Arsenal

Over the past week, we have been asking you to send in the best Premier League XI your club could have put together.

We know football existed before 1992 but as a Leeds United fan asked our experts on the club to name theirs - using the Ask Me Anything form on the Whites - we stuck with their parameters.

Here's the effort of BBC Sport's Arsenal fan writer Laura Kirk-Francis.

And you can ask us about the Gunners using their Ask Me Anything form at the top of this page or here

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

We might be in the middle of an international break, but there are still plenty of talking points coming out of Emirates Stadium, especially with a spate of injuries potentially picked up on international duty.

So what questions do you have about Arsenal? They could be on the title push, the January transfer window, Mikel Arteta's tactics, the boardroom or a topic of your choice.

Our Arsenal reporter Alex Howell is available to answer a selection this week.

Send in your question here

Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid are set to enter a bidding war for Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz after contract talks between the 20-year-old Turkey international and the Turin club stalled. (Caughtoffside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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We have, roughly, run the numbers and here is the XI your submissions have produced.

In many ways, you were spoiled for choice - and the names reflected that. It was toss up between 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 for your preferred formation but the below at least gets Bukayo Saka into his favoured right-sided forward slot.

No prisoners at the back with Gabriel just edging out centre-back partner William Saliba to line up alongside Tony Adams.

We think this team would have no problems storming to the Premier League title.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The statistics might say playing at home is an advantage - but what happens when it is not?

So far this season, 53% of Premier League matches have been won by the home team - the highest ever rate in a single campaign.

On the flip side, just 26% have been won by the away team - the lowest rate since 2010-11.

However, this has not been the case for all teams.

For some, being on the road has been more favourable. Tottenham are perhaps the most contrasting example having the joint-most points away from home with 13, but the second-worst in front of their own fans with just five points.

In the second part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "With crowds when playing away from home, there is a reduced scrutiny as a whole for away teams in that those crowds expect the home team to be the ones in charge. The players feel less judged. The pressure is on the other side.

"Another reason could come down to something in psychology I like to call simplification of the task. The team has a better collective identity when they are away.

"The human brain still goes back to the cavemen days. We have to, as a collective, fight for something. We have to protect our name. It goes back to that hunter-gatherer-against-danger mentality.

"When players are in front of a home crowd, there can be a bit of playing up to the individuality.

"I really do believe that collective identity has a strong enough influence because it amplifies the purpose and the belonging - let's belong together, let's be stronger together."

The focus might be on the players' performances being impacted by being home or away, but what about the managers?

Wolves, West Ham and Nottingham Forest make up three of the bottom four for their home records so far this term, and all have changed their manager in recent weeks.

"100% managers and coaches can be affected, and sometimes even more so because there is so much riding on that one person," Cartwright said.

"The decision-making is the main thing. The crowd is chanting - 'take this player off, do this' - and it can lead to rushed decisions, particularly when the noise becomes relentless.

"Then there is the emotional regulation and touchline behaviour. A manager is pacing up and down, mirroring the stress state, and players see that. It can lead to mimicking and players feeling that stress too."

The impact on teams psychologically playing home or away is apparent, so how can they make the most from these different conditions?

"Our brains are wired to think negatively - it's a protection mechanism," Cartwright said.

"So when it comes to performing home and away, those players and managers who deal with it best are those who know how to use the noise and scrutiny and move on quickly from it - an ability to have a reset routine and regulate their emotions in these pressurised situations."

Read more from Marie in part one of her chat around the impact of playing at home here

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"Home advantage gives you an advantage."

It is a quote - among many - attributed to the famous former England manager Sir Bobby Robson - a simple, yet fair reflection of a historical format of football.

For as long as teams have played in leagues, games taking place home and away has been the norm, with the idea that playing at home will be to the benefit of that team.

But what is the impact of playing at your own ground in front of your own fans?

In the first part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "Home impact can be viewed in two ways. Sometimes it does have a positive impact, and what happens is there is an elevated motivation.

"What that means is the crowd energy increases adrenaline and that creates a momentum in effort and intensity in the players. It is also a familiar environment for the players, so that means it reduces the cognitive load. They don't have to think as much about anything else other than their play because they know the pitch, they know the routines, they feel settled.

"However, there are a couple of potential negative impacts as well, with the potential intensification in pressure in the home fans, most times, expecting dominance from the home team. That can lead to mistakes from players feeling bigger to them.

"There can then be what we call a threat state. The players might perceive consequences as high, so they feel they might be facing more criticism when they are at home."

While those who watch football know there are more factors than just where the match is being to take into consideration, the statistics do suggest the influence is there.

Since the Premier League started, the home win percentage has outweighed the away win percentage in all bar one season - the Covid-hit 2020-21 campaign in which fans were largely not allowed admission saw a 38% home win rate compared to 40% away win rate.

So how a team handles this additional crowd pressure seems to be a key factor.

"In psychology, there is something called the challenge and threat theory," Cartwright said.

