Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga reportedly wants "to stay" at Sevilla, where he is currently on loan from the Gunners, and feels "very good" there.

The London Evening Standard reports that executive vice-chair Tim Lewis and managing director Richard Garlick are overseeing Arsenal's search for Edu's replacement. Arteta, though, insisted that Arsenal's failure to sign any players in the January transfer was not down to an absent sporting director.

While Newcastle United fans scrambled for trains, tickets and hotels around London for next month’s League Cup final through blissfully blurry vision, wide-eyed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was leading his side on to an Emirates flight to Dubai for a much-needed warm weather winter training break.