Author Archives: chris darwen

Fantasy Premier League is back! The Premier League kicks off on Friday 11th August and the following day Arsenal host Nottingham Forest in the early kick-off.

Arsenal have a very strong set of opening fixtures from a Fantasy Premier League perspective and only being allowed to select 3 of their players is hard. 

Luckily, we’re here with some FPL Tips to help you decide which Arsenal players you should select for your team. 

The 5 Best Arsenal Players For FPL 2023-24

As part of our Guide To FPL 2023-24, here are our top 5 Arsenal player picks for Fantasy Premier League. 

Aaron Ramsdale (£5.0)

At just 5.0, he seems to be underpriced when you consider the likes of José Sá cost just as much as him, despite Arsenal being the best defence in the league in terms of xGA. 

However, you might be better off with their outfield players as his ceiling is comparatively much lower, averaging just 2.47 saves/90. 

That said, if you are looking for a route into the Arsenal defence then Ramsdale is a simple and rotation-proof route, unlike their defenders who may be prone to rotation now that Arsenal have signed Jurrien Timber.

Gabriel (£5.0)

Many were surprised to see him priced at 5.0 for good reason. Last season, no defender racked up as much as his 5.03 xG, with only Fabian Schär coming anywhere close. 

A menace from set pieces, he tops Zinchenko in both xG/90 with his 0.14 to Zinchenko’s 0.06, and should be more nailed as both Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber look to take over Zinchenko’s inverted wing back role. 

He provides good defensive coverage as Arsenal have a sublime run of early fixtures, facing five of last seven’s weakest attacks in terms of xG over their opening seven and is arguably the best 5.0 defender in the game.

Gabriel Jesus (£8.0)

At 8.0, he is yet another seemingly underpriced Arsenal asset when you look closer at his data. With 0.76 npxGI/90, he had the fourth highest npxGI/90 among regularly starting forwards which is certainly strong at his price tag. 

Whilst he now faces completion from Havertz, Nketiah, Balogun and Trossard at striker, he should still be the starting striker for Arsenal and if he can avoid injury he’ll once again be a great pick, being a somewhat more obvious forward option for gameweek one when there aren’t too many stand out forwards this season.

Gabriel Martinelli (£8.0)

Perhaps slightly overlooked being the least owned of the starting Arsenal attackers, Martinelli comes in at £8.0m which is cheaper than the likes of Martin Ødegaard despite having slightly better data with 0.59 npxGI/90 compared to Ødegaard’s 0.53 npxGI/90. 

Whilst he may not be as hot on expected minutes with the likes of Leandro Trossard fresh on the bench, he is the starting left winger nonetheless and should play 80+ minutes a game of not the full 90. 

Scoring the most non-penalty goals of all the Arsenal attackers, at a modest 15% ownership he could prove to be a safer option for managers looking for an edge over other FPL managers.

Bukayo Saka (£8.5)

Surprisingly, his data is the worst of all the Arsenal attackers at 0.50 npxGI/90. However, this doesn’t mean he was somewhat obviously underpriced at £8.5m. 

He is the likeliest for starts and 90 minutes among all Arsenal attackers, facing competition from just Reiss Nelson and potentially Kai Havertz, and is also the designated penalty taker for Arsenal allowing for more potential goals and more potential hauls. 

At his price and considering Arsenal’s run of fixtures, he is simply the best Arsenal asset all things considered and he is probably already in your team.

Looking for an Arsenal related FPL team name? Why not try:

Making Emile Of It
Saka Punch
Øde to Jesus
White Ben Can’t Jump
Espresso Martinelli

The world’s most popular sport is back! Football season has begun, which means a new opportunity to make money. If you’re a sports fan, you’ll want to read this article. We’ve teamed up with Neds, an online sports betting site, to converse about how you can bet on football games and boost your chances of winning with one of the world’s most popular teams, Arsenal. We’ll also give some helpful tips for those new to betting on football. So whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting, keep reading for all the information you need to make some smart bets and have a winning football season!

Arsenal F.C: One of the Most Popular Teams in the World

There’s no doubt that Arsenal is one of the most popular teams in the world. They have a dedicated and huge fan base and are always contenders for the title. When it comes to betting on football, it’s important to know as much as possible about the team you’re backing. So, let’s take a look at some Arsenal facts that will help you place bets.

