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    Arsenal press on with Arthur loan transfer despite Partey’s early return from Afcon after Arteta ships out four players

    ARSENAL are pressing ahead with an attempted loan deal for Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo – in spite of Thomas Partey’s early return from the Africa Cup of Nations.Manager Mikel Arteta wants to boost his depleted squad after loaning out Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari and Folarin Balogun this month while also cancelling the contract of Sead Kolasinac.
    Arteta is eyeing a loan move for Juventus midfielder Arthur MeloCredit: REX
    Mikel Arteta is currently dealing with a depleted Arsenal squadCredit: REX
    Thomas Partey’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations won’t stop Arsenal’s move for ArthurCredit: REX
    The club is in advanced discussions with Juve for Arthur, the 25-year-old Brazilian international who was valued at £60million when he was signed from Barcelona in exchange for Miralem Pjanic 18 months ago.
    The player is keen on the move after struggling to make an impression in Italy and Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri is not opposed to the deal.
    But, unlike Arsenal, Juventus want to sign a replacement before allowing their player to go out on loan.
    That is delaying Arthur’s arrival in a deal which would NOT include an option or an obligation to buy.
    And there is not quite such an urgency for Arsenal to complete the move now that Partey is coming back from Afcon earlier than expected.
    Ghana’s shock defeat by Comoros on Tuesday left them bottom of their group and out of a competition they had been tipped to win.
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    It means that Partey could now be available for Sunday’s home game against Burnley without missing a minute of Premier League action during his time away.
    But he is almost certainly not going to be involved in tomorrow’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool after playing three full games in the space of eight days for Ghana.
    Arsenal are currently in the midst of a squad crisis, which forced the postponement of last weekend’s north London derby with Tottenham.
    Arteta was without the services of 14 players last weekend but is set to receive a boost with the return of five stars.
    Midfielder Martin Odegaard, who had Covid, is set to return to the fold after completing his isolation.
    And Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Calum Chambers and Cedric Soares are all excepted to be available for selection following their recoveries from minor injuries.
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    Mikel Arteta will be boosted by the return of five players aheadCredit: GETTY More

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    Arsenal offered young goalkeeper Matheus Donelli with Edu receiving 19-page transfer report on Corinthians wonderkid

    ARSENAL have reportedly been encouraged to sign young Brazilian goalkeeper Mattheus Donelli. Donelli, 19, has Jorge Mendes as his agent and his representatives have pitched the highly-rated goalie to the Gunners via a scouting report.
    Donelli, 19, has not secured a first team spot at Corinthians and his representatives are said to have offered him to ArsenalCredit: Getty
    Bolavip Brasil claims the Gunners have been watching Donelli for a year and now have the chance to land him.
    Arsenal legend Edu is the North London club’s technical director and a 19-page scouting document was sent his way in an attempts to lure an offer.
    Edu, 43, was previously at Corinthians, both as a player and a director of football, and likes to keep tabs on his ex-club.
    Donelli has represented Brazil at youth level, winning the U17s World Cup in 2019.
    He made just one appearance for Corinthians in the Brazilian Serie A in 2021.
    Corinthians current number one is 34-year-old Cassio Ramos and Donelli was expected to start breaking into the first team as his replacement.
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    But Mendes and Donelli are instead trying to push for a big move abroad.
    Meanwhile, Arsenal have managed to get their game against Tottenham postponed by the Premier League.
    The North London derby has been pushed back due to the Gunners having injuries, suspensions and players away at Afcon. More

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    Arsenal confirm signing of Blackstenius with WSL leaders also linked with a January move for Brazil star Souza

    STINA BLACKSTENIUS has sealed her January move to Arsenal, ending weeks of transfer speculation.And it is thought the WSL giants are keen on Brazil defender Rafaelle Souza, 30.
    Stina Blackstenius has sealed her move to ArsenalCredit: Getty
    The league leaders announced Blackstenius’ arrival ahead of their duel with Reading, sharing footage of the player training with her new team-mates.
    The striker, who came to the Gunners as a free agent, will wear the club’s No 25 shirt.
    Of her move, the forward, 25, said: “It feels amazing to be here, I’m so happy to join such a big and great club like Arsenal.
    “I got a really good first impression about this club, they play really good football and I wanted to be a part of that.
    “I feel like I can become a better player in this environment.”
    Blackstenius finished last season as the highest scorer in Sweden’s top-flight, netting 17 times in 21 games for former club BK Hacken.
    Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall, 38, added: “We’re delighted to have signed Stina.
    “She is a world-class talent who will add even more quality to our team.
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    “Her game is well-suited to the style we are implementing here at Arsenal, and I’m confident that she will take her game to an even higher level here with us.”
    Blackstenius began her senior playing career at 15 with Swedish outfit Vadstena.
    Prior to her Gunners switch the striker had spells with Linkoping, French side Montpellier and BK Hacken between 2013 and January this year.
    Two league crowns and a Swedish Cup are among the major honours the player won during her stints with Linkoping and Hacken.
    And the forward helped Sweden to silver medal wins at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the Tokyo 2020 games.
    Blackstenius was previously linked with Manchester United and Tottenham before her Arsenal moveCredit: Getty
    Eidevall insists Arsenal’s swoop for the highly-rated forward has nothing to do with the future of Vivianne Miedema.
    The Dutch star’s Gunners contract is due to expire this summer with Barcelona and Paris-Saint Germain thought to be interested in the player.
    The Meadow Park chief told reporters: “For me, the arrival of Stina has nothing to with the future for Viv.
    “To sign Stina and make her an addition to the squad, I think is the right way to go.
    On the forward’s attacking play, Eidevall added: “With Stina, especially with the way she has performed in the national team, it’s her ability to score goals in really big games.
    “That is down to a lot of factors, but the main one is that she is excellent at running in behind.
    “It’s a quality that we have missed in the squad. That ability to punish teams that are playing with such a high defending line, so she will help us with that.”
    Rafaelle Souza is rumoured to be another January target for the WSL leadersCredit: Getty
    Eidevall hinted Arsenal had further business to do in the transfer window with a number of their players competing in the Asia Cup this month.
    And it is claimed the Gunners are targeting Brazil international Souza with the defender linked with a WSL move.
    Eidevall added: “We’re not done yet in this window, but we work hard. Hopefully, and not so long in the future, we can give some more news regarding players.” More