8am Arsenal news LIVE: Partey has ‘best debut EVER’, Ozil ‘believes he was axed over China’ comments, Arteta speaks out – The Sun
MESUT OZIL believes that his criticism of China is the reason has has been frozen out by Arsenal, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Arsenal saw off Rapid Vienna 2-1 in Austria and Owen Hargreaves had high praise for newboy Thomas Partey.
Follow all the latest Arsenal transfer gossip, news and updates below…
- Jake Lambourne
GOOD MORNING ARSENAL FANS
Mikel Arteta hailed Thomas Partey's first start for the club after his part in their 2-1 win over Rapid Vienna.
He said: “He looked really solid, really comfortable, and I think he held the midfield by himself in the second half when we were a little bit more open and took more chances, attacking spaces with some players.
“I think he was fantastic tonight and there is much more to come from him obviously.
“He needs his team-mates around him, it's not about him. With the price we paid for him and the profile of him, he's going to have a lot of people looking at him every single game.
“But it's about the structure we have as a team, the flow, the unity and cohesion we have in the team, and he's one piece of that and hopefully a big piece.”
Meanwhile, Ainsley Maitland-Niles revealed Arteta convinced him to stay in North London over the summer.
He said: “There was a lot of speculation going around, but I chose to stay at the club I love.
“I am happy with my decision and I am sure the manager is happy that I stayed as well.
“It was about the manager having faith in me and him letting me know what’s going on and the situation. He did that and everything was fine in the end.
“He just installed a lot of confidence in me that I had in myself, but maybe I didn’t know how to bring out. He has helped me do that.
“We work well as a team together and he knows how to get the best out of me, and now I am learning to get the best out of myself more regularly now.
“I can only thank him along the way and carry on the run of form we have had.”
And finally, on the transfer front, Arsenal are keen to re-sign Donyell Malen despite selling him to PSV Eindhoven for just £540,000 in 2017, according to reports.
The 21-year-old's scintillating form for the Dutch side has seen the striker appear back on the Gunners' radar.
Malen has bagged 33 goals and 16 assists in 78 games for PSV.
And he could soon be on the way back to the Emirates, according to Dutch outlet Soccernews.
- Joe Brophy
PARTEY STARTED
Mikel Arteta hailed Thomas Partey's first start for the club after his part in their 2-1 win over Rapid Vienna.
He said: “He looked really solid, really comfortable, and I think he held the midfield by himself in the second half when we were a little bit more open and took more chances, attacking spaces with some players.
“I think he was fantastic tonight and there is much more to come from him obviously.
“He needs his team-mates around him, it's not about him. With the price we paid for him and the profile of him, he's going to have a lot of people looking at him every single game.
“But it's about the structure we have as a team, the flow, the unity and cohesion we have in the team, and he's one piece of that and hopefully a big piece.”
- Joe Brophy
GREAT MAIT
Ainsley Maitland-Niles revealed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta convinced him to stay in North London over the summer.
The 23-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Wolves to replace Matt Doherty who joined Jose Mourinho's Spurs for £15million.
Maitland-Niles said: “There was a lot of speculation going around, but I chose to stay at the club I love.
“I am happy with my decision and I am sure the manager is happy that I stayed as well.
“It was about the manager having faith in me and him letting me know what’s going on and the situation. He did that and everything was fine in the end.
“He just installed a lot of confidence in me that I had in myself, but maybe I didn’t know how to bring out. He has helped me do that.
“We work well as a team together and he knows how to get the best out of me, and now I am learning to get the best out of myself more regularly now.
“I can only thank him along the way and carry on the run of form we have had.”
- Joe Brophy
A CLASS A-PART
Arsenal's new £45million midfielder Thomas Partey enjoyed a stunning debut against Rapid Vienna – with BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves saying it 'was one of the best I've ever seen'.
The former Manchester United midfielder said: “Thomas Partey had one of the best debuts I've ever seen.”
At half-time the 39-year-old had already made his mind up about how much of an asset the Ghanaian will be.
He said: “This guy makes it look so easy. Everybody is looking to him.
“He's run the whole game, you can tell he's been playing in the Champions League – it's too easy for him.”
- Joe Brophy
VERDICT
SunSport's John Hutchinson says: “Arsenal gave fans what they wanted to see, a first start for £45million signing Thomas Partey in midfield.
“But also on show was something they didn't want to see – another defensive horror show.
“And once again questions will be asked as to why Emiliano Martinez was allowed to leave as Bernd Leno committed a clanger.
“First for the good, apart from the unconvinving 2-1 win. Partey showed in a matter of minutes what he will bring to the Gunners' fold.
“He rarely, if ever, lost the ball. He was constantly looking forward and if he wasn't attempting a defence splitting pass he was making a surge upfield.”
- Joe Brophy
SUBS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (on for Nketiah, 61) – 8
Immediately sought to spark life into his side and looked to finally provide an outlet for Partey. Took his goal well.
Given time together those two could be deadly – but will need help from the others.
Hector Bellerin (on for Cedric, 61) – 7
Would not have taken much to be an improvement on the man he replaced and did well bringing in some pace.
