Arsenal already have one foot in the last 16 of the Europa League ahead of their last 32 second leg meeting with Greek club Olympiacos at home.

The Gunners have done the bulk of the job in the first leg which ended in a 1-0 win courtesy the strike from Alexandre Lacazette in the last ten minutes of the game.

Arsenal need to avoid defeat in the second leg to join Rangers in the last 16 of the Europa League for this season.

The first leg saw the Gunners become only the second team to beat Olympiacos at home this season after German champions Bayern Munich.

Arsenal have been much improved under new manager Mikel Arteta who has spent just two months in the role. Under his watch, Arsenal have won the last three games in all competitions.

The run started with the 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United at home before the aforementioned first leg clash at the home of Olympiacos ended in another victory.

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Arteta and Arsenal made it three wins in the space of a week following the hard fought victory over Everton at home. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as the Gunners came from behind to beat the Toffees 3-2 at home.

Those wins have put the Gunners on the right track as they try to achieve their objective for the season. Arsenal want Champions League football for next season plus at least one trophy.

For the Olympiacos game at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal manager Arteta is not expected to make wholesale changes though Sead Kolasinac is expected to miss the game after his shoulder injury from the Everton game. Bukayo Saka came on for him during that game and he’s expected to deputise for him again for the clash with the Greek club.

Arsenal XI vs Olympiacos: Bernd Leno; Hector Bellerin, David Luiz, Shkrodan Mustafi, Bukayo Saka; Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Mesut Ozil; Gabriel Martinelli, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

Premier League giants Arsenal are prepared to meet the release clause of Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey according to the latest media reports emanating from the European nation of Spain.

Libertad Digital said that the Gunners want to meet the €50m release clause in the contract of the Ghanaian international player and that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta sees the player has one to improve the options that he has in his midfield.

The media outlet also revealed that Atletico Madrid want to offer him a new contract that will see his release clause increase significantly from the aforementioned figure.

Thomas Partey has scored three goals and provided one assist from the Atletico Madrid midfield in 33 appearances in all competitions this term and the Ghanaian midfielder was immense as Atletico Madrid stunned Liverpool in the first half of their Champions League last 16 tie.

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Partey produced a man-of-the-match performance in the colours of Atletico Madrid as he helped the Rojiblancos to establish a slim 1-0 lead from the first leg of the Champions League first knockout stage with Liverpool who are the defending champions.

That defeat was only the second for an unbeaten Liverpool team in the Premier League after the 2-0 loss to Italian Serie A giants Napoli in the first match of their Group E campaign.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone would be hoping that Thomas Partey comtinues his fine form when they travel to Liverpool to face the European champions in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.

The Spaniards have to avoid defeat or maintain a one-goal defeat that involves them scoring to advance to the quarterfinals at the expense of the defending champions.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will definitely improve his squad in the summer in virtually all the departments and Thomas Partey is a big option for him in midfield.

The Europa League has entered the business end this season after the first leg of the various last 32 ties last week Thursday as the favourites tried to build a first leg advantage ahead of the second leg billed to take place on Thursday night.

Chelsea are the defending champions but they are not able to defend the title they won last season by beating London rivals Arsenal in the final.

The Blues are in the Champions League this season as a result of that win plus their third-place finish from the last campaign in the Premier League.

With the Blues out of the competition this season, the stage is set for a new winner to emerge after the latest edition of the competition this summer.

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Let’s examine the top three favourites for the Europa League title this term in the absence of holders Chelsea:

1. Inter Milan

Italian giants Inter Milan are one of the top three favourites and that’s partly due to the influence of manager Antonio though the Italian tactician don’t have a very good in Europe.

He would be hoping to correct that notion by leading Inter Milan to their first form of title since they won the Champions League title in 2010. The Nerazzuri are yet to win any trophy for a decade.

Inter Milan have a star-studded squad that could cope with the demands of both Europa League and the Serie A where they are in a three-team battle with Juventus and Lazio for the title.

They have a foot in the last 16 of the Europa League after the 2-0 away win over Ludogorets Razgrad in the first leg of their last 32 tie.

2. Arsenal

Last season’s finalists are one of the favourites for the competition this season. They won their last 32 first leg via a 1-0 away victory at Olympiacos FC of Greece.

3. Manchester United

2017 champions Manchester United are one of the Europa League favourites this season but they have work to do in their last 32 tie with Club Brugge FC of Belgium. Both teams played 1-1 in the first leg ahead of their clash at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

EPL:Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has sent a firm transfer message to star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as doubts over his long-term future at Arsenal continues.

Mikel Arteta has been very impressive since becoming the new Arsenal manager as evident in the narrow win over Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.

After the game, Mikel Arteta spoke extensively above his skipper as he said that the club would do everything within its power to tie him down to a new contract thereby ending the transfer speculation over his future at the club.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will have one year left on his Arsenal deal by this summer and senior Gunners officials might have no choice than to sell him if he doesn’t pen a new deal or risk losing him for free next summer when his contract will expire.

The Gabonese international has spent a little over two years at Arsenal since his then club-record transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the top flight of German football.

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Arsenal paid £57m to sign him from the German Bundesliga.

He has been the leading goalscorer at Arsenal since then despite playing on the wings.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang received praise and adulation from his manager Mikel Arteta after he scored twice to lead the Gunners to a slim 3-2 win over Everton at home during the just concluded weekend.

The Gabonese international star has now taken his league tally to 17 goals to make him the joint topscorer in the division alongside Jamie Vardy who plays his club football for Leicester City.

He has 19 goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season, which is nine more than the next player, Gabriel Martinelli.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the topscorer in the Premier League last season alongside the Liverpool duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

The Three African players all scored 22 league goals last season.

Legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given his verdict on the top four credentials of Arsenal ahead of the final third of this current Premier League campaign.

Wenger talked about his former club while he was on BeIN Sports earlier this weekend.

The Frenchman is presently a director with world’s football governing body, FIFA in addition to his job as a pundit on the aforementioned media outlet.

Wenger was the Gunners boss for over two decades before he exited the role in 2018 and was subsequently replaced by Unai Emery who didn’t last long in the job.

Unai Emery barely made it past the halfway stage of his second season at the club.

On Arsenal and the hopes of a top-four finish at the end of the season, Wenger said that the Gunners still have a good chance of finishing in the top four places.

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Arsene Wenger also said that the gap between the top teams and the bottom teams has narrowed.

According to him, the top teams have dropped from their usual standards, while the bottom teams have improved.

At the start of the weekend, Arsenal were seven points adrift of Chelsea in fourth spot which will be enough for Champions League qualification next season.

Chelsea have since moved ten points ahead of the Gunners after they saw off Tottenham Hotspur in their London Derby clash on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues beat Spurs 2-1 to move four points clear of their opponents and ten points ahead of Arsenal who can get that deficit back to seven points with a win over Everton on Sunday evening.

Arsenal have a very good home record against the Toffees dating back to 1996. Everton are also in the running for a Champions League spot at the end of the season with 11 league games left to play after this weekend’s set of games.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has sent a transfer message to club bosses over sensational player Bukayo Saka who has been turning ends with his performances in the last few months.

In a chat with reporters earlier this month via the Daily Express, Mikel Arteta said that the future of Bukayo Saka will be sorted by the Arsenal chiefs led by executive director Raul Sanllehi.

Bukayo Saka has a little over one year remaining on his Arsenal contract and that has cast serious doubts over his future at the club with Liverpool and Manchester United said to be interested in the Nigerian-born teenage attacker.

The 18-year-old came through the Arsenal ranks before making his debut for the first team under Unai Emery last season.

Saka has played for the England youth teams.

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He played the left side of defence and attack for the Arsenal youth teams and was primarily used as a left-winger at the club until this season when he had to switch to the left-back position permanently because of the injuries to first-choice options Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney.

Bukayo Saka has been so impressive for Arsenal at left-back to the extent that Sead Kolasinac has not been able to displace him upon his return from injury one week ago.

Kieran Tierney is also back in full training with the Gunners meaning that the first choice left-back options for the North London club are now fully fit.

Saka has the most assists in the Arsenal first team with nine in addition to three goals scored for the club this season.

He notched his ninth assist of the season in the last game, an Europa League win over Greek club Olympiacos.

The Gunners secured a slim 1-0 away victory in the first leg of their last 32 tie with French international Alexandre Lacazette getting the only goal of the game off a Bukayo Saka assist.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been able to oversee a remarkable improvement in performances and results since the Spaniard was named the new manager of the North London club.

Arteta was part of the playing personnel at Arsenal for five years between 2011 and 2016 before he retired as the captain of the club.

He joined Pep Guardiola at Manchester City after his playing career had ended at Arsenal and was the assistant manager with the Citizens until the end of last year when the Gunners came calling for the second time.

Mikel Arteta had been interviewed for the Arsenal job in the summer of 2018 after the exit of legendary manager Arsene Wenger and he came close to getting the job before it was given to Unai Emery.

Spanish tactician Unai Emery didn’t last long in the job after his dismissal last year November. He spent just 16 months as the Gunners boss.

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Unai Emery left Arsenal in a bad state and Mikel Arteta has been able to resurrect the club from that slump in just two months but the Spaniard won’t be judged on this season.

Arteta will be critically analysed as from next season and he might need a new striker to make his work effective going by the form of Alexandre Lacazette.

French international Lacazette recently ended his drought in front of goal during the league game at home to Newcastle United.

Alexandre Lacazette has been below average in front of goal this season as the Gunners’ main striker. He has scored just eight goals in all competitions.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta might need to sign a new striker that will score goals on a consistent basis if the team will achieve the targets of next season.

Top strikers like RB Leipzig star Timo Werner and Lyon hitman Moussa Dembele are expected to be available this summer, and Arsenal can take advantage by swooping on one of them.

Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn has revealed the criteria that will decide whether playmaker Mesut Ozil will stay at the club beyond this summer.

According to him, new Mikel Arteta will have a discussion with Mesut Ozil in the summer and the outcome will determine whether or not the German will see out the final year of his contract at Arsenal.

It was revealed that Mikel Arteta will weigh up the defensive capability Ozil adds to the team before making his decision this summer.

Nigel Winterburn spoke to gentingbet about Mikel Arteta and Mesut Ozil.

Ozil has been at Arsenal since the summer of 2013 following his big money move from Real Madrid in the Spanish top flight.

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Arsenal paid around £42m for Mesut Ozil and it was their club-record as at then. That record has since been broken three times.

The arrival of Ozil ushered in a new era at Arsenal under legendary manager Arsene Wenger. The Gunners had gone eight years without any form of trophy but that ended with the presence of Ozil that season as the North London club went on to win the 2014 FA Cup title after their come from behind win over Hull City in the final.

Mesut Ozil has been the main man at Arsenal throughout his career at the club until the start of last season when Unai Emery replaced Arsene Wenger as the Gunners boss. The German World Cup winner struggled to get along with Unai Emery and that saw him play a small role under the Spanish manager.

Ozil was dropped from the Arsenal squad for several games under Unai Emery but that situation has changed for the better under Mikel Arteta within two months of his appointment.

He scored his first goal of this season in the league win over Newcastle United last weekend.