Arsenal have secured a deal to sign Scottish prospect Callan Hamill from St Johnstone, according to reports.

The 15-year-old, regarded as one of Scotland’s brightest young talents, reportedly turned down offers from Celtic and Rangers in favor of joining the Gunners.

Having previously trained with Arsenal’s youth teams, Hamill will officially make the move on July 1, after his 16th birthday.

As reported by The Athletic, Arsenal and St Johnstone have agreed on a six-figure transfer fee, with additional clauses that could increase the final amount based on performance-based triggers.

Hamill, who can play both in defense and midfield, is a promising addition to Arsenal’s academy, particularly after the club lost two emerging talents to Manchester United.

Last October, United secured striker Chido Obi, who had broken multiple scoring records in Arsenal’s youth system but was reportedly uncertain about his pathway to Mikel Arteta’s first team. Obi, now 17, has already made his senior debut for the Red Devils.

United also signed 18-year-old center-back Ayden Heaven during the January transfer window. Though his chances of breaking into Arsenal’s first team were slim, he has already been named on United’s bench twice and could soon feature due to injuries in the squad.

Despite these departures, Arsenal’s academy remains strong, with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri making significant strides this season.

Lewis-Skelly has logged 631 Premier League minutes in the 2024/25 season and is reportedly on the radar of England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of his debut matches in charge.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Nwaneri has impressed Arteta, contributing to a goal every 94 minutes in the league and delivering standout performances in the Carabao Cup before Arsenal’s exit.

With these young talents paving the way, Hamill can take confidence in Arsenal’s commitment to developing prospects, as he aims to carve out his own future in North London.

Raheem Sterling or Mikel Merino? Paul Merson makes prediction for Arsenal’s clash with West Ham

Paul Merson expects Mikel Arteta to keep faith in Raheem Sterling for Arsenal’s crucial clash against West Ham, despite the forward’s underwhelming display against Leicester.

With Kai Havertz ruled out for the season due to injury, Arteta was forced to adjust his attack at the King Power Stadium. While some speculated that Merino could be deployed as a false nine, the Arsenal boss instead opted for a front three of Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri, and Sterling.

However, Sterling struggled to make an impact and was eventually substituted in the second half. His replacement, Merino, made an immediate difference—breaking the deadlock with a well-placed header from a pinpoint Nwaneri cross before sealing Arsenal’s victory with a composed finish in stoppage time.

Merino’s match-winning performance has sparked calls for him to start in the upcoming London derby, but Merson believes Arteta will resist the temptation to alter his frontline.

Given the importance of the match, the Arsenal manager is likely to back Sterling once again, trusting in his experience and ability to deliver in high-stakes fixtures.

‘Arsenal have an advantage this week since they are playing before Liverpool. If they beat West Ham, they close the gap at the top to just five points,’ ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Merson said in his Sportskeeda column.

‘If Liverpool lose to City on Sunday, the title race is wide open! This will still be a hard game for Arsenal, though.

‘West Ham were decent against Chelsea, I liked how they played even though they lost.’

Merson added: ‘Arsenal were poor in the first 70 minutes against Leicester. The football wasn’t free-flowing at all. I was gutted for Raheem Sterling because for some reason he just can’t seem to get going at Arsenal.

‘Despite his goal in the last game, I think Merino will be left on the bench here. I expect Mikel Arteta to use the same front three he used against Leicester.

‘If it doesn’t work out he can always bring Merino on and hope for the same result.’

‘West Ham will come out and frustrate Arsenal in this game, plus the Hammers have the firepower in the form of players who can pick you off,’ he continued.

‘They are also a better team in games where they are forced to rely on counter-attack.

‘Arsenal have a tricky run of fixtures after this game. This is a must-win clash and they must look at one game at a time rather than getting too ahead of themselves. This title is still well out of their hands, though.’

Asked whether the Chelsea loanee may need more game-time to build up his confidence, Arteta responded: ‘Yeah… and, as well, I think from everybody, to step up their game.

‘In the first half, especially in the first 20 to 25 minutes, we weren’t at our standards and it’s very difficult for our front players.’

Arsenal have emerged as unexpected contenders to sign a striker who is considering terminating his contract, with Mikel Arteta’s side reportedly positioning themselves to lure him to north London.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s squad depth continues to take a hit, as Takehiro Tomiyasu has been ruled out for the rest of the season following surgery on his right knee. He joins Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines, leaving Arteta with increasingly limited options.

Despite their injury setbacks, the Gunners remain in the race for the Premier League title, especially after Liverpool dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

A win against West Ham on Saturday would narrow the gap to five points, and Arteta is expected to stick with the same attacking setup that secured a dramatic 2-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

Mikel Merino was deployed as an emergency striker in a dramatic late push, scoring twice in the final ten minutes against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side. However, it remains uncertain whether Mikel Arteta will start the Spaniard up front against West Ham.