Still a great assist for the winner.
Joe Willock (on for Lacazette, 84) – 6
Looked reassured when he came on.
Kieran Tierney (on for Saka, 84) – 6
Did what he had to as a late sub.
Reiss Nelson (on for Pepe, 90+4) – 6
Late sub.
- Joe Brophy
…
Mohamed Elneny – 6
Tipped by none other than Mesut Ozil – who was watching from home – to be among the goalscorers.
That prediction could not have been more wrong. Failed to ignite much from deep.
Bukayo Saka – 6
Quiet on the wings and incredibly fortunate not to concede a penalty for handball in the 49th minute with a really nervy bit of defending.
A step backwards for the 19-year-old who otherwise has looked to grow from game to game.
Eddie Nketiah – 6
Surprisingly quiet throughout and lucky not to get a second yellow for barging into Stojkovic early in the second half.
Alexandre Lacazette – 6
Another who seemed to be missing throughout. Totally toothless up top and outworked by Aubameyang when he came on.
- Joe Brophy
…
Sead Kolasinac – 6
So-so performance, dealt relatively well with the challenges presented and did what he needed to.
Nicolas Pepe – 6
Periods of play passed without him having any stamp on the game at all.
Then finally sprung into life with a simply beautiful free-kick that Luiz headed in.
Thomas Partey – 8
No surprise but he looked ultra alert, whether picking up the ball from deep and carrying upfield or sniffing for a chance at the top of the box.
Owen Hargreaves said on BT Sport you could tell he was a Champions League player because this looked 'too easy' for him – and you have to agree.
Real encouragement on his full debut.
- Joe Brophy
PLAYER RATINGS
Bernd Leno – 4
Made a great early save to deny Marcel Ritzmaier but was totally at fault for conceding early into the second half.
In fairness he looked like he did not want David Luiz's pass so close to him but there no excuses for that howler.
Cedric – 6
A number of wasted opportunities with his deliveres, including a second-half corner which went straight out for a goal kick.
Left a lot to be desired in the final third and failed to pick up the pace when Arsenal went a goal down.
David Luiz – 6
Teamed up well with Gabriel in the back line but had another mind meltdown with the goal.
Arsenal have tempted fate with their high-wire passing close to goal so far this season and here it came back to bite them.
Redeemed himself with a great header.
Gabriel – 6
Really solid at the back and read situations well against a side who looked to have Arsenal on the back foot quite a lot.
- Joe Brophy
FT: RAPID VIENNA 1 ARSENAL 2
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang spared Arsenal’s blushes as they snatched an unlikely victory in what should be the toughest game of their Europa League group.
The Gunners skipper was supposed to be having a well-earned night off until Bernd Leno gifted a 51st minute goal to their Austrian opponents.
But Leno’s blunder forced Mikel Arteta to turn to Plan B and send on top scorer Auba to save the day.
And the veteran striker did exactly what was required, tapping home from Hector Bellerin’s 74th minute cross to secure all three points.
READ MARK IRWIN'S FULL MATCH REPORT HERE.
- Joe Brophy
RAPID VIENNA 1 ARSENAL 2
“It's the old one-two. So quick one after the other…”
It's that man Aubameyang – Who else? The Gabon striker has the easiest of tap-ins after fellow sub Hector Bellerin races into the box and squares it for an open goal.
- Joe Brophy
RAPID VIENNA 1 ARSENAL 1
It's a powerful header from David Luiz and the Gunners are level!! Still time for a winner…
You can keep up to date with SunSport's Live Blog HERE.
- Joe Brophy
RAPID VIENNA 1 ARSENAL 0
A rare Bernd Leno mistake has seen the Gunners fall behind so Mikel Arteta has turned to captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to be the difference maker from the bench.
- Joe Brophy
HALF-TIME
Arsenal head into the break 0-0 with Rapid Vienna during their Europa League opener.
You can keep up to date with SunSport's Live Blog HERE.
- Joe Brophy
SORT THIS MES
Mesut Ozil was offered a role in the BT Sport studio as a pundit after revealing he was watching Arsenal on TV.
The Gunners playmaker on £350,000 a week has been frozen out of the side's Premier League and Europa League squads.
- Joe Brophy
NOT DON YET
Arsenal are keen to re-sign Donyell Malen despite selling him to PSV Eindhoven for just £540,000 in 2017, according to reports.
The 21-year-old's scintillating form for the Dutch side has seen the striker appear back on the Gunners' radar.
Malen has bagged 33 goals and 16 assists in 78 games for PSV.
And he could soon be on the way back to the Emirates, according to Dutch outlet Soccernews.
Malen spent two years in Arsenal's academy having joined from Ajax's Under-17s in 2015.
- Joe Brophy
WIL POWER
Fabregas also stated that Jack Wilshere would have been in his list had injuries not limited his game time.
Wilshere was limited to just 197 Arsenal appearances despite being at the club for ten years.
- Joe Brophy
FAB FIVE
Former Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has named his top five players of the Emirates-era – with Robin van Persie sitting at the top of his list.
However there was no room for the Gunners' all-time top goalscorer Thierry Henry, who spent one year at the ground before joining Barcelona in 2007.
