French World Cup winner and Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit has shared the one thing which has deeply concerned him about Arsenal for a long time.

Arsenal face Tottenham in North London Derby today

The day has come for manager Mikel Arteta and his squad to do battle against fierce north London rivals Tottenham, with the 14:00 kick off looming and Arsenal desperate to seize all three points.

Arteta confirms "great news" for Arsenal ahead of Spurs with injury update

A key player looks ready to feature against Tottenham.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 14, 2024

Arsenal have a couple of key absences, especially in midfield, with Mikel Merino sidelined until mid-October at the earliest and Declan Rice unavailable through suspension.

Arteta could drop Kai Havertz back into midfield this afternoon, and play new arrival Raheem Sterling as a false-nine on his possible debut for Arsenal, as they attempt to plug the gaps left by Rice and Merino’s absences.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Defender Riccardo Calafiori, captain Martin Odegaard and striker Gabriel Jesus are contending to be fit, according to Arteta in his pre-match Arsenal press conference on Friday, with the trio all touch-and-go depending on last minute assessments.

The Premier League title hopefuls have been desperately unlucky with injuries over the international break and beforehand, which is regrettably out of Arteta’s control, as the Spaniard now looks to set up his team in the most productive way possible against a plucky, attack-minded Tottenham side.

Sporting director Edu Gaspar brought in five major signings to reinforce Arsenal’s squad over the summer, with Sterling, Neto, Merino, Calafiori and David Raya joining for under £100 million.

However, their lack of depth is still a concern, especially for Petit.

Emmanuel Petit shares the one real worry he has about Arsenal

Speaking to TalkSPORT, Petit shared his real concern about Arsenal’s lack of rotation options, suggesting it could be their achilles heel as Arteta attempts to end Arsenal’s 21-year-long wait for a league title.

“City started poorly (last season) and they were missing big players during the season, but they won the title,” Petit said.

“I’m not sure that can be possible for Arsenal in terms of quality and quantity of players. That’s what I’ve been worried about for ages, the rotation of the team. Now they are back in the Champions League again. Playing every single three days, international duty as well with your country, that means you need to get rotation in your team.

“When you get important players injured, what’s the solution for Arteta? He’s got players, but not in the same position and who cannot bring the same qualities on the pitch. I’m pretty sure that Arteta and his staff have been scratching their heads trying to find the best solution, especially in midfield.

“In modern football, you win games in the midfield most of the times. Those two guys are leaders, Rice and Odegaard. I’m very, very upset they won’t be here on Sunday because in terms of rotation, it’s already quite limited for Arteta.”

After Tottenham, Arteta and co face crucial fixtures almost immediately – with Atalanta awaiting them in the Champions League just days later and a trip to Man City looming next weekend..

Despite only signing for the Blues last summer, one of the many names that seem to be on the chopping block at Chelsea this summer, is French defender, Axel Disasi.

Since the arrival of new manager, Enzo Maresca, the importance of on-ball qualities in defense has risen, and therefore it is believed Disasi could be further down the pecking order, than defensive peers such as Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill.

Disasi – who has caught the eye of Newcastle United – made 44 appearances for Chelsea last season in all competitions, scoring three goals, and contributing to ten clean sheets in his 3,690 minutes played, although the belief is that he could now be shown the door.

In turn, the Blues could look to acquire a suitable upgrade…

Chelsea transfer news

According to reports from TEAMtalk, Chelsea could make a move to sign Liverpool defender, Joe Gomez, before the end of the summer window. The Merseysiders are reportedly keen to sell the England international, and are willing to accept an appropriate bid.

The reports claim Maresca has made it clear to the club chiefs that he wants defensive reinforcements in the centre-back position, with Gomez being high on their shortlist.

Gomez made 51 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool last season, providing three assists, and contributing to 14 clean sheets in his 3,133 minutes played. He also played a variety of positions, making 25 appearances at right-back, 19 appearances at left-back, five in central defence, and even two as a defensive midfielder.

Gomez vs Disasi comparison

Like Gomez, Disasi did have to fill in at right-back a few times last season, due to the injuries of Reece James and Malo Gusto. The 26-year-old made eight appearances at right-back, and due to James's injury issues, any defensive acquisition would need to have that same versatility shown by Disasi, something Gomez has in abundance.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Gomez

Disasi

Passes Attempted

69.7

78.6

Pass Completion %

82.6%

90.0%

Progressive Passes

4.89

3.90

Progressive Carries

1.98

1.05

Passes into Final Third

4.20

4.01

Tackles

2.37

1.15

Blocks

1.30

0.91

Interceptions

1.09

0.59

Aerials Won

1.83

2.51

Back in 2018, Troy Deeney described the £85k-per-week star as a "beast" of a player, claiming he could be England's centre-half for the next 15 years. Since then, it hasn't quite worked out that way for Gomez, only making 15 appearances for England, and not nailing down a starting spot for the Three Lions.

