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      Arsenal dressing room ‘toxic’ with ‘factions’ in squad over Mesut Ozil and Sokratis axe by under-fire Mikel Arteta

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      ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta is having to deal with a split dressing room while attempting to turn around the side’s dire run of form.
      The Gunners last won in the Premier League on November 1 and morale is reportedly low within the camp.

      The pressure is on Mikel Arteta after a tough run of resultsCredit: EPA

      Mesut Ozil’s absence has reportedly created a split in the dressing roomCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      According to the Mirror, Arteta is respected by the vast majority of the squad but his handling of certain issues has led to disagreements.
      In particular, the decision to exile Mesut Ozil and Sokratis Papastathopoulos is one point of contention.
      The German playmaker’s absence from Arsenal’s Premier League and Europa League squads has come amid the side’s desperate struggle for creativity.
      And Greek defender Sokratis is also unavailable for selection after being dropped, with both men seen as big personalities in the team.

      The Gunners’ well-stocked squad is likely to be cut down in the coming transfer windows as contracts expire and fringe players sold.
      But it is reportedly becoming unwieldy for Arteta while he manages the side’s crisis on the pitch.

      A number of events have led to serious disciplinary questions of the Spaniard.
      Seen as somewhat strict, he publicly lambasted Nicolas Pepe for a hot-headed red card against Leeds last month.

      And yet fellow winger Willian was let off the hook for a trip to Abu Dhabi in spite of coronavirus restrictions.
      Arteta’s trust in the Brazilian has not been repaid on the pitch, with the summer signing yet to score for his new club.
      And the lack of discipline has been underlined by the seven red cards Arsenal have picked up since the manager was appointed – far more than any other top-flight side.
      Gabriel Magalhaes’ dismissal versus Southampton in midweek meant he missed Saturday’s defeat to Everton.

      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Thomas Partey were absent through injury as the Gunners were left in 15th place of the table.
      Despite their troubles, the Arsenal board are reportedly determined to stick with Arteta in the long run.
      And it is said that a healthy transfer kitty is being drawn up to sign a creative midfielder in January.
      Real Madrid playmaker Isco has been linked with the North London outfit reportedly happy to settle for a loan deal if need be.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      Sokratis Papastathopoulos last appeared for the club in AugustCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Mikel Arteta drops huge hint that Mesut Ozil could be recalled to squad in January More

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      Arsenal wouldn’t be in this position under Arsene Wenger with Willian signing ‘really poor’, says club legend Tony Adams

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      MIKEL ARTETA and Arsenal’s current management could learn from Arsene Wenger’s philosophy, according to Tony Adams.
      The former Gunners captain has been left baffled by the recruitment and team selection at Emirates Stadium this season.

      Tony Adams wants to see a replication of the glory years experienced under Arsene WengerCredit: Reuters

      Willian is yet to score in 16 appearances for ArsenalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The signing of Willian led to 54-year-old Adams lamenting the lack of ‘DNA’ at the club, in stark contrast to Wenger’s tenure.
      He told Stadium Astro: “[Willian] is lazy recruitment, for me.
      “You’ve got to really question the recruitment process at Arsenal at the moment.
      “We’ve had some wonderful players and wonderful principles under Arsene Wenger.

      “He went for a young player, you wouldn’t have even considered Willian if Arsene was still in control at the club.
      “For him a forward over the age of 30, physiologically he wouldn’t think he could get that player to consistently to perform to the levels that Arsene would want him to get, it wouldn’t even have been on the agenda.

      One thing I never criticised Wenger for was his principles. He was a physiologist, ‘This is the player that I want, I want to play like this’.
      Tony Adams

      “This is a straightforward agent recommendation, he’s got the same agent as the sporting director [Edu] so it’s an easy option for him, three-year contract, there we go. I think it’s really poor recruitment.
      “As a coach, you’ve been given this player, you wanted this player. You don’t have to play them.

      “He’s not playing [Mesut] Ozil, one of the greatest creative players there is.
      “And to have someone like Willian, one shot in 12 games. I’m like, ‘Hold on put [Joe] Willock out there’. We’ve got [Gabriel] Martinelli back. You’ve got other options.”
      Wenger left in 2018 and Adams was among the pundits criticising the Frenchman in the later years of his Arsenal era.
      But he felt the confident, single-minded approach that the three-time title winner brought was vital to growing the club.

