ARSENAL'S opening bid for keeper David Raya is expected to be rejected by Brentford according to reports.
Meanwhile, the Gunners are in a battle with Chelsea for the signature of Ajax star Mohammed Kudus.
Premier League rivals Brighton are also believed to be interested in the 23-year-old.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich are interested in signing Arsenal target Aurelien Tchouameni, according to reports.
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- By Jack Figg
Work of Art
Mikel Arteta cut a stylish figure as he starred in the latest issue of GQ Hype magazine – but he revealed he is still not over Arsenal's title collapse last season.
They blew an eight-point title lead to hand Manchester City a third successive crown last term and earned themselves a place in the all-time list of title blow-ups.
The Gunners topped the Prem for an incredible 248 days – but a shock defeat at Nottingham Forest on May 20 finally confirmed Man City as champions.
Arteta revealed that it took him a few weeks to process what had happened at the end of last term as he referenced their injury problems as part of the collapse.
But they go into the 2023/24 campaign with renewed optimism following the additions of Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz.
Speaking to GQ Magazine, the Spaniard insists that pain is fuelling him this time around.
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WORK OF ART Aterta shows style in GQ as fans joke ‘your boss could never look this good’
- By Jack Figg
Playing for keeps
Mikel Arteta wants David Raya to provide competition for first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
However, the deal could be reliant on the potential departure of Matt Turner.
Nottingham Forest submitted a bid for the USA international on Friday, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds want to sign him and Manchester United's Dean Henderson before the transfer window closes.
- By Jack Figg
Summer sales
Arsenal have already introduced three new additions this summer.
Kai Havertz joined the club in a £65m transfer from Chelsea at the end of June.
The Gunners then sealed a £40m deal with Ajax for Jurrien Timber last month.
And Declan Rice became Arsenal's record signing when he completed a £105m move from West Ham.
Credit: Getty
- By Jack Figg
Plan Bee
Brentford are expected to reject Arsenal's opening bid for David Raya, according to reports.
The Gunners tabled an offer worth £20million plus £3m in add-ons for the goalkeeper on Thursday.
However, The Athletic claim that it fell just below Brentford's asking price.
And the Bees are subsequently set to turn the proposal down.
Raya – who has agreed personal terms with Arsenal – has informed Brentford that he wants to swap West London for North London.
Both clubs are set to continue negotiations in a bid to reach a formal agreement.
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PLAN BEE Brentford ‘to REJECT Arsenal’s £23m bid for Raya as Bees name their price’
- By Tony Robertson
Zinchenko names "Rolls-Royce" Arsenal star
Oleksandr Zinchenko has lauded praise on Arsenal team-mate William Saliba.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on FIVE, Zinchenko described Saliba as a Rolls-Royce but admitted he did not know him before arriving at the club.
He said: "Rolls-Royce. So good, I love him so much.
"I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t know him before I came to Arsenal when I saw him from the training sessions, I said: ‘who is this guy?’.
"Then first game against Chelsea, pre-season, zero mistakes. This guy never makes mistakes.
"Then he scored the goal with the left foot against Bournemouth. I went to my knees because I said this guy.
"I said, this guy, he can do everything. He can do everything."
- By Tony Robertson
Possible Arsenal XI for the Community Shield
Here is how Arsenal may line up for Sunday's Community Shield clash against Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta may look for a more defensively secure spine by opting to go with Declan and Thomas Partey in midfield.
With Gabriel Martinelli only recently returning from injury, the in-form Leandro Trossard could start at LW while Eddie Nketiah leads the line in favour of the injured Gabriel Jesus.
Jurrien Timber may slot in at LB due to being a closer alternative to Oleksandr Zinchenko rather than Kieran Tierney.
Otherwise, the majority of the team will be familiar faces as Arsenal aim to win the Shield for the first time since 2017.
- By Tony Robertson
Nottingham Forest submit Matt Turner bid
Nottingham Forest have reportedly submitted an offer to land Arsenal goalie Matt Turner, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The deal for Turner could be crucial in Arsenal's efforts to land Raya from Brentford.
- By Tony Robertson
BREAKING: Arsenal Raya bid to be rejected
Arsenal will see their opening bid for David Raya rejected, reports suggest.
