Arsenal’s Mikel Merino interest + Smith Rowe latest and keeper capture close

Hello everyone. Just as I was sitting down to write this post the news has broken that Gareth Southgate has resigned as England manager, bringing to an end his eight years in the job.

I think it’s definitely the right decision. Southgate has done a lot of good during his time in charge. He picked up the pieces after some dreadful lows and helped make England as competitive as they have ever been on the international stage, delivering two final appearances in successive Euros and getting to the semi-final of a World Cup.

And he does deserve a lot of credit for that. But ultimately, he couldn’t get his team over the line and the time does feel right for him to be moving on. It’s time someone else has a crack at it with this group of players.

I do think tactically Southgate is pretty limited and that has certainly shown at times. But whoever takes over from him is going to be handed a squad that is in far better shape thanks to the work he has done since 2016.

And who knows, they might even get Ben White as well now……..

Anyway, enough about England. With the Euros and Copa America now behind us, all eyes are on Arsenal once again and things are beginning to pick up on that front.

The first batch of players returned for the start of pre-season yesterday and those who were knocked out of the summer international tournaments at the group stages will follow at the end of the week.

They will then all fly out to the United States for the pre-season tour where they will be joined at some point by the players who reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals with their national sides.

Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice and David Raya will be the final players to return and that won’t happen until after the squad returns from the United States ahead of the two Emirates Cup fixtures.

So far there have been no new signings since the window opened. Talks are ongoing with Bologna over Riccardo Calafiori, but as yet an agreement has not been reached.

Arsenal are interested in midfielder Mikel Merino at Real Sociedad. As far as I’m aware, however, no bid has been made, although now the Euros are done and dusted it could be one the club look to press on with at pace.

Sources in Spain tell me that Sociedad are aware of Arsenal’s interest, but that there is also other clubs in the mix for Merino given he is set to be available at quite a nice price given he only has a year left on his contract.

The Spain international has just turned 28, so he is a bit older than the usual profile that Arsenal go for under Mikel Arteta and Edu, but he’s got a lot of the attributes they are looking for in a new midfielder this summer.

While we’re on possible incomings, it wouldn’t surprise me to see at least one keeper come in before the squad heads out to the States at the weekend.

I’m expecting confirmation soon of Tommy Setford’s move from Ajax, but there’s also a good chance Arsenal make an improved offer for Dan Bentley at Wolves after seeing their first bid knocked back.

Elsewhere, Fulham have made an offer for Emile Smith Rowe. Arsenal rejected it, but that interest is not going to go away and unlike last summer, I don’t think Arsenal will block a move happening should Fulham, Palace or anyone else put an acceptable bid on the table over the next few weeks.

It will be a real shame to see Smith Rowe leave, but it does feel like the right time for a parting of the ways. He needs to play and if that is not going to happen at Arsenal, then the club should do all they can to let him go elsewhere.

I think they will do that, but of course they need to get a fair price for a player who is full of potential and is still very young.

Anyway, that’s about it from me for now. But before I go, just a quick reminder that the fully updated paperback version of my book ‘Revolution – The rise of Arteta’s Arsenal’ hits the shops on Thursday. 

You can order your copy HERE