[Photo]Huge injury boost for Arsenal as key star returns to training ahead of Liverpool game

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31-10-2018

Thought most of the Arsenal squad has not suffered a lot of injuries, there is one area that has been affected more than the others. That would be the left back area with both Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac out injured.

In that regard, the Gunners have been handed a boost with the return of the Bosnian defender who was seen in full training with the first team.

The upcoming period will be arguably the toughest test that Arsenal have had to face so far and players need to be fit to deal with the teams that the club will be coming up against.

In the absence of both the first choice left backs, manager Unai Emery has been forced to use midfielder Granit Xhaka as cover. To be fair to Xhaka, he has been able to manage in an unfamiliar position but it is clear that he was not very comfortable.

The other option that Arsenal could have made use of was to introduce Ainsley Maitland-Niles but he himself is just coming back from an injury and it would not have been wise to rush him.

Getting a player like Kolasinac back into the fold is great news for the club as it ensures that the left back position has a player who is naturally suited to playing there.

Here is the pic of Kolasinac back in training:

Embed from Getty Images

Arsenal will be playing Liverpool in the weekend and to deal with the attacking threat that the Reds have, it is necessary to use players in their natural position or the Gunners run the risk of losing the game.

This vital period will show just how much the Gunners have learned under their new manager. Also, it gives the team a chance to bounce team from a winning streak that recently ended as they can show how good they can be. In this kind of time, players such as Kolasinac should show why the club chose to bring him to the Emirates and stake his claim for a place in the first team.

Injury blow for Arsenal as club officially confirm midfielder is ruled out for 2 weeks

By

Nithyanand

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31-10-2018

Apart from a few absentees, the Gunners squad is doing as well as it can. Some of the injured players will be coming back soon and we know who these members of the squad are.

There seems to be another name added to that list in the form of midfielder Mohammed Elneny which is a bit of a surprise, to be honest.

This was confirmed by the official website of the club. The medical team was asked for updates on a few players and Elneny was among them. This is what they had to say:

“Right thigh. Expected to return to full training in two weeks.”

Hopefully, the injury Elneny has will heal soon as the club needs all the players to be fit and fighting. The midfield is one such area where it is important to have as many bodies as possible.

Elneny has proven time and again that he is a very valuable member of the squad and can do a job whenever he is called upon.

Though he may not start many matches, it is essential to have players such as him who will support the others. This kind of a player is the hallmark of every great squad.

Given the kind of matches that Arsenal are going to have in the coming few weeks, it is important to get all the players back into the fold and players such as Elneny will have a crucial role to play in a period like this.

The winning streak that the club was going through has come to end so the aim should be to get back to winning ways and not let this become sort of a slump.

Players like Elneny are a big reason as to why the club went on such a streak to begin with and fans will be hoping that he gets fit soon. This is the time for the Arsenal players to show that they mean business and getting wins against the bigger teams will do that.

Unai Emery tells £75k-a-week Arsenal star that he can leave the Emirates club

By

Nithyanand

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30-10-2018

There is still some time to go before the January transfer window will open but we continue to hear rumors about players within the club and outside it.

One such player to be linked with a move away from the club is captain Laurent Koscielny who is said to be a looking to leave the club, as per reports from Team Talk.

The captain has not yet played a match this season as he has been recovering from an injury that he suffered in the semifinal of the Europa League last season.

As a result of the injury he had against Atletico Madrid, Koscielny missed out on winning the World Cup with the French team. Feeling disappointed with the way things turned out, the center back decided to call it quits as far as international football is concerned.

Though this seems like it will help him focus more on his club career, there are strong suggestions that he could be set to leave the Emirates for a new destination.

One of the clubs that are interested in the services of the center back are the Spanish club Barcelona who themselves have been suffering many defensive problems.

If this deal was to go through, it will be on a short-term basis and that will suit the defender if reports are to be believed.

The Arsenal board will not stand in the way of the club captain if an offer was to come through. After the exemplary service that he has given the club, it is safe to say that he can choose where he wants to go next.

When he was signed in the year 2010, he was a virtual unknown but over his time with the Gunners, he has gone on to become one of the best center backs in the world. If this is to be the end of the career of Koscielny as an Arsenal player, he can be proud of what he has achieved in England.

Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang drops hint that he’s unhappy with Unai Emery

By

Nithyanand

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30-10-2018

When a team is on a winning streak, everything seems to be going well and there is not too much criticism that is faced by the club and the players.

But, when that streak stops, there is a lot that comes to the surface. One such incident happened in the aftermath of the match against Crystal Palace.

When the social media activity of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hinted at him being unhappy with the decisions of manager Unai Emery.

When the official website of Arsenal put out a tweet about the striker, a fan responded by saying:

“then why are you replacing him? Why not let him score again? YaGunnersYa”

Aubameyang then Retweeted this and made his dissatisfaction clear to be seen. The striker has become the leading scorer in the Premier League this season as he has been able to score on a consistent basis.

But, when he was substituted in the match against Palace, it seemed clear that he was far from happy with the decision made by Unai Emery.

Here is the fan’s tweet:

then why are you replacing him? Why not let him score again? #YaGunnersYa

— Futuredays (@rajamudaikhsan) October 28, 2018

Which Aubameyang retweeted:

https://twitter.com/rajamudaikhsan/status/1056595131673960449

Although in all likelihood, there is not too much that can be read into this but perhaps it would have been better for the team if Aubameyang had been left on the pitch.

When Mesut Ozil was taken off, his reaction too suggested that there was an element of frustration at what Emery had done. This is bound to happen when players feel that they did not deserve to be taken off.

But, a large part of being a manager is the ability to make decisions that would be considered as hard and brave. This just goes to show the mettle and also the bravery that Unai Emery has.

Now, whatever feelings players such as Aubameyang have, that must be put on the back burner for the time being. The focus has to be on the match that is up next and try and help the team to get back to winning ways. Perhaps this decision by the manager will spur him to reach greater goal scoring heights.

Injury blow for Arsenal as Unai Emery confirms key star could miss Liverpool clash

By

Nithyanand

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30-10-2018

It was a little unfortunate that the winning streak of the Gunners had to come to an end against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

After that, there was a lot to talk about regarding the performance of the Arsenal players. One of them, Hector Bellerin had to come off at halftime due to an injury.

When manager Unai Emery was asked what the situation was regarding the defender, he offered an update.

Speaking to the official website, this is what Emery had to say about Bellerin:

“Yes, he’s injured,” said Unai Emery. “I hope it’s not a big injury, but he had muscular pains.

“I don’t know [whether he’s a doubt for the Liverpool game next Saturday].”

If the Spaniard is unable to be fit in time for the match against Liverpool, it will be a real loss for the Gunners as he has been one of the most important members of the team this season.

His pace and ability to bomb up and down the right flank has been a real asset to the way that Arsenal have been playing and to add to that, he is one of the highest ranked players this season when it comes to assists in the Premier League.

Despite the end of the winning streak, there is a lot of positives that the Gunners should be thinking about now. And the more they focus on the matches that are coming up, they can get their mind off the draw at Palace.

Over the coming few weeks, Arsenal are going to have a really tough time and the way they navigate this will show their mettle as a team and be an indicator of where the team is.

And to overcome a period such as this, it is essential that players such as Bellerin stay fit as they are a vital cog in the team. Fans will be hoping that the defender can get fit in time for the match against Liverpool as that will give their chances a real boost.

Arsenal head of football Raul Sanllehi opens up on Aaron Ramsey contract situation

By

Nithyanand

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29-10-2018

It is one of the biggest problems that the Gunners are facing at the moment. The contract situation of Aaron Ramsey is one of the few issues that is affecting the club and a solution to it has to be found sooner rather than later.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Arsenal’s Head Of Football, Raul Sanllehi had some thoughts on the whole contract saga surrounding the Welshman.

This is what Sanllehi had to say about Ramsey:

“I do believe that a player’s contract should never go to the last year, as a policy. We don’t take decisions overnight, on a quick reflection.”

“We really go through not only a long period of thinking but also a lot of people are involved. There are no decisions that are left to the last minute. When we reach a decision, it is for a reason.”

This seems like an indication that the decision taken by the club is final and that the midfielder may be on his way out of the club. But, we cannot say that for sure as we will have to wait and see what happens.

The primary aim for the Gunners this season will be to get back into the Champions League and for that to happen, the contribution of players such as Ramsey is needed.

