ARSENAL completed some very late business on transfer deadline day with the £20m signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna.
The Japan international defender put the finishing touches to the deal in the final hour of deadline day.
While right-back Hector Bellerin has left the club on loan, moving to Real Betis for the rest of the season.
And Ashley Maitland-Niles – who openly asking for a move via Instagram – will stay with the club after talks with management.
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Get all the latest transfer news, gossip and updates below…
SLOWEST SUMMER SPENDING SINCE 2015
According to analysis by the Deloitte Sports Business Group, this summer represented the lowest gross spending between season window since 2015.
The analysis suggests top-flight clubs spent a combined £1.1billion before 11pm last night, 11% less than last summer’s window.
And Deloitte report that the gross spending is down 20% on 2019, largely due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Despite that the number of players signed by Premier League clubs actually increased.
Last summer 132 signings were made, while 148 new deals were announced before yesterday’s deadline.
RON: REJOINING UTD IS MY BEST DECISION
Cristiano Ronaldo says he is back at Manchester United to win trophies rather than for sentimental reasons.
But the Portugal superstar, whose 2003-6 Old Trafford spell was legendary, added: “I think it’s the best decision that I have made.
“I’m so happy and glad, and I want to carry on again, to make history, to try to help Manchester achieve great results, to win trophies and number one of them, to win great things.”
Credit: Alamy SENIOR GUNNERS LACK LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Gary Neville has questioned the leadership skills of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Granit Xhaka.
The Manchester United legend told Sky Sports: “There’s no real sort of signings that I look at and think, wow, you know, they really excite me.
“But what they do have is a group of players that need to come together as quickly as possible and form a team.
“I think with Arsenal that sometimes it’s not the signings that they bring in; it’s more the actual senior players that you look at and think, well, what are they getting from them?
“What are they getting from Aubameyang, Lacazette, Xhaka? Those players that you think would hold them together – the goalkeeper.
“They’ve got to really sort of get themselves right in the next few weeks and create an atmosphere and culture in that dressing room of one that they’re all together and aligned behind the manager together to get performances.”
TAM THE MAN
Tammy Abraham has taken to Instagram to wish Reiss Nelson luck on loan at Feyenoord.
Abraham is a boyhood Arsenal fan, with the Gunners missing out on signing the 23-year-old this summer after being strongly linked with a move for him.
And Abraham has shown how close he is to members of the Arsenal squad with his message to Nelson.
He reposted a picture of Nelson’s Feyenoord announcement on his story, and wrote: “showtime broskiii.” in a vote of confidence for his pal.
AOUAR ON
Arsenal and Tottenham could rekindle their interest in Houssem Aouar in January.
Both North London clubs were linked with a move for the 23-year-old Lyon playmaker over the summer.
A move failed to ever materialise but according to The Express he could be on his way to London before the season is over.
With the Frenchman’s contract expiring in the summer of 2023, Lyon may be forced to sanction a move before losing Aouar for a cut-price fee or even on a free transfer.
And with Aouar open to a new challenge elsewhere, a January move could well be on the cards.
Getty Images TIME RUNNING OUT
Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes Mikel Arteta does not have long before serious questions are asked of him at Arsenal.
It’s after the Gunners find themselves bottom of the Premier League table after three games – without scoring a goal.
And Merson believes if the situation is still the same by the next international break, Arteta could be relieves of his duties.
He told Sky Sports: “Mikel Arteta will have [un]til the October internationals.
“If they haven’t done anything by then he will be under pressure.”
UPDATE ON AINSLEY
After Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ dramatic Instagram story in which he publicly stated he wanted to leave Arsenal, tensions now seemed to have eased between him and the club.
Journalist David Ornstein said during a live stream for The Athletic: “Ainsley Maitland-Niles has held clear-the-air talks with Mikel Arteta. For now, they have gone on to a better footing, normal service resumed, he’ll be back in training, and he’s said to be a key part of Arteta’s plans.
“I think actions now speak louder than words. A player who’s under contract until 2023 and wants game time desperately. He’s 24 years old now, so he’s coming into a really important period of his career.
“A key part of this was that Everton made an offer that Arsenal weren’t happy with – [a] loan with an option to buy, Arsenal see him as an academy product, a top player who’s had international honours – you either make us a really good loan offer, which by that, I presume means a high loan fee, or a permanent transfer. They turned down £20m last year from Wolves.
“But now they seem to be in a good space. And he’ll be staying at Arsenal for the coming season, or at least until January.”
OUT OF LAC
Alexandre Lacazette is set to leave Arsenal on a free transfer next summer.
According to football.london the Frenchman has rejected a contract extension from the Gunners.
The 30-year-old was linked with a move away from North London with his contract expiring at the end of the season, but no move materialised.
It means Lacazette is free to agree a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January 1, and this campaign looks set to be his last at Arsenal.
