Welcome to our football.london Arsenal media watch piece. Maybe not the first, we've definitely done transfer round-ups before, and European round-ups, so I guess in some ways it's not that new at all. Anyway, we thought we would enter the world of football in a broad and roundabout manner for you and have some fun with some of the stories and captions doing the daily rounds.
Former Gunner didn't want to join
Emiliano Martinez has filed another chapter to his fabled Arsenal tales claiming that he didn't want to join the Gunners following his move to north London from Independiente in 2010.
The Argentina international and Copa America champion left Arsenal in 2019 in a £15 million move to Aston Villa despite having made just 38 appearances for the first-team.
In an eye-opening interview with EL PAÍS, Martinez was quizzed about his move to Arsenal before the Argentina gave a damning response.
He said: "Arsenal came to look for me and Pepe Santoro [his coach in Independiente’s youth team] told me that the train only passes once in a lifetime. My family and my agents thought the same.
"The decision was more for them [family] than anything else. I didn’t want to go. I did not regret it, but I wanted to play in Independiente."
Overmars hands Arsenal boost
Former Gunners and Ajax director of football, Marc Overmars, has handed Arsenal a boost in the signing of Andre Onana.
The Dutch side are set to let the 25-year-old goalkeeper leave the Johan Cruyff Arena next summer for free, according to Goal, having refused to sign a new contract.
Onana, who became a stalwart between the sticks in Ajax's historic Champions League run in 2018/19, remains out of action until November while he serves the final two months of his FIFA ban resultant of doping offences.
Arsenal, who were previously linked with a move for the Cameroonian over the summer, instead opted for the services of Aaron Ramsdale in a £25 million move from Sheffield United.
Arteta told 'it's probably the end'
Joe Cole has claimed that Arteta could find himself jobless should the Spaniard fail to win against Norwich City on the first game back from the international break.
The former Chelsea midfielder insisted that he hasn't been convinced by the manner in which Arsenal have lost so far this season, adding that Arteta hasn't been helped by the politics at the club described as 'damp wood'.
Speaking to Coral via Metro, Cole said: "The future at Arsenal is obviously up in the air. I know they've played Chelsea, they played Manchester City, the two best teams, but it's the manner of both defeats.
"That's not Arteta's fault. It's been something that's just been like damp getting into the woodwork at the club. In the two defeats against the big boys, it was like they laid down and died.
"He's in the storm at the moment. He has to find a result against Norwich and if he doesn't beat Norwich, I think it's probably the end for him."
Wenger slams Ronaldo homecoming
Arsene Wenger has slammed the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo to once hardened rivals Manchester United, alluding to the fairytale return of Thierry Henry.
Henry famously returned to the Emirates in 2012 on a brief loan spell from New York Red Bulls to prepare the Frenchman ahead of the MLS season.
Wenger, who left his post at the Emirates in 2018, said that the move was fuelled by emotion and wasn't a rational decision, despite once prising a 35-year-old Henry back to north London.
The former Arsenal boss said: "This is a love story that you want to see. [He was re-signed] for more than just sporting reasons, it’s also emotional. I think the decision is not 100% rational."
