The Julian Alvarez saga refuses to die down, and the latest salvo has come from Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who has publicly criticised Atletico Madrid for their conduct during a summer transfer window in which Arsenal were also credited with interest in the Argentine forward.

Alvarez made it known he wanted to leave Atletico over the summer, with Barcelona and the Gunners emerging as the two clubs most strongly linked. Atletico ultimately refused to sanction a sale, and the 26-year-old remains in the Spanish capital.

Arsenal's interest came at a moment of significant upheaval in the forward department, with Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard all departing the club during the window.

Laporta hits out at Atletico

Speaking after the window shut, Laporta made clear he felt Atletico's handling of the situation crossed a line, as reported by football.london.

"They acted offended; they had no way to justify their attitude," the Barcelona president said. "We did what's usually done: there was club-to-club communication, and then I spoke personally with Gil Marin. He told me he wasn't coming because they had no alternative."

He continued: "Then they reacted inappropriately. I don't know why, I can imagine, but I have no proof. We were hearing that they would sell him to every club except Barca. Then they dropped the pretense and said it openly."

Laporta added that the matter is closed as far as Barcelona are concerned: "That is now in the past and we are very happy with the squad we have and the coach is very happy with the extraordinary work of Deco."

Alvarez faces a rebuild at Atletico

The fallout has left Alvarez in an awkward position. He has featured just once in La Liga since the window closed, having missed the previous two fixtures through injury.

Former Atletico defender Diego Godin was blunt in his assessment of how the forward handled the situation. "Julian Alvarez is a fantastic player. He must be a great guy, but I think he made a mistake... The fans' anger is completely understandable. We all get that someone might want to leave, but it's about how you leave, the way you go about it."

Godin added: "I don't know if Julian Alvarez will be able to repair the relationship. It cost Antoine [Griezmann] an enormous amount of effort, and with Julian, we'll see... Time will tell, but what's certain is that people will expect him, at the very least, to give everything on the pitch whenever he gets his chance."

For Arsenal, the episode underlined how difficult it was to prise Alvarez away, with his own preference reportedly being a move to Catalonia rather than north London. Atletico return to action against Real Madrid in the derby, and how Alvarez's relationship with the club's support develops from here will shape whether this story resurfaces in future windows.

Arsenal have reportedly turned their attention to Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza ahead of the January window — and they are not alone in admiring the 20-year-old.

According to Fussball News, Maza has emerged on the Gunners' radar, with Leverkusen already placing a valuation of around €70million (£60million) on the youngster. The Bundesliga club are said to be unwilling to entertain anything below that figure.

Crucially, Leverkusen hold all the cards. Maza is contracted at the BayArena until the summer of 2030, meaning there is no pressure on the German side to sell in January — or even at the end of the current campaign.

A crowded queue

The same report claims Manchester City, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid have all joined the race, with each of those clubs monitoring Maza's development and potentially preparing an official approach once the window reopens.

That is notable given how heavily both Manchester clubs invested in central midfield over the summer. City brought in Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliott Anderson and Enzo Fernandez, while United added Youri Tielemans, Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos to Old Trafford's engine room.

It is worth stressing that this is a report from a single outlet rather than one of the established tier-one names, so the usual caution applies at this stage of a January story.

Arsenal's summer business

The Gunners were far from quiet themselves in the last window as they prepared to defend their title. Bruno Guimaraes, Christos Tzolis, Ezri Konsa and Illan Meslier all arrived at the Emirates Stadium, with Guimaraes in particular adding significant Premier League experience to Mikel Arteta's midfield.

Even so, there was persistent talk that further reinforcements could follow. Arsenal were credited with an interest in a new wide forward during the closing stages of the window, with Vinicius Jr. and Julian Alvarez both mentioned as potential targets before the deadline passed.

Now, with the window shut for several weeks, the focus has shifted to what the club might do in the New Year — and Maza is the latest name to be attached to that plan.

At 20, the midfielder fits the profile Arsenal have leaned towards in recent transfer cycles: young, developing in a competitive European league, and with resale value built in. The £60million price tag, though, reflects exactly how highly Leverkusen rate him and how little incentive they have to negotiate.

Arsenal return to action with the January window still some way off, and any concrete movement on Maza is unlikely before then. For now, the Gunners are one of several clubs watching from a distance while Leverkusen hold firm on their valuation.

Ethan Nwaneri is still waiting to complete 90 minutes in a Borussia Dortmund shirt, and Saturday's 1-0 win over Stuttgart brought another early exit for the Arsenal loanee.

The 19-year-old, who joined the Bundesliga leaders on transfer deadline day, has started each of Dortmund's last two league matches. On both occasions he has been withdrawn shortly after the hour mark — this time in the 62nd minute, replaced by Konstantinos Karetsas.

Dortmund themselves have made a flying start to the campaign, winning all four of their league games to sit two points clear at the top of the table. Nwaneri has featured heavily in that run, but beyond the assist he registered on his debut against Hoffenheim, the England Under-21 international is still searching for a defining moment in Germany.

The German ratings

As rounded up by football.london, the verdicts from German outlets were strikingly consistent.

Tribuna handed Nwaneri a 4 out of 6 — on a scale where 1 is the best grade and 6 the worst. "He struggled to get into the game. After the break, he showed his pace, but was unable to create many dangerous chances. His apparent goal was disallowed for a clear offside," they wrote. That score was the joint-lowest in the Dortmund side, level with Serhou Guirassy, Daniel Svensson, Joey Veerman and Joane Gadou.

