Arsenal

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Leandro Trossard has two goals and three assists so far in November, but is he now nailed on as first choice for Arsenal?

On Tuesday, we asked for your thoughts...

Alexi: I think we should keep Trossard on the left even when Martin Odegaard comes back. I think we should drop Martin Zubimendi because he has made too many mistakes that lead to goals. If we have Rice as a deep-lying playmaker and Eberechi Eze and Odegaard switching all the time as attacking midfielders, it will be deadly. Trossard has been so consistent that he is a key part of our team.

Bruce: With the ever growing number of fixtures per season for the top clubs, rotation is becoming essential. We need two or three players who can fill each position. Fifteen or so top quality players is no longer enough – it's probably more like twice that number. Trossard is top quality and he will certainly have a significant role to play.

Ian: Trossard has proved to be invaluable to Arsenal this season. Not only for his goals but his distribution and assists. Not only should he start, he is fully capable of 90 minutes. Top player.

Colin: He is an impact player and when needs be, he should start.

Nigel: No-one in this team needs to be guaranteed a starting spot. It's a team and Arteta is developing each player and their role within a strong team philosophy. Trossard is hardworking, talented and unselfish. Sounds like most of not all of the current squad. My only question mark is Zubimendi. Hardworking and talented yes, but he lets his ego get the better of him.

Keith: The answer to whether Trossard should keep his place is absolutely yes. The other fit players should start on the bench rather than expect to just walk straight back into the team.

Arsenal are tracking Elche's Spanish midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, 20, who has a £17.5m release clause in his contract. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

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Jurrien Timber says the Arsenal defence have spoken about ways that they can keep Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane quiet.

The Gunners come into Wednesday's match on the back of a 4-1 win over rivals Tottenham Hotspur, while Bayern - who are also top of the Bundesliga - have momentum after a 6-2 win over Freiburg.

England captain Kane is in superb form this season scoring 26 goals in 19 appearances for club and country.

Arsenal have only conceded six goals in all competitions this season but Timber acknowledged that it is going to be difficult to keep Kane out of the match.

"That is not going to be easy, of course," Timber said.

"I think it also comes with the clean sheets we are having [that we get recognition]. After a couple of clean sheets, people keep talking about how good the defence is, but I don't think it is just the defenders.

"If you look at Ebs' performance the other day against Tottenham, he scored three goals but defensively he was amazing as well.

"So, I think it is the whole team that is trying to step up and do a bit more also. You have the example of Big Gabi (Gabriel Magalhaes), everybody knows he is out and at the same time we know as defenders, as a team, we have to step up when a big player like him goes out of the team.

"I think it is just everyone taking their responsibility in defending and also attacking."

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Arteta confirmed Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke are in contention, while a meeting on captain Martin Odegaard's fitness will take place on Tuesday, with the Arsenal boss "hopeful" he can be in the squad.

• He added that forwards Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz are "really good" and could be available for either this weekend or the following week.

• On striker Gabriel Jesus being back on the grass and when he might return: "He is quite close and it is earlier than we expected. In the next few days he is going to have another step to make with a game we are going to organise for him. After that, he is just going to be knocking on the door."

• After an impressive win in the north London derby on Sunday, Arteta said they have to "carry that energy to the stadium" on Wednesday and play with the "same aggression, dominance, efficiency against a top side".

• Asked whether the atmosphere in that game was the best he had experienced, he responded: "It has to be one of the best, for sure. The atmosphere and the energy was created just before the game. It was excellent. It makes such a difference. The players were talking about it."

• The Gunners boss added: "I hope our supporters know what they bring. They enjoy the confidence, the energy. We have to maintain and improve that constantly because it is a massive superpower that we have."

• On if Bayern Munich will be their biggest challenge of the season so far: "Every opponent brings different challenges. They are in a great moment. The level of consistency they have shown in results and performances is impressive. We know that, but it is a massive opportunity for us to show what we are capable of."

• On Arsenal's busy schedule of fixtures: "We will try to beat them and then we have Chelsea and that is how ruthless the schedule is - but at the same time how privileged we are to be involved in three incredible games in six days."

Follow all of Tuesday's Champions League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Arsenal v Bayern Munich at 20:00 on Wednesday on BBC Sounds

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discuss Arsenal's dominance in the league after a convincing north London derby win.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart said the Gunners have created a "fear factor" this season.

He added that teams are ready to have a "bit of a slug-fest" against fellow title contenders Manchester City, but can be "very confused" when they play Arsenal and "very few" will go toe-to-toe with the Gunners.

