5pm Arsenal news: Ozil not needed, Emery making Gunners mediocre, Koscielny worry

Unai Emery is concerned about one veteran defender though, who he insists he will have to manage carefully throughout the season.

Meanwhile the North London club are in the hunt for a Brazilian wonder keeper and one former Gunner reckons they will struggle against West Ham's forwards.

Get all the Gunners news below…

ON THE BRINK

UNAI EMERY has confirmed that he left Mesut Ozil out because he didn't think he was needed.

The German was expected to return to action for the first time since Boxing Day – but his omission only increases exit speculation.

WILL HE LEARN?

ARSENAL suffered a surprise defeat to West Ham – but were missing their creative spark and midfield steel as Mesut Ozil and Lucas Torreira were left out of the starting eleven.

While the Gunners squad is littered with talent, Unai Emery's selections are causing them to falter.

WHERE IS HE?

UNAI EMERY has left Mesut Ozil out of the squad, despite speculation that he would return to action against West Ham.

But Laurent Koscielny has recovered from his back injury while Lucas Torreira and Hector Bellerin make the bench.

GUNNER HELP

UNAI EMERY fears Laurent Koscielny will need nursing through the rest of the season.

The Arsenal skipper, 33, is available for today’s trip to West Ham after a late withdrawal before last Saturday’s FA Cup win at Blackpool.

BRAZ-OURS

MANCHESTER UNITED and Arsenal are preparing to be involved in a bidding war for a young Brazilian goalkeeper, according to reports.

Gabriel Brazao is hotly tipped to follow in the footsteps of his countrymen Ederson at Manchester City and Alisson at Liverpool as the next South American star ‘keeper in the Premier League.

'ASTONISHING'

MARTIN KEOWN has said it's "staggering" Arsenal are allowed Aaron Ramsey to leave the club for absolutely nothing in the summer.

The former Gunners defender, 52, is shocked Unai Emery is willing to allow a once key member of the squad leave for nothing.

CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

ARSENAL legend Paul Merson believes his former club won't be able to deal with West Ham's attacking trio.

The Gunners' fragile defence goes up against the likes of Andy Carroll, Marko Arnautovic and Felipe Anderson in the London derby on Saturday.

LAUGHING STOCK

Phil Thomas column: Gunners are something of a laughing stock again, only you won’t find too many of their own fans splitting their sides.

This time it is because Arsenal, the club Forbes rated as the sixth richest in the world only six months ago, haven’t got a pot to p*** in when it comes to a January transfer kitty.

SKINT, MY ARSE-NAL

ARSENAL boss Unai Emery yesterday stunned supporters by claiming the club had no money for transfers this month.

The Gunners had been tipped to move for Barcelona star Denis Suarez and ex-Atletico Madrid ace Yannick Carrasco in a bid to bolster their threadbare squad.

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