Odegaard feels amazing welcome midfield signing – Arteta and Edu release statement on Arsenal deal – Brazilian gets Arsenal dream
Here is a roundup of the top Arsenal news and gossip that we think you guys may have missed from icfootballnews featuring the likes of Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Neto…
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has opened up and revealed that it feels amazing to welcome Spanish star Mikel Merino to the club after he completed his move to the Emiates.
Merino was a player that Mikel Arteta really wanted to sign – The Gunners were working for months to make sure that the European winner for 2024 was signed and brought to the club.
He has now been at the club for a few days after sealing that switch – and now ARSENAL Captain and one of the clubs most important stars Odegaard has opened up and revealed that it feels amazing to welcome Merino to the club.
He Said: ‘It’s great to welcome Mikel Merino to the club. I played with him for one season at Real Sociedad when I was on loan there. He’s a great player, a great person and I have no doubt he will be a really strong addition to the squad on and off the pitch.
‘He’s a leader as well, he’s been through a lot in his career, has won things with Sociedad and also with Spain now, so he brings something different. He brings a lot of quality on the ball of course, but also in the duels he is so strong.
‘The number of duels he wins is incredible and on top of that, he runs so much in every game. I had a great connection with him in Spain and we played very well together, so I’m really looking forward to playing with him again.
‘I spoke to him a few times when his move here started to happen. I basically just said to him that I was there if he needed anything to settle into his new club, and how much I was looking forward to getting going again with him.”
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Many fans are excited to see just what Merino can bring to the club – but judging by his performances in La Liga for the last few seasons – he could be a great signing for ARSENAL.
NKETIAH EXIT COFIRMED –
Eddie Nketiah has joined Crystal Palace in a permanent transfer from Arsenal after the Gunners made the decision to allow the attacker to leave the club on the summer transfer deadline day.
ARSENAL have been in the headlines alot of the summer window and saw a number of players leave the club, but also see alot of top stars make the move to the Emirates over the past few months.
Nketiah joined the Arsenal Academy at the age of 14 and went on to make 168 first-team appearances for the club, scoring 38 goals and assisting seven times. He was also part of the clubs 2020 FA Cup-winning side and our FA Community Shield victories in both 2020 and 2023.
However – he was no longer needed at the club and on deadline day – Arsenal made the big announcement that the striker has joined Crystal Palace on a permanent deal
ARSENAL posted: ‘During his development years with us, Eddie made 60 appearances for our Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 teams, scoring an impressive 46 goals in the process. On his pathway to our first team, Eddie signed his first professional contract with the club in September 2016.
‘The 25-year-old forward made his senior debut for us in September 2017 when he came on as a substitute in our UEFA Europa League match 4-2 away win to BATE Borisov. One month later, Eddie memorably featured in our 2-1 Carabao Cup win against Norwich City at Emirates Stadium. Coming on in the 85th minute, Eddie scored after just 15 seconds to level the match, before scoring the winner in extra-time and announcing himself to Arsenal supporters around the world.
‘Eddie spent some valuable time on loan with Leeds United, helping them win automatic promotion to the Premier League when they lifted the Championship in the 2019/20 season, making 19 appearances in all competitions for Leeds during the campaign.
‘Notably, Eddie is still the all-time top scorer for England Under-21s with 16 goals in 17 appearances, and captained the side which won the 2021 European Under-21 Championship. Eddie went on to make his first senior England appearance in a 1-0 friendly win against Australia at Wembley Stadium in October 2023.
Sporting Director Edu, said: “Eddie has had a great journey from our Academy into our first team, and we send him our thanks and best wishes as he moves to Crystal Palace. It is important for Eddie to be playing regular first-team football and we are happy we have concluded a very positive transfer deal for his move. Eddie has a lot of friends here after many years at the club and we wish him good luck in his next step.”
Manager Mikel Arteta added: “We are so grateful to Eddie for his performances with us. He is a player who has developed well through our Academy and now he takes this opportunity with Crystal Palace. Eddie is a top professional, loved by everyone at the club, who wanted and needed to play more minutes. We wish Eddie well as he moves onto his next challenge.”
NETO LIVING ARSENAL DREAM –
Brazil international Neto has joined Arsenal from Bournemouth on a season-long loan and the star has opened up and revealed that it is a dream come true for him to join the Gunners.
ARSENAL were keen to add Neto to the side as back-up for David Raya with after reports emerged suggesting that Arsenal are in deep talks over the signing of the Wolves ace.
The 35-year-old joined Bournemouth in 2022 and has gone on to make 63 appearances for the Cherries, and In that time he has conceded 99 goals.
The deal went through on deadline day, and The Brazilian replaces Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Southampton earlier on Friday and after sealing the move to the club – Neto sent his first message
He said: “I’m realising a dream in my life, a dream come true, and I’m really, really happy.
“I had two dreams as a kid to play for a football team. It was my team in Brazil, where I grew up and became a professional footballer, and also Arsenal. And now I’m realising it! I’m a really lucky person.
“To all the supporters of Arsenal, I’d just like to say I’m one more fan here. My dream has come true, I’m really happy. Depend on me, I’ll give more than 100% to give everything for Arsenal.”
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ARSENAL have a number of players that they will be selling this summer – we are delighted to see that Ramsdale is staying in the Premier League – As we said – he has done nothing wrong since his move to Arsenal – he is a very good stopper that could play for most of the big sides in the Premier League.
Neto is a better back-up option that keeping an unhappy Ramsdale – seems like some more good decisions from that Gunners board.
MORE ARSENAL NEWS AND GOSSIP –
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