Mesut Ozil latest
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been told to make a decision on Mesut Ozil’s future if he wants to succeed at the Emirates.
Arteta takes charge of his first home game as Gunners boss with Chelsea visiting in the Premier League today.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has urged Arteta to make a decision on the former Real Madrid star with the January transfer window opening soon.
“I think they’re a poor side actually,” Neville said on Sky Sports. I did call them uncoachable a few weeks ago but I keep seeing the same players back in the squad.
“He’s [Arteta] got to make a big decision on Ozil. He’s been noise around this football club now for four years.
“Build around him or let him go because having him on the bench or in the stands isn’t going to work.
“The defenders are just inconsistent and unpredictable, it’s the last thing you want in defence.
“I don’t know how he gets from this squad today to where he needs to get to other than being totally ruthless and clinical and asking that boardroom to support him in terms of losing some money along the way because he’s going to have to take a hit on some of those players.
“They’re just not good enough and a lot of them are experienced, he needs to make some big decisions.”
Tottenham battle
Arsenal and Tottenham are set for a bidding war over RB Leipzig star defender Dayot Upamecano.
Express Sport understands that the Gunners and Spurs are willing to meet Leipzig’s whopping £50million valuation for Upamecano ahead of the January transfer window to strengthen their respective defences as they eye a top-four finish.
The centre-back has been outstanding at Leipzig over the past couple of seasons in the Bundesliga as well as the Champions League and has also been targeted by Manchester City.
City are in dire need of quality in defence after failing to replace legendary captain Vincent Kompany in the summer and losing Aymeric Laporte to injury soon after.
Arsenal’s backline has also been in disarray throughout the campaign as the north Londoners’ centre-back pairing of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz has been performing far below the level required.
Fans demand Shkodran Mustafi exit
Arsenal fans have taken to social media to demand the Gunners sell Shkodran Mustafi in the January transfer window after their 2-1 defeat against Chelsea. The Blues came from behind to beat Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Jorginho netted the equaliser after Bernd Leno’s howler before Tammy Abraham scored the winner in north London.
The striker turned Arsenal defender Mustafi and slammed home to complete the comeback for Frank Lampard’s men.
Mikel Arteta wants Granit Xhaka to stay
Mikel Arteta says he hopes Granit Xhaka doesn’t leave Arsenal despite the midfielder’s desire to join Hertha Berlin.
Reports in Germany have claimed the Swiss star has reached an agreement with Hertha on personal terms.
He said: “I hope he doesn’t leave.”
Arteta then confirmed the reason for Xhaka’s absence in the squad, saying: “He played at Bournemouth, he played really well, he was very committed, he played a really good game.
“After the game, he started to feel ill. He had a temperature and he wasn’t feeling good.
“The last two days he’s been in bed. That’s why he’s not been selected.”
