Arsenal
What Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri did straight after scoring speaks volumes for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal news as Ethan Nwaneri gets the moment his performances have deserved with a goal against Nottingham Forest, and the reaction shows even more promise.
Ethan Nwaneri gives off the sense that he thinks – or perhaps more likely knows – he is too good for the level of football no matter what standard he is playing at. Whether that is for the Arsenal Under-21s, England Under-19s, against League One opposition, Championship players, or a team third in the Premier League earlier this month, it doesn’t bother him.
To this extent, everyone had best get used to see Nwaneri raise his index finger in celebration. It is hardly yet a trademark but is a constant after he puts the ball in the net. Understated but authoritative, Nwaneri looks like a player who already just feels that is going to do this a lot.
If his last two months or so are anything to go by, he’s right. Since starting against Bolton in the Carabao Cup he now has four goals for Arsenal, all showing different strands of brilliance. Here, against Nottingham Forest, he sensed an opportunity.
Every appearance for him is a cameo. There is always a moment, and with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side positively disappointed and eager to leave a soaking wet north London having hardly laid a glove on Arsenal, Nwaneri had several.
He only came on with 20 minutes left but took just seconds to get things flowing. Running into what is going to become known as that space for Nwaneri, the alleys of the right half-space which stretch horizontally across the pitch, he jinked past two players, cut on to his left foot and curled an effort narrowly wide.
It was the impact and movement of a player who could smell the opportunity to score his first Premier League goal. A similar piece of skill got things going late on in the win over Leicester City earlier this season.
This time, once more driving into that space where no Forest players are but really should be – they aren’t the only people unable to track or stop Nwaneri – he played into Raheem Sterling, streaking forward to keep pace with the attack but never making himself a target for defenders, things opened up just a bit more. Sterling cut the ball back and seconds later the finger was up.
For a 17-year-old who just scored in the best league in the world for the first time, his reaction was, as mentioned, one of someone who can already envision this becoming a regular occurrence. There was no huge leap into the air. There was no scream of joy into the cold night sky.
In fact, if anything, the way he slipped towards Sterling, that finger pointing in his direction, it looked like he’d done this many, many times before. That in itself, not just the skill, timing, and promise of the goal, is just as refreshing as anything on show.
It says a lot for a player of this age, although it’s hard to view this 17-year-old as just a 17-year-old given his debut came just 11 days after Chelsea sacked Thomas Tuchel, to be this calm, this composed, and this in tune with elite level sport. That’s Nwaneri, though, and it’s not likely to change – he’s just ready for this and he knows it.
Arsenal
Rodrygo one-word Real Madrid message shows true feelings amid Arsenal transfer chase
Latest Arsenal transfer news as the Gunners push for new arrivals at the Emirates Stadium with Rodrygo among those linked.
Arsenal-linked attacker Rodrygo appears to be carrying on as normal with Real Madrid despite speculation mounting over his future. Reports suggest that the Gunners could launch a bid for the 24-year-old winger following speculation that figures in North London are admirers of the Brazilian.
The first window of opportunity to sign players in the transfer market closed at 7pm on Wednesday with the Gunners failing to get any deals across the line during the short period. It will reopen again on Monday (June 16) and it is likely that a host of Premier League clubs will be ready to get their deals for the forthcoming campaign signed off.
A host of names are being mooted with a move to the Emirates Stadium with Mikel Arteta looking to take Arsenal to the next step following their near misses in previous seasons.
One of them is Rodrygo, who has found himself as one of the names emerging from the rumour mill after finding gametime limited at the La Liga giants.
The 24-year-old faces competition from the likes of Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz.
Despite the ongoing speculation surrounding his future, Rodrygo has stepped up preparations for the upcoming Club World Cup, which kicks off against Al-Hilal on June 18.
In a post on Instagram, he wrote: “Feliz [grinning face with smiling eyes, white heart and football emoji].” The message translates to ‘happy’ in English.
Recently, The Athletic reported that Arsenal are particularly interested in signing the Brazilian, with Arteta’s coaching staff said to be ‘huge fans’.
It has been said that tabs are being kept with approaches being made through intermediaries at a number of Premier League clubs.
