Arsenal
Arteta: Arsenal Must Convert Squad Depth Into Near Perfection to End Title Wait
Arteta says Arsenal have added quality and versatility; depth must turn into near perfection. It is.
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have reached “another level” this season as the club pursues its first Premier League title in 22 years. After finishing as runners-up in 2022–23, 2023–24 and 2024–25, the manager insists improvement in squad depth and maturity has been critical as his Class of ’26 sit top of the table approaching the halfway stage.
“We’ve gone to another level this season. Last season, at times, we had 13 or 14 outfield players competing [for places]. It’s not enough,” the manager told TNT Sports .
Summer recruitment saw Arsenal spend around £272.5 million on seven new players, while Piero Hincapié arrived on loan with a £45 million option to buy next year. The new signings, combined with Cristhian Mosquera, have helped cover defensive injuries and Martín Zubimendi has strengthened the centre of midfield. Up front, Viktor Gyökeres provides a recognised No. 9, even if he has not matched the prolific scoring rate he enjoyed at Sporting CP. Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have added creativity high up the pitch.
“We’ve gone and increased the numbers and certainly the quality and, within that, the versatility of this team. We’ve added pieces we didn’t have that can complement each other in a really powerful way, and they have adapted really well.”
Arteta also emphasised the role of experience gained from near misses. “You can see the way the team competes and the way the individuals, as well, have evolved and matured. That’s something that takes time to get into that position,” Arteta added. “Look at Bukayo and the amount of games that he’s played at his age, or [Gabriel] Martinelli or [William] Saliba or big [Gabriel], Jurriën [Timber], he’s 23 years old—that’s what we’ve been building.”
Still, Arteta warned that achieving the title will demand outstanding consistency. “[In 2023 – 24], we scored the most goals in the history of Arsenal Football Club and the least goals conceded, the most clean sheets and the most wins. You still don’t win the league. That’s the demands that we have,” Arteta went on to explain.
Arsenal
PSG and Barcelona dominate 2025 Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s 11s
PSG and Barcelona players led the 2025 Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s 11s revealed at the awards. Read.
The 2025 Best FIFA Football Awards revealed men’s and women’s Teams of the Year that were shaped by last season’s major club achievements. Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League winners featured heavily in the men’s selection, while Barcelona and Spain supplied the bulk of the women’s eleven.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, who may have since moved on to Manchester City, was included after a season in which he was instrumental in PSG’s triumphs. The PSG presence continued with Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho and Nuno Mendes in defence and Vitinha in midfield. The forward line included 2025 Best FIFA Men’s Player Ousmane Dembélé alongside Lamine Yamal, with Pedri also voted into the XI. Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk was recognised for his role in the Reds winning the Premier League title, and English midfielders Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham completed the midfield mix.
The full men’s XI named at the ceremony was: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho, Virgil van Dijk, Nuno Mendes; Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Vitinha; Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé.
On the women’s side, Spain and Barcelona dominated the selection, with four players from England’s Lionesses included after retaining their European Championship title. Aitana Bonmatí, voted Best FIFA Women’s Player for the third successive year, led a Barcelona contingent that also included Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro, Clàudia Pina, Irene Paredes and Ona Batlle.
Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey, who left Barcelona for the Gunners in 2024 and helped steer Arsenal to Champions League glory, was named in the lineup despite debate over individual awards. The women’s XI was completed by Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson and Alessia Russo.
Both teams reflect the season’s balance of club and international success as recognised by the 2025 awards.
Arsenal
Ben White setback could keep him out until mid-January, Arsenal told
Ben White could be sidelined for a minimum of a month, potentially missing fixtures into January….
Arsenal have been warned that Ben White may be unavailable until at least the middle of January after fresh testing of his injury. BBC Sport reports Arsenal “fear” White’s absence will be for a “minimum of a month” while he recovers from the setback. That best case timeline would see the 28-year-old miss seven or eight matches across three competitions; the absence could stretch longer.
The schedule through mid-January presents a congested spell. Arsenal face Everton in the Premier League on Dec. 20 before a Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Crystal Palace on Dec. 23. League fixtures follow against Brighton on Dec. 27 and Aston Villa on Dec. 30. After the turn of the year Arsenal play Bournemouth (Jan. 3), Liverpool (Jan. 8), then travel to Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round on Jan. 11, and host Nottingham Forest on Jan. 17.
Those fixtures mean a player missing a month could be absent for important matches in the Premier League, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. The club had seen improving cover in defence recently. William Saliba returned to the team after injury against Wolves, allowing Piero Hincapié to move to the left as Riccardo Calafiori served a suspension. Jurriën Timber had been required to cover absences in the centre of defence, and White, after being an unused substitute for much of the season, had begun to start games.
When White left the pitch, Myles Lewis-Skelly, the only defender on the bench, was the chosen replacement. That selection underlines the limits of available options on a given matchday and explains why the reported recovery timeline will be followed closely at the club. Arsenal will continue to monitor White’s progress as they plan for the busy fixture list that runs through mid-January.
Arsenal
Carabao Cup quarterfinals: clear favourites and the underdogs chasing Wembley
Carabao Cup quarters: Cardiff-Chelsea, Man City-Brentford, Newcastle-Fulham, Arsenal-Palace preview.
The quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup present a clear pathway to Wembley and a chance for silverware for the leading contenders. Three heavyweights stand out as favourites, while Premier League challengers and a League One side aim to upset the balance.
Cardiff City have a reputation for overperforming in this competition. The Welsh side, who were in the Championship when they reached the 2011–12 final via a favourable run of fixtures, pushed Liverpool to penalties in the showpiece before suffering heartbreak. Now fighting to escape League One, the Carabao Cup has not been a distraction; Swindon Town, Cheltenham, Burnley and Wrexham have all been discarded en route to the last eight. Their reward is a visit from Chelsea.
Chelsea have made life difficult for themselves in cup ties away to Lincoln City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Enzo Maresca should name a fairly strong team for the trip to Wales. If the Italian selects even a handful of regular starters, they should conquer Cardiff with little fuss. The Bluebirds will be keen to see a much-changed Chelsea teamsheet on Tuesday, offering hope of a surprise result, but a convincing defeat is the most likely outcome. Prediction: Cardiff 1–3 Chelsea.
Manchester City arrive brimming with confidence and represent a stern test for Brentford. Pep Guardiola’s men have claimed victory in five successive matches and, after their 2–1 win over Real Madrid, they breezed past Crystal Palace on the road last weekend. City have won the trophy four times under Guardiola and dominated the competition between 2018 and 2021, though they have not progressed beyond the last eight since. Brentford possess attacking options in Igor Thiago, Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara, but an alarming away record in the league — seven defeats from eight — undermines their hopes. Prediction: Man City 3–0 Brentford.
Newcastle, who lifted the trophy last season, face Fulham. Eddie Howe’s side beat Fulham 2–1 at St James’ Park this term with Bruno Guimarães’s last-gasp strike in October. Fulham, inspired by Harry Wilson at times, can threaten, but Newcastle should prevail at home. Prediction: Newcastle 2–1 Fulham.
Arsenal host Crystal Palace a week later because Palace are in the Europa Conference League. Palace have enjoyed two days out at Wembley in the past seven months, conquering Man City in the FA Cup final and beating Liverpool in the Community Shield. Arsenal beat Palace 1–0 on home soil earlier this season and, despite Palace’s capacity to defy the odds, the Gunners should reach the semis. Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 Crystal Palace.