SEAD’S DEMANDS
It was reported earlier that Sead Kolasinac was on the brink of a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce, according to football.london.
But the club’s President Ali Koc claims the move broke down for financial reasons, with Kolasinac’s demands out of reach for Fenerbahce.
And now those figures have been revealed.
Koc told Sporx: “[Kolasinac’s camp] contacted us and told us their demands. They asked for a three-year contract, €3million (£2.5m) a year [£50,000-a-week] with a €3million (£2.5) signing-on fee.
“The issue was brought [to us] before our coach arrived. He wasn’t interested.”
SUMMER SPENDING
According to analysis by the Deloitte Sports Business Group, this summer represented the lowest gross spending between season window since 2015.
The analysis suggests top-flight clubs spent a combined £1.1billion before 11pm last night, 11% less than last summer’s window.
And Deloitte report that the gross spending is down 20% on 2019, largely due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Despite that the number of players signed by Premier League clubs actually increased.
Last summer 132 signings were made, while 148 new deals were announced before yesterday’s deadline.
CALLED OUT
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has questioned the leadership skills of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Granit Xhaka.
He said: “There’s no real sort of signings that I look at and think, wow, you know, they really excite me.
“But what they do have is a group of players that need to come together as quickly as possible and form a team.
“I think with Arsenal that sometimes it’s not the signings that they bring in; it’s more the actual senior players that you look at and think, well, what are they getting from them?
“What are they getting from Aubameyang, Lacazette, Xhaka? Those players that you think would hold them together – the goalkeeper.
“They’ve got to really sort of get themselves right in the next few weeks and create an atmosphere and culture in that dressing room of one that they’re all together and aligned behind the manager together to get performances.”
WINDOW WONDERS
SunSport reckons this team could certainly challenge for the title if they played together – especially with the devastating attack.
Arsenal’s Ben White is at centre-back, but he is the only one of Arsenal’s six summer signings selected for the starting line-up.
Meanwhile, the likes of Kurt Zouma, Martin Odegaard, Emi Buendia, Joe Willock, Dan James, Odsonne Edouard and Patson Daka were among the best signings to make the fantasy bench.
The total transfer cost of the starting XI, three of whom signed on deadline day, adds up to a whopping £457.5m.
OUTGOINGS
It’s been a busy summer of outgoings as well as incomings at the Emirates.
Here’s a reminder of TWENTY players who have left the club:
- Reiss Nelson – Feyenoord, loan
- Dani Ceballos – end of loan
- Mat Ryan – end of loan
- Lucas Torreira – Fiorentina, loan
- David Luiz – released
- Mark McGuinness – Cardiff, undisclosed
- Trae Coyle – FC Lausanne-Sport, undisclosed
- Zech Medkley – KV Oostende, undisclosed
- Dinos Mavropanos – Stuttgart, loan
- Daniel Ballard – Millwall, loan
- Ben Sheaf – Coventry, undisclosed
- Matt Smith – Doncaster, loan
- Matteo Guendouzi – Marseille, loan
- William Saliba – Marseille, loan
- Tyreece John-Jules – Blackpool, loan
- Harry Clarke – Ross County, loan
- Joe Willock – Newcastle, £25m
- Miguel Azeez – Portsmouth, loan
- Alex Runarsson – OH Leuven, loan
- Hector Bellerin – Real Betis, loan
MOST EXPENSIVE SIGNINGS
Two of Arsenal’s most expensive signings came during the summer transfer.
And with Martin Odegaard’s deal from Real Madrid still undisclosed it may well be three.
The £50million paid for Ben White makes him Arsenal’s third most expensive signing ever, while goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale rounds off the list.
Do you think the Gunners have paid over the odds for the two Englishmen?
Or do you think it’s money well spent with both players possessing significant future potential?
‘VERY NAIVE’
Former Premier league defender Danny Mills has hit out at Eddie Nketiah after reports emerged he rejected a move to Crystal Palace due to his high wage demands.
And Mills said: “He’s daft, that’s what it is. He’s being badly advised. Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to take two steps forwards.
“You have to back yourself and say: ‘You know what, it’s not really what I want right now, I might have to take a little bit of a cut, but I’m going to go there.
“‘I’m going to go there and score goals, I’m going to show how good I am and then the season after that or the season after that, everyone is going to be coming in after me because I’ve scored 15, 20 goals in the Premier League.
He went on to say: “I think that’s very naive, because what will happen is you’ll have this season where you will do absolutely nothing, you end up on a free transfer and everyone is going, ‘well, you’ve not played for a year, you don’t really know what you’re doing’.
“You’re always best to go out and play, no matter what.”
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NORTH LONDON DERBY
Arsenal made an offer to sign Tottenham new boy Emerson Royal, reports suggest.