BILD, Germany's largest tabloid, were slightly more generous with an average "Bildnote" grade of 3 — though that too was the joint-lowest mark awarded to any Dortmund player on the night.

Spox also settled on a 4 out of 6, while picking out one moment of genuine threat immediately after the interval. "He didn't really get into the game initially, but then, at the start of the second half, after Maxi Beier won the ball, he drove forward rapidly. So rapidly, in fact, that the onrushing Serhou Guirassy was eventually caught offside, leaving the Arsenal loanee with little option but to put the ball over the bar himself," they noted.

A kinder read from LiveScore

Not every assessment was quite so cool. LiveScore gave Nwaneri 6.5 out of 10, framing his limited involvement more positively: "Didn't get involved much, but whenever on the ball, Nwaneri was a force to be reckoned with; made one key pass, two crosses and mustered one shot in the match too."

Only Guirassy and Marcel Sabitzer were rated lower by the outlet — and Sabitzer's 6 came from just nine minutes on the pitch.

The pattern so far is clear: regular starts, plenty of minutes for a teenager at a title-chasing club, but a substitution just past the hour in each of the last two outings.

With Dortmund top of the Bundesliga and Nwaneri firmly in the starting XI, the next few weeks will offer him further chances to turn glimpses into end product.

Alan Shearer believes Arsenal were fortunate to leave Brighton with only a three-goal defeat, claiming the scoreline should have been far heavier.

Saturday's 3-0 loss at the Amex was Arsenal's first significant setback of the campaign, and it arrived after a strong opening run that had the Gunners looking settled. The manner of the defeat, rather than the result alone, has dominated the reaction since the final whistle.

Shearer's damning verdict

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, in comments reported by The Standard, the former England striker did not soften his assessment of what he had watched on the south coast.

"They absolutely battered Arsenal," Shearer said of Brighton's display.

He went further on the margin of victory, adding: "It should have been six or seven goals."

Shearer also pointed to the physical and tactical approach that unsettled Mikel Arteta's side from the outset. "They were strong, they were fit, they went after Arsenal," he said.

The criticism centres less on the three goals conceded and more on how comfortably Brighton dictated the terms of the contest. Arsenal rarely found a way to slow the game down or shift its rhythm, and the chances Brighton created suggested the final margin flattered the visitors.

Arteta's own assessment

Shearer's words land alongside a similarly blunt reaction from the Arsenal manager himself. Arteta made clear after the match that the performance fell well below the level he expects, warning that "this can't happen again" as he reflected on the standards his players produced at the Amex.

That alignment between an external pundit and the dressing room's own leadership is notable. There has been no attempt from inside the club to frame the result as an unlucky afternoon or a game decided by fine margins.

For a side that had built momentum in the opening weeks of the season, the questions now shift to what the defeat actually represents. A single heavy loss in September does not shape a campaign on its own, but the frequency with which Arsenal have been opened up in transition will be scrutinised over the coming fixtures.

Brighton, for their part, have made the Amex an uncomfortable venue for Arsenal in recent seasons, and their pressing structure has consistently caused problems for possession-based opponents. Saturday's performance was an extreme version of a familiar pattern.

The response is what counts now

Arteta and his coaching staff will have a full review of the match to work through, and the focus will be on whether the issues that surfaced at the Amex were situational or structural.

Shearer's verdict will sting, but it reflects the broad consensus on a performance that Arsenal themselves have not attempted to defend. The next few weeks will determine whether this proves to be an isolated afternoon or the start of a wider problem for the Gunners.

Bruno Guimaraes did not hide from it. Hours after Arsenal were beaten 3-0 at the Amex Stadium, the Brazilian described the performance as "not acceptable" and issued an apology to the travelling support.

It was Guimaraes' first Premier League start since his £75million move from Newcastle, and it came on an afternoon when Arsenal's unbeaten start to the campaign was ended in emphatic fashion by Brighton.

"We were not good enough, so far off our level this time," he said. "We are very disappointed, we have to learn from our mistakes because today we were far away from our level.

"We were too sloppy with the ball, didn't win any duels. We cannot accept this while wearing this shirt of a champion and we want to win the game."

Arteta knew from the first throw-in

Mikel Arteta claimed he knew Arsenal were not at the races from the very first throw-in of the contest, and the warning signs quickly became goals. Pascal Gross rifled in off the post before Charalampos Kostoulas flashed a finish past David Raya.

Guimaraes was particularly frustrated by how much time Brighton were afforded in the build-up to both strikes.

"We gave them too much time on the ball, we know the quality that they have," he said. "They were two amazing shots to be fair but we can do better and we have to do better.

"We cannot give them too much space, we cannot lose the ball in a dangerous area and like I said, bad day, I've not been too long here but it feels like we can't accept [this]."

The result ended what had been a strong opening to the season. As Guimaraes noted, Arsenal had won every game prior to the trip to the south coast — including last weekend's 2-0 victory at Sunderland, where the midfielder scored a stunner of his own.

Three weeks to stew on it

The timing is awkward. With the international break now underway, Arsenal must wait three full weeks before they can respond, with Leeds the next opponent on the fixture list.

Guimaraes, speaking to football.london, insisted his own settling-in period is going to plan despite the setback.

"I have to adapt, and I think I've been doing great to be fair but I think today is one to forget for me and the whole team," he said. "Today was a bad day at the office for everyone. I think I'm quite good in terms of adaptation with the club, I'm getting there."

