Arsenal

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

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When Luis Diaz scored in the 22nd minute on Sunday to put Liverpool 2-0 up, I confess that I turned the TV off and went for a walk. I'm not proud of it, but it has been an already exhausting week for Arsenal fans, having lost at home to Bournemouth last weekend and exited the Champions League on Wednesday nigh Sometimes it's just too tempting to run away from reality.

It seems that exhaustion is a sentiment shared by both fans and players alike. Despite the Gunners' chaotic and vulnerable first half, there were still plenty of 'what if' moments and missed chances that fans have grown all too familiar with this season.

It was therefore a rather pleasant surprise when I turned the TV back on to see how bad the damage was, to be met with a 2-2 scoreline.

This game was perhaps a perfect summation of Arsenal's season. When it's been bad, it's been rotten. Mikel Arteta's fury with his team's first-half performance was perhaps a reflection of months of frustration, as much as just the 45 minutes prior.

And yet, the Gunners clawed their way back to 2-2 with an excellent second half performance. Whatever Arteta said at half-time clearly worked.

We're at the stage of the season where it's obligatory to declare what we have learnt about our team over the past 10 months. For many Arsenal fans, this has been a rollercoaster: the type that makes you feel quite sick and desperate to get off.

But if there's one thing I have learnt, it's that Arsenal might be down, but they'll never be out.

And that is something of which we can be proud.

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

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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BBC Sport's football news reporter Alex Howell has been answering your questions on the transfer window.

Alex, London: How much truth is there to the rumours Bukayo Saka is now unsettled at Arsenal and where do you think he will go? Madrid? City? Maybe even Newcastle?

Alex Howell: I don't think there is any truth to that. Speaking about his future before the Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid he said: "I want to win and I want to win wearing this badge so I think it's pretty clear."

The fans love Saka, and he loves being at Arsenal. Of course top level players want to win but I don't feel there's any chance of him leaving.

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discussed the type of striker that Arsenal may look to bring in this summer.

"Mikel Arteta spent his first 18 months [at Arsenal] getting rid of egos - he got rid of [Mesut] Ozil, he got rid of [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang. He wanted players who would buckle to his system," The Observer's Rory Smith said.

"Quite a lot of strikers out there that have quite big egos. They would be available, but they might be quite tricky to work with.

"Victor Osimhen - I think it would not be an easy deal to do - and he will expect things to be arranged in a certain way for him."

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

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We asked for your views on Arsenal's Premier League match against Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Sam: For the first time in a while, I think we can be happy about getting a draw. The first half was shambolic - Liverpool were bullying us. But in the second half, the decision to move Gabriel Martinelli to the middle from Mikel Arteta proved key and it was a brilliant fightback against the champions. Without Mikel Merino's red card, there might have even been a chance we went on to win it.

Phill: Is this season still going? Really though, after that Paris St-Germain tie where we gave so much, and on top of the rough season we have had with injuries and cards, that first half was very expected against a Liverpool who have been supreme this season. I liked that Mikel changed things up and focused down Liverpool's left-hand side.

Rachel: After a disastrous first half, we managed to salvage something from the game and save face. Arsenal were just heading into anonymity as seems to be usual at this stage of the season. I'm proud of the way the players picked themselves up and dug in. Let's see if we can hang on for second place.

Ali: Seemed a bit flat first half, probably post midweek. But whatever Arteta said at half-time worked. Same issues in terms of directness but he's done a fantastic job this season. We just need a few clinical attackers to partner with Bukayo Saka, and a rejuvenated Martin Odegaard.

Lew: First half was so bad from Arsenal - running around like a bunch of headless chickens. William Saliba hasn't been the same since Gabriel got injured and all the Real Madrid rumours. We are missing players and now we have lost two more with Leandro Trossard pulling up and Merino's red card.

Vince: Trossard seldom disappoints and this game showed once more how valuable and underrated he is. He was everywhere and, perhaps with most of Liverpool's defensive attention trained on Odegaard, Trossard had space to dictate play. He single-handedly pulled us level with his energy and if Merino hadn't been sent off, we could have nicked it towards the end. Pity.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Southampton 0-0 Man City

• Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa

• Manchester United 0-2 West Ham

• Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester

• Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal centre-back Jakub Kiwior is on the radar of both Juventus and Inter Milan as the 25-year-old Poland defender weighs up his long-term future. (Football Insider), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the 2-2 draw against Liverpool: "I'm very upset. We can draw and talk about reaction but I'm not into reaction, I am in action mode. What we did in the first 25 minutes was nowhere near the level.

