Verdict on new Champions League formatpublished at 14:59 29 January
14:59 29 January
Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown and BBC Sport's John Bennett join Ben Croucher on The Football News Show to discuss why they feel the revamped Champions League format has been a success and why we should be excited by the final round of group games on Wednesday.
Girona game another chance to build good feelingpublished at 12:58 29 January
12:58 29 January
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal are all but through to the last 16 of the Champions League with their position in the group-phase table, but the match at Girona presents another chance to bring back good feeling.
The Gunners have had a challenging campaign with injuries to key players, including Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, plus incidents like the red card given to Myles Lewis-Skelly which has now been overturned.
With such a strong position, Arsenal are pretty much guaranteed to avoid the play-offs.
They then go into games against Manchester City - where a win at Emirates Stadium can keep the pressure up on leaders Liverpool - before the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Newcastle.
Manager Mikel Arteta has already mentioned the benefit of a possible winter break, which the squad will possibly do between the Newcastle match and the game at Leicester City 10 days later.
The Gunners went on an excellent run after their trip to Dubai last season and took the tittle challenge to the final day.
Arteta will be hoping, starting with the match in Girona, this can be the start of the push they need to start a run to lift a trophy.
Arsenal's group stage in picturespublished at 12:05 29 January
12:05 29 January
Henry Brownsey BBC Sport journalist
Bar an improbable sequence of results or swing in goal difference, Arsenal are into the last 16 of the Champions League.
In fact, Opta put the chances of the Gunners not finishing in the top eight at just 0.04%.
Here's how they did it.
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal's group stage got under way with a 0-0 draw at Atalanta. After a game of little drama, David Raya was the Arsenal hero with a stunning double save from Mateo Retegui - stopping the Italian's penalty and his rebound to ensure Arsenal left with a point.
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal's first win of the group stage came against PSG at the Emirates - first-half goals from Kai Havertz and a Bukayo Saka free-kick helped the Gunners to a 2-0 victory.
They followed this with another home win, beating Ukranian side Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 courtesy of an own goal by goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.
Image source, Getty Images
Two weeks later, a controversial penalty was given to Inter Milan against the Gunners at the San Siro, which Hakan Calhanoglu scored.
This was enough to help Inter to a 1-0 win and condemn Arsenal to their first Champions League loss of the group stage.
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Arsenal reacted to their loss in Italy by hitting Sporting for five at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Sporting had been unbeaten in their four group stage games up to this point and thrashed Manchester City 4-1 three weeks prior to facing the Gunners.
But Arteta's side comfortably dispatched the Portuguese side with five different players getting on the scoresheet in a 5-1 win.
Image source, Getty Images
In their most recent two fixtures, consecutive 3-0 home victories against Monaco and Dinamo Zagreb have effectively guaranteed Arsenal's place in the last 16.
Havertz, who scored the winner in the 2020-21 final, took his tally for this season's campaign to four as he notched in both games.
Arsenal approach will not be 'cautious'published at 09:15 29 January
09:15 29 January
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Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown has backed Mikel Arteta's "mentality" to achieve a positive result at Girona on Wednesday night.
Before the final game of the group phase, Arsenal have essentially secured a position in the Champions League top eight and will avoid heading into the play-off round of the new-look competition.
It gives the Arsenal boss an opportunity to rest some players; however, Arteta insisted in his pre-match news conference he would still field a "strong team".
"I quite fancy them in this year's Champions League," Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "I feel like Arteta has done all of his prep - he has said he has watched them three or four times.
"I don't think their approach will be cautious. They want to develop and go on and win. That is the mentality he has - to win every single game."
He said the decision will not affect his thinking for choosing the team against Girona as there was already "a lot of uncertainty" for upcoming games.
On the abuse referee Michael Oliver has been subjected to: "Regardless of whether it's about a player, a coach or a referee, it doesn't matter. We really have to work harder to eradicate this part of the game that brings nothing but bad stuff, leaves a bad taste and makes people's lives more difficult. Let's get it out. Let's kick it out."
