Premier League reaction: Arsenal go second after win at Brentford
Transfer and gossip latest after January window opens
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Manchester City v West Ham (Sat, 15:00 GMT)
It's time for some updates from West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui ahead of their trip to Manchester City on Saturday.
The Hammers come into this tie off the back of a 5-0 thrashing off Liverpool last Sunday.
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Re Arsenal needing a striker. Yes, we've scored as much goals as anyone in the last two seasons. But those figures are inflated by big victories like Sheffield United and Burnley last season. The acid test is when you're in desperate need of a goal when you're drawing or losing and it's in those kind of games where our relative lack of firepower has been found wanting.
Luke
Image source, Getty ImagesThat's the recurring theme that keeps coming up in relation to Arsenal. A striker is a must if they are to challenge Liverpool.
But are a lack of goals really a problem?
Across the whole of 2024, only one team scored more than the Gunners - the current leaders.
Arsenal scored 89 goals to Liverpool's 92, having played a game less.
If you include the New Year's Day victory over Brentford in the statistics - both teams scored 92 from the exact same number of games.
That's nine more than the next best team, Manchester City and 11 more than Chelsea in fourth.
While nobody is going to say no to a guaranteed 20+ goal a season striker if one arises - it's unlikely that Mikel Arteta will feel in desperation mode with those kind of numbers.
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As a Liverpool fan for over 50 years I and others like me know that titles aren’t decided in January. We’ve been here before, so have Arsenal and Man City. These managers know the long game and in order to win you don’t sprint at the start, you sprint at the end because your players have conserved their energy. It’s not over yet, there will be surprises.
Daren
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With the January transfer window open, we're asking you where you'd like to see your team improve during this month. Do you need a striker who can find the back of the net or a new left-back who stops getting beat off the opposition right winger?
Let us know using the contact details above. Thanks!
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I find the Ben Chilwell situation at Chelsea difficult to understand. Yes we have Cucarella who has been excellent this season but in his absence we’re often having to fill the void with a Right sided player. Chilwell was almost frozen out immediately by Maresca and would be a decent acquisition to a fair few sides in my opinion.
Rich, Oxford
Image source, Getty ImagesNow we've entered January, there are plenty of players in the Premier League that have entered the final six months of their contract.
Here are some of the big names yet to renew deals with their current club and will be available on a free in the summer, should they not.
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IMO, placing the hope of a sustained title challenge on a striker places unfair pressure on the current team and the potential incoming striker. I will rather prefer everyone stepping up their games and help see Arsenal over the finishing line. Having a striker to win the EPL is still a myth. Salah is not a striker but Liverpool is towering. A better cover for Saliba/Gabriel and another CM (cover for Odegaard) will be better for a good title push.
Adesoji, Stirling
Image source, Getty ImagesAcross 2024, Liverpool conceded 42 goals - that's 17 more than their current nearest challengers Arsenal conceded in that time.
The Reds have always been liable to let in a few goals, though their defensive record has taken a significant upturn under new manager Arne Slot.
They have struggled with injuries at times across the back this season and up to now the stand-ins have always done a more than steady job.
With that said, Joe Gomez limped off with a hamstring problem in the 5-0 victory against West Ham last time out and with Ibrahima Konate already sidelined - this leaves the Reds with just two fit centre-backs - Jarell Quansah and Virgil van Dijk.
Konate is due back early in the new year but his durability remains questionable and if anything were to happen to Van Dijk - alarm bells would certainly start ringing.
If Liverpool are to strengthen this month, a centre-back will likely be the top of Slot's shopping list.
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Barry, Bournemouth: I don’t want to burst Jay’s bubble (12:38) but a final Merseyside derby at Goodison is hardly going to derail Liverpool’s title push. I’m afraid the best we can do is shut up shop and hope to grind out another 0-0. You’ll need to look at better teams than Everton to deliver Arsenal the title!
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Arsenal's squad looks too shallow to win the league. Liverpool continued to win without Alisson, Konate, Trent and Jota for extended periods, whereas Arsenal seem to be in crisis whenever they have one or two players out. If Arsenal were going to win the league, they would have closed the gap on Liverpool when they dropped points against Newcastle and Fulham, but they slipped up themselves.
Rick, Leeds
Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter
It doesn't look as though there is going to be a speedy resolution to Dani Olmo's situation at Barcelona.
Barca had to juggle their finances around to get Olmo registered for the first half of the campaign.
