SETTABLOID

Arsenal lost more ground in the Premier League title race and will have to wait nearly two weeks before addressing the nine-point gap to the top.

The Gunners’ winless run was extended at Chelsea with the international break coming into affect. Mikel Arteta is beginning to welcome back a fully fit squad ahead of the hectic winter period as Arsenal prepare for high-flying Nottingham Forest next time out.

Martin Odegaard played in his first Premier League outing in several months at the weekend but a number of the squad have now headed off on international duty for the final time in 2024.

Odegaard will not play for Norway during the international break having only just recovered from injury. The playmaker has spent weeks on the sideline due to an ankle problem and his absence has hampered the Gunners, who have missed their captain’s leadership and creative influence in the final third.

Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot has suggested that Chelsea should have targeted Arsenal right-back Ben White, noting that White appeared “irritated” during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

Arsenal’s struggles continued over the weekend, with the team dropping points for the fourth consecutive Premier League game, a trend that seems to be testing the patience of the players and staff alike.

Melchiot noted that White appeared “irritated” and unusually “unstable” as he faced off against Chelsea, in a game that ended 1-1 and marked Arsenal’s fourth consecutive Premier League match without a win.

Melchiot observed that White, who typically handles defensive pressure well, seemed unsettled as he contended with Chelsea’s attack. In particular, Melchiot believed Chelsea could have gained an edge by focusing on White, whom he described as “irritated” during the game—a rare sight for the composed Arsenal defender.

Arsenal are considering signing a striker as they need to strengthen the offensive line. While they have been linked heavily with Viktor Gyokeres, the English club have identified Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui as an alternative to the former.

Mateo Retegui started his career at River Plate before representing multiple clubs in the years to come. He finally landed at Atalanta this summer as a replacement for his countryman Gianluca Scamacca, who suffered a ligament injury.

Retegui took no time to adapt and has already started hitting the ground. He has already netted 11 goals and provided three assists in just 17 outings so far. He is averaging 2.6 shots, 0.8 key passes, and 0.2 dribbles per game (stats via whoscored).

The Italian striker offers adaptability, physicality and aerial dominance in the final third. He is a killer finisher inside the penalty box and also exploits the spaces well. He often involves himself in the build-up play and gets into the right positions.

Arsenal were linked to multiple centre-forwards but boss Mikel Arteta trusted his existing resources. However, things aren’t going smoothly for his side this season so far. They are fourth on the Premier League table with 9 points gap already.

The Gunners are notably struggling to score goals as the form of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus hasn’t been really great. Hence, the club are considering signing a striker to secure more goals upfront.

Gabriel Martinelli put in one of his best performances of the season at the weekend against Chelsea.

Martinelli was amongst the goals at Stamford Bridge, and, unfortunately, this sort of showing was something of a surprise.

Saliba is already one of Europe’s best defenders at the age of 23 – and if he maintains his current progress, he will probably become the best in the near future.

Therefore – regardless of whether Arsenal receive bids of £50m, £60m, £70m or even £80m for the man from Bondy, there is simply no point in selling. The Gunners will not be able to replace him, not for a fee below what they would receive, at least.

Of course, the lure of Real Madrid can be strong, so if Saliba – who many compare to Virgil van Dijk – decides to kick up a fuss and hands in a transfer request, Arsenal may be left with no other option.

Arsenal will be hoping that several fitness concerns begin to ease over the course of the November international break.

Mikel Arteta has been forced to deal with several injury concerns across the first 11 matches of the Premier League season, as well as for games in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday in the Premier League to see the gap between themselves in fourth and leaders Liverpool extend to nine points after the Merseyside outfit beat Aston Villa 24 hours earlier.

Arsenal welcomed the return of Martin Odegaard to the starting line-up for the draw with Chelsea, with the midfielder missing 12 matches with an ankle injury he suffered with Norway back in September.

Odegaard had made a late cameo appearance against Inter Milan in the Champions League a few days earlier, but played the full 90 minutes against Chelsea in what was his first start since August.

It was confirmed on Tuesday, though, that Odegaard would not be travelling with the Norway squad over the next fortnight as he continues building up his fitness after only recently returning from the ankle injury.

The international break perhaps comes at the best time for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side have endured a tough few weeks, with the Gunners winning just two of their seven games played since returning from the October international break.

Defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle United in the Premier League have not helped hopes of winning a first league title in 20 years, while the 1-0 loss to Inter Milan was far from enjoyable for those who made the trip to Italy. Arsenal have had their fair share of injuries, however, and Arteta is hoping a few of his players can make a recovery in the next week or so.

Arsenal are understood to be stepping up their quest to tie William Saliba to a new deal with Real Madrid plans to sign the stylish France defender brought forward to the January window and amid claims they have already been in touch with his entourage.

The 23-year-old centre-half is now just two matches shy of reaching 100 appearances for Arsenal, proving himself one of the best investments ever made by now departed sporting director Edu. Brought in the summer of 2019 when just 18 from St Etienne, the £27m fee paid for Saliba has already proved exceptional business by the Gunners, and with the defender now ranked as one of the best in the world game.

Raheem Sterling has been omitted from Arsenal’s squad for Sunday’s trip to Chelsea having spent the last three games on the bench.

The winger has started just two Premier League matches since his arrival at the Gunners on deadline day and has largely featured as a bit-part player. His only two other line-up inclusions have come in the League Cup.

After beginning the 3-1 league win over Southampton last month, Sterling was taken off 37 minutes into the subsequent 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth upon William Saliba’s red card as Mikel Arteta reshuffled his tactics.

Sterling’s omission against Chelsea means he will have gone a full month without Premier League minutes by the time the international break is over.

His only appearances in the three weeks since have come in the form of a 22-minute spell against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and a full 90 minutes in the 3-0 win over Preston North End in the League Cup.

The loanee has been left out of Mikel Arteta’s squad due to Chelsea being his parent club, as per Premier League loan rules.

Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge for today’s Premier League derby against Chelsea.

The Gunners have been in poor form over the past few weeks and they have picked up just one point from their previous three league games.

Predicted Line-up:

David Raya has been exceptional between the sticks with stand-out saves. He will be hoping for a clean sheet in the upcoming London derby.

The defence should stay unchanged from the Nerazzurri loss. Ben White and Jurrien Timber are guaranteed to continue at right-back and left-back respectively.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are nailed-on starters from the heart of the backline.

Mikel Merino had a tough opening half at San Siro where he also conceded a penalty. He was unlucky too, having been denied a penalty of his own.

Rice suffered a broken toe at Newcastle United. Arteta was unclear over his fitness, but we anticipate the Englishman to return in the centre of the park.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to continue on the right and left wing respectively.

Kai Havertz suffered a nasty cut on his head in midweek. The German should get the nod to lead the attack, provided he is deemed fit to make the game.

How Arsenal could line up vs Chelsea