Arsenal
Arteta cautious but upbeat on Havertz recovery as Saka misses Forest
Arteta: Havertz progressing after knee surgery, no return date; Saka ruled out for Forest. Saliba OK.
Mikel Arteta offered a measured update on Kai Havertz’s rehabilitation from knee surgery on Friday, praising the player’s progress while withholding any specific return timetable. Arteta described the 26-year-old’s work in training and the steps being taken on the injured knee.
“Yeah, he’s looking really good. I mean, he’s working freely. He’s starting to load that knee, and start to do some bits.
“Obviously, as I said before, I think it will take him from weeks to months. But knowing Kai, I cannot give you any timescale, because I know what he’s going to try to do, same with Gabi Jesus. So I think he’s in a good moment.
“It was a very tough decision for him to go and have that procedure done. But I think it was necessary, and it was the right decision from the medical team to persuade him to do that.”
Arteta noted that, had the injury occurred last season, the squad would have faced greater difficulty while Gabriel Jesus remained sidelined and Bukayo Saka was also receiving treatment. The recent arrival of Viktor Gyökeres has eased some of the responsibility on Havertz, who finished last season as the club’s top goalscorer in the Premier League and in all competitions.
On team selection for Saturday’s match, Arteta confirmed Bukayo Saka will be absent for Nottingham Forest’s trip to the Emirates Stadium but expressed optimism over William Saliba’s condition following an early exit in the 1–0 defeat at Liverpool before the international break. Saliba limped off just five minutes into that game, and Arteta suggested he could return straight into the defence.
Saka’s role on the right is expected to be filled by Noni Madueke. Madueke, the £52 million summer signing, scored for England in midweek as he continued a strong start to the season. On Madueke, Arteta said: “Well, I can talk about what I’ve seen and what I’ve experienced and I think the welcoming that our supporters gave to Noni from day one was incredible.
“So, I don’t know other ways that people communicated the disagreement with that, but our supporters they’ve been exceptional and rightly so because he’s an unbelievable player.”
Arsenal
Guardiola Bristles at Quadruple Talk, Points to City’s Four-Trophy Campaign
Guardiola dismissed quadruple talk and pointed to City’s 2018-19 haul of four domestic trophies….
On the eve of a Carabao Cup final meeting with Arsenal, Pep Guardiola dismissed suggestions that his rivals were mounting a realistic quadruple challenge. Asked how hard it is to assemble four trophies in a season, Guardiola cut across the premise and drew attention back to his own side.
When a reporter noted Arsenal had won a treble and therefore come close, Guardiola replied: “I mean, you’ve won a treble,” and, after a pause, added: “And quadruple as well.” He went on to explain he was referring to the 2018–19 campaign when Manchester City collected four domestic trophies: the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community Shield. “I know it’s not as prestigious, like you pretend,” he sniffed with a shrug of his shoulders, “but we did it.”
That remark underlined a recurring point for Guardiola: the status of the Community Shield. He has long expressed frustration at how that one-off season opener is viewed. As he has said in the past: “When Manchester City win the Community Shield, it’s not a title,” he once seethed. “When another team wins the Community Shield, it’s a title.”
Guardiola’s comments arrived shortly after City’s hopes of sweeping all competitions were ended by Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 this season. He also reflected on his relationship with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, a former assistant at City, and how distance has changed their dynamic. “I don’t have time to go to London, and I don’t think he has time to come to Manchester,” Guardiola admitted. “When we were here [at City] we saw each other five or six hours every day, so the relationship is completely different after his five or six years in London.”
The intervention was measured and pointed: Guardiola would not entertain hype about a rival quadruple while emphasising a past season in which City secured four domestic trophies and pressing his case over how those honours are categorised.
Arsenal
Midwinter Market: Big-money valuations and loan manoeuvres dominate the rumour mill
Transfers: Leão to Arsenal; Bellingham priced; Pepi medical booked; loan interest grows. Many clubs.
The transfer chatter remains dominated by high fees and pragmatic loan options as clubs across Europe prepare for significant summer moves. Arsenal have been linked with AC Milan forward Rafael Leão, a target reported to command $92.3 million (£69.1 million, €80 million) as the Gunners weigh reinforcement options amid speculation over Gabriel Martinelli.
Manchester United’s interest in Joshua Zirkzee has cooled as the striker plots a return to Serie A. His likely Italian suitors, including Juventus, Milan and Napoli, are reportedly only interested in a loan deal.
Manchester City have pursued Barcelona center back Pau Cubarsí with what has been described as an “obsession.” City are understood to have proposed a swap involving Omar Marmoush as a potential makeweight in the negotiations.
Arsenal are also the centre of a different story, with Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham United all exploring a loan move for Arsenal’s “frustrated” left back Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Chelsea are active on several fronts. They have submitted offers for Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, while also being linked to Inter target Alessandro Bastoni. Inter rejected an initial Barcelona approach of up to $75 million (€65 million) and are reported to be asking closer to $92.3 million. Guirassy has been floated as a replacement option and could be available for $69.2 million (€60 million), with Chelsea and Inter among those said to have made offers.
Chelsea are also said to be close to signing Valentín Barco from Strasbourg, a move described as at an “advanced stage.” Meanwhile, Aston Villa are demanding a club-record fee in excess of $133.5 million (£100 million) for Morgan Rogers amid Chelsea interest.
On the wider market, Real Madrid are willing to listen to offers for Jude Bellingham, who has been valued at $173 million (£129.6 million, €150 million) and is attracting reported interest from Manchester United and Chelsea. Borussia Dortmund remain confident they can secure a permanent return for Jadon Sancho once his contract at Manchester United expires, with the club “confident” of a deal. Fulham have lined up a medical for Ricardo Pepi in a deal set to be worth $38 million (£28.5 million), and Newcastle United have scouted Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser, valued at $46.1 million (£34.6 million, €40 million).
Arsenal
Henry Urges Caution After Max Dowman’s Record Goal
Thierry Henry: protect Max Dowman after record goal. Rooney’s rise and Vaughan’s decline warning. NB
Thierry Henry has urged restraint from supporters after Max Dowman’s record goal, saying the teenager must be handled carefully if his potential is to be realised. Henry made his comments on Sky Sports Monday Night Football following the moment that prompted widespread reaction.
“I had goosebumps, I’ll be honest with you,” Henry said. “I don’t often get goosebumps watching a game, but I had goosebumps because I remember my first goal, my first moment. Even if you are not an Arsenal fan, at the particular moment I think everyone could relate and was happy for him and put the Arsenal thing on the side.”
The programme also revisited the context of the Premier League youngest goalscorer mark. Wayne Rooney was a previous holder of the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer crown, having scored a stunner against Arsenal in 2002. This week, the retired legend revealed that his weekly salary at the time was just $100 because he was too young to even sign a professional contract. Rooney later went on to become one of the greatest players in English soccer history, winning numerous trophies, captaining Manchester United, the England national and breaking decades-old goalscoring records for both.
Henry used those contrasting career trajectories to make a plea for perspective. He pointed to examples of players who fulfilled early promise and those whose careers were curtailed by circumstance. One such case was Vaughan, who came from the same Everton academy as others mentioned on the show; Vaughan made only 52 Premier League appearances in a career limited by injuries and finished in League Two in 2021. The best season of his career was a 24-goal campaign for Bury in League One in 2016–17.
If Dowman is to follow in Rooney’s footsteps and realise the superstar potential that has been apparent for years now, Henry challenged fans to be patient and protect the teenager at this early stage of his career.
