John – Smith – Paulinha feature in Arsenal news now

Here is a roundup of the top Arsenal news, gossip and transfer speculation from icfootballnews featuring the likes of Olivia Smith, Joao Paulinha and Louis Zecevic-John that we think you may have missed…

Louis Zecevic-John has admitted that he really excited and delighted after it emerged this week the young lad agreed his first professional contract with ARSENAL.

Arsenal have been very busy over the past few weeks adding players to the first team quad in preparation for that Premier League and Champions League challenge next season, but they have also been getting alot of the younger players signed up to contracts.

Louis Zecevic-John is the latest name to get his first deal, and Seeing players from the academy in our first team is just the inspiration needs to fulfil his potential after signing his first professional contract.

With Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri the latest in a long line of graduates to star in our first team, Louis is using their stories as fuel to inspire his pathway to success.

“They’re only a few years above me and just looking at the steps they took, Myles wasn’t necessarily a left-back, but taking the opportunity as a left-back.

“Now they’re starting for ARSENAL. I think Ethan and Myles are huge inspirations to hopefully follow their tracks to the first-team.”

“I was a bit lucky,” the winger said. “I went to school with Per’s kids. I usually just played football on the field for my school team.

“One day my mum, and Per, saw me playing quite well on the field. He took it upon himself to message my mum about the whole system, and the whole trialling and all that stuff. I was quite lucky, but I’m grateful.

“Now I’ve got the opportunity to not only showcase my talent, but also show my family how much hard work I’ve put in, which they don’t usually see in the training sessions, more so in the matches.”

He added: “I want to set a very strict 20 goal involvement this season, which me and my dad discussed because we’re quite competitive on our goals. But I’ll say the 20 goals and assists is a must for this season and just overall consistent performances.

“I’d say the best word [to describe my style] is unpredictable. You never know what I’m going to do on the ball, off the ball. I’m hard-working, committed for my team, for my career. Everything that I love.”

DREAM FOR SMITH

Olivia Smith has opened up and revealed that it is a dream of hers to play for ARSENAL, after the striker made the move from Liverpool in a deal that will cost the Gunners £1 million.

“It’s a privilege and an honour,” she told us in her first interview as a Gunner. “Everything that Arsenal has accomplished is just so massive, and for me to now be a part of that, I’m very excited.

“I think it’s always a very difficult decision to make a change, but at the end of the day, I always want to grow, and I think that’s been my philosophy going through my career ever since I was young. I just want to find new ways to grow, learn from different coaches, learn from different teammates.

“I just felt like now is the right time, and it’s always been my dream to play for a club like Arsenal as well, and they’re doing so well again, so I’m excited to be here.”

On last season: “It wasn’t easy,” she said, reflecting on 2024/25. “I think even in my pre-season, I struggled a bit because the type of football I was used to was completely different to what it is here. It’s very physical here. I was in more of a technical league, so coming here, I think I was a bit shocked by how physical everything was, but I think I was able to settle in pretty nicely after a couple months.

“I think just learning to be stronger, both mentally and physically. I mean, the mental toll that it takes, even just in this league, is crazy.

“I find that I’m very technical, quick. I like to move quickly with the ball, and I think that’s key. And then also just being able to use my teammates. Especially my defensive work has improved a lot, so I’d say that’s also important in my game too.”

“I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “Being on the opposition side, it’s a nightmare, I can tell you that. The atmosphere is amazing, so to have that behind us now and behind me to make a debut there is going to be unreal.

“I’m super excited. I love to put on a show for our fans, especially just technically, the flair. I think everyone loves that and I think that makes the game really exciting. So I think that’s what they’re all looking forward to as well.

“I just really want to contribute to the team with wins. I want to go to the Champions League and win that. Win the cups. And then as a person, I just want to grow, meet new people, learn new things, and that’s the biggest thing for me. I just want to continue to grow as a person here.”

PAULINHA RESPONDS

Joao Palhinha has distanced himself from reports that he could be on the move to join ARSENAL this summer window and insists he is ‘very motivated’ to ‘prove his worth’ at Bayern Munich next season.

There has been a flurry of activity at Arsenal in recent days after a somewhat quiet start to the transfer window, with Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard all signing on the dotted line at the Emirates.

The Gunners have also agreed to sign Viktor Gyokeres and Cristhian Mosquera, but their transfer business is far from done and A report from German publication Bild suggests Arsenal have expressed a strong interest in Palhinha and have held talks with the Germans about a deal for the midfielder.

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