Arsenal

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Maybe it is time to rethink how squads are built. Can Manchester City and, to a lesser extent, Arsenal still afford to be so top heavy with mega-huge earners?

When the superstars are injured, or off form, or just plain knackered, or - whisper it - just getting a little older, it leaves a very unbalanced looking group.

Their replacements aren't at nearly the same standard. More worryingly for the bean counters, they have lost the art of finding inexpensive rough diamonds and being able to polish them.

Other Premier League clubs have no sympathy for the stuttering giants. They understood they had to cut their cloth to suit their means.

So Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham and others might not have the superstars, but they have balance. They typically have at least two players of similar ability for most positions.

That means you can cope with the injuries without the standard dropping too far. There are few irreplaceable stars.

In contrast, City without Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne, and Arsenal without Martin Odegaard, suddenly look a lot less invincible.

‌Maybe this is the biggest point about both sides' wobbles. They suddenly don't look invincible.

It will only take another couple of questionable performances and the vultures will be circling.

It is vicious, but in football there is nothing sweeter than feasting on a once-great beast that suddenly appears vulnerable.

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With only four points separating third and 13th, we do not normally see that many teams in this type of mini league.

Normally, you might have the teams in a pack around the top four or five and then another pack underneath that with your relegation pack as well, so the fact there is so many teams in it at this stage is making it different.

From the mental side of competing in that, you look at Manchester United who have struggled so much this season and are sitting 13th. If they get a win, it can shoot them right up the table. They are in a position to think they are only a few points off the Champions League places' and that is good.

But it can work both ways.

Knowing the points are so close can keep you strong, keep you competing and have that competitiveness because you know a result can jump you up. But on the flipside, you could easily go from seventh down to 13th in one weekend or from third down to 10th.

How you deal with it depends on the manager, the players and also the psychologists within the group. Psychology in sport is really important for whether you see the situation as a positive or a negative.

Whether it stays like this all season is hard to say as there have been some really inconsistent performances and results. The most consistent team is the one sitting at the top.

I do not know what the rest of the campaign has in store for these sides because all the teams seem to be able to take points off each other this season.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, PA Media

On the latest episode of Planet Premier League on BBC Sounds, former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey discussed Martin Odegaard's return to fitness and how much of a boost that is to the Gunners.

The Norway international was out for about two months with an ankle problem before returning to the starting XI at Chelsea on Sunday.

Wales captain Ramsey said: "He's been brilliant for Arsenal over the last few years and I think his creativity - he can see a pass, his weight of pass is brilliant - is the link between the defence and the strikers.

"Arsenal [have been] missing that player in between the lines who can receive the ball in those little tight areas and slide these killer passes through.

"It was just nice to see him back the other day because he's going to be a massive lift to them."

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Arsenal's plan to reach net-zero by 2040 has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global body that enables businesses to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science.

In 2020, the Gunners became the first Premier League club to sign up to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.

Arsenal's plan for net-zero, external includes decarbonising energy consumption at Emirates Stadium and the club's training ground, reducing travel emissions, minimising waste and working with partners and suppliers to reduce emissions from the goods that the club purchases.

Hannah Mansour, Arsenal director of environmental, social, and governance (ESG), said: "We're proud that our net-zero target has been approved by the SBTi, which is part of our commitment to being thorough and transparent in reducing our footprint. We continue to take actions that deliver against this target, focused on reducing emissions across our value chain.

"The full extent of the actions we're taking for our environment go beyond the scope of our SBTi-approved net-zero target. We will also continue to partner for our goals with our commercial and local partners to help our communities adapt to the effects of climate change."

Arsenal and Manchester United are battling to sign former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich, with the 28-year-old Germany international out of contract next summer. (Bild - in German, subscription required), external

The Gunners are monitoring Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi's situation, with the belief that they can prove the most viable destination for the 25-year-old. (Independent), external

Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe will leave the La Liga club at the end of the season and be considered for the same position at Arsenal, after it was recently vacated by Edu. (Times - subscription required), external

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

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Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon believes Arsene Wenger has "passed" the point of returning to the Gunners in some capacity, as some fans call for him to be the club's director of football.

After Edu's departure as sporting director, it led to people wondering if the legendary manager may come back - but Dixon does not believe this will happen.

Speaking on the latest Sacked In The Morning podcast, he said: "He's made peace with Arsenal now. I don't think he's ready for that type of role.

"[It would be] great to have that knowledge in the building, but I think he's passed that now. He's got a bigger world to look at with his Fifa job."

Dixon, who spent 14 years at Arsenal, also praised current boss Mikel Arteta for the "brilliant" job he is doing.

"He's reunited the fans back to the team - which was broken, and the atmosphere at the Emirates now is brilliant," added the 60-year-old.

