Eberechi Eze was Crystal Palace's hero in the FA Cup final.
The Eagles forward smashed in the only goal of the game to give Palace their first ever major trophy.
Eze was formerly on the books at Arsenal - but was released at the age of 13.
He recalled to The Independent: "I remember crying in my room for a solid week, my mum telling me that it’s going to be OK but not being able to get over it."
Arsenal are reportedly negotiating a fresh deal with Leandro Trossard.
The Belgian has notched 14 goal involvements across 36 Premier League matches this summer.
Football Insider reports that Arsenal are in advanced talks with Trossard over a four-year contract.
It's set to be a transformative summer at the Emirates with new chief Andrea Berta plotting "big" changes.
The Gunners are set to blow their rivals out of the water with their spending - and SunSport has done a deep dive into who could come through the door.
Benjamin Sesko remains a firm transfer target for Arsenal this summer.
The RB Leipzig forward, 22, has netted 21 goals across all competitions for the Bundesliga club.
Arsenal are also chasing Sporting Lisbon ace Viktor Gyokeres.
But according to The Athletic, Sesko remains "a strong candidate" to arrive in the summer.
Brazilian striker Igor Jesus from Botafogo is a summer target for Arsenal, reports suggest.
The 24-year-old is seen as a hidden gem, with Nottingham Forest also tracking his progress.
Fichajes claim the Gunners are interested in the Brazilian, who has an £84million release clause.
Arsenal are reportedly ready to send William Saliba to Real Madrid in exchange for Rodrygo.
French centre-back Saliba has emerged as one of Europe's top defenders.
The Gunners are in talks with the £27million defender to extend his current contract, which runs out in the summer of 2027.
But The Athletic claims Arsenal could use Saliba in a deal to bring Rodrygo to North London.
Arsenal appear to be favouring Swedish striker Gyokeres — who has 95 goals in 100 games for Sporting in Portugal.
Slovenian Sesko is seen as a top talent but there are fears he is still raw.
Arteta will get another close look at his dream target Isak on Sunday when they host Newcastle.
Mikel Arteta hinted Arsenal could break the bank for the right striker — comparing this summer window to overspending on a lavish wedding.
The Gunners need an elite No 9 and are eyeing up Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Both Gyokeres, 26, and Sesko, 21, could cost £60-70million while Isak, 25, is valued as high as £150m by Toon chiefs.
Arsenal splashed out £105m on midfielder Declan Rice in July 2023 — and could splurge up to £200m in this window.
Boss Arteta said: “The budget is like when you have your wedding, you plan with your wife and give her a budget.
“It’s never less — it’s always more. Normally this happens. You prepare for different scenarios.
“There are so many variables that can happen but there is a budget.”
Striker isn't the only position on the recruitment agenda for Arsenal.
Given the situation developing with Real Madrid star Rodrygo, an acquisition at left wing could prove enticing.
TalkSPORT states that 'unsettled' Rodrygo is under consideration.
They add that the Brazilian is thought to be playing 'second fiddle' to Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior and that means a Gunners move is a 'possibility'.
Jakub Kiwior's future is expected to be of significant interest come the summer.
The Polish centre-back has emerged as no more than a squad player under Arteta even amongst injury crises.
Interest in a return to Italy is high for the Spezia Calcio defender.
Napoli, who are prioritising signing a centre-back, are looking to sign Kiwior according to local paper Il Mattino.
Several Italian clubs, including Milan, have contacted them, but Napoli have the upper hand; Arsenal are asking for €35 million.
Includes FA Cup finalist Eberechi Eze's reaction to Arsenal release and more striker talk from our Arsenal correspondent:
Further back, goalkeeper is an area Arsenal may look to reinforce in the summer.
David Raya has catapulted himself into 'best in the country' territory following his exploits this season, but as back-up goes it wears thin for the Gunners.
35-year-old Neto is on-loan and is expected to go back to Bouremouth in the summer and Tommy Setford, 19, remains a prospect.
The Mirror reports that if Emiliano Martinez chooses to leave this summer, Aston Villa will look Joan Garcia, the shot-stopper for Espanyol, as a replacement.
Former Gunner Martinez has been earmarked for a move to the Saudi Pro League in recent weeks.
Arsenal's pursuit for an out-and-out striker doesn't stop at Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko.
The club are adamant that they have other targets on the list, and according to German newspaper Bild, one of those names includes Borussia Dortmund star Serhou Guirassy.
The Guinea international has built upon that stellar 2023/2024 in his debut season at Dortmund, bagging 33 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions, and he's second only behind Harry Kane in the Bundesliga scoring charts.
A special release provision in Guirassy's contract, which only allows a select few elite teams to make a deal for that sum, is said to allow Arsenal to sign him for just £59 million as well, which also includes Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Arsenal target Dean Huijsen has completed a £50million move to Real Madrid from Bournemouth.
A statement read: "AFC Bournemouth can confirm that defender Dean Huijsen will join Real Madrid following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, with the Spanish side having activated a £50 million release clause.
"The centre-back, who joined the Cherries from Juventus last summer, has been instrumental in the club’s record-breaking campaign, which has seen Andoni Iraola’s side already break their highest points tally in the Premier League.
