As many of us have witnessed this season, it’s been a little up and down performance wise.

Taking apart teams one week with some of the best football we’ve seen at the Emirates in years, and looking sluggish and moribund as an attacking force the next.

Frustrating? Certainly. Such is the journey we are on as Arsenal slowly but surely climb their way to the Premier League summit.

Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. Trust in the process and all that.

For all of the media narratives that get peddled about this beloved club, the fact remains that it’s still on an upward trajectory.

The Ollie Watkins deal is dead in the water and the sooner that everyone moves on the better.

Of course the disappointment at missing out on another target will rankle, particularly when you consider Watkins’ well-known support of our great club, however, it’s not meant to be.

Mikel Arteta and the board can’t be blamed for Aston Villa’s failure to sell their talisman and, in fact, it speaks well of Arsenal that they are working hard right up until the deadline in order to strengthen the squad for the final push.

Had Villa not sold Jhon Duran to Al Nassr earlier in the week, there’s an outside chance that Watkins could’ve been the striker to make way in order for the Midlanders to remain on the right side of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Former Gunners ace and team-mate of Arteta’s, Kieran Gibbs has actually praised Villa for their actions, something that’s bound to get the blood boiling in N5.

With no transfers in so far in January, it’s obvious why most Arsenal fans will be sat at home with their heads in their hands and feeling a little downcast.

Especially when title rivals are spending money like it’s going out of fashion.

However, sometimes it’s worth taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture.

Ask yourselves… would you really want the club to be conducting their business in the same way that the likes of Chelsea and Man City, for example, are doing?

You can’t just buy a player for the sake of it.

With only a couple of days to go until the transfer window shuts for business, the need for a striker who is a virtual guarantee of goals has become more and more acute for Arsenal.

The likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Alexander Isak and Ollie Watkins are all names that have come up in dispatches, and they all share one characteristic apart from their on-pitch excellence; the Gunners haven’t been able to land them.

It can’t be overlooked that the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules will play a huge part in every club’s willingness to part with north of £100m in some cases.

Whether or not the fan base believe that’s a convenient excuse doesn’t escape the fact that signing players in the top bracket is becoming more and more expensive, and therefore more difficult.

That said, Arsenal have evidently working in the background to try and lay the foundations for a reliable hit-man to arrive.

Arsenal’s need for a striker is well known, but perhaps what has gone under the radar this month is that the Gunners have almost certainly made a bid for a long-term target.

Supporters will no doubt be mindful that losing out on Ollie Watkins is yet another tick in the ‘almost but not quite’ box.

The Watkins failure is particularly disappointing given his Gunners allegiance, but there’s still time to move on to other targets before the window closes.

Will they be a first or even second choice? Unlikely, but such are the difficulties of landing big names in this particular window.

It seems pretty clear that RB Leipzig’s £55m-rated (BBC) Benjamin Sesko remains a player of interest, and it appears that a cheeky attempt has been made by the club in January to finally acquire him.

Arsenal made a late attempt to sign Ollie Watkins in this transfer window, but their approach came too late to have any real chance of success.

Watkins, a lifelong Arsenal fan, has long been linked with a move to the Emirates, and many believed he could be the ideal addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad. However, despite Arsenal’s interest, the timing of their approach all but ended any possibility of a deal materialising.

Aston Villa had initially been open to selling one of their strikers in this window, with Jhon Durán attracting interest from multiple clubs. Once the Colombian sealed a lucrative transfer to Al Nassr, Villa no longer had a financial need to offload another forward. This significantly reduced Arsenal’s hopes of securing Watkins, and they have now been advised to forget about any potential move this month.

Unai Emery, naturally, was questioned about Arsenal’s reported interest and whether Villa would consider selling Watkins. Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Spaniard made it clear that the striker is not available.

“Yes, yes. We talked with him, and he is very focused on the message we have,” Emery said.

Arsenal and Manchester City have developed a fierce rivalry in recent seasons, and it could influence how their players interact both on and off the pitch.

While football is ultimately played within the confines of the pitch, and most professionals understand that it is just a game, emotions can sometimes spill over, particularly in high-stakes encounters. Not every player can separate the intensity of competition from personal relationships, especially when fighting for the biggest prizes in English football.

Over the past two seasons, Arsenal has emerged as the main challenger to Manchester City, a side that has dominated the Premier League in recent years. The Gunners have been working tirelessly to dethrone Pep Guardiola’s team, but City’s consistency has made them a formidable force. This season, Liverpool has also entered the title race, leading the way in both the Premier League and Europe, making the competition even fiercer.

Arsenal will face City in the Premier League this weekend in a match they simply must win. Memories of their last meeting remain fresh, as tensions flared in a heated encounter. That game ended 2-2, with City scoring a late equaliser against a ten-man Arsenal side. The full-time whistle did little to cool tempers, as Erling Haaland appeared visibly fired up, seemingly ready to confront several Arsenal players in the aftermath.

