Arsenal are back in Premier League action next weekend when they face Brentford away from home. It has now been a little over a week since the start of the international break, a period that has given club captain Martin Odegaard additional time to recover from a hip injury.
The talented playmaker withdrew from Norway duty ahead of the break, allowing him time to focus on his rehabilitation. Gunners summer signing Kai Havertz was deployed at left-back for Germany against Turkey in a surprise position change for the former Chelsea star, who typically operated as a number eight for Mikel Arteta's side.
Away from the pitch, rumours are heating up regarding transfers, with the January window now just seven weeks away from opening. Arsenal continue to be linked with a move for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, who has enjoyed a stellar campaign so far this term.
With all of that being said, make sure you keep the blog on lock throughout the day as we bring you all the latest team news and transfer chatter LIVE from the Emirates Stadium!
Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp community
Sign up to our Arsenal WhatsApp community and get all the latest breaking news and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers direct to your phone.
By signing up to this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens.
To join our Arsenal community, all you have to do is click this link to join!
Kai Havertz new role slammed as Mikel Arteta sent clear Arsenal warning
Kai Havertz has divided opinions at Arsenal after he completed a £65million summer switch to the Emirates Stadium. Havertz spent most of his time at Chelsea playing as a striker - but has been dropped into a No.8 role under Mikel Arteta.
Compared to the likes of David Raya and Declan Rice, the Germany international has struggled to find consistency and form so far at Arsenal - but it's clear he has the support of his manager and teammates. Arteta has publicly defended Havertz on a number of occasions as he tries to find the best role for him in the Gunners' starting XI.
The international break represented a good chance for the 24-year-old to gain some confidence ahead of Premier League action resuming this weekend. However, Julian Nagelsmann surprised many by fielding Havertz at left-back in the 3-2 defeat against Turkey last weekend.
The decision to start the Arsenal star in a new role has been slammed by Germany legend Lothar Matthaus - despite Havertz scoring the opening goal of the game against Turkey. "Kai said he wanted to do it, wanted to try it," Nagelsmann explained after the loss as he defended his team selection.
Arsenal given deadline to make key contract decision amid £60m January transfer offer
Arsenal are ramping up their preparations for the January transfer window. The Gunners have lost several key players to injury at various points this season, and Mikel Arteta has already admitted it has been a challenge.
"Some of the injuries that we had, they are some bad luck, some of them have been long-term injuries with some special players and when we didn’t have a lot of depth," the Spaniard said earlier this month. "We can talk about the depth, but after you have to talk about the specific positions or certain units where we are a little bit shorter."
One of the areas where Arsenal are looking to potentially bolster their options is in midfield. Thomas Partey is likely out until 2024 after having a procedure on a thigh injury, while Mohamed Elneny is set to miss up to a month of club football when he goes off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt in January.
The Gunners have been linked with a £60million move for Douglas Luiz as a result. The Brazilian is a player they have tried to sign in previous windows, and Edu's strong relationship with his representatives could help with a deal. Aston Villa though are unlikely to want to sell midway through the season unless it is for a hefty price. Martin Zubimendi is another player that Arsenal have been tracking. The Spaniard is happy at Real Sociedad for now though.
Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz Arsenal swap deal proposed as 'cheap' transfer claim debunked
Florian Wirtz to Arsenal with Kai Havertz heading back to Bayer Leverkusen in the opposite direction? Well, this is a transfer swap deal that has been proposed ahead of both windows in 2024.
The Gunners splashed the cash on the latter in the summer, agreeing a £65million deal with Chelsea to lure him from west London to north. However, it's safe to say the jury is still out on the Germany international as Mikel Arteta's plan to convert him into a central midfielder has run into a few obstacles.
Aside from two goal involvements in 19 appearances across all competitions - including the Community Shield - so far this season, Havertz's general performances simply have not lived up to his huge price tag. Of course, the fact he is now operating primarily in midfield as opposed to leading the line means it was always going to take time to make a successful transition.
