Tag: Mikel Arteta

  • Aaron Ramsdale Poised for Southampton Move

    Aaron Ramsdale Poised for Southampton Move

    By Milcah Tanimu

    Aaron Ramsdale is set to leave Arsenal for Southampton after the club agreed on a £25 million deal with the Saints. This move comes following the permanent signing of David Raya, who impressed Arsenal during his loan spell last season. With Raya now solidified as the first-choice goalkeeper, Ramsdale’s role in the team has diminished significantly.

    Ramsdale had featured in Arsenal’s first four Premier League matches this season and played in both legs against Brentford, owing to Raya’s ineligibility. However, since being named in the Team of the Year two seasons ago, his stock has dramatically fallen, making it clear that a player of his caliber would not be content playing a backup role for much longer.

    In an interview during the Euros, Ramsdale expressed his readiness to leave Arsenal to ensure his career continues to progress. Despite interest from clubs like Ajax and Wolves, Arsenal’s options seemed limited as the transfer window neared its close. Keeping Ramsdale on the bench for another season could have negatively impacted squad morale, given his apparent frustration.

    Southampton has emerged as the ideal destination for Ramsdale, reminiscent of his successful spells at Bournemouth and Sheffield United, where he was known for his crucial saves. Ramsdale is now set to undergo a medical before the move is finalized, expected either late today or early tomorrow before the transfer window closes.

    Arsenal fans have appreciated Ramsdale’s contributions, but manager Mikel Arteta has shown his willingness to make tough decisions, just as he did when he replaced Bernd Leno with Ramsdale. With Karl Hein recently leaving for Valladolid, Arsenal is thin on goalkeeping options, and Espanyol’s Joan Garcia has been identified as a potential backup who would accept a bench role.

    As the transfer deadline approaches, Ramsdale’s departure seems imminent, signaling the end of his chapter at Arsenal.

  • Arteta wins August’s Premier League Manager of the Month award

    Arteta wins August’s Premier League Manager of the Month award

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for August in recognition of the Gunners putting together five consecutive wins at the start of the season.

    Fast forward just a year from their worst start since 1954, Arsenal won five games on the bounce at the start of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2004/05 when they were last reigning champions.

    During that run, Arteta oversaw wins against Crystal Palace, Leicester, Bournemouth, Fulham and Aston Villa, making them the only side to finish August with a 100% record still intact. It was only a controversial defeat to Manchester United in early September that ended that run.

    Not did they win all of their August games, the Gunners were also good in front of goal, finding the net 13 times across the five matches. At the other end, they only conceded four goals and kept two clean sheets.

    Arteta beat Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte, Graham Potter and Marco Silva to the manager of the month prize, which is the third of what is still a fledgling managerial career after previous gongs in September 2021 and March 2022.

  • Arsenal vs Man United: Gunners can cope without Aubameyang –Arteta

    Arsenal vs Man United: Gunners can cope without Aubameyang –Arteta

    Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are no longer so vulnerable when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is sidelined.

    Gunners captain Aubameyang missed their last two match–es, both against Southampton, and revealed on social media that his absence was due to his mother suffering from “health issues”.

    The Gabon forward is not expected to return for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Manchester United on Saturday.

    But with Arteta’s side unbeaten in their last six league games, Aubameyang’s absence is no longer as fatal as it might have been in the past.

    Arteta feels more of his players have stepped up to make sure the skipper’s time away does not derail them.

    “That is something that we had to improve and address dramatically,” he said when asked if he was no longer reliant on Aubameyang.

    “If you want to have any chance of competing with the top teams in this league, just to rely on one player is completely insufficient and it won’t be sustainable over time.

    “But having said that, we know the importance of Auba and his goals and his contribution to the team. The more we have him, the stronger we are for sure as well.”

    Aubameyang had travelled with the squad for the FA Cup defeat at Southampton on Saturday before leaving just hours before kick-off.

    “Hey guys, Thank you so much for all the messages and calls over the last few days,” he wrote on Instagram.

