Arsenal are confident of signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho before Monday’s transfer deadline after making a new £21.3million bid for his services.
The Gunners have been following Carvalho for the last three weeks and were reported to have made a bid in excess of £20million, which was immediately rejected by Sporting.
However, the Portuguese club have now dropped their asking price and are keen to sell, and Goal.com says Arsenal have come back with a new bid.
It’s claimed that the offer is £21.3million (€27million) and Arsene Wenger is increasingly confident of getting his man.
The complex nature of the deal means the switch could go right down to the final few minutes of the window, but all parties want to do business.
Arsenal are pushing to sign Paris Saint Germain striker Edinson Cavani and will let Joel Campbell join Benfica if a deal can be agreed.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is still searching for a striker to add to his squad before the transfer deadline – and he is a long-term fan of Uruguayan Cavani.
And despite PSG insisting that he’ll stay put, Portuguese newspaper Record says Arsenal are still working on trying to sign him.
The paper says if Arsenal can agree a deal for Cavani, Campbell will be allowed to move to Benfica, who have made an offer.
Wenger will keep Campbell around if he can’t add to his options but should Cavani be signed, Campbell will be surplus to requirements and sold.
Arsenal want to sign Barcelona sensation Munir El Haddadi but are facing a battle to convince him to move to the Emirates Stadium.
Munir, 18, is the next big talent to emerge from Barca’s academy and he announced himself in style with a goal against Elche CF on his La Liga debut last week.
And the Daily Express says Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is keen on doing a deal to sign him, and have been boosted by the fact his buyout clause is only £9.4million.
However, the paper adds that Barcelona are hitting back by opening talks with the striker over a new contract, and they’re prepared to offer much more in wages.
Arsenal will find it difficult to compete, but the Gunners have pinched several starlets from Barca in recent years including Cesc Fabregas, Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral.
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Paris Saint Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot with his agent arriving in London to finalise his switch to the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have been in talks with French side PSG for weeks over a deal for Rabiot, and after upping their initial bid to £11.9million in the last few days, a deal is close.
According to Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, the 19-year-old has provisionally accepted a contract with Arsenal and now his agent and mother are in London to finalise terms.
Arsenal are still waiting for PSG to accept the offer on the table, but it’s said to be close to their asking price, and with the player refusing to train to force through the switch, they are under pressure to sell.
Chelsea and Roma are also in for Rabiot but he has always favoured a switch to Arsenal.
Radamel Falcao has told Arsenal he is ready to join them on loan until the end of the season to ease the their striker crisis.
Arsenal are currently in turmoil after their only senior striker, Olivier Giroud, picked up a serious injury, but Falcao could provide them with a solution.
The Colombian international has been made available for loan by his club Monaco – and the Daily Telegraph reports that he wants to join Arsenal.
It’s claimed that the striker is keen on moving to the Emirates Stadium for the season, with a proposed switch to Real Madrid stalling, and all that remains is for Arsenal to agree to paying the loan fee.
Monaco want £20million to rent Falcao out for campaign and while it is a high price, the fee does cover all of his wages and bonuses.
Arsenal are considering their options with an announcement on Giroud’s injury expected shortly.
Lukas Podolski will not be allowed to leave Arsenal this summer, according to boss Arsene Wenger.
The German international has been linked with a host of clubs across Europe, most recently Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.
But following injury to striker Olivier Giroud, which is set to keep him out of action for three months, Wenger insists Podolski will remain at the club beyond next Monday’s transfer deadline.
‘Podolski is in the squad tomorrow [for visit of Besiktas] and will stay with us,’ said the Gunners boss.
However, Wenger refused to be drawn on whether the injury to Giroud would see him move for a new striker before the end of the transfer window.
‘I learnt one thing in our job. You can’t say anything categorically,’ he added.
The Frenchman yesterday said he did not see a need to add another frontman to his ranks this summer, insisting the likes of Yaya Sanogo, Joel Campbell, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott would be enough to support Giroud throughout the course of the season.
Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of William Carvalho after Sporting Lisbon reportedly lowered their demands for the midfielder.
