Here is your Arsenal morning digest for Friday, January 8.
Rekik opens up on Gunners move
Arsenal announced their first signing of the January transfer window on Thursday, confirming the arrival of highly-rated centre-back Omar Rekik from German outfit Hertha Berlin.
The 19-year-old was spotted in training at London Colney earlier this week before his arrival was officially confirmed.
The Tunisian will spend time with the club's Under-23s before looking to climb the ladder in north London.
"It feels great to be here after a long time of hard work," Rekik told Arsenal's club website. "It feels great. I moved in three weeks ago and I’ve been in quarantine, so I can’t wait to get started.
"When a club like Arsenal is interested, I don’t think anyone needs to think twice. I’m a winner. I always want to win, and that’s with everything, not only football, ever since I was a kid.
"My style of play? I’m a central defender and I like to play with the ball, I like to play out from the back, and I think this is also the structure of the club. It fits perfectly."
Arsenal take out big-money loan
Arsenal have taken out a £120million loan from the government via a scheme created to support significant business facing cash flow troubles during the ongoing coronavirus troubles.
The Gunners, who have won their last three Premier League matches, have loaned the money to assist in managing the impact of the revenue losses occurred during the pandemic, with arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur taking out a £175million from the Bank of England as well.
The loan will have to be paid back by the end of May this year, but none of the money borrowed will go towards any potential new arrivals in north London this month, despite Mikel Arteta being keen to add a new attacking-midfielder to his ranks.
"This is a similar approach to that taken by a wide variety of major organisations across many industries including sport, and is repayable in May 2021," a statement released by Arsenal said in part.
You can read the full statement released by the Gunners by clicking here.
Aubameyang hints at hoping Balogun agreement is reached
With the end of the 2020/21 season now less than six months away, Arsenal will be doing everything they can to retain the services of talented youngster Folarin Balogun.
The striker is out-of-contract at the end of the season and he is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal in north London. Nevertheless, Arteta is hopeful an agreement can be reached.
The Spaniard said: "Well, you need three parties to make a deal.
"For sure the club wants to make a deal, the manager wants to make a deal, and I'm not sure about the agent."
Should Balogun extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium, it is bound to delight Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has lavished the striker with praise in the past.
Click here to read the full story for what Aubameyang has had to say.
