Arsenal have won every single home match this season and will be looking to extend that run when they take on Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League.

Arsene Wenger fielded a very inexperienced side in Serbia late last month and we could see a similar line-up at the Emirates.

Olivier Giroud scored a sensational overhead kick that night and the Frenchman is all but certain to feature again tomorrow.

Here's what Wenger had to say on Red Star, rotation, injuries and more...

Kolasinac worry

Sead Kolasinac faces a race against time to be fit for Arsenal’s crunch clash with unbeaten Manchester City.

The Bosnian wing-back is becoming a cult figure at the Emirates following his summer free transfer from German side Schalke.

He played a key role in last weekend’s come-from-behind win over Swansea, scoring the equaliser before playing a part in Aaron Ramsey’s winner.

But Kolasinac was forced from the field before full-time, substituted with a hip injury - despite attempts to play through the pain.

More here

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Image:
Arsenal FC)

Key points

  • No Lemar move (yet) and no decision over January spending
  • Kolasinac an injury doubt for the weekend
  • Wenger will keep rotating
  • Southgate urged to call up Wilshere for England

Wenger urges Southgate over Wilshere

Arsene Wenger says he would “encourage” Gareth Southgate to include Jack Wilshere in his England squad.

Wenger insists midfielder Wilshere is ready for a recall to the Three Lions squad having regained fitness and form this season.

Southgate names his squad for the Wembley friendlies against Germany and Brazil on Thursday.

Wilshere, 25, has yes to start a league game for the Gunners this season, his only appearance coming as a late sub in the 5-2 win against Everton.

But he has impressed in the starts he has had in the Europa League and EFL Cup.

In full here

Arsenal star Jack Wilshere in the Carabao Cup (
Image:
David Price)

Bye Arsene

And with that, the Gunners boss exits.

Rob Holding goes with him.

Key points up next.

More on Wilshere

“I manage him like any other player.

He doesn’t need special treatment.

“In the last three weeks, I treat him like any other player”

On players' Europa attitudes

“My biggest experience and pleasure is how focused the whole squad is on each game. How focused and united they are.

“I cannot say any player in any competition has gone easy. It’s always been exceptional.

“I feel the understanding in the squad, we’ve not bought in 7/8 players...they know each other, they’ve had positive and negative experiences.

“I think there’s respect in the squad, an important ingredient.”

On slow starts and youngsters getting chances

“Not really. I believe when you play at home many play on the counter. Sometimes we forget a little bit the defensive urgency.

“But I’m not worried. It has been mixed, so overall, I’m not worried.”

On young players...

“It’s exceptional for them. England has been world champion, U20, U19, U17, it shows there is quality in England but we have to give them a chance.

“Do they get this quality of games, the U20? You have to say no. So for our players, in this competition, it’s a huge opportunity.”

Back for Lemar?

No, at the moment I have a big squad and the problem for me is to keep everyone together until the end of the season.

In January, I don’t know yet.

As for Riyad Mahrez?

“No”

Can Man City remain unbeaten?

There’s only 28 games to go.

At the moment they can still do it.

No one can rule it out, but we will see.


“First of all you need quality, consistency and capacity to unite your energy.

Sometimes you can lose a game you don’t envisage at all.”

On Wilshere for England

“Yep. I think he’s ready, personally.

“He was not three weeks ago, he is today.

“I have the same problem, but in every single competition he is ready to play. I urge them to do it.

“A super fit Jack, I don’t know how to leave him out of the England squad.”

Sanchez, Ozil, Lacazette won't play tomorrow.

Asked if Sanchez, Ozil and Lacazette will come in, Wenger says:

“No (temptation to play them).

“We have Walcott, Welbeck, Giroud. We have competition, they all want competition.

All are in competitive shape and that should be an advantage for the rest of the season.”

After win No.4

“it depends all on the results.

“It’s two big games, focus always on the next one.

“Every game is big. We win the game tomorrow we qualify for top of the group. That is important. We have won three games, we want to win No.4.”

On rotation

Arsenal playing with two XIs at the moment.

“I want to stick to that at the moment.”

