All the football articles: World Cup 2026, Arsenal, standings, brackets and analysis.
Two days after Galatasaray's €45m offer, Gabriel Martinelli's camp have told Arsenal he has no intention of moving to Turkey. Ornstein, Romano and Plettenberg all reported it on the same day. The Turkish club have switched to Rafael Leão.
Arsenal confirmed the signing of Bruno Guimarães on 8 August. The Newcastle captain has signed a four-year deal with the option of a further season, for a fixed £75m, and takes the number 39 shirt. The fourth arrival of the summer, and by far the most expensive.
Julián Álvarez has publicly asked to leave, and Diego Simeone answered that the club has made its decision. Barcelona's bid was waved away, so was Real Madrid's. What is confirmed, what is still very shaky, and why Arsenal are left standing almost by default.
A month after personal terms were reported as agreed, the Koné move has not advanced and the reporting no longer lines up: Arsenal, Manchester United, Inter and Chelsea are all named, and Roma have raised their price. An honest status check, and what the Bruno Guimarães signing changes.
Sky Sports News report Vinícius Júnior will stay at Real Madrid beyond this summer: no intention of selling, renewal talks held this week. What is confirmed, what stays open, and what it changes for Arsenal's attacking plans.
Newcastle rejected Arsenal's £70m bid for Bruno Guimarães, who wants a quick resolution. Meanwhile, Ornstein and Sky Sports link the Gunners with Vinícius Júnior.
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. A five-year deal until 2031, squad number 17, for around £34m — a record for a Greek player. Trossard's replacement joins Hincapié and Meslier among the summer arrivals.
The 2026 World Cup is over. At MetLife Stadium, Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time to claim their second star, sixteen years after the first. A two-hour siege broken by Enzo Fernández's red card, then a Ferran Torres goal. Emi Martínez made eleven saves, a final record; Messi left the stage in tears. Three Gunners — Raya, Merino, Zubimendi — go home world champions.
David Ornstein and Ben Jacobs report a £117m Chelsea-Aston Villa agreement for Morgan Rogers, the biggest fee ever for a British player. Arsenal, who had made him their main attacking target, stopped around £90-100m.
The third-place play-off turned into pure madness: France 4-6 England, the highest-scoring World Cup match since 1982. Trailing 0-4 at the break after a first half Didier Deschamps himself called 'disgraceful', France woke up far too late. Bukayo Saka, benched all tournament, walked away with a hat-trick. England finish 3rd, their best World Cup since 1966; Deschamps leaves his post on a loss.
The second semi-final turned in eighteen minutes. Ahead through Anthony Gordon (55'), England dropped deep after Thomas Tuchel's change on 72' and never touched the ball in Argentina's box again. Enzo Fernández equalised from distance (85'), then Lionel Messi hung a cross on Lautaro Martínez's head at 90+2 (2-1). Saka, Eze and Madueke never left the bench. It's Spain-Argentina on Sunday in New York.
The first semi-final delivered its verdict in Arlington: Spain dominated France from start to finish (2-0), driven by an imperious Rodri and an untouchable Lamine Yamal. An Oyarzabal penalty, a one-two finished by Pedro Porro, and heartbreak on top: William Saliba limped off in tears with a hamstring injury after just 30 minutes. Spain await the winner of England-Argentina in the final.
Arsenal have officially confirmed on their own site an agreement with Besiktas for Leandro Trossard's transfer: £17m in total. The Belgian has flown to Istanbul for his medical and to sign.
The last two quarter-finals set up the second semi: it's England-Argentina, Wednesday in Atlanta. In Miami, Ødegaard's Norway led before falling in extra time to a Jude Bellingham once again decisive (1-2). Overnight in Kansas City, Argentina were made to sweat by a stubborn Switzerland, until a red card for simulation and a Julián Álvarez stunner settled it (3-1 aet).
Spain join France in the last four, edging Belgium 2-1 in Los Angeles. Held for a long time, La Roja finally broke through after Thibaut Courtois limped off in tears: on 88 minutes, Mikel Merino pounced again, just as he had against Portugal four days earlier. The semi-final is set: France-Spain, Tuesday in Arlington, with Saliba up against the Spain Gunners.
