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Italian Media: Bernard could join Arsenal on a free transfer

By
Nithyanand
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Apart from the signing of Stephan Lichtsteiner, all the other transfers that Arsenal have involved a fee of some sort.

But by the looks of it, the Gunners may be looking at bringing in another player for free. That would be the Brazilian midfielder Bernard from the Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, according to reports in Italian Publication Premium Sport.

The midfielder is out of contract at the moment and there are three clubs who are fighting each other to get the player to be part of their squad.

The 25-year-old has been linked to Arsenal many times in the past but this may be the time that they finally get their man.

There was another Premier League interested in him in the form of West Ham United who have been very busy in the transfer window this summer. But, Bernard rejected their offer and looked towards China as his next destination. And when nothing came to fruition on that front, he is looking at the Premier League once again.

Bernard is a very talented player who can play both as an attacking midfielder as well as on the wings. He is known for his speed and dribbling ability and that will be of use to whichever team that he chooses to join.

Arsenal could use a player like him as the number of wingers in the squad is quite less. Bernard will be able to offer another dimension to the attack of the Gunners and it will be nice to have an alternative weapon for Unai Emery.

The Gunners signing him could be dependent on the departure of other players so we might have to wait for a while before any concrete news comes out. Arsenal have been very efficient in the transfer market so far so we should be getting a decision very soon.

To be fair, Arsenal do not need Bernard but it is clear to see why they want a player like him. After all, it helps the team to have players who are capable of doing something a little different.

£16m star left out of pre-season squad, as Arsenal look to agree deal for 24-year-old

By
Nithyanand
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Predicted Arsenal Line-up

Given the fact that Arsenal have signed five players so far, a lot of people have assumed that their business is over.

But, it is possible that it is far from over. This is especially true due to the recent reports that we have been hearing about a move that the Gunners want to make for Andre Gomes, according to reports in Sport.

The report states that Barcelona initially wanted £18million for the 24-year-old, but are now ready to accept a bid worth £16m.

The midfielder is not happy at Barcelona and is looking for a move elsewhere and by the looks of it, both Arsenal and Juventus are targeting him. Gomes has not been able to establish himself at Camp Nou where he has simply not been able to gel with the squad.

If Arsenal are to sign him, one assumes that there will be someone leaving the club. With regards to this, Unai Emery was asked about the plans for the rest of the transfer window. The manager did not close the door on any signings as he said this, as per Arsenal’s official website:

on how many more players he would like to sign…
Normally, in my career the big clubs don’t close the [door] or the moment to sign a new player. Today, we are OK. Maybe we can bring in one if there’s a very good possibility for them to help us, but the club has done a great job of signing new players and I am happy.

on whether there’s a position he’s looking at strengthening…
We signed the players who we needed and only if one player is a big opportunity for us will we sign them. At the moment, I think the squad is complete. We will only sign another player if there is an opportunity to bring in that one player, or two players. We will only sign a player in the next month if he’s a big opportunity.

Fans will be watching the rest of window with keen interest and that may see the Gunners sign Gomes.

A lot of people will be worried that this transfer would result in the departure of Aaron Ramsey. The truth is that until the midfielder’s contract situation is resolved, we can only speculate. The talent of Gomes is not in question but it appears that his arrival will be dependent on external factors as well.

22-year-old star posts goodbye message after completing Arsenal transfer

By
Nithyanand
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Lucas Torreira

After a long wait, Arsenal fans were finally able to see Lucas Torreira be confirmed as one of their own.

The deal was in the making for a long time, but the club had to wait until Uruguay were out of the World Cup. The bond between the midfielder and his former club was clear to see as he had a little goodbye message for them.

Torreira took to Instagram to articulate his feelings as he had the following to say:

“Goodbye is a word too big, so I’ll just say ‘see you soon’,” he wrote. “I will do it because Sampdoria has been my family for two seasons and will remain forever in my heart.

“I say ‘see you soon’ because, even if I will be far away, I will never forget the importance of having you on my side, everyone, since the first training in which I wore the most beautiful jersey in the world.

“Fans, president and company, coach, staff and companions, employees and collaborators. I have grown a lot in these two years, you have welcomed me, you have trusted me and made me feel like one of you.

“And, one of you, I’ll stay for real. So long, thank you and see you soon, [Sampdoria]. You will always have an extra fan. A hug, Lucas.”

Fans will surely be happy to see that the 22-year-old midfielder is someone who has not forgotten where he has come far. It is this kind of humility that has shaped him into the player that he is today.

Arsenal fans are understandably excited to see the midfielder play for them but they will have to wait a little longer as he is on holiday at the moment. Once Torreira returns, we will get an idea as to how Unai Emery will use him in the squad until then we can come up with formations and combinations of our own.

The biggest challenge for Emery is making the midfield and defense stronger than what it was last season. A lot of the problems that Arsenal had were a result of the gaps in between centre backs and central midfielders.

Putting Torreira in this position will go a long way in solving that particular issue. He is very impressive when it comes to winning the ball back and starting an attack. Another way Arsenal can benefit is from the freedom that will be offered to Granit Xhaka. All in all, the prospect of seeing the Uruguayan at work is going to be fun.

