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GUNNERS LATEST
- Calafiori joins Arsenal
- Mikel Merino 'agreement'
- Emile Smith Rowe nearing Fulham move
- Arsenal open Fabian Ruiz 'talks'
- Kostas Lianos, Digital Sports Reporter
ARSENAL superstars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have returned to training after their extended holiday.
Elsewhere, the Gunners are closing in on a move for Spanish Euro 2024 star Mikel Merino, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein is set to depart to leave on loan to League One Charlton.
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32 minutes agoBy Kostas Lianos
Arsenal closing in on Merino
Arsenal are reportedly close to signing Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino during the summer transfer window.
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, a deal between the Gunners and Sociedad may be completed in the next few days.
Romano reports that a package worth in the region of €30million (£26m) has been agreed between both clubs.
However, the structure and payment terms still need to be ironed out between the two teams.
It’s expected a deal will soon be finalised as Merino has already agreed to join the the North Londoners.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid continue to monitor the midfielder but he prefers a move to the Emirates this summer.
The possibility of working under Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was a key factor behind the Spain international's decision.
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Today, 17:15
Nasser Djiga bidding war
Crystal Palace are battling Arsenal for Red Star Belgrade ace Nasser Djiga.
Djiba shone as his club won a Serbian league and Cup Double last season.
The 21-year-old is under contract until 2028 and Red Star paid Swiss club Basel £2.6million for him after a successful spell on loan.
The Serbian giants now want £5m for the centre-back, who won six caps for Burkina Faso.
Djiba made 36 club appearances last term, scoring two goals and setting up two more.
Arsenal also showed interest in the defender earlier this summer but reports in Burkina Faso now claim that Palace have made an approach.
Sources close to Djiga told local media that Eagles chiefs have made an offer for.
Lens are also credited with an interest in the defender, who previously played for Nimes.
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Today, 16:38By Jordan Davies
Karl Hein leaving
Arsenal keeper Karl Hein is on the verge of joining La Liga side Real Valladolid on loan.
The Spanish club have swooped in late to nab the Gunners’ No3 after League One Charlton had shown an interest.
The 22-year-old started all three of Arsenal’s pre-season games in the States with David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale enjoying an extended break after their Euros antics.
But having signed a new deal in June, it was always the plan for Hein to go out on loan this season for some much-needed first-team experience.
Valladolid are owned by former Brazil striker, Ronaldo, who knows Arsenal’s sporting director Edu from their playing days.
The Estonia international was particularly impressive against Bournemouth in LA last month, saving two penalties in a spot-kick victory over the Cherries after a 1-1 draw.
This will be the second loan spell of Hein’s time at Arsenal after spending six months with Reading during the 2021-22 season.
Questions remain over No2 Ramsdale, who is also looking for more first-team football after being axed as No1 last season in place of Spaniard Raya.
Ramsdale has been linked with moves to Chelsea, Newcastle and Southampton in the past, but looks likely to be involved in the Emirates Cup this week as Arsenal host Bayer Leverkusen tomorrow and Lyon on Sunday.
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Today, 16:23By Kostas Lianos
Julian Alvarez details
Manchester City accepted a bid for Julian Alvarez, who has been linked with Arsenal, from Atletico Madrid.
City accepted an offer worth £81.5million from Atletico and it is now up to Alvarez to complete the deal.
Atleti have offered £64.4m up front plus £17m in add-ons in what would be a record sale for the Citizens.
The striker, however, is yet to agree personal terms with Diego Simeone’s side.
The Argentina international moved to the Etihad for just £14m only two years ago, which means City are now selling him for almost six times what they paid for him.
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Today, 15:46By Kostas Lianos
Saka and Rice return
Arsenal star Declan Rice was all smiles yesterday as he returned for his first training session since the Euro 2024 final.
Rice joined England colleagues Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale back at London Colney.
William Saliba was also in action for the first time since the European championship.
The quartet were allowed an extended break after a busy tournament - which started four weeks after the Premier League season came to a close.
