Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Gabriel Jesus, who last played a competitive game in January, returning to training with the team: "Now is about making the steps day by day, in a different surrounding. Now he has competitive players around him, see how he copes with that.

"I love the reaction of his teammates."

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says "nobody new" can join the squad when discussing team news and on Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke he adds: "I cannot confirm all of that, but you are not far [off]."

The Spaniard says he hopes to be "in a really strong position" with "most of them" after the international break.

Arsenal

Something of a cryptic start from Mikel Arteta as he goes from saying "nobody new that can join the squad" to saying he "cannot confirm" that Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard will miss tomorrow's match.

That's that cleared up then...

Right, let's see what Mikel Arteta has had to say. The Arsenal boss has been speaking ahead of their trip to Sunderland tomorrow teatime...

Martin Keown
Former Arsenal and England defender

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The way Arsenal are behaving at the moment reminds me very much of the Arsene Wenger teams I won three Premier League titles with.

In those teams, it was done from a strong base and Mikel Arteta's side has got a similar look about it, very similar characteristics, if not better in some ways.

The Gunners have only lost one game in all competitions and have conceded fewer goals than any other Premier League team.

The Gunners have the most clean sheets so far this season across all competitions and have won all of their past eight games without conceding.

Arteta's men have faced 75 shots in the Premier League this season - 19 fewer than any other team - and conceded only three goals.

There's a passion to defend as much as there is to score goals with this Arsenal team. I am seeing what I saw in the past. It had disappeared and now it's all coming back again.

Arsenal should never lose this DNA again, because they lost it for too long. The best way to keep it is to win something, to keep everyone together and that secures the future.

You have to live it, breathe it, keep it, eat it. Nothing else matters more, and it just becomes a part of your character and your personality. It's like a badge that you walk around with. It can take quite a few years to get to to that boiling point. And that's where Arsenal are now.

They just have to keep a lid on it.

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Among the things that Mikel Arteta is likely to be asked about when he arrives is Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has been left out of the England squad.

The young full-back was excellent for Arsenal last season to force his way into Thomas Tuchel's plans but has found playing time harder to come by this campaign, especially in the Premier League.

That has resulted in him being dropped by Tuchel with just a matter of months to go before the World Cup.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, BBC Sport

It might be too early to make a fair judgment of how a Premier League season might pan out but it does provide a good marker for comparison with just over a quarter of the campaign gone.

The fewest points a team has had after 10 games in the Premier League and gone on to win the title is 18 - something achieved by both Manchester clubs, with Manchester United doing so in 1992-93 and 2002-03 and City in 2020-21.

By both winning last weekend, Manchester City and Liverpool have avoided having to make Premier League history by winning the title with fewer than 18 points after 10 games.

However, the most points a team has been behind the leaders after 10 matches and still gone on to claim the trophy is six - something again achieved by both Manchester clubs, with United doing so in 2002-03 and City in 2013-14.

As both the Gunners and City picked up three points last weekend, it means they have the same points as in 2013-14, when City were six points behind then leaders Arsenal and still won the title (25 v 19).

On the other hand, Liverpool are - according to history - effectively out of the title race as they now sit seven points behind the north London side and overcoming that difference at this stage of the season has never been done before.

The Gunners' six-point lead is, in fact, the joint-biggest ever after 10 games of a Premier League campaign and it is just the third time in the competition's history a team has had such a big lead at this stage - with both Chelsea in 2005-06 and Liverpool in 2019-20 going on to win the title on those occasions.

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I don't think anyone would argue Alexander Isak has been at his best, or even got close to it, yet for Liverpool but not good enough, Billy?

We all saw more than enough during his time at Newcastle to see he's a world-class striker. If he can get back to full fitness then I think we'll start seeing that version of Isak before too long.

For now, though, Hugo Ekitike is definitely in possession of the shirt and has looked very good so far.

No reason they can't play together, of course. With Mohamed Salah off to Afcon in December, that seems an obvious solution.

Arsenal have had a near perfect season so far but they won't have it easy in their upcoming set of fixtures as they face an in-form Sunderland before things get even more tricky after the international break.

Three consecutive London derbies await the Gunners in the Premier League including a short hop to Stamford Bridge on 30 November while they also host high-flying Bayern Munich in the Champions League earlier in the same week.

Image source, BBC Sport

That's it from Eddie Howe, we're off to Arsenal next. Mikel Arteta was due at 10:00 GMT but no sign of the Gunners boss just yet.

Newcastle United

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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to media about forward Yoane Wissa's injury: "Yoane is working well, he's on the grass and building his fitness.

"I think the knee is feeling good, there's no issue with that. It's more looking at his fitness, sharpness, all the things he's going to have to put together.

"He's in a good place injury-wise now to kick on and push his body. But we're going to need to give him time to get fit and robustness - and in a position where he can give his best version for the team. How long that takes is slightly unclear but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.

"Injuries are part and parcel of football and especially with the schedule we have had.

"The only frustrating thing about this one is that we haven’t seen him, he wasn’t with Newcastle when he did it.

"It’s been difficult because the transfer was with the sight of trying to help us here and now. We need him and we desperately want to see him fit."

Newcastle United

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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to media about Anthony Gordon's injury and how that will effect him playing for England: "I feel relaxed about him being with England.

"It will all be done with England’s blessing in terms of weather he is fit or not fit. We will work together to find the best solutions for Anthony."

Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to media about Anthony Gordon's injury: "We don’t think it is a serious injury but we are getting him scanned and waiting on the result.

"I think there is every chance he might miss our game on Sunday but we will give him every opportunity to be fit."

Newcastle United

No time to waste on these busy Fridays and next up it's Newcastle manager Eddie Howe...

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Well, as you've just mentioned yourself, Mick, Florian Wirtz was also in the XI for Liverpool's best performance of the season on Tuesday. He was excellent as well.

Would Arne Slot not be tempted to go again with that XI if everyone is fit and have Cody Gakpo as an option off the bench?

No doubt, there has been a reversion to last year's iteration of Liverpool in the past two games, though.

Liverpool

That's it from Arne Slot.

The Liverpool boss was certainly in good spirits after their win over Real Madrid and with Alexander Isak back in training, Alisson Becker set to return after the international break and Jeremie Frimping on the comeback trail as well, things are improving on the injury front, too.