Arsenal’s enterprise in the summertime switch market is being executed with one clear purpose in thoughts – shut the two-point hole to Manchester Metropolis that denied them final season’s Premier League title.
Thus far the membership have solely introduced in a single new face in Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, whereas goalkeeper David Raya has been signed completely following his mortgage transfer from Brentford final season.
Emile Smith Rowe was the primary participant to be offered this summer season, with Fulham paying £34million for the midfielder, whereas the likes of Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares departed on mortgage.
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One participant linked with the exit door this summer season has been left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, who fell out of favour in the direction of the top of final season, struggling to win a spot again within the workforce after lacking a month with a calf problem.
The Ukraine worldwide has two years left on his present Gunners deal, with the membership revealing that he has a brand new squad quantity, indicating that he shall be remaining on the Emirates. The 27-year-old has given up the quantity 35 shirt and can now sport the quantity 17 this season, following Soares’ exit.
“The quantity 17 may be very particular to me,” he instructed the membership’s web site. “It was the quantity I wore as a younger participant, and I’ve all the time requested to put on 17 when enjoying for my nation.
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“With 17 being free since Cedric left, I requested if I may change, and because of everybody on the membership for supporting me. It’s additionally crucial to say that if anybody has purchased this season’s new shirt straight from the membership with my identify and 35 on it, they’ll get an alternate to my new quantity.”
The 17 shirt has been worn by the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Edu, Nacho Monreal and Alex Iwobi in recent times, as Zinchenko look to combat for his place in Mikel Arteta’s beginning XI amid an elevated battle for competitors on the again following Calafiori’s arrival and the return to health of final summer season’s signing Jurrien Timber.
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