Here are your Arsenal morning headlines for Thursday, April 23.
Partey setback
Thomas Partey’s father, Jacob, confirmed on Wednesday that his son was holding talks with Arsenal over a move away from Atlético Madrid in the summer.
Partey has caught the eye this season, especially in Atlético’s Champions League victory over holders Liverpool.
The Telegraph recently reported that a source in the Spanish capital has confirmed there is interest from an English club, and Jacob Partey has now confirmed there have been talks between his son and the Gunners.
“I called my son after hearing the rumours and he told me that the rumours are true,” Partey said, as per Ghana Web .
“He told me they are holding talks between him and Arsenal. It all depends on the offer that Atlético are demanding.
But Partey's agents have poured cold water on those claims.
JJSports, Partey's representatives, were not happy with the father's claims, saying: "It's totally untrue."
Özil’s pay-cut stance revealed
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil would be prepared to consider a pay-cut from his £350,000-a-week salary and has not closed the door on reducing his wages at a later date, football.london understands .
Özil is the Gunners’ best-paid player but has not agreed a 12.5% pay-cut like the majority of his team-mates did earlier in the week.
The former Germany international wants to take time to do some research and understand the club’s financial position with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
It is understood that Özil is willing to discuss a more sizable deferral to his current wages without necessarily ruling out a pay-cut further down the line, potentially one even bigger than what his team-mates have agreed.
The 31-year-old is waiting to further clarify the financial situation at Arsenal, while still waiting for the Premier League’s plan of resuming football before committing himself to a wage deferral.
Bent says Arsenal have “snake” in dressing room
Former Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Darren Bent believes Arsenal have a “snake” in their dressing room as Özil continues to take criticism for refusing to take a pay-cut.
Reports on Tuesday revealed that the club’s top-earner was one of three Arsenal players that refused to take a 12.5% pay-cut on their current wages.
However, with Özil still considering his options before making a concrete decision, Bent believes there is a “snake” in the Gunners’ dressing room.
“There’s obviously a snake in the dressing room, which is not good,” Bent said on talkSPORT Breakfast.
“When you’re in a sporting environment with the guys in the dressing room, you’re like a small family, but at times, people do cross the line.
“I’d be in there making phone calls trying to figure out who it was that leaked the story, because if there’s three of us (who didn’t take the pay-cut), I shouldn’t be the only one being named.
“I also think it’s quite disgusting the abuse he’s getting. He hasn’t come out and said: ‘I’m not doing it’, he’s given context as to why he isn’t doing it. He just wants a bit of time and wants to know where the money is going.
“People gloss over the good he does. That 12.5% comes out of his wages anyway to various charities, but people don’t want to talk about that because he’s a hate figure.
“Özil is a bit like Paul Pogba; he’s public enemy number one. Can you imagine if Pogba did this? It would blow up!”
