Matches had been played in empty stadiums since Premier League’s coronavirus lockdown was lifted in June.

But last week, 2,500 fans were allowed into Brighton & Hove Albion’s Amex Stadium for a pre-season friendly against Chelsea.

This was after the government announced pilot events for the return of spectators to elite sport.

“We hope to be able to welcome supporters back to Emirates Stadium on a reduced capacity basis from the Sheffield United game scheduled for Oct. 3,” Arsenal said.

“’When fans return to Emirates Stadium, extra measures will be in place to protect us all.

“These are clearly exceptional circumstances and the health, safety and security of everyone is our top priority,” the north London club added in a statement.

English FA Cup winners Arsenal, who also claimed the Community Shield last week by beating Liverpool 5-4 on penalty kicks, begin their Premier League campaign at Fulham on Sept. 12.

“Gold season ticket-holders and premium members would have priority access to the limited tickets available,” Arsenal said.

The post Arsenal aim for October return of fans to Emirates Stadium appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Alexandre Lacazette put the Gunners ahead in the 13th minute.

The French player collected a low corner from Dani Ceballos and showed great strength to turn marker Erik Pieters before driving through the legs of Burnley keeper Nick Pope.

Burnley responded well, however, and drew level two minutes before the break.

A low effort from Dwight McNeil fell to Ashley Barnes in the box and the Clarets striker kept his composure to claim his third goal of the season.

Unai Emery brought on club record signing, 72 million pound winger Nicolas Pepe at the break and the home side put Burnley under real pressure.

Pope did well to keep out efforts from Aubameyang and the hugely impressive Ceballos and it was that pair who combined for the winner.

Ceballos won the ball in the Burnley half and fed the Gabonese forward who burst goalwards before cutting inside and beating Pope with a fine drive.

The post Aubameyang help Arsenal sink stubborn Burnley appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Arsenal made six major signings in the close season.

These included defenders David Luiz and Kieran Tierney on deadline day and record signing Nicolas Pepe who reportedly cost the London club 72 million pounds (87 million dollars).

But a number of regulars including captain Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi left.

Emery is however prepared to lose more in the coming weeks, saying he would only pick a new captain after the squad was finalised.

“We are changing players at the last moment. We had Koscielny, the old captain, and he left with five days to go,” Emery told reporters ahead of Sunday’s match at Newcastle United.

“At the moment, the market is open in other countries. In the next 20 to 25 days, some players will leave.

“For this reason, I want the squad to be finalised clearly. At the moment we have (Mesut) Ozil, (Nacho) Monreal and (Granit) Xhaka (as probable captains).”

Emery said striker Alexandre Lacazette, who was voted the club’s best player last season, is a doubt for the season opener as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.

He is also yet to take a call on whether Pepe will make his club debut.

“We will start with the players that I am convinced are 100 per cent,” Emery added. “For some players, it is impossible to achieve that performance because they arrived late or are now training
after being injured.

“Lacazette trained yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday), but I don’t know now if he can play on Sunday. We will check tomorrow (Saturday). Pepe has been training and working with us a for a week.”

Arsenal finished fifth last season and narrowly missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification for the third successive year and Emery said his main priority was a top-four finish.

“Our first target is to be in the top four. We reduced the distance last season,” Emery said. “Manchester City and Liverpool are stronger than the others at the beginning.

“We want to compete with them and reduce the points gap. Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea have the same objectives. Last year the difference was really small and the challenge now is for us to achieve a top-four finish.”

The post Arsenal will offload players before European football transfer window shuts appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

“Celtic have agreed to permanently transfer registration of Kieran Tierney to Arsenal Football Club for a record single amount of 25 million pounds,” the Scottish club said in a statement.

The post Arsenal sign left-back Tierney for 25m pounds appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette scored both goals for the Gunners.

Aubameyang scored with a 66th minute penalty kick, sending the ball past goalkeeper Neil Etheridge after Bruno Manga had fouled Sead Kolasinac.

Unai Emery’s side then made their overwhelming territorial superiority count as Lacazette scored a beauty in the 83rd minute.

He dribbled past Cardiff City skipper Sol Bamba before drilling a shot into the corner.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored a late consolation goal for Cardiff City.

The match began in sombre fashion with tributes being made to Cardiff City’s Argentine striker Emiliano Sala.

Sala has been missing since a plane carrying him to Britain from Nantes disappeared over the English Channel.

It was Cardiff City’s first game since Sala, who had not played for the club since joining from Nantes, went missing.

Bamba and Arsenal skipper Mesut Ozil both placed bunches of daffodils on the pitch.

Fifth-placed Arsenal’s sixth successive home league win lifted them level on 47 points with Chelsea, who play on Wednesday.

Cardiff City, who scored for the first time in four league games, remain third from bottom.

The post Arsenal beat Cardiff City on EPL sombre night amid Sala tributes appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The German international is likely to be new manager, Unai Emery’s second acquisition after Swiss defender, Stephan Lichtsteiner, joined on a free transfer from Juventus earlier this month.

Leno kept 10 clean sheets in the Bundesliga last season and is seen as a long-term replacement for Petr Cech, who turned 36 last month.

He was named in Joachim Loew’s provisional World Cup squad but failed to make the final cut for Russia.

