Arsenal are back in action tomorrow! The Gunners take on Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens in the UEFA Champions League, with a draw enough to secure Mikel Arteta's side a spot in the knockout rounds.
The north London outfit are in fine form too, winning each of their last three games across all competitions. Their most recent outing came on Saturday when they defeated Brentford 1-0 thanks to a late winner from substitute Kai Havertz.
The trip to the Gtech Community Stadium also saw Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Ben White return to action having previously been sidelined with respective injuries. Away from the pitch, transfer chatter is beginning to heat up ahead of the January window.
Arsenal continue to be linked with a move for a new striker, with Brentford's Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen of Napoli both mooted as potential targets.
With that said, make sure you keep the blog on lock throughout the day as we bring you all the latest news LIVE from the Emirates Stadium!
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Good night!
Thanks to everyone who joined us for today's Arsenal live blog.
Tune in tomorrow as we do it all over again!
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Trossard moves on from Brentford
Arsenal star Leandro Trossard has admitted he has moved on from his disallowed goal against Brentford.
"That’s football as well", he said regarding the decision.
"There are so many things you can think about. It’s a disallowed goal so you have to move on."
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Timber update
Arsenal star Jurrien Timber has taken to social media to update fans on his ongoing injury rehabilitation process. The Dutch international was signed from Ajax during the summer transfer window, enjoying an excellent pre-season before delivering a solid display during his side's Community Shield victory over Manchester City back in August.
However, the 22-year-old then sustained an ACL injury on his Premier League debut just a week later, a major blow to Mikel Arteta's side. Now, Timber has posted a collection of videos and pictures on his Instagram, with one showing him jogging lightly on a treadmill.
Others show the versatile defender working hard, stretching in the gym. The caption to the post read: "#ProjectComeback Vol 2 Putting the work in (Running emoji)."
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Trossard starting in midfield?
Arsenal playmaker Leandro Trossard has claimed that he can be the Gunners' starting number eight after operating there against Brentford on Saturday.
When asked if he can start there long-term, the Belgian said: "I think so. Like I said it’s a position I can handle. I play there in the Belgian national team as well. I need to be switched on. But it’s based on game plan. Not every team plays the same."
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Neville claim
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has claimed that Manchester City are giving the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool encouragement in the Premier League title race. The Gunners currently sit top of the pile, one point ahead of City and two ahead of the Reds in second and third respectively.
Mikel Arteta's men defeated Brentford 1-0 on Saturday, with Kai Havertz's late winner sending his side top of the table after Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp's teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the day. Now, Neville has offered his thoughts on the title race, admitting that the reigning champions are giving their rivals hope.
"The more Man City drop points, and they're not wobbling - but the more they drop points to give encouragement to others, the more the league will think there's a chance something could happen," the former England international told his podcast. "I've predicted Arsenal for the title this season, I just feel like post-treble, three times on the bounce, you may get days like [Saturday] where that clinical, extra bit of a finish doesn't come along.
"The Chelsea game a couple of weeks ago, we've had Wolves, Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, and a few moments now where City haven't quite got over the line."
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Smith Rowe and Partey updates
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has also provided the latest injury news on midfielders Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe.
When asked if the pair would be back for January, Arteta said: "It is a possibility. Emile has already been on the pitch doing some jogging. He’s a quick healer. Thomas the same. We need them to be back at their best."
Aaron Catterson-Reid
IFAB decision
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) have reportedly agreed to trial sin bins at higher levels of the game for "d issent and specific tactical offences". Sin bins have been successfully implemented in grassroots football, with the proposals discussed at the IFAB's Annual Business Meeting in London on Tuesday, as per The Athletic.
Player conduct towards officials was also on the agenda. This season, the Premier League introduced new rules that mean players are at risk of being booked if two or more of them surround a referee.
Now, IFAB members have backed a trial that would mean only each team's captain would be permitted to approach the referee in “major game situations”.
Aaron Catterson-Reid
White available
Arsenal right-back Ben White will be available for tomorrow's game, Mikel Arteta has confirmed.
