ARSENAL were beaten by Man City 1-0 at the Etihad with £45m signing Thomas Partey making a brief debut for the Gunners.
Meanwhile the Gunners have been blasted by William Saliba's former club Saint-Etienne for axing him from their Europa League squad.
Follow all the latest Arsenal transfer gossip, news and updates below…
- Richard Forrester
IT'S A MUST
Arsenal outcast Shkodran Mustafi is set for a move back to Germany.
The defender is in the last year of his £90,000-a-week contract with Mikel Arteta eager to get him off the wage book.
And the Daily Mail report how the he is eyeing a move back 'home' next year.
Mustafi won't be short of options with plenty of Bundesliga clubs prepared to land him for nothing.
- Richard Forrester
CAN'T ADAM AND EVE IT
Arsenal legend Tony Adams has urged Mikel Arteta to switch to a back four following the 1-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday.
The Gunners boss once again opted to start three central defenders with two wing-backs, though the formation left them lacking in creativity in the final third.
Speaking to Premier League Productions, the 54-year-old said: “I think it’s time for a back four. I’ve been saying it since the start of the season.
“It wins you cup games, it doesn’t win you league titles. If he wants to build for the future.
“I think he’s got problems with Hector [Bellerin], I think his defending today wasn’t very good at all.
“But I’d like him to go to a back four. They’ve got Gabriel now, get him a partnership.
“They’ve been unlucky at the start with [Rob] Holding going down but get them into a back four.
“They look like they’ve a holding midfielder now who’s got a bit of presence and build for the future.”
- Richard Forrester
ART ATTACK
Andy Cole believes Mikel Arteta showed 'disrespect' to Alexandre Lacazette.
The Spaniard opted to start Willian as the main striker despite having a natural forward on the bench in the defeat against Man City.
Lacazette did eventually come on in the second half but ex-Man Utd striker Cole believes it was poor management from Arteta.
He told talkSPORT: “I think he is being disrespectful to Lacazette as well. Willian is not a centre-forward.
“If you have got a centre-forward on the bench who is your top goalscorer as well, to turn around and say, ‘Look, I am going to play Willian as the centre-forward.
“You sit on the bench and watch him play centre-forward’, I think that is very disrespectful.”
- Richard Forrester
SHRIMPING VIOLET
Arsenal youngster James Olayinka has joined Southend on loan until January 27.
The midfielder is desperate for first team action and is desperate to get involved at the struggling League Two side.
Versatile 20-year-old Olayinka will stay with the Essex side until at least January.
And he reckons his style of play will be well-suited to the Roots Hall outfit.
Speaking after the signing was announced, Olayinka said: “I’m very pleased and very excited to be here.
“It’s a good place for me to continue my career and a good place for me to grow as a young footballer too.
“It’s also a good opportunity to get more minutes and more experience.
“After watching them [Southend] at the start of the season and even last season as well, the way they play is the way I think football should be played and they keep the ball on the ground.
“They pass and move and look to attack and score goals and that’s something I can help the team with.”
- sstreet
PUEL THE OTHER ONE
Arsenal have been blasted by Saint-Etienne boss Claude Puel for leaving William Saliba out of their Europa League squad after refusing to loan him out.
The French club, where Saliba grew up and spent last season on loan, were keen to keep him for another year but no deal was agreed.
And Puel said: It was short-term [thinking], even for a young player. A superb player like William, to whom I wish the best, has not even made it to Arsenal’s Europa League squad.
“Where is the logic, if not financial? He had a great desire to join us. The club are a bit like family and friends [to him]. His adaptation would have been instant.
“This would have happened if all the conditions had met. It had to remain consistent with our finances and his contract, particularly for the management.”
- Richard Forrester
SCHOOLBOY STUFF
Arsene Wenger said his relationship with Jose Mourinho is 'like Kindergarten' as their fallout continues.
Wenger's autobiography, My Life in Red and White, was released this month, a little over two years since the 70-year-old left Arsenal after 22 years in charge.
But the Gunners legend left out any inclusion of rival Mourinho because he wanted it to be a 'positive book’.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager responded by insisting his omission in Wenger's memoirs was 'because he never beat me'.
But Wenger hit back, as he told Canal+: “It doesn't bother me. It is permanent provocation.
“I feel like I'm in kindergarten with him. But, that's part of his personality.
“It's wrong, we beat him twice. We won, and there were also a lot of draws. And it is not 'you' who wins, you only participate in the victory.
“It is 'us' who win. The manager is there to get the most out of a team.”
- Gary Stonehouse
GOOD MORNING ARSENAL FANS!
