Arsenal star ‘serves transfer blow’ to West Ham after talks with Mikel Arteta

Arsenal star Sead Kolasinac has given West Ham a blow amid their hopes of a transfer for the full-back, having enjoyed successful talks with Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners enjoyed a winning start to their Premier League campaign, seeing off newly-promoted Fulham 3-0.

It saw debutant Gabriel Magalhaes score his first goal while new forward Willian grabbed two assists.

One star who enjoyed a strong game was Tierney, starting his second season with the club after tough injuries before Covid-19.

Since lockdown, the Scot has been a regular in Arteta’s side – and it has kept Kolasinac out of the starting XI.

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New signings Willian and Gabriel Magalhaes both hit the ground running against Fulham but Mikel Arteta is still on the lookout for new signings.

Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar and Brentford keeper David Raya are two of the names on their radar.

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It has seen clubs enquire about the 27-year-old, including his former side Schalke and the east Londoners.

But the Guardian have reported that the Bosnian is set to turn down any moves in favour of fighting for his place under the Spaniard.

Kolasinac has held talks with the Gunners’ first-team manager and “knows” Tierney is ahead of him in the running order.

But, instead of looking for first-team football elsewhere in the league, the 27-year-old wants to “fight for his spot”.

Tierney was still recovering from a dislocated shoulder when Arteta arrived in north London, keeping him out of the squad for three months before Covid-19 extended that period.

And the Arsenal star was left worried he would not be in the 38-year-old’s plans at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking on club legend Ian Wright’s YouTube channel last week, Tierney said: “I hadn’t trained or played under the manager [when lockdown was lifted].

“So I was like ‘I hope he knows who I am’!”

But Arteta told the former forward he was excited to work with Tierney.

He told Wright during lockdown: “I’m really looking forward to working with him and giving him the opportunity to play.

“His attitude, his commitment, his work rate is incredible.

“I think he’s going to bring something special.

“It’s been a shame [about his injury] but it’s also been part of his development.

“I challenge him and say ‘how do you react to that’ – the pressure is higher now but you have to deal with it.

“He has everything to be successful here.”