Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has, on Sunday, provided an insight into the readiness of star wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to step back into the fold in north London Both Saka and Martinelli, of course, have spent the last month away from base at Arsenal, amid the respective World Cup adventures of England and Brazil. With Gabriel Jesus having yesterday been joined...Full Story »

Vincent Kompany hailed Ashley Barnes after the striker led Burnley to a 3-0 victory over Blackburn in the East Lancashire derby to send his side back to top spot in the Championship.The 33-year-old striker was told he would replace the unfit Jay Rodriguez – the Clarets’ top scorer – on the morning of the game, but scored twice and had a hand in a third for Anass Zaroury as Burn...Full Story »

Ashley Barnes scored two and had a big hand in another goal for Anass Zaroury as Burnley swept aside Blackburn 3-0 in Sunday’s East Lancashire derby to claim top spot in the Championship.The 33-year-old has had to make do with rare starts this season, but the absence of the unfit Jay Rodriguez handed him a start against rivals Rovers, who themselves would have gone top with a win.But it wa...Full Story »

Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal are outstripping expectations after they went five points clear at the top of the Premier League.Martin Odegaard’s second-half double saw the Gunners take control of the title race with a 2-0 win at Wolves.They put clear daylight between them and Manchester City in the final game before the World Cup break after the reigning champions’ shock 2-1 home defea...Full Story »

Ashley Nadesan made it five goals in his last five league games as Crawley completed a hat-trick of home league wins for the first time since mid-April with a 1-0 victory over Barrow.Barrow’s hopes of a fourth successive league win were dashed in West Sussex, with Crawley maintaining their unbeaten league record under interim boss Lewis Young.Young has made no secret of his desire to land ...Full Story »

Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal could add to their “short squad” in the January transfer window after his much-changed side slumped to Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton.The Gunners showed 10 changes from their weekend win at Chelsea which took them back to the top of the Premier League as Brighton left the Emirates Stadium with a 3-1 win.Eddie Nketiah opened the scoring for the hosts with h...Full Story »

Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns as they prepare to host Brighton in the third round of the Carabao Cup.Boss Mikel Arteta could use the game as an opportunity to shuffle his pack with the likes of Matt Turner, Rob Holding, Mohamed Elneny and Eddie Nketiah pushing for starts.Emile Smith Rowe (groin) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (muscular) are out.Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi also has no new fitne...Full Story »

Mikel Arteta hailed his “phenomenal” Arsenal side for showing maturity despite their youth during the hard-fought 1-0 victory at Chelsea.Gabriel scored the winner to return the Gunners to the top of the Premier League and maintain Arteta’s unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge, with the Spaniard yet to be beaten at Chelsea since he took the reins in December 2019.The central defen...Full Story »

Gateshead player-manager Mike Williamson was proud of his side’s second-half comeback that threatened an FA Cup shock, but was ultimately frustrated by costly defensive errors in a 3-2 defeat to Stevenage.The Tynesiders looked dead and buried at the halfway stage after a one-sided first half as League Two title chasers Stevenage opened up a two-goal lead through Jordan Roberts and a Kenton...Full Story »

Mikel Arteta praised his Arsenal side for “digging in” and seeing off FC Zurich to advance as winners of their Europa League group.The Gunners secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory on Thursday night, Kieran Tierney the surprise match-winner with a fine first-half strike that settled the contest.Needing to match PSV Eindhoven’s result away to Bodo/Glimt Arteta’s side – s...Full Story »

Gateshead are a striker down for the FA Cup visit of Stevenage, with manager Mike Williamson having authorised the departure of Paul Blackett on loan.Blackett has scored four times this season and started the campaign in the number nine shirt, but has joined Spennymoor after losing his starting place.League Two outfit Stevenage are likely to field a strong side against the National League strugg...Full Story »

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has dismissed reports linking him to Barcelona, praising the work Xavi has done in "lifting" the Catalan club as manager. Arteta has guided Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table this season, which has reportedly led to Barca monitoring their former youth player as a potential long-term replacement for Xavi. Xavi's side were knocked out of the Champions Leag...Full Story »

Mikel Arteta played down injury fears over Bukayo Saka as he heaped praise on Reiss Nelson for his fine cameo in a comfortable win over Nottingham Forest.The Gunners eased to a 5-0 victory to move back to the top of the Premier League and leave the visitors rooted to the foot of the table.England forward Saka seemed to take a knock in the first minute but still teed up Gabriel Martinelli to brea...Full Story »

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal would need to “reset” after slipping to just a second defeat of the season in losing at PSV Eindhoven.The Gunners needed just a point to secure top spot in their Europa League group but were beaten 2-0 in the Netherlands as Joey Veerman and Luuk de Jong scored the goals.The hosts also had three goals disallowed for offside as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men ...Full Story »

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta felt his Premier League leaders contributed to their own undoing after surrendering a lead at Southampton to drop points for only the second time this season.Granit Xhaka’s thumping early strike put the in-form Gunners ahead at St Mary’s but they faded and eventually had to settle for a 1-1 draw following Stuart Armstrong’s second-half equaliser.The dr...Full Story »

Mikel Arteta has defended the decision to play Bukayo Saka in Arsenal’s Europa League win over PSV Eindhoven.The England forward had missed just 179 minutes of club football this season before the 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium put the Gunners into the knockout stages.Granit Xhaka scored the only goal of the game, with Saka once again the bright spark, although there was cause for con...Full Story »

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal had overcome their toughest examination of the season so far after a 1-0 win at Leeds kept them top of the Premier League.Bukayo Saka’s thumping first-half finish was enough to clinch the Gunners their ninth win in 10 league games, while Leeds missed a penalty and had another spot-kick decision overturned in stoppage time.Both decisions came after VAR intervention...Full Story »

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said it was “not a coincidence” that it was his in-form side who ended Bodo/Glimt’s run of 14 consecutive home European wins.The Gunners left the Arctic Circle with a hard-fought 1-0 Europa League victory as Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the evening in fortuitous circumstances.The win, Arsenal’s 11th in 12 games across all competitions t...Full Story »

Ashley Young’s spectacular strike earned Aston Villa a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, who ended a five-game losing streak.Young struck from distance to cancel out Emmanuel Dennis’ opener as a feisty midlands derby finished all square at the City Ground.In Forest’s first game since manager Steve Cooper was awarded a new contract, just days after reportedly being close to the sac...Full Story »

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will recall his key personnel for Sunday’s visit of Liverpool.Aaron Ramsdale, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus were named on the bench for Thursday’s 3-0 win over Bodo/Glimt, but will be back in the starting line-up for this weekend.The Gunners do remain without midfielders Mohamed Elneny (hamstring) and Emile Smith Rowe (groin)...Full Story »