Meslier in, Setford out on loan
Arsenal are signing Illan Meslier on a free transfer after the 26-year-old left Leeds United, where he made 215 appearances across seven seasons (1) (3). He arrives as third-choice behind David Raya and Karl Hein. Tommy Setford heads the other way, a loan move to Werder Bremen is being lined up to give the 20-year-old regular minutes (1). Daniel Farke had wanted Meslier at Leeds permanently but could not keep him (3). The deal also means Kepa Arrizabalaga, linked earlier, is no longer on the radar (1).
Three early fixtures moved for TV
Your first five Premier League games now have confirmed dates and kick-off times (2) (4). The opener against Coventry City stays on Friday, August 21 at 8pm. The trip to Aston Villa moves to Monday, August 31 at 8pm. Chelsea at home is Sunday, September 6 at 4.30pm, and Sunderland away follows on Saturday, September 12 at 5.30pm (2) (4). All four of the first five are live on Sky Sports. Plan accordingly.
Arsenal chasing Mexican teenager Mora
Gilberto Mora, 17, caught the eye at the 2026 World Cup and Arsenal want him (5) (7). The Mexican midfielder has an £18.7m release clause. Liverpool are also in the picture, and Club Tijuana know they hold a valuable asset. Mora played group-stage minutes at the World Cup and enough people were watching to make this a genuine race (7).
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City kid Parker on the radar
Arsenal are among the clubs tracking Xavier Parker, a 16-year-old midfielder at Manchester City (6). He wants a clearer path to first-team football and City may struggle to offer it. Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Bayern Munich are also watching. No bid yet, but the interest is real (6).
Sagoe Jr. returns with two assists
Charles Sagoe Jr. is back in competitive football. The Arsenal loanee provided two assists for Kalmar FF against Orgryte on Sunday (8). A small but meaningful moment for a young Gunner finding his feet in senior football.
Fan reactions
The Meslier news has split opinion. Some fans see a smart, low-risk pickup, a 26-year-old with over 200 Leeds appearances on a free. Others point to his error-prone spell and wonder if a younger option would have been braver. The Athletic report drew a lively thread on r/soccer, while on r/Gunners the reaction was more measured, most trust the club's succession planning. The fixture changes thread on r/Gunners was pure logistics: travel plans, early kick-offs, and that Friday night opener against Coventry.
