Mikel Arteta’s plans to build on Arsenal’s Premier League crown are already picking up pace this summer. That’s despite World Cup 2026 throwing a spanner in the works by preventing certain players from pursuing their club futures.
The Emirates Stadium looks about as appealing a destination as it has in modern times following the Gunners’ recent success. However, Arteta is under pressure to spend funds wisely as he seeks to create a new legacy in north London.
Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is one such name being linked with a move to Arsenal amid his World Cup commitments. Mirror Football dissects the latest goings-on from around the Emirates as the Gunners’ summer makeover begins to take shape.
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Arsenal are on the verge of completing their first addition of the summer, following word that Arnaldo Abrantes will take over as the club’s new head doctor. The former Olympic sprinter is due to take over from Dr Zafar Iqbal, who has left after two years at the Emirates.
Abrantes became available on the market following his departure from Aston Villa at the end of this season. The 39-year-old was previously the head of performance at Nottingham Forest for three years before moving to Birmingham.
The medical department is an area where Arsenal will look to make up certain margins after injury issues in the past. Having the strongest possible line-up available as often as possible is one example where rival clubs stand to benefit greatly over the course of a campaign.
Captain Martin Odegaard was particularly limited among the squad’s most prominent stars. The Norwegian missed a great deal of game time and was limited to just 16 league starts, while Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber also had an unfortunate amount of time sidelined.
The Athletic reported Abrantes will officially get to work at Arsenal in July and will become the third doctor to join from Villa in recent months. He previously represented Portugal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he was eliminated in the opening rounds.
View 2 ImagesMorgan Rogers has addressed the effect transfer speculation has had on his game in the past(Image: Getty)
Another potential signing from Villa, England ace Rogers has lifted the lid on what it’s like to be linked with the biggest teams in the land. More specifically, the No. 10 has discussed how it can play a role in his performance.
When asked whether transfer speculation had ever impacted his on-field output, the creative whiz told The Rest Is Football: “I think the first time it ever happened it was.
“You’re in an uncomfortable spot of not realising that people have so much interest in you and you’re not quite realising that. But as you get older and gain experience along the way, you know that comes with it and 95 per cent of it is just noise.
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“You hear it, course you do. You can’t help not. You know it’s there but you’ve got to use it in a positive way. You just try and get on with your game and just focus.”
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Rogers, 23, is currently in the United States with England ahead of their World Cup 2026 campaign. The tournament means any potential deal is less likely to take place until the Three Lions exit the competition.
Former Manchester City prospect Rogers won’t move cheaply, however, given he’s contracted at Villa until 2031. As such, it’s been reported the attacker could cost any suitor in excess of £80million if he is to move this summer.
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