A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Kevin Campbell names the Gunners player ‘better’ than Declan Rice and Thierry Henry meets a transfer target of Mikel Arteta.
Chris Sutton predicts Arsenal vs Liverpool in the FA Cup
BBC pundit Chris Sutton predicts Arsenal and Liverpool will draw 1-1 when they meet in the FA Cup on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp brings his Anfield natives to north London for a third-round clash. It is the first time the Gunners and Reds meet in the competition since February 2014.
But Sutton expects this weekend’s encounter to end in a result that ‘neither manager wants’ by forcing a replay. The Celtic hero also backs Liverpool to win a replay should the tie go to a reverse match. Klopp’s squad held Arteta’s players to a 1-1 draw at Anfield before Christmas.
Arsenal now host Liverpool on a run of just one win in their last six games in all competitions – including drawing at Anfield. The Gunners took their sole win since the start of December against Brighton & Hove Albion. And Sutton predicts Arsenal’s plight will reach one in seven.
He told BBC Sport: “I really don’t know what sort of team Arsenal or Liverpool will put out. Arteta and Klopp have rotated their squad heavily in the FA Cup in previous seasons. But I have a feeling this one will end in the result neither manager wants, which is a [1-1] draw.”
Read more about what Sutton has predicted for Arsenal’s FA Cup tie with Liverpool, here.
Kevin Campbell thinks Arsenal have ‘no better midfielder’ than Thomas Partey
Gunners hero Campbell believes there is not a better midfielder at Arsenal right now than Thomas Partey. He is adamant that the 30-year-old remains the best ball-winning player at Emirates Stadium. Even Rice is not a superior player to the Ghanaian in the defensive role.
Rice leaving West Ham United for Arsenal last July excited Campbell as he hoped to see him combine with Partey. But injury problems have restricted Partey to just four Premier League appearances. He missed four matches with a groin injury before soon suffering a thigh issue.
“We were licking our lips thinking of Declan Rice beside Thomas Partey,” Campbell has told Highbury Squad. “But because Thomas Partey wasn’t there and Declan Rice was doing such a great job, we didn’t miss him.
“The fact of the matter is when Thomas Partey is fit, he is a starter in our first 11. No matter what people say about he’s injury-prone and all this kind of thing.
“Yeah, he’s struggled with injury. But when he’s fit, there’s no better midfielder in that side, especially in the holding role than Thomas Partey because the way Thomas Partey plays – Thomas Partey knows how to play that position better than anybody.”
Read more about what Campbell has had to say about Partey, Rice and Arsenal, here.
Quinten Timber meets Thierry Henry amid transfer interest from Arsenal
Arsenal are showing interest in a transfer for Feyenoord midfielder Quinten Timber, who has now met Thierry Henry at Emirates Stadium. The twin brother of Jurrien Timber got to meet the Arsenal legend recently after visiting his sibling. Arteta signed Jurrien from Ajax last July.
Jurrien Timber even shared the clip of his brother, Quinten, meeting Henry on his Instagram story. It was likely nothing more than a chance for the Feyenoord star to speak to the France icon. But the chance encounter comes following Arsenal recently debating signing Quinten.
Reports by 90min in October suggested that Arsenal are open to signing Quinten Timber to unite the 22-year-old with his brother. Arteta has had the Utrecht native scouted on several occasions this season. He has also offered six goals and six assists in 16 Eredivisie fixtures.
Read more about Henry’s meeting with Arsenal transfer target Timber of Feyenoord, here.
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