Arsenal have maintained their interest in Alvarez despite considerable obstacles surrounding a deal, and Arteta is now said to have personally renewed his efforts to convince the Argentina international.

According to Spanish outlet ElDesmarque, the Arsenal manager recently contacted Alvarez for a second time to explain how much he wants the 26-year-old at the Emirates Stadium this season.

The latest conversation follows earlier contact between the pair and suggests Arsenal have not abandoned one of their leading attacking targets despite missing out on Vinicius Junior earlier this month.

However, Alvarez is understood to have reiterated that Barcelona would be his preferred destination should he leave Atletico this summer, while reports in Spain have also claimed he is reluctant to return to the Premier League.

Arsenal therefore face a significant challenge to change the former Manchester City forward’s mind before the transfer window closes.

There could nevertheless be encouragement from Atletico’s position regarding Barcelona, with earlier reports indicating  that the Madrid club would prefer Alvarez to move to Arsenal rather than strengthen a direct La Liga rival.

Atletico have publicly maintained an even firmer stance, repeatedly insisting that Alvarez is not for sale despite persistent interest from both clubs.

Chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has previously claimed the forward would not be sold even for €200 million, while Diego Simeone has continued to stress the importance of Alvarez to his plans.

That has not stopped Arsenal testing the situation as they consider whether another major attacking addition can improve Arteta’s squad.

Alvarez’s qualities make the interest understandable because he can operate through the middle, behind another striker or from wider positions, giving Arteta several potential ways to incorporate him.

He also already knows English football after spending two seasons at Manchester City, where he won two Premier League titles and the Champions League before joining Atletico in 2024.

The Argentina international produced 20 goals and 10 assists across 52 appearances in all competitions for Atletico last season, including 10 goals and four assists in the Champions League.

Arsenal have already strengthened their attack with Christos Tzolis this summer, but Arteta has repeatedly indicated that the club will act again if an available player can significantly improve the squad.

Alvarez would comfortably satisfy that requirement, although Arsenal would seemingly need three difficult pieces to fall into place: Atletico agreeing to negotiate, the clubs finding an acceptable fee and the player being persuaded to choose north London over Barcelona.

Arteta appears determined to tackle the final part personally, with his latest conversation showing that Arsenal are still prepared to test Alvarez’s resolve before conceding defeat.

The post Arteta personally contacts £170m-rated star again over Arsenal move first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.

The Gunners have tracked the 18-year-old for more than a year and are still attempting to find a breakthrough after Blackburn rejected several approaches for him.

Tyjon has declined the offer of a professional contract at Ewood Park, but Blackburn responded by extending his scholarship into a third year rather than sanctioning his departure.

That has created a standoff between the Championship club and Arsenal, who remain keen to add the England youth international to their increasingly strengthened academy ranks, according to The Athletic.

The Sun reported earlier in the summer that Arsenal had already seen multiple bids rejected, including proposals worth more than £1 million, with Blackburn determined to receive a considerably higher sum for one of their leading prospects.

The situation has nevertheless shifted in Arsenal’s favour because Tyjon’s reluctance to commit his long-term future to Rovers makes it increasingly difficult for the club to retain him indefinitely.

Recent reports have suggested Arsenal are pushing again to secure the forward after maintaining their interest throughout the summer.

Tyjon has already gained senior experience despite his age, making his Blackburn first-team debut at just 16 and featuring in the Championship and domestic cup competitions.

He also demonstrated his development at Premier League 2 level last season, scoring four goals and registering two assists across 10 appearances for Blackburn’s Under-21s.

The teenager has represented both England and Poland at youth level but has most recently featured for England, progressing through the Under-16 and Under-17 age groups before stepping up to the Under-18s.

Arsenal’s persistence forms part of a wider attempt to recruit some of the country’s most promising young players before their valuations increase substantially.

Vincent Joseph has agreed to leave Liverpool for Arsenal, while the Gunners have also moved for Crystal Palace prospect Mylo Bernard and Cardiff City youngster Axel Donczew this summer.

Tyjon would provide another high-upside addition and strengthen the centre-forward options within an academy that Arsenal hope can continue producing players capable of eventually reaching Mikel Arteta’s senior squad.

