ARSENAL have reportedly initiated discussions with PSG for Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz.
Elsewhere, the Gunners have agreed a £42.1m deal for Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori – and the Italian is set to travel to London to undergo the first part of his medical today.
Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe is set to join Premier League rivals Fulham in a £37m deal.
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Arsenal pre-season schedule
Arsenal are gearing up for the start of their pre-season fixture list later this month.
The Gunners will play five friendlies before their Premier League opener against Wolves on August 17.
Mikel Arteta’s side will face three league rivals during their USA tour, followed by a pair of matches at the Emirates Stadium.
Here are Arsenal’s pre-season fixtures:
- July 25 – Bournemouth – Carson, USA
- July 28 – Manchester United – Los Angeles, USA
- August 1 – Liverpool – Philadelphia, USA
- August 7 – Bayer Leverkusen – Emirates Stadium
- August 11 – Lyon – Emirates Stadium
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Guehi race hots up
Arsenal and Manchester United are set to go head-to-head to sign Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.
The defender is not planning on extending his stay at Selhurst Park, which could lead to a sale this summer.
Guehi has been one of England’s standout stars at Euro 2024.
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Who top-scored last season?
Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League last season.
The forward impressed in England’s win over Switzerland at Euro 2024 and will be aiming to continue that form going forward.
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Odegaard on Havertz
Martin Odegaard has hailed Mikel Arteta’s ability to get the best out of players such as Kai Havertz.
It’s one of the strengths Mikel has, to get the best out of everyone.
As a group we help each other a lot.
It’s easier to play in a team that is always helping you to perform.
Everyone knows the different qualities of each player.
Martin OdegaardArsenal
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Odegaard on transfers
Martin Odegaard has insisted that he is happy with the team at Arsenal.
I’m really happy with the squad we have.
We have unbelievable quality and showed what we’re capable of, especially towards the end of the season with how well we played.
It’s down to Mikel, Edu and the club to sort those things.
Martin Odegaard Arsenal
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Odegaard on recharging
Martin Odegaard has also admitted that he is disappointed to miss out on the Euros with Norway, but he was happy to get some much-needed rest.
I wanted to be in the Euros and I’m disappointed that we didn’t qualify, so I’d prefer to be there but that’s the situation.
Rest is always good with the amount of intense games we play and how tough it is to play football at the biggest stage.
It’s really demanding so it’s a good thing to get some rest, but I would prefer to be there and play.
Martin OdegaardArsenal
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Odegaard aiming for trophy
Martin Odegaard is aiming to lift a trophy next season with Arsenal and has claimed that everyone is pushing each other to succeed.
That’s the work we put in every day. The work ethic and mentality in the team and how connected and aligned we are, we’re all thinking about the same thing.
We want to win something and get better. We’re a young team as well so I’m sure that experience and another year is going to help us.
It’s easy to find the motivation because we all want to win and we’re pushing each other so hard every day. Staff, players, supporters and everyone are pushing in the same direction.
In the end I’m sure it’s going to be rewarded with a trophy.
Martin OdegaardArsenal
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Arsenal still in Euros
Arsenal have a chance of seeing a player win the Euros this summer, ahead of the semi-finals.
David Raya will face off against Williams Saliba as Spain take on France.
While English Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale and Declan Rice take on the Netherlands.
The Dutch side is the only team not to have a Gunners representative in the final four.
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Arteta’s Calafiori plan
Riccardo Calafiori is set to slot into Arsenal’s defence at left-back if he completes his transfer to the Gunners.
The Italian defender is edging closer to moving to the Emirates Stadium following his side’s exit from Euro 2024.
Calafiori starred in a three-man defence for Bologna last season but has also previously played at left-back in his career.
According to the Guardian, Mikel Arteta is keen to deploy Calafiori as an inverted full-back, moving into midfield from left-back, as well as competition for Gabriel and William Saliba at centre-back.
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Arsenal pre-season schedule
Arsenal are gearing up for the start of their pre-season fixture list later this month.
The Gunners will play five friendlies before their Premier League opener against Wolves on August 17.
Mikel Arteta’s side will face three league rivals during their USA tour, followed by a pair of matches at the Emirates Stadium.
