Arsenal left the football world buzzing with their emphatic 3-0 triumph over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The star of the show, Declan Rice, netted two sensational free-kick goals in the second half, before Mikel Merino sealed the victory, granting Mikel Arteta’s squad a formidable lead as they prepare for the away leg next week.
Beyond the on-pitch heroics, newly appointed sporting director Andrea Berta is diligently laying the groundwork to bolster Arteta’s team for the upcoming season. Securing a new attacker is at the forefront of Berta’s agenda, alongside a potential midfield revamp, especially with Jorginho and Thomas Partey poised to exit as free agents. While numerous players are being linked with moves to the Emirates, time will soon reveal who will be making their way to North London.
Arsenal in Contract Talks with Emerging Talents
As reported by BBC Sport, one of Andrea Berta’s key initiatives since his arrival last month is to finalise a long-term contract for Ethan Nwaneri, currently deemed a ‘key internal objective’ for Arsenal. Negotiations have commenced with the young winger’s representatives, although no formal offer has been proposed yet. Additionally, discussions regarding a new deal for Myles Lewis-Skelly are also underway. Both teenagers are expected to witness substantial pay increases should they commit to fresh terms.
In Defence of Declan Rice
Famed former Ajax midfielder Wesley Sneijder expressed his scepticism about Rice’s free-kick accomplishments in Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid. Speaking to Dutch TV channel Ziggo Sport, he remarked, “I don’t think the free kicks were that impressive. This might sound odd, but it’s quite easy to curve a ball in that way when you know the technique. The wall was at fault here, as was Courtois for the second goal.”
Echoing these sentiments, former Arsenal stalwart Giovanni van Bronckhorst added, “Wesley has a point regarding the first goal. The wall’s positioning gave Rice an easy target.”
Arsenal has secured an experience operator in the European market in appointing Andrea Berta, and this should make the summer transfer activity more intriguing than previous years.
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