Blackburn’s refusal to sell has prevented Arsenal from completing a move so far, but Tyjon rejecting professional terms means there remains considerable uncertainty surrounding his future.

Arsenal have consequently shown little inclination to abandon a pursuit that has already survived several rejected offers and multiple transfer windows.

Unless Blackburn soften their valuation, negotiations could continue to prove difficult, but the Gunners remain firmly interested in taking Tyjon to north London.

The post Arsenal refuse to give up on move for promising striker after contract decision first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.

The 19-year-old has been the subject of significant transfer interest over the past week, with Manchester United and Chelsea both linked with moves for the Hale End graduate.

Reports initially suggested intermediaries had made Lewis-Skelly’s potential availability known to both clubs, although Arsenal are not understood to be actively trying to sell the England international.

According to The Athletic, Lewis-Skelly is happy at Arsenal and has no intention of exploring or pursuing a departure from his boyhood club.

That position is significant given the increased competition for midfield places following Arsenal’s summer recruitment, but Lewis-Skelly is prepared to fight for opportunities rather than seek regular football elsewhere.

The youngster signed a new long-term contract last summer after establishing himself in Arteta’s senior squad, having been with Arsenal since the age of eight.

He initially broke into the first team as a left-back but has increasingly been given opportunities in his preferred midfield role, including throughout the current pre-season.

Arteta deployed Lewis-Skelly primarily as a No.6 during the summer because several midfielders were unavailable following the World Cup, and the Arsenal manager subsequently praised the teenager for producing a consistent pre-season.

Lewis-Skelly reinforced his case against Como last Wednesday when he scored Arsenal’s goal in the 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium, marking it with an emotional heart celebration amid the speculation surrounding his future.

He then delivered an even stronger response when competitive football returned against Manchester City in Sunday’s Community Shield.

Starting in midfield, Lewis-Skelly produced a superb reverse pass to release Riccardo Calafiori for Arsenal’s opening goal inside the first minute as the Premier League champions secured an emphatic 3-0 victory in Cardiff.

His ability to receive possession under pressure and progress the ball also contributed to Arsenal controlling midfield during one of their most impressive performances of the summer.

Competition remains considerable, particularly after Bruno Guimaraes arrived to join a midfield group already containing Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard.

However, Lewis-Skelly’s versatility offers Arteta another reason to keep him, with the teenager capable of operating centrally or providing cover on the left side of defence.

Chelsea have reportedly shown interest should Arsenal ultimately decide to cash in, while Manchester United have also considered the youngster among their options.

For now, however, Lewis-Skelly’s own position appears considerably less complicated than the transfer speculation suggests.

The academy graduate wants to remain at Arsenal, compete for his place and build upon an impressive summer that has strengthened rather than weakened his case for a significant role this season.

The post Arsenal star makes transfer decision as Premier League rivals circle first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.

Horseman has been promoted less than a year after arriving at Arsenal in September 2025 as Professional Development Phase – Elite Player Development Coach.

The UEFA Pro Licence holder will now take responsibility for the Under-21s in Premier League 2, working under new Academy Director Pascal De Maesschalck and Head of Academy Coaching Luke Hobbs.

Horseman replaces Porter, who has left Arsenal to become an assistant manager at Championship club Stoke City after previously overseeing the club’s Under-21 side.

The appointment provides continuity at Hale End because Horseman already has extensive experience working with several of the players he will now manage on a permanent basis.

He was appointed last September with responsibility for Arsenal’s Under-19 side in the UEFA Youth League and the Under-21s during their EFL Trophy campaign.

That included overseeing academy prospects in senior environments, with Arsenal recording a 2-1 comeback victory away to Newport County in the EFL Trophy last September. 

Horseman also managed Arsenal during several UEFA Youth League fixtures, including their 4-2 victory over Bayern Munich in November.

His familiarity with the academy should therefore allow for a relatively smooth transition as Arsenal continue placing significant emphasis on creating pathways towards Mikel Arteta’s first team.

Marli Salmon and Max Dowman are among the recent academy players to receive substantial senior exposure, while Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have already demonstrated the potential value of Hale End graduates at first-team level.

Academy Director De Maesschalck believes Horseman has already shown that he understands what Arsenal require when developing their leading prospects.

