Arteta relishes frantic run of April games

Mikel Arteta describes the run-in as the “most beautiful part of the season”. He said: “I just embrace the moment, go game by game and make sure we are fully prepared to perform well.”

The challenge for Arteta is how he manages his team during a hectic period. After blasting away Luton, the Gunners travel to Brighton on Saturday and host Bayern Munich in the Champions League first-leg quarterfinal on Tuesday.

Arsenal have never won the Champions League. They have not won the Premier title in 20 years.

Both trophies are possible and Arteta intends to make the most of the opportunities. After Brighton, they have London derbies against Chelsea and Tottenham this month and Aston Villa too.

Arteta is being careful. He made only 38 changes to his line-ups last season and that strategy caught up with them at the end where they fizzled out. 

He has made 49 changes this year but that is way below Man City and Liverpool, who have made 77 and 79. Arsenal had a bench worth nearly £200million on Sunday against Man City and Arteta has a nearly-fully fit squad with Jurrien Timber hoping to be back later in the month.

37-goal Gyokeres coming to the Premier League

Sporting Lisbon will sell £69m forward Viktor Gyokeres this summer. That has put Arsenal on alert as they search for a proven striker to strengthen their attacking options.

The Sweden international has scored a remarkable 37 goals and made 14 assists this season for club and country. Chelsea have also sent coaches to watch Gyokeres and AC Milan are known to be interested. However, he prefers a move to the Premier League instead of Italy.

His goals have put Sporting on top of the Portugese league table ahead of rivals Benfica.

As I previously reported to you, Arsenal keeper Aaron Rasmdale is not content with sitting on the bench after losing his place to David Raya. Eddie Howe’s Newcastle tried to buy Ramsdale in January after Nick Pope was injured.

Ramsdale was keen to join but somehow the transfer did not work out. Howe and Ramsdale know each other well from their time together at Bournemouth and the keeper could still be heading north this summer.

Bayern target De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi is a name at the top of the soon-to-be vacant Liverpool coaching job. He is also being talked about at Manchester United.

However, things took a turn in a different direction during this week when De Zerbi emerged as a leading candidate to take over from the departing Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich. Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso was first choice but he is staying at his current club.

Liverpool also wanted Alonso but have now turned their attention to both De Zerbi and Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Almorim. De Zerbi took Brighton to a record sixth place in the Premier League last season and are again doing well this year.

His contract runs out in 2026 but I can reveal that he has a get out clause written into his current deal, which means he could leave the south coast club. He has made it clear to Brighton that his contract is no problem but he wants clarification as to what the club’s plans are for the next two years.

Insiders at Bayern have admitted that despite their many top European players, such as Harry Kane, whoever takes over needs to completely overhaul the club. Bayern also face a difficult Champions League quarter final against Arsenal.

It has all gone wrong for Harry

Did Harry Kane do the right thing moving to Bayern Munich? It was an attempt to finally put some silverware in his empty trophy cabinet.

After failing miserably to win anything at Tottenham, Kane thought he was on to a winner’s medal at Bayern, who had won the German league title for the last 10 years and boasted some of the best players in Europe.

But sadly no, Kane won’t be taking home a medal. Xabi Alonso’s all-conquering Bayer Leverkusen have more or less completed the job with a 13-point lead.

Dortmund beat Bayern at the weekend and that more or less completes the misery for Kane. What chance he will return to Premier League before he hangs up his boots?

Ipswich, Leicester and Leeds fight for promotion

If you have taken notice of the thrilling race at the top of the Championship table, you will have seen that three teams dominate and are fighting for a place in the Premier League next season.

Last season’s relegation teams, Leicester and Leeds, are second and third but my team, Ipswich are leading the way although Leicester have a game in hand. Only three points separating them.

Ipswich scored a winner in the last three seconds of the game against fourth-placed Southampton at the weekend and Leicester and Leeds also won.

It will be nail-biting stuff until the end of the season but I am hanging in there in the hope that Ipswich can again feature in the Premier League next season. Our most famous supporter (apart from me) is Ed Sheeran, who has financed the Ipswich kit this season. C’mon you Tractor Boys!

Phillips could be heading back to Leeds

After failing at Manchester City and not making much of an impression at West Ham, Kalvin Phillips could re-join Leeds next season.

It is at Leeds where he made his reputation as one of the best midfielders in Europe. Leeds must win promotion to the Premier League for Phillips to return to the north of England. West Ham wanted to make his loan deal from City permanent but this looks unlikely now.

His misery was even greater when he gave away a penalty which saw Newcastle emerge winners 4-3 last weekend. Phillips has also lost his place in the England national squad. Leeds are preparing to offer £30m to take back the 28-year-old after selling him to City for £40million.

Premier League likely to get five Champions League slots

The title race in the world’s best league is providing amazing excitement and quality of football. Liverpool and Manchester City are still unbeaten at home.

The season ends in May and Liverpool, City and Aston Villa have commitments in European competitions. My exclusive sources have revealed that the Premier League are likely to be awarded five places in next season’s Champions League if their European ventures continue strongly.

Italy also have teams competing well in Europe and are the main rivals for that extra place.

Greenwood rejects Juve

Manchester United outcast Mason Greenwood has wrecked the club’s plan to swap him for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer after rejecting a move to Italy.

Greenwood wants to stay in Spain where Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are following his progress. I undertand that United were willing to offer £40m-rated Greenwood in part-exchange for £51m Bremer.

United have decided to trigger a clause in Mason’s contract, which will extend his United career by a further 12 months while Sir Jim Ratcliffe decides whether or not to bring him back to Old Trafford.

Mejbri heading back to United

Hannibal Mejbri was not included in Sevilla’s original squad at the weekend (this decision was later changed) and I am told he is likely to return to Manchester United at the end of the season.

Everton showed interest in January but it was Hannibal’s decision to join Sevilla on loan. He has played less than 90 minutes in the last four games.

Manager Quique Sanchez Flores said: “We have spoken to him and we believe he needs time to learn.” Hannibal made 13 appearances for United and is on contract until next year.

Nuno relies on Wood

After their four point deduction, which has put Nottingham Forest near to the relegation zone, coach Nuno Espirito Santo is putting his faith in 32-year-old New Zealander Chris Wood to score them out of trouble.

Wood has netted seven goals in eight games for Nuno and is experienced in relegation dogfight. He was involved in relegation battles while at Burnley and again last season on loan at Forest from Newcastle.

Nuno said: “As long as he is on the pitch, we trust him to deliver for us. He is a fantastic professional. We have to keep him healthy and help him because, for sure, he is going to give us a big hand to stay in the Premier League.”