The Gunners are said to have lodged an opening offer of £23m for the Brentford goalkeeper.
However, The Athletic have now revealed that the opening bid is expected to be turned down.
The report adds negotiations are ongoing, with the offer only "slightly below" what the Bees were seeking in a deal.
Credit: Getty - By Tony Robertson
Marquinhos set for loan spell
Arsenal star Marquinhos is being eyed by Nantes for a loan transfer, reports suggest.
Following the Brazilian's spell at Norwich, the Daily Mail now claim he is wanted by the Ligue 1 outfit for a season.
Marquinhos, 20, initially impressed at Arsenal but has since struggled for minutes.
- By Jack Rosser
Arteta reveals title loss hurt 'for weeks'
Mikel Arteta has revealed he is still not over Arsenal's title collapse last season – but insists it is fuelling him this time around.
The Gunners were top of the league for almost 250 days last season, but a late-season bout of injuries and a drop in form opened the door for rivals Manchester City to storm to a third straight title.
Arteta revealed that it took him a few weeks to process what had happened at the end of the season and referenced their injury problems as part of the collapse.
Speaking to GQ, Arteta said: “I had to go through that and it took me a few weeks.
“I don’t know if I’ve gotten over it, and probably I don’t want to because I need that to be better.
“There are certain things that you must have to win the title. We had a lot, but it wasn’t enough.”
Credit: Getty
Ex-Arsenal star Matteo Guendouzi has house ROBBED
Ex-Arsenal star Matteo Guendouzi has had his home ransacked by burglars while he was playing a match.
The French defender has been with Marseille since 2021. They paid the Gunners £9million for him last year after a successful spell on loan.
But Guendouzi had a £200,000 Rolex watch stolen during a Wednesday night raid on his house.
Robbers broke in while the 24-year-old was playing in Marseille's 2-1 friendly win over Bayer Leverkusen at Stade Velodrome.
They reportedly smashed their way in through a bedroom window.
The noise alerted Guendouzi's wife Mae, who was at home at the time and called police.
The couple live at Cassis, a scenic Mediterranean resort just along the coast from Marseille.
Several of Guendouzi's clubmates live in the same town. Local police have opened an inquiry.
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RAID HORROR Ex-Arsenal ace has house ROBBED with terrified wife inside as £200k Rolex taken
- By Gary Stonehouse
Sanchez in line for Barca return
Alexis Sanchez is reportedly on the verge of a shock return to Barcelona.
The 34-year-old Chilean forward racked up 63 goals in 154 top-flight matches for both Arsenal and Manchester United.
But after his miserable spell at Old Trafford from January 2018, Sanchez was loaned to Inter in 2019-20 before joining the Serie A giants permanently.
Two years later, he signed for Marseille and scored 14 goals in 35 Ligue 1 games last season. However, after only penning a one-year deal, he is now a free agent.
Journalist Jose Tomas Fernandez Pumarino says Sanchez’s representatives and Barca chiefs are meeting today to discuss the feasibility of the move.
The La Liga club are looking to replace Ousmane Dembele, who is joining Paris Saint-Germain.
- By Tony Robertson
Bayern Munich interested in Arsenal target
Bayern Munich are interested in signing Aurelien Tchouameni, according to reports.
German outlet TZ revealed Thomas Tuchel is desperate to land a new number six to play alongside Joshua Kimmich.
The report claims a player in the mould of Rodri or Declan Rice was preferable.
With this in mind, the report adds that 23-year-old Frenchman Aurelien Tchouameni is another option highly regarded.
However, like when he was reportedly of interest to Arsenal, he will cost at least a pretty penny, with his current asking price said to be set at £86m.
Regardless, any change is unlikely due to his long contract at Real Madrid.
Credit: Getty - By Tony Robertson
Chelsea to save £54m on former Arsenal target
Chelsea are set to save a whopping £54m by landing Juventus ace Dusan Vlahovic.
That's due to the Blues being asked to pay an extra £34.5m in their swap deal which will see Romelu Lukaku head in the opposite direction.
According to okCalcioMercato, Arsenal once saw a bid of £88m accepted for the Serbian.
