Arsenal

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We asked you whether Arsenal's hunt for a left winger was used as a catalyst for Vinicius Jr to negotiate a better contract with Real Madrid, plus we wanted your suggestions on who Mikel Arteta should be targeting next.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Joyce: We were definitely used! I said from the beginning that he was trying to get the most money he could from Real Madrid. I'm glad he's not coming. We want players who want to play for the club, not money grabbers! Also, he might have upset the unity in the team.

Mark: No, we weren't used at all. He clearly took a look at Christos Tzolis and decided against having to compete with him for a spot on the left flank. That's got to be the real story.

Alexander: His agents used Arsenal's offer to force Real Madrid to increase their proposal. A part of me is glad we didn't sign him, as it would have disrupted the club's financial harmony. Now I'm hoping we sign Nico Williams or Kenan Yildiz - two very talented young players who could take the starting spot on the wing.

Frieda: We should be going for Bradley Barcola, for sure. Paris St-Germain have already started to build around his exit and he would fit in well at Arsenal.

Sam: It was great to see us willing to play with the big boys but, in this case, we were used. A defining moment for Andrea Berta coming up now - what other ceiling-raiser players can he bring to the carpet, especially now people know what he was willing to pay for Vinicius Jr?

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

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It has never been a straightforward journey for Myles Lewis-Skelly into the Arsenal first team.

The 19-year-old's development has been rapid since his breakthrough in the 2024-25 season - he took his chance when injury was rife in the Arsenal squad to become one of the best young full-backs in the Premier League.

However, despite such a strong finish to his first campaign, last season was much more of a test for the teenager.

It is important to note that the Gunners are moving closer to completing the signing of Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes for a fee which could be up to £80m - an arrival of that quality could put a barrier in front of Lewis-Skelly's route into the first team.

But Lewis-Skelly's talent, ability and history at Arsenal will always have him as a contender for game time, and this season could present him with a clear run at starting for the Gunners in midfield.

The World Cup's late finish and the number of Arsenal players involved in the tournament mean his competitors for a starting place are going to be behind him in match fitness.

Captain Martin Odegaard, England midfielders Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze as well as Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino, who won the tournament with Spain, are all yet to join up fully with the Arsenal squad.

Lewis-Skelly has started and impressed in pre-season friendlies against Girona and Real Betis, and the player is focused on working hard for his opportunities for in the upcoming campaign.

Against Betis he was at the base of the Arsenal midfield and looked assured with the responsibility he was given as the deepest-lying midfielder.

He showed his strength in bringing the ball upfield when Arsenal needed someone to progress play up the pitch. He also linked up well with Riccardo Calafiori, while Lewis-Skelly filled in at left-back when the Italian went on one of his adventurous runs forward.

The Community Shield against Manchester City is in just nine days' time and Lewis-Skelly looks as though he is going to have the chance to show why he should have been given the nod in the Arsenal midfield sooner.

• Read more from Alex on Arsenal

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Arsenal expressed interest in Real Madrid left winger Vinicius Jr in recent weeks but Los Blancos have tied him down to a long-term deal.

The 26-year-old had entered the final 12 months of his contract and attracted interest from Arsenal in recent weeks.

Arsenal have identified the Brazilian as their priority left-wing target but will have to shift focus if he stays at Real.

Have Arsenal merely been used for Vinicius Jr to negotiate a better deal with Real Madrid? Who should the Gunners target on the left wing instead?

Get in touch with your views here

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We asked for your views on Bruno Guimaraes potentially partnering Declan Rice in Arsenal's midfield next season, and whether the Brazil international could be the signing that pushes the Gunners into back-to-back title contention.

Here are some of your comments:

Seb: Bruno Guimaraes is a top midfielder and so is Declan Rice. As long as Mikel Arteta gives each of them clear jobs, and they are not trying to play the same role, I think it is perfect. It also offers rest for Rice or Martin Odegaard, if needed.

Philippe: It is incredibly good news. I've loathed playing against him and I can now enjoy being on the other side of things. The only negative is Myles Lewis-Skelly might have fewer minutes as a defensive midfielder.

Larrisa: Unfortunately, my answer is no at the moment. A lack of creativity and goals could cost us the title next season.

Nigel: I said previously that I wasn't overly keen on signing a player who is a magnet for a card, and I stand by that. However, Arteta knows best. I just hope he knows who else we need now that Vinicius Jr has signed a new deal with Real Madrid.

Vince: Guimaraes solidifies this team with proven Premier League class. If Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi etc brought us the league last season with their fresh exuberance, he will add an extra dimension of steadiness. Hopefully it allows Rice to bombard forward more often as well.

Galatasaray have added 25-year-old Arsenal and Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli to their transfer shortlist. (Gianlucadimarzio - in Italian), external

Meanwhile, the Gunners and Manchester United sent scouts to watch 20-year-old striker Kaua Elias score a hat-trick in a pre-season friendly for Shakhtar Donetsk, while AC Milan and Porto are also interested in the Brazilian. (Sun), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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According to Opta, external, Bruno Guimaraes has won more duels (1,030) and fouls (410) than any other player in the Premier League since making his debut in February 2022, while the only central midfielder to cover more distance than him (1,641km) is Declan Rice (1,703km).

With these two workhorses potentially lining up next to each other for the 2026-27 season, could Guimaraes be the signing that pushes the Gunners towards back-to-back Premier League titles?

Get in touch with your views here

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Arsenal have announced a long-term renewal of their partnership with Emirates.

The agreement means Emirates will continue as the Champion's front-of-shirt, training kit and stadium naming rights partner through to 2033, extending the Premier League's longest-running front-of-shirt partnership.

