Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the one thing - good or bad - related to Arsenal that nobody else is talking about.

Here are some of your comments:

Joshua: How much David Raya has stepped up. Claiming crosses and dominating the box. A complete contrast to Guglielmo Vicario in the game at Tottenham. Raya demonstrates why there is so much more than just shot-stopping in the modern game, including distribution, composure and leadership. Everyone praises the back four, but Raya adds value and confidence in the defensive unit.

Callum: Got to be the incredible away record since 2023. All down to set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who Mikel Arteta wanted from the start and got his man. Look at the results.

Colan: Arsenal are finding a way to win through a list of injuries. And some of these are to key players. Do not down play the change in mentality for the Gunners, who went to Spurs and won with a weak team. That's something they could not have done in the past several seasons.

Lloyd: A lot has been made about us missing two pivotal first XI players for the derby, and I thought we'd get overrun in that area of the field. However, full credit to the squad for their performance. Giving the armband to Jorginho was an excellent choice and highlights his importance. Squad rotation will be pivotal.

Lara: Stats indicate Arsenal are much more effective when they drop the inverted full-back. Even this season, already you can see Declan Rice is out of position when we play that way. We miss that structure and Rice is dominant in central midfield. It also isolates the left attacker.

Louie: Arteta has turned Kai Havertz into an absolute monster. Although he is down on the teamsheet as a striker, his job on the pitch is so much more than that and he is consistently one of the hardest workers. He has also impressively improved his goals and assists numbers. Underrated.

Image source, PA Media

Arsenal play Europa League winners Atalanta on Thursday in their opening match of this season's Champions League - a competition that Chris Sutton believes the Gunners "could go really far in".

The former Chelsea and Celtic striker told BBC Radio 5 Live's Champions League Debrief: "Mikel Arteta is in his fifth [full] season now, the club and team have really progressed and he's had lots of transfer windows to improve the squad.

"Everybody I've spoken to feels Arsenal are ready to make that next step and topple Manchester City [in the Premier League], but Arteta will want to give it a go in the Champions League as well.

"You look at the squad they have - Martin Odegaard [who is out with an ankle injury] is a little bit of a worry - but they are a superbly balanced team. Their back line is absolutely phenomenal and they are a team who could really go far in this competition."

Listen to more analysis of Arsenal's Champions League prospects on BBC Sounds and hear live commentary of Atalanta v Arsenal from 20:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was involved in eight goals in nine Champions League appearances in 2023-24.

His four goals and four assists is the most by an Englishman in their debut season, breaking the record set by Lee Bowyer for Leeds United in 2000-01 (six goals and one assist).

Meanwhile, according to the Opta predictor, Arsenal have a 6.3 per cent chance of winning this season's competition and are ranked as fourth favourites.

Manchester City are predicted to lift the trophy, with Real Madrid and Inter Milan ranked second and third respectively.

Arsenal have opened contract talks with 26-year-old centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, although talks with the Brazil international are in the early stages. (Football Insider), external

Want more news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho believes the "hunger" and "spirit" in the group is what is helping them get results away from home.

The Gunners have yet to lose a match on the road in the Premier League in 2024, with their win over Tottenham at the weekend extending their unbeaten run to 11 games.

Mikel Arteta's side will be hoping to continue that form in the Champions League when they face Atalanta on Thursday, having struggled away from home in Europe last season.

"The hunger is there. Everyone wants to win matches," Jorginho said.

"The work behind the scenes is there from staff and everyone who helps the players on the pitch. Everything we have been doing together is key to this.

"The sprit of this group, the energy, atmosphere in the training ground is incredible.

"Everyday we go to the training ground we are happy to be there, it is an amazing atmosphere and important to what we do. It is no coincidence the outcome [we get]. We have to keep on this path and keep working the way that we do."

When asked if this will be a disadvantage on Sunday when they face Premier League title rivals Manchester City, who play at home on Wednesday, Jorginho said the situation "is how it is".