He added: "Now we have to focus on the national teams but when we come back, we have to ensure this does not happen again. We have to learn from our mistakes, wearing this shirt this is not acceptable, this is not the level we want but now we have time to focus on the national team as when we come back, we have to win games.

"We have to forget this and improve, we have to say sorry to the fans because it wasn't good enough."

Arsenal return to Premier League action against Leeds once the international break concludes.

Martin Zubimendi's future has become one of the stranger subplots of Arsenal's season, and the club have reportedly made their position on it clear: he is not leaving in January.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Arsenal will not entertain discussions with Real Madrid over the midfielder in the winter window, despite his limited involvement this term. It is worth noting Fichajes sit some way down the reliability scale compared to the likes of David Ornstein or Fabrizio Romano, so the report should be treated with a degree of caution.

From title winner to bit-part player

The situation is a marked shift from last season, when Zubimendi was a mainstay in the side that won the Premier League title. He was, by Arsenal's own internal assessment, one of the players credited with taking the team to another level.

This campaign has looked nothing like that. The Spaniard has barely featured, and when he has started, it has come at right-back rather than in his natural role at the base of midfield.

He also failed to get minutes at the World Cup, meaning a player who was central to everything Arsenal did 12 months ago has gone a long stretch without regular football in his preferred position.

Real Madrid circling

Real Madrid had been keen to win the race for his signature, and the reduced role at the Emirates would ordinarily present an opening. Arsenal's stance, per the report, closes that door for now — the club have no plans to sell and do not intend to open talks in January.

The complication is that squad harmony and squad ownership are two different things. The report acknowledges there is a good chance Zubimendi could ask to leave if his opportunities do not increase, and that uncertainty is unlikely to disappear while he is being used as a full-back.

Arsenal's broader approach has been to hold on to their squad rather than trim it mid-season, and that principle appears to be driving the decision here. Whether it holds through to the end of the window may depend on how the next few months of team selection unfold.

Backdrop of a difficult weekend

The news arrives on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Brighton, a result that will inevitably sharpen the focus on selection calls across the squad. Questions about why a title-winning midfielder is being deployed out of position, or not at all, are not going away after an afternoon like that at the Amex.

For Real Madrid, the message from north London is straightforward enough. Arsenal do not want to sell, will not discuss a January deal, and expect Zubimendi to remain part of the squad for the rest of the season.

The next few weeks of team sheets will say a great deal more about the 27-year-old's standing than any statement of intent about transfer windows.

Cristhian Mosquera made the trip to the Amex Stadium with Arsenal on Saturday despite not being named in the matchday squad for the Premier League meeting with Brighton — and the signs point to a return that is not far away.

The defender has been sidelined since he was forced off in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa last month, a muscle problem that has now kept him out of Arsenal's last five matches in all competitions.

He arrived on the south coast in his tracksuit alongside his team-mates and watched the warm-ups from the touchline, the role usually taken by the extra man in the travelling party.

Three weeks to get right

According to the Evening Standard's Matt Verri, reporting from the Amex, Mosquera is believed to be closing in on a return from the muscle injury, with his presence at the ground suggesting he will be in contention when Arsenal are next in action.

The timing works in the Spaniard's favour. Arsenal now face a three-week wait for their next fixture because of the extended international break, giving Mosquera a clear runway to complete his recovery before the Gunners host Leeds at the Emirates on October 10.

Defensive numbers stretched at Brighton

Mosquera's absence has been felt, particularly on the right side of the back four. Ben White also missed the Brighton game with a groin injury, which meant Jurrien Timber was handed his first start since mid-March.

That left Arsenal with just one recognised defender on the bench in Piero Hincapie, although Mikel Arteta does have cover elsewhere in the squad. Myles Lewis-Skelly can step in at left-back, while Martin Zubimendi was deployed at right-back in midweek against Ipswich in the Carabao Cup — an indication of how far Arteta has had to reach for solutions in recent weeks.

Getting Mosquera back would restore some much-needed depth to a defensive unit that has been asked to stretch itself across three competitions. His versatility across the back line makes him a useful option for a manager currently juggling limited numbers.

With the international break now upon them, Arsenal's medical staff have a valuable window to get bodies back on the grass. Mosquera's trip to the Amex, even in a tracksuit, was the clearest indication yet that he is nearly there.

Arsenal Women needed until the 95th minute to salvage a point at home to Manchester United, with substitute Smila Holmberg firing into the roof of the net to make it 1-1 and end a scoring drought that had stretched across most of the young WSL season.

The result leaves Renée Slegers' side with five points from their opening three games and just two goals scored all campaign — the first in the 10th minute of the opening fixture, the second arriving deep into stoppage time on Saturday.

Slegers shuffles the pack

Slegers made three changes from the goalless draw at Crystal Palace, bringing Olivia Smith and Steph Catley back into the side while Alessia Russo dropped into the number 10 role to accommodate Stina Blackstenius up front. Kyra Cooney-Cross, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Chloe Kelly all started on the bench.

Arsenal had the better of the early openings without finding the finish. Baum pressed Jess Park off the ball and drove through the middle on 10 minutes, only for her shot to lack power. Mariona placed an effort onto the roof of the net on 27 minutes, and Leah Williamson's quick reaction to Georgia Stanway's low free-kick was saved comfortably by Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

United had their moments too, with Terland twice testing Misa inside a minute on 21 minutes. The best Arsenal chance came on the stroke of half time, Baum crossing for Blackstenius whose powerful header was tipped over.

