Arsenal got their Europa League campaign off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt, but the scoreline flattered the Gunners.
In Thursday night’s group F opener the Germans mustered 24 shots at their visitors’ goal – only seven fewer than Watford last weekend – as the Arsenal backline once more showed their fragility.
Meunier targeted
Although Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney are still working their way back from injury, the Arsenal defence needs reinforcing and the Daily Mirror claims that Paris Saint-Germain blocker Thomas Meunier could be targeted in January’s transfer window.
The right-back, who scored in PSG’s 3-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid on Wednesday, was linked to the Emirates in the summer, and the Mirror reports that he is disappointed with his lack of game time in Paris.
“It is a bit frustrating,” Meunier admitted to French radio station RMC, when asked about his demotion to the subs bench.
The 28-year-old’s contract expires next summer, and the Mirror says he is “tipped for a January exit” with Arsenal the most likely destination.
He was signed by Unai Emery in the summer of 2016 when the latter was in charge of PSG and it’s believed the Arsenal boss will love to be reunited with the Belgian defender.
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Mustafi exit?
One of the Arsenal defenders who laboured on Thursday evening was Shkodran Mustafi, making his first appearance of the season.
The German has long since lost the faith of the fans since his arrival at the Emirates in the summer of 2016, and it appears that Emery’s trust is diminishing after a series of costly blunders last season.
That led to speculation he would be moved on over the summer, reports the Daily Mail, but Arsenal were “unable to find any takers”.
Mustafi believes he is living on borrowed time and it’s a question of when and not if he is offloaded.
“If something turns out, I’m open to taking the next step,” he said. “If not, then I will continue my football. If at some point a club from Germany has interest and it fits, I’m open for it.”
