Arsenal

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes striker Gabriel Jesus will have a more sustained impact on his team if he motivates himself rather than feed his drive from others.

Jesus struggled at times last season.

Injuries played a part but the Brazilian scored only four Premier League goals last season, and none in 13 matches in all competitions after netting at Nottingham Forest on 30 January.

The 27-year-old was omitted from his country's Copa America squad, a blow considering he had been part of the Brazil side at the previous four major tournaments, in addition to winning the Olympics in 2016.

Jesus caught the eye with a goalscoring contribution to Arsenal's 2-1 pre-season win over Manchester United in Los Angeles.

It suggested he has a burning desire to prove his doubters wrong.

If so, Arteta feels Jesus would be using the wrong motivational tool

"The motivation has to come from within himself, with his self-demands and how much better he is able to make the team," said the Gunners chief. "He has shown it. He transformed the energy and the belief of that team and he has got it there.

"If he is waiting for something external to motivate him, it is going to be for a really short period.

"If it is something internally that is happening, that is going to last longer and it is going to be consistent."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho believes the determination of the Gunners to fight for the Premier League title again will prove how much they want it.

Mikel Arteta's side have finished the past two campaigns empty handed, despite putting together their most consistent form for almost two decades.

The frustration has been that, on both occasions, Arsenal have found Manchester City too good.

Now, they have to go again.

Jorginho, who signed a short-term contract extension this summer, is up for the challenge.

"The key is how much do you want it?" said the 32-year-old. "When you want so much, you are going to do it again.

"We know it is really hard but we are trying to improve every single day and push as much as we can."

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund and £52m new signing Leny Yoro both suffered first-half injuries as the Red Devils lost their opening US tour game against Premier League rivals Arsenal 2-1 in Los Angeles.

Hojlund had given his side a 10th-minute lead before seeming to experience a muscle injury after 15 minutes.

Gunners forward Gabriel Jesus levelled with a close range finish after 25 minutes, before substitute Gabriel Martinelli cut inside 17-year-old rookie full-back James Scanlon to score the winner.

United did triumph in a pre-arranged penalty shoot-out that followed, with Jadon Sancho scoring the decisive spot-kick to seal a 4-3 win.

Arsenal fans, let us know your thoughts, external

What did you make of the display, United fans?, external

David Lockwood
BBC Sport Editorial Sustainability Lead

Image source, Getty Images

Los Angeles or Chesterfield? San Diego or Salford?

The pre-season destinations of 20 Premier League clubs may be varied, but the issue remains the same - the impact of so many flights.

Half (10) of the clubs have flown to the United States for friendlies; three have travelled to the Far East and the rest are in Europe and the UK.

Manchester United's pre-season schedule see them flying almost 13,000 miles playing fixtures in Norway, Scotland, and across the US. Chelsea and Tottenham are also expected to fly in excess of 12,000 miles.

In contrast, Everton will fly the least, with just one fixture outside the UK in the Republic of Ireland.

Spurs and Newcastle also played an exhibition fixture in May - three days after the season finished - for which they both flew to Melbourne, Australia, a game Alan Shearer described as “madness”. Add in those air miles and both teams will have travelled in excess of 30,000 air miles in the close-season, equivalent to more than once around the globe, to play in non-competitive matches.

Newcastle and Spurs both have a target to be Net Zero by 2030, while Manchester United and Chelsea are in process of establishing an emissions reduction plan.

Net Zero requires the reduction and removal of all 'non-essential emissions' - so are these games essential?

Wycombe's David Wheeler is a leading sustainability campaigner in football and told BBC Sport: "These games are only necessary in the sense that the clubs want to make more money and grow their fan base".

He added: "The vast majority of players don't want to be away from their families, they don't want to be travelling around the world after a full slog of a season. They're overworked and injuries have gone through the roof, so there is a synergy between player welfare and planetary welfare."

An estimated travelling group of 30 flying 12,864 air miles business class generates around 200 tonnes of CO2 - the equivalent of 500,000 miles driven by an average petrol car, or the entire annual emissions for a year of 16 people in the UK.

Tottenham said it is "committed to minimising its environmental impact" in all its operations, "which will take time and effort". The club says it "ensures" all teams travel "as sustainably as possible throughout the season". It "measures, manages and reports on travel emissions" and will offsets "where possible."

