Arsenal
Arteta welcomes Rooney’s focus on Gyökeres’ team impact
Arteta backs Rooney’s view that Gyökeres brings more than goals to Arsenal; Saka’s talks continue as
Mikel Arteta has welcomed Wayne Rooney’s recent praise of Viktor Gyökeres, emphasising that the striker’s value goes beyond goals. Arteta highlighted the new signing’s link-up play, his willingness to stretch the game and run the channels, and the physical presence that has unsettled central defenders.
Gyökeres returned to scoring form with a quick-fire double against Atlético Madrid, but Arteta says the broader influence on Arsenal’s midfield and forward line is what matters. He contrasted Gyökeres’ different dynamic with the club’s previous option in 2024–25, describing how the striker’s hold-up play and movement open space and timing for team-mates.
Rooney said “Arsenal have been crying out for a number nine for a few years now and he’s come in and his work rate, his determination, his hold-up play and obviously scoring a few goals as well,” when describing why he’d put Gyökeres in his top three players of the season so far, and Arteta told reporters on Friday that he was pleased with that assessment.
“I’m really glad that this is coming from someone like Wayne, his experience and the kind of player that he was.,” the Spaniard said.
“Actually then it’s not just related to the goals that he has scored but the contribution to the team and the impact that Viktor has in our team, his work rate, the way he opens the spaces for other people, the timing that he generates for us and then as well the level of threat that he has brought to the team, which is magnificent. So I’m really happy to hear that.”
Rooney had placed Gyökeres alongside Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, whose form has generated transfer speculation because of a £65 million release clause valid for January, and Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo, who has enjoyed a strong start at Old Trafford after his move from Brentford.
Arteta was also asked about contract discussions with Bukayo Saka. He indicated there is mutual commitment and described the situation as confidence rather than concern: “I prefer that word, I think it is confidence,” Arteta said. He added: “What I’m very aware of is that he wants to continue with us, that he’s very happy and that he’s in the place that he wants to continue to be and achieve everything that we want to achieve together. And then when that happens and how it happens, I leave that to Andrea [Berta] and the club to figure it out.”
Arsenal
Arteta to Manage Saka’s Minutes as Arsenal Prepare for Champions League Second Leg
Arteta will manage Saka’s minutes ahead of Tuesday’s second leg as Arsenal carry a 1–1 tie. on Tues.
Mikel Arteta warned he will limit Bukayo Saka’s load after the winger was withdrawn as a precaution at half-time of Saturday’s win over Fulham. Saka had started but was taken off after 45 minutes in the league victory, having recently returned from an injury absence.
“We had to,” the Arsenal boss admitted. “He played 30-odd minutes in Madrid, now he’s played 45 minutes. We need to ramp up his load but we need to be careful because we need him on that pitch.” The remarks offered reassurance to supporters ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League second leg against Atlético Madrid, with the tie level at 1–1.
Saka’s return has coincided with a goal drought among Arsenal’s wide players. After his match-winning first-half contribution on Saturday he was replaced by Noni Madueke. The summer recruit enjoyed a bright start while filling in but has struggled for end product after extended minutes. Noni Madueke has not registered a goal or an assist against top-flight opposition since heading in the opener of a 1–1 draw with Brentford on Feb. 12, 2026.
Leandro Trossard may have created Gyökeres’s third goal against Fulham, but he is still waiting for his first strike of 2026; his last goal against top-flight opposition came on Dec. 30, 2025 versus Aston Villa. Gabriel Martinelli has gone more than three months without finding the net, his most recent goal against top-flight opposition coming on Jan. 28, 2026 versus Kairat.
During those scoring droughts for Arsenal’s wide players, Saka missed 10 matches through injury, which made his return particularly welcome. “We know what he’s capable of,” Arteta said. “He’s come back in the most important period of the season and now he’s fresh, his mind is fresh, his hunger is at the highest possible height and I think he needed a performance like that to impact the team, so that’s a big platform for Tuesday.”
Saka’s 22-minute cameo in the first leg in Madrid was described as a struggle to find the speed of the contest, and there is hope he will fare better with a start at the Emirates. Availability questions remain elsewhere: Martin Ødegaard missed Saturday’s league outing after reportedly suffering from knee discomfort during the first leg against Atlético.
