Arsenal have reportedly added Brazilian teenager Eduardo Pape to their list of potential future targets as Mikel Arteta's side continue to scout for promising young talent across South America.

The 17 year old plays for Cruzeiro in the Brazilian top flight and is regarded by the Gunners as one of the finest emerging talents on the continent. According to Team Talk, Pape is emerging as one of the most highly rated players in his age group in South America, with his performances having already attracted interest from several leading European clubs.

Bayern Munich and Newcastle United are also said to be monitoring his progress, meaning Arsenal face competition if they want to secure his signature.

A wait before any move is possible

Any deal for Pape cannot be completed immediately. As he is only 17, the Brazilian must turn 18 before he is permitted to make the move to Europe, which gives Arsenal's rivals additional time to strengthen their own interest in the meantime.

That delay is a significant factor in how this race could unfold. With Bayern Munich and Newcastle United already tracking him, competition for Pape's signature is likely to intensify as his 18th birthday approaches, and Arsenal will need to stay closely involved in his development if they are to remain in contention.

Part of a wider recruitment strategy

The interest in Pape fits into a broader pattern of Arsenal identifying young, high ceiling players from South America and elsewhere who could develop into first team contributors in the years ahead. The club are understood to be enthusiastic about the Cruzeiro forward specifically and believe he has the attributes to succeed in Europe, though how quickly he could make an impact would depend on his adaptation to a new league and culture.

Arsenal will be hoping Cruzeiro do not stand in the way of a transfer once Pape reaches the required age, but with multiple major European clubs now aware of his talent, securing him is unlikely to be straightforward.

For now, Pape remains a name to monitor rather than an imminent arrival. Arsenal's recruitment team will continue to track his progress at Cruzeiro, with the club's ability to act decisively once he turns 18 likely to determine whether this interest translates into an actual move.

Arsenal are reportedly concerned that waiting until the summer to sign Nicolo Tresoldi could end up costing the club significantly more, with the Club Brugge striker continuing to find the net on a regular basis.

The Germany Under-21 international has been one of the most productive forwards in European football over the past couple of seasons, and it came as something of a surprise that he did not leave Belgium during the last transfer window. Arsenal were said to be interested in a move at the time but ultimately chose not to make an approach, with several other leading clubs also tracking the striker.

Instead of signing Tresoldi, Arsenal moved for his Club Brugge teammate Christos Tzolis last summer. Tzolis has made a strong impression since his arrival and has performed well whenever called upon, a factor that could now be encouraging the Gunners to look again at the Belgian club for reinforcements.

January move looks unlikely

There have been suggestions that Arsenal could try to get a deal for Tresoldi done in January, but that looks like a difficult task. Club Brugge are reluctant to sell such an important player midway through the season given his role in their plans, meaning the north London club may have to wait until the summer window to press ahead with any move.

That delay, however, is not without risk. The longer Arsenal wait, the more opportunity there is for the striker's form to attract further suitors.

Waiting could prove costly

According to Football Insider, Arsenal believe they could end up paying a higher fee for Tresoldi if they hold off until the summer. The club is reportedly aware that continued strong performances from the forward could draw interest from more clubs and make negotiations tougher.

Should Tresoldi keep scoring at his current rate, it would likely strengthen Club Brugge's hand in any negotiation and allow them to push for a larger fee as competition for his signature increases.

Arsenal therefore face something of a balancing act. A January approach is complicated by Club Brugge's unwillingness to sell a key player mid season, while delaying until summer risks a bidding war and a higher price tag. How Tresoldi performs between now and then is likely to play a major role in determining just how much interest, and competition, Arsenal will be up against.

For now, the situation remains one to monitor as the January window approaches, with Arsenal's business at Club Brugge over the past year suggesting the Belgian club remains firmly on their radar.

Thierry Henry believes Arsenal's bench strength is giving Mikel Arteta the confidence to make tough selection calls, pointing to the impact of substitutes as proof the squad is packed with players ready to change matches rather than simply make up the numbers.

Arsenal have leaned on contributions from the bench on several occasions this season, with substitutes stepping off the sidelines and directly influencing results even when the starting eleven has struggled to break opponents down. Henry sees that as a deliberate strength rather than a coincidence.

Henry impressed by Arsenal's substitutes

Speaking via Metro Sport, Henry explained why he has been encouraged by what he has seen from Arsenal's bench this campaign.

“Players are coming off the bench for Arsenal and scoring. That shows you that they aren't passengers, and usually they come on and change the game. That's the luxury of having good players on the bench, and that's why Mikel Arteta is calm when he's asked questions about players like Eze and why they aren't playing so much.”

The comments come amid continued scrutiny over the involvement of Eberechi Eze, who has not always been a guaranteed starter under Arteta despite his profile. Henry's point suggests that the quality of Arsenal's alternatives, rather than any issue with Eze himself, is shaping the manager's rotation decisions.

Squad depth offers Arteta more options

For Arteta, having a bench capable of genuinely altering a match gives him room to manage a long season across multiple competitions without over relying on a small core of players. That flexibility becomes increasingly valuable as fixtures pile up and opponents grow tougher.

A team cannot expect the same handful of individuals to deliver week after week, and Arsenal's experience this season suggests the squad is built with that reality in mind. Substitutes have not just filled gaps but actively swung games in Arsenal's favour, a pattern Henry singled out as a mark of genuine depth rather than token numbers.

