GIGGS GETS GO-AHEAD
AINSLEY AIMS TO STAY This summer’s Arsenal revolution is being driven by Arteta’s ability to sell his vision of the club to big-name targets
THE Mikel Arteta revolution is driving the biggest summer changes at Arsenal for years.
And the key factor is the boss himself – he is proving to be a great salesman.
There has been a major shake-up of the squad, with deals done for Brazil forward Willian and £27million defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
The hierarchy, coaching staff and club employees are also being streamlined in keeping with a new look and feel around the Emirates.
Make no mistake, Arsenal manager Arteta is putting his stamp on things.
He is building his team – and the club are backing him to the hilt as they believe it can signal an exciting new dawn. Arteta had plenty of clout anyway but the strides he has made since taking over last December have given the club even greater confidence they are right to put their faith in him.
It has already led to head of football Raul Sanllehi’s departure, while club legend Freddie Ljungberg left after 13 years as player, coach and even caretaker boss.
There is little room sentiment.
The recruitment department now consists of technical director Edu and transfer negotiator Huss Fahmy, who are overseeing
ARSENAL are formulating a new scouting network to move with the times.
Technical director Edu has overseen a painful shake-up which led to the departures of long-serving global scout Francis Cagigao, UK scout Peter
AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES is determined to stay focused on Arsenal despite doubts over his future.
Wolves have had a £15million bid rejected for the midfielder (right) and are likely to come back with a higher offer as the Gunners look for at least £20m – with Newcastle and clubs in Germany also interested in the 22-year-old.
Mirror Sport revealed that Maitland-Niles, who has three years left on his deal, has been made available for transfer and Wanderers could offer him the chance to play regularly. for deals this summer, but Arteta has a big say – signing Willian proved the point.
That deal is being seen as a “smart move” for a player who Arteta believes is clever enough to play between the lines, find gaps and give the team more creativity, which was something they were sorely lacking.
Gabriel might be yet another centre-half but the 22-year-old from Lille is good on the ball, powerful and complements the other defenders. By persuading
Clark and recruitment specialist Brian McDermott.
There are also departures around Europe in the scouting network and even closer to home for those on rolling contracts identifying young players.
But while that was met with a strong backlash
Willian to leave Chelsea and for Gabriel to join, with interest from Manchester United, Everton and Napoli, Arteta showed how well he sold the club.
On Saturday, they are back at Wembley just weeks after winning the FA Cup as they meet Liverpool in the Community Shield.
And while in the past there has been plenty of talk about transfer ins and outs, come deadline day there has been a familiar story: panic buys and rushed decisions because of their record in securing deals – Cagigao is credited for recruiting Cesc Fabregas among others – it is seen as a necessary move towards a different era.
Arsenal still need scouts to watch players, but there is a greater reliance on data and analysis for targets.
RED DEAL DEAN
DEAN HENDERSON has signed a £30million, new five-year deal to keep him at Manchester United – and heap pressure on David de Gea.
Henderson (right), 23, agreed a contract that looks to install him as first-choice keeper in the long term.
He had a brilliant season on loan at Sheffield United and was named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the forthcoming Nations League games.
Henderson said: “I’ll be giving everything to improve so I play as many games as possible.” because they could not balance the books in time. This summer feels different. Deals have been done first, offloads afterwards.
There is still very much pressure on the club to sell – especially because they are making 55 staff redundant – but the Kroenke ownership did service the debt on the stadium which eases the finances to get deals done.
It means Rob Holding and Sead Kolasinac could go, Wolves are keen on £20mrated Ainsley Maitland-Niles while European clubs are looking at Hector Bellerin.
The club have agreed a new contract with PierreEmerick Aubameyang and being able to keep the wage bill in check is another reason why there will have to be departures, even if Mesut Ozil is determined to stay.
But the future already has Arteta’s stamp and authority running through it.
WALES have been given the go-ahead to play their Nations League opener against Finland in Helsinki.
The Finnish government approved the FA of Wales’ request to allow Ryan Giggs
(right) and his squad to travel without quarantine for next Thursday’s clash.
And the Finland FA yesterday confirmed the game will be played behind closed doors at the newly-renovated 36,000-capacity Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Giggs has named a 26-man squad for the Finland trip and home game against Bulgaria three days later.