Arsenal ‘offered MORE than Aston Villa’ for Buendia transfer, Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho targeted

STEPH’S STRESS

Steph Catley has revealed that her debut Arsenal season has been the most difficult in her career so far due to a series of injuries.

The 27-year-old told My Football: “It’s definitely been the hardest year of my football career.

“The injuries just kept coming and I couldn’t find the answers. But I found strength in myself I didn’t know I had and also strength in my relationships with the people around me.

“I learnt to lean on people and overall I feel like I’ve come out the other side of it all a much better athlete.

“I’m better at preparing, I feel stronger physically and mentally and just have a real appreciation for being out on the field every day doing what I love.

“I’m feeling really good. My body feels strong and I’ve been back on the field for the last few months now so I’ve got a good amount of load back there too.

“But mentally I feel really fresh and just excited to be on the field every single day.”

ROWE YOUR BOAT

Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe is reportedly set to sign a new deal at the Emirates until 2026.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano also revealed that Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi and Willian are expected to leave.

He tweeted: “Emile Smith-Rowe is ready to sign a new contract with Arsenal until June 2026 after negotiations started in March.

“Just waiting last details to be completed – then it’ll be done.

“In the meantime, Willian is expected to leave Arsenal this summer as Xhaka and Guendouzi.”

HEC OF A MOVE

Villarreal have reportedly made an offer to sign Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin.

According to Di Marzio, Unai Emery is looking to be reunited with the Spain international.

It’s understood that Bellerin is keen to depart the Emirates after ten years left at the Emirates.

And Villarreal would be able to offer the defender Champions League football having won the Europa League.

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GUNNER BE DIFFERENT

Arsenal are set for a busy summer transfer window, as Mikel Arteta and Edu aim to build on this season’s disappointing eighth place finish.

The Gunners fell short in many departments, but finished the campaign on a high with five consecutive Premier League wins.

Arteta, 39, came under immense scrutiny at times – but managed to ride out that pressure.

But the Spaniard knows that things will have to improve.

According to football.london, technical director Edu has five clear targets going into the transfer window.

Here’s how Arsenal could look should they sign all their targets.

GUNNERS TO BE?

Arsenal summer transfer odds – Betfair

• Yves Bissouma – 4/6
• Ruben Neves – 5/6
• Sander Berge – 2/1
• Max Aarons – 6/4
• Tariq Lamptey – 3/1
• Houssem Aouar – 3/1
• Ben White – 4/1
• Wilfried Zaha – 6/1
• Jack Grealish – 7/1
• Aaron Ramsey 8/1
• Allan Saint-Maximin – 8/1

HAK OF THE NET

Arsenal are reportedly considering making an offer for AC Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu if they miss out on Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal are waiting to hear whether the 22-year-old Dane features in Carlo Ancelotti’s first-team plans.

But according to CBS Sports reporter James Benge, the Londoners have shortlisted an alternative in Calhanoglu, 27.

He posted on Twitter: “Arsenal still retain strong interest in Martin Odegaard.

“What sort of deal can be done there [if any] will depend on decision of new Real Madrid coaching staff and Florentino Perez.

“Another target who Arsenal are understood to have broached internally is Hakan Calhanoglu, out of contract with AC Milan this summer.

“He is an option, not clear how high on the list he might be but expectation is he’s an alternative to Odegaard.”

GIFT OF THE GAB

Gabriel Martinelli is looking sharp in training for Brazil.

SPIDER PLAN

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has taken his £205,000 Ferrari 488 Spider Mansory out for a spin in his hometown of Laval.

The Arsenal captain, 31, returned to France following the end of the 2020-21 season, with his side finishing their poor Premier League campaign in eighth.

Aubameyang has shown off his black, £205k Ferrari 488 Spider Mansory in a post on Instagram.

He captioned the snap: “Nice time in my Hometown Laval.

“Next stop to @willy.aubameyang.”

Last week, Aubameyang’s brother Willy revealed on Instagram the Gunners skipper was going to lend him either the Ferrari or the Lamborghini Urus.

DAN AND DUSTED

Dani Ceballos has dealt Arsenal a blow by ruling out a return to the Emirates.

The Spanish midfielder has spent the last two seasons on loan in North London from Real Madrid.

He made 25 Premier League appearances and scored three goals this season, but it looks like they could be his last games for the Gunners.

Speaking on Spanish radio station El Larguero, the 24-year-old said: “[Mikel] Arteta is a coach who I am sure will be one of the best in the world in the next few years.

