Arsenal

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Arsenal are showing a statement of intent by getting their summer transfers done early, according to Harry Symeou from the Chronicles of a Gooner podcast.

Mikel Arteta has already added Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira and Matt Turner to his squad.

The Gunners are close to completing a deal for Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus and Symeou told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily: "It looks like we may well get an announcement later on this week which is really encouraging.

"It’s good to see Arsenal for once going out and doing their business as early as possible. In recent seasons we have been hindered by the fact we have had to move players on first.

"Arsenal did that in January this time and a lot of people were critical of them for that and how short it left them, but ultimately it has paved the way for what looks like is going to be a really productive summer.

"Jesus is going to be a great fit. We need a centre forward. I think when you look at where Arsenal are today and where they want to get to, this was as good an option as what was available. You have to give them immense praise for getting it over the line."

On whether Jesus can be the missing link in the Gunners' attack, he said: "You’d like to think so.

"If you take it back to Lacazette, I think he got four goals in the Premier League last season which just isn’t good enough if you’ve got Champions League aspirations.

"This sounds crazy but Gabriel Jesus isn’t coming to Arsenal to score 25 goals in the Premier League. That’s not what Arsenal are looking for. They are looking for someone to get into double figures but to continue bringing the best out of the attack as a unit. The Sakas, the Smith Rowes, the Martinellis, the Odegaards who all seem to create this really effective ecosystem with Lacazette up top for large parts of last season.

"Had Lacazette got 10 or 15 goals, Arsenal would have been a completely different ball game. He’s coming in because of all the other factors as much as he is coming in to add to the goal tally."

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Arsenal have submitted a £35m offer for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez and appear to be leading Manchester United in the race for the 24-year-old. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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United States goalkeeper Matt Turner says that completing a move to Arsenal offered "one of the best days of my life."

"Watching Arsenal as a kid, I fell in love with the way the team plays and the values of this club," said Turner, who has joined from New England Revolution.

"I was able to realise a dream and this is one of the best days of my life."

Turner, 28, was working with the Arsenal staff late last season before completing the move and forged a relationship with goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana.

"We've had pretty close contact," added Turner.

"Especially once I was back playing games, looking at some things, some clips and just talking about games, and looking at training clips, and those kinds of things.

"So the back and forth was really, really nice, so again that's another way of just feeling like I was part of the club, even though I wasn't here in north London."

Read more on Turner's move to Arsenal here

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To celebrate the Premier League's 30th anniversary, we asked you for your favourite Arsenal kit from this era.

Here are some of your standout shirts:

Rob: The 2007-08 hooped shirt is an absolute classic.

Dominic: It has to be the strip from the final season at Highbury - cranberry, I believe. A classy and stylish way to mark the end of an era. You wouldn’t expect anything else of Arsenal.

Johnny: Best kit has to be the original banana kit... Wright banging in goals in that is iconic.

Lucy: The bruised banana away kit from 1993. Even now, almost 30 years later, when you see it you think of Arsenal - and we also won the FA Cup and League Cup double that year, so good memories.

Hit the text in the tweet above to listen to the clip

Manchester City's 25-year-old Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus has agreed a five-year deal with Arsenal. (Guardian, external)

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

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As the Premier League prepares for its 30th anniversary, we want to know what your favourite Arsenal kit is from this era.

You've seen the shirt for the upcoming season, but tell us your pick from the past three decades and which memory stands out?

Have your say here

Marseille want to sign Portuguese defender Nuno Tavares, 22, on loan and Arsenal will consider the move if they can recruit in that position. (The Athletic), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Promising Arsenal forwards Mika Biereth and Tyreece John-Jules have left the club on loan for the 2022-23 season.

Biereth had an impressive year with the Under-23s last season after joining from Fulham and the 19-year-old will continue his development with Dutch Eredivisie side RKC Waalwijk.

John-Jules, 21, spent time at Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday last season and has returned to League One to join Ipswich Town.

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After confirming the signing of Fabio Vieira, we asked you where else Arsenal need to strengthen in the transfer window.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Cain: Vieira looks good, excited to see him play. We do still need three more I'd say. Striker is a must, maybe even two but I'd take one and Nketiah at a minimum. We need some left-back cover 100%, Tierney can't stay fit and Tavares could probably do with a loan move. Another right-back signing would be good too.

Johnson: Pepe, Torreira should go, Pablo Mari as well. They can get their targets in Raphinha, Tielemans, Jesus and Martinez. That won't bite and Arsenal can be sure of a top three finish; hopefully!

L. Josserand: Arsenal need to emulate top clubs and 'strike while the iron is hot' on closing the Gabriel Jesus transfer. This is the critical deal. Arsenal have long had a bad habit of dragging out negotiations for a wanted player for week after week, only to pay the approximate amount mentioned all along. Pay whatever is needed for Gabriel Jesus and move on...

Philip: We need Gabriel Jesus in our attack, Tielemans and Vieira in midfield, a new right and left-back, a new goalkeeper. Saliba should be given the opportunity to prove himself. Mo Elneny's contract was not supposed to be extended, Nketiah should go for free.

Have your say here

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The draw has been made for the group stage of this season's Papa John's Trophy, with teams split into northern and southern groups and 16 Premier League under-21 sides again involved.

