Patrick Dorgu
January 2026
Dorgu is reported to have a significant hamstring injury and could miss roughly 10 weeks, a major blow after scoring against Arsenal and thriving under Carrick. Carrick initially suggested it might be cramp, but follow-up checks indicate muscular damage. The report emphasizes his role change from wing-back to left-winger in a 4-2-3-1 and his direct impact in wins over City and Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka
January 2026
KSI said Saka is Arsenal’s most important player and argued Gyokeres still improves the team despite modest scoring numbers since his move. He claimed Gyokeres functions as a “magnet” that draws defenders and creates space for Saka, Trossard, and Odegaard, so Arsenal look better with him on the pitch.
Matheus Cunha
January 2026
Cunha may be at risk of retrospective discipline after appearing to shout explicit language directly into a TV camera following his winning goal. Reports say the language was clearly heard on broadcast and commentators issued an apology for bad language. FA rules allow action for abusive or insulting language or gestures, including retroactive punishment when incidents are caught on camera.
Patrick Vieira
January 2026
Vieira said Arsenal showed questionable mental strength and lacked leaders in a damaging 3-2 home loss to Manchester United, also criticising Saka and Trossard for not creating enough danger. Arsenal’s January league form included a win over Bournemouth then draws with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest before losing to United. Vieira said the team needs someone to lift spirit, increase energy, and take more risks to match their quality.
Harry Maguire
January 2026
Maguire praised Carrick for bringing fresh energy after United followed up a 2-0 derby win over Manchester City with a 3-2 victory over Arsenal, giving Carrick six points from six. United’s goals came from Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, and a late winner by Cunha. Arsenal suffered their first home league defeat of the season and their lead at the top was cut to four points. Carrick said the group is still building and needs to add layers in coming weeks.
Julian Alvarez
January 2026
Arsenal have reportedly made informal enquiries about signing Alvarez, less than a year after a major striker spend, with Berta using Atletico relationships to gauge feasibility. The report frames the move as expensive due to Alvarez’s long contract and huge release clause, with Atletico expected to demand a fee above €100m, while Barcelona interest and financial constraints could shape the race.
Kai Havertz
January 2026
Arsenal are reportedly concerned about Havertz’s long-term knee condition after a flare-up during his return, raising the prospect of careful workload control for the rest of the season and possibly beyond. Havertz has not started since August 17, returned in limited minutes in cup games, and was unexpectedly unused in a Champions League match as Arsenal balance his recovery after reported ligament damage and renewed discomfort.
Manchester United
January 2026
United fell to eighth in the Deloitte Football Money League, dropping below Liverpool and Arsenal for the first time in the report’s history, highlighting the financial impact of their poor 2024-25 campaign and reduced competitive standing. Despite recording £666.5m turnover, United were overtaken by rivals as on-pitch decline undercut growth. The report frames the slide as a long-term erosion that commercial strength can no longer fully offset.
Gabriel Jesus
January 2026
Jesus said he wants a new deal at Arsenal and wants to win trophies, while reflecting on repeated injuries that have disrupted most of his time at the club. After long layoffs including an ACL tear, he described doubts during rehab and focused on staying fit through the rest of the season; with his contract running down and links to Palmeiras, he positioned himself as committed to staying and extending.
Declan Rice
January 2026
Rice was caught on camera in a heated, foul-mouthed exchange with Stuivenberg at half-time despite Arsenal leading, with lip-reading claims detailing his complaint about the coach’s comments. The row happened as players went down the tunnel, Gabriel Magalhaes tried to calm things, and Arsenal later held on for a 3-2 win after goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, while Alejandro Garnacho scored twice for Chelsea.
