Latest news with #MikelArteta
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Tottenham icon gets into Mikel Arteta's office and grabs two beers from his fridge after charity match at Emirates
FORMER Tottenham star David Bentley gave himself a tour of Mikel Arteta's office - and even helped himself to a beer. The ex- Spurs midfielder snuck into Arteta's Emirates base after a recent charity match. 4 4 4 4 Bentley began his career with the Gunners, playing just one senior game despite being dubbed the "next David Beckham". He joined Tottenham in 2008, but suffered from persistent injuries before hanging up his boots five years later. Bentley starred in a Sellebrity Soccer charity match at the Emirates on Thursday. He played alongside internet duo Woody and Kleiny, who later filmed the midfielder rooting around behind the scenes at the Emirates. The clip - which was taken down on Friday night - was posted by the former Britain's Got Talent duo across their Instagram, TikTok and Facebook pages. It showed Bentley decked out in a Tottenham shirt with "Winners 2025" written in black pen across the back, referencing the recent Europa League final. Bentley enters what appears to be Arteta's office, with the Spaniard's name on a plaque alongside the door. Entering the room, a laughing Bentley said: "I love this man." He then headed straight over to a mini fridge alongside Arteta's tactics board. Taking out two bottles of lager, he joked: "You know what he's done for me? He's only gone and left us a beer." Moment bold Arsenal fan bombarded with X-rated chant from Spurs supporters after strolling around Bilbao in Gunners kit Woody and Kleiny confirmed they had been asked to remove the footage from their social pages on Friday night. Addressing their 5 million Instagram fans, the duo wrote: "Many have been asking where the post of Bentley raiding Arteta's fridge has gone... "Unfortunately we were asked to remove the video." The clip has since been widely shared across social media, with fans from both teams reacting to Bentley's brazen prank. But it appeared to be Bentley's grammar which grated Arsenal's fanbase the most. One wrote: "This is the most David Bentley content imaginable from the theft for bantz down to writing the word winners with an apostrophe on an 08/09 Spurs kit". Another groaned: "Unnecessary apostrophe there Mr Bentley."
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal suffer huge transfer blow as top summer target 'says yes' to rival move
Arsenal are already starting to make moves ahead of the transfer window with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta looking to add to a squad that finished second in the Premier League last year Arsenal face disappointment in their latest bid to sign Joan Garcia, with Barcelona edging closer to an agreement which will see the sought-after Espanyol goalkeeper join them. Garcia, 24, was heavily linked with Arsenal last summer when the Gunners were seeking a new keeper to compete with David Raya. After signing Pedro Neto on loan for the season, the Londoners had rekindled their interest in Garcia ahead of the summer transfer window in a bid to bring in top competition for Raya. Unfortunately for Arsenal, Garcia is not short of suitors following another stellar season in La Liga - and it's the newly minted Spanish champions who are now poised to clinch the shot-stopper's signature. Various reports have now claimed that Garcia has all but agreed to join Barcelona, with talks over a transfer now at a 'very advanced' stage. Barca are even confident that the deal will be wrapped in the coming days. Fichajes claim that Barcelona are aware of Premier League interest in Garcia - who is also admired by Newcastle among others - and intend to pay the player's €25million (£21m) release clause in order to bring one of their priority targets to the Nou Camp. Missing out on Garcia would represent a big blow for Arsenal, who had once again installed Garcia as their No.1 choice to compete with Raya for the 2025-26 campaign. The Gunners are expected to be active in the summer transfer window after finishing second in the Premier League for a third successive season and a deal for the Real Sociedad playmaker, Martin Zubimendi, is already at an advanced stage. A top striker is set to follow, with Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres in contention to lead the line for Mikel Arteta 's side next season. Join the debate! Will Arsenal regret missing out on Garcia? Let us know here With another goalkeeper also on the club's summer wishlist, Arsenal may have to go back to the drawing board with Garcia now on the cusp of a move to the Nou Camp. Arteta confirmed Arsenal planned to be busy this summer in a recent interview with Sky Sports, saying: "With the numbers that we started the season and [the numbers] to provide for next season, with the demands we're going to have and especially with the players that we have who are coming through long-term surgeries, it's very unrealistic [to deliver trophies]. "We know that, we have to address that and we're going to do everything we can to improve it. Especially because we are going to lose quite a lot of players. There are players out of contract, there are players who have come here on loan. "So the squad becomes really thin on top of the injuries that we have. We know we have that duty, that necessity and we have players in the academy that can help. Great, but if not we know what we have to do."
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Could 'secret weapon' help Man United beat Arsenal to signing of RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko?
