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      Matteo Guendouzi hints Arsenal career is over and claims ‘I grew up there’ after Mesut Ozil’s Bundesliga transfer advice

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      MATTEO GUENDOUZI has described his Arsenal stay as ‘two good years’ in a possible hint his Gunners career is over.
      Mikel Arteta fell out with the midfielder last season and exiled him from the team, before sending him on loan to Hertha Berlin.

      Matteo Guendouzi is preparing to make his Bundesliga debut after overcoming coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And it was fellow outcast Mesut Ozil who talked up the prospect of a stint in Germany to Guendouzi.
      The 21-year-old told Kicker: “I played over 80 games [at Arsenal] and had a good, intense time there.
      “I learned a lot there in terms of the sport and I grew up there. It was two good years for me.

      “I also had a very good relationship with Mesut Ozil and Bernd Leno, both of whom told me a lot of good things about the Bundesliga.”
      Guendouzi was a regular under Arteta until he lost his cool in a June defeat to Brighton.
      The Frenchman’s tirade at Neal Maupay, who had inadvertently injured Arsenal keeper Leno, set in motion a large-scale disagreement between player and manager.
      The row has been acknowledged by Guendouzi, who accepts that it led to his exit from the Emirates.

      He noted: “I played less after that, that’s true.
      “But now I can continue playing here, so I feel privileged. I look ahead and focus on what lies ahead.”

      After testing positive for coronavirus, the midfielder is still yet to make his debut for Hertha.
      The Bundesliga side sit 15th in the table ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Wolfsburg, which could mark Guendouzi’s debut.
      He continued: “I want to win as many games as possible, work with the whole team and, above all, develop myself further.
      “There are still many levels at which I want to improve. I am very motivated and now want to help bring in positive results.”

      Arsenal outcast Matteo Guendouzi posts holiday pic Instagram ignoring club’s FA Cup triumph over Chelsea More

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      Arsenal verdict: Nicolas Pepe’s moment of magic shows £72m signing’s potential after rocky start

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      NICOLAS PEPE’S moments of magic have been few and far between since joining Arsenal for a whopping £72million.
      But he provided one tonight with an ingenious goal to kill off Irish minnows Dundalk just after the break.

      Pepe struck Arsenal’s third goal against the Irish minnowsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Nicolas Pepe curls in an effort straight after the breakCredit: Reuters

      Nicolas Pepe scored a stunner in the Europa League for ArsenalCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Picking up the ball on the edge of the area, Pepe skilfully rolled the ball away from the defender with his left foot and then whipped it into the top corner with his right, all in one movement and with very little backlift.
      It was a strike of the highest quality – and will leave Gunners fans hoping there is more to come in his second season at the club.
      The ex-Lille man came off on the hour, which may suggest Mikel Arteta plans on involving him against Manchester United this weekend.

      Though a start at Old Trafford would still be a surprise, given how underwhelming the winger has largely been since becoming Arsenal’s most expensive signing.
      It is not Pepe’s fault that the North Londoners splashed out such a massive fee for his services – albeit with the payment spread out over a number of years.
      But even the 25-year-old may admit he struggled to justify that sum in his first term.
      If he had, he would already be a regular in Arteta’s first-choice XI and probably would not have featured tonight.

      Yet there are numerous examples of foreign players who had an indifferent maiden season and went on to shine after adapting.

      Pepe celebrates his strike with team-mate Ainsley Maitland-NilesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      His compatriot Didier Drogba, obviously a very different type of player positionally, took TWO campaigns before he showed what he was really capable of at Chelsea.
      So there is still plenty of time for Pepe to prove he can showcase his obvious talent on a far more consistent basis at the Emirates.
      Because if he can, far better teams than Dundalk will struggle to live with him.

      Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe raps with sunglasses on and pulls pranks with pals on lockdown after agreeing to pay cut More

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      Mikel Arteta reveals regret over Arsenal not including William Saliba in Europa League squad and says ‘I feel bad’

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      MIKEL ARTETA has admitted his guilt at leaving William Saliba out of Arsenal’s Europa League squad.
      The Gunners are facing a defensive crisis ahead of Thursday’s game with Dundalk – and the Frenchman will not be able to fill in.

