ARSENAL could have renewed hope of signing Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele amid rumours he is dreaming of a reunion with former Dortmund team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Meanwhile Emmanuel Adebayor claims HE is the reason Thomas Partey chose to join Arsenal.
Follow ALL of the latest Gunners updates below…
- Joshua Jones
GOOD MORNING GUNNERS FANS
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted his side are 'a long way' from where they need to be and acknowledged it's been a 'difficult time'.
Arteta told the club’s website: “The results have to be immediate, and the challenge we have with the club we are representing is that we have to win as quickly as possible every game in every competition.
“So far we have played 14 games in all competitions this season, we won ten and lost four and the four of them have been in the Premier League, so it is a little bit imbalanced.”
Midfielder Mohamed Elneny has tested positive for Covid-19 while away with Egypt.
Arsenal have reportedly joined Manchester United in the pursuit of Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona after Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang said in the summer he ‘dreams’ of reuniting with his old Borussia Dortmund pal.
And Barca are reportedly lining up a shock move for Shkodran Mustafi – who will be a free agent next summer.
The LaLiga side are looking for defensive cover and see Mustafi as a cheap short-term solution, according to Diario Sport.
Hertha Berlin sporting director Michael Preetz has lavished praise upon Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi.
He told Kicker: “Three months ago, Matteo’s loan signing wasn’t possible, but it was at the beginning of October.
“We are happy that he is here and that he enriched our game from the start.
“We’ll see everything else next summer. How the prices will develop by then and what Arsenal are planning then, nobody can say today.”
- Josh Graham
GUEN THEN
Hertha Berlin sporting director Michael Preetz has lavished praise upon Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi.
He told Kicker: “Three months ago, Matteo’s loan signing wasn’t possible, but it was at the beginning of October.
“We are happy that he is here and that he enriched our game from the start.
“We’ll see everything else next summer. How the prices will develop by then and what Arsenal are planning then, nobody can say today.”
- Josh Graham
BUK THE TREND
England's man of the moment Jack Grealish had his say on Arsenal and Three Lions youngster Bukayo Saka.
Both stars impressed despite Gareth Southgate's men going down 2-0 to Belgium on Sunday.
Aston Villa skipper Grealish commented on Saka's social media post with the phrase: “What a player.”
Saka had impressed at left wing-back after coming on for the injured Ben Chilwell.
- Josh Graham
BELE RUMBLES
Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United target Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona.
The French star, 23, is out of contract in 2022 but the cash-strapped Catalan giants are believed to want to cash in during the January window.
United have been linked with Dembele as an alternative to Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho.
Spanish outlet Sport reports there is interest in Dembele from United, as well as Arsenal.
Reports in the summer from Le 10 Sport suggested Gunners skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 'dreams' of reuniting with his old Borussia Dortmund pal.
- Josh Graham
ART FAILURE
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted his side are 'a long way' from where they need to be and acknowledged it's been a 'difficult time'.
The Gunners have lost four of their opening eight Premier League games and fans were left alarmed after a particularly poor performance against Aston Villa last time out.
Arteta told the club's website: “We're a long way, I'm afraid. It's part of a process.
“The results have to be immediate, and the challenge we have with the club we are representing is that we have to win as quickly as possible every game in every competition.
“So far we have played 14 games in all competitions this season, we won 10 and lost four and the four of them have been in the Premier League, so it is a little bit imbalanced.
“There are a lot of things to do, short term and medium term, we have seen a lot of changes not only on the pitch but structurally as a club as well, it's been difficult, it's been a challenging time in the last three or four months, a lot of things have happened.”
- Josh Graham
COVID BLOW
Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny has tested positive for coronavirus just three days after international team-mate Mo Salah.
The Egyptian midfielder is currently on international duty.
Elneny's agent Alan Nazmy tweeted the news from his personal Twitter account, writing: “Elneny Positive Cov19 get well soon.”
The 28-year-old was in Togo with the squad ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday.
- Josh Graham
LUKE OUT
Former Arsenal youngster Luke Ayling said his Leeds side's game against the Gunners will be just like any other.
