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      Watch Partey’s ‘monster’ tackle on Aubameyang in training as Arsenal star is handed full debut vs Rapid Vienna

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      THOMAS PARTEY was handed his full Arsenal debut by Mikel Arteta after fans urged him to start following a ‘monster’ tackle on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
      Gooners were chomping at the bit after a clip of Partey pushing Aubameyang off the ball during training at London Colney circulated.

      Thomas Partey chases down Pierre-Emerick AubameyangCredit: Arsenal FC

      Combative midfielder Partey showed Gunners fans what he can doCredit: Arsenal FC

      Partey bumps Aubameyang off the ball with his shoulder and nips in to take the ball off his skipperCredit: Arsenal FC

      Partey robbed the ball off a smiling Aubameyang in trainingCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And Gunners fans got their wish after Partey was named in the starting line-up for the first time in his Arsenal career against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League.
      The Ghanaian international, 27, had made his Prem debut as a sub in the 1-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday.
      But boss Arteta only gave the former Atletico Madrid man seven minutes off the bench at the Etihad.

      The North London side landed the combative midfielder on deadline day after paying £45million to activate his release clause.
      And in footage taken during a small-side training game, Partey certainly makes an impression.
      Calum Chambers threads a ball into skipper Aubameyang who runs onto the pass.
      But the Gabon striker does not see his new team-mate closing down on him.

      And Partey bundles his captain off the ball before turning around and sending play back down the opposite end of the pitch.

      Aubameyang can be seen sporting a wry smile after the coming together.
      One fan said: “Can’t believe how Partey tracked down Auba – he is a monster in midfield.”
      Another added: “This is what Thomas Partey is all about – see how clean that is? Precise violence.”
      Arsenal get their Europa League campaign underway tonight out in Austria and fans had called on Arteta to include Partey in the starting XI.
      A supporter commented: “We’re having a Partey – please start him.”

      Arteta says Thomas Partey needs time to adapt to our system More

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      Arsenal were ‘really close’ to Philippe Coutinho transfer but Koeman blocked move as Barcelona couldn’t sign replacement

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      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.

      Philippe Coutinho has started the season in good form, hitting two goals for BarcelonaCredit: AP:Associated Press

      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.
      The Catalans’ attempts at bringing in new attackers ahead of the new season were hampered by their inability to get Ousmane Dembele off their books.
      Memphis Depay was lined up as a replacement for the Frenchman but Liverpool and Manchester United did not meet Barcelona’s demand of a permanent sale.
      Furthermore, the winger was intent on remaining in Spain and is being given a fresh chance in the Blaugrana side.

      New boss Koeman has also handed Coutinho a reprieve – and yielded instant results.

      In each of his four starts this season, the 28-year-old has bagged a goal or an assist.
      His latest strike came in the 5-1 Champions League demolition of Ferencvaros on Tuesday night.
      Koeman recently explained Coutinho’s return to form, telling Sport: “He’s a very good player. That’s it.
      “He’s a player that learned a lot in England, a lot in Bayern Munich.
      “My job as a coach is to get the best out of every player. And that starts by putting them in their position. I think that generates more confidence.
      “All that helps but it starts with the quality in the player and Coutinho’s a great player.”

      Arsenal, meanwhile, brought back Dani Ceballos on loan to bolster their attacking midfield options.
      The North London club were themselves unable to offload an expensive talent going to waste, in Mesut Ozil.
      But a hefty spending spree nonetheless brought in Gabriel Magalhaes, Willian, Thomas Partey and tied Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new contract.

      Kia Joorabchian says Arsenal have been warned it will take ‘big numbers’ to secure Coutinho transfer from Barcelona More

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      Arsenal ‘failed in £17m bid’ for starlet Joelson Fernandes because his father wanted him to sign new deal with Sporting

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      ARSENAL missed out on Portuguese starlet Joelson Fernandes after his father advised him to sign a new contract at Sporting Lisbon.
      Liverpool, Manchester City, Ajax and Barcelona are all said to have taken an interest in the winger, 17.

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      Joelson Fernandes turned out for Portugal Under-21s during the international breakCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But Joelson’s dad Eusebio Fernandes wanted to honour his current club and agree a new deal.
      A £17million bid arrived from Arsenal with Eusebio speaking of proposals that would ‘make any businessman tired’.
      And Joelson stayed in Lisbon with a new contract containing a £54.5m release clause.

      The player’s father told Portuguese newspaper O Democrata: “It was an extremely difficult and very complicated process.
      “Because there were tough moments in the negotiations for Joelson Fernandes to stay at Sporting.
      “My wish was always for him to stay at the club, but due to his quality as a footballer, he had calls from several European clubs.”
      Joelson Fernandes broke into the Sporting side last season, making his debut in July as part of four substitute appearances.

