Arsenal

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Wayne Rooney says this season could be "now or never" for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and he will be "expected" to win silverware.

Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on Sunday as Dominik Szoboszlai scored a stunning free-kick.

When asked on The Wayne Rooney Show if he thought it was now or never for Arsenal, Rooney said: "Maybe not for Arsenal, but I think for Arteta, possibly.

"They've allowed him to bring a lot of players in, spend a lot of money. I imagine the board and certainly the fans will be expecting him to win the league. So it could be a big year for him."

But the former England and Manchester United forward thinks Liverpool remain the favourites to win the Premier league this season.

"[Liverpool] are a very good team," Rooney said. "They've got the know-how and the knowledge of winning the league twice over the past few years. It's a sign of a good team when you're winning games."

Rooney added that he thought Arsenal should have shown more bravery at Anfield rather than setting up for games "to not lose them".

"If they were just a little bit braver and went and actually took the game a bit more to Liverpool, I think they can go and win that," he said.

"That's a real chance missed for Arsenal. But then I think Liverpool have done what champions do - they stayed in the game."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your views on what is still needed by Arsenal on transfer deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Sean: The squad is strong enough, so it is more about offloading Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Olujide: A left winger - if possible Rodrygo or Rafael Leao - will make the window a perfect one. Then get rid of players that need to be somewhere else.

Micky: I believe this is one of the most successful transfer windows we have had since the turn of the century. So many quality reinforcements that are a step above what we already had. One more striker wouldn't go amiss but, overall, we've given ourselves a huge boost in our chance for the Premier League title. Just need to clear out some of those who aren't quite up to the level required to keep PSR satisfied and it's happy days!

Daz: Great window. One more left-sided defender required. Sell dead wood to balance books.

Paul: We are in a really strong position. No need to make any more moves. Let's not sell unless we have to. Look at what happened to Chelsea - losing Liam Delap to injury. No need for us to trim the squad too much.

Joe: At this stage, I'm almost lost as an Arsenal fan. Not actually being concerned about deadline day and needing to check every rumour for additional evidence in the hope we may sign someone. The signings so far have been exceptional. Everyone is saying we have no excuses, but we are not the only side to make excellent transfers. It's another big season for a number of teams, who beds the signings in best will be the difference.

Today is the second transfer deadline day of the summer following a brief closure in June because of the Club World Cup.

In a change to previous windows, clubs only have until 19:00 BST to complete deals, bringing the Premier League in line with the EFL, Italy's Serie A, France's Ligue 1 and Germany's Bundesliga. The window in Scotland and Spain remains open until 23:00 BST.

It has already been a hectic window - with a number of storylines still to be resolved - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Get alerts and keep up to date with all the latest news, insight and fan views for your club

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Reg: I thought it was a poor performance by Liverpool, but a magnificent goal to win it. Too many passes went astray and not enough attacking like we are used to seeing. Glad this one is behind us.

Martin: It was what we expected - both teams not wanting to lose so quite a defensive display from both sides. It was always going to take a moment of brilliance or a mistake to separate these two great teams. Thankfully, the best player on the pitch stepped up to win it for us.

Steve: I thought we were quite negative, especially in the first half. I think Alisson had more touches than any outfield player. However, Szoboszlai's free-kick was world class and three points are three points.

Christine: We were not at our best but a clean sheet against the best team (on current form) is very good. An amazing goal worthy of goal of the month - a moment of magic. A lot of work still to do to have the team gel, but improvements from Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate on Sunday. Good to have a win before international break, and another three points.

Arsenal fans

Joseph: Disappointed with the lack of progress and not playing to our strengths. What's the point of heavily investing? When will he learn? Does the manager have the tactical nous to deliver what the fans crave - success?

Andrew: Very disappointed to see Arsenal play for a draw from the start of the game. Such a negative gameplan and a late goal for Liverpool was no surprise. If we'd attacked them as we did in the last 10 minutes, we might have been able to take something from the game. If you play for the draw, that's the best you're going to get.

Debbie: Why sign a first-class striker and give him absolutely no service? Ridiculous. Add to that building a squad and hoping a 15-year-old will save the day, no matter how talented he is.

Andy: Mikel Arteta only has himself to blame. Liverpool were there for the taking. We were clearly the better side but we were too conservative, only to get beaten by a sucker punch. Hopefully lessons learned and we unleash the talent in the squad.

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brighton 2-1 Manchester City

• Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

• Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

• Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

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Mikel Arteta says that he is worried about the ankle injury that forced William Saliba off in Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Saliba was replaced in the 5th minute by Cristhian Mosquera and Arteta confirmed after the match that the France international had suffered a twisted ankle.

