ARSENAL NEWS LIVE UPDATES: Follow below for the latest news and gossip from the Emirates.
Tuesday September 19
Ox feeling deja vu - Given
18.00: Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has a feeling of “deja vu” after he has started his Anfield career on the right-wing, according to Shay Given.
Oxlade-Chamberlain moved to Anfield due to his desire of playing in central midfield, a position he looked unlikely to play at Arsenal.
“He got supposedly reassurances from (Jurgen) Klopp that he would play in the centre and he’s played out wide again,” Given said on Sky Sports.
“He must be thinking ‘this is déjà vu a little bit, I’m back out on the right wing’ where he says he’s not happy.”
Ramsey dominated Cesc - Robson
17.25: Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey dominated Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas in the 0-0 draw on Sunday, according to former Gunner Stewart Robson.
Robson says Spaniard Fabregas started the game well but Ramsey, alongside Granit Xhaka in midfield, took control before half time.
“Ramsey started to dominate him. He got tight to him, he stopped him playing forward passes,” he told ESPN FC.
“When he won possession, he got at the weakness of Fabregas.”
Xhaka enjoyed Ozil absence - Smith
16.45: Arsenal players enjoyed not having Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in the starting XI against Chelsea on Sunday, according to journalist Rory Smith.
“I think Ozil maybe, particularly with Xhaka, it seemed as if Xhaka enjoyed the fact that there wasn’t Ozil making whatever runs or movements that Ozil makes that doesn’t suit Xhaka,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I think Xhaka was really good yesterday and he seemed to thrive from the fact that neither Sanchez or Ozil were there.”
Fergie helps son
16.10: Manchester United’s legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been giving son Darren advice how to beat Arsenal tomorrow.
“Yeah (I’ve spoken to him), I speak to him at length, but obviously this game,” he said on Sky Sports.
"He’s going to be there, my mother is going to be there and my family, so it’s good, good for everyone.
“It’s important that we go there and put on a performance.”
Podolski wants more fight
14.05: Arsenal failed to show enough “fight” to beat Chelsea, according to Lukas Podolski.
“Derbies are always something special for me. I come from a generation who always fight on the pitch," he told the Arsenal Weekly podcast.
“Now the derby is becoming a little too friendly for me.
“When there is something important, like a derby, for me it’s always important to fight.
“On the pitch you have to fight, off the pitch you have to, get a yellow card or get the fans motivated.”
Drax radar
09.30: Arsenal and Liverpool are chasing PSG ace Julian Draxler and could make moves in January.
The Germany winger is keen to leave the French side after the arrival of Neymar this summer.
Draxler has seen his involvement drop with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe arriving at the Parc des Princes for huge fees.
And he wants to quit as soon as possible to get first team football ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
And, according to transfermarketweb, Arsenal and Liverpool are monitoring his situation.
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez suggestion
05:30: Arsenal shouldn’t play Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez together against Tottenham.
Those are the thoughts of Gunners legend Ian Wright.
Arsenal welcome Tottenham to the Emirates on November 18 for the first north London derby this season.
Ozil wasn’t included in the match-day squad, while Sanchez replaced Alexandre Lacazette after 66 minutes.
Wright reckons Arsenal look more of a cohesive unit without the duo in the side.
“I think that team looks together,” Wright told BBC Radio 5 live.
“Ozil and Sanchez will mess up the dynamics with what we saw the other day.”
Jack Wilshere West Ham move
03:30: Jack Wilshere has given up hope of resurrecting his Arsenal career and wants to move to his boyhood club West Ham, according to reports.
He was expected to be shipped out of Arsenal during the summer, but clubs were unable to meet the £20million asking price.
West Ham were said to be one of the clubs interested in his signature during the transfer window.
But they could reignite their interest in Wilshere with the Daily Star claiming he is considering a move to the Olympic Stadium.
It is said the Gunners are yet to open negotiations with Wilshere over a new contract.
Danny Welbeck injury woe
01:30: Danny Welbeck could miss England’s final two World Cup qualifiers next month after suffering a groin strain.
The Arsenal forward was hurt during the goalless draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and though the 26-year-old had a scan yesterday, he has another one today and is not expected to be fit before the next international break – with fears he could be out for a month.
The loss of Welbeck would be a blow to England manager Gareth Southgate, whose side are five points clear at the top of Group F with just games against Slovenia and Lithuania to come. He was a substitute in the wins against Malta, when he scored, and Slovakia two weeks ago.
Welbeck is certain to miss tomorrow’s League Cup clash with Doncaster at the Emirates Stadium, and also next week’s Premier League clash with West Brom.
But Express Sport understands he could also miss the Gunners’ next Europa League clash at BATE Borisov next week, and the League game against Brighton.
Monday September 18
Ozil not needed - Burley
23.15: Arsenal are better off without Mesut Ozil but they need Alexis Sanchez in their side, according to pundit Craig Burley.
Pundits since the 0-0 draw with Chelsea have claimed the Gunners performed better at Stamford Bridge because Sanchez and Ozil did not start.
He said on ESPN FC: “I would only buy into it with Ozil. I think there would still be a place in there for Sanchez and still have Arsenal solid and workmanlike but not both of them.
“I think he’s (Ozil) weak physically, I never see him make a tackle.”
Ozil, Sanchez must start - Nicol
21.00: Arsenal would be a mid-table side if Arsene Wenger decided to leave Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil out of the team, according to pundit Steve Nicol.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher claimed the Gunners played better against Chelsea yesterday because the star duo were not playing.
“If Arsenal want to be a mediocre, run-of-the-mill team, then they don’t play the Ozils and the Sanchezs,” Nicol said on ESPN FC.