Read more about the Premier League's pre-season air miles here

Arsenal are holding out for a fee of at least 50m euro (£42m) for their England forward Eddie Nketiah, 25, who has attracted interest from Marseille. (La Provence - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Saturday's full gossip column here

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Partey says Arsenal "are there to compete with the best" and the Gunners have the competition necessary in their squad to achieve what they want.

The Ghana international said: "I think confidence is always there. We are there to compete with the best - we know we need to get the best out of ourselves to be able to compete.

"We have to compete against each other and then at the end of the day we will be able to compete against the other teams."

The 31-year-old only played 14 games last season because of injury problems but said: "I am doing my best to be more consistent and stay fit. It is an everyday job - I cannot give up and need to keep going.

"Every time I fall I have to get up and fight back - that is the mentality I have."

Partey said it is not important about who plays, adding: "It all comes down to the team mentality because we train together. Jorgi [Jorginho] and Dec [Declan Rice] have had a lot of results and want to be at the top."

Arsenal are in the United States on their pre-season tour and face Manchester United in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time.

Arsenal have opened talks with Paris St-Germain about Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz, 28, but a move would require the Gunners to offload a player. (Football Transfers), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

Although he spoke about Emile Smith Rowe after Arsenal's game against Bournemouth, manager Mikel Arteta was less keen to discuss the attempt to sign Riccardo Calafiori.

The Gunners are hoping to get the Italy defender's move from Bologna tied up in time for Calafiori to join them for the last leg of their US tour in Philadelphia, where they play Liverpool (kick-off 00:30 BST on 1 August).

Not that you would know it by listening to Arteta inside LA Galaxy's stadium.

"There is no update," he said. "As soon as we have something to say, we will be the first one to say.

"You know I don't like talking about external players, but this is the situation at the moment."

Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe has been telling BBC Sport about the effect high price tags can have on players.

The 29-year-old - once the club's record signing when he joined for £72m in 2019 - joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free transfer in September 2023.

It brought to an end a disappointing four-year spell at Emirates Stadium for the Ivory Coast international, having scored 27 goals in 112 games.

He has also spoken of the good relationship he had with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, despite the Spaniard not having "full confidence" in him.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed "things are happening in the background" around playmaker Emile Smith Rowe.

Smith Rowe was the only senior squad player not to feature in Arsenal's pre-season game against Bournemouth, which the Gunners won 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.

Fulham are keen on 23-year-old Smith Rowe, who remained on the bench throughout.

"Things are happening in the background and we decided the best thing to do was leave him out," said Arteta.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter in Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed the club are considering whether to send young goalkeeper Karl Hein out on loan.

With David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale both on a break after Spain and England reached the Euro 2024 final, Hein is the senior keeper on Arsenal's three-match tour of the United States.

However, a decision will eventually have to be made over the 22-year-old Estonia international, who signed a long-term contract extension in the summer.

The arrival of England youth international Tommy Setford from Ajax means it is more likely Hein - who was outstanding in the pre-season friendly against Bournemouth, making three key saves in the actual game and more in the penalty shootout which decided the contest in Los Angeles - will head out on loan.

"That's the conversation we are having," said Arteta.

"Obviously, David and Aaron are away at the moment and we are really really short in that position, but we want to develop our players - especially a player like Karl who has big potential and a big future ahead of him.

"He needs to play games, so we're going to explore that option as well."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal opened their three-match tour of the United States by beating Bournemouth 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Los Angeles.

Fabio Vieira gave Arsenal a first-half lead when he met Reiss Nelson's deep cross on the volley and drove it first time into the far bottom corner.

In a competitive game, Karl Hein denied Dominic Solanke then Daniel Jebbison - who was signed from Sheffield United this summer - but had no chance of keeping out Antoine Semenyo’s strike, which hit Omar Rekik as he tried to close the effort down and dropped into the far corner.

It may only be a pre-season friendly but what did you take away from the game?

Arsenal fans, what did you think?, external

Bournemouth supporters, have your say here, external

Inter Milan are hopeful that Arsenal's pursuit of 22-year-old Bologna and Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori will force them to sell 24-year-old Poland defender Jakub Kiwior. (Standard), external

Fulham will make an improved offer for Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe. The Whites and Crystal Palace have both had transfer bids for the midfielder turned down by the Gunners this month. (Sky Sports), external

Meanwhile, Arsenal are willing to listen to bids for Eddie Nketiah, with Marseille emerging as a potential destination for the forward. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Arsenal via Getty Images

Leicester boss Steve Cooper is keen on a reunion with Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson.

