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    Arsenal complete £20m transfer for right back Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna as Hector Bellerin joins Real Betis

    ARSENAL have confirmed the highly-anticipated £20million signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna.The Japan international, 22, had been on the Gunners’ transfer wish list all summer.

    Arsenal have completed a £20m deadline day swoop for Bologna star Takehiro TomiyasuCredit: Rex
    And Mikel Arteta moved at the last moment to pull off a stunning deadline day deal.
    Tomiyasu, who will wear the No18 shirt, is a versatile defender who can play in the centre and on the right and in a back three or back four.
    However, it is expected he will become Arsenal’s new right-back after Hector Bellerin was loaned out to Real Betis.
    Tomiyasu was also a target for north London rivals Tottenham.
    But they instead decided to move for £26m Barcelona full-back Emerson Royal.
    Speaking to Arsenal’s website, Director of Football Edu beamed: “We’re delighted to have signed Takehiro.

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    “We’ve been watching him for a while now and we’re pleased that we have reached an agreement with Bologna. He is an important addition to our squad.”
    Boss Arteta added: Arteta added: “Takehiro is a strong defender with good experience in Serie A and at international level.
    “He’s a versatile defender with great defensive qualities, high technical ability and composure on the ball. He will be an important member of our squad.
    “We look forward to Takehiro joining up with us when he returns from international duty.”
    Tomiyasu joined Bologna in 2019 from Belgian side Sint-Truiden for £7.5million.
    And he made 64 appearances for the Italians, helping them to a 12th place finish in last season’s Serie A.
    Arsenal have now made six signings this summer, spending around £150million.

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    With Tomiyasu, there is virtually a new backline after the additions of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, centre-back Ben White and left-back Nuno Tavares.
    Midfielders Albert Sambi Lokonga and Martin Odegaard were also drafted in.
    But despite splashing the cash, Arsenal have got off to an abysmal start in the Premier League by losing their first three games while failing to score a single goal.
    ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates
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    Willian ‘forced to make deal with Arsenal chief Edu’ before sealing free transfer to boyhood club Corinthians

    WILLIAN was reportedly forced to cut a deal with Arsenal chief Edu before sealing his free transfer return to Corinthians.The former Chelsea star terminated his £220,000-a-week Gunners contract on Monday after struggling in north London.
    Willian had to agree not to join an English or European club in order to leave ArsenalCredit: Getty
    Willian has now agreed a deal with boyhood club Corinthians back in Brazil.
    But the Mirror claims he was only allowed to leave the Emirates by meeting one condition.
    Arsenal football guru Edu apparently made Willian agree that he would not join another English or European side after terminating his deal.
    French outfit Lyon made a late approach for the winger before he completed his return.
    But Willian stuck to his deal with Edu by instead taking a 70 per cent pay cut with Corinthians.
    His agent Kia Joorabchian has now unleashed a brutal attack on Arsenal, branding their recent transfers ‘disastrous’.

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    Joorabchian told TalkSPORT: “Which player has moved to Arsenal that has not been a disaster in the last couple of years? That one I speak as a fan.”
    Meanwhile, Willian apologised to Arsenal fans after his move failed to work out.
    Willian wrote on social media: “All my career I have done everything to be the best I can be – I always want to win and I find it hard to accept not doing so.
    “Unfortunately it didn’t happen for me at Arsenal and I am sorry about that.
    “Unfortunately things on the pitch didn’t go the way we had all planned and hoped.

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    “I received a lot of criticism, especially from some members of the press, [suggesting] that I had come here for financial reasons.
    “I hope with my actions today [I] explain [that] to those people and they now understand that was not the case.
    “I hope it teaches some people that they should not be so quick to pass judgement and create bad environments to make themselves important, even though I accept that’s part of the game.”
    ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates
    Arsenal flop Willian has contract terminated saving Gunners £20.5m as he targets return to boyhood club Corinthians More

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    Maitland-Niles STILL part of Arteta’s Arsenal plans despite being banished from training after social media outburst

    AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES has been told he is still part of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal plans despite being banished from training on Tuesday.The 24-year-old England international lashed out on social media after a proposed loan move to Everton was blocked by the Gunners.
    Ainsley Maitland-Niles still has a future at Arsenal despite being banished from first-team training on TuesdayCredit: PA
    The midfielder put this post on social media after a move to Everton was blockedCredit: Instagram @maitlandniles
    That prompted an angry text message from Arteta to inform the player that he would not be allowed to train with the first team squad this week.
    But the duo held clear-the-air talks this afternoon and have agreed to settle their differences.
    Maitland-Niles is desperate to revive his flagging career after being sent out on loan to West Brom last season.
    He won five England caps as a wing-back last year but failed to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for this summer’s Euros.
    And in spite of assurances that he will get first team opportunities with Arsenal this season, his prospects have not been helped by the deadline day signing of £19.5million full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu.
    Having failed to make the starting line-up for any of Arsenal’s opening four games of the season, he is now wondering when his chance will come.

