A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as the owner of another Premier League team targets a key Gunners man and a player who Mikel Arteta wants discusses his future.
Bukayo Saka reacts as Arsenal sell Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham
Hale End idol Bukayo Saka has messaged Emile Smith Rowe after Fulham signed the Arsenal academy product in a club-record transfer. The midfield playmaker switched the north of the capital for west London on Friday in a bid to revive his career following two difficult seasons.
Smith Rowe only featured in 25 Premier League matches over the last two terms and started in just three games. Injuries ruined the Hale End graduate’s emergence as a key player in N5 after a breakthrough season in 2021/22 with 10 goals in 33 matches, of which he started 21.
The Cottagers hope his creativity takes Marco Silva’s side to another level after Fulham paid Arsenal a club-record fee. Saka also hopes his close friend can get his career back on track after going from youth gems to the Arsenal first-team and onto playing for England together.
Saka has captioned a post on Instagram to Smith Rowe: “From Hale End to the Emirates and all the memories on our journey. It’s been an absolute pleasure. Go and shine bro!”
Read more about what Saka has said about Smith Rowe’s transfer to Fulham, here.
Evangelos Marinakis wants Edu to swap Arsenal for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis wants to tempt Arsenal sporting director Edu away from Emirates Stadium. That is according to the Brazilian publication UOL, which notes that the Greek billionaire is eager to name Edu as a CEO specialising in international football.
Marinakis, who also owns Greek giants Olympiacos and Liga Portugal side Rio Ave, rates Edu as his ideal right-hand man. Together, Marinakis hopes Edu can help to make his network of squads a more successful force than Nottingham Forest fighting for Premier League survival.
Edu returned to Arsenal in July 2019 initially as the club’s technical director before becoming the sporting director come November 2022. Since then, the former Gunners midfielder with Mikel Arteta have turned the north London side into a Premier League title contender again.
Read more about Marinakis’ interest in Edu swapping Arsenal for Nottingham Forest, here.
Arsenal target Pedro Neto rules out a transfer away from Wolves
Arsenal have spent the past several months considering a transfer for Pedro Neto but Mikel Arteta will not be signing the Wolves star this summer. The 24-year-old has essentially now ruled out leaving Molineux in the current market after addressing his future at the Old Gold.
Neto put Arsenal on red alert with his scintillating displays under boss Gary O’Neil last term. He offered nine assists and two goals through 20 Premier League appearances, spread over the Molineux field. The Portuguese played on both wings, as a midfielder and also at striker.
Injuries interrupted what may have been an even more thrilling term that saw Arsenal push vigorously for Neto’s transfer. He missed a combined 17 matches with two hamstring issues following injuries to both legs. So, Neto looks forward to helping Wolves now he is fully fit.
When asked by journalist Nathan Judah if Neto intends to stay at Molineux this summer, he replied: “I love this club. I’m really happy to be here and take this team to another level.”
Read more about what Arsenal target Neto has had to say about a transfer, here.
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