Juventus are looking to sign Arsenal target Houssem Aouar from Lyon in the January transfer window.
According to Tuttosport, the Italian giants are in the lead in the race to sign the Frenchman.
However, the Gunners have been named as one of the sides 'to watch out for'.
Vivianne Miedema smashed the all-time scoring record for the Women’s Super League, as she hit a hat-trick against Tottenham.
The strike sensation took her tally up to 52 goals in just 50 appearances.
Arsenal legend Tony Adams believes boss Mikel Arteta made a mistake in selling Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa this summer.
Speaking after Arsenal's slim 1-0 defeat away to Manchester City, Adams said: “I think the recruitment has been very poor in the last few years to be honest with you.
“I was hoping and praying at the start of the season. One with the goalkeeper situation which I disagreed with him.
“I thought we should have kept Martinez and two with the back four.
Arsenal new boy Willian has been slammed for his dismal display against Manchester City, the winger made just 20 passes and only touched the ball 32 times.
- Joshua Mbu
ARSENAL TWITTER REACTS
Arsenal fans took to twitter after North London rivals Tottenham bottled a 3-0 lead at home to West Ham, with nine minutes remaining!
- Joshua Mbu
JUVE EYE AOUAR
Juventus are lining up a move for Arsenal target Houssem Aouar, according to reports.
According to Tuttosport, the Italian giants are in the lead in the race to sign the Frenchman.
However, the Gunners have been named as one of the sides 'to watch out for'.
Aouar was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in the summer window, but a fee could not be agreed to bring the player to London.
- Joshua Mbu
WORK HORSE
Diego Simeone has praised Lucas Torreira's work rate after the on-loan Arsenal player made his Atletico debut in the 2-0 win against Celta Vigo.
Simeone praised the midfielder for his lung busting performance and believes Torreira will settle in well.
Speaking after the game, Simeone said: “He is a very hard-working boy, we are going to need him.
“He competes very well, he will give us a lot of strength there in the middle of the court, when he obviously picks up the pace of the game.
“His speed characteristics, going out quickly in the circulation of the ball in the middle will generate more speed in that part of the middle of the pitch and well, hopefully he will find the best form.”
- Joshua Mbu
LEGEND
Thierry Henry, what a player.
- Joshua Mbu
MIGHTY MIE
Vivianne Miedema smashed the all-time scoring record for the Women’s Super League, as she hit a hat-trick against Tottenham.
The strike sensation took her tally up to 52 goals in just 50 appearances.
Fans have branded Miedema “ice-cold” in the past for not celebrating her goals – but there was no stopping the Dutch ace cracking a smile on Sunday.
She coolly hit a first-half hat-trick before making way for Lotte Wubben-Moy on 63 minutes.
Arsenal boss, Joe Montemurro said: “We see from a football perspective week by week the contribution Viv makes as a footballer, but I’m blessed and lucky to be a part of her everyday scenario.
“She is an amazing person for the team and I’m blessed to have 23 players that work for each other.
“Viv is a part of that, off the ball she is also an amazing person.
“She wants to get better and challenge herself. I’m enjoying working with her, and as long as Viv is smiling we will keep seeing a better Viv.”
- Joshua Mbu
DOMINANT DISPLAY
Arsenal women beat North London rivals Tottenham 6-1!
Goals from Katie McCabe, Caitlin Foord and a first half hat-trick from Vivianne Miedema sent Arsenal into half-time with a healthy 5-0 lead.
Caitlin Foord grabbed her second of the evening in the 64th minute putting Arsenal out of sight.
Lucia Leon would strike later on for Spurs but it was too little too late.
- Joshua Mbu
EMI NO GO
Arsenal legend Tony Adams believes boss Mikel Arteta made a mistake in selling Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa this summer.
Martinez joined Dean Smith's Villa for £20million just months after playing a key role in Arsenal's FA Cup success.
With Leno returning to fitness, Martinez took it upon himself to seek first team regular football.
Speaking after Arsenal's slim 1-0 defeat away to Manchester City, Adams said: “I think the recruitment has been very poor in the last few years to be honest with you.
“He’s doing a miracle job (Arteta) with them by putting an FA Cup on the sideboard last season.
“I was hoping and praying at the start of the season. One with the goalkeeper situation which I disagreed with him.
“I thought we should have kept Martinez and two with the back four.
“I think after his time last season playing 3-4-3 he would have gone back to 4-3-3 go back into a back four and train the back four, work with them.”
- Joshua Mbu
BIG SIX
Arsenal do not have the best away days against the big six in the Premier League.
