ARSENAL had a £26million bid for former Manchester City attacker Ferran Torres rejected according to reports.
It has been claimed that the staff at Barcelona were initially willing to let him go until head coach Xavi made a u-turn on the deal.
Meanwhile, the North London outfit have confirmed their Europa League squad and it includes Marquinhos and three other potential debutants.
And Thomas Partey has been surprisingly called up to the Ghana international team despite missing Arsenal's last three matches through injury.
Get 25 FREE SPINS with NO DEPOSIT required when you join Sun Vegas
Jesus lashes out
Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus is adamant his team was "so much better" than Manchester United despite their 3-1 defeat – and they need to quickly shake off the frustration.
Jesus said: “We are not happy because, in my opinion, we should win because we played so much better.
“The feeling is frustration because we controlled the game. We were better than them and then we just concede.
“We came to play against a strong opponent and it’s always hard, it’s the Premier League.
“That’s football, they have quality as well and then if you don’t go there and kill, you are going to have a big problem – and that’s what happened”
Neville on Antony
Manchester United legend Gary Neville says he would have “whacked” Antony for the incredible piece of footwork he put together against Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Neville said: “To be honest with you, when you see a player doing that your automatic reaction as a defender…”
Jamie Carragher then interrupted, saying: “Put him in the stand.”
Neville agreed, saying: “Yeah, you are going to get whacked. But from a United point of view, we have been asking for personality, confidence and character.
“So we can’t knock it because we have got someone out there who is having himself, massively”
Zurich vs Arsenal preview
Arsenal visit Zurich on Thursday to mark their Europa League comeback.
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 Shaktar Donetsk loanee Bogdan Viunnyk who are both injured.
Elsewhere, the North Londoners remain light in midfield with Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny still in the treatment room whilst Reiss Nelson is going through his recovery process.
But Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been delivered a fresh blow as Emile Smith Rowe sustained an injury in the Manchester United loss warm-down
Bellerin left out
Barcelona have left new signing and former Arsenal ace Hector Bellerin out of their Champions League squad.
It comes after Bellerin sealed a late move to Barca in the final stages of the summer transfer window.
Former Chelsea star and fellow late arrival Marcos Alonso was also omitted.
Barcelona boss Xavi said: “They are two signings, they have to get used to what we are doing.
“They haven’t had minutes this season and they need a little more physical work. Saturday they will be in the squad”
More fom Mertesacker
Arsenal Academy Manager Per Mertesacker is very pleased with how well the senior team and the academy are connected.
Mertesacker added: “I couldn’t be more pleased how aligned we are in terms of the first team and the academy, and the success rubs off each other.
“I’m in a super happy place right now”
Mertesacker's big ambition
Former Arsenal ace Per Mertesacker wants to deliver a "world leading" academy system to support manager Mikel Arteta's youth revolution.
Mertesacker is now the Academy Manager at Hale End helping to prime north London's best youngsters to make the step up to the first team.
He said: "Players like [Albert] Sambi Lokonga who is playing, these are players who are fairly young and are part of the new generation of Arsenal Football Club which is getting younger.
"I believe as an academy we should be in a position to provide those players for the first team in the future.
"I am really conscious that alignment means as well that once we get more successful and get back into the Champions League, that is the level for our players to be at.
"With the tweaks we are making [in the academy] and becoming younger by acquiring talent from the outside to become younger, this is a message to the academy: we need to be world leading. To become that we are on a journey. How close are we? I’m not sure.
“We’re competing with the best academies in England but also in Europe and the world. I think we’re in a good position, but ready to do more”
Your not the one
Arsenal pulled out of the transfer race for Leicester star Youri Tielemans over doubts that he would not be the right fit for the team.
According to journalist Pete O'Rourke the Gunners' manager Mikel Arteta was "not interested enough" in signing Tielemans.
O'Rourke told Give Me Sport: "The offer of around £23million for Douglas Luiz would have been enough to land Tielemans – so I think we can take from this that Arsenal lost belief that he was the right fit for their team.
"They were interested but not interested enough"
Rooney on Neville
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has revealed more details about the 2005 tunnel bust-up between Roy Keane and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira.
Rooney claims that Gary Neville was chased into the dressing room by the Gunners' stars before the game had even kicked off.
United’s record scorer wrote for The Times: “Arsenal had targeted Gary Neville for whatever reason and it started in the warm-up.
