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OPINION: VIKTOR GYOKERES’ 10-GAME GOAL DROUGHT IS OFFICIALLY CRIPPLING ARSENAL’S TITLE CHARGE

Arsenal failed to go 8 points clear after a 0-0 draw with Liverpool in Storm Goretti. See the latest on the Gyokeres drought.

Opinion: Viktor Gyokeres’ 10-game goal drought is officially crippling Arsenal’s title charge
Gyokeres has gone 10 games without scoring.

Arsenal let a big chance slip. They could’ve gone eight points clear at the top, but instead, they had to settle for a goalless draw with Liverpool at the Emirates.

Liverpool, one of just two teams to beat Mikel Arteta’s side this season, almost stole it when Conor Bradley smashed the crossbar. Arsenal, surprisingly, failed to score at home for the first time all season, but the draw still pushes their lead over Manchester City to six points.

The city’s run of three straight draws gave Arsenal a real shot at closing in on their first league title in over two decades. You could feel the buzz before kickoff—the Emirates was rocking. But once the match started, it just didn’t live up to the hype. The weather didn’t help either. Storm Goretti brought heavy rain and wind that made things tricky for both teams.

Liverpool isn’t really in the title race anymore since they beat Arsenal back in August, but they’re on a 10-game unbeaten run and are solidifying their spot in the top four.

For much of the first half, Liverpool barely got out of their own half, but they still had the best chance before the break. William Saliba’s risky backpass almost embarrassed David Raya, and with the keeper stranded, Bradley’s lob bounced off the underside of the bar.

After halftime, Liverpool took control and kept Arsenal penned back. Still, they were missing some major firepower—Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike were injured, and Mohamed Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Without them, Liverpool didn’t threaten much, apart from Jeremie Frimpong’s speedy runs, but he couldn’t quite deliver the final ball.

Dominik Szoboszlai nearly pulled off another free-kick stunner, just like last time, but his shot dipped too late.

Arsenal’s attack didn’t look much better. Viktor Gyokeres got subbed off after another tough outing; his goal drought from open play is now at 10 games. Arteta threw on Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and Gabriel Martinelli to try to change things, but Arsenal didn’t get a shot on target in the second half until stoppage time. Jesus and Martinelli both shot straight at Alisson Becker.

In the end, Liverpool took a point and now sits three points clear of Newcastle and Manchester United in the race for a Champions League spot next season.

TITLE RACE TWIST: ARSENAL DROP POINTS AT BRENTFORD AS LEAD CUT TO FOUR

Arsenal held in London! Noni Madueke’s opener was cancelled out by Keane Lewis-Potter as the Gunners' lead shrinks to four points.

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Arsenal lead by four points with 12 games left—is it enough?

Noni Madueke put the leaders ahead right on the hour, but honestly, Brentford deserved at least a point and got it when Keane Lewis-Potter equalised.

Arsenal’s still sitting four points clear at the top, chasing that first league title in 22 years. But they’ve got a tough trip to second-placed City coming up in their last 12 games.

That draw gave Brentford’s European hopes a solid boost; they're still seventh. Keith Andrews’ team has only lost twice at home all season, and Arsenal were honestly a bit lucky not to chalk up their fourth league loss.

David Raya, facing his old club, pulled off a brilliant save to deny Igor Thiago’s powerful header the best chance of the first half.

Arsenal had to do without William Saliba and Kai Havertz, both out with illness and injury. Good news for them: Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka made it back onto the bench. At halftime, Arteta threw on Odegaard, and you could feel the shift; the visitors suddenly looked a lot more dangerous.

Their pressure finally paid off when Madueke climbed high at the back post to nod Piero Hincapie’s cross back past Caoimhin Kelleher.

But instead of pushing for another, Arsenal started to sit back, trying to hang onto their lead. That’s when Brentford really started to believe. Thiago forced Raya into another sharp stop, and Lewis-Potter should have equalised earlier. He headed wide from a corner with nobody marking him.

Set pieces have been a massive weapon for Arsenal this season, a big reason they’re leading the title chase. But Brentford know how to handle dead balls too. The equaliser came from one of Michael Kayode’s long throws. Sepp van den Berg flicked it on, and Lewis-Potter nipped in ahead of Odegaard to head it home.

In the last 20 minutes, Brentford actually looked more likely to win. Cristhian Mosquera made a crucial tackle on Thiago right at the end, and Thiago almost found his 18th Premier League goal in stoppage time he just blasted it over.

Right at the death, Arsenal nearly stole it. Kelleher came flying off his line to deny Gabriel Martinelli.

HALE END EXIT: ARSENAL YOUNGSTER CHARLES SAGOE JR JOINS SWEDISH SIDE KALMAR FF

Charles Sagoe Jr has joined Kalmar FF on loan. Discover why the Arsenal academy graduate chose Sweden and what it means for Hale End.

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Arsenal confirm loan deal for Charles Sagoe Jr

Arsenal just moved on from a player who’s barely had a chance in the first team, Charles Sagoe Jr, who only made one appearance for the club.

After a wild summer in 2025, where they brought in eight new signings like Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, and Ebere Eze, Arsenal didn’t really do much in January. No big arrivals, no headline exits.

Despite that summer spending spree, they haven’t exactly cashed in on outgoing players. Nuno Tavares, Marquinhos, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Oleksandr Zinchenko together brought in less than £20 million, pretty underwhelming when you think about it.

Where Arsenal have made good money is actually through their academy. Guys like Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe, Folarin Balogun, and Joe Willock all left for between £20m and £30m each. Since they came through Hale End, that’s basically pure profit.

Now, Charles Sagoe Jr, another academy product, has left the training ground at London Colney. Swedish club Kalmar FF just confirmed they’ve got him on loan. Sagoe Jr made his senior debut back in the 2023/24 League Cup against Brentford, and he was the only youngster to get a debut that season, following Ethan Nwaneri, who’d broken through the year before. But Sagoe Jr, now 21, hasn’t played for Mikel Arteta since.

Since then, he’s had loan spells at Swansea City and Shrewsbury Town and even turned down a call-up from the Liberian national team.

Kalmar’s sporting director, Mats Winblad, said they’ve been tracking Sagoe Jr for ages. He’s already training with them, and they hope he’ll get his first minutes as soon as Saturday, against IFK Norrkoping.

Let’s be honest: Sweden’s Allsvenskan isn’t exactly the highest level in Europe. It ranks below the top leagues in the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, and Scotland. So, Sagoe Jr’s move says something about Arsenal’s recent struggles to develop and keep hold of promising young players.

Just last year, the club lost Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi to Manchester United. Other highly rated youth products, Dan Ballard, Xavier Amaechi, and Reiss Nelson, never quite cemented a regular spot in Arsenal’s first team.

And, in another big change, Per Mertesacker recently stepped down after eight years running the academy.

According to Transfermarkt, Sagoe Jr is valued at €300k. Meanwhile, Arsenal are back in action against Brentford tomorrow.

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