Here are Arsenal’s pre-season fixtures:
- July 25 – Bournemouth – Carson, USA
- July 28 – Manchester United – Los Angeles, USA
- August 1 – Liverpool – Philadelphia, USA
- August 7 – Bayer Leverkusen – Emirates Stadium
- August 11 – Lyon – Emirates Stadium
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Odegaard on pre-season
Martin Odegaard has discussed the importance of “setting the tone” in pre-season ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
The Arsenal captain told The Athletic: “It is a good chance to gain an advantage.
“You need a break but it is also a good chance to work on things you can’t normally work on. You have some more time to recover and you can work on different things. It is a good chance to improve.
“It always takes a bit of time for new players to adapt, but they (last season’s signings) did really well from the start to come into the group.
“Throughout the whole season, we connected more and more, and this season is going to be even better (because) we know each other even more.
“We were struggling a little bit before Christmas and then we had the little break, went away, and got even more together as a group.
“After that we came back so strong and consistent. The aim is to do that for the whole season.”
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Rice leads the way
Declan Rice has outrun every other player at Euro 2024.
The England midfielder has covered 63.9 kilometres so far at the tournament, more than any other player.
Former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka is the next closest at 62 kilometres.
Rice has played every minute for England so far, with 510 minutes played in total.
He has also reached a top speed of 32 kilometres-per-hour across his five appearances.
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Saka’s royal approval
Prince William has congratulated England for reaching the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
Saka was Man of the Match after spearheading the Three Lions’ victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Writing on Instagram in a joint post with the England team, it said: “What a #EURO2024 quarter-final win.”
The Prince of Wales, who is the President of the Football Association met the stars in the tunnel after the national team’s victory in the Dusseldorf Arena.
At the end of the thriller, the heir to the throne was seen fist pumping the air in Germany.
The 42-year-old has hailed the epic win as “nail biting to the very end” after he jetted over to join fans in Germany.
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Saka history
Bukayo Saka made history with his goal in England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.
The 22-year-old became the first Arsenal player to score for the Three Lions at both the Euros and the World Cup.
Saka scored three goals at the 2022 World Cup, with a brace against Iran and a strike in the last 16 win over Senegal.
He has also now opened his Euros account, scoring his first goal in nine appearances across the last two tournaments.
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Calafiori’s ‘heart set on Arsenal’
Riccardo Calafiori has his “heart set on a move to Arsenal”, according to Sky in Italy.
The report claims other clubs remain interested in the Bologna defender, but he only wants to join the Gunners.
Arsenal are understood to have agreed a deal with Calafiori to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.
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Rice praise
Declan Rice has been hailed by Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker for his performances at Euro 2024.
The Arsenal midfielder has played every minute of England’s run to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer admitted: “Quietly, under the radar, I thought without being spectacular but did a really good job [vs. Switzerland], Declan Rice.”
Meanwhile, Lineker added: “I think he is under appreciated. I don’t think they see the work that he does with his interceptions & all that.
“Could he improve his passing, breaking the lines? Yes, but when you have Mainoo go forward, Bellingham & Foden, you need that anchor.”
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Arteta’s Calafiori plan
Riccardo Calafiori is set to slot into Arsenal’s defence at left-back if he completes his transfer to the Gunners.
The Italian defender is edging closer to moving to the Emirates Stadium following his side’s exit from Euro 2024.
Calafiori starred in a three-man defence for Bologna last season but has also previously played at left-back in his career.
According to the Guardian, Mikel Arteta is keen to deploy Calafiori as an inverted full-back, moving into midfield from left-back, as well as competition for Gabriel and William Saliba at centre-back.
Credit: Getty -
Arsenal pre-season schedule
Arsenal are gearing up for the start of their pre-season fixture list later this month.
The Gunners will play five friendlies before their Premier League opener against Wolves on August 17.
Mikel Arteta’s side will face three league rivals during their USA tour, followed by a pair of matches at the Emirates Stadium.
Here are Arsenal’s pre-season fixtures:
- July 25 – Bournemouth – Carson, USA
- July 28 – Manchester United – Los Angeles, USA
- August 1 – Liverpool – Philadelphia, USA
- August 7 – Bayer Leverkusen – Emirates Stadium
- August 11 – Lyon – Emirates Stadium
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More from Odegaard
Martin Odegaard has discussed the importance of “setting the tone” in pre-season ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
The Arsenal captain told The Athletic: “It is a good chance to gain an advantage.
