Latest Arsenal pictures as squad fly out to face Rapid Vienna in Europa League after training

Arsenal are expected to hand Thomas Partey a first start tonight as the Gunners begin their Europa League campaign against Rapid Vienna.

Mikel Arteta and his squad flew out to Austria on Wednesday after a training session, with Partey in the group having made his debut off the bench in Saturday's Premier League defeat at Manchester City.

Willian (calf) and Dani Ceballos (ankle) have not travelled but Shkodran Mustafi is part of the group following his hamstring complaint as Rob Holding (hamstring), Pablo Mari (ankle), Calum Chambers and Gabriel Martinelli (both knee) all miss out through injury.

One player who definitely won't be involved is Mesut Ozil, who has been excluded from both the Europa League and Premier League squads until January at the earliest.

The 32-year-old is the highest-paid player in Arsenal's history and Arteta has taken full responsibility for Ozil's absence as he said only football reasons were taken into account in making the decision.

"What I can say from my side is that it is just a football decision," he told reporters on Wednesday. "My conscience is very calm because I have been really fair with him."

Ainsley Maitland-Niles will hope to continue his impressive start to the season with a start in Austria, having credited Arteta for his rise to prominence.

He said: "He just installed a lot of confidence in me that I had in myself, but maybe I didn't know how to bring out. He has helped me do that.

Scroll through the gallery above to see Arsenal train before flying out to Austria...

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