• Arsenal was founded in 1886.
• They play their home games at Emirates Stadium, which has a capacity of 60,704.
• Arsenal has won the English Premier League 13 times and the FA Cup 14 times.
• Their most recent trophy was the FA Cup, which they won in 2020.
• Arsenal’s biggest rivals are Tottenham Hotspur.

As you can see, Arsenal is a team with a lot of history and success. They’re also a team that is always in the mix for trophies, making them an attractive betting option. But how do you actually bet on football games? Read on for our tips.

Tips for Betting on Football Games

Now that you learn a little bit more about Arsenal, it’s time to be aware of how to bet on their games. Here are some helpful tips:

Find Reputable Websites

The initial step is to look for a reputable website that you can trust. Many websites offer sports betting, but not all of them are created equal, so before deciding on a website, conduct research and read reviews.

Create an Account

Once you’ve found a website you like, the next step is to make an account. This is typically a simple process, and you’ll just need to give some little information, like your name and email address.

Deposit Money

Once you have an account, you’ll need to deposit money into it so that you can place bets. Most websites accept credit cards and PayPal.

Choose Your Bet

Now it’s time to choose your bet. For example, when betting on football, you can bet on the game’s outcome, who will score first, how many goals will be scored, etc. Again, there are many different options, so choose the one that you’re most comfortable with.

Place Your Bet

Once you’ve chosen your bet, it’s time to place it. Simply enter the amount of money you want to bet and confirm your bet.

Wait for the Result

Now all you have to do is wait for the result. If your bet wins, you’ll get your winnings deposited into your account. If it loses, you’ll lose the money you bet.

What Other Teams Should You Bet On?

Perhaps you’re not a fan of Arsenal, or you want to diversify your bets. If that’s the case, here are some other teams we recommend betting on:

• Manchester United
• Chelsea
• Liverpool
• Barcelona
• Real Madrid
• Bayern Munich

As you can see, there are many different options when it comes to betting on football. First, research each team and find the ones you’re most comfortable with.

What to Know Before You Bet

Before you place any bets, you must know what you’re doing. So here are some things to keep in mind:

Know the Rules

Be sure to familiarize yourself with sports betting rules before you start. It will help you avoid making any mistakes that could cost you money.

Manage Your Money

It’s also vital to manage your money wisely. Only bet what you can afford to lose, and never chase your losses.

Have Fun!

Betting on football should be fun. However, don’t take it too seriously, and remember that you’re ultimately just trying to enjoy yourself.

With these tips in mind, you’re ready to start betting on football. Do your research, manage your money wisely, and have fun! Who knows, you might just end up winning big! Thanks for reading!

Arsenal missed out on their ultimate goal this season by missing Champions League qualification by two points to London rival Tottenham Hotspur. Despite failing to qualify for the top four, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will continue to be backed in the transfer market this offseason. There are several names that have been drawn up as possible signings.

Arteta could address squad needs by signing players from his former team Manchester City. The Arsenal manager has a few players set to depart the Emirates and those replacements will be vital to improving the team.

The Premier League season’s start is just around the corner and Arsenal supporters are debating whether or not the Gunners can finish in the top four. Bettors can read the latest Nigerian sports betting apps reviews before signing up and wagering on the upcoming campaign.

Gabriel Jesus

In April, it seemed like Jesus to Arsenal was nearly finalised. Yet, in recent weeks, the deal may not be as close as originally believed. Arteta wants Jesus to replace Alexandre Lacazette. The manager loves Jesus’s versatility. The forward was out of favour for parts of the season at Manchester City, but became a key player in the Cityzens’ final push for the Premier League title.

Oleksandr Zinchenko

Guardiola is likely to add a new full-back at Manchester City, which would make left-back Zinchenko surplus to requirements. Zinchenko is heavily linked with Arsenal at the moment. It seems a strange signing with Kieran Tierney at the Emirates. However, it is claimed Arsenal are ready to axe the £24 million signing this offseason.

Levi Colwill

Arteta has adapted the tactic of his mentor Guardiola and that is to sign a defender in every summer transfer window. Levi Colwill could move to the Emirates this season, but Leicester City are also chasing the defender. Colwill spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Championship club Huddersfield helping them finish third in the table and qualify for the playoffs. The defender played 29 games, scoring two goals and adding one assist. He is owned by Chelsea, who are likely to sell Colwill this summer.