“The point is, Arsene Wenger wants to play football and if you’re going to have a team that wants to play football, you have to play Ozil.”
Chelsea performance a worry - Nicol
19.00: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger should worried about his side’s performance against Chelsea despite claiming a 0-0 draw, according to pundit Steve Nicol.
Nicol is wondering why it has taken until now to put in a performance like the Gunners did at Stamford Bridge, especially after the heavy loss to Liverpool earlier this season.
“Arsenal showed that all the things that were missing, particularly at Liverpool, that they do have.
“That would be the worrying thing for me because they’ve shown they’ve got it, where’s it been?
“And will we see it again?”
Sanchez to Real Madrid
12.10: Real Madrid are considering a double swoop for Alexis Sanchez and Tottenham’s Harry Kane, according to reports in Spain.
Zinedine Zidane has admitted a new No 9 is a priority for the La Liga champions who have not started the season strongly.
And Spanish outlet Don Balon claim Real have set their sights on two Premier League stars - Alexis Sanchez and Harry Kane.
The report says Sanchez is the immediate target and could be signed in January, while Kane is a long-term target for the summer.
Lacazette's 90 minute woe
11:00: Arsene Wenger has admitted Alexandre Lacazette is struggling to keep up at the required intensity in English football.
Wenger said: “I felt Lacazette had a very good first half.
“He worked very hard for the team, he's very disciplined and it takes him some time to maintain that intensity for 90 minutes.
“Don't forget as well I had Walcott, Giroud and Alexis on the bench, so after 65 minutes in a game of that intensity, it's normal that you bring some fresh legs in.
“I never ask any striker to understand that he has to make room for somebody else.
"You can never do that.”
Lemina to Liverpool or Arsenal
09:44: Garth Crooks believes Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina could play for Liverpool or Arsenal after a man-of-the-match display in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
He said: “My goodness, this lad looks a powerhouse.
“I suppose when you've played for one of the biggest clubs in the world in Juventus, you should have all the tools to survive in any league.
“However, what I witnessed in Southampton's Mario Lemina was a player who seemed to stifle Crystal Palace's every move.
“The former Juve man was composed on the ball and timely in the tackle - and for a holding midfielder, he was very capable of hurting the opposition.
“Lemina is a top-four player in my opinion and fair play to Southampton for making the purchase.
“Why he is not playing for Liverpool or Arsenal is a mystery to me.”
GETTY
Alexandre Lacazette was brought off after 66 minutes against Chelsea
Ramsey praise
07.13: Danny Murphy has praised Aaron Ramsey’s performance in Arsenal’s battling draw with Chelsea.
Ramsey came the closest to breaking the deadlock at Stamford Bridge as Arsenal picked up a well-earned point away from home.
“I could have picked six of them [Arsenal] for Man of the Match, but I want to look at Aaron [Ramsey],” Murphy said.
“He took a lot of criticism from the defeat at Liverpool for a lack of discipline.
“He’s a brilliant attacking midfielder and he scores big goals no doubt about that.
“I thought his decision-making was excellent - he knew when to go forward and when he was in good possession, to vacate the space and see if his mate was protecting him.
"You can’t take away his attacking instincts, but choose to make sure when he does it.”
Gary Neville calls out Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez
05:15: Gary Neville has told Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to fully take on board Arsenal’s dogged performance in their 0-0 draw at Chelsea yesterday.
Arsenal became the first team to stop Chelsea in a competitive home game in Antonio Conte’s reign as manager by keeping the Blues at bay.
But Arsene Wenger’s side put in a steely performance to earn a deserved point without Ozil and Sanchez in the starting line-up with the latter coming on as a second half substitute.
And Manchester United legend Neville believes the two contract rebels at the Emirates will now have no excuse to track back and do their defensive work.
"It's not difficult and ultimately that video should go to Ozil and Sanchez because they do need to come back in, but if they are not going to do the job required, sit in the stands and let two players with less talent do the job you need to do in a big match," Neville told Sky Sports.
"There's no excuse for any player not to work back into a defensive position.”
Alexandre Lacazette criticism
04:45: Alexandre Lacazette needs to be treated like a £50million striker by Arsenal.
The Gunners splashed out a club-record £52.7m on Lacazette to bring him to the Emirates from Lyon in the summer.
Lacazette started in the goalless draw away to Chelsea yesterday before he was replaced by Alexis Sanchez.
But Cascarino thinks it was wrong that Lacazette had to make way in a game of such importance.
“Alexandre [Lacazette] is clearly a talented player but Arsène Wenger must be careful how he uses him,” Cascarino told The Times.
“He came off after 66 minutes yesterday, replaced by Alexis Sanchez, having had little chance to impose himself.”
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GETTY
Gary Neville thinks Arsenal were better off not starting Alexis Sanchez
Cesc Fabregas revelation
04:15: Cesc Fabregas has revealed Arsenal had one week to sign him but they failed to get in touch.
Fabregas spent eight years at Arsenal, becoming the captain in November 2008 and developing a father-son relationship with Arsene Wenger.
Before Chelsea’s meeting with Arsenal yesterday, Fabregas has revealed his former club had the first option to sign him but they did not trigger the clause, allowing the Blues to swoop in.
“Once I made the decision to leave Barcelona, Arsenal had the first option, and Barcelona had the obligation to contact Arsenal first,” Fabregas told Sky Sports.
“Then they had a week to basically respond yes or no to the buy-out clause.
“The week passed, Arsenal never responded, never contacted me either, so I took it as them having enough players in their squad, so I made my move to Chelsea.”
