ARSENAL face a race against time to complete the signings of Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale if they are to make the squad for this weekend’s clash with Chelsea.
The Gunners are on the brink of completing £30million deals for the attacking midfielder and goalkeeper from Real Madrid and Sheffield United respectively.
Mikel Arteta is hoping to bolster his squad following his side’s shock Premier League opening day defeat the hands of newly-promoted Brentford.
But Arsenal next go up against rampant Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.
And should Arteta want Odegaard and/or Ramsdale to make the match-day squad, they must be registered by midday on FRIDAY.
Premier League rules state all players must have their transfer documents completed and submitted by ’12 noon on the last working day before the date of the match’.
Both Odegaard, 22, and Ramsdale, 23, are expected to have their deals finalised later on Thursday.
It would then be up to Arteta to decide if either – or both – are ready for match action having not trained with the Gunners yet.
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Arsenal have already signed Nuno Tavares, Albert Lokonga and Ben White this summer.
But the North London club looked well off the pace as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat against Brentford last Friday.
Gooners will be buoyed by the return of Odegaard, who began to impress towards the end of his half-season loan spell at the Emirates last term.
Odegaard will now fight for minutes in the No10 role with Emile Smith Rowe.
Meanwhile, Ramsdale will provide competition for Bernd Leno with Alex Runarsson struggling in limited opportunities last season.
However, a small section of Arsenal fans have sickeningly abused the England goalkeeper on social media, leading to Ramsdale limiting his Instagram replies
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