Arsenal news LIVE updates: All the latest from the Emirates

Thursday January 4

Mavropanos done deal

18:00: Arsenal have completed the signing of young Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos

Mavropanos, 20, arrives from Greek Super League outfit PAS Giannina for undisclosed fee believed to be £1.9million.

The Gunners announced the signing on the official website, they wrote: "We’d like to welcome Konstantinos to the club and wish him well for the future."

Please explain, Arsene…

17:00: Arsene Wenger has been asked to explain his comments made about referees this week.

Wenger had already hit out at official Mike Dean after decisions made in Arsenal’s draw with West Brom.

And the boss is in more hot water following his comments made before and after the 2-2 result to Chelsea last night.

An FA Statement read: “The FA has requested observations from Arsene Wenger for media comments he made on Tuesday [02/01/18] and after last night’s Arsenal versus Chelsea match [03/01/18]. He has until 6pm on Tuesday 9 January to respond.”

Monaco issue warning to Liverpool and Arsenal

16:00: Arsenal and Liverpool have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit for Monaco star Thomas Lemar.

The French champions insists that they do not want to sell the attacker in the January window and have issued a hands-off warning.

Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim said: "We never have the intention of making big player sales in January.”

Wilshere hails dairy and gluten free diet

15:00: Jack Wilshere has revealed the secret to returning to full fitness after an injury-plagued couple of years.

Wilshere told the Evening Standard: “I have been dairy and gluten free now for six weeks. My kids have always been dairy and gluten free since birth. 

“I didn’t have much dairy but the few times I did in the team hotel, I had an upset stomach. So I have just cut it out completely. 

“I feel that I look better, I have certainly lost a bit of weight, and am leaner. I am probably fitter as well.

“I feel sharper and quicker on the pitch. I feel like I can last longer. For example, at the end of the Chelsea game when we scored the second goal, I felt ‘come on, we can go on again here’.”

Wilshere “a must’ for England

14:00: Jack Wilshere has been tipped to make the England World Cup squad by Sky Sports pundit Tony Gale.

The former West Ham player told Premier League Daily: "He should be starting.

"He is one of our few English midfielders who is comfortable on the ball, comfortable to receive the ball off back players and able to find a pass.

"He is also comfortable enough to find Harry Kane that split second earlier and Dele Alli and (Raheem) Sterling who will be in the attacks.

"He is an absolute must. We haven't got anyone in that midfield who can transfer the ball as quickly as Jack or run with it [as well as he can]."

Mustafi “does not care” if Ozil and Sanchez leave

13:00: Shkodran Mustafi made a surprise admission when asked about the futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

The pair are out of contract at the end of the season and the Gunners look highly likely to cash in on the duo this month.

However, when it comes to whether the two will still be at the club come February, the centre-back revealed he “does not care.”

“Obviously, they are important – they are two big players,” Mustafi told the Evening Standard.

“Alexis has been scoring a lot of goals, Mesut has been scoring and assisting a lot of goals so obviously they are very important because they are top class players, but the headlines, that is something really personal for them. 

“They decide [their futures] with the manager so I don’t care too much about it.”

Carragher slams Arsenal defending

12:00: Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has slammed Arsenal’s defending after they drew 2-2 with Chelsea last night.

"They're not good enough and that's been a thing for a long time," he told Sky Sports.

"The defending is so poor and basic. This is Sunday League, Hackney Marshes type of defending.

"But it's been happening for that long and that's why Arsenal will never win these big trophies at this moment."

Wilshere provides contract update

11:00: Jack Wilshere has discussed his future plans following the Gunners’ 2-2 draw with Chelsea last night.

Wilshere’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season and it is yet to be seen if he will see out the rest of the campaign with Arsenal.

Boss Arsene Wenger is keen to extend his stay in north London but Wilshere wants assurances of regular football and says there has been “no progress” over a potential contract extension.

“There is no progress there (on the contract extension),” Wilshere said.

“Regarding Russia, I want to be going to Russia, but now is not the time to start thinking about that.

“I have got to take each game as it comes. Keep playing in this team and then we’ll see when March comes and the international games.”

Wenger sets Aubameyang as No1 target

10:00: Arsenal have reportedly made Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang their top January transfer target should Alexis Sanchez leave.

The Chilean is out of contract at the end of the season and according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Gunners have a contingency plan in place in the event Sanchez should leave.

The report suggests the north London outfit are considering a move as they seek to add more dynamism to their attack.

At the end of last year, Aubameyang admitted he is more interested in a move to Atletico Madrid as opposed to Real Madrid.

He said: “The market is open, also for me. Real Madrid? That’s no longer my wish, I don’t think about it much anymore.

Walcott race heats up

09:00: West Ham are ready to rival Southampton with a bid to take Arsenal misfit Theo Walcott on loan for the rest of the season, Express Sport understands.

Walcott’s old club are first in the queue to take the former England forward out of the Emirates during the January transfer window, but both Everton and Newcastle are also keen.

Saints want to negotiate a loan move, who they sold to Arsenal as a 16-year-old 12 years ago, but West Ham are now considering a similar bid as new manager David Moyes reshapes his squad.

Walcott still has a year left on his £120,000-a-week Arsenal contract, but there is general acceptance a move would be in his best interests now.

Arsenal sign Konstantinos Mavropanos

08:00: Arsene Wenger has confirmed Konstantinos Mavropanos’s move to Arsenal has been completed, but the defender will be sent out on loan.

The 20-year-old centre-back only made his professional debut in November 2016 but he has been coveted by some of Europe’s biggest sides.

But it looks as the Arsenal have beaten their rivals to his signature with Wenger confirming the deal after his side’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

“Yes, but he’s not ready to play or run. He will go out on loan,” Wenger said.