Since our last update, Arsenal have signed another player (this time from Spurs), Emi Martinez has been making the same point repeatedly, Willian has been a chatty little new arrival, the Gabriel deal has moved in circles, Arsenal are ready to pay full whack for Thomas Partey, and Auba’s new deal will be announced soon.
You’ll find all the juicy transfer gossip at the bottom.
Arsenal news & gossip roundup, Mega Update #2
Arsenal news
Emi Martinez has been chatting about needing minutes again. I’ve lost count, I think this is the third time he’s said he’ll leave if he doesn’t play.
I think Arsenal get it, Emi.
Willian has been speaking to EPSN in Brazil about how he had no intention of leaving Chelsea but felt ‘discredited’.
This follows after he said he was offended at how Chelsea handled his contract negotiations, reportedly offering him a two year deal before the lockdown and refusing to negotiate after that.
He has also been speaking to Arsenal about what Gabriel Martinelli and David Luiz said to him before he joined the club:
I’m fairly sure the Daily Mail have ordered all headline writers to mention that Willian is earning £220kpw even though that includes all his bonuses and is not actually his weekly wage.
Arsenal injury news
No new updates but you can keep up-to-date on all Arsenal injuries and news here.
Arsenal club and player gossip
The away kit is being probably being launched this week. Simon Collings from the Evening Standard tweeted to say it was being launched later this week and that Arsenal’s women would wear it against PSG in their Champions League quarter-final this weekend, but he seems to have deleted the tweet.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will sign a new deal with Arsenal this summer, with only the final paperwork and announcement left to come.
Napoli want to sign Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Arsenal, regardless of the fact the two clubs are competing for fellow centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes.
AS Roma are also reportedly interested in him.
Arsenal women update
Joe Montemurro has been speaking ahead of Arsenal vs PSG Feminines this weekend in the Champions League quarter-final.
“I think there’s a real hunger because we’re representing this great club in the most prestigious tournament in the world,” he told Arsenal Digital.
“We’re a united group that loves putting on this strip and being part of this tournament. We want to give that every opportunity and we’re delighted that we got the opportunity to finish the tournament, and that we are in the top eight in Europe. That alone is a massive achievement but I do believe that we have the opportunity to go further.”
Arsenal will qualify for next season’s Champions League only if they win the tournament.
Montemurro has also been praising one of Arsenal’s latest additions, Malin Gut.
Arsenal loan news
Academy midfielder Matt Smith completed his loan move to Swindon Town this week, following recent squad involvement with the Arsenal first team.
Arsenal youth news
Arsenal announced the signing of George Lewis on Tuesday and the 20-year-old winger will initially join up with the u23s.
Speaking to Arsenal.com, Lewis said, “My playing style is very direct. I like to dribble a lot, I like to express myself on the field, so they can expect a show from me, yeah!”
He also admitted his family are Arsenal fans. “Yeah, all of my family are Arsenal fans. When I was growing up, I really looked up to players like Adebayor, he was a really big role model for me, as well as Thierry Henry, and yeah, just to mention some of them.”
Arsenal youth gossip
Arsenal have reportedly given a trial to former Queens Park Rangers youngster Kayden Harrack, 16, who can play at centre-back or in midfield.
Arsenal have also told Ben Sheaf he is free to leave this summer on a permanent basis. Coventry have been thinking over a six-figure bid and it’s now being reported that the club want £750,000 for him.
Arsenal are set to sign another young player on a free transfer, bringing in Jonathan Dinzeyi after his release from Tottenham Hotspur.
Ex-Arsenal news
On Tuesday, it was reported that Arsene Wenger had phoned up to ask about taking over the Netherlands national team job when Ronald Koeman moved to Barcelona, a job Wenger turned down. But it seems it’s all just nonsense, unless Wenger is lying.
It has, however, been confirmed that Koeman will take the Barcelona job.
Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile, has been talking about the moment he fell in love with Arsenal.
