Arsenal News - May

[Darren]

The Premiership

With the season now over, Arsenal have cemented a third place in the Premiership which in turn has confirmed their place in next seasons Champions League. A season in which they have been there or there abouts for most of. The Gunners got locked in a battle with West Ham United for third place, territory which anyone associated with The Hammers are not used to but Todd Fortune pulled a very good season out of the locker, pushing Arsenal until the final game of the season and making a rivalry between the two clubs that has never normlly been there.

Another slow start to the season for the club, something that seems to be the trend now at Arsenal, it took until round ten for any real form to be found and from there on in, they were consistent although a very tight table did see them drop three or places one week only to then gain them back the following. A battle with Chelsea, Burnley, Newcastle and West Ham kept the Gunners busy but yet again, a big concern for them will be the points they dropped against the sides struggling at the wrong end of the table.

The Arsenal boss spoke about his sides Premiership campaign ;

" On reflection, the better part of our season with our success coming from this area of the game. A third place finish is very good, we fought hard and until the last game to secure it but by the last eight or so games, it was clear that the two Manchester sides would go on to compete although when I looked at the fixtures, Man U away on the last day I knew it would be an important game but it turned out to be more so for them than us really but we turned up and played them off the park. Spilt milk and all that but when we look back at the points we dropped, we can kick ourselves for not making more of a challenge for second spot. Its been our downfall for a few seasons now and it proved to be the case again last season but we can look back and be proud of the final table and the progression the club has made and just hope that the pre season period will allow us to make the changes we feel we need to in order to keep putting the pressure on the sides around us.

As a result of our third place finish, we will also be competing in next seasons Champions League, a competition that we enjoy and we cant argue that the extra abs and finances is a major part of the attraction, equal to testing ourselves against some good sides and Managers. Our name in the Champions League draw has become standard for us over the seasons and although we have always enjoyed a good group stage and knock out stage, making it to the final s still on our wish list.

FA Cup

" Our domestic cup run could have been better but could have also been a lot worse than it was. We got to a good stage but then found the draw against Man Utd that bit much of an ask to qualify. We do have a good reputation in the cups and once again, like the league we will be hoping to do one better next season and try and get the fans some silverware which they more than deserve ".

582 Words

[Darren]

Tough Window Ahead But Arsenal Will Be Looking To Make Changes

With the reduction in revenue and massive cash crisis taking place in FFO, the Arsenal boss has today spoken and claimed that he still expects his side to be active in the transfer window but it could see some of the clubs better players leave in order to build the squad up as a whole.

In recent seasons, the likes of Joe Gomez and Manuel Locatelli have attracted big interest in the transfer windows and it seems to be the case once again with reports around the club claiming that both have had as many as four transfer approaches for them received by the club but this season has seen interest in Alexander Isak also after a debut season at The Emirates saw him walk away with the Premiership golden boot.

The Manager spoke today and gave an update with the transfer plans ;

" As a rule, we tend to not get to involved in deals during the season and always try and get our deals done pre season and set ourselves up for the season with minimal disruption but towards the end of the season, we allowed Ranieri to leave in return for Justin Obikwu but we have had a change of plan with the player so first and foremost will be to look at his departure which we are in advanced talks about.

I cant sit here and say come the start of next season that this squad will remain intact, it wont b and we do expect to be active in what is going to be a very tight market with the current cash crisis that is infected the league. I think its going to be a case of tying to utilise the players what we have with the highest attraction to others and to see what we can get in a deal that is best for us and right now we have talks taking place that will see one or two big players leaving the club so its all eyes on the transfer window opening for us now as we look to try and get a better balance in the squad for next season ".

372 Words

[Darren]

Manager Confirms Academy Investment

One of the talking points this pre season in the game has seen speculation surrounding the various academy squads with the day fast approaching that players will be eligible for call ups to the various senior squads.

The Arsenal boss has been open in his thoughts regarding his clubs academy with him claiming that it could be lot better but could be worse with the young Gunners holing one stand out player that may have a chance in the game.

Speaking today, the Gunners boss confirmed that after a meeting with club officials, it has been decided that funds will be put aside to invest ;

" The academy is an area of the game that we want to have a real good look at and to try and look after some of the clubs future in house and to see if w can maybe unearth that gem that can make it in the game. As it stands we have an ok academy but I think we need to be giving it a chance to se if we can push these players in the right direction. We will be active in securing one or even possibly two additions into the side, I've been told that the funds have been put aside for this so its good news for that part of the club but as always a gamble that our investment will pay off but we will do our best to improve facilities and hope for the best that we can produce a decent player or two ".

263 Words

[Darren]

Transfer News - Obikwu Leaves The Emirates

Arsenal have made no secret that its going to be a juggling act this pre season with funds being needed elsewhere around the club but they have maintained that they will be doing their best to bring some new faces in but they will be at the expense of some of the current first team squad as the Manager looks to ring the changes. With the transfer window now in full flow, the cub have confirmed this morning that they have agreed the sale of Justin Obikwu, who only signed for the club towards the end of last season ;

J_Obikwu 20 eng 1 5 13 18 26 1 503 876 400

The twenty year old was signed from Barcelona and immediately loaned out to Benfica but during that time it appears that Arsenal have had a change of mind regarding the player a he confirmed this morning ;

" We signed Justin with the sole aim of getting him a loan out this season but once we looked the finances at the club, to tie so much money up in a player that may not even make our first team was a decision we had to change. The fee we get for him will allow us to add to the academy and also have some towards the stadium development so pretty much for the here and now so it swayed us into heading down that route which we are happy with ".

246 Words

[Darren]

Transfer News - Mamardvili Set For Gunners Deaparture

One of the surprise piece of transfer news coming from Arsenal this morning is that the club have allowed Georgian Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardvili to leave the club after a deal was agreed with Fiorentina some weeks ago.

The twenty four year old impressed during his short stint at the club after only signing towards the end of the season but interest from ELF1 started to come into the cub and it was clear that Fiorentina wanted to make Mamardvili their new number one following their promotion last season ;

G_Mamardvili 23 geo 24 1 1 1 25 590 1 1 1

Moving in the opposite direction to North London will be Dutch International Rome Owuso Oduro who it is believed Arsenal actually scouted last season so it would appear that Arsenal finally got their player in ;

R_Owusu_Oduro 20 ned 23 1 1 1 22 491 1 1 1

Speaking this morning, the Arsenal Manager gave his view on the move ;

" He's certainly one of the highly rated young keepers in the game and a player we are very happy to bring here. We looked at him several times last season with a view to maybe making a move but opted to bring Giorgi Mamardvili here but the situation has changed and the opportunity presented itself for us to get Rome here and we couldn't turn it down. We lose a very good player but gain a very talented one in return that will have the ability to play at this level or many a season ".


265 Words

[Darren]

Transfer News - Locatelli Finally Says Goodbye To North London

As each pre season comes and goes, the fans of Arsenal hope to see that Manuel Locatelli has remianed at the club with transfer speculation continuing to circle the Italian International. A reputation as one of the best defensive midfielders in the game, Arsenal have had no shortage of transfer enquiries and bids for the player but the club have confirmed today that Locatelli will not be in the roster for next season after a deal was agreed with Chelsea for the signature of the twenty seven year old who it has been confirmed handed in a transfer request after the final game of the season ;

M_Locatelli 27 ita 1 18 22 15 27 1 728 200 274

With Chelsea quick to show an interest in Locatelli, a deal then become a priority for the newly appointed Blues boss and after a few back and forths, both clubs settled on a deal that suited both parties, a deal that will see Reece James move in the opposite direction from West London to North London along with Midfielder ;

R_James 25 eng 1 21 17 7 25 1 886 839 816
Palhinha 28 por 1 15 20 10 27 1 792 230 817