So, it is better if the club is able to reach a definitive conclusion to this contract saga as it is sure to make the fans feel a little bit better.

The next few matches will be a true test of what kind of team Arsenal have become under manager Unai Emery. They will be a stern test of the team’s capabilities and everyone associated with the club will be hoping that the team does well.

It is in times such as this that players like Ramsey have to step up and be counted and show why he is demanding the kind of contract that he wants. But for that to happen smoothly, the contract situation has to be resolved as well.

“Weird, Shambles, Liability all game” – Some Arsenal fans destroy defender for Palace display

By

Nithyanand

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29-10-2018

It was a little unfortunate that the winning streak that Arsenal had been enjoying ended against Crystal Palace.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw and both the goals conceded by the Gunners were a result of fouls that the players made in the penalty box.

The culprit for the first one was center back Shkodran Mustafi who made quite a reckless challenge. This made a lot of fans angry who took to Twitter to vent their frustration at the defender.

While there was some debate around the foul for the second penalty, there was no doubt about the first one. Crystal Palace took advantage of the penalties and ensured that they ended the match with a draw.

This is some of the best reactions that the fans had:

https://twitter.com/wuglan/status/1056547369557331970

Mustafi is such a weird defender

— Vinayak Bharti (@vinayak205) October 28, 2018

Mustafi you utter clown

— hatred (@aoajames) October 28, 2018

I honestly think any time Mustafi goes for a header he thinks “where’s the worst place I can put this” and then puts it there. #CRYARS #cpfcvafc

— Duncan B. #COYG (@DuhBurnz) October 28, 2018

Mustafi is a dunce. Kai

— Mash (@mash_233) October 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/khuthadzom152/status/1056548744492138498

https://twitter.com/Offs73/status/1056548520059133952

https://twitter.com/DannyAFC91/status/1056547989198684169

Mustafi has been a liability all game. He’s been flying around, Zaha’s had him on toast and he’s looked out of position loads.

That tackle sums it up. Get your head in the game.

— Xhaka34 (@GoonerGranit_) October 28, 2018

This just goes to show how irritated the fans were with the performance of Mustafi. It could be said that his foul was the reason for the ending of the winning streak.

Now that the match is over, the Gunners have to focus on the next one against Blackpool in the League Cup. It is important that the team does not dwell on this draw too much and regroup and try to win the next game.

If they are unable to do this, it will put the team into bit of a rut and that is something that absolutely has to be avoided. While Mustafi is known for his error prone ways, this season has been a little different as he has been able to be far more restrained in his defending. So, all is not lost as far as the center back is concerned. What he now has to do is analyze the mistakes in his game and try and improve them.

Sky Sports pundit slams Arsenal midfielder for his display against Crystal Palace

By

Nithyanand

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29-10-2018

There was a lot to talk about after the match against Crystal Palace. The Gunners who had been on a eleven match winning streak saw it halted by their opponents today.

It is safe to say that the team was not firing on all cylinders and the performance of some players was not up to the mark.

One such player was the captain for the day Mesut Ozil who came under criticism from former manager and player Graeme Souness.

According to Daily Mail, This is what the Sky Sports pundit had to say about the way the German played in the match:

“I’m sorry to harp on about him but a man with that much talent should influence games like that.”

“You’re the captain, when you’re on the pitch show courage to get on the ball when you’re not dominating, show real passion… and maybe if you’re not built for it but make an attempt to get into a few challenges and win the ball back for your team but he doesn’t do that.”

“To be fair, Ozil showed a great deal of passion when he was subbed today [and] that’s the most I’ve ever seen him show in a game of football. It’s no good showing petulance like that.”

It was clear that Ozil was not able to have the same kind of influence that he had against Leicester City. But to be fair to the midfielder, his lack of influence was a result of the entire team not playing well and the blame cannot be laid on one man alone.

The thing with the Gunners is that when the team plays well, it is obvious that Ozil is playing well as he is bound to dictate the game. That is just the way he likes to play.

During the winning streak that Arsenal enjoyed, there were many times when they were not playing particularly well but were able to pull through. This was not to be one of those days and the team should look at this as an opportunity to learn.

There will be times when a player like Ozil is able to leave his mark on games but the team must find a way to do it when he is not at his best.

