CAN ARSENAL STOP ASTON VILLA’S 12-GAME WINNING STREAK IN THEIR TUESDAY TITLE SHOWDOWN
Arsenal target AC Milan’s Davide Bartesaghi for January. Can the 19-year-old bolster a defence hit by Timber’s injury?
With the January transfer window coming up, Arsenal might be able to sign some new players.
Arsenal's hoping to finally win the Premier League this season. Right now, they're leading the table, ahead of Manchester City and Aston Villa. Last game, the Gunners beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 at home.
Mikel Arteta could bring in some new faces in January. If he wants to, he could also let some players leave. This could free up space and money for the team.
Arsenal's Report on Davide Bartesaghi
Bartesaghi is 19 and signed with AC Milan until 2030, so they aren't in a hurry to sell him. They can wait for the right offer. The Italy youth player joined AC Milan in 2012, after a stint at Atalanta.
The defender has climbed through AC Milan’s youth system. He played a lot for them at different youth levels before getting into the first team. The teenager first played for the senior team in 2023 and has since played 28 games in all competitions, 13 of those being this season. Arsenal might see him as someone who could bring more competition and depth to their defence.
Arsenal's ready for the Aston Villa battle.
Arsenal plays again on Tuesday, trying to keep up their winning streak. They're up against Aston Villa, which will be tough since Unai Emery’s team is good. The Midlands team has won their last 12 games in all competitions and beat Chelsea 2-1 in their last game.
After the win against Brighton, Arteta said he was happy with how they played, both as individuals and as a team. He felt they were in charge and a big threat. He was pleased with everything but thought they should have won by more. He mentioned that with all the chances they created, it should never have been a 2-1 game. However, he accepted that's just how the Premier League is, and it's a step they need to take.
He also pointed out that Brighton's first shot resulted in a goal, and their goalie had to make another save to keep the lead. Despite having a lot of problems, he was glad they were dealing with them well. He noted that they lost Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice had to play as a full-back, and he still played great, showing how much they want to win.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