He added: "It should not be permitted. We don't want it, we don't need it and certainly damages our sport."
On whether he will make changes for the game: "We're here to win the game and in order to do that we're going to have to be better than them. So tomorrow will be a very strong team in order to achieve what we want to do because mathematically the qualifying at the moment is uncertain."
On whether Arsenal are looking at bringing in players this window for positions other than a striker: "There are situations open. I always say the same - if we can improve the squad with players who can impact us now and in the future, we will try to do that if it is the best thing for the club. I stand by that."
He said Mikel Merino has been "quite unfortunate" with injuries but his "character is unbelievable", adding: "He's so determined and now he has some rhythm, some momentum and has had some very good moments in the last few weeks with us."
On the possibility of resting Kai Havertz: "We have a lot of players with a lot of load. he's not an exception, but his work-rate and his desire [are great]. The way he trained today, it's as if he wants to play tomorrow. Some players, when they are in the rhythm, want to continue to do that because they feel better."
Arsenal teenager Heaven on brink of Man Utd movepublished at 16:32 28 January
16:32 28 January
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Arsenal's Ayden Heaven has won England caps at Under-18 and Under-19 level
Manchester United are close to completing a deal for another promising Arsenal youngster in Ayden Heaven.
United signed striker Chido Obi-Martin from the Gunners in October and the 17-year-old has already impressed in the club's FA Youth Cup campaign.
Now the Old Trafford outfit are expecting to successfully conclude negotiations with 18-year-old central defender Heaven, who made his senior debut as a substitute in an EFL Cup win at Preston.
Although Arsenal do not want to lose Heaven, the London-born player knows the path to regular first team exposure is blocked as Mikel Arteta has a number of senior defenders who are all performing well.
In contrast, United are on a path to try and massively improve their recruitment, which has been so poor in recent times.
In addition to Obi-Martin, the club has also tied up a deal for Paraguay Under-20 international Diego Leon.
It is not entirely clear whether Heaven would become part of United's first-team squad or if he would initially work with the Premier League 2 set-up.
Girona v Arsenal: Did you know?published at 15:33 28 January
15:33 28 January
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal have conceded just two goals in the Champions League this season - one a penalty against Inter Milan and the other from a corner against Sporting.
They are one of two teams (along with Inter) yet to concede from open play in the 2024-25 competition.
Why was Lewis-Skelly's red card 'bizarre and basically wrong'?published at 10:37 28 January
10:37 28 January
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
I was at the Wolves against Arsenal game on Saturday for BBC Radio 5 and live on air I had to react to the decision to send Myles Lewis-Skelly off.
I came down on the side of it being bizarre and basically wrong. The officials thinking it wasn't worth all that tiresome effort of walking over to look at the video evidence felt like incompetence, bordering on arrogance towards the players.
You can trawl through the rules and make a case that in a single freeze frame the 'tackle' connected above the ankle, but this is a pure technicality. 'Above ankle' tackles are considered worthy of a red as in theory most could seriously endanger a player. This emphatically did not endanger a player to that level because it was a trip. Cynical, unfair, infuriating, cheating, yes. But a red card that didn't even deserve to be looked at? Absolutely not.
Although referees claim they know the rules and understand the dangers, none have had a tiny percentage of the kind of tackles I endured over an almost two-decade career. I was the one on the receiving end almost every single time, and I know the difference between a seriously dangerous challenge and a sneaky little trip.
I hope by the time you read this, that red card has been rescinded. It might not only have badly affected the young full-back, but also Arsenal's entire season. This decision nearly destroyed much of the joy, excitement and tension of the Premier League run-in, had the Gunners unfairly lost because of it. Fortunately, they didn't but it was a close call, unlike the red card itself.
I have worked in TV, radio and in print talking about football and it may shock you that I have never namechecked a referee - an oddity that few notice.
The reason is I respect the difficulty of the job and unless they thrust themselves "out there" by word or action I always just say, referee, assistant or VAR.
I do wonder however if that anonymity is the last thing some of them want!
