A round-up of the latest Arsenal news including a second bid for Wolves goalkeeper Dan Bentley and why two key players have not travelled on the pre-season tour.
Arsenal submit improved offer for Wolves goalkeeper Dan Bentley
As the squad jetted off to the pre-season tour of the US yesterday, there has been some movement on a potential incoming as sporting director Edu has followed up a ‘hostile’ first bid for Dan Bentley with an improved second offer.
The position of goalkeeper is an intriguing one at the moment. David Raya has made his move permanent after impressing on his initial loan. We are uncertain about what the future holds for Aaron Ramsdale and 18-year-old Tommy Setford is Arsenal’s latest recruit after arriving from Ajax.
Some goalkeeping back-up reinforcement in homegrown talent Dan Bentley looks to be the main aim in that regard.
The 31-year-old Wolves goalkeeper was subject of a rejected £50,000 bid from Arsenal two weeks ago. According to the latest developments in The Sun (21/07/2024, page 57), the Gunners have put in a “new bid” of £300,000 to sign the 31-year-old away from Wolves.
it remains to be seen if the deal gets over the line, but it would be a shrewd bit of business in the goalkeeping ranks to help the likes of Karl Hein and Tommy Setford.
Read more on Dan Bentley’s potential £300,000 move to Arsenal here.
Pre-season tour squad announced, Tierney and Tomiyasu omitted
Arsenal began preparations for the game against Bournemouth in Los Angeles by making the trip over to the USA yesterday. With the game taking place in the early hours of Thursday morning, it leaves plenty of time for the squad that travelled to gel.
Although the list that is travelling has raised a few eyebrows, it appears that Mikel Arteta is set to give youth a chance with the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka not yet back after their Euro 2024 exploits.
Multiple Hale End talents have made the unexpected step up to join the tour, while plenty of high-profile players have also flown including club captain Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, and Gabriel Jesus.
Two notable omissions from that list are left-back duo Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Tierney’s future remains up in the air following a loan spell at Real Sociedad as he nurses a hamstring recovery, while injury woes have once again landed at the Japanese defender’s door.
“Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) will remain in London to receive treatment from our medical staff at Sobha Realty Training Centre,” a statement from Arsenal read.
It’s more injury frustration for Tomiyasu, something that is become all to common even though he’s a standout performer when he is fit.
CBS Sports journalist James Benge revealed that while no initial timeline was given, it is believed that Tomiyasu is facing a two to three weeks sideline spell.
Read more on the Arsenal pre-season squad here.
Colin Kazim-Richards returns to Arsenal as an academy coach
Arsenal have become renowned for employing their former players after they hung up their boots with Mikel Arteta, Edu and Per Mertesacker all senior figures within the club and its leadership – not forgetting Jack Wilshere in the academy.
It emerged yesterday that the club are repeating that feat.
Former Arsenal youth prospect Colin Kazim-Richards announced on his own X account that he is now a part of the Arsenal academy coaching staff.
“I am pleased to announce that I am officially part of the Arsenal academy coaching team. It is an honour to be part of a club so renowned for its commitment to excellence and development,” he said.
The retired attacker did spend part of his youth career on the books at Arsenal before leaving in 2001. His storied career consisted of almost 600 appearances across spells with Bury, Brighton, Sheffield United, Fenerbahce, Toulouse, Galatasaray, Blackburn Rovers, Bursaspor, Feyenoord, Celtic, Coritiba, Corinthians, Lobos BUAP, Derby County, and Fatih Karagumruk.
It will be interesting to see where and how he is implemented at Hale End.
Read more about Colin Kazim-Richards returning to Arsenal as a coach here
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