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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

The Arsenal morning headlines as Wenger rules out return, Arteta told to sell 9 players

Here are your Arsenal morning headlines for Saturday, 29th February.

No Arsenal return for Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger was speaking at a charity event last night and he ruled out a return to the Emirates Stadium.

According to the  Mirror , the Gunners' hierarchy are keen to bring the legendary Frenchman back to the club, with senior figures said to have already made approaches.

This has prompted a big reaction from fans on social media - and it's safe to say  many are excited about the prospect of Wenger being back at the Emirates Stadium  in some capacity.

Premier League top scorer: Who leads the race for the golden boot?

But it's unlikely to happen. Via @MrArsenicTM on Twitter, Wenger has explained why he's unlikely to return.

"I've given my life, my brain and my heart to the football club," he said. "[Arsenal] don’t need my brain anymore, they don’t need my body anymore.

"My heart is still there so, I just keep suffering. Every time we don’t do well, I suffer."

Arteta told to sell nine players

Mikel Arteta has been urged to rebuild his entire Arsenal squad this summer.

Ex-Gunner Perry Groves is of the opinion that up to nine first-team players - including Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka - must be shown the exit door at the Emirates Stadium.

"He needs to get rid of players," Groves told talkSPORT. "I thought it would be five or six, but I think you’re looking up to about nine players. [But] It is going to be impossible to get rid of them all in one go.

Mikel Arteta speaks to his Arsenal players during extra-time of the clash against Olympiacos (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"This isn’t about talent, it’s not that they are not good players – David Luiz, (Shkrodan) Mustafi, Sokratis, (Dani) Ceballos is going to go anyway as he is on loan, Ozil, (Granit) Xhaka, (Calum) Chambers, (Mohamed) Elneny and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

"Mkhitaryan and Elneny are out on loan at this point anyway.

"He needs them now. He has to use them now because he needs bodies. Short-term they have a future, long-term, no."

Mari gets 45 minutes

Pablo Mari was one of two arrivals at the Emirates Stadium during the January transfer window, as he has signed on until the end of the season from Brazilian outfit Flamengo.

As of yet, the Spaniard has not made his first-team debut.

Although he did get a run out for the U23's in a 2-1 loss against Chelsea earlier in the month.

Pablo Mari playing at Emirates Stadium for the first time in Arsenal Under-23s meeting with Man City Under-23s (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

And on Friday night he played another 45 minutes against Manchester City in what was his first ever appearance on the Emirates turf.

Click here to read about how Mari and the rest of the U23's fared.

Lacazette message

24 hours after the disappointment of losing against Olympiacos in the Europa League, Alexandre Lacazette sent a message to Arsenal fans via his Instagram account.

"The reality of last night is hard but with your continued support we will learn from the situation," he wrote.

"Keep trying and continue to fight as a team."

The Gunners took a 1-0 lead into the home leg of the tie thanks to Lacazette's goal in Greece.

However, a 1-0 win for Olympiacos over 90 minutes at the Emirates Stadium meant that the tie went to extra time.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang thought he had saved Arsenal's blushes when he netted a brilliant goal, but a last minute goal from Youssef El-Arabi meant that the Greek side made it through via the away goals rule.

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