"We work so hard to be here at this level and we dreamed to be here, so if the situation is this - to play these games- we always try to do out best to deliver," he added.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Champions League game at Atalanta (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Arteta confirmed that both Bukayo Saka and Ricardo Calafiori took part in training on Wednesday and are available for the game.

• However, a scan showed captain Martin Odegaard has a "quite significant" injury to his ankle and he will be out "for a while".

• On playing without him: "We have to show that [we can]. He is our captain - one of our biggest players, without a doubt. He has been one of our most consistent players in past two or three seasons. Our identity is related to his way of playing and behaving, and we have to deal with that."

• He said it is "different" having to play Champions League football on a Thursday, but that they are "really happy and motivated" for the first game.

• On if it is a disadvantage on Sunday when they face Manchester City, who play at home on Wednesday: "Hopefully not. Hopefully we have the energy still from what happened on Sunday [winning at Tottenham]. We have recovered a few players which is very important for us and we play a competition which we absolutely love, so we look at the positives."

• Arteta will not be resting players against Atalanta, saying they "have to put the players out that we believe are the best to win".

• On the difference between playing away in the Premier League compared with in Europe: "At this level there are small details and moments that define the story of the competition and defines the story of game. The Premier League is a bit different. Teams in Europe are ruthless and you have to be at your best to get results."

• On whether the team have learned from last year's European campaign: "I hope so. That is the aim. It was great campaign for us. We got further than we had in many years - but we want more, so they show their hunger. We have ability and quality, and now we have to build on it."

• Arteta said the change in format that has increased games for players was "for all the football fans and people that love the sport" and "to give a better product and more entertainment". He added: "Now they have to deliver it."

Ex-Premier League midfielder Michael Brown feels Arsenal are "a surprise package" in the Champions League.

Speaking on The Football News Show before the Gunners' Champions League opener against Atalanta on Thursday, Brown said: "They've got something special going on.

"Their squad is a lot better, to go and be able to delve into the Champions League, week in, week out.

"Their defensive record is exceptional. The two centre-backs are getting rewards; everyone's talking about how good they are."

Brown thinks Arsenal can go "all the way" and believes the Gunners are "really dangerous".

You can watch the full episode of The Football News Show here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

It was among the most-anticipated ties of the season so far. North London derbies are always highly charged affairs, with the added incentive of Spurs believing they could be real contenders against Arsenal.

To be fair, Spurs weren’t far off and happily Ange was his usual ultra-positive self when he handed in the teamsheets.

It all boiled down to yet another goal for Arsenal from a set-piece. It is impressive that Mikel Arteta hasn’t stayed totally wedded to all the ideas he brought from both Spain and Pep’s Manchester City.

You get the feeling it has been considered beneath some notable Arsenal managers of the past to be so reliant on physicality and set pieces as that was seen as the domain of the old English style. However, Arteta has learned that there is no "right way" to play football - it is about finding a way to win.

With only half the team against Spurs six feet tall and above, Arsenal are not an incredibly tall team. They have however worked on delivery, opposition weaknesses and particularly good teamwork when the ball comes in. They are very good at subtle blocking.

Despite a very modern playing style, they are not afraid to be old school when they need to be and this has made them an even better team.

Sign up to read more from Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter here.

A good start to the season means Mikel Arteta's side are sitting just behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, who they face at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

But when it comes to Arsenal, what is the one thing nobody is talking about but should be - good or bad?

Tell us here, external

Arsenal and Newcastle could move for Germany winger Leroy Sane, 28, who is reportedly unhappy at Bayern Munich. (Caught Offside), external

Real Madrid are targeting Arsenal's 23-year-old France defender William Saliba. (Independent), external

Finally, the Gunners are keeping tabs on Canada striker Jonathan David, 24, as he enters the final year of his contract at Lille. (Caught Offside), external

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

The New York Times Chief Soccer Correspondent Rory Smith thinks Arsenal's win against Tottenham was "a reminder that they are the team that can keep City honest".

Speaking about Sunday's game on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club Smith said: "Without Odegaard, Rice and Calafiori it was a daunting place to go at the start of a really difficult week.

"To come through it like that, with that control that they eventually tried to manage to assert in the game - is really impressive.