Cooper worked with Nelson while England Under-16 and Under-17 coach and Leicester have registered their interest,

Nelson made 24 appearances, scoring once, for the Gunners last season but made just five starts - one of them in the Premier League.

He is part of Arsenal's travelling squad in the United States with the Gunners facing Bournemouth in California early on Thursday.

Nelson has spent time on loan at Hoffenheim and Feyenoord and has made 89 appearances for Arsenal, scoring eight goals, having come through the academy.

Cooper has made no secret of his desire to bring new players in, with Leicester having sold Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea for £30m.

They have signed Bobby Decordova-Reid on a free transfer, Michael Golding from Chelsea, defender Caleb Okoli from Atalanta and made Abdul Fatawu's loan from Sporting Lisbon permanent.

"We definitely have to bring players in - everybody knows that," said Cooper after Tuesday's 2-1 friendly win at Shrewsbury.

"Sometimes it's not easy to do and I understand that as well. You've got to bring the right players in.

"But we've got to make sure when that first game comes we're in with a chance of being able to what we need to do in the Premier League."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Riccardo Calafiori has been cleared to have his medical and the intention is for him to join up with Arsenal on their current tour of the United States.

The Gunners are in Los Angeles for tonight’s game against Bournemouth and the match against Manchester United on Saturday before heading to Philadelphia where they will play Liverpool on 31 July.

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Nketiah has encouraged Arsenal's younger players to grasp every opportunity on the Gunners' pre-season tour of the United States.

Mikel Arteta has taken 12 academy prospects in his squad for the trip and they will be keen to impress the Arsenal manager before several of the senior international players join up with the squad later on in the tour.

The 25-year-old impressed on his first pre-season trip with Arsenal, getting his maiden first-team minutes and making three substitute appearances just before the 2017-18 campaign.

Nketiah then went on to make 10 senior appearances during that season after impressing on his senior debut against Norwich in the Carabao Cup.

Now the centre-forward has given some advice to the academy prospects looking to follow in his footsteps this season, telling the club website, external: "Pre-season is really good for a lot of the lads who haven't trained or played with us that much, to show what they can do.

"It is a platform - even for us now - to make our mark and start playing games regularly and get fit.

"I think there are a lot of examples of players who did well in pre-season and have gone on to play and have minutes in the first-team, so it's a really good chance.

"I know what it's like for the young kids coming through, so I'm just trying to make them feel as comfortable as possible.

"I think the coaches do a really good job too. At dinner, they mix up the tables so everyone sits with different people and can interact, and the team activities that we do allow you to get closer."

Reflecting on his first pre-season trip with the senior squad, Nketiah said: "You're nervous, excited and eager. You just want to make your mark and enjoy it.

"I think it's really good when you go away because you can see how the top players work on a day-to-day basis. That's what I was able to see. It shows you the level you need to get to and allows you to keep progressing."

Simon Stone in Los Angeles
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko used a Ukrainian phrase to sum up the nagging disappointment the Gunners are looking to avoid this season – don’t end up biting your elbows.

The phrase is one of regret at something that seems attainable, but is not.

It could be used to describe Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations for the past two seasons.

For extended periods in both campaigns, it seemed Arsenal were on the brink of ending a near two-decade wait for a Premier League crown.

On both occasions, they ended up disappointed as Manchester City extended their tenure at the top to an unprecedented four seasons in a row.

"How much City pushed us in the last two years shows how demanding the league is and where the level is,” Zinchenko said.

"In the beginning of the season, you can lose some games and drop some points and think you will be back. But these kinds of points, you can just miss in the last period of the season, then you try to bite your elbows but the elbows are too far and it is too late.

"It shows how demanding this league is."

Zinchenko is uniquely placed to assess the strengths of the opponent given he spent six seasons with Manchester City, winning four league titles, an FA Cup and four EFL Cups before joining Arsenal for £30m in 2022.

The 27-year-old sees no value in mimicking his old club. He thinks, under manager Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are already on the right path.

"We don’t need to copy someone like City," he said.

"Of course, at the moment they are probably the best team in the world and you always need to look at the best. But you don’t want to be like them, we need to be on top of them.

"Mikel and his staff are doing an amazing job here. You can see the progress. I really hope and believe that in the close future, the club can achieve a lot of good things."