Champions League final lost on penalties
Arsenal 1–1 PSG in the Champions League final, then 3–4 on penalties (2). That stings. Your team took it to the wire against the French champions and fell one kick short. Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins were all involved, with Eze missing from the spot. Asked afterwards about England penalty duty at the World Cup, Eze did not hide: "If called upon, for sure. Why wouldn't I take it?" (2). Marc Guehi also featured for England. The final was there, and it slipped away at the death.
Merino: I don't train as a striker
Mikel Merino has been scoring goals from midfield, but he is not doing anything special in training to make it happen. "I don't train [as a forward] as such," he said Monday (1). The Spaniard has become a real attacking threat for your team without changing his role, while Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres handle the central striking duties. It is working anyway.
Bouaddi race heats up with City joining
Arsenal have direct contacts with Ayyoub Bouaddi's camp, Fabrizio Romano confirms (8). The 18-year-old Lille midfielder shone for Morocco at the World Cup. But Manchester City have now joined the race (9), and PSG "absolutely love Bouaddi," Romano said, though he added they are not prioritising midfielders right now (8). Liverpool are also in the conversation. Arsenal have already held meetings with the player's agents, but the competition is getting louder.
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Nearly £10m bid readied for Leicester teenager Monga
Arsenal are prepared to pay close to £10m for Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga (5). Brentford have been flagged as a potential hijacker in the background, so your club are pushing to get this done.
Morgan Rogers pursuit threatened by City's £121m move
Arsenal fear Manchester City's £121m bid for Elliot Anderson could wreck their own move for Morgan Rogers (7). Chelsea are also circling one of your targets. The domino effect of a mega-deal elsewhere could leave Arsenal scrambling.
Arteta's son, a Larne keeper, and a Blackburn striker
Three academy notes to wrap up. Mikel Arteta's son Gabriel has signed scholarship terms with Arsenal (4). Goalkeeper Phoenix Blayney is joining from Larne, with Liverpool beaten to the signing (3). And Igor Tyjon, a striker previously linked with Arsenal, has extended his scholarship at Blackburn Rovers, which likely ends any near-term pursuit (6).
Fan reactions
The Champions League final loss is raw. Fans are dissecting the penalty shootout, with many pointing to Eze's miss as the decisive moment but refusing to hang him for it. Saka's fitness is also a talking point, reports of Achilles tendonitis have supporters worried about his World Cup minutes for England, even as the national team apparently copies Arsenal's set-piece routines. Elsewhere, the subreddit is buzzing about Odegaard's leadership and Havertz's international scoring record. Read the full discussion.
