ARSENAL ANNOUNCE £34M WINGER SIGNING AMID 'GROUND-BREAKING PROGRESS' OVER STRICKER DEAL

Arsenal have confirmed the arrival of Greek winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge and reportedly thundered towards the sensational signing of Atletico Madrid hitman Julian Alvarez.

Arsenal have already made Piero Hincapie’s loan move permanent for €40million (£34m) and signed goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer, and Tzolis has now become their third summer arrival. Mikel Arteta’s side have paid Club Brugge €40m/£34m to land Tzolis on a five-year contract.

The 24-year-old, who will wear the No 17 shirt at the Emirates, has replaced Leandro Trossard in Arteta’s squad. Trossard recently joined Besiktas for €20m (£17m).

Reacting to Tzolis’ capture, Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta told club media: “We’re delighted to have completed the signing of Christos Tzolis.

“Christos is an extremely versatile attacking player who naturally operates on the left but is comfortable across the front line. He’s an excellent finisher with both feet, thrives in tight spaces, and possesses incredible technical ability.

“Christos has produced outstanding numbers in terms of goals and assists over the last three seasons, and he’s a player who will raise the technical level of our squad, while bringing positive energy, enthusiasm, and a strong mentality to our team.

“We’re confident Christos will make a significant contribution to our club, and we hope our supporters will enjoy watching him play in an Arsenal shirt.

“We look forward to sharing this exciting new chapter together.”

Arsenal remain on the hunt for a new striker and a second left winger to compete with Tzolis. They had earmarked Morgan Rogers for the latter role but were not willing to bid over £80m, with Chelsea ultimately snaring the Englishman for a huge £117m.

Arsenal are now targeting Bradley Barcola, Yan Diomande and Nico Williams instead.

Recent reports have suggested Arsenal have overtaken Barcelona in the chase for Argentina striker Alvarez, too.

Arsenal move into pole position for Julian Alvarez

CaughtOffside revealed on Tuesday that Arsenal have made ‘ground-breaking progress’ in their pursuit of Alvarez after Berta held talks with the player.

Atleti have also told Berta they would rather sell to Arsenal than LaLiga rivals Real Madrid or Barca, setting up a potential move to the Premier League worth €130-150m (£111-128m).

On Wednesday, Chelsea reporter Simon Phillips claimed the Blues could accidentally help Arsenal get closer to signing Alvarez.

He reported that Atleti are considering selling the 26-year-old to help fund a move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

- James Holland

SIMEONE SLAPS AND SHOVES ARSENAL STAR IN TUNNEL BUST-UP AS ARTETA 'INCREDIBLY FUMING'

Diego Simeone gesticulates on the touchline for Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone slapped and shoved Ben White in a tunnel bust-up as Arsenal drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Viktor Gyokeres gave Arsenal the lead from the spot after he was bundled over in the box by Dávid Hancko, before Julian Alvarez also converted a penalty to level the tie following a Ben White handball.

Arsenal will head into the second leg at the Emirates as strong favourites to prevail and reach the Champions League final, but can expect a nervy, tense affair in the return leg after the game at the Wanda Metropolitan threatened to boil over following an incident at half-time.

Tensions rose as White walked over Atletico’s badge and was taken to task by Giuliano Simeone for what was seen as a sign of disprespect.

Diego Simeone then pulled his son away before speaking to White, slapping him on the back multiple times and shoving the Arsenal defender.

White wasn’t happy with Atletico manager’s reaction and pushed back before a number of players and staff stepped in to separate the pair.

There was late controversy in the game when referee Danny Makkelie overturned his decision to award Arsenal another penalty for a Hancko foul on Eberechi Eze after being asked to consult his pitch-side monitor.

And Mikel Arteta revealed after the game why he was “absolutely fuming” with the incident.

“We were disappointed for the Atlético penalty,” Arteta said. “In the Premier League, it’s not a penalty but here I have to accept that with the rules and how consistent they’ve been, I accept that this is a handball.

“What I’m incredibly ­fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Ebs gets overturned in the ­manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error. This changes the course of the game. And at this level, I’m sorry but this cannot happen.

“A very clear explanation of the decision is what happens for a period of time [when] a referee has to watch it 13 times. What’s more clear than that? It’s impossible and we are all fuming about it. We need to apply the rules … [the way] they applied the rules on Ben White’s penalty.

“When you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this ­position … I mean, that’s another goal that changed completely the course of the tie. And it cannot happen. We put so much on it. So, so, so much on it. This cannot happen.

“There is clear contact. If you make that decision, you cannot overturn that decision. When you have to look at it 13 times … at this level it’s ­completely unacceptable.”

- Will Ford

ARSENAL TRANSFER STATE OF PLAY AS PATH CLEARED TO BUY JULIAN ALVAREZ DESPITE MAN UTD FIGHT

Arsenal have been linked with a blockbuster move for Julian Alvarez.

Julian Alvarez has reportedly emerged as a potential target for Arsenal (Image: Getty)

Arsenal haven't rushed to sign players in the January window but there is still plenty of time for some late business to be done. The north Londoners are yet to welcome any new arrivals and have only sanctioned one departure, with Ethan Nwaneri joining Marseille on loan. The youngster will be hoping to gain valuable experience across the Channel before returning to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

Several high-profile players have been linked with Arsenal in spite of their reluctance to delve into the January market. They are on course to win their first Premier League title in over two decades and could benefit from an extra injection of quality to carry them over the line. It remains to be seen if this will materialise before the window slams shut at the start of next month.