"After PSG I accept we were the better team and deserved much more. It was unbelievable that we were not through to the final. But today in the first 25 minutes we could have conceded three or four. After that yes, but then we went down to ten men and still had three or four missing [with injury]. That Is what we have to demand from ourselves."

On his half time words: "That stays in the dressing room. Yes, there was a reaction but only after. If you want to win trophies and be better than anyone, with the standards that are set in this competition and the Champions League, you have to be active not reactive."

On Newcastle next week: "I have full trust in all my players and we have full clarity in what we want to do. It will be a tough game and we want to secure the Champions League and the second spot as well. It is a big opportunity."

On the importance of securing second: "If you cannot be the best, then you have to be the best of the rest. That is very important. Again, today we play with ten men, half of our team injured, and some of them playing when they should not, and still we performed in a way we have done for seven/eight months. That is what we have to demand from ourselves."

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Since 15th February, only Bruno Fernandes (15) has been involved in more goals in all competitions among Premier League players than Arsenal's Mikel Merino (11 – 7 goals, 4 assists).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

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Five matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Newcastle v Chelsea (12:00)

• Manchester United v West Ham - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Nottingham Forest v Leicester City - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham v Crystal Palace - live on the BBC Sport website

• Liverpool v Arsenal (16:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 14:15 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Arsenal were really good against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, and I was impressed by how brave they were, but they still went out of the Champions League.

There will be Gunners fans out there who will think they should be winning more trophies than they have managed under Mikel Arteta, who has still not added to the FA Cup he lifted in his first season, 2019-20.

Arsenal are still heading in the right direction but the biggest problem for me has been their recruitment, especially for them to not sign a striker last summer. There are such fine margins between success and failure at the highest level, and you need someone to put away your chances in the biggest games.

They basically admitted that by trying to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in January and if anyone or anything is to blame for another trophyless season, then that's where it lies.

Now Arsenal need to refocus and make sure they don't let second place slip away.

This game obviously is not the title decider that some people may have anticipated earlier in the season, but I still feel both sides will be desperate to win it.

In terms of the game itself, I really don't know what to expect. Liverpool were way below their best against Chelsea last week, but Arne Slot could go strong here and they may feel they have a point to prove against their nearest rivals.

Similarly, Arsenal could be flat after their disappointment in Paris, or they could come out firing. Hopefully that's the case, and both teams will be up for it.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Arsenal are continuing their contract discussions with centre back William Saliba as they look to secure their star players to long-term deals.

At the end of this season, Saliba will enter the final two years of his contract, which he signed in 2023.

Manager Mikel Arteta has always made it clear that he wants to secure key players and there is an intention to tie Bukayo Saka down to a long-term deal.

Arsenal also want to secure Saliba's defensive partner Gabriel Magalhaes to a new contract and he also has two years remaining on his deal.

Saliba has been linked with Real Madrid in recent weeks but said in March that his contract situation was not something he was thinking about.

"I'm really happy here," he said. "I've been here for two years and a half as well. There is nothing. I'm happy here and I want to continue here."

At that time Saliba said that there was "no rush" to sign a new deal and that he wanted to win "big things" with Arsenal.

When speaking before Arsenal's game against PSV, he said: "If you leave this club without winning anything, the fans will forget about you. I want to win big things here."

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Arsenal's game with Liverpool on Sunday will be the third time the Gunners have faced the Premier League champions in a season with the title already confirmed, previously drawing 1-1 with Manchester United in 2012-13 and beating Liverpool 2-1 in 2019-2020.

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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On Thursday, our senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel outlined three potential summer targets to plug the hole up front for Arsenal.

Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres, Newcastle's Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig would all come with strong credentials, intriguing skillsets - and high price tags.

But what can this season's data tell us about the trio?

We took a look.

As the above graph shows, on pure numbers, 27-year-old Gyokeres leads the list.

He has played more minutes than the other two across domestic and European competition, but when whittled down to his metrics per 90, he is comfortably the highest performing.

Most shots on target, most chances created for others and highest goal contributions.

No wonder European scouts have been flocking to Sporting fixtures this season.

Arguably he is playing in the weakest league of the three, but he has still cleaned up, scoring 44 goals in 2024-25, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the autumn.

A criticism levelled at Arsenal during the Champions League semi-finals was a lack of ruthlessness - perhaps unfair given Gianluigi Donnarumma's excellence for Paris St-Germain, but nevertheless an issue that has dogged them this season.

In Gyokeres, Arsenal would get one of Europe's most lethal marksmen. Not only has he bagged 44 goals, his shot conversion rate of 28.4% is similar to that of Erling Haaland (29.2%) in his record-breaking 2022-23 season.

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans need no reminding of Isak's predatory instincts after his exploits against them in the Carabao Cup semi-finals earlier this year.

