ARSENAL have completed the crucial signing of Martin Odegaard -and he could even face Chelsea this Sunday.
The former loanee has been announced as a Gunners player, joining from Real Madrid.
And goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has now also been announced by the North Londoners.
Meanwhile Hector Bellerin is keen on a move away from Arsenal and could be swapped for Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier.
Elsewhere, Mikel Arteta's side are reportedly doing battle with Everton for Lazio's Joaquin Correa.
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Get all the latest transfer news, gossip and updates below…
- Jake Lambourne
AAR YOU SERIOUS?
Aaron Ramsdale has revealed the touching reason why he brought his late granddad's ashes with him after signing for Arsenal.
Ramsdale, 23, said: “The day my mum found out she was pregnant with me was the day he died.
“He was called Ron and was from Bloxwich in Birmingham and they used to say, ‘Oh, we’re going to see our Ron’.
"So I’m Aaron for ‘our Ron’. When his ashes were spread my dad kept some of his ashes. He’s gone on a little tour of the 92 [teams in the Football League]!
"My dad brings him all to the games and will have a picture with him in the stadiums.
“I did say in the car this morning that he wasn’t coming out but it was a nice touch… he would have been a footballer if his dad had allowed him and he was a goalkeeper so there are little connections between us both.
“My dad takes him everywhere. It keeps him close to his heart.”
- Jake Lambourne
TAKING THE MIK
Mikel Arteta knows the knives are out for Arsenal but refuses to be judged after just one game of the new season.
Even Rwandan president Paul Kagame piled in after the Brentford game, forcing Arteta to concede: “I totally agree that Arsenal should not accept mediocrity.
“I know that people have the intention to bury us and try to criticise us but it is nothing new and I am not interested in that.
“I am not pointing at anyone, just expressing obvious feelings about some very disrespectful things that have been said.
Before adding: "Maybe now is not the right time to look at everything because a lot of people are not interested in analysing what has happened.
“But in two or three years’ time, when we look back with perspective, we will say ‘what happened makes a lot of sense’.”
- Jake Lambourne
MART IN THE MAKING
Mikel Arteta has hinted that Gabriel Martinelli could play as a No9.
The young Brazilian is one of Arsenal’s most versatile squad members as he’s able to operate out wide and up front.
Arteta said: “Time will tell [if he’s a number 9].
“But I would like to develop him in both positions because I think he’s got the potential to do both.”
- Jake Lambourne
OWEN GOAL
Michael Owen has backed Chelsea to beat Arsenal in Sunday's London derby at the Emirates.
Speaking to BetVictor, he said: "I was very disappointed with what I saw from Arsenal on Friday. I know they were missing a few of their first team but Brentford were deserved winners.
"They’ve spent money this summer, but have they improved much from where they were last season? I don’t think so. I’d be surprised if they finished any higher than sixth this season.
"It’s a totally different story at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are looking formidable. They remain such a difficult side to score against and I think [Romelu] Lukaku will be a brilliant signing for them.
"They finished fourth with Jorginho as their top scorer last season with seven, so imagine what they could do with a prolific striker.
"Anything can happen in derbies, but this London derby looks like a mismatch. I think Chelsea will comfortably win this 2-0 and pile the pressure on Arsenal."
- Jake Lambourne
FRIGHT NIGHT
Arsenal legend Ian Wright fears Manchester United could be unstoppable this season with new signing Raphael Varane at the back.
On his show with Kelly Coates, Wrighty and Kelly, the he said: "For him to go to Manchester United now, in his prime. It’s a magnificent signing. He’s a top player."
And, alongside Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw in United's defence, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now have a world-class team.
Wright added: "Now they’ve got world class next to Harry Maguire and, for me, Luke Shaw is world class. That’s it. It’s shored up.
"He’ll mark the space and go and try and get into the places where they’ll try and turn and get at someone like Harry Maguire. He’ll snuffle that out.
"We’re talking about a defensive unit now, which matches the front end in respect of quality. It’s frightening."
- Jack Figg
MORNING, ARSENAL FANS
Mikel Arteta landed £30million keeper Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United – but ruled fellow Arsenal newcomer Martin Odegaard OUT of Sunday's home clash with Chelsea.
Boss Arteta says former loan star Odegaard is not yet ready following his permanent switch from Real Madrid.
But he hailed the Norway skipper's "unique" skills in midfield, while praising England hopeful Ramsdale as a "huge, huge" talent.
And Arteta explained why he is prioritising younger signings like Odegaard, 22, plus 23-year-olds Ramsdale and Ben White.