Ahead of this highly anticipated clash, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was asked whether the growing rivalry between the two clubs would affect his relationship with his friend and international teammate, Haaland, he responded as quoted by the Daily Mail.

Gabriel Martinelli has voiced his disappointment after Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Aston Villa, further denting their chances in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners were fully aware of the importance of this match, especially after Liverpool secured a late win against Brentford earlier in the day. With that result in mind, Arsenal knew they needed all three points to keep pace in the title race.

The match carried added significance as Unai Emery’s Aston Villa had dealt a crushing blow to Arsenal’s title hopes last season by winning at the Emirates. Determined to avoid a repeat, Arsenal set out to complete the double over Villa, having already beaten them at Villa Park earlier this campaign.

By the hour mark, it seemed Arsenal were cruising, leading 2-0 and in control of the game. However, Villa proved why they are such a dangerous side, storming back with two quick goals to level the score. Arsenal pushed hard in the closing stages, but their relentless pressure failed to yield a legitimate winner, leaving the home fans frustrated.

Reflecting on the match, Martinelli acknowledged the disappointment of the result but urged his teammates to keep their focus on the challenges ahead. Speaking to Premier League Productions, he said:

Ian Wright has expressed his frustration with Arsenal’s inability to secure victory in their 2-2 draw against Aston Villa this evening, criticising the Gunners for underestimating their opponents’ ability to mount a comeback.

Mikel Arteta’s side faced a strong Villa team that has consistently caused them problems in recent seasons. Under Unai Emery’s management, the Villans notably derailed Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge last season with a shocking win at the Emirates. Although Arsenal triumphed at Villa Park earlier in this campaign, tonight’s draw was another reminder of how dangerous Villa can be.

The Gunners started the match brightly, storming into a 2-0 lead, and it appeared they were on course for an important victory. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Villa clawed their way back into the game, equalising to secure a 2-2 draw and leaving the Emirates crowd stunned.

Speaking on Premier League Productions, Wright lamented Arsenal’s inability to see the game through, highlighting the need to respect Villa’s quality. He said:

“It was so comfortable at 2-0, but at the back of your mind you knew Aston Villa were capable of coming back. Arsenal couldn’t break through Villa as they’re a quality side in that respect. You have to be able to see them off.”

Arsenal Women’s midfielder Kathrine Kuhl is at the center of transfer speculation as the January window unfolds. The Danish international, who joined the Gunners in January 2023, is reportedly in talks with Serie A club Roma over a potential move.

This development comes after a challenging period for Kuhl at Arsenal, where she has struggled for playing time this season, managing only seven minutes in the Women’s Super League. Kuhl’s journey at Arsenal has been a mix of promise and setbacks. Initially hailed as one of Europe’s brightest prospects, she made 18 appearances for the club in her first half-season. However, the 2023/24 campaign has seen her opportunities limited, leading to speculation about her future.

The potential move to Roma is significant, with reports suggesting it could be an Italian record transfer at around 100,000 Euros.  This valuation underscores Kuhl’s potential, despite her recent lack of playing time. Roma, owned by the same group as Everton, appears to have edged ahead in the race for her signature, according to the BBC’s Emma Saunders.

Have heard similar re: Roma’s pursuit of Kathrine Kuhl.

Interestingly, the owners Friedkin Group, also own Everton, who have also been pursuing Kuhl and have made an approach.

Arsenal played out a 2–2 draw against Aston Villa this evening after going two goals up. Here are our player ratings:

David Raya – 5.5
Raya made some important saves but looked shaky and lacked confidence, which unsettled his defence.

Thomas Partey – 4.5
A poor performance from Partey, who almost gifted Watkins a goal with a disastrous throw-in and allowed the striker to score later on.

Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6.5
Another assured and composed showing from the youngster, who continues to impress.

Gabriel Magalhães – 7.0
Despite the absence of his regular defensive partner, Gabriel handled Watkins well and put in a strong display.

Arsenal dropped more Premier League points in a 2–2 draw against Aston Villa this evening, despite being two goals ahead at one stage.

Fully aware of Villa’s threat, Arsenal started the game by dominating possession, seeking openings in Unai Emery’s well-organised team.

Villa defended resolutely and looked dangerous on the counter-attack whenever the opportunity arose. Ian Maatsen came close to giving Villa the lead, forcing a solid save from David Raya.

Moments later, Leandro Trossard tested Emi Martínez at the other end, with both sides creating chances in a lively opening spell.

Arsenal knew it would take more to break down Villa’s stubborn defence, and Gabriel Martinelli eventually opened the scoring despite Martínez’s best efforts.

The WSL has returned, and on Sunday Arsenal Women will be back in action. Last week, they were set to kick off the year with the FA Cup Round 4 clash against Bristol City FC, but that game was postponed due to a frozen Meadow Park pitch, and has been rescheduled 29th January.

