New figures show Arsenal have recorded 100 unique injuries since August 2024, leaving the club top of a recent tally of fitness setbacks across the Premier League, per Sky Sports News. Brighton sit second on 97, Tottenham 90, Newcastle 86 and Aston Villa 85. Manchester City recorded 82, while Chelsea and Man Utd are level on 78. The wider table runs through Wolves (72), Crystal Palace (69), Liverpool (67) and others down to West Ham on 43.

White was the most likely candidate to tip Arsenal into triple digits. The buccaneering defender has been injured on nine separate occasions over the past 18 months, keeping him out for a yawning 166 days and counting. Intriguingly, Declan Rice is deemed to be the second-most injury-prone Arsenal player, racking up eight different fitness setbacks. However, the formidably durable midfielder has only been forced out for 33 days, forever sustaining a knock which is just as swiftly brushed off.

Arsenal are currently without a whole glut of defenders, forcing the few fit players to overload themselves in the process of covering for their absent teammates. Arteta has been at pains to lament this “really dangerous” cycle and warned that the fitness woes won’t stop at 100. In the words of the beleaguered manager, Arsenal are “buying tickets for another injury.”

Across a longer span, the Howden Football Injury Index (via The Times) has calculated the financial toll from 2020–21 to 2024–25. Manchester United top that five-year list with 399 recorded injuries and a total injury cost of £154.5 million. Chelsea follow on 357 injuries (£137.9 million), Newcastle 355 (£105 million) and Arsenal 322 (£99.7 million).

United posted the worst injury records in the Premier League in three of the last five seasons (2020–21, 2022–23 and 2023–24). Lisandro Martínez is still being gently ushered back after damaging his ACL 10 months ago in February, while Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt are currently battling fitness complaints. That shortage of senior defenders prompted Amorim to start the 19-year-old Ayden Heaven in the middle of his back three for the first time after Bournemouth on Monday, and the hosts shipped four goals at Old Trafford.

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.

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.