AFTV News

How would Serge Gnabry fit in the Arsenal attack? By Jack Lacey-Hatton They say never go back. Yet transfer rumours are gathering pace that Serge Gnabry could make a surprise return to the Emirates this summer, having first left the club back in 2016. Gnabry broke through into the first team with some impressive performances during 2013-14, but after two injury-hit seasons followed, which included a disastrous loan spell at West Brom, he decided to move on. Since then the Stuttgart-born winger has returned to his native Germany, first with Werder Bremen before going on to have four trophy-laden years with Bayern Munich. However, despite playing a key role in the Bavarians' recent success, Gnabry is out of contract in 2023 and it is thought the German superclub are keen to cash in rather than let him leave on a free. It certainly feels like the 26-year-old has unfinished business in North London, but how would he fit into Arsenal's forward line?   Current attacking set-up   Man...

Player Profile: Joel Lopez by Jack Lacey-Hatton Arsenal now possess greater depth at left-back than any other position on the pitch and that now extends beyond the first-team. Joel López Salguero has impressed this year in Arsenal’s development side, and in the coming seasons may be in a position to challenge Kieran Tierney and others. In fact he has already trained with the senior team on several occasions this season, with manager Mikel Arteta clearly keen to get a good look at a player many have tipped to become one of the best young full-backs in Europe. But for those who haven’t tracked his progress so far, let’s dig deeper into Lopez’s background and how he ended up in North London.     Who is he? Lopez was born in Barcelona on March 31 2002, turning 20 at the end of this month. He originally joined his hometown club as a youth team player training at the famous La Masia academy, the centre responsible for Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta among others. Lopez blossomed int...

Player profile: Lautaro Martínez By Oli Dickson Jefford Despite a recent run of promising form, there is no doubt that one of Arsenal’s main issues is the lack of a striker. The controversial exit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has left a hole up front which, in the long term, Eddie Nketiah is unlikely to fill. Dusan Vlahovic was a target for the Gunners in January but with the Serbian choosing to stay in Serie A and move to Juventus from Fiorentina, the club have had to look elsewhere.  And they haven’t had to look too far away from Vlahovic, with fellow Serie A star Lautaro Martinez now reported to be one of the club’s key targets. Here is all you need to know about the Inter Milan ace ahead of a potential move to North London this summer.  Career Background Martinez was born in the Argentinian city of Bahia Blanca in 1997, and followed his father’s footsteps to become a professional footballer.  He started his junior career at Liniers before moving to Racing Club in 2014...

Player Profile: Zach Awe By Oliver Gafsen The eagle-eyed viewer would have noticed 18-year-old Zach Awe replacing Takehiro Tomiyasu on the bench in Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Molineux earlier this month. An academy player breaking into the seniors barely a year after putting pen to his first professional contract speaks to how big an impact Awe has made at Hale End. Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have already demonstrated the class of our graduates in recent years, so here's everything you need to know about Arsenal's next wonderkid. Background The Young Gun was born to Nigerian parents in Greenwich in 2004 – mid-way through our invincibles season. If that doesn't make you feel like one of the old-timers, nothing will. Palace spotted his promise and snatched him from his Sunday league team, but Awe said: "when Arsenal came calling a year later, it was an opportunity we just couldn't turn down." So clearly, the youngster is a big Arsenal fan who feels a gen...

Player Profile Orkun Kökçü By Kit Shepard Orkun Kökçü has been linked with a move to Arsenal since 2018. The Feyenoord and Turkey playmaker is a technically gifted operator, and a switch to a major European league appears to be a matter of if not when. With Arsenal seeking greater midfield depth, they are poised to launch a fresh pursuit of the 21-year-old’s signature this summer. So, what exactly would the Gunners be getting? Here's all you need to know about Orkun Kökçü. Who is he? Kökçü was born on 29 December 2000 in Haarlem, Netherlands and is of Turkish and Azerbaijani heritage. He made a spectacular professional debut for Feyenoord at just 17, scoring in a 4-0 win against VV Gemert in September 2018. The following December, he scored one and assisted another on his Eredivisie debut against FC Emmen. However, it was the 2019/20 season where Kökçü truly broke into the first team. He played 22 Eredivisie games for Feyenoord, double the previous year’s total, before the pandemic...