fewer fixture than Arsenal. The forthcoming clash with the Cherries could boost the team&#8217;s confidence following their dramatic victory over Sporting CP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It proved a particularly emotional occasion for Viktor Gyokeres as the Swedish forward faced his former employers. Meanwhile, Arsenal will be scheming their strategy ahead of the summer transfer market and have been connected with a highly-regarded Brazilian youngster. Here, <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em>Daily Star Sport<\/em><\/strong>  examines some of the stories surrounding the Gunners.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_ac806a\">Viktor Gyokeres&#8217; emotions evident<\/h3>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36987820\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36987820\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36987820.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2269751671.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36987820.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2269751671.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36987820.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2269751671.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36987820.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2269751671.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Viktor Gyokeres signed for Arsenal from Sporting CP last summer\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Viktor Gyokeres signed for Arsenal from Sporting CP last summer<cite aria-label=\"Image: Bruno de Carvalho\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Bruno de Carvalho\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Viktor Gyokeres flourished during his time with Sporting CP, netting 97 goals in 102 appearances, which prompted a high-profile switch to Arsenal last summer, reports <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/arsenal-viktor-gyokeres-transfer-target-36985716\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">the Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The 27-year-old swiftly won over supporters in Lisbon but the circumstances of his eventual departure might have shifted that relationship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The striker was at the centre of a summer-long transfer saga that reportedly saw Gyokeres down tools in a bid to force through his switch to the Gunners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite his spell in Portugal concluding on a rather bitter note, Gyokeres showed that he harboured no grudges towards Sporting during Arsenal&#8217;s Champions League encounter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Social media footage revealed the forward choosing not to celebrate Kai Havertz&#8217;s late winner alongside his teammates, apparently out of respect for his former club.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Following this respectful gesture, Gyokeres posted on social media: &#8220;Great feeling being back to this special place with a lot of memories. Thanks for the reception, on to the next one.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_ac806a\">Brazilian transfer target emerges<\/h3>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36987819\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36987819\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.53\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sao Paulo's Lucca Marques\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36987819.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2214527006.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36987819.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2214527006.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36987819.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2214527006.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/article36987819.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2214527006.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Sao Paulo's Lucca Marques has been linked with Arsenal\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Sao Paulo&#8217;s Lucca Marques has been linked with Arsenal<cite aria-label=\"Image: NELSON ALMEIDA\/AFP via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: NELSON ALMEIDA\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal have been linked with a swoop for Sao Paulo teenager Lucca Marques. The 18-year-old has started turning heads after breaking into the Brazilian giants&#8217; senior squad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">German publication Sport Bild reports that the Gunners face rivalry from Borussia Dortmund for Lucca&#8217;s services. He is rated at around \u00a32.6million, though Sao Paulo would seek a considerably higher sum.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite interest from other European clubs, Sport Bild claims that Arsenal are most advanced in talks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Brazil U20 international remains tied down until 2028. Currently, he&#8217;s out of action due to a thigh injury, which has restricted him to just six appearances this season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In total, Lucca has turned out 16 times for Sao Paulo, netting his first senior goal against Libertad in the Copa Libertadores last May.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal continue their Premier League title charge nine points clear at the top while being<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}