The Emirates Press - Arsenal News

[Darren]

In Demand Locatelli Arrives For Pre Season Training

One of the biggest battles that Arsenal have had this pre season has been keeping hold of Midfielder Manuel Locatelli with the Italian player in huge demand in among FFO clubs with a reported nine offers arriving at the Mangers desk during this pre season.

Another poor end to the season for Arsenal was reason for a reported but unconfirmed transfer request being handed in by the twenty six year old but as the players started to arrive back for pre season training, Locatelli was one of the first on site with a big smile on his face looking eager to get started once again with many hoping that come the start of the season, their star midfielder is still at the club.

No confirmation from Arsenal regarding the reported transfer request being submitted but none the less, it hasn't stopped clubs coming in for the box to box player and as yet, nothing has been near to what it would take to let him leave and as the club have already shown during the transfer window, they are not afraid of letting players leave should the deal be in the clubs interest.

The Arsenal boss spoke this afternoon to the ArsenalTV channel and gave an update on the future of Locatelli and any further business that the club re looking to do before the season starts ;

" Our aim is to keep the player at the club, its as simple as that. Manuel Locatelli has showed since he's been here what a top player he has been and to let him go, who could replace him in our side. Its been no secret that bids have been coming in thick and fast, nine to be precise, some very poor and some very good, literally only yesterday we received one from a top side in Europe but it wasn't enough despite the player offered being very good.

From our point of view now, we want him to stay, reports of a transfer request being handed in are false, what we did say is that if a suitable offer comes in we will listen but as yet it hasn't so we can now focus on our pre season with Manuel Locatelli being a big part of it. It goes for others in the squad who have attracted interest, any deals would have been don, now we want to keep the squad together and focus on the new season ahead ".

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Media in other sections ( three articles are 253 words, 303 words & 439 words ).

[Darren]

Isak Named Gunners Captain

Breaking news coming out of North London is that Arsenal have confirmed that Alexander Isak will wear the Captains armband next season after only joining the club a matter of weeks ago. The Swedish International is set to be a big part of the Arsenal team next season following his signing from Bayern Munich with the club looking to add more firepower to a frontline that under performed last season ;

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It was a case of jumping from the frying pan to the fire for Isak, leaving a struggling Bayern side to join an Arsenal side who struggled for large parts of the season so it looks set to be an interesting choice for the striker who has been given the armband at a time when many expected other candidates to be named the new club Captain.

The Arsenal boss had this to say about his choice of Captain ;

" All in all we had very choices for the armband and when we signed Alexander Isak, it made that choice a bit easier. One position that we rally did struggle with last season was goals and putting the ball in the back of the net so to get this opportunity to allow Isak the new Captain, it was a no brainer. Since Gabriel Jesus left the club, we have struggled to replace the goals he brought to the side so we are hoping that this signing plus being named Captain will go a long way to addressing this situation ".

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[Darren]

The Gunners Set To Field New Look Defence

With the club confirming the departures of three key players in Defence just weeks ago, many were wondering just what the club had in mind and how thy would fill the voids in one of the main areas of the roster but deals have been in place that will see Lucas Hernandez, Sven Botman, Nico Schlotrbeck and David Raum all sign for Arsenal to ease any worries that fans may have had.

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S_Botman 23 ned 1 20 16 6 26 1 689 466 445
N_Schlotrbeck 24 ger 1 20 16 5 26 1 261 608 543
D_Raum 25 ger 1 19 17 5 26 1 920 1 933

Hernandez and Raum both arrive in a deal with Bayern Munich while Raum has agreed a move from Celtic along with Botman who has moved from Juventus which was the one deal that fans raised eyebrows at with many sections feeling the club sold themselves short at what they got for their star plyer who moved the other way but either way, the club wanted to make changes in that area of the squad and that is exactly what they did opting for a more passing style of player to play from the back out.

The Gunners boss spoke to the press about the new look defence that will play for the club next season ;

" Although nothing was announced regarding players coming and going in defence, we had actually agreed the moves with a good quarter of the season left. Once it was clear that Christensen and Forfana wanted to leave, it bent our hand somewhat so we set out to get some business done and looking at what we had to what we have now, I think the club have done very well to now sit here with a defence like we have.

