17 November 2023 , 04:00
772
0
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be hoping his squad stays fit during the international break after a good start to the season.
The Gunners have won eight of their first 12 Premier League games to sit just a point behind leaders Manchester City. They are also doing well in the Champions League - sitting top of Group B - although they have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
Arsenal's Premier League campaign will resume in eight days' time when they travel to London rivals Brentford. Their next Champions League game is against Lens at home. Victory against the French side will guarantee their place in the last 16 of the tournament.
With all that in mind, here are the latest headlines from the Emirates...
France manager's dig
Didier Deschamps has suggested that William Saliba is lacking competition at Arsenal. The France boss said: "He (Saliba) hasn’t had a lot of game time with us.
Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
"He is performing well for his club. At international level, he hasn’t always found himself in the best conditions in matches where I’ve rotated a lot... He isn’t in the same psychological situation with his club, where he doesn’t ask himself if he’ll play at the weekend.
"When he has game time with us, he tells himself he needs to play well because there are others behind him. He is not in a psychological situation that is the same as at his club. He has everything he needs to take the next step."
Click HERE to read the full story
Gungogan going nowhere
Ilkay Gundogan wants to stay at Barcelona (Getty Images)Ilkay Gundogan's agent has confirmed the former Arsenal target will NOT be leaving Barcelona in January. The Gunners were interested in signing the Germany captain after his exit from Manchester City during the summer, but he joined Barcelona instead.
Gundogan has since been linked with Turkish giants Galatasaray, but his brother and agent Ilhan has quashed those rumours. He said: "The reports in the press these days about Ilkay do not reflect the truth... I want to make this clear.
"Neither I nor Ilkay can understand how this news came about. Ilkay is very happy at Barcelona and is focused on what he wants to achieve there and on his goals."
Click HERE to read the full story
Arteta charged
Mikel Arteta is in trouble with the Football Association (PA)The Football Association has charged Arteta for calling the standard of refereeing a "disgrace" after Arsenal's 1-0 loss at Newcastle. The Gunners lost at St James' Park thanks to Anthony Gordon's controversial winner, which was reviewed by the VAR official.
The FA's statement read: "Mikel Arteta has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following comments that he made in media interviews after Arsenal's Premier League game against Newcastle United on Saturday 4 November.
It's alleged that his comments constitute misconduct as they are insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or bring the game into disrepute. Mikel Arteta has until Tuesday 21 November to provide a response to this charge."
Arsenal lose eight players and sign three as January transfer window closes
Click HERE to read the full story
Hands-off warning
Arsenal have told Serie A teams AC Milan and Roma that Jakub Kiwior is NOT for sale. The Poland international, 23, joined the Gunners from Spezia in January and has struggled to get ahead of the likes of Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White in the pecking order.
Kiwior has played just 11 Premier League games since his transfer and it could take a while for him to secure a spot in Arteta's starting XI. Yet the Arsenal boss wants to keep hold of the promising youngster, with a Premier League title battle on the horizon.
Click HERE to read the full story