Shock horror,  Arsenal are being linked with French players - and Arsene Wenger is reportedly lining up a double swoop.

The Emirates side are ready to make a £10m bid for unsettled Olympique Lyon's Hatem Ben Arfa (The People). The paper claims that Wenger is a big fan of the 20-year-old striker, who netted on his full French international debut in their comprehensive, but predictable, annihilation of “only one football pitch” Faroe Islands.

Another Lyon striker on the Arsenal shopping list is Karim Benzema (various), who is the hottest property in the French league right now. The teenage striker simply can't stop scoring - having netted ten times in ten matches as Lyon threaten to once again run away with the league. The valuation on Karim is a little higher and figures around £15m have been bandied about.

'These two tick just about every box Arsene usually needs filling before making a move, they are young, talented - and French'


These two tick just about every box Arsene usually needs filling before making a move, they are young, talented - and French. Would he go for both? Probably not, he already has a few strikers coming through, although if, as expected, Nicklas Bendtner leaves then maybe he will go for both. But I think bustling Benzema would be the better purchase.

A whole host of clubs are chasing Everton midfield star Mikel Arteta. The assist engine has been linked with the following, (take a deep breath…and begin) - Real Madrid, Valencia, Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea  (The People).

It doesn’t seem to matter that the impressive Spaniard has only recently signed a lengthy deal to stay at Goodison Park. I would be surprised if David Moyes let such a crucial player leave; however, the big teams vying for his name might turn the player’s head and that would leave the Toffees in a sticky situation. Hopefully, Arteta is loyal enough to realise that the Merseyside club have assisted his progress a great deal and that he should stay for as long as stated on the contract he signed.

Sir Alex Ferguson got his own way when he prevented Manchester United's want-away full back Gabriel Heinze from joining arch-rivals Liverpool. However, the Anfield club refuse to give up on the Argentina defender and Rafa Benitez plans on getting his man from Real Madrid before the season is finished (The Sun).

I am not sure about the legal ramifications that came from the Premier League’s decision to not allow the original move to go ahead, but surely they would have included the possibility that Heinze may move to Anfield from a third club. At one point that third club was even hinted at being Crystal Palace, I kid you not.

It seemed outrageous to me that Heinze was prevented from joining Liverpool in the first place. Surely it's highly immoral to prevent a worker from moving to another company - the not the sort of practice that would not be condoned in any other field of employment. What do Liverpool and Man United fans feel about it?

Do you have any football gossip you'd like to share with Sportingo readers? Then fire away in the comments section - or submit an article if you prefer.