Arsenal
Arteta Keeps Declan Rice Decision Open as Arsenal Travel to Bournemouth
Declan Rice travelled with Arsenal to Bournemouth; Arteta left a final call on fitness until Friday..
Declan Rice travelled with the Arsenal squad for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth as the club prepared for their Premier League fixture at the Vitality Stadium. Manager Mikel Arteta made clear the final call on Rice’s availability would wait until after Friday’s training session, leaving the midfielder’s immediate status undecided.
The 26-year-old joined the rest of the squad on the pre-match walk on Saturday morning, a development that suggested a return might be possible. The manager, however, left room for uncertainty, and whether Rice will feature will likely only be confirmed closer to kickoff.
Arsenal go into the match top of the Premier League table, their advantage extended to four points following Manchester City’s surprise draw with Sunderland in midweek. The position at the summit brings familiar pressure: on each of the five previous occasions in which Arsenal have started the new year as league leaders — 2008, 2014, 2016, 2022 and 2023 — they did not go on to win the title, surrendering their starting spot as favourites.
That history is something Arteta and his squad are conscious of, but the manager insisted the group are determined to alter the pattern. “Let’s break it,” he said.
He added pointedly on the state of the squad and the approach required to change the narrative. “That’s what the players transmit every single day when they’re with us, training, and in every match. You can see their desire. You can see the energy that they put in, and how much they want it.
“There are still five months to go. Let’s take it day-by-day, enjoy that process of being where we are, and go for it.”
Rice’s inclusion in the traveling party offers hope of involvement, but Arteta’s measured approach underlined that a final decision would follow the team’s final preparations on Friday.
Arsenal
Arsenal Restore Yellow For 2026-27 Third Kit
Arsenal have brought back yellow for their 2026-27 third kit, with ambition driving the new design.
Arsenal have revived a familiar look for their 2026-27 third strip, bringing back yellow for the first time in five years.
The colour had not appeared on the pitch since 2021-22, when it was last used in match kit form. Since then, it has been kept largely for lifestyle collections, but it now returns for Mikel Arteta’s side as they prepare for the new campaign.
Released with the tagline “Arsenal State of Mind,” the design is built around the idea that the club is “more than a club” and instead “a shared sense of possibility.” That message fits the mood around Arsenal this season, with expectations high after last season’s Premier League title and a drive to add European success.
Alessia Russo spoke about what the kit represents from a player’s perspective. “Being part of Arsenal means being part of something bigger than yourself,” said Arsenal Women forward Alessia Russo. “There’s a sense of belief, ambition and togetherness that connects everyone who loves this club.
“That’s what Arsenal State of Mind means to me. It’s the feeling that we’re all part of the same journey and pushing towards the same goals. We can’t wait to wear this kit and create more amazing memories with our supporters this season.”
The third kit is completed with navy shorts and socks, and is now available through Arsenal and adidas.
The club’s ambitions do not stop there. Kai Havertz made clear that the target is to keep pushing after last season’s league triumph. “We want all the trophies,” he vowed. “That’s what we’re here for. We won the Premier League now but there’s a lot more that we can do.
“We have to reach another level to make that happen because we know how long the season is and how hard it is to go through all the competitions. We want to do it better again this year and make things happen again.”
He continued: “I think we can, or we have to go further. ”
Arsenal
Vinícius Jr salary link would push Arsenal’s wage bill to new heights
Vinícius Jr could top Arsenal’s wage bill, but Erling Haaland still leads Premier League pay.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Vinícius Jr. has been described as one that could reshape the club’s wage structure from top to bottom. Reports suggest the reigning Premier League champions are prepared to do whatever it takes to land the Real Madrid forward, with The Athletic also indicating that any package could be strengthened by a substantial sign-on bonus and image rights arrangement.
If a move is completed, the financial impact would be immediate. Even if Vinícius Jr. arrived on the same salary he currently earns at Real Madrid, he would still leap ahead of every player in the Arsenal squad. That alone shows the scale of the proposed deal and why it would be viewed as a major statement from the champions as they look to protect their crown.
At present, Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s highest earner after signing a new five-year contract earlier this year reportedly worth around £300,000 ($402,000) per week. Kai Havertz follows on approximately £280,000 ($378,000) weekly, according to The Guardian. Declan Rice is reported by The Independent to earn around £250,000 ($337,000) per week, while Martin Ødegaard is said by The Athletic to be on approximately £240,000 ($319,000) per week, with his current deal running until 2028.
Those figures would all sit below a Vinícius-level salary. The Brazilian would move clear of Arsenal’s current top tier and become the club’s most expensive player by a significant distance.
Even so, that would not place him at the summit of Premier League pay. That position remains with Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker signed a nine-and-a-half-year extension in January 2025, with The Guardian reporting that the contract is worth around £500,000 ($674,000) per week.
Arsenal
How Arsenal Might Shape Up If Guimarães Arrives
Guimarães could alter Arsenal’s shape, with Rice, Zubimendi and Ødegaard all affected by Arteta’s choices.
Bruno Guimarães is increasingly being linked with a move to Arsenal, and the signs point in one direction even if nothing has been completed. He is thought to be keen on the switch to North London, while his absence from Newcastle’s squad for its preseason training camp in Spain has only intensified the expectation that a transfer could be close.
If Arsenal do get the deal over the line, Mikel Arteta would be adding a midfielder with a rare range of qualities. Guimarães can operate as a holding player, step into a creative role or drive the team forward as a box-to-box presence, giving the manager a level of flexibility few players offer.
One option would be to keep the 4-2-3-1 shape Arsenal used across much of their 2025-26 Premier League title-winning season. That system usually featured Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi as the double pivot, with a No. 10 in front of them, wingers on either side and a lone striker leading the line. In that scenario, Rice would almost certainly keep his place, which would leave Zubimendi as the likeliest player to step aside, even after a strong first season at the Emirates.
The logic is clear enough. Guimarães spent large parts of last season in a midfield two alongside Sandro Tonali, but was still able to move higher, join attacks and make late runs into the box. That freedom helped him finish with nine Premier League goals and six assists. The complication is that Rice also likes to advance, while Arteta may be reluctant to reduce Zubimendi’s influence after how valuable he became.
A second route may be more realistic: removing the No. 10 role altogether. Arsenal would still have width from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, while Noni Madueke and new signing Christos Tzolis provide further options. That would put Martin Ødegaard’s place under pressure. It would be a major call to leave out the captain, but his attacking return has dipped over the last two seasons. Last year, he managed just one goal and seven assists in 24 appearances, and often struggled to supply the decisive creative touch associated with him.