“The first game I watched after I moved in was the Man United vs Arsenal game from 2003 where Ruud van Nistelrooy missed the penalty,” Fabregas told The Athletic.
“I watched it with Paul, Mark and Noreen at the house, and I couldn’t believe it. The amount of shouts, the passion they showed for the game and for Arsenal. It was unbelievable.
“I found that feeling very soon with Arsenal. I knew very, very quickly how special that club is. They made sure I understood from day one.”
Fabregas added: “I wasn’t homesick because I knew what I was there to do.
“I was training with the first team from day one. I just loved it. Playing with the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Dennis Bergkamp… I just loved it.”
Alan Smith has warned Mesut Ozil he will ‘live to regret wasted years’ if he doesn’t leave Arsenal. Ozil wants to play and Arteta wants to play him, it’s hardly him wasting the time, is it?
Arsenal transfer gossip
Lille have now reportedly accepted offers for Gabriel Magalhaes from Arsenal, Napoli and Everton, who were supposed to have withdrawn from the race.
According to Telefoot in France Arsenal have offered the 22-year-old defender a five-year deal which he is keen to accept but Napoli have upped their salary offer for the player ‘considerably’.
It is expected that this will all come to some sort of conclusion by the end of the working week. Then again, the Lille president also thought it would all be sorted out by the end of July, yet here we still are.
Arsenal have told Thomas Partey and his camp that they’ll pay his release clause to Atletico Madrid soon.
Arsenal are still in negotiations with Real Madrid over another loan for Dani Ceballos for next season, according to reports in Spain.
Non Arsenal football news
A Liverpool player has tested positive for Covid during their pre-season in Austria. The Daily Mail report that they are still carrying on with preparations for the Community Shield as planned.
Arsenal vs Liverpool in the Community Shield is due to take place on Sunday, 29 August 2020.
From the papers
Manchester City are being offered Kalidou Koulibaly for £60m with Napoli keen to complete a deal [Daily Mirror]
Abdoulaye Doucoure is ready to join Everton but Watford are holding out for £25m. [Daily Mirror]
Bayer Leverkusen have told Chelsea they want a deal for Kai Havertz wrapped up by August 28 [Daily Mirror]
Manchester City and Manchester United will not be required to play on the opening weekend of the next Premier League season because of their exertions in Europe this year [The Times]
Premier League clubs are facing a season ticket nightmare in the scramble to comply with the government’s ‘Track and Trace’ scheme [Daily Mail]
Wigan Athletic paid their administrators up to £500 an hour in fees during their doomed bid to avoid relegation to League One [Daily Mail]
Football League clubs are preparing to start their new season in 10 days’ time – a full week earlier than expected [Daily Mail]
Former Premier League and Senegal striker Demba Ba has called on football to condemn China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims, whatever the financial cost. Mesut Ozil has already done this and Arsenal hung him out to dry so they could stay on the good side of China.
Arsenal news roundup, Monday 17 August 2020
Monday was somewhat quieter than the weekend, but Arsenal still managed to sign another player and announce goal of the season while Gabriel is getting closer and in ex-Arsenal news, Arsene Wenger has finally found a job he wants.
After a busy weekend for Arsenal, Monday was a lot more pedestrian but that doesn’t mean there still wasn’t a lot going on.
Here’s a roundup of Monday’s news and gossip in case you missed anything. Below, you will find an Arsenal news roundups as well as a transfer gossip roundup, loan watch, injury news and ex-Arsenal updates.
Arsenal news roundup, Monday 17 August 2020
Gabriel Martinelli’s goal against Chelsea has been voted as Arsenal’s goal of the season for 19/20.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHsBYG1yCMo
Pierre-Emerick Aubayemang, who has agreed a new deal to stay at Arsenal, saw his FA Cup final winning goal voted in second place while Joe Willock’s bullet against Liverpool came in third place.
Arsenal club gossip
Arsenal have reportedly agreed a new deal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. It is expected his new contract will tie him to the club for three years and he will earn £250,000.
The club have also reportedly added Calum Chambers to the list of players for sale this summer.
