ARSENAL TARGETS RODRYGO: €90M SUPERSTAR WANTED TO REPLACE MARTINELLI IN 2026
Arsenal, leading the Premier League, is planning a major 2026 signing with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo (€90M) and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as top left-wing targets.
Reports say Arsenal is considering a major attacking addition in 2026, with Real Madrid's Rodrygo and another great winger on their radar. They are also watching a Borussia Dortmund player closely.
After a busy summer where they spent over £260 million on eight new players, including Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke, Arsenal is aiming for the Premier League title.
Currently, Arsenal is doing well, leading both the Premier League and Champions League.
However, sporting director Andrea Berta understands the need for continuous improvement to compete with other top clubs and build a dynasty, so more big signings could be coming to the Emirates next year.
CaughtOffside reports that Arsenal is exploring possible superstar signings for the left wing, with Rodrygo and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as prime targets.
Instead of pursuing a new center-forward to compete with Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal is now focusing on spending big on a left winger.
With Gabriel Martinelli's performance being unpredictable and Leandro Trossard getting older, either Rodrygo or Leao could be brought in as replacements.
Arsenal has admired Rodrygo for a while and tried to sign him this past summer. He is willing to leave Madrid to play regularly on the left wing, which is his preferred spot.
Even though he has had some tough times under Xabi Alonso, he showed his talent with a nice goal against Manchester City on Wednesday.
Rodrygo is valued at around €90 million (£79m), and Arsenal might face competition for him. Sources said on December 2 that Liverpool sees him as another option to Antoine Semenyo.
However, sources say that Madrid wants to keep Rodrygo for the entire season.
Like Rodrygo, Leao has been linked with a move to North London for a while.
His contract includes a huge €150m (£131.5m) release clause, but Milan might sell him for less if he wants to leave.
Sources told us in October that Leao is eager to take the next step in his career by joining Arsenal.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
