Arsenal transfer news

WILLIAM SALIBA is hungry for more chances in an Arsenal shirt after a man of the match display on his long awaited debut.Gunners fans finally got to see the French defender, 21, play a competitive game in their opening day victory at Crystal Palace – three years after he first joined the club.
The French centre-back thoroughly impressed against Palace on Friday nightCredit: EPA
Saliba produced some superb statistics on the opening day of the Premier League
Saliba has spent the last few seasons on loan back in France but looks primed for the Premier League after a superb first outing at Selhurst Park.
The towering centre-back dominated Palace’s forward line and showed resilience when the Eagles were piling on the pressure late on.
Saliba’s showing was so good that Gary Neville compared the Arsenal man to Manchester United legend and former teammate Rio Ferdinand.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “I was massively impressed by him. He reminded me of a young Rio Ferdinand.
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“He’s such a young defender at 21. Getting through that second half, when Arsenal weren’t at their best, would have been the most pleasing thing for Mikel Arteta.”
Following his sensational display, Saliba said: “I’ve waited a long time, but we [did it] in my first ever game, and I am so happy.
“It’s very good when you start to have your first [chance] in this amazing club. So I am so happy, and hungry for more.
“It was very good because we start with a win and a clean sheet.
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“It was a tough game, but we won at the end, so very good.”
Patrick Vieira’s side dominated large parts of the second half but were denied by Gunners keeper Aaron Ramsdale when they managed to craft a chance.
Their inability to defend set pieces last season has also continued this term with Gabriel Martinelli left unmarked at a corner to head in the opener.
The Eagles responded well to the goal but could not make the most of their control.
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Joachim Andersen said: “We need to be better at taking our chances.
“When you have good periods we have to take our chances. We missed a bit of killer instinct in the last action, in their box and in our own.
“We need to work on that.” More

WHAT a difference a year makes.It was 12 months ago that Arsenal opened the new Premier League season with a chaotic defeat to new boys Brentford – things feel a lot different now after launching with a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.
Striker Gabriel Jesus evades Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick DoucoureCredit: Reuters
Oleksandr Zinchenko controls the ball ahead of Eagles’ attacker Jordan Ayew in a pretty impressive debut for the Arsenal widemanCredit: Getty
Star signing Gabriel Jesus celebrates Arsenal’s opener from Gabriel MartinelliCredit: Reuters
After a big spending summer and scintillating pre-season build-up Mikel Arteta had pledged to take his side to the next level.
Key to the step up are the arrivals of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City.
On this evidence, the plan may just work.
Jesus, signed for £45million from The Etihad, was at it from the off, charging forward and wriggling through red and blue shirts before seeing his effort blocked.
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The loose ball fell to Gabriel Martinelli, who fired wide of the far post when he really should have tucked it away.
Martinelli made up for that error with the opener, however, with Zinchenko playing a role.
The Ukrainian full-back, impressive and intelligent throughout, met Bukayo Saka’s deep corner and headed back across goal for Martinelli to convert a free header.
Arteta’s side dominated the opening half-an-hour or so but either side of the break things opened up with Palace creating chances for Odsonne Edouard and Eberechi Eze – both of which Aaron Ramsdale was equal to.
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Arsenal had to ride their luck at times but, as the Eagles tried to turn the screw late on the Gunners managed to hold them back – with William Saliba particularly impressive at the back on his long awaited debut.
As Palace ramped up the pressure, Arteta reacted by sending on Kieran Tierney to try and shore things up.
Within minutes Saka had shot up the other end to seal the victory and leave them top of the table on the opening night.
It could have been more bombastic and convincing, but Arteta will have seen plenty of encouragement in the opening half that his side could blow a few teams away this season while there was also a touch of steel at times.
The Spaniard will head back across London much happier than this time last year.
The Gunners celebrate Gabriel Martinelli’s opener at Selhurst ParkCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Gabriel Martinelli bagged the first goal of the Prem season on 47 minutesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

ARSENAL have much improved strength in depth heading into this season.Gunners chiefs have handed boss Mikel Arteta hundreds of millions of pounds to rip up his squad and start again since succeeding Unai Emery.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal – the latest on big Prem opener

