My Arsenal Blog

Ajax star Hakim Ziyech is being linked with a move to Arsenal courtesy of his agent Rene van der Dijp. The Dutch agent has talked about wanting the likes of Arsenal or Liverpool to make a bid for the Moroccan international.

Van der Dijp told Dutch publication Voetbal Primeur: “I hope that there will be a better club than Roma – an Arsenal or Liverpool,” That is a major insult to the Giallorossi, who have a fine history.  .......Read more here.....

According to a report in the Mirror, Arsenal are interested in securing the signature of Ajax teenage defender Matthijs De Ligt.

With Per Mertesacker’s retirement imminent, and the fact that Laurent Koscielny is turning 33 later this year, the club are well in the process of rejuvenating the team’s back line. Shkodran Mustafi is an at excellent player, and at the age of 25, he’s about to enter his prime as a defender. Calum Chambers has hardly cemented a spot in the starting XI, but considering the time he’s been around, it’s very easy to forget he’s still only 23. Rob Holding turns 23 in September, while the Gunners’ first signing of the year, Konstantinos Mavropanos, is 20.  .......Read more here.....

According to reports from Spanish media outlet Sport, Premier League side Arsenal look set to appoint former Barcelona director of football Raul Sanllehi who’s been with the Catalan club since 2002.

A close friend of Ivan Gazidis’ will move into the Gunners boardroom to take over some of the responsibilities left unattended after Dick Law’s departure from the North London club.

Sanllehi is expected to be heavily involved in Arsenal’s recruitment strategy given his background as one of Barcelona’s chief negotiators in the past couple of years.  .......Read more here.....

As we all now know Arsenal have decided to realise French striker Yaya Sanogo this summer. The 24-year-olds contract expires this summer and he leaves having made very little impact at the north London club, except for a few bright pre-seasons run-outs.

Always out of his depth at Arsenal

Once of the first articles I ever wrote for My Arsenal Blog (in 2014 I think) was about whether Yaya Sanogo would ever make it at Arsenal. I got a so much abuse for the article, but at the time, I saw a player that just never looked like making it at the top level, even if he was a youngster.  .......Read more here.....

Gunners have set their sights upon the Ajax midfielder Riechedly Bazoer according to reports from Metro.

Arsenal have reportedly sent their chief scout Steve Rowley to watch the Dutch sensation in action as Arsene Wenger steps up his interest to sign one of the most sought-after youngsters in Europe.

Bazoer has made 27 Eredivisie appearances this season, scoring five goals and managing four assists in the process.

The highly-rated teenager has also featured in Europa League this season where he impressed with mature performances for his club.  .......Read more here.....

According to reports from the Metro and Polish publication Futbol News claim that Arsenal are tracking prolific Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik as a potential striking addition.

The 22-year-old Polish international is establishing a reputation as a prolific scorer of goals, having scored 42 goals in 69 appearances in the Dutch top-flight in the past two seasons. The striker also has a creditable record in international football, having scored ten times in 22 appearances.

The Metro are claiming that the Gunners will have rivals for the striker’s signature with Barcelona and Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Liverpool believed to be interested in signing Milik.  .......Read more here.....

Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo looks to be enduring a torrid time out on loan with Ajax this season, with recent footage showing the Frenchman struggling in front of goal. Missing a number of clear-cut chances, the 22-year-old hasn’t managed to progress in the years he’s spent at Arsenal, and such poor performances while out on loan could make up manager Arsene Wenger’s mind to let him go at the next available opportunity.  .......Read more here.....

According to the Daily Star and L’Equipe, Arsenal have beaten a number of teams to the signature of highly-rated young French midfielder Ismael Bennacer. It is believed that the Arles-Avignon ace is set to put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Arsenal.

The 17-year-old made six appearances for his current club as they were relegated to the third tier of the French game. However he is regarded as a bright youngster and it seems that the Gunners have beaten Premier League rivals Manchester City to the midfielders signing.  .......Read more here.....

Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo has joined Dutch giants Ajax on a season-long loan deal. The youngster has stated he hopes to emulate former-Ajax heroes Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Nwankwo Kanu during his spell in Amsterdam.

The 22-year-old is off on another temporary jaunt, after spending the second half of last season on-loan at the Gunners Premier League rivals Crystal Palace. The move was not exactly a resounding success, as he played ten times for the Eagles in the Premier League without scoring.  .......Read more here.....

With Arsenal now close to sealing fourth spot and odds of 1/100 to seal a Champions League spot, everybody connected with Arsenal must now be thinking about the prospective summer arrivals. According to the Daily Telegraph, Arsenal are in a battle with Tottenham for Ajax’s highly-rated defender Joel Veltman.

Doubts

There are doubts of the future of club captain Thomas Vermaelen, with the centre-back currently only back-up to first choice pair Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.

Vermaelen has also played at full-back on occasions this season, but with first team football hard to come by this season it seems he could contemplating a summer move.  .......Read more here.....