At a Glance:
- Marli Salmon has signed a pre-contract agreement with Arsenal.
- The Gunners have received an update on Mikel Merino’s recovery from injury.
- Chelsea are now interested in signing an Arsenal target.
Arsenal are currently preparing for Saturday’s crunch match against Newcastle United in the Premier League, while the mood is starting to lift in Mikel Arteta’s camp following Sunday’s defeat at Manchester City.
Arteta gave his players two days off after the game at City, affording his squad some rare rest in the midst of a congested fixture schedule. The Spaniard’s ensemble returned to training on Wednesday morning, and will now be preparing physically and tactically for the clash with the Magpies.
Newcastle will be without a handful of key players for the visit to the Emirates, while the Gunners could potentially have Bukayo Saka back in the fold in some capacity. Given how poor Eddie Howe’s outfit have been in recent weeks, this is the perfect opportunity for Arteta’s team to bounce back from adversity and claim a necessary set of three points.
With that said, here is the latest Arsenal news today, including updates on Marli Salmon, Mikel Merino and Yan Diomande.
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Marli Salmon signs pre-contract agreement
While Max Dowman has grabbed the headlines from Arsenal’s academy this season, Marli Salmon has quietly been developing impressively alongside him. The 16-year-old defender has been involved in several senior games, even starting away at Mansfield in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Thus, it’s no surprise that the Gunners have moved quickly to ensure Salmon remains theirs. The teenager has signed a pre-contract agreement with Arsenal, meaning he’ll put pen to paper on professional terms when he turns 17 in August.
He joins Dowman in signing one of these pre-agreements, meaning the North Londoners have decisively tied down two of the most exciting young talents to emerge from their academy for some time.
Mikel Merino injury recovery steps up
Mikel Merino hasn’t featured for Arsenal since the Gunners lost at home to Manchester United in January. The midfielder sustained a foot injury shortly after that clash with the Red Devils and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
However, positive news regarding his recovery has now emerged. According to Arsenal Radar on X, Merino will be running again in two to three weeks and is no longer using crutches.
🚨 EXCL: Mikel Merino is progressing well after surgery and was seen without crutches at Arsenal’s training ground. He’s expected to start running again in 2–3 weeks.
— Arsenal Radar (@ArsenalRadar) April 21, 2026
If recovery stays on track, he should be fit to join Spain national football team for their summer schedule… pic.twitter.com/AyUAXvYQ7j
While he’s still unlikely to make a return for Arsenal this term, this update does mean he’s in contention to feature for Spain at the World Cup.
Chelsea eye Arsenal target Yan Diomande
It’s well documented that Arsenal are looking to strengthen the left-hand side of their attack this summer. One of Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli is likely to move on, creating space for a new player to come in.
Among the list of players mooted as a target for this role for Andrea Berta is RB Leipzig wonderkid Yan Diomande. The Ivorian is enjoying an outstanding breakout season in the Bundesliga and has subsequently garnered significant interest from across Europe.
Arsenal are monitoring the 19-year-old’s situation, although the Gunners now face competition from Chelsea for his signature. The winger is on the Blues’ radar, as they eye a replacement for Alejandro Garnacho, who has flattered to deceive at Stamford Bridge this season.
