DECLAN RICE is on the plane for Arsenal's pre-season US tour – but three players have been left out of the squad.
The forgotten trio of Nicolas Pepe, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Cedric Soares have not travelled.
Meanwhile, according to reports from Saudi Arabia, Thomas Partey has agreed a deal to join one of their clubs.
The Ghanaian midfielder has been linked with a move away to the Emirates.
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Stay up to date with all the latest from the Emirates Stadium…
Havertz signed slammed
Former Tottenham ace Jamie O'Hara has predicted Gunners newboy Kai Havertz will be a "flop" at Arsenal.
The talkSPORT pundit said: "Kai Havertz? He can’t hit a barn door.
He added: "So Havertz is a centre-mid now? I’m telling you now, Havertz will be a flop at Arsenal.”
Credit: GETTY Title tilt
Arsene Wenger has tipped his old side to win the Premier League following the arrivals on Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.
He told Eurosport: "I believe we [Arsenal] will win the championship, it is as simple as that.
"I have less doubts for Arsenal than the cycling today."
Credit: Getty Bitello claim
Gremio have yet to receive an offer for midfielder Bitello, who is said to be on the radar of Arsenal.
Club president Alberto Guerra said: “There are a lot of people watching Bitello.
"But there is no proposal, even to reassure our fans, at the moment."
Tierney open to Celtic return
Gunners defender Kieran Tierney would be interested in returning to Celtic if the opportunity presented itself, according to former Scotland coach Peter Grant.
During an appearance on The Go Radio Football Show, he said: "I look at Kieran Tierney and I think it will be a football decision and not a financial decision.
"That is the hope that you have. He's the type of player that would want to come back to Celtic."
Lavia latest
Liverpool are in pole position to sign Romeo Lavia, it's been claimed.
The 19-year-old caught the eye of several teams with a string of impressive displays for relegated Southampton.
Arsenal are understood to be admirers of the Belgium international, but The Mirror claim their Prem rivals Liverpool are "leading the race" to sign the £50million-rated midfielder.
Tchouameni blow
Arsenal's reported pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni has suffered a blow as Real Madrid have no intention of selling the Frenchman.
That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who said: “Let me say that, from Real Madrid, the message is very clear – they want to keep the player.
“They trust Tchouameni for the present and future of the club, so it’s not going to be easy to bring Tchouameni to English football.
"At the moment it looks very complicated.
“Also, Carlo Ancelotti was very clear with the player. He told him that he wants Tchouameni to stay at Real Madrid and to be an important player for Real Madrid.
"Let’s see what happens but from Madrid, they still consider Tchouameni a crucial part of their project.”
Credit: Getty Bayern break silence on failed Rice approach
Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed his disappointment at being pipped to Declan Rice's signature by Arsenal.
The former Chelsea manager said: "It could have been an interesting addition to have a player with his character in the squad.
"He’s a good player and he went to a good club.
"He has a profile that I don’t think we have in the squad. It could be interesting to have it."
Rice and Havertz the Wright stuff
Ian Wright reckons the additions of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz can help Arsenal go a step further in their bid to win the Premier League title.
During the latest episode of his Wrighty's House podcast, he said:
“I feel very, very confident about that midfield and what that midfield can produce.
“Especially with Havertz. Havertz in that role, I think we are going to be very surprised in his quality as well.
“Arsenal fans are going to love him, we haven’t seen nothing from him at Chelsea. Yes, he’s scored the winning goal in a Champions League final and stuff like that.
“But, he’s not a [number] nine, he’s not a false nine. He’s either a ten drifting in like he did for [Bayer] Leverkusen, scoring lots of goals in his first couple of seasons.
But I can see him as an eight, arriving with Jesus coming out, leaving those spaces. I cannot help but get excited.”
Credit: GETTY West Ham eye Declan Rice replacement
West Ham are plotting a move for Fulham's Joao Palhinha following Declan Rice's blockbuster move to Arsenal.