      William Saliba will not be able to make his Arsenal debut against DundalkCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Mikel Arteta says he feels sorry for the French defender, who was not registered for the Europa LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Having dropped Saliba, 19, from of his 25-man Europa League squad, Arteta was left ruing the decision.
      The Spaniard told reporters: “I feel really bad for William Saliba.
      “Because we had so many central defenders, we decided to leave him out of the squad which was really hurtful for me to do.

      “I was hoping that Pablo [Mari] would be back in two weeks but he had a setback.
      “And then we don’t have Pablo and we don’t have William when he’s fit and available to play.
      “But when you make those decisions, you can’t always think about every possible outcome.”
      Arteta, 38, has a plethora of centre-backs in his squad but few are fit to face Dundalk.

      David Luiz is out for a few weeks with a groin problem suffered in the defeat to Leicester.

      Rob Holding, Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari are all absent with Sokratis Papastathopoulos also unregistered for the competition.
      That leaves only Gabriel Magalhaes and Shkodran Mustafi to battle on, although Saliba is eligible for domestic action.
      Fans expected to see more of the teenage starlet ahead of the new campaign but his opportunities have been limited.
      Still yet to make his debut, Saliba’s absence has been described as an adaptation period, after a long spell out of the game during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
      But Arteta is optimistic he can soon step in and live up to his £27million price tag.

      The manager noted: “He’s in a much better place.
      “He’s feeling a lot more confident around the place, his language is improving and he’s starting to understand much better what we’re doing physically.
      “He’s played a few games with the Under-23s which he needed because he didn’t play any football in the last seven or eight months.
      “Things are progressively getting better and better.”

      Arsenal fans left ‘crying’ with joy after Arteta spotted training with Bellerin, Saliba, Gabriel and Tierney together More

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      Arsenal tried to offload Reiss Nelson in loan transfer this summer but 20-year-old rejected it to fight for place

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      ARSENAL tried to send Reiss Nelson out on loan this summer – but the determined playmaker wanted to stay and fight for his place.
      Nelson has made just three appearances this season, all in cup competitions, and did not make the bench for last Sunday’s defeat to Leicester.

      Arsenal tried to send Reiss Nelson out on loan this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed he planned to send the 20-year-old out on loan for the season to receive vital game time following the arrival of Willian.
      Arteta said: “We ended up with a large squad at the end of the transfer market.
      “We had a few plans in mind with Reiss. One of them was to send him on loan to get more minutes because of the competition we have up front.
      “The reality is he has been really good in training. He wants to stay here. He wants to fight for his place.”

      Arteta was convinced to keep Nelson after the winger – who can also play centrally – showed desire to stay at the Emirates.
      He said: “Reiss was really convinced that he wanted to fight to stay here.
      “When you see that willingness and that passion and that security in a player you feel tempted to keep him even though you know that opportunities are going to be restricted and he is not going to have a lot of continuity in his play.

      “But things change very quickly and if he starts playing and playing well and he does what he can do, why not? He could start to play more games.”

      Nelson is competing with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, record signing Nicolas Pepe, summer arrival Willian and fellow starlet Bukayo Saka for a place in the starting line-up.
      He is expected to be involved in the Gunners’ Europa League group stage match at home against Dundalk tonight.
      And Arteta insisted there will be further chances for Nelson to shine.
      He explained: “He is going to get the chances in the right moments.
      “What I am pleased with is how he has assimilated the situation – not playing a lot of minutes in the first few weeks.

      “As everybody can see, things are changing very quickly. We are getting injuries.
      “We will get more injuries because of the schedule that we have and he will get the opportunities.
      “Then it will come down to him to take them or not.
      “I tried to explain to him why he isn’t in the team. Obviously to compare things that happened eight or nine months ago is difficult, in a positive or negative way all the time.
      “But I try to have a very open communication with the players and try to get the doubts out of their mind, and try to talk clearly when they play or don’t play the reasons behind that.”

