Trossard flops as Belgium exit World Cup
Spain 2–1 Belgium in the World Cup quarter-final on Friday, and Leandro Trossard picked the worst possible moment to go missing. Mikel Merino scored the winner for Spain, while Belgian outlet Voetbalkrant pulled no punches: "He chose a very bad moment to play his first truly poor match of the tournament" (7). Trossard is expected to leave Arsenal this summer, and that performance will not have anyone at the club second-guessing the decision.
Arsenal line up £250m triple swoop
The scale of the summer rebuild is coming into focus. Arsenal could spend as much as £250 million on Bruno Guimaraes, Morgan Rogers, and Bradley Barcola (1). Newcastle are already preparing for Guimaraes' departure, identifying Botafogo's Danilo Santos as a replacement, while Arsenal ready a significant offer (4).
Tzolis targeted as Trossard and Martinelli replacement
Arsenal want Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for around £35 million, with the Greece international seen as the man to fill the gap on the left wing once Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli move on (3). Besiktas are also in the picture (3). On Saturday, Tzolis scored a stunner in a friendly, though Club Brugge lost 3–1 to Feyenoord (8). A Greece winger wants the Arsenal move, per Fabrizio Romano, and sporting director Andrea Berta is working to finalise it (2).
Get the next Arsenal FC brief by email
This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Merino hailed as world-class after Spain heroics
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente did not hold back on Mikel Merino after his match-winning display against Belgium. "Mikel has many virtues, he's a world-class footballer who could play for any national team, any club, just like he does for a top team," de la Fuente said (10). Merino has been coming off the bench and deciding games at this World Cup. That is exactly the kind of depth Arsenal won the league with.
Villa demand £50m for Konsa
Arsenal want Ezri Konsa but Aston Villa have slapped a £50 million price tag on the England defender, which makes a deal complicated (5).
Monga snubs Arsenal for City, Dowman reacts
Teenage target Jeremy Monga has signed for Manchester City after Arsenal talks stalled. "When I became aware that Manchester City were interested, I knew instantly this was the right choice for me," Monga said on Saturday (6). Arsenal academy star Max Dowman reacted to the news on social media (6).
Quick hits
Arsenal hold concrete interest in Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi, though the 21-year-old German may not be available this summer (9). Mikel Oyarzabal is on the radar after an impressive World Cup with Spain (12). Young midfielder Demiane Agustien, 18, is attracting loan interest from multiple Eredivisie clubs (11).
Fan-reaktioner
The mood on r/Gunners is buzzing after Norway, led by Martin Odegaard's record-breaking fourth assist of the tournament, knocked England out of the World Cup. Odegaard now holds the record for most assists by an Arsenal player at a single World Cup, edging past Bukayo Saka's three. Declan Rice started for England, but it was Odegaard's Norway who advanced to the semi-finals. See the reaction here.
