Latest news with #Arrizabalaga
Metro
4 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Arsenal told they have made 'best value signing of the summer'
Charlie Nicholas believes that Arsenal's signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga could prove one of the shrewdest transfers of the summer. Arrizabalaga spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, but is set to leave Stamford Bridge after being told he has no future under Enzo Maresca. The Spaniard now looks to have found a home on the other side of London, with Arsenal set to complete a £5million deal for the 30-year-old. Mikel Arteta's side were in need of a second-choice keeper to provide competition for David Raya after Neto returned to Bournemouth following his season-loan long. And in Arrizabalaga, former Arsenal striker Nicholas believes the Gunners have found the perfect candidate to provide competition for Raya whilst also adding experience to the dressing room. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'Kepa joining Arsenal is an immediate challenge to David Raya,' Nicholas told Sky Bet. 'He might not be better than Raya, but if Raya gets injured – and he takes a lot of risks – then we have a guy who is experienced at playing at the top level, and it's a bargain for £5 million. 'There have been a lot of past Arsenal signings from Chelsea that haven't worked out, but to get a keeper at the top – it's a proper challenge, not a young goalkeeper or a veteran coming in as a backup happy to sit on the bench. 'He won't be happy to sit on the bench; he'll push Raya and offer real competition. 'I didn't see this deal coming, but I'm very pleased with it – it's a drop in the ocean in terms of money, and it could turn out to be the best value signing of the summer.' While the impending signing of Arrizabalaga has Nicholas' backing, not everyone is convinced of the deal, with William Gallas urging his former side to look for a younger player to take on the role. More Trending 'I think Kepa to Arsenal would be a strange signing,' he told Prime Casino. 'The second choice goalkeeper should be a young player who is learning that can take over from David Raya in a few years time. 'I'm not sure why you'd bring in someone who is older than him with no eye to the future. 'Arsenal should be looking for someone in their early 20s who can learn and grow, playing in the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. Kepa isn't that player.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Rio Ferdinand says only two clubs can win the Premier League next season MORE: Chelsea urged to avoid £50m transfer mistake with 'unstoppable' talent MORE: Former Manchester United prospect to join Burnley on a free transfer
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arsenal interested in Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
Arsenal are reportedly interested in Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is available for around £5 million this summer, according to Luca Bendoni. The Gunners took Neto on loan from AFC Bournemouth to provide cover for first-choice shot-stopper David Raya. Arrizabalaga spent the campaign with the Cherries. Advertisement Arrizabalaga showed signs of improvement but still looked susceptible to long-range shots and had his shaky moments. However, he will likely not see much game time with Raya as a mainstay between the sticks. Bournemouth looked set to pull the trigger and sign the Spain international, but their interest has cooled, allowing Arsenal to enter the frame. Arrizabalaga could be a cheap addition with Premier League experience to bolster the numbers. The world's most expensive goalkeeper did not live up to the billing at Stamford Bridge but could play a crucial role in cup competitions for the North Londoners. Advertisement Arsenal briefly showed interest in Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia. However, he has opted to join Barcelona, where he will compete with former Arsenal star Wojciech Szczesny and stalwart Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. This potential Arrizabalaga signing allows Arsenal more funds to improve their attack, which is crying out for reinforcement. The Gunners need a new left-winger and striker. They need to cough up big numbers to sign marquee names. Real Madrid ace Rodrygo is reportedly a top target, and the Brazilian is the type of player the Gunners should be in the transfer market for. Rodrygo, on the left wing, gives Arsenal a new dimension in attack that they need. So would a lethal striker. Advertisement The Gunners are pushing for RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko, but questions remain about whether the young striker can spearhead the club to an elusive 14th top-flight league title. Also, the club desperately needs a capable back-up for talisman Bukayo Saka. Potential free agent Leroy Sane would be perfect, but he would most likely want more playing time, and his salary is hefty.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kepa Arrizabalaga set for Chelsea exit but permanent Bournemouth move is unlikely
Kepa Arrizabalaga set for Chelsea exit but permanent Bournemouth move is unlikely Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is heading for a Chelsea exit this summer, but a permanent move to AFC Bournemouth is highly unlikely. That's according to Luca Bendoni, who reports that both Arrizabalaga and Bournemouth are exploring other options rather than sticking together. Advertisement The 30-year-old spent the season on loan at Bournemouth and featured 31 times in the Premier League this season under manager Andoni Iraola. He managed eight clean sheets and also kept one in four FA Cup games. Arrizabalaga has enjoyed a decent loan spell with the Cherries, establishing himself as a reliable presence between the sticks. Unfortunately, that wouldn't translate into a permanent deal this summer, but not for the lack of trying. Bendoni claims Bournemouth had already made a move to keep the Spaniard at the club but to no avail, so both sides are now considering other options on the market. Advertisement The good news for Chelsea is that Arrizabalaga has plenty of admirers both in England and abroad. The Blues are desperate to get him off their wage bill and could get their wish this summer. Before making the switch to the south coast last summer, Arrizabalaga extended his Chelsea contract by one year, keeping him on the club's payroll until June 2026. There was also a £5 million release clause in the contract, which is now open for interested clubs. The move was designed to protect the Blues' transfer interests, allowing them to potentially recoup some value for a player who once held the title of the world's most expensive goalkeeper. Advertisement Arrizabalaga has no hopes of returning to Chelsea. The Blues have other plans and are already stacked up in the goalkeeping department. At the moment, they're still pondering what to do with Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic, Filip Jorgensen, and the talented Mike Penders, who has turned heads with an exceptional loan spell at KRC Genk. Chelsea's initial idea was to give Petrovic and Penders a chance to displace Sanchez as the club's number-one shot-stopper. However, there have been talks of another loan deal for Penders while Petrovic's future is still up in the air despite a transformative spell at RC Strasbourg.