Zigiotti punishes a mix-up

The breakthrough went United's way on 67 minutes and came from an Arsenal error. Catley's pass to Stanway was returned underhit, leaving the defender off balance on the floor, and Zigiotti pounced on the loose ball before driving past her and slotting through Misa.

Slegers had already turned to her bench, with Holmberg and Kim Little introduced on 58 minutes, followed by Selina Cerci, Caitlin Foord and Kelly. Foord was denied by Tullis-Joyce from just behind the penalty spot, Cerci headed straight at the keeper, and Kelly's effort from range was parried wide.

Six minutes were added on. On 95, Holmberg's cross was not controlled by Cerci, but the ball stayed alive and reached Williamson on the inside left. Her delivery to the far post found Holmberg, who slammed home the equaliser. The referee blew for full time almost exactly on six minutes.

Chelsea and City next

The draw follows last weekend's goalless stalemate at Crystal Palace, and the fixture list does not ease up: Chelsea and Manchester City are next over the following two weeks.

As Arseblog noted in their report, this is the fourth straight season in which Arsenal's opening results have left them playing catch-up in the WSL title race.

Slegers now has a fortnight of fixtures against the two sides expected to contest the title to demonstrate that the attacking issues of the opening three matches can be fixed.

The Premier League have explained why Declan Rice stayed on the pitch in the closing seconds of Arsenal's 3-0 defeat at Brighton, with the incident checked and cleared by VAR.

Deep into second-half stoppage time at the Amex Stadium, Rice clashed with Brighton substitute Malick Yalcouye as the 20-year-old moved to close him down. Yalcouye leaned into the Arsenal midfielder after the ball had gone, and Rice responded by chasing after him and tripping him to the ground.

It was an off-the-ball incident that took place directly in the eyeline of referee Darren England. The official reached for a yellow card rather than a red, a decision that immediately sparked debate among supporters on social media.

The VAR verdict

As reported by talkSPORT, the Premier League have confirmed the incident was reviewed by VAR and the on-field decision was allowed to stand.

It is understood the VAR judged that Rice's actions did not meet the threshold for violent conduct, with the trip considered petulant at worst rather than an act deserving of a dismissal. A yellow card was therefore deemed the appropriate punishment.

The distinction carried real consequences. Had Rice been shown a red for violent conduct, he would have served an automatic three-match suspension, ruling him out of Premier League fixtures against Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Everton after the international break.

A chastening afternoon on the south coast

The flashpoint came at the end of an afternoon Arsenal will want to move on from quickly. Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas put Brighton two goals up by half time, and Chema Andres added a third with a header shortly before the hour mark after being left unmarked at the back post from a corner.

Three goals conceded, none scored, and the defending Premier League champions comfortably beaten by a Brighton side who deserved every bit of it. Yalcouye, for his part, had the last word, with the final whistle arriving moments after the incident that could have reduced Arsenal to ten men.

Mikel Arteta acknowledged Arsenal's problems after the game and addressed the timing of his substitutions, while Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said of the visitors: "They were horrible."

For Rice, the outcome is that he remains available rather than facing a month on the sidelines. That matters for a midfield that has carried an enormous share of Arsenal's workload, and it means Arteta has his first-choice engine room intact for the run of fixtures immediately after the international break.

Arsenal return to league action against Leeds, with the manner of the Brighton performance giving Arteta plenty to work through in the meantime.

Arsenal's unbeaten start to the Premier League season ended at the Amex on Saturday, with Brighton running out 3-0 winners in a game the champions never got to grips with.

It was Arsenal's first league defeat of the campaign, arriving after a seven-match winning run in all competitions and a sequence of nine successive league victories stretching back to April. It is also the club's heaviest defeat in a season as reigning top-flight champions since 1989.

Mikel Arteta did not dispute the outcome, saying Brighton "deserved" the win and describing himself as "extremely disappointed" with a display that fell "very far" from the basics he demands.

Duels lost, control surrendered

Physicality and duel-winning have been central to Arteta's message since he took charge in 2019. At the Amex, Arsenal lost those battles repeatedly.

"Well, the first one because Brighton they were really good, and they had another bite, and at the times it was better," Arteta said. "There are a lot of moments when the ball is 50-50 and it changes hands and most of the time it was for them."

He added: "Sometimes there were some technical errors very much involved that opened us up in a really difficult way, but that's something to learn."

The numbers underline how out of character the afternoon was. Arsenal conceded fewer goals than any side in the Premier League last season and had shipped just one in their opening four league games this term before David Raya was beaten three times in a single afternoon. Brighton, now third, are the division's top scorers with 16 goals, eight of them in the past week alone.

Two down at half-time, Arsenal never looked like recovering — the Gunners have not come from 2-0 behind to win a league match since March 2008 at Bolton.

Pundits: 'They absolutely battered Arsenal'

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Alan Shearer said the scoreline flattered the visitors. "It should have been more, the chances Brighton created, they were that good," he said. "They absolutely battered Arsenal. From start to finish today Brighton were magnificent, every single one of them played their part. It should have been six or seven goals."

Former Premier League defender Curtis Davies framed it as a one-off on the same broadcast. "Their form this season has so far been good, this has been a really shocking performance," he said. "That defence today was nowhere near what it's used to being."

Arteta was keen to keep the result in context, pointing to the 15 Arsenal players who were at the World Cup and consequently returned for pre-season later than their team-mates.

"That's not going to take away what the team has done and the boys have done in the last six or seven weeks since coming back from the World Cup," he said. "What we've done and the way we've competed and the amount of games we've won has been remarkable, but this is a big lesson for all of us to understand what it takes to win at this level."

