Arsenal news and transfers recap: Rodri and Odegaard clash, Smith Rowe scores, Romeo Lavia move

Arsenal news: Catch all the latest Arsenal transfer headlines including updates on William Saliba, Erling Haaland and Ibrahima Sangare

Arsenal don't return to Premier League action for another week. International football may be here, but there is still plenty of news, injury updates and transfer gossip regarding the Gunners.

England took on Italy in their first competitive fixture since the World Cup exit to France on Thursday night and many Arsenal supporters were likely keeping a close eye on the clash for one reason: Bukayo Saka. The Hale End star started the game and played 85 minutes, with those associated with the Gunners likely relieved to see him come off unscathed.

Erling Haaland is 'touch and go' to return to action for Manchester City ahead of their clash against Liverpool next weekend. There is yet to be any news on William Saliba's injury which saw him miss the 4-1 win against Crystal Palace as Arsenal moved eight points clear of City.

Haaland's absence against Liverpool could prove to be a huge boost for the Gunners' Premier League title bid, whilst sporting director Edu Gaspar continues to prepare plans for the summer transfer window. PSV are set to cash in on Ibrahima Sangare with the Ivorian midfielder available for just £32.5million - a cheap alternative to the Gunners' priority target, West Ham captain Declan Rice, ahead of next season.

With that said, stay tuned into the blog as we bring you the latest from the Emirates Stadium.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for today's Arsenal blog.

Come again tomorrow as we do it all over again!

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was on the receiving end of a nasty challenge from Manchester City midfielder Rodri on Saturday evening.

Odegaard's Norway and Rodri's Spain faced each other in a crucial Euro 2024 qualifier, with the City No.16 slide tackling the Gunners playmaker in what appeared to be a clear penalty. However, the referee eventually waved play on much to the dismay of Odegaard and the rest of his teammates.

Arsenal have been told by transfer guru Dean Jones that they massively overpaid when they signed Lille winger Nicolas Pepe back in 2019.

Speaking to GiveMeSport about Pepe, Jones said: "They paid way too much for him!

"I haven't heard that there's going to be any way back for him, and the way that this team has evolved since he left suggests that there's no point now even trying."

According to Defensa Central, Real Madrid are interested in Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus.

The 25-year-old only joined the Gunners last summer, making any exit highly unlikely considering how highly he is rated in north London.

Arsenal's Under-21 side drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

The Gunners took the lead through talented youngster Charles Sagoe Jr before conceding late on, meaning they shared the points in the end.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has admitted that he was shocked by manager Mikel Arteta when he first arrived in north London.

When discussing Arteta during an interview with TV 2, Odegaard said: "It has surprised me, actually. How detail-oriented he and the whole team are.

"I’ve never encountered anything like it, with people who see football that way and who see details as specifically as he does. It can be simple little things or more big things. It's extremely detailed and a lot of little things we talk about, watching videos after every game and all that.

"It's fun working with him and the team. It works."

Former Aston Villa star Gabriel Agbonlahor has advised Kaoru Mitoma told not to join Arsenal during summer transfer window.

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor said: "Mitoma has been excellent, obviously, for Brighton but it's so different when you go to a top club. We’ve seen it so many times with players who can't do it at the higher level after making the step up.

"Just because you have a good season doesn't mean you’re instantly going to succeed when you move for £60million or £70million. I think Mitoma should stay at Brighton another season and go to the next level because they’re a club on the up."

Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe has scored for England Under-21s against France.

The Hale End academy graduate made a lovely run into the penalty area before heading home to make it 1-0 to The Three Lions.

According to Spanish outlet AS, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are all willing to pay the full release clause to sign Celta Vigo star Gabriel Veiga this summer.

It is claimed that the player's clause is €40 million (£35.27 million).

Former Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has urged his old side to tie down Bukayo Saka to a new long-term contract.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Toure said: "One thing I have to say - my advice to Arsenal is for Bukayo Saka to sign for 10 years!

"One mistake that Arsenal made down the years, they had key players that loved the club and they let them go.

"You must keep those players because these players are the players that are going to lead the team for you."

Ex-Arsenal attacker Alexis Sanchez has claimed that he was close to joining Manchester City back in January 2018 before eventually joining rivals United instead.

"I was about to go to City. Everything was ready, there was a player who was going to go to Arsenal.