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Today, 14:50By Emillia Hawkins
How to watch Arsenal vs Leverkusen
Arsenal vs Bayern Leverkusen will not be broadcast on TV in the UK this week.
See AlsoArsenal could eye five Olympic stars – like partner in crime for RiceDeclan Rice pens open letter to West Ham fansArsenal next five transfer priorities after pre-season clear with Arteta messageDeclan Rice: Arsenal agree £105m deal to sign West Ham and England midfielder this summerBut football fans can stream the entire action on Arsenal.com.
Alternatively, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the whole friendly.
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Today, 14:14By Emillia Hawkins
Obi Martin completes Man Utd medical
Chido Obi Martin has completed his medical ahead of a move to Man Utd, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The 16-year-old left Arsenal last month and is now set to officially finalise his United transfer.
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Today, 13:33By Emillia Hawkins
Arsenal pre-season and results
Here’s how Arsenal’s pre-season has been going:
- 25 July:Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth(5-4 pens), Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles
- 28 July:Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- 1 August:Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- 7 August:Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen, Emirates Stadium (6pm BST)
- 11 August:Arsenal v Lyon, Emirates Stadium (2pm BST)
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Today, 12:55By Emillia Hawkins
Atletico agree Alvarez deal
Atletico Madrid have agreed to sign Julian Alvarez in an £81million transfer from Manchester City, according to Sky Sports.
It will be a club-record sale for Man City.
Alvarez has reportedly been a target for Arsenal in recent weeks.
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Today, 12:13By Emillia Hawkins
When is Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen?
ArsenalvsBayer Leverkusenwill take place on Wednesday, August 7.
It is scheduled to kick off at 6pm BST.
Emirates Stadium is the allocated arena for this pre-season friendly and it can host approximately 60,704 fans.
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Today, 11:43By Emillia Hawkins
On this day...
On this day last year, Arsenal won the Community Shield!
The Gunners won on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
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Today, 11:01By Emillia Hawkins
Stars return to training
England stars Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale returned to Arsenal training at the weekend.
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Today, 10:26By Emillia Hawkins
Arsenal's Prem fixtures
The new Premier League season kicks off next weekend!
Arsenal start their campaign against Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.
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Today, 09:44By Emillia Hawkins
Smith Rowe scores first Fulham goal
Former Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe scored his first goal for Fulham on Monday - just seven minutes after coming off the bench.
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 6, 202445' Emile Smith Rowe is subbed on
52' Emile Smith Rowe scores his first Fulham goalImpact. 👊 pic.twitter.com/a9G3twBwMP
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Today, 09:14By Emillia Hawkins
Match preview
Read SunSport's match preview for tomorrow's clash with Bayer Leverkusen here:
ARSENAL VS LEVERKUSEN Gunners host German champs with Riccardo Calafiori set to make debutCopied
Today, 08:50By Emillia Hawkins
Calafiori debut?
Arsenal take on Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday at the Emirates.
And that match could see Riccardo Calafiori making his unofficial debut after his arrival from Bologna.
Calafiori joined the Gunners following a £42million deal with the Serie A outfit.
The centre-back stood out for Italy during Euro 2024 in Germany.
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Today, 08:16By Emillia Hawkins
Lions in wait
Mikel Arteta will make a late call on whether to include his England trio in Arsenal’s Emirates Cup clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale – as well as Spain’s David Raya and France’s William Saliba – joined back up with the squad at London Colney for training on Sunday morning.
The five North London stars enjoyed an extended break following the Euros while Arteta took the club on their 10-day tour of the United States from July 21, facing Bournemouth,Manchester Unitedand Liverpool.
Four of them had been involved in England’s Euros final defeat to Spain in Berlin on July 14, while Saliba was a part of Les Bleus’ disappointing exit at the semi-finals.
With 12 days to go untilArsenal’sPrem opener at home to Wolves, Arteta will want the spine of his team ready to go, having completed personal training regimes while on their holiday.
And they were put through their paces with individual fitness tests back at Colney before being seen in good spirits as they took part in some small-sided drills.