 

Arsenal have completed Matteo Guendouzi signing: Who is he?

By
George
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Arsenal Stadium

This transfer window seems to be a bumper one for Arsenal fans as new manager Unai Emery has completed his fifth transfer for the club, bringing in French talent Matteo Guendouzi.

The transfer was officially confirmed by Arsenal. The 19-year-old signs from Ligue 2 side FC Lorient, but who is this unknown player?

Guendouzi often plays as a defensive midfielder and has made 21 appearances for his club last season.

It is expected that the young player will not be in the first team immediately, but with the League cup and the Europa League next season, it looks very likely the fans will get to see Guendouzi shine next season.

Standing at just over 6 feet tall, the young defensive player can offer options in aerial duels, adding to the increasing number of options that the Gunners have at set pieces next season.

The player will wear the no.29 shirt and told the club:

“It’s something I’m immensely proud of. Arsenal have always been the team closest to my heart and a side I’ve wanted to join since I was a child.  It gives me great pride – it’s incredible.  I hope I can do great things here.  It doesn’t get any better than coming to a club like this, with so much history, like Arsenal. I’m hugely proud.”

The French signing has already joined training with the first team, and has been seen getting along with several other French players such as Alexandre Lacazette and Jeff Reine-Adelaide.

The player joins the club in the midst of another young player potentially joining the North London side, with 21 year old Joel Lopez saying goodbye to Barcelona, and lining up a move to the Gunners.

It is shaping up to be a massive transfer window for the Arsenal, many fans are starting to be very excited for the season ahead.

Unai Emery reacts on social media after his Arsenal reign starts with 8-0 win

By
Nithyanand
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Unai Emery

July 14 was an important in the history books of Arsenal as it was the first match for which Unai Emery would be the manager.

Ever since the departure of Arsene Wenger, fans have been waiting to see how the new manager will get on.

And based on the evidence of the match against Boreham Wood, it has started off on the right note and it has made Emery happy as well.

He took to his Twitter profile to share a message for the supporters and this is what he said:

Arsenal were able to field a mixture of youth and experience for both the halves as a lot of players got a chance to showcase their abilities.

The second half saw Emery make a host of changes but the Gunners were able to maintain their control over the match. Before the match, he was asked about the kind of squad that would play the match, and he had this to say:

‘The main players for Saturday are the young players and the players who have been working with us. Then the other players who finished in the World Cup, they are coming for the next weeks and will go into their work with the players who are here. The first match for us to look at the performance by the players who are here.’

Many of the youngsters were able to impress during their time on the pitch. In particular, the performances of Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were noteworthy.

It is clear that Emery has a lot of work to do yet but the signs are proving to be positive at the moment. The real test awaits him once the season gets underway but until then, we can get a sense of what the squad is trying to do with these preseason matches.

 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacts to Unai Emery’s grueling Arsenal training

By
Nithyanand
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Aubameyang

Ever since Arsene Wenger left at the end of last season, there has been a lot of talk about how the new manager is going to take care of things.

And when Unai Emery was appointed, a lot of focus was given to his training methods and the way he will condition his squad.

The new methods have been grueling but the players including Aubameyang have responded to it positively.

After a particularly intense training session, this is what the striker had to say:

A little bit of banter to keep the spirits high as it is important given the long season that lies ahead. Emery prefers a more pressing style of play and for the players to be tuned that way, a lot of training is required.

The players will surely feel that things are a little different given the new personnel that has joined the club. Sometimes, a change is good and it will help breed success. Right now, the players need to trust what the coaches are doing and give it their all when it comes to training.

What Emery will be able to do is going to be under a lot of scrutiny so it is better that the players and the officials get used to the way training is done.

When he was asked about how he felt the first two weeks of working with the squad were, this is what he had to say:

‘Good afternoon everybody. The first two weeks for us is to start knowing the club, knowing the players, knowing all the people who are working with us. And then to work tactically, technically and physically, to start this way and get ready for the friendly match [on Saturday]. We will arrive 50 per cent in our way.’

Even if the start is slow, one can expect that the change in manager is sure to have a positive effect on the whole.

Unai Emery confirms £40,000-a-week star will be an Arsenal player next season

By
Nithyanand
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David Ospina

Arsenal have had quite a transfer window this season, which has seen them get in five players so far. One of them was the signing of Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen.

The German plays as a goalkeeper and he is expected to be the first choice for the Gunners now. Despite this, manager Unai Emery has spoken about his intention to work with David Ospina among others.

When Emery was asked about the situation regarding goalkeepers, this is what he had to say, as per Sky Sports:

“I want to work with Petr Cech, Bernd Leno, Emilio Martinez, Matt Macey, David Ospina,” “It is clear we have many goalkeepers but we want to work in the future with three in the first team but now I want to look, work every day with all the goalkeepers and then I am going to decide the first.”

This is interesting as you would expect Ospina to be on his way out of the club and given the rumors that we have been hearing so far, that seemed the more likely option. There have been clubs that are interested in getting the player so we will have to watch this space.