The north London club will look to improve on their sixth-place finish in long-time manager, Arsene Wenger’s last season at the helm.

Arsenal are scheduled to start the new campaign with a tricky home match against champions Manchester City in August.

The post Arsenal to sign keeper Leno from Leverkusen appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The 34-year-old made more than 250 appearances for Juve, winning the Serie A title in each of his seven seasons at the club.

He was named captain of Switzerland in 2016 and has earned 99 caps for his country.

He is new Arsenal head coach Unai Emery’s first signing since taking over from Arsene Wenger last month.

“Stephan brings huge experience and leadership to our squad. He’s a player with great quality with a very positive and determined attitude.

“Stephan will improve us on and off the pitch,” Emery said in a statement here

Lichtsteiner began his senior career at Swiss club Grasshoppers Zurich in 2001 and played for Lille in France, as well as Lazio in Italy before joining Juventus in 2011.

The post Arsenal sign Swiss defender Lichtsteiner from Juventus appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Speaking in stilted English after being introduced to the media by club CEO Ivan Gazidis at the Emirates Stadium, the Spaniard also said he was proud to follow in Wenger’s footsteps.

“It’s a big challenge but I’ve worked also with other big projects and for me I am proud to be here and to work after Arsene Wenger,” he told reporters.

“In my career every year I grow up with new challenges and for me the challenge is a dream come true.”

Arsenal’s first new manager since Wenger, who was also 46 at the time, was introduced to a quizzical media in 1996, Emery spoke highly of the man he has replaced.

“Thanks Arsene Wenger for your legacy, for all the coaches in all the world he is revered and I learn with him all the things in football,” he said.

Emery was one of eight candidates who went through an extensive interview process, Gazidis said.

The Spaniard won three consecutive Europa Leagues with Sevilla before spending two years at Paris St Germain, winning a domestic treble this past season.

“He is a very good fit,” said Gazidis. “In the personal meetings Unai was incredibly impressive, he had a detailed knowledge of the club and was very well prepared.”

Emery, who has won eight trophies since 2013-14, opted against discussing individual players such as Jack Wilshere who is out of contract.

However, he did offer some clue as to what kind of football Arsenal fans can expect.

The club, under Emery, would try to regain its place in England’s elite after missing out on the top four for the second successive season.

“In my career I am very demanding of myself as well as the people at the club and the players,” he said.

“The history here is one thing, they love to play with possession of the ball. I like this personality and when we don’t have the ball I want a squad to play with intensive pressure.

“Two important things are possession of the ball and pressing when you haven’t got it.”

Emery faces an important close season of squad tweaking but without the huge sums of money available at PSG.

He was not afraid to set lofty targets, though.

“I believe we can grow with the players we have. The objective is to work hard together and with these talented players to work,” he said.

“It’s very important for the club, after two years outside the Champions League, to work to be the best team in the Premier League and also in the world.”

The post New Arsenal manager Emery ‘proud’ to follow Wenger’s legacy appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Emery, who joined PSG in June 2016, left the French club at the end of this season, having led them to a domestic treble.

The 46-year-old had previously guided Spanish side Sevilla to three Europa League titles.

“Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career.

“He has also developed some of the best young talents in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly,” Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said in a statement.

“His hard work and passionate approach and his sense of value on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward,” Gazidis said.

Wenger departed the North London club at the end of last season after nearly 22 years at the helm, helping the team capture three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.

The post Arsenal appoint Emery as new manager to succeed Wenger appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

The Frenchman departs after a final game at Huddersfield Town on Sunday and was in reflective mood as he contemplated his 22 years in charge.

Speculation is intensifying over who his successor will be with British media reporting that Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and former Arsenal captains Mikel Arteta and Patrick Vieira among leading contenders.

Asked for his advice to the new man, Wenger said: “Respect the values of the club. I would like him to bring his own ideas.

“It’s a chance for the players to see something different. But, on the other hand, I will say respect what has been built here.”

In spite of his many achievements, Wenger will depart on a low with Arsenal losing a seventh consecutive away game on Wednesday, 3-1 at Leicester City

It was their worst run in more than half-a-century.

On Sunday, Arsenal are looking to end their embarrassing record of being the only side in the top four tiers of English football not to pick up an away point this year.

Wenger, however, still believes the club is in good shape for his successor.

“The players’ attitude was great last night,” said Wenger. “They were fantastic. There is a special bond in this team.

“There is something waiting to come out that is special. Hopefully that will come out next season.”

Wenger said he is unsure about his immediate plans, but has been linked with a position as general manager at Paris St Germain (PSG).

“When you stay for such a long period, you question if it is time to go now or not,” he said.

“We live in a society where people want big change always, you know. I don’t know what I will do. Maybe go to Russia.

“I have some work to do in France (next week) on Monday, Tuesday. On Thursday, I will come back and clear my office. After that, I don’t know.”

Wenger also used the occasion to look back, saying that while he considered his 2004 ‘Invincibles’ team the best of his reign, he was at his most productive between 2006-2015.

The ‘Invincibles’ went through the 2004-2005 season unbeaten.

The post Wenger urges successor to ‘respect’ Arsenal values appeared first on NEWSVERGE.