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

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While Eberechi Eze's hat-trick stole the show in the north London derby, Leandro Trossard's goal and assist showed again why he is so valuable to Arsenal.

Many thought the Gunners' big-name recruitment drive in the summer might spell the end of the 30-year-old's Arsenal career, but manager Mikel Arteta said after the Tottenham win that the Belgium international had been "forbidden" to leave the club.

"He's a player that is going to make a difference for us," said the Gunners boss, who added on Trossard's performance against Spurs: "It was one of the best games, so aggressive with and without the ball, so effective, he could have scored another one or two goals, and he was involved in so many positive actions."

One of the areas in which the unsung Trossard has been crucial is in scoring goals to give his side the lead. Against Tottenham, Arsenal dominated the first half - Spurs did not even manage a shot - but it took until the 36th minute for the Gunners to break the deadlock, and once again that goal came through Trossard.

Since his Arsenal debut in January 2023, 58% of Trossard's Premier League goals (14 of 24) have put his side into the lead - more than any of his team-mates - and the fourth-most of any top-flight player with at least 20 goals in that time.

Furthermore, when Trossard scores, Arsenal don't lose – that's been the case in all 32 games in which he has found the net, with 23 of those coming in the Premier League (W18, D5).

Trossard has been involved in goals in all four of Arsenal's matches so far in November, with two goals and three assists. With tricky fixtures against Bayern Munich and Chelsea to round off the month, Gunners fans will be hoping he can continue that streak.

Do you feel the versatile forward gets enough credit for his contributions? With other key attackers - including captain Martin Odegaard and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres - to come back, should Trossard keep his starting spot?

Get in touch with your views here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal have a vital week ahead with Bayern Munich visiting on Wednesday and Chelsea waiting at the weekend.‌

The fans, the players and the manager must be desperate to play those games instead of previous uncertainty, or even dread, they had in previous seasons when key players were missing.

While other teams might be complaining of those injuries or post international break tiredness, the Gunners had a shedload of missing players yet still swept Spurs aside on Sunday. They also still had a bench packed full of players who all could be considered starters themselves. This squad has an awesome depth of quality compared to every other Premier League team.

Gabriel was the single player they would have been concerned about losing but even his absence had minimal effect. It is not just the first XI that looks like a team, the entire squad feels like a single interchangeable entity just now. This is incredibly rare especially when that squad is packed with wonderful creative players, yet Mikel Arteta has still been able to keep them hungry and together.

Eberechi Eze looks like a classic individualistic player but even he does the grunt work when asked and will sit on the bench waiting his turn respectfully when the manager decides that is best for the team. I am guessing that will not be often from here on in when the crucial games arrive.

The hat-trick performance against Spurs was extra special, a masterclass on how to play as a number 10 and a clear sign that the key role he had at Crystal Palace is now being transferred to the Gunners.

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Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

As the dust settles on Arsenal's magnificent 4-1 win over rivals Tottenham on Sunday, fans have been debating which players truly rose to the occasion.

Arsenal have been blessed with a number of 'big-game players' in recent seasons, but perhaps none more underrated than Leandro Trossard. In the north London derby aftermath, Eberechi Eze will capture the headlines for his performance against the club to which he nearly signed, but this has been the season of the Trossard renaissance.

Over the summer, fans debated whether Trossard, who signed in January 2023, was coming to the end of his time at the club. Rumours swirled as to whether a transfer to Saudi Arabia would be on the cards for the Belgian as a way of freeing up vital funds to bring in upgrades to the left wing.

Fast forward to November and Trossard has just put in one of the performances of his career, scoring the opening goal for the Gunners and tormenting the Spurs backline before he was substituted on 78 minutes. Throughout the game, he looked like a man possessed, with deft touches taking the ball into the space left behind the Spurs defence, and providing the assist that gave Eze his hat-trick on a plate.

The left-winger has now scored 19 goals against the traditional 'big six', including four against Tottenham. He has often frustrated fans by going missing in games where Arsenal are facing a low block and struggling to find space, but there is no denying Trossard is an essential asset against Arsenal's title rivals.

With Gabriel Martinelli still on his way back from injury and Noni Madueke having just returned, it is likely Trossard will feature again on Sunday as Arsenal face second-place Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Another big game awaits for one of Arsenal's most ruthless big-game players.

Choose whether Trossard should start in a full-strength Gunners side here

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

Arsenal and Chelsea will fight to sign Marseille's 18-year-old French striker Robinio Vaz, who is valued between 20 and 30m euros (£17.6m to £25.5m). (Caught Offside), external

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Alex Howell
Football reporter

Yes, there are still 26 games left to play for each team this season, we hear you say.