The focus will now shift to the next match that the Gunners have against Blackpool in the League Cup. Their aim must be to get back to winning ways and this game is a great way to do that. Perhaps a rest will do someone like Ozil a world of good and help him to be fit and firing for the game against Liverpool.

Barcelona chief hands Arsenal major boost in pursuit of 21-year-old forward

By

Nithyanand

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28-10-2018

It was one of the most talked about transfer rumors as far as Arsenal were concerned. The Brazilian winger Malcolm was heavily linked with the Gunners and it seemed a certainty that he would end up at the Emirates.

But, that was not to be and the player is now playing for Barcelona. And now, it looks like the Gunners are once again interested in the player and as per reports coming from the Metro, there could be a happy ending for Arsenal.

Ever since his move to the Camp Nou, Malcolm has not really been able to make his mark and it is being suggested that manager Ernesto Valverde is not a fan of the player.

Being in a situation like this is not something that Malcolm would want to be a part of and it is only logical that he will be looking elsewhere to continue his playing career.

Now, there are hints that people within Barcelona believe that the player will be sold as he has not proven to be a success during his stint with the Catalan club.

And the club waiting to poach him from Spain is said to be the Gunners who have a concrete interest in the player. If they are able to pull this move off, it will be a real coup for the club as Malcom is a player who is explosive and skillful.

He is exactly the kind of player that Arsenal need at the moment. They do not really have anyone who can play on the wings and Malcom will go a long way in solving that problem.

But, if he were to move away from Barcelona, there are other clubs who are sure to be interested in him as well. It is up to the Gunners to show that they mean business this time and maybe that will tip the scales in their favor and help seal the signing of Malcolm. He can prove to be a real asset for the team.

“Absolute baller, Massive”, Some Arsenal fans rave over midfielder’s performance

By

Nithyanand

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28-10-2018

Though it was a little tougher than most recent matches, Arsenal were able to summon enough strength to get over the line against Sporting Lisbon.

This helped extend their winning streak to eleven matches which is the best they have been on in more than eleven years.

One of the primary reasons for the win against Sporting was the performance of Lucas Torreira and the fans made it clear as to just how much they loved him.

There were a lot of reactions from the Gunners fans who have been bowled over by the way in which the Uruguayan has exerted his influence over the team.

Here are some of the best reactions.

That kid Lucas Torreira is the truth! #AFC

— David (@Bemiebagz) October 25, 2018

Lucas Torreira was quality when he came on. Proper quality #afc #arsenal

— Clock End Gooner (@mem1234) October 25, 2018

I actually love Torreira

— Talal El-Zein (@elzein32AFC) October 25, 2018

https://twitter.com/G4MEZtv/status/1055567220082962434

You could see how Torreira is massive for the team. When he come on, we totally controlled the game. Matteo also had very good game. El Neny days at the club numbered. #afc

— Bagheera (@BagheeraLoui) October 25, 2018

Tonight was a big example of how important Torreira is. Dare I say that he is the most important player at our club? He’s the only player we don’t have another of with similar abilities #coyg #afc #arsenal

— ArsenalFC (@ArsenalTorch) October 25, 2018

Lucas Torreira is an absolute baller. That sub alone changed the tempo of the game! #AFC

— Kumail (@kumailam4) October 25, 2018

How good is Torreira man!!! As soon as he came on the pitch, our tempo changed and we were more dangerous. What a signing!!!

— Anurag Kanwar (@AnuragAfc) October 25, 2018

Torreira did not start the match but when he came off the bench, you could see the difference in the way that Arsenal played. It was easier to break through the lines and engage the forward players.

Apart from this, there is that famous grit that he brings to the midfield. He just does not let the opposition players a moment of rest as he keeps harrying them into making mistakes.

When Torreira pounces on such a mistake, his passing range allows him to facilitate quick counters that have helped the Gunners score a lot of goals this way.

While the team is on an excellent winning streak, it must be said that the manager Unai Emery is still finding the best combination. The good news is that he is willing to experiment to see what works best.

This kind of tactical flexibility will definitely help the team in the long-run. If Arsenal are going to achieve any kind of success this season, it is clear that Torreira will have a huge part to play in that. Let us hope that the Gunners can keep their winning streak going against Crystal Palace this Sunday.