Exclusive: Arsenal and Aston Villa are poised to discover whether they have won the race to sign Sverre Halseth Nypan.

Arsenal have had a bid rejected by Aston Villa for England striker Ollie Watkins; Watkins has scored 10 goals in 23 games for Villa in the Premier League this season; Gunners expected to return with improved offer;

THE Champions League league phase will conclude TONIGHT – with fans treated to a bumper round of action. All 36 clubs will be in action this evening as the race for a spot in the last-16

Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa have learned their fates for the next stage of the Champions League following the conclusion of the league phase. Liverpool had already guaranteed a top-eight spot and a place in the last-16 having won their first seven games in this year’s competition.

Aston Villa star Jhon Duran reportedly handed out gifts to his team-mates and club staff ahead of a proposed exit to Saudi Arabia. We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

Manchester City scraped into the Champions League play-offs and Liverpool finished at the summit despite losing to PSV Eindhoven. Aston Villa sank Celtic to finish in the top eight and go straight through to the last 16, but Villa’s Ollie Watkins was the target of a bid by Arsenal.

The draw for the knockout phase play-offs will be held pretty swiftly after the group stage is completed, with teams learning their fate on 31 January. Then the first legs will be played on 11-12 February and the second on 18-19 February. That gives the top eight teams a useful spell without European football as the round of 16 begins on 4 March.

Aston Villa rejected a bid from Arsenal for Ollie Watkins; Jhon Duran set to complete move to Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr in coming days which would leave Watkins as only striker at Villa; Watkins has scored 10 goals in 23 games for Villa in the Premier League this season.

MIKEL ARTETA believes Arsenal are proving they can beat anyone after Ethan Nwaneri inspired a fourth straight European victory. The whizkid, 17, curled in a stunning solo goal to see off Girona

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Ollie Watkins may be facing a now-or-never dilemma regarding a potential move to Arsenal. The Gunners reportedly approached Aston Villa about their striker on Monday, only to be swiftly rebuffed.