      Arsenal vs Dundalk FREE – Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for Europa League clash More

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      Shkodran Mustafi rejects Arsenal contract offer and tells club he ‘intends to leave at end of season on free transfer’

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      SHKODRAN MUSTAFI has told Arsenal that he wants to leave the club at the end of the season, according to reports.
      The Gunners have just over two months to tie the German down to a new deal before he can negotiate a pre-agreement with a club abroad.

      Shkodran Mustafi is said to want a move away from Arsenal in the summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And Football.London claim Mustafi, 28, wants to try his luck elsewhere.
      Lazio and Napoli were among the clubs linked to the centre-back during the transfer window.
      But Mustafi stayed put amid Calum Chambers’ injury and uncertainty over William Saliba’s readiness for first-team action.

      With his wife’s family living in Switzerland and a new German agency hired earlier in the year, Mustafi could be ready to return to the continent.
      The defender’s contract is up at the end of the campaign, although the Gunners are said to have offered him a new deal.
      That has reportedly been rejected and the club will have to weigh up whether to agree a sale in January or risk losing him for free in the summer.
      Mikel Arteta had used Mustafi prominently when coming in as Arsenal boss.

      A hamstring injury ruled the player out of the final weeks of last season and he returned to the bench for Thursday’s win at Rapid Vienna.

      On Sunday night, Mustafi completed his comeback by coming off the bench for David Luiz against Leicester.
      The Brazilian’s new muscle injury may provide a chance for the World Cup winner to have a run in the team, with Rob Holding and Pablo Mari also out.
      In July, Arteta praised Mustafi for his work ethic despite struggling to win fans over for much of his Arsenal career.

      He told reporters: “Everyone can make mistakes, of course, but if they are willing to keep trying then they will get rewarded.
      “Musti’s attitude, the way he is training, attention levels, the questions he is asking and how much he wants to help everybody has been really good since I joined.”
      On the contract situation, he added: “That’s something the club has to address but he knows my opinion on that.”

      Arsenal star Mustafi uses hand sanitiser as he does kick-ups at home during coronavirus quarantine More

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      Arteta has worse record than Emery at this stage, losing more games, a lower win percentage and scoring fewer goals

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      MIKEL ARTETA has well and truly got his feet under the table at Arsenal – but still suffers from a worse record than Unai Emery.
      While Gooners appear to be largely happy to sit back and give their former midfielder time, the signs of improvement are not exactly plentiful.

      When comparing the stats of Arteta and Emery after their first 38 games, it is the latter who comes out on top.
      Taking all competitions into account, the 48-year-old had won more games (23 to 21) and his Arsenal side had scored more goals (74 to 58).
      And sifting through to just the first 26 Premier League matches each man took charge of at Emirates Stadium, Arteta’s case worsens further.

      The current Gunners boss has fewer wins (12 to 15), more defeats (six to eight) and fewer goals (40 to 53) than his predecessor.
      Furthermore, Arsenal are keeping less of the ball and firing off fewer shots – with a worse shot conversion rate – under Arteta at this stage.
      Sunday’s defeat to Leicester came as the club’s second 1-0 defeat in a row with the attack a huge issue for the Spaniard.
      They have won by more than one goal only once all season despite adding Willian to a frontline containing Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, Eddie Nketiah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

      The 38-year-old has managed to cure Arsenal’s defence and has conceded 12 fewer goals than Emery had after this many games in all competitions.

      How the managers compare after 38 games in all competitions for Arsenal
      Football without fans – as it has been for most of Arteta’s tenure – is a different beast but this has typically resulted in MORE goals being scored in the Premier League.
      Optimistic fans will also point to the FA Cup and Community Shield trophies delivered by Arteta, while their former manager’s trophy cabinet remained empty.
      Nevertheless Emery was sacked last November with a win rate of 55.1 per cent, having failed to maintain a strong early start.
      Arteta’s win rate stands at 55.2 per cent in all competitions, dropping to a mere 46 per cent in the league.
      The Gunners boss has already been warned against making the same mistakes as Emery.

      Arsenal legend Martin Keown told Stadium Astro after the Leicester defeat: “They keep changing from one system to another and they did this with Emery.
      “If you keep changing it, you don’t find a rhythm, and that’s something that I found in a very successful team.”
      With an expensive transfer window in the books and this side firmly of Arteta’s making, the patience reserves in North London may start to run dry if results don’t improve in the coming months.