We were reluctant to let Malacia leave, any deal would have had to have been worth our while and it took Juventus a good while to get there and to be honest, we could have got more but decided to take the deal which in due course allowed us to use Branthwaite to get Schloterbeck in, a player that we have been looking at and keen to sign for some time. Id say we did more business with the defence than we intended to but it was a snowball effect but it all worked out for the best and we cant wait to see how they perform for us, starting with the pre season games coming up "

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[Darren]

Plenty Of Positives - Manager Reflects On Pre Season Action

The Gunners opted to take part in the pre season games and found themselves in group B alongside Shalke, Celtic and Luton Town.

Kicking off against Shalke, a convincing 6-2 win that saw Alexander Isak get his first for the club since his move from Bayern with Pedri, Joe Gomez (2), Correa and the in demand Locatellli completing the win to get Arsenal off and running. The second group game against Celtic was a much different game to the Shalke one and from such a convincing win, Arsenal will feel very lucky to have got a point after being second best throughout but a double from Correa ensured the points were shared. The last group game against Luton was a much more solid performance by Arsenal and a 3-1 booked their place in the last sixteen draw. The goals coming from Pepe, Isak and Gomez who makes it three from defence which will please the gaffer.

The last sixteen draw paired Arsenal against Monaco, a fixture that hasn't come about too often in FFO for these two and it took The Gunners penalties to get past a strong solid Monaco side following a 2-2 draw after another two goals from Isak halted Monacos hopes of progressing through with the second coming with the last kick in the ninety minutes via the penalty spot. With no goals in extra time, it took penalties to decide who would meet Burnley in the qurter final.

So with Monaco beaten, Arsenal saw themselves up against a side they know well from domestic fixtures and a side that they will no doubt be battling with next season, Burnley with whom some bookies and managers in FFO predict will be too tough for Arsenal next season. A 5-1, although its only pre season will certainly give the club confidence ahead of the new season, goals from Botman, Raum, Correa, Locatelli and another for Isak secured the win.

Another side that Arsenal know well from knocking them out of the Champions League a couple of seasons ago, Real Madrid stood in their way from making the final but it was a test too much for them and they came unstuck with a thumping 5-1 defeat. Isak getting another being the only positive from the game really.

The Arsenal boss spoke after the defeat ;

" Despite it ' only being a friendly ' as some have suggested and that the games ' mean nothing ' is absolute nonsense. We go into games to win and as others usually do, its the ones who get knockd out that then dismiss the games as ' pointless ' which is laughable on their part.

Obviously we are gutted to not make the final after playing so well n the group and knockouts but we got out of the games what we wanted to, test new formations and see how the new players performed and we cant be happier with how its gone. Real Madrid are a top side as they show every season so no shame to go out to them and we wish them all the luck in the final ".

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[Darren]

Correa Looking Ahead To New Season

Angel Correa has today spoken to ArsenalTV ahead of the new season in which he will once again line up in the heart of the Gunners midfield ;

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The twenty nine year old has been one of the cubs best signings with his constant high tally of goals a key reason on the clubs and of season finishing in the Premiership with over 60 goals to his name in an Arsenal shirt, he has become a fans favourite in North London which has seen him become the target for some clubs in EFL1 over the last couple of seasons but here he is, still in London and looking forward to starting another season for Arsenal with his sole aim being to keep scoring and pushing the team forward.

The Argentinian had this to say ;

" I've had a very good pre season and kept going from where I ended the season by scoring goals for the team. My time at the club has been very good and I've enjoyed some good seasons and scored lots of goals which is what the side need. I don't really get too carried way with transfer rumours or anything like that, I have a contract at Arsenal and am not looking to leave, I'm enjoying my football and that is the main thing for me.

The club have signed some very exciting young players for next season and am looking forward to working with them and help them settle into the team, at 29 Im one of the older players in the side so its up to the more experienced players to step up and ensure that they are ok out on the pitch. I have this season left on my contract with the option of a further two seasons which all being well will be signed sooner rather than later so I can secure my future this club ".

