Arne Slot has confirmed that Hugo Ekitike faces a late fitness test ahead of Liverpool's showdown with Premier League leaders Arsenal. The forward has yet to train fully since missing the recent draw with Fulham, leaving his participation in doubt. The Reds boss admits his side have been too inconsistent this term but believes a win against the "complete package" of the Gunners could spark a revival.
Declan Rice has launched a passionate defence of teammate Viktor Gyokeres, insisting the Arsenal striker remains "one of the best in the world" despite a dry spell in front of goal. The England midfielder believes critics are overlooking the £64 million signing's immense tactical contribution, sending a stark warning to Premier League rivals that the goals will soon flow once again.
The Bundesliga may still be on a winter break, but there was plenty of other action across Europe as 2026 got off to a cracking start for some of the continent's elite teams. In England, Arsenal took another big step towards a first Premier League title since 2004 by moving six points clear thanks to a 3-2 win at Bournemouth, while reigning champions Barcelona continue to lead the way in Spain after beating city rivals Espanyol thanks to late goals from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski.
Declan Rice has once again proven he is the complete midfield package, netting a stunning brace to rescue Arsenal’s title charge against Bournemouth. The England international’s match-winning display has drawn high praise from across the footballing world, with Ivan Toney jokingly suggesting a positional change for his compatriot while Lionesses star Chloe Kelly labelled the performance simply "too good" on social media.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has hailed Martin Zubimendi, claiming that the midfielder has been "unreal" after the Gunners beat Bournemouth 3-2 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table. Mikel Arteta's side moved six points clear of Aston Villa with their victory on the south coast.
Declan Rice admitted that he was "fuming" after missing Arsenal's victory over Aston Villa with a knee injury. The England midfielder returned to action with a brace against Bournemouth, such was his desperation to prove his worth as the Gunners returned to the Premier League's summit.
We reached the midway point of the Premier League season on Thursday night, with Arsenal holding a very promising four-point advantage at the top of the table as the Gunners look to end an agonising, 22-year title drought, and their chances of doing so have only increased after Saturday's hard-fought win at Bournemouth. Of course, Manchester City are very dangerous chasers - as Arsenal know to their considerable cost - and Aston Villa will obviously be hoping to stay in touch even after their chastening 4-1 defeat at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hailed "world class" Declan Rice, who shrugged off injury to score two goals in a man-of-the-match performance as the Gunners beat Bournemouth 3-2 at the Vitality Stadium. Arsenal now enjoy a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and Arteta has singled out Rice for the highest praise as his title challenge continues to gather momentum.
Arsenal beat Bournemouth 3-2 to open up a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, a victory which puts them on a superior trajectory to the legendary Invincibles of the 2003-04 season. The Gunners landed the title that season and the stats are adding up very favourably for Mikel Arteta’s side as they bid to land the club’s first league title in 22 long years.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has offered an update on Antoine Semenyo amid talk the winger is on the brink of a £65 million move to Manchester City. Semenyo played for Bournemouth against Arsenal on Saturday and, according to his manager, is set to feature for the Cherries again on Wednesday night against Tottenham in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium.
Declan Rice scored two superb second-half goals as Arsenal came from behind to seal a dramatic 3-2 success at Bournemouth and move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Rice, who was a doubt leading up to the game after missing the midweek victory against Aston Villa due to a knee injury, showed once again how crucial he is to Mikel Arteta's table-toppers with his decisive strikes which ensured the Gunners kicked off 2026 with a win.
Premier League clubs face unusual kick-off times this weekend, as the New Year's schedule continues apace. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea are all in action on Sunday, with 3pm kick-offs being aired live on television. GOAL can explain why the kick-off times are out of the ordinary as the year of 2026 gets underway.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has laid down the gauntlet to Eberechi Eze after dropping him from his XI. The playmaker joined the Gunners from Crystal Palace for an initial fee of £60 million ($81.2m) in August, and after impressing in the first few months of the season, Arteta has barely called upon the 27-year-old in recent weeks. Now, he has gone as far as saying Eze needs to "improve" certain parts of his game.
Wayne Rooney has revealed that Sol Campbell did not speak to him for six months after Manchester United beat Arsenal to end their 49-game unbeaten run at Old Trafford in 2004. The former United striker won a penalty in the game, as he cut in from the right and went down easily under the challenge of Campbell, who claimed his compatriot dived.
Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal squad to end their wait for a Premier League title this season. The Gunners have gone close over the past few campaigns, often holding strong positions at the halfway point, but they remain without a trophy since 2020. They are favourites to finish at the top of the pile but will face stern competition from the likes of Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Reports in Spain suggest that Rodrygo is laying the groundwork for a potential move away from Real Madrid. The Brazil international forward faces fierce competition for places at the Bernabeu and is growing increasingly frustrated at having to fill a support role. Interest in his services is said to have been shown from the Premier League, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City known to be admirers.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a fitness update on Declan Rice, with the England international midfielder nursing a knee complaint. Rice was forced to sit out the impressive victory over Aston Villa, with the Gunners barely missing his presence in their engine room, and questions continue to be asked of whether he will be ready to face Bournemouth.
Premier League clubs splashed out £3 billion ($4bn) on transfers in a record-breaking summer window, more than those in the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A combined, with Liverpool accounting for £415m ($561m) of that eye-watering amount on the back of their 2024-25 title success under Arne Slot. Mega-money was also spent by the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, with Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Fulham the only three clubs to invest less than £50m ($67m) in strengthening their respective squads.
Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes has explained why he took to trolling Amadou Onana after helping the Gunners to a vital victory over Premier League title rivals Aston Villa. The Brazilian defender returned with a bang in that contest, as he opened the scoring in a 4-1 win, and took the opportunity afterwards to have some “fun” when delivering a copycat “pocket” celebration.
The January transfer window is notoriously tricky for buying clubs to manoeuvre in. Sure, willing teams may have the money to spend and financial wiggle room to squeeze some deals in, but their rivals may be less inclined to do business midway through the season with trophies and other honours still up for grabs.
Arsenal should have conceded a penalty in their 1-0 win over Everton on 20 December, according to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel (KMI). The Gunners have now been told they should have given away a spot kick when William Saliba and Thierno Barry challenged for the ball at Hill Dickinson Stadium - in a controversial decision which could have huge implications in this season’s title race.
Andoni Iraola has made it clear that Antoine Semenyo is still an "important player" for Bournemouth despite his reportedly imminent move to Manchester City, insisting he will feature against Arsenal this weekend. Speculation around Semenyo’s future has intensified as the winter window approaches, with City increasingly confident of triggering the winger’s £65 million ($86m) release clause. Yet Iraola has no intention of sidelining his most influential attacker while the Cherries fight to arrest a worrying slide in form.
Arsenal
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