Arsenal news - Mikel Arteta dealt injury blow as £100m transfer mistake emerges
Arsenal may have taken 10 points from a possible 12 after their first four games of the new Premier League season, but there are still plenty of headaches for boss Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners bowed out before the first international break of the campaign in spectacular fashion last Sunday, when two second-half stoppage time goals from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus saw Arsenal beat fierce rivals Manchester United 3-1 at the Emirates.
However, the international break has brought problems for last season's runners-up. Arteta is already having to operate without the likes of Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny and there are now fears central defender Gabriel Magalhaes could face an extended period on the sidelines.
With that in mind, here are some of the main talking points emerging out of the Emirates on Sunday, September 10.
A fresh injury blow?
Gabriel Magalhaes was pictured on the bench with ice on his thigh before full-timeArteta will be cursing his luck if Arsenal have been dealt another injury issue after Gabriel was on the end of a grim challenge while representing Brazil.
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After an impressive display against United last week, which came on his first start of the season, there are fears his momentum has been halted in its tracks as a result of the brutal tackle.
The Selecao ran out 5-1 winners against opponents Bolivia, but the Arsenal ace failed to last the full 90 minutes and was spotted holding ice against his thigh after the game, presumably nursing some kind of knock he picked up during the constest.
It was a particularly physical affair and within the opening five minutes of the clash, Gabriel was left in a heap on the floor after being caught in the chest by the knee of Diego Ibanez. With a visit to Everton awaiting Arsenal next weekend, Arteta will be anxiously awaiting any update on his defender.
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Arsenal's £100m mistake
Federico Valverde has opened up on his trial at Arsenal (Getty Images)The Gunners actually rejected the chance to sign Federico Valverde before he joined Real Madrid, it has emerged.
The Uruguay international made the move to the Santiago Bernabeu from Penarol in 2016 after having a week-long trial at Arsenal. Then-Gunners boss Arsene Wenger opted against keeping the midfielder around on a permanent basis, a decision which has since gone on to be proved as a questionable one to say the least.
When asked about his short stint at Arsenal, Valverde spoke about the impact of Alexis Sanchez and his time with the Gunners. He said: "I have always been grateful to him. When I went to train at Arsenal, Alexis was there and he was one of the few who came up to help me.
"I will always be grateful to him because, being a nobody, I was well-received by him. He was there to help me when I was a kid. As a footballer, he is an incredible player."
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Zinchenko reveals Arsenal's 'secret agent'
Gabriel Jesus (not pictured) played a part in Oleksandr Zinchenko's move to Arsenal (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Gunners left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko has explained how he had a "secret agent" come to his house to convince him to join the club last summer.
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Arteta is well-versed with what the Ukraine international brings to the team from their shared time at Manchester City. Zinchenko was one of Arsenal's stand-out performers last season and helped inspire a surprise title charge.
It has since emerged that one current Gunners ace helped get the deal for Zincheno over the line. The former City star told Footballers Lives on TikTok: "Mikel [Arteta] came to my house with a general director. We had a conversation [about] the way they see me in the club, which position, the project of the club and the structure and everything.
"And then we were sitting outside because it was such nice weather. Suddenly, someone rings my bell. I said, ‘Sorry, guys. I need to open the door to see maybe delivery or someone else'."
"And there was just Gabriel Jesus behind my gate and I just said, ‘Nah, is this a joke?’ So a secret agent came to my house and we had a good conversation, all of us. That was a really positive one."
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