While other clubs are just getting started, Arsenal has already finished with most of their transfer dealings. Their New head coach Unai Emery and head of recruitment Sven Mislintat have refreshed the squad with five new names with goalkeeper Bernd Leno, defenders Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Stephan Lichtsteiner and also young midfielders Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, spending nearly €80 million in the process. Unai Emery is satisfied and feels he has a complete squad.
“The squad is complete. Only the possibility if one player leaves or two players. We’ll see in the next month, only if there is a big opportunity.”
Unless The Gunners sell first, it’s unlikely we see much activity from the London side for the rest of the transfer window. Nevertheless, several names remain in play.
Arsenal’s transfer update
Steven N’Zonzi
The Sevilla midfielder has a €40 million release clause and has already informed the club of his intention to leave. However, Arsenal spent that money on the cheaper and younger Lucas Torreira, making a deal which looked entirely possible a couple weeks ago appear highly unlikely now.
Aleksandr Golovin
CSKA Moscow’s midfielder did more for his career than most players during the 2018 World Cup. Arsene Wenger was a long-time admirer of the Russian midfielder, but according to Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts:
“The chances of Golovin moving to Arsenal really ended when Arsene Wenger left the club.”.
He is now set to sign with Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea.
Kingsley Coman
Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck is behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in the pecking order, so it won’t be surprising to see him leave, if not permanently, then temporarily. He has less than a year left in his contract and Everton, who are in the market for a striker, are rumoured to have shown interest.
Arsenal is headed to Singapore
Arsenal will participate in the International Champions Cup, with two matches on the schedule next week.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain
This is the squad Unai Emery is taking with him to Singapore:
Goalkeepers: Petr Cech, Bernd Leno
Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers
Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Aaron Ramsay, Mesut Ozil, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Matteo Guendouzi
Forwards: Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Iwobi