Our London rivals, Crystal Palace Women, make the short trip to Meadow Park to take on our girls. The expectation among us Gooners is that we are starting 2025 with a London derby win. For that, we expect head coach Renee Slegers to field her strongest lineup.

Team News:

With Lia Walti, Laura Wienroither, and Kim Little all in training, Arsenal have almost every player available.

Of the players likely to miss the game, Kathrine Kuhl (closing in on an AS Roma exit), Freya Godfrey, Maddy Earl, Viv Lia (who has joined Southampton on a loan deal), and Laila Harbert were all not in training on Friday.

Arsenal welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates this evening, knowing that they simply cannot drop points in their bid to stay in the title race. This is the team that Mikel Arteta has gone with.

We all know that Arsenal won the reverse fixture earlier in the season, but we also remember what Villa did to us last season and what it cost us. This is a huge game by any metric for both sides.

Villa will be desperate to get something from their visit to North London to maintain their push for a Champions League spot, while Arsenal know full well that they must pick up maximum points if they are to stay in the title race. A defeat is unthinkable.

Arsenal are the favourites, of course; they are the better team and have home advantage. But that was also the case last season at the Emirates, and the Villans managed to take all three points then. They will no doubt feel confident they can do the same again today.

Arsenal are fresh off a satisfying North London derby win over Tottenham, so no one can say they don’t have some momentum. However, losses to Newcastle United and Manchester United (on penalties) do show that Arsenal are not unbeatable at home.

Off the back of the North London derby success, Arsenal will be hoping to maintain the momentum with a win against Aston Villa as we play host to them this evening. The last time we welcomed them to the Emirates Stadium, at the back end of last season, they inflicted a loss that eventually proved costly, as we missed out on the Premier League title by just two points. Arsenal got a bit of revenge earlier this campaign with a 2–0 win in the reverse fixture, but the real payback should come in the form of a league double, just as they did to us last season. Looking at their current squad, the obvious threat to us will be Ollie Watkins, especially after scoring a match-winner midweek. Even in our earlier meeting this season, he was a huge threat to our backline, and he could have scored a few goals had it not been for very poor finishing.

That said, however, I just don’t see him as the biggest threat from a Villa standpoint—not the one we should worry about most. With such quality within their ranks, we have to accept they have players who can hurt you, especially when you’re not at your best. One such player is Morgan Rogers. If we remember our first meeting of the season, then we’ll know just how good a player he is.

Rogers ran our midfield ragged at times in that encounter, which is something very few players can do against this Arsenal side. He was electric that day, creating chaos with his exceptional dribbling and close control. It should come as no surprise that he finished the game with more successful dribbles (5) than any other player. I think he’ll be our biggest threat, but it’s not solely due to his performance in the reverse fixture—he’s also currently their most in-form player (arguably)! This is a result of five goal involvements (three goals and two assists) in his last five appearances in all competitions.

Keeping him quiet will be a telling factor in whether we win or not, so it’s absolutely imperative that we do so. A lot of the conversation has been about our need to score more goals, but good defending and keeping clean sheets are just as crucial to our success. We must limit their chances!

BENJAMIN KENNETH

Mikel Arteta has encouraged Bukayo Saka to take a well-deserved holiday as he recovers from his injury, advising the young star to step away from football temporarily to rejuvenate both mentally and physically.

Saka, who is facing two months on the sidelines, has been a model of consistency and fitness over recent seasons, rarely encountering long-term injuries. However, his relentless schedule for both club and country has meant the 23-year-old has had little opportunity to rest.

Arteta sees Saka’s enforced absence as a chance for the winger to recharge. Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Arsenal manager emphasised the importance of rest for the player’s long-term wellbeing:

“Yeah, he needs to (go on holiday). He is obligated to go. With his girlfriend or his family, he can choose. Or on his own.

“But he needs to get away for a few days and refresh.

Unai Emery shocked the Emirates last season by masterminding an Aston Villa victory over Arsenal, a result that dealt a significant blow to the Gunners’ hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy.

That win for Villa not only boosted their chances of securing Champions League football but also effectively ended Arsenal’s title bid. The Gunners ultimately fell short on the final day of the season, leaving fans to rue what might have been if they had secured three points in that fixture against Villa.

This weekend, Villa return to North London and Arsenal faces the challenge of preventing a repeat of last season’s disappointment. The Gunners remain in pursuit of Liverpool in the title race, and every match is a must-win if they are to close the gap on the league leaders.

Villa, meanwhile, are battling to improve their form and keep their hopes of European qualification alive. Despite their struggles this season, they remain a dangerous opponent under Emery, who is keen to build on his side’s past success at the Emirates.

Speaking ahead of the match, Emery downplayed comparisons to last season’s encounter, emphasising the changed circumstances for both teams. As quoted by Arsenal Media, he said:
“This is different circumstances [to Villa’s win at the Emirates last season]. That moment was a very special circumstance for them and for us because they were very involved in the Champions League against Bayern Munich, and we were as well in the Conference League.