The Gunners are still looking to add to their squad before next Monday’s transfer deadline, with a centre-back and midfielder top of Arsene Wenger’s list of priorities.
And they could make another move for Sporting’s Carvalho, despite already having had a £20m offer rejected by the Portuguese side.
The Portugal international is believed to have a £35m release clause in his contract, but according to reports in newspaper O Jogo today, Sporting are now willing to accept a £24.5m offer this summer – if they also receive a player in addition.
It is unclear whether Sporting are demanding a permanent or loan deal, but their reduced demands could help Arsenal seal a deal before next week.
Reports suggest the Portuguese side are hoping for either Serge Gnabry or Yaya Sanogo, but could be open to alternatives if the Gunners are willing to meet the demands.
Arsenal are pushing to sign Torino forward Alessio Cerci as Arsene Wenger looks to add to his attacking options.
The Gunners are desperate to land another attacker in the coming days with Olivier Giroud out injured and Lukas Podolski closing in on a switch away.
And according to reports in Italy, Torino maestro Cerci is the man Wenger wants to improve his squad.
It’s claimed that Arsenal have joined the hunt for the 27-year-old and are preparing an offer to try to lure him to the Emirates Stadium.
A technical winger who can play as a second striker, Cerci is an Italian international and has been subject of interest from AC Milan and Roma this summer.
Torino are resigned to losing him in the final days of the window and Arsenal are now emerging as the new favourites to land him.
Arsenal’s move for Olympiakos’ Kostas Manolas has hit a stumbling block, with the club reportedly unable to agree personal terms with the defender.
Manolas has emerged as Arsene Wenger’s top target to replace Thomas Vermaelen, who joined Barcelona in a £15m move earlier this month.
But with just a week of the transfer window left to run, Arsenal remain unable to tie up the deal according to Goal.com.
The Gunners are believed to have held talks with Manolas’ agent over the weekend, but the deal has yet to progress.
The Greek international is available for around £8m this summer and Arsenal’s delay has led to Serie A side Roma emerging as rivals for Manolas’ signature, with centre-back Mehdi Benatia set for an exit.
Arsenal may have to do a U-turn on their plans not to dip into the transfer market for a striker this summer with the club weighing up a move for a new forward to provide cover for the injured Olivier Giroud.
The Frenchman suffered an ankle injury at the end of the Gunners’ 2-2 draw away to Everton at the weekend and has since undergone a scan to determine the extent of the problem.
According to the Telegraph, Arsenal are confident that Giroud has not suffered a break, but manager Arsene Wenger fears that the results of the 27-year-old’s scan may confirm he will be out of action for a number of weeks.
It is claimed Arsenal may be forced to recruit a new striker before the close of the transfer window as a result – and may even re-assess their willingness to allow Lukas Podolski to leave the Emirates on loan.
Wenger, though, only hinted on Monday that the club would not be buying a new striker this summer, with the Gunners boss happy with his current options in the squad.
The centre back won the World Cup in his final game for Germany in July - his 104th cap for his country. Mertesacker, who scored four times for Germany, will be 30 in September.
The Arsenal defender follows former international team-mates Philipp Lahm and Miroslav Klose into retirement, and he says it's time for a new generation of talent to take Germany forward.
“Winning the World Cup was the best possible end to 10 years in the national team," said Mertesacker. "I’ve moved aside to let younger players take over.
We don’t have to fret about the future, we are better equipped than ever before. I’m happy that I’ve been able to play for so long, happy that people have trusted in me.
“I’m still hungry for more titles, but I want to win them with Arsenal – to win the league, perhaps have a go at the Champions League. We’ve got a taste for silverware now, after winning the FA Cup.
“I’m a world champion but you can’t let yourself go because of that," added Mertesacker. "There are new challenges. I’m vice-captain at Arsenal and I know that I have more responsibilities now. I want to achieve big things with the club.
"Having more time off for your legs and your head is not a bad thing in that respect – especially at my old age.”
Arsenal have been cleared to sign Olympiakos defender Kostas Manolas after the Greek club admitted they will part with the player for just £8million.
The Gunners are reported to be pushing hard to sign Manolas, who enjoyed a superb campaign last term and topped it off with a strong showing at the World Cup.
