Mikel Arteta has spent over £190million so far this summer but Andrea Berta is still busy at work as Arsenal pursue deals for Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo before the window shuts.
With just eight days to go and one pre-season friendly remaining, the new Premier League season is nearly upon Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
Next Sunday, the Gunners will take to the pitch at Old Trafford to face Manchester United, kicking off a campaign that could define an era. Arteta’s project has seen progress but no silverware, and their £195million worth of new signings are expected to change that.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres have already given Arteta’s squad a fresh look. But the Gunners aren’t finished yet, as new sporting director Andrea Berta works tirelessly to bring in and ship out players.
After finally securing Gyokeres for £63.7m, Arsenal’s next target is Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, and there’s been chatter about his participation in the Community Shield on Sunday. They’ve also got Real Madrid’s Rodrygo on their radar.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Eberechi Eze will ‘definitely’ play in Sunday’s Community Shield match against Liverpool. Eze’s future is under scrutiny amid solid interest from Arsenal, while Tottenham have also been linked with a move following James Maddison’s ACL injury.
During his pre-match press conference, Glasner was quizzed about whether the 27-year-old would remain a Palace player after transfer deadline day. His assurance only extended to Sunday’s match, as he responded: “He will play on Sunday, definitely.”
Arsenal continue to show interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, but they’re only willing to sign him on loan. The 24-year-old doesn’t seem to feature in new manager Xabi Alonso’s plans at the Bernabeu and has been frequently linked with a move away.
The Times suggests that Arsenal are monitoring the Brazilian’s situation closely, but they would only entertain a loan deal. Rodrygo is contracted until 2028.
Jakub Kiwior is considering leaving Arsenal for a club that can guarantee him regular playing time. Since joining the Gunners from Italian side Spezia in January 2023, the Poland international has largely filled in for injured team-mates.
The 25-year-old had a decent run of starts in the spring following Gabriel Magalhaes’ season-ending injury and attracted interest from Porto, who saw their £26m bid turned down by Arsenal. However, according to the Athletic, Kiwior is eager to explore opportunities where he’d be a first-choice player.