He told Sky Sports: “We have to be sustainable.
“We have to perform now and we also need a plan for the medium and the long term.
“A lot of the decisions we have made over the last 18 months are because we had a big imbalance in certain areas that was putting the club in a difficult position."
The Gunners need to discover momentum soon after their shock 2-0 loss at Brentford in the Prem opener.
But more players are returning after SEVEN missed that defensively-dodgy defeat.
Lastly, the Gunners have reportedly been joined by Everton in monitoring Lazio frontman Joaquin Correa.
- Ian Tuckey
ARTETA: SOME CRITICISM 'DISRESPECTFUL'
Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta said: “I totally agree that Arsenal should not accept mediocrity.
“I know that people have the intention to bury us and try to criticise us but it is nothing new and I am not interested in that.
“I am not pointing at anyone, just expressing obvious feelings about some very disrespectful things that have been said.
“We need to put things into perspective because it’s one day of Premier League football under incredible circumstances and we have the whole season ahead of us.
“We knew the external consequences of that defeat at Brentford but any negativity that’s going to surround this club will be outside of these walls.
“I just want constructive people around me but if you don’t feel pressure in football then I think you’ve picked the wrong profession.
"I have had bigger challenges during my 18 months here and a lot of things have occurred during that time.
“Maybe now is not the right time to look at everything because a lot of people are not interested in analysing what has happened.
“But in two or three years’ time, when we look back with perspective, we will say ‘what happened makes a lot of sense’.”
- Ian Tuckey
MIKEL: JUDGE ME IN 3 YEARS
Mikel Arteta knows the knives are out for Arsenal but refuses to be judged after just one game of the new season.
The rookie boss and his players have been getting it in the neck from all angles since last Friday’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at Brentford.
And with Chelsea and Manchester City next up on their Premier League agenda, things are not about to get easier any time soon.
Yet Arteta, 39, is determined to block out all the negative noise and insists his work should be assessed two or three years down the line.
Pessimistic Arsenal supporters reckon Arteta will do well to last another three months in the job but the Premier League’s youngest manager is not in any mood to chuck in the towel.
He has just taken his summer spending to £128million after £30million Martin Odegaard, 22, and £24m Aaron Ramsdale joined fellow Emirates newcomers Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares yesterday.
It leaves him with a squad short on birthdays but bursting with promise.
Which is why he has no intention of allowing himself to be dragged down by his army of critics.
- Ian Tuckey
BOSSES CAN’T FORCE PLAYERS TO BE VACCINATED
Premier League bosses admit they are powerless in their battle to get stars vaccinated.
Arsenal and Chelsea both have players in isolation ahead of tomorrow’s derby as Covid continues to cause havoc.
Gunners quartet Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Willian and Alex Runarsson all tested positive last week, while Chelsea duo Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were ruled out yesterday.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was shocked that last week’s opener at Brentford was not called off — even though they did not request a postponement.
Arteta, who only has Aubameyang from the Covid-hit players back in training, said: “We had an incredible 48 hours before that match which created a big uncertainty and probably an unprecedented Arsenal line-up.
“For me, it was simple. My best players have Covid and they cannot play.
“So we did what we had to do and the club doctor explained the situation, how it had developed and the risks that we considered.
“But the regulators decided that the best thing to do was to play the game.”
- Ian Tuckey
AARON JOY
New Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale has tweeted his excitement over his £30million arrival from Sheffield United.
- Ian Tuckey
OUR TOP GAARD
Mikel Arteta rates new Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard as a "unique talent".
The former loanee from Real Madrid says the Norway star, 22, offers everything he is looking for in a player.
Credit: Getty Arteta told Sky Sports: "He brings a lot of things that he brought last season as well.
"He made us better, we needed more options, alternatives, creativity and players that can be morals for this football club.
"He has a unique talent based on the way we want to play so I'm delighted that the club has made an effort and we have Martin on a permanent deal here.
"You’ve seen the numbers and what we did after Christmas when Martin was in the team and we had people like Emile, the team performed at a completely different level.
"He’s someone that we admire and he’s still at the age in his career when the potential he has is still immense."
- Ian Tuckey
ARTETA HAILS RAMSDALE'S 'HUGE, HUGE' POTENTIAL
Boss Mikel Artetahailed new keeper Aaron Ramsdale's "huge, huge" potential and says the England hopeful is part of Arsenal's long-term planning towards signing younger players
Arteta told Sky Sports: "We have to be sustainable.
"We have to perform now and we also need a plan for the medium and the long term.
