The Carabao Cup fourth round draw takes place on Wednesday evening with a host of the Premier League top sides still in the competition.
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Tag Archives: Arsenal
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes transfer declaration as Gunners close in on two more deals
Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli is also on the club’s radar, with Granit Xhaka likely to leave for Roma.
Meanwhile, Arteta was impressed with the first sighting of Tavares in an Arsenal shirt on Saturday.
Tavares took his goal calmly with his weak foot to equalise in the first half.
“A great debut with his right foot as well!” Arteta reflected.
“He’s only been with us a few days but you can already see his qualities, his physicality and then the quality on the ball that he has.
“He’s integrating with the lads really well, so it’s a good start.”
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This post originally posted here Daily Express :: Sport
Arsenal have five Houssem Aouar transfer alternatives including former Unai Emery target
Arsenal have signed Nuno Tavares and are hopeful of adding both Ben White and Albert Sambi Lokonga in the coming days and weeks as they step up their transfer business – but they have yet to find a new long-term option in the No 10 role; another of their summer priorities.
Of their possible options for the position, Martin Odegaard has returned to Real Madrid after his Emirates loan while James Maddison is tied down for the long term at Leicester and free agent Hakan Calhanoglu swapped AC Milan for Inter Milan.
Houssem Aouar of Lyon is another target with his price tag having been slashed due to financial difficulties and the Gunners having wanted him last summer, but The Athletic say interest from the north Londoners has actually now cooled.
Per their reports, the Arsenal boardroom have not reached a complete consensus over whether or not the Frenchman is the right attack-minded fit for Mikel Arteta’s team.
The Gunners will therefore have to move on to alternative targets. Express Sport takes a look at five players who could provide feasible options this summer as Arteta seeks a player who can dovetail with Emile Smith Rowe as well as occasionally operating as the side’s only playmaker.
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Isco
Out of contract in a year’s time, Isco could be on the move this summer and for a bargain price unless he shows a willingness to sign a new contract.
Some reports have claimed the 29-year-old, with 336 Real Madrid appearances and 38 Spain caps, could be available for as little as £6million.
Carlo Ancelotti more recently has more recently hinted that he could get a chance, hailing his “great desire, excitement and hunger” in training.
Still, a bid might tempt Los Blancos to part ways with the classy long-serving attacker who can also operate as a central midfielder or as a winger, given he totalled just 1,092 minutes across 29 games last term for an average of just 38 minutes per appearance.
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Christopher Nkunku
Former Paris Saint-Germain academy talent Nkunku was looked at by Unai Emery in his early days at Arsenal with the pair having worked together in the French capital.
Nkunku has since spent the past two seasons with RB Leipzig having played in just about every role imaginable from central midfield, attacking midfield, right wing, left wing and centre-forward.
The dynamic 23-year-old Frenchman has produced 12 goals and 27 assists for Leipzig and a £27m price tag has previously been mooted for the player.
Nkunku’s versatility makes him one of Arsenal’s most exciting options although Leipzig have already lost several key players this summer in Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate.
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Lucas Paqueta
Paqueta only joined Lyon from AC Milan in the summer of 2020 but enjoyed a strong first season at the club, contributing 10 goals and six assists in 34 games.
The Brazilian, rated at around £31.5m by Transfermarkt, is under contract until 2025 but Lyon’s financial problems might tempt them into parting ways after only 12 months.
Still just 23, Paqueta – who scored Brazil’s winner as they reached the Copa America final earlier this month – has impressed in France after struggling to establish himself in Italy.
A quick and direct attacker, Paqueta’s struggles in Milan do not fairly summarise his talents and he can play as a No 10 in a 4-2-3-1 system or as a deeper midfielder in a 4-3-3.
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Nabil Fekir
Long linked to the Premier League, Fekir almost joined Liverpool in 2018 and has been heavily tipped to move to the Emirates over the past two years. He’s currently out in Spain with Real Betis, where he has spent the past two seasons.
The ex-Lyon attacking midfielder, a World Cup winner with France, produced 11 direct goal contributions in 38 games last term after 14 in 33 the previous season.
The 27-year-old might be gettable given Betis finished 10th in La Liga last term though they’d likely still want to make a profit on the £17.7m they paid two years ago.
