MIKEL ARTETA PANIC MEETING: INSIDER EXPLAINS URGENCY BEHIND THE MANAGER'S CALL NOW
The Premier League title race was blown wide open as Liverpool and Man City both lost. Arsenal now has the chance to seize top spot with a win over rivals Tottenham in the North London derby.
The battle for the Premier League title became much more interesting this weekend as Liverpool and Manchester City unexpectedly lost, giving Arsenal a chance to take the lead if they can win against Tottenham on Sunday at their home stadium.
Mikel Arteta knows how important this is, and he has apparently scheduled an important meeting with his coaching staff for 10 am on Sunday, according to someone on X who is considered a reliable source.
The point is clear: they cannot afford to make mistakes.
Both Liverpool and Man City had unexpected losses on Saturday.
With their two main competitors for the title both stumbling, Arsenal now has a great chance to move ahead in the standings, but Arteta is insisting that his players stay completely focused and calm.
Liverpool's problems got worse on Saturday when they lost 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest, a result that shocked their fans and made the champions seem like they had no solutions.
Goals from Murillo, Nicolò Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White added to Liverpool’s suffering as Arne Slot’s team lost their sixth league game out of seven.
Their performance was characterised by weak defence and a lack of creativity in attack, problems that have been hurting Liverpool throughout the season.
Also, Manchester City’s attempt to win the title was slowed down when they lost 2-1 to Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.
Harvey Barnes was the star for Newcastle, scoring two goals in an amazing performance that showed how City is becoming more vulnerable when playing away from home.
Pep Guardiola’s team, which had controlled the ball for most of the game, was defeated by Newcastle’s effective counterattacks and constant energy, reminding everyone that even the best teams in the league can be punished if they get too comfortable.
Mikel Arteta does not want any mistakes right now.
For Arsenal, these results have turned Sunday’s game against their North London rivals into a very important moment in their season.
A win over Spurs would not only strengthen their position at the top of the league but also send a strong signal about their chances of winning the title.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are trying to finish in the top four and will come to Arsenal’s stadium determined to ruin their plans.
If Arsenal wins on Sunday, they could move six points ahead of Chelsea at the top of the league, completely changing the outlook of the title race.
ODEGAARD TO UNITED? ARSENAL CAPTAIN REPORTEDLY OPEN TO SHOCK MANCHESTER UNITED SUMMER TRANSFER
Discover why Martin Odegaard is linked to Manchester United and the "broken promises" behind his Arsenal exit.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is facing calls to leave the club after fresh rumours linked him with a move to Manchester United.
Odegaard has been a key player for Arsenal in recent seasons, but this year, things just haven’t clicked. Injuries have thrown him off course, and even when he’s played, he hasn’t looked like his usual self. Now there’s real competition in the squad too, especially with the arrival of Eberechi Eze, who cost the club over £67 million.
Lately, reports have been swirling that Odegaard isn’t happy at Arsenal. FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich are both said to be interested, and talk of a transfer is only heating up.
Earlier this month, Topskills Sports UK claimed that Odegaard told his agent to start talks with Manchester United. According to them, he feels let down by Arsenal’s board and coaching staff, and sources say there’s been tension between him and Mikel Arteta. The report even said Odegaard is “100% willing to leave the club.” Bayern Munich still wants him badly, but Odegaard’s first choice is to stay in the Premier League. It would take something special to lure him to Germany over United.
Now, pundits Steve Nicol and Frank Leboeuf have weighed in, both saying they think it’s time for Odegaard to move on, especially with Eze coming in and Odegaard’s own form dipping.
“Odegaard might be leaving Arsenal,” Nicol told ESPN. “If you’re Odegaard, the club captain, and just 18 months ago you were the main man, suddenly there are doubts about whether you even start because of Eze. And with the way he’s been playing, someone else could leapfrog him, too. So if you’re Martin Odegaard, do you stick around? I don’t think you do.”
Leboeuf agreed: “I’ve always liked Odegaard’s style; he’s elegant, but he’s not as influential anymore. He helps start the play and move the ball sideways, but Eze brings something different. He’s more direct, more influential, and he’ll help Gyokeres as well. It’s going to be tough for Odegaard, and he’s got a big decision to make at the end of the season.”
ARSENAL RULE LONDON: EZE AND GYöKERES SHINE AS GUNNERS DISMANTLE SPURS AT THE LANE
Arsenal dominate the derby! Discover how Eze and Gyökeres fueled a 4-1 win while Spurs sank further into a relegation battle.
For a little while before today’s North London Derby at home between Tottenham and Arsenal, there was some hope. Igor Tudor stepped in for his first match as interim head coach, Dele Alli showed up as a halftime guest, and you could almost believe Spurs might turn their whole season around and spoil Arsenal’s, all in one afternoon.
But that didn’t happen. Arsenal walked away with the win, thanks to two goals each from Eberechi Eze, who, remember, rejected Spurs to join Arsenal, and Victor Gyokeres, their misfiring Swedish striker. Randal Kolo Muani managed to tie things up in the first half just two minutes after Eze’s opener, and he even put the ball in the net again, only for the ref to rule it out after Gabriel Magalhaes hit the turf a bit too dramatically. Richarlison came off the bench in the second half and nearly scored with a clever flick, but David Raya somehow kept it out. Then, in extra time, Gyokeres slammed in another, and Arsenal left with a 4-1 win.
Honestly, Arsenal controlled the match from the start. They had the ball, the stats – everything. Spurs fans can’t help but feel gutted. The team’s stuck in a real relegation fight now, and they need every single point they can scrape together. Losing to Arsenal always stings, but this one? It hurts even more than usual.
That finality you get from moments like Didier Drogba’s penalty after extra time in the 2012 Champions League Final – it’s almost too much. If you really want to understand the pressure and weight of that moment, you’ve got to dig into all the tangled histories leading up to it.
Back to today: Tudor set Spurs up with his usual back three, but he had to improvise. Joao Palhinha and Radu Dragusin lined up next to Micky van de Ven, since Cristian Romero was suspended and Kevin Danso was out hurt. Honestly, Spurs didn’t look that different from how they played under Thomas Frank for most of this season, but there was a bit more energy, a little more purpose, at least at the start. That edge, the one they’ve been missing for months, showed up for a bit, but it just wasn’t enough.
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