However, that registration expired on 31 December and despite having what they view as the required funding in place, the Spanish FA has told Barca rules prevent any club registering a player twice in a single season.
The Catalans giants do not believe the rules exist to stop situations like this and it seems they are ready to go to court to argue their case.
Until there is a resolution, Olmo is not allowed to play for them.
Technically, Olmo is now a free agent to go wherever he wants. However, while it seems he will sit tight for now and hope Barca are able to sort the situation out, the spectre of one of the most highly rated players in the game leaving for nothing remains if they cannot.
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Congratulations to Arne Slot on only losing 2 league games in 2024 across the 2 different leagues. By that same token congratulations must also be given to Arteta for losing only 3 league matches in total in 2024. They're pretty evenly matched by those stats and I think Arsenal's better form is still to come this season!
Alex
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester United forward Marcus Rashford hit back at reports suggesting he'd stepped up in his efforts to leave the club with a post on his Instagram page.
Rashford screenshotted an article suggesting he was trying to quit United with the help of an agency and uploaded it to his story with the caption: "Been a lot of false stories written over the past few weeks but guys this is getting ridiculous - never met with any agency and don't have any plans to..."
The striker was involved in United's squad for the first time since 12 December when he was named on the bench for the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on 30 December.
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I cannot see Arsenal challenging Liverpool this season. Do not think will get within 10 points. Liverpool far stronger all round and a quality calm manager. Arteta constantly moaning about injuries, decisions etc and gives off the negative vibes of a beaten man.
Trev, Newcastle
Image source, Getty ImagesMarcus Rashford (Man Utd)
It currently feels like a case of when Marcus Rashford will leave Manchester United, rather than if he will. The 27-year-old forward said in an interview in mid-December that he is "ready for a new challenge" amid uncertainty over his Old Trafford future.
Rashford is one of United's highest earners which could be barrier to any move in January.
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)
Enzo Maresca said Chilwell was among the players "thinking to leave" and the club will "try to find a solution" depending on what offers materialise for the left-back, who has won 21 caps for England. His wages seem to make a loan move most likely.
Matheus Cunha (Wolves)
An electrifying start to the 2024-25 season has seen Matheus Cunha thrust into the limelight during what has largely been a season of struggle for Wolves.
The Brazilian, 25, signed from Atletico Madrid in a deal which could be worth £35m which leaves Wolves with a dilemma: cash in for a substantial profit when the market is in their favour, or hang on to a player who has the capacity to keep them up.
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If Newcastle can offload a few and bring in Mbeumo and a quality keeper in current form we will be pushing for top 4 second half of the season.
Steve, Newcastle
Image source, Getty ImagesReal Madrid remain heavily linked to sign Liverpool and England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Reds turned down an approach from Madrid this month but it is reported that the Spanish side remain fully focused on landing his services.
With now just six months left on his deal at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold is free to negotiate his future with European clubs.
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Liverpool are doing very well so far, but an injury to any of VVD, Salah or Gravenberch could derail them as they don't have replacements, and the 3 of them are already playing far too much football.
Tom
Image source, Getty ImagesTrent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
With Liverpool favourites to win the Premier League, looking good in the Champions League and in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, the overtures of Real Madrid might be resisted for him, but for how long?
Recent reports suggest Real Madrid would be willing to spend £20m on the defender this month with his contract set to expire in the summer.
Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
Zubimendi, who helped Spain win Euro 2024, reportedly has a £51.7m release clause in his contract. "I'm happy with the way I'm handling it," Zubimendi said of the ongoing speculation over his future before the transfer window. With Sociedad in mid-table he is not likely to be short of offers.
Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
Barcelona lost another appeal to register Spain forward Dani Olmo for the rest of the season - one day before the deadline.
Olmo apparently wants to stay with Barcelona despite issues over his registration but numerous clubs are reportedly tracking the situation.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 7 | 45 | 50 |
| |
| 2 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 13 | 21 | 39 |
| |
| 3 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 34 |
| |
| 4 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 34 |
| |
| 5 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 27 | 34 | -7 | 27 |
| |
| 6 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 25 | 34 | -9 | 27 |
| |
| 7 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 32 | -4 | 25 |
| |
| 8 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 36 | -11 | 24 |
| |
| 9 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 30 | 36 | -6 | 22 |
| |
| 10 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 38 | -17 | 22 |
| |
| 11 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 31 | -7 | 20 |
| |
| 12 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 23 | 41 | -18 | 15 |
|