- Richard Forrester
DON'T LUC BACK
Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira wants to stay at Atletico Madrid once his loan expires at the end of this season.
The Uruguayan joined the LaLiga side this summer as Thomas Partey came the other way in a £45million deadline day deal.
And the 24-year-old has no intention of coming back to North London.
He told Ovacion: “I’ve suffered a lot of things, I had a lot of personal problems and more than anything my family also suffered.
“I know that I am a year on loan.
“But I’ve been here for four or five days and it seems like it’s a lot, because I’ve been treated very well.
“It is a new opportunity in my life, in which I have fought a lot, because Atlético has always been one of my dreams, one of my goals as a team.
“And being able to achieve it at the age of 24 is something very important.
“It all depends on how I go during the season, which I hope is very good, and maybe in the future I can stay in the club.”
- Richard Forrester
PARTEY STARTER
Granit Xhaka has hailed the importance new signing Thomas Partey in Arsenal's squad.
Partey signed from Atletico Madrid on deadline day, and will partner Xhaka in midfield.
Xhaka said: “He will be the guy who is important for me and as well for the team.
“Everyone in the club can be happy because he has great quality.
“He will bring a good mentality, a good balance in our game because this is what we need a bit more: the mentality to win.
“He played at Atletico Madrid, a different type of football, and he will bring a lot of good quality and mentality.”
- Richard Forrester
OZIL AND OUT
Mesut Ozil still has a number of escape options from Arsenal even though the European transfer window has ended.
The 32-year-old has not played since March for the Gunners as Mikel Arteta’s side attempted to force their highest-paid player out of the club.
But after failing to reach a pay-off settlement with the £350,000-a-week German World Cup winner, the attacker has been left out in the cold this term.
There are a number of places he could still go if he gives in and leaves – with the MLS believed to be favourite to get him.
The summer window in the US would normally be closed by the second week of August – but due to the coronavirus crisis it was extended until October 29.
And DC United are the latest team to be linked with a swoop for the ace.
Meanwhile, a switch to South America may tickle his fancy should he receive an offer – and Brazilian sides have until November 9 to bring players in.
Amore likely option financially could be the money-laden Middle East.
- Richard Forrester
PLAN B
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has refused to back the proposed European Super League – dealing the plans a significant blow.
World chief Infantino was said to have been behind the plans, drafted by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez and backed by Liverpool and Manchester United.
Fifa were reported as the backers of a £4.6billion concept for an 18-club closed-shop elite, including five Prem giants, from the start of the 2022-23 season.
But Infantino gave the thumbs down to the plans as he insisted his sole aim is to get the revised and expanded Club World Cup up and running in China in 2022.
Infantino said: “As Fifa President, I'm interested in the Club World Cup, not the Super League.
“I'm not interested in Bayern versus Liverpool, but Bayern versus Boca Juniors from Buenos Aires.
“Liverpool has 180 million fans worldwide. Flamengo about 40 million. Flamengo has 39 of these 40 million fans in Brazil.
“But Liverpool, however, has perhaps only 5 million fans in England, the other 175 million around the world.
“I want clubs from outside Europe to have global appeal in the future. My vision is: there should be 50 clubs and 50 national teams that can become world champions.”
- Richard Forrester
GOD'S PLAN
Former Arsenal target Jackson Martinez is now a Christian rapper but can’t find a team.
The 34-year-old striker has been pursuing a hip-hop career for two years after releasing an album in 2018, as reported by Sport Bible.
But he has failed to hit the right note on the field after leaving Portuguese side Portimonense in August.
The Colombian international has returned home after suffering with persistent ankle injuries.
He had signed a two-year deal with top flight Portimonense in January after spending the previous campaign on loan with the club.
Last week he dropped his latest single ‘Escucha’ which translates from Spanish as ‘Listen’.
It follows up from his 2018 album ‘No Temeré’ meaning ‘I Will Not Fear’.
- Richard Forrester
COUT-ING IT FINE
Arsenal missed out on a deal to sign Philippe Coutinho because Barcelona could not sign a replacement, it has been claimed.
Several teams were keen on the Brazilian playmaker after his loan spell at Bayern Munich.
Under Quique Setien, it appeared the 28-year-old had no future at the Nou Camp with Barcelona also desperate for cash.
However, Ronald Koeman took charge and has given Coutinho a new lease of life.
At the start of the autumn transfer window, Barcelona were planning on selling the ex-Liverpool star with Tottenham and Arsenal alerted to his availability.
And the Gunners were ‘really close’ to a deal before Koeman pulled the plug, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
- Richard Forrester
SHK DECISION
Arsenal travel to Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday and Mikel Arteta is likely to ring the changes.
New signing Thomas Partey is expected to be handed his first Gunners start with in-form youngster Eddie Nketiah starting in an attacking role.
Sead Kolasinac is expected to slot in in place of Kieran Tierney as the left centre-back.
After Shkodran Mustafi was spotted boarding the flight to Austria, he is expected to be fit to start alongside Gabriel, with Bukayo Saka retaining his left wing-back spot.
Here's how we think the Gunners will shape up in their Europa League clash.
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