Outpossessed but never outscored, France cracked Morocco's resistance after the break. Mbappé missed a penalty then made amends, Dembélé sealed it, Saliba kept another clean sheet. Into the final four.
From the group stage to the last eight, how Argentina, France, Spain, England, Morocco, Belgium, Switzerland and Norway made it — every team's road, summed up in a single card.
Illan Meslier has passed his medical in London and signed his contract: Fabrizio Romano gives the 'here we go'. The French goalkeeper becomes Arsenal's second summer signing after Hincapié, as backup behind Raya.
France-Morocco, Spain-Belgium, Norway-England and Argentina-Switzerland: the bracket is complete. Three of the four ties pit Gunners against each other — the preview, match by match.
The Round of 16 closes on two dramatic scripts. In Atlanta, Argentina trailed Egypt 2-0 with eleven minutes to go… and won 3-2, Messi orchestrating, Enzo Fernández the executioner in stoppage time. In Vancouver, Colombia dominated but ran into an unbeatable Gregor Kobel: 0-0, then 4-3 on penalties, and Switzerland reach the quarters for the first time since 1954. The quarter-final line-up is now complete.
The Round of 16 signs off. In Dallas, Mikel Merino comes off the bench to settle a locked-down Portugal-Spain at 90+1: La Roja go through, and Cristiano Ronaldo plays his final World Cup match. Overnight, Belgium swept aside the co-hosts USA (4-1) behind a De Ketelaere brace. Up next in the quarters: Spain-Belgium, an all-Gunners clash.
Round-of-16 shock: Ødegaard's Norway knock out Brazil (2-1) thanks to an Erling Haaland brace in the final eleven minutes. Overnight, England reached the quarters the hard way, winning 3-2 at Mexico with ten men after a Bellingham double in 98 seconds. The result: an all-Arsenal quarter-final looms — England vs Norway.
Morocco sealed their quarter-final spot with ease against Canada (3-0, Ounahi brace), while France had to grind through a full hour against a well-organised Paraguay before a Mbappé penalty settled it (1-0). The first two quarter-final ties are now set.
Salah's Egypt knocked out Australia on penalties with a brazen Panenka, defending champions Argentina came within a whisker of a shock exit against Cape Verde (3-2 AET), and Colombia eased past Ghana without ever looking troubled. The full last-16 bracket is now set.
A reversal in the Jeremy Monga saga: Manchester City have launched a hijack for the Leicester prodigy, with Enzo Maresca leading the charge. Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal, who had been negotiating for weeks, are now out of the race.
Spain suffocated Austria without conceding a single shot on target, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first-ever World Cup knockout goal, and Switzerland posted their best round of 32 performance since 1938.
England wobbled for an hour against DR Congo, Belgium scored the latest winning goal in World Cup history, and ten-man USA reached the last 16 for the first time since 2002.
Besiktas and Arsenal have largely agreed the financial structure of a ≈€20m deal for Leandro Trossard. The player still has to be convinced, and will decide after Belgium's World Cup run.
Three matches, three different nights: Norway grind it out, France cruise through Sweden, and Mexico end four decades of knockout heartbreak in front of their own fans.
Arsenal submitted a £55m verbal offer for Newcastle's Bruno Guimarães. Rejected. The Brazilian gave Arsenal the green light. Berta preparing a ~£80m formal bid.
Arsenal have submitted an official bid to Leicester City for 16-year-old winger Jeremy Monga. Personal terms agreed — the player chose Arsenal over Man City, Chelsea and Real Madrid. Ornstein and Romano both confirm.
Three matches, three unforgettable storylines: Martinelli 90+5' hero for Brazil, Paraguay pull off the World Cup's biggest upset, and Morocco snatch a 90+1' equaliser before winning on penalties.
Arsenal are crowned 2025/26 Premier League champions — their first title in 22 years. 85 points, the league's best defence, a record for goals from corners: inside a title built on rock.
No article in this category.