Honestly, if you looked at the Premier League table right now, you’d think the vibes at the Emirates were immaculate. Arsenal is sitting seven points clear of Manchester City after the latest round of fixtures. Seven points! In any other era, that’s "plan the parade" territory. But after watching that goalless slog against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground this weekend, there’s a weird tension in the air.
It was frustrating.
Mikel Arteta looked like he’d aged five years in ninety minutes. You’ve got a team that is clearly the best in the country on paper right now, yet they’ve just turned in back-to-back 0-0 draws. First Liverpool at home, then Forest away. For a side that added Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, and Eberechi Eze in a massive summer spree, the lack of a clinical edge is starting to freak people out.
The Forest Frustration and the Penalty That Wasn't
The arsenal football latest news coming out of the Saturday night kickoff is dominated by one thing: Michael Oliver and the VAR room. Arteta was fuming. In his post-match presser, he basically said the PGMOL’s explanation for not awarding a penalty for Ola Aina’s handball was "not right."
Basically, the ball hit Aina’s shoulder and then his hand. The officials called it a "natural position." Arteta called it a robbery.
But let’s be real for a second. While the penalty shout was legitimate, Arsenal had four massive chances to put that game to bed. Gabriel Martinelli missed an open goal from point-blank range. Bukayo Saka had a header saved by Matz Sels that looked like a certain goal. If you want to win the league, you don't leave it to the refs.
✨ Don't miss: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
The gap at the top actually grew because Manchester United did the Gunners a massive favor by beating City in the derby. So, the lead is seven. But with Aston Villa breathing down everyone's necks and a game in hand for some of the chasing pack, that cushion feels a lot thinner than it looks.
Transfer Rumors: Arda Guler and the Serbian Wonderkid
Even though the January window is usually a "quiet" time for big clubs, Arsenal is being linked with some fascinating names. Andrea Berta, the club's sporting director, is clearly looking at the future.
The biggest name circling the rumor mill is Real Madrid’s Arda Guler.
He’s struggling for minutes in Spain, and Arsenal is reportedly "monitoring the conditions" for a move. It makes sense. Arteta loves a technical, versatile midfielder who can play in the half-spaces. If they could pull off an Odegaard-style heist for Guler, the league might as well pack it up.
There's also talk about Vasilije Kostov. He’s a young Serbian talent being compared to Pedri. Honestly, it's a bit early to call him the "next" anyone, but Arsenal’s scouts are seemingly all over Eastern Europe and France right now. They’re also reportedly trying to jump the queue for Ayyoub Bouaddi ahead of PSG.
🔗 Read more: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
Injury Updates: The Saka and Odegaard Situation
We need to talk about the physical toll this season is taking.
Bukayo Saka looked a bit leggy against Forest. Remember, he had that hamstring scare back in August against Leeds. He’s played a ridiculous amount of football. Martin Odegaard, too, has been managing a shoulder issue.
Arteta confirmed there are no "fresh" injury concerns heading into the next week, but he was cagey about rotation. The depth is better than it was last year—Noni Madueke and Ethan Nwaneri have been brilliant when called upon—but the drop-off when the "big two" aren't at 100% is still noticeable.
Current Premier League Top 4 (As of Jan 18, 2026)
- Arsenal: 50 points (22 games)
- Manchester City: 43 points (22 games)
- Aston Villa: 43 points (21 games)
- Liverpool: 36 points (22 games)
Five Fronts: Can They Actually Do It?
The schedule is becoming a total nightmare. Arsenal is currently fighting on five different fronts: the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and the League Cup. Oh, and the Women’s team just beat Aston Villa 2-0 to progress in their FA Cup, so the whole club is basically living on a bus or a plane right now.
In the Champions League, Arsenal is the only team with a 100% record after six games. They’ve already qualified for the knockout stages. They face Inter Milan on January 20th in a game that doesn't "matter" for qualification but matters immensely for momentum.
💡 You might also like: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
If they lose that, and then drop points in the league again, the "bottling" narrative will start up. It’s unfair, but that’s the reality of being top.
What Really Matters Right Now
The most important takeaway from the arsenal football latest news is that the team is defending like titans. They haven't conceded a goal in the league since the turn of the year. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are arguably the best center-back pairing in the world.
The problem is the other end. Viktor Gyokeres has been a revelation since joining from Sporting, but he’s gone through a bit of a dry spell lately. Arteta defended him, saying he’s "very demanding" of himself.
He needs to start hitting the back of the net again, especially with a massive clash against Manchester City looming on the horizon in February.
What You Should Watch For Next
If you're an Arsenal fan, or just someone tracking the title race, keep an eye on these specific points over the next ten days:
- Check the starting lineup for the Inter Milan game on Tuesday. If Arteta plays a full-strength side, he's going for the statement win. If he rotates heavily, he's terrified of the league fatigue.
- Watch the news on Martin Zubimendi’s fitness. He’s the engine that makes the press work, and he looked slightly off the pace at the City Ground.
- Keep an eye on Aston Villa’s result against Everton today. If Villa wins, they move to 46 points and leapfrog City into second place, putting them just four points behind Arsenal.
- Monitor the Arda Guler situation. If Real Madrid signs a replacement, the door for a loan-to-buy deal for the Turkish international opens significantly.
The title is Arsenal's to lose. They have the points, the defense, and the depth. Now they just need to remember how to score a goal.