“We are extremely pleased to appoint David as our under-21s head coach,” De Maesschalck said, adding that his experience, drive and ability to manage young players made him well suited to the position.

Horseman described the promotion as a “huge honour” and expressed his desire to contribute to an academy with a long history of producing players for Arsenal and elsewhere in professional football.

The 41-year-old brings experience from several different levels after previously holding academy or first-team coaching positions with Manchester United, Southampton, Watford, Bristol Rovers and Forest Green Rovers.

He notably had a brief spell with Manchester United’s Under-21 setup before leaving to join Arsenal last September.

Horseman will not have long to settle into his expanded responsibilities, with Arsenal’s youngsters beginning their competitive campaign against Barnet in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

His promotion represents another change within the academy structure this summer, but Arsenal have opted for a coach who already knows both the club’s development philosophy and many of the young players he will be tasked with pushing towards senior football.

The post Arsenal hand former Man Utd coach promotion into new academy role first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.

The Gunners have been looking to strengthen their attacking options this summer, having previously failed to sign Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and new Chelsea star Morgan Rogers.

Arsenal have now been linked with Osimhen, with the Nigerian forward brought up during Galatasaray’s negotiations with the Gunners over Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri.

Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, claimed the English champions are not actively pursuing a move for the Nigeria international.

“Victor Osimhen is in a similar situation to Barcelona and Viktor Gyökeres at this stage. Nothing really concrete is happening at this stage between Arsenal and Galatasaray. No negotiations, no bids, no conversations from what I heard.

“At the moment, it’s a quiet topic. Also, Galatasaray sources say that their understanding is that the club absolutely want to keep Victor Osimhen.”

Osimhen would be a great addition to Arsenal, but the club could be priced out of a deal. Galatasaray recently rejected a €130 million (£112m) verbal offer from Al-Hilal for their star striker.

The 27-year-old’s huge salary is another obstacle that would prevent the north London club from making a move for him.

Arsenal are expected to sign at least one attacker before the end of the transfer window, but may have to spend big to do so, given the current inflated nature of the market.

Arsenal have enough centre-forward options, but look short of options on the left wing following the departure of Leandro Trossard and Martinelli’s imminent exit.

They are likely to prioritise recruiting another left winger over a striker before the transfer deadline.

The post Fabrizio Romano reveals truth about Arsenal's interest in Victor Osimhen first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.

According to journalist Lewis Bower, Arsenal have been told that the Bundesliga club currently consider the England international unavailable “at any price”, despite recent enquiries over a potential transfer.

The stance represents a significant development after Arsenal stepped up their interest in Quansah last week as they explored alternatives to Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.

Previous reports had it that Arsenal had opened negotiations with Leverkusen.

Quansah had emerged as an attractive option because of his age, Premier League experience and ability to operate both centrally and at right-back.

The 23-year-old only moved to Germany from Liverpool last summer, with the Reds receiving an initial fee of around £30 million after he made 58 senior appearances for his boyhood club.

He subsequently enjoyed an impressive first campaign in Germany and established himself as an important member of the Leverkusen defence, strengthening his standing within the England setup.

Liverpool also protected themselves when selling their academy graduate by negotiating a substantial buy-back clause, further complicating any attempt by another Premier League club to prise him away.

Leverkusen’s reported refusal to negotiate could now push Arsenal back towards Konsa as they attempt to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s defensive options before the transfer deadline.

Arsenal have already had an approach rejected for the Aston Villa defender, with Villa valuing the 28-year-old at around £60m..

Konsa is reportedly Arteta’s preferred option because the Arsenal manager wants someone capable of immediately slotting into his team.

The urgency surrounding another defensive addition has increased because William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are both unavailable, with Saliba facing a longer spell on the sidelines.

Quansah appeared capable of providing cover for both absences, but Leverkusen’s latest stance leaves little room for Arsenal to progress unless the German club dramatically change their position.

Arsenal could therefore have to decide whether to move closer to Villa’s valuation of Konsa or pursue another alternative, with Como defender Jacobo Ramon among the other names linked.

The club remain active despite starting their season with an impressive 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City on Sunday.

However, unless Leverkusen reconsider, Quansah appears to have been effectively removed from Arsenal’s shortlist regardless of how much they are prepared to offer.