"Last year I came more off the No.9 but I am used to this midfield position because I played there from a young age," he told football.london in Nuremberg after Arsenal's 1-1 draw there in July. "Now it's time to just get all the movements back into my brain and hopefully it will be good on the pitch."
Chelsea relegation, Man City points deduction, Arsenal wait - FFP punishments decided
The Premier League have opened up a can of worms after making Everton the first English club ever to be docked points for breaches of financial rules. The Toffees were handed their punishment with immediate effect last week as Sean Dyche saw his side go from untroubled mid-table mediocrity into the bottom three.
Everton are now just goal difference away from propping up the table despite having more points in the past two weeks than Burnley have in the opening 12 games of the season. After overstepping the £105million loss threshold over a rolling three year period the Merseyside club are now fighting a battle on multiple fronts.
Other than cause sheer outrage from fans in the blue corner it has also created a murky and uncertain footballing landscape for other teams to operate in. Manchester City are the only other current top flight side with charges against them but that comes with the caveat of being 115 alleged breaches over a 10 year period.
In the background to all of this are Chelsea. The Blues currently have no charges against them but face questions over; A) their current compliance within profit and sustainability rules in England and UEFA's own, less stringent, financial laws, B) allegations over undisclosed payments made during transfer dealings throughout Roman Abramovich's reign as owner and C) further non-reporting and missing details from the Russian oligarch's trophy laden tenure.
Man City stripped of titles, Chelsea relegated - Arsenal best-case FFP scenario examined
There has been plenty of talk about Financial Fair Play in the last week following confirmation of Everton's 10-point deduction. The Toffees' punishment came as a result of their losses for the financial year 2021/22. with their accounts for that year seeing them come in £19.5million over the £105million limit allowed over a three-year period.
Everton have since appealed the decision to dock them 10 points - dropping Sean Dyche's side into the relegation zone. If the appeal is unsuccessful, this will be seen as an unprecedented punishment for a Premier League team and one that could set the standard for any side that falls foul of the breaches in years to come.
FFP and the Premier League's new Profit and Sustainability rules could now threaten the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea. City were hit with 115 charges in February of this year - which they've reiterated their stance that they welcome a review - following on from an investigation of their finances.
If Pep Guardiola's side are to be found guilty of the alleged breaches then a points deduction - or worse - could be one potential punishment. Relegation and expulsion from the Premier League are other outcomes that have been discussed amongst supporters as Arsenal and City's 18 other rivals await a final decision from the investigation.
Mikel Arteta in line for triple boost as Arsenal stars begin preparations for Brentford clash
We're now into the second round of fixtures from the November international break and it's a case of so far so good for Arsenal ahead of the return of Premier League action this weekend.
All but two of the 16 senior players - currently at the club - that were selected have been in action for their respective nations over the past week with some contrasting experiences for many as Euro 2024 plus 2026 World Cup qualifiers and those all-important friendlies have taken centre stage.
Kai Havertz operated at left-back and scored in Germany's 3-2 defeat by Turkey, Jorginho missed a penalty as Italy beat North Macedonia, Bukayo Saka claimed an assist for Harry Kane as England beat Malta and Gabriel Martinelli scored his first goal for Brazil, although it ended in a loss to Colombia.
They, along with Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus could be in action over the next couple of days, so naturally, Mikel Arteta will have his fingers crossed that his Arsenal stars come through unscathed.
Supercomputer predicts final Premier League table after Chelsea and Man City sent FFP warning
A supercomputer has predicted what the Premier League table could look like at the end of the season using data from previous results, form and current affairs. After just 12 games, Manchester City are leading the English top flight as they look to defend their crown.
Waiting to pounce on top-spot, Liverpool and Arsenal sit second and third respectively with just one point separating them from the reigning champions. Tottenham Hotspur have fallen into fourth place following several disappointing results, while Aston Villa currently occupy fifth with Unai Emery eager to retain Europa League qualification.