“Vieira and someone else chased him in the tunnel. He’s not a fighter, Gary, not off the pitch, and he ran into our dressing room.”
Neville tweeted some laughing emojis and posted: “This story changes every year”
Shot in the foot
Arsenal were left frustrated late in the 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 following the departure of Morgan Gibbs-White.
Gibbs-White was sold to Forest for a fee which could reach up to £42.5million, 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 move 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 which was more than what Arsenal were willing to pay
Neville on Arsenal transfers
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has ripped into Arsenal for their dodgy transfer decisions late in the transfer window.
In particular, Neville was critical of the Gunners' decision to wait until deadline day to bid for Aston Villa ace Douglas Luiz.
The former England international said: "We asked Mikel Arteta on the first game of the season, we said to him 'are you going to do any more business?'
"He said he did, in midfield. Why did they wait until transfer deadline day to bid for Luiz? Why did they wait that three, four weeks?
"I thought midfield yesterday [against United] was the one area where United looked like they had more, at times, passing through the lines.
"I know that Arsenal did really well in midfield, but when there was a moment to open up the game – I know [Martin] Odegaard can do that – I felt they did lack a midfield player"
Arsenal's Europa League squad
Arsenal have confirmed their Europa League squad and it includes Marquinhos as well as three other potential debutants.
The Gunners start their European comeback away to Zurich on Thursday.
The North Londoners' squad of 24 players was revealed on the official UEFA website on Monday.
Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale, Matt Turner, James Hillson
Defence: Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Rob Holding, Cedric Soares, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney
Midfield: Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Fabio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Matt Smith
Attack: Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Marquinhos
Partey international call-up
Ghana have called up injured Arsenal star Thomas Partey for upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua.
Partey has been injured and unavailable for the Gunners for their last three matches and last week manager Mikel Arteta said he is likely to be out "for a while".
The midfielder counts 40 caps and his national team are set to play Brazil on September 23 and Nicaragua four days after that.
Failed Torres bid
Arsenal were looking to sign Barcelona star Ferran Torres in the summer transfer window.
But a £26million move for Torres was reportedly scuppered by Barca boss Xavi.
The Gunners were set to seal a deal for the former Manchester City star until the Spanish tactician overruled his board’s decision to let him leave, according to El Nacional.
The forward only joined the Blaugrana from City during the last January transfer window
Gallas slams Saliba and White
Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender William Gallas says Gunners centre-backs William Saliba and Ben White need to shoulder much of the blame for Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United.
The retired France star told Genting Casino: “Against Manchester United, at Old Trafford, you can’t concede those types of goals, especially the second and the third one.
“That was a big mistake of Saliba and Ben White – they didn’t communicate properly and they conceded because of it. Their positioning was poor.”
Mertesacker's ambitious Arsenal academy plans
Per Mertesacker plans to deliver a "world leading" academy system to support Mikel Arteta's youth revolution at Arsenal.
The former Gunners defender, 37, who is now the Academy Manager at Hale End, said: "I believe as an academy we should be in a position to provide those players with a route to the first team in the future.
"I am really conscious that alignment means as well that once we get more successful and get back into the Champions League, that is the level for our players to be at.
"With the tweaks we are making [in the academy] and becoming younger by acquiring talent from the outside the message to the academy is that we need to be world leading."
New Jesus kicking Martinez footage
New footage of Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus kicking Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez in frustration during Sunday's Prem clash has emerged.
Argentina centre-half Martinez accidentally walks backwards into Jesus while he is kneeling on the pitch in the penalty box, prompting the Brazil striker to stand-up and kick his opponent in the left leg.
The footage was tweeted by @UtdFaithfuls along with the comment: "Look what Gabriel Jesus did to Lisandro Martinez for pocketing him, but Arsenal fans won't see it because they're busy crying that Man Utd thrashed them."
Bellerin misses Champions League cut
Neither ex-Arsenal star Hector Bellerin or former Chelsea ace Marcos Alonso have been included in Barcelona's squad to face Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League tomorrow.
Explaining the omission of his new full-backs, Barca manager Xavi said: "They are two signings, they have to get used to what we are doing.
"They haven’t had minutes this season and they need a little more physical work. Saturday they will be in the squad."
Xavi 'blocked Torres Arsenal switch'
A £26million move by Arsenal to sign Ferran Torres was reportedly scuppered by Barcelona boss Xavi.