In the southern section, Brighton have been drawn in Group A alongside Charlton Athletic, Colchester United and Gillingham, while in Group B Aston Villa join AFC Wimbledon, Crawley and Portsmouth.

West Ham are in Group C with Cheltenham Town, MK Dons and Walsall, while Tottenham are joined in Group D by Stevenage, Peterborough United and Wycombe Wanderers.

Fellow Londoners Crystal Palace are in Group E with Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Swindon Town, while Southampton are with Exeter City, Forest Green Rovers and Newport County in Group F.

Group G sees Chelsea take on Oxford United, Leyton Orient and Sutton, while crosstown rivals Arsenal are in Group H with Cambridge United, Ipswich Town and Northampton Town.

Arsenal have made an opening bid for Raphinha that is so far below Leeds United's £50m valuation of the 25-year-old Brazil winger that it will likely be rejected. (Times - subscription required), external

The Gunners and Newcastle United are keen on 26-year-old Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz, whose contract with Napoli runs out in 2023. (Corriere dello Sport, via Mail), external

Meanwhile, discussions are continuing with Manchester City over Gabriel Jesus, with Tottenham and Paris St-Germain also monitoring developments regarding the 25-year-old Brazil forward. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Marcus Alves, writing for BBC Sport

Arsenal have signed midfielder Fabio Vieira, so how will he fit in with Mikel Arteta's side?

With Porto manager Sergio Conceicao's reluctance to embrace youth, Fabio Vieira had to wait for his chance to shine.

He finally became a regular after Luis Diaz's departure to Liverpool last winter, contributing to 11 goals in his final 12 league games. While it has been argued that he would have benefited from another season at the Dragao stadium, the club's never-ending financial crisis meant he left for less than his 50m euros (£43m) release clause.

A versatile player with an eye for a killer pass, Arsenal will be able to use him in a number of different ways.

He has featured across all positions in midfield, but mainly operated from the right flank, cutting infield. He is incisive in the attacking third and will provide fierce competition for Martin Odegaard.

"He has all the tools - he can dribble, combine, slow down the tempo, break into the box, score. Players like this have to be close to goal," Manuel Tulipa, a former Porto youth coach, said.

"One thing he needed to improve, however, were his actions without the ball, but he did so over the past months. He has grown into a more collective athlete under Conceicao and found the right balance between the different moments of the game."

Adjusting to life in north London should be no problem for him, according to his cousin.

"It's a huge change, but, for everything he has gone through, his reading capacity and intelligence, he can overcome this, too," Mara Vieira  concluded.

Read the full article on how Vieira may fit in at Arsenal here

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Fabio Vieira says he is eager to get going at his "new home" after joining Arsenal from Porto.

When asked which factors helped make his decision, Vieira said: "Arsenal is a historic English club. It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"Everyone knows that Arsenal are a fantastic team. That was one of the main factors behind me choosing Arsenal. I really like the way the team plays and I can’t wait to get started.

"This is an important step forward in my career. Arsenal is a huge and historic club, so I’m delighted to be here at my new home.

"I hope we can achieve the goals that have been set out for the season. We all have to be here for one another and to help the club achieve them."

On his style of play and what Arsenal fans can expect, he said: "I’m an attacking player who looks to find space between the lines to be able to finish off moves either with assists or by scoring goals.

"I think those are the main attributes that Arsenal fans can expect from me. I’ll always give my all for the team."

Happy with your new signing, Arsenal fans? What more business needs to be done before the transfer window closes? Have your say here

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Edu has hinted that Arsenal will look to make more signings after completing a deal for Fabio Vieira from Porto.

The 22 year-old midfielder has joined the club on a long-term deal and will wear the number 21 shirt.

When asked about the Gunners' latest signing, Edu told the club website:, external "Fabio is a player with special qualities who is comfortable with the ball in the final third of the pitch. We are all looking forward to working with him and enjoying his future contribution to Arsenal.

"We will now continue to work hard and are looking forward to finishing this transfer window as strongly as possible."

Mikel Arteta added: "I am very excited that we have identified and signed such a special talent.

"Fabio is a very creative player who will bring high quality and versatility to our attacking play. We welcome Fabio and his family to our club and are looking forward to starting work with him."

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Marcus Alves, writing for BBC Sport

Fabio Vieira arrived aged eight. The stylish midfielder spent all his formative years at Porto and yet his ride to the top was far from smooth.

His cousin and football coach Mara Vieira joined the club at the same time and even got to work by his side for a while, witnessing his journey through the ranks.

"We are talking here about a 12-year process to break into the senior squad and realise his dream of playing for his boyhood club," explained Mara, who is also an executive director at the School of Tactical Periodization.

"Despite his quality, there were moments when he didn't play much and wasn't really appreciated by a coach or two.

"For instance, he only made it to the national setup at the under-18 level. He had to watch his friends being called up while he was left behind but he never doubted himself. He used to say he had it all figured out."

It may have taken longer for Viera to flourish than might have been expected, but once he did breakthrough he did not look back.

He was a key member of the Porto team that won the 2019 Uefa Youth League, beating a Chelsea side including the likes of Conor Gallagher, Billy Gilmour and Tariq Lamptey. Two years later, he was named best player at the Under-21 European Championship.

Read more on Fabio Vieira by clicking here