Arsenal have spent a fortune on new recruitsCredit: Getty
With a net spend totalling an eye-watering £380million since the summer of 2019, the North Londoners are desperate to get back to challenging at the top end of the Premier League.
Arsenal fell at the final hurdle last season, losing six of their last 12 matches to botch finishing in the top four.
But there will be no excuses this term, given the greater depth Arteta now has to call upon.
The Gunners have nearly three players for each position – nearly all of whom were signed by the Spaniard.
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Arsenal have blown teams away in pre-season, including a 4-0 shellacking of rivals Chelsea.
So as they prepare to go into Friday night’s opener at Crystal Palace, let’s take a look at their depth chart in more detail.
GOALKEEPERS
Aaron Ramsdale will start the season as Arsenal’s undisputed No1 goalkeeper, particularly after the sale of Bernd Leno to Fulham.
The England international will hope to keep developing as the Gunners aim to improve in the Premier League.
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Given Arsenal’s return to Europa League action, there may well be minutes for new American back-up stopper Matt Turner.
While forgotten man Runar Alex Runarsson is back after a loan spell at OH Leuven.
DEFENDERS
When fit Takehiro Tomiyasu impressed immensely at right-back during his debut campaign in North London.
Cedric Soares deputised for the Japan international last term, while Hector Bellerin is back after his loan at Real Betis, at least for now.
Kieran Tierney was excellent at left-back but like Tomiyasu suffers from numerous injury issues.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s addition will keep Arsenal covered, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles could also fill in.
Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes will now receive much greater competition at centre-back with William Saliba finally set to be given a chance – while Rob Holding and Pablo Mari are still at the club as back-ups.
MIDFIELDERS
Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka were Arteta’s first choice pairing last season.
Mohamed Elneny penned a new contract to stick around, while Arsenal will hope for further development from youngster Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Zinchenko offers an intriguing option, regularly playing in midfield for Ukraine – while Maitland-Niles could also do a job.
New skipper Martin Odegaard is set to begin the campaign as Arsenal’s creator-in-chief in the No10 position.
While new signing Fabio Vieira and academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe will also challenge for a starting position.
FORWARDS
Gabriel Jesus has been on fire in pre-season since arriving from Manchester City and offers Arsenal fans genuine hope that they have finally found a prolific No9 to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Alexandre Lacazette has departed, although the Gunners were able to retain Eddie Nketiah on a new £100,000-a-week contract.
Bukayo Saka will hope to take another leap on the right flank as he enters the final two years of his contract – while he will be backed up by £72m man Nicolas Pepe and the returning Reiss Nelson.
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Gabriel Martinelli is desperate for an injury-free season after showing glimpses of his talent during his three years in North London.
He will be backed up on the left by Smith Rowe and intriguing new boy Marquinhos.
Arsenal are desperate to crack the top four this seasonCredit: PA More

AARON RAMSDALE lost his rag with team-mates after conceding a consolation goal last season.Arsenal comfortably led Aston Villa 3-0 last October when Jacob Ramsey pulled one back with eight minutes remaining.
Aaron Ramsdale was devastated to lose his clean sheetCredit: Prime Video
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal – the latest on big Prem opener
The Gunners won the game 3-1, but Ramsdale was simmering with rage regardless.
Leon Bailey had been able to ride a couple of feeble challenges before the ball fell to Ramsey to tuck home from the edge of the box.
Ramsdale, 24, could be seen waving his arms in fury at the time – and Amazon’s All or Nothing documentary has lifted the lid on just how shaken he was.
As he returned to the dressing room he tore off his gloves and shin pads and tossed them aside before putting his head in his hands.
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He blasted: “That was f***ing s*** man.
“Go with the f***ing player. That cost me the b****** clean sheet.”
Ramsdale had to be consoled by baffled staff, as his team-mates smiled and celebrated the victory.
The goalkeeper had arrived for around £30million from Sheffield United earlier in the year, a transfer that raised eyebrows given his performances as the Blades got relegated.
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After taking Bernd Leno’s spot in the Arsenal team, Ramsdale opened up for the Prime Video cameras on the pressure of playing for the Gunners.
He said: “When you play for a big club you definitely feel it [pressure] and I’m loving it.
“I’m not walking around saying I am the best in the world but I’ll always have aspirations to get there.
“Where I’ve come from in terms of the past two seasons, I knew how hard clean sheets are to come by in this league.
“It’s not just me trying to keep the ball out of the back of the net or my back four, it’s everyone.
“The Aston Villa game in the last five minutes where they scored another day that could be a 1-1 equaliser or a 2-1 and the last five or ten minutes are a nervy ending.”
Ramsdale, 24, was furious at his team-mates’ defendingCredit: AFP More