Plenty of Arsenal news doing the rounds today (23rd August) so I've done a quick thread to keep you guys up to date just in case you missed any Arsenal news today

If you're an Arsenal fan, please give this a read as it'll inform you on all the latest Arsenal news.

🚨Fabrizio Romano: "Gabriel Magalhães is not in London right now. He’s in France. But he’s coming to London soon. Arsenal are waiting for him" 

 Gabriel Magalhães to Arsenal is very close. 

A source close to Gabriel confirmed his heart is set on joining Mikel Arteta’s FA Cup winners, saying: "It is Gabriel’s dream to play in the Premier League – for Arsenal"

Lille president Gérard Lopez speaking to @RTLFrance: “I think Gabriel has made up his mind but we won't see the answer before Monday" 

Arsenal are among the clubs to have checked on experienced Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara. 

Bayern want to sell Thiago this summer as he has one year left on his current contract & is reluctant to sign a new deal, with their asking price at £23m, on top of high wages. Arsenal would need the figures to be lower & for the likes of Torreira & Elneny to leave.

There was also interest in a loan for West Ham winger Felipe Anderson from Arsenal, who was known by technical director Edu during his time with the Brazil national team. West Ham will only consider selling him permanently. 

AC Milan want to take advantage of changes behind the scenes at Arsenal with a loan move for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos. 

Mikel Arteta is preparing to clear the decks in a bid to balance Arsenal's books & give himself some more room to move in the transfer market. Arteta could make up to 15 players available for sale before the transfer window slams shut in October. 

Napoli will move for Sokratis Papastathopoulos if, as expected, they miss out on signing Gabriel. Rob Holding & Calum Chambers, who has been linked with a move to Fulham, have also been told that they are surplus to requirements. 

Lazio & Roma want Lucas Torreira, who has slipped down Arteta’s pecking order, while Torino & Fiorentina are watching on. Matteo Guendouzi is also set to leave while Alexandre Lacazette could also go after struggling since Arteta took over the Arsenal hot-seat.

Ljungberg on leaving Arsenal: "I have decided to leave my assistant coaching role at Arsenal to progress my management experience. I have been involved with this club on & off since 1998 and am grateful for all the opportunities they have given me both as a player and as a coach.

Ljungberg: “I wish Mikel [Arteta] and all the team every success for the season ahead. Thanks also to the fans for their constant support and for always being by my side. I hope we will all meet again soon."

Edu: “We’re really sad to see Freddie leave as we know how much he loves Arsenal. However, we know he has had various opportunities over the last 12 months & stuck to the job at Arsenal. Now he has the opportunity to consider other options & it makes sense for his career.”

Edu on Ljungberg: “Freddie has made a huge contribution in his coaching role, most importantly when he led the team during that difficult period between Unai’s departure & Mikel’s appointment.“

Edu on Ljungberg: “We will forever be grateful for what he did then & what he’s done since but fully recognise his desire to move on & be a head coach himself.”

Mikel Arteta on Ljungberg: “Freddie has been a really important member of my team since my arrival. He did a great job picking the team up when Unai left & we all have 100 percent respect for him as a man & a coach. I know I’ll be facing him on the touchline in the future.”

Bukayo Saka on Freddie Ljungberg: “Freddie has given us all so much valuable advice & support. He’s a fantastic coach & someone we all look up to. I’m just so grateful that I’ve been able to work alongside & learn directly from someone like him at this early part of my career.

OFFICIAL: Anass Salah-Eddine, known as ‘Salah’, has joined Arsenal on a professional contract as a free agent after leaving Eredivisie side Feyenoord.

Salah will join up with Arsenal’s Professional Development Phase ahead of the new season.

Salah-Eddine on how it feels to join Arsenal: "It feels great to join a massive club like Arsenal. It’s a good environment for me to work on my development & hopefully through the academy I can become a first-team player" 

Salah-Eddine on his style of play: "I’m a central midfielder & I like to play box to box. Offensively I’m a creative player and I can play with my left or right foot. I score goals & get assists, & defensively I like to think I do my bit too, especially in the transition"

Gabriel Magalhaes to Arsenal 'finally done' with official statement planned.

Gabriel to @Arsenal: 26M plus 4 bonus, contract till 2025 (2M net a year): his agents will fly tomorrow from brasil, the player will arrive on Monday in London @losclive @SkySports @SkySportsPL #footballtransfers.

Gabriel Magalhães will be on 40k per week according to @DiMarzio. That's insane if true. Edu working wonders already!

Gabriel to @Arsenal: 26M plus 4 bonus, contract till 2025 (2M net a year): his agents will fly tomorrow from brasil, the player will arrive on Monday in London @losclive @SkySports @SkySportsPL #footballtransfer.