Tammy Abraham

If there were any doubters to striker Tammy Abraham’s ability to score goals, they should be quieted now. Abraham left Chelsea last offseason for £36 million for Serie A’s Roma. The striker hit the ground running under Jose Mourinho and went on to score 27 goals in 53 games in all competitions. Abraham won the Europa Conference League with the Giallorossi and scored nine goals in the competition. Abraham’s final Serie A goal tally was 17 in 37 appearances. He scored more goals in a single Serie A season than any other English player.

Youri Tielemans

From unwanted midfielder at Monaco to in-demand central maestro at Leicester City, it has been quite a journey for Youri Tielemans. Just one season remains on Tielemans’ current Leicester City contract and the player has already stated he wants to leave the club. Arsenal are interested in the midfielder, but could miss out on signing Tielemans due to a lack of Champions League football.

After a fantastic campaign with excellent performances, Bukayo Saka – Arsenal’s best young player, has been nominated for the PFA Premier League Player of the Year and Young Player of the year.

In this season, Saka has a total of 11 goals and 6 assists to his name. As a result, he became one of Arsenal’s standout players, also scoring against Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham.

Before Saka, Arsenal also had 5 excellent young players to win this noble award. Let’s take a look at the 5 Arsenal players who have won the PFA Premier League Young Player of the Year, as well as how they fared!

Tony Adams

The PFA Young Player of the Year is considered as a prestigious award given to a player aged 23 and under who has been in outstanding form across the Premier League table (ตารางพรีเมียร์ลีก in Thai) during the season.

Tony Adams has grown from the Gunners youth academy to establish himself as the greatest defender, leader, and legend the club has ever had. Adams won the award during the 1986-1987 season when the Premier League was still known as the First Division. He made 42 appearances and scored six goals as Arsenal finished fourth in the table.

Adams was Arsenal captain for three different decades before retiring in 2002 here. He has erected a statue outside the Emirates, and he is immortal at Arsenal.

Paul Merson

Merson is currently a commentator. Before that, he came from the Arsenal academy and received the Young Player of the Year award in 1988-1989. Arsenal won England in the most dramatic way possible, scoring a last-minute winner at Anfield to steal the title from Liverpool, and Merson scored 10 goals all season.

Merson went on to score 86 goals for the club in 369 games before leaving in 1997 and is regarded as a club’s hero.

Nicolas Anelka

One of the most promising young strikers in the Premier League, Anelka enjoyed a phenomenal two seasons at Arsenal, winning the award in 1999 before moving to Real Madrid.

The Frenchman became the first player from mainland Europe to win the award, and it was well deserved as he scored 17 Premier League goals. His subsequent career was very interesting.

Cesc Fabregas

One of the best young players Arsenal ever had, Fabregas almost helped lead Arsenal to the 2007-08 title, where they were four points behind Man Utd. With seven goals and 19 assists in the Premier League at the age of 19, Fabregas will become one of the best young players to ever play in the Premier League.

Fabregas should have become a club legend but controversially decided to go to Barcelona​​before joining Chelsea.

Jack Wilshere

Wilshere is one of the most talented players to come out of Hale End Academy. He was presented with the award in 2010-11 after a stellar season, leaving Gunners fans in awe with his superb technique and passing ability.

The English player became famous after his dominant performance against a powerful Barcelona. But the injury eventually turned things upside down for him. Wilshere then sadly had to leave Emirates in 2018.

Arsenal FC, a Brief History & How it Affected the Name “Gooners”

The Arsenal Football Club is a professional football club located in North London. The club was founded by workers at the Woolwich Arsenal armaments factory in 1886. Arsenal’s history has had many significant moments, but none more so than the events that occurred during World War I. In 1914, after the outbreak of war, Woolwich Arsenal’s chairman, Sir Henry Norris, and William Hall (the majority shareholder) agreed to sell the club to Sir Henry’s business partner and board member Charles Hill for £25,000. A few months later, on 6 January 1915, Hill collapsed and died at the age of 54 from pneumonia following complications from influenza. In 1923, with no football team in London for them to support after their local side disbanded (Clapton Orient), some Arsenal fans formed a team called Dial Square. In 1930, Arsenal was one of the original 12 clubs that formed the Football League and won their first league title in 1947. Arsenal became the first club to win two-thirds of all top-flight titles in England and was also the first club to win a European trophy when they won the Cup Winners’ Cup Final in 1992 over Barcelona.

