Arsenal news LIVE updates: Ozil talks slowed down, Wilshere boost, Ferdinand small dig
ARSENAL steadied the ship with a 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday and Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest news and gossip from the Emirates.
“He’s a great player to watch Jack Wilshere, he’s got fight, he’s got character,” he said on talkSPORT.
“When Jack Wilshere is on fire, when he is sharp, I’ll tell you what, there aren’t many better midfielders to watch than him.
“I think he’s had a lot of unfair stick.”
Wenger on Wilshere injuries
14:57: Arsene Wenger has likened the last three injury-blighted years of Jack Wilshere to a car crash.
“We are all different in front of something like that,” Wenger said. “Some just come back like nothing happened to them, so are traumatised for their whole life.
“It is like you have a car accident; some don’t want to drive any more and some take the car and go on again. It is very different and depends on the personality of people.
“The disadvantage is of course that he was out of the game for a long time but there are advantages as well.
“Because he knows his body well, he has become very professional and learnt how much time it takes to get back to his best so he is more patient.”
Arsenal warned
12:09: Thibaut Courtois says Chelsea are in buoyant mood ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Arsenal.
"It is good to face Arsenal now," he said. "Everybody is healthy and things are going well. We won at Leicester, won comfortably (against Qarabag) and will go into the Arsenal game with a good feeling.
"We are doing well. After the bad first half against Burnley, I think all our performances have been good. We have shown good spirit, good football and good wins most importantly of all."
Ozil better off at Chelsea, United or Spurs - Murphy
09:51: Mesut Ozil would possibly be better in Chelsea, Manchester United or Tottenham’s midfield, according to Danny Murphy.
“It’s easier to produce in big games if you’re in a good team,” Murphy said on Sky Sports’ The Debate.
“I’ve always said would Ozil be better playing ahead of Matic and Kante or Dembele and Wanyama compared to Ramsey and Xhaka.
“It’s not a criticism of Ramsey or Xhaka because they’re attacking midfielders to me who are creative.”
Enrique snub
07:51: Jose Enrique has revealed how Arsenal twice failed to sign him during his time at Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Enrique was asked on Twitter by a journalist: "Wish you all the best after retirement. Great Premier League player. Question for you: Did Arsenal ever approach you at #NUFC?"
And Enrique responded: "Thanks a lot for your message. Yes they did mate the same summer I went to Liverpool and when I play for Liverpool too. Twice they did."
Ferdinand dig
05:00: Rio Ferdinand has aimed a small dig at Arsenal, claiming Manchester United have won more titles, because they don't chop and change goalkeepers.
Jose Mourinho has opted to stick with David De Gea throughout this year’s competitions.
Arsenal switched between Petr Cech and David Ospina last term.
And Ferdinand thinks uncertainty in this area can be an Achilles heel for some teams.
"You have got to build relationships with the players on the pitch," Ferdinand told BT Sport.
"Two centre-halves and the goalkeeper, that's a triangle.
"I had that with Edwin Van Der Sar and [Nemanja] Vidic and it became telepathic.”
Wenger on Ozil contract
04:30:Arsene Wenger admits contract talks with Mesut Ozil have stalled in recent weeks.
Reports in Germany this week claimed Ozil will look to see out the final year of his contract before leaving for free at the end of the season.
But, while Wenger admits negotiations have slowed down, he remains confident a new deal will be signed.
“Yes, of course (I am hopeful),” Wenger said.
"The contract talks have slowed down a little bit since August 31, because we need a little breather and to focus on the competition.”
Cologne not a test
03:30: Danny Murphy believes Arsenal should be walking all over Cologne in their Europa League opener tonight.
Not since 1997 have Arsenal been without Champions League football, having qualified for 19 successive seasons.
But this evening will provide a different test as they compete in the Europa League for the first time under Arsene Wenger.
And former Anfield star Murphy insists Arsenal shouldn’t have any problem against the Bundesliga outfit.
“If they were to play their strongest team, they could have the game done by half-time against lesser opposition,” Murphy said.
“Cologne are alright but Arsenal at full strength should walk all over them at home.
Wilshere boost
01:30: Arsene Wenger believes Jack Wilshere is close to returning to his best form ahead of tonight’s Europa League clash against Cologne.
Wilshere hasn’t pulled on an Arsenal shirt in 383 days but is in line to feature against the Bundesliga club.
And Wenger is happy with Wilshere’s attitude in training as he steps up his recovery.