Gabriel Magalhães will sign for Arsenal tomorrow. He rejected Manchester United’s more lucrative offer. The player preferred the project personally presented by Mikel Arteta. [@furlanv

Gabriel Magalhaes was offered more money to join Manchester United but had reservations over their future. Talks with Arteta seemed to show a clear path for progression for Arsenal and convinced the Brazilian to give up Champions League football. [ | La Voix du Nor

Arsenal have reached an agreement with Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes with the deal being made official next week, according to @FabrizioRomano

🚨Di Marzio: Gabriel will join Arsenal finally. He will fly to London on Monday. Everything is DONE

Gabriel Magalhães to Arsenal, here we go! Total agreement just completed: he will fly on Monday to London to sign his contract until June 2025, €30M to Lille (add ons included), official statement on next week. The deal is finally done. ⚪️🔴 #AFC #Arsenal #transfers

Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos will be back at Arsenal next season, and beyond. The Gunners have sealed a deal with Real Madrid, where Ceballos will go back out on loan with an obligation to buy next summer. #AFC 🔴⚪ #HalaMadrid

Mikel Arteta’s role in persuading Gabriel to snub Man United and Napoli for Arsenal transfer

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reportedly had a key role in persuading Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes choose a transfer to the Emirates Stadium.

As noted by Corriere dello Sport, the Brazil Under-20 international also had other big-name suitors such as Manchester United and Napoli this summer, but talks with Arteta seemed to swing things in Arsenal’s favour.

The Spanish tactician has done some fine work since taking over at Arsenal, including guiding his struggling side to a surprise FA Cup final victory over Chelsea earlier this month.

Now it seems Arteta is also working his magic in the transfer market as well, with Gabriel looking a potentially superb signing.

Gunners fans will be thrilled to learn that their exciting young coach was able to persuade the talented 22-year-old to snub other big offers in favour of a move to north London.

Corriere dello Sport suggest it was Arteta’s sheer determination to talk Gabriel into the move that seemed to have a profound effect.

As also reported by Fabrizio Romano, it looks very much like a move to Arsenal is on for Gabriel.

See Romano’s tweet below as he claims the player will sign his contract at AFC on Monday, with an official announcement possible some time next week…

All in all, this could be one that Man Utd live to regret, with the Red Devils surely also in need of a top defensive signing this summer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side finished trophyless in 2019/20 and only just scraped into the top four, with Harry Maguire not having the most convincing debut season at Old Trafford, with an upgrade on Victor Lindelof surely needed so the England international has a more reliable partner next to him.

Napoli could also have done with improving their defence, with Corriere dello Sport noting that Kalidou Koulibaly’s future at the club is in some doubt.

Gabriel Magalhaes looks set for a transfer to Arsenal

Arsenal Board Approves The Signing of Three Star Players at £150 Million

Arsenal has already signed Willian from Chelsea on a free transfer this week. This is the part of Mickel Alteta’s efforts to assemble a team that would challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the title next season. However the latest reports from London state that Arsenal Board has agreed to give £150 million for signing of three players

1 Thomas Partey

The Ghanaian midfielder remains Mickel Alteta’s top target this summer. Thomas Partey has had a good season this year as he was a very key player in the Athletico Madrid squad that eliminated Liverpool from the Champions league. He was recently left out of Athletico Madrid’s squad that faced Rb Leipzig and it is suspected to be one of the reasons why they lost the match

Arsenal made an offer of £30 million and were ready to offer one player as part of the deal but Athletico Madrid rejected the offer maintaining its initial stance that for the player to leave Madrid then his release clause of £50 million must be met.

With this amount of money set aside for transfer then Arsenal are likely to sign the defensive Midfielder this summer. Of they sign him then he will have to team up with Dani Cebalos or Granit Xhaka in the Midfield that is likely to be one of the best

2 Dayot Upemecano

The French defender has been attributed to the success of Rb Leipzig this season that has seen them qualify for the semi final of the EUFA champions league this season having eliminated Athletico Madrid in the quarter final. However the 21 year old is also on the wish list of Chelsea, Manchester united and Tottenham

The defender signed a contract that will prevent him from leaving on a free transfer next year. The contract also included a release clause of £50 million which is quite a reasonable price. Arsenal has been having problems with finding a good cenre back since their former captain left

Phillippe Coutinho

The Brazilian who is currently on loan at Beryern Munich from Barcelona. Arsenal are looking to increase their creativity in the attacking. They have quality players who can make a good attacking if the Brazilian is signed. If they partner with Aubamayeng, pepe and Wilian then they can form an attacking that defenders will not like to face

The former Liverpool playmaker is valued at around £60 million which has been quite a nightmare to Arsenal chiefs who have been looking at the possibility of signing the player on Loan with an option to buy. But with this budget then Arsenal will be likely to get this world class player

The players huge wage is also one of the reasons why the deal has not been finalized this summer. Arsenal are unwilling to offer him a salary of £250000 per week which will not be good for the dressing room as other players will also want their wages to be increased 

Alan Smith considers the signings that Arsenal should look to make after sealing a deal to land Willian from Chelsea FC

Alan Smith believes that Arsenal should consider deals to sign a new defender and midfielder in the summer transfer window after wrapping up a move for Willian.