The Origin of the Name “Gooners”: The Surname Gooner

It is unclear where the club founder nickname ‘Gooners’ came from. Some people believe that it is derived from the word ‘Gooner’, which means someone who is a hooligan or troublemaker.

In other cases, it has been suggested that the name ‘Gooners’ was given to club founders by a journalist in reference to the slang term for a supporter of Arsenal Football Club – “gooney” an old-school slang term for someone who was foolish or stupid.

The most commonly held belief on this dates back to the days of hooliganism in the 1970s.
One of Arsenal’s ‘firms’ was called the Goon Squad, a name which is said to have merged with the club nickname over time to form ‘Gooners’.

When Did Arsenal Fans Start Calling Themselves “Gooners”?

The origins of the nickname “Gooner” are not entirely clear. One theory is that it is derived from the word “gooney”, slang for a foolish person, which was used by Londoners to describe people from Newcastle. London Escorts ladies for example says they are calling Gooners from this name, just an interesting statement.

Another theory is that it comes from the word “goner”, meaning someone who is doomed or likely to die.

A third theory suggests that it comes from the word “gunner” – a term for an artilleryman, which was used in World War I to describe those who manned guns on Royal Navy ships.

Arsenal Fans on Twitter & What They Have to Say About Being Called ‘Gooners’

Arsenal fans are known for their loyalty to the club. They will go to great lengths to make sure that they support the team, even if it means sacrificing their own interests. One of the most popular ways of showing their support is by referring to themselves as ‘Gooners’.

Arsenal fans have a strong sense of community and are always there for each other. The hashtag #WeAreTheArsenal is used by Arsenal supporters all over the world to show their solidarity with the club and its values.

“Emirates Stadium” (CC BY 2.0) by oddsock

Arsenal are seemingly working their way back into top four contention, albeit quite slowly, and they are not there yet. However, there is certainly promise, and it seems like the team is on the cusp of being a top four challenger in the near future.

But what about being a top four regular, like they were in the past?

This season, Arsenal certainly have a chance, and are right in the mix now, with seemingly two places up for grabs behind Manchester City and Liverpool. The latest betting odds from Space Casino have Arsenal at 3.5 to finish in the top four. This puts them behind Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham in the betting, but certainly in the mix.

Behind these teams in the betting, the likes of West Ham and Wolves are considered outsiders, and with so many teams chasing down these final two positions, Arsenal are in a big battle, rather than just chasing one team.

The top four this season would be seen as an overachievement, with a top six finish being the aim for now. However, that is a step towards the top four in the future, but what is needed to make that step?

Increasing the Quality of Depth

One of the biggest issues we have seen with Arsenal is that they lack depth. Go back to their FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest, when they played a handful of squad players and were lackluster, as mentioned by the BBC in their match report.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST KNOCK ARSENAL OUT OF THE FA CUP ? pic.twitter.com/EGiyiacRD4

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 9, 2022

It is games like that one, where Arsenal rely on their squad players, that you can see the holes that are currently there. These are the players that need to be improved on, or added to, and by adding to them, they can also look to improve the starting eleven too.

Whether they go for a strategy to try and take some risks, in the hope that a player or two turn out to be first teamers from the depth that they bring in, or play it safe and bring in experienced players, remains to be seen. This is also something that will take time, Arsenal don’t have the spending power of some clubs, so can’t simply fix their problems in one transfer window.

With quality depth added to the team, Arsenal should be able to reach the top four, they are close enough to think that could be the difference. Stopping there is not going to be easy, but once you are in, and have the added prize money from playing in the Champions League, things do become easier from a financial perspective.

This may then allow Arsenal to make a proper transfer splash. Chelsea signed big in the summer, bringing in Romelu Lukaku, as covered by The Guardian; Manchester United also added many pieces, and they both did this thanks to Champions League money.

Get up there, thanks to adding strong depth pieces, and then like those two mentioned, Arsenal may be able to sign players of a standard that is good enough to keep them there.

Emmanuel Adebayor made sure that he would go down in Arsenal history as a player that was disliked by everyone, but it seems he is keen on continuing to stoke the flames of the fire that has since been burnt out.

Indeed, many Gooners will think their former striker is irrelevant now and is just a blotch on their past, although those who look for the best betting online sites available might want to consider that he does still play his football for Turkish giants Istanbul Basaksehir, therefore perhaps they may want to think of another team to bet on.