The international break now gives Arteta time to work through the issues before Arsenal return to league action, with roughly £200m of summer investment still expected to push the champions towards back-to-back titles. Full coverage of the defeat is available via the BBC.

Chuba Akpom scored against Arsenal on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup, a decade on from a spell at the Emirates Stadium where the goals came in pre-season but the opportunities never followed.

The Newham-born striker made just 12 senior appearances for the Gunners, a return that sits awkwardly alongside his numbers in friendlies. In the summer of 2013 he scored four times in pre-season, and ahead of the 2015/16 campaign he top-scored again, helped by a hat-trick against a Singapore XI.

Those goals did not translate into minutes under Arsene Wenger. Instead came loan moves — five domestic switches in total, taking in Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion, the club Arsenal face this weekend — none of which brought him any closer to a place in Wenger's starting XI.

'Why am I not getting opportunities?'

Speaking to The Independent in 2018, Akpom explained the thinking behind his repeated push to get out on loan.

"I pushed for a loan as soon as I turned 18," he said. "It can be tough [on loan]. You might not be in the squad, might not start, there's a lot of things that make that little bit of doubt creep in."

"Especially when you're thinking like Arsenal are looking and I'm not playing. It looks bad, but I saw people my age playing and I thought I want to be as well. I don't want to be in the reserves, I want a challenge. That's just who I am."

He added: "At Arsenal, it was frustrating. Just thinking why am I not playing? Why am I not getting opportunities? I think I did well when I had the chances, I was top goalscorer in preseason, and I think I did well when I played in the cups. Sometimes, that's just how it is. Maybe my path is different from other players, but I've never had any regrets… but I didn't really get a real opportunity [at Arsenal] in my opinion."

A career built abroad

The breakthrough came away from north London. A final loan at Sint-Truiden brought six goals in 16 games, followed by 18 across two seasons with PAOK in Greece.

His return to England was slow to ignite, but Michael Carrick's mid-season arrival at Middlesbrough changed things dramatically. Akpom finished with 28 Championship goals — seven more than any other player — as Boro secured a play-off finish.

Ajax came next, with 15 goals in all competitions in his first season, three of them in the Europa League, and four more in Europe the following year. A loan at Lille then delivered Champions League football, more than a decade after Wenger first named him on an Arsenal bench in the competition.

In the summer of 2025, months before turning 30, he came home. A year on loan at Ipswich ended in promotion, and after making the move permanent he has already matched his first-season tally of two goals.

"I have had lots of good experiences over the last few years, at Ajax and playing in the Champions League with Lille, and I feel like all of these have improved me as a player and helped me be the person I am now," he said after signing for Ipswich. "I'm here to do as much as I can do to help the team, in the changing room and on the pitch, and I'll bring a winning mentality here."

Arsenal have changed enormously since Akpom's departure, and their academy pathway looks different again. His goal on Tuesday was a reminder of a career that found its shape elsewhere.

Jurrien Timber returns to the Arsenal starting line-up at the Amex Stadium this afternoon, with Mikel Arteta naming a near full-strength side for the Premier League trip to Brighton.

The Arsenal XI reads: Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Bruno, Odegaard; Tzolis, Saka, Havertz.

Timber slots in at right-back with Ezri Konsa partnering Gabriel at the heart of the defence and Riccardo Calafiori on the left. Notably, William Saliba is absent from the matchday squad entirely, with the Frenchman named neither in the starting eleven nor among the substitutes.

A midfield three with plenty of miles in it

Declan Rice, Bruno and Martin Odegaard form the midfield, with the captain pulling the strings behind a front three of Christos Tzolis, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.

The bench offers Arteta considerable scope to change things: Kepa, Hincapie, Eze, Gyokeres, Madueke, Merino, Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly and Dowman. Max Dowman's inclusion is worth noting given the teenager's situation was the subject of fresh reporting only this morning, with Arseblog reporting that Arteta is open-minded about a loan move as interest in the youngster grows.

With Hincapie the only recognised defender among the substitutes, Arteta will be relying on the versatility of Rice, Zubimendi and Lewis-Skelly should anything go wrong at the back.

Brighton's line-up

Brighton, under Roberto De Zerbi, line up with: Verbruggen; Struijk, Gross, Chema, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gomez, Ayari, de Cuyper, Vuskovic. Their bench features Steele, Hadjam, Rutter, Promise, Osman, Costinha, Svoboda, O'Riley and Yalcouye.

The Amex has historically been an awkward venue for Arsenal, and Brighton's squad depth — with Georginio Rutter and Matt O'Riley available in reserve — means De Zerbi has options to change the shape of the contest after the break.

Arsenal arrive on the back of a strong run of results. The Gunners beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates on 6 September before travelling to Italy and edging past Napoli 1-0 in the Champions League on 9 September, following a 1-0 win away at Aston Villa at the end of August. Clean sheets have been a theme, and the defensive unit named today has been central to that.

The summer window also saw significant movement at the club, with Arsenal finalising a club-record deal involving Gabriel Martinelli at the end of August — a piece of business that has reshaped the attacking options Arteta can call upon, with Tzolis starting wide and Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke held in reserve.

Kick-off is this afternoon at the Amex, with Arsenal looking to extend their winning run and keep pace at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal's long-running pursuit of Nico Williams has taken another turn, with two Premier League rivals reportedly entering the picture for the Athletic Club winger.