The north London side completed a deal to bring the 32-year-old Brazilian attacker to The Emirates from Chelsea FC on a free transfer on Friday as they began their summer spending under Mikel Arteta ahead of next season.

Arsenal are believed to be on the lookout for a number of new signings this summer as Arteta prepares for his first full season in charge at the club after having been appointed back in December.

The Gunners’ struggles at the back have been well-documented over the last few seasons, and the future of on-loan Dani Ceballos also remains unclear as things stand.

Former Arsenal star Smith believes that the Gunners should look to make at least two new signings this summer as they prepare for the new campaign under Arteta next season.

Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Smith said: “With a few quid to spend, another central defender must be on the cards. This area, in fact, is the most interesting of all.

“Will William Saliba, for instance, be given an early chance after finally coming over from St Etienne?

“Saliba, by all accounts, has tremendous potential as a classy defender in the Virgil van Dijk mould.

“I can just imagine Arteta on that training ground, working hard with the 19-year-old to instil good habits. Depending on how that goes, we might see the Frenchman let loose early on.

“Next to whom is another matter though. Will Arteta continue with three at the back, a system that helped bring about such huge improvement?”

Smith continued: “Plenty of questions there, as there are in midfield where the future of Dani Ceballos looks far from certain.

“I am sure Arteta would love to keep this clever ball player with an excellent work ethic who forged a useful understanding with Granit Xhaka. Real Madrid, of course, might have other ideas.

“Midfield would further benefit if Matteo Guendouzi can be used in a deal to recruit someone like Thomas Partey, the much-admired lynchpin from Atletico Madrid.”

Arsenal secured their place in the Europa League for next season thanks to their 2-1 win over Chelsea FC in the FA Cup final at Wembley at the start of the month.

The Gunners struggled to find consistent form in the Premier League all season as they ended up in eighth place in the top-flight table.

Arsenal in battle with Ozil over future, Arteta seeks to capture £25m-rateed Ajax star, Why Coutinho’s fate is in Arsenal’s hand.

*Arsenal in battle with Ozil over future

*Arteta seeks to capture £25m-rateed Ajax star

*Why Coutinho’s fate is in Arsenal’s hand

North London outfit Arsenal have been tipped to move in for the signature of Brazilian international, Philippe Coutinho from Spanish La Liga club, Barcelona, this summer transfer window.

The Gunners have been linked with the player who is out-of-favour at the Bernabeu with his future left hanging as German Bundesliga outfit, Bayern Munich are unwilling to give him a permanent stay at the club.

Reports now claim that the North London club are the only solution to Philippe Coutinho as the player has already decided that he does not want to play for the Spanish giants anymore.

Most clubs are refusing to look the direction of Philippe Coutinho because of the wage bill and the same reason why Barcelona are having it tough with him to stay.

Should the North London club propose a loan deal for Philippe Coutinho, it would solve a lot of problems as the wage bill could be shared between the two teams.

However, there are fears that the North Londoners have already rejected the chances of having the former Liverpool player at the Emirates Stadium as they prefer his Brazilian counterpart, Willian from West London club, Chelsea.

Willian is reported to have completed medicals at the Emirates Stadium and a three-year deal is set to be announced by the club.

Arsenal set date for pre-season return ahead of Liverpool clash in Community Shield

The Gunners will be back at London Colney very soon after their FA Cup triumph

Mikel Arteta during a training session at London Colney (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty 

It will mean the Gunners have had just 21 days of celebration and relaxation between their FA Cup win over Chelsea and their return to training ahead of what will be another gruelling season in which they compete for silverware on multiple fronts.

Indeed some of Mikel Arteta's squad will gather before next Saturday for initial fitness tests and sessions with some of those whose seasons ended earlier because they were out on loan due to report at London Colney this Friday (August 14).

The club have also provided sessions for those like William Saliba whose domestic seasons were cut short due to the coronavirus. Arsenal's youth teams have already returned to training.

Arsenal also intend to organise behind closed doors friendlies though these may come in the two week gap between the Wembley showpiece and the start of the Premier League season.

It will be a far cry from the pre-season Arsenal had initially planned, one which would have seen them play fixtures on America's east coast.

However it may come with its advantages for Mikel Arteta, whose squad will be able to spend more time on the training pitch and less on in the commercial obligations and travel that increasingly dominate top clubs' agendas before the new campaign.

