A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as France boss Didier Deschamps explains why he overlooks William Saliba and a Gunners star fires manager Mikel Arteta a warning.
Aston Villa chief Monchi is loath to sell Juventus target Douglas Luiz to Arsenal
Aston Villa president of football operations Monchi has no desire to grant a summer transfer to Arsenal for Douglas Luiz. That is according to TuttoJuve, which reports that Gunners chief Edu is still fighting to land the 26-year-old’s arrival despite Juventus nearing an agreement.
Luiz has long been a dream signing for Mikel Arteta as he looks to improve Arsenal’s midfield over the off-season. But Juventus are set to deny the Spaniard with Aston Villa set to accept a player-plus-cash proposal. The operation would feature three individual transfers, though.
Aston Villa hope to sell Luiz to Juventus before the end of June to avoid breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR). The Villans will then move to settle deals for Juventus pair Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior with Monchi unwilling to strengthen any rival like Arsenal.
Read more about Arsenal and Juventus’ interest in Luiz’s transfer from Aston Villa, here.
Aaron Ramsdale warns Arsenal he will ‘never’ accept being No2 again
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has warned Mikel Arteta that he will ‘never’ accept just being a No2 again. The 26-year-old admits he found the 2023/24 season ‘tough’ after falling to second-choice at Emirates Stadium. So, he aims to never spend another term on a bench.
Ramsdale was Arteta’s undisputed No1 in 2022/23 and was even one of four Arsenal players in the PFA Team of the Year. But the England stopper lost his starting spot after Arteta hired David Raya on loan from Brentford and installed the Spaniard as their starter last September.
A consistent backline further helped Arsenal to register the Premier League’s best defence in 23/24. The Gunners only shipped 29 goals as Raya even won the Golden Glove with 16 clean sheets. But Ramsdale has no desire to spend the 2024/25 season on Arsenal’s bench, too.
“No footballer wants to not play,” Ramsdale admitted to talkSPORT. “I’ve had a tough year personally not playing and I never want to do that again.”
Read more about what Ramsdale has said about his situation at Arsenal, here.
Didier Deschamps snubs William Saliba has he lacks ‘automatisms’ in the France XI
France boss Didier Deschamps has explained that he often leaves William Saliba out of his XI as the Arsenal star lacks ‘automatisms’ with their defenders. But his place in Les Bleus’ team for Euro 2024 this summer will afford the centre-back the chance to improve those rapports.
Saliba is projected to start the European Championship as France’s third-choice centre-back behind Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano. The 23-year-old has only started in eight of his 15 caps yet from a possible 23 games. Deschamps first called Saliba up in March 2022.
Zero of his starts also came at the 2022 World Cup when Saliba featured for just 27 minutes over France’s games. He enjoyed a cameo in Les Bleus’ final group stage contest en route to the final. Now, Deschamps wants Saliba to use Euro 2024 to grow his spot in the France XI.
“William is one of the very best defenders in the Premier League,” Deschamps explained to The Athletic. “I want him to do what he does very well at Arsenal.
“He had a very, very good season. He played many matches, especially with his partner Gabriel and they were a fundamental part of what Arsenal did this season, particularly in the defensive aspect.
“With us, he has not had the same playing time. There are automatisms which develop through playing matches together. You have repetition and understanding.
“With a national team, we always have so little time. But now they have the possibility of living together for a few weeks, and that is even better.”
Read more about why Deschamps overlooks Arsenal defender Saliba for France, here.