"He twisted his ankle during the warm-up, and he came in and he said he believed that he could carry on and play but he strayed away in the first two actions." Arteta said.

"I could see that he couldn't cope and we had to get him out, unfortunately. But thank God we have Mosquera, which we put in for the first time in the Premier League, his debut, not expecting it at Anfield and I think he was really, really good."

Then asked if he was worried about Saliba's injury, Arteta said: "I am because you cannot play a game of that stature. After you try, that means that there is something wrong."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Arsenal will have marked down this early meeting with Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield as an ideal opportunity to demonstrate this is the season they will finally clear the obstacles to becoming champions.

And while a defeat in their third game of the season is hardly a defining moment, there will be real frustration for manager Mikel Arteta and his players that they came close to securing a draw they would have regarded as a good point, only to leave Anfield empty-handed once more.

Anfield is assuming the status of a bogey ground for Arsenal as they are now winless in their past 13 Premier League games away to Liverpool - drawing five and losing eight - since a 2-0 win in September 2012.

Arsenal were strong in defence throughout but - and this applied to both teams for long periods - they rarely threatened apart from when Noni Madueke forced a first-half save from Liverpool keeper Alisson.

New striker Viktor Gyokeres had a tough 90 minutes against Liverpool defensive pair Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, although he rarely had decent service.

Arteta chose to keep new signing Eberechi Eze back until the final 20 minutes, with the former Crystal Palace attacking midfielder showing signs of what he will offer, but ultimately this was more Anfield disappointment for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Aresenal's defeat against Liverpool: "I was very disappointed with the result. I think we elevated the game to a point where we dominated them in parts of the game. That is very difficult to do here at Anfield. They produced an incredible magic moment to win the game.

"That is the edge and when it's not him [Szoboszlai], it's Salah or someone else. With the dominance and how we play the game, it's very clear we have to finish the moments to win the game. It's the execution."

Did you know?

Arsenal suffered their first away Premier League defeat since losing 1-0 to Newcastle United in November 2024, ending a run of 15 away games unbeaten.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Liverpool make one change from Monday's dramatic 3-2 win at Newcastle United, with fit-again Alexis Mac Allister coming in for Curtis Jones.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Bradley, Robertson, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Ngumoha.

Arsenal's new £60m signing Eberechi Eze is named on the bench for the blockbuster clash with Liverpool at Anfield, even though Bukayo Saka is out with a hamstring injury.

Gabriel Martinelli comes in, while captain Martin Odegaard is only fit enough to be a substitute after suffering a shoulder injury in the 5-0 win against Leeds United. Mikel Merino comes in.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Harriman-Annous, Odegaard, Trossard, Eze, Nwaneri.

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Man City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Liverpool v Arsenal (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Aston Villa v Crystal Palace (19:00)

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction from the two 14:00 matches here

Get Liverpool v Arsenal here

And Aston Villa v Crystal Palace is here

My worry with Liverpool is exactly what Arne Slot talked about in pre-season. They're too defensively vulnerable.

They've already conceded four goals. Ibrahima Konate looks shot to pieces and has been all over the place in the last two games. He's been a great player in the past for Liverpool but right now he looks like a triallist.

If you're a Liverpool fan I guess the good thing is your side are still getting results. But if you want to win league titles you've got to be watertight and strong at the back, and I'm not so sure Liverpool are.

Liverpool got bullied by Newcastle. There's no reason why Arsenal can't bully them too. I've just got a sneaky feeling that Arsenal, bolstered by new signing Eberechi Eze, will exploit them.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

It's transfer deadline day tomorrow, with the window closing at 19:00 BST.

How would you assess your window? And if you think work still needs to be done, give us names on who should be brought in or let go.

Get in touch with your views here

West Ham have entered the race to sign Fabio Vieira from Arsenal, but Stuttgart and another top Bundesliga club are also interested in the 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Meanwhile, Brazil winger Rodrygo, 24, will remain at Real Madrid in this transfer window despite interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool. (Marca - in Spanish), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Uefa has confirmed the date and time for each of Arsenal's eight Champions League group stage matches:

• Atheltic Bilbao v Arsenal: Tuesday, 16 September - 17:45 BST

• Arsenal v Olympiacos: Wednesday, 1 October - 20:00 BST

• Arsenal v Atletico Madrid: Tuesday, 21 October, 20:00 BST

• Slavia Prague v Arsenal: Tuesday, 4 November - 17:45 GMT

• Arsenal v Bayern Munich: Wednesday, 26 November - 20:00 GMT

• Club Brugge v Arsenal: Wednesday, 10 December - 20:00 GMT

• Inter Milan v Arsenal: Tuesday, 20 January - 20:00 GMT

• Arsenal v Kairat Almaty: Wednesday, 28 January - 20:00 GMT

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

One of the Premier League's biggest rivalries resumes this weekend when champions Liverpool host last season's runners-up Arsenal. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes as the title rivals prepare to face off.