Of course Arsenal's players will not get as lengthy a break as they might have hoped for, although equally many of Arteta's first team would have been involved in the European Championships or Copa America but for the global pandemic.

Their holiday period also fulfils Arsenal's minimum obligation to their squads. Standard Premier League contracts state that clubs should not "unreasonably refuse" players from taking three days of annual leave consecutively though there is an acceptance across the game that further extended breaks will prove to be impossible after COVID-19 forced the domestic season to run until August 1.

Jose Mourinho proven right about Nicolas Pepe 12 months on from Arsenal transfer

The Ivory Coast international joined Arsenal back in the summer of 2019 for a big-money fee.

When Arsenal made the decision to splash out a club-record fee of £72million to sign winger Nicolas Pepe last summer from French outfit Lille, it is safe to say that heads were turned and eyebrows were raised.

After narrowly missing out on the top-four at the end of the 2018/19 season, as well as being beaten by Chelsea in the final of the Europa League, it appeared as though the Gunners were in need of one further piece of magic to take them to the next level.

To try and do just that, the Arsenal hierarchy made the decision to sign Pepe from Lille for a fee just north of £70million.

It was a statement of intent by the Emirates Stadium club and one that certainly lead to fans of other Premier League clubs sitting up and taking note of what the Gunners had just done.

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG IN PROFILE

Pepe arrived at Arsenal off the back of a fantastic 2018/19 campaign in Ligue 1, as he had scored 22 goals in 38 Ligue 1 appearances, as well as registering 12 assists in all competitions.

It was the kind of form that was met with a wave of expectation.

He was expected to hit the ground running, deliver the goods and strike an instant partnership with Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a front-three that was predicted to scare the living daylights out of opposition defenders.

Any such hopes the Arsenal fans and former boss Unai Emery had of that happening were quickly distinguished, as Pepe struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League.

Nicolas Pepe (left), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (centre) and Alexandre Lacazette pose with the FA Cup after last weekend's win at Wembley. (Image: (Catherine Ivill/NMC Pool/PA Wire))

In his first 12 Premier League outings, the Ivory Coast international scored just one goal and registered two assists.

It was a far cry from the form that had been expected from the club's record-signing.

However, though goals and assists have not arrived in bucket loads, Pepe has improved significantly since football returned in June. He has been far more lively, involved and shown a willingness to make things happen.

For example, he played the pass to Aubameyang in last Saturday's FA Cup final win over Chelsea that sealed the Gunners their first trophy of the Mikel Arteta era. That has to count for something.

With Pepe having now been on the Gunners' books for just over a year, it is safe to say that the 25-year-old has now started to find his feet and cope with the demands that English football requires.

And his recent form has proven that Tottenham Hotspur chief Jose Mourinho was right about him all along, with the Spurs boss having highlighted the importance of patience being key following his arrival at the Emirates Stadium last summer.

Prior to landing the Spurs job back in November, Mourinho worked as a pundit for Sky Sports' Premier League coverage and he made a bold prediction about Pepe, insisting that time would be key to him fulfilling his potential in an Arsenal shirt.

“I know Pepe very well," said Mourinho. "There’s a question mark over the time for his adaption but he’s obviously a kid with a lot of talent.

"This is potentially a very good signing for Arsenal."

Whilst there is, of course, still plenty more for Pepe to do to justify his £72m price tag, he is heading in the right direction, proving that he can be key for Arteta moving forward.

In total, Pepe racked up 42 appearances for Arsenal during the 2019/20 campaign, scoring eight times and claiming 10 assists.

Arsenal to sack 55 workers as COVID-19 hits revenues

Less than a week after winning the FA Cup to secure their place in next season’s Europa League, Arsenal has announced plans to layoff 55 staff.

This is also coming as the football club negotiated a multi-million-pound contract extension with striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The club said on Wednesday, that the cuts were the result of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement sparked an immediate social media backlash from fans contrasting the huge sums involved with keeping key players to the lost jobs of staff at the north London outfit.

“Revenue from broadcasters, matchday and commercial activities have all been hit severely and these impacts will continue into at least the forthcoming 2020/21 season.” the club said in a statement.

The club said they had done all they could to reduce costs, including players, senior staff and executive team members taking voluntary pay cuts adding “but it is now clear that we must reduce our costs further to ensure we are operating in a sustainable and responsible way.”

Arsenal is also bidding to lure Chelsea forward Willian to the club, also on a huge weekly wage, while local media reports this week say they are offering striker Aubameyang a 300,000 pounds-a-week deal to extend his contract.

The wealth of the club’s multi-billionaire American owner Stan Kroenke had risen by around 300 million pounds this year, according to a report written and compiled by the United States-based Institute for Policy Studies, another fact not lost on fans voicing their frustration.

An update from Arsenal

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have been working hard to ensure that Arsenal Football Club emerges in a robust and strong position for the future.