However, the former Arsenal man appears to be continuing with his hate for the club by participating in interviews that certainly does not help things currently being experienced at the club.

Having scored 62 goals and providing 24 assists in 144 appearances for the club, it seems he still holds a grudge over Arsene Wenger after the legendary boss told him he had no future at the Emirates Stadium.

Of course, Arsenal sold him in 2009 when he signed for Manchester City and decided to go on a run to the other end of the pitch and celebrate in front of the Gooners who had travelled that afternoon after netting a winner in the last minute; an action that would later cost him £25,000.

Speaking about the boss, he stated that Jose Mourinho was the best he had whereas Wenger was “fake” and the reason he has the hate for Arsenal.

“Mourinho is the one of the managers I loved and will always love,” Adebayor said to Turkish television programme Beyond The Game.

“He is one of the [most] honest managers I have met in my career, which is crazy because most of the managers are all kind of fake.

“As an example, I had a meeting with Arsene Wenger in his office when he told me I had to leave because he didn’t see my future anymore in Arsenal.

“So I didn’t have any other choice than joining Man City, who I was very happy to join.

“And the next day when I joined Manchester City I saw him doing a press conference in London saying that I wanted to leave because the money was big and everything and since that day that is where the hate for Arsenal came from.”

Now, whilst that was over 10 years ago, it seems he could not keep from sticking his oar in amid the ongoing situation that surrounds Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mikel Arteta after the Gabon international was banished from the squad due to a lack of discipline.

Adebayor believes the former Borussia Dortmund striker’s time at the Emirates is up, perhaps suggesting that bettors who have a betting bonus should look to place it on the Gabon international to arrive at a different club, whilst also leaving a scathing attack on the Gunners in the process.

“I know he’s going through a lot, because that’s Arsenal for you,” he said to Sky Sports News.

“They never knew how to forgive, so I know he went through a lot. He’s a fantastic player, I wish him all the best – I’ve sent him a message already.

“We just want him to bounce back. Whether we like it or not, he’s an African brother and we want him to keep representing Africa the way he was doing before.

“I don’t think so (if Aubameyang can succeed at Arsenal), this is what I know because it happened to me also.

“Not in the same way but in Arsenal, a way back I would be surprised [to see]. But he’s a great player so let’s see how it ends up.”

One thing you would have to agree on with Adebayor is that Aubameyang’s career at Arsenal does appear to have come to an end, although it would be hard to back the idea that they never forgive, especially when you look at everything that Granit Xhaka has gone through whilst wearing the club’s colours.

Arsenal are considering purchasing both Aaron Ramsdale and Sander Berge from recently relegated side Sheffield United this summer according to the Sheffield Star, with the Gunners reigniting their pursuit of the Norwegian midfielder.

23-year-old Ramsdale has been subject of interest from Mikel Arteta’s side for most of the summer, already having two bids knocked back for the keeper as they consider making a third offer.

Their interest in the shot-stopper has ramped up over the past couple of weeks, with Ramsdale’s European Championships campaign with England only finishing in mid-July after the Three Lions reached the final.

However, they are yet to meet the Blades’ £32m asking price with the 23-year-old still having three years remaining on his current deal at Bramall Lane – and are in no rush to cash in on him this summer.

Slavisa Jokanovic’s side are in a similar situation with Sander Berge whose contract in South Yorkshire doesn’t expire until 2024 either, but is likely to leave the club following their relegation with top-flight teams in England including Everton and Aston Villa and Italian clubs Napoli, Atalanta and Lazio all reported to be keeping an eye on the midfielder’s situation.

Arsenal were another side previously said to be monitoring the Norwegian, but this interest died down after refusing to meet his £35m valuation.

But with the Ramsdale deal hitting an obstacle and the Gunners still on the prowl for a new central midfielder, they believe they can lure the Championship side to the negotiating table with a sizeable lump sum for two of their most valuable assets, as per the Sheffield Star.

However, this potential move is only said to be a ‘plan’ at this stage – and it’s currently unclear whether they will press ahead and execute it between now and August 31st.

Although this could potentially be the least messy way for manager Jokanovic to sort out Ramsdale and Berge’s current situation at Bramall Lane, with intense interest in both failing to cease, the Blades still have every right to take a tough negotiating stance considering they both have long-term contracts at their current club.

