Arsenal News and Analysis

The only way Arsenal lose Martin Zubimendi to Real Madrid

26Apr

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

The only way Arsenal lose Martin Zubimendi to Real Madrid

Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been one of LaLiga's finest players over the last couple of seasons, and after rebuffing several big clubs in order to stay with La Real, it looks like Arsenal have the inside track to finally sign the most coveted No. 6 on the transfer market. Defensive midfielders who control the game are a rare commodity in world football, and they generally go for major transfer fees. Real Madrid spent 80 million euros on Champions League winner Aurelien Tchouameni in 2022, while Arsenal spent a club record 100 million pounds on Declan Rice in 2023. Zubimendi will be cheaper than those two at 60 million euros, though, at 26 years old, he's also hitting the transfer market a few years older than Rice and Tchouameni were. ALSO READ: 3 summe...

Arsenal expected to pursue Chelsea’s most puzzling transfer flop this summer

26Apr

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Transfer News

Arsenal expected to pursue Chelsea’s most puzzling transfer flop this summer

Arsenal have made it to the Champions League semifinals this season after embarrassing Real Madrid across both legs, and while they aren't anywhere near Liverpool in the Premier League title race, there's a sense that if they can finally nab the right attacking help this summer transfer window, they can reach the summit of the English top flight in 2025/26. The Gunners didn't sign a striker last summer after top target Benjamin Sesko wasn't available. After Kai Havertz's injury, Mikel Merino has functioned as a makeshift No. 9, and, as Real Madrid can attest, the new center midfield signing has been pretty good in this role, too. But Arsenal do need a real striker, whether that is Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, or someone as ambitious as Newcastle's Alexander Isak or Napoli's Victor Osimhen...

2024/25 Champions League Predictions for the Quarterfinals

6Apr

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Analysis

2024/25 Champions League Predictions for the Quarterfinals

On Tuesday, the quarterfinals of the 2024/25 Champions League season will begin, and while defending champions Real Madrid are always the favorites until proven otherwise, they have been significantly outplayed by Barcelona in their own league and barely survived the Round of 16 against crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Aston Villa are still sticking around despite their struggles in the Premier League and have a big-ticket battle against Unai Emery's former club PSG, who knocked league phase leaders Liverpool out of the competition. Here are the full predictions for the quarterfinals across both legs. Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan Bayern Munich head into the Champions League quarterfinals with a ton of major injuries to their back line. The most significant one is the t...

Arsenal won’t like Eintracht Frankfurt’s updated Hugo Ekitike transfer price

31Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Arsenal won’t like Eintracht Frankfurt’s updated Hugo Ekitike transfer price

Arsenal are in the market for a new starting striker after balking on signing a No. 9 in the last summer transfer window, which ultimately proved costly in the Premier League title race with a much-improved Liverpool side. Now, Arsenal are back to the drawing board in the summer 2025 transfer window, but the best options at striker are largely familiar ones: RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres, and Napoli's Victor Osimhen are still among the top options. Newcastle star Alexander Isak has emerged as a dream transfer target for the Gunners, and they are now also looking at Eintracht Frankfurt breakout star Hugo Ekitike as a potentially cheaper alternative. Unfortunately, with other big clubs like Manchester United adding Ekitike to their shortlist, Frankfurt's...

Manchester United showing serious interest in £67M Arsenal striker target

29Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Manchester United showing serious interest in £67M Arsenal striker target

Manchester United need to sign a striker in the summer 2025 transfer window, as Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have failed to provide enough goal-scoring threat up top together. Both Zirkzee and Hojlund had great success in Serie A as up-and-coming talent at smaller clubs, but neither player is a proven goal-scorer and both have struggled at times in the 2024/25 season. Although Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim's former Sporting CP star striker Viktor Gyokeres is still widely seen as the favorite to join the Red Devils this summer, the club are looking for alternatives. According to a report from Sky Sports Germany, via mufcmpb, Manchester United are "seriously" interested in Eintracht Frankfurt breakout star striker Hugo Ekitke, former of Reims and PSG. Ekitike is wan...