The Gunners first partnered with Emirates in 2006, spanning the entire Emirates Stadium era.

The next chapter of the partnership will begin this weekend as Arsenal welcome Borussia Dortmund to north London for the Emirates Cup, with a programme of anniversary activity celebrating more than two decades of shared history.

Richard Garlick, Arsenal Chief Executive, said: "Winning the Premier League is an incredibly proud moment in our club's history and one that belongs to everyone connected with Arsenal.

"Emirates has been an integral part of this success - standing alongside us throughout this journey and sharing in the defining moments, challenges and successes that have shaped our club over the past two decades."

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

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Riccardo Calafiori says Arsenal need to sign players like Bruno Guimaraes and Vinicius Jr if they "want to be even better than last season".

The Gunners are moving closer to completing a deal for Newcastle captain Guimaraes and have made Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr one of their top targets during this transfer window.

And Calafiori, who was speaking after Arsenal's 3-1 pre-season friendly defeat to Real Betis, says the fact that those players are being linked to the Gunners shows the level the club is operating at.

"We are on that level now," he explained. "We are on top. We want to win the league again, we want to be even better than last season if we can. We need these kind of players I think."

Arsenal are still waiting for the rest of their squad members who featured in the World Cup for England, Spain and Norway to join up with the wider group as those players have had later returns following their involvement in the tournament.

"I think it is going to be a tricky start of the season because of that," Calafiori said.

"Other big teams are going to have this problem. Of course we are still waiting for them, I hope they are going to be in form and ready to help us."

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has written "a message of love and admiration" to departing midfielder Christian Norgaard, who has officially joined Everton on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old made 20 appearances and lifted the Premier League trophy during his 13-month stint at Emirates Stadium.

Despite only being handed seven appearances during Arsenal's title-winning league campaign, Arteta called Norgaard a player with "unique quality".

"I am very thankful for what he brought to the club and how he helped us to win," Arteta wrote, external. "It is a message of admiration and love.

"I don't think people have seen what he has done behind the scenes. He is a player that has a unique quality to make others better and maintain a culture to the highest standards.

"Then you add in his contribution on the pitch when he has played and had his minutes.

"It was difficult to let him go, but I understand it is a stage in his career where he needs to play and fulfil all of his dreams as well.

"But we are forever thankful to him."

Aston Villa are prepared for a fresh bid from Arsenal for England defender Ezri Konsa, 28, as they try to agree a new contract to keep him at Villa Park. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

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Mikel Arteta says his Arsenal players were "fuming" after their disappointing pre-season defeat by Real Betis in Dublin.

The Gunners conceded three first-half goals during an uncharacteristically sloppy defensive performance.

Despite having less possession, the Spanish side were more threatening throughout and had more shots on target than Arteta's men.

When asked what the mood in the dressing room was like after their first-half display, the Arsenal boss said: "Very upset, given a hard time. They are fuming, but this is good. That's what we need."

While unhappy with Arsenal's performance, Arteta hoped the defeat would spur them to improve.

"Well, the important part is to win it and we didn't manage to win it, so disappointed obviously for the result," he added.

"It's true we used 25 players, so you need to give a bit of context to the game.

"In the first half, with more starters, two very different things: how we played and how we competed, because we had some fantastic moments in the time we played.

"The way we competed especially in and around our box in a number of standards that we are used to, so there are things to improve obviously, some positives to take from the game and then a bad result sometimes it's good to create even more fire in the belly."

The Gunners are still without Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka, who have still not joined up with the squad following their World Cup campaign with England.

While Spain's World Cup winners Mikel Merino, David Raya and Martin Zubimendi are also yet to return, captain Martin Odegaard has resumed individual training after featuring for Norway in the tournament.

Katharine Sharpe and Simon Casson
BBC Sport senior journalists

The 2025-26 Premier League and Championship seasons included the introduction of squad-cost ratio rules on a shadow basis, testing to see how a spending cap for squad costs set at a percentage of a club's total revenues might work.

These SCR regulations have now been permanently implemented for the 2026-27 season, replacing previous profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

Uefa has a 70% SCR cap for European competitions, so Premier League clubs who qualified for Europe fall in line with this limit.

Clubs who did not qualify for Europe, and so are only taking part in domestic competitions, are capped at 85% of their total revenue.

However, clubs can spend above the 85% limit by using a multi-year rolling allowance of 30%. This allows them to invest ahead of revenue and variance or sporting underperformance.

Every club will start this coming season on 85% + 30% allowance, so effectively 115%.

If a club spends 105% on their squad in 2026-27, it means they have used 20% of their allowance, and for 2027-28 their maximum spend before potential sporting sanction is 95%.

If a club spend less than 85%, they can increase the allowance again to the maximum of 30%.

Spending above 85% but under the allowance results in a financial penalty, whereas going over both the 85% and the allowance will land the club a fixed six-point deduction which increases by one point for every £6.5m spent over the 115%.

'Anchoring' was also trialled in 2025-26, which meant any club's spending could not exceed a multiple of income earned by the bottom-placed club - however this was rejected at a vote of Premier League clubs.

SCR was approved by a vote of 14 clubs to six, and was introduced alongside sustainability and systemic resilience (SSR) regulations.

SSR involves three tests that are applied throughout the season:

Working capital test - assesses short-term cash resources

Liquidity test - assesses medium-term liquidity and resilience

Positive equity test -assesses long-term financial health

The aim of the SCR and SSR regulations is to stop the richest owners providing endless funds to their clubs to sign new players, as any money injected this way does not count as seasonal revenue.

They will also aim to prevent clubs from overspending and accruing unmanageable losses.

Read more about the rules here

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