"Then Arsene Wenger tells me you are not leaving because the other player did not want to come and they do not have another."

Mykhailo Mudryk has claimed that Chelsea remain the best team in London despite Arsenal's dominance this season.

"He helped me a lot," Mudryk told Sky Sports when speaking about Gunners left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko."I like him so much. We often joke about Arsenal, Chelsea and what colour London is.

"But I like this guy, he is a very funny and very kind guy. We spend time always [together] in a positive way.’

When asked to clarify what colour London is, Mudryk responded by saying: "Blue."

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal are interested in Premier League midfielders Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo of Southampton and Brighton respectively.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: "Romeo Lavia is attracting very important interest. He is a top talent as a midfielder. Let me say one thing, the buy-back clause for Manchester City is in the contract starting from summer 2024, not now, this is why Man City do not have full control over Lavia this upcoming summer.

"Other clubs are interested, Arsenal are keeping an eye on the player, Arsenal are following Romeo Lavia, at the moment it's nothing advanced. Remember my words, Caicedo remains a target after the discussions they had during the January transfer window. Caicedo is in the list again at Arsenal and Romeo Lavia is a player they are following."

According to 90min, the agent of PSV midfielder Ibrahim Sangare has "alerted" Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur regarding the Ivorian's availability this summer.

It is claimed that Sangare is ready to test himself in the English top-flight.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has long-been linked with a move to Arsenal as Edu continues to bolster the side's attacking options. Once again said to be on the Gunners' list of summer transfer targets at the end of this season, speculation over a possible move to north London has resurfaced.

BirminghamLiveclub correspondent, Ashley Preece, said of Watkins on the Claret & Blue podcast: "He needs a new contact, for me. I think he has deserved one.

"A few weeks ago there was talk of Arsenal coming in for him. You start to worry then a little bit don't you, given he was an Arsenal fan as a boy. That's what new contracts do, fend off the opposition and commit your long-term future."

Read the full story here.

Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk has revealed that he has shared jokes with Oleksandr Zinchenko following his January transfer to the Premier League.

The winger seemed close to joining Zinchenko at Arsenal throughout the most of the window before Chelsea swooped in to hijack the deal for £88million .And in an interview with Sky Sports, Mudryk has insisted there are no hard feelings with the Gunners left-back, admitting there has been some teasing from Zinchenko.

"He helped me a lot. I like him so much. We often joke about Arsenal, Chelsea and what colour is London," he told Sky Sports. But I like this guy, he's very funny, very kind guy. We spend some time with him and always in positive vibes."

Read the full story here.

Arsenal star Folarin Balogun has been in talks with joining the US men's national team after being overlooked for Gareth Southgate's latest England squad.

This comes after the promising 21-year-old posted a cryptic message on Instagram - where he wrote "going where you're appreciated" - indicating his frustration at not being called up for the March Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.

He has already been in contact with interim boss Anthony Hudson, while Chelsea winger and potential-future US teammate Christian Pulisic sent a message to Balogun amid the suggestions of a possible switch. The day after Hudson confirmed he had engaged in discussions with the Arsenal player, Pulisic welcomed the idea of Balogun representing the US, and said he would love to see him compete across the Atlantic.

"Obviously, I've seen that he's in Florida. I haven't really spoken to him personally," he told reporters on Friday. "But I know some of the guys that know him from previous teams or whatever have reached out to him and spoken to him. Obviously, from our side, we'd love to have him."

Read the full story here.

Declan Rice looks set to be involved in the transfer saga of the summer in the coming months, with the midfielder looking likely to make a switch. The West Ham captain is approaching the final 12 months of his contract at the London Stadium, setting up the potential for a move.

An extension of his contract with the Hammers seems unlikely, meaning David Moyes may look to move him on to avoid losing Rice on a free. football.london understands that Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in a transfer for the England international ahead of the summer, with the Gunners understood to see him as a key target this summer after a failed move to Brighton's Moises Caicedo in January.

One criticism of the central figure has been his lack of goal scoring though, with Roy Keane and Graeme Souness both making key points on it. Rice hit back in the press conference before England's clash with Italy, saying: "It's harsh, I think it's harsh because Souness doesn't watch West Ham every week. There's loads of West Ham fans, 60,000 go every week, and see what I do. So I think to say I’m only good at one of three is harsh.

