24 September 2023 , 03:00
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Arsenal have enjoyed a positive start to the season, winning four and drawing one of their opening five Premier League games.
The atmosphere among the Gunners camp will have only improved further as a result of their dominant Champions League display against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night. Mikel Arteta's men ran out 4-0 winners at home to the Dutch giants on what was Arsenal's first fixture in European club football's most prestigious competition for six years.
However, the Gunners could not afford to toast their fine performance for long, given attention had to turn to Sunday's North London Derby against fierce rivals Tottenham at the Emirates. Both clubs boast an identical record after five league games and Arteta's Arsenal cannot afford to underestimate their neighbours.
With that in mind, here are the main stories surrounding the Gunners on Sunday, September 24.
Leno breaks silence on Ramsdale debate
Bernd Leno lost his place at Arsenal to Aaron RamsdaleBernd Leno knows exactly how it feels to be Arsenal's no. 1 goalkeeper, only to lose his place to a new signing. Aaron Ramsdale, who disloged Leno in the summer of 2021, is now facing the same fate as new arrival David Raya has started the Gunners last two games.
Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
Leno, now at Fulham, has admitted he "sympathises" with Ramsdale. The Germany international told the Times : "At the start of the 2021 season, we lost the first three games and after the international break all of a sudden it was, 'We need to change players and have positive energy'.
"There were a couple of excuses I didn't understand and I have to say, unfortunately, it's more or less the same with Ramsdale. It has happened [again] after the international break. I was thinking: 'That's more or less the same as with me.'
"I was thinking about Aaron, he's a very good guy. I know how he feels, there are some similarities. When I wanted to fight for my place, the goalkeeper coach said, 'You have to leave the club.' When he said it wasn't about performance, I knew straight away I had to leave."
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Arteta blasted for transfer business
Graeme Souness has laid into the Gunners boss for his decision to spend £65million on Kai Havertz this summer. Arsenal landed the Champions League winners signature from London rivals Chelsea, but has not enjoyed the best start to life a the Emirates.
Havertz is currently without a goal or an assist in six games for his new side and has already attracted criticism from fans and pundits aplenty. Souness has aimed his rant at both at the player and his Arsenal manager.
"Not all of Arsenal ’s spending makes sense to me. They’ve laid out £65million on Kai Havertz," he wrote in his column. "Surely you’re not spending that kind of money on what he’s shown at Chelsea in the past three seasons?
"They’ve shelled out in the hope that Mikel Arteta can get a very, very different tune out of him than Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel or Graham Potter ever did. Good luck with that one, Mikel."
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Supercomputer makes derby prediction
Arsenal have been tipped to beat TottenhamOpta's supercomputer has predicted that Arsenal will come away from their clash with Spurs as winners and enjoy local bragging rights.
Arsenal lose eight players and sign three as January transfer window closes
The Gunners have not lost to Spurs at home since Arteta took the reins in 2019 and have not suffered a home league defeat to their neighbours under any boss since November 2010.
This time around, Opta gives the Gunners a 47.6% chance of victory in one of 10 match predictions ahead of a busy Premier League weekend. Spurs have a 25.7% chance of success, which is far from insignificant, while the supercomputer rates the draw at 26.7%.
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