Because of this, they could easily demand £65m-£70m for the duo in a potential double deal and after seeing Arsenal cough up £50m for Ben White at the end of last month, this could persuade the Blades to hold out for this sort of money.

However, the White deal could affect the Premier League side’s ability to complete these acquisitions this summer. There isn’t a bottomless pit of money at the Emirates Stadium and this is why they shouldn’t push Arsenal too hard for around £70m if they offer anywhere near that sum of cash.

In the end, the South Yorkshire outfit may decide to continue taking an uncompromising approach to these deals to ensure the duo remain at Bramall Lane and with this, majorly boost their chances of returning to the Premier League.

So this is a win-win situation for Jokanovic who will either have two top-quality players at his disposal or potentially a lot of money to play with in the next window or two.

Leicester City have rejected Arsenal’s latest players-plus-cash offer for midfielder James Maddison, claims a report. Maddison has become Mikel Arteta’s number one attacking target, according to a number of sources.

“Arsenal are pursuing a deal” for the attacking midfielder, according to The Guardian. While football.london and Football Insider suggest Arteta has Maddison at the forefront of his thinking.

Arteta wanted to sign Martin Odegaard once again after his successful loan spell from Real Madrid last season. That deal looks out of reach though and the Gunners are now focused on Maddison.

The Guardian suggest Arsenal will have to make sales before pushing ahead for Maddison, who is understood to be open to a move.

Maddison is understood to be eager to push himself on to the international stage and thinks a move to Arsenal could elevate him.

Leicester, who qualified for the Europa League, are not under pressure to sell. The report though claims it is understood they could demand at least £60m for the 24-year-old, if he chases a move.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has recently warned Arsenal away from Maddison, who remains under contract until 2024 after renewing his deal last summer.

“In conversations with the club, we don’t have to sell. That’s something that’s been made clear,” said Rodgers. The players want to stay. It’s a really exciting time at the club.

“There’s lots of gossip and speculation around but I’m loving working with the guys here. They love being here, and we certainly have no need to sell.

“So I would suspect we’re looking to keep our best players.”

Arsenal though have been encouraged by Maddison and the Gunners have in fact lodged a cash offer, along with Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

That has been rejected by Leicester, who have “no interest” in the Arsenal duo. The outlet also claim Leicester’s price tag for Maddison is £70m.

Leicester have added Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumare and Ryan Bertrand to their squad. But in recent years they have made one big sale each summer.

Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante, Harry Maguire and Riyad Mahrez have all left the Foxes and Maddison could well follow that trend.

Arsenal are amongst the clubs to have spoken to the agent of Andre Onana in the last few days with the goalkeeper’s potential move to Lyon stalling, according to a report from Calciomercato.It.

Onana has been linked with a move away from Ajax for some time now. It was even claimed at the start of June that a move to Arsenal was imminent.

Obviously, that has not proved to be the case. But it would make sense if he indeed left the Eredivisie side before the window shut.

His contract expires next summer. And a host of clubs are interested. It had appeared that Lyon were set to win the race.

Calciomercato.It claims earlier via real money casino games, the Ligue 1 side and Ajax were closing in on agreeing a fee over the weekend. However, progress over a deal has stalled.

And that is because several clubs, including a number from England, have spoken to Onana’s agent in the last few days. His representative has also spoken to clubs from Italy and Spain.

One of the sides to have apparently made contact is Arsenal. It is claimed that the goalkeeper’s English admirers made their move with his agent recently visiting London.

The report adds however, that Lyon are yet to give up on getting a deal done. Onana’s situation is not ideal for any club looking at a move this summer. He is suspended until November due to a doping violation.

He also has the Africa Cup of Nations ahead in January. So he is set to miss a large portion of the season. Arsenal, of course, still have Bernd Leno on their books. Bet on Arsenal to finish in the top four next season on https://www.leroijohnny.com/fr. Meanwhile, they have been linked with Sam Johnstone and Aaron Ramsdale.

But it appears to be a smart move to keep Onana on their radar. It was not that long ago that he seemed to be deemed one of the best goalkeepers plying their trade in Europe.

Getting a move done this season may not pay off much over the coming campaign. But it could prove to be a fantastic piece of business in years to come. So Arsenal are surely right to remain in the mix.