Gossip: Gunners to battle Spurs for Williamspublished at 08:02 28 January
08:02 28 January
Tottenham and Arsenal are both willing to pay the 58m euro release clause for 22-year-old Athletic Bilbao and Spain winger Nico Williams. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external)
Arsenal are leading the race to sign Rosenborg and Norway Under-21 international midfielder Sverre Nypan, 18. (Independent, external)
Brighton and Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson, 20, is the top target of former Seagulls boss Graham Potter, who wants to bring the striker to West Ham, but Everton, Bournemouth and Arsenal are also in the running. (Talksport, external)
'Us against the world mentality' - will a 'siege' mentality boost Gunners?published at 15:50 27 January
15:50 27 January
Laura Kirk-Francis Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Most of the post-match discussion on Saturday centered on the red card shown to Miles Lewis-Skelly just before half-time. With this, Arsenal have now matched their total of red cards from the 2020-21 season (Arsenal actually went the two full Premier League seasons after without a single red card).
Many fans would have feared the worst. In three previous occasions after receiving a red card, Arsenal have gone on to either draw or lose the game. This week, things were different. While some fans will focus on the harshness of the decision, the Gunners' response to going down to 10-men deserves recognition for both what it was and for what it could represent going forward.
There is a narrative emerging that paints Arsenal, and particularly their fans, as the league's villains. It is this exact sense of perceived injustice that could provide the spark the team needs to reignite their title challenge. There is a type of siege mentality, a sense of 'us against the world' that can galvanise a team and fanbase alike.
Rather than collapse, Arsenal more than rose to the occasion of playing the majority of the game a man down. The industrious Declan Rice put in one of his best performances of late, getting into more forward positions as well as providing balance in defence. At the final whistle, Kai Havertz could be seen collapsing to the ground, exhausted. Make no mistake, this was a gargantuan effort for Arsenal. That rumoured trip to Dubai couldn't come soon enough.
The harshness of the red card may serve as a rallying cry, and with their backs against the wall, Arsenal demonstrated a defiance that fans will hope can shape the remainder of the campaign.
Paul: Still the same issues as we've had for many seasons. Too easy to score against and we aren't clinical enough when it matters. We had enough chances in the last three games against Arsenal, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest but we lost all of them. I thought we looked far more compact against Arsenal though.
Mark: Played a decent game but desperately need more quality to compete at this level. No creativity in midfield and not enough movement up top. Defended reasonably well - thought Emmanuel Agbadou was excellent. Owners were present and, like the fans, I hope that they can acknowledge that investment is needed - now!
Mike: Some really encouraging signs today. Very competitive in midfield, particularly in the first half. That's more than can be said for the two strikers. Superb display and really commanding performance by Agbadou. Another centre-back with his physical presence would be money well spent. Our subs don't have any real impact apart from Rodrigo Gomes and he looks like our new Neto. Our goalkeeper is still a big issue whoever wears the shirt. However, the support was a big plus, and we're going to need that now until the end of the season.
Dan: Poor showing with relegation written all over it. As normal, there is no backing from the board - two thirds of the way through the window and one first-team signing just isn't good enough.
Arsenal fans
Dave: Excellent game management from Arsenal and a very good three points. Some very good performances there and the team should be proud. Riccardo Calafiori scored an excellent goal and did very well on the left. It was nice to see Ethan Nwaneri start - shame he came off at half time although it was understandable. Declan Rice was excellent everywhere. Gabriel and William Saliba were brilliant in defence, and Thomas Partey was solid in midfield. I feel sorry for Myles Lewis-Skelly but he'll bounce back in his next game.
Guy: Not a vintage Arsenal performance. Would've been 3-2 on a different day and if both teams were more clinical. I think both sendings off were fair. Rice seems to be going forward a little more often which is great to see.
Stuart: Surely nobody in football can say that Lewis-Skelley's tackle deserved a red for serious foul play? Barely a yellow. And no word of the Wolves player's second yellow which was a more serious one but only got a second yellow.
Peter: Arsenal were once known as lucky Arsenal. Even though they won this one, they don't seem to be having much luck any more. Jurrien Timber was man of the match.