So a six-point lead at this point is surely far from unsurmountable? Correct, but the stats suggest Arsenal's lead is fairly significant.

This is the fifth time Arsenal have been top of the Premier League after 12 matches but - look away now, Gunners fans - they have failed to go on and win the title the past three times they have led the way at this stage.

However, this is the biggest lead they have had at this stage of a Premier League campaign.

And it gets even better for Arsenal fans. No team has failed to win the title with a lead of six points or more after 12 games of a Premier League season.

That stat is a bit misleading, though, as teams have come from further back to win the title.

So, how many times have teams been six or more points behind the leaders after 12 games and still been crowned champions?

It still looks pretty healthy for Arsenal, with the answer being just five times - the most recent being in 2013-14 when Manchester City were six points behind leaders Arsenal.

Chelsea have to be considered title challengers now they are sitting in second spot.

They have won five of their past six league games, winning three in a row without conceding for the first time since 2022.

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, two and three points behind Chelsea respectively, will also consider themselves challengers.

Read more on Arsenal's position in the title race

We asked for your views on Sunday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Tim: Dominant performance. Controlled the midfield with Declan Rice outstanding. Eberechi Eze's finishes were deadly and 4-1 flattered Spurs. I have been watching Arsenal for 45 years and this is by far the strongest squad I have witnessed. One game at a time...

Vince: Could the stars be any more aligned? From the moment Arsenal hijacked Tottenham's move for Eze, to this weekend where he scored a hat-trick against them while both Liverpool and Manchester City lost, Arsenal have largely been in the ascendency. I'd be half preparing a victory party if this was game number 32 and not number 12!

Lew: Apart from Martin Zubimendi holding onto the ball a bit too long for Spurs to nick it and score, it was a perfect performance. It is a busy winter period with the games coming quick and fast but having depth in our team and our injured players returning, this will hopefully be the season we go all the way.

Chris: An excellent team performance with a starring role for Eze. However, I am always nervous when David Raya advances so far out of his goal. It might be necessary when we are not winning but not when we are. The Spurs goal was partly Raya's fault. He needs to know that we do not need to take risks when we are well ahead. Here, the mistake energised Spurs though they were all huff and puff and failed to trouble us. When you have an opponent on the ropes keep them there and don't take unnecessary risks.

Tottenham fans

Chris: Thomas Frank's plan went wrong. We played long and failed to win the first duels and seldom picked up any second. The pressure did not stop. We played two defensive midfielders who failed to control the space outside the penalty box. It would appear whoever we play up front, the players are distant from each other in mind and body. The game was lost by the 46th minute. It will be a hard watch if we do not find some cohesion, quality and fight.

William: Our performance was one that would not have looked out of place in the Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte regimes - only that Frank does not have Kane and Son to rely on for the counter-attack. There is very little cohesion between the defence and attack, while we seldom looked like scoring, besides Richarlison's moment of magic.

Barrie: We should not be surprised because the squad is not too different from the one we had last season under Ange Postecoglou. Its the old adage of 'if you keep things the same, you should expect the same outcome'. We don't have enough players of high quality to compete consistently with the top sides".

Simon: Give Frank a chance. He has inherited previous mangers signings, missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White and Eze and no doubt then had to bring in a few signings and loans that were not first choices. He is missing Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski plus Son left in July. Frank builds high energy teams with a strong front three. Give the bloke a chance!

I know from experience there are certain games where, if you are the player who makes the difference, the fans never forget it.

I had been a Liverpool player for more than three years when I scored my first winner for them against Manchester United in 2000. I was used to being asked for autographs and people talking to me, but that goal against our biggest rivals suddenly elevated everything to a different level.

I was now the player who had scored that goal for us, and against them. It was like people saw me in a different way, and certainly thought more highly of me, because I had given them this joy in a fixture that meant so much to them.

It will be the same for Eze now and the immediate effect of his hat-trick is that, in the next few games, he will be so full of confidence he will feel like he can try anything because he cannot do anything wrong.

Whenever he next walks out on the pitch, whether it is against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday or Chelsea in the Premier League next weekend, he will feel he has the fans 100% behind him, because they adore him now more than ever.

It will be the same whenever he gets on the ball, too. You know the fans love you and that transfers to your game. You are thinking "give me the ball, what am I going to do next?" The feeling is amazing, and he will want to express himself and show the world how good he is.

That's the buzz you get and it applies to any player scoring a hat-trick in a game of this size, but it always means a bit more when you are a fan of the team you do it for - it really does.