The showdown with the Hammers marks another pivotal moment in Arsenal’s pursuit of their first domestic league title in 21 years. The club’s lack of depth, especially in the attacking department, has sparked criticism of their recruitment strategy.

In January, Arsenal made a lowball offer for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, which was swiftly rejected. Despite Villa’s willingness to negotiate a £60 million fee, the Gunners ultimately decided against pushing for a deal (David Ornstein). As a result, any hopes of securing a top-tier striker will have to wait until the summer.

While Arteta recently hinted at the possibility of signing a free agent, the available options wouldn’t significantly bolster Arsenal’s attacking lineup. However, a surprising new target has emerged—former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.

Firmino, who was instrumental under Jürgen Klopp with 111 goals in 362 appearances for the Reds, could be set for an abrupt exit from Al-Ahli. According to a Spanish media source, the Brazilian is considering terminating his contract, and Arsenal are reportedly positioning themselves to bring him back to the Premier League.

The 33-year-old currently earns an eye-watering £302,000 per week in Saudi Arabia—wages that would make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player. A move to the Emirates would likely require him to accept a significant pay cut.

Despite registering 10 goals and five assists this season, Firmino was left out of Al-Ahli’s league squad in favor of new signing Galeno, casting doubt over his long-term future at the club.

Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has undergone knee surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Tomiyasu could even be sidelined for the start of the next campaign. The 26-year-old has been out of action since October and has now opted for surgery to address the ongoing issue.

This marks the second time Tomiyasu has required knee surgery since joining Arsenal from Bologna in 2021. He initially suffered the injury during pre-season, managing only a six-minute appearance against Southampton in October before a relapse forced him back to the sidelines.

Manager Mikel Arteta had expressed optimism last month about Tomiyasu’s potential return before the season’s end, but complications ultimately led to the decision to proceed with surgery.

The Japanese international (with 42 caps) confirmed the news via Instagram. “I’ve had surgery on my knee a few days ago and have already started my rehab to do what I love the most again,” he wrote.

“It has been the toughest period in my career for sure, and it carries on a bit more, but I won’t give up. Thank you for your support, and see you again.”

Tomiyasu’s latest setback adds to Arsenal’s growing injury woes, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Reiss Nelson (currently on loan at Fulham) also recently undergoing surgery. Meanwhile, Ben White and Bukayo Saka have both suffered injuries that sidelined them for over three months.

Arsenal secured Tomiyasu’s signing from Bologna for £20 million, beating arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur to his signature. He quickly established himself as a dependable figure in Mikel Arteta’s defense.

However, injuries have severely disrupted his time in North London. Since suffering his first major setback—a calf injury in his debut season—Tomiyasu has missed 82 games for club and country.

Even after recovering, he may need a loan move to regain match fitness, given Arsenal’s depth at full-back. The club will then face a decision on whether to keep him as a backup option or move him on permanently.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have already been told why Martin Zubimendi transfer must be completed

Arsenal’s hopes of signing Martin Zubimendi this summer continue to rise, with the club in a strong position to secure the highly-rated midfielder. The Spaniard is seen as the ideal addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad, particularly with Thomas Partey and Jorginho’s contracts set to expire at the end of the season.

While Zubimendi has been identified as the perfect replacement, opinions on him remain divided. Naturally, when a player is linked with a top club, fans analyze clips and statistics to gauge their potential impact. Numerically, he compares well to Partey, but some remain unconvinced about his fit for Arsenal.

The Real Sociedad star has drawn interest from multiple clubs, including Liverpool, who attempted to sign him last summer. However, he opted to stay with his boyhood club, showing deep loyalty to La Real.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente’s decision to bring Zubimendi on in the Euro 2024 final against England, following Rodri’s injury, speaks volumes. After the match, De la Fuente praised Zubimendi, stating that replacing the best player in the team with someone just a step below him was a blessing.

“Zubimendi has been playing [brilliant] games for a long time; if Rodri is the best player, then Zubimendi is the second best in this position,” De la Fuente said. “He’s got experience under his belt, he oozes security through every pore of his skin.

“Martin doesn’t get nervous… he’s a very mature player, so calm… Zubi is a sure bet, who never fails.”

Zubimendi could also benefit from a potential reunion with former teammate Mikel Merino. Spanish football expert and journalist Graham Hunter highlighted their connection while speaking to The Highbury Squad.

“In the case of Mikel and Martin, they are friends. They are friendly, they are close, so will he be asking his ex-teammate lots of information? Without question.

“I’ve interviewed the two of them together, I’ve seen them interacting together, slight age difference but not that much. Similar aspects, and ideas, Merino is slightly more outgoing if you look at what he’s done with his life, where he’s been willing to experiment.

“And because he had goals, things that shimmer are usually attractive to jackdaws, and people have taken longer to see Zubimendi’s qualities.”

Ultimately, whether this move proves to be the right one will only become clear if it happens. Until then, speculation continues, but those familiar with Zubimendi speak highly of his abilities.