According to Fichajes, Manchester United and Chelsea are both now monitoring Williams and are prepared to make an approach if they sense the Spain international is open to leaving Bilbao. The report adds that Arsenal have not walked away from the situation and continue to track his position closely.

It is worth noting that Fichajes are not regarded as a tier one outlet, and this should be treated as speculation rather than a concrete development. There is no suggestion of formal bids or talks from any of the three clubs.

A pursuit that dates back to 2024

Arsenal's interest in Williams is no secret. The Gunners have been linked with the 24-year-old since the summer of 2024, when he was one of the standout performers of Spain's European Championship triumph, and the name has resurfaced in almost every window since.

What has consistently blocked the move is Williams himself. The winger has repeatedly chosen to stay at Athletic Club, the side he came through with and where he plays alongside his brother Inaki, and he committed his future to the Basque club by signing a long-term deal roughly a year ago.

That contract carries a release clause, which remains the realistic route to any transfer. But as the report points out, triggering the clause is only half the battle — a suitor would still need to convince Williams that the timing is right to leave the only club he has played senior football for.

Competition sharpens the picture

The involvement of United and Chelsea changes the dynamic if Williams ever does soften his stance. Both clubs have shown a willingness to spend heavily on attacking talent in recent windows, and both would be able to offer Champions League or European football as part of the pitch depending on how the campaign unfolds.

For Arsenal, the profile has always made sense on paper. Williams is a direct, left-sided winger who attacks defenders one-on-one and stretches back lines vertically — a different threat to the more controlled, inverted approach Mikel Arteta's wide players have often been asked to provide.

Whether that translates into a genuine move is another matter entirely. Arsenal have circled this situation for more than two years without getting close to a resolution, and the player's public position has not shifted in that time.

Athletic Club's model also makes them an awkward negotiating partner. The Basque side do not need to sell, operate under their famous recruitment policy, and have historically forced buyers to go through the release clause rather than accept a negotiated fee.

For now, Williams remains an Athletic player and appears settled. Arsenal, like United and Chelsea, will simply have to keep watching for any sign that the situation changes.

Mikel Arteta has rejected comparisons with Sir Alex Ferguson after his criticism of officials following Arsenal's win over Sunderland, insisting his only aim is to defend the club.

The Arsenal manager went public last weekend over the penalty awarded against Ezri Konsa, calling the decision "unacceptable" and arguing that the contact had been initiated by what he described as a "judo roll" from Dan Ballard.

Those comments prompted Jamie Carragher to suggest Arteta was operating from a position of power in the same way Ferguson once did at Manchester United, labelling the Spaniard the "don" of the Premier League.

Arteta plays down the 'don' label

Asked about the comparison, Arteta was quick to push back. "No, I'm here to try to give my opinion," he said. "To defend my club, to give the very best to our players. In order to do so, obviously, you guys ask some questions and we need to respond in the most direct and fair way."

He also acknowledged he will not always get it right. "I will make mistakes, sometimes, but I will try to be as fair as possible," Arteta added.

"We discuss many topics in this room, very important all of them. We have a space to talk, give our opinions, have discussions, have personal conversations. It's everybody's duty to try and improve the game and that's what we are here for."

Arsenal seek answers over Konsa penalty

The row has not ended with the final whistle at the Stadium of Light. According to the Evening Standard, Arsenal contacted Pro Ref at the start of this week to seek an explanation for the penalty decision.

That approach followed Pro Ref's apology to Manchester United on Sunday for failing to rule out Erling Haaland's winner in the Manchester derby for offside — a public admission of error that only sharpened the focus on the call that went against Arsenal.

Arteta, though, was unwilling to reveal what he had been told. "These are conversations that will remain private, as they should and they have to keep it that way," he said.

"It's not about an apology. It's just agreeing that the decision should have been different or not, maybe they have a different opinion. Try to improve and move forward together."

A familiar flashpoint

Refereeing decisions have become a recurring theme around Arsenal in recent seasons, with the club previously issuing a public statement over officiating standards following a defeat at Newcastle in 2023. Arteta's willingness to address the topic head-on in press conferences has made him one of the most vocal managers in the division on the subject.

The Ferguson parallel is one Arteta clearly has no interest in embracing, but his message was consistent: he intends to keep speaking up for Arsenal when he believes decisions have gone against them.

Attention now turns back to matters on the pitch, where Arteta's side will look to keep their momentum going in a title race that has left little room for error.

Fabian Hurzeler has refused to walk back the comments he made about Arsenal's game management last season, with the Brighton manager insisting he will always share his opinion when asked.

The German's frustration spilled over in March, when Arsenal left the Amex with a 1-0 win in a match that saw David Raya go down injured on three separate occasions. Hurzeler claimed afterwards that there was "only one team who tried to play football".

"If they win the Premier League, no one will ask how they win the Premier League," he said at the time. "You can really feel that they do everything now to win and, in the end, it's about the rules. So if the Premier League, if the referee, allows everything, then it's difficult. Then, they make their own rules."

He added: "At the moment, I have the feeling they are doing their own rules, no matter how they are playing. I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way. Of course, every team will manage and waste time but there has to be a limit and the limit has to be set by the Premier League. The limit has to be set by the referees. At the moment, they just do what they want."

Hurzeler stands by his words

Asked about those remarks ahead of Saturday's reunion, Hurzeler made no attempt to distance himself from them.

"Last season was last season," he said. "Opinions are important and I will always share my opinion if I am asked. But I congratulated Arsenal for being deserved champions."