“But I would like to return to the Spanish league.”

RAM READY

Arsenal icon Aaron Ramsey has declared he is raring to go for Wales ahead of Euro 2020.

Speaking of repeated injuries during his time at Juventus, he said: “It’s been a frustrating couple of years to try and get any consistency going. Different environments, different methods and things like that.

“It’s not something I’ve been used to because I was at one club for a very long time and I think adapting to that took a lot longer.

“I’ve had to change a few things but now I feel like I’m in a good place. I’ve definitely worked hard over the last few months to get my body back into a good place.

“I’m a proud Welshman who wants to play for Wales and help my team as much as I can. For me to have missed a few games over the last few years has been very frustrating and difficult for me.

“Hopefully now that’s behind me and I can look forward to all these games in the European Championships.”

MUY BUENO

Arsenal missed out on signing Emi Buendia to Aston Villa – despite offering MORE to Norwich.

Villa confirmed the news on Monday as they released a statement after having a bid accepted by the Canaries.

However, Football London’s Chris Wheatley has claimed that the North London outfit actually offered more.

Arsenal were willing to give Buendia the same salary he was being given by the Villans.

Then they ‘matched’ and ‘went even more’ on the transfer fee offered to Norwich – but it was the structure of the deal that ended up scuppering it.

And it was Villa’s package to the Canaries that ‘was more enticing’ to the recently-promoted side.

GHAN AWAY

Ghana football bosses have confirmed Thomas Partey was given permission to miss a friendly with Morocco.

Claims had emerged that the Arsenal midfielder had been sacked by his country’s national team ahead of Tuesday’s game, but he had, in fact, been excused by manager Charles Akonnor after a meeting to discuss ‘personal issues’.

Partey, 27, will return to the Black Stars fold for a friendly with Ivory Coast on Saturday.

A Ghana FA statement confirmed: “Thomas travelled to Cape Coast on Thursday to meet coach Charles Akonnor over some personal issues.

“After the meeting, which lasted for about an hour, the coach excused him from the trip to Morocco – and asked him to report to camp for the second game against Ivory Coast.

“As the first deputy captain of the Black Stars, Thomas later joined his colleagues in training to show solidarity and support before leaving for Accra.

“The Arsenal midfielder will therefore team up with the rest of the squad on Thursday when the team returns from Morocco.”

NO HEART OR SOL

Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has blasted the current Gunners after claiming that his old club have become ‘soft’.

Speaking to Ladbrokes at the launch of their new European Championships 5-a-side Bet, Campbell said: “When I was at Arsenal we had a team of tough guys… I don’t know whether things have softened now.

“When I was there we had a team full of tough guys. All great gentlemen, straight-talking.

“There were loads of characters, great banter and with that came a few fights from time to time. But above all that, it was a team full of great personalities; great people.

“We didn’t shy away from things at all. Is football like that now? Are Arsenal like that now? I don’t think so.

“We were ruthless gentlemen. There is such a thing; you know what’s good and what’s bad but when it comes to football there’s no mucking around.

“It’s as simple as that.”

BERND OUT

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno was an unused substitute last night, as Germany battered Latvia 7-1 in their final Euro 2020 warm-up match.

The 29-year-old has moved up Joachim Low’s pecking order, on account of Marc-Andre ter Stegen missing the tournament through injury.

But Manuel Neuer remains No1 choice, and played the full 90 minutes against the Latvians.

BACK XHAK

Arsenal star Granit Xhaka is ‘criminally misunderstood by Arsenal fans’. against to a leading analytics writer.

The Athletic’s stats guru Tom Worville has taken to Twitter to opine that Xhaka, 28, would be a ‘big miss’ should he depart for Roma this summer.

He wrote: “Xhaka’s criminally misunderstood by Arsenal fans

“Has been key to getting the ball out of build-up + into the attacking third for 3 managers in a row.”

“If the Roma rumours are true, he’s going to be a big miss.”

PRICE IS WHITE

Manchester United and Arsenal have been warned Ben White will cost £50million, according to reports.

The Brighton defender, 23, enjoyed a fine debut Premier League season this term.

And he was rewarded for his form by replacing the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s final 26-man squad for Euro 2020.

Brighton are unsurprisingly desperate to keep hold of the Three Lions star beyond this summer.

And to do so, the Daily Mail say the Seagulls have slapped a £50m price tag on the Dorset-born defender.