The post Arsenal's transfer enquiries for England star gets definitive response first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.

According to transfer journalist Matteo Moretto, the Qatari club are closely following developments surrounding Martinelli, with Arsenal valuing the Brazil international at more than €50 million (£43m).

There is no indication yet that Al-Sadd have submitted an offer, but their interest adds another possible destination for the 25-year-old after approaches from elsewhere this summer.

Galatasaray recently made a €45m (£38.4m) bid for Martinelli, but the proposal fell short of Arsenal’s valuation.

Martinelli is also understood to have rejected the possibility of joining the Turkish champions because he would prefer to remain at Arsenal rather than move to the Super Lig.

That stance could represent an obvious obstacle for Al-Sadd if their monitoring eventually develops into a formal approach, particularly with the forward seemingly reluctant to leave top-level European football.

Martinelli’s position at Arsenal has nevertheless become increasingly uncertain following the club’s decision to strengthen the left side of their attack this summer.

Christos Tzolis arrived to provide fresh competition on that flank and impressed during pre-season before registering two assists in Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City.

Martinelli was notably absent from the squad for that match, further increasing speculation that Arsenal could sanction his departure before the transfer deadline.

The Brazilian’s existing contract runs until 2027, although Arsenal retain an option to extend the agreement by another season, leaving the club with some protection over his transfer value.

Martinelli endured an inconsistent Premier League campaign last season but remained productive in other competitions, particularly during Arsenal’s run in Europe.

He also remains a valuable asset after joining Arsenal from Ituano for approximately £6m in 2019 and developing into an established Brazil international.

The winger has previously indicated a preference to remain in north London, meaning Arsenal’s willingness to consider suitable proposals does not necessarily guarantee a transfer.

Mikel Arteta also played down speculation surrounding potential departures after the Community Shield, insisting that Martinelli remains an important member of the squad.

However, Al-Sadd’s emergence provides Arsenal with another potential avenue should the club ultimately decide to cash in.

With Arsenal reportedly seeking more than €50m, the financial strength of the Qatari club could make their interest particularly noteworthy if they receive encouragement from Martinelli’s camp.

For now, Al-Sadd are monitoring rather than bidding, while Martinelli’s preference over his next move could prove just as important as Arsenal’s valuation in determining whether he leaves the Emirates Stadium.

The post Arsenal set asking price as fresh club enters race for star forward first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.

The Gunners went into yesterday’s game after an average pre-season. They failed to win their previous three friendlies (in regular time), which concerned some fans.

However, the players delivered a fabulous display against the Cityzens. There were several standout performers, and midfielder Lewis-Skelly was undoubtedly among those.

The 19-year-old was linked with a surprise exit earlier this month. It was reported that he had been offered to Chelsea and Manchester United and could leave for £45 million.

The Hale End graduate has since responded with two fine performances. He opened the scoring against Como and delivered a sublime assist for Riccardo Calafiori’s goal after just 24 seconds yesterday.

Aside from his defence-splitting ball, Lewis-Skelly made another key pass for Christos Tzolis early in the second half. The Greek went on to provide the assist for Martin Odegaard’s goal to make it 3-0.

Overall, Lewis-Skelly had a passing accuracy of 94 percent (30/32) with four duels won. The England international was brilliant in possession and lost the ball on only three occasions in 75 minutes.

On the contrary, Man City midfielder Elliot Anderson had a competitive debut to forget after his high-profile £116 million move from Nottingham Forest earlier in the transfer window.

Lewis-Skelly’s compatriot completed only 81 percent of his passes (34/42). He failed to deliver any of his six crosses and lost possession 15 times in 60 minutes for the Mancunian giants.

Pre-season fitness could be given as a reason for his lacklustre debut, but still, a player arriving for such a huge fee would generally be expected to turn up with a much better showing.

Based on yesterday’s game alone, Lewis-Skelly looked more like a £116m midfielder than Anderson. The reported £45m valuation is nowhere near Lewis-Skelly’s current ability and immense potential.

The teenager has responded brilliantly since the surprise transfer talk, and has ended the transfer speculation with recent displays. He looks poised to start the Premier League curtain-raiser against Coventry City on Friday alongside Bruno Guimaraes or Declan Rice in central midfield.