Express Sport looks at the current state of play as far as the Gunners are concerned...

Path cleared for Alvarez

Arsenal are believed to be weighing up a blockbuster move for Julian Alvarez, who has scored seven league goals for Atletico Madrid since the start of the campaign.

Barcelona have also been credited with a desire to land the former Manchester City striker, but their financial troubles could give Arsenal a free run at his signature.

According to Sport, the Catalan giants are unable to afford Atletico's asking price of around £104million, which could pave the way for the Gunners to swoop.

However, given the complexities of such a big move, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Arsenal wait until the summer to launch their pursuit.

They have been tipped to land a new striker to complete with Viktor Gyokeres, who has struggled to make a huge impact since his arrival from Sporting.

Man Utd join transfer fight

Arsenal's hopes of signing Levante forward Karl Etta Eyong could be under threat, with Manchester United said to be plotting a potential move of their own.

The striker, who represented Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, has bagged six goals and three assists in 18 league appearances since the start of the campaign.

His impressive form is said to have drawn Arsenal's attention, with GiveMeSport reporting that club chiefs are 'exploring' the idea of a transfer.

However, they aren't the only team in the race with United also mentioned as an interested party alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Only time will tell how the situation will play out, with Levante certain to demand a significant profit on the £2.6m they paid to sign him in the summer.

- Archie Griggs

JULIAN ALVAREZ DENIED PENALTY VS. REAL MADRID

 

FURIOUS DIEGO SIMEONE SLAMS VAR PENALTY DECISION AFTER CONTROVERSIAL REAL MADRID DEFEAT

Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez saw his penalty cancelled by VAR midway through the shootout against rivals Real Madrid, having been adjudged to have touched the ball twice

Julian Alvarez double-kicked his penalty according to VAR (Image: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone insists that Julian Alvarez's penalty against Real Madrid shouldn't have been disallowed.

Alvarez took Atletico's second penalty in a dramatic shootout after his team beat their local rivals 1-0 in the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 clash, making the scores 2-2 on aggregate. The ex-Manchester City star slipped while taking his shot but the ball still went high into the back of the net.

Before Real's Federico Valverde could take the next penalty, though, a VAR check took place. Polish video assistant referee Tomasz Kwiatkowski ruled that Alvarez's standing foot had touched the ball before his shot, resulting in the penalty going down as a miss.

That gave Carlo Ancelotti's visiting side the advantage and they made it count to win the shootout 4-2. Simeone was skeptical of the decision, saying during his post-match press conference: "I've just seen the images, the referee says Julian touches the ball with his supporting leg, but the ball doesn't move.

"That's debatable, whether it was a goal or not. But I'm proud of my players, I'm honestly happy, because we competed in an exemplary way."

The Argentine continued: "When Julian kicks [the penalty], the ball doesn't even move a bit. I imagine that they called the VAR and saw that he touched it. I want to believe that they'll have seen that he touched it."

Simeone then told journalists who were in the room: "Raise your hand, anyone who saw Julian touch it twice. Who is going to raise their hand? Nobody has raised their hand."

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who used to play for Atletico under Simeone, accused them of 'victimhood'. I felt that he touched the ball twice and I told the referee. It's not easy to see that. It was a bit of bad luck," Courtois explained. "For UEFA, it's clear. I'm sick of this victimhood, always crying about things like this.

Julian Alvarez's penalty went down as a miss, handing Real Madrid the advantage ( Image: Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

"Referees don't want to benefit one team or another in Spain or in Europe, for them it was clear. With the technology, in the VAR room they saw it clearly, they have a lot of cameras and a lot of images."

Ancelotti agreed and concluded: "It looks to me like he touches it with his left foot. [Penalties] are a lottery, heads or tails. It came up heads today. Atletico go out with their heads high."

Real will face Arsenal in the quarter-finals, playing the first leg away on April 8 before the second match at home on April 16.

- Nathan Ridley

THIERRY HENRY REACTS TO REAL MADRID'S JULIAN ALVAREZ DENIED PENALTY

 

LA LIGA: KYLIA0N MBAPPÉ'S SECOND HALF STRIKE SEES REAL MADRID SHARE SPOILS IN 1-1 DRAW WITH ATLETICO

Real Madrid played out a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga on Saturday after Kylian Mbappe scored the equaliser. Julian Alvarez had scored a controversial penalty for Atletico in the first half.

Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring for Real Madrid against Atletico in the Spanish La Liga on Saturday. AP
 

Kylian Mbappe found the back of the net on Sunday as Real Madrid drew 1-1 against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. Julian Alvarez scored a controversial first half penalty for Atletico, but Mbappe’s second-half strike ensured Real Madrid did not walk away from this match empty-handed.

Real Madrid (50 points) lead second-placed Atletico (49 points) by a point in the La Liga standings, with Barcelona (45) in third place. Barcelona take on Sevilla on Sunday night.

Atletico shaded a close first half but were left holding on in the second period as the hosts stepped up a gear at the Santiago Bernabeu.

 - FP Sports