Gunners look to strengthen key areas

Gunners look to strengthen key areas

Arsenal’s transfer dealings for the summer have begun in earnest with news striker Gonzalo Higuain is set to secure a £22m move to the Emirates by the end of the week.

The Real Madrid forward, who scored 18 goals last season, is said to want a new challenge away from La Liga and the Gunners could certainly do with a fresh face up front to bolster their attacking line.

Gervinho is reportedly attracting interest from Marseille and Marouane Chamakh is likely to leave the club this summer; that leaves Olivier Giroud as Arsene Wenger’s only out-and-out centre forward, meaning there’s room for Higuain to slip in comfortably.

If football betting punters are to be convinced of Arsenal’s title credentials, however, the Gunners need to strengthen their core and while no bid has yet been sent for Everton’s Marouane Fellaini Wenger has tabled a £2.5m offer for Le Havre left-back Benjamin Mendy.

Mendy, a France U19 international, has played a major role at the Ligue 2 club over the past season and is out of contract next summer, so Wenger probably thinks he can get him on the cheap. However, Le Havre are likely to hold out for a £5m bid – they’d rather keep the 18-year-old and push for promotion next term – so Arsenal must double their offer to begin talks.

This transfer window has promised much for fans keen to see Arsenal challenge for the Premier League and although Wenger hasn’t yet splashed any of his reported £70m hoard there is still time.

The squad reconvene for preseason training soon and we can expect a few more additions before the campaign begins in August. For those wondering how to bet on football, backing Arsenal for a trophy this season is a good start, while they are healthy favourites to qualify for the Champions league group stage.

Arsenal set to complete signing of Barcelona youngster Julio Pleguezuelo Selva

Arsenal set to complete signing of Barcelona youngster Julio Pleguezuelo Selva

Arsenal hope to complete the signing of Barcelona starlet Julio Pleguezuelo Selva at the end of the season – even though it will anger the Catalan club.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has a rich habit of poaching top talents from Barcelona in recent years, with the likes of Jon Toral, Hector Bellerin and even Cesc Fabregas all heading to north London from the Spanish club.

But despite a long-running feud developing, Arsenal have moved in again this time for exciting central defender Selva.

The youngster, who has been compared to Carles Puyol, is seen as a top talent and is in demand across Europe with Manchester United also keen.

Barcelona are desperate to keep the player, but under Spanish law they are unable to offer him a contract until next year, allowing the big guns to swoop.

As well as the bonus of securing this transfer, Arsenal could also be in line for a betting bonus come the end of the season.

Arsenal are hopeful the transfer will be completed shortly, with a £200,000 compensation fee set to change hands.

Arsenal or Ajax: could going abroad for your footie fix be cheaper?

Arsenal or Ajax: could going abroad for your footie fix be cheaper?

They’re two of the most famous clubs in world football, and both have a reputation for playing patient, attacking football. However, fans of Arsenal have more than a few complaints about the amount of money they’re being charged for the privilege of watching their team and it’s easy to see why when looking at the stats.

Priced out?

A survey by the BBC of football clubs throughout England and Scotland revealed that, among other things, a season ticket at the Emirates Stadium could cost close to £2,000, an eye-watering amount for even the richest Gunners fan to pay. An individual match-day, though cheaper, is still pretty costly too.

£26 is the lowest price for an adult’s ticket, although they go up to as much as £126
A programme, pie and cup of tea at the Emirates will cost a combined £8.30 per person
That plus transport costs to and from the Emirates from Central London or parking fees can make a trip to see Arsenal something many ordinary fans will find unaffordable, but if they want to watch top-class football, where else can they go?

Next stop, the Netherlands…

They share a lot of characteristics with Arsenal, produce a huge amount of young talent and play football in the right way, but are Ajax Amsterdam, the current leaders of the Dutch Eredivisie, any less expensive to watch, even when considering travel costs? In terms of the basic cost of watching them, the answer appears to be yes.

Tickets for a typical league game at the 51,000-capacity Amsterdam ArenA are usually around £16-£39 in the lower tier, while the upper tier has tickets for between £15.20-£29.50, which is much less than the prices for Arsenal games. Higher-profile matches in Europe and against the bigger Eredivisie teams are more expensive though, with maximum prices going up to £64!

