21 November 2023 , 04:00
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Arsenal return to action on Saturday when they travel to Brentford in the Premier League.
It will be the Gunners' first game for two weeks and Mikel Arteta will be eager to back up the 3-1 victory over Burnley before the international break. Arsenal currently sit third in the top flight table, just one point behind leaders Manchester City, having lost once in 12 league matches this season.
However, despite returning to action in five days, there are still several Arsenal players still in action for their respective countries. Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus could feature for Brazil against Argentina on Wednesday, while William Saliba and Kai Havertz are still with France and Germany respectively. Here is the latest news from the Emirates.
Martinelli's 'creative' claim
Martinelli has admitted he had "never played so much creative football" under Brazil boss Fernando Diniz as he outlined differences between the latter and Mikel Arteta.
The 22-year-old found the net in the fourth minute for Brazil on Friday, although his nation ended up losing 2-1 against Colombia in a World Cup qualifier. The winger played on the left side of midfield, with Real Madrid pair Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo as the front two, while Raphinha also started on the right flank.
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Ahead of Brazil's hotly-anticipated clash against Argentina, Martinelli has spoken about what he has learnt from Diniz compared to Arteta. "They're different working methods, they're different coaches, each one has his own way," Martinelli told Gazeta Esportiva, via TBR Football. "At Arsenal, Mikel (Arteta) has his way and here Diniz has his way.
"They're different ways of playing, but they're ways of teams that like to have the ball. Last game I'd never played so much creative football, but I felt good. Diniz has been talking to me, giving me confidence. I feel comfortable playing like this."
Gabriel Martinelli in action for Brazil against Colombia (Getty Images)Jenkinson opens up on Arsenal exit
Ex-Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson has admitted he struggled to terms he could never return to his best after suffering a serious knee injury while on loan at West Ham in 2016.
The right-back signed for the Gunners in 2011 after coming through Charlton's academy. He went on to make 70 appearances for Arsenal, before leaving the club to join Nottingham Forest in 2019.
However, Jenkinson was simply unable to get back to his best after sustaining an ACL injury at West Ham. "It was difficult," he told the Athletic. "I was so sad that it had come to an end. I needed a bit of time to get over the fact that I wasn't a player anymore. It was hard to leave Arsenal in the end, and I never really wanted to.
"I know my dad would have loved for it to have gone on forever but it doesn't always work like that. I think I realised in myself that I wasn't at that level anymore to play for a club like Arsenal after I busted my knee. I hesitate to say that.
"I don't like the idea of blaming the fact that things didn't work out on an injury. But being honest, I was never quite the same after I did my ACL at West Ham. I came back and gave it my best shot to get back to the level, but I didn't quite have the same physical attributes as perhaps I had before."
Read more here.
Carl Jenkinson left Arsenal in 2019 (Getty Images)Rice's Arsenal admission
Declan Rice has revealed he was "nervous" about how much Arsenal signed him for, as he joined the Gunners from West Ham for £105million in the summer.
The 24-year-old has shone during his time at the Emirates so far, but the midfielder has revealed he felt under pressure from the get go to impress. Rice said: "When the transfer was going through I was very nervous because of the price tag. It's natural to think about that.
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"You're a human being bought for £105m, it doesn't feel very normal. But that was because of what I’d done at West Ham, what they valued me at. When I signed for Arsenal, I just thought I just need to be Declan Rice, be myself, don't be any different, everything will go smoothly.
"It's £100m, it's a lot of money, I could understand the pressure that comes with it. Not only the pressure you put on yourself but there's an expectation of being bought for that much money we need to see performances straight away. I want to re-pay the club back straight away, they have invested a lot of money in me, I need to prove why I can go there and change things."
Read more here.