Here are your Arsenal headlines for the evening of Friday July 24.
Arsenal make decision on highly rated wonderkid’s development
Catalin Cirjan, the 17-year-old Romanian midfielder, will be promoted to Arsenal’s Under-23 side for next season as he continues his development at the Emirates Stadium.
The teenager shone for the Gunners’ Under-18s last season and will now make the step up to Steve Bould’s youth team for the 2020/21 campaign having signed his first professional contract in December.
Cirjan, who can play either as a number 10 or a central midfielder, scored three times and assisted three more for Arsenal’s U18s last season, hinting at his readiness to make a step up.
Speaking after his arrival from Vitorul Domnesti last summer, the youngster said: “I have trusted myself since I came, because otherwise I would not get here.
"I always trust myself and I try to give my best in every match."
Mikel Arteta opens up on ‘clear’ targets for summer transfer window
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has says he is "very clear" on what his side requires in the summer transfer window, with the Gunners in need of reinforcements in a number of key areas.
The North London club sit in 10th place in the Premier League table ahead of the final game of the season against Watford and Arteta is well aware of the reconstruction job he has on his hands ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
“We have to assess that. I am very clear of what we need,” Arteta told beIN Sports.
"It's not a thing that I want to publish to the media and to the world, it's something that we keep internally.
"But some are because we don't have enough players in the position, sometimes because we need more specificity in some of the positions and in others because we just have to improve."
Gunners move ahead of Barcelona in pursuit of Portuguese teenager
Joelson Fernandes is the subject of much interest from Arsenal and Barcelona this summer, although it seems the former have edged ahead in the pursuit of the Sporting teenager.
Mundo Deportivo journalist Miguel Rico (via Sport Witness) reports Barca are tracking the 17-year-old who can play on the left or right wing, but it’s Arsenal who are seemingly in control of the chase for Joelson.
The Portugal Under-17 international’s agent is Kia Joorabchian, who has close ties to the hierarchy at the Emirates Stadium, which could grease the wheels of any deal that sends Joelson to North London.
The Gunners are extremely keen on the teenager who has a €45 million release clause in his contract, but with Joelson refusing to sign a new contract at Sporting the bidding could start at a much lower price.
