Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has more assists than any other player in the Premier League so far this season, with five. He could become the first player to assist a goal in each of his side’s first six games of a campaign in the competition.
What's with the dark arts?published at 07:58 27 September
07:58 27 September
There has been a lot of conversation this week about "dark arts" in football following the draw between Manchester City and Arsenal on Sunday.
Realistically, everyone who has watched football for longer than one game has seen things they would perceive as "dark arts"; whether it is a player always going down winning free-kicks to take the sting out of the game, kicking the ball into row Z when there was no multi-ball system or time-wasting on goal-kicks.
These are things we see all the time but our perception of it is dependent on the context of a game. You always see some version of it somewhere, and you hope your team would be doing the same thing if in the same situation - because why should you do something that would benefit the opposition you are against?
It is the same as going down a bit more easily to win penalties - some people will say "this guy is a cheat", but then on the other side of their mouth, if it is something that could benefit them, they say "he has tried too hard to stay up, he needed to go down there".
You can have rulings, Ifab can get involved to change this and that, but there will always be a way to push the rules to their limits.
What we saw with Arsenal in that game, where David Raya sat down to get some treatment while the teams gathered, we have seen those moments before. It is not just new to Arsenal - other teams do it.
It is always based on certain moments. You do get more frustrated if it happens against you, but when you need to do it, you encourage people to do it. That is one of the beauties of football - the way you see things is always going to be down to perception, context and just whether you think it is benefiting you or not.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Phil Cartwright
Gossip: Gunners eye move for Gordonpublished at 07:26 27 September
07:26 27 September
Newcastle United are keen to tie 23-year-old England winger Anthony Gordon to a long-term deal, with Arsenal keen on the former Everton player. (Sun), external
The future is brightpublished at 09:43 26 September
09:43 26 September
Arsenal flexed their young guns in Wednesday evening's 5-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Six teenagers featured throughout the 90 minutes including Ethan Nwaneri, who found the net twice, and goalkeeper Jack Porter, who became the youngest to start a first-team fixture for the club.
Arteta 'right person' to help Nwaneri develop - Brownpublished at 08:08 26 September
08:08 26 September
Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri's two goals for Arsenal against Bolton:
"This will do him really good. We talked about having the experience around him, being able to play with Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice and others. He is going to learn so much and he has contributed in the game.
"He's an unbelievably exciting talent and I think of all the coaches who want to bring on and develop young players, Mikel Arteta is the right person for him.
"A wonderful night for him and his family."
Ex-Arsenal defender Matt Upson was also impressed by 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter starting in goal for the Gunners:
"A 16-year-old goalkeeper in senior men's football doesn't exist - you don't ever see it.
"I like how Arteta spoke about how it was a big deal for his family but you can imagine the emotion running through him, the nervousness, because there is nothing like that goalkeeping position.
"The pressure is huge and it's all about not making a mistake. You have to really be on your game, the focus and decision-making have to be right and that's why [goalkeepers] mature so much later.
"Huge credit to him."
Arsenal 5-1 Bolton - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:08 26 September
08:08 26 September
We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Carabao Cup game between Arsenal and Bolton.
Here are some of your comments:
Richard: Ethan Nwaneri is ready to start in place of Martin Odegaard. Quick feet , can operate in tight spaces and showed he can finish when chances come. Arsenal's new star boy!
Amanda: I think it was a great performance tonight by the youngsters. Arsenal are blessed with good talented players coming through the ranks.
Guy: Very pleased. Got through a game with no new injuries and a win. It was good to see a combination of senior players and youngsters combining. Nwaneri looks like a very promising player - hopefully he gets game time with Odergard currently injured.
Henry: Glad to see a mixture of experience and youth in the team that convincingly blitzed Bolton Wanderers. This will surely give us the confidence to rotate more, often something Mikel has dreaded doing before. It goes to show the quality and depth in our squad. Well played to the boys!
Gordon: It was a good game and great experience for the 'young bloods', although I was disappointed that Nwaneri didn't manage to get a hat-trick, which would have made it even more memorable for him. He's obviously one to watch in the future.