The 29-year-old came through the ranks in North London but he was released in 2010 as a teenager.
The defender told LUTV: “I spent a lot of time there as a kid.
“But I was only a kid then and I never really played or trained with the first team.
“I don’t know anyone there and I’ve got no ties there, so for me, it is just another game, but it will be nice to finally play against them in the Premier League after getting released at 18 will be nice.”
- Josh Graham
GIFT OF THE GAB-ON
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang took to social media after his Gabon side's 2-1 defeat away at Gambia.
The African side had trouble getting into Gambia – being held up in the airport into the early hours of the morning – before today's 4pm kick-off.
Arsenal's skipper wrote on Twitter: “We lost as mens. With pride thanks Panthers.”
- Josh Graham
CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Arsenal defender Calum Chambers is reportedly facing another two weeks out injured.
Football London reports the 25-year-old is out for another fortnight.
He has only just returned to action with the club's Under-21s.
- Josh Graham
HAVING A BALL
Arsenal's Daniel Ballard impressed on international duty for Northern Ireland against Austria on Sunday.
The 21-year-old defender is on loan at Blackpool but shone despite the 2-1 defeat for Ian Baraclough's side.
The Belfast Telegraph gave the Gunners youngster a 9/10 for his sterling work at centre-back.
- Josh Graham
THIERR-IFIC
Thierry Henry's stunning display in the 2002 North London derby came 18 years ago today.
The legendary Arsenal striker's celebration was so iconic it has been immortalised into a statute outside the Emirates.
- Josh Graham
FLAM-BOYANT
Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has rubbished claims he has £27billion in the bank and is poised to mount a takeover bid for the Gunners.
The 36-year-old is co-founder of GF Biochemicals – the first company able to produce Levulinic acid, an eco friendly alternative to oil, on a large scale.
The company is valued at many billions prompting talk Flamini was one of the wealthiest footy stars around.
However he refuted the claims in 2018, telling L'Equipe: “I do not have 30 million euros in my bank account.”
When asked by The Athletic if he could buy the North London side, he replied: “No! Don’t ask me how I’ll be involved in football, because it’s not something I’ve thought about.
“But, definitely, it’s something which I’ve been part of forever in my life. I will always want to be part of this community.”
- Etienne Fermie
FER REAL?
Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez has confirmed that Arsenal were one of two clubs, including Athletic Bilbao, to try and sign him this summer.
He told AS: “Yes, it’s true that there have been contacts.
“Quite a few clubs have asked, and those are two of them.
“But here I have been very happy, and I hope to continue being so.”
- Etienne Fermie
IT ALL ADS UP
Thomas Partey was advised by Emmanuel Adebayor to reject Manchester United and Chelsea to sign for Arsenal, the striker has claimed.
The Gunners paid £45.5million to sign the Ghana international in a deadline day switch from Atletico Madrid.
The 36-year-old told reporters in Ghana: “About six months to a year ago, he was telling me about contacts he had had from England. He mentioned Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea. And I told him, 'Listen, if I have a chance to play in England, a chance to play for Arsenal, the place you to have go to is Arsenal'.
“Because he is young, he is still learning and Arsenal are a family club, and I'm very happy and impressed with his first steps in the team.
“Unfortunately we all saw what happened against Aston Villa at home but he is a great player, a great personality. He is like a younger brother to me who is always looking for advice and we get along very well.”
- Etienne Fermie
MUST GO
Barcelona are reportedly lining up a surprise move for Shkodran Mustafi who can leave Arsenal on a free next summer.
The LaLiga side are looking for defensive cover and see Mustafi as a cheap short-term solution, according to Diario Sport.
Barca currently only have Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Ronald Araujo to choose from in defence, and are in desperate need of options.
And they could get Mustafi on a free transfer as his contract with the Gunners expires next summer.
Reports claim that Mustafi has refused to sign a new deal and wants to leave at the Emirates at the end of the season.
- Etienne Fermie
GUEN THEN
Hertha Berlin sporting director Michael Preetz has lavished praise upon Arsenal loanee Matteo Guendouzi.
