BRAZIL 3-0 ZAIRE (DR CONGO) | 1974

1974 World Cup, Brazil v Zaire 3-0, Brazil's Edu (r) takes on Zaire's Boba Lobilo (c) as Ilunga Mwepu (22 August 1949 – 8 May 2015) looks on.

ARSENAL MADE HISTORY 20 YEARS AGO | NO ENGLISH PLAYER ON THE SQUAD

20 years ago, Arsenal made Premier League history. ⏪

Arsene Wenger named the first full matchday squad to not feature a single English player. 🌍

ENGLAND BOSS LEE CARSLEY TELLS BEN WHITE: LION'S ROLE UP TO HIM

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Lee Carsley said he has no plans to contact Ben White over a possible England call-up and believes the responsibility lies with the Arsenal defender to make himself available.

Carsley's predecessor Gareth Southgate said in March that the Football Association's technical director John McDermott was told in a phone call from Arsenal sporting director Edu that White did not want to be considered for England.

It has been widely reported that White had a disagreement with Southgate's assistant Steve Holland while part of the squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

White was sent home from that tournament for "personal reasons" as both the FA and Southgate subsequently denied there was an issue within the camp.

After Carsley began his interim role as Southgate's successor with back-to-back 2-0 UEFA Nations League wins away at Republic of Ireland and home to Finland, the 50-year-old hinted he would look to make changes to the squad for next month's friendly matches.

"I'm thinking about the game tonight, but it wasn't long after coming off the pitch where I was thinking 'right, I need to start thinking about next one now'," said Carsley on Tuesday. "How that might look and what players are going to be coming into form, and how that's going to pan out. So, yeah, competition for places within this squad is very high.

"I think you will see some movement and I think it's important that we keep freshening it up, we keep moving the squad forward."

Asked about whether that could involve speaking to White about his potential availability, Carsley said: "I've not planned to [contact him], no. We spoke about this in the squad selection. Every player that's eligible to play for England is in with a chance.

"As far as I was aware, he was asked to be not contacted. So, if that changes, then that'll change."

Pushed on whether the onus was on White to change the situation, Carsley replied: "Yeah I think it is important that we've got real competition all over the pitch and the more players we've got available to pick from, the better it is."

White only has four England caps to his name, but is now established as one of the Premier League's top right-backs in an Arsenal side that challenged Manchester City for the title in the past two seasons.

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

FASTEST TO 50 PL WINS FOR ARSENAL

 

ARSENAL INITIATE SURPRISE SIGNING OF LALIGA TOP SCORER, WITH BARGAIN RELEASE CLAUSE TO SEAL DEAL

 Arsenal have turned their attention to Spain in their search for a new striker, with a report claiming LaLiga’s top scorer is now in Edu and Mikel Arteta’s sights.

Arsenal came within a whisker of ending their 20-year wait for a Premier League title last season. Many believe the addition of a 20-goal-per-season striker last summer may have tipped Arsenal over the edge.

Kai Havertz started poorly, though did produce the goods in the second half of the season when primarily deployed as the No 9.

The signing of a new striker may push Havertz out of the striker position, though the classy German has already proven he can make a major impact further back in midfield too.

Arsenal’s quest for a lethal new centre-forward initially took them to Germany upon exploring a move for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

However, the Slovenian hitman has elected to remain with Leipzig for one more year at least. A ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between player and club means offers for his services will be entertained in 2025.

Others Arsenal have cast their eye over include Viktor Gyokeres, Joshua Zirkzee, Alexander Isak and Dominic Solanke, to name just four.

ARSENAL STRIKER TARGETS: EVERY option linked for the summer 2024 transfer window

But according to fresh reports out of Spain, a new name can be added to that list.

Arsenal hunting 24-goal Artem Dovbyk

It’s claimed Arsenal are looking into a move for Girona and Ukraine hotshot, Artem Dovbyk.

The 26-year-old left-footer cost around €7m when Girona signed Dovbyk from Dnipro-1 last summer.

Dovbyk emphatically made a mockery of that lowly price tag when finishing as LaLiga’s top scorer with 24 goals in his first season in Spain.

Dovbyk helped fire Girona into third spot and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history. However, whether Dovbyk will be around to participate in the competition remains to be seen.

READ MORE: The key contract details of every Arsenal first-team player: Expiry dates, weekly wages, agents…

Dovbyk release clause could tempt Arsenal

The Ukrainian is reportedly a wanted man at the Emirates and the presence of a release clause can remove Girona from the equation.

Dovbyk can be signed via a €40m/£34m clause in his contract. Such a sum could represent a bargain for any club wishing to take a chance.

Little else was reported on the matter, with Arsenal’s interest seemingly still in the early stages.

Nonetheless, Dovbyk certainly proved he can score at will in a top European league last season and Arsenal have taken the first steps towards bringing him to north London by exploring a move.

Arsenal fans should get a chance to see Dovbyk in action on Monday afternoon when he leads the line for Ukraine in their Euro 2024 opener against Romania.

- Steve Pearson 

EDU ON THE PROCESS | ARSENAL FC