Arsenal have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Leicester City midfielder James Maddison, with Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers reiterating the club’s firm stance that the England international is not for sale. Rodgers has said that none of his players want to leave the club, who enjoyed a successful campaign last term.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta still wants to sign a midfielder this summer, despite two recent additions in the position.

Thomas Partey arrived from Atletico Madrid in January while Arsenal recently announced the capture of Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht.

Arteta has lost last season’s loanees Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard, who have both returned to Real Madrid, leaving him with a lack of depth in the role.

Leicester’s Maddison has been earmarked as a target but would likely cost a huge fee to prise away from the FA Cup winners. Rodgers has insisted that the 24-year-old is not for sale and suggested that Maddison would like to remain.

The player enjoyed a successful 2020-21 campaign, scoring eight times in 31 Premier League appearances. However, he failed to even make Gareth Southgate’s 31-man provisional squad for Euro 2020.

The Northern Irishman said:

“In conversations with the club, we don’t have to sell.

“That’s something that’s been made clear. The players want to stay.

“It’s a really exciting time at the club.

“There’s lots of gossip and speculation around but I’m loving working with the guys here, they love being here, and we certainly have no need to sell.

“So I would suspect we’re looking to keep our best players.”

Goal reported in June that Maddison was of interest to Arsenal, who are midway through an overhaul of their first-team squad. Arteta and technical director Edu are replacing senior stars with fresh faces following a disappointing campaign.

The club finished eighth in the Premier League and next season will be their first not participating in a European competition for the first time in over a quarter of a century.

Ben White became Arsenal’s first marquee signing of the summer when he arrived in a huge £50million deal from Brighton last week.

White joins Lokonga and Nuno Tavares in moving to the Emirates Stadium. More deals have been targeted, with Arteta widely believed to be interested in an attacking midfielder and a forward.

Some of Arsenal’s most experienced stars have been linked with departures to facilitate a rebuild. Veteran defender David Luiz, 34, left the club when his contract expired at the end of June.

Bernd Leno, Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka, Willian and Alexandre Lacazette have all been the subject of reports suggesting that they could depart.

The Athletic have reported that Arsenal’s stance on Xhaka could reverse, though, with the midfielder close to agreeing a new contract. Xhaka has been widely linked with a move to Roma, where Jose Mourinho has been appointed as head coach.

Arsenal have been urged to sign the ‘best striker after Erling Haaland’ as former Italy forward Christian Vieri heavily praised Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic in a recent interview.

The forward has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs including Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Tottenham, with a rumoured £60million release clause being reported in Italy.

Vlahovic scored 21 goals in 37 appearances with Fiorentina last season, and the 21-year-old has emerged as real money casino sites one of Europe’s brightest talents tipped with greatest heights..

The Serbian’s prolific record has already caught the eye of former Serie A legend Vieri, who’s commendation will only further peak interest in the young sensation.

In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Vieri said:

“For his age, he is the best striker in Europe after Erling Haaland.”

He then added:

“He is a top striker and will score 20 goals easily next season.”

Vlahovic is currently in talks with Fiorentina to extend his contract beyond 2023 – which is when his current deal expires – and according to reports in Italy, this new deal could include a £60million release clause.

With the future of Alexandre Lacazette uncertain and club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not getting any younger, Arsenal could land the 21-year-old for £60million and beat fierce rivals Tottenham to the Serbian’s signature. These two sides meet on Sunday lunchtime for a friendly match at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Tottenham have been heavily linked with Vlahovic all summer due to the potentially imminent departure of star striker Harry Kane. And with the Englishman looking to force a move, the current Fiorentina forward could be a shrewd addition.

Arsenal have already spent big this window, signing Ben White, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga for a combined £75million, so would have to sell some of their assets in order to fund the move, but it may be worth it due to the 21-year-old’s frightening potential.

If Tottenham were to sell Kane, they would have some £160million to inject into new signings and bolster their squad, so a move for Arsenal would not only strengthen their position, but potentially hurt a direct rival.

Arsenal haven’t bought too many players from the Serie A in their recent history, with Lucas Torreira being the most notable signing from Italy during the last decade.

However, the last time the Gunners signed a forward from the Italian first division was in 1999, as Thierry Henry joined from Juventus and went on to become the club’s leading goalscorer, netting 228 times during two stints in North London.

Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus are also keeping tabs on Vlahovic, as the sides will be looking to find long-term replacements for Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo respectively, with all three strikers in the latter stages of their career.