Xhaka sheds light on Arsenal exit as Arteta selects first lineup

09 July 2023 , 04:00

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Xhaka sheds light on Arsenal exit as Arteta selects first lineup

Arsenal are officially a midfielder down after Granit Xhaka left but a deal for Declan Rice is now close.

The Gunners had long expected the Swiss midfielder to leave and he has joined Bayer Leverkusen. Xhaka has previously sought the exit door on numerous occasions under different managers and has finally waved goodbye to north London.

Rice, who will be his replacement, is set to arrive in a club-record deal from West Ham with other transfers also close as Arsenal prepare to head off on a pre-season tour to America where they will face the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona.

Here's the latest from the Emirates.

Xhaka's reason for leaving

Former midfielder Granit Xhaka has poured cold water on suggestions his exit was related to his wife being unhappy in England.

Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured

Xhaka has completed a move to Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of around £21.5m. The former club captain leaves Arsenal after seven years, having made more than 200 Premier League appearances for the Gunners.

The move to Leverkusen will allow the Swiss international to test himself in the Bundesliga for a second time, having previously spent four seasons with Borussia Monchengladbach. Speaking to Swiss media, the 30-year-old insisted it was the new challenge, rather than any family input, which prompted his decision.

Read more here.

Gunners draw pre-season friendly

Arsenal had Marquinhos to thank after they salvaged a 1-1 draw in a pre-season outing against Watford.

The Gunners are preparing for their Premier League season opener against Nottingham Forest in a matter of weeks and hosted the Championship side at their London Colney training base. It allowed Mikel Arteta to field a team mixed with senior players, fringe stars and academy hopefuls.

Marquinhos is very much still trying to prove himself at the Emirates having been sent out on loan to Norwich last term, but he scored the Gunners' equaliser ten minutes into the second half, with the contest finishing as a stalemate.

Read more here.

Arsenal enjoyed a pre-season run out at their training ground

North London Derby date set

Arsenal against Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou's first North London Derby, is one of the games chosen for live TV in August and September.

The former Celtic boss will now take his new side to the Emirates on September 24, with the match confirmed as a Sunday 2pm kick-off on Sky Sports. Last term Tottenham, led then by Antonio Conte, lost 3-1 after making the short trip before the Gunners completed the double later in the season.

Arsenal's clash with Manchester United in early September, a 4.30pm kick-off will also be shown live on Sky Sports as will their clash against Everton a fortnight later.

Arsenal lose eight players and sign three as January transfer window closes

Read more here.

Samuel Meade