He told Kicker: “Three months ago, Matteo’s loan signing wasn’t possible, but it was at the beginning of October.
“We are happy that he is here and that he enriched our game from the start.
“We’ll see everything else next summer. How the prices will develop by then and what Arsenal are planning then, nobody can say today.”
- Etienne Fermie
LIFE BOAT
Bayern legend Lothar Matthaus has revealed that he would understand if his former side were to sell rumoured Arsenal target Jerome Boateng.
He told AZ: “It’s understandable (that they would let Boateng go). FC Bayern is looking ahead. Jerome is prone to injury and has reached a certain age.
“In the past few years he has often had to take criticism, including from me, and that was justified. But he always behaved professionally and celebrated a great comeback under Hansi Flick.”
- Etienne Fermie
MIK TAKER
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that he learns more in defeat than victory, following the Gunners dreadful 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa prior to the international break.
The Spaniard told the club's website: “There are a lot of things to do, short term and medium term, we have seen a lot of changes not only on the pitch but structurally as a club as well, it's been difficult, it's been a challenging time in the last three or four months, a lot of things have happened.
“We have to settle and everyone has to realise where we are now, but I see the future as really bright. I am a really positive person and I tend to learn much more when things don't go well and we have a defeat like we had the other day that really hurt after the performance we had at Old Trafford.
“We have to understand why it happened, be really critical first of all with myself and try to understand the players better, and give them more solutions to win more football matches.”
- Etienne Fermie
WHERE THERE'S A WIL…
This will certainly feel like art to Gunners fans!
- Etienne Fermie
BAY-IN FOR DOM
Bayern Munich have joined Arsenal in the transfer chase for Dominik Szobaszlai, claimed Lothar Matthaus.
And the German holds high hopes for the Hungarian 'gem' as he compared the youngster to Kai Havertz.
Speaking to Munchner Abendzeitung, the 1990 World Cup winner said: “He is a gem. He’s like Kai Havertz.
“He could move to RB Leipzig in January, but I'm convinced that every top club in Europe has him on their list, including Bayern.
“In Hungary, Szoboszlai is already being compared to the great Ferenc Puskas.”
- Etienne Fermie
LENDING ADE
Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed that he advised Thomas Partey to snub interest from Chelsea and Manchester United in favour of a move to the Gunners.
The Togolese star said at an event in Ghana: “He told me that some clubs in England, namely Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and others have shown interest in him and he needs advice.
“I advised him to go to Arsenal because I have had the opportunity to play there and I think it will be good for his development.
“Arsenal is more than a club, it is a family and I’m impressed with his performances so far in the Premier League.”
- Etienne Fermie
LEV IT YEAH
Former Scotland boss Craig Levein has hailed Kieran Tierney's performance against Slovakia on Sunday.
The Scots fell to an unlucky 1-0 loss in Trnava, but the Gunners defender produced an adventurous display at left wing-back.
And Levein told the BBC: “I think that was Kieran Tierney’s best game in a Scotland shirt.”
- Etienne Fermie
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOULDY
Arsenal icon Steve Bould has turned 58 today.
The ex-defender worked as Arsene Wenger's assistant for six years, before eventually taking on his current role as Gunners Under-23s boss.
- Etienne Fermie
LION HEART
Gareth Southgate has praised Arsenal prodigy Bukayo Saka after his performance against Belgium on Sunday.
The Three Lions boss said: “There were several players who it’s the very early stages of their international careers, who were excellent.
“Jack [Grealish] is the obvious one, his performance was outstanding, but I also thought Bukayo as well.
“Coming into a game like that as a very young player, against an experienced player like [Thomas] Meunier. He had an excellent game on the left when he came into it.”
- Etienne Fermie
TIER THREE
Kieran Tierney was in action for Scotland yesterday, as Steve Clarke's side fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat in Slovakia.
Buoyant having secured Euro 2020 qualification on Thursday night, the Scots started brightly, with Tierney deployed in the left wing-back position.
But despite numerous chances, the Tartan Army were left disappointed.
The Arsenal ace will have another opportunity to secure promotion to Nations League Group A, however, when Scotland take on Israel on Wednesday night.
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