Fekir’s stock is not as high as it once was but he’s still a very talented forward who can play on the right or the left as well as centrally or as a centre-forward or a second striker.
Christoph Baumgartner
Turning 22 on the first day of August, the Austrian international has enjoyed an excellent last two seasons with Hoffenheim and even scored for his country at Euro 2020 in a 1-0 win over Ukraine.
Another versatile player, with Baumgartner capable of playing wide left, in central midfield, as an advanced midfielder or as a striker or second striker, he contributed nine goals and seven assists in 41 games last season.
Linked with Liverpool and Manchester United, Baumgartner has spent four years in Germany but said last month: “My clear plan is to play for Hoffenheim next season. I believe I have the biggest opportunity to develop further here. For me, that means playing consistently at a high level with more room for improvement.”
That might make it tricky for Arsenal to prise him, although an offer being tabled could sway the player’s thinking, and Hoffenheim would surely sell for a handsome profit on the nominal fee they will have paid AKA St Polten for him in 2017.
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This post originally posted here Daily Express :: Sport
Tottenham challenging Arsenal for Houssem Aouar is bad news for two Spurs stars
Tottenham are set to go head to head with Arsenal over Houssem Aouar. Lyon are prepared to sell the midfielder, who has been catching the eye with his performances over the past two seasons.
The potential arrival of Aouar would spell bad news for two Tottenham players.
It comes as Spurs look to battle Arsenal for the Lyon star’s signature, who has been scouted by the Gunners.
But Tottenham could become the favourites for the midfielder despite the longstanding interest from their north London rivals.
And Tanguy Ndombele could be the reason as he and Aouar are good pals and he wants to reunite with him.
When Spurs signed the Frenchman back in 2019, they also took a look at his midfield companion.
However, Ndombele is one of the players who could see his game time diminish upon Aouar’s arrival.
That is because the 23-year-old will be assured of a first-team spot while Ndombele and Dele Alli will contend for the other spots.
Nuno Espirito Santo likes to operate with two midfielders, alternating between a three-at-the-back system and a more traditional back four.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is expected to be one of the main players as a holding midfielder while Aouar’s dribbling ability makes him an ideal companion.
That leaves Ndombele and Alli in a sticky situation, with both already having problems in the first-team
There has even been speculation that Ndombele could be used as a makeweight in the deal to bring Aouar over to London.
It means that departures are clearly on Tottenham’s mind, with Aouar set to push someone out of the squad.
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This post originally posted here Daily Express :: Sport
Arsenal ‘agree’ £50m fee with Brighton for Ben White transfer as contract details emerge
Arsenal have finally agreed a fee with Brighton to sign England defender Ben White, according to reports. Arsenal have been in advanced talks to sign White for several weeks. And now it appears the Gunners are close to getting their man.
Arsenal have been in the market for a right-sided centre-back following the departure of David Luiz at the end of his contract.
White was identified by Mikel Arteta earlier this summer after an impressive first full season in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old was a regular under Graham Potter last term and can also play in midfield and at right-back.
And after weeks of speculation, The Sun claims Arsenal have agreed to pay Brighton’s asking price of £50million.
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Arsenal began their pre-season with a 2-1 defeat to Scottish side Hibernian on Tuesday.
The Gunners will play Rangers in their second and final match of their Scotland training camp on Saturday.
Arteta hopes his first full pre-season with the squad will prove dividends next season.
“The first thing is that we’ve got time, something that we haven’t had since I arrived here, to prepare a lot of things that are very necessary to develop,” he said.
“It’s been really good and we could have two really good games to start our preparation.”
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This post originally posted here Daily Express :: Sport
Arsenal transfer news: White, Odegaard chase
Wrapping up the Arsenal transfer news, rumours and gossip in the 2021 summer window.
Arteta coy on future transfers
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta remained tight-lipped about any future transfers after his side’s 2-1 defeat to Hibernian at Easter Road on Tuesday evening.
“We have got one for now and we are really happy with the one we have,” Arteta told Sky Sports News. “Unfortunately, he could not play today. Maybe he can play on Saturday.