That's according to talkSPORT, who claim The Hammers are hoping to lure the Portugal international to the London Stadium in the coming weeks
It's claimed the East Londoners will fork out close to £40million to try and land the defensive midfielder.
- By Kealan Hughes
Balogun heading for transfer exit?
Inter Milan are interested in signing Florian Balogun, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Serie A giants have turned to the youngster after missing out on Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku.
Balogun has hinted at a transfer if he cannot tie down a regular first-team place by refusing to go out on loan once again.
- By Jon Boon
Youngster lined up for Birmingham loan
Arsenal kid Omar Rekik is reportedly set to sign for Birmingham City on loan.
The Tunisian defender is a target for the Blues, claims AfricaFoot – with Valencia also an interested party.
Rekik spent the later part of last season on loan at Wigan, although he couldn't help the club avoid relegation.
Birmingham City proved to be a good club to send Gunners youngsters to after Auston Trusty excelled there last season.
- By Jon Boon
Timber reveals why Gunners bought him
Jurrien Timber has revealed why he believes Arsenal splashed £40million on signing him from Ajax.
He told the club's website: “I can see a lot of similarities, especially in the way Arsenal and Ajax want to play.
“Of course, this is a bigger league and everything is bigger here, I can see that immediately. This is the way they teach you in the youth already, and I'm happy I got to learn that at Ajax.
“I think also that's the reason they bought me and they want me, because they know I can play this style. And now it's for me to show everyone and also in the Premier League that I can do the same things.”
- By Jon Boon
Tierney update
Brendan Rodgers has refused to rule out a move for Arsenal's Kieran Tierney.
“There have been lots of players linked with here with me coming back. All I know is Kieran is like myself – we loved our time here," he said.
When I spoke to him down the road in the Premier League, every time we met up all we talked about was Celtic. He’s a Celtic man but he’s at a fantastic club in Arsenal. You can just never say never in football. Who knows what might happen?
“We wouldn’t be able to buy Kieran for £25m-£30m, that’s for sure, or the figures I see bandied about. I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to pay the huge salary he’s on. However, one can never tell.”
- By Jon Boon
No Bitello offer yet
Arsenal were linked with a move for Brazilian midfielder Bitello last week.
However, Gremio club president Alberto Guerra has played down the rumours.
Speaking to Zona Mista, he said: "There are a lot of people watching Bitello, but there is no proposal, even to reassure our fans, at the moment."
- By Jon Boon
Stelling's new gig
Jeff Stelling is reportedly the “frontrunner” to succeed Laura Woods as the new host of talkSPORT’s breakfast show.
Stelling called time on his position as host of Soccer Saturday after 30 years in May.
Reports then emerged suggesting that he had been in talks with Amazon and the BBC over a return to broadcasting.
The 68-year-old has no plans to retire but he has been placed on gardening leave until December.
Stelling did, however, make a one-off Countdown comeback in June as the dictionary corner's special guest while Rachel Riley put on a leggy display for his return.
Now the Daily Mail claims he is “close to agreeing a deal that would take him onto the nation’s airwaves”.
- By Jon Boon
Rice talks Nketiah 'altercation'
Declan Rice is reunited with former Chelsea youth star Eddie Nketiah, with the pair now playing for the Gunners.
However, the England international revealed they had a 'little altercation' on the pitch before, which they have now ironed out.
"I played with Eddie from under-nines to under-14s. We were both released on the same day and it's crazy where football takes you, your journey. He's made it through the ranks at Arsenal, I made it through the ranks at West Ham. Now we get to link back up again.
"I've always loved Eddie, even though we had that little altercation on the pitch before! I’ve always loved him and been close to his family. His dad is a top, top guy who used to come on all the tours with us as kids, so I’m really looking forward to seeing Eddie again and of course the other boys."
- By Jon Boon
Wenger tips Arsenal for title
Arsene Wenger has tipped Arsenal to land the Premier League title next season.