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Alternative Premier League XI of the season: Who makes our experts' XI?
Mohamed Salah was an absolute certainty. Ryan Gravenberch was always going to make the cut. And who else but Alexander Isak to lead the line? Our writers have picked their Premier League team of the season as part of The Athletic's end-of-season awards — but who would make it into an alternative best XI of 2024-25? Advertisement Our criteria for this team was simple — we wanted players who do not generate Salah-esque headlines, the ones who might have gone under the radar but whose performances this season have impressed fans who follow the league in forensic detail. We asked our data and tactics writers Mark Carey, Liam Tharme and Anantaajith Raghuraman to come up with their alternative XI. This is the team they went for… Chelsea to Real Madrid to… Bournemouth? Arrizabalaga has won two Champions League titles but this has to be one of his best seasons. The goalkeeper is crucial to Andoni Iraola's side's direct style, regularly launching accurate long balls to their forwards. His most common target after Bournemouth's centre-backs is winger Antoine Semenyo, to whom he has completed 42 passes. Arrizabalaga's shot-stopping has been solid too. Based on the quality of shots on target he has faced this season, he has 'prevented' 3.7 more goals than would be expected of the statistically average goalkeeper. The real hipster choice would have been to put Livramento as our left-back option, given how much he has impressed on that side since joining Newcastle United — most notably in their Carabao Cup final victory in March. Such versatility is a key reason the 22-year-old has been a mainstay of Eddie Howe's side this season. Only three Newcastle players have managed more minutes across all competitions in 2024-25. You might not notice him in every game, but Livramento is crucial in allowing others to thrive, with 9.3 ball recoveries per 1,000 opponent touches being more than any of his Newcastle team-mates. His stamina and athleticism make him the archetypal Howe player. When Thomas Frank first pitched the idea of Lewis-Potter playing left-back, the 24-year-old thought he was being called into the head coach's office for getting into trouble. Nominally a right-footed left winger signed from Hull City in the Championship three years ago, Lewis-Potter has become Brentford's solution to Rico Henry's long-term injury. Only Mikkel Damsgaard has racked up more minutes than him across all competitions this campaign. He uses his speed and agility excellently in one-on-one defensive situations (illustrated above), preferring to jockey rather than stepping in. Lewis-Potter has made only 18 fouls in more than 3,000 league minutes this term, averaging one every two games, while his 59.1 per cent success rate of tackling dribbling opponents is the fourth highest at Brentford and above the Premier League full-back average. Nottingham Forest's capture of Milenkovic from Fiorentina last summer came with tongue-in-cheek remarks that his height (6ft 5in/195cm) would help resolve their set-piece struggles from 2023-24. Cut to the present and the Serbian's dominant box presence has done exactly that. Forest have conceded just eight goals from set pieces (excluding penalties) this season while scoring 17, a significant improvement from the previous campaign's 23 and seven respectively. Milenkovic has directly contributed to six set-piece goals, scoring five, while his presence has allowed partner Murillo to flourish at both ends too. After leading Fiorentina to consecutive Conference League finals, Milenkovic has been pivotal as Forest secure a return to European competition after three decades away. Adapting to a new league was never going to be easy, but Lacroix had all of the physical attributes to settle into his new role upon joining Crystal Palace. With his height (6ft 3in), strength and recovery pace, there are not too many Premier League strikers who can get the better of him. Playing in the heart of a back three certainly helps, meaning Lacroix is not one to go looking for danger unnecessarily when Palace are out of possession. On the ball, he is comfortable stepping into midfield and linking with the forward line directly when Oliver Glasner's side spring forward. A strong second half of the season, including Palace's historic FA Cup final victory, has shown Lacroix to be key to their defensive solidity. From Yves Bissouma to Moises Caicedo and now Baleba, Brighton & Hove Albion have replaced, and arguably upgraded, a key central midfielder. He has the capacity to dazzle with a screamer, scoring four goals this campaign and three times from outside the box. The most recent was a top-corner match-winner at home against West Ham United, a game in which Baleba, primarily a central midfielder, once more filled in at centre-back due to injuries. His all-round game has stood out too, ranking in the top quarter of Premier League midfielders for pass completion, aerial duels won, successful take-ons and interceptions. Still only 21, left-footed, and with a press-resistant intelligence that belies his age, Baleba looks every part a top player in the making. Bergvall played just 221 minutes of Premier League action in 2024 after joining Tottenham from Djurgarden in the summer. In 2025, only four Spurs players have played more league minutes than him. Bergvall's value to