United continue their hunt for a long-term partner for Harry Maguire with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keen to cement a solid defensive pairing this summer.

And Arsenal have lost David Luiz so may well be on the hunt for a new centre-back – but cannot offer European football next term.

Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Roma, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund have all also been linked with White.

GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS

Arsenal fans are preparing to say goodbye to Granit Xhaka, with reports suggesting the player is close to joining Jose Mourinho at Roma.

The Gunners, who are currently being linked with Wolves star Ruben Neves, are believed to have accepted a £22m bid for the Swiss midfielder.

Supporters were torn with the rumours on social media – some think it will be good business, others think it’s a bad idea.

Elsewhere, Riyad Mahrez won’t be joining Arsenal this summer after saying he wants to ‘finish his career’ at Manchester City.

And neither will Norwich playmaker Emi Buendia as he’s agreed to join Aston Villa.

But there’s a chance ex-Tottenham star Kieran Trippier might as the Gunners are believed to have hijacked Manchester United’s bid for the Atletico Madrid star.

The final bit of transfer news comes from north of the border, with Leicester City agreeing a fee with Celtic for striker and rumoured Arsenal target Odsonne Edouard.

BIG TRANSFER STORY

If you’re just joining us, the big Gunners transfer story of the night is Granit Xhaka’s reported move to Roma.

He’s rumoured to be joining ex-Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho in Italy this summer, with the fee believed to be £22million plus add-ons.

The news has split Arsenal fans on Twitter – some see the alleged sale as good business, others think it’s a huge mistake.

Whatever your opinion of Xhaka is, the two-time FA Cup winner appears to be on his way out of the Emirates.

ICYMI – ‘HUGE SUMMER’

Kevin Campbell has urged Arsenal to spend big on transfers this summer if they want to get back to competing for trophies.

The Gunners will have to splash a large amount of cash to land their main targets and Campbell believes the sum will have to exceed £100 million if they are to become a top side again.

He told Football Insider: “I will be honest, I don’t know if £100 million would be enough.

“It would be nice if they could invest £500 million.

“£100 million does not get you much in the transfer market these days. If you want to sign quality £100 million would only get you two decent players.

“If you want to sign a top, top player like a Grealish you need to be spending £80 million.

“If Stan Kroenke would write a cheque for £200 million now I would take it. I think that’s how much money needs to be invested into this side to make the challengers again.

“It’s a huge summer for Arsenal.”

SAKA POTY

Bukayo Saka has been named Arsenal’s Player of the Year.

The 19-year-old scored five goals in 32 Premier League games this term.

Here’s his reaction to the news…

GOING TO MISS XHAKA?

Are Arsenal fans going to miss Granit Xhaka if he completes a reported £22million move to Roma?

Some Gunners on Twitter are delighted with the rumours, while others think the club would regret selling him.

What do you reckon?

ICYMI – GO WILLOCK

Newcastle United may have to pay close to £30m to land Joe Willock this summer, despite the player’s openness to a return.

Chronicle Live report that Newcastle United have registered their interest in Joe Willock with Arsenal, but a transfer won’t come easy.

It is believed that Arsenal haven’t made any firm decisions on Willock’s future. They’re still assessing their options at this stage, and a willingness to sell will depend on who the club manage to bring in.

Even if they decide the best option is a sale, sources in North London reportedly feel Newcastle would have to pay as much as £30m.

The 21-year-old himself is open to a return, and his family were impressed with Newcastle’s handling of him on loan.

NOT GUNNER LEAVE

Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez has quashed any rumours linking him with a shock move to Arsenal this summer.

The Algerian was touted as a potential target for Mikel Arteta – whom he worked with during the latter’s time as Pep Guardiola’s assistant.

The Gunners were also strongly linked with a move for the winger during his Leicester days before he joined the Premier League champions.

And it was said Arsenal could reignite their interest with City looking to get the 30-year-old off the wage bill to make room for new signings.

But Mahrez has reaffirmed his commitment to the Sky Blues following his nation’s 1-0 victory against Mali.

He told DZ Sport: “There is nothing about my future. I am well in Manchester. I will stay God willing.”

XHAKA ARSENAL CV

With reports suggesting Granit Xhaka is on his way out of the Emirates, let’s take a look back at his Arsenal career to date.

Since joining the club in 2016, he’s won the FA Cup twice and the Community Shield twice.

The Swiss midfielder has also played in League Cup and Europa League finals.

Xhaka has scored nine goals in 161 Premier League appearances for the Gunners.