However, football.london understands a deal would present a ‘financial challenge’.
During the summer, there have been changes at the Bernabeu which will see Xabi Alonso in the dugout as Real Madrid boss for the first time since succeeding Carlo Ancelotti.
But The Athletic says Rodrygo’s agent, who is also his father, does not want to enter negotiations before they sit down with the Spaniard.
“I wouldn’t like to name a player, but the biggest thing is that, and using the word pride, we have brought the club into a position, into a place that next season you have to win a major trophy,” Arteta said previously discussing Rodrygo.
“That means that everybody believes that we have the level, that we have shown the consistency and we are an elite team in this country and in Europe and if you don’t do that, then what is going to happen?
“For me that is the biggest statement, that Arsenal is there…”
Arsenal
He’s like Saka: Arteta now convinced Arsenal must sign £84m “superstar”
While this season ended up being an undeniable failure, Arsenal fans shouldn’t forget how brilliant some of their players are.
For example, David Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães helped to create the best defence in the Premier League.
Moreover, Declan Rice has gone from strength to strength, and now looks more than at home as the left eight.
And then, despite missing over three months of action, the club’s best player, Bukayo Saka, was able to rack up an incredible haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in just 37 games.
The Hale Ender is undoubtedly the team’s talisman and most dangerous attacker, so fans should be delighted about reports linking Arsenal to another international star who has won comparisons to the Englishman.
https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1912607267121246611?t=605qo_5s4DXEDWIBlj8VTA&s=19
Arsenal’s winger search
Given Arsenal’s significant reliance on Saka to produce from the right this season, it’s not been much of a surprise to seem linked with several talented left-wingers in recent weeks, such as Nico Williams and Leroy Sané.
The former has a well-known release clause worth around £50m in his current contract with Athletic Bilbao, and while that is a lot of money, he did perform reasonably well this season, chalking up a tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 45 games.
Sané, on the other hand, would be a free signing thanks to his contract with Bayern Munich running out this month, although even with his impressive haul of 19 goal involvements this term, the fact he’ll be 30 midway next season makes signing him a less appealing prospect.
Moreover, it’s difficult to imagine him matching Saka’s output from the left next year, which isn’t the case for Rodrygo.
Yes, according to a recent report from The Athletic’s Real Madrid correspondent, Mario Cortegana, Arsenal are one of a few clubs intensely interested in the Brazilian international.
😎⚽️ The Comeback Kid.@RodrygoGoes | #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/XKTAmQww3r
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 26, 2023
In fact, he claims that Arteta is “convinced he would have a big role” in the team, although on top of convincing the player, reports from earlier this month claim that the Gunners would have to stump up around £84m to get their man.
It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Rodrygo’s immense ability, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Saka.
How Rodrygo compares to Saka
So then, before we take a look at some of the other reasons why Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Rodrygo this summer, it’s important to examine this comparison to Saka and where it has come from.
Well, in this case, it stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the Champions League this season and then created a list of the ten most comparable players.
By doing this, it concluded that the Real Madrid star was the tenth most similar attacking midfielder or winger and the third most similar midfielder to the Arsenal star in the competition this season.
Rodrygo & Saka | ||
---|---|---|
Statistic per 90 | Rodrygo | Saka |
Assists | 0.21 | 0.24 |
Progressive Passes Received | 10.3 | 10.2 |
Shots | 2.57 | 2.61 |
Crosses into the Penalty Area | 0.10 | 0.12 |
Shot-Creating Actions | 3.70 | 3.67 |
Successful Take-Ons | 1.86 | 1.67 |
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 UCL Season |
The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to assists, progressive passes received, shots, crosses into the penalty area, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.
However, while a comparison to someone incredibly talented as Saka is undoubtedly encouraging, there are other reasons Arteta and Co should sign Real’s “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by former teammate Luka Modrić.
The most important is that he’d be a reliable source of goals, as, since the start of the 23/24 campaign, the former Santos gem has managed to score 32 goals and provide 19 assists in 103 appearances, totalling 7,137 minutes – even though he has spent much of that time out on the right when he’d rather be off the left.
