Arsenal receive clearest Eberechi Eze transfer message yet as huge £30m decision made

A number of Arsenal transfer decisions became clear in their pre-season defeat to Villarreal in the Emirates Cup on Wednesday evening. Former Gunners winger Nicolas Pepe and ex-Tottenham man Arnaut Danjuma were both on target for the Spanish club.

Viktor Gyokeres made his starting debut but failed to make a major impact despite some bright moments, with new signing Christian Norgaard on target. Though it was not the Gunners' full strength starting XI, defensive errors and a lack of cohesion were a real concern with the new season just over one week away from commencing.

Though there is still over three weeks of the summer window remaining, the majority of Arsenal's business is done. However, links to Crystal Palace's Eberechi Ezeremain while other clubs have also shown an interest in signing several fringe players.

READ MORE: Arsenal double injury hint emerges ahead of Villarreal after Gabriel Magalhaes update

READ MORE: Paul Scholes sends Mikel Arteta telling question about Viktor Gyokeres move - 'Very strange'

One particular performance and a number of decisions from Arteta have certainly hinted at the next jobs for sporting director Andrea Berta to work on. With all of that being said, football.london has taken a look at the latest Arsenal transfer news and rumours.

Arsenal transfer message amid Eze interest

With Leandro Trossard injured, Reiss Nelson absent and on his way to Fulham and Noni Madueke on the bench, Gabriel Martinelli was again the starting left winger.

The 24-year-old has struggled to make a lasting impact recently with the need to sign Eze, who can play off the left, becoming rather important.

On the Brazil international's display, football.london's Arsenal writer Tom Canton wrote: "Again left fans frustrated on several occasions with actions which ended in the wrong decision.

"However, he did provide the delivery from the corner leading to the Norgaard goal but this was really the only positive in an otherwise blunt performance. 5."

football.london says: Though Eze prefers to play in central areas, he would likely be an upgrade on Martinelli out wide. Arsenal bringing in a natural centre-forward was quite clearly a priority and the hope is that Gyokeres' arrival will solve any problems.

Madueke is versatile enough to play on both flanks but Eze would provide Arteta with an entirely different option in attack and it is one that, based on Martinelli's struggles, should be targeted.

In the meantime, Eze has been at the centre of everything good for Palace during their pre-season with it clear he is the talisman. Regardless of his release clause expiring, the Gunners must do everything they can to bring him in this month.

Vieira decision made

Nelson has been extremely bright during cameos over the last few weeks but he was missing from the squad to face Villareal and Fabio Vieira was again absent.

Having featured for Porto at the Club World Cup, he has had less of a pre-season but he has still been involved in Arsenal training sessions while Bundesliga side Stuttgart pursuing a permanent transfer. According to journalist Nicolo Schira, Arsenal want £30million to sell Vieira.

football.london says: Recouping the £34million spent to acquire his services a few years ago looks highly unlikely but Arsenal do look set to at least try.

Interest from Stuttgart is seemingly serious and they do have funds to spend following Enzo Millot's move to Al Ahli.The 25-year-old has struggled to adapt to Premier League football with his lack of physicality a clear problem that perhaps won't be as evident in Germany.

Selling the Portugal international for anywhere in the region of that fee could be key to Arsenal formalising their pursuit of Eze in the final weeks of the summer window.