      Adams added: “I was criticising Arsene during the end of his days [at Arsenal].
      “But one thing I never criticised him for was his principles. He was a physiologist, ‘This is the player that I want, I want to play like this’.
      “Santi Cazorla comes to mind, players that get from to box to box, Aaron Ramsey, Gael Clichy, Kieran Gibbs.
      “When I joined the club, Arsenal had principles, DNA. The first thing they looked at was attitude. You’ve got to bring people in who want to play for Arsenal.

      “First things first, the sporting director, whoever is leading this ship, has to come up with a DNA.”
      After a 2-1 defeat to Everton on Saturday, Arteta’s Gunners face Manchester City on Tuesday in a Carabao Cup quarter-final.
      Chelsea then await on Boxing Day for the 15th-placed side.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      Arteta says Arsenal’s performance in the Premier League is not good enough and not acceptable More

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      Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal have been better than rivals ‘every single week’ despite disastrous results

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      MIKEL ARTETA has insisted Arsenal have performed better than their opponents ‘every single week’ – despite their disastrous results.
      The Gunners were beaten for an EIEGTH time this season in just 14 games after losing 2-1 at Everton.

      Mikel Arteta has insisted Arsenal have performed better than their opponents ‘every single week’Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      But Arteta is adamant his side are not getting the rub of the green while playing better than their form shows.
      He told talkSPORT: “The first thing we have to do, is the things we can control make them better.
      “There are things we haven’t done lately when we’ve played with ten men with situations we generate we don’t score.
      “Normally when a team is in this position it is battered every week and it’s not the case.

      “We’ve been better than the opponent every single week but we are not winning football matches, so we have to realise that.
      “I don’t want to feel sorry for ourselves. It is what it is. It’s the fight we have to take in front of us and the challenge.
      “It’s not about so many things that have happened as that’s not going to make us better.
      “The group is really disappointed in the way we lost the game because they have real belief we could come here and turn things around tonight and the effort, passion and commitment was without question of a doubt.”

      Rob Holding’s own goal and Yerry Mina’s header were sandwiched in between a Nicolas Pepe penalty at Goodison Park.
      Arsenal had come into the game off the back of a 1-1 home draw against Southampton in midweek.
      And Arteta has been left scratching his head on why he managed just a point out of his latest two games.
      He said: “We created more than Everton, for sure.
      “We scored an own goal and conceded from a set piece. We worked on it but obviously they are good at doing (it).
      “When we generated the chances, a lot of situations at the end ended up in chances.
      “At the end, it’s the last pass, the last dribble, the last shot and what we need is a bit of luck. We hit the bar.
      “Last week, we lost against Burnley without conceding a single shot on target from the opponent.
      “In the last few weeks we’ve lost games where we were better than the opponents but this is football and it’s happening too often.”

      Arteta says Arsenal’s performance in the Premier League is not good enough and not acceptable More

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      Arsenal set to announce first January transfer as defender Omar Rekik, 18, flies to London to seal Hertha Berlin switch

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      ARSENAL are set to announce their first January transfer after Omar Rekik flew to London to seal his move from Hertha Berlin.
      The Gunners were strongly linked with the 18-year-old central defender on Deadline Day, with Matteo Guendouzi going the other way.

      Arsenal are set to announce their first January transfer in Omar RekikCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But as Guendouzi was shipped off on loan, Emirates chiefs could not get the £900,000 Rekik deal over the line in time, as he instead stayed at Hertha.
      It appears now Arsenal have finally got their man, as the centre-half posted an Instagram story arriving in the capital.
      Rekik joins the club during an awful run of form, which leaves them 15th with 16 goals conceded in 13 games.
      But it is understood the Gunners are eager to loan their new signing to the Bundesliga to gain valuable experience.

      Then, according to football.london, part of their appeal is believed to be the opportunity to regularly train with the first team next season.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates
      Despite being highly-rated, Rekik is yet to make his first-team debut for Hertha.
      He has featured on the bench three times, without yet getting on.

