All the news and gossip relating to Arsenal FC in the past 24 hours.
Theo Walcott dominates the Arsenal headlines as he looks set to become another star name on his way out of the Emirates this summer. Or will he? The 22-year-old England international has been linked with a move away all summer as Arsenal delayed the offer of a new contract to the attacker who is in his final year until dangerously close to the transfer deadline. The Telegraph last night reported Walcott has rejected a £75,000 a week contract and Arsenal are seriously considering selling him before the Transfer Deadline closes on Friday. The former Southampton player wants to stay at Arsenal but is reportedly unhappy at the wages offered as well as the unnecessary delay in the contract offer.
There is good news from the Telegraph this evening, with journalist Jeremy Wilson tweeting that club and player could have come to a temporary solution where Walcott agreed to stay while negotiations are ongoing, even if it means missing the transfer deadline without signing a new contract. He adds Wenger is ‘uneasy’ about the situation, but the winger is holding out for better wages and in no rush to leave the club.
talkSPORT report on a potential signing for Arsenal as Ajax’s Gregory Van Der Wiel emerges as a potential transfer target once again. Carl Jenkinson is currently The Gunners only fit right-back with Bacary Sagna a long term absentee and the young Dutch international is a proven player at international and European level who would fit Arsenal’s style of play immensely. They face competition from Newcastle for his signature but hope to bring him in before deadline day.
Arsenal will meanwhile start slashing their asking prices for fringe players such as Andrey Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner in order to raise funds for new signings. With deadline day looming Arsene Wenger wants to add more depth to his squad but needs funds and the two already mentioned plus Maraoune Chamakh and Park Chu-Young are on the list of players Arsenal are willing to take a hit on in order to sell.
The same story also carries the transfer hopes for Arsenal defensively, as they reportedly chase Montpelliers Yanga M’Biwa and a shock move for Swansea’s Angel Rangel.
There is still interest in Bendtner from AC Milan, despite signing Gianpaolo Pazzini, M’Baye Niang and Bojan Krkic in the past week. The Danish striker is being offered an opportunity with the Rossoneri according to The Mirror. Arsenal are very keen to sell, however Bendtner wishes for guaranteed first team football, that cannot be assured at the San Siro.
Arsenal have sent two of their young Gunners out on loan. Philip Roberts and Daniel Boateng are the two in question with the latter joining Oxford following on from a similar spell at Swindon last term. Meanwhile Roberts joins up with Scottish side Inverness, who Arsenal have recently announced a new sporting partnership with.
Arsenal get their NextGen Series underway this evening with a home tie against French side Marseille at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium. HITC took a look at the Young Gunners chances as they look to cement their credentials as one of the best producers of young talent in Europe.
Speaking of young Gunners, Arsenal fans will welcome the news that young Hector Bellerin has said moving to the club from Barcelona was the best decision he ever made. So long as he doesn’t change his mind a few years down the line, fans will be glad to hear of his commitment.
What are your thoughts on everything happening at Arsenal FC on the 29th August 2012?
images: © Ronnie Macdonald, © crystiancruz
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