Inside William Saliba’s Arsenal conundrum and whether he could ever play for club again

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentUndeterred by the pandemic, the wheels of Switzerland’s film production machine kept on spinning in 2021, churning out the meticulously made multicultural co-productions the country is known for that scored slots at top festivals.Works by young directors such as Elie Grappe, whose coming-of-age drama “Olga” launched at Cannes; Niccolò Castelli’s terrorism-themed “Atlas,” which bowed at Locarno; and also the VR project “Caves” by Carlos Isabel Garcìa, which premiered at Venice; provided a preamble to the exceptionally strong Swiss presence at this year’s Berlinale.Berlin sees a record-breaking two competition slots filled by new works from established Swiss directors, Ursula Meier’s “The Line” and Michael Koch’s “A Piece of Sky,” plus several more Swiss titles in other sections. “In the worst year ever we shot three productions back-to-back during the pandemic; somehow we got used to it,” says Oscar-nominated Max Karli (“My Life as a Zucchini”), who is among the producers of “The Line” via his Geneva-based Bandita Productions, in tandem with Pauline Gygax.In Switzerland, the film and TV industry held firm last year as one of the few sectors where camera crews and actors continued to work, unlike advertising, which shuttered completely for many months.“It was quite hard because we were shooting without insurance pertaining to anything linked to the pandemic,” Karli says, though some government subsidies were made available for physical productions struck by COVID infections.But, as Karli and other Swiss producers point out, Switzerland is a confederation.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentLola Arabia, the United Arab Emirates label of Oscar-winning Spanish producer Andrés Vicente Gómez (“Belle Epoque”), has struck a 12-movie co-production deal with Dubai-based Charisma Group.The alliance will take in a range of titles, from $2 million-budgeted contemporary comedies to banner productions budgeted at $40 million, revolving around contemporary and historic stories of West Asia.The partners aim to produce an average of four films a year, said Charisma Group co-president Ayham Al Ziyoud.Development has begun on the whole slate. “Although in principle we plan projects with modest budgets, these will be increased in the following year once we find the rights partners outside the Gulf States,” Gómez said.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentAt 81, Italian horror maestro Dario Argento is busier than ever.The director of a string of cult chiller classics starting in the 1970s, including “The Bird With the Crystal Plumage,” “Suspiria” and “Deep Red,” was at Cannes last July with his acting debut in Gaspar Noe’s “Vortex,” about a pair of old lovers. Argento was also celebrated last year with a new book by Italian critic Steve Della Casa and a retro at New York’s Lincoln Center.

Liverpool star Luis Diaz was so good on his Premier League debut against Leicester that he had the BT Sport pundits “drooling” over him, according to Michael Owen.There is a lot of excitement around Diaz, who joined Liverpool in the January transfer window from Porto for an initial fee of £37.5million, which could increase by a further £12.5m.Liverpool fans got a chance to see him for the first time in the 3-1 win over Cardiff City in the FA Cup on the weekend, but the Colombian international made his full debut at Anfield on Thursday night. He didn’t disappoint, putting in an exciting performance on the left side of Jurgen Klopp ’s front three as the hosts ran out 2-0 winners over Leicester.

Arsenal will risk the wrath of their supporters by allowing William Saliba to hold transfer talks with Marseille, according to reports. The French centre-half signed for the Gunners from Saint Etienne for £27million in 2019 but is yet to kick a ball in anger for them.

Arsenal fans.After 22 years at the helm, Arsene Wenger was always going to be a tough act to follow, even with the struggles and frustrations of his latter years at the club.In the end, Emery was given just a year and a half in north London, with the Spaniard being given the boot to be replaced by Mikel Arteta.However, he still had his impact in north London and he attempted to rebuild a stagnant squad and shifted on no less than 18 players to make room for his own signings.

Arsenal to Marseille a permanent one after forcing his way into the France squad under Didier Deschamps.The 22-year-old has impressed enough to join the likes of N'Golo Kante, Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema on international duty this week, having left Arsenal for a second loan away in the summer.Guendouzi joined the Gunners during the tenure of Unai Emery back in 2018, and looked set to become a key midfielder for the club until the arrival of Mikel Arteta.Following 24 Bundesliga appearances for Hertha BSC last time out, Guendouzi has made 16 appearances in all competitions at Marseille and could make his international debut this week."Today, I am on loan and still bound by my contract at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta is hoping to continue Arsenal's upturn in form by splashing the cash on one of La Liga's brightest young talents.Since a 5-0 hammering to Manchester City and former boss Pep Guardiola, Arteta has steadied the ship and the Gunners now find themselves on an 11 match unbeaten run.There were calls for the Spaniard to walk at the beginning of the season.

Arsenal's move for Serie A star Dusan Vlahovic has stalled as the player's agent is reportedly refusing to answer calls from the Gunners.Mikel Arteta's side have been pursuing a deal for the 21-year-old since October after Fiorentina publicly announced Vlahovic had snubbed a new contract.

Manchester United star Paul Pogba has been ruled out of the France squad after suffering a thigh injury in training.

