Arsenal star close to £35 million exit

Arsenal beat Premier League rivals Bournemouth on penalties after a 1-1 draw in their latest pre-season game on Thursday. 

Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead through Fabio Vieira, before Antoine Semenyo drew the Cherries level late on and send the game to a shootout.

The Gunners emerged victorious on spotkicks, beating their opponents 5-4.

Arsenal now face Manchester United and Liverpool in their next two friendlies, before a tie with German Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

In the meantime, it appears that one of the club’s longest serving players could soon depart The Emirates.

As per Ben Jacobs, fellow London side Fulham are closing in on a deal for midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe.

Jacobs claims that the Cottagers have decided to bid once again for the Englishman and are now nearing an agreement over a club-record £35 million move for the player.

Smith-Rowe looks set to leave boyhood club Arsenal this summer

Smith-Rowe, 23, is a product of Arsenal’s youth academy and has played for the club 115 times at senior level.

He has scored 18 goals and provided 13 assists for the North London club, but he has gradually fallen out of favour under Arteta over the past couple of years.

The three-time England international had also attracted interest from Crystal Palace, but it appears that Fulham have won the race to sign the versatile midfielder.

Smith-Rowe is capable of playing in a number of roles, including on either flank and as an attacking midfielder.

Jacobs claims that the player himself is open to a move away in order to secure regular first team football, but he is also keen to remain in the capital; something which a move to Craven Cottage offers.

The player’s current contract with Arsenal is set to run until the end of the 2025/26 season.