Arsenal injury news
Arsenal loan news
Arsenal confirmed the news that Matt Smith had joined Swindon Town on loan.
Arsenal women update
Ahead of of Arsenal’s Champions League game against PSG Feminines, we took a look at what danger the French side pose to the only English side left in European football.
The quarter-final takes place on Saturday 22 August with a 7pm kick-of at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian.
Arsenal youth news
Arsenal have completed the signings of Tim Akinola and George Lewis on free transfers as they push to strengthen their 18-to-21 age bracket.
They have, however, only announced the Lewis signing so far.
Ex-Arsenal news roundup
Martin Keown has warned Arsenal fans not to heap too much pressure on William Saliba with the teenager expected to go into the Arsenal starting lineup for the new season.
“There definitely is [undue pressure on Saliba],” Keown told the PA news agency.
“It is one of those where I would have been happier if Arsenal had paid more money and brought him in straight at the start of last season.
“There have long-been questions over the Arsenal defence and Saliba was expensive, but he is also young and has not played that many professional games.
“It can’t be expected that he will walk straight into Arsenal, right into the team and be on it from the off.”
Former Arsenal academy midfielder Robbie Burton made his full debut for GNK Dinamo on Sunday as they won 6-0 in their opening league fixture.
Paul Ince, meanwhile, has been moaning about Arsenal not having statues of Dennis Bergkamp or Thierry Henry outside the Emirate, making himself look like a bit of a fool.
Speaking on BT Sport, the former Manchester United man was criticising City’s decision to give David Silva a statue saying it “went a bit far” before adding he doesn’t “see a statue for Bergkamp or Henry outside Arsenal”.
Finally, Arsene Wenger, after turning down the Barcelona job has now asked if he can have the Netherlands job with Ronald Koeman expected to return to Barcelona this week.
Arsenal transfer gossip roundup
Arsenal will reportedly win the race for Lille’s Gabriel after Napoli ran into ‘complications’. Everton have also reportedly withdrawn their interest in the player after Lille accepted €30m bids from Arsenal and Napoli.
James Olley: Arsenal agree deal with Lille for £22m for Gabriel https://t.co/YN24c4FHTX
— Osman (@OsmanZtheGooner) August 18, 2020
REVEALED: Arsenal agree deal to sign £22m star Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille https://t.co/eLKARbPzX2
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) August 18, 2020
Juventus apparently hold an interest in Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, as the Serie A club look to replace Gonzalo Higuain up front.
Finally, Arsenal are said to be the ‘most insistent’ when it comes to trying to sign Thomas Partey. The Atletico Madrid midfielder has a €50 (or €45m, depending on who you ask) release clause that the Spaniards will not lower.
Roundup weekend ending Sunday 16 August 2020
Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang runs on to the pitch ahead of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on July 7, 2020. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP)
It was anything but quiet over the weekend with Raul Sanllehi leaving, Pierre-Aubameyang tweeting, £30m bids going in all over the place and loads more.
Below is a roundup of the weekend’s news and gossip where you will find an Arsenal news roundup as well as a transfer gossip roundup, loan watch, injury news and ex-Arsenal updates with Lukas Podolski assuring us Mesut Ozil is not an a**hole.
Arsenal news
We should have known it wouldn’t be quiet when Arsenal announced Willian on Friday. Usually the quietest day of the week, the former Chelsea midfielder became Arsenal’s third signing of the summer.
Ian Wright believes that Willian can help unlock Gabriel Martinelli’s potential, something that’s hard to imagine when you think how good Martinelli was before he picked up his knee injury.
Saturday didn’t get any quieter.
At 12pm Arsenal announced Raul Sanllehi had left the club while at 7pm Sanllehi released his own statement which was quite similar to the one he released when he left Barcelona for the same reasons he has reportedly left Arsenal.
After Sanllehi’s departure, Metro were reporting that Arsenal are putting their ‘faith in Mikel Arteta and Edu’. The Athletic [£] discussed at length why Sanllehi had gone from Arsenal.