Analytics & Stats
Opta Forecast: Arsenal Hold Edge as Title Race, Europe and Survival Remain Tight
Opta model favours Arsenal after 3-0 win; title race, Champions League and relegation remain tight.
Arsenal sit in control of the Premier League title race after a 3–0 win over Fulham, but the margins are slim. The Opta supercomputer projects Arsenal to finish on 82.28 expected points from their current 76, giving them a 79.70% chance of being champions. Manchester City, on 70 points, are forecast at 79.30 expected points with a 20.30% title probability.
That six-point advantage is meaningful, yet fragile. On paper, Arsenal are in an imposing position, but City face two fixtures that matter: away at Everton on Monday and then Brentford on Saturday. If City are perfect in those games they can erase the gap, and by the time Arsenal next play in the Premier League the two clubs would be level on games played.
The Opta model also lays out the race for Champions League football. Manchester United, on 61 points and an expected 67.03, are shown with a 100.00% chance of qualifying and can confirm their place with victory over Liverpool on Sunday. Aston Villa and Liverpool are close: Villa sit on 58 points with 64.15 expected and a 99.01% chance, while Liverpool also have 58 points with 64.00 expected and a 98.63% chance. Brighton are projected to finish with 55.17 expected points from 50 now and sit on a 0.69% chance of Champions League qualification. Bournemouth (49, 54.45, 0.51%), Brentford (51, 54.30, 0.51%) and Chelsea (48, 53.79, 0.60%) are all shown outside the automatic certainty but still within reach of European action.
At the bottom, the simulation makes relegation clear for two clubs. Burnley (20 points, 22.74 expected) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (18 points, 21.02 expected) have 100.00% relegation chances and will be replaced in the Championship by Coventry City and Ipswich Town. The final slot remains undecided. Nottingham Forest (39, 44.12, 0.97%) look relatively safe, while West Ham (36, 39.25, 48.78%) and Tottenham (34, 38.70, 50.22%) are in the precarious positions. Tottenham are currently backed for the drop, although victory over Aston Villa in Sunday’s late game would see Roberto De Zerbi’s side climb out of the relegation zone with four games left to play.
Arsenal
Saka’s Return Spurs Arsenal to a 3-0 Victory Over Fulham
Saka returned and influenced Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham; Gyökeres with a first-half brace. Strong.
Bukayo Saka returned to the starting line-up and played a decisive role as Arsenal recorded a 3-0 home win over Fulham. The result allowed the Gunners to protect energy ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal second leg against Atlético Madrid while improving their goal difference as a domestic margin.
The performance was Saka’s most influential since a Champions League match with Monaco in December 2024. After that game Arteta challenged his winger to “go to the next step” which came with the target of scoring “30 or 40” goals in a season. Injuries, linked in the piece to Arteta’s demands on his constant involvement, have limited Saka’s minutes. The Fulham match was his first start in any competition since the March international break and lasted 45 minutes.
Arteta had said pregame: “Penetration is one of the words we use the most,” Arteta fretted pregame, “players taking initiative and making things happen … It’s extremely difficult against a team that is so organized, so we need to find other ways.” One chosen route was to involve Saka early, and he produced the spark Arsenal needed.
Viktor Gyökeres opened the scoring after Saka created the opening opportunity, and the Swedish striker later provided the pass for Saka’s goal. Gyökeres’s first-half brace and Saka’s contribution left the home crowd satisfied. Saka did not emerge for the second half, the only noticeable concern from an otherwise controlled afternoon.
Player ratings (selected):
GK: David Raya 7.7
RB: Ben White 7.1
CB: William Saliba 7.0
CB: Gabriel 7.3
LB: Riccardo Calafiori 7.5
CM: Declan Rice 7.4
AM: Eberechi Eze 6.5
RW: Bukayo Saka 8.7
ST: Viktor Gyökeres 9.1
LW: Leandro Trossard 8.6
Subs of note: Noni Madueke (46’ for Saka) 6.3; Martín Zubimendi (64’ for Rice) 6.9; Gabriel Jesus (64’ for Gyökeres) 6.1.
Key match statistics: possession 54% to 46%; expected goals 2.97 to 0.43; total shots 18 to 10; shots on target 9 to 1; big chances 7 to 1; passing accuracy 89% to 83%; fouls 7 to 12.
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