In line with other football clubs and many other businesses operating in the sport, leisure and entertainment arena, we have been impacted directly by COVID-19.

Our main sources of income have all reduced significantly. Revenue from broadcasters, matchday and commercial activities have all been hit severely and these impacts will continue into at least the forthcoming 2020/21 season.

The pandemic represents one of the most challenging periods in our 134-year history and we have responded promptly by implementing wide-ranging measures to reduce our costs. Our players, senior football staff and executive team have volunteered pay cuts, we have stopped pretty much all of our capital spending, and our discretionary operating expenditure has been strictly controlled.

We have also received significant financial support from our owners, Kroenke, Sports & Entertainment in terms of refinancing our stadium debt.

These steps have all reduced the impact of the pandemic on the club and have helped us continue to maintain investment in the team. This will continue to be a key priority.

It is now clear that we will be facing more significant and longer-lasting reductions in our revenue than we all hoped. Current indications are that we will not have fans back at Emirates Stadium for the start of next season and fans will only be able to return in limited numbers after that. The global economic projections are also very negative. 

This will impact the disposable income of our fans, the money corporate clients have to spend on hospitality and sponsorship, and the ability for broadcasters to invest in TV rights.

We all hope there will be no “second wave” but we also need to accept that is one of the many uncertainties ahead of us and plan accordingly. 

Over recent years we have consistently invested in additional staff to take the club forward but with the expected reduction of income in mind, it is now clear that we must reduce our costs further to ensure we are operating in a sustainable and responsible way, and to enable us to continue to invest in the team.

Our aim has been to protect the jobs and base salaries of our people for as long as we possibly can. Unfortunately, we have now come to the point where we are proposing 55 redundancies.

We do not make these proposals lightly and have looked at every aspect of the club and our expenditure before reaching this point. We are now entering the required 30-day consultation period on these proposals.  

We know this is upsetting and difficult for our dedicated staff and our focus is on managing this as sensitively as possible.

These proposed changes are ultimately about ensuring we take this great football club forward, creating the right organisation for a post-Covid world, and ensuring we have the resources to return to competing effectively at the top of the game here and in Europe.

Source: Arsenal.com

Transfer DONE DEALS and Updates, Sancho, Aubameyang, Willian, Joao Felix and Lacazette latest news

Nathan Aké to Manchester City is a done deal, and confirmed. There is total agreement between Man City and Bournemouth. The personal terms are okay and medicals are on the next few days.

Willian has rejected Chelsea's second two-year contract offer. However, he wants to wait a week before deciding his next destination. 

 BREAKING: Ferran Torres has signed his ManCity contract until 2025. The paperwork and medicals are all complete. 

Manchester United are set to pay Jadon Sancho's €120 million price tag in instalments according to Bild. Borussia Dortmund would be happy to accept. 

Arsenal are interested in signing Diego Carlos. 

Manchester City have enquired on Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix as part of their plans to bring a new attacker to Etihad. 

Arsenal owner Kroenke has given an okay to a three year £250,000 a week deal for Aubameyang as reported by Express. 

Juventus have started discussions with Arsenal on Lacazette. 

Manchester United are keen on signing James Rodriguez. Madrid are demanding a fee of £40m.

Wolves are interested in signing PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye. PSG are ready to sell the player. 

Leicester have made a bid for Barcelona's Francisco Trincao for a loan and obligation to buy. 

CONFIRMED. Angel Gomes has signed for Lille on a 5 year contract. 

Brighton are interested in signing Maitland Niles from Arsenal who are demanding £20m fee. 

Juventus have entered race to sign Raul Jimenez from Wolves. 

Lacks class' - Tottenham and Everton fans can't believe what Mikel Arteta did in FA Cup final

The Arsenal boss was seen gesturing during the first half at Wembley

The FA Cup final has been an entertaining affair in the first half.

The big London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea has not disappointed so far, despite Wembley Stadium being empty because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Christian Pulisic lit up the national stadium finishing off a stunning move to give Chelsea the lead.

But Arsenal grew into the match as the half wore on and they deservedly levelled from the penalty spot after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was hauled down on his way into the box by Cesar Azpilicueta.

And in that moment for the penalty, Arsenal boss MIkel Arteta did something that annoyed a number of football supporters.

Azpilicueta was booked for the challenge, with Antonio Rudiger the covering defender, although with no real attempt made to win the ball there is an argument that Azpilicueta could have been sent off.

It is something that really grates with supporters when players call for other players to be sent off, and Arteta gesutring on the sidelines was not missed by fans on Twitter.

Among a great number of people responding to the pictures, many were Tottenham - natural for rivals of Arsenal - and Everton for whom Arteta actually played in his career.

Arteta did redeem himself later on when Azpilicueta went off injured, patting him as he went past to make sure he was okay.