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Today, 06:00By Kostas Lianos
Arsenal pre-season and results
Here’s how Arsenal’s pre-season has been going:
- 25 July:Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth(5-4 pens), Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles
- 28 July:Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- 1 August:Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- 7 August:Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen, Emirates Stadium (6pm BST)
- 11 August:Arsenal v Lyon, Emirates Stadium (2pm BST)
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Today, 05:00By Kostas Lianos
Why Isak interest ended
Arsenal had made Newcastle star Alexander Isak their top target during the early days of the summer transfer window.
According to The Independent, however, the Gunners ended their interest as they did not want to be drawn into a transfer saga for Saka.
Newcastle rejected all of the North Londoners' advances and now Mikel Arteta's side is looking at alternative targets.
The likes of Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Brentford's Ivan Toney have all been linked.
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Today, 04:00By Kostas Lianos
Oleksandr Zinchenko prediction
Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko is confident Mikel Arteta's side can finally edge out Manchester City for the Premier League title after coming up short the last two years.
Obviously, I think we have everything. An amazing squad, amazing coaching staff, a lot of fans around the world supporting and pushing us forward.
I don’t see any reason why we can’t achieve everything that we want. Of course it’s going to be super tough.
Only God knows what will be. For sure we will give our best to make our dreams happen.
Oleksandr ZinchenkoEvening Standard
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Today, 03:00By Kostas Lianos
Arsenal transfer advice
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been urged by club hero William Gallas to take his team "to the next level" by signing Manchester City star Julian Alvarez.
GallastoldGenting Casino:
He is a world champion, Copa America winner, won the Premier League twice in a row and won the Champions League.
He has played most of City’s important games and is a starter for Argentina, he would bring so much winning experience and... wants to reach his very highest level by playing as many minutes as possible.
Alvarez would take Arsenal to the next level. I don’t know if he could score 20 goals but he can play on the flank or behind the striker and be very influential.
William Gallas
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5th Aug 2024, 21:55By Kostas Lianos
Nottingham Forest's Edu interest
Olympiacos have denied reports suggesting their owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is also in charge of Nottingham Forest, is looking to poach sporting director Edu Gaspar.
Reports suggested Marinakis, who also owns Rio Ave, wanted Edu to take over all three clubs as a group sporting director.
That was a role that was initially reserved for famous technical director Antonio Cordon, who took over Olympiacos last year but left soon after that due to personal problems.
However, the Greek businessman's camp has poured cold water on the speculation.
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5th Aug 2024, 21:27By Kostas Lianos
Parlour on Smith Rowe exit
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour described Emile Smith Rowe's exit as a "great" deal for both parties.
The deal is great for both parties.
Fulham are getting an excellent player and Smith Rowe has a good opportunity to prove Arteta wrong.
If he puts his head down, stays fit, works hard and gets back into that form he showed at Arsenal, he could be pushing back into England’s squad.
Ray Parlour
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5th Aug 2024, 20:55By Kostas Lianos
Arteta compared to Guardiola
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour compared manager Mikel Arteta with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola after the ruthlessness he showed when he axed Emile Smith Rowe.
Arteta is ruthless. He has learned that from Pep. If you’re not doing your job, you’re out.
It could be argued that in my time, Arsene Wenger was too loyal and wanted continuity with the same players — but Arteta is fearless.
Managers live by decisions and he hasn’t made many bad ones.
I doubted him for dropping Aaron Ramsdale for David Raya but now no one talks about it.
Fair play to him for having the balls to leave people out and sell them.
Ray Parlour
ART WORK Wenger too loyal to Arsenal faves; Arteta dumping Smith Rowe shows he's like PepCopied
5th Aug 2024, 20:33By Kostas Lianos
More on Saka and Rice
Arsenal star Declan Rice was all smiles as he returned for his first training session since the Euro 2024 final.
Rice, 25, joined England colleagues Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale back at London Colney.
William Saliba was also in action for the first time since the summer festival of football.
The quartet were allowed an extended break after a busy tournament at Euro 2024 - which started four weeks after the Premier League season came to a close.
BIG GUNS Rice and Saka spotted in Arsenal training for first time after extended holidayCopied
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