Whether that trend continues will likely be tested further as the season progresses and Arsenal face sterner opposition where moments off the bench could prove decisive. For now, Henry's assessment offers a vote of confidence in Arteta's squad management, even as questions persist about minutes for players like Eze.

Mikel Arteta has started compiling what he calls a “massive storage of images” of rival managers leaving their technical areas, a habit that has drawn sharp criticism from Guardian columnist Jonathan Wilson, who argues the approach could backfire on Arsenal.

The saga began when Arteta received his second yellow card of the season for leaving his technical area during Arsenal's 2-0 win over Everton last Saturday. Rather than accept the booking quietly, Arteta pointed to supposed inconsistency in how other managers are treated.

“There are managers who have the record in the league, 36 times in 10 minutes [they] leave the touchline, no yellows,” Arteta said, as quoted by The Guardian. “I am clipping all of that… so if somebody comes to me I can say: 'I am not in the record yet.' Somebody else has the record so let's see. Then it's 36 yellow cards in 10 minutes for the managers.”

Wilson draws comparisons to football's great mind games

Wilson traces the tradition of psychological gamesmanship in football back decades, from Major Frank Buckley's claims of injecting Wolves players with “animal secretions” before the 1939 FA Cup final to Helenio Herrera's inflammatory leaflets ahead of Inter's 1965 European Cup semi-final against Liverpool. He also namechecks Alex Ferguson and José Mourinho as managers who mastered using the media to influence referees and opponents.

Wilson is careful to note that Arteta is “clearly not at that level, at least not yet” but argues that if the dossier is part of a deliberate strategy, “it is a dangerous one” for Arsenal.

A warning about siege mentality

The piece suggests Arteta may be trying to cultivate a siege mentality among Arsenal's fanbase, something Wilson says already finds “fertile ground” among supporters who believe referees have long been working against the club. He points to the reaction to Max Dowman's red card at Fleetwood as an example, with some fans drawing comparisons to Cole Palmer avoiding a red card for retaliating against Mateus Fernandes in Chelsea's defeat by Tottenham.

Wilson's central warning is that a mindset built on grievance rarely helps teams chasing silverware. He references Arsenal's 2024-25 title challenge, which he says was undermined by “early season ill discipline, each red card greeted not with the resilience of champions but with bleating about how it wasn't really their fault and everybody was picking on them, including the injury gods.”

Arsenal's focus now shifts back to results on the pitch, with the manner in which Arteta handles officiating decisions and discipline likely to remain under scrutiny as the season progresses.

Mikel Arteta will walk out at Anfield this weekend to face someone who knew him long before either man became a Premier League manager. Arsenal travel to Liverpool with Arteta set to come up against Andoni Iraola, a childhood friend who grew up in the same neighbourhood and played alongside him before their careers diverged into management.

Liverpool have made a strong start to life under Iraola, who took charge at the beginning of the campaign after an impressive spell at Bournemouth. For Arteta, Sunday's fixture carries extra weight given the history the two share.

Arteta reflects on friendship with Iraola

Speaking to Arsenal Media, Arteta described the occasion as a privilege and reflected on the bond formed long before either man took charge of a top flight club.

“It's a privilege. Someone who has been your teammate, that you spent so many beautiful moments together when we were younger. To be facing each other, to be close, massive clubs in this country, in Europe, in a big match like this, it's a blessing.”

The two have known each other since childhood, having grown up together and played alongside one another before beginning separate journeys through the game. Both have since gone on to establish themselves among the Premier League's managerial ranks, with this weekend marking another meeting between them at the highest level.

Arsenal target long awaited Anfield victory

Arteta was also quick to acknowledge the threat Liverpool pose under their new manager, pointing to the depth of quality at the club and its managerial pedigree.

“I think all the top clubs are certainly title challengers, and it's so early in the season, when you look at the squad, the manager that they have and the history for sure, that is. We expect a big game on Sunday; we're looking forward to it for sure. It's been 14 years since we last won there, so it's time to do it.”

That wait stretches back well over a decade, a statistic that has followed Arsenal into every trip to Merseyside in recent seasons. Arteta's side head into the match defending the Premier League title they won at the Emirates last season, with the scale of the task at Anfield well understood by the manager and his squad.

Sunday's meeting will not only pit two of the division's leading sides against each other but will also bring together two men whose personal history stretches back long before either picked up a touchline role. Arsenal will be aiming to finally end their long run without a win at Anfield, while Iraola looks to continue his own promising start in charge of Liverpool.

Manchester City's hierarchy have reportedly rejected an explanation over a 2017 dinner meeting involving Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, fuelling suspicions among City supporters that a so called 'Red Cartel' has been working to bring the club down. City are currently appealing the independent commission's verdict that found them guilty of 114 financial breaches.

According to ESPN, City chief executive Ferran Soriano has referenced a 'conspiracy theory' at the top of English football as he rejected the commission's findings, with the comments said to be directed as much at the hierarchy of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal as at the Premier League itself. ESPN also reported that while City have declined to comment on the cartel claims directly, sources close to the club say senior figures have no doubts about the intent of their rivals to create difficulty for them.

A source with links to City was quoted by ESPN as saying: “From day one, United, Arsenal and Liverpool have been terrified of losing their ability to dominate everything from the Premier League to the transfer market. Chelsea was already a problem for them under Roman Abramovich, but Sheikh Mansour came along [in 2008] and changed everything again, and the red clubs have been in a battle against City ever since.”

