SETTABLOID

Manchester City failed to win again in the Premier League, with a draw against Everton seeing them climb to 28 points; but they could yet fall further behind their title rivals. It now means that Arsenal have watched Pep Guardiola win just one of 13 matches, which is surely leaving the Gunners somewhat sick that this wasn’t happening last season.

There is, however, reason for a wry smile to creep across faces of Arsenal fans, especially when they look back to when Erling Haaland decided to snatch headlines after the 2-2 draw. As Mikel Arteta walked past to striker, cameras caught Haaland telling Arteta to “stay humble” which the Spaniard responded to with a lengthy glare before Gabriel Jesus jumped in to speak his mind on the matter.

Arteta was, naturally, questioned on the quip but simply threw it up to it being part of the game. “It’s part of football, part of sport,” he said. “After the game, all that goes away and we move on. That’s it.”

“The performance has to be perfect, the ability of your squad has to be perfect, things have to go your way. The level of the opposition is different and it’s so hard to win.”

Since the draw with Arsenal, City did manage to get some positive result in the immediate aftermath. However, a defeat against Tottenham kicked off a 13-match run which has been heavily influenced by a dip in form of Haaland.

Even in the games prior to the poor City run, there were signs of a drop in his output. Up to and including the match with Arsenal, Haaland scored 10 goals in six matches, taking 28 shots with a conversion rate of 35.7%.

However, following the game with Arsenal, the Norwegian’s numbers have been nowhere close to this prolific norm we have become so used to. In 17 games, Haaland managed just eight goals, taking 70 shots with an 11.4% conversion rate.

A huge couple of wins last week helped Arsenal secure a semi-final place in the league cup and a record sixth five-plus goalscoring away win of the year to gain a big three points and close the gap to second-placed Chelsea. Now though comes the start of a very hectic period of the season as the end of 2024 precedes a busy start to 2025.

Mikel Arteta needs to navigate further injuries to his team as Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling suffer medium term injuries. While he welcomes back others, he needs to rotate and maintain consistency while also experimenting without his stars.

Tom Canton

A fair few days of rest and Arsenal have all the minerals to go for it against struggling Ipswich Town. Having put five past Crystal Palace, big things are expected even in the absence of Bukayo Saka.

I have picked a team who I feel it would be best placed considering a tricky trip to Brentford in just a few days. Therefore I have rested the likes of Riccardo Calafiori, Thomas Partey and Leandro Trossard.

The question of replacing Saka for me falls to a player who was not used enough while Martin Odegaard was out: Ethan Nwaneri. A left-footed, technical and quick attacking player… all the qualities that Saka of course possesses.

I think in this particular game it is worth the risk and elsewhere for me we can continue with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both in the starting XI in their new roles. Goals need to be the order of the day as the Gunners focus solely on stringing together victories and worry less about the bigger picture for now.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Ipswich: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Jesus, Martinelli.

Arsenal are under increasing pressure to address their shortcomings in the January transfer window. The Gunners are looking to compete again for the title but the gap to Liverpool could rise to as many as nine points were their game in hand to be won.

Mikel Arteta has not been particularly encouraging when it comes to speaking about potential business this winter either. The latest update hinged again on the players already with him at the club and focusing on trying to maximise their potential.

“I don’t know, my intention right now is within the team right now to get the best out of what we have,” he said when asked if the club would sign a player to replace the now-injured Bukayo Saka. “What is outside is not in our control.”

He added when asked if the club has the capacity to spend: “Yes, the preparation is done. We are ready if something happens.

“Obviously we didn’t predict the situation with Bukayo and Raheem at the same time. We predicted more if something has happened, for example, in the defensive line.

“But the job is done. Then, okay, if something has to happen we will be open. But the main focus is now how we should strive to distil the potential that there is in this squad.”

The January transfer window is opening in just over a week’s time. It is a chance for clubs to get business done to strengthen their squads for the Premier League run-in.

With clubs thinking about Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability Rules, like they were in the summer, it is not expected to be a window where huge sums of money are spent.