In other words, he’s maintained an average of a goal involvement every 2.01 games, or every 139.94, for two years.
Ultimately, he will cost a lot of money, and it might be a difficult transfer to pull off, but due to his brilliant record and the fact he shares some key statistical similarities with Saka, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Rodrygo this summer.
Arsenal
Arsenal in talks to sign £92.5m star as Mikel Arteta approves deal
Arsenal have reportedly held concrete talks with RB Leipzig and striker Benjamin Sesko over a potential summer move to the Emirates Stadium.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Mikel Arteta is desperate to land an elite forward this summer and has personally approved the pursuit of the 21-year-old Slovenian striker.
Sesko netted 21 goals for Leipzig last season — fewer than fellow Arsenal targets Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen. However, at just 21, Sesko is five years younger than both and is seen as a long-term investment who could grow into a Premier League superstar.
Despite their focus on Sesko, Arsenal have not completely pulled out of the race for Gyokeres, who has also drawn interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.
Talks are currently underway between Arsenal, RB Leipzig, and Sesko’s camp, with the Gunners making the striker their top priority. This isn’t Arsenal’s first attempt — they showed interest in Sesko last summer and again in January, but failed to secure a striker in either window, a move that eventually cost them as the season progressed.
It’s believed Sesko has an agreement with Leipzig to leave this summer, though the German side are reportedly holding out for a massive £92.5m fee. Arsenal are expected to negotiate closer to £60–70m.
Arteta, along with his backroom staff and club executives, is pushing hard for Sesko’s signing, seeing him as a key part of Arsenal’s future attack.
Since his £20m move from Red Bull Salzburg in 2023, Sesko has impressed in the Bundesliga and has 16 goals in 41 appearances for Slovenia, with many backing him to become the greatest player in the country’s history.
While Gyokeres and Osimhen outscored him last season — with 54 and 36 goals respectively — Arsenal believe Sesko’s ceiling is higher and more sustainable in the long run.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are no longer in the race for any of the trio, having agreed a deal to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town.
Arsenal
25-year-old Arsenal star signs new long-term contract ahead of summer
Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum has signed a new contract with the club, reaffirming her commitment to the Gunners.
Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum has signed a new contract with the club, reaffirming her commitment to the Gunners after a standout four-year spell in North London.
The 25-year-old Norwegian international joined Arsenal from Linköping in the summer of 2021 and has since become a key figure in the squad. She has made 150 appearances and scored 40 goals for the club, establishing herself as one of the most consistent performers in the Women’s Super League.
Maanum’s influence has only grown during the 2024–25 season, in which she has registered 13 goals and five assists across 40 appearances. Operating in an advanced midfield role, she has played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s campaign and is widely regarded as one of the team’s top performers.
Her impressive form has also been recognised at the international level. Maanum has earned 89 caps for Norway, scoring 21 goals, and remains a central figure for her national side.
Speaking after signing her new deal, Maanum expressed her excitement about continuing her journey in North London. “I love playing for this club, everything about it – the supporters, the community, playing at Emirates Stadium,” she said.
“Seeing how the club has developed over the last few years only makes me more excited to continue my journey here. We’ve had such special moments this season, and getting to share those with our supporters has been amazing. I’m looking forward to continuing celebrating with them and giving everything for this team.”
Clare Wheatley, Arsenal Director of Women’s Football, praised Maanum’s growth since joining the club: “Frida joined us at a young age and has shown great growth and development across her four years with the club. She’s taken the opportunities offered to her here and we’re proud to see her delivering strong performances consistently. Together with our supporters, we’re looking forward to seeing her continued development here at Arsenal.”
Arsenal head Coach Renée Slegers also welcomed the news, saying: “I’m delighted that Frida has signed a new contract here with us. She’s such an important player in the group and has made a big contribution to what we’ve achieved as a team during my time as head coach. I know Frida has the ambition and drive to continue striving for improvement as we aim to compete for the highest honours together.”