"In reality what that means is a 'challenge state' can push the player into thinking, 'I've got this, I've got the resources to cope with this'. That leads to better decision making and quicker reactions.

"The threat state, on the other hand, players might think the consequences outweigh their ability to cope. In any match context, that can mean they have a narrow sense of focus, the focus is not quite the same, so the play becomes slower because of overthinking."

"It can also be called 'red brain or blue brain' - with red brain being the one with fear-based dialogue and internal negative self-talk, while blue brain is the cool, calm and collected one that can handle its emotions.

"What sits in the middle of these is distraction. How a player responds to distraction and filters out the noise, like the crowd, can impact which of these mindsets they move into and ultimately how the team performs."

Read more from Marie in part two of her chat about why teams some teams play better away from home and how it impacts managers - that will be on this page early next week.

Image source, Getty Images

We wanted your suggestions for Arsenals all-time best Premier League XI.

And you delivered!

Here's the second set:

Mazin: 4-3-3. Raya, Lauren, Saliba, Campbell, Gabriel, Petit, Vieira, Rice, Pires, Henry, Alexis. A mix between the Invincibles and the spine of this current Arsenal team but it was tough to leave out players like Ljungberg and Overmars from the Invincibles, as well as the full backs from Arteta's team.

Will: 4-2-3-1. Raya, Lauren, Saliba, Gabriel, Cole, Vieira, Fabregas, Saka, Bergkamp, Pires, Henry. Timber could cement right-back with the early Bellerin the only alternative. Adams/Keown tempting but not as well-rounded as current two. No love for Cole but is our most consistent Premier League left-back. Midfielders and forwards pick themselves. Front six stand on top in Premier League era. Would love Odegaard to match/better Bergkamp but he's not close yet.

Ali: 3-4-3. Raya, Campbell, Gabriel, Adams, Saka, Viera, Cesc, Rice, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry. Flair for days in attack, steel in the middle of the park, ball players across the pitch and a rock-solid defence. All these players in their prime would be immense.

Lucas: 4-3-3. Lehmann, Keown, Saliba, Adams, Cole, Vieira, Fabregas, Bergkamp, Saka, Henry, Alexis. Hard not to include Ozil but that midfield would be magic.

George Mills
BBC Sport senior journalist

In a recent addition of the Football Extra newsletter, Roger asked BBC Sport: Players are frequently injured on international duty - such as Chris Wood for New Zealand last season, which may have ultimately cost Nottingham Forest a Champions League place. Are clubs compensated by the country or does insurance cover compensation?'

Since 2012, Fifa's Club Protection Programme has covered the salary of players injured on international duty - although there are some conditions.

Firstly, the player must be out of action for a period of at least 28 consecutive days and the injury must have been sustained during an "accident", which is defined in very boring and legally-specific detail in Fifa's guidelines, though it covers most of the examples you could think of.

The scheme pays the salary of an injured player up to the maximum amount of €7.5m (£6.6m) until they are declared fit to return for their clubs.

Transfermarkt lists Chris Wood as missing 18 days - three games - with the hip injury you mention from last March, suffered on international duty with New Zealand. As he returned inside 28 days, Forest would not have been eligible to claim compensation.

There are a couple of clubs who will currently be beneficiaries of this scheme though, including Newcastle United, whose £55m summer signing Yoane Wissa is yet to make an appearance since suffering a knee injury while playing for DR Congo.

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

England U21 head coach Lee Carsley says 15-year-old Max Dowman is being considered for an England call-up.

Dowman - who this season has made his Premier League debut and become the youngest player to feature in the Champions League - has been impressing while with the England Under-19s.

He has made five appearances for Arsenal's first team this season but Carsley has said the "timing has got to be right" for the attacker to represent his under-21 side.

"He's a player that we're monitoring," Carsley said.

"Sometimes that talent, we have to accelerate it so quickly because of the challenge they are getting at their clubs.

"It's important that we keep in mind how young Max is and we are fully aware of him. We get all of the feedback from the camps that he plays on and there is definitely time. He'll definitely get his chance within the Under-21s."

Image source, Getty Images

"The quality of Eberechi Eze's goal was just sublime", said BBC Radio 5 Live's senior football reporter Ian Dennis after England cruised past Serbia at Wembley to record their seventh successive World Cup qualifying victory.

Arsenal's attacking midfielder put away a curling 90th-minute finish, set up by Manchester City's Phil Foden, to wrap up another win for Thomas Tuchel's side.

"It was interesting when Eze came on for Marcus Rashford," Dennis said post-match. "Thomas Tuchel has already said not everybody is going to go to the World Cup, especially regarding his number 10s.

"That position includes Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Cole Palmer, so obviously not all of those players are going to be able to go to the United States next year.

"But Eze coming on for Rashford made me think that Tuchel clearly sees him on the left-hand side of England's attack.

