Everything feels a bit different around the Emirates right now. If you’ve been refreshing the official Arsenal website news now, you’ve probably noticed the vibe has shifted from "hopeful" to something much more clinical. It's January 13, 2026. The Gunners are sitting at the top of the Premier League and the Champions League tables, which is honestly a sentence I wasn't sure I'd be typing three years ago.
But look, being a Gooner means waiting for the other shoe to drop. Right on cue, the injury list is starting to look like a medical textbook.
Mikel Arteta sat down at the Sobha Realty Training Centre today for his pre-Chelsea presser, and it wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows. We're talking about a massive Carabao Cup semi-final first leg tomorrow, and the squad is basically held together by tape and vibes in certain areas.
The Latest From the Arsenal Website News Now: The Injury Crisis
The big headline hitting the Arsenal website news now involves the defensive line. It's a bit of a mess. Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori are definitely out for the Chelsea trip. Arteta confirmed today that Calafiori’s muscle injury is going to be a "matter of weeks," which is a huge blow considering how much we've relied on his versatility.
Hincapie is more of a mystery. Arteta basically shrugged and said they don't have a timeline yet. That’s never what you want to hear from a manager who usually likes to be in control of every single blade of grass.
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Then you’ve got the 50/50 guys. William Saliba and Leandro Trossard are massive doubts. They both missed the 4-1 thrashing of Portsmouth in the FA Cup over the weekend, and apparently, they aren't "fit enough" just yet. If Saliba doesn't make it, Gabriel is going to have to do some serious heavy lifting against whatever Frank Lampard—sorry, Liam Rosenior (new era at Chelsea, keep up!)—decides to throw at us at the Bridge.
The Kai Havertz Factor
There is one bit of genuine good news, though. Kai Havertz is back. He got a solid 25 minutes against Pompey and looked sharp. Arteta was actually quite glowing about him today, saying he "connects with players naturally." Considering he's returning to his old stomping ground tomorrow, you just know he’s going to be motivated. We’ve missed his spatial awareness, especially with the way Viktor Gyökeres has been playing up top. They sort of balance each other out in a way that’s hard to defend.
Rumors vs. Reality: The January Transfer Window
Whenever you check the Arsenal website news now, you’re looking for those "official" announcements, but the rumor mill is where the real chaos is.
The biggest shocker? The whispers about Vinicius Jr.
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I know, it sounds like FIFA career mode. But with Real Madrid in a bit of a weird spot after Xabi Alonso's exit, there are genuine reports that Arsenal are testing the waters. The catch is they might have to offer Gabriel Martinelli in exchange. It’s one of those deals that feels impossible until it suddenly isn't. Would you trade a fan favorite for a global superstar? It's a tough one, honestly.
On the "definitely staying" side of things, the club has reportedly shut the door on Ben White leaving. He’s fallen behind Jurrien Timber lately, and Everton were sniffing around, but the word from London Colney is that he’s too important for the title run-in to sell now. Smart move. You don't thin out your squad in January when you're hunting four trophies.
Departures we already know about:
- Kieran Tierney: Back to Celtic (free transfer).
- Jorginho: Off to Flamengo.
- Thomas Partey: Joined Villarreal.
The club is clearly clearing the wage bill to make room for someone big. Whether that's Vini Jr. or a mid-season midfield engine remains to be seen.
What the 2026 Schedule Really Looks Like
If you think the Chelsea game is a one-off, look at the calendar. It’s brutal. Following the Carabao Cup semi-final, we’ve got Nottingham Forest in the league, then a massive trip to the San Siro to face Inter Milan in the Champions League on January 20th.
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Then it’s Manchester United at the Emirates on the 25th.
It’s relentless.
This is why the Arsenal website news now is so focused on "squad rotation" and "load management." We saw Max Dowman and Cristhian Mosquera are still weeks away from returning to training, so the youth academy might actually get some more minutes. Keep an eye on Marli Salmon; the kid is 16 and already looks like he belongs in the first team.
Navigating the Official Channels
I’ve seen a lot of people complaining about finding actual ticket info or match replays. If you're looking at the Arsenal website news now, your best bet for the Chelsea game is the "Match Centre." They usually start the live audio about five minutes before kick-off.
If you missed the Portsmouth highlights, they’ve got a 10-minute extended version up. It's worth watching just to see Martinelli’s hat-trick again. He’s playing like a man possessed, which makes those transfer rumors even more painful to read.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the "Late Fitness Test" updates: For the Chelsea game, the official lineup won't be confirmed until 7:00 PM UK time on Wednesday. Don't trust the early "leaks" on social media.
- Watch the Women’s Documentary: The "Only In The Land" series is actually great. It covers the 24/25 Champions League win and gives a lot of insight into the club's winning culture.
- Member Ticket Alerts: If you're looking for the Manchester United home game on Jan 25th, the exchange is your only hope. The official site updates the "Ticket Info" page daily at 10:00 AM.
- The "No More Red" Campaign: The club is doing another push for this. If you want the kit, you usually have to volunteer with one of their community partners—you can't just buy it, which I think is a pretty cool way to do it.
The next few weeks are going to define the season. Between the injuries to the backline and the madness of the transfer window, Mikel Arteta is earning every penny of that contract. Keep an eye on the official site for the Saliba fitness update tomorrow morning. That's the one that changes everything.