"It's not a surprise, we know Arsenal are the real deal - it's just a reminder that they are the team that can keep City honest."

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

Image source, Getty Images

Jorginho, who stepped in as Arsenal captain for the injured Martin Odegaard in the north London derby, has made clear that the Gunners will not settle for a draw against Manchester City on Sunday.

"If you want to achieve big things you need to have the mentality of trying to win every single game," he said.

"You have to keep believing in what you are doing. We are doing that and we keep working hard to improve. We are on the right path and we need to keep it going."

Arsenal head to Manchester City to face a Pep Guardiola side boasting a 100 per cent start to their Premier League title defence.

Speaking about playing against City's prolific goal scorer Erling Haaland, Jorginho said: "Erling scoring again, it is starting to make us laugh.

"We look at City's results because we look at all the games and we love football. We love the Premier League so we watch all the games to be fair. It doesn't get to our head. We need to focus on us and that is what we are trying to do."

You can listen to 5 Live's commentary of Atalanta v Arsenal on BBC Sounds

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It has been a long standing football cliché that ‘defences win titles’, but for Arsenal it could be the decisive factor that propels them to their first Premier League trophy since 2004.

Arsenal, who sit second in the Premier League following Sunday’s win in the North London Derby, have a remarkable away record in the 2024 calendar year - 11 games, 10 wins, and just three goals conceded. Given the defensive softness that plagued Arsenal season after season in the latter years of the Arsene Wenger era, it is quite the turnaround that they have become a team that is simply very hard to score against.

However, when we say that ‘defences win titles’, we often mean an ability to keep a clean sheet or concede few goals, particularly in high pressure games. But with Arsenal, there’s another element at play here. Defences do win titles, but even more so if they contribute towards the goal scoring responsibility as well.

Arsenal have one of the smallest squads in the Premier League, which was plain to see on Sunday as they fielded an inexperienced bench including Ayden Heaven, Maldini Kacurri, and Ismeal Kabia. With no Martin Odegaard and a below-par Gabriel Martinelli, fans might have been worried where the attacking creativity and ultimately goals would come from.

Enter Gabriel, whose header in the 65th minute proved to be the winner, and took his total goal tally for Arsenal to 15. William Saliba also has the potential to cause chaos in the box. Much like a tennis player having a powerful serve, having two powerful centre-backs as a constant threat from a set-piece gives Arsenal another handy layer of attacking threat, and another headache for their opposition. No midfield? No problem.

Perhaps defences do win titles, but it might not be in the way we think.

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

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given has said he "would love to play behind" Arsenal's centre-back partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Given, who made 450 appearances in the Premier League, said: "They're a bit old school - they like to head it, they like to clear it and put their body on the line.

"Sometimes with a modern centre-half it's like can he play from the back? Can he find a nice pass? These two, as an ex-goalkeeper, I'd love to play behind them because they throw their body and they head it and kick it - sometimes it's not pretty, but I like that."

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

Eintracht Frankfurt and Egypt striker Omar Marmoush is keen to secure a Premier League move, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Crystal Palace and West Ham all interested in the 25-year-old. (Teamtalk), external

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

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Arsenal's defensive duo William Saliba and Gabriel "could be on their way to becoming Premier League legends" because they are proving to be "sensational" again this season.

"The defence solidarity of Saliba and Gabriel is just sensational," Reo-Coker said on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily Podcast. "What I love about watching them is that they love to defend and the art of defending is what their foundations are built off.

"They are not the modern-day players we get now who want to get the ball down and want to play football – they want to do the basic job of defending. They love blocks and tackles, and they celebrate with each other like they have just won the game. It is great to see.

"The reason we give them so much praise is because they're doing the art of the job that is dying. They could be on their way to becoming Premier League legends in terms of the best defenders we’ve seen."

On the Gunners winning performance against Tottenham, despite missing midfielders Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, Reo-Coker added: "They have everything you need in a team that want to win the Premier League. They have the togetherness, belief and emotional desire, but importantly the emotional control."

Listen to the Football Daily Podcast on BBC Sounds