You feel a warmth from the supporters that it is very hard to get if you've not grown up knowing it yourself.

I had been at Old Trafford as a Liverpool fan watching them play there, so I understood what beating United meant to our supporters, the same as Eze will know what beating Spurs means to Arsenal fans.

What he did on Sunday will live with him forever, and the supporters will know he gets it too.

Read Danny's analysis in full here

Image source, The i and Mirror

On Sunday, Arsenal produced a statement derby win over Tottenham to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to six points.

Eberechi Eze was the hero, scoring his first hat-trick in senior football and the first in a north London derby since 1978 after Leandro Trossard opened the scoring.

'Made it look Eze' and 'Three and Eze' are two of Monday's back pages, but it was their captain Declan Rice that most impressed former top-flight goalkeeper David James.

"I know Eze will get all of the headlines, and he deserves to because all three finishes were fantastic, but Rice is so good," James said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"There were a couple of times where he played first time balls and he had so much control in the midfield which is probably why Tottenham never got a grip of the ball.

"Arsenal bossed it. It was like a training session.

"A bad day for Spurs but a super day for Arsenal."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast

Pundits Danny Murphy and Joe Hart and join host Gabby Logan 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:

• Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa

• Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Nottingham Forest defender Murillo is attracting interest from Arsenal and Barcelona, but Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has also identified the 23-year-old Brazilian as a key defensive target.

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

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to BBC Match of the Day: "It's a very special day for us. We knew the importance of the match and what it means to our fans. To be able to give them that joy, it's a beautiful day."

On Eberechi Eze becoming only the fourth ever player to score a hat-tick in the North London derby: "That tells you about the difficulty and what he's done today. To be fair he could have scored four or five. He's a big player who can create magic moments which unbalance a team.

"We dominated every part of the game. We created massive chances and had a lot of actions that we were very close to scoring. We stayed patient.

"Whoever we put in there they do the jobs for us. This squad has the belief and quality to deliver consistently.

"We have really good momentum but you can see how difficult every game in the Premier League is. It's a long run, let's go game by game. Let's enjoy tonight, then we have Bayern here and Chelsea away. We have a tough week."

Midfielder Eberechi Eze to BBC Match of the Day: "That is crazy. Special day, man. Special day for me, my family.

"I don't think I could've ever dreamt of it. This is more special than that. I can only thank God. Special day, man.

"We were prepared for whatever set-up they were coming with because of the diligence of our staff. Huge credit to them. And of course, the players in our team, the ability, the talent, from whatever angle we're threatening to score goals.

"Good performance, good three points and a special day.

"I probably should've scored four, to be honest. I'm always trying to score, always trying to take my chances. It's important to be relentless.

"We're focused on ourselves, we're focused on putting in our work every day. It's not by chance that we perform like this."

Did you know?

• Eberechi Eze is just the fourth player to score a hat-trick in competitive meetings between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur after Ted Drake (October 1934), Terry Dyson (August 1961) and Alan Sunderland (December 1978).

• There were 20 passes in the build-up to Leandro Trossard's opening goal for Arsenal, only Thomas Partey's goal in October 2022 (21) has seen more for a goal against Tottenham Hotspur in the competition (since 2006-07).

Alex Howell
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

When Arsenal swooped to beat Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of Eberechi Eze, it was one of the standout moments of this summer's transfer window.

The Gunners, who had already spent heavily in the market, moved quickly to hijack their rivals' move for the England midfielder after an injury to Kai Havertz - and Eze has not looked back since.

It was an easy decision to move to the Gunners for someone who was a boyhood fan of the club and was in Arsenal's academy before being released.

But then came the questions of where he would fit into Mikel Arteta's plans.

Arsenal did not see Eze as an outright winger, which meant he would be competing in the congested central area of the pitch with captain Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Ethan Nwaneri.

However, an injury to Odegaard has seen Eze play regularly - and the 27-year-old has continued to improve as he gets used to Arteta's system.

At Crystal Palace, Eze played more from the left, but at Arsenal, he is closer to the right as Arteta looks to build a connection with Bukayo Saka.

Eze has produced some standout moments this season for the Gunners - an assist for Gabriel Martinelli's stoppage-time equaliser against Manchester City, the winning goal against old club Palace and now this classy hat-trick against Tottenham.

He has four goals and three assists in his 15 appearances for Arsenal this term - and the most goal involvements of any English player in the top flight in 2025.

Arsenal are deservedly top of the league - and Eze's ability to create something from nothing can help keep them there.