29 October 2023 , 03:00
452
0
Arsenal are back to just two points off the top of the Premier League after easily brushing aside Sheffield United on Saturday.
Following the vital away win to Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday, there was no sign of a hangover at the Emirates as Eddie Nketiah bagged his first league hat-trick for the Gunners, with Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu completing a 5-0 win. It meant Mikel Arteta's men kept the pressure up on north London rivals Tottenham after they won at Crystal Palace on Friday.
But there will be little time to dwell for the Spanish boss. On Wednesday, his side go to West Ham in the EFL Cup, followed by another vital league game at Newcastle next Saturday.
Here's the latest news from the Emirates....
Odegaard backed over Arteta call
Martin Odegaard was dropped to the bench against Sheffield United (Jose Breton/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was backed by Tim Sherwood after being axed from the starting XI against Sheffield United.
Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
The Norwegian midfielder has been seemingly below-par for club and country, prompting Arteta to make a ruthless call and hand Bukayo Saka the armband. And covering the game for Sky Sports, former Blackburn manager Sherwood said: "He's had an off two or three weeks, that's all.
"When you're a player and you're looking for form these are the kind of games you want to be playing in. It's a chance to get back into form. I don't think he should have been dropped today."
Was Arteta right to drop Martin Odegaard? Have your say in the comments section
Nkeitah denied his place in history
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates scoring the third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) (Getty Images)It was a fantastic day for Nkeitah on Saturday as he bagged his first Premier League hat-trick - but it could have been even better.
With the score 3-0 and the game deep into injury time, the Gunners were awarded a penalty after the video assistant referee (VAR) adjudged Oliver Norwood to have fouled Vieira in the area. And the striker immediately picked up the ball, and seemed certain to have a chance of a fourth goal from 12 yards.
That would have made him just the third Arsenal player in history to score four times in a Premier League match, following Thierry Henry (against Leeds in 2004) and Andrey Arshavin (Liverpool in 2008). However, after some dispute, it was Vieira who ended up with the responsibility, with Nkeitah later confirming his teammate had asked him to hand over the ball.
Wenger backs Tottenham to challenge for title
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he considers Tottenham to be among four clubs in contention for the Premier League title thanks to two summer signings and Son Heung-min.
"I like always to say what I feel, really," Wenger said on beIN Sports. "Deeply, I believe Tottenham will be one of the contenders for the league. They bought Maddison, who is a great player. He is that link from low midfield to high midfield and added some technical creativity to the team.
"They bought Van de Ven, who I find absolutely exceptional. They had weaknesses there and last season [Hugo] Lloris had not the best of seasons as well. And the movement from Son into the middle looks very good."
Arsenal lose eight players and sign three as January transfer window closes