- Joshua Mbu
MISSING MAN WILLIAN
Arsenal new boy Willian made just 20 passes in yesterday's 1-0 defeat away to Manchester City.
The Brazilian had just 32 touches as well as only winning 33 per cent of his duels.
- Joshua Mbu
PARTEY TIME
Thomas Partey is Arsenal's fourth most expensive signing!
- Jake Lambourne
PUIG THAT ONE OUT
Man Utd youngster Arnau Puigmal starred with a superb free-kick in a draw with Arsenal's Under-23s side.
Saturday's match-up of the Premier League reserves finished 3-3 with Spanish midfielder Puigmal grabbing a brace.
One of the moments of the match at Boreham Wood's Meadow Park came when Puigmal lined up a free-kick from 20 yards out.
The 19-year-old sweetly hit the ball to the near-post, curling inwards to beat the diving goalkeeper.
And he was naturally pleased with his first United goal of the campaign, uploading the clip to his Instagram alongside a picture of his celebration.
View this post on Instagram
?⚽️?
A post shared byArnau Puigmal Martínez (@arnaupuigmal8) on
- Jake Lambourne
AUBA THE TOP
Arsenal fans have been left incensed after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was pictured laughing following the Gunners' defeat to Manchester City.
The Arsenal captain appeared to share a joke with Man City's Ilkay Gundogan after the final whistle.
The pair exchanged a few words and a chuckle on the pitch before heading down the tunnel.
One Arsenal fan fumed: “Why the f*** is he so happy. We just lost with an abysmal display with almost no players actually being asked to do anything.”
Another tweeted: “Surely could have waited till he was down the tunnel at least. I don’t care what he does just a time and a place to be having a laugh.”
One supporter commented: “Auba standing chatting and having a laugh with a City player after a defeat is simply not acceptable.”
Another added with tongue in cheek: “Xhaka would never.”
- Jake Lambourne
GUNNED DOWN
Take a look at the match highlights as Arsenal were narrowly defeated away at Manchester City.
View this post on Instagram
? Raheem Sterling scores on a frustrating night in Manchester.
A post shared byArsenal Official (@arsenal) on
- Jake Lambourne
TONE IT DOWN
Tony Adams has criticised Hector Bellerin and Bernd Leno for their role in Manchester City's winning goal.
The Spanish right-back allowed Phil Foden to run past him, while the German goalkeeper parried out his strike into the path of the ex-Liverpool winger.
Adams said: “Arsenal have pressed them and they’ve played around the press very well.
“Hector Bellerin again, and the goalkeeper, I always look at it defensively.
“Man City were too good, they passed it around, he [Phil Foden] steps inside Hector too easy.
“The goalkeeper is pushing it into the danger zone, you’ve got to push it away out of the danger zone, and he’s [Sterling] had a tap-in, which is disappointing.”
- Jake Lambourne
DAN THE MAN
Former Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has joined Brighton on a free transfer.
The 29-year-old has joined the Seagulls on an one-year deal after he mutually agreed to terminate his contract at Watford.
Commenting on his arrival, Brighton boss Graham Potter said: “We are delighted to have Danny joining us. He will complement our existing striking options.
“He's got an undoubted pedigree, and he is quick and technically very good.
“He will add to our attacking threat and we are thrilled to add another player of his experience and quality.”
- Jake Lambourne
CAN'T ADAM AND EVE IT
Tony Adams has urged Mikel Arteta to switch to a back four following the 1-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday.
Speaking to Premier League Productions, the 54-year-old said: “I think it’s time for a back four. I’ve been saying it since the start of the season.
“It wins you cup games, it doesn’t win you league titles. If he wants to build for the future.
“I think he’s got problems with Hector [Bellerin], I think his defending today wasn’t very good at all.
“But I’d like him to go to a back four. They’ve got Gabriel now, get him a partnership.
“They’ve been unlucky at the start with [Rob] Holding going down but get them into a back four.
“They look like they’ve a holding midfielder now who’s got a bit of presence and build for the future.”
- <a href='http://www.thesun.co.uk/sport' rel='external nofollow ugc' class='url'>Alex Terrell</a>
PASS & MOVE
Lucas Torreira has already become a lynchpin of the Atletico Madrid team.
- <a href='http://www.thesun.co.uk/sport' rel='external nofollow ugc' class='url'>Alex Terrell</a>
POSITIONAL SENSE
Arsenal were praised by pundits for their disciplined approach despite losing 1-0 to Manchester City yesterday evening.
Here are the average positions from the encounter.
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