Read the full story here

Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has revealed he broke down in tears when Mikel Arteta left his coaching role at Manchester City for the manager's position at Arsenal in December 2019.

The pair's relationship was so strong that the Spanish head coach felt compelled to bring the Ukraine international with him to north London in the summer of 2022, with this move proving a key component of Arsenal's subsequent Premier League title tilt.

Reflecting on their time together in Manchester, Zinchenko confessed to his emotions getting the better of him when the Spaniard vacated his role. "I remember when Mikel was leaving City, I didn't hold my emotions. I couldn't because this guy was so special to me," he told the Daily Mail.

"He taught me a lot, as a human being he was incredible and the way he was working with us young players after every single training session, the advice he was giving everyone, was something incredibly important for me."

Read the full story here.

Arsenal look set for yet another busy summer transfer window as the Gunners aim to build on their successful 2022/23 campaign.

Nine players are facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium this summer, including club record signing Nicolas Pepe and Hale End star Folarin Balogun. According to CIES Football Observatory, the following players could see Arsenal receive a combined figure of £105million to reinvest in Arteta's squad.

Read the full story here.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have all been linked with a move for PSV star Ibrahima Sangare ahead of the summer transfer window. The Dutch outfit are said to be prepared to cash in on the Ivorian midfielder despite him only signing a new contract last summer.

The Blues considered making a move to sign Sangare last summer as they saw a move for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez knocked back late in the transfer window. The Gunners are expected to strengthen in midfield ahead of next season, but are prioritising a move for West Ham captain Declan Rice, football.london understands.

Tottenham signed Yves Bissouma to join Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield last summer, but a new holding midfielder may be on the club's agenda again this summer, depending on who is in charge at the club.

According to 90min, Sangare's representatives have spoken with a number of Premier League clubs to alert them of his potential availability this summer. West Ham have been touted as suitors as they prepare for the departure of Rice - with Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool all linked with the England international - but Sangare is understood to be looking for a move to a bigger side.

Read on here.

It's no secret that Arsenal want to sign Declan Rice from West Ham this summer. After watching his display for England against Italy, it's easy to see why.

In many ways the Three Lions' 2-1 victory in Naples was a perfect summation of the many strings that Rice has to his bow. The 24-year-old may have grabbed the attention for his opening goal, but it was the rest of his display that would have most pleased Mikel Arteta.

During the first half England largely had control of possession. Key to this was Rice at the base of the midfield. The West Ham midfielder completed 35 of his 37 passes (as per Wyscout) ensuring that Gareth Southgate's side were able to stay on top.

Read on here.

The Premier League title race looks set to go to the wire this season as Arsenal and Manchester City battle it out to lift the trophy in late May. The Gunners currently lead the division by eight points, though they have played one game more than City heading into the final stint.

It appears as though fine margins will once again decide whether the title will be draped in red or sky blue though, similar to previous seasons. Arsenal's latest flurry of late wins has helped propel them to the summit, while injury returns could play a huge factor in the final few weeks.

"I want to think positively. Touch wood, but I want to think positive," Mikel Arteta said on the international break and his players being away with their nations. "They’re going to have to play games, they have to do it in the way that they do it here or possibly even better with their country. We are in contact with all of them, they know how to look after them and hopefully it will all work out."

Read on here.

Arsenal will not return to Premier League action until Saturday, April 1, but Mikel Arteta will still be concerned over a number of his players. Takehiro Tomiyasu has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery following a knee injury in the Europa League defeat on penalties against Sporting CP.

William Saliba suffered an injury in the same game but there is yet to be an update on his fitness as Arteta faces an anxious wait to find out if the Frenchman will be fit to face Leeds United. The international break could see more issues presented for the Gunners as Bukayo Saka was one of the first Arsenal stars to play for his country as he helped England to a huge Euro qualifier win against Italy, playing 85 minutes.

The 22-year-old was fouled twice while on the pitch, with one particularly brutal challenge coming early in the second half from Rafael Tolói. With that said, football.london has rounded up the latest injury news ahead of Arsenal's return to action next weekend.

Read on here.

We're another day closer to watching the Premier League leaders return to action.

In the meantime, stay tuned to the football.london dedicated Arsenal live blog for all the latest transfer news and club updates.