"I'm looking forward to learning new things next season and pushing myself to another level."
Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker added: "He is a young goalkeeper with big potential.
"The first step on Tommy's development pathway with us will be to integrate into our under-21s academy group and train regularly with our first-team goalkeeping group."
Gossip: Ajax keeper Setford poised for Gunners movepublished at 08:45 21 July
08:45 21 July
Arsenal are set to sign 18-year-old goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax before their USA tour. (Evening Standard), external
'Beautiful kit' or need to 'return to yellow and blue'?published at 13:40 19 July
13:40 19 July
Arsenal revealed their new away kit for the 2024-25 season and we asked you to have your say on the latest strip, which seems to have split opinion.
Here are a selection of your comments:
Naimah: It is an absolutely gorgeous kit. Beautiful representation of the club's African ties, both past and present. This is a must-have for me.
Sarah: I think its disgusting. I understand the thought behind it but we've always been yellow and blue. Too many clubs mess about with the strip these days, even our home shirt strays from red and white.
Ed: I've liked the past three away kits, they've all been unique and different. Celebrating our home and identity is important and everything this club stands for, but as a traditionalist, I'd like to see next season return to yellow and blue.
Ian: Bit of a traditionalist here... too many fond memories of the yellow and blue away kit - Charlie George 1971, Alan Sunderland 1979, Michael Thomas 1989. Plus, not sure an all black away kit is that practical on a gloomy, rainy, January FA Cup third round away tie. Remember Manchester United and the grey?
William: I think it's a beautiful kit. Not only the design but the meaning. Plenty of incredible Arsenal players are African/have African heritage. For example, Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey etc. It's a very good design and I'm glad we are finally giving something back to the African footballers, although it only being an away shirt.
Drew: Looks absolutely awful, a toddler could do better. The training kit looks far better. Lack of effort in the Adidas camp one thinks.
Do clubs actually play more games?published at 11:11 19 July
11:11 19 July
Image source, Getty Images
It seems inevitable a host of Premier League managers will point to fixture congestion in the months to come.
When injuries mount, or when time on the training ground is squeezed, coaches often reference the intense nature of the calendar.
But research conducted by the respected CIES Football Observatory has delivered data which shows clubs are - on average - not playing more competitive games than they have in the last couple of decades.
The CIES looked at 677 clubs across 40 leagues. In looking at a period from 2012 to 2024, its findings show in 2023-24, the average club played 42.4 competitive matches. In 2014-15 that figure was 42.6 and in 2020-21 it hit 43.9.
And if focus is placed on sides competing in the Champions League, data gathered between 2000 and 2024 also shows sides are not setting fixture records in the current game, as some managers may like to loosely imply.
In looking at the five major European Leagues, the CIES claim Champions League competitors played an average of 50.8 matches last season.
In 2020-21 they averaged 57.9 and in 2002-03 they contested 55.2.
Manchester United played in 52 competitive games last season, down from highs of 71 in 2020-21 and 66 in 2008-09.
Across all of the clubs analysed, only 4% played more than 60 games last season. In 2012-13, the figure stood at 5.1%.
While clubs may play added friendlies and - it would be fair to say - individual matches tend to be longer given increased injury time in the current game, the data shows that competitive fixture numbers are flat or have in most cases fallen, even if disgruntled managers say otherwise.
Gossip: Gunners to end Guehi pursuitpublished at 08:10 19 July
08:10 19 July
Arsenal look set to end their interest in England defender Marc Guehi with Crystal Palace demanding more than £70m for the 24-year-old. (Mirror, external)
Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori, 22, has been asked to take part in Bologna's pre-season as Arsenal try to reach an agreement on his valuation. (Evening Standard, external)
Arsenal release 2024-25 away kit in collaboration with Labrum Londonpublished at 09:50 18 July
09:50 18 July
Image source, Arsenal FC
Arsenal have released their new 2024-25 away kit in collaboration with Adidas and British African heritage brand Labrum London.
The shirt is the traditional pan-African colours of black, red and green and features a white zig-zag graphic designed by Labrum London founder Foday Dumbuya.
The club said: "These colours and cultural cues bind together to create a mural of our past and present connection to the African diaspora in London and beyond – championing the rich cultural heritage within the team and across our supporter base."
Dumbuya added: "As a second-generation immigrant growing up in London, I watched some incredible Arsenal players with African heritage.
"These players were amazing role models to me, playing the game in a beautiful way, but also representing the wider community that I connect with.
"Arsenal, as a club, has such a strong connection to this community, so it is an incredibly proud moment for me to have collaborated on this design with them."
Gossip: Calafiori fee proving a stumbling blockpublished at 07:38 18 July
07:38 18 July
Arsenal's move for Bologna centre-back Riccardo Calafiori, 22, has been held up because the clubs cannot agree a fee for the Italy international. The Gunners also want Jakub Kiwior as a makeweight in the deal but the defender would prefer to join AC Milan. (Times - subscription required, external)
West Ham are winning the race to sign Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson, who is valued at £25m by his club. (Talksport, external)
Gossip: Arsenal reject Fulham bid for Smith Rowepublished at 07:53 16 July
07:53 16 July
Arsenal have rejected an offer for 23-year-old England midfielder Emile Smith Rowe from Fulham, who are are weighing up whether to make an improved bid. (Standard), external
Lazio sign Arsenal's Tavares on loanpublished at 16:27 15 July
16:27 15 July
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares will spend next season on loan with Italian club Lazio.
The 24-year-old has been with Arsenal since 2021, making 28 appearances for the Gunners.
He spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, playing 12 times.