Stats from Sofascore.com

The post 94% passing, 3x possession lost: Arsenal already have their £116m midfielder, he outclassed Anderson - opinion first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.

The Sweden international had a good debut season with the Gunners, scoring 21 goals across all competitions. There is still speculation regarding his future.

Atletico Madrid were credited with an interest in the 28-year-old earlier this summer. It was reported that they could propose a part-exchange deal with Julian Alvarez.

El Chiringuito TV journalist Jose Alvarez has now revealed that Barcelona are ‘expected’ to make a move regarding Gyokeres ‘in the coming hours’.

The striker is viewed as a target after Torres’ move to PSG, and his situation will be explored.

Arsenal should not part ways with Gyokeres

Gyokeres signed for the Gunners from Sporting CP for an overall package of £64 million last summer.

The former Portuguese champions tried to offer him to multiple European clubs, but the Swede made it clear he wanted to join Mikel Arteta’s side.

Gyokeres had a testing first half of the season. He was unconvincing with his hold-up play and struggled to convert the minimal chances created for him.

However, the ex-Coventry City man undoubtedly improved during the back end of the campaign. He scored 14 of his 21 goals after the turn of the year.

The 28-year-old lost his starting spot to a fully fit Kai Havertz in the final phase of last season, and the same was the case in the Community Shield yesterday.

Havertz has fully capitalised with goals against Burnley, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, but we believe Gyokeres is still a premium striker for the club.

He may not track back into midfield as Havertz does, but he offers something different upfront with his physicality and ability to get into good scoring positions.

His winning goal against Everton at the Emirates Stadium was a prime example last term.

There has been talk of Arsenal pursuing Victor Osimhen from Galatasaray. The Nigerian star has traits similar to Gyokeres and would once again need several months to adapt to the playing style and the league’s physicality. No formal bid has been made thus far.

Alvarez is another striker target for the Gunners, but the Argentine quite clearly wants to join Barcelona. We feel Arsenal should not contemplate Gyokeres’ exit and should keep him as Havertz’s direct competitor, with Gabriel Jesus poised to leave the club.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

The post Barcelona preparing move for £64m Arsenal star 'in the coming hours' first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.

Riccardo Calafiori put the Gunners ahead after just 24 seconds from a brilliant Myles Lewis-Skelly pass.

Kai Havertz doubled the score in the 28th minute before Martin Odegaard put the gloss on the performance with a third goal, shortly after the interval.

There were many standout performers on the day, but Odegaard was adjudged the man of the match after a terrific all-round display for the London giants.

The Norwegian had a fantastic World Cup with four assists, and carried on the good form against the Cityzens. He curled in a brilliant cross for Christos Tzolis, who provided the assist for Havertz’s goal.

Tzolis and Odegaard again combined for the third. The Greek delivered a fine pass to the Gunners skipper, who sat down goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with a dummy shot before slotting into the net.

Aside from his goal contribution, the 27-year-old completed 95 percent of his passes (55/58) and won 100 percent of his dribbles (3/3). He also made nine ball recoveries and won five ground duels on the day.

Odegaard hardly put a foot wrong, and no doubt deserved his man of the match accolade. After the game, the captain took to Instagram to celebrate with the caption: ‘Lovely start to the season’ with a trophy emoji.

Several Arsenal stars responded to his post, including Declan Rice and Max Dowman. Rice replied with ‘magical’ while Dowman described Odegaard’s performance as a ‘joke’.

Here is a screenshot

Odegaard had a difficult 2025/26 season with the Gunners. He picked up a couple of freak shoulder injuries at the start of the campaign before suffering a lengthier knee injury in October.

He continued to struggle with a knee problem during the back end of the campaign, but still made nine goal contributions, including a crucial assist for Leandro Trossard’s winner at West Ham in May.

Odegaard went on to impress for Norway at the World Cup and has carried that momentum over. He was brilliant in the two pre-season friendlies against Borussia Dortmund and Como, creating several chances.

Against Man City, he was unplayable at times with his movement and quicker distribution. The playmaker looks back to his best for the Gunners, having got over his injury concerns from last season.

Stats from Sofascore.com

The post 'Magical', 'Joke': Rice & Dowman praise 27yo Arsenal star with 9 recoveries vs Man City first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.