He then turned his attention to the present. "It's a new season. They started very impressively. It is our challenge to compete with them."

The Brighton boss also warned that the Amex "will be loud" for the 3pm kick-off, with his side eyeing a statement result against one of the Premier League's form teams.

A tricky trip on the south coast

Brighton arrive into the fixture in strong form of their own, having scored 13 goals in their opening four league games and recovered from two goals down at Old Trafford to knock Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are preparing for a fourth consecutive away game. Mikel Arteta's side edged past Sunderland 2-0 last time out in the league, with Raya — the man at the centre of Hurzeler's complaints in March — again decisive as he saved Enzo Le Fee's penalty.

The Amex has been a difficult venue for the Gunners in recent years, and the added subplot of Hurzeler's unretracted criticism gives Saturday's meeting an extra edge. Arsenal's response will come on the pitch at 3pm.

Mikel Arteta says his squad are “all good” ahead of Saturday's trip to Brighton, but the Arsenal boss declined to give any detail on the four defenders who were absent from midweek duty.

Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie were all missing from the squad that beat Ipswich in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, leaving Arteta with a thin set of options across the back line on the south coast.

“They are all good,” the manager said on Friday. “We have another training session this afternoon, so very positive about everybody.”

Pressed specifically on Timber, Mosquera and Hincapie, he offered little more: “We have another session, they are all willing to be part of it to try to make sure they are fit.”

How Arsenal got here

White limped off at the Stadium of Light last Saturday and has not been named by Thomas Tuchel in England's squad for the upcoming international break. His replacement that afternoon was Timber, who had not featured in the Premier League since 14 March because of a groin problem.

That substitution was forced rather than planned, and after a busy second half for the Dutchman the decision was taken not to add further minutes in midweek. Arteta had already noted after the Sunderland game that Timber's roughly 50 minutes were more than the club had intended.

With Mosquera nursing a hamstring issue, that left Martin Zubimendi deputising at right-back against Ipswich — a solution that worked on the night but is hardly a long-term plan for a fixture at the Amex.

The Hincapie question

Hincapie's absence was arguably the most curious of the four. The summer arrival had been lined up to cover for the rested Riccardo Calafiori, only for Myles Lewis-Skelly to be handed the job instead.

It was initially suggested the former Bayer Leverkusen defender had picked up a knock. According to Arseblog, rumours have since circulated that the issue may be more serious than first thought, and Arteta's answers on Friday did nothing to clarify the situation either way.

The timing does at least offer Arsenal a window. Saturday's game at Brighton is the last before a three-week international break, giving the medical department an extended runway to get Timber, White, Mosquera and Hincapie back to full fitness before the schedule picks up again.

For now, though, Arteta is likely to lean on the players who came through Tuesday unscathed. Zubimendi's showing in an unfamiliar role gives him one option at right-back, while Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori provide cover on the opposite flank.

Brighton have made life difficult for Arsenal at the Amex in recent seasons, and the Gunners will need their reshuffled defence to hold up before the break arrives. Team news will become clearer when Arteta names his side on Saturday afternoon.

Arsenal are prepared to sanction a loan move for Max Dowman in the second half of the season if the club decides it is the best route for the 16-year-old's development.

Dowman, already the youngest player ever to start a game for Arsenal and the youngest scorer in Premier League history, marked his first appearance of the campaign with a brace in Tuesday's 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Ipswich.

The teenager is yet to feature in the Premier League this term, and Mikel Arteta has made clear the situation will be reviewed regularly rather than settled now.

"We will evaluate every six months where we are and what is the best thing for him to do and then make the right decision," Arteta said. "It depends on a lot of factors. What he needs, and what the team needs as well, the availability we have in the squad, the minutes that he is playing and the qualities of those minutes."

He added: "We have to be open, but now the focus is to be here and to impact the team."

Wilshere interest and the January timeline

Dowman, who completed his GCSEs in the summer, turns 17 on 31 December — one day before the winter transfer window opens, making him eligible for a temporary move at the earliest possible moment.

According to BBC Sport, League One side Luton, managed by former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, are believed to have expressed an interest in taking the youngster on loan.

Arteta indicated the club has not engaged with any approaches to this point. "We haven't really listened to any of the possibilities because we were crystal clear that we wanted to have Max in the squad, that we wanted him to be part of the pre-season and then start to see where we are from there," he said.

The Arsenal boss also drew on his own experience when asked whether a loan at that age carries risk. "There have been many cases of that age when they have gone out and been successful and others not," Arteta said. "In my particular case, I was 17 when I went to Paris [St-Germain]. It depends on the atmosphere that you find there, and how much the coach believes in you as to whether you go there just to be part of a squad or play minutes. Which country, it depends. But now he is in a good place, let's keep him here."

Knocking on the door

Dowman made 13 appearances last season as Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title. This season, the Gunners have won all seven of their domestic and European fixtures, a run that began with victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Asked whether the Ipswich performance had pushed Dowman into contention for Saturday's trip to Brighton, Arteta pointed to the pitch rather than negotiations.

"The best way to knock on the door is to do it on the pitch, not in the office," he said. "When a player delivers constantly on the pitch, every single day in training, that's the best way, that's the best signal for the manager. That's the best signal for his team-mates, too. And what Max did the other day, alongside all the other players as well that haven't played many minutes this season, was really impressive."

The next checkpoint arrives at Brighton, with the bigger decision on Dowman's immediate future due once the winter window opens on 1 January.

