A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as manager Mikel Arteta puts plans in place to replace Aaron Ramsdale this summer and Ruben Neves opens up on a failed transfer.
Arsenal are ready to replace Ramsdale with Ajax’s Ramaj
AFC Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj is now a firm target for Arsenal with manager Arteta ready to replace Ramsdale. That is according to Football Transfers, which reports that the Gunners will swoop for Ramaj as long as they receive a suitable offer to sell their 25-year-old outcast.
Ramsdale has only featured in one Premier League fixture since the September international break. The England ace lost a starting spot at Emirates Stadium to David Raya, who Arteta’s faith is truly with. Arsenal fully plan to trigger their £27m option to buy Raya from Brentford.
The prospect of playing second fiddle in north London permanently upsets Ramsdale. So, an attempt to sign Ramaj from Ajax is gaining traction with Arsenal. The Gunners have followed the 22-year-old for some time, like his ability on the ball and can sign him for €15m (£13m).
Read more about Arsenal’s interest in Ajax’s Ramaj replacing Ramsdale, here.
Neves admits the Al-Hilal star was ‘close’ to joining Arsenal
Al-Hilal midfielder Neves admits he was ‘close’ to joining Arsenal from Wolves before sealing a move to the Saudi Pro League. The Old Gold cashed in on their captain last summer as the 26-year-old drew a club-record fee for a sale. He moved to Saudi Arabia for £47m in June.
Neves spent six years in the Black Country and he helped the Molineux outfit move into the Premier League. The Portugal international ultimately left England after 253 appearances in all competitions at Wolves. He also scored 30 goals and laid on a total of 13 assists for them.
But before jumping at a vast payday by going to Saudi Arabia, Neves admits that Arsenal and Barcelona also targeted a transfer. The Premier League and La Liga giants, however, could not finalise a deal. Neves gets £300k-a/w at Al-Hilal and has stated he moved for the money.
“I was close to three clubs and it didn’t happen, which saddened me and helped me make the decision to go to Al-Hilal,” Neves told O Jogo. “I didn’t want to put names forward but Barcelona was one of the hottest and it wasn’t a lie.
“It was close to happening, just like with Arsenal. Then there was another club outside England. It was events that piled up and then, with this golden opportunity, I had no hesitation in accepting. I was already calloused with transfers that don’t happen.”
Read more about what Neves has had to say about his failed transfer to Arsenal, here.
Saka hopes ‘I haven’t given a secret away’
Bukayo Saka hopes ‘I haven’t given a secret away’ after saying he plays poorly if the Arsenal forward loses his head due to being fouled frequently. The Hale End hero has opened up on the tough treatment he receives from defenders and admits that he finds it a ‘compliment’.
“I just think it’s me,” Saka has detailed to beIN SPORTS. “When I go on the pitch, I’m there to have fun and to enjoy. I would say I learned a lot over the last few seasons, when I started to get more and more tackles and defenders have started to enjoy more and more kicking me.
“I spoke to a few defenders and now I understand it. So, for me when I see a defender trying to smash me, as long as he doesn’t get me, I’m laughing or I’m smiling because I take it as a compliment. So, we’re all just trying to do our best for the team.
“I just try and keep my temper because I know when I do I lose my head, I don’t play well. I hope I haven’t given a secret to the opposition there.”
Saka is the fourth-most fouled player in the Premier League so far this season and also ranks 18th in Europe’s top-five leagues, per WhoScored. Only Bruno Guimaraes (78), Jordan Ayew (76) and Anthony Gordon (50) have been fouled more than Saka (49) in the Premier League.
Read more about what Saka has had to say about the Arsenal ace being fouled, here.
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