According to Marca, the Gunners offered Barcelona £8.5million plus Hector Bellerin for his services.
But Barcelona rejected the offer, with the cash-strapped club only willing to deal in cash.
The Catalan club are already well equipped at right-back with Sergino Dest, so did not feel the need to bring another in.
So instead they accepted Spurs’ offer that could rise to £26million and the full-back will play on the white side of North London, rather than the red.
‘NOT MY FAVOURITE THING’
Arsenal summer signing Martin Odegaard has already revealed there is something he doesn’t like at the club.
Gunners chiefs have given Amazon cameras all access to their 2021/22 season ahead of Arsenal’s ‘All or Nothing’ Prime documentary.
But the 22-year-old Norway international is not a huge fan of the cameras.
He said: “I must admit that it’s not my favourite thing to have cameras everywhere.
“You automatically think a bit more about what you are saying when there are cameras there, but the crew is discreet.”
MORE OF THE MESSAGE
Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham also said: “Our approach for this window was framed by fully recognising that we are not where we want to be on the pitch.
“Finishing eighth last season, with no European football for the first time in many years.
“This is well below the standards each of us all have, and of course that our fans rightly demand of us, which is to be competing for the biggest trophies in the game.
“Whilst we would love to jump from where we are to where we want to be in an instant, we need to be realistic that the gap is too large to do that.
“As such, our activity this window has been focused on youth.”
GUNNER STRATEGY
Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has sent a message to Arsenal’s playing and coaching staff, detailing what the Gunners’ strategy was for the summer and for future windows.
In a message to the club, he said: “Our strategy is to fill our squad with some of Europe’s most exciting young talent, with players from both our academy and further afield, that can grow and develop together under Mikel to take us where we want to get too.
“Whilst this will not be overnight, we can make positive progress, and it gives us the best route to future success in a sustainable way.”
‘ALL LOVE’
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has taken to social to praise the departing Hector Bellerin.
The 26-year-old joined La Liga side Real Betis in a loan deal on deadline day, and Wright was quick to thank Bellerin and wish him well.
He posted a picture of himself and Bellerin together at the Emirates to his Instagram story.
And he captioned it: “Always represented the club with pure love and respect.
“We have all learned so much from you, Enjoy your time at Betis. All love.”
WHERE THERE’S A WILL
One of the conditions for Arsenal ripping up Willian’s contract at the Emirates was that his new club had to be one outside of Europe.
According to outlet UOL, transfer chief Edu did not want Willian to join a Premier League or European rival.
There was interest in the Brazilian from Lyon, Marseille and AC Milan, but in the end the 33-year-old sealed a return to Brazilian club Corinthians.
And if Willian had tried to force a move through to another club in Europe, his exit from the club may not have been as amicable as it was.
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DONE DEALS
And in case you lost track of who Arsenal have signed over the past few weeks here is a reminder.
- Nuno Tavares (Benfica – undisclosed)
- Albert Sambi Lokonga (Anderlecht – £15m)
- Ben White (Brighton – £50m)
- Martin Odegaard (Real Madrid – undisclosed)
- Aaron Ramsdale (Bournemouth – £30m including add-ons)
- Takehiro Tomiyasu (Bologna – £19.8m)
Which one of those players are you most excited about, Gunners fans?
CONTRACT EXTENSIONS
It’s been a busy summer at Arsenal in terms of new signings, but the Gunners have also tied down some of their best talents to new long term deals.
Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith-Rowe both put pen-to-paper on new contracts in a huge boost for the club.
At 23-years-old Tierney is expected to captain Arsenal in the future, while 21-year-old Smith-Rowe has been the shining light in a dismal start to the season so far.
19-year-old goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has also signed a new contract with the club over the summer.
SOL SPEAKS
Arsenal legend Sol Campbell is optimistic that Takehiro Tomiyasu has what it takes to succeed at Arsenal.
The deadline day signing from Bologna can play either at right-back or at the heart of defence and has been brought in to add some steel to Arsenal’s leaky backline.
Campbell told talkSPORT: “£19.8million, defender – good, 22 [years-old], looks strong, another potential player. That is what we’re looking at, at the moment.
“I’d rather sell a couple of players, bring in a player that is ready to go – that can give you instant success and pad it out with a couple with potential.”
HEY BIG SPENDERS
Arsenal were the Premier League’s biggest spenders in the summer transfer window after landing Takehiro Tomiyasu on deadline day.
The Gunners brought the right-back in from Bologna, confirming the signing just 15 minutes before the window slammed shut.
He cost the club just shy of £20million – taking their overall expenditure to almost £150m after Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokongo, Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale joined in a big-spending yet underwhelming window.
Joe Willock was the only sale of note as he joined Newcastle.
According to Transfermarkt’s figures, it took Arsenal’s net spend to £121m – more than any other club.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