The 2017 photograph

The center of the theory is a photograph taken in October 2017 at a New York restaurant co-owned by Robert De Niro, showing Liverpool owner John W. Henry, former Manchester United executive Ed Woodward, Joel and Avram Glazer, and Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal's chief executive at the time. The meeting took place seven days before a Premier League vote on future broadcast revenue, with Tottenham, City and Chelsea excluded, a split that could be explained by ownership structure, since United, Arsenal and Liverpool were all American owned at the time, unlike City (Abu Dhabi), Chelsea (Russian) and Spurs (British). That explanation has reportedly never been accepted by City.

United, Arsenal and Liverpool were three of only four clubs, alongside Tottenham, that instructed lawyers to formally reserve the right to seek compensation from City should they be found guilty back in 2024. The Telegraph has reported that those four clubs were also given the guilty verdict early and are among those pushing for serious sanctions should City's appeal fail.

Wenger's past comments

Arsene Wenger's public criticism of City's financial dealings in 2011, six years before the dinner in question, has also been cited as part of the broader narrative. Wenger said at the time: “We must have done a bad deal. It raises the real question about the credibility of the financial fair play. That is what this is all about. They give us the message that they can get around it by doing what they want. It means financial fair play will not come in. It is as simple as that. I can understand how they do it but it raises the real question. The difficulty and the credibility of the financial fair play is at stake. Plus, if the financial fair play is to have a chance, the sponsorship has to be at the market price. It cannot be doubled, tripled or quadrupled because that means it is better that we don't do it and we leave everybody free. That can be defended as well, but if they bring the rules in they have to be respected.”

City's appeal hearing is ongoing, with the commission required under Premier League rules to deliver a decision by January 21. The possible sanctions range from points deductions to relegation, though the final outcome remains unclear until the appeal process concludes.

Mikel Arteta stopped short of confirming whether Christos Tzolis, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke or Riccardo Calafiori would be available for Arsenal's trip to Anfield, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the squad just a day before kick off against Liverpool.

Calafiori, Madueke and Rice all missed the midweek Carabao Cup exit to Fleetwood Town, as did Tzolis, who has not featured in any of Arsenal's last six matches since the season's first international break. All but Madueke trained on Friday, with all four expected to be out on the grass again on Saturday.

Asked about their availability, Arteta said “if everything is OK” after the weekend session, then the three who trained on Friday “will be available” for Sunday's match. Madueke's situation remains less clear.

“We have a training session tomorrow,” Arteta said. “See if he can complete that full session tomorrow, and after that we'll know whether he's available or not.”

Saka ruled out, Saliba scan incoming

There was more definitive, and less welcome, news on Bukayo Saka. The winger is definitely out for the Liverpool match and now requires a further scan on his thigh, with Arteta acknowledging it is likely he will miss the remaining fixtures before the November international break.

The follow up scan is “to see how the amount of fluid that was there was resolving,” according to Arteta, who added that the club want to establish “whether the tendon is touched and how badly it is touched.” He said: “Afterwards, we know more,” before adding when pressed again, “We'll have to wait and see next week.”

William Saliba's recovery, meanwhile, appears to be on a more positive trajectory. Arteta said a fortnight ago that the defender is due “another MRI with him to see how the healing process is at the moment,” adding that “every sign so far has been very, very positive” and that it “will be great to have him” back.

Dowman suspended as Liverpool face their own doubts

Arsenal's only confirmed absentee through suspension rather than injury is Max Dowman, who will serve the first of a three match ban after the club's appeal against his red card at Fleetwood was unsuccessful.

Liverpool have their own fitness questions ahead of the match. Andoni Iraola has suggested Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz could return from injury, while there are doubts over Jeremy Jacquet after he did not appear to train on Friday. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike remain long term absentees, and Jeremie Frimpong, sidelined with a hamstring injury earlier this month, is unlikely to feature again before the international break.

Clarity on several of these situations is expected to arrive following Saturday's final training session, with team news due closer to kick off at Anfield.

Source: football.london

Arsenal arrive at Anfield on Sunday with their attack under genuine scrutiny after a chastening Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Fleetwood Town, a result that has raised fresh questions about Mikel Arteta's forward options heading into a tough test against Andoni Iraola's resurgent Liverpool.

According to the Mirror, both Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored his first goal of the season in all competitions against Fleetwood, played so poorly in that cup upset that there is a genuine case for neither starting at Anfield. The report suggests Mikel Merino, who scored in both 2-2 draws against Liverpool during the 2024-25 season, could instead lead the line, with supporters reportedly keen to see him do so.

Arsenal's attacking options are further stretched with Bukayo Saka sidelined and doubts remaining over the fitness of Christos Tzolis, who is said to be pushing to return from a recent hamstring issue, and Noni Madueke, whose availability is also in question.

Arteta's missed attacking targets

The Mirror report points to a pattern of near misses in Arsenal's recruitment of attacking players. The club held interest in Newcastle's Alexander Isak before turning to Gyokeres, not anticipating Isak would become available after Newcastle secured Champions League qualification.

Arsenal are also described as admirers of 18 year old Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha, briefly considered a move for Cody Gakpo, and sent delegates to the United States over the summer to watch Bradley Barcola play for France. In each case, according to the report, factors including Barcola's reported £123million price tag led Arsenal elsewhere.

