A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Gareth Southgate shares a blunt verdict on Ben White and Michael Owen questions boss Mikel Arteta pursuing a £40m transfer.

Paul Merson feels Declan Rice was the Player of the Season over Phil Foden

Highbury hero Paul Merson believes Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was the Premier League Player of the Season for 2023/24 over Manchester City winger Phil Foden. But the top-flight and the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) both opted to give the Citizens star their gongs.

Merson argues that Rice was a more befitting recipient of the award having taken Arsenal to ‘another level’. He does not question Foden made a huge impact in Manchester City lifting a fourth Premier League title in a row. But Merson thinks Rice changed Arsenal for the better.

The Gunners paid West Ham United a club-record fee to sign Rice last summer and capture one of Europe’s best holding midfielders. Yet Mikel Arteta saw he could offer more in a box-to-box role, with a career-best seven goals and nine assists in 38 games to Merson’s delight.

“Declan Rice has taken Arsenal to another level,” Merson told Sky Sports. “I think Phil Foden has not taken [Manchester City] to another level. I think he has been outstanding but Declan Rice has taken Arsenal to another level.

“He’s just nearly got them to where Manchester City are. I think he has been consistent the whole season through. I mean, Phil Foden has been outstanding, of course. But I am just thinking outside the box, just what I see.

“[Rice] has come in, Arsenal last season nearly got there [and he] took them to another level. I just can’t remember a game where he hasn’t been at least a seven or eight out of 10. Foden has been outstanding but, for me, I say Declan Rice.”

Read more about what Merson has said about Rice and Foden, here.

Michael Owen questions Arsenal signing Ivan Toney given the ‘question marks’

Michael Owen questions if Arsenal should sign Ivan Toney given the ‘question marks’ around what the Brentford striker gives. The 28-year-old is one of the many centre-forwards Arsenal have marked as a potential target. But Owen is not fully convinced he tickets enough boxes.

Toney returned from his FA-imposed ban in January and only offered Brentford four goals in 17 Premier League games. He also offered each of those efforts during his first five games back. Yet Gareth Southgate included Toney in England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024.

According to Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham United are even studying Toney’s transfer from Brentford. The Irons have also lodged their first enquiry with the Bees seeking £30-40m. But Owen wonders if Mikel Arteta would be better off by snubbing Toney.

“Someone like Toney at Brentford, he is available,” Owen told Premier League Productions (20/5, 14:30). “Do you get somebody like that when there are question marks?

“Is he going to be able to up his game? Has he got the class to come off and do all the things? You need the personality. All of those things. There will be players out there that are very good that people will say, ‘Just go and get him, Mikel!’.

“He might be the answer, don’t get me wrong. All I will be saying is that there will be players desperate to walk to Arsenal now and will become available.

“But I would bide my time and wait for the right person. If he’s not available now but next year, then fine. But don’t waste your bullets.”

Read more about what Owen has said about Toney possibly joining Arsenal, here.

Gareth Southgate gives a 10-word answer to Ben White’s England omission

Gareth Southgate gave a blunt 10-word answer to why Arsenal defender Ben White is not in England’s 33-man provisional Euro 2024 squad. The Three Lions named their extended pre-tournament team on Tuesday that Southgate will reduce to a final 26-man squad on June 7.

White would have offered England valuable depth at right-back and centre-half. But the 26-year-old remains out of international consideration after turning down a call-up this March. Southgate has also made no attempts to convince White to re-consider playing for England.

Arsenal saw White thrive during the 2023/24 season as he offered four goals and five assists in 51 appearances. He is a consistent performer along their right flank with the Poole native influential in stopping and starting attacks. But Southgate did not try to contact White again.

“No,” Southgate responded bluntly when asked if the England boss had spoken to White, via quotes by BBC Sport. “As far as I am aware, he is unavailable.”

Read more about what England boss Southgate has said about White, here.