"If that is the case, then Eze's competition is with Rashford and Anthony Gordon, who had started England's last three matches before picking up a hip injury.

"It is becoming very clear which players are in competition with each other now, as Tuchel tries to narrow things down to that final cut.

"Nothing has been confirmed by Fifa yet, but we are assuming it will be a 26-man squad - and he has got to get the balance right."

Did you know?

• All three of Eze's goals for England have been as a substitute, with both of his strikes at Wembley being assisted by Foden.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze both scored for England in the 2-0 win over Serbia on Thursday night.

It is the first time two Arsenal players have both scored in the same match for England since November 2021 when Saka and Emile Smith Rowe scored against San Marino.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka is pleased with the "beautiful goal" he scored in England's 2-0 win over Serbia, as Thomas Tuchel's side extended their unblemished record in World Cup qualifying at Wembley.

The 24-year-old has scored 14 goals for England in 47 appearances since making his debut in October 2020.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the match, Saka said: "Another goal - and a nice one as well. I'm happy with that one. It was a nice strike and a beautiful goal.

"It was a good performance from us in a tough game.

"For Serbia, it was a game that meant everything for them and they came with full aggression. We dealt with it well.

"We could have been more clinical, but we won 2-0 so we are happy. It was good to see us come out here and match their hunger, even though we have qualified."

Did you know?

• Bukayo Saka has scored (two) or assisted (one) in three consecutive appearances for England for the first time.

Image source, Getty Images

We wanted your suggestions for Arsenal's all-time best Premier League XI.

And you delivered!

Here's a first bunch:

Chris: 4-3-3. Seaman, Timber, Campbell, Gabriel, Cole, Vieira, Rice, Bergkamp, Saka, Henry, Pires. Bergkamp in Odegaard's role and this provides good balance across eras.

Ryan: 4-2-3-1. Seaman, Cole, Gabriel, Adams, Sagna, Viera, Rice, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry, Saka. Horrible but wonderful decisions to make. Although touch choices, I feel I can justify the team...Picking; Henry, Saka, Pires, Vieira, Cole and Adams were no brainers... however, leaving out the likes of Sol Campbell, Jurrien Timber, Fabregas, Lehmann and Santi Cazorla is a decision no Arsenal fan wants to make!

David: 4-1-2-3. Seaman, Cole, Adams, Campbell, Dixon, Vieira, Odegaard, Fabregas, Saka [right], Henry [left], Wright [middle]. This team blends the best of the players Arsenal have had with two of our current best. The midfield has a good blend of offence and defense and the attack would trouble international teams let alone club sides.

Jubril: 4-4-2. Raya, Dixon, Saliba, Adams, Winterburn, Saka, Merson, Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry. These are the best players I have seen since starting watching my favourite club.

Forrest: 4-4-2. Lehmann, Sagna, Saliba, Campbell, Cole, Saka, Rice, Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry. Gladiators through the core, pace and guile out wide and the best striking partnership the PL has ever seen. Arsenal have never replaced Henry.

Sam: 4-3-3. Seaman, Timber, Adams, Gabriel, Cole, Fabregas, Vieira, Rice, Bergkamp, Henry, Sanchez. Quality all over the pitch!

Juventus have failed to reach an agreement with their 20-year-old Turkey forward Kenan Yildiz - who has been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid - and contract talks between the two parties have been halted. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Riccardo Calafiori has been following an individual training programme before Italy's World Cup qualifying match against Moldova on Thursday.

The Arsenal defender has been one of the Gunners' standout performers this season, starting all 11 of their Premier League games.

And although Calafiori has not trained with his Italy team-mates and may not take part in the game on Thursday, BBC Sport has been told that it is a precaution, with the 23-year-old's training and game load being managed.

It is hoped Calafiori will be back for what could be a massively important game for Italy against Norway on Sunday as they look to try to secure a spot at next year's World Cup.

It's international break so let's have a bit of fun to pass the time.

Now we know football existed before 1992 but for the purposes of this little exercise, keep it Premier League please.

So tell us, who would be in your dream Arsenal's Premier League XI?

The debate starts here.

Send your suggestions

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Promoted Sunderland clearly have not received the memo that they are supposed to be doggedly clinging on to Premier League survival with a respectful awareness of their lowly status.

‌Maybe it was a good time to get Arsenal after the Gunners' trip to Prague this week. The visitors also had an injury list reading like the local phone directory. Sunderland are in fact a very good team with a fantastic team ethic and having beaten Chelsea and now drawn with the mighty Arsenal, everyone knows they are not going to be relegation fodder.

As a result, Arsenal fans should not be too dismayed. They got a point having just won 11 on the spin and had not shipped a goal in nearly 18 hours of play. The most important thing is not to have a mini-implosion like Liverpool did after their defeat at Crystal Palace in September.

‌With their next two league games against Spurs and then Chelsea, with the small matter of Bayern Munich squashed in between, they will now face the kind of test that tells you if you are a true domestic and European champions contender.

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