Monday at Villa Park, title defence rolls on
Arsenal 3–0 Coventry City in the opener, and now Aston Villa away on Monday at 21:00 CEST. You sit ninth with 3 points, only one game played. Noni Madueke sounds loose about it: "Everyone's more free, everyone's more relaxed. It was great to win the league after 22 years, it's some feat" (7). Ezri Konsa and Unai Emery wait at Villa Park.
Martinelli to Al Hilal for a record €70m
Gabriel Martinelli looks gone. Arsenal have agreed a €70m deal with Al Hilal, potentially your record sale (1). That is serious money to reinvest or bank before the window shuts.
Gabriel Jesus lands in Barcelona today
Gabriel Jesus is expected in Barcelona on Monday to complete his €10m move from Arsenal (4). Negotiations lasted only minutes. Barcelona get him plus add-ons and a 20% sell-on clause, and the door stays open for Julian Alvarez in January (1). Meanwhile Alvarez returned to Atletico training as the Barcelona deadline passed, with Arsenal still interested in him (6).
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Arteta wants bigger matchday squads
Mikel Arteta is pushing the Premier League to expand the 20-man matchday squad, citing player welfare, pointing to La Liga's 23 and Serie A's 25 (9).
Four academy arrivals confirmed
Igor Tyjon, James Scanlon, Axel Donczew and Habeeb Ogunneye all joined the academy, plus Marli Salmon signed a first professional contract (12). Tyjon: "Who doesn't want to join the champions?" (12). Ogunneye arrives permanently from Manchester United (8).
Tzolis has hit the ground running
Christos Tzolis has impressed in his early Arsenal performances after a strong spell in Belgium (2). He called his Norwich year "the worst of my life" (2). Different story now.
Fan reactions
The mood around the Jesus deal is one of quiet satisfaction, with fans noting Barcelona's pursuit of Julian Alvarez stalled and Jesus was the fallback, leaving Arsenal a sell-on clause that keeps the Argentine firmly in play for January. There is also a touch of irritation at the recurring Alvarez saga, summed up by fans as "same shit all over again."