"A lot of the decisions we have made over the last 18 months are because we had a big imbalance in certain areas that was putting the club in a difficult position.
"Then, we wanted to recruit talent, specificity, and players with a big capacity to interact with the players that already exist here and who could develop into potential starters and increase the level of the team and the squad."
- Ian Tuckey
AARON'S SIX-YEAR DEAL
Aaron Ramsdale's Arsenal move is on a six-year contract.
And despite his relegation 'jinx' his game stats last season with bottom side Sheffield United still make encouraging news.
The 23-year-old is costing £30million in, if you include £6m in add-ins.
Ramsdale played in all 38 Premier League games for the Blades last season as they sunk to the Championship, picking up just 23 points and conceding a worrying 63 goals.
But he made 147 SAVES – with only West Brom's Sam Johnstone producing more stops – 166.
And Ramsdale helped the Blades concede fewer goals than the Baggies (76), Southampton (68) and Crystal Palace (66).
- Ian Tuckey
RAMSDALE'S CRUEL STAT
Aaron Ramsdale's arrival at Arsenal has sparked mixed feelings on social media.
And this stat below – suggesting he is a jinx for clubs to get relegated – coincides with the revelation that the Gunners are the the THIRD most-backed club for the drop.
- Ian Tuckey
RAMS-DEAL: GUNNERS SIGN AARON
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Sheffield United keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
The England hopeful 23,is thought to have cost around £24million plus £6m in add-ons.
Ramsdale was left out of the Blades' squad for Wednesday's 4-0 Championship loss at West Brom.
- Ian Tuckey
COUTIN-NO
Arsenal strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette will NOT be swapped for Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho, reports suggest.
The Spanish giants were rumoured to be plotting a swap involving Gunners skipper Aubameyang and ex-Liverpool star Coutinho.
But the Mirror claim Arsenal have NO interest in Brazilian Coutinho.
And they also want Gabon legend Aubameyang plus Frenchman Lacazette to stay at the club.
Lacazette has also been linked with a move to the Nou Camp in recent weeks as his existing deal runs out at the end of the season.
The Gunners have announced the signing of Real Madrid ace Martin Odegaard, who is likely to fulfil Coutinho’s No10 role at the Emirates.
- Ian Tuckey
BACK ON TORR
Lucas Torreira has been told to leave Arsenal this summer with the Uruguayan keen on a return to Serie A, according to reports.
The Gunners midfielder, 25, was loaned out to Atletico Madrid last season following the arrival of Thomas Partey.
Despite Mikel Arteta making it clear Torreira was not in his plans, the former Sampdoria star had vowed to break back into the Arsenal set-up this summer.
But after being told his time at the Emirates was up, the 31-cap Uruguay star is now targeting a return to Italy, according to football.london.
Torreira's agent Pablo Bentancur has revealed his client is keen on a move back to Serie A having spent three years at Sampdoria and two at Pescara.
Roma and Lazio are both believed to be keen on him, but only on loan.
Arsenal are keen to sell a host of deadwood players to recoup the £120million spent on the likes of Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Albert Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Aaron Ramsdale.
The Gunners could be tempted by a loan-to-buy option, though.
- Ian Tuckey
BET THE GUNNERS ARE DOOMED
Arsenal are the third most backed Premier League team to get relegated this season.
Mikel Arteta's men got off to a poor start, losing their Premier League opener 2-0 against league newcomers Brentford.
A first half strike from Sergi Canos and a header from Christian Norgaard sealed a historic win for the Bees.
After the defeat, boss Mikel Arteta said: "I'm disappointed. It's not the way we wanted to start the season.
"We didn't start well, conceding a goal in an isolated incident. We didn't cope well with the second balls or long balls. And that's all they needed to create problems for us.
"Then we conceded from a long throw.
"The biggest worry was our threat in front of goal.
"The amount of times we got around the box and got in great situations but it wasn't enough threat or shots on target.
"If you don't do that in the Premier League then you won't win."
- Ian Tuckey
EVERTON AND ARSENAL ‘IN FOR CORREA’
Everton are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for Lazio forward Joaquin Correa in a bid to boost their attack.
The speculation follows Rafa Benitez’s surprise swoop for Andy Lonergan with the ex-Liverpool stopper becoming the Toffees’ fourth summer signing.
Italian football journalist Alfredo Pedulla claims the Goodison Park side are pursuing Correa who has attracted interest from Tottenham as well as the Gunners.
The player, who is 27 and has eight international caps for Argentina, netted 11 goals and provided six assists across all competitions last season.