Mikel Arteta gave the latest over the Arsenal star's injury status.The Switzerland international has been missing from action since September after a crunching challenge in the north London derby.That has left the midfielder sidelined until 2021 at the earliest after a diagnosis ruled him out for three months.However, Arteta has admitted that the 29-year-old could actually return to action somewhat before the initial believed date.The Gunner coach said: “Granit is progressing really well but obviously we know it is a long-term injury unfortunately and he’s not going to be available.“With Granit, I don’t know, but I’m sure that if you tell him three [months], he will be thinking two."He will be trying to do extra work to try to minimise that

Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Watford on Sunday marked the end of a strange record at the Emirates Stadium.The Gunners missed a penalty and had two goals ruled out for offside but eventually managed to find the net courtesy of 21-year-old Emile Smith Rowe.His goal was considered controversial by Watford boss Claudio Ranieri but Mikel Arteta will not mind as his team demonstrated their steel once again by registering another clean sheet to secure all three points.And in doing so, Arsenal were able to end a bizarre stat from Opta which showed they had not won a Premier League match at home in the month of November since 2017.The ‘curse’ stretched back three managers to the reign of Arsene Wenger, whose side historically struggled in November.Wenger

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta following Watford’s 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.Watford were dominated by the Gunners throughout the 90 minutes but had a great chance at securing points due to sloppy finishing by the home side.Arteta’s side had two goals disallowed and missed a penalty, meaning they could only score one against a struggling Watford on Sunday afternoon.Talented youngster Emile Smith Rowe eventually grabbed the all-important goal with a well-placed finish from outside the area, but the lead up to his effort was deemed unfair and unsportsmanlike by Ranieri, who bitterly complained to the Arsenal manager at full-time.Arsenal’s goal came following a throw-in which Watford players and staff claimed should have been played

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal’s young England contingent are desperate to play for their country.Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale both made Gareth Southgate’s latest squad while Emile Smith-Rowe and Ben White narrowly missed out.But there is no chance any of them would ever snub an England call up - as a number of other Three Lions starlets have this time round.Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi all asked NOT to be picked for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino.Rest assured, that is not an issue for Arsenal's England contenders as they bang on Southgate’s door with their superb displays at club level.And Emirates boss Areta revealed he

Mikel Arteta for Antonio Conte amid Arsenal's impressive run of form under the Spaniard.The Gunners have turned a corner of late after losing their opening three Premier League matches without scoring a single goal.Since their 5-0 thrashing against Manchester City at the end of August, Arteta's men have embarked on a seven-game unbeaten run, toppling the likes of Leicester and bitter rivals Tottenham along the way.As a result they currently find themselves two points clear of Spurs, who are now under new management following Conte's appointment as head coach earlier this week.The former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss arrives in north London with a reputation as one of the best coaches in world football, having previously won four Serie A

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta says the next few days will determine whether Muirhouse's Kieran Tierney participates for Scotland this month.

Arsenal.Isak impressed for the Scandinavian side at Euro 2020, and rumours about an impending move to the Premier League began to grow.However, the Swede stayed put at Real Sociedad, but in a recent interview, he has opened the door for a move to the English top flight.Isak's contract currently runs through to the summer of 2026, but that may not put Mikel Arteta off.Arteta is currently in the market for an attacker, and Isak could prove to be their man.Speaking to the Independent Isak said: "I’m in a good place at the moment, I’m very happy, but one day it would be nice to play in England as well."They have six or seven of the biggest clubs in the world, it’s a very high level, and of course one day it would be an alternative."Every player

Mikel Arteta needs a more experienced sporting director than Edu at Arsenal to help him through the early stages of his managerial career, says former Chelsea star Joe Cole.The Gunners have turned a corner of late after losing their first three Premier League games of the season without scoring a single goal.Arteta's position as manager was hanging by a thread at the Emirates during that dismal run, but since their 5-0 battering away at Manchester City his side have embarked on a seven-match unbeaten streak, beating the likes of Aston Villa, Leicester and bitter rivals Tottenham in the process.The north London club are now only three points adrift of the top four, meaning there is a growing optimism that they could secure Champions League

Arsenal are preparing a loan offer with an option to buy for Real Madrid flop Luka Jovic as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attack.The Spaniard could be thin on the ground in January with Alexandre Lacazette expected to leave North London.Lacazette's contract is up in the summer, and the Frenchman has shown no intention to extend his deal.And the Serbian striker could be a potential replacement should Arsenal cash in on Lacazette in the winter transfer window.European football reporter Ekrem Konur took to Twitter to indicate Arteta has identified the Real Madrid flop as a potential option upfront for the Gunners.Jovic moved to Madrid off the back of an exceptional campaign with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.Then just 20-years-old

Arsenal technical director Edu Gaspar is hopeful that out-of-favour starlet William Saliba will still become a successful signing.Saliba signed for the Gunners in 2019 for a whopping £27million fee as a mere teenager, but fast forward three years and he is yet to make a senior appearance for the club.He is now undertaking his third successive loan spell to Ligue 1 with Marseille where he is developing into a colossus at central defence.And Edu is convinced that the Frenchman, 20, has a future at the Emirates Stadium and is “playing the long game when it comes to the defender.”According to L’Equipe, the former ‘Invincible’ disagrees with Mikel Arteta’s assessment of the youngster, with the Spaniard having been unimpressed by Saliba and

Arsenal star Kieran Tierney has been called up for Scotland’s World Cup qualifying double-header – despite being injured.