By contrast, Liverpool's spending since their 2024-25 title triumph has been described as bold, with three players valued at over £100million named among their substitutes against Chelsea in midweek. Arsenal, meanwhile, are said to have baulked at Aston Villa's valuation of Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea for £117million, before an ultimately unsuccessful push to sign Vinicius Junior, who signed a new contract with Real Madrid instead.

A daunting record at Anfield

Arsenal have not won any of their last 13 Premier League visits to Liverpool, with five draws and eight defeats in that run, a sequence that would stretch to 14 games without a win at Anfield in their league history if it continues on Sunday.

Liverpool have conceded just once in their last six Premier League matches with 11 players on the pitch and go into the weekend on a run of five straight wins, including Wednesday's penalty shootout victory over Chelsea.

Arsenal's defensive unit, built around a settled backline that has been among the league's most consistent, is likely to be relied upon heavily to keep the scoreline respectable regardless of how the forward line is set up. How Arteta configures his attack without Saka, and potentially without Tzolis and Madueke, will be one of the key talking points heading into kickoff at Anfield.

Liverpool arrive at this weekend's meeting with Arsenal having won their last five games, but a lingering question still hangs over Anfield: are they genuine title contenders, or simply a much improved side still finding its ceiling?

According to WhoScored, writing for the Guardian, Andoni Iraola's side have rebuilt an identity that disappeared under Arne Slot last season, but their underlying numbers suggest there is still work to do before they can be considered true challengers to Arsenal and Manchester City.

Liverpool sit fourth in the Premier League, a point behind Brighton and six adrift of the Gunners and City. A win at Anfield this weekend would cut that gap to three points. The club have also won all three of their Champions League group games so far, sitting third in the 36 team table.

A side rebuilt from the ground up

Last season under Slot, Liverpool conceded 53 goals, their worst defensive return since 1993-94, and shipped eight goals after the 90th minute while picking up just five points from losing positions. The report notes that “in the last days of Arne Slot's time in charge, their problems could not be solved by moving one piece on a tactics board. They had lost their identity and intensity.”

Under Iraola, that has changed. Liverpool have kept clean sheets in half of their league games this season, with a settled back line of Ronald Araújo, Virgil van Dijk, Jérémy Jacquet and Milos Kerkez providing the platform for a pressing, transition based approach built around Alexander Isak, who has six league goals, second only to Erling Haaland in the race for the golden boot.

The fight has returned too. Liverpool have already matched last season's entire tally of points won from losing positions, coming from behind to beat both Brentford and Villarreal in the last fortnight, and they are yet to drop points from a winning position all season.

The goals problem

Despite the resurgence, Liverpool have scored just 11 goals in eight league games, fewer than eight other Premier League teams, and have created only six big chances, the second worst total in the division behind Coventry. By comparison, Manchester City have created 28.

Part of that is down to the way teams set up against them. Liverpool face low blocks more often than most sides and rarely get to play against opponents willing to build from the back, blunting a team designed to break at pace. Only one of their 11 fast breaks this season has produced a goal. Florian Wirtz, signed for more than £100m alongside Bradley Barcola and Isak, has created plenty but rarely the decisive pass, though he has registered two Premier League assists for Víctor Muñoz and one for Barcola in Europe.

Arsenal's visit is expected to present a different kind of test. Arteta's side are likely to push high and look to play in Liverpool's half, leaving exactly the kind of space in behind that Iraola's side have struggled to find against deeper blocks. How Liverpool handle that scenario at Anfield should offer a clearer picture of whether their revival under Iraola translates into genuine title credentials.

Mikel Arteta once described the helplessness of losing at Anfield using a Spanish word, bajar, recalling his playing days with Everton. “It’s when a cyclist is going up and looks amazing, then in one kilometre he goes ‘boom’ and he’s struggling again,” he said in Amazon’s All or Nothing documentary. “The game was going well and then suddenly I could only see red shirts flying around. The game is passing all over me and I cannot react. I only had that feeling in my career once, and it was at Anfield.”

That history looms large again as Arsenal travel to face Liverpool on Sunday, five days after being dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Fleetwood in a result Arteta will consider the most embarrassing of his managerial career, according to the Guardian. Arsenal have not won a league match at Anfield since March 2013, a run of 13 games that equals the club’s worst ever sequence at the ground. Their only win there since has come via penalties in the League Cup in 2020.

Arteta did taste a competitive win at Anfield as a player in September 2012, but the night ended in hospital after a concussion suffered in a collision with Jordan Henderson, an incident he has called “the biggest fear of my life”. As a manager, he has tried differently themed approaches, even playing You’ll Never Walk Alone over the Arsenal training ground speakers ahead of a 2021 visit that ended in a 4-0 defeat.

Graham's template from 1989

The Guardian draws a parallel with George Graham, who led Arsenal to Anfield in May 1989 needing a 2-0 win to clinch the title in the most dramatic title decider in English football history, settled by Michael Thomas’s stoppage time goal. “I told my players to keep things tight in the first half, it was imperative we did not concede,” Graham said in an interview marking the 20th anniversary of that night. “The papers were saying we’d have to attack from the off, but I was adamant that was wrong. If Liverpool had scored an early goal it would have been over. But they did very little attacking and played into our hands.”

Both men won their first league titles at 44, and both have built reputations on defensive solidity. Graham’s Arsenal became known for “1-0 to the Arsenal”, while Arteta has recorded 32 Premier League wins by that scoreline since taking charge in December 2019, more than any club bar Everton.