However, you can see the value in Gomez as a player, putting up good defensive action numbers, and being able to do so in a variety of positions. He doubled Disasi's tackle numbers, averaging 2.37 per 90, and nearly doubled his interceptions too, with 1.09 per 90.

Whilst Disasi averages more passes attempted than Gomez, and a higher pass completion percentage, this could be down to two factors. One being Gomez featuring more as a fullback last season, getting fewer touches and build up involvement than the central defenders, or secondly, due to the more progressive nature of his passes (higher risk).

Gomez averages 0.99 more progressive passes than Disasi per 90, 0.19 more passes into the final third, and 0.93 more progressive carries. This would be important for Maresca's system, having the ability to progress play through the lines, whether that's through passing or carrying.

As such, the Liverpool man could represent the perfect upgrade in the backline, while also allowing Maresca to finally show Disasi the door.

Imagine him & Colwill: Chelsea make contact over move for Chalobah upgrade

He could be set to leave his current side before the transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 21, 2024

Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has revealed that Pep Guardiola has called his struggling squad in to train on Christmas Day, breaking tradition.

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City lose again to Aston VillaSlip to seventh in PL tableCityzens now set to train on Christmas DayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester City have been in abysmal form in recent weeks, slipping to seventh in the league standings and almost definitely out of the title race for the first time since the 2019-20 season. After the most recent defeat to Aston Villa, Guardiola is keen to turn around his side’s form for the last two clashes of 2024 and has Walker has revealed that the Catalan tactician has called the squad in on Christmas Day to prepare for their Boxing Day clash against Everton.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT WALKER SAID

Speaking on his ‘You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker’ podcast, the City captain – who has been badly out of sorts himself – said: "We've been fortunate in the past couple of seasons that we haven't had to train on Christmas Day. We are doing this season because we've got Everton at 12.30 on Boxing Day. But the last couple of seasons we've had Christmas Day off, which has been very nice…"

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As per reports earlier this week, Walker had plans to spend Christmas Day with his estranged wife Annie Kilner and their four children. However, Guardiola’s change in training plans may now jeopardise the Manchester City captain’s ‘last chance’ at saving his relationship with Kilner. The festive period has not been kind to Walker, as last year he was reportedly thrown out of his house following the revelation of his affair with former Love Island star Lauryn Goodman.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CITY?

Guardiola’s side will be in action next on Boxing Day against Everton at the Etihad before they end their calendar year with a trip to the King Power for a clash against Leicester City on Sunday, December 29.

Los Blancos' star trio were on top form as Carlo Ancelotti celebrated becoming the most successful manager in the club's history

Real Madrid won the Intercontinental Cup final after beating Mexican giants Pachuca 3-0 in Qatar on a memorable evening for Carlo Ancelotti, whose 15th major trophy with Los Blancos sees him become the club’s most successful manager ever.

The Spanish side struggled to create any clear chances in the first half until the 37th minute, when they found the net with their first shot on target. The goal was worth the wait, too, Real Madrid’s star trio flexing their skills to deliver a moment of class. Jude Bellingham played the ball through to Vinicius Jr, who skilfully rounded the goalkeeper and teed up Kylian Mbappe to score on his return to the side.

Madrid weren’t out of second gear when they made it 2-0 early in the second period, with Mbappe turning provider. The Frenchman found Rodrygo, who cut onto his left foot and then chopped onto his right before curling a superb effort past Carlos Moreno.

So a successful trip to Qatar for Madrid, who wrapped up the win thanks to Vinicius' late penalty, and a triumphant return to the Lusail Stadium for Mbappe on the second anniversary of France’s World Cup final heartache against Argentina.

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from Qatar…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Thibaut Courtois (8/10):

  Active in the opening minutes, keeping out Luis Rodriguez and Oussama Idrissi, and did well to deny Salomon Rondon in the second half as Pachuca pushed to get on the scoresheet.

  Lucas Vazquez (6/10):

  Not given too many headaches by Pachuca’s attack and won the late penalty which Vinicius converted.

  Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10):

  Coped well as Madrid came under some pressure in the second half.