Wenger told Eurosport: "I believe we [Arsenal] will win the championship, it is as simple as that.
"I have less doubts for Arsenal than the cycling today."
Who knew Wenger was a Tour de France fan.
- By Jon Boon
Dean's amazing new job
Mike Dean has landed himself a new job less than 24 hours after his top-level football career finished.
The iconic former Premier League referee has quit football after 28 years in the game.
The 55-year-old is leaving his role as a video assistant referee.
We reported how he had reached an agreement with Howard Webb, the head of the Professional Game Match Officials, to leave his role following a number of VAR controversies last season.
That was after Dean was found to be unsuited to VAR duties.
However, Sky Sports have now announced that he joining the new-look Soccer Saturday show to offer insight from the perspective of the match official.
- By Jon Boon
Wrighty's excited
Ian Wright couldn't help but hide his excitement at the prospect of Arsenal's midfield for next season.
I feel very, very confident about that midfield and what that midfield can produce,” he told the Wrighty’s House podcast.
“Especially with Havertz. Havertz in that role, I think we are going to be very surprised in his quality as well.
“Arsenal fans are going to love him, we haven’t seen nothing from him at Chelsea. Yes, he’s scored the winning goal in a Champions League final and stuff like that.
“But, he’s not a [number] nine, he’s not a false nine. He’s either a ten drifting in like he did for [Bayer] Leverkusen, scoring lots of goals in his first couple of seasons. But I can see him as an eight, arriving with Jesus coming out, leaving those spaces. I cannot help but get excited.”
- By Jon Boon
Tuchel gutted to miss out on Rice
Thomas Tuchel is gutted that Declan Rice snubbed a move to Bayern Munich in favour of Arsenal.
The German said: "It could have been an interesting addition to have a player with his character in the squad.
"He’s a good player and he went to a good club. He has a profile that I don’t think we have in the squad. It could be interesting to have it."
- By Jon Boon
Gunners squad
The Arsenal are taking a star-studded squad on their tour of the USA.
Here it is in full.
Aaron Ramsdale, William Saliba, Kieran Tierney, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber, Alex Runarsson, Eddie Nketiah, Jakub Kiwior, Rob Holding, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira, Mohamed Elneny, Folarin Balogun, Marquinhos, Kai Havertz, Karl Hein, Auston Trusty, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Declan Rice, Amario Cozier-Duberry
- By Jon Boon
Forgotten trio left at home
Three forgotten Arsenal stars have been left at home as the club travel to the USA for their preseason tour.
Nicolas Pepe, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Cedric Soares have all been left out of the squad for the tour.
Emile Smith-Rowe and Thomas Partey were also absent, although they will be joining up with the squad next week.
All three of the players left out are expected to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer.
- By Jon Boon
Title contenders
Aaron Ramsdale has revealed Arsenal's aim is to win the league next season.
He told Kicker magazine: "Naturally. We really want to win. We want to create a culture of winning here.
"At the end of the journey, we just have to win something, whether it’s the league or the cup. We set ourselves big goals that some might find unrealistic, but we want to be the best.
"Of course it will be difficult with the strong competition in the Premier League, but we know that if we prepare well, we have a good chance of being one place up."
- By Jon Boon
Ramsdale spills on keeper heroes
Aaron Ramsdale has revealed who his goalkeeping heroes were growing up.
"My first was Gianluigi Buffon," he told Kicker magazine.
"When he wore the gold jersey with short sleeves at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and became world champion, that stuck with me and is one of the reasons why I play with short sleeves today.
"And then there was Jussi Jääskeläinen, who played for Bolton, my club at the time. I watched him closely every weekend."
- By Gary Stonehouse
PARTEY OVER?
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has allegedly agreed personal terms on a move to the Saudi Pro League.
The Ghana star, 30, is expected to leave the Emirates this summer.
And that moved a step nearer when the Gunners finalised a club-record £105m deal for West Ham’s Declan Rice.
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