Riccardo Calafiori has emerged as a target for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich following his impressive performances during Arsenal’s Champions League final run this season.

The Italian defender has enjoyed a stellar two-year spell at the Emirates Stadium, helping the Gunners secure their first Premier League title while also reaching finals in both the Champions League and Carabao Cup. His consistent displays across multiple competitions have caught the attention of Europe’s elite clubs.

Growing European interest

According to ESPN, both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have developed an interest in signing Calafiori as they look to strengthen their defensive options ahead of next season. The 25-year-old’s tactical awareness and versatility across different defensive roles have made him an attractive proposition for clubs operating at the highest level.

Observers have noted Calafiori’s ability to adapt to various systems, with his development not going unnoticed across Europe’s top leagues. His growing influence in Mikel Arteta’s setup has placed him firmly on the radar of several elite clubs who are monitoring his progress closely.

Arsenal’s stance remains firm

Despite the external interest, Arsenal are determined to retain Calafiori as a central figure in their future plans. The club hierarchy view the Italian as an important component within Arteta’s system and would prefer to keep him despite anticipating several departures as part of a wider squad reshaping this summer.

Calafiori’s position at the Emirates Stadium is considered secure, with the defender not among those being considered for a possible exit. His consistent and outstanding performances have convinced the club’s leadership of his long-term importance to the squad structure.

While Arsenal expect to be active in the transfer market this summer, any potential suitors for Calafiori would face an extremely difficult task in prising him away from north London. The defender’s rapid rise within the game has highlighted his value, but Arsenal remain confident in retaining his services.

The speculation surrounding Calafiori reflects his impressive trajectory since arriving at Arsenal, with his versatility proving to be a major asset in modern elite football. As the summer transfer window approaches, Arsenal’s resolve to keep their key defensive asset will likely be tested by Europe’s biggest clubs.

Arsenal appear to have confirmed they will exercise their option to sign Piero Hincapie permanently after the defender was notably absent from the club’s retained list for the 2026/27 season.

The Ecuador international joined the Gunners on loan from Bayer Leverkusen last summer and quickly established himself as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice left-back, culminating in a starting role in the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal had always been expected to trigger their £45million option to sign Hincapie permanently this summer, and Thursday’s retained list announcement appears to confirm that decision.

Telling omission from departures list

The club published their list of players departing on June 30 when contracts expire, but Hincapie’s name was conspicuously absent. This marks a significant departure from last year’s approach, when both Neto and Raheem Sterling were confirmed to be returning to Bournemouth and Chelsea respectively after their loan spells.

According to the Evening Standard, the absence of Hincapie from this year’s list suggests an announcement regarding his permanent transfer may be imminent.

The 22-year-old’s impressive debut season in north London has seen him become a key figure in Arsenal’s defensive setup, providing pace and attacking threat down the left flank while maintaining defensive solidity.

Major departures confirmed

The retained list confirms 15 players across Arsenal’s senior and youth teams will leave when their contracts expire at the end of June. Notable departures include academy prospect Josh Nichols, who is set to join Croatian side NK Kustosija after penning an emotional farewell letter.

Arsenal Women will also see significant changes, with legends Katie McCabe moving to Chelsea and Beth Mead departing the club. The departures mark the end of an era for the women’s team, with both players having been instrumental in recent successes.

The club confirmed they remain in discussions with Caitlin Foord and two academy players, with those negotiations set to be concluded in due course.

Hincapie’s expected permanent signing would represent a major statement of intent from Arsenal, securing a young defender who has already proven his worth at the highest level. The £45million fee would make him one of the club’s most expensive defensive signings, underlining the faith Arteta has placed in the South American’s abilities.

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Leicester City wonderkid Jeremy Monga, according to various reports, as the Gunners continue their aggressive pursuit of England’s brightest young talents.

The 16-year-old attacking midfielder made headlines when he became the second-youngest player in Premier League history after making his debut for the Foxes in April 2025. While Max Dowman has since claimed that record, Monga’s breakthrough remains a testament to his exceptional ability at such a tender age.

Leicester’s relegation opens door for Arsenal

Monga went on to establish himself as a key figure in Leicester’s first team during their Championship campaign, which ended in heartbreak with a second successive relegation to League One. The club’s financial difficulties and drop down the pyramid has opened the door for Arsenal to swoop for one of the country’s most promising prospects.

Predominantly right-footed, the England under-19 international is comfortable operating on either flank and is regarded as one of the brightest young attacking talents in the country. Arsenal reportedly see him as a player capable of developing into a long-term option in the final third, particularly if either Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard move on this summer.

Compensation battle looms

Monga is due to sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 next month, meaning Leicester will be entitled to compensation should he leave for Arsenal. The Gunners will hope to agree a fee directly with the Foxes, although the matter could be referred to a tribunal if the two clubs are unable to reach an agreement.

The potential signing would represent another statement of intent from Arsenal’s academy recruitment team. The club have already secured the signing of Irish winger Victor Ozhianvuna, who will arrive from Shamrock Rovers when he turns 18, while Ecuadorian brothers Edwin and Holger Quintero are also set to join in August 2027.

Arsenal’s focus on securing the best young talent from across the globe reflects their long-term strategy under Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu. The success of academy graduates like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe has demonstrated the value of investing in youth development.

Monga’s potential arrival would add further depth to Arsenal’s attacking options for the future, with the teenager capable of providing versatility across the front line. His ability to operate on both flanks makes him an attractive proposition for Arteta’s tactical system.