The price of extras including refreshments is usually a little less than at the Emirates, but factoring in flights to Amsterdam as low as £76 (source), is it any less? The overall cost including flights is a little higher for going to see Ajax than Arsenal, but as a break from the norm, it might be worth doing if, say, Arsenal are playing away against one of the Premier League’s lesser lights like Stoke City.

Jernade Meade set for loan as Arsenal sign Nacho Monreal

Jernade Meade set for loan as Arsenal sign Nacho Monreal

If the Arsenal transfers rumours on talkSPORT were anything to go by, Arsenal were expected to be quiet on transfer deadline day, and up until the final hours they were. But the £8.5million arrival of Nacho Monreal from Malaga will at satisify those who demanded Arsene Wenger did some business.

Nacho Monreal will force Jernade Meade out of Arsenal
Nacho Monreal will force Jernade Meade out of Arsenal

The Malaga left-back will add competition to the likes of Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos and Jernade Meade, with the latter likely to move on-loan having found first-team chances limited.

Monreal has gone straight into the Arsena lineup, and with Santos set to play in the Champions League, Meade is set to join a Championship or League One side for some experience in the next few weeks.

Nottingham Forest, who have ex-Gunner Henri Lansbury, and relegation threatened Bristol City have both emerged as possible destinations, while League One high flyers Swindon are also believed to be keen.

If Meade does move on, he is set to be replaced with Samir Bihmoutine or Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill in first-team training, with the latter especially impressing the coaching staff in the last few weeks.

Elsewhere, Reice Charles-Cook could have his loan extended at non-league side Chelmsford City where he has impressed, and Samuel Galindo is looking for a new loan club having been released by Lugo. A return to his native Boliva is on the cards.

Arsenal entrust Pat Holland with role as Under-18’s coach

Arsenal entrust Pat Holland with role as Under-18’s coach

Arsenal have completed their summer reshuffle of the coaching staff this week, with the appointment of Pat Holland as the club’s new Under-18’s coach.

After Steve Bould and Neil Banfield were promoted to first-team coaching duty at the end of the season, Arsenal have been looking for experience to fill the voids of reserves and Under-18’s head coaches.

Former Gunner Terry Burton has arrived to work with the reserves, and after a protracted search, I’m told 61-year-old West Ham legend Holland will take charge of the academy team. He has already met the players.

London-born Holland brings with him a wealth of experience. He played 245 times for West Ham between 1969 and 1981, and apart from a brief loan period at Bournemouth, he was a one club man.

In terms of coaching, Holland has experience at both youth and first-team level. He has worked as a youth team coach at Tottenham, but also enjoyed a spell as manager of Leyton Orient.

In recent years, Holland has been working as a chief scout. He spent many years working for Championship side Millwall, before helping MK Dons’ rise as a trusted member of Roberto Di Matteo’s recruitment team.

I’m told Holland is already proving to be a popular figure around the club, and is expected to take charge of Saturday’s academy league opener against Bolton.

Arsenal take a look at Georgian starlet Nika Chanturia

Arsenal take a look at Georgian starlet Nika Chanturia

Arsenal’s coaching staff have been impressed with Georgian trialist Nika Chanturia

Arsenal’s global search for talent is continuing with a look at exciting Georgian defender Nika Chanturia.

The 17-year-old centre back is in the second week of his fortnight stay with the club, and has already left a good impression on the coaching staff. A tall, composed and technical defender, he fits the bill of a classic Arsenal player, and has had no shortage of admirers.

Arsenal were offered a look at Georgia Under-17 captain Chanturia a month ago, by an agency that represents him. I understand that the club are usually against taking players based on recommendations, but he was spotted previously, and the early signs are that he might be a player for the future.

Liam Brady and new reserve team coach Terry Burton are still putting together their squads for the new season, and are on the look out for another centre back for the Under-18’s.

Second year scholar Zac Fagan has shown some promise, and has been joined by new scholars Leander Siemann and Tom Dallison.

But Arsenal are hopeful of adding a fourth option before the end of the transfer window, and have already looked at Swedish youngster Linus Wahlquist, who enjoyed a trial last month, but wasn’t seen as good enough.

Chanturia though is a highly-rated centre back with lots of ability, but securing him from Georgian side Lokomotivi Tbilisi will be tricky, given he is already in the first-team squad, and would require a work permit.