The Gunners were set to seal a deal for the former Manchester City forward until Xavi overruled his board’s decision to let him leave, according to El Nacional.
Bellerin's big Barca deal
Barcelona have reportedly added a £50million termination clause into Hector Bellerin's contract.
The Catalans could only offer the defender a one-year-deal when they signed him on deadline day due to FFP rules.
So the LaLiga giants have inserted the safeguard for the player in the deal, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
Ghana call-up injured Partey
Ghana call-up injured Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey for upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua.
Partey has been injured and unavailable for the Gunners for their last three matches and last week boss Mikel Arteta said he is likely to be out "for a while".
He has 40 caps and his national team are set to play Brazil on September 23 and Nicaragua four days after that.
Saka 'could still play Zurich'
Bukayo Saka could still play in Thursday's Europa League clash against FC Zurich – despite not being named in the official Arsenal squad list submitted to Uefa.
The team at football.london have clarified the details of the red tape surrounding the 21-year-old England star.
Their article says: "There is one notable absentee. That player is Bukayo Saka, who doesn't appear to be registered for the clash, despite being the only notable first-team option on the right-wing.
"However, that doesn't necessarily mean he won't be involved in the game in some capacity.
"That's because the youngster can be included on a so-called 'B list' which allows younger players to join the squad and be of use to them without taking up a squad place."
Arsenal 'must protect crown jewels'
Mikael Silvestre has urged Arsenal to tie down three of their best young players on long-term contracts.
The retired Gunners defender, 45, says the club must move now to secure the services of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba for many years to come.
Former France star Silvestre told bettingexpert: "It is extremely important as Arsenal has been losing players on free transfers too many times before.
"Now that the team is performing and you can see the progression.
"It’s a young group of players so they need to tie them up for much longer because if you go on the market and try to buy these players now it’s going cost you a lot of money."
Gunners set sights on Zurich
Arsenal return to European action this week and here are some useful details on the tie…
The Gunners will begin their quest for Europa League glory with a 5.45pm kick-off on Thursday against Swiss giants FC Zurich at the Stadion Letzigrund.
The two sides have never made in competitive action.
The early Prem leaders are expected to make changes to the side which lost to Manchester United on Sunday, with Fabio Vieira, Eddie Nketiah and Matt Turner in line for starts.
The game will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2, and BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the game via their app.
Morning Arsenal fans
Arsenal have confirmed their Europa League squad and it includes Marquinhos and three other potential debutants.
The Gunners start their European adventure away to FC Zurich this Thursday.
Brazilian wonderkid Marquinhos, 19 – whose debut fans are eagerly anticipating – is named on the list.
Youngsters Matt Smith and James Hillson are also included.
American goalkeeper Matt Turner – also yet to appear for the North London club – is on the roster.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus felt they were the better side in Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United.
The Gunners fought back to level at 1-1 and were on top until a late Marcus Rashford brace gave their old enemies all three points.
Jesus said: “The feeling is frustration because we play, we control the game and the first two goals we concede we were better than them, the opponent.
“And then we just concede. But now is the time to learn from it and improve.”
Nuno Tavares has slammed Arsenal for not including an option to make his Marseille loan move permanent.
He said: “I came to Marseille to finally be able to play in my position. When signing with OM, I wanted to have an option to buy, but Arsenal refused.
"With my agents, we always wanted this purchase option, but Arsenal didn’t.
“Now I’m at OM, and with or without an option, I’m happy. At Arsenal, I would have probably only played in the cup."
Young duo in Europa League squad
Arsenal have named young prospects James Hillson and Matt Smith in their Europa League squad.
Keeper Hillson, 21, has impressed for their Under-21s, while midfielder Smith has made his mark with their Under-23s.
The Gunners start their Europa League campaign at FC Zurich on Thursday evening.
Aberdeen star spotted at Celtic Park as Hoops lose UCL clash to Real Madrid
Vinicius Jr, Luka Modric and Eden Hazard strike to sicken Hoops
Rangers boss Van Bronckhorst makes major Jon McLaughlin call for Ajax clash
Celtic kids hit for SIX by Real Madrid as Hoops get youth league humbling
©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. “The Sun”, “Sun”, “Sun Online” are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers’ Limited’s Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. View our online Press Pack. For other inquiries Contact Us. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)
Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here.