"That's all down to him and his team. He's created a slightly changing team - it's big, it's strong. It used to be less like that.

"You look at the centre-halves and Rice in midfield, the size of the team is turning into a big, strong unit.

"I still think they're short. I Just don't think the front five - Saka obviously is exceptional - are right up there with what Liverpool and [Manchester] City have got.

"They might just fall short again."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Is this a temporary change or something more permanent?

No, not recent political events, but the weird goings on with the big beasts of the Premier League.

Arsenal have won two points from the past 12 while losing to Inter Milan in the Champions League. This was mirrored by Manchester City losing four games in a row after only scraping past Wolves and Southampton.

I warned here a few weeks ago here that I thought City were creaking. So what is going on?

It might just be bad luck but it is more likely to be the over-working of a small number of crucial players finally taking its toll.

The injuries are obvious causes but asking the leftover squad to play three games a week, while fitting in national team fixtures, after the summer's gruelling international tournaments has had an effect.

The players have gone through these stresses before, but it is the cumulative effect of this year after year, season after season that has had the profound effect - just as many players and coaches predicted.

Suddenly the behemoth squads are looking a little threadbare, which is incredible when you consider their combined costs.

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It is the prevailing narrative - and has been for some time.

While the calls for a high-class finisher are understandable, remember that last year the Gunners scored only five fewer than champions Manchester City, who have arguably the world's best number nine in Erling Haaland.

So what's the reality? We took a look at some numbers...

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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In 2023-24, Arsenal's challenge was built on the firmest of foundations. A rock-solid defence that rarely changed and kept everyone at arm's length.

Just 29 goals conceded, at an average of 0.8 per game, Arsenal kept a clean sheet in 18 of their 38 games last season. Maybe it is at this end of the pitch that this season's troubles lie?

In 11 games so far, it is just three shutouts for Mikel Arteta's side, although they still have the fourth-best record in terms of goals conceded.

Interestingly, the Gunners are actually making more tackles per game (17.1 to 16.1), with a greater percentage of those being successful (62% as opposed to 57%). They are, however, making fewer recoveries - nearly 10 per game below last season.

Without a reliable left-back in 2023-24, the quartet of goalkeeper David Raya, Ben White, Gabriel and William Saliba still provided tremendous consistency. Saliba started all 38 games, with Gabriel wrestling his place in the first XI back in game four and staying there for virtually the whole season.

This season, the Brazil defender has started all 11 games, but Saliba was suspended for the visit of Liverpool and White has already not started as many this season as he did for the whole of the last campaign (three). It makes a difference.

Summer signing Riccardo Calafiori and the returning Jurrien Timber have been helpful additions, but their availability has been patchy.

Of course, ill discipline has dogged the Gunners. Three red cards so far - for Saliba, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard - possibly led to dropped points against Bournemouth, Manchester City and Brighton. Given Liverpool's excellent start to the season, those dropped points have left them off the pace.

They only had two dismissals in the whole of 2023-24.

If they are to rediscover last season's levels in defence, Arteta needs to get his foundations in place. Consistency at the back will surely be crucial for Arsenal to reignite their title challenge when Premier League football returns.

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It was argued above that having a settled defence is going to be key for Arsenal – but there are legitimate reasons for fans to clamour for a striker.

Having asserted that Arsenal were the second-highest scorers in the Premier League last season, it is worth putting that in context.

Ninety one goals is a hefty number, but when noted their expected goals (xG) figure was only 77, it shows the finishing heights the Gunners were hitting.

Perhaps this season they are simply reverting to type, scoring 18 goals from an xG of 17.3. Not so much running hot as keeping the temperature level.

Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard all hit double figures in 2023-24, with the latter in particular outperforming his xG of eight to snag 12 crucial strikes.

It would probably be unreasonable to expect that pace to keep going and, with shots on target dropping by one per game so far this season and talismanic playmaker Martin Odegaard missing time, the quality of chances has dropped for Arsenal.

In terms of finishing, Havertz is ninth for xG in the Premier League this season - scoring four times from a number of 4.58.

Would an out-and-out number nine in the mould of Erling Haaland solve that? Maybe. After all, Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest has essentially the same xG as Havertz but has scored eight goals - and yet is anyone realistically suggesting Wood is the answer to Arsenal's apparent finishing problems?

Perhaps it is just that last season was Arsenal's time to strike, when their defence was hot and the attack even hotter. In that sense, maybe they were just unfortunate to run aground on the unstoppable juggernaut of Manchester City.

Four goals in 11 games is arguably not acceptable for an Arsenal top scorer, however expected given everything else Havertz brings to the side. But he is shouldering that goalscoring burden alone and needs help.