      Eusebio claims that Jurgen Klopp wanted to make the forward a back-up to Sadio Mane in his Liverpool team.

      Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain were described as making the biggest bid – with wages worth £87,000-a-week.
      But the wonderkid’s dad felt the best option was to stay with Lisbon, rejecting a transfer that Sporting president Frederico Varandas was resigned to.
      He continued: “It had to be a deliberate decision, because my wish as a father and businessman, on the day that Joelson Fernandes leaves Sporting, is to be friendly and out through the front door, not through the back door.
      “This was always one of my goals and one of the convictions that led the player to continue to represent the club.

      “In the meeting I had with Varandas, he explained to me that when he arrived in England last season to close Rui Patricio’s transfer to Wolvers, he was confronted with the English club’s interest in Joelson.
      “He told Nuno Espirito Santos that he had no intention of selling. So Sporting did not believe that he would remain in the team because of these clubs and their millionaire proposals.
      “As a businessman, I ended up rejecting these offers, even knowing that I needed those millionaire offers. I thought that in life money is not everything.”

      Sporting Lisbon’s Joelson Fernandes shows off his goal scoring skills on the pitch More

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      Arsenal’s Europa League clash ‘expected to go ahead’ despite Rapid Vienna player testing positive for coronavirus

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      ARSENAL’S Europa League opener versus Rapid Vienna is expected to go ahead despite a positive coronavirus test inside the Austrian side’s squad.
      The club have confirmed an unnamed player’s diagnosis with the illness, which also struck down Mikel Arteta in the spring.

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      Rapid Vienna players will undergo extra testing while the unnamed player self-isolatesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Mikel Arteta will take his side to Austria for the 5.55pm kick-offCredit: Reuters

      Routine tests uncovered a single case of coronavirus with additional checks set to take place ahead of Thursday’s game.
      Arsenal are still due to travel to the Austrian capital for the Group B clash.
      A Rapid statement read: “As part of the routine Covid-19 tests at SK Rapid, a player tested positive after the evaluation.

      “SK Rapid reacted immediately and the Bundesliga prevention concept, which defines the procedure in confirmed cases in detail, came into play immediately.
      “The player who tested positive and has so far shown no symptoms is already in quarantine at home.
      “The responsible health authority was informed immediately, as was the team and the staff, who have undergone new tests.
      “The other tests all gave negative results, which is proof of the effectiveness of the prevention concept.

      “Training and match operations are therefore not at risk.”

      Arsenal qualified for the Europa League after winning last season’s FA Cup.
      Their European campaign was curtailed by a shock defeat to Olympiacos in the last-32 and Arteta is desperate for a better return this time around.
      The Gunners boss said in August: “It is a must for our club and financially because it is a bigger step forward in order to allow us to do more things in the future and have a better structure financially.”
      However, Mesut Ozil will not be able to contribute to their group campaign, which also features Molde and Dundalk, after being left out the squad.

      Arteta opens door for Arsene Wenger to return to Arsenal after helping shape club into Premier League giants More

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      Wenger hits back at Mourinho saying their relationship is ‘like Kindergarten’ as fallout over book omission continues

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      ARSENE WENGER said his relationship with Joe Mourinho is ‘like Kindergarten’ as their fallout continues.
      Wenger’s autobiography, My Life in Red and White, was released this month, a little over two years since the 70-year-old left Arsenal after 22 years in charge.

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      Arsene Wenger said his relationship with Joe Mourinho is ‘like Kindergarten’Credit: REUTERS

      But the Gunners legend left out any inclusion of rival Mourinho because he wanted it to be a ‘positive book’.
      The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager responded by insisting his omission in Wenger’s memoirs was ‘because he never beat me’.
      But Wenger hit back, as he told Canal+: “It doesn’t bother me. It is permanent provocation.
      “I feel like I’m in kindergarten with him. But, that’s part of his personality.

      “It’s wrong, we beat him twice. We won, and there were also a lot of draws. And it is not ‘you’ who wins, you only participate in the victory.
      “It is ‘us’ who win. The manager is there to get the most out of a team.”
      Sir Alex Ferguson, Mesut Ozil and Ashley Cole, among others, are discussed in Wenger’s book, as he reflects on his long and successful life in football.
      But Mourinho, his great adversary, does not warrant even a passing mention.

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      Wenger and Mourinho built up a rivalry in the Premier LeagueCredit: PA:Press Association

      When asked about his absence in the autobiography, the Tottenham boss said: “[It’s] because he never beat me.
      “You are not going to do a chapter about 14 matches that you never win so why should he speak about me in a book.
      “A book is a thing to make you happy, make you proud.
      “So I understand perfectly the situation.”

      Arsenal icon Arsene Wenger mocked by Jose Mourinho as Tottenham boss says he wasn’t in rivals book ‘as he never beat me’ More