Arsene Wenger is believed to have made the 23-year-old a key transfer target, and Olympiakos have now opened the door for the switch to happen by admitting he can leave for a bid of just £8million.
"In the last few days, interesting proposals have arrived from England," their sporting adviser Christian Karembeu told reporters.
‘We are not willing to negotiate his sale for less than £8million. If we receive the right offer, we are willing to sell him.’
Juventus have also been strongly linked with Manolas, but they appear to be looking elsewhere now, with Benfica centre back Luisao in talks.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hinted he may not yet be finished in the summer transfer market.
The Gunners have added Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers to their ranks since the end of last season, but with their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace just over 24 hours away, Wenger says he may yet bolster his squad further.
‘I am happy with our signings. [Mathieu] Debuchy, [Calum] Chambers and Sanchez have integrated well with the team. We are not destabilised. It is a strong re-enforcement of our squad,’ said the Frenchman.
‘I could still do something, I won’t rule it out. Numbers wise we are maybe a bit short in certain areas, but the depth of the squad is very good. I’m very excited by this group.’
Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Sami Khedira, Edinson Cavani and Kostas Manolas over the course of the summer, but it remains unclear which positions Wenger is most keen to strengthen before the end of the month.
Real Madrid have reportedly slashed their asking price for Sami Khedira as they attempt to recapture Arsenal’s interest in a summer move.
The Gunners have been linked with the German international all summer, although boss Arsene Wenger recently revealed they haven’t been close to securing a deal.
However, with Arsenal’s interest in the midfielder waning, the European champions are said to have offered potential suitors a cut-price deal to avoid losing Khedira on a free transfer next summer.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly told Khedira to hang on for an offer to move to Stamford Bridge in a year’s time, but Real have accepted the German has no future at the Bernabeu after he rejected a new contract.
And in order to obtain a fee for the 27-year-old, Spanish newspaper AS believe Real would be willing to accept just £8m before the end of the transfer window.
Manchester United have reportedly made a £15million move for Marcos Rojo. Arsenal are looking to add to their defensive options and they should consider hijacking the prospective move from Lisbon to Manchester.
Rojo is just 24 and boasts an impressive 28 caps for Argentina. The young defender has European experience with Sporting Lisbon and was impressive for his country at this summer’s World Cup, helping take his side to the final.
So why should Arsenal sign him? Rojo’s age and versatility make him a suitable replacement for Thomas Vermaelen in the Arsenal defence.
Arsenal need to add more options at centre-back, but Rojo’s ability to play at left-back makes him a very useful player. There have been worries over Nacho Monreal’s form in 2014, and with Bilbao reportedly lurking, Arsenal could raise some additional funds by sending the Spaniard to the Basque club.
The utility defender stands at over 6ft and boasts a strong frame that would help him adjust to Premier League life. Strength is an attribute Arsenal are running short of in the defensive areas of their squad. Arsene Wenger was forced to play Monreal at the heart of the defence in the second half of the Community Shield
Monreal was mostly untested, but you do get the feeling that he would struggle massively if he were used in that position in the Premier League. Rojo on the other hand could comfortably deputise on the left or in the centre.
The most difficult part of this transfer would be trying to convince Rojo to choose Arsenal. Manchester United can offer him first team football and whilst he would feature a lot, he is unlikely to be promised a starting berth with the defensive duo of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker continuing to impress.
Rojo would fit perfectly into the three centre-back system Manchester United are set to use this campaign and Louis van Gaal looks like he has stepped up the pace in negotiations after missing out on signing another left sided defender in Thomas Vermaelen.
If Manchester United do complete a move for Marcos Rojo, their fans should be happy with the addition as he has the potential to be one of the best when he reaches his peak..
Sami Khedira is set to join either Arsenal or Chelsea in the coming days after Real Madrid made it completely clear that he doesn’t have a future at the Spanish club.
Khedira has been heavily linked with both the Gunners and the Blues in recent weeks, with Madrid keen to move him on this summer.
And despite both teams cooling their interest, the Daily Express says Khedira is likely to sign for one of them in the near future after being dropped from Madrid’s Super Cup win last night.