Arsenal may look at the market for a striker, to bolster their attacking options, but Mikel Arteta admitted he was not expecting it to be a busy winter window for the Gunners. He did, however, admit that “some surprises can happen”, suggesting he will be looking out for any potential deals that may go under the radar.

The winter window is not just for signing players for the here and now, though. Premier League clubs can have talks with players in foreign leagues whose contracts are up in the summer, to come to a pre-contract agreement with them over a free transfer in the summer.

Leroy Sane

Sane has been linked with a return to the Premier League, following a four-year spell in Germany with Bayern Munich. He spent four years at Manchester City, where he scored 25 goals in 90 appearances and has been linked with Arsenal in the past. With Raheem Sterling’s loan move only for the season, Mikel Arteta may look for another wideman and Sane is one he has worked with before.

Joshua Kimmich

Another Bayern Munich player on the list – Kimmich is entering the twilight of his career, but has proven his quality time and again and with Thomas Partey and Jorginho in the final year of their contracts, defensive midfield is certainly an area Arteta will look at in the summer.

Jonathan David

Arsenal looked at a number of forward players in the summer transfer window and David’s name was brought up for a potential Premier League move. Has continued to impress in Ligue Un for Lille and has 0.77 goals per 90 minutes so far this season.

Jonathan Tah

Arsenal are blessed in the central defence department with possibly the best pairing in the league with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. But beyond those two they could do with reinforcements, and Tah would be a stellar signing.

Olivier Boscagli

Perhaps the least-well known name on this list, but another potential centre-back signing for Arteta. Boscagli is only 26 and has been an almost ever-present for a PSV Eindhoven side who have conceded just nine goals in the Eredivisie this season, topping the table with only one defeat in 12 games.

Dani Olmo

And here’s one that would be a major signing. Dani Olmo has been temporarily registered to Barcelona fo the first half of the season, having signed in the summer. Financial issues meant the deal could not be done in its entirety, with La Liga giving the Catalan club the chance to register him temporarily.

That temporary deal runs out on December 31 with no sign of it being extended at the moemnt and that could alert Premier League teams like Arsenal, as, according to reports, the failure to extend his league paperwork would mean he’d be free to leave his boyhood club for a second time.

Mikel Arteta is not expecting to be too busy in the January transfer window. Arsenal are well set in the Premier League title race, sitting third in the table and maybe one or two reinforcements could help strengthen matters in the second half of the season.

The winter window is not one the Gunners are often too busy in, although injuries could force Arteta ‘s hand. You will more than likely find that it will be outgoings that are more prevalent than incomings at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta may try to get some fringe players out of the door in order to free up cash for a summer transfer window splurge. He himself said that “some surprises can happen”, although we are not expecting too many surprises in the form of exits for current Arsenal players in January.

If Arteta does manage to sell some players who do not have much of a future in north London, he would secure a tidy windfall he could use in the summer transfer window.

Has just returned from injury and that could be at the perfect time for Arsenal as they look to offload the Scot. He had looked set to leave in the summer until picking up that injury at Euro 2024.

Value: £8.2million

Albert Sambi Lokonga

Currently on loan with Sevilla, Lokonga does not have a future at the club having spent last season on loan with Luton Town. Arsenal could look to get a sum for him in January but summer is more likely.

Value: £9.9million

Nuno Tavares

Another loanee the Gunners could look to offload permanently in the January transfer window if they get a good offer. He is currently with Lazio.

Value: £12.4million

Reiss Nelson

Nelson played a bit-part role last season for Arsenal, but did pop up with an important goal. Has found starts hard to come by at Fulham, but is another who could leave permanently in January.

Value: £14.9million

Gabriel Jesus

Has worked his way back into Arteta’s thinking with five goals in two games against Crystal Palace. Before that had looed set to leave the club either in January or the summer. Still likely to go and may have even added to his price tag.

Value: £37.2million

Oleksandr Zinchenko

Does not appear to be in Arteta’s thinking as part of the first XI, but can play a role from the bench when required. If he wants first team football he should probably depart and Arteta may be able to get a good deal for him.

Value: £24.8million

Jakub Kiwior

Another player who looked like he could have left the club in the summer, but stayed put and has done well when called upon. Likely to be surplus to requirements though.

Value: £23.1million

Arsenal welcome Ipswich Town to the Emirates Stadium in tomorrow’s Premier League encounter.

The Gunners have found form with back-to-back wins against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and Premier League.

They were brilliant last weekend as they picked up a convincing 5-1 victory at Selhurst Park.

Gabriel Jesus scored a first-half brace for the Gunners, and he should have bagged a second-straight hat-trick against Palace.

Meanwhile, Declan Rice was brilliant on his injury return. He put the game beyond doubt with a goal and an assist off the bench.

Aside from his goal contributions, the midfielder won 100 percent of his ground duels and completed 100 percent of his crosses.

The England international, described as ‘outstanding‘ by Arteta in the past, has not been at his best this campaign amid minor injuries.

The manager has been cautious with his workload. We have noticed a few games where he has been substituted at the hour mark.

Rice looked a different player against Palace after a brief injury absence. He caught the eye with his forward runs and passing range.

He capped the performance with a brilliant goal from the edge of the Palace box.

With the fixtures coming thick and fast, rotation could be key to avoid potential injuries. Kai Havertz could make way for Rice to start on Friday night.

We anticipate Gabriel Martinelli will continue from the right wing. He was brilliant from the position after Bukayo Saka’s injury blow last weekend.

Arsenal head into Christmas and the New Year knowing they will be without Bukayo Saka for a number of weeks.

The England international was forced off with a hamstring injury in the first half of Saturday’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. “It’s not looking good. He’s going to be out for many weeks,” Mikel Arteta told the media on Monday. “I cannot be too specific because I don’t know but it will be many weeks.”

The Spaniard added: “He’s obviously a big player for us you just have to see the impact that he has on the team. It’s going to be a really good exercise for us to think of ways to overcome another challenge because we’ve had a lot over the season.”

It means Saka will definitely miss the Gunners’ Premier League clash with Ipswich on Friday. Another player who will be missing is Raheem Sterling. The 30-year-old picked up a knee injury in training last week and will also be out for a number of weeks.

He’s going to be out for weeks I believe,” Arteta admitted. “He needs further testing tomorrow to understand the extent of his injury. It’s his knee. We have to wait and see another 24 hours. Unfortunately he’s gonna be out for a while.”

Oleksandr Zinchenko could finally make his return to the matchday squad on Friday, however. The Ukrainian has not featured since the 2-0 win over Manchester United at the start of December but Arteta revealed he will “probably [be] available” before the clash at Palace at the weekend. The former Man City man did not make the trip to south London but is expected to be there or thereabouts for the clash against Ipswich.

David Seaman has admitted he told Aaron Ramsdale to “have a belter” against Arsenal earlier this season.

The 61-year-old has struck up a blossoming friendship with Ramsdale over the years, given that the 26-year-old keeper was a staple at the Emirates between 2021 and 2024 – with the England legend even said to have informally trained the up-and-comer at London Colney shortly after arriving in north London.

Ramsdale enjoyed 89 appearances for the Gunners after arriving from Sheffield United on a deal worth up to as much as £24million, but his time under Mikel Arteta came to a close this summer when he made the move to Southampton – new boy David Raya favoured by the Spanish mastermind.

However, it appears as though Seaman hasn’t lost contact with Ramsdale since his move away from the capital, admitting that he sent him some words of encouragement when the Saints faced the Gunners in the Premier League in October. Speaking on the Seaman Says podcast, via Betway, the Arsenal legend explained: “I texted him before the game.

“I said, ‘brilliant interview on Sky’, because I watched that one, and I said ‘play your game and have a belter’. I really wanted him to have a belter because no matter what the score was, I wanted him to play well.”

Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners on the day, but Seaman believes that Ramsdale still put on an emphatic performance and that he was pleased for the talent. He added: “With the second goal, when the cross came in, there were two of them going for it so he had to make sure that the first one didn’t head it first, and then he had to adjust to the other one.