Arsenal contact Carnesecchi's agent as Odegaard pledges long-term commitment

Arsenal have contacted the representative of Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi as Mikel Arteta begins shaping his squad for next season, with the Italian stopper available for around £35m. The approach comes days after a weekend of sharply contrasting emotions for the club — a penalty shootout defeat to PSG in the Champions League final in Budapest, followed by a Premier League trophy parade on Sunday celebrating their first league title in 22 years.

Carnesecchi, 25, came through Atalanta’s academy and has been their first-choice goalkeeper since the 2023/24 season, keeping 17 clean sheets as the club finished seventh in Serie A this term. Arsenal are reported to have reached out to his agent, Alessandro Lucci, who also represents Gunners defender Riccardo Calafiori. Whether the deal progresses may depend on Carnesecchi’s willingness to serve as backup to first-choice David Raya, with questions also arising over the future of current second-choice Kepa Arrizabalaga, though reports suggest the two would compete for the deputy role.

Off the pitch, captain Martin Odegaard has moved to dispel any uncertainty over his own future, insisting he is happy at the club and committed to staying. “There is nothing to say at the moment, I am under contract here and really happy here and hopefully I can stay many years,” the Norwegian said following the final against PSG, in which he was substituted in the second half.

Odegaard acknowledged the pain of the defeat but struck a measured tone about the club’s trajectory. “It is tough to watch from the sides. It’s small margins and you want to win it so bad. To end up with nothing is brutal,” he said. “Again, that’s part of football and still we have done some incredible things this season. We get this close and we will come again next year. Last year, we got to the semis, this year to the final.”

Arteta will be aware that the competitive landscape is shifting. Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool — who parted ways with Arne Slot on Saturday — are all expected to begin next season under new managers, while Manchester United have handed Michael Carrick the role on a permanent basis. Arsenal’s title defence will begin against a reshaped Premier League field, making this summer’s recruitment decisions all the more consequential.