Khedira was expected to feature but did not make the squad – with Madrid seemingly making it clear that the 27-year-old does not have a future with them anymore.
Arsenal have denied holding talks with Khedira but are in the market for a quality defensive midfielder, while Chelsea are also looking for extra bodies in the midfield, with John Obi Mikel set to depart.
Arsenal are preparing an £8m bid for Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote.
Arsene Wenger has reportedly turned his attention to landing the tough-tackling former FC Twente player after previously chasing top targets Sami Khedira and William Carvalho.
The 28-year-old Ivory Coast international has been linked with a move to the Emirates in the past, but Newcastle are believed to be ready to do business this time.
If the player moves to Arsenal he would follow former Newcastle team mate Mathieu Debuchy to north London. Tiote is reported to be keen to join the Gunners.
Wenger also wants to bolster his squad with Greek defender Kostas Manolas.
The Arsenal boss has made the Olympiacos centre half his first choice to replace Thomas Vermaelen after the Belgian’s £15m switch to Barcelona.
Manolas, 23, has been a target for Everton, Sunderland and Tottenham as well as several clubs in Italy but the Gunners are hoping to do a deal before the start of the season.
Arsenal have not entered a season with more confidence for almost a decade. Two trophies have been added to the cabinet during the past four months and this has been Arsene Wenger’s best transfer window in recent memory.
An attack that was often lacking in pace and overly reliant on Olivier Giroud should be transformed this season. Alexis Sanchez can play in any of the front four positions while the pre-season performances of Yaya Sanogo also make him a serious option as the main centre forward. He is less reliable than Giroud but also quicker, more mobile and more unpredictable. Theo Walcott should also return in September.
Arsenal do also have considerable strength in depth in central midfield, especially if Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain stay fit. All the indications are that this could be another massive season for Aaron Ramsey.
It is possible to argue that Arsenal should still add further steel in the holding midfield role and, while they are perhaps lacking in truly world-class options, Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta are options that would please most Premier League managers. Wilshere and Calum Chambers could also develop in this role.
What is now critical, however, is that Arsenal add another quality centre back following the sale to Barcelona of Thomas Vermaelen. Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny cannot simply be assumed to play so regularly this season and – however impressive he has looked in pre-season – it would be dangerous to go into defining games with Chambers.
There is a real optimism about Arsenal, however, and ending that nine-year wait for a trophy seems to have had a transformative effect on the club’s confidence and mentality. After some difficult seasons, Wenger has the chance over the next three years of his new contract to cement his place among the all-time great managers to have worked in Britain.
Manager Arsene Wenger.
Best starting XI Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcott, Ozil, Cazorla, Sanchez.
Prediction Keeping key players healthy will be critical but, should they manage this, Arsenal can mount a serious title challenge.
Transfers In Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona, £30m), Calum Chambers (Southampton, £16m), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United, £12m), David Ospina (Nice, £3m), Elias Chatzitheodoridis (Mas Kallitheakos, Undisclosed), Hugo Keto (HJK Helsinki, Undisclosed), Ben Sheaf (West Ham, United, Undisclosed). Out Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona, £15m) Johan Djourou (Hamburg, £2.5m), Thomas Eisfeld (Fulham, Unidsclosed), Zak Ansah (Charlton Athletic), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea City), Zachari Fagan (Welling United), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Chuks Aneke (Zulte Waregem), Wellington Silva (UD Almeria, Loan), Carl Jenkinson (West Ham United, Loan), Benik Afobe (MK Dons, Loan). Released Nicklas Bendtner, Daniel Boateng, Chu-Young Park, Leander Siemann.
Tickets • Cheapest ticket: £27 • Most Expensive: £129.50
Dependant on Category of the game (A, B, or C). Cheapest category is C. Cheapest seats are behind the goal or near the corner flags on the lower tiers of the stadium.
Arsene Wenger has been quoted £8 million for the Greece international and is keen to tie up a quick deal following concerns over the fitness of Laurent Koscielny Arsenal have opened talks with Olympiakos over a move for defender Kostas Manolas, Goal understands.
