Here is a roundup of the top Arsenal news, gossip and transfer latest from icfootballnews featuring Barbora Votikova, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi that you guys may have missed….
Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi has responded to speculation that he is the one player Real Madrid need right now amid a difficult season for the Spanish giants, who have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The Spanish giants have already sacked manager Xabi Alonso after just seven months in charge of the game, and they brought in Alvaro Arbeloa but sit second in La Liga, are out of the Copa del Rey and face a play-off against Benfica to secure a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
President Florentino Perez is not happy with alot of the big named players at the club, and there has been alot of speculation that the Spaniards will overhaul the squad at the end of the season and let a number of players leave, in order to bring in some new faces.
Zubimendi joined the likes of Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, and Viktor Gyokeres in making the switch to ARSENAL in a bid to boost their hopes of clinching silverware in the 2025-26 campaign, and he has impressed in his first season with the Gunners.
His performances for the Gunners has led to talk that Zubimendi is a player Los Blancos need in their side, and a player that they would like to try and sign at the end of the current season.
The question was put to Zubimendi but swiftly battled away by the midfielder. He told Cadena SER: “I don’t think so. Real Madrid has more than enough players to do well, so no.”
Arteta has been full of praise for Zubimendi this season, particularly after seeing the Spain star score in the first leg of ARSENAL‘ Carabao Cup semi-final win over Chelsea. He told reporters afterwards: “We had the feeling at the end, after it became 3-1 and with the dominant period we had, that we had two massive chances to score the fourth.
‘The result would have been very different, but in that moment, they had an action, they created a corner, they scored a goal, and it’s game on. That feeling, it’s not perfect, but we have to value what the team has done again.
“When we talk about Zubi, what else can he do? He can do whatever he wants. It’s a bit similar to Declan’s qualities. We just have to keep unlocking that in his system, in his brain, because he’s so good at occupying different spaces.
‘He’s carrying the ball, dribbling, winning duels, and he has a talent when he gets into the final third and into the box. He’s so composed. He sees the picture very clear. What he did today, it’s phenomenal.”
CZECH STAR HAPPY WITH ARSENAL MOVE
Barbora Votikova was over the moon to arrive at the Sobha Realty Training Centre for the first time this week after officially completing a deadline day move to Arsenal right at the very last minute.
ARSENAL completed the signing of the Czech goalkeeper from Slavia Prague on loan as the club felt that they needed some cover for the remainder of the season, and shortly after completing her move, the stopper has admitted that she is very excited about the move.
“It feels amazing,” she said. “I’m really excited to join this special club. I found out recently, to be honest, so it was a quick move but I didn’t really have to think twice about anything and I was super excited for this opportunity.
“Arsenal is the top club in the world or one of the biggest and with the biggest ambitions and with a special team and special players. So for me, it’s a really huge honour to join this club.”
“I’m excited about the level again. “I must say I kind of missed it for the past year and a half. This league is very special and all the games are kind of neck to neck, I would say, and it makes it so interesting and very high level and that’s what I am here for.”
“We had our first training today, so I’m happy to meet them,” she said. “I am very excited to start to work with them and to learn and share our experiences and to support each other. I hope to bring my experiences and positivity and energy into the group and support the GK union.”
“I am really looking forward to it,” she said. “It was, I would say, my dream to play at Emirates. It’s, I think, one of the biggest stadiums and events in the women’s football world. So very, very excited.”
DECLAN RICE TO GET MASSIVE ARSENAL DEAL
There has been some fresh reports in the media that have claimed the Arsenal chiefs are ready to lock down Declan Rice to an even bigger contract in the coming months to ward off interest from big clubs.
Rice has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world since he joined ARSENAL from West Ham in a £105m deal in July 2023, and has become one of the main reasons why the Gunners have been so good over the past 12 months.
While Rice is understood to be happy in north London – and there is no indication he is looking to leave the Emirates – there has been some rumours that the likes of Real Madrid are interested in adding the England midfielder to their squad.
However – in a bid to secure he long-tern future of Rice, who is out of contract in the summer of 2028, Arsenal are reportedly ready to bolster his wages from £225k-a-week to around the £300k-a-week mark.
The potential new deal at the Emirates would mean that Rice will be one of the highest earning midfielders in the Premier League and pretty much end any speculation that he would be tempted into a move away abroad.
Gaizka Mendieta recently tipped Rice to make the move to Madrid: ‘Declan Rice has a lot of respect in Spain,’ Mendieta told BOYLE Sports, who provide the latest football odds.
Source link
Add Comment