Arsenal have some difficult decisions to ponder after defeating Real Madrid while Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has received some mixed news ahead of the summer transfer window
Riding high following their Declan Rice-inspired demolition of Real Madrid, Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend. A clash against Brentford awaits before a trip to the Bernabeu and difficult decisions await for Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard will be left with a tough team selection as he is forced to weigh up conditioning, momentum and injury risks against the Bees as he looks to secure a place in the Champions League semi-final. Small issues saw Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice replaced on Tuesday evening and now the best approach must be chosen moving forwards.
The north London side must also secure their position of second in the Premier League table, while preparations for the summer and beyond take place in the background. It is set to be a significant transfer window for Arsenal in the coming months.
With that said, Mirror Football take at the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding the Emirates.
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Mikel Arteta suffers transfer blow
Nico Williams’ financial demands are set to be prohibitive in any deal to bring him to Arsenal per reports. The player, who Mikel Arteta wants to bring to north London, has a release clause of just under £50million but earns significant wages with Athletic Bilbao.
The Spain international was widely linked to a move last summer but opted to remain with the Basque side. Athletic are keen to extend Williams’ deal amid interest from the likes of the Gunners, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
New Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is already understood to have held talks with the player’s agent Felix Tainta. Williams is said to be relaxed over his future and wants to avoid distractions as the club bid to finish the campaign strongly.
New deals
Arsenal have agreed new contracts with five members of Mikel Arteta’s backroom team. Arteta signed his own new deal in September, but his coaching staff were set to see theirs expire this summer.
The Spaniard has brought together a trusted quintet of coaches that includes assistants Albert Stuivenberg and Carlos Cuesta, first-team coach Miguel Molina, goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana and set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover. With Arteta committed to Arsenal until the summer of 2027, the head coach’s team are now in line with that mark, per the Evening Standard.
Camavinga speaks out
Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga has accepted responsibility and apologised after allowing a late moment of frustration to cost his side against Arsenal. The midfielder was sent-off for kicking the ball away in stoppage time against the Gunneers and will now miss the second leg.
The defending champions lost 3-0 in north London and will now be without Camavinga after he picked up a second yellow card. He said on social media: “To all the Madridistas, my frustration got the better of me and the end of the game and for this I want to apologise.
“We must continue to believe and we’ll need you in the second leg. All together. Hasta el final! Hala Madrid!”
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