Selection concerns before Anfield

Arsenal go into Sunday’s match with injury concerns. Bukayo Saka is out with a thigh injury, Noni Madueke is a doubt over his ankle, and teenager Max Dowman will miss three matches after Arsenal’s appeal against his red card was rejected.

Arsenal scored their first set piece goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Everton last weekend, and targeting Liverpool’s defensive frailties from dead balls while remaining compact elsewhere could offer the clearest route to finally ending the long wait for a league win at Anfield.

Andoni Iraola has a habit of getting the better of Arsenal, but the new Liverpool boss insists that record counts for nothing as he prepares to face the Gunners for the first time since taking over at Anfield.

The Basque coach faced Arsenal six times in his previous role as Bournemouth manager, winning three and losing three. He masterminded the Cherries' shock 2-1 win at the Emirates in April, a result which briefly cast doubt on Mikel Arteta's title hopes, and also pulled off a league double over Arsenal in the 2024/25 season.

Iraola gets another crack at Arsenal on Sunday when they visit Anfield, but he was quick to play down any suggestion that his past success will simply carry over into his new job. “It is a totally different team and moment,” he said on Friday, as quoted by the Evening Standard. “We can't use the same things we used with Bournemouth here.”

Liverpool's revival under Iraola

What is not in doubt is the impact Iraola has had since arriving at Liverpool. His tenure so far has brought a five match winning run, restoring an Anfield atmosphere that had dipped in the latter days of Arne Slot's time at the club.

Iraola credited the performances rather than just the results for the shift in mood. “At Anfield, everyone feels when the team are going for it and trying their best,” he said. “Even when we lost, they have been there and helped us massively. We can create a special atmosphere.”

The latest chapter of that run came in midweek, as Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup on penalties. The tie finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Chelsea's equaliser coming from the penalty spot following a clumsy challenge from Ryan Gravenberch on Moises Caicedo.

Gravenberch backed despite inconsistent form

Iraola was asked about Gravenberch's dip in form but dismissed any concern over the midfielder. “He has had better games and worse games,” he said. “We trust him and we know what he can produce. Like other players, when he doesn't play well, we try to help him improve. He is in a good place.”

Arsenal travel to Anfield on Sunday looking to avoid becoming Iraola's latest scalp, this time in opposition colours. With Liverpool riding a run of five straight wins and the home crowd fully behind them again, Arteta's side will face a markedly different test to the one Iraola's Bournemouth side posed last season.

Max Dowman is facing a week of contrasting emotions after a promising cameo against Everton was followed by a red card in Arsenal's League Cup exit to Fleetwood Town, and former midfielder Ray Parlour has offered some words of reassurance to the teenager.

Dowman was sent off in the closing stages of Arsenal's midweek clash with Fleetwood Town, a match the Gunners ultimately lost on penalties after failing to see off their lower league opponents in normal time. The dismissal overshadowed what had otherwise been an encouraging few days for the young attacker following his positive showing against Everton at the weekend.

Parlour, who enjoyed a long and successful career at Arsenal, says he sympathises with Dowman and has experienced a similar setback himself early in his own time at the club. Speaking via Hayters, he addressed the teenager's rollercoaster few days directly.

Parlour's message to Dowman

“As I said, Max Dowman, he'd be on a high when he played well against Everton at the weekend, and then he'd be on a bit of a low when he got sent off the other night,” Parlour said.

“But you've got to learn from your mistakes. You've got to learn certain bits. Football is a rollercoaster ride. You ain't going to get ups all the time. You're going to get a few downs. It's how you respond to the downs, probably.

“And I'm sure Max will be fine.”

A learning moment, not a defining one

Parlour's central point is that a single difficult evening should not be allowed to define a young player's progress. Red cards and poor performances are an inevitable part of a career in professional football, and how a player reacts in the aftermath often matters more than the incident itself.

Dowman is still at an early stage of his development, with time on his side to work through setbacks like this one. The teenager has already shown flashes of real promise this season, and the challenge now will be to put the sending off behind him and continue building on the form that earned him praise after the Everton game.

For Arsenal, the exit from the League Cup at the hands of Fleetwood Town will sting more in the short term, but Dowman's response to this moment will be watched closely as part of his broader progression through the squad.

Alan Shearer believes Liverpool can throw their name into the Premier League title conversation if they beat Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, pointing to a run of five straight wins under Andoni Iraola as a sign of growing momentum on Merseyside.

Liverpool have bounced back strongly since their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, most recently beating third place Brighton last weekend. They now host the defending champions looking to close the gap on the top of the table, with Dominik Szoboszlai's free kick having settled last season's meeting between the two sides 1-0 in Liverpool's favour.

Speaking to Betfair, Shearer explained why he sees genuine momentum building at Anfield. “They're just little signs of Liverpool getting into stride,” he said. “I worked their game against Villarreal and for half an hour, they were really poor but after that there was a big improvement. They got a brilliant result against Brighton. Not many people thought that they could get that result.”

He continued: “It just feels as if there's a little bit of momentum happening at Liverpool. It seems as if the players are buying into his ideas and they're getting results. Whether you like it or not Liverpool could become title challengers with a win on Sunday, you have to look at it that way. Now, whatever happens with Man City, whenever it happens, I guess the team in third position would also have to think, well, if that does happen to City, then we've got to be ready. We've got to be ready to mount a challenge, you know? So, I think it's a big opportunity for Liverpool to throw themselves into that talk if they get the right result this weekend.”