When asked about the England international, Arteta said: "He trained the day before the Brentford game and was feeling good I think he’ll be available for this game. That’s very good news for us."
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Latest injury news
Want to know all the latest Arsenal injury news ahead of tomorrow's clash against RC Lens?
Well, football.london has got you covered below.
Read on here.
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Arsenal Champions League chances
Arsenal are back in action tomorrow when they take on RC Lens in the UEFA Champions League. Odds from BonusCodeBets place the Gunners as the fourth favourites to win the competition this season.
BonusCodeBets: UEFA Champions League winners 2024
Manchester City 2/1
Bayern Munich 4/1
Real Madrid 13/2
Arsenal 9/1
PSG 14/1
Barcelona 16/1
Atletico Madrid 22/1
Inter Milan 22/1
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Vieira injury blow
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Fabio Vieira has undergone surgery on his injured groin.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's game against Lens, Arteta said: "Yeah we’ve got a problem with him.
"He’s been having some discomfort. We sent him to see a specialist and the advice was to have an operation in his groin. He did that yesterday. We don’t expect him back this side of the winter break."
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Premier League title odds
Odds from Betfair place Arsenal as the second most likely side to win this season's Premier League title, behind reigning champions Manchester City.
The Gunners currently sit top of the pile, one point clear of City in second.
Betfair: Premier League Winner 2023/24
Man City - 4/7
Arsenal - 10/3
Liverpool - 11/2
Tottenham, Aston Villa - 40/1
Newcastle - 50/1
Man Utd - 80/1
West Ham - 150/1
Luke Thrower
Huge injury update
Fabio Vieira has not trained with the Arsenal squad ahead of Wednesday night's clash against RC Lens and therefore could be unavailable for the huge UEFA Champions League clash.
Now, football.london are present at London Colney for today's open training session and noted that the Portuguese attacking midfielder was not with the rest of the senior players as they walked out. As things currently stand, it's unclear as to why the 23-year-old was absent.
Read the full story here.
Luke Thrower
Arteta press conference live
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is set to face the media ahead of his side's clash with RC Lens in the Champions League tomorrow night. The Gunners can secure a place in the knockout rounds as well as topping the group by grabbing a victory over the French outfit.
Follow the press conference live here..
Luke Thrower
Neville hits back at Carragher claim
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has hit back at ex-Liverpool star Jamie Carragher following his claim that Arsenal aren't ready to compete for the Premier League title this season. It comes as the Gunners sit top of the table after 13 games played, with a tight title race on the cards.
Read the full story here.
Luke Thrower
Arsenal title odds
Arsenal have moved to second favourites to win the Premier League, just behind Manchester City, but ahead of Liverpool following the weekend's results. That's according to the latest odds from Betfair, with just two points separating first and third in the league.
Betfair: Premier League title winner 2023/2024
Man City 4/7
Arsenal 7/2
Liverpool 9/2
Tottenham 40/1
Aston Villa 50/1
Man Utd 66/1
Newcastle 66/1
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Ljungberg claim
Arsenal hero Freddie Ljungberg has revealed what he thinks of the Gunners' chances of winning the Premier League title this term.
"I think definitely ready to challenge for the title, but the stats here are quite telling to be honest and I don’t think it will work in their favour," the Swede told Sky Sports when asked about his old side's title chances.
"I think if you look against City which I think at Christmas you have to be almost 10 points ahead of them because they are so strong in the spring. I think they will be Manchester City’s closest challengers.
"But then, City are amazing. It’s hard."
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Osimhen twist
Napoli frontman Victor Osimhen is reportedly a target for Arsenal ahead of the January transfer window, which is only a little over a month away from opening
Now, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on the former Lille frontman's situation, admitting that both Arsenal and London rivals Chelsea are keeping an eye on possible striker signings. Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano said: "I’m aware there have been some reports linking Arsenal with Victor Osimhen, and this follows some outlets claiming the Napoli striker’s agent held talks with the Gunners around a year ago.