On Sunday evening, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is apparently now a midfielder, teased Arsenal fans with a simple tweet that most assumed had something to do with his new contract at Arsenal that is reportedly agreed but hasn’t been announced yet.
….⏳
— Aubameyang P-E (@Aubameyang7) August 16, 2020
Emi Martinez also confirmed interest from 10 clubs but wants to stay at Arsenal. His desire, however, is not unconditional.
Arsenal commercial news
Arsenal will finally announce their 2020/21 away kit ‘shortly’, according to reports, with the shirt already on sale in some regions.
The club have also agreed a deal with Cadbury to become the chocolate’s official partner.
Arsenal injury news
Pablo Mari is still on track for a return to training in September after a successful visit to a specialist clinic in Spain for his ankle injury.
Arsenal women’s captain, Kim Little, has given an update after surgery earlier this year to fix a foot problem and the 30-year-old can’t wait to get back playing.
You can view Arsenal’s injured players here along with more detailed Arsenal injury news.
Arsenal loans
Joseph Olowu and Cork City are starting to put a run of results together, with the Arsenal loan centre-back helping his team to three consecutive clean sheets.
Matt Smith has joined Swindon Town on loan for the season, according to the BBC who broke the news on Sunday, after winning an FA Cup medal with Arsenal. Arsenal confirmed the news on Monday.
Arsenal youth roundup
Arsenal youth forward Alfie Matthews played in a trial match for Crystal Palace u23s against Crawley Town on Saturday, as he begins to sort out his future.
Ex-Arsenal news roundup
Arsene Wenger was approached by Barcelona to replace Quique Setien, before their 8-2 spanking by Bayern Munich. He said no.
Former Arsenal midfielder, Vlad Dragomir, was relegated to Serie C with Perugia after the lost 4-2 on penalties to Pescara on Friday night.
Lukas Podolski, meanwhile, has been speaking out in defence of Mesut Ozil. The two know each other of course, not only from Arsenal but from the German national team.
There have been many questions raised about Ozil’s attitude behind-the-scenes at Arsenal, all with scant evidence of an actual problem.
“He’s good enough (to be their man man) with support from the coach and the team, but something has happened with the club, you can feel that,” Podolski told the Athletic.
“Is he in a disagreement with the club? When I talk to him, we don’t want to talk to him about that kind of stuff. It’s his situation, him and his agent have to deal with that.
“He’s a good character — he’s not an a**hole. He doesn’t do interviews where he speaks badly of his team-mates or of Arsenal and it’s a shame we have this situation because everyone is losing. Ozil is sat in the stands, Arsenal are paying him and there is no winner.”
Finally, for actual news, former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Marcus McGuane joined Oxford United on a season-long loan from Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Arsenal transfer gossip roundup
In transfer gossip, Ghana’s manager, Charles Akonnor warned Thomas Partey about joining Arsenal. There were also conflicting reports over the weekend regarding Arsenal’s willingness to pay Thomas Partey’s €50m release clause.
Mikel Arteta has apparently greenlit Matteo Guendouzi’s move to join Unai Emery at Villarreal after the Spanish side reportedly tabled a £30m loan-to-buy offer for the midfielder who has been on the naughty step at Arsenal since Brighton.
Arsenal, however, have reportedly offered Guendouzi plus cash to Lyon in order to sign Houssem Aouar with Edu making the call himself.
Besiktas have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Reiss Nelson according to media in Turkey with their board making him their top priority.
Arsenal aren’t looking to sign Joelson Fernandes and they aren’t speaking to Sporting CP or Kia Joorabchian about a move, according to Joorabchian himself.
Arsenal are proposing a loan move for Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho with an option to buy at the end of the season, according to a report in Spain.
The Gunners are also said to be one of two clubs showing strong interest in West Ham United 27-year-old Felipe Anderson, according to a Hammers insider.
Lastly, Juventus are apparently considering proposing a swap deal with Arsenal for Hector Bellerín, offering up Daniele Rugani in return.