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.’

With Liverpool set to face Manchester City this Sunday, Erling Haaland is racing to regain full fitness.

The star striker is among five players Pep Guardiola could be missing for a crucial clash that has become a must-win for the Reds.

On Wednesday, Arne Slot’s side had their match against Aston Villa moved forward due to their upcoming Carabao Cup final. Villa Park is always a tough place to visit, and Liverpool managed only a draw, leaving them eight points behind Arsenal at the top, having played an extra game.

A victory at the Etihad Stadium—where Liverpool hasn’t won since 2018—now feels essential. Fortunately, City are dealing with their own struggles, and Haaland’s availability remains uncertain.

The Norwegian striker picked up a knee issue late in last weekend’s win over Newcastle United, preventing him from making an appearance in City’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.

Via our colleagues at MEN Sport, Guardiola explained: “I believe the images we have done are fine but it hurt when he walked, when he went down the stairs. Yesterday, this morning he told me that he wasn’t ready, that he didn’t feel well.”

Now trailing Mohamed Salah by five goals in the Golden Boot race, Erling Haaland’s potential absence would be a relief for a Liverpool defense that has managed just two clean sheets in their last nine games.

Adding to Manchester City’s concerns, John Stones lasted only eight minutes in Wednesday’s clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The England defender went down without contact while under pressure from Vinicius Jr and appeared emotional as he left the pitch, making him a major doubt for Sunday’s showdown.

Meanwhile, midfield anchor Rodri, sidelined since last September with an ACL injury, has been ruled out for the rest of the season and will play no part against Arne Slot’s side.

Youngster Oscar Bobb remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a leg fracture suffered early in the season, while Manuel Akanji is also a doubt after picking up a hamstring injury earlier this month.

The only positive news for Manchester City on the injury front is Jack Grealish’s return to the bench. The winger had been out since sustaining a hamstring issue in the first leg against Real Madrid but could now be in contention to feature against Liverpool.

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.