Arsenal news LIVE: Leno SLAMS club ‘politics’, Wilfried Zaha BLOW, Europa League win – latest

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Good morning Arsenal fans

Arsenal visit Zurich tonight to mark their Europa League return.

The hosts’ manager Franco Foda is expected to have a well-stocked side for their big contest against the Gunners.

However, Foda will have to continue without centre-half Ilan Sauter and Shakhtar Donetsk loanee Bogdan Viunnyk as they are both injured.

Elsewhere, the North Londoners remain light in midfield with Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny still in the treatment room, while Reiss Nelson is going through his own recovery process.

But Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been handed a fresh blow as Emile Smith Rowe sustained an injury in the Manchester United warm-down.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa ace and Arsenal summer target Douglas Luiz will leave Villa Park as a free agent next summer.

Luiz was chased by three top Premier League clubs this summer after entering the final year of his deal.

Chelsea were known to be keen before they eventually plumped for Juventus ace Denis Zakaria on loan.

Liverpool also kept tabs on the midfielder until they pulled off a loan swoop for Juve’s Arthur Melo.

But it was the Gunners who led the charge for Luiz on transfer deadline day, having a £23million bid turned down by Villa.

But despite being happy to stay at the Midlands this term, UOL report the Brazil international has already decided to leave Steven Gerrard’s team when his contract expires in 2023.

The 24-year-old is eager to extend his Premier League tenure.

And Fulham star Bernd Leno has launched a stinging attack on Arsenal as he revealed he left the club due to “politics not performances”.

Leno told Sport Bild: “When I realised that it wasn’t about performance or quality, I knew that I had to go.

“In preparation, I saw that it is not about performance, but only about politics. It was clear to me: I had to get out of here.

“The most important thing for me is to find my rhythm again.

“Especially after I wasn’t actually able to train properly at Arsenal and had no preparation. It’s up to me to get the focus back on the national team.”

Finally, Arsenal were left frustrated late in the summer transfer window due to their move for Wolves ace Pedro Neto being scuppered by Nottingham Forest.

The Gunners’ bid for Neto collapsed when the Molineux outfit upped the winger’s price after Morgan Gibbs-White’s exit.

Gibbs-White was sold to Forest for a fee which could go up to £42.5m, but this will require all the add-ons in the deal to be met, with the upfront fee just £25m.

According to The Athletic, this deal left the North Londoners “alarmed” as they knew Wolves may up their asking price for the Portugal international.

That is exactly what happened, as Wolves demanded £50m for the 22-year-old ace which was more than what Arsenal were willing to splash.



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