“We will work with the players we have, try to make them better and try to compete as best we can.”
1:21
Sky Sports News’ Rob Jones assesses how Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be looking to strengthen his squad this summer in the transfer window
Who have Arsenal been linked with?
Martin Odegaard – Arsenal hopes of bringing the playmaker back to the Emirates have been boosted by claims Real Madrid need to slash their salary cap, with Odegaard at risk of being moved on (The Athletic, July 13)
Ruben Neves – Arsenal have begun negotiations with Wolves over the signing of Ruben Neves (Record, July 12).
James Maddison – Arsenal are expected to make a major move for Leicester City playmaker in the coming weeks (Daily Star, July 12).
Ben White – The Brighton defender wants a move to Arsenal to happen as talks continue between the clubs after two rejected bids (Sky Sports, July 15); Arsenal are reportedly set to step up their pursuit of Brighton centre-back Ben White following the conclusion of the European Championship (The Sun, July 14).
Thilo Kehrer – Arsenal have enquired about PSG defender Thilo Kehrer as they line up a transfer replacement for right-back Hector Bellerin (The Sun, July 14).
The latest players linked with a Arsenal exit
4:15
After signing in January for Newcastle on loan from Arsenal, Joe Willock scored nine Premier League goals for the Magpies as he was crucial in their survival in the Premier League
Emile Smith Rowe – Talks over a new contract for Smith Rowe are moving “positively”, with all parties hopeful a deal can be agreed after Aston Villa saw two bids rejected (Sky Sports, July 15)
Joe Willock – Newcastle are in talks to bring Joe Willock back to Tyneside (The Times, July 13)
Hector Bellerin – The right-back has told Arsenal he wants to sign for Inter Milan this summer but the two clubs are yet to reach an agreement for the 26-year-old (Daily Mail, July 13).
Granit Xhaka – Xhaka’s transfer to Roma is stalling due to Arsenal’s struggles with bringing in an adequate replacement (Daily Express, July 14).
Confirmed Arsenal signings
Nuno Tavares – Benfica, undisclosed
Confirmed Arsenal departures
Matteo Guendouzi – Marseille, loan
William Saliba – Marseille, loan
Dani Ceballos – end of loan
Mat Ryan – end of loan
Martin Odegaard – end of loan
David Luiz – contract expired
Mark McGuinness – Cardiff, undisclosed
Trae Coyle – FC Lausanne-Sport, undisclosed
Zech Medley – KV Oostende, undisclosed
Dinos Mavropanos – Stuttgart, loan
Daniel Ballard – Millwall, loan
Ben Sheaf – Coventry, undisclosed
Matt Smith – Doncaster, loan
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This post originally posted here SkySports | News
Arsenal transfer chief Edu must choose targets wisely in tough summer at the Emirates
With new outgoings announced almost every single day in north London, it is shaping up to be a busy summer of transfer dealings for Arsenal and technical director Edu. With a dramatic improvement required on their eighth place finish last season, the pressure is on for the Gunners to get the squad in a position where they can realistically challenge for the top four next time out.
Such a disappointing domestic finish leaves Mikel Arteta’s side without any form of European football for the first time in 25 years.
Aside from upsetting the fans, its absence is also set to make their summer of business exponentially more difficult.
First and foremost, attracting the world’s best players, as Arsenal have done in the past, is made that much harder when you cannot offer European football.
Naturally, the cream of the crop like to play in the biggest of games, and it does not come any bigger than the Champions League.
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Without it on the table, the Gunners will logically have to provide incentives to transfer targets in different ways, chiefly in the form of long-term contracts and high wages.
However, the added difficulty with this is that without European football, the club is also set to miss out on revenue from European football.
In a painful double-whammy, the Arsenal boardroom is therefore tasked with providing bigger financial incentives than their Champions League-qualified rivals, despite having less money to work with.
Their situation is illustrated perfectly through their pursuit of Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli.
The 23-year-old has dazzled at Euro 2020, helping his national side all the way to the final, and although Arsenal are now pushing hard to sign him they are facing stiff competition from Italian giants Juventus.
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Some reports indicate that a deal is close for the north London side, but journalist Paolo Bargiggia suggests that the player plans to reject Arsenal in favour of Juve.