      ARTETA’ FIRST 26 PREM GAMES

      Everton 0–0 ArsenalBournemouth 1–1 ArsenalArsenal 1–2 ChelseaArsenal 2–0 Manchester UnitedCrystal Palace 1–1 ArsenalArsenal 1–1 Sheffield UnitedChelsea 2–2 ArsenalBurnley 0–0 ArsenalArsenal 4–0 Newcastle UnitedArsenal 3–2 EvertonArsenal 1–0 West Ham UnitedManchester City 3–0 ArsenalBrighton & Hove Albion 2–1 ArsenalSouthampton 0–2 ArsenalArsenal 4–0 Norwich CityWolves 0–2 ArsenalArsenal 1–1 Leicester CityTottenham Hotspur 2–1 ArsenalArsenal 2–1 LiverpoolAston Villa 1–0 ArsenalArsenal 3–2 WatfordFulham 0–3 ArsenalArsenal 2–1 West Ham UnitedLiverpool 3–1 ArsenalArsenal 2–1 Sheffield UnitedManchester City 1–0 ArsenalArsenal 0–1 Leicester City

      EMERY’S FIRST 26 PREM GAMES

      Arsenal 0–2 Manchester CityChelsea 3–2 ArsenalArsenal 3–1 West Ham UnitedCardiff City 2–3 ArsenalNewcastle United 1–2 ArsenalArsenal 2–0 EvertonArsenal 2–0 WatfordFulham 1–5 ArsenalArsenal 3–1 Leicester CityCrystal Palace 2–2 ArsenalArsenal 1–1 LiverpoolArsenal 1–1 WolvesBournemouth 1–2 ArsenalArsenal 4–2 TottenhamManchester United 2–2 ArsenalArsenal 1–0 Huddersfield TownSouthampton 3–2 ArsenalArsenal 3–1 BurnleyBrighton & Hove Albion 1–1 ArsenalLiverpool 5–1 ArsenalArsenal 4–1 FulhamWest Ham United 1–0 ArsenalArsenal 2–0 ChelseaArsenal 2–1 Cardiff CityManchester City 3–1 ArsenalHuddersfield Town 1–2 Arsenal

      Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal are as big as Barcelona which helped convince Aubameyang to stay and sign new deal More

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      Mesut Ozil’s agent slams Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and demands he tells truth over exile and shows ‘loyalty’

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      MIKEL ARTETA has been slammed by Mesut Ozil’s agent for failing to give an ‘honest explanation’ for the playmaker’s exile from the side.
      The Gunners’ strong start to the season has been marred by an ongoing spat with the German.

      Mesut Ozil has been dropped from Mikel Arteta’s squad for the Premier LeagueCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      After being dropped from the 25-man squad registered to play in the Premier League, Ozil hit out at the club over a lack of loyalty.
      And the player’s agent, Erkut Sogut, has pushed back against Arteta’s claim that the coach had simply failed to get the best out of the midfielder.
      Sogut told ESPN: “Arsenal fans deserve an honest explanation, not saying, ‘I failed Ozil’.

      “You didn’t fail Ozil. You failed to be fair, honest and transparent and treat someone with respect who has a contract and was loyal all the time.
      “Every single person outside knows he hasn’t treated him fairly. He didn’t give him a chance to show himself this season.
      “If he is still under contract, the player should have the option to stay and fight for his place. Mesut hasn’t been given that.
      “Everyone says he’s training well. Per Mertesacker said this publicly. I spoke with at least five team-mates who say he is training great.

      “They say Mesut is one of their best players, and they cannot understand why he is left out. So it can’t be the training — if it is not the pitch, what are the footballing reasons?

      “If you talk, you should tell the truth that the Arsenal fans deserve otherwise don’t talk at all.”
      Arteta has insisted that his conscience is clear having not played Ozil, 32, since March.
      The Arsenal boss said earlier this week: “My job is to get the best out of every player to contribute to the team performance and at the moment I feel that I’ve failed.”
      He added: “This decision is my responsibility and my conscience is very calm because I have been really fair with him.”
      Agent Sogut believes that his client’s decision to speak out against China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims – which led to a backlash against the Gunners – is partly responsible for his exile.

