• Mikel Arteta is set to renew his contract with Arsenal and spearhead the title defence of The English Champions. The club approached our Basque native earlier this year, and it was agreed Mikel wanted to focus on delivering us major silverware & to earn his position within the home of the champions. Total accountability.
My understanding is that Enrique Riquleme explored a secret plot to bring Arteta to Madrid if he had won his presidential election. Mikel is currently on 'holiday', yet actively involved in our transfer operations. While everyone at the club are behaving like it’s a done deal, the club hope to finalise the inner details of the most important contract at the club. Minimum 3 years - the wheels are firmly on. Viva La Mikel.
• Andrea Berta's current contract runs until 2028. As I understand it, senior officials from Saudi explored a possibility of luring the Italian to the Middle East, while Bayern also covertly did the same thing. Andrea promised Mikel last summer he would deliver him a squad worthy of major silverware… mission completed, with the UCL now in their sights.
Another thing I wanted to mention is Micheli Maurizio, the man responsible for scouting Hamšík, Kvaratskhelia, Kim Min-Jae and now Christos Tzolis. While Arsenal aim to add atleast 2 attackers, do not underestimate the authority and respect this man has within the club and wider football. Two weeks ago, I was speaking to the representatives of a player who told me Micheli was the one holding court without the presence of Berta. This duo act are conducting business seamlessly, as you can see with the revamp of the Arsenal youth set up, for which I am told the club have ring fenced a special transfer budget.
• The contract of Declan Rice is also a major focus for Arsenal this summer, with initial talks starting early this year. As I understand it, Declan is very happy at Arsenal despite interest from the likes of Real Madrid and others. Talks are going smoothly and expect this to get done in due course.
• Jurrien Timber's contract is very close to completion. Minor details remain.
• David Raya has a 1 year optional extension on his current contract, which has 2 years left. All parties are very relaxed about his long term future, as a pay rise was agreed last summer.
As for all the rumours circulating, as of today, Arsenal are yet to make direct contact with ANY club for a MIDFIELDER.
I am happy to provide a 'state of play' post on the midfielder situation if that would be helpful?
HandofArsenal
https://t.co/Av82d2H54h
IMPORTANT:
A clarification on the reported U.S.-Iran agreement.
Earlier reports made it sound as though a final peace deal had already been reached & that Friday’s signing ceremony was largely a formality.
That is not what Iranian officials are now describing.
According to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi, what has been finalized is a memorandum of understanding & framework for ending military operations, lifting the blockade & opening the way for further negotiations.
A formal signing is expected on Friday.
However, a further 60-day negotiating process would then follow, covering sanctions, the nuclear file, economic reconstruction, implementation mechanisms & verification of commitments.
Iranian officials also stress that entry into those negotiations is conditional on the United States first implementing its commitments regarding the end of the war, lifting the siege & releasing assets.
In short, this appears less like a final settlement & more like a framework designed to stop the fighting & create the conditions for a broader agreement.
The immediate question remains the same:
Can Trump deliver Israel?
Because if military operations are indeed meant to end on all fronts, including Lebanon, then Lebanon may provide the first real test of whether this understanding holds in practice.
A word of caution, however. We have heard talk of agreements, imminent agreements, understandings & breakthroughs before. Friday is still a long way away in military terms, & the road beyond it is longer still.
Much can happen between now & then. There are many stages yet to navigate & no shortage of actors capable of derailing the process.
Celebrations may be premature.
I’m willing to convert Bouaddi, who I love and think is the closest thing to Declan Rice, to a RB because I don’t think he has enough box impact from #8.
Now I’m hearing about some “Manu Kone.”
Our grandmother never had a cardiologist.
She had a kitchen.
10 Nigerian foods that protect your heart with the science your doctor didn't know and never mentioned 🧵
1. Epo pupa (red PALM oil)
We all know Declan Rice is a good player, but how do you quantify his performance against a top scorer or an assists leader?
Out of 47 graded categories for central midfielders, Rice ranks inside the top ten in 27. To put that into perspective, the second-highest graded CM in the league by Overall Grade, James Garner, ranks in the top ten in 18 categories.
#AFC
Arteta accumulated more PL points than Pep totalled over the past FOUR seasons.
This is despite Pep spending 30%+ more in real terms and having had a far more valuable squad before the start of those 4 years.
Arsenal is about to break the PL revenue record this season…
🚨📊| THE STAT THAT DEFINES ARSENAL'S TITLE-WINNING SEASON.🏆
Across 61 matches in all competitions, Arsenal have been behind for just 403 minutes.
That's it.
To put that into perspective, the Gunners have played 5,490 minutes of football this season and spent only 7.3% of that time trailing.
Even more astonishing?
▫️ Arsenal have trailed by 2+ goals for just 26 minutes ALL SEASON.
Those 26 minutes came in the Carabao Cup Final.
Not in the Premier League.
Not in the Champions League.
Not across a gruelling 61-game campaign.
Just 26 minutes.
In the Premier League, Arsenal have spent only 8.6% of match time behind on the scoreboard, the second-best record in the division.
This is what elite control looks like.
While other teams rely on comebacks, chaos and moments of magic, Arsenal's dominance starts much earlier:
🔸 Rarely fall behind
🔸 Rarely lose control of games
🔸 Relentless defensive structure
🔸Elite game management
🔸 Consistent for 90 minutes
The biggest compliment you can give Mikel Arteta's Arsenal isn't that they win.
It's that they almost never allow opponents to dictate terms.
For years, critics said Arsenal lacked mentality.
Now they're one of the hardest teams in Europe to put behind, let alone beat.
This isn't luck.
This is coaching.
This is structure.
This is control.
This is a champion's mentality. 🏆
@BadaAkintundeJ Mikel Arteta has consistently proven his tactical acumen from 19/26
Securing an FA Cup victory over Frank Lampard and winning two FA Community Shields against Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. effectively driving both Klopp and Guardiola out of England.
Mikel Arteta is the ONE.