Mikel Arteta has set a clear psychological blueprint for Arsenal as the club moves into the decisive phase of the 2025/26 campaign. With ambitions to be Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years and the rare possibility of an unprecedented Quadruple among English clubs, Arteta is pushing his squad to change the mood around the team.

At the centre of his message is a trio of principles he wants to see on the pitch: “courage, enjoyment and conviction.” He added how he plans to sustain that approach: “This is going to be the mindset and where we’re going to put the energy. I’m just hoping that everybody that is related to this club, especially our supporters, jump on that boat because this is the way that we’re going to live the next four months. We deserve to live like this.”

Arsenal’s grip on top spot was tested after they collapsed to a 3–2 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday. Arteta described the reaction after a subsequent team meeting as “encouraging and beautiful,” a response he hopes will short-circuit the recurring late-season slips that have cost the club in recent years.

Those slips are a pattern: Arsenal have fallen short at the final hurdle in the Premier League in each of the last three seasons, and the side have not claimed major silverware in almost six years. Restoring composure and ruthlessness in the closing months is now the priority.

Former Premier League winner Phil Jones offered a blunt assessment of Arsenal’s defensive display against Manchester United, saying the centre back pairing Gabriel and William Saliba appeared “fragile.” He added, “I thought they looked nervous. I thought there was a lack of a relationship between the two. They sensed a fear in the stadium, that anxiety. They weren’t poor by any stretch but they looked fragile and a bit weak at times. It is the most fractious I have seen those two.” Jones suggested the “fear and desperation” around the title challenge became “infectious” when Manchester United levelled in the first half.

Refocusing to overcome that will require listening carefully to Arteta’s message.

Chelsea have recalled Aarón Anselmino from his loan at Borussia Dortmund, a move that has left Dortmund’s decision-makers “furious,” per BILD, and reshaped the Blues’ defensive options with one week of the winter window remaining.

Anselmino, 20, had won plaudits at Dortmund. Niko Kovač lauded Anselmino’s “crusader spirit” earlier this season. “When things get tight, there’s no nonsense with him,” the similarly straightforward coach beamed. “He breaks through. And that’s something you need at this level. You need defenders who love defending. The boy does that excellently. I love players like that, who do their job with dedication and passion.” Teammate Julian Brandt hailed him “an absolutely great guy,” and sporting director Sebastian Kehl had discussed making the loan permanent before Chelsea triggered a recall clause on Sunday.

Dortmund had relied on Ramy Bensebaini and Waldemar Anton as their most regular defensive pairing amid injury struggles which have afflicted Nico Schlotterbeck. With Niklas Süle failing to convince and youngster Filippo Mane scarcely trusted since earning a red card on the opening weekend of the season, Anselmino provided crucial depth. Dortmund even posted a pointed video showing Anselmino fighting back tears while bidding farewell to his short-lived teammates.

The timing has compounded Dortmund’s frustration. With a week left of the winter window and no advance warning of his departure, Dortmund are not expected to secure a like-for-like replacement, a factor that helped fuel the club’s reported anger.

For Chelsea, the recall follows a growing acceptance in recruitment circles that defensive reinforcements are required after the arrival of Liam Rosenior, despite Enzo Maresca having pressed that case since the summer. Interest in Rennes’ Jérémy Jacquet has stalled as the French club hold firm on demands in excess of €60 million (£52.1 million, $71 million), while speculation over a move for Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae has also been mooted. Anselmino offers an internal, immediate option.

The club has used recalls before: Trevoh Chalobah was brought back from Crystal Palace last season, “starting and winning the finals of the Conference League and Club World Cup before establishing himself as a regular this term.” The Athletic note that “all options are being kept open” by Chelsea. Clubs are only allowed six players on loan at a foreign team at any one time in an attempt to avoid stockpiling talent. Chelsea had fulfilled their allotment before bringing back the Argentine and David Datro Fofana this month to afford themselves some wiggle room.

Liam Rosenior confirmed that a minor thigh problem kept Cole Palmer out of Chelsea’s Champions League win over Pafos and indicated the forward should be available again for the weekend.

Rosenior made six changes to the side that began against Brentford last weekend and Palmer was absent even from the deeper matchday squad. The player had completed 90 minutes against Brentford after an earlier recovery from a small thigh issue that had ruled him out of games against Charlton Athletic and Arsenal, but that problem resurfaced in the win over the Bees and the manager decided against risking him.

Rosenior described the situation prior to kick off: “A little bit of tightness in his thigh,” and afterwards said the decision to keep him out was “precautionary” and not a major concern. The manager added: “He felt something really minor in the game against Brentford, early in the game, so credit for him to keep going through it,” and: “I don’t want to risk any players. He’s got a really good chance to be involved on Sunday [against Crystal Palace].”

Palmer’s season has been disrupted by a sequence of problems. Across his first two years with the club he produced 74 goals and assists in 100 appearances, but this campaign has been interrupted by a groin issue that caused a lengthy absence between September and November, followed by a broken toe and the current thigh complaint.

Since returning to action in early December, Palmer has started nine successive Premier League matches and scored three times. Limited game time across the campaign — 13 appearances from a possible 34 in all competitions — has left his tally at five goals so far.

In the match against Pafos, Chelsea captain Reece James began in midfield but did not return for the second half. At the time that was taken as a tactical change, with Estêvão replacing him and offering the manager more creative options.