    “My mother is going through some health issues and I had to be there for her. She’s already much better now and I will be back home tonight.

    “I’m more than grateful to the doctors and nurses helping her get through this.

    “And of course, thanks to my Arsenal fam for the love yesterday! I’m more determined than ever to keep our momentum going!

    “Thank you all again – I really am beyond blessed to receive this level of support and love from all of you and I can’t wait to be back.”

    (AFP)

  • Transfer: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reveals target in Manchester City

    Transfer: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reveals target in Manchester City

    Mikel Arteta is targeting Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia for Arsenal, according to reports.

    The 19-year-old rejected the offer of a new contract from City in August and could be available on a free transfer next summer when his deal expires.

    Barcelona had a bid in excess of £15 million for Garcia rejected by City in October but the Spanish club remain keen on bringing the defender back to Camp Nou.

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    Garcia came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy but did not make a first-team appearance before his departure to City in 2017.

    The Spain international featured regularly after the Premier League restart last season but the arrival of Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake has increased competition for a first-team place this term.

    According to The Sun, Arteta is interested in bringing Garcia to Arsenal as he is a huge admirer of the City defender.

    Garcia is already a player Arteta knows well following their time together at City.

    But the report claims that Arsenal will need to wait until the end of the season before making a move for Garcia due to their surplus of options in central defence.

    David Luiz, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi could leave at the end of the campaign once their contracts expire.

    But that will still leave Arteta with five centre-back options in Gabriel, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers and William Saliba.

  • Mikel Arteta Confirms Thomas Partey’s Injury

    Mikel Arteta Confirms Thomas Partey’s Injury

    Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Thomas Partey was replaced in Arsenal’s home defeat to Aston Villa due to thigh injury.

    The Ghana international was replaced at half time by Dani Ceballos as the Gunners lost 3-0 at the Emirates.

    READ ALSO: Mikel Arteta speaks on Arsenal defeat to Aston Villa

    And speaking after the game, Arteta reveals the former Atletico Madrid star will undergo a scan to ascertain the extent of the injury.
     
    “We don’t know [the extent] of it,” our manager said.

    “We have to scan him tomorrow or the day after and see what he felt straight away. Let’s wait and see what the magnitude of the injury is.
     
    “I don’t know [if he will go away with Ghana now]. As I said, the doctor will have to have a look at him and probably scan him. Then we will decide what to do with him.”

  • Mikel Arteta speaks on Arsenal defeat to Aston Villa

    Mikel Arteta speaks on Arsenal defeat to Aston Villa

    Mikel Arteta took full responsibility for Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa on Sunday, saying “we weren’t a team”.

    Victory at Old Trafford last weekend was another step in the right direction under Arteta, and the Spaniard would have expected his side to build on that morale-boosting result.

    However, they slipped to 11th with this defeat and Arteta wasn’t impressed with what he saw.

    “First of all congratulations to Aston Villa for the way they played and the victory,” he told Sky Sports.

    “After that, we performed below our standards and I have to say it’s the first time I’ve seen us play and we weren’t a team.

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    “I take full responsibility. We didn’t start well enough, we got away with VAR for an offside situation but we lost all the races, the duels and we were sloppy on the ball. When we created chances we didn’t hit the target. It’s a really bad combination. We left spaces and on the counter we looked really vulnerable.

    “I take full responsibility. I am responsible to make the team perform on the pitch and today we were not a team and it is my job. It is why I am standing here.

    “It is a frustration. It takes a lot to build momentum, to build a way of being, living and performing and when something like that comes up it’s a hard one to take but in a hard moment you learn more than in a positive moment and I want to see how we react.”

    Speaking in his press conference, he added: “I didn’t see the spirit for the first time – and it’s totally my fault as that’s why I’m here. Today I’ve not managed to get the team to play at the highest level like we need to every three days.

    “I’m struggling to find the reason but obviously there was something there today. They wanted it more than us. If you can’t defend your box, it’s a really complicated way to win football matches.