Unless Edu can put more money on the table than their opposition, they are always going to be facing an uphill battle.
Similar situations can be found with fellow midfield targets Yves Bissouma and Renato Sanches.
Both players are also being tailed by Liverpool who, once again, will be strutting their stuff in Europe’s premier competition next campaign, so the extra incentives will surely need to be offered by Arsenal.
All of this points to the fact that, if every major signing is going to be a significant long-term investment for the Gunners, they simply have to get them spot on.
With Matteo Guendouzi, David Luiz and Martin Odegaard just three of a handful of players to have already departed the Emirates so far, Edu could face the pressure of getting a whole series of transfers bang on the money.
The last thing the club need is another Mesut Ozil situation, where the classy German midfielder ended up completely frozen out of the side despite being one of the highest earners in the Premier League.
Clearly, Arsenal are going to have to pull out all the stops if they are to execute many of their more ambitious signings over the coming weeks.
The pressure is certainly on for Edu and Arteta, who not only need to recruit in numbers, but need to recruit extremely well with financial pressure hanging over their heads.
Author: Charlie Gordon
Read more here >>> Daily Express :: Sport
Stan Kroenke 'approves £250m Arsenal transfer spree' as Mikel Arteta eyes five signings
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke will provide the club with an eye-watering transfer budget of £250million this summer, with Mikel Arteta looking to build on this season’s eighth-placed finish in the Premier League, according to reports. The Gunners failed to escape the clutches of mid-table during the Spaniard’s first full campaign at the helm, missing out on European qualification for the first time in over 25 years.
The squad looks set for a large-scale overhaul in the coming weeks and months, with many players expected to leave the club ahead of the start of next season.
The likes of Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka, Bernd Leno and Matteo Guendouzi appear to be facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium and will need replacing if they are to seek pastures new this summer.
Meanwhile, Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard have returned to Real Madrid after their respective loan spells.
Significant levels of investment will be needed for Arsenal to stand any chance of returning to the upper reaches of the Premier League table next season, given their recent lack of quality and the number of expected departures.
This is a view seemingly shared by Kroenke, who is prepared to bankroll a comprehensive summer rebuild to the tune of £250m, according to 90min.
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It is claimed that Arsenal are looking to target young, high-potential players with the ability to develop into more expensive assets, which is said to be a significant factor in Kroenke’s willingness to spend.
Arteta will reportedly push for at least five additions this summer, with the former Gunners playmaker hoping to land a goalkeeper, full-back, central defender and two central midfielders.
However, the report states that other signings could be on the agenda if players are sold to make room for new arrivals.
Arsenal are believed to be keeping tabs on a number of potential targets, with Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Brighton and Hove Albion defender Ben White understood to be on the club’s radar.
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The latter was reportedly the subject of a failed £40m bid earlier this week and it remains to be seen whether the Gunners will go back in for his services in the near future.
Norwich City right-back Max Aarons is also said to be an option for Arteta, with Bellerin likely to call time on his ten-year spell in north London before the start of the new campaign.
In the middle of the park, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison of Anderlecht, Brighton and Leicester City respectively are understood to be on Arsenal’s shortlist.
Arteta revealed earlier this year that he is expecting to lead a summer of change ahead of next season, but stressed that a number of factors will influence the Gunners’ fortunes in terms of recruitment.
“We don’t know yet because we have so many things to do,” Arteta told reporters in March when quizzed on his transfer strategy.
“We have people on loan, people finishing contracts. There has been a lot going on in the last two transfer windows, the amount of things that had to be done was probably unprecedented and it will be again in the summer.
“We are trying to put a plan together to see the resources that we have, how much we want to improve, how we’re going to do it and at what cost. There are so many factors, it’s not just about one thing or an [financial] amount.
“It’s about the project and, timewise, how to build it is going to take some effort from everybody and we know that. The challenging moments that we are facing at the moment is making it even harder.”
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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Sport Feed
Roy Keane calls Patrick Vieira 'typical Arsenal bully' as pair relive feisty tunnel clash
Manchester United legend Roy Keane and Arsenal‘s Invincibles captain Patrick Vieira have discussed in length the infamous tunnel clash at Highbury in 2005. Gary Neville has also had his say on the incident, claiming Vieira’s pre-match antics towards him led to Keane’s furious outburst.