And now it seems he will finally be making his way to England… just in the Blue of Chelsea rather than the red of Arsenal.
- By Alex Smith
Ramsdale's baby agony
Aaron Ramsdale has revealed the heartbreak he endured after his wife suffered a miscarriage.
The England keeper, 25, announced he had got engaged to flight attendant partner Georgina Irwin in August 2022.
But just five months later, the couple endured a heartbreaking time when Georgina had a miscarriage.
He opened up on the horror time for his family and how Mikel Arteta offered support.
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BABY AGONY Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale reveals ‘indescribable pain’ after wife had miscarriage
- By Alex Smith
Partey time
Arsenal star Thomas Partey has held talks over a move to Juventus.
Reports from Sky Italy claim that the midfielder has agreed personal terms with the Serie A team.
Juventus will now lodge an offer for him but are aware they need to sell before they can buy.
It is unclear whether Arsenal would let him leave after midfield partner Granit Xhaka also departed this summer.
- By Alex Smith
Arsenal kit rated
SunSport have taken a look at every Premier League kit ahead of the new season.
We have ranked them from the shirt title-winner to who deserves to be relegated already.
Find out where Arsenal came here:
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KITS & MISSES Every Premier League kit ranked before 2023-24 season but do Arsenal get No1?
- By Alex Smith
Ama-Zin
Oleksandr Zinchenko has praised team-mate William Saliba and was left shocked by his talent.
He told the Five podcast: "Rolls-Royce. So good, I love him so much.
"I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t know him before I came to Arsenal, when I saw him from the training sessions, I said, ‘Who is this guy?’, this guy never makes mistakes.”
- By Alex Smith
Zinchenko nears fitness
Oleksandr Zinchenko could be back fit for the start of the Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta said: "He’s close. I think he’s going to start training with the team and hopefully we will have him back very soon.”
Zinchenko will take up a non-playing role at the charity Game4Ukraine on Saturday.
- By Alex Smith
Ox to Besiktas?
Ex-Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is considering an offer to join Turkish side Besiktas, according to reports.
The 29-year-old is a free agent after his contract expired at Liverpool this summer.
The former England international has received offers to join former Reds team-mates Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino in the Saudi Pro League.
He has also been linked with Aston Villa and Brighton.
Oxlade-Chamberlain played 146 games and scored 18 goals for Liverpool, after joining from Arsenal for £35m in 2017.
- By Alex Smith
Gunners make Raya bid
Arsenal have made a £20m plus £3m in add-ons bid for David Raya.
Brentford want closer to £40m.
The goalkeeper wants to join the Gunners and personal terms have now been agreed.
- By Alex Smith
Ex-Arsenal star heading to Saudi?
Willian has reportedly agreed terms with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Shabab.
The Brazilian winger only signed a new contract with Fulham 11 days ago after a brief spell as a free agent.
Willian, 34, starred at Fulham last season after he signed an initial one-year contract with the club.
Rumours suggest that he has “already communicated to Fulham and Marco Silva his intention to leave” the club and “try a new chapter in Saudi”.
He spent one season at Arsenal, playing 37 times, scoring one goal.
- By Alex Smith
Wenger's joy to see success
Arsenal hero Arsene Wenger is proud to see the club in such a good way.
He praised the work of everyone, saying: "It’s great to see it and come back to see such a fantastic atmosphere now, with our fans and with the team doing well.
"For me, it’s a great satisfaction."
- By Alex Smith
Arsene on returning
Arsene Wenger has revealed his thoughts when he returns to the Emirates and reflected on his time at the club.
He said: "I was always animated by the energy of working for something that’s bigger than me.
"Overall, I feel that my contribution was to make this club what it deserves to be: one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"So, when I come now and I see the stadium, I see my work was worth it because I feel that this stadium made me suffer.
"I’m happy to stand in the shade of this stadium because I had some sleepless nights because of it."
- By Alex Smith
Wenger visits statue
Arsene Wenger has visited his statue outside the Emirates Stadium for the first time.
In an interview with the club, he said: "It's emotional because it's an honour an overall I always wanted to be part of this club.
"I feel I am part of this club forever and that's where I want to be."
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