On Rob Holding:

“I rate him very highly. I feel I’ve shown him that in big games.

“I think he’s ahead of his age...already good experience at his age. Tomorrow, a big experience will help him.

“He had a lack of confidence at the start of the season, but it’s behind him and he looks good and ready”

Arsene on injuries

“Today he was much better, he will have a test at the end of the week.

“He’s not ruled out of Sunday yet, but he won’t play tomorrow.

“It’s not as bad as it could have been.”

Ospina will be OK tomorrow. Calum Chambers is back in training. Mustafi after the break.

Here we go

Wenger is here!

In the house.

Ready to roll...

It's 12.32

Where is he?

Where is he?

People have lunches they need to take!

Standard Wenger.

Hopefully he’s out shortly.

Who's coming

OK then.

Kickoff for today’s presser is at 12:30.

Arsene Wenger up first.

Then Rob Holding is the player of choice.

(
Image:
PA)

Gunners still keen on Lemar

Arsenal are facing a major battle to land top transfer target Thomas Lemar .

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger failed with a last minute record £90m bid in August - but they will go back for the Monaco star next summer.

However, Liverpool and Barcelona are also in the running and in-demand Lemar knows he can command a huge contract in excess of £250,000-a-week.

Arsenal are confident they are in pole position to do a deal with Monaco - but it could come down to Lemar’s choice on personal terms and where he wants to go.

Lemar’s advisers know he is now one of Europe’s hot properties and, while Monaco are braced to sell another big name next summer, it could be an even bigger scramble for his signature.

More here


A way back for Debuchy?

Mathieu Debuchy will be handed another chance to continue his transformation from Arsenal outcast to Europa League asset tomorrow evening.

The French full-back’s Gunners career looked over at the start of 2017 when manager Arsene Wenger told him to look for another club and accused him of fabricating a blocked move to Manchester United.

But Debuchy, 32, was a surprise inclusion in Arsenal’s starting XI for the 1-0 win against Red Star Belgrade in Serbia last month.

And he is likely to feature in the return fixture at the Emirates.


Celebrating Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal face Red Star tomorrow evening and it’s likely to be a much-changed side.

Aaron Ramsey will probably watch from the sidelines unless desperately needed.

But the 50-goal man should be back against Manchester City at the weekend in a starting role.

Anyway, here’s a Gunners’ celebration of the Welshman.

Pass master Mesut

Mesut Ozil’s slow start to the Premier League season received plenty of criticism from pundits and fans alike - but stats now show he’s actually on par with Kevin De Bruyne.

The 29-year-old failed to make an impact in Arsenal’s earlier games this term before he picking up an injury.

But despite his supposedly poor form and lack of game time, Ozil has created just as many chances as Manchester City star De Bruyne.

De Bruyne has started the season in electric form, but he and Ozil have both created 30 chances, despite the Arsenal star playing nearly 300 minutes less.

Stats here


Stadium news!

Arsenal will begin work increasing the capacity of the Emirates Stadium at the end of the 2017/2018 season.

An additional 780 seats will be added to club level, taking the ground’s total capacity to more than 60,600.

The seats will come in the form of an extra row on the front of the club level tier. Construction work will be completed in two stages over the summers of 2018 and 2019.

In reality, this ‘expansion’ merely takes Arsenal back to the original capacity of the ground from when they moved there in 2006.

The club have been forced to take seats out of the ground in recent seasons to comply with safety regulations and also increase provision for disabled supporters.

More here


Welcome

The Arsenal players are out training this morning ahead of tomorrow night’s game against Serbioan side Red Star Belgrade.

We are expecting Arsene Wenger to yet again field a weakened side with the likes of Jack Wilshere, Reiss Nelson and Olivier Giroud set to start.

The Frenchman’s goal was a thing of beauty when these two teams met last month but in reality that moment masked what was an otherwise poor performance.

So, will we see changes to the lineup tomorrow? Will some of Arsenal’s bigger stars start at the Emirates?

Arsenal’s manager is due out to speak at around 12.15pm, stick with us and we will bring you live updates from his conference at Lodnon Colney.