Arsenal have started planning for the summer transfer window, but those preparations have already been taken up by a young Brazilian, as Mikel Arteta made a bid to keep his side’s Premier League title challenge on the right track.
Arsenal’s attention turns to Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth, with the Gunners hoping to continue their Premier League title challenge.
But club bosses have also started laying out plans for the summer transfer window although they have taken a serious hit to the preparations. Wonderkid Vitor Roque, who has been linked with the Gunners, has now confirmed that he dreams of joining Barcelona.
The blow comes after Jack Wilshere selected four future stars from Arsenal’s academy and boss Mikel Arteta placed himself level with Manchester United legend Roy Keane. Here, Mirror Football rounds up the latest Arsenal news.
Target deal transfer crushing blow
Brazilian wonderkid Vitor Roque, who has been scouted by Arsenal, has made it clear his dream is to play for Barcelona. He has starred for Athletico Paranaense and wants to join the LaLiga giants if he leaves Brazil.
“The competitions I played last year, the Libertadores and Brasileirao, will help me prepare well when I go to Europe. I’m sure, playing well here, going to Europe will be the consequence,” he told Sport.
“This is not only my dream but that of any player. If I end up going to Barca it will be a great joy for my family and for me. For this reason, I must continue to work hard and hope that everything will pay off with time.”
Wilshere chose four future stars
Arsenal academy coach Jack Wilshere has selected four players he believes will star for the first team. Wilshere is in charge of the Under-18s and hailed his four wonder kids after they beat Cambridge United in the FA Youth Cup.
“There are some things you see from Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Bradley Ibrahim, Jimi Gower – they do things you can’t coach. That’s why they are at Arsenal.
“They needed things tactically. I like my midfield to be in the half laps, play forward and touch forward, dribble if you can. We had brilliant moments when Myles drove, when Ethan on the half, when Amario Cozier-Duberry one against one.”
Arteta totally agrees with Keane
Mikel Arteta echoed Roy Keane when he played down the incident that saw William Lilina clash with Gabriel. The two looked to be pushing each other after the win over Leicester, but Arteta had no problem with the mounting tension.
“They like to play with each other. But they are very demanding of each other, which is good. Everything is fine. I don’t want robots, I want players with feelings, with passion. I like that even when they win, they want each other to do better,” he said.
Arteta’s comments echoed those of Keane, who credited Manchester United star Casemiro for taking the job of Bruno Fernandes for failing to pass. Keane told Sky Sports: “Are they arguing there? Yeah, maybe. I like that. I don’t know what they’re arguing about but it shows they care.”