Arsenal reap rewards of Mikel Arteta's special project to unleash real Nicolas Pepe

Mikel Arteta has succeeded in his plans to make Nicolas Pepe the Gunners' ultimate threat

Exactly a year on August 1 2020, Pepe produced his best performance in red and white to bring the FA Cup home for a record 14th time in the club's history and prove just why the Gunners were so keen to announce that " #PepeIsHere " 365 days prior.

The afternoon got off to a sticky start with Christian Pulisic putting Chelsea ahead in the fifth minute of the game. Rallying a few more Blues attacks, it wasn't long before Arsenal grew into the game and while Kieran Tierney, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were key to this, Pepe was even more influential in ensuring the side were a force going forward.

Over the course of his debut season, the 25-year-old has been accused of being too predictable. At Wembley, he was anything but predictable and massive credit has to go to Mikel Arteta for this, as well as Pepe himself.

"It's clear that his consistency has not been at the level he can produce. He's the first to accept that. That's what I'm going to demand of a player of his level and calibre," the head coach said about him on June 19.

"He knows that. He's such a nice kid. He's trying really hard. You have to accept as well, the timing and the way he has adapted for the first year.

"It's taking the flash moments into a consistent mode. That, for a creative wide player to do it, is a big task.

"Every detail has to be taken into account because it makes a huge difference. His mentality as well, his mindset has to all the time be like that; to win the game for the team. He's one of the players in the squad that can do it and must take the responsibility."

The shift in demand put on Pepe to try and make his game less predictable post-lockdown were clear instantly. Too often before the restart would he cut onto his left foot and to the detriment of the team, which was evident in the shock Europa League defeat to Olympiacos.

Arsenal reap rewards of Mikel Arteta's special project to unleash real Nicolas Pepe

Mikel Arteta has succeeded in his plans to make Nicolas Pepe the Gunners' ultimate threat

Nicolas Pepe was exceptional in Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup final win over Chelsea. (Image: Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

It was the afternoon of August 1 2019 when Arsenal smashed their record transfer fee to bring Nicolas Pepe to north London for £72million.

Exactly a year on August 1 2020, Pepe produced his best performance in red and white to bring the FA Cup home for a record 14th time in the club's history and prove just why the Gunners were so keen to announce that " #PepeIsHere " 365 days prior.

The afternoon got off to a sticky start with Christian Pulisic putting Chelsea ahead in the fifth minute of the game. Rallying a few more Blues attacks, it wasn't long before Arsenal grew into the game and while Kieran Tierney, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were key to this, Pepe was even more influential in ensuring the side were a force going forward.

Over the course of his debut season, the 25-year-old has been accused of being too predictable. At Wembley, he was anything but predictable and massive credit has to go to Mikel Arteta for this, as well as Pepe himself.

Mikel Arteta loves Arsenal's team spirit

"It's clear that his consistency has not been at the level he can produce. He's the first to accept that. That's what I'm going to demand of a player of his level and calibre," the head coach said about him on June 19.

"He knows that. He's such a nice kid. He's trying really hard. You have to accept as well, the timing and the way he has adapted for the first year.

"Every detail has to be taken into account because it makes a huge difference. His mentality as well, his mindset has to all the time be like that; to win the game for the team. He's one of the players in the squad that can do it and must take the responsibility."

The shift in demand put on Pepe to try and make his game less predictable post-lockdown were clear instantly. Too often before the restart would he cut onto his left foot and to the detriment of the team, which was evident in the shock Europa League defeat to Olympiacos.

How Arteta and Lampard reacted to the 2020 FA Cup final

In his first start back against Brighton, however, he four of his five dribbles were round the outside of the defence. He finally cut onto his left on the fifth dribble and the work done previously had bought him time and space to bend the ball into the far corner - as analysed in more detail here.

Since the restart, the area Pepe has taken longest to develop is what to do when crowded out of his natural position. Against Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, dropping deep resulted in him either being hacked down or losing influence further up field. That was not the case against Chelsea.

Frank Lampard's side began the first half pressing Arsenal extremely high up the pitch, a method which saw them successfully turnover possession and hurt the Gunners

Bellerin quickly moves the ball infield to Pepe who is being closely marked by Antonio Rudiger, one of Chelsea's three centre-backs. With some luck after a miss-kick, the Ivorian retreats into his own box, taking Rudiger with him before passing to David Luiz when Olivier Giroud joins the press.

Pulisic, Kovacic and Alonso had resigned to retreat, with Alonso trying to rejoin the defensive line which is now misshapen because of Rudiger chasing Pepe.

After moving the ball on, Pepe doesn't immediately go back to the right wing. Instead, he follows the ball. Staying low-key, his presence in the highlighted space goes unnoticed by Kovacic and Jorginho while Rudiger's attention switches to rejoining his defence.

