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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Joshua Smith

Arsenal news: Granit Xhaka promises to stay at club as Barcelona target Gabriel swap

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has promised not to leave the club until he achieves "something special" in north London.

The Swiss midfielder joined the Gunners in 2016, signing from Borussia Monchengladbach in a £30million deal but his time at the Emirates has proved controversial. Xhaka was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in 2019 after being involved in an angry confrontation with fans during a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.

He has been linked with a move away from the club on multiple occasions following that incident, with Jose Mourinho said to be keen to bring him to Serie A side AS Roma – but the midfielder has vowed to stay loyal to his current club. It comes as Barcelona are set to target Gunners centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes and could offer three players in a swap deal.

And Mikel Arteta has moved to ease his injury problems by calling five wonderkids up to the first-team.

Here are Mirror Football's latest Arsenal headlines.

Join the debate! Who would you like to see Arsenal sign this summer? Let us know what you think here.

Arsenal's Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka has had a difficult relationship with the club's fans (AFP via Getty Images)

Five wonderkids called up

Mikel Arteta has moved to ease his growing injury problems by calling five wonderkids up to the Arsenal first-team.

Mazeed Ogungbo, Charlie Patino, Miguel Azeez, Lino Sousa and Marcelo Flores have been added to the club's squad ahead of Saturday's away game against Southampton. It comes after Takehiro Tomiyasu, Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney have all been ruled out through injury as the Gunners' bid to qualify for next season's Champions League begins to falter.

Read the full story here.

Barcelona target Gabriel swap

Barcelona are set to target Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes in the summer transfer window and could give the Gunners a choice of three players they're willing to involve in a swap deal.

The Spanish outfit could be willing to offer Memphis Depay, Neto and Riqui Puig as part of the deal. And reports suggest that Arsenal have identified former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay as their top target if the deal does go ahead.

Mikel Arteta appears to view the Dutchman as one of the two forwards he will need to sign to replace Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah should the pair leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of the season.

Read the full story here.

Xhaka makes promise to stay

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka wants to build a closer relationship with the club's fans – and has vowed not to leave the Emirates until he has achieved "something special".

Former Gunners boss Unai Emery stripped Xhaka of the captain's armband in November 2019 after he cupped his ear sarcastically when he was booed by the home fans after being substituted in the second half of a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. But amid rumours that the midfielder could link up with former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho at Roma, Xhaka has said he wants to have a "better relationship" with Arsenal supporters.

And Xhaka has been clear about his ambition to win trophies with the Gunners.

Read the full story here.

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