ARSENAL'S American star Folarin Balogun is on the verge of exiting the club – and his transfer situation will be cleared up THIS week according to reports.
Meanwhile, the Gunners are continuing talks with Brentford over goalkeeper David Raya after their opening bid was rejected.
Elsewhere, Arsenal have been handed a boost in their hunt for Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte with the Premier League champions keen to sell.
In other news, the Gunners are in a battle with Chelsea and Brighton for the signature of Ajax star Mohammed Kudus.
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Stay up to date with all the latest from the Emirates Stadium…
- By Alex Smith
Arteta behind rule change
Mikel Arteta's touchline antics were behind rule changes aiming to clamp down on dissent.
Managers are now banned from confronting officials and will face punishment for leaving their technical areas or if plenty of coaches are in the zone.
Jamie Carragher told The Overlap: "I spoke to a non-league coach and they had a briefing in pre-season about touchline behaviour.
"They said that Mikel Arteta was a big reason that it was brought in, because of last season’s behaviour."
- By Alex Smith
Carragher hits out at Arteta
Jamie Carragher has made a dig at Mikel Arteta following his touchline behaviour during the Community Shield, which saw him booked after 12 minutes.
Carragher said: "I thought it was interesting watching the game [vs Man City] how wound up Arteta was at the side of the pitch after about 10 minutes.
“I love passion. We have Jurgen Klopp, you love it when he’s involved.
"But I just thought it was too much, 10 minutes into the Community Shield, he got a yellow himself because he wanted someone booked.
“I thought ‘wow’. He was that incensed this early in the season, this is a long season."
- By Alex Smith
Neville predicts
Gary Neville believes Arsenal will win the league this year.
The pundit never wavered from his prediction that Man City would win last year, even when Arsenal were well out in front.
But he explained on The Overlap: "I don’t think Arsenal could have done any more to close the gap. They’ve shown real intent with the signings they’ve made.
“My concern is they are the only team that I think could actually win the league. With the three signings they’ve made they’re going to be better.
“I look at the other teams and think, who is going to be better than last season?
“I am going to go Arsenal to win the league, City second. If I was putting my life on it I’d put City, but I’m just going to go Arsenal.”
- By Alex Smith
The new boys
Perfect way to start!
Credit: Getty - By Alex Smith
Expect more rotation
With Arsenal's squad depth much improved over the summer, Mikael Silvestre believes Mikel Arteta will make more changes to his starting XI.
Leandro Trossard, Jurrien Timber and Jakub Kiwior have all been highlighted as key players that Silvestre believes will feature a lot this approaching season.
Silvestre told bettingexpert.com: "Trossard can rotate with Martinelli in those wide positions, also with Saka on the other side.
“You need to give them a rest sometimes.
"I think Kiwior will play enough and have opportunities because of the amount of games."
- By Alex Smith
Timber praised
Mikael Slivestre believes Jurrien Timber wil be a great addition to the Arsenal squad.
SIlvestre told bettingexpert.com: "He has the attributes to play across the back four which is a blessing for the manager, and for him, it means more game as there will be someone underperforming or they’ll need a rest. He can jump in and play.”
“He’s a real modern defender, which is rare to be able to play across the back four."
- By Alex Smith
Martinelli to hold off competition
Gabriel Martinelli will hold off competition from the likes of Leandro Trossard for a spot in the team, claims former defender Mikael Silvestre.
He said to bettingexpert.com: “I would expect Gabriel Martinelli to maintain his position and go from strength to strength compared to last season."
"Last season already was exceptional.”
- By Alex Smith
Balogun prefers Inter
Rumours suggest that Folarin Balogun is most keen on a switch to Inter Milan.
The Serie A side have missed out on West Ham star Gianluca Scamacca, who has signed for Atalanta.
And a deal for Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku does not look possible at the moment.
- By Alex Smith
Balogun latest
Both Inter Milan and Monaco are expected to make a decision on Folarin Balogun this week.
Monaco saw a bid turned down by Arsenal for him yesterday with the club wanting a new No9 due to Breel Embolo suffering a long-term injury.
They could submit an improved bid for Balogun in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Inter want the 22-year-old too but it is currently unclear if they can afford him.
- By Alex Smith
O'Hara fires shots at Havertz
Kai Havertz has been slammed for his Community Shield performance with Jamie O'Hara claiming Arsenal's new signing "can't hit a barn door".
The ex-Spurs star O'Hara told talkSPORT: "Havertz, Arsenal fans can have their say on this, but he can't hit a barn door.
"We know what he's going to give you – he's going to give you hold up play, he's going to work hard, but he's going to let you down when it comes to the crunch.
"And they have to sort that problem because [Gabriel] Jesus is injured. He picks up too many injuries."
- By Alex Smith
Maitland-Niles in bizarre Lyon unveling
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has signed for Lyon after leaving Arsenal in June when his contract expired.
He had been on the books of the Gunners for 20 years, joining when he was just six.
Now, the 25-year-old's left for Lyon and has been unveiled in slightly odd video.
Maitland-Niles sat down for some English tea, drinking from a mug with the Queen's face on.
He then asks for the "Lyon version" and the mug changes to Lyon branded one and English cakes are swapped for French ones.
