The latest news coming out of Arsenal ahead of another weekend of Premier League action
Wednesday night’s encounter with Brentford marked the start of a demanding December period for Mikel Arteta’s side, with fixtures coming thick and fast in the run-up to Christmas.
The Gunners have made an impressive start to their Premier League campaign, with a memorable 4-1 triumph over north London rivals Spurs standing out as the season’s highlight so far. Their excellent form isn’t confined to domestic competition either, as a superb victory against Bayern Munich in the Champions League has set them up nicely for the business end of the league phase.
With Martin Odegaard finally back from a lengthy injury absence, Arteta will welcome the additional attacking threat as the title race heats up. As another weekend of Premier League football approaches, Football London rounds up the latest developments from the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta confirms two-year transfer wait
Mikel Arteta has revealed Arsenal attempted to bring in David Raya “much earlier” before eventually securing his signature two years later.
Raya completed a £30m move from Brentford in 2024 following a season-long loan spell at the Emirates Stadium. He took over from Arsenal’s previous first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and claimed the Premier League Golden Glove award, recording 16 league clean sheets across 41 appearances in all competitions.
“An amazing goalkeeper,” said Arteta. “It’s a great story as well and how it happened. We tried to sign David much earlier, it was as soon as I arrived almost, and he had to wait another two years. The start that he had and the journey that we had together has been phenomenal for us and I’m very happy to have him.”
When asked if it represents his finest piece of business, Arteta added: “It’s a very difficult question to answer but he’s certainly one that is taking us to a different level. He’s certainly a player that has brought something to our way of playing.”
Berta plots new approach
Arsenal have embarked on a fresh recruitment approach that will fundamentally reshape how Mikel Arteta strengthens his first team squad. According to The Telegraph, the Gunners will be pivoting their attention towards securing talent aged between 16 and 18.
This shift aims to enhance the quality of their academy setup, which has fallen short of expectations in recent years. The strategy will also eliminate intermediary clubs from major transactions – in a Premier League setting, this means bypassing the likes of Brighton or Brentford, who have built reputations for snapping up promising youngsters before commanding substantial fees – Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro serve as prime examples.
This fresh approach is exemplified by the recent signings of Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero, who are set to touch down in London in 2027. Additionally, Shamrock Rovers’ young talent Victor Ozhianvuna, also 16, is poised to join the Gunners when he turns 18 in January 2027.
Simply put, scouting talent in London alone no longer suffices, particularly if they aim to rival Chelsea, who last summer secured Estevao for a cool £29m. The Brazilian has since become an international player and one of the Premier League’s most promising rising stars.
The report suggests that the acquisition of Tommy Setford from Ajax last year marks the official commencement of this new strategy at Arsenal. If successful in securing some of the top young talents, this could be a game-changing move by sporting director Andrea Berta.
Arsenal ‘eye’ Bundesliga sensation
Sky Germany reports that Arsenal are “seriously considering” a move for Eintract Frankfurt’s star Jean-Matteo Bahoya.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has already started half of Frankfurt’s matches this season, attracting attention beyond Germany.
Several Premier League clubs are reportedly eyeing the young Frenchman, who has represented his country at various age levels. Frankfurt reportedly value their asset at £61.5million.
Bahoya had the opportunity to transfer to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League during the summer, but he turned it down. In a chat with L’Equipe, he explained his choice: “I honestly didn’t hesitate for a moment. It was a logical decision. I want to have a great season here and compete in the Champions League.
“We’ll see what happens after this season. In any rate, Frankfurt was the ideal place for me and I’m happy I stayed.”
