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.
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.
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.
Mikel Arteta
December 2025
City briefly went top after a late Cherki winner at Forest, but Arsenal reclaimed first place by edging Brighton 2-1, with Odegaard’s early strike and a Rutter own goal enough despite Gomez pulling one back to set up a nervous finish at the Emirates. Arteta admitted feeling “hacked off” by last season’s home draw with Brighton but praised his side’s resilience despite another unconvincing display. He insisted Arsenal are ready to push City all the way, treating routine-looking games as must-win tests in a title race decided by tiny margins.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
November 2025
Bukayo Saka is reportedly in the final stages of talks over a contract extension that would keep him at Arsenal until 2030, with both club and player confident of an agreement as the Premier League leaders move to lock down their homegrown star. Saka, whose current deal runs to 2027, has made clear he wants to win major trophies in north London, and Arsenal hope to have the paperwork completed before year’s end as they chase Premier League and Champions League glory under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal
November 2025
Sunderland led through Dan Ballard, before Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard flipped it for Arsenal. In stoppage time, a flicked long throw fell to Brian Brobbey, who contorted mid-air to score a bicycle kick and seal a dramatic point. Regis Le Bris revealed a subtle tweak to disrupt Arsenal’s restart patterns and long throws. Arsenal eventually pinned Sunderland back, but poor set-piece clearance on 90+4’ proved costly. The hosts matched intensity throughout, turning limited territory into key dead-ball moments.
Arsenal
November 2025
Arsenal posted an eighth straight win without conceding, matching the English top-flight record set by Preston in 1889 and Liverpool in 1920. Bukayo Saka scored from the spot before Mikel Merino, deputising for Viktor Gyokeres, struck twice to seal a controlled away victory. Arteta’s side compressed space, broke lines with early diagonals, and suffocated counters. The clean-sheet streak began on October 1 versus Olympiacos and now spans West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Atletico Madrid and Burnley. They last conceded on September 28 against Newcastle and are on a 10-match winning run.
William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
October 2025
Arsenal’s injury list deepened as William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli were ruled out of the Carabao Cup, adding to absences for Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and captain Martin Ødegaard. Mikel Arteta confirmed Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice are available, but the leaders’ depth will be stretched during a dense run across competitions. Expect centre-back reshuffle and conservative winger usage to avoid recurrence. Arsenal should lean on rest-defence structure, short build sequences and controlled pressing to reduce transition exposure without Saliba. For Martinelli’s threat replacement, rotate vertical runners and pattern for back-post overloads. Medical: imaging, graded field re-entry, and micro-cycle load caps ahead of league duties.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
October 2025
Arteta confirmed Saka started despite illness and minimal training, then exited on 66’ to avoid fatigue-related injury as Arsenal saw out a 1-0 win. Limited recent league starts and a muted outing framed the cautious call. With a four-point cushion atop the table, Arsenal prioritised player welfare amid a congested autumn schedule.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
October 2025
Saka earned an England recall for games against Wales and Latvia, determined to prove himself to Thomas Tuchel after missing previous camps through injury. He marked his 200th Premier League appearance by scoring in Arsenal’s win over West Ham.
With Bellingham, Foden, and Grealish omitted, Saka’s return offers Tuchel a creative spark. The winger has three goals in seven appearances this season and stressed his desire to stay fit and become a regular starter for the Three Lions moving forward.