      Erkut Sogut believes Arsenal are showing a lack of loyalty to the midfielderCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But Ozil’s camp is also angered by a perceived lack of loyalty after he committed himself to the club in 2018.
      With six months left on his Arsenal contract, he signed a three-year extension on a hefty £350,000 wage amid interest from elsewhere.
      According to Sogut, that act deserves to be reciprocated by a fresh chance to feature in Arteta’s team – particularly as he reckons Ozil missed out financially in the deal.
      He noted: “Maybe their goal was to wait until the end and Mesut would say, ‘I want to leave’.
      “If Mesut would have done that, the club can say he wants to go and if they can’t find him a club, they have an excuse and can say, ‘We can’t register you because you wanted to leave’.

      “But they knew for a long time that Mesut wanted to stay. He made it very clear. Maybe they wanted him to feel unwanted and unwelcome, but he wants to play for the badge.
      “Mesut is 32 years old. He has a few more years in his career, but it is more about the way of treatment. Mesut is someone who fights for his rights.
      “The contract was a big commitment for him. He could have left for another club like Alexis Sanchez did. He could have left and got a £30million signing-on fee as a free agent at the peak of his career.
      “But he stayed loyal. Maybe the club will change their position in January and register him. You never know what will happen.”

      Arsenal legend Martin Keown says Ozil’s omission shows he is ‘not welcome’ at Arsenal anymore More

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      Adidas release flamboyant Man Utd and Arsenal shirts in Pharrell Williams Humanrace link-up… but fans do NOT like them

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      ADIDAS have launched a new range of kits in collaboration with Pharrell Williams – but fans are split over the retro design.
      Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have been given the treatment by the Humanrace creative director and musician.

      Manchester United’s kit is based on the club’s 1990-92 away shirtCredit: Adidas

      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang modelled the Arsenal design, based on the bruised banana kit worn by Ian WrightCredit: Adidas

      The United offering is based around the club’s ‘snowflake’ blue and white away kit from the early 1990s.
      Inspired by the house music scene of that era, the tie-dye effect was modelled by Marcus Rashford – one of several stars showing off the new range.
      Arsenal’s update came from the Gunners’ famous bruised banana away shirt, with the Bayern design also emanating from their early 90s kit.

      More recent shirts were chosen as inspiration for the Real Madrid and Juve kits, with the 2014-15 Yohji Yamamoto design chosen for Los Blancos and a pink jersey for the Italians.

      Adidas collaborator Pharrell said of the range: “History is what shapes the future, and sometimes in order to look forwards, first we need to look back.
      “The most important part of the process with this collection was to learn of each club’s legacies and how each defining moment of their histories were captured and preserved from a design perspective.
      “Each of the new jerseys are symbols of the five club’s legacies and a true celebration of the universality of sport.”
      But many fans were less than impressed, one onlooker comparing the efforts to the winner of ‘a kids’ competition’.

      Bayern Munich’s shirt is based off an early 90s’ away kit

      Real Madrid’s design is an update on a Yohji Yamamoto dragon kit

      Paulo Dybala modelled the Juventus shirt
      One fan remarked: “Looks like something you’d pick up at a market in Southeast Asia for around £3.”
      While Jeffrey tweeted: “10/10 these are crimes worthy of the Kit-Hague.”
      Another Twitter user wrote: “It looks like a competition where kids draw the kits.”

      But Chris was a fan, posting: “This club and adidas going to bankrupt me.”
      An Adidas statement on the kits read: “Each of the co-created jerseys were informed by each club’s past with their legacies serving as the foundations of the design process.
      “These moments were reimagined to reflect today’s football culture through the lens of the Humanrace design ethos; inspired by and in celebration of the imperfect beauty of the human spirit.”

      The kits received a mixed reaction on social mediaCredit: Adidas

      Mason Greenwood also showed off the United offeringCredit: Adidas

      Football fans can now see what goes on in Man Utd dressing room More