Spurs' midfield comes from his dynamism and ability to shield the ball and power through challenges at a high speed. He has played alongside multiple partners and in different roles but has been one of his side's most consistent players in a poor season. The Sweden international is only 19 — his potential is through the roof. As breakout seasons go, Damsgaard has played more minutes in 2024-25 than the past three campaigns combined. That covers his final season at Sampdoria in 2021-22 before he joined Brentford, and, after an injury-hit first two years in south-west London, the 24-year-old has found consistency and form, creating chances all over the pitch (below). He is the supply line behind the devastating duo of Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, roaming to connect play out wide or threading passes in behind. He ranks in the top 10 Premier League players this campaign for progressive passes (229), through balls (24) and key passes (62), and is one of only seven to have hit double-digits for assists (10). Murphy's outstanding season has been a big reminder that there is a reason coaches mostly played their wingers on the same side as their dominant foot: it makes them particularly threatening crossers. Murphy has become the creative replacement for Kieran Trippier at right-back, with Miguel Almiron never recapturing the goalscoring form he showed in eight games in 2022-23 and departing for Atlanta United this January. Murphy's cutbacks for Isak have given the Sweden international plenty of six-yard box tap-ins (seven assists from Murphy to Isak represents the best duo in the league) and he has shown a range of finishing with eight goals too — from tap-ins to a rifled finish from as wide as the edge of the 18-yard box at home against Crystal Palace. In an Everton side that is not blessed with flair players, Ndiaye is the exception. Returning to the Premier League after a spell in France, Ndiaye has been the key attacking outlet at Goodison Park. A seven-goal return is decent, but try this statistic for size: Jack Harrison has Everton's second-highest volume of take-ons attempted with 76. Ndiaye boasts 147 (and counting) this season. An ability to drop a shoulder, wriggle out of trouble, and fire at goal is not to be underestimated in an otherwise structured Everton approach. He is the go-to creative spark for David Moyes' side, and the definition of a hipster pick this season. The fox in the box is a dying breed in modern football, with centre-forwards required to contribute to build-up play and drift in or out to draw defenders from goal. In that regard, Strand Larsen is a breath of fresh air. Ninety-six per cent of his attempts on goal have been from inside the box, with his 62 per cent shot accuracy the highest among Premier League forwards. His shot conversion rate of 25 per cent is only beaten by Chris Wood (33 per cent). Few strikers have settled in as well as he has and a total of 13 non-penalty goals (and two assists) in his debut season — 26 per cent of Wolves' total league tally — deserves acclaim. Wolves may have finally found Raul Jimenez's successor.
The Guardian
15-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Bournemouth v Brentford: Premier League
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Christie, Adams, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson. Subs: Dennis, Brooks, Scott, Ouattara, Sinisterra, Soler, Jebbison, Hill, Winterburn. Brentford: Flekken, Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter, Norgaard, Janelt, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Schade, Wissa. Subs: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Mee, Yarmolyuk, Konak, Maghoma, Kim, Morgan, Fredrick. Share Regularly serenaded by Bournemouth fans who have tailored the lyrics of Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' in homage to their Ukrainian centre-back, Illia Zabarnyi is expected to start today after serving a three-match ban. Out injured since November, Julian Araujo and Marcos Senesi are both back in training but will not feature today. Adam Smith and Enes Unal remain sidelined. During his pre-match press conference, Thomas Frank said there is 'a good chance' Brentford defender Sepp van den Berg will be back today after three matches out with a knee injury. Michael Kayode, Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry are all back in full training but are unlikely to be fit enough to feature, while Josh Dasilva, Igor Thiago, Fabio Carvalho and Gustavo Nunes are all out. Share Without a win in three Premier League games following defeats at the hands of Wolves and Brighton followed by last Sunday's draw against Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth welcome a Brentford side seeking a club record fifth consecutive top flight win on the road to the Vitality Stadium. Despite their poor recent results, Bournemouth haven't actually played that badly and actually monstered Spurs last Sunday, only to gift them a point courtesy of an act of unnecessary largesse on the part of their goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga. Qualification for next season's Champions League remains a very real possibility for Andoni Iraola's side but this evening they host a Brentford side with European aspirations of their own. Kick-off at the Vitality Stadium is at 5.30pm (GMT) but we'll have team news and build-up in the meantime. View the Premier League table Share