"Huijsen has made 30 appearances in the top flight this season, scoring goals against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Arsenal.
"The 20-year-old also earned his first caps for the Spanish national team in March, following a string of impressive performances for the Cherries.
"Everyone at AFC Bournemouth is looking forward to working with Dean for the remaining two games of the Premier League season, before he embarks on the next step of his career."
The headline news from the Gunners camp is that Kai Havertz could return for the first time since the beginning of February.
Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Jurrien Timber have trained all week and are likely to feature.
The German forward returned to training this week and could be a part of the matchday squad tomorrow against Newcastle.
Havertz has been out with a hamstring injury, which required surgery, for four months.
Speaking whether he will feature against the Toon, Arteta said: "We're going to decide that tomorrow. He's done certain parts of the sessions in the last two days and looks in great shape, but I think it's more of a shout for all the medical staff, the doctor especially to give the clearance and then how Kai actually feels to contribute if he's required.
“It’s unbelievable, his work rate and the work that he's done. A lot of credit to the medical staff for the work that they've done throughout the last few months because between them they've been pushing each other.
“We know how important Kai is for us, and the fact that he looks in great shape, I think he's improved a lot of the metrics that are very important for a striker to give himself the best chance. You see the transformation in him, which has been really impressive.”
The Gunners are expected to have a busy summer as Mikel Arteta looks to add more firepower to his squad.
A striker looks to be the Spaniard's point of focus for the window, with Viktor Gyokeres said to be the club's preferred No9.
The Sporting hitman is available for a cut price of £60million, which has attracted interest from many of Europe's elite.
Nico Williams is another of Arteta's top targets, with the 21-year-old winger having a £50m release clause, but he does have hefty wage demands.
The Athletic Bilbao youngster would likely come in and replace Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank.
Further down the pitch, Arsenal are set to beat Real Madrid to Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
The Gunners are ready to make the Euro 2024 winner their first signing of the summer as they look to trigger his £50.75m release clause.
Ademola Lookman has admirers at the Emirates after a few stellar years at Atalanta.
But there are some hesitations over any move for him.
The 27-year-old winger’s age has some at Arsenal concerned over whether he has hit his ceiling, and if that could hinder any future sell-on plans.
Lookman – valued at around £50m – also appears to be happy again in Italy following Atalanta’s qualification for the Champions League next season, currently third in Serie A.
Arsenal are rated as potential bidders for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo.
The Brazilian, 24, is reportedly unhappy at losing his regular starting place.
Spanish outlet Marca say Rodrygo is keen to move on as he feels “displaced” by all the attention on Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe,
Nonetheless, he has still notched six goals and three assists in 30 LaLiga appearances this season.
Brazilian Andrey Santos could be a Gunners' target this summer.
The Chelsea midfielder has impressed on loan for Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
Strasbourg left-back Diego Moreira declared Santos as “the best player in the world” after their win over Toulouse in March.
Football Transfers claim the Gunners are ready to swoop for Santos, 20, with PSG already interested.
Anthony Gordon is reportedly a summer target for Arsenal.
The Gunners are set to miss out on Alexander Isak, with Newcastle unwilling to sell their star striker.
But according to Football Insider, the Gunners are showing interest in Isak’s teammate Gordon.
England winger Gordon has 11 goal contributions across 32 Premier League games this season.
Mikel Arteta has tried to explain why he's often brought in players with Premier League experience - with spectacular results at times.
The Emirates chief has signed men like David Raya, Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino - not all with encouraging Prem backgrounds.
Arteta said: “Sometimes it has been a thoughtful decision and sometimes it has been an opportunity.
“Sometimes it has just been luck. But there’s an element of understanding the league that brings the adaptation time lower and the risk lower.”
Questioned on whether he has any regrets about how this season has gone, Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta said: “I wouldn’t use that word.
" I can guarantee you, I give you my word, that we have all tried our very best.
“Do we want a different outcome? Especially how close we've come again? The answer is yes, but that doesn't undermine a lot of incredible things that this team has done.
“Again, in the context that we're there, in the opposition that we play, with the circumstances that we have, it's impossible to undermine.
“So, be the best of the rest and feel that pain to be better, and then we will get better at the small margins that can define winning big trophies or not.”
Arsenal have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Club Brugge over centre back Joel Ordonez.
The 21-year-old caught the eye during the Belgians’ run to the Champions League knockout stage.
But according to Inside Futbol, PSG are ready to hijack a move for the in-demand Ecuadorian.
Asked to reveal fit-again Kai Havertz's gym metrics, Mikel Arteta said: “All of them.
"Power, acceleration, muscle mass, the way that he has increased certain capacities in his body, his agility.
“The last three years in his career have been so condensed that he hasn’t had time to do that and this has been a window and he really wanted to use it.
“The staff explained the opportunity with his physique to go to a different level and the things that he can improve. It can help him mentally as well as being more effective as a player.
“He got on board with that, he worked hard, you can see his presence and he destroyed all the metrics that we had in the gym for the last ten years.
“I was talking to the medical staff the other day. For someone that is not in the team to have that mindset, the only thing he has done is raise the standards in the building.
“The other ones in the building who are injured are looking at him and thinking: ‘I’m going to look bad if I don’t do the same’, so that’s part of the culture.”
