Arsenal

Arteta on moving in January to cope with the injuries to Saka and Sterling: "Yes, the preparation is done and we are ready if something happens.

"Obviously we didn't predict a situation with Bukayo and Raheem. At the same time we predicted if something happened, for example in the defensive line.

"But the job is done and then, OK, if something has to happen we'll be open. But the main focus is now how to unlock the potential that is in this squad."

Arsenal

Arteta on being tested by adversity: "We started the season with one of the thinnest squads in the Premier League. We knew that.

"OK, so what do we need? I really dig into that, you know?

"To make sure that we utilise every player to their best potential. Everyone has to feel part of it, you need to rediscover players in different positions, relationships, it's a great one. It's a good exercise.

"And the boys are willing, so that's a really good thing as well.

Arsenal

On how Arsenal will operate in Saka's absence, Arteta added: "I have a few [ideas]. Then I want to speak with [the players] too, to understand how to generate that and use it in a positive way, because it means we're going to be different.

"We went through the period with Martin [Odegaard] and the period with five, six defenders missing. We're taking it with positive energy."

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

I asked Mikel Arteta about how he is going to deal with replacing the injured Bukayo Saka:

"I'm putting some ideas together but I haven't got there yet."

Arsenal

Arteta on how Saka will deal with the setback:

"[It's] another part of the development of a player. At some stage at this level you're going to get injured.

"Unfortunately badly. It could have been much worse. It could have been something else that can take you out for a year.

"It's how you react to that, how you overcome that situation and it's a great learning process for him as well.

"It is what it is. He's injured, we cannot change it. We're going to use this time now to help him.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked if there was a fear Bukayo Saka will not return before the end of the season:

"No [there's no fear]. I'm very optimistic he'll be back before the end of the season."

Arsenal

It gets worse: Mikel Arteta says Raheem Sterling has injured his knee and is also going to be out for many weeks.

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta on Bukayo Saka's injury: "It’s not looking good. He’s going to be out for many weeks."

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Some bad news for Arsenal fans.

Mikel Arteta says forward Bukayo Saka is out for "many weeks" with a hamstring injury suffered against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

It was almost a perfect weekend for Arsenal, as Chelsea dropped points after their win at Crystal Palace.

But the concern for manager Mikel Arteta is the injury to star player Bukayo Saka.

The England winger suffered a hamstring injury and had to be replaced in the 24th minute.

Arteta is speaking to the media now and will hopefully provide an update on Saka's fitness, after saying he was "pretty worried" about it after the win at Selhurst Park.

But, be warned, the Arsenal boss is known to keep his cards very close to his chest when discussing his players' injuries!

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will be allowed to deal with the Marcus Rashford situation as he sees fit, with no pressure being applied from the club's hierarchy.

Amorim left Rashford out of his matchday squad for the third game in a row against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Although Rashford said he is ready for a 'new challenge', the Portuguese insists he wants the 27-year-old to remain at Old Trafford but has spoken about intensity in training and communication with team-mates as a couple of the reasons why Rashford has been exiled.

Rashford is one of United's highest earners, with a salary of around £350,000-a-week. This limits the number of options available should a decision be taken for the player to leave the club when the transfer window opens next month.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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G, the Evertonian: Hi Phil, Gary Neville said Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of the bests crossers of a ball in Premier League history. Who would you rate as top? I think TAA is the best with mentions to Beckham, Shearer, Baines and De Bruyne.

Afternoon, G: I think Alan Shearer was more of a beneficiary of crosses than a crosser himself but all the others are very worthy of mention. I’d go with Beckham and Alexander-Arnold with not much between them. In fact I'm thinking De Bruyne as well now!

You mention you are an Evertonian. I don’t know if you are old enough to remember Dave Thomas in the late 70s team but he was as good as I have seen – left foot, right foot, on the run, standing start, set pieces. If you are not old enough, as someone about him.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Ricky Barnes in Northern Ireland: Hi Phil, just querying how long Man City’s current run of form can go on before Pep’s job is under threat?

