Here’s all the news from around the Emirates Stadium over the past 24 hours.
Arteta can unlock dream lineup with Aouar transfer
During his time as Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has deployed a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3 formation, but this is something he has said that he does not want to have to continue doing in the long term.
“For me the way we occupy space and who is going to move in there is more important than the formation,” he told DAZN in December.
“And from there we have some very similar players that are not used to play in those positions so we have to keep changing the formation a little bit.
“We want to move to a 4-3-3.”
And the Gunners’ activity in the transfer window so far would suggest that that is something that he is trying to address amid links to Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.
The Frenchman is not an out-and-out number 10, but could operate as an ‘8’ in a 4-3-3 formation.
All or Nothing announcement
Arsenal will be the next instalment of Amazon Prime Video’s popular sports documentary franchise ‘All Or Nothing’.
Filming will take place across the upcoming 2021/22 season and will launch exclusively on Prime at some point in 2022.
“We are looking forward to giving our fans around the world a unique insight into how we work day to day,” Arsenal’s Media and Communications Director Mark Gonnella said. “We have one of the biggest global followings in the game and one consistent thing we hear from fans is their desire to see more about what happens behind closed doors at the club.
“All or Nothing will give our fans and sport lovers an opportunity to learn more about what makes Arsenal such a special club, our trophy laden history and our ambitions for future success.”
With Arsenal not in Europe next season and coming off back-to-back eighth-placed finishes in the Premier League, this is bound to be a fascinating watch.
The summer window is officially open, and it’s going to be tough to keep up with the comings and goings in and out of the Emirates.
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New squad number announced
Whilst Arsenal fans await news of some signings, one player has committed his future to the club.
In fact, not only has teenaged goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo signed a new long-term contract as well as earning a promotion to the first-team squad, but he’s also been assigned the no.33 shirt number.
Speaking after the announcement, the keeper set his sights on becoming Arsenal’s number one.
“Just the other week I couldn’t even imagine being promoted to the first team so this is a big push for me, a new challenge for me,” he told the club’s official website. “So I am very excited to start.
“I think short term [my goal] would be getting used to being in the first-team environment, getting used to the players I’m with.
“Then long term I look to do as well as I can with this promotion up to the first team, being the No 3 goalkeeper, and pushing on to be the No 1 goalkeeper one day and the only way I’ll be able to do that is by coming in and working hard every day and that is my biggest ambition for the season.”