SETTABLOID

The January transfer window is officially open, which means Mikel Arteta can strengthen his side over the next four weeks as the Gunners look to remain in the hunt for a first Premier League title since 2003.

After the recent injury to talisman Bukayo Saka, the Gunners have been linked with several players who could bolster their front line until the England international returns to action in March.

Names such as Alexander Isak of Newcastle United and Omar Marmoush of Frankfurt have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium this month.

But with both players key figures for their current clubs, will they be allowed to leave in January? Only time will tell.

Arsenal registered a third-straight Premier League win following a 3-1 comeback triumph over Brentford on the road on Wednesday.

The Gunners had a positive start against the Bees but went behind after just 13 minutes.

Thomas Frank’s side scored on the counter-attack. Bryan Mbeumo netted his 11th goal of the top-flight campaign for the hosts.

The Gunners levelled the proceedings before the break. Gabriel Jesus scored from a rebound after Thomas Partey’s shot was saved.

In the second half, Arsenal were much better and sealed the victory after quick-fire goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli.

There were plenty of good performances in the London derby, but we were impressed with Partey’s showing from defensive midfield.

The Ghana international was reinstated into the starting XI and showed his class by winning 89 percent of his ground and aerial duels.

The midfielder also made six ball recoveries and three successful tackles.

Partey indirectly created the equaliser with his long-range shot. Jesus was first on guard to head the rebound into the back of the net.

The former Atletico Madrid man received an 8/10 rating from football.london.

The £45 million signing has been in excellent form for the Gunners this term, and it is left to be seen whether Arsenal prolong his stay.

His current contract worth £200,000 per week expires at the end of June and Arsenal are yet to negotiate a possible renewal for the midfielder.

Arsenal came from a goal down to beat Brentford on the road, much to the delight of Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal’s 3-1win over Brentford wasn’t a smooth operation as the Gunners, despite early domination, found themselves behind after just 13 minutes.

Bryan Mbeumo wrong-footed David Raya to score for the hosts with their first meaningful shot, on goal. That could have sent the Gunners spiraling. And it could have gotten worse just minutes later.

Raya somewhat saved a shot destined for goal, but the ball slipped through his gloves and looked certain to find its place in the goal. However, the keeper’s sublime dive kept the ball out of the net, and the Gunners were only down 1-0.

Had that gone in, then the outcome of the game could have been vastly different.

For Mikel Arteta, the Gunners had a big mountain to climb after conceding so early, but in the end, he was proud of how his team responded.

“It’s a very difficult place to come, when you see their record at home, the way they play, the way they cause issues to opponents, very impressive, on top of that, we went a goal down,” Arteta said via arsenal.com. “So then, it becomes a big mountain to climb, but I think the team showed a lot of composure, was very calm emotionally because we needed that in today’s game and as well had the right desire to keep insisting, attacking them and do it in a way that can cause them problems, which is difficult. So, overall, I think we deserved to win the game.”

With Chelsea’s slip-up against Ipswich Town in a 2-0 loss, the Gunners were handed a great chance to take advantage of that and move four points clear of their London rivals – which they did.

Mikel Arteta has again reiterated that the size of his Arsenal squad is a concern with the January transfer window having just opened. The Gunners brought in Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori as their permanent signings in the summer with Raheem Sterling and Neto also joining on loan.

The likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson were among those to move on and the departure of three senior attackers – without clearly replacing them – has now appeared to come back and bite Arsenal. Because of a hamstring injury, Bukayo Saka looks set to be absent for the next few months.

Sterling has also missed action recently which has required Arteta to conjure up several solutions which might be rather difficult, considering his recent admission. “I think [having to deal with Saka’s absence will make me a better coach],” he told reporters last December.

Though Sterling is expected back sooner than expected, Arteta was handed two fresh blows before the Brentford clash and while neither players are longer-term concerns, he again appeared to send a subtle transfer hint to those above him.

There is certainly an extra something on the line when it comes to playing the first game of the year. While for Arsenal and others, it doesn’t have the same impact as the first of the season and certainly sometimes the last, having that ‘W’ on the record for the first match of the year can be a real boost.