Manchester United and Newcastle place sixth and seventh for now, with Brighton, West Ham and Chelsea not too far behind in eighth, ninth and tenth. Ahead of the season, Mauricio Pochettino's side were widely tipped to secure a place in the top four.
Pep Guardiola was also backed to win a fourth successive Premier League title. However, after Everton were docked 10 points for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, Chelsea and City have been sent stern warnings.
Gabriel Jesus injury hint spotted as Mikel Arteta handed huge Arsenal boost ahead of Brentford
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is closing in on a return to action after being involved in Brazil training during the international break. The 26-year-old has been recovering from hamstring injury since the end of October but was still selected for Brazil duty.
The Brazilian international has struggled with injuries so far this season after missing the start of the 2023/24 campaign with a knee issue - a reoccurrence of the problem he suffered at the World Cup last year. The former Manchester City frontman then sustained a hamstring injury nearly a month ago.
Mikel Arteta had hoped Jesus would remain at Arsenal during the international break to continue his recovery. However, the 26-year-old was selected for Brazil's fixtures against Uruguay and Argentina.
Jesus has now taken part in full training for the past two days and could start Tuesday night’s clash against the reigning World Cup champions in Rio de Janeiro. The Arsenal star could be set to replace Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr in the team after the Brazilian winger sustained a hamstring problem of his own and could be sidelined for two months.
Jesus was pictured in Brazil training competing for the ball with Barcelona star Raphinha as well as stretching his right hamstring freely with no issues - suggesting he has fully recovered from his injury. The Gunners are set to face Brentford this weekend and will hope Jesus can avoid a setback in his recovery during the international break.
Gabriel Jesus looks ready for action#Arsenal #COYG #AFC pic.twitter.com/YuoePKXbV6
— Rhys (@deki224) November 20, 2023
'Expelled' - Huge Man City Premier League punishment expectation revealed amid Arsenal wait
Manchester City are expected to be 'expelled' from the Premier League as part of their punishment for breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, according to financial expert The Swedish Rumble.
The English champions were charged with over 100 breaches of the financial regulations that spread over a nine-year period, which started in 2009 and goes on until 2018. In that time, City won three Premier League titles.
Alongside a list of financial charges, the Premier League also allege Man City of failing to comply with UEFA's FFP rules over a five-year period.
Following the league's decision to dock 10 points from Everton after failing to follow the profit and sustainability rules, questions have begun to surface about the punishment Pep Guardiola's team may face. With City's potential punishment the trending topic in football, financial account The Swedish Ramble on X, formerly Twitter, has provided an insight into the charges in Manchester.
Arsenal crowned champions - What happens if Man City FFP investigation led to points deduction
The big story doing the rounds right now centres around Everton's punishment for breaching Financial Fair Play rules and what it could mean for this season's Premier League title race.
Having become the first team to be in breach of the new Profit and Sustainability rules following a review by an independent commission, it was announced last Friday that the Merseyside outfit had been deducted 10 points - effective immediately - meaning they've dropped into the relegation zone.
It should be pointed out that this decision is subject to an appeal from Everton but if unsuccessful this will be seen as an unprecedented punishment at the top level of English football in the modern era and one that could set the standard for any side that falls foul of the breaches in years to come.
Now from an Arsenal perspective, attention has already turned to Manchester City, in particular, as they were hit with 115 charges in February of this year - which they've reiterated their stance that they welcome a review - following on from an investigation of their finances.
Arsenal given Jorginho contract timeline
Arsenal are ramping up their preparations for the January transfer window. The Gunners have lost several key players to injury at various points this season, and Mikel Arteta has already admitted it has been a challenge.
Midfield is an area which has been hit hard with Thomas Partey suffering two separate issues this season already, which has seen Jorginho called upon.
The Italy international signed an 18-month contract with the Gunners in January earlier this year and his agent has now provided an update on his future at Emirates Stadium.
