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.
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS: ARSENAL'S WORST GAME SAVED BY DOUBLE STOPPAGE-TIME OWN-GOALS
Mikel Arteta admitted relief after Arsenal snatched a crucial 2-1 win over resilient Wolves via two late own goals, despite delivering their "worst game this season."
Mikel Arteta can breathe a sigh of relief after Saturday. Arsenal barely squeaked by with a win against Wolves thanks to a late goal.
Arsenal's play was slow, and they struggled to get past Wolves' solid defense, which stayed back and held strong. Arteta seemed lost as he looked to the bench for solutions as the evening wore on.
It was probably Arsenal's worst game this season. They seemed unprepared. The team lacked speed, and Wolves easily cleared the ball.
Arteta didn't seem to fix anything. There were no changes after halftime, and the game remained slow. He needed to do something, but his subs only seemed to slow things down more.
Wolves haven't been great this season, but on Saturday, they played like a team, working together to stop Arsenal.
Arsenal tried their usual tactic: a corner. Bukayo Saka sent the ball into the box, and it went in unconventionally.
Saka's cross went over everyone, hit the inside of the post, bounced off Sam Johnstone's back, and went over the line.
It looked like Arsenal would pull out an ugly win, one that would keep them ahead of Manchester City and Aston Villa.
But Wolves had other plans. They played better as Arsenal fell back. After a great pass into the box, Wolves tied the game, stunning the Emirates Stadium.
Still, Arsenal didn't give up. Saka sent in another ball, which hit Yerson Mosquera and went into his own net.
It was a tough loss for Wolves but a huge relief for Arsenal, who now have a five-point lead at the top of the league again.
ANALYSIS: ARSENAL ESCAPES WOLVES SCARE VIA TWO OWN-GOALS, WHITE INJURED
Arsenal's title bid gets a massive boost! They defeated Wolves 2-1 with two fortunate own-goals, moving five points clear at the top of the table.
Arsenal grabbed a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers, thanks to two own goals (the winning goal in stoppage time). This win gives them a five-point lead in the Premier League.
After winning just one of their last three games, Arsenal risked dropping more points when Tolu Arokodare leveled the score for Wolves in the 90th minute. That goal canceled out an earlier own goal in the 70th minute, caused by Wolves' keeper Sam Johnstone.
But Arsenal caught a break. In the fourth minute of added time, Yerson Mosquera, pressured by Gabriel Jesus, headed Saka's cross into his own net, leaving Johnstone stunned.
Manchester City will try to cut Arsenal's lead to two points when they play Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Wolves remain at the bottom of the league, with only two points from 16 games after their ninth straight loss. They're close to matching Sheffield United's record of 17 winless games from the start of a Premier League season.
William Saliba returned for Arsenal after missing four games with an ankle injury. But Arsenal's defense still has problems, as Ben White suffered a hamstring injury.
With Gabriel, Cristhian Mosquera, and Riccardo Calafiori already out, White, who played for only 30 minutes, might be sidelined for a while.
Arsenal aimed to bounce back after losing 2-1 to Aston Villa last weekend. But they had trouble in the first half.
Wolves had the best chance to score in a dull first 45 minutes. Hwang Hee-Chan had space in the box. But his shot was easily saved by David Raya.
Arsenal had a few opportunities, but Johnstone didn't have to make any difficult saves. The fans weren't happy as the halftime whistle blew.
Surprisingly, Arteta didn't make any offensive changes at halftime. But around the 60-minute mark, he brought on Martin Ødegaard, Leandro Trossard, and Mikel Merino, replacing Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martín Zubimendi.
Hwang was lucky to avoid a red card for a bad tackle on Myles Lewis-Skelly, which made Arteta angry. The referee, Robert Jones, gave Hwang a yellow card, and VAR didn't take any further action.
In the 66th minute, Johnstone tipped Rice's free kick over the bar. Shortly after, he made a great save to prevent Rice's shot from going in.
But Johnstone then went from hero to zero.
He touched Saka's corner kick onto the post, and the ball bounced off him and into the goal.
Ødegaard's shot hit the side of the net, and Viktor Gyökeres shot wide. Soon after, Gyökeres was replaced by Jesus with 10 minutes remaining. Gyökeres hasn't scored in five games.
Arsenal seemed set to win 1-0. But substitute Arokodare headed in Mateus Mane's cross, tying the game.
But in the fourth of six added minutes, another own goal gave Arsenal the three points. It could be a huge win in their title chase.