While this happens, the ball is played up the left and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang picks him out in midfield and he is now the man driving Arsenal up the pitch from a completely unexpected point of attack

In the early stages of the game, Arsenal used Maitland-Niles to exploit the space between Reece James [right wing-back] and Cesar Azpilicueta [right-sided centre-back]. Now is Pepe's turn to take advantage, as he slides the ball through to the 22-year-old he is able to burst into the final third as a result.

Compared to the early weeks of the restart, the big improvement here was Pepe staying alive to different possibilities. Especially against Southampton and Spurs, when receiving the ball drop deep with his back to goal, he didn't trust himself nearly as much. He'd either try to turn the defender and have a whole midfield to play through or set the ball back.

Going with the flow on this occasion made him less predictable as keeping the ball, shifting the point of attack and shadowing it allowed him to pick up pockets of space he wouldn't usually enter, therefore giving him time and space to hurt teams even more.

Although these spaces were different to those attacked against Brighton, the impact was somewhat similar. When he finally decided to cut onto his left foot to whip crosses to the back post, there was more time to cause chaos with his deliveries.

In fact, when Arsenal finally got to grips with the game, it was Pepe they looked to turn the screw, whipping three crosses to the same area 2 minutes and 31 seconds

The first meets Aubameyang who nods across goal for Alexandre Lacazette.

The second is aimed towards Aubameyang and Maitland-Niles and causes Willy Caballero to rush out of his goal, completely missing the ball while a defender touches it away for a corner.

This is aimed towards Holding and Aubameyang [out of shot] and once again causes problems among the Chelsea defence.

Although these developments in Pepe's game have been crucial in freeing him up more and making him a more threatening player for Arsenal, there's one thing that has always been there, and was present again at Wembley - his trickery.

Blending these more refined aspects of the game with the ability to embarrass Rudiger with two outrageous backheeled nutmegs took his performance to another level. The silkiness of his dribbling on the edge of the box before nutmegging Andreas Christensen to win a free kick was also indicative of the truly special moments that Arsenal shelled out all that money for last summer

Had his goal ridiculously well-taken goal - which proved the importance of Maitland-Niles positioning yet again - stood, it would have capped off a perfect performance but an assist for the winner will serve just as well.

Like with Kieran Tierney, Dani Ceballos, Luiz and Arteta it's been a tough first season for Pepe. Having to adapt to a new league under three different head coaches while being without a proper supporting right-back for most of the year, he has figuratively fought a battle with an arm tied behind his back.

365 days after signing, however, he gave his best example yet for why Premier League defences should fear him next season.

The most important transfer Arsenal will make for Mikel Arteta and it's not Thomas Partey

Mikel Arteta will be keen to bolster his midfield options during the summer transfer window

A 2-1 victory in the FA Cup final ended a rather eventful domestic campaign for Arsenal.

After two head coaches and unforeseen levels of disruption due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Gunners finished with another FA Cup trophy and a feeling that things are heading in the right direction under Mikel Arteta.

However, attention will quickly turn to the transfer market with Arsenal needing to address a number of areas across the pitch.

An early piece of good news ahead of an action-packed transfer window was Dani Ceballos outlining that he would like to stay at the club for the 2020/21 campaign.

A decision is yet to be made by his parent club Real Madrid but the 23-year-old appears to be happy in north London.

He told El Pais: "If I had to choose Arsenal again, I would.

"When I have had continuity, like now at Arsenal, I have been enjoying and developing good football. My hope is to continue at this level: right now I feel like the leader of this important team, a player with stripes.

"Surrounded by people who believe in you, it is easier to believe in people. When you play like this and you also have the confidence of the coach everything is easier."

Ceballos’ willingness to stay at Arsenal this summer points towards a promising future for the club, but one that will undoubtedly demand several pieces of good transfer business.

In the case of Ceballos, as well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the club’s top priority should be trying to keep this group of players together before thinking about potential new arrivals.

The Spanish midfielder has been excellent in the second half of the campaign and his man-of-the-match performance against Chelsea on Saturday showed why the Gunners should do everything they can to keep him for at least one more season.

Continued links to Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey suggest Arsenal may be looking to bolster the long-term midfield options in the transfer market, but there are a number of reasons to suggest that Ceballos should be the number one target.

Since Arteta arrived at the Emirates back in December, the majority of his work with the current squad has been about getting the very best from each player in different tactical systems.

The Arsenal head coach has favoured a more possession-based style of play than Unai Emery but a clear shift in the balance of the team has been an important factor.

Ceballos has arguably been the most crucial element of adding a balance between defence and attack since Arteta’s arrival.

The 23-year-old’s ability to retain possession in key areas and progress into the final third has helped the likes of Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette receive more opportunities in front of goal.