- By Alex Smith
Gibbs supports Raya move
Ex-Arsenal star Kieran Gibbs has also welcomed the move for David Raya.
He told ESPN: "I am not surprised by Arsenal moving in for David Raya.
"They are going to be competing on all fronts next season. You need two proper goalkeepers; it is as simple as that. I think he brings something a little different to Aaron Ramsdale.
"When you are in European football, it is really good to have a goalkeeper who is really good with his feet.
"[I’m] not saying Aaron is not it, but I think that is one of David’s specialties. I think having those two goalkeepers would please Mikel a lot.”
- By Alex Smith
Keane backs Raya move
Pundit Roy Keane is in favour of Arsenal's move for David Raya to compete with Aaron Ramsdale.
He said after the Community Shield win: "Sometimes the biggest competition comes from inside the dressing room.
"Ramsdale made a big save from Foden and did the business today. Competition from within makes you better."
- By Alex Smith
Made in Hale End
Fans are loving this snap of Hale End academy graduates Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson around the Community Shield.
One supporter reacted to the photo, saying: "So beautiful. Proud of you Gunners."
Credit: Getty - By Alex Smith
Arsenal vs Forest: Time won’t change
Arsenal get their Premier League campaign underway against Nottingham Forest on Saturday at 12:30.
The game kicks-off during England’s clash versus Colombia or Jamaica in the quarter-final of the Women’s World Cup, which starts at 11:30.
It has led to some calling for Arsenal’s kick-off time to be moved but Prem chiefs will not be moving the fixture.
- By Alex Smith
Gunner be back
Matt Turner will be back at the Emirates as soon as he leaves with Arsenal set to play Nottingham Forest in their Premier League opener.
The Gunners meet Steve Cooper's side in a 12:30 kick-off on Saturday.
Turner could make his Forest debut in the game against his old employers if the transfer goes through in time.
- By Alex Smith
Turner to Forest
Arsenal keeper Matt Turner is set to complete his move to Nottingham Forest.
It is unknown when the move will be made official but is something for fans to keep an eye on today.
Turner has reportedly undergone a medical at his new club ahead of a £10m move.
This also means Arsenal's signing of Brentford stopper David Raya must be close.
- By Alex Smith
Balogun wants Inter move
Folarin Balogun is most keen on a move to Inter Milan, according to reports.
However, speculation suggests that the Italian side may not be able to afford him.
Monaco saw a bid rejected for the striker yesterday.
- By Alex Smith
Art Attack
Since Mikel Arteta replaced Unai Emery as manager in December 2019, Arsenal have terminated the contracts of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Willian, Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi, Mesut Ozil, Sead Kolasinac, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hector Bellerin.
The majority of those players received a hefty pay-off just to leave, with sporting director Edu claiming: “When a player is 26 or older, has a big salary and is not performing, he is killing you.
“They don’t have a transfer value and sometimes it’s better to pay a player to leave than it is to keep them.”
- By Alex Smith
Mik drop
Arsenal could be forced to hand Nicolas Pepe a £7.5million pay-off just to get him out of the Emirates.
And that would make the club’s former £72million record signing the ninth big name player to have his contract terminated by Mikel Arteta.
Pepe, 29, has been told he has no future at Arsenal after spending last season on loan at Nice.
Turkish title contenders Besiktas are hoping to take the Ivorian international winger off Arsenal’s hands but are not keen on paying a transfer fee.
But with a year still remaining on his £150,000-a-week contract, Pepe is reluctant to walk away without a hefty pay-off.
Arsenal had been hoping to sell Pepe for around £10million but have had no offers for the player.
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MIK DROP Arteta set to terminate NINTH Arsenal player’s contract but faces £7.5m pay-off
- By Alex Smith
Option to buy?
Discussions between Arsenal and Nantes are continuing over whether to include an option to buy or not.
A £10m choice to purchase Marquinhos may be made available after his loan for the approaching season.
Arsenal may then reportedly want a £19m buy-back option.
- By Alex Smith
Make his Marq
Marquinhos is set to join Nantes on loan with the move nearing completion.
The winger spent the second half of last term with Norwich.
The 20-year-old heads to France in the search for more experience after failing to show Mikel Arteta enough to warrant a place in the squad.
- By Alex Smith
Jorginho going nowhere
There have been reports around Europe that Jorginho could leave Arsenal this summer but these are untrue, claim The Telegraph.
The midfielder is keen to fight for his place and wants to stay in London.
Jorginho, 31, is one of the more experienced players in a young Gunners squad and he is viewed as a key man by the club.
- By Alex Smith
Turner around
The amount Arsenal are selling Matt Turner for has been revealed.
Nottingham Forest and the Gunners have agreed a £10m deal, which breaks down to £7m upfront and £3m in add-ons.
Turner has completed a medical at his new club.
Credit: Getty - By Alex Smith
Maitland-Niles joins Lyon
Former Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles has officially joined Lyon.
The versatile Hale End academy graduate left the Gunners after joining the club aged six when his contract expired earlier this summer.
During his time with Arsenal, Maitland-Niles made 132 appearances, scoring three goals.
He will now team-up with Alexandre Lacazette at Lyon.
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