Per Mertesacker
January 2026
Arsenal confirmed Mertesacker will leave his role as academy manager after eight years, ending a tenure that helped shape multiple first-team graduates. He cited a desire for a new professional challenge, will remain through the season to support continuity, and plans to help ensure a smooth handover before departing.
Conor Bradley
January 2026
Liverpool confirmed Bradley has significant bone and ligament damage in his left knee. ACL fears eased, but he is expected to miss the rest of the 2025-26 domestic season. He was stretchered off at the Emirates, scans showed major structural damage, and Liverpool will send him for surgery followed by rehab at the AXA Training Centre with no return date set.
Gabriel Martinelli
January 2026
Martinelli will not face further FA punishment after a late flashpoint in Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool, where he pushed Bradley while Bradley was down injured. The referee booked Martinelli during the match and logged it in his report, which normally closes the case for retrospective action. Martinelli later apologised, saying he misread the situation.
Martin Zubimendi
January 2026
Declan Rice praised Martin Zubimendi after Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Bournemouth, calling him unreal and highlighting how quickly he has adapted. Zubimendi has been an ever-present in league matches and is becoming central to Arsenal’s control. Rice credited Zubimendi’s intelligence, calmness and positioning over physical traits, saying his decision-making makes the team function better. Rice said the pair are building a strong partnership that can anchor Arsenal for the long term.
Declan Rice
January 2026
Declan Rice scored twice on his return from a knee issue as Arsenal beat Bournemouth 3-2, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points. Mikel Arteta praised Rice as world class and highlighted his mentality. After an early mistake put Arsenal under pressure, Rice took control in the second half with two decisive finishes, one from open play and one from a Bukayo Saka cutback. Arteta stressed Rice pushed through fitness concerns to deliver a 96-minute performance.
Eberechi Eze
January 2026
Mikel Arteta has challenged Eberechi Eze after leaving him out in recent league matches despite his strong early-season impact following a £60m move from Crystal Palace. Eze has not played in Arsenal’s last three Premier League games. Arteta said he manages minutes based on physical and emotional state, pointing to Eze playing more football than ever at this stage of a season. With Trossard and Odegaard preferred recently, Eze must raise certain elements to force his way back in.
Mikel Arteta
January 2026
Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to finally win the Premier League after several near-misses, with the club top of the table and four points clear of Manchester City. Arsenal are also in strong positions across cups and Europe. Arsenal have combined elite defensive numbers with depth through injuries, including a 4-1 win over Aston Villa without Declan Rice. Arteta’s test is turning a mid-season lead into the trophy, after multiple past seasons ended with Arsenal losing ground late.
Jack Grealish
December 2025
Grealish skipped Everton’s 0-0 draw at Burnley after a London night out with Walker that reportedly included Winter Wonderland, a Mayfair dinner and a late visit to a Leicester Square strip club, with the pair said to have spent around £20,000 in total. Moyes said a “bug” left Grealish feeling sick despite training on Tuesday and stressed he would not expand on the illness, while also citing concurrent absences for Dewsbury-Hall, Branthwaite, Ndiaye and Gueye, and expressing hope his City loanee returns to training later this week.
Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker
December 2025
After Everton’s 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, Grealish travelled to London to meet Walker at Winter Wonderland before a lavish night out that included dinner at Bagatelle and thousands of pounds spent on drinks, ending at Platinum Lace strip club. Grealish’s group reportedly ordered “hundreds” of Jagerbombs at £14 each and ran up a £3,500 club bill before leaving at 4am, then continued drinking back at their hotel. Both players had club-sanctioned time off, with sources insisting Grealish declined lap dances and focused only on late-night drinks.
Pep Guardiola
December 2025
Pep Guardiola says he would much prefer Manchester City to be comfortably top rather than chasing Arsenal, but insists they remain well placed across competitions, close in the league, strong in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, and about to launch their FA Cup campaign. Aiming to avoid a second straight season without a league title, Guardiola urged players not to overindulge at Christmas and highlighted the difficult Forest trip, while also paying tribute to club legend John Robertson, emphasising respect for opponents even amid City’s relentless push for trophies.