In addition, his impressive performance against Chelsea on Saturday highly contrasted the lack of defensive structure and penetration in the Blues’ midfield which proved to be a decisive factor in the match – and one that has traditionally gone against Arsenal’s midfield.

Those factors are worth bearing in mind when the Gunners’ hierarchy discuss transfer plans this summer.

Ceballos is a player who has already proven to be a success under Arteta and his increasing importance towards the end of the 2019/20 campaign highlights why he should be a top priority.

Partey, of course, remains an attractive proposition if signing him is financially viable.

But the domestic campaign being just six weeks away suggests that trusting in tried and trusted players would be a big sign of the club’s belief in Arteta to take Arsenal forward.

Mikel Arteta confirms he has already laid out his Arsenal transfer plans to Raul Sanllehi(SEE HIS PLANS)

After beating Chelsea in the FA Cup Final Arsenal now set out on the rebuild Arteta is planning

Once more Arsenal entered the final day of their season knowing that their future plans were dependent on the outcome of one match. This time, 14 months on from the gut-punch of Baku, they got what they needed.

Beating Chelsea at Wembley is above all else a sporting triumph for Arsenal, winners of 10% of FA Cups in the competitions' 139-year history. It is further vindication for Mikel Arteta and those who appointed him, among whom in Raul Sanllehi was one figure who had championed his arrival after Arsene Wenger's exit in 2018 and offers propulsion for a new season that will begin in less than four weeks at Wembley with the Community Shield.

Arteta would be the first to insist that Arsenal should expect far more than Europa League football but it is hard to overstate its importance for the 2020/21 season and beyond. Financially it means at least £30million in payments from UEFA and matchday revenue that comes with reaching the group stage.

If Arteta's side were to repeat their run to the final in Baku in 2018/19 then they could hope to earn £35million solely from UEFA before any other income is considered. It is not Champions League money but in the current climate, it is of vital importance to the Gunners.

Some of the continental bounties will be redirected to players, whose 12.5% pay cut for the 12 months from April will now be reduced to 7.5%. Some will go to the transfer fund, allowing Arteta, head of football Raul Sanllehi and technical director to do more in the market than might have otherwise been possible.

Arteta has long been planning for multiple scenarios depending on what form of European football Arsenal find themselves playing in. His vision has, he confirmed in the afterglow of the Wembley triumph, already been presented to those who will be tasked with executing it.

"They know everything, I present everything to them: my vision, what my plans are, why I want to do it," he said. "Then all together we will try our best to be in the best possible position when we start the new season."

Cup glory

Chief among his demands are a dynamic presence in central midfield - Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid remains their preferred choice - and an injection of further quality in defence with Malang Sarr on their radar. The latter will require players to be offloaded in spite of the greater funds Arsenal now have to work with.

Arteta is also understood to want an injection of greater creativity into his frontline. Arsenal is also optimistic that they will be able to secure the services of Dani Ceballos, excellent once more at Wembley, and, with the player keen to spend more time in north London, it will now be down to the Gunners and Real Madrid to agree on the specifics of a deal where the latter is believed to favour a permanent sale.

How much of this rebuild would have been possible without European football is, Arsenal are relieved to acknowledge, now unknowable. As if beating London rivals at Wembley was not pressure enough the financial ramifications of defeat weighed heavily on the club.

Arteta did all he could to ensure that it was not transmitted to his squad. "I didn’t want to add too much pressure to the players," he said.

"I know how important it was, it was very important because we need to be in Europe. It’s a must for our club as well financially because it’s a big step forward to allow us to do more things in the future and have a better structure financially at the club as well.

"I’m very pleased for both the team winning the trophy and having the option to play in Europe."

Arteta at least has the cornerstone of his rebuild in place and has confirmed that he plans to build his team around Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose two goals brought Arsenal victory after slipping to an early deficit when Christian Pulisic struck. There remains the matter of his contract, in its final 10 months, to sort, though the Arsenal boss hopes the next seven days could bring progress.

Saturday was hardly the first occasion this season in which Aubameyang's goals have dug Arsenal out of a hole whilst the club captain also netted both goals in the semi-final win over Manchester City among his 29 in 44 appearances across all competitions.

That he has done so much despite being pushed into a wide left role by Arteta only serves to burgeon his standing among the many great strikers to have played for Arsenal.

"We always had incredible strikers in this football club, Auba deserves to be compared with the big names," the Arsenal boss said. "By winning trophies he will be closer to that, the longer he stays there as well. Hopefully, we can have him for more years.

"The biggest problem probably was to convince him as well to work the way he is working because he was going to get more rewarded, more respected and then that will go from respect to admiration.

"Admiration from his team-mates, the people who work with him and the fans. Now with the way he’s conducting himself on and off the pitch, he’s got that."

Source: Football.london