Hi Ricky. There is simply no way Pep Guardiola’s job at Manchester City is under threat from anyone other than himself, even if this bad run continues. By this, I mean Guardiola will decide when he goes and no-one else. He will not be sacked.

And Guardiola’s decision to sign a new two-year deal only a few weeks ago suggests he is in this to put matters right and add to the incredible record of success he already has at the club.

What is clear, though, is that City need to pull out of this slump very quickly so I expect some transfer activity in January.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Sienna: Question for Phil. Do you think all three promoted sides will once again go straight back down again this season? If not, which of the non-promoted sides do you think could be relegated?

Morning Sienna. I did predict before the start of the season that the three promoted sides would go back down and I still fear that will be the case.

Southampton have surely gone. Six points at Christmas is almost impossible to escape from, while Leicester City look a real concern defensively to me, as proved by losing so heavily to Wolves yesterday.

I think Wolves have to quality to get themselves into a safe position under new coach Vitor Pereira while Everton and Crystal Palace also have enough to steer clear of the bottom three.

Strange as it may seem, Ipswich have looked ok to me at times this season but then you see results like Saturday’s against Newcastle and it puts it all into perspective.

So, the three who came up back down in my opinion.

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace have triggered the option in Jean-Philippe Mateta's contract to extend his stay at the club until 2027.

The Frenchman, 27, would have entered the last 18 months of his deal at the turn of the year with his current contract expiring in June 2026.

But sources with knowledge of the deal told BBC Sport Palace have used the option to keep him tied to Selhurst Park for another two and a half years.

At the other end of the table Wolves' win at Leicester has altered the Opta supercomputer's prediction as to who will go down.

It is Vitor Pereira's who now have a greater percentage chance of finishing chance than Leicester, who currently occupy that position (30.8% v 26.1%).

Ipswich are most likely to stay in 19th place, according to the supercomputer. Rock-bottom Southampton have a 77% chance of staying there.

Despite their terrible run of form Manchester City are predicted to finish in the top four, according to Opta's supercomputer.

Pep Guardiola's side are currently seventh but the supercomputer gives them a 43.9% chance of finishing fourth, with Chelsea the next likeliest on 21.1%.

Manchester United are not expected to improve on their current position of 13th. The Red Devils are 13th but the stats suggest they are most likely to finish 10th and have just a 4.9% chance of finishing fifth.

Our friends at analytics company Opta have cranked their supercomputer into action to try and predict what will happen in the second half of the season.

It gives Liverpool an 86% chance of lifting the title as they head into Christmas four points clear at the top.

Despite sitting second Chelsea only have a 25.9% of staying there, according to the supercomputer.

Instead it says Arsenal, currently third, who have a higher percentage chance of finishing runners-up - 54% - which goes against what David James predicted earlier.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Tom: Hi Phil, is it fair to say that there's a bit of a narrative playing out a false picture of Spurs? People talk and write as if Spurs will always concede and are playing effectively with no defence yet they've got the same clean sheets as Chelsea and yesterday was their first loss by more than one goal in the league. Would it not be fairer to say that Ange's style works on fine margins that are easy to over-inflate when things go against you?

Hello, Tom. I think the narrative comes from the fact there appears to be no light and shade, no attempt at pragmatism, in Ange Postecoglou’s approach. This is his way and that is it.

It certainly makes for great entertainment. I saw 16 goals in two games inside four days at Spurs this week, but being so wildly inconsistent while seemingly not attempting to change anything does not seem sustainable.

We must also factor in some pretty heavy injury problems but being 11th after winning seven and losing eight of your first 17 games is not good enough for Spurs – and nor is conceding 10 goals in your last two league games at home.

Postecoglou’s approach and principles are idealistic and admirable, but he needs more consistency and results.

Feel free to quote Chelsea’s defensive record, but they are currently second in the Premier League table.