Arteta huge fan of £40M star – Edu DELIGHTED deal announced – Spaniard gives update on potential Arsenal deal

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has remained coy over talk regarding a new contract at Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta has done a wonderful job since taking over the club just a few seasons ago and is easily the man that will drive ARSENAL forward in their quest to win the Premier League and Champions League titles.

However – he is out of contract at the end of the season and there has been alot of speculation surrounding his future – and Arteta did not help the rumours after his latest message about a new contract: “There is no update [on his contract] at the moment,” he told ESPN. “The thing that hasn’t changed is how happy I am and how valued I feel here and how much I love representing this club.”

Pushed further for an update considering he has just one year remaining on his current deal, Arteta said: “I understand that [clarity over my future is needed for new signings], but the focus now is, ‘OK, how we can improve things around the team, how we can improve now the things in the transfer window that we have.’ We have time to sit down and discuss that.

Arteta has also offered a brand new verdict on Arsenal’s summer transfer window plans.

He added: “We are looking to improve in every possible department. With the new regulations, there are certain things we have to respect and be conscious of and then obviously the Euros and Copa America are slowing everything down. Hopefully now it is going to pick up a little bit.

“I think both ways [players coming in and going out of the club]. There are things that we have to improve, that’s for sure and we are going to try to. But the market is tricky.

“We have been very aggressive, we are very determined and we have a clear idea obviously of what we want to do. It will come down to finding the right agreements at the right time.”

EDU DELIGHTED WITH RAYA DEAL – 

Sporting Director Edu has revealed why Arsenal made the decision to extend the stay of David Raya this summer and keep him on a permanent deal.

Raya spent last season on loan at Arsenal and helped the Gunners challenge for the Premier League title by claiming the Golden Glove award for the most clean sheets.

The Spaniard’s temporary move from Brentford to north London included an option to sign the goalkeeper permanently for £27m, and the Gunners made the decision to keep hold of their star this transfer window.

And after seeing the deal get announced – Edu told the ARSENAL website: “We are so happy to have completed the deal to sign David from Brentford.

“He had a beautiful first season with us, winning the Premier League Golden Glove. He is a talented international, a great professional and a popular figure at the club. We benefited from all of this last season during his loan with us.

“David’s signing is another strong example of our recruitment strategy in action, as we continue to build a team that will challenge for major trophies. We know there’s so much more to come from him and we are excited that he will continue to be a big part of the journey we are all on.”

On making his move permanent, David Raya said: “After a year on loan as a Gunner, I can finally say that I’m an ARSENAL player for the coming years. I’m excited to see what the future holds but always living in and enjoying the present.

“It’s a dream come true to be here and I want to thank you for all the support you have already given me throughout the last year.”

ARTETA FAN OF CALAFIORI – 

Mikel Arteta is a huge fan of Arsenal transfer target Riccardo Calafiori, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, with some clarity given on why the Gunners want the Italy defender.

ARSENAL have been in the headlines alot over the past few weeks – but despite all the rumours and speculation – David Raya is the only player to make the move to the Emirates after he completed his permanent move to London.

However – there has been alot of transfer speculation about the potential signing of Calafiori from Bologna – a player that is attracting all sorts of clubs after his impressive performances for the Italian side last season.

Calafiori made 33 appearances for Bologna last season as they qualified for the Champions League. He impressed for the Serie A side and took that form into Euro 2024, where he was excellent for Italy during the group phase. Luciano Spalletti missed him when he was suspended for the Round of 16 defeat against Switzerland.

And amid the speculation – Fabrizio Romano claims that Arteta is a huge fan of the player – Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “Mikel Arteta already approved the player and is a big fan of Calafiori and keen on bringing him to the club.

“Arsenal have a shortlist with three names for that position: a left footed talented defender, playing as a left back, playing as a centre back. Calafiori is exactly what Arsenal need in that position, and what Arsenal want to bring in in the summer transfer window.

“Now waiting for the next steps, something between Arsenal and Bologna, this is the crucial step, this is the crucial point. For sure Calafiori gives his green light to ARSENAL because he also knows that Juventus are almost no longer in the race. Juventus are considered out.”

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