Now Odegaard is fit again, the Gunners' creativity should improve - as witnessed against Chelsea. Perhaps the finishing will as well.

It will probably need to for Arsenal to hold any hope of closing the yawning nine-point gap to leaders Liverpool.

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

SiHawkes asked: Ignoring the Community Shield, Mikel Arteta has won one trophy in 17 attempts since he's been manager at Arsenal. They STILL need a prolific striker. They're nine points from the top of the table after only a few months in. If unsuccessful again this season, should he go?

Phil answered: I agree this is a big season for Mikel Arteta. He really does need tangible success, but do I think he should go if he doesn’t get it? Absolutely not.

I do think there has been progress, albeit over a lengthy period by modern managerial standards, and I think that is shared by the Arsenal hierarchy, who have placed their faith in him. Arsenal, however, is a club built on winning silverware so that needs to arrive soon.

Where I do take your point fully is I think it has been a mistake not to sign a proven striker. I do think this might return to haunt them in the months ahead.

Arteta has credit in the bank, but an actual trophy would certainly help confirm the direction of travel he is taking.

This week's Sacked in the Morning podcast hones in on Arsenal legend Lee Dixon, who won four league titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup and a European Cup Winners' Cup in his time at the club.

The former England international joins Amy Irons and Craig Levein to discuss the ins and outs of his footballing career - from injury stories to suffering with imposter syndrome and fighting Dennis Bergkamp.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Arsenal and Liverpool are among the top European clubs looking to add 20-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt and Sweden midfielder Hugo Larsson to their ranks in January. (Teamtalk), external

Liverpool have been impressed by 22-year-old Sweden international Daniel Svensson, with Arsenal and Manchester United also among the clubs interested in the FC Nordsjælland left-back. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

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When the line-up for Arsenal's trip to Chelsea was released on Sunday, there was a definite lift in the mood among fans. Martin Odegaard was to start, marking his return after eight weeks out with an ankle injury sustained while playing for Norway. Our season was about to reignite and all our prayers were answered.

In the first few games since Odegaard's injury, Arsenal's Plan B actually worked phenomenally well, with goals from centre-back Gabriel, as well as Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka.

There were even some debates (short ones) that Odegaard might not walk straight back into the starting line-up, particularly with fans pushing to see more of Ethan Nwaneri. But since then, Arsenal's build-up play has become slow and rigid, making it very difficult to see where any goal threat could come from.

Arsenal were much improved with Odegaard on the pitch on Sunday. Gabriel Martinelli's goal came via a typical Odegaard pass and many would have felt the tide sway in Arsenal's favour from this moment on, expecting the visitors to push on and secure their first Premier League win in four games.

But the problem with Arsenal at the moment is that when one problem is solved, another seems to appear, like a game of football whack-a-mole.

Chelsea's Marc Cucurella did an excellent job of neutralising Saka on the right wing and Arsenal's previously watertight defence is now showing signs of weakness.

There are many reasons to be positive now Odegaard is back in the side, but it should not detract from the other areas where Arsenal need to regain focus.

If they are to make up ground on leaders Liverpool, they must drill down on what saw them go so close to the title last year, like the impenetrable defence and ruthless attacking football.

Odegaard's return is only part of the solution.

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

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been tackling your questions as Premier League players head off to international duty

Harry asked: How do you feel about players dropping out of the England squad through 'injury' but then suddenly being fully fit to play as soon as club football returns. Was this happening five, 10, 15 years ago?

Phil answered: Players dropping out of England squads has been happening for as long as I can remember and there has always been a lot of noise around whether injuries were genuine or not, usually from fans of rival clubs who feel others are putting club allegiances ahead of the national side's interests.

I certainly believe most of the injuries have been genuine and this weekend I do not think there can be any question these players were injured.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off after 25 minutes of Liverpool's win over Aston Villa with a hamstring injury, while there is no way Arsenal duo Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka would have departed the game against Chelsea prematurely unless there was absolutely no way they could continue. Rice was already playing with a broken toe, while the Gunners are waiting to discover the extent of Saka's injury.

Jack Grealish's situation was interesting. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola clearly did not believe he was fit enough to be with England after missing club games through injury, but Lee Carsley selected him.

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Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will not take part in Norway's Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Kazakhstan as he continues his recovery from the ankle injury that kept him out of action for two months.

Odegaard returned to action with the Gunners last week and started Sunday's 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

"After discussions with the medical staff at the national team, we have unfortunately concluded that the situation is not good enough to play these matches," Odegaard told the official Norwegian Football Association website.

"I've been through a long training period and when you haven't practised football in the last nine weeks, it's natural not to be 100% yet.

"I need to listen to my body, complete this rehab process and get my foot back in good shape.

