Here are your Arsenal morning headlines for Friday, 16 October.
Ozil handed slim Arsenal lifeline
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has offered Mesut Ozil a lifeline despite the fact he looks set to be left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League squad.
The Gunners currently have 19 foreign first-team players, two more than the maximum 17 allowed for a Premier League group, and with Ozil deemed expendable by Arteta, the German could be left out.
This comes after the 32-year-old was also left out of the Europa League squad for this coming season, meaning he could soon be ineligible to feature in Arsenal’s European or league matches.
Ozil is out of contract next summer but, as noted by the Mirror, Arteta has thrown him a lifeline by insisting the situation could change if he works hard.
For now, though, his Arsenal career appears to be as good as over.
Ozil remains popular among Arsenal squad
Ozil looks set to leave Arsenal at the end of the season, but he remains a popular figure within the dressing room.
To celebrate the 32-year-old’s birthday, star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang posted an endearing message on Instagram, making fun of his team-mate's dance moves while on pre-season tour with the squad last year.
Ozil’s omission from the 25-man Europa League squad is not said to have caused a rift with the Arsenal players, who also enjoy a good relationship with manager Mikel Arteta.
Ozil has featured less and less under the Spaniard and could be set to miss out on Premier League registration for this coming season, which would surely be the death knell for his Arsenal stay.
New man in line for City debut
Deadline-day signing Thomas Partey could be named in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI this weekend against Manchester City.
Football.London journalists unanimously backed the Ghana international to feature from the first whistle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.
The 27-year-old featured prominently for Ghana over the international break, suggesting he is fit to make his Arsenal bow whenever Mikel Arteta sees fit.
Failing to make an appearance against City would mean it is likely Partey will debut against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on October 22.
Partey was pictured meeting his Arsenal team-mates for the first time, striking up a rapport with Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - which bodes well for their relationship on the pitch