Arsenal fully expected to win Martin Zubimendi transfer battle

28Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Arsenal fully expected to win Martin Zubimendi transfer battle

Arsenal have been pursuing Real Sociedad center midfielder Martin Zubimendi for over a year now, and even after signing teammate Mikel Merino last summer from La Real, the Gunners still remain very much interested in the talented 26-year-old Spanish international. However, recent interest from Real Madrid has threatened to complicate things, as Madrid are the biggest club in Spanish football and have a big need for a midfield regista who can cover defensively while controlling and dictating play in possession. Despite the recent rumors linking Zubimendi to Real Madrid, it seems like Arsenal are still the favorites to ultimately land the most coveted No. 6 in European football. According to a report from Sky Sports's Dharmesh Sheth, via afcstuff, a Zubimendi transfer to Arsenal wil...

David Ornstein clarifies Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal transfer rumors

28Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

David Ornstein clarifies Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal transfer rumors

Arsenal have been driving hard to sign Real Sociedad breakout star Martin Zubimendi ever since he emerged on everyone's radar as one of the best No. 6's in European football last season. They even signed one of his best teammates in the summer 2024 transfer window, bringing Mikel Merino on board to pair with Declan Rice at the base of the midfield. But Arsenal still want Zubimendi. The problem is that Liverpool and Barcelona aren't the only formidable adversaries interested in the Spanish international on the transfer market, as Real Madrid are now pushing hard to sign the La Real standout. The Athletic's David Ornstein recently clarified the rumors stating that Real Madrid are now favored over Arsenal in the transfer battle. Via Madrid Xtra, Ornstein said that he has not heard of...

Arsenal targeting £60M Alexander Isak alternative at striker

28Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Arsenal targeting £60M Alexander Isak alternative at striker

Arsenal needed to sign a top striker in the last summer transfer window, and after failing to bring in anyone new, the Gunners are, once again, being linked with marquee names at the striker position in the summer 2025 transfer window. Although breakout stars Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres remain firmly on the Arsenal transfer radar, the Gunners are being linked with some even bigger names at the striker position now, namely Premier League superstar Alexander Isak. The Swedish international has been the best striker in the league this season over at Newcastle, surpassing Erling Haaland of Manchester City. He has all the tools, especially the lethal finishing, that Arsenal are looking for at the 9. But the problem is cost. According to a report from The Sun, via afcstuff, Newca...

Will Bukayo Saka return from injury vs. Real Madrid in UCL?

28Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Injury News

Will Bukayo Saka return from injury vs. Real Madrid in UCL?

Arsenal star right winger Bukayo Saka has been excellent this season when healthy, but his impact on the 2024/25 Premier League and Champions League seasons has been derailed by multiple injuries. Saka has missed more than 20 games overall this season, and his latest hamstring injury has taken him out since just before Christmas, meaning he's been out for more than three months now. But Saka will be returning shortly, and there is optimism that he can be back in the Arsenal lineup as early as Apr. 1 when Arsenal return from the March international break to face European football hopefuls Fulham in the Premier League. It will be important for Saka to get healthy and stay healthy, but Arsenal want to really focus on getting the world-class winger back to 100 percent for the Champion...

Real Madrid are beating Arsenal in Martin Zubimendi transfer battle

27Mar

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Transfer News

Real Madrid are beating Arsenal in Martin Zubimendi transfer battle

For more than a year now, Real Sociedad star defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been the hottest name at the position, wanted by clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and even LaLiga top-four rivals Barcelona on the transfer market. But now, the other giants of LaLiga have joined in with serious interest in Zubimendi, as Real Madrid have taken stock of their club's issues in the post-Toni Kroos landscape and correctly view a lack of control as one of their biggest weaknesses. Without Kroos, Real Madrid have not had control in most of their meaningful matches, which have featured disappointing results to the likes of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool this season. Well, Real Madrid see Zubimendi as the best available deep-lying midfielder with controlling capabilities, and t...