"The hope has always been to be able to play the national matches and if I hadn't played on Sunday, it would have been out of the question to participate anyway.

"It's a very bad feeling to lose these games. I love playing for Norway and with this team."

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions and remains bullish on Arsenal's chances this season.

Adam asked: A lot of people are writing off Arsenal at this stage, but to me, this seems premature. They've had the toughest run of fixtures compared with Manchester City and Liverpool, and have lost only two games in the league, which isn't disastrous. Plus, with the return of Martin Odegaard and others, they looked so much better and fluid against Chelsea. You would think that they will be hitting peak form after the international break and into the New Year. How do you assess their chances this season after what you've seen so far?

Phil answered: That nine-point gap to Liverpool is certainly a concern but I would not write Arsenal off yet at all.

You're right. They have had a tough set of early fixtures and there is still time to turn things around, although Liverpool's start to the season has made life difficult. Not sure anyone, even Arne Slot, was expecting them to start the way they have.

Odegaard is certainly a welcome return, although manager Mikel Arteta will be hoping the injuries suffered by Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice at Chelsea do not keep them out when the Premier League resumes after the international break.

I still think they should have signed a recognised 20-goal a season striker and it could come back to hurt them.

But write them off? No.

Arsenal are ready to spend £83m (100m euros) on West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus, with the 24-year-old Ghana international keen to join the Gunners to play European football. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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

As the Premier League pauses for the November international break, the Opta supercomputer, external has been looking at each club's chances of winning the title this season.

Liverpool are flying under new boss Arne Slot, currently sitting five points clear at the summit. They have been given a 60.3% chance.

Defending champions Manchester City are second after consecutive league defeats and have been given a 34.3% chance of winning a fifth straight title in May.

Arsenal are third favourites after a tricky spell themselves and Opta say they have a 5% of winning the league from here.

Chelsea are the only other side given a chance at glory. A first title in eight years has a 0.3% chance according to Opta.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Sam asked: Do you think Arsenal could solve their attacking problems by bringing in a more prolific left winger, or more creativity in other positions? Or do they need to be a striker?

Phil answered: I think Arsenal have lots of creation in the wide areas. We have seen it from Bukayo Saka this season and from Gabriel Martinelli when he scored at Chelsea yesterday.

I just think they need that recognised goalscorer, not only for the goals but to also give them an attacking focal point, a point of difference. Gabriel Jesus has not done enough and is injured too often and, while Kai Havertz is a talented forward who scores goals, I still think they need that recognised marksman.

It is a concern I have about Arsenal for the rest of the season.

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Sunday's 1-1 draw at Chelsea was a fourth Premier League game in a row without a win for Arsenal.

The result left them nine points behind leaders Liverpool and, on Sunday's episode of Match of the Day 2, ex-Gunners forward Theo Walcott and former Watford striker Troy Deeney were asked for their thoughts on Mikel Arteta's side.

Walcott: "They've had a period of time without their leader in Martin Odegaard. They've played six of last season's top 10, and five of those have been away. They're now at a stage where they don't want to let Liverpool get too far away from them, that's for certain. The international break has come at a good time for them."

Deeney: "I would say they're in a situation now where every game is massively important. Lose one more time and I think they're out of it [the title race]."

Watch highlights and analysis of Sunday's Premier League games on BBC iPlayer

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

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Freddie: Good game, fair result, and a point better off than we would have been last season. Enzo Maresca has to drop Robert Sanchez against Leicester and give Filip Jorgenson a chance - and what has happened to Reece James? He was only on for 10 minutes or so but immediately they started pressing him and he was nowhere! Cash in on him ASAP, I say.

Ziyad: Great game with plenty of positives. Could have won the game if we were more clinical. Third in the table during the November international break is what any Chelsea fan would dream of at the start of the season.

Ashton: Chelsea played well in spells but weren’t aggressive enough. Coming off an 8-0 win, you want to keep that going and I thought we didn’t do it enough. We defended well for the majority but again, like the Manchester United game, we couldn't get Cole Palmer involved anywhere near as much as we would have wanted too. I think 1-1 was fair.

Arsenal fans

Eric: Much better performance with the captain back but still not as fluent as the past couple of seasons. Lack of a main striker is going to cost us as has been said previously, need that instinctive finisher and a game-changer. Think we are too far off the pace to win it.

Reece: Another below-par Arsenal performance, extremely flat and a severe lack of creativity still - despite Martin Odegaard's return. Have to look for that cutting edge in January, missing that difference-maker and it is clear to see.

Joseph: Odegaard not up to speed. Bukayo Saka very quiet. Defensively not what Arsenal were last season. however, coming to Stamford Bridge, controlling the game and earning a point is not the worst thing that can happen.