Arsenal managed to secure the all-important three points in West London at a ground where supporters had witnessed just one league defeat prior to the arrival of the Gunners. It seemed for a time that they would again be celebrating a scalp at the Gtech when Bryan Mbeumo set the ball rolling for Brentford, but three goals in response showcased the gap between the two teams.

Speaking of gaps, the lead Liverpool have forged is again cut in half and while Arsenal have played a game more, having the points on the board will always be preferred to matches yet to come. It was a great start to the year, and within it, there were plenty of intriguing takeaways from the encounter with the Bees.

Faith is rewarded

There has been, for some time, some scrutiny toward Mikel Arteta for how he has approached the utilisation of Ethan Nwaneri. The youngster has been, for all intents and purposes, overlooked when scenarios such as Martin Odegaard’s injury were thought to have opened a door.

However, Mikel Arteta was quick to suggest that it was not injury, nor illness, that has seen him choose the 17-year-old to face Brentford. Interestingly it appears that occasion played a part in the decision.

Mikel Arteta has been handed two fresh Arsenal fitness worries and a potentially major blow following the 3-1 victory over Brentford. Three points for the Gunners took them back above Nottingham Forest and into second with the gap to leaders Liverpool also closed.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the victory after Bryan Mbuemo opened the scoring inside 13 minutes. Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly were among those that dropped down to the bench while Kai Havertz was left out of the squad entirely.

Jurrien Timber is also now guaranteed to miss a game for the Gunners which could force Arteta into a tactical switch.

Declan Rice

Rice featured off the bench against Brentford, but ahead of the game, Arteta revealed he suffered a fresh issue during the Christmas period.

Injury: Unknown.

What Arteta has said: “Declan as well he had to come off the other day, it’s the second time he had a niggle.

Possible return date: Returned.

Jurrien Timber

Injury: N/A.

Though he has been hit by injury on a number of occasions, Jurrien Timber will actually miss the next Premier League game against Brighton through suspension. He will however, be able to play in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle.

Possible return date: Newcastle (H) – Tuesday, January 7.

Kai Havertz

Havertz was a noticeable absentee from the Arsenal matchday squad to face Brentford with it later confirmed he missed out due to illness and judging by Arteta’s words, he may not have been ready to play.

What Arteta has said: “Yes, I hope so. It’s nothing serious but they weren’t in the ideal condition to play today. With Kai, it was obvious he wasn’t feeling well at all and he had really clear symptoms so stay away from it, put him in a car and go back to London.

Possible return date: Brighton (A) – Saturday, January 4.

Bukayo Saka

Injury: Hamstring.

Saka is expected to miss the next few months with a hamstring issue picked up against Crystal Palace before Christmas which required surgery to fix.

What Arteta has said: “He had a procedure. Everything went well. But unfortunately, he will be out for many, many weeks. I think it will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer.”

Possible return date: March 2025.

Ben White

Injury: Knee.

Having undergone a procedure in November, White has been confirmed as unavailable for the next few months.

Arsenal’s 3-1 comeback victory against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium could well be their defining performance of the season. With Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz all unavailable, and a sickness bug reportedly impacting the squad, this was a test of their depth and resilience against one of the Premier League’s strongest home sides.

Brentford, unbeaten in eight home games this season, looked set to provide a stern challenge. Instead, Arsenal showed why they are genuine title contenders.

Brentford struck first in typical fashion, capitalising on a rare mistake by Martin Odegaard. Bryan Mbeumo punished the Arsenal captain’s slack pass with a low shot past David Raya, giving the hosts the lead after just 13 minutes.

It was Brentford’s direct style at its best, and they almost doubled their lead moments later when Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot slipped through Raya’s grasp before the Spaniard clawed it back off the line.

But Arsenal’s response was swift and ruthless. Within a minute, Gabriel Jesus levelled the score, reacting quickest to a rebound in the box after Brentford failed to clear their lines. It was the kind of predatory instinct the Brazilian has been criticised for lacking, but his performance here silenced those doubts.