Did you know?published at 07:56 26 September
07:56 26 September
OptaJoe, external pointed out on X that in his club career, Raheem Sterling has started a game alongside players born 30 years apart - Jamie Carragher in 2012-13 (born January 1978) and Jack Porter (born July 2008) - before he even turned 30 himself.
The on-loan Arsenal forward scored his first goal for the Gunners against Bolton Wednesday in the Carabao Cup.
Gossip: Vlahovic contract talks as Arsenal waitpublished at 07:07 26 September
07:07 26 September
Juventus are hoping to extend the contract of Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, 24, until 2028 or 2029, although negotiations are reported to be at a standstill. Vlahovic has been linked with Arsenal. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
Arteta praises Arsenal youngsterspublished at 07:01 26 September
07:01 26 September
Mikel Arteta spoke about Ethan Nwaneri after he scored a double in Arsenal's Carabao Cup victory against Bolton: "You can tell he is playing with a confidence and belief and an understanding of what he needs to do on the pitch.
"In his journey with the first team he is always ahead of what everybody expected and I expected, too. He deserves that and he is part of us so he will have the minutes."
On 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter: "We told him [that he was starting] yesterday and he was over the moon,
"He spoke straight away to his family and they were not prepared for that.
"It is a big step, a big occasion for them and I think they were nervous about it. But he reacted really well, he was really composed in training and his team-mates helped him, too.
"What an experience and what a way to break a record [becoming Arsenal's youngest ever starter]."
Carabao Cup fourth-round draw - who is your team facing?published at 22:32 25 September
22:32 25 September
The draw has been made for the Carabao Cup fourth round, with 12 Premier League clubs having made it through and Newcastle set to play their postponed tie against Wimbledon on 1 October.
There are four confirmed all-Premier League fixtures, including Tottenham hosting Manchester City and holders Liverpool travelling to Brighton.
Ties are scheduled to take place the week commencing 28 October.
All the fixtures featuring top-flight sides are shown below:
Odegaard 'feeling more positive every day'published at 17:29 25 September
17:29 25 September
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard says he is making progress with his recovery from an ankle ligament injury, although he does not yet know a date for his return.
"It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there, but it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can," he wrote.
"I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I’m working hard and my only thought is to get back as soon as possible."
The Norwegian has missed Arsenal's past three games - a win in the north London derby, followed by successive draws away to Atalanta in the Champions League and against Premier League title rivals Manchester City.
While the midfielder remains sidelined, he did share his relief that the injury was not as serious as first feared.
"I’ve injured my ankle before and the pain felt a bit different this time. That’s what scared me, but from what happened it could have been worse, so in that sense I got away with it a bit," he said.
'As intense a football game as you are likely to see'published at 16:46 25 September
16:46 25 September
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Arsenal held Manchester City away from home in remarkably difficult circumstances with a defensive performance that was as close to perfect as possible given the context of the game.
Close, but no cigar.
If you are leading with the clock passing 95 minutes and you do not manage to see it out, it is only natural to feel deflated.
When the dust settles, they will know that it was an incredible performance that shows they have resilience, heart, nastiness and indeed every trick in the book up their combined sleeves. They will need all of that for the rest of the season if they are going to stay with the champions.
For the neutral, it was as intense a football game as you are likely to see. It underlines once and for all that these two teams are worthy adversaries that will join some of the great titanic Premier League rivalries of the past. I cannot wait for the next meeting already.
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta might both feel relieved but spare a thought for referee Michael Oliver. He made a few mistakes, particularly with Arsenal’s first goal, but there will be very few tougher games to manage.
Both sets of fans will be fuming with him but I am happy I was not the one trying to control that one. It was close to impossible and maybe he was the most relieved person in the entire ground when he blew the final whistle.
Gossip: Saliba not for sale amid Real Madrid interestpublished at 08:03 25 September
08:03 25 September
Arsenal have no intention to negotiate the potential sale of William Saliba, despite Real Madrid holding an interest in the French defender. (FootballTransfers), external
Arsenal are planning a move to sign Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, 24, from Juventus next summer. (Teamtalk), external