Arsenal's grim Anfield history

Arsenal arrive at Anfield in poor historical form against Liverpool away from home. According to Opta, the Gunners are winless in their last 13 away Premier League fixtures against Liverpool, with five draws and eight defeats since their last victory there in 2012-13. Arsenal have never gone 14 league games without an away win at Anfield, with the only comparable run, between 1975-76 and 1987-88, famously ended by the 2-0 victory in 1988-89 that secured the title.

Shearer not confident after cup shock

Arsenal go into the weekend having beaten Everton last time out in the league but suffering a shock Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Fleetwood Town in midweek. Shearer believes the result still reflects poorly on the club despite Mikel Arteta fielding a much changed side.

“Arsenal need to bounce back on Sunday,” he said. “They got a good result last weekend which was pretty straightforward against Everton but I guess the criticism after Tuesday is warranted. I know Arteta put a different team out, but still you're representing Arsenal and it was an embarrassing result. Arsenal now have got the chance to bounce back, but I guess the game you wouldn't want would be going to Anfield as Liverpool just feel as if they've got a bit of form going, a bit of momentum going. It doesn't come much tougher than going to Anfield for Arsenal. I don't think they've got the best record there either. I don't think they've won there in a while.”

Arsenal will look to end their long wait for an away win over Liverpool and respond to the midweek cup exit when the two sides meet at Anfield on Sunday.

Micah Richards believes Viktor Gyokeres is running out of time at Arsenal and has pointed to the summer sale of Leandro Trossard as a decision that has already cost Mikel Arteta's side.

Gyokeres scored 22 goals in all competitions during his debut season at the Emirates following a £55m move from Sporting in the summer of 2025, but has struggled for minutes in his second campaign, largely restricted to cameos off the bench with Kai Havertz preferred as Arteta's central striker. The Sweden international did finally get off the mark for the season in the Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town on Tuesday, but Richards does not think that will be enough to save his place at the club.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Richards said: “I think one of the major talking points as well is Gyokeres. When he first arrived at Arsenal, I was saying to the Arsenal fans, 'Don't expect him to be scoring 25 and 30 goals'. What I really liked about him, he was good at running in behind, but he stopped doing the things that he's really good at. He sort of looks like he has no confidence. I don't know if the reports in the summer that they tried to get rid of him [were true] or not, but essentially he's had enough game time to show what he can do now at Arsenal and it's just not happening for him.”

Richards wants January reinforcements

Richards went on to argue that Arsenal need fresh firepower up front in the winter window, pointing to injuries and the system Arteta has built around his front players.

“I think in January, because of the injuries, I definitely think they should go back into the market, and find top cover around,” he said. “Because the way Arsenal play, and everyone talks about they need this player, they need that player, but the reason why they're so good is what the front players do off the ball… so, Saka and Madueke work hard in a system that works for Arsenal. Obviously, losing Trossard was a big miss for them in terms of what he does off the ball and how clinical he was with the opportunities given to him. But I think if they want to compete and then, say, dominate, then 100 per cent, I think they need more firepower in that forward area, for sure.”

Richards added that Gyokeres's struggles appear rooted in confidence rather than ability. “There are so many times where Gyokeres gets in really good positions, and I don't know if he doesn't back himself, I don't know if it's confidence, I don't know if the team doesn't back him to score, but he just, he doesn't put the ball away. So, then it becomes a problem. And I just feel like he needs one of those opportunities where he plays 90 minutes, he scores, he builds confidence, and it goes from there. Otherwise, you know, they're going to have to look to move him on.”

Gary Lineker offered a similar assessment of the striker's long term role at the club. “I don't see him as a starting nine, particularly for a club of the stature of Arsenal,” Lineker said. “I think he can come off the bench and do a bit. I think he's probably more of a squad player.”

With the January window approaching, Gyokeres's situation is likely to remain a talking point among pundits and fans alike as Arteta weighs up his options in attack.

Arsenal's League Cup exit at the hands of Fleetwood Town has prompted a bold claim from talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham, who believes the Gunners are a fundamentally different, weaker side whenever Declan Rice is absent.

Arteta's side crashed out of the competition this week, losing 5-3 on penalties to the League Two outfit after Viktor Gyokeres cancelled out Fleetwood's opener to send the tie to spot kicks. Rice did not feature in the match.

Durham did not hold back when assessing what the result says about Arsenal's reliance on the midfielder. He said: “I had a look at the Arsenal make up and there's one man that I thought was key to everything and it's just enhanced his reputation even more by being there. And that is Declan Rice. My hot take this week is that fundamentally, without Declan Rice, Arsenal become Everton. That's what happens. There's some good players at Arsenal and there's some good players at Everton. It's not necessarily the biggest insult in the world. Everton are trying to get to the European places; they're not a relegation team anymore but without Declan Rice, Arsenal are basically Everton.”

He continued to build the case for Rice being undervalued despite his standing at the club. “You see, Declan Rice is underrated. If you look at his numbers they are absolutely phenomenal. His assist rate in the Premier League this season is incredible. If you look at his assists since he got to Arsenal they are amazing. His goal involvements, 50 plus inside three and a bit seasons. For a central midfielder who's not always in advanced positions the ground he covers, the knowledge of the game, the running of the game. Everything about him is world class and we've been underrating him for a long time. So in a week where we've had a Ballon d'Or winner in Harry Kane and in a week where Jude Bellingham produced an amazing bit of skill to get a winner for Real Madrid, we've got some great English players. Declan Rice is right up there with them and I think without him, Arsenal lack something seriously needed in their team and in their midfield.”