  Antonio Rudiger (7/10):

  Solid, as ever for the centre-back.

  Fran Garcia (7/10):

  Strong in the challenge and got forward at every opportunity.

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• AFP
  

  Midfield

  Federico Valverde (8/10):

  The Uruguayan was excellent in defence and attack, playing a decisive pass that led to Mbappe’s goal.

  Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):

  Not as effective as his midfield partner Valverde but appeared to still enjoy himself with some effective dribbling and plenty of running.

  Jude Bellingham (9/10):

  Showed his class with some fine touches, including the pass to Vinicius that led to Madrid’s opening goal.

• AFP
  

  Attack

  Rodrygo (8/10):

  Starred against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday and kept it up with another excellent display, capped off with a fine goal.

  Vinicius Jr. (8/10):

  The Brazilian’s often-overlooked playmaking skills were on full display during a dynamic performance. His assist for Mbappe was special, and he put the cherry on top of a fine performance with his late penalty.

  Kylian Mbappe (8/10):

  Marked his return to the Madrid side with a bang after missing the draw against Vallecano. The French striker looked sharp and he's now scored in three straight games.

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• AFP
  

  Subs & Manager

  Dani Ceballos (6/10):

  Kept things ticking over.

  Brahim Diaz (6/10):

  Keen to get on the scoresheet but saw a long-range effort fly over.

  Luka Modric (6/10):

  The 39-year-old will cherish appearing in games like these as his career winds down.

  Raul Asensio (N/A):

  Not enough time.

  Arda Guler (N/A):

  Late addition.

  Carlo Ancelotti (7/10):

  More difficult tests lie in wait for the Italian but he'll enjoy this history-making victory.

European heavyweights Paris-Saint Germain are keen on signing a “top talent” at Arsenal, and one who is rated extremely highly, with the Gunners braced for interest from all corners of the continent.

Arteta commits long-term Arsenal future by signing new contract

Ahead of their looming North London Derby this weekend, some very good news came out of the Emirates Stadium, with manager Mikel Arteta putting pen to paper on a new contract till 2027.

Arsenal and Arteta could now start "unique" 17-year-old against Tottenham

The Gunners are growing shorter of options.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 13, 2024

The Spaniard’s previous terms were due to expire next year, resulting in speculation that he could leave at the end of this season, but Arteta’s decision to commit to a further three years has quashed all worries that Arsenal could soon lose their manager.

Arteta’s new deal sees him earn £288,000-per-week, which puts him in line with the Premier League’s highest-earning tacticians, and it is a welcome announcement for supporters after a week of consistent reports surrounding key absences for this weekend’s trip to Tottenham.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Mikel Merino’s shoulder injury means he’ll be absent for the derby and beyond, while star midfielder Declan Rice will miss out through suspension. Martin Odegaard twisted his ankle on international duty with Norway earlier this week as well, so Arteta looks set to be without a host of key men for Arsenal’s face-off against Spurs.

Given the selection headaches for this weekend, Arteta has little time to celebrate his lucrative fresh terms. With the 42-year-old now set to be a key component of Arsenal’s long-term project for years to come, there are a few players he will be very keen to keep hold of.

One of them, star defender William Saliba, is said to be attracting interest from elite European sides. Real Madrid have been looking at signing Saliba, as have Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, according to recent reports.

This is hardly a surprise, considering he is one of the continent’s top defenders right now, and arguably has been ever since he began to form an exceptional partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes at the start of 2022/2023.

PSG eyeing William Saliba at Arsenal

Speaking to CaughtOffside, CBS reporter and Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson backs reports that PSG are also interested in signing Saliba from Arsenal – but admits that the French champions face a real battle for the 23-year-old’s signature.

“We’ve seen some transfer gossip about William Saliba and it’s only natural that some of the top clubs in Europe would be interested in the Arsenal defender. PSG’s interest is nothing new – he’s Paris-born and hails from the Bondy region, like Kylian Mbappe and Randal Kolo Muani,” said Johnson.

“However, at the moment, whether it’s PSG, Real Madrid or another top European club, it’s very hard to see them being able to prise Saliba away from Arsenal. He’s one of their top talents at the moment, and one of the best defenders in world football, and after a strong showing at the Euros he’s shown he’s in that world class bracket. I think now that Mikel Arteta’s future has also been cleared up, I think Saliba will be looked at as a player that the Gunners hope to keep as a key cornerstone for the team.

