Arsenal
March 2026
Arsenal won 2-1 away after being pegged back in the second half. Arteta rotated heavily and used a 3-5-2 shape. Madueke scored with a curling effort before half-time for Arsenal’s 100th goal of the season. Mansfield equalised after a sloppy back pass was intercepted and finished by Evans.
Viktor Gyökeres
February 2026
Arsenal players held a heated group meeting after blowing a two-goal lead vs Wolves, then responded by hammering Spurs 4-1 to go five points clear at the top. Gyokeres said the squad spoke openly to “let it all out,” understand each other’s emotions, and rebuild unity. Arsenal then delivered a statement performance with braces from Gyokeres and Eze, and are now targeting another response with Chelsea next weekend.
Bukayo Saka
February 2026
Bukayo Saka has signed a new long-term Arsenal contract through 2031, replacing his previous deal that ran to 2027. The extension reportedly makes him the club’s highest-paid player on more than £300,000 per week, ending lengthy negotiations. Saka had verbally agreed terms earlier in the year and has now signed formally. Arsenal have also secured other key renewals in the last 12 months, and Arteta can now focus on a run of fixtures across multiple competitions, with Saka recently trialed centrally as a No.10 in the FA Cup win over Wigan.
Mikel Arteta
February 2026
Arteta criticised the second-half performance and said the team must “stand up” during a difficult spell. Saka ended his goal drought with an early header from Rice’s cross after being used centrally, and Hincapie doubled the lead early in the second half. Wolves responded through a long-range Bueno strike and then a late equaliser, punishing Arsenal for a flat second half and poor game management.
Kai Havertz
February 2026
Havertz is set for another spell out after sustaining a muscular injury, continuing an injury-disrupted 2025-26 season.
How: After returning in January from a long layoff earlier this season, he has now picked up a new issue. He is expected to miss Brentford (Thu), Wigan (FA Cup, Sun), Wolves (next Wed), and Tottenham (next Sun).
Mikel Merino
January 2026
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino had surgery on a fractured foot and posted an upbeat recovery message, but faces a spell out with a rare injury type, per Arteta. Merino was hurt in Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United. Arteta said the case is unusual and depends on post-surgery healing and monitoring. Merino confirmed the operation is done and signalled his intent to return as soon as the recovery process allows.
Leon Goretzka
January 2026
Arsenal made a late bid for Goretzka as emergency midfield cover after Merino’s injury, but Goretzka chose to stay at Bayern through the season. Reports say Arsenal “intervened” late with a formal approach, with Arteta viewing Goretzka as the physical, box-to-box profile to protect Arsenal’s midfield for the title run-in and Champions League knockouts. The move collapsed because the player preferred a structured exit plan, pushing any transfer decision into a likely summer market battle.
Martin Ødegaard
January 2026
Odegaard was a surprise omission from Arsenal’s squad against Chelsea and was not even on the bench. Arteta said he had picked up an untimely knock before kickoff, forcing a reshuffle. Eze started in the No.10 role, with Arsenal opting not to risk Odegaard after the late issue emerged.
Bukayo Saka
January 2026
Saka pulled out of Arsenal’s starting XI after picking up a groin issue in the warm-up at Elland Road. He is expected to miss the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea, but Arsenal believe the injury is not serious and he could return soon. Arteta said Saka felt a niggle in the warm-up, improved the next day, and Arsenal will monitor how he responds before deciding if he can feature “tomorrow or the weekend.”
Bukayo Saka
January 2026
Saturday; injury in pre-match warm-up; next games vs Chelsea and Sunderland next week
What: Saka withdrew after a hip injury in the warm-up and was replaced in the XI by Madueke as Arsenal won 4-0 at Elland Road. Arsenal scored through Zubimendi, a Darlow own goal from a Madueke corner, then added goals from Gyokeres and Jesus. The win ended a three-game winless league run and restored a seven-point lead over Manchester City and Aston Villa, though both have a game in hand.