The Gunners took control early in the second half. Mikel Merino capitalised on a fumbled clearance from a corner to put Arsenal ahead. Three minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli added a third with a composed finish from Ethan Nwaneri’s deflected cross.

At 17 years old, Nwaneri’s full Premier League debut was a highlight, showing maturity beyond his years and contributing to both second-half goals.

Mikel Arteta’s side demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Without Saka’s creativity and flair, they relied on collective effort and high-intensity pressing. This wasn’t the free-flowing football Arsenal fans adored under Arsene Wenger, but it was effective, pragmatic, and indicative of a team serious about challenging Liverpool for the title.

The performance highlighted the importance of squad depth. Jesus, Martinelli, and Nwaneri all stepped up in Saka’s absence, while the defence held firm despite early wobbles. Arsenal may not always dazzle, but their ability to grind out results against tough opponents is the hallmark of potential champions.

Jurrien Timber will miss Arsenal’s next Premier League match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. Booked early on against Brentford, the defender hit the suspension threshold during the last match before it is extended.

Players who get five yellow cards before the halfway stage of the season are forced to miss one game, with that rising to two after 10 bookings. However, after 19 games, the five-card bar is moved up for the remainder of the season.

In Arsenal’s last game before the midway point, Timber fell foul to the rule after his late and high tackle against Brentford. He will now be forced to sit out the trip to Brighton on Saturday.

To make matters worse for Arsenal, first-choice right-back Ben White is already out with injury currently. He is expected to be out for a while longer yet before returning.

It adds to a growing number of problems for Mikel Arteta, with Bukayo Saka suffering his own injury, while Kai Havertz wasn’t well enough to make the matchday squad at Brentford. Declan Rice was left on the bench as minutes were managed.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, also a right-back option, remains sidelined too. It leaves Thomas Partey as the most natural replacement against Brighton. He started in his orthodox position in midfield next to Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard.

Gabriel Martinelli has branded Bukayo Saka as irreplaceable but says the Arsenal squad trust themselves to cope without the superstar.

Martinelli was one of three different goalscorers in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Brentford, with Gabriel Jesus and Mikel Merino seeing the Gunners to a comeback victory. The three points mean Arsenal move back up to second and six points within Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

The visitors coped well without Saka, who is Arsenal’s most productive player this season with nine goals and 13 assists so far. The winger is set to be out for at least two months with a hamstring setback.

The 23-year-old has been required to undergo a procedure on his muscle, which he damaged in last month’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace.

The attacker’s absence comes as a huge blow for Mikel Arteta, whose side is looking to cut the gap to Liverpool in the title race. Martinelli admitted that his team have lost a world class talent for the foreseeable future but backs his teammates to cover the void.

Speaking to TNT Sports after full-time against Brentford, Martinelli said of Saka: “No-one can replace him. He is one of the best players in the world. We trust in ourselves and we will try our best for the club.”

Arsenal kicked off 2025 in style with a 3-1 Premier League win away at Brentford – which saw them move back up to second in the table. Bryan Mbeumo netted the opener, but the Gunners then hit back and scored three without reply to go back within six points of leaders Liverpool.

Following Mbeumo’s early strike, David Raya looked to have handed his old club a second goal when he failed to catch a Keane Lewis-Potter shot with the ball then bouncing over his head only to just claw it off the line. It was a huge turning point in the game, though, with Gabriel Jesus equalising in the following 60 seconds.

Mikel Merino then turned home a scrappy corner early in the second period – with Gabriel Martinelli adding a third goal just moments later. Given Brentford had lost just once at home before the visit of Arsenal along with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest also winning, it was a very big victory for Arsenal.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League fixtures

January 4 vs Brighton (A) at 5.30pm – Premier League

January 15 vs Tottenham (H) at 8pm – Premier League

January 18 vs Aston Villa (H) at 5.30pm – Premier League

January 25 vs Wolves (A) at 3pm – Premier League

February 2 vs Manchester City (H) at 4:30pm – Premier League