“You need a break but it is also a good chance to work on things you can’t normally work on. You have some more time to recover and you can work on different things. It is a good chance to improve.
“It always takes a bit of time for new players to adapt, but they (last season’s signings) did really well from the start to come into the group.
“Throughout the whole season, we connected more and more, and this season is going to be even better (because) we know each other even more.
“We were struggling a little bit before Christmas and then we had the little break, went away, and got even more together as a group.
“After that we came back so strong and consistent. The aim is to do that for the whole season.”
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Martin Odegaard revelation
Martin Odegaard admits he has struggled to switch off after Arsenal’s Premier League heartbreak left him feeling “flat” and “empty”.
But the Gunners skipper is confident the club can make it third time lucky thanks to a Mikel Arteta-inspired pre-season getaway to Marbella.
The North Londoners took Manchester City to the Prem final day last season only to come up agonisingly short in their search for a first league title since 2004.
Arteta’s men had a record-breaking term but still finished two points behind City in second, having blown an eight-point lead in the 2022/23 campaign.
It was a bit flat, bit empty. We had the big dream and we were so close. We had it on the last day and I really had the feeling something special would happen.
You can see it there, the trophy was there, it was emotional.
After that, it is hard to switch off. It takes some time. It’s important to disconnect from the football world, rest is always good, but you think about it more.
It’s always there, always on your mind, in the back of your head. After a week or two, I started to work again.
Martin Odegaard
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Saka on Toney
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka says the England squad are “in awe” of Brentford ace Ivan Toney’s no-look penalty technique.
Toney fired home the fourth spot-kick in Saturday’s shoot-out victory over Switzerland without even glancing down at the ball.
Fans were left staggered – but it turns out the striker’s team-mates have been blown away too by his confident approach.
When we see him practising in training, he does the same thing.
It’s crazy. We’re all just in awe, I don’t know how you can not look at the ball
Bukayo Saka
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Saka’s royal approval
Prince William has congratulated England for reaching the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
Saka was Man of the Match after spearheading the Three Lions’ victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Writing on Instagram in a joint post with the England team, it said: “What a #EURO2024 quarter-final win.”
The Prince of Wales, who is the President of the Football Association met the stars in the tunnel after the national team’s victory in the Dusseldorf Arena.
At the end of the thriller, the heir to the throne was seen fist pumping the air in Germany.
The 42-year-old has hailed the epic win as “nail biting to the very end” after he jetted over to join fans in Germany.
Moment Prince William fist pumps after England’s thrilling Euros win as he hails victory as ‘nailbiting to the very end’
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Kane’s Saka faith
Harry Kane knew there would be no penalty scars holding Bukayo Saka back against Switzerland because of the Arsenal star’s elite mentality.
What a performance. The whole game. Playing in a position that he’s played before but that he’s not used to playing.
He was our real outlet with the ball, he caused them problems all game. He got the goal he fully deserved with a fantastic finish, got us back in the game when we needed it most.
Then without the ball as well, the work he put in, the shift he put in. The blocks, the tackles, right up until the 120th-minute.
And then to step up the way he did. I know the mentality he’s got and I knew he’d be comfortable at that situation even though what happened in the past.
He prepares really well for moments like that. A fantastic night for him and he deserved it.
Harry Kane
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Southgate on Saka
England manager Gareth Southgate – who was seen giving Arsenal star Bukayo Saka a massive hug amid the celebrations – couldn’t have been more proud of his winger.
Bukayo was so brave. He is one of our best so we were never in any doubt that he was going to take one.
We all know what he went through so to deliver the way he did… I gave him a massive cuddle on the pitch. He’s a special boy, he’s a dream to work with.
It takes courage but we had belief in him. We had belief in him previously. He’s now got a lot more experience of those pressure moments.
His all-round performance was exceptional. So yeah, I’m proud of myself as well for that.
Gareth Southgate
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Saka on penalty triumph
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka couldn’t stop smiling after helping fire England into a Euro 2024 semi-final clash with the Netherlands.
It’s something I embrace. It was special, very special, how we fought back. The last time we went to penalties we all know what happened.
You can fail once but you have a choice whether you put yourself in that position again or not. I’m a guy who is going to put myself in that position. I believed in myself.
Hopefully in the next game we can win in 90 minutes. But if this is what it takes we will do anything.
Bukayo Saka