Arsenal
Arsenal get four-word Viktor Gyokeres update after family transfer meeting
Arsenal are reportedly prioritising the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP but his uncle has leaked the family’s private transfer talks in an interview, spelling bad news for the Gunners
Viktor Gyokeres’ uncle believes the striker will stay at Sporting CP this summer despite being strongly linked with a move to Arsenal. The 26-year-old has become one of the most highly-rated forwards in Europe over the past two seasons, having fired in 96 goals in just 101 appearances since joining the Portuguese side.
Arsenal have tracked the Swede ahead of the summer transfer window as they look to solve their problems up front by bringing in a clinical striker. The Gunners’ newly-appointed sporting director, Andrea Berta, is reportedly a huge admirer of Gyokeres and will look to persuade Mikel Arteta that he is the right man to lead the line at the Emirates Stadium.
Gyokeres demonstrated his phenomenal goal-scoring prowess when he netted in the 2-0 win over Vitoria at the weekend to seal a second successive Liga Portugal title for Sporting. And speaking during an interview on the same day, Gyokeres’ uncle, Chris, dropped a major bombshell about his nephew’s future.
Wearing a Sporting scarf and jersey, he began by saying: “I’m super happy, this is amazing. We were here last year, it’s the same spirit, the same people, the same atmosphere. Absolutely fantastic! Beyond words!”
Chris went on to reveal that his family had already discussed Viktor’s transfer plans when asked if he felt they belonged at Sporting, saying: “Yes, very much… yesterday at dinner we decided that he has to stay.”
And he offered his thoughts in four words when asked whether Gyokeres will stay at the club this summer, replying: “Yes, we think so.”
He added: “We hope so, because watch this, we love it, it’s amazing, the country, the people and Sporting. And the lions, we love them!”
Gyokeres was more coy than his uncle when fielding a question about what the future holds ahead of Sunday’s Taca de Portugal final against bitter rivals Benfica. He told Portuguese TV channel SIC Noticias: “Hopefully you can expect I keep improving and score goals.”
When pressed further on whether he’d be staying put this summer, the ex-Coventry City and Brighton striker added: “We’ll see. It’s the future. Football is like that, you never know what’s going to happen.
“As we saw this season, you never know what’s going to happen. And it’s the same thing now. We’ll see what the future holds.”
It is unclear if Arsenal and Berta have taken any notice of his uncle’s comments or whether Gyokeres’ own stance has shifted towards staying put following his title-clinching heroics.
Portuguese newspaper O Jogo had confidently claimed this week that Gyokeres is all set to join the north London club. The publication ran with a front page headline which translated to: “Swede on his way to Arsenal.”
It went on to say that a £58.9million deal has been struck between the two clubs and all that is left is the agreement of personal terms. However, Arsenal have also been strongly linked to several other forwards, including Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen.
Arsenal
Viktor Gyokeres’ message to close circle amid Arsenal agreement claims
Sporting CP star and top Arsenal transfer target, Viktor Gyokeres, has made an intriguing admission to teammates, amid reports that the clubs are advancing in talks over his move to north London.
Portuguese media claim Arsenal have agreed fee to sign Viktor Gyokeres
Over the last seven days, reports in the Portuguese media have boldly claimed that Arsenal are making serious progress in their bid to tempt the 26-year-old back to England.
Following his quite ridiculous haul of 53 goals across 51 appearances in all competitions this season, Gyokeres has emerged as a prime striker target for Arsenal, with sporting director Andrea Berta said to be personally pushing for him.
“Andrea Berta is pushing to sign Viktor Gyökeres for Arsenal,” said Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg a fortnight ago.
“Several talks have already taken place. Alexander Isak remains high on the Gunners’ list, as previously revealed — but he’s very expensive. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Real Madrid are all in the race. No commitments yet. Everything is still open. Bayern are currently out — too expensive. As exclusively revealed in October, Gyökeres can leave Sporting this summer for €60–70 million, due to a verbal agreement between the player and the club.”
Since then, the likes of newspaper O Jogo, sharing information in the last few days, have reported that Gyokeres is “on his way to Arsenal”, with the Gunners and Sporting shaking hands on a £59 million fee.