Will defenders decide this game?

This fixture has seen 78 goals scored in the past 20 games - the most of any Premier League encounter since the start of 2015-16 - but how both teams defend may prove the deciding factor at Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool have scored in 98% of their games under Arne Slot (39/40) - the highest percentage by any manager in Premier League history. However, a revamped backline has looked increasingly vulnerable so far this season.

The Reds had let a two-goal lead slip against 10-man Newcastle on Monday night - until 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha won the game in the 10th minute of stoppage time, and in doing so became the second-youngest player to score on his Premier League debut.

Liverpool have conceded four goals from just six shots on target so far this season, suggesting they are giving up an uncharacteristic number of high-quality chances. Only Leeds have conceded more often per shot on target than Slot's men in 2025-26. It took Liverpool nine league games to concede four goals last term.

Arsenal's threat from corners

While Liverpool are bedding in new arrival Milos Kerkez, and have lost fellow summer signing Jeremie Frimpong to a hamstring injury, Arsenal's settled defence – founded on the formidable centre-half pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba – are yet to concede a goal in two Premier League matches.

The Gunners' rearguard effort at Old Trafford on the opening weekend was crucial to a 1-0 win against Manchester United.

Should Arsenal keep things tight at Anfield, a favoured weapon could be enough to settle the outcome. Mikel Arteta's side have scored 33 goals from corners since the start of 2023-24 - at least 10 more than any other side in the top five European leagues.

The Gunners have also scored from a corner in their past three games and will have done so in four for the first time if they do so again at Anfield.

And while much focus may be on the recruitment of marquee forwards Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike, keep an eye out for Jurrien Timber. The Arsenal full-back has scored two goals and assisted three in his past five Premier League starts.

In the 5-0 win over Leeds, Timber became the first defender to score two goals and get an assist in a Premier League fixture in more than a decade.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield (16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Arteta offered a fitness update on Bukayo Saka who is "doing better" and will not require surgery but "will be out for a few weeks".

• Captain Martin Odegaard "hasn't trained yet" and "if he does it will be tomorrow" but is "doing everything he can to make himself available".

• Arteta also confirmed Christian Norgaard, Ben White and Leandro Trossard are all doubts for Sunday's match.

• On Kai Havertz who has undergone surgery on a knee issue: "I think it will be weeks, but hopefully not months. Very unfortunate and very sad. This is our profession and now we lose another player for many weeks."

• On new signing Eberechi Eze, who could make his Gunners debut at Anfield, Arteta said: "Very special energy, special aura around him and really willing. I heard a lot about him. He's gathered a lot of information on that pitch. Yes, very impressed with him."

• Asked could Eze start, Arteta said: "We have options in that position, so let's see and I'm not going to give you any clues obviously."

• On the challenge of facing the Reds at Anfield: "A very important one and we want to continue [their good start to the season]. We want to go to these stadiums with these types of atmospheres and come away with a win."

• He was not drawn into commenting on interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie: "You know the answer - I cannot talk about players that are not part of the squad."

• Can he keep everyone happy with such a deep squad now? "The word is that I care. I care that everyone is as happy as possible - to make sure that every player feels that they're fulfilling their potential."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Alex Howell
Football reporter

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Elliot Anderson has received his first call-up to the senior England squad - reward for the 22-year-old's excellent displays since his move to Nottingham Forest.

Anderson was part of the England Under-21 side that retained the European Championship in Slovakia in the summer.

He was an important part of that team, with spectators and, importantly, FA staff remarking about how he played like a senior professional.

Anderson was named in team of the tournament and looks like he is going to be given his chance to cement his place as the third midfielder in Thomas Tuchel's side.

Nobody has been able to tie down the place next to Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham and, even though Bellingham is out for this window, Anderson can show the England manager what he might be able to bring to a World Cup side.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has selected his 24-man squad for the September World Cup qualifiers.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson

Defenders: Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice

Forwards: Harry Kane, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins