Arsenal Transfer News LIVE: Saka injury UPDATE, Gabriel TALKS, Man City ADVANTAGE
Arsenal managed to achieve exactly what they set out to do this summer: upgrade their team.
The Gunners have improved each campaign under the tenure of Mikel Arteta and that is partly due to their shrewd activity in the transfer market under him.
In the summer of 2023, Arsenal broke their transfer record to sign Declan Rice from West Ham for €116.6 million, while Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya (loan) also arrived as the Gunners spent big after missing out on the English top flight title.
In fact, the club haven’t been shy in splashing the cash recently to try and fight the might of Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League, and with an injection of Champions League money, they spent fairly big yet again in the summer of 2024.
David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino all arrived on permanent deals, while Raheem Sterling and goalkeeper Neto joined on loan.
As always with such a big club, the Arsenal transfer rumour mill continues to be in full swing, with Arteta always keen to add to the talent he has already brought to the club.
Arsenal Transfer News LIVE today
You can check out every single one of today’s live updates from our team right here. Look no further…
Arsenal Transfer News LIVE
Eze remains a target for Arsenal
Arteta on Gabi
Mkel Arteta has lauded match-winner Gabriel after the defender scored the decisive goal in Sunday’s North London derby.
“I think the way he has evolved, first of all as a person, and then on his role at the club, at the team has been phenomenal. It’s been great to watch. This is why we are here,” Artetea revealed.
“This is one of my passions to give players the environment, to give players the support, the education, the coaching, to grow and to prepare them for the life and to prepare them to get to levels that probably they didn’t think before. And Gabi is certainly one of the best examples of that.
“Why? Because he loves what you do. He applies himself incredibly well and he wants it. And when that happens, normally good things happen to this kind of people.”
PSG to raid Gunners
Saka injury UPDATE
Bukayo Saka left the North London derby with cramps, according to new reports.
It is good news for Arsenal fans as the 23-year-old is expected to make a full recovery this week.
The England forward is due to be healthy for the Champions League clash with Atalanta on Thursday.
PSG keen on star
Paris Saint-Germain are particularly keen on adding Gabriel to their line-up as they could mirror Brazil’s centre-back pairing with him and Marquinhos, according to TBR Football.
The defender’s existing contract runs until 2027 but Arsenal are looking to extend this and prolong the 26-year-old’s time in North London.
Club begin contract talks with Gabriel
Arsenal have begun contract extension talks with the North London derby match-winner Gabriel.
According to TBR Football, both parties have started discussing a deal, with Paris Saint-Germain watching closely.
There were representatives from the French giants monitoring the Brazilian’s performance at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday.
Defence key to success
Alan Shearer has highlighted one major advantage that Arsenal have over Manchester City in their hunt for the Premier League crown.
The former Newcastle striker believes that the Gunners’ defence is the best in the land.
“I think once Arsenal go 1-0 up against you, they’re tough to get back, because they’ve got the best back four in the Premier League, without a shadow of a doubt,” Shearer said on on the Rest is Football podcast.
“They don’t give hardly anything away, Spurs just kept trying to put hopeful balls into the box and Arsenal dealt with it easily.
“They deserved the three points Arsenal, without playing particularly well, which has to be a good sign.”
Huge week for Arsenal
The Gunners face Serie A side Atalanta in a Champions League clash on Thursday, followed by Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Some have earmarked the game against Pep Guardiola’s league-leading City as an early title-decider.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta expects his team to adapt to the schedule.
“Whether I have [concerns] or not, I’m sure we’re going to play Thursday and Sunday. So it’s what it is. We have to adapt to that,” he said.
“We’re going to a top team, a very challenging team that is up there. We’re going to have to adapt to those things.”
Fans hopeful over Saka fitness
Bukayo Saka limped off during the North London derby with Spurs on Sunday.
It is currently unknown if the 23-year-old will be fit to face Atalanta in this week’s Champions League clash.
Arsenal fans will be hoping that the forward, who has scored one goal and assisted four so far this season, will be avaliable.
Saka leads league in assists
Arteta lost sleep over Tottenham clash
Mikel Arteta claimed he lacked sleep in the build-up to the North London derby at the weekend.
After preparing for the Tottenham clash, injury woes struck the Gunners and the Spanish boss was forced into switching plans.
“I didn’t enjoy it because I didn’t sleep much. I looked at Spurs for four or five days. I had a super clear plan, how to do it,” said the gaffer.
“I prepared everything, the session, the meeting, etc, and then one news, we lose a player. Another news, we lose another player. Another news, we lose a player.
“So I had to completely change it. I liked the plan for the players that we had available, so it was a great challenge.”
Latest on Saka injury
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted he does not know how serious Bukayo Saka‘s injury is.
The England star limped off against Spurs in the North London derby.
“I made two changes with the front players and suddenly he’s down. So I looked at the bench and the options that we had, so we had to adapt,” explained the Spanish boss.
“I don’t know exactly what it is, but he could not continue.”
Arteta on big win
Manager Mikel Arteta claims the North London derby win will give his players a fresh boost of energy ahead of a tough run.
The Gunners have Atalanta in the Champions League, followed by a monumental clash with Manchester City next weekend.
“We’ve won three years in a row here. I don’t know when’s the last time that this has happened, so that’s a big thing,” Arteta said yesterday.
“I think they believe already, we’ve won a lot of big games. It’s a big week coming up and that’s going to give us a lot of energy and belief.”
Gunners rule North London
Good morning Gunners fans.
It wasn’t the most dominant of displays but Arsenal managed to put one over their North London rivals yesterday.
Gabriel rose above the Tottenham defence to thump a header into the back of the net.
He was then presented the Man of the Match award after the game.
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