Honestly, if you’re an Arsenal fan waking up today, you’re probably staring at the Premier League table with a weird mix of vertigo and frustration. On one hand, the Gunners just stretched their lead at the top to seven points. On the other, the goalless draw at Nottingham Forest felt like a massive, clanging missed opportunity. Especially since Manchester United did them a huge favor by thumping Manchester City 2-0 earlier in the day.
Mikel Arteta didn’t hide his mood in the post-match interviews. He was basically simmering. The big talking point lighting up Sky Sport Arsenal news feeds right now isn't just the lack of goals—it’s a controversial handball shout involving Ola Aina that has the Arsenal boss questioning the logic of the PGMOL.
The Penalty That Wasn't and the "Niggle" Nobody Wanted
It was one of those moments that makes you want to throw a remote at the TV. Arteta was adamant that Arsenal were robbed of a clear penalty at the City Ground. According to the boss, Aina used his hand to bring the ball under control in the box. The officials disagreed, claiming the ball hit Aina’s shoulder first, which under the current interpretation often negates a follow-up handball.
Arteta’s response? "The explanation is not right."
He’s not just being difficult for the sake of it. He argued that the "intention" and the subsequent arm action were clear as day. Sean Dyche, predictably, had the opposite view, suggesting we might as well "cancel football" if those are given as spot-kicks. It’s a classic Premier League stalemate where nobody wins and everyone leaves annoyed.
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Then there’s the Bukayo Saka situation.
If you noticed the lineup and did a double-take because Saka was on the bench, you weren't alone. It turns out the 24-year-old was nursing a "niggle" before kickoff. Noni Madueke got the nod instead, but the spark just wasn't there in the first half. Arsenal didn't even register a shot on target before the break. When Saka finally came on in the 57th minute, he almost snatched it with a looping header, but Matz Sels pulled off a save that’ll probably be in his season highlight reel.
The reality is that Arsenal are managing a squad that’s starting to look a bit frayed at the edges.
Tracking the Treatment Room: Who's Actually Fit?
The injury list is becoming a bit of a jigsaw puzzle for the coaching staff. While the "niggle" for Saka sounds minor, other parts of the roster are under real strain.
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- Gabriel Jesus: The news here is grim. He’s out for the season with an ACL injury suffered in that FA Cup loss to Manchester United. It’s a massive blow to the front line's versatility.
- Ben White: He’s been out since November after knee surgery. There was hope he’d be back for Forest, but he didn't even make the trip. Arteta is hopeful for "minutes" before the end of January, but he’s clearly not ready to sprint yet.
- Martin Odegaard: This is the silver lining. The captain is back and "fighting fit," having played through the Forest game, though he looked a bit isolated without his usual partner in crime, Saka, for the first hour.
- Takehiro Tomiyasu: Still the man of mystery. He’s managed about six minutes of football since October and there’s still no firm date for a return.
It’s this thinness at the back that has the Sky Sport Arsenal news transfer blog working overtime. With Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber also managing their own fitness loads, the squad is one or two bad tackles away from a genuine defensive crisis.
January Transfer Rumors: The Hunt for a Defender
Dharmesh Sheth and the crew over at Sky have been dropping hints that Arsenal are actively "monitoring opportunities." It’s not a panic-buy situation yet, but it’s close.
The name that kept popping up was Marc Guehi, but that ship has sailed—he’s seemingly destined for Manchester City. Now, the focus has shifted. Arsenal were heavily linked with Rennes’ 20-year-old Jeremy Jacquet. The kid is a powerhouse, but Chelsea are apparently lurking with a £52 million bid that might price the Gunners out of a "squad depth" move.
Instead, watch out for names like Jaro Reed from Feyenoord or even a cheeky move for Vasilije Kostov from Red Star Belgrade. Arteta wants someone who can cover both center-back and right-back. He’s tired of having to drop Declan Rice into the backline every time someone gets a cramp.
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Oh, and there’s a random financial bonus coming. Remember Nuno Tavares? He’s currently killing it at Lazio and attracting interest from Saudi Arabia and other PL clubs. Arsenal kept a 25% sell-on clause. If he moves this month, it could give Edu a few extra million to play with in the final week of the window.
The New Secret Weapon: Throw-ins?
In a move that sounds like something out of a quirky sports movie, Arsenal have hired Thomas Grønnemark. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the "throw-in guru" who helped Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool become world-beaters.
Arsenal are already the best set-piece team in Europe—24 goals from dead balls this season is an insane stat—but they haven't actually scored from a long throw yet. Arteta is obsessed with "improving every single area," and apparently, the humble throw-in is the next frontier. Declan Rice has been spotted practicing his "long, fast, and clever" throws in training. It sounds marginal, but in a title race where you're drawing 0-0 at Forest, a well-placed throw-in might be the difference between a trophy and a "thanks for playing" medal.
What Happens Next?
The schedule doesn't get any easier. Arsenal have to regroup for a massive clash against Manchester United on January 25th. They also have a trip to Italy to face Inter Milan in the Champions League looming.
To stay on top, they need to do three things immediately:
- Wrap Saka in cotton wool. He is the "franchise player," and without him at 100%, the attack looks static.
- Make a decision on a defender. Relying on Thomas Partey or Declan Rice to fill in at the back is a recipe for a mid-February burnout.
- Find the "killer" instinct again. Back-to-back 0-0 draws (Liverpool and Forest) have slowed a momentum that looked unstoppable in December.
Check the latest injury reports on Friday morning before setting your FPL teams—Saka’s status for the United game will be the only thing anyone is talking about at the Sobha Realty Training Centre this week.