Since his arrival at St James' Park three seasons ago, he has consistently been among the most clinical in the Premier League.

Only Chris Wood's barely believable 32% conversion rate for Nottingham Forest edges out Isak's 25% from top spot in this year's striker rates.

As for Sesko, his 20.2% conversion rate does not leap off the page, albeit it is better than Kai Havertz has managed in either of his two seasons at Emirates Stadium.

Of the players to score more than five Premier League goals for Arsenal this season, Mikel Merino has the highest conversion rate of 18.8% - 10% lower than Gyokeres.

One season is a small sample size and this is only a tiny hint at the data Arsenal's recruitment team will be poring over in readiness for the summer transfer window.

Whichever direction Arsenal take will cost a huge amount of money - and it feels like they cannot afford to get it wrong.

Choose which striker you would prefer

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Arteta called Wednesday's loss to Paris St-Germain: "One of the saddest but also one of the proudest moments that I have had as a manager."

• He added that he "100%" believed Arsenal were the better team in the game, but conceded it "doesn't matter [as they] couldn't make it count".

• On whether his side have taken a step forwards: "For sure in the Champions League we have because we have done better than last season, but not what we want because we want to win it. In the Premier League we have taken a step backwards, the points that we have created it is clear that we haven't done as good as last season - that is obvious."

• On winning major trophies: "This is where we are, when we come close to winning big trophies and don't achieve it, this has to be part of the journey to get up and go again in different competitions and perform at the highest level."

• On giving Liverpool a guard of honour: "They deserve it. They have been the better team and what Arne (Slot) and the coaching staff have done has been fascinating. [They have been] the most consistent team this season and when someone's better you have to applaud."

• Arteta was asked if giving a guard of honour will inspire his players for next season: "Something has to drive and motivate you, that is part of sport. Sometimes pain can be a good way of doing this."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Full commentary of Liverpool v Arsenal from 16:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday

BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Ian Dennis believes Mikel Arteta has been "let down" by the club's hierarchy.

Arsenal have had issues with finding a suitable striker this season and Dennis believes this contributed to their Champions League exit against Paris St-Germain.

Speaking on The Commentators' View podcast he said:

"There is a narrative now about Mikel Arteta and how far he's taken Arsenal and have they progressed or regressed, but I can't help but feeling he's been let down by the hierarchy.

"They've needed a centre-forward for so long and yet they never addressed it last summer. For all the money that they have spent, they never addressed one of their key and vulnerable areas."

Fellow BBC commentator John Murray added:

"Who [would have] thought that Arsenal would reach the Champions League semi-finals? Not many.

"I think he [Arteta] can say he's reached a Champions League semi-final and [in the past] reached a Europa League semi-final. But clearly they've got to take that next step. They need that goalscorer."

Asked about needing to strengthen his squad to win trophies, Mikel Arteta said:

"We are already there. With the amount of points in the past few seasons, we could have two Premier Leagues – we are providing the numbers that give you titles.

"There are many factors that you need to go your way but these are all fine margins. [Next season] we have to amplify the margins."

Listen to the full episode of the The Commentators' View - Football Daily podcast here.

Full commentary of Liverpool v Arsenal from 16:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday.

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"Nobody has rattled PSG like Arsenal did", but the Ligue 1 champions still "deserved to win", says French football expert Julien Laurens.

Despite having more possession, shots and a higher xG than Paris St-Germain, the Gunners still succumbed to a 3-1 aggregate defeat in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta suggested that the better side had lost.

Laurens told the BBC Radio 5 Live Euro Leagues podcast: "He [Arteta] has to be positive. I can understand his point of view, his communication to pick up the players because they have a big game on Sunday against Liverpool in the Premier League.

"If you look at the stats – and we are all a fan of stats – with expected goals, they won the xG battle home and away. Across the two legs they had a higher xG than PSG. They had 20 shots at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night - no team has left that stadium with 20 shots. Nobody has rattled PSG like Arsenal did for the first 20 minutes of the game on Wednesday night.

"Overall, I still think PSG deserved to win. It was fine margins, but there was no way PSG or Arsenal were going to walk this semi-final, as neither Barcelona or Inter Milan would, because the teams are too good and the stakes are too high – it is not that simple."

Guillem Balague added: "The argument I think [PSG boss] Luis Enrique was putting across is that his side were better in both boxes, which is something Arteta will admit, but the stats proved the performance of Arsenal deserved more.

"Donnarumma was man of the match in both games. There is a good argument why Arteta said that but I think he was reading the room. He in his head could sense that it was another year without trophies, failure was coming to get them and he was just defending his side."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds