Unai Emery said on Sunday that a deal for Philippe Coutinho has never been discussed with Barcelona (per Squawka News), yet L’Equipe seem to think otherwise.
Breaking | Philippe Coutinho is joining Arsenal on loan from Barcelona, according to @BilelGhazi.
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 6, 2019
The French outlet report via Get French Football Now that the Barcelona playmaker is on the verge of joining the Gunners on loan for the season despite the Arsenal manager’s recent remarks on the Brazilian international.
Reports in Spain (per the Sun) have linked the former Liverpool number 10 with a return to the Premier League this summer with Coutinho failing to make much of an impact at Barcelona following his blockbuster move to the La Liga giants 18 months ago, and the latest update from L’Equipe sent Arsenal supporters on social media into pandemonium.
Here is how some Arsenal fans reacted to the news on Twitter…
— Toby (@ftbltoby) August 6, 2019
WE ARE GOING FOR THE LEAGUE BOYSSSS pic.twitter.com/H3MudlRE4L
— Joe Willock Propaganda Account (@PepeEsque) August 6, 2019
Concede 5 score 9
— ArsenalFc (@bobosignn) August 6, 2019
Plsss
— Mikey (@NeIsonFC) August 6, 2019
Call us Real Madrid from now on
— ‘ (@freddyafc) August 6, 2019
What’s going on
— yves (@luckynumbernone) August 6, 2019
RAULLLLLLL
— Sensei (@99__35) August 6, 2019
Wow Coutinho!! #Madness
— GoonerViews (@GoonerViews) August 6, 2019
With a few days of the transfer window remaining, Arsenal are also looking for a centre-back following the departure of Laurent Koscielny (per the Evening Standard).