    “We need to be more ruthless but today it was about how we went about the job and who we were as a team. I didn’t like it from the first whistle when we got away with the goal and then afterwards. It just wasn’t good enough.”

  • Mikel Arteta backs Arsenal board after missing out on Houssem Aouar transfer

    Mikel Arteta backs Arsenal board after missing out on Houssem Aouar transfer

    Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal’s hierarchy are ‘doing their maximum’ to improve the squad after missing out on a deal to sign Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.

    The Gunners were dealt a blow this weekend as Aouar, one of their priority targets for the window, decided to stay at Lyon.

    Arsenal had multiple bids for Aouar turned down by Lyon as the French club sttod firm over their €60m (£55.5m) asking price. Arsenal’s other primary midfield target, Thomas Partey, also looks set to stay at Atletico Madrid with the Spanish club demanding that the midfielder’s €50 million (£45.3m) release clause is met.

    Chelsea’s Jorginho is also on Arsenal’s shortlist as Arteta is keen to strengthen his midfielder before the transfer deadline. When asked if he believes Arsenal will complete any more signings before the window closes, Arteta said after his side’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Sunday: ‘Well, I don’t know. ‘What I can guarantee is that we are doing our maximum for that to happen. Whether we’re going to achieve it or not, I don’t know.’

    Asked if he is keen to sign a new midfielder, Arteta said: ‘I cannot discuss the players that we want but we recognise some positions that we believe we are short, first of all in numbers and then different qualities to complement each other, this is what we’re trying to do.’ When asked if Arsenal are prepared if they fail to add to their squad before the end of the window, Arteta replied: ‘I think that even when I’m here trying to be honest, I’m clear.

  • Mikel Arteta hails ex-Nigerian winger Babandiga

    Mikel Arteta hails ex-Nigerian winger Babandiga

    Former Nigerian winger Haruna Babandiga has been hailed by Mikel Arteta but the Arsenal boss regrets he never made a major impact.

    Babandiga signed for Barcelona youth academy from Ajax in 1998 at the age of 15 and was termed as the next big player in European football.  He featured for Barcelona’s LA Mesia with the likes of Arteta, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, and Pepe Reina.

    The former Nigerian international grabbed 44 goals in 110 appearances but never managed to play for the first team.  “In our dorms at Barcelona, we had Pepe Reina, Victor Valdes, Andres Iniesta, and Carles Puyol.

    But I remember there was this boy called Haruna Babangida,” he told TheAthletic.com.  “Wow! at 15, he was the best player in the world,” he added.  The 37-year-old only capped for the Super Eagles came in 2003 in 3-0 defeat to Japan.

  • Arsenal dominate Manchester United in first win for new manager Arteta

    Arsenal dominate Manchester United in first win for new manager Arteta

    Arsenal earned their first win under new coach Mikel Arteta by comprehensively overpowering a stale Manchester United side 2-0 in the English Premier League (EPL) on Wednesday.

    They achieved this with goals from Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis.

    Club record-signing Pepe put Arsenal ahead in the 10th minute of their third game under their former player.

    He lashed into the net after good work down the left flank from Sead Kolasinac.

    Pepe later hit the post in a dominant first-half display from Arsenal, before defender Sokratis deservedly doubled their lead in the 42nd minute.

    He pounced on some hesitant defending from the visitors following a corner kick.

    Arsenal comfortably saw out their advantage to record a first league win in five games which took them up to 10th in the standings on 27 points after 21 games.

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side remain fifth on 31 points, after missing out on the chance to close the gap on fourth-placed Chelsea.

    Chelsea drew 1-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion earlier in the day and are five points above Manchester United.

    Manchester United were searching for a third consecutive win but were out-fought by Arsenal and rarely looked capable of staging a revival.

    Even after Mason Greenwood and Andreas Pereira came on and injected some energy into their attack, they failed to turn it round.(Reuters/NAN)