The goalkeeping position is one where Arsenal have had some major problems in the past. Even during the last season, Cech was not able to inspire much confidence as his otherwise impressive performances were tainted by some glaring mistakes. As for Ospina, he was generally good when called upon.

But the £40,000-a-week star has never been able to establish himself as the first choice for the Gunners. Given what Emery has to say about the goalkeeping situation, it will be interesting to see the way in which he can juggle all these keepers.

In the transfer window, things can change very quickly and we are very aware of this. The same can happen with regards to Ospina as well. Perhaps the keeper could be sold to generate some funds for another signing. No matter what happens, the rest of the window promises to be a busy period.

Unai Emery urges Arsenal to reach agreement with 27-year-old midfielder

By
Nithyanand
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Apart from the signings that Arsenal have made, Unai Emery has had to focus on the dynamics of the existing squad.

This has been impacted by the departure or potential departure of certain players. One player who is at bit of a crossroads in terms of his contract is Aaron Ramsey.

The Welshman is out of contract next season and Emery has had a lot to say about Ramsey and his role in the squad.

During a press conference, Emery made some interesting observations about Ramsey:

“I’m very happy with him,” said the Spaniard in his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Boreham Wood in the first friendly of the summer for the Gunners.

“For me, every day, every training session, he has the ambition I want. He’s working with a quality, the type of ability that I want. I want to work with him.”

After this, the focus naturally shifted to the contract situation of Ramsey and the press made it a point to quiz Emery about this. To his credit, the new manager handled the query very well by saying this:

“This is one question for the player and for the club,” he said. “In my opinion, I’ve said to Ivan [Gazidis], Raul [Sanllehi] and Sven [Mislintat] that I think he’s an important player for me.”

The 27-year-old midfielder has been a vital member of the team for some time now as he proven himself over and over. Despite the injury problems that he has suffered, his impact is truly felt when he is not in the team. So, tying him down to a new deal will be as good as any of the business that Arsenal will do this summer.

Of course, there is a possibility that Ramsey may leave the club and he is sure to have many suitors should he choose to move. But, Arsenal fans will be hoping that the Welshman will commit to the club and continue his career at the Emirates. And by the looks of it, Emery is pulling out all the stops to ensure that it happens.

Unai Emery reveals crucial update on Mesut Ozil’s future at Arsenal

By
Nithyanand
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Mesut Ozil

When he became the manager of Arsenal, there were a lot of problems that Unai Emery had to face.

The biggest was probably how he will be able to deal with the legacy of Arsene Wenger. As for some of the other problems, they had more to do with the makeup of the squad and in that, there was one particular issue.

That would be what Emery wants to do with Mesut Ozil and it appears that he has a plan for it. Emery was asked about the player and if he had any ideas for him and here is what he had to say, as per Express:

“We are here to help every player,” Emery said when asked how he will ‘fix’ Ozil’s form.

“For me it’s the same for one player as it is for 25 players. To help them. For us Mesut is a very important player.

“We want to help to be well, fine with us. The national team didn’t get the results they wanted but today he is on holiday and I want him to relax good and I want, when he comes back with us, to start with a good mentality.

“I want to work with him with a new way and with an ambition to continue with this quality and help with this quality, getting better with the team.

“I think last year was a difficult year for all, not only for Mesut. I think it is for the team. They finished sixth in the Premier League – not the position we want.”

This is very encouraging to hear as it shows just how involved Emery will be in making the team a force to reckon with. And if Arsenal are to do that, Ozil will surely play a major role in it.

It is going to be interesting to see the way in which Emery will set up the Arsenal team and how Ozil will figure into his plans. Despite what people have to say, the German remains a very important member of the squad and he will play a major role in the fortunes of the team.

Mesut Ozil reacts as Arsenal complete another signing after agreeing deal

By
Nithyanand
-

It is a nice surprise to see Arsenal conduct their transfer business so early and this had made many fans look forward to the new season with a sense of optimism.

One of the players that Arsenal brought in is the Uruguayan midfielder, Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria.

His transfer was greeted with a lot of excitement from everyone and it appears that Mesut Ozil to has joined in to welcome Torreira.

This is welcome that Ozil had for the midfielder:

A nice touch from the German maestro as he extends a friendly arm to his new teammate. Ozil knows how difficult it is to move to another country and do well. And, it is important for a club to have some harmony among its players and little things like this will surely help.

The deal for Torreira has been in the pipeline for a long time and when it was announced, it was met with a lot of relief.

The president of Sampdoria spoke about the player’s departure and it is clear to see how crucial he was for the Italian team. This is what he had to say:

“It will be very complicated to replace him”, Ferrero told Italian newspaper Il Secolo XIX.

“We are looking at four different players: a Spaniard, a Belgian, a Croatian and one Italian.

“We need a strong player who can help us to make a step forward.”

That first line tells you all that you need to know about Torreira and the message from Ozil also shows that he recognizes the talent he has. One can see the way in which both will be crucial to anything that Arsenal are trying to do next season.

The team that Unai Emery is trying to build looks a little different from the one that Wenger had. And it is clear to see why the fans have a lot of optimism about the upcoming season and they will be hoping that both Ozil and Torreira will excel.

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