Catch all the latest Arsenal news, including updates, on Max Dowman, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mikel Arteta and the Gunners’ kit deal with Adidas.
Arsenal’s season is over after beating Southampton on Sunday, and thus attention has turned to the next campaign for Arteta and Andrea Berta.
The North London outfit finished second in the Premier League, whilst reaching the semi-finals of both the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, and the focus over the summer will be on how to improve upon that.
With that said, here’s a look at the latest news ahead of another big day.
Max Dowman will have chance to impress Mikel Arteta in pre-season
Max Dowman is making waves in the Hale End academy, and the talented 15-year-old has caught the eye once again over the last week due to his heroics for the England under-17s.
The young Three Lions were knocked out of the Euros, but Dowman scored a spectacular goal and provided an assist in the process.
This has prompted calls for the starlet to play meaningful minutes for Arsenal next season, and Charles Watts has revealed that he may be granted this if he impresses Arteta in pre-season.
Dowman will take part in Arsenal’s tour of Asia, and Arteta will closely observe what he does on and off the pitch before determining how prominent a role he’ll play with the senior side next season.
Read more on Dowman’s first team credentials.
Sambi Lokonga praises Mikel Arteta
Sambi Lokonga spent the duration of this season on loan at Sevilla, although he’s not expected to return to the Spanish club, despite a buy option being included in the temporary deal.
The Belgian arrived at Arsenal as a promising midfield prospect for £16 million in 2021, but his career hasn’t quite gone according to plan since then, largely due to injury issues.
Speaking to the Standard about his time in North London, Lokonga revealed that he has no regrets about moving to the Emirates, and would do it again just so he could work with Arteta.
“With Mikel [Arteta], I learned so much and, for me, he is one of the best coaches I have had in my career,” he said.
“It is how he is in the details, how he is predicting things that can happen on the pitch. He is a leader.
“Spending one year with him, it is like you maybe spend five years with someone else. You learn so much. So if I had to do it again, I would do it again.”
Lokonga has signed a one-year contract extension at Arsenal, so that the Gunners can sell him this summer.
Read more on Lokonga’s new Arsenal contract.
Arsenal’s adidas kit deal doesn’t tell the ‘full story’
Arsenal have a kit deal in place with Adidas until 2030, which is said to be worth in the region of £75 million a year.
However, finance expert Adam Williams told Arsenal Insider that this purported fee may not tell the full story regarding the Gunners’ remuneration from the deal.
In reality, this fee is likely the best-case scenario for the North London club, with the final amount determined by how many shirts and other pieces of merchandise are sold.
Some clubs are optimistic with the figures they brief to the press, while others are more conservative, and Arsenal generally choose the former approach.
Read more on Arsenal’s kit deal with Adidas.
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