Reece James has been on the short list of the Gunners boss for some time now so it ticks that box to secure a highly rated player while Palhinha will not even feature for the club with bid coming in from Fiorentina for the services of the twenty eight year old. With no direct replacement for Locatelli at the point of sale, Arsenal were quick to bring in a new player to fill the void and settled on a deal also with Fiorentina to secure the signing of Enzo ernandez on a six season deal ;

E_Fernandez 24 arg 1 16 21 11 27 1 445 404 548

The Arsenal boss spoke about the latest transfer activity taking place at the club ;

" Naturally to lose a player with the quality of Locatelli was a big decision to make but in order to move the club in the direction we want to, a decision like that had to be made. A transfer request was submitted by the player and the rest just rolled out the way it did. We do lose a quality player but we also bring in a top class Defender in Reece James and Enzo Fernandez in the midfield so although we lose one, we gain two very good players in our roster for next season.

Most probably the biggest deal that the club has been involved in for some time but looking at it we are very happy with how it eventually ended up for us and cannot wait to welcome the new players into the club ".

475 Words

[Darren]

Transfer News - Gunners Secure Bentancur Signing

More transfer news coming from the club this morning as that they have filled the void left by Manuel Locatelli by agreeing a deal with Southampton for the services of in demand midfield enforcer Rodrigo Bentancur ;

R_Bentancur   27 uru  1 20 21  8 32   1  54 480 982

It was widely expected that Enzo Fernandez would be the man to replace Locatelli but it appears that a u turn was made by the club after a bid was receive from Southampton on Friday afternoon. A three season deal has been signed by Bentancur with his new Manager delighted that he chose Arsenal as his next destiantion ;

" From what I hear there were a few offers in on the lad and to be honest, we never actually submitted a bid for him. We've always admired the player as one of the best defensive midfielders in the game but that was as far as it went. Southampton came to us a few weeks ago with a different offer and its kind of ben bubbling since but with no mention of Rodrigo Bentancur until Friday. We made the decision to let some good players go in the deal but also sign some which overall we are delighted with but to secure the signing of a player like this when he could have gone to some big clubs is a big thing for the club. The deal was eventually concluded quickly once both clubs stated their intent which is refreshing when you look at some over the past week who seem hell bent in trying to rob the underpants off you while thinking youre a complete idiot in the process".

275 Words

[Darren]

Werner Opts For North London Switch

Timo Werner has become the latest signing at Arsenal as The Gunners look to fill the gap left by Alexandra Isak who left the club for Southampton over the weekend ;

T_Werner      29 ger  1  6 15 22 24   1 656 172 970

With Chiesa moving the other way, Timo Werner looks set to wear the number nine vacated by Isak with Arsenal finally getting the signing that they had been looking into the market at over the weekend. With a few bids out for various players, it was Werner who they were successful in bringing to the club/ The Arsenal boss had this to say regarding the signing ;

" Very happy to get the player in. With Alexander Isak leaving, I feel we had a very good pair up front but wanted to explore the options of bringing in a slightly better player and we spoke to a few, knock backs or absolute obscene valuations...its no wonder that the Manager in question has his side playing in black and white stripy shirts... .

It certainly ticks the box for us and while we step out of our normal age restrictions, we feel we have a top player in the side and one who we hop can get the goals next season just like Alexander did last season".

223 Words

[Darren]

Gomez Pens New Deal To End Speculation

The breaking news from Arsenal today is that Defender Joe Gomez has agreed a two season contract extension to end the speculation surrounding the twenty seven year olds future at the club ;

J_Gomez 27 eng 1 22 19 8 29 1 98 322 658

Gomez is the longest serving player at the club and has attracted transfer interest from both domestic clubs and clubs in Europe with many expecting him to leave this close season with Gomez about to enter the final season of his contract but a two season extension has been triggered to the delight of the clubs Manager ;

" We have had no shortage of interest in Joe and while we always entertain good offers, the offers we received fell well short of what we feel he is worth. At no point has he asked to leave the club but we did say if we get an offer we cant turn down for him then we will consider it but with that not being the case, its very good new that a player of his ability has agreed to give another two seasons of his career to us ".

199 Words

[Darren]

2900 Total for May