Read the full story here
When Arsenal play Man City next amid FFP worries
Manchester City face an anxious wait regarding their ongoing FFP investigation into 115 charges after Everton were docked 10 points for just one breach. On Friday, it was announced the Toffees were to face a sizeable points deduction having been adjudged to have failed the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR), which is in place to prohibit clubs from losing a certain amount of money over the span of three years.
Everton have faced a turbulent few years in regards to FFP with the investigation into their alleged breach being referred to an independent commission in March 2023. Eight months on from that and a verdict has been provided which has seen them slide down the 2023/24 Premier League table going from 14th, sitting on that exact number of points into the relegation zone only above Burnley.
It is possible that the outcome of Everton's breach could speed up the process regarding Man City to the point where some form of decision is made this season. As a result, with Arsenal and Chelsea still to play the reigning champions once and Tottenham yet to face them at all, those fixtures could be affected.
Read the full story here
Man City FFP timeline hint amid Arsenal wait
Arsenal could be facing a lengthy wait before learning if Manchester City will be charged for breaching FFP rules, according to football finance expert Nick Harris. Following the decision to dock 10 points from Everton after they failed the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR), questions have began being asked about the punishment Man City may face having been charged with 115 breaches.
On Friday, it was confirmed by the Premier League that Everton would be punished for going £19.5million over the limit placed on what club's can lose in funds over a three-year period. Earlier this year it was confirmed that Everton's case would be referred to an independent commission with a charge then arriving just over six months later.
Given the short amount of time it took for the investigation to reach a conclusion and a verdict given, many have questioned why Manchester City, who were charged in are yet to face any repercussions with Harris, a Sporting Intelligence journalist, now explaining on the Rest is Football podcast why it is taking so long.
Read the full story here
Latest Premier League title odds
Manchester City remain as the favourites for the 2023/24 Premier League title despite ongoing FFP concerns and a potential injury to Erling Haaland.
The Norway international picked up an injury while playing for his country which saw him miss the following game against Scotland, however his ankle knock is not believed to be serious.
Alongside this, the reigning champions are being investigated for 115 charges relating back to nearly a decade ago, however because of the sheer amount of breaches, an outcome is unlikely to arrive for some time despite Everton being docked 10 points for just one breach last Friday.
With that said, Betfair have pulled together the latest title odds with the Premier League set to return this weekend:
Betfair: Premier League winner 2023-2024
- Man City 4/9
- Arsenal 4/1
- Liverpool 11/2
- Tottenham 25/1
- Newcastle 80/1
- Aston Villa 80/1
- Man Utd 100/1
- Chelsea 200/1
Rice reveals Arsenal change he has had to make
Declan Rice has noted the clear differences between playing Arsenal and West Ham following his summer switch between the two Premier League clubs.
“At Arsenal I’m playing in a slightly different role, he said via Yahoo Sport. "There’s a lot of talk over whether I can play higher up the pitch. At West Ham when I was more box‑to‑box, [David] Moyes used to say: ‘Roam, do what you need to do to get on the ball.’
"At Arsenal, it’s more structured and you’ve got to be more patient. We see a lot more of the ball so it’s about being more progressive. I had predominantly played in a side that was really good at counterattacking so I had to make a change.”
Bellerin gives title verdict
Former Arsenal star Hector Bellerin and Gary Neville appear in the minority regarding their 2023/24 Premier League title prediction.
The Gunners bounced back from last season's heartbreak with Arteta making a number of small tactical changes. Having now been manager of the club for four years, the squad at his disposal are almost all his signings with a number of fringe players moved on in the summer.
That process had already began in earlier windows with Bellerin as one player leaving the club after nearly a decade in the senior team. However, there is clearly no hard feelings from his perspective with now Real Betis star backing Arsenal to win the Premier League after dishing out significant praise on Arteta.