Arsene Wenger has sanctioned a formal approach for the Greece international after identifying him as a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen, who joined Barcelona last weekend. The Gunners have been quoted a fee of £8 million by Olympiakos for Manolas during preliminary discussions.
The centre-back, 23, played in the Champions League for his club last season and featured for Greece in this summer's World Cup.
Wenger wants to push through a quick deal for a new centre-back after selling Vermaelen and amid growing fears over the fitness of Laurent Koscielny.
The Frenchman has a long-standing Achilles problem and his availability for the early season matches is in doubt after he was substituted with the injury during the Gunners' Community Shield win over Manchester City.
Wenger wants a proven defender to join new signing Calum Chambers in providing cover for his established defensive pairing of Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, who only returned to Arsenal on Monday following the World Cup.
The Arsenal boss has competition to sign Manolas, who has attracted interest from a number of Serie A clubs led by Napoli.
With three weeks of the transfer window remaining, Wenger is also in the market for a midfield anchorman who can provide cover for the centre-back position
Arsenal have another speed merchant in their ranks after Theo Walcott revealed that his club sprint record has been broken.
Walcott confirmed to arseblog that Hector Bellerin is now crowned as Arsenal's new speed king, after he beat the England flyer's personal best time over 40 metres
Asked who’d win a sprint between him and club legend Thierry Henry, Walcott joked: 'Me! Thierry is in his 30s now so I would be very disappointed if I didn’t beat him. I beat his sprint record which Hector [Bellerin] has now broken.'
In 2009 Walcott broke Henry's record of 4.82 seconds, with his own effort of 4.42 seconds, but has now been usurped by 19-year-old Bellerin.
The young Spainard moved to North London from Barcelona in 2011 but has failed to make his debut for the club as of yet.
Bellerin, who plays right-back, is included in Arsenal's first-team squad this season after featuring eight times on loan to Championship side Watford last term.
Santi Cazorla has again moved to rubbish claims that he is set to leave Arsenal this summer, labelling reports of a potential move to Atletico Madrid ‘paper talk’.
With Atletico manager Diego Simeone said to be a big fan of his, Cazorla had fuelled speculation surrounding his future during the World Cup, when he admitted that he had spoken to his Spain teammates about what life was like at the La Liga club.
However, the midfielder has since distanced himself from those links and, after netting the opening goal in Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City, maintains that he is looking forward to a successful season with the Gunners.
‘I've seen that in the papers, but nobody has told me anything personally and the only things I know are from the papers, so I don't know anything,’ he told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.
‘I'm only focused on training here and preparing well playing with Arsenal. It's paper talk. I'm well, I have the confidence of everybody, the support of the fans and we hope to have a good season.’
After joining Arsenal in August 2012 from Malaga for £15 million, Cazorla would go on to experience a stellar first season at the Emirates, scoring 12 times in 38 Premier League games.
His second campaign was less successful production-wise, with just four goals from 34 top-flight appearances, but the former Villarreal star did net the side’s first goal in the 3-2 FA Cup final win over Hull to claim their first piece of silverware since 2005.
Looking to capitalise on that momentum, Arsenal got off to a good start on the weekend but, if Cazorla is indeed staying at the club, then they will need to 29-year-old to be at his best in order to beat their rivals to the title.
Reports claim Galatasaray representatives have flown to North London to coax Arsenal into selling either forward.
Campbell is the more likely of the pair to leave the Emirates this summer after being valued at around £8m.
But if Galatasaray meet Podolski's steep £20m valuation, Arsene Wenger would surely loosen his grip on the 29-year-old.
Cesare Prandelli would have to smash his sides current £16.5m transfer record to land the German World Cup winner, but could be tempted considering the exit of Didier Drogba.
Arsenal's German trio Mesut Ozil, Podolski and Per Mertesacker have now returned from their World Cup exploits, and are in contention for Saturday's Premier League opener against Crystal Palace.
Gunenrs fans will be unwilling to lose Podolski, the charismatic forward appears to be at the epicentre of the excellent team-spirit around the Emirates.
And yesterday's 3-0 demolition of Manchester City only strengthens the warm glow Wenger has instilled.