Manchester United reportedly hope to rival Arsenal this summer for the signature of RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenia international is hot property right now after scoring 39 goals in two seasons in the German Bundesliga. Arsenal are widely believed to be his most likely destination this summer, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta desperate to add a prolific goalscorer to his squad. However, journalist Christian Falk, who is the head of football at BILD, tweeted on Saturday morning: ' Man Utd have secret weapon in bid to steal Benjamin Sesko from Arsenal'. Falk also shared a link to an article by CaughtOffside in which he is quoted as saying of Sesko: 'There are already talks with Arsenal. 'From the Premier League, beside Arsenal also Manchester United are particularly interested. Christopher Vivell was there to watch Sesko at the game in Wolfsburg in mid-April. He once helped discover him and brought the footballer to Salzburg as a 16-year-old in 2019.' Vivell is United's director of recruitment, having committed to the job on a permanent basis in February following an interim spell in the role. He previously worked at Chelsea and RB Leipzig, but it was during his time at RB Salzburg that he first signed Sesko, in 2019 when the striker arrived from Domzale. Sesko netted 21 goals in 55 Austrian Bundesliga games for Salzburg before moving to Leipzig in July 2023. The 22-year-old, who has 16 goals in 41 appearances at senior international level, is now valued at £92.5m, according to a recent report by The Telegraph. United, having missed out on Champions League qualification after losing to Tottenham in last week's Europa League final, will need to sell multiple players in order to be able to afford Leipzig's current asking price. Bruno Fernandes is United's most valuable asset and has serious interest from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. United would rather not sell Fernandes but are willing to entertain offers for several first-team players, including Alejandro Garnacho. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony are also for sale this summer, having spent the 2024-25 season on loan away from Old Trafford.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Raheem Sterling's son, 8, joins Arsenal's academy - while winger faces uncertain future after disappointing loan spell at the Emirates
Raheem Sterling 's son has been signed by Arsenal 's academy to play for the club at under-9 level. After finding himself frozen out under Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca last summer, Sterling arrived at the Emirates on deadline day in a season-long loan deal. Expected to provide competition for Gabriel Martinelli on Mikel Arteta 's left flank, Sterling ultimately failed to find his form for the Gunners, making just seven Premier League starts as the club were unable to keep pace with Liverpool. Managing just a single goal in all competitions during his time in north London, Sterling is set to return to Chelsea this summer where he faces an uncertain future. With Maresca still at the helm, it appears unlikely that the former Man City star will remain at Stamford Bridge, with reports linking him with a move abroad. But while the elder Sterling is preparing for a move away from Arsenal, his son Thiago is just getting started. In a post on social media, Sterling's partner Paige Milian revealed the couple's first-born son had joined the famous Hale End academy. 'Beyond proud of my first born son Thiago for signing with the Arsenal academy,' she wrote on Instagram. 'The growth, dedication, and hard work you've shown over the past year has been incredible to watch, you've earned this. 'This is just the beginning so keep your feet on the ground, stay humble, and keep grinding, the journey doesn't stop here. Let's go TT.' While his own journey at the club is just beginning, Thiago Sterling has already had the chance to rub shoulders with some of the academy's most famous alumni. In October he served as Bukayo Saka's mascot at the Emirates as Arsenal defeated PSG in a Champions League clash.
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Which Striker Should Arsenal Add To Its Forward Line This Summer?
The 2024/25 season was an underwhelming one for Arsenal. While the Gunners finished second in the Premier League and made a run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, Mikel Arteta and his players wanted much more. This summer will therefore be pivotal for the development of the team at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal's flaws were there for all to see. First and foremost, the Gunners require a new centre forward to lead the line. Kai Havertz has adapted to the role remarkably well over the last two seasons, but the German's injury in the second half of the season exposed how light for options Arsenal is in his position. And so Arsenal faces a big decision over who to target in the summer transfer window. Alexander Isak has been linked with a move to North London in the past. The Swede would certainly fit the bill as one of the best goalscorers in the Premier League. However, Newcastle United surely isn't prepared to let him leave. Benjamin Sesko is a more realistic target. The Slovenian has established himself as one of the best young strikers in Europe at RB Leipzig and is reportedly of interest to Arsenal. However, Sesko has frequently played as one half of a front two and Arsenal doesn't use this system. It needs a lone frontman. Viktor Gyökeres has played as a lone frontman for Sporting CP, scoring an incredible 62 goals in all competitions this season. The Swedish international is also believed to be on Arsenal's radar. Gyökeres would give the Gunners the sort of cutting edge they need, but at 26 he is older than some of the other alternatives. Arsenal has also been linked with Nico Williams who would give Arteta another attacker to deploy on the left side of his forward line. Martin Zubimendi is expected to join from Real Sociedad to strengthen the Gunners in the centre of the pitch, but the real focus this summer is on the final third and how Arsenal can become sharper in and around the penalty box. Arteta has given Arsenal a platform to build on. The Gunners have finished close to the top of the Premier League table in each of the last three seasons. Arsenal boasts one of the youngest squads in the English top division and it is growing year-on-year. However, it needs a different dimension to elevate the standard. This is where finding the right striker will be so crucial.