      Rekik, whose big brother Karim left Berlin for Sevilla in the summer, is instead a regular in the German fourth tier for Hertha’s B team.
      The left-sided defender is expected to become the seventh Arsenal recruit in the last 12 months to initially play primarily in Per Mertesacker’s under-23 side.

      He will follow in the footsteps of Nikolaj Moller, Jon Dinzeyi, Tim Akinola, George Lewis, Joel Ideho and Catalin Cirjan.
      Another defender expected to be loaned out in January is William Saliba, one year Rekik’s senior.
      The former Saint-Etienne man, who cost £27million in 2019, played 36 first-team matches for the French club but is yet to feature in Arsenal’s first-team.

      Arsenal chief Edu rages in stands whilst watching Gunners against Southampton More

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      Arsenal in another transfer blow as PSG join race for Lyon ace Houssem Aouar with Man City and Juventus also interested

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      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are reportedly ready to negotiate a deal for Arsenal target Houssem Aouar in the summer.
      French media have revealed talks between Lyon and Les Parisiens in the autumn that almost led to a move for the midfielder.

      Houssem Aouar could be about to swap one French club for anotherCredit: AFP or licensors

      But there was neither the time nor the funds, amid the coronavirus pandemic, to thrash out a deal.
      According to RMC Sport, Lyon’s price tag and a desire to send Aouar back to his old club on loan led to an amicable end to negotiations.
      And the two Ligue 1 clubs are prepared to restart talks in the coming months.
      PSG want to bolster their French contingent to meet Uefa squad quotas on homegrown players.

      Meanwhile, Lyon are aware that the 22-year-old will be out of contract in 2023, meaning his price may fall after next summer.
      Both PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Leonardo are said to be fans of Aouar.

      The France international played in his team’s surprise 1-0 win at Parc des Princes on the weekend.
      PSG were left in third place after the defeat, leapfrogged by Lyon in second.

      A number of clubs are expected to chase Aouar at the end of the season.
      RMC name Juventus and Manchester City as two other interested parties.

      Arsenal tracked the playmaker for much of the summer window but failed to land their top target.
      Aouar rejected all offers to leave Lyon and committed to the club who first signed him at the age of 11.
      He explained in October: “I felt that I could still bring things to this team and the club, it’s that simple.
      “I wanted to continue the adventure with the club that raised me.”
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

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      How Arsenal could line-up against Southampton as Arteta faces midfield headache with Xhaka and Partey out but Pepe back

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      MIKEL ARTETA has limited options for his midfield line-up against Southampton on Wednesday.
      But Nicolas Pepe could be given an immediate recall after his three-match ban ended.

      Saints travel to an empty Emirates Stadium for the 6pm kick-off, the Gunners’ first since London entered Tier 3 of coronavirus restrictions.
      Following the defeat to Burnley on the weekend, 15th-placed Arsenal are experiencing a period in stark contrast to Southampton’s fine form.
      In fourth, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are unbeaten on the road since the opening weekend of the season.
      Arteta’s defence will be tested by the visitors, who have scored ten goals in their last five away days.

      Hector Bellerin cannot be called upon for the clash following his fifth booking of the season against Burnley.
      David Luiz is a doubt due to a head injury, leaving Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Rob Holding to deputise in their absence.

      Cedric Soares could feature against his old club if Arteta prefers, with Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers other options.
      In midfield, Thomas Partey remains unavailable with Granit Xhaka banned for three matches following his red card on the weekend.

      Pushing to replace the Swiss midfielder are Dani Ceballos and Joe Willock.
      Just as one Arsenal player begins a ban, another’s ends and Pepe could return to the midfield.
      Willian’s lacklustre performances of late may push Arteta into recalling Pepe – despite his anger at the Ivorian’s dismissal versus Leeds.
      Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Martinelli are thought to be unlikely to feature, along with Sead Kolasinac.

      Nicolas Pepe could be brought straight back into the XI for Wednesday’s gameCredit: PA:Press Association

      Alexandre Lacazette is fighting to stay in the Gunners teamCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      That could mean Alexandre Lacazette keeps his place in behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, unless Eddie Nketiah earns a start.
      Bukayo Saka is expected to continue down the left flank.
      No new injury issues have been reported for Southampton, who may welcome Nathan Redmond back to the line-up at the expense of former Gunners attacker Theo Walcott.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

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