Durham questions overall performance

Beyond the Rice debate, Durham felt Arsenal's display was poor regardless of personnel, pointing to the underlying numbers from the match. “On the balance of play, 59 touches in the opposition box. Not that many shots on target (7), a couple of great saves from the Fleetwood keeper. You could look at Havertz and Gyokeres who both started. Gyokeres got a goal but it was really scrappy. He didn't know too much about it. Neither of them performed particularly well but I was thinking, how can this happen? This miracle. It's the preserve of English football cup competitions that the champions, who took PSG all the way to penalties, go to a side in the bottom half of League Two that aren't very good.”

The defeat ends Arsenal's involvement in this season's League Cup, with the focus now shifting back to the Premier League and Champions League as Arteta looks to manage his squad through a congested fixture schedule. Quotes via Football365.

David Raya has admitted he would love to play in La Liga one day, a comment likely to grab the attention of Spain's biggest clubs. Barcelona and Real Madrid are both admirers of the goalkeeper, but according to Football Insider, neither club is expected to turn that admiration into a serious move.

Raya has spent almost his entire professional career in England and has developed into one of the best goalkeepers in the world. His performances since arriving at Arsenal have made him a key figure under Mikel Arteta, and his profile has naturally drawn interest from elite clubs across Europe, including Atletico Madrid as a possible third Spanish suitor.

Spanish interest without a concrete approach

The Spaniard wants to achieve as much as possible during his career, and a move to one of La Liga's leading clubs would offer another opportunity to compete for major trophies back in his home country. That ambition would represent a new chapter after years built almost entirely in English football.

However, expressing a desire to play in Spain does not mean Raya is preparing an Arsenal exit. No formal approach from Barcelona, Real Madrid or any other Spanish club has been reported, and the suggestion from Football Insider is that admiration from the Spanish giants is unlikely to progress into anything more concrete.

Arsenal relaxed over his future

Arsenal are reportedly relaxed about the situation and expect Raya to sign a new contract soon, a sign of confidence from the club that his long term future lies in north London. Raya remains an important part of Arteta's plans, and the club will want to secure that position with fresh terms.

For Arsenal supporters, the update will be reassuring. Interest from two of Spain's biggest clubs can generate headlines and speculation, but admiration alone does not amount to a transfer threat. The Gunners can continue contract discussions in the background while Raya keeps the door open to a possible move to La Liga at some point down the line.

Whether that ambition ever translates into an actual transfer remains to be seen, and much will depend on any serious approach materialising in the future. For now, Arsenal's focus appears to be on tying their goalkeeper down rather than fending off a genuine transfer threat.

Chris Sutton believes Arsenal can finally end their long wait for a league win at Anfield, though he expects the margin to be razor thin. Arsenal have not won a Premier League match at Liverpool since 2012, a record that has survived every visit Mikel Arteta has made as manager.

Speaking via the BBC, Sutton gave his prediction for the fixture and pointed to the defensive work Liverpool have put in after a shaky campaign last season.

“After conceding so many goals last season, you can see they (Liverpool) have really tightened things up. Arsenal don’t give much away either, so this is going to be very close. Alexander Isak is scoring goals again for the Reds, and they will be full of confidence coming into this game. You could make a case for it ending up a repeat of the result we saw at the end of last season, when Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliant free kick meant Liverpool edged a 1-0 win. I do think we will see the same scoreline, just with a different winner,” Sutton said.

Sutton’s prediction: 0-1 to Arsenal.

A fixture that has haunted Arteta

Arsenal arrive at Anfield level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, with the Gunners looking to defend the title they won in May. Despite that strong league position, the trip to Merseyside remains one of the most difficult on the calendar.

Arteta has never won a Premier League match at Anfield as Arsenal manager, and the Gunners have often found ways to lose even when starting games well there. The most recent meeting between the sides ended 1-0 to Liverpool, settled by a Szoboszlai free kick, and Sutton expects a similarly tight contest this time around.

Isak's form adds to the threat

Sutton specifically flagged Alexander Isak's recent scoring form as a reason for Liverpool's confidence heading into the game. Combined with the defensive improvement he identified compared to last season, Sutton sees Liverpool as a side capable of making this another low scoring, high stakes affair.

For Arsenal, a win would do more than simply end an uncomfortable statistic stretching back over a decade. It would also serve as a significant marker in the title race, given how rarely the Gunners have left Anfield with anything to show for it under Arteta.

Arsenal will need a disciplined, controlled performance if they are to finally turn years of near misses into a result that changes the narrative around this fixture.

Max Dowman's red card against Fleetwood has continued to generate debate, with former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd coming to the teenager's defence over his conduct in the Carabao Cup tie.

Dowman was sent off during Arsenal's defeat at Fleetwood, a decision the club unsuccessfully appealed. The 16 year old's reaction in the aftermath of the incident drew criticism in some quarters, but speaking on Sky Sports, Bothroyd argued the youngster should not be shamed for showing some edge.

Discussing the incident, Bothroyd defended Dowman for having 'a bit of bite', insisting it sets an important marker for how the teenager will be treated by opponents going forward.

What Bothroyd said

Bothroyd made clear he did not want to see Dowman's competitive instincts coached out of him, framing the reaction as a necessary statement of intent for a player of his age operating in senior football.

His comments, delivered in a Sky Sports video segment, centre on the idea that Dowman cannot afford to be seen as an easy target by defenders simply because of his age.

Mikel Arteta has already addressed the red card publicly, telling reporters bluntly that 'we are not in Disneyland' when discussing his reaction to the dismissal, while also striking a tone of tough love towards his young attacker. Arsenal's subsequent appeal against the card was rejected.

Context around the incident

Dowman has been fast tracked into Arsenal's first team picture this season as one of the most highly rated prospects to emerge from the club's academy in years, making history as one of the youngest players to feature for the club. His involvement away at Fleetwood came with the usual scrutiny that follows a teenager thrust into senior competitive football.

The red card itself has been the subject of wider analysis, with pundits largely in agreement that the officiating decision was justified given Dowman's aggression in the moment, even as opinion remains split on how the club and supporters should interpret his reaction afterwards.

Bothroyd's intervention adds a different perspective to that conversation, framing the incident not as a disciplinary concern but as evidence of character that Arsenal and Arteta can work with rather than suppress.

How Arteta chooses to manage Dowman's development from here, balancing protection of a prized academy talent with the demands of senior football, will remain a storyline to watch as the teenager continues to push for more first team involvement.

Mikel Arteta did not hide his frustration after Arsenal's appeal against Max Dowman's red card at Fleetwood Town was rejected by the FA. Speaking in his pre-match press conference before the Premier League trip to Liverpool, the Arsenal boss said he was “very disappointed, to be fair,” adding that the 16 year old's reaction to a reckless challenge was “minimal in relation to the action.”

“Especially with the reckless tackles that he received, and then his reaction is minimal in relation to the action,” Arteta said. “Disappointed that it's not been overturned after looking at the action back, to be fair.”

Asked whether it amounted to the victim being punished, Arteta explained the club had made every effort to get the decision changed. “It is what it is. We have put every argument on the table to make a case for it. Not only the action, obviously, that it's evident, and when you look it back in slow motion, the previous action and Max's action, it's clear that obviously we have a very different opinion. And on top of that, I think you have to read the context of the player, the age, and what happened previously.”

He confirmed the severity of the incident, noting Dowman narrowly avoided a serious injury. “It could have been really bad, yeah. And we are lucky today that he hasn't had a broken foot. That's clear.”

Arteta explains heated reaction

Arteta also addressed criticism of his visibly furious reaction as Dowman was sent off, revealing he had already spoken to the teenager about managing such moments before kick off. “My reaction comes in a moment of heat and extreme frustration, because I know the consequences of that, especially for Max,” he said. “It's something that we discussed just before we went out, because it's not the first time that happened. It happened another time this month with England.”

He added that relations with Dowman are fine following a conversation the day before. “Yeah, for sure. I mean, I had a talk with him yesterday. No issues at all.”

Fitness updates ahead of Anfield

Arteta also gave several team news updates before Sunday's title clash at Liverpool. Noni Madueke's involvement remains unclear. “We don't know yet. We have a training session tomorrow, see if he can complete that full session tomorrow, and after that we'll know whether he's available or not,” Arteta said, though he stopped short of ruling the winger out entirely.

On Bukayo Saka, Arteta said further scans are needed to determine the extent of the issue and whether it threatens his involvement with England. “Probably,” he said when asked if a timeline would be known before the international break, adding “it looks like it” regarding missing England duty.

More positively, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis are all pushing for involvement. “They all trained today and they will train tomorrow. If everything is ok, they will be available,” Arteta confirmed.

Arsenal have not won at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012, a run Arteta was part of as a player. “Going there with full conviction, that's number one,” he said. “We've been very, very close in the last few years to win, but something is missed.”

Source: football.london

Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly both tracking the same teenage talent at Boca Juniors, setting up a potential London derby for his signature before he has even set foot in European football.

According to a report by Sport Witness, Arsenal have been following Leonel Flores, the 19 year old attacker who has already established himself as an important player for the Argentine giants. The report states that Arsenal are monitoring his development closely and view him as a top player in the making.

Chelsea also keeping tabs

Arsenal are not alone in their admiration. The same report claims Chelsea are also interested in Flores, raising the prospect of the two London clubs going head to head for the youngster.

Boca Juniors would prefer to keep hold of Flores for now, with the aim of allowing his market value to climb further before any sale. Despite that preference, the report adds that the Argentine club have left the door open for a departure as early as the January transfer window, which could speed up proceedings if a suitor moves with intent.

A decision window for Arsenal

Boca Juniors has built a reputation as one of South America's most productive pipelines for players who go on to make the move to Europe, and clubs across the continent routinely watch their matches for the next prospect to emerge. Flores appears to be the latest name on that radar, with his age and current importance to the first team at Boca making him an appealing target for sides looking to add young attacking talent.

Should Arsenal wish to get ahead of Chelsea in this race, the January window being open for a deal means any decision cannot be left too long. If Flores were to make Stamford Bridge his first destination in Europe, that would represent a missed opportunity for Arsenal on a player they have clearly identified as one worth tracking.

For now, this remains a transfer links story at an early stage, with no indication yet of concrete bids from either London club. Sport Witness's report should be treated as the first marker in what could develop into a genuine transfer battle over the coming months, particularly with the January window offering a realistic route for a move.

Arsenal's recruitment approach in recent years has shown a willingness to invest in young talent with resale and development potential, and Flores would fit that profile if talks progress. Whether that interest translates into a formal approach before Chelsea make their move is likely to become clearer as January approaches.