Why Martin Odegaard fumed at Bruno Guimaraes as Arsenal summer transfer plan couldn’t be clearer

Arsenal will be playing Champions League football once again next season and look to have secured a top two finish in the Premier League for a third consecutive campaign.

Declan Rice’s powerful effort from outside of the box in the second half was enough to secure all three points for Mikel Arteta’s side, with Southampton next Sunday the remaining fixture of the season. Arsenal had failed to beat Newcastle in three attempts prior to Sunday’s game at Emirates Stadium and the win will be a satisfactory one for the Gunners squad.

Rice revealed after the match that Arteta had told his players to take it “personally”. David Raya seemed to have listened as the Spaniard made a number of huge saves to keep Newcastle out, while Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli were constant thorns in the Magpies’ backline.

Odegaard, who before the match said he was “determined” to get a result against Eddie Howe’s men, certainly showcased his desire to be on the winning side. This was shown clearly in the 88th minute, when the Gunners captain was deemed to have fouled Bruno Guimaraes, with referee Simon Hooper blowing for a free kick.

The Norwegian, though, clearly felt the Newcastle man went over too easily and made his feelings be known, shouting for the Brazilian to get up and flinging his arms in the air. Odegaard also appealed for handball when Guimaraes picked up the ball before placing it on the ground and taking the free kick quickly.

Guimaraes, a man who Arsenal have been linked with in the past, has gained a reputation for trying to rile up supporters. Odegaard certainly wasn’t willing to let the midfielder do that this time round, though.

For Arsenal, Arteta and Andrea Berta, attention can turn to the summer transfer window. The club are expected to be busy in the summer with a number of players expected to depart and arrive at Emirates Stadium.

football.london understands the club want to sign a new back-up goalkeeper, defender, central midfielder, striker and wide forward. A deal for Martin Zubimendi is understood to be agreed and supporters will hope additional signings are confirmed in the coming weeks and months.

Josh Kroenke confirmed the club “plan to invest” in the upcoming transfer window, while Rice told reporters after the Newcastle win that he hopes the club strengthen. Arteta, too, remains committed on strengthening further.

“I think they [the owners] always back the team, the club, in the best possible way. And it’s not going to be different in the summer,” Arteta said on Sunday evening.

“We have to be very smart with the decisions that we take. Obviously, we need players because the squad is really short, and on top of that we are losing four or five players that are going to end contracts, and their loans are finished. So, we need to be sharp. Again, very disciplined in what we want to do, and make sure that we are strong in the next season.”

He added: “I mean, the plan is done, and the time will be dictated by many parties, many circumstances that unfortunately we don’t control. But we have great people in charge of that, and they’re going to be leading that with the board and ownership. And as well, make sure that the ones that we have, they feel valued, they feel loved, and we make sure that they want to continue with us in the right manner.

“Then the whole environment is excited. That is not just about if we make it, because we cannot start a season like that. And I want to feel that from day one, and I’m going to be very insistent on that.”