ARSENAL will not play again in the Premier League until at least May after Premier League extended its coronavirus suspension by four weeks.

But the Gunners have revealed plans to help deal with the crisis, including donating money to charity and helping out the youngsters in the local area.

Meanwhile, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is ready to take a massive Arsenal pay cut — but only if he can remain at Roma.

Get all the latest Arsenal news and gossip here…

• UPA THE ANTE

  Arsenal have been put on red alert after Dayot Upamecano revealed he is ready to hand in a transfer request in a bid to force through a transfer.

  The French defender, 21, has a £55million release clause in his contract and could leave if any club matches that fee.

  But, German outlet Bild have claimed Upamecano will hand in a transfer request if no club matches the valuation in a bid to force through an exit.

• SUAR NOTE

  Ian Wright has slammed Arsenal for their infamous £40million + £1 offer for ex-Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in 2013.

  He told the BBC: “It’s a nightmare to think about because there was a time when he could have gone to Arsenal but they made that ridiculous bid, a pound extra.

  “He left a Liverpool side that should have won the league to go to Barcelona when they were amazing – and made them better. He’s amazing.”

• ART ATTACK

  Mikel Arteta admits he has struggled to cope with more than two weeks away from the training ground and only limited contact with the Arsenal players via the club’s WhatsApp group.

  But his enforced isolation has allowed him to catch up on quality time with his family and he admits: “I have three kids with a lot of energy and for 17 years I haven’t had the chance to wake up with my family and spend a lot of dedicated time with them.

  “We are in a world where everything is social media, but this is a unique opportunity to realise how much we all need each other.

  “How important is touching and hugging each other? I miss that with a lot of people I love and we can’t do that at the moment so we have to be emotionally more open.

  “We have to tell each other what we are feeling and emotionally I feel very fulfilled because now I am giving my kids everything,which is not something I’m not always able to do.

  “We are living with a virus that is putting the world aside and transforming everything that we prioritise in life.

  “So we have to learn these important lessons and not forget about them in two or three months’ time.”

• ART OF WAR

  Mikel Arteta has urged the nation to help the NHS by staying at home to avoid the coronavirus which laid him low.

  The Arsenal boss insists: “We are living in a unique situation and owe a massive gratitude to everyone involved in healthcare, hospitals, people in services and people, trying to provide food and transportation.

  “I know the situation in Spain and we are a little bit behind them in the UK so I encourage everybody to be sensible and stay at home.

  “We have to help the NHS as much as possible and give the opportunity for elderly people to get the treatment they require more than anyone else.

  “I had a difficult three or four days with a bit of temperature, a dry cough and some discomfort in my chest.

  “Now I am feeling completely recovered but my main concern was the people that I’d been in contact with. That’s when a bit of fear comes in.”

• PAUL THE OTHER ONE

  Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has admitted that his Old Trafford career could have been a lot shorter after refused to play in a League Cup tie against Arsenal.

  In an interview with former team-mate Gary Neville, Scholes said: “I don't know why I did what I did in 2001, but it is something I really regretted doing.

  “I wasn't in a great mood. I had been left out the Liverpool game the previous weekend and I knew that the team going down to Arsenal in the cup was basically a reserve side.

  “I just got a bee in my bonnet that I wasn't happy with things.

  “I had my reasons but it was stupid really. I ended up getting fined and having to apologise, but I was lucky.

  “The manager would have been within his rights to get rid of me.”

Source: Read Full Article