Correa, who joined Lazio from Sevilla for £13.5million in 2018 is rumoured to have fallen out of favour with Stadio Olimpico boss Maurizio Sarri.
And it is claimed the Argentine is considering his options despite the coach publicly expressing his wish for the star to stay and fight for his place.
Reports in Italy suggest Everton are gearing up to make an improved offer for the Serie A player who helped Argentina to win this year’s Copa America.
Gazetta dello Sport claims the Toffees, who play Leeds next, had an initial £21.5m bid rejected by the Italian giants.
- Ian Tuckey
EARLY CRUNCH FOR GUNNERS
Under-fire Arsenal face a tough task to get anything out of Sunday's home Premier League clash with Chelsea.
The Gunners slumped to a horror 2-0 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Brentford in their season opener last Friday.
Mikel Arteta was missing FOUR players following positive coronavirus tests, including captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Alexandre Lacazette, Willian and Alex Runarsson also missed the game, with Eddie Nketiah ruled out with injury.
And with Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey also crocked, Arsenal’s leaky defence was once against exposed.
Arteta and Co now go up against a rampant Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday knowing they also have to contend with £97.5million man Romelu Lukaku.
Arsenal have brought in reinforcements of their own, with £34m playmaker Martin Odegaard most-recently joining Nuno Tavares, Ben White and Albert Lokonga.
But the Norway captain, 22, will NOT be ready to take on Chelsea, Arteta has confirmed.
- Ian Tuckey
GUNNERS SLAMMED FOR 'LAZY' TRANSFER BUSINESS
Former Arsenal player Paul Merson has blasted Arsenal’s transfer approach under technical director Edu, describing the club’s recruitment as “lazy”.
He told Sky Sports: “It’s worrying at Arsenal.
“You’re still thinking: ‘Where are they going?’ Edu has come in, and the recruitment has been lazy if I’m being honest.
“It’s been: “Oh, we’ll take Willian on a free… we’ll take David Luiz for cheap.”
- Dylan Terry
ARTETA ON ODEGAARD
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given his thoughts on the Gunners’ newest signing Martin Odegaard.
Speaking in a press conference, he said: “He brings a lot of things that he brought last season as well.
“He made us better, we needed more options, alternatives, creativity and players that can be morals for this football club. He is still a really young man but he has huge experience in different clubs already.
“He has a unique talent based on the way we want to play so I’m delighted that the club has made an effort and we have Martin on a permanent deal here.
“You’ve seen the numbers and what we did after Christmas when Martin was in the team and we had people like Emile, the team performed at a completely different level.
“He’s someone that we admire and he’s still at the age in his career when the potential he has is still immense.”
Credit: AP - Dylan Terry
GUNNED DOWN
Mikel Arteta knows his huge summer spending spree will bring high expectations on his Arsenal side this season.
The Gunners have forked out £129million this transfer window following back-to-back eighth-placed finished in the Premier League.
And there will be pressure on the likes of Ben White [£50m], Martin Odegaard [£30m] and Aaron Ramsdale [£24m] to deliver.
Since Arsene Wenger left the club in 2018, the North Londoners have been guilty of making a number of signings that seemed promising, only for them to fail to deliver.
Check out SunSport's article on five of Arsenal's worst transfers over the last three years.
- Dylan Terry
'INCREDIBLY POSITIVE REACTION TO BRENTFORD DEFEAT' – ARTETA
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been impressed by the reaction of his players to their defeat at Brentford last Friday.
Speaking in a press conference, he said: "Put things in to perspective – we had an incredible 48 hours before that [Brentford] match. It created a big uncertainty and probably an unprecedented Arsenal line up.
"We tried everything that we had in that game, but it didn't work out. We knew the consequences of that externally, what it was going to mean, but internally the reaction has been incredibly positive.
"It's one day of Premier League football, we have the whole season ahead of us, and any negativity that's going to try and surround this football club is going to be out of these walls.
"The best way to put things away is to win. Football matches when you win them, it creates a different context and a different environment and energy around the place.
"Our focus is to get the best possible performance and then the result will be a consequence to that. Our main focus has to be that."
- Dylan Terry
TRIO TROUBLE
Arsenal are reportedly desperate to ditch three senior stars before deadline day.
Willian, Hector Bellerin and Lucas Torreira have all been transfer listed by Arsenal.
But, according to Fabrizio Romano, there are no takers as of yet – with the Gunners ‘looking for bids’ after the trio were deemed surplus to requirements by Mikel Arteta.
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