Mikel Arteta 'aware' of looming Arsenal injury issue as title chances dismissed
Arsenal's Premier League title credentials will be tested once again on Sunday, as they face Everton at Goodison Park in a bid to banish bad memories on Merseyside.
October 2017 was the last time that the Gunners picked up all three points in the fixture, with last season providing a brutal reminder of how tough the trip to Goodison can be. Arsenal gave Toffees boss Sean Dyche his first win in charge which spelled the beginning of the end of the Gunners' title charge.
Seven months later and Mikel Arteta is preparing his team to make a statement by not faltering against Dyche and co, but his options could be depleted. With concerns already over Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey, Arteta has learned of a fresh injury issue which could cause problems.
Here's a round-up of the latest news from the Emirates.
Arteta "aware" of Gabriel issue
Arsenal are keeping a close eye on defender Gabriel Magalhaes' fitness after he picked up an injury during the international break. Mikel Arteta says that he's "aware" the 25-year-old was forced off on his Brazil debut, playing 85 minutes of the Selecao's World Cup qualifier against Bolivia.
Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
Scans showed no sign of anything serious and Gabriel was able to play the entirety of Brazil's 1-0 win in Peru just four days later, but Arteta isn't banking on anything. "We have good contact with the national teams," the Gunners boss confirmed. "Gabby had a little issue but he managed to play the second game, so it's something obviously for the next sequence of matches we have to be aware."
Have your say! How should Arsenal line up against Everton? Let us know your XI in the comments section.
Gabriel Magalhaes earned his first two caps for Brazil during the international break (Martin Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)Arteta provides Odegaard contract update
Mikel Arteta says that Arsenal are "really close" to agreeing a new contract with captain Martin Odegaard. The Norway international is in talks with Gunners chiefs and Arteta gave fans an encouraging update on Friday by saying: "He's our captain he's a massive player for us; really important for now and the future.
"We want to keep him here for a long time I'm always optimistic. We’re really close with him and his agent. Whenever that’s confirmed we will announce it."
Souness dismisses Arsenal title chances
Graeme Souness has named Liverpool as the closest challengers to Manchester City this season - not Arsenal. In his Daily Mail column on Saturday, the former Liverpool captain and manager wrote: "I'll make a bold statement about the Premier League race, which resumes today: Liverpool will finish first or second this season.
"I see a stronger Liverpool. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai appear to understand the demands of playing for the club. Our football needs a challenge to Manchester City's dominance and Liverpool can provide it. They are the biggest threat to Pep Guardiola winning four titles on the trot."
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