Read the full story here
Dream Havertz message for Arteta
Arsenal star Kai Havertz was handed a surprising new role while on international duty with Germany. The 24-year-old has struggled at both club and country to establish himself in recent months with a number of mixed performances since his move to the Gunners, while his national team have won just two of their last nine games with Julian Nagelsmann attempting to change their fortunes by giving Kai Havertz a surprising new role against Turkiye.
“Kai won’t always be in this position. I have a great idea, he’s an exceptionally good footballer," he said via Metro. "This is a very good option. He won’t always play as a classic left-back.”
Despite the understandable shock and awe at his decision, it seemed to be proven as a masterstroke when Havertz, as a very attacking left-back, found himself free in the box to sweep in the opener after just five minutes. From a defensive perspective, Havertz made eight clearances, five of which were headed, two interceptions and one ball recovery while also winning all of his aerial duels.
Unfortunately, he was later penalised for a harsh handball in the penalty area which did contribute to the winning goal being scored by Turkiye. However, Nagelsmann was full of praise for Havertz after the game, with a surprising admission made about what the player himself wanted.
Read the full story here
Dein hits out
Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has criticised current manager Mikel Arteta for his passionate rant following his side's loss to Newcastle United earlier this month. Speaking to talksport, Dein said: “In 101 minutes of football we only had one shot at goal, so you can’t really say that the team deserved to win.
"It is what it is. "There is a process in place for how they deal with these things and I just think it was a little bit unnecessary.
"I don’t think it did the image of the club any good."
Ramsdale advice
Graeme Souness has told Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale to fight for his place in north London.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Souness said: “It is time for Aaron Ramsdale to do his own fighting, rather than his dad doing it for him after his appearance on a podcast this week.
“The Arsenal goalkeeper has to show what he is made of and deal with the situation in which he finds himself. Mikel Arteta fancies David Raya more than he does Ramsdale right now, but that can change. I would ask him to look at the example of Harry Maguire.
"He took all the criticism on the chin, all the disappointment. He dealt with it and finds himself back in the team at Manchester United.
“For Ramsdale, this is a tough mental challenge. He cannot point to anything he’s done wrong on a consistent basis that has cost him his place in the team.
“Sport at the highest level can be cruel and can be seen to be unfair. But there is only one person who can right that perceived injustice—and it’s not Ramsdale’s dad.”
Silva claim
Arsenal icon Gilberto Silva has claimed that the Gunners want to sign midfielders in the January transfer window.
"I heard that they were maybe looking for some midfielders especially because of Partey being injured at times," Silva told the Mirror.
"I'm not sure if it's 100 percent going to happen but obviously, they have to be aware that this is a very short window and very specific. You have to be like a fisherman sometimes, to grab the right player that you really need that's going to help you to win games and to be useful for the rest of the season. Also to improve the way you play.
"It's not about sometimes bringing a player because you need [them]. Speaking to people there, Edu many times, they are working hard to have the data and what they think is right for the club in terms of targets. The market is very competitive as well, sometimes you have to be fast and not lose the opportunity."
Points deduction cases
Shockwaves were sent around the Premier League on Friday as it was announced that Everton would receive a ten-point deduction after being found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. The Toffees currently sit 14th in the table having accumulated 14 points after 12 games, meaning they would drop down to 19th following a deduction sitting, level on points with bottom-of-the-table Burnley.
All eyes are now on Manchester City's ongoing FFP investigation. The Citizens were charged earlier this year after allegedly breaching the league’s financial rules over 100 times between 2009 and 2018.
The reigning Premier League champions have vehemently denied the charges with the investigation still ongoing. It remains to be seen what exactly the punishment would be if City were found guilty of breaches, with a points deduction an option.
So with that being said, football.london has taken a look at every other time a Premier League side has received a points deduction prior to Everton's most recent case.
Read on here.
Good morning!
Hello and welcome along to today's Arsenal live blog.
Stay tuned for all the latest transfer chatter and team news from north London.