Despite three different loan spells away from Arsenal, the French veteran manager has renewed faith in Campbell's abilities, he said: "He is good on the ball, creative and collectively as well he has a good balance between individual skill and collective attitude - that's not easy to find and there is no reason to let him go."
Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski has become a transfer target for Turkish side Galatasaray according to reports coming out of Germany.
The German international, who is still on holiday following his World Cup triumph, has become a top target for the Turkish side who are looking to replace Didier Drogba who returned to Chelsea after spending a year with them.
Podolski has been an odd signing for Arsenal. No doubt a massive favourite with the fans, he is rarely ever allowed to complete 90 minutes for the team and has shown that he is far more effective as a substitute than a starter. Lethal in front of goal, the rest of his game is perhaps not quite up to the standard expected.
If I had to guess I would expect Podolski to be at the club when the transfer window closes, however, the links with Douglas Costa and Marco Reus do make me wonder if Arsenal aren’t considering bringing in other options up top.
Wenger has already stated that he has enough in terms of numbers when it comes to his attack so should another come in, would someone be leaving? If that was to happen then my money would be on Podolski.
Regardless of all of that, just because Galatasaray are interested in signing Podolski doesn’t mean that Arsenal will sell nor that the player will want to leave.
With Thomas Vermaelen, Lukasz Fabianski and Bacary Sagna all leaving the club this summer and David Ospina, Mathieu Debuchy and Alexis Sanchez arriving, Wenger will surely be wary of making too many more changes to his squad and unsettling the harmony that has developed at the club. Don’t forget, there will also be another centre-back to arrive to replace the former captain and possible a defensive midfielder as well.
If I had to pick one player at Arsenal who could possibly leave then Poldi would certainly be on the top of that list. Mine is a list, however, that I don’t think Wenger cares much about and I fully expect Poldi to be an Arsenal player next season.
Thomas Vermaelen is the latest Arsenal player to move to Barcelona, with the Gunners pocketing £15million for the sale of their captain.
Vermaelen follows the well-trodden route of swapping Arsenal for Barca, with Arsene Wenger making a surprising amount of money selling players to the Catalan club.
Indeed, Vermaelen’s transfer means Barca have now paid Arsenal £135million in transfer fees for eight different players – with the amount paying for 34.6% of the Emirates Stadium.
It’s no secret that Arsenal have been a selling club in recent years to pay for their £390million new stadium, which has restricted their chances of winning trophies.
Barca have helped pay the stadium debut though by signing the likes of Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Thierry Henry, Alex Hleb, Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and now Vermaelen in big money deals.
Barcelona have completed the £15m signing of Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen after fending off Manchester United in the race for the Belgian defender, agreeing a five-year deal "subject to the "subject to the completion of the normal regulatory process".
Vermaelen joined the Gunners in 2009 from Ajax, taking on the captains armband three years later following the sale of Robin van Persie to United. However, Vermaelen has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates and no longer appeared to be in manager Arsene Wenger's plans.
Current first-choice defenders Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have formed a strong partnership that kept Vermaelen on the bench more often than not, and having done well to return from a long-term injury, the 28-year-old struggled to play regular football.
Wenger admitted that he understood the need for Vermaelen to be playing regularly, and when he was speaking on Thursday appeared to confirm that Vermaelen was on his way out of the club.
United were favourites for his signature, but Arsenal's desire not to see another of the players heading to Manchester saw them demand Chris Smalling in return, and Louis van Gaal elected not to follow up his interest in Vermaelen, leaving the door open for a move to the Nou Camp where he will have the difficult task of replacing the retired-Carlos Puyol
In a statement released on the club's website, Barcelona confirmed the capture of Vermaelen as the Catalans continue their summer recruitment driver.
Ir read: "FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Belgian player Thomas Vermaelen. He joins the Catalans on a five-year deal."
Vermaelen made 150 appearances for the Gunners over a five-year spell, showing a talent for scoring in his early days at the Emirates as he notched eight of his 15 goals for the club in his first season.
A serious injury limited him to just five Premier League appearances in 2010-11, before he battled back to fitness to regain his place in Wenger's team and eventually the Arsenal captaincy.
