Arsenal
Arteta acknowledges call for mental strength after 3–2 defeat to Manchester United
Arteta accepted calls for mental strength after Vieira and Wenger criticised four Arsenal players. .
Mikel Arteta accepted the need for “mental strength” after public criticism from Patrick Vieira and Arsène Wenger following Arsenal’s 3–2 defeat to Manchester United.
Arsenal were second best against United — as Arteta himself admitted, “we weren’t that good.” The club remain top of the Premier League by four points but the manner of the reverse at the Emirates, where they surrendered control after taking a deserved first-half lead, reignited scrutiny of the team’s collective composure.
When asked about the former players’ assessments, Arteta replied: “That’s fine,” Arteta stiffly shrugged when this criticism was put to him post-game. “I mean, we accept every opinion, where it comes from and they have the right reason to say it. At the end, we have to show the mental strength that we have on the pitch when it comes to a match day,” he acknowledged.
He also reflected on performance levels: “We were absolutely brilliant in Milan and today we weren’t that good. I don’t know if it was mental. But because we were poor, especially technically in certain aspects of the game, against a team that when you make those mistakes, they can punish you big time. That was the difference.”
Observers noted that United’s three goals came from an xG of 0.71, described in the original briefing as two unadulterated screamers and one an uncharacteristic gift, a point that some felt was overlooked amid the focus on mentality.
Vieira was particularly outspoken, labelling the performance “disappointing” and arguing there were questions over the side’s aggression and leadership. “It was a disappointing performance,” the World Cup winner moaned. “When you’re at the top of the table, you expect to win the game at home. Especially against United. They’re still four points clear, but there’s still questions about the mental strength of the team. I think there was a lack of aggression. Too many players failed to deliver.
“It was a must-win game. They needed to send a message to the rest of the teams in the league.”
Vieira singled out individuals by name: “It’s not just that they lost the game, it’s the way they lost the game,” he seethed. “[Bukayo] Saka and [Leandro] Trossard didn’t produce enough to worry United .
“They need a leader to lift the spirit of the team. They need to understand when they are on the pitch, they have to play with more energy and more risks. They have the quality. They didn’t play with the freedom to express themselves. They need to go back to the basics. To express themselves, play with freedom, and go forward. There were too many players that didn’t perform today.
“I think Saka was too quiet. He is one of, if not, the best offensive player. Big games like that you expect him to score and take the team. Trossard is important, but he didn’t perform. [Gabriel] Jesus ran a lot, used a lot of energy, but you want him to be in the box more. In the midfield, the only one [who performed] was Declan Rice. There were too many players who didn’t play at their level.”
Wenger, focusing on other details, commented on Arsenal’s build-up and the centre-back pairing: “I believe that they [Arsenal] wanted to win the game so much that they lacked a bit of patience in the build-up and with the speed of the ball,” the beIN Sports pundit judged. “They used a bit too much force and not enough technique. On the other side I believe that [Michael] Carrick found a good formula and a good balance between defensive stability and good technical level. ]”,
Arteta and his squad must now address those questions as the season continues.
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.
Arsenal
Money Talks: CIES Ranks the World’s Most Valuable Squads
CIES values nine squads over $1bn; Real Madrid leads at $1.78bn while Tottenham exceed $1bn. Values.
The surge in transfer prices and squad valuations has reshaped how clubs are measured. The CIES Football Observatory produces those estimates by weighing a player’s quality, age, position and length of contract, and those individual valuations are then summed to give each squad a market value.
The scale is striking. There are nine clubs with squads valued above $1 billion. At the top is Real Madrid with a squad valuation of $1.78 billion and Kylian Mbappé listed as the most valuable player at $221 million. Barcelona follow with $1.60 billion, Lamine Yamal accounting for $403.9 million of that total. Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain each sit at $1.55 billion, with Bukayo Saka ($131.5 million) and Désiré Doué ($150.3 million) named as their most valuable players respectively.
Liverpool’s roster is valued at $1.20 billion, most valuable player Florian Wirtz ($149.8 million). Bayern Munich come in at $1.15 billion with Michael Olise ($162.6 million) as their top-rated asset. Tottenham’s squad is valued at $1.03 billion; Xavi Simons is listed as their most valuable player ($98.1 million), despite the club’s current relegation fight and Igor Tudor’s assessment that players “are lacking when we attack, we lack the quality to score the goal. We are lacking in the middle to run and we are lacking behind to stay there to suffer and not concede the goal.”
The list also includes Manchester United ($953 million, Benjamin Šeško $100.3 million) and Inter ($942 million, Lautaro Martínez $117 million). Earlier-positioned squads under $1 billion include Atlético Madrid ($903 million, Julián Álvarez $136.5 million), Juventus ($896 million, Kenan Yıldız $152.5 million) and Brighton ($894 million, Diego Gómez $86.4 million).
Several voices in the game have reflected on the market changes. Karl-Heinz Rumminegge said, “There are some players who do not come with a price tag.” Robert Lewandowski complained, “You are young, you score 10 goals in six months and some club will pay 60 or 70 million,” adding, “Before, you had to achieve something.” Vincent Kompany warned players about hype: “I always tell my players, ‘When there’s hype please don’t believe it, you’re not that good.’”
Whether the valuations mirror on-field quality or the inflation of a transfer market remains the central question CIES data brings into focus.
