Winning feels like a habit until it isn't. Arsenal fans heading home from the City Ground on Saturday night probably felt a weird mix of frustration and "well, at least we didn't lose." It was a slog. A 0-0 stalemate against a gritty Nottingham Forest side that, let's be honest, Sean Dyche has turned into a brick wall. This is the arsenal fc news now that everyone is chewing over: the Gunners are still top of the Premier League, sitting on 50 points after 22 games, but the gap is shrinking. With Manchester City losing the derby to United earlier that day, the door was wide open to go nine points clear. Instead, it’s a six-point lead that feels a bit more fragile than it did a week ago.
Mikel Arteta looked like a man trying to solve a Rubik's cube in the dark during his post-match comments. He’s juggling a squad that is clearly feeling the burn of a 32-game season already. The big talking point? Bukayo Saka. Seeing the star man on the bench was a shock to the system, but Arteta was blunt about it—Saka had a "niggle" and has played a massive amount of minutes. He came on in the 57th minute for Noni Madueke and almost snatched it with a header, but Matz Sels pulled off one of those "only against Arsenal" saves.
The Transfer Movement: Zinchenko Out, Who is In?
While the on-pitch action was a bit of a yawn, the backroom stuff is heating up. We’ve got some actual movement. Arsenal have reportedly struck a deal with Ajax to loan out Oleksandr Zinchenko until the end of the season. It makes sense. He’s been on loan at Nottingham Forest, barely playing, and he’s out of contract this summer. Jorge Mendes is moving the pieces, and it looks like Amsterdam is the destination.
But what about the incoming side? The pursuit of Marc Guehi is officially dead—Manchester City won that race. It stings, sure. However, the scouting department hasn't just gone home. The word around London Colney is that Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt and Ousmane Diomande from Sporting are the new primary targets. Diomande is a beast, but he won't be cheap. Arsenal need defensive depth because, quite frankly, the injury list is starting to look like a medical journal.
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The Injury Crisis at Left-Back
If you're looking for the Achilles' heel of this squad right now, look at the left side of the defense. Riccardo Calafiori is still out with a muscle issue and isn't expected back until February. Piero Hincapie, who was brought in to cover, then went and did his groin against Liverpool.
This has left Arteta in a real bind. He’s been playing Jurrien Timber out of position or relying on Myles Lewis-Skelly, though it's pretty clear the boss doesn't fully trust the youngster for the high-stakes games yet. There’s a slim chance Hincapie could make the Manchester United game on January 25th, but rushing a groin injury is a recipe for a three-month disaster.
Current Injury Status and Returns:
- Bukayo Saka: Just a niggle. Expect him to start against Inter Milan.
- Piero Hincapie: Groin strain. Target return is late January.
- Riccardo Calafiori: Muscle injury. Looking at early February.
- Max Dowman: Ankle injury. Out until mid-February.
Champions League: The San Siro Test
Forget the domestic draw for a second. Arsenal are flying in Europe. Six games, six wins. 18 points. They are the only team in the Champions League with a perfect record right now. But Tuesday night at the San Siro against Inter Milan is a different beast entirely.
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Inter are sitting sixth in the UCL table and they are notoriously difficult to break down at home. If Arsenal play with the same lethargy they showed against Forest, they’ll get caught. Viktor Gyokeres, who finally broke his open-play goal drought against Chelsea recently, needs to be more than just a physical presence. He’s scored five in the league, but in Europe, he’s been the catalyst.
What This Means for the Title Race
Is it time to panic? No. Arsenal have 50 points. City have 43. Aston Villa are also on 43 and could close the gap if they beat Everton. The reality is that Arsenal’s underlying numbers are still elite. They’ve only conceded 14 goals in 22 league games. David Raya is playing the best football of his career, and the Saliba-Gabriel partnership is still the gold standard.
The problem is the "draw-itis" that has crept in. Goalless draws against Liverpool and Forest back-to-back suggest the final-third creativity is flagging without a fully fit Saka or a firing Martinelli. Martinelli missed a sitter on Saturday that he would have tucked away with his eyes closed last season.
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Actionable Steps for the Coming Week
If you're following the arsenal fc news now, keep your eyes on these three specific developments over the next 48 to 72 hours:
- Monitor the Zinchenko Announcement: Once the Ajax loan is official, it usually signals that Arsenal are clearing space—either in the squad list or the wage bill—for a late January incoming.
- Watch the Lineup in Milan: If Saka starts on Tuesday, the "niggle" was truly minor. If he’s on the bench again, there is a deeper concern about his availability for the Manchester United clash.
- The Diomande Rumors: Look for movement regarding Ousmane Diomande. If Sporting starts lining up replacements, Arsenal are likely in "advanced" territory rather than just "scouting."
The next ten days will define the season. A win in Milan secures a top-seed spot for the knockouts, and a win against United at the Emirates would silence the doubters who think the wheels are falling off. This isn't a collapse; it's a mid-winter grind. Every champion goes through it.