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    He was made aware of Everton’s loan offer with an option to buy on Sunday and was originally told that he would be allowed to move.
    But Arteta changed his mind on Monday, leading to Maitland-Niles taking to Instagram to declare:  “All I wanna do is go where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna play.”

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    He still has two years remaining on Emirates contract .
    And Maitland-Niles now faces a four-way fight with Tomiyasu, Calum Chambers and Cedric Soares to solve the right-back problem which has proved to be such a headache for Arsenal this season.
    And if he does not get the game time he wants he could yet review his position in January.
    ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates
    Ainsley Maitland-Niles shows off his skills on the Arsenal training pitch More

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    Willian’s agent tears into Arsenal structure and slams club’s ‘disastrous’ transfers after Corinthians move

    WILLIAN’S agent Kia Joorabchian has unleashed a brutal attack on Arsenal and labelled their recent transfers ‘disastrous’.The Brazilian winger has agreed to rip up his contract after a terrible Emirates stint and his representative has now fired shots at the club as the 33-year-old departs.
    Willian’s agent Kia Joorabchian has labelled Arsenal’s recent transfer business s a ‘disaster’Credit: AFP – Getty
    The Brazilian has ripped up his Gunners contract after a nightmare Emirates spellCredit: Getty
    The 33-year-old moved to the Gunners from Premier League rivals Chelsea last summer on a free transfer.
    He signed a three-year, £220,000-a-week deal and exclusively told SunSport at the time him and Arteta planned to win the Champions League within three years.
    But having scored just once in 37 games for the North Londoners, he has returned to his homeland and signed for boyhood club Corinthians – which Joorabchian described as the ‘perfect marriage’.
    Despite his client’s expensive and catastrophic spell with Arsenal, Joorabchian felt it appropriate to lash out at the Gunners during an interview with Jim White on TalkSPORT.
    Asked if Willian’s time at the Emirates had been a disaster, the Iranian-born agent said: “Which player has moved to Arsenal that has not been a disaster in the last couple of years? That one I speak as a fan.”
    Since 2019, Arsenal have splashed £72million on flop Nicolas Pepe, £45m on Thomas Partey, £27m on Gabriel and the same on William Saliba who has been farmed out on loan twice.

    Willian told SunSport him and Arteta planned to win the Champions League within three years of his arrival
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    Other arrivals include Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares, Alex Runarsson, David Luiz, Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli.
    Joorabchian, 50, also explained Mikel Arteta pledged to build the team around Willian when he joined but said that did not happen.
    He added: “When he joined, he sincerely joined because he was very much at the centre of Arteta’s thinking.
    “Arteta made several presentations to Willian and made it clear he would be the focus point of how he would build the team around him.
    “Willian had an offer from Chelsea to extend for two more years, but he wanted three years and he made the move. Unfortunately it didn’t work out for him.
    “I don’t think this is about Willian. I think something has gone wrong [at Arsenal] and this is just one piece of the puzzle.”
    After his comments on under-pressure Arteta, Joorabchian was asked whether Willian blames the Spaniard for the situation.

    ‘NOBODY BLAMES ARTETA’
    And he said: “Nobody blames Arteta, we all want Arteta to do well.
    “Even as fans, they might be disgruntled at the moment but they want the best for the football club.
    “Willian wants all the success for Arteta and this Arsenal team.”
    The Gunners have reportedly been trying to get shot of Willian all summer and Joorabchian admitted an Emirates departure was ‘the right thing’.
    He explained: “He was getting very heavily criticised over why he made the move here, but none of the things that have been suggested have been the case.
    “I spoke to Arsenal. I had a meeting with Arteta and Edu, they explained this has not gone well and I spoke to Willian.
    “I don’t think it benefits any party to just let someone sit there for the sake of sitting there.
    ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates
    Joorabchian said Mikel Arteta pledged to build the team around Willian but that did not happenCredit: Getty
    “When things go wrong, both sides should consider the fact it’s gone wrong and you need to find a solution.
    “I think Willian did the right thing, he went for the project and the project wasn’t there.”
    Since his departure was announced, Willian apologised to Gooners and thanked the club for the opportunity.

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    Arsenal flop Willian has contract terminated saving Gunners £20.5m as he targets return to boyhood club Corinthians More