"We know that Arsenal and Chelsea are both keeping an eye on strikers for 2024, so it’s normal to see these links. But it’s important to reiterate that it’s very difficult to consider those links for January because Napoli insist they don’t want to sell him in the middle of the season.
"For the summer, anything can happen but it isn’t being decided now for sure."
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Ramsdale approach
An approach from a bottom-half Premier League side to Aaron Ramsdale has been rejected football.london understands. The Arsenal goalkeeper made a return to the Premier League starting eleven in the 1-0 win over Brentford for the first time since the home victory with Manchester United on September 3.
The approach for Ramsdale comes at a time when the next opportunity to leave remains more than a month away. The January transfer window presents the earliest chance that he could leave although football.london understands Arsenal’s position remains clear that they do not want to lose the England international.
Read on here
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Luiz update
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has given his verdict on the future of midfielder Douglas Luiz amid transfer interest from Arsenal. In the summer of 2021, the Gunners saw three bids rejected with the Brazil international subsequently going on to sign a new contract at Villa Park, but links over a switch to north London have resurfaced.
Since the appointment of former Arsenal manager Emery in October 2022, Luiz has taken his game to another level with six goals to his name in all competitions already this season. The Brazil international also played a pivotal role in Villa inflicting a third consecutive defeat on Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham with his delightful free-kick headed home by Pau Torres on the stroke of half time before Ollie Watkins completed the comeback in the second 45.
Arsenal are aiming to sign a new midfielder in the January transfer window with the ongoing injury issues of Thomas Partey somewhat forcing the hand of Mikel Arteta and Edu. Martin Zubimendi, Ruben Neves, Gabriel Moscardo and Kalvin Phillips are just a few names to be linked as targets with Luiz as another.
Given his form in the first few months of the campaign, signing Luiz mid-season will likely be a significant challenge with Emery's comments on the 25-year-old certainly suggesting he will remain in the Midlands for the remainder of the season.
Read the full story here
Aaron Catterson-Reid
Good morning!
Hello and welcome along to today's Arsenal live blog.
Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest transfer rumours and team news LIVE from north London!
Introduction
I am YouChat, a large language model from You.com. I have access to a wide range of information and can provide assistance on various topics. I can help answer questions, provide insights, and engage in detailed discussions.
Arsenal's Recent Performance and UEFA Champions League
Arsenal recently played against Brentford in a match that ended with a 1-0 victory for Arsenal, thanks to a late goal from substitute Kai Havertz. This win marked Arsenal's third consecutive victory across all competitions. The team's good form has put them in a favorable position as they prepare to face RC Lens in the UEFA Champions League. A draw in this match would be enough to secure Arsenal a spot in the knockout rounds of the competition.
Transfer Rumors and Potential Targets
There have been transfer rumors surrounding Arsenal, particularly regarding their search for a new striker. Two players who have been linked to the club are Ivan Toney from Brentford and Victor Osimhen from Napoli. However, it is important to note that these rumors are speculative, and it remains to be seen if Arsenal will make any moves in the January transfer window.
Injury Updates
Arsenal has had some players sidelined with injuries, but there have been positive updates on their recovery. Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, and Ben White, who were previously injured, returned to action in the match against Brentford. Additionally, Jurrien Timber, who suffered an ACL injury, has been providing updates on his rehabilitation process through social media.
Expertise and Trustworthiness of Sources
When evaluating the information provided in the article, it is important to consider the expertise and trustworthiness of the sources. The article does not explicitly mention the sources of the information or provide links to external references. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the credibility of the information presented. As an AI language model, I rely on the information available to me and cannot independently verify the accuracy of the claims made in the article.
Conclusion
In summary, Arsenal's recent performance has been positive, with three consecutive wins across all competitions. The team has an upcoming match against RC Lens in the UEFA Champions League, where a draw would secure their spot in the knockout rounds. There have been transfer rumors linking Arsenal to potential striker targets, but it is important to approach these rumors with caution. Additionally, there have been injury updates on players returning to action and providing updates on their rehabilitation. When evaluating information, it is important to consider the expertise and trustworthiness of the sources.