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[Darren]

Gunners Boss Looks Ahead To Another New Season

With the new season just a matter of days away now, all the Managers have been making the final tweaks to their squads ahead of battle once again and as we know, it has been a busy pre season at The Emirates with a busier than normal transfer window and a hectic pre season friendly schedule. The Arsenal boss today took time out to answer questions from the media, asking his views on the expectations he has on his side in the new season ahead.

When asked about the title challenge, he had this to say ;

" You have to look back at last season and the job Tim at Leeds did and what a remarkable job he done to lift the title. Not the best squad in the division but not the worst by any means, it just goes to show that Man City are beatable and if you can keep ticking over, anything is possible. Leeds were there or there abouts for most of the season and fully deserved the trophy and for that reason, they will be in the bookies odds to repeat it again. Of course you have the two Manchester sides, City will be looking to rectify there failure in what many expected to be a formality in them winning last season while Utd have made moves to better their squad and make it a closer title fight than it eventually was. The sides there on, Chelsea, Burnley, Burnley and ourselves will be hoping that the moves we have done in the market are enough to put pressure on the usual favourites. Also, not forgetting, the maybe no so fashionable sides, the Southampton's of this world who had a superb season last time and even Blackburn who have signed some very good players, I expect to see them really push on this season ".

The clubs luck of silverware has been an issue for many surrounding the club, the Manager touched on that subject ;

" Over the seasons, we have had a good record in the cups but have always came up a little bit short at the latter stages and that is something we need to look at and really try and improve on. I cannot fault the team in our Champions League campaign last season, to lose in the semi final the way we did after two legs against a top PSG side, basically picking two draws up and not being out played over two legs against them is a very respectable scenario at that stage of a competition that means so much to many as we saw when the PSG Manger went missing for days after losing the eventual final, I can understand the disappointment because its a very big Cup to win. Whether its squad depth, injuries and suspensions at crucial times be the reason we just struggled at the wrong time, its down to myself and my team to make sure we plan and utilise the squad better if we are to go that one step further and that has been in our thoughts when wee made the signings we did some weeks go but Id love to win a trophy before I decide to step away from the game and focus on other things ".

Bringing his FFO future into the subject above, the Manager gave an update on how things stand at present with him entering the final season of his deal at the club ;

" I cant lie, I don't know how many more seasons I have in me as Manager in FFO and I can fully understand why some decide to step away. To some managers, as we see daily, its a matter of life and death and their whole world revolves around it but for me it couldn't be further away than that. I've been a Manager in the game for many years at the same club and seen some good Managers come and go, return in some cases which is always good to see but you get the odd one or two who think its a dick swinging contest when they win something as we saw last season and that's not for me, each to their own but as I said, to some its a lot more important to them than it is to others. I have a season left and right now its 50/50 if I sign on again, the community in general is very good but like anything, there are always on or two bad apples in the tree that spoil it for others ".

With Arsenal set to kick their season off against Everton, the Manager looked ahead to the game ;

" Its always nice to start the season off with a home game, but our main am is to get a good start because for the last few seasons its taken us far to long to get going resulting in us playing catchup from the off which is not good enough and it has to change. We have picked up some good results during our pre season and all players are fit and available for selection which is a real boost for the game. The games during pre season has given us a chances to try a few things out and to get the new players into the squad and settled and I think we have done that well and it gives us confidence going into the new season ".

Lastly, with the squad coming into question, the Arsenal boss confirmed that four of the squad have all agreed new contracts at the club. Dean Henderson, Joe Gomez, Angelo Correa and Manuel Locatelli have all put pen to paper to cement their future with the club. Henderson and Gomez have extended their current deals by two seasons each while Locatelli and Correa both had their deals ending at the end of the new season and a new three season deal has been agreed by both players ;

" Delighted to get the news this morning that everything has been signed and sealed before the new season starts which is what I wanted. All four players are key to our squad and when the deals start to run down, the fear is that they will leave for nothing but the new deals signed will more than show the players that we see them as huge parts of the future of Arsenal Football Club. Now we can try and get the right blend from youth and experience and have a real go at this division ".

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[Darren]

Prediction Time

With the new season now upon us, the Arsenal Manager has given us his view on who he thinks the top six will be in both the Premiership and EFL1 aswell as who he thinks will fall through the relegation trapdoor ;

Premiership ;

Winners - Manchester City
Runners Up - Manchester United
Third - Sixth - Arsenal, Burnley, Chelsea & Leeds
Relegation - Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday & Sheffield United

" For me, I cant see past Man City right now. They will be hurting to have not won it and lost out to Leeds who had a brilliant season and have made steps to make a strong squad even stronger with the addition of Jude Bellingham to bolster their charge for another title. United as runners up, always there or there abouts, they ended the season well after a shaky period but they know what it takes to win a title and for that reason, I expect them to finish second. Third to sixth could b any of about eight sides but of course, we expect to be there wit Chelsea close behind followed by Leeds who I think will fall off a bit this season, not by far but a little bit and drop levels from their usual standards that they set last season with Burnley in sixth who are a solid side season after season. Relegation, both Sheffield sides for me, not done enough to push the clubs on and with others making the changes they have, I far for them likewise with Barnsley who with the change in Manager now dont pose the small threat that they did last season ".

EFL 1

Winners - Real Madrd
Runners Up - PSG
Third - Sixth - Roma, Juventus, Barcelona & Athletico Madrid
Relegation - Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen & RB Leipzig

" A very tough one to call this as any of the top sides mentioned could win this league. A cut throat division with everyone at each others throats, it looks set to be another very close season but I feel Real Madrid will just edge it with PSG close behind. Second season syndrome for the games number cruncher I feel. From there on in, its a lottery among the following sides and I wouldn't be surprised if one of these didn't finish higher but Roma clos on the heels of the top two with Juventus, Barcelona and Athletico Madrid. n terms of relegation, it came to the players and I just feel that compared to others, there are better sides in that league ".

Dont shoot the messenger, I need to spout drivvle to get my credits up and only had a quick look at the squads.

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[Darren]

Manager Brushes ' Not Good Enough ' Tag From Chiesa

The Arsenal Manager has jumped to the defence of front man Federico Chiesa after being branded ' not good enough ' for the Premiership by some sources of the media ;

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The Italian International is set to begin his third season at the club following his move from Barcelona as part of the deal that took fans favourite Gabriel Jesus the other way and although he has scored goals in North London, he hasn't been on the same level as the player who departed the club which in turn has prompted sections of supporters and media to question the decision two seasons ago to let a proven thirty plus goal a season player leave the way they did but the Arsenal gaffer has laughed any reports and has claimed that Chiesa has lot more to offer than just goals as he has shown since his move to England.

Speaking to the media he had this to say ;

" Absolutely crazy to question the impact that Federico Chiesa has on this team and we cannot allow him to be compared to Gabriel Jesus. We knew that we would not get as many goals as he did but he has still scored consistently and a lot of vital goals at that making him a very valuable player for us with whom we are luck to have here. His passing will compliment the side and allow us to use him n other areas as and when needed like we did last season and I feel that has been overlooked somewhat. We had a great player in Gabriel Jesus but w opted to let him leave for Federico and what some are forgetting is that we got a good lump of cash which was used to put back in the side.

Ok, we have to hold our hands up like we have in regards to the system we tried last season, dropping a bit too much came back to bite us in the back side really and it didn't work out and we had our arm forced to make the change we did in brining Alexander Isak in will certainly go a long way to addressing that and we are looking forward to having a strike force up top that we have managed to secure so to hear and read articles saying anything else is very disrespectful to the team and player ".

Meanwhile, the club have been rumoured to have turned down a player plus cash offer for Midfielder Pedri who after only joining the club last season is seen as a long term player in North London but although the bid was rejected, the club are expecting the club to receive a new improved bid for the twenty one year old although the club have said the player isnt for sale at any price right now, it doesn't look to deter the un named EFL 1 club from pursuing the signing of the highly rated player.

And that makes my 500 words of complete and utter ball crap

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