Lokonga joins Sevilla on loanpublished at 13:14 15 July
13:14 15 July
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga has joined Spanish club Sevilla on a season-long loan.
The 24-year-old, who has played 39 times for the Gunners since joining in 2021, spent last season on loan at Luton Town.
Gunners close to Setford dealpublished at 13:04 15 July
13:04 15 July
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal are close to signing England youth goalkeeper Tommy Setford.
Setford has come through the Ajax youth system along with his older brother Charlie.
However, the Dutch giants are willing to sell Tommy, and a fee in the region of €1m (£840,000) has been agreed for the 18-year-old, who was born in the Netherlands.
A medical is planned and providing all goes as expected, Setford will join a goalkeeping group that is expected to see the exit of England's Aaron Ramsdale before the transfer window closes at the end of next month.
Gossip: Arsenal set to sign Ajax goalkeeper Setfordpublished at 07:34 15 July
Jakub Kiwior will be allowed to leave Arsenal this summer and the 24-year-old Poland defender is attracting interest from a number of Serie A clubs. (Football Insider), external
Euro 2024 final key battles: Cucurella v Sakapublished at 17:04 12 July
17:04 12 July
Jess Anderson BBC Sport journalist
BBC Sport has looked at five key battles that could decide who lifts the Euro 2024 trophy when England face Spain on Sunday.
Marc Cucurella v Bukayo Saka
For both Cucurella and Saka, Euro 2024 has been a tale of redemption.
Only six months ago, Chelsea left-back Cucurella was being booed off by his own fans, having struggled to impress following a £63m move from Brighton in 2022.
But the 25-year-old was at the heart of Chelsea's unexpected late surge for a European place and has continued that form at Euro 2024.
He has started five of Spain's six matches, having earned only four caps prior to the tournament, and has struck up a brilliant partnership with Williams down Spain's left-hand side.
For Saka - after the heartbreak of missing a penalty in the final of Euro 2020 and the horrific racial abuse he received in the aftermath - Euro 2024 has highlighted his resilience.
The 22-year-old has been a consistent threat, earning his reward with a fine goal against Switzerland in the quarter-final before dispatching his penalty in the shootout - his story coming full circle.
'He has that leadership' - Rice on Mainoopublished at 15:02 12 July
15:02 12 July
Image source, Getty Images
Declan Rice says he and Kobbie Mainoo have formed a "nice partnership" in the centre of England's midfield and has praised the 19-year-old's "leadership" as Gareth Southgate's side prepare for Sunday's Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Arsenal's Rice and Manchester United's Mainoo have started alongside each other in the Three Lions' knockout games against Slovakia, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
"You can just see. You speak to him and just feel his calm presence that he has and what I like about him is that he is not scared to say it how it is," said Rice.
"There was something towards the end [against the Netherlands] when he gave me a pass between the lines and I got sold short for it.
"We had to sprint back and we had bit at each other - but that is good because you need that relationship. At 19, I can't imagine many saying that to older players and that's what I love about him.
"That is what the lads love about him as well. He gets that respect, he has that leadership and the way he takes the ball and is comfortable.
"The conversations we've been having daily with each other and on the training pitch have brought us together and we have become a nice partnership."
'Hopefully we can keep rewriting history'published at 11:30 12 July
11:30 12 July
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal's Declan Rice says England have the opportunity to "write our own history" when they face Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday.
Three years on from penalty heartbreak at Wembley against Italy, Rice and his team-mates have reached a second successive European Championship final and a first major tournament final on foreign soil for the Three Lions.
Asked if there was a sense of unfinished business from Euro 2020, the 25-year-old said: "Yes, definitely. Seeing Italy lift that trophy will haunt me forever.
"We are now presented with another opportunity where we can write our own history. We are up against another top side who we have to massively respect.
"But we also have to enjoy these moments because in 15 or 20 years when I look back, these are the nights I'll remember.
"We feel together and strong. The improvement from the last Euros on the back five is that we're keeping the ball much better."
Rice was robbed of possession for Xavi Simmons' opening goal in the semi-final win over the Netherlands on Wednesday, but recovered well to help Gareth Southgate's side turn the game around and win 2-1 thanks to a last-minute Ollie Watkins strike.
"I made the mistake for the goal but thought straight away about my own body language and being positive, thinking about the clock, that there is a long way to go and time for me to have an impact on the match," he added.
"It's poised to be a great final and another great night. We're back to back so hopefully now we can do it - not only for each other but also for the manager. I think he deserves it."
Did you know?
Rice has had more touches (300) and completed more passes [236] while under high pressure than any other player at Euro 2024.
He has also made seven line-breaking passes that have led to a shot within 10 seconds (see Opta graphic below), which is more than any other England player.
Sevilla closing on Lokongapublished at 08:06 12 July
08:06 12 July
Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Sevilla are now confident they have secured Albert Sambi Lokonga on an initial loan deal from Arsenal with an option to buy.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Luton Town, is expected to complete a medical with the Spanish club this weekend.
Another player who looks to be on his way out of Emirates Stadium is Nuno Tavares, with the 24-year-old left-back expected to join Italian side Lazio.
Gossip: Gunners want teenage Ajax keeperpublished at 07:17 12 July
07:17 12 July
Arsenal have submitted an opening bid for Ajax's 18-year-old English goalkeeper Tommy Setford. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Gossip: Tavares set to join Lazio on loanpublished at 07:41 11 July
07:41 11 July
Arsenal have accepted a loan offer from Lazio for their 24-year-old Portuguese full-back Nuno Tavares with an obligation to buy included for between £6m and £7m. (Mirror), external
Image source, Getty Images
