Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe has confirmed that he snubbed advances from Barcelona at the age of 16 as he was determined to make a career for himself with the Gunners. The 18-year-old made his debut for the north Londoners during the Europa League clash against Vorskla in September and he has since racked three goals from five appearances for the club.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Smith Rowe acknowledged that Barcelona were looking at the prospect of adding him into their famous La Masia academy but the move did not appear fruitful for him unlike other upcoming youngsters. He added that he is now living the dream of representing the Gunners after sharing the dressing room with some of the world’s best including Mesut Ozil.

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has reserved special praise for Lucas Torreira, who has been pivotal to the club’s bright start to the current Premier League season. The Uruguay international joined the Gunners from Sampdoria shortly after a good World Cup with Uruguay and he has since livened up things at the heart of the club’s midfield.

In a report covered by The Star, Parlour highlighted that Granit Xhaka has not made much difference to the proceedings this term and rather Torreira has been the one, who has got the Gunners ticking from the heart of the midfield, he said: “I’ve seen the difference now, they’re a lot more hard to break down now than they was at the start of the season, because Torreira wasn’t playing. Gilberto Silva, he done a wonderful job in that unbeaten season. And them sort of guys, again you won’t see them a lot during the game, but he does a great job. So it looks a lot more balanced now with Torreira playing.”

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has said that he is pleased with the performances of both Petr Cech and Bernd Leno, though he decided to go with the latter for the Premier League game at Crystal Palace. Cech had started the season as the outright choice between the sticks but a hamstring injury against Watford forced him off the pitch.

Since then, Leno has maintained his position in goal across all competitions and he continued to keep his spot for the recent London derby versus Palace which finished 2-2. Speaking after that game, Emery highlighted that he is pleased with the impact from both shot-stoppers and Cech can expect to receive some gametime in the forthcoming weeks after recovering from his injury setback.

Southampton legend Matt Le Tissierhas said that Arsenal should not be over-confident after making a good start to the Premier League season under Unai Emery. The Gunners begun the campaign in a poor fashion with successive league defeats but they have since found their feet with six straight top-flight wins which sees them placed fourth on the table.

As such, there has been wide praise for the job Emery has done since taking charge of the club but Le Tissier has sent them a warning by indicating that they have not faced any stiff opposition during this period, he said: “In terms of Arsenal's form, they beat Fulham at the weekend and previous to that they were lucky against Watford and Everton, while only beating Newcastle and Cardiff by the odd goal.

Arsenal legend David Seaman believes summer signing Bernd Leno needs to remain patient after failing to make a single appearance for the Gunners to date. The German goalkeeper was widely expected to become the club’s first-choice between the sticks but so far, this has not happened with veteran shot-stopper Petr Cech earning the trust of manager Unai Emery.

In a report covered by The Express, Seaman urged Leno to remain patient for a starting opportunity and believes Cech has not done much wrong to drop to the bench, he said: “Just because he [Leno] cost a lot of money does not mean he goes straight into the team. He has to be patient," Seaman explained after Arsenal legends’ match last weekend. Petr Cech has done nothing wrong in goal.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has indicated that Petr Cech remain the Gunners’ first-choice goalkeeper despite the arrival of Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer. Before the season begun, many predicted that Leno would start between the sticks for the new league campaign but they have been dumbfounded with Emery going with the experience of Cech.

Speaking to reporters, Emery said that Leno had been recruited to add competition for places and the German will have to wait for the opportunity to make his Gunners debut, he said: “We want the competition with the goalkeeper and also every player in the squad. The position is the same. The same chances for all the goalkeepers.Petr Cech had a very good pre-season. He has experience of continuing to defend our goal. Leno is [just] starting with us, he is working very well and also played very good in pre-season. He can wait his moment.”

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has decided to call quits on his international career with Germany following the heavy criticism towards him. The 29-year-old’s future with Germany became a public debate after he was controversially pictured alongside Turkish president Recep Erdogan and an average showing at the World Cup thereafter has only increased the verbal attack towards him.

As such, the Gunners ace has decided to end his association with the national team via a statement released on his official Twitter account which read: “The treatment I have received from the DFB and many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt. I feel unwanted and think what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten. It is with a heavy heart and after much consideration that because of recent events, I will no longer be playing for Germany while I have this feeling of racism and disrespect. I used to wear the German shirt with such pride and excitement, but now I don’t.”

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has stressed that Arsenal are yet to finalise an agreement to pursue the signature of Sokratis Papastathopoulos from their clutches. The Greece international has widely been tipped to join the north London giants this summer with reports emerging that a £16m deal has already been agreed.

Speaking to Revier Sport, Zorc admitted that Sokratis could be heading to the Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window but the transfer has not been ‘completely finalised yet’. He said: “It is likely that he goes there, that’s right. But things are not completely finalised yet. And I will not work with you now and talk about the rumour mill, which includes 27 new Dortmund signings since the end of May.

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes the Gunners may not come close to the Premier League title under Unai Emery owing to the vast investment being made by some of their rivals. The north London giants have recently entered into a new era with Emery being picked to succeed Arsene Wenger as their next head coach.

Speaking to TalkSPORT, Parlour was asked whether his former club could compete for the title, to which he replied: “I would love him to do it, but I’m going to say no.I think Man City are going to get stronger and stronger, and I think Pep Guardiola is going to stick around.I can’t see who’s going to challenge them.Top four is going to be important [for Arsenal].They’ve got to get back into the Champions League, so, for me, top four will be a very successful season. Unless there’s massive investment, the same as at Man City, [they’ll never win the league].”

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour is hoping that Jack Wilshere extends his Gunners contract beyond the current month. The England international has been in a contract standoff with the Gunners since December but recent reports have suggested that he could sign a fresh three-year contract depending on the outcome of his meeting with new boss Unai Emery.

A number of former Arsenal players have urged Wilshere to extend his decade-long say with the club and Parlour opined similarly whilst speaking to Arseblog. During the official launch of the Gunners’ away kit for next season, he said: “I hope he stays, I really do. Like me, he came through the ranks and I think it’s always good to have players in your squad who have come through the system.