Arsenal will make a decision on Chanturia next week.

Arsenal set to miss out on luxury signing M’Baye Niang

Arsenal set to miss out on luxury signing M’Baye Niang

Arsenal are set to lose out on M’Baye Niang to AC Milan

Take Robin van Persie out of the equation, and it’s been a very good summer so far for Arsenal.

Top targets Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud have been acquired, while deals are at an advanced stage for midfield cavalry in the form of Santi Cazorla and Nuri Şahin.

But Arsène Wenger looks set to miss out on his luxury signing – 17-year-old French sensation M’Baye Niang – after failing to agree a deal with Caen.

Wenger was excited and then impressed after bringing Niang to North London for a trial last month, and has been keen to find an agreement to buy the young striker.

However, his opening £5 million bid was rejected a fortnight ago, and despite talks re-opening last week, the two clubs are still struggling to agree terms.

Arsenal’s first offer was a package worth £5 million, which was snubbed with Caen valuing the player at £7 million. Wenger has indicated he is happy to move closer to that figure, but is only willing to put £2 million up front, with the rest to following in bonuses.

Caen are refusing to budge, and want all the money up front, despite Niang telling them he is desperate to move to Arsenal.

Yet that is now looking an unlikely proposition, with AC Milan close to striking a deal. Talks have progressed with Caen over the weekend, and the two clubs are confident a transfer will go through.

The news will come as a disappointment for Wenger, who had been keen to land Niang, but believes he requires work to reach his potential, and is unwilling to gamble a huge amount of up front.

Arsenal allow Benik Afobe to continue his development at Bolton

Arsenal allow Benik Afobe to continue his development at Bolton

Arsène Wenger has once again entrusted Owen Coyle with the development of one of his top prospects, after allowing Benik Afobe to move to Bolton on loan.

Arsenal have accepted loan offers from both Millwall and Bolton for the 19-year-old, and Afobe has opted to move to the latter, after Wenger gave the switch his blessing earlier this week.

Afobe, who has also spent time on-loan with Huddersfield Town and then Reading, had been promised a fringe role in Wenger’s first-team setup next season, but will snub that opportunity to ramp up his development under Coyle’s tutelage.

A powerful, strong and hard working striker, Afobe has been chased by a number of clubs ranging from the lower half of the Premier League, to his former hunting ground of League One, but he will move to Bolton after they gave him guarantees over playing time.

It’s a smart decision from a kid who is clearly switched on, and proactive in his own personal development. Afobe follows close friends Jack Wilshere and more recently Ryo Miyaichi, in sparkling at one of the best finishing schools in England – the Bolton first-team.

The details are expected to be made public before the weekend.

Arsenal take their place in new Under-21 Premier League

Arsenal take their place in new Under-21 Premier League

It’s been mooted for around 12 months, but will finally come into place next season. The Premier League will scrap its existing Reserve League format, in favour of a new Under-21 tournament.

The changes are brought in less than two years after the last overhaul of the reserves system, when the league was divided into groups A, B and C, as opposed to the previous North and South divide.

The new league is aimed at Under-21 players only, but a total of four overage players will be allowed in each match day squad, including a maximum of three outfielders and one goalkeeper. The rule is designed at making the matches more even and competitive.

Another key element of the league, is that it will be mostly made up of clubs granted a category one academy licence, although a number of teams who applied for category one, but were refused, will also feature.

The 23 teams confirmed have been divided into two groups of eight, and one group of 7, with the top two from each group advancing to the elite stage in January.

There they’ll be joined by two of the best third-placed teams, and will then do battle for the trophy in a knock out style format. You following?

The full details are yet to be confirmed, but it’s understood the opening groups are as follows:

Group A:
Arsenal, Blackburn, Bolton, Everton, Norwich, Reading, West Brom and West Ham.

Group B:
Newcastle, Tottenham, Southampton, Stoke, Manchester United, Watford, Sunderland and Aston Villa.

Group C:
Fulham, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace and Wolves.

The most obvious changes are that there will be no divides, and a quality range of opponents for each team. It’s not yet been made clear, but the Under-16’s and Under-18 leagues are expected to undergo similar changes.

Update: Arsenal have confirmed their participation, with a list of fixtures published on the official site here. The first two games, at home against Blackburn and Bolton, will be played at the Emirates Stadium.