A simple search of ‘Keane Vieira’ online will bring you to the clip in question.
Arsenal and United were coming towards the end of their fierce rivalry on the pitch but tempers had definitely not ceased off it.
Vieira, Keane and Neville were all together in the ITV studio on Wednesday night for Euro 2020 punditry duty.
Presenter Mark Pougatch did not miss an opportunity to bring up the events from 16 years ago.
And Vieira was first to have his say on how it all started.
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The Frenchman said: “I think it all started with Roy losing his temper. Before that, the hostility between the two clubs.
“As an Arsenal player, you always wanted to play against the best and at that time, United were the best team.
“It was challenging, it was tough, it was difficult and obviously Gary here, one of his strengths was intimidating players – that was one of his strengths.
“That time I was getting really, really frustrated about the number of challenges and the aggressiveness he was giving to our players, our front players.
“As a captain, as a leader, I wanted to put him under pressure a little bit.”
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Neville explained how Vieira’s fury towards him started even before leaving the pitch after the pre-match warm-ups.
Neville said: “So, before we got in the tunnel to go out for the game coming in from the warm-up, he (Vieira) is chasing me up the tunnel, screaming at me.
“So I go into the changing room and sit next to Denis Irwin and say, ‘Vieira is a bit annoyed’.
“He just chased me up the tunnel, I sat next to Denis and Roy sat next to Denis, so he obviously heard that.”
Keane initially did not want to get involved but ultimately stood up for Neville.
And he described Vieira as being a “typical Arsenal bully” at the time.
The former midfielder said: “To be honest, I was trying to mind my own business.
“I was focused on the game, quite calm, getting in the zone, Gary was a little bit upset, he seemed a bit worried.
“I think I said to Gary, ‘Just forget about it, we need to focus on the game’.
“And then, of course, Patrick wouldn’t let it go – typical Arsenal bully and then he started again in the tunnel just before the game started and that’s where I got a little bit irritated.
“Believe it or not, I forgot to put the armband on, so I went back to put it on and when I came down, I got to the end of it.”
Keane was filmed shouting at Vieira from one end of the narrow Highbury tunnel to the other, repeatedly saying: “I’ll see you out there”, while pointing to the pitch.
Referee Graham Poll tried to calm matters but Keane was having none of it, continuing: “I wasn’t going to listen to Graham Poll, was I? You don’t listen to a referee when you’re in the zone.
“Patrick knows what was happening. It looks worse than what it was.
“I’m trying to figure out where Gary was, I think Gary is still hiding in the toilets. Because the Arsenal tunnel was so tight, it was even more tense than usual.”
Neville said the police even got involved as Vieira chased him.
“The policeman pulled me back at the end of the tunnel because there was a policeman at the end of the tunnel who pulled me back as Patrick was coming towards me,” said the former right-back.
United won the game 4-2, with a young Cristiano Ronaldo netting twice, to enable Keane and Neville to have the last laugh.
Vieira then explained how much he enjoyed his battles with Keane in one of the golden eras of the Premier League.
“We with Roy, especially in the midfield, had some really tough battles,” he said.
“But it’s done with respect because we wanted to win that battle.
“If you want that type of midfield battle, you give a little bit more trust to your teams and players and you have more chance of winning the game.
“I loved every single game and that moment in the tunnel, it’s one of the reasons I really love the Premier League.”
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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Sport Feed
Daniel Ek preparing second Arsenal takeover bid which 'may test' Kroenkes' resolve
“We remain 100% committed to Arsenal and are not selling any stake in the Club. We have not received any offer and we will not entertain any offer.
“Our ambition for Arsenal remains to compete to win the biggest trophies in the game and our focus remains on improving our competitiveness on the pitch to achieve this.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Henry said of Ek’s attempts to buy the club: “Daniel is an Arsenal fan. He did not say it for any publicity, he has been an Arsenal fan for a very long time.
“He approached us, we listened to him. And we knew, first and foremost, that he wanted to involve the fans.”
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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Sport Feed