Last week, fellow Portuguese source A Bola made claims of an Arsenal offer to Gyokeres over personal terms worth £135,000-per-week as well, though reports closer to home have since stated that Berta is actually prepared to hand out a £10 million-per-year salary package (CaughtOffside).
£59 million would be considered one of the bargains of the summer for one of Europe’s most lethal goalscorers in his prime, so it will be intriguing to see if this does in fact come to fruition.
Viktor Gyokeres makes admission amid Arsenal agreement claims
However, according to Sporting midfielder and teammate Pedro Goncalves, the Swede is remaining coy over his future.
Confirming what the striker has told him, Goncalves states that Gyokeres said he’s ‘not a fortune-teller’ when asked if he could stay at Sporting – appearing to commit his future.
“I asked [Gyokeres], and we all asked him. He says he’s not a fortune-teller,” said Goncalves.
“We still have the Portuguese Cup against Benfica to play. I have a very good relationship with him, but I don’t talk about it with him. What I know is because of Fabrizio Romano… I’m sticking with him. I don’t know if he’s going to leave.
“I feel like he’s evolved a lot since he arrived. There are training sessions where it seems like he’s holding back.”
The Scandinavian superstar is making waves abroad, and it appears inevitable that he’s set to leave Sporting. The only question is, who can win the race for him?
Judging by recent reports, Arsenal appear to be firmly in pole position as things stand.
Arsenal
There is a twist in the Viktor Gyokeres transfer
Twist in Viktor Gyökeres’ Summer Transfer Saga Involving Arsenal
There’s been an interesting twist in the ongoing summer transfer story surrounding Viktor Gyökeres and Arsenal.
Viktor Gyökeres has been in outstanding form this season, consistently finding the back of the net and turning heads across Europe. The Swedish striker is reportedly keen on joining Arsenal, and he’s said to be very impressed with Mikel Arteta’s vision for next season.
A move to the Emirates would not only allow him to test himself in the Premier League but also give him the opportunity to feature in the UEFA Champions League — a key career milestone.
The Unexpected Twist:
However, reports now suggest that Manchester United are also in the race to sign the prolific forward. The Red Devils are eyeing Gyökeres as a key summer target, with their interest intensifying as the transfer window approaches.
United’s pursuit may hinge on their qualification for next season’s Champions League. Should they win the Europa League, they would secure a spot in Europe’s elite competition — something that could sway Gyökeres’ decision. Champions League football has long been a dream for the striker, and United could offer that platform.
Author’s Take:
Viktor Gyökeres would be a valuable addition to either Arsenal or Manchester United. While he might need some time to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, his talent and goal-scoring ability make him a player to watch.
Which club do you think would be the better fit for Gyökeres? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Always check nowsoccer.net
Arsenal
New updates about Nico Williams to Arsenal have arrived
New Updates have already arrived about Nico Williams to Arsenal in the summer transfer window at the moment.
Great youngster:
It is said that Nico Williams is one of the main priority target for Arsenal right now. The Gunners are also looking forward to making him one of the highest paid players at the moment in the Emirates stadium too. It is believed that Arsenal will definitely do whatever they can in the summer transfer window to bring him in to be honest. The player is in the eyes of various other European Clubs right now too. This is why Liverpool is also looking forward to signing Nico Williams too according to a few reports. However, Arsenal’s main priority is to sign Nico Williams.
New updates about Nico Williams to Arsenal have arrived:
They will definitely sign him too but they have to pay a heavy price. Nico Williams will literally become the highest paid player for the Gunners if he joins the team to be honest. His release clause is already £50 million. It will be difficult to pay so much money for him however. The Gunners are already going to sign Viktor Gyokeres and Sesko as well.
This is why they are definitely going to need a defender who will actually be able to make a lot of assists and be crucial for the team to be honest. Nico Williams is one of the best youngsters in the world. He will make the Gunners a lot more consistent to be honest.
Author’s Opinion:
I think Nico Williams can be great for the Gunners. However, it will take a lot of time to actually adapt to the team to be honest. It will definitely be great to see him play so well in the Premier League however.
Comment down below your thoughts on New Updates have already arrived about Nico Williams to Arsenal in the summer transfer window at the moment.
A trusted source on GoonerNews.com
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