“For the moment, I can’t see anyone going in for Saliba while he remains such a key part of that Arsenal project, but, depending on what happens this season, who knows, perhaps a scenario could develop that presents an opportunity for one of these top European clubs to sound out his situation.”

Saliba signed for just £27 million from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2019 and has become one of the league’s standout bargain signings of the last decade. With Arteta remaining at Arsenal for the foreseeable, PSG could face an even bigger battle to lure him back to France.

A “world-class” player has held talks to join Arsenal via his representatives, and it is believed sporting director Edu Gaspar is prioritising a deal for him.

Arsenal make 2025 transfer plans as Arteta prepares for Tottenham

Head coach Mikel Arteta, after signing a new three-year contract and committing his future to the club, is now focusing all of his attention on Sunday’s looming North London Derby against Tottenham.

Arteta confirms "great news" for Arsenal ahead of Spurs with injury update

A key player looks ready to feature against Tottenham.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 14, 2024

Arteta has a few selection headaches to deal with ahead of tomorrow’s 14:00 kick off, with summer signing Mikel Merino sidelined after a shoulder injury. According to reports, Merino may not return until mid-October at the earliest, so he is certain to be unavailable, while another star midfielder in Declan Rice is also absent through suspension.

Odegaard was expected to miss Tottenham too, but in some good news for Arsenal, Arteta has refused to rule completely him his captain out of their trip to Spurs. Both Gabriel Jesus and Riccardo Calafiori are racing to be fit for Sunday as well, so the Gunners’ injury crisis isn’t as bad as first feared.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

However, with both Merino and Rice out, there is a major shortage in Arsenal’s midfield. This has led to suggestions that Arteta could drop Kai Havertz into midfield with new arrival Raheem Sterling potentially playing a false-nine role, so it will be interesting to see how the team is indeed set up.

Meanwhile, Edu and the club’s recruitment team are already said to be working on new signings for next year off the field. Arsenal are believed to be eyeing Benjamin Sesko ahead of 2025, and have apparently already made contact to gain a head-start on their rivals.

Arsenal have also been linked with Jonathan David this week, as one of Ligue 1’s most prolific scorers of the last few seasons will soon be up for grabs at zero cost.

Arsenal open talks with Jonathan David ahead of January swoop

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal have opened talks with David’s representatives ahead of a move in January – rather than a pre-contract arrangement which would see him join for free next summer.

The Canadian international is said to have rejected two new contract offers from his current club as he seeks a move away, and it is believed Edu is set to prioritise David’s signing in the winter window.

Other reports state that Arsenal could tempt David with an offer north of £96,000-per-week, which is surely a real incentive for them to move, considering that salary wouldn’t even put the forward in line with Arteta’s biggest earners.

Called “world class” by ex-Canada manager Iain Hume, the 24-year-old already boasts 153 senior career goals for both club and country combined.

“At his age, to have such a calmness, and a cool head like that? He is a world class player right now,” said Hume in 2022. “That’s a Canadian kid. That’s the realism now. Name more than five/six strikers in the world better than him — I think you’ll struggle.”

Only five overs possible as unbeaten South Group sides have to share points

Matt Roller17-Jun-2021It takes something special for 4,000 or so supporters to pitch up to the Kia Oval, watch only five overs of cricket, and head home in the drizzle without feeling short-changed, but two young stars of this season’s Vitality Blast ensured there were some lasting memories for the hardy few. A heavy rain shower put paid to this match between the competition’s only two unbeaten sides after a gunslinging start, but Archie Lenham and Will Jacks both provided glimpses of their star quality in the 30 legitimate balls that were possible.Lenham, the 16-year-old legspinner, who looks not a day older than his age, was the first to shine. Lenham was born a year after the first season of the Twenty20 Cup, making him the first “Blast Baby”, and has been given first-team opportunities at the start of this season with Rashid Khan still at the Pakistan Super League. He has taken four wickets – three of them live on Sky – and conceded only 7.37 runs an over to date, but it was a stunning effort in the field that caught the eye on Thursday night.Lenham had dropped a straightforward catch at short third man in the televised game against Hampshire last week, and when Jason Roy sent a skier over his head at short fine leg off the third ball of the match, the sensible money was on the ball. It is unlikely that a single one of the 4000 or so supporters in the ground backed Lenham to scramble 30 yards back from the edge of the ring to the boundary and settle under the catch, but with his legs whirring like the Road Runner, he managed to cover the ground while staring up into the floodlights and a gloomy Kennington sky.

Good catch, young man. pic.twitter.com/mxN6X9vbDa

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 17, 2021