“He needs a little burst to get away from people because he can turn the game forward, and if you can turn the game forward, you need your legs to get you out of pressure and that will come back — it is coming back in training as well.
“He is very hungry and sharp. As well, he is not completely at his best, but he is getting there every week.
“He enjoys being back and competing for his place and what I see in training is positive.”
GETTY
Juan Antonio Pizzi will speak to Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez about Chile's problems
Wednesday September 13
Howedes interest
20:25: Benedikt Howedes turned down a move to the Premier League to join Serie A champions Juventus, according to his agent.
Howedes' representative Volker Struth claims talks were Arsenal, Leicester and Roma.
"We held talks with Roma, Leicester and Arsenal because we heard that Inter wanted Mustafi," Struth told Sport Bild.
"[But] it was soon clear that if he [left Schalke], it would be Turin. That was Benni's favourite from the very beginning.
"With all due respect to Schalke, even if things had gone super there, you want to join a club like Juve when you get the chance. Juventus are the jackpot."
Wenger on Chelsea
13:42: Arsene Wenger admits he’s still confident ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea despite his players having just three days to recover.
The Gunners manager said: “It is a good opportunity to show we can cope.
“[Last season] we played on Wednesday night in Barcelona and against Everton on Saturday morning.
“It is a preconceived idea, football is down to how you perform on the day. Three days is plenty of time to recover.”
Sanchez and Pizzi talks
09:50: Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez will hold talks with Chile manager Juan Antonio Pizzi following the national side’s disastrous recent results.
Chile lost 3-0 to Paraguay and 1-0 to minnows Bolivia during World Cup qualifying earlier this month.
Mood in the camp is said to have hit rock bottom, with Arturo Vidal threatening to quit the national side over their recent slump.
A number of players are said to have complained about Pizzi and the manager has flown to Europe to sort out the problems.
And Chilean newspaper El Mercurio claim the boss will speak to Sanchez and Bayer Leverkusen’s Charles Aranguiz during his trip.
The purpose of the talks is to work out how the squad can pull back together for their crucial World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Brazil next month.
Timo Werner drops hint
08:53: Timo Werner says he would consider moving to Arsenal along with a host of other European giants.
RB Leipzig forward Werner has already scored four goals in four outings this season.
The 21-year-old’s future is secure for now - he is contracted until 2020 and does not have a release clause.
“So far, I have progressed very well with Leipzig,” he told Sport Bild.
“That is why I do not think what is ahead in one, two or three years.
“Of course I want to play at a big club. But, we have not yet come to terms with the development at Leipzig. Perhaps RB will be a big club too – I'm quite sure.
“In Spain there are a maximum of three clubs with Barca, Real and Atletico Madrid. In England there are a few more: Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City.
“FC Bayern is also a big club, but for me it is not a topic that I am concerned with.”
GETTY
Mesut Ozil is reportedly set quit Arsenal at the end of the season
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Cologne seletion
07:51: Michael Owen expects manager Arsene Wenger to make plenty of changes for Arsenal’s Europa League clash with Cologne on Thursday night.
“This is Arsenal’s first European game outside of the Champions League since the 2000 Europa League Final when they lost on penalties to Galatasaray,” he told BetVictor.
“FC Koln’s last win against English opposition in a competitive tie was over 40 years ago and I expect the wait to continue although it wouldn’t surprise me if Arsene Wenger shuffled his pack with Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud set for a recall.”
Mesut Ozil quit claim
07:30: Mesut Ozil has reportedly decided he will leave Arsenal at the end of the season.
Arsenal have made a slow start to the new season since their Community Shield win over Chelsea.
Two wins over Leicester and most recently Bournemouth have been overshadowed by abject performances in defeats to Stoke and Liverpool.
And their troubles off the field could be set get a lot worse if rumours in Germany are to be believed.
Ozil’s contract is also up at the end of the year but was said to be happy at Arsenal and there was hope he would sign a new deal.
But German publication SportBild claim talks between the player and club haven’t taken place since January.
Denis Suarez battle
06:00: Arsenal are set to go toe-to-toe with Napoli for the signature of Barcelona outcast Denis Suarez.
That’s according to Italian outlet Calciomercato, who claim the Gunners are closely monitoring Suarez’s situation at the Nou Camp.
The midfielder returned to Barcelona in 2016 after loan spells at Sevilla and Villarreal.
But he has fallen down the pecking order at the La Liga giants and Arsenal are reportedly set to reignite their interest.
However Arsenal will face competition from Napoli for his signature.
