Evening Standard
·14. Dezember 2024
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·14. Dezember 2024
Gunners must return to winning ways in Premier League
Arsenal know only a win will do as they host Everton in the Premier League this afternoon. A draw to Fulham last weekend means the Gunners sit six points behind Liverpool having played a game more, and they must now put together a run over Christmas to ensure they at least stay in touch.
Mikel Arteta’s side eased to victory over Monaco in midweek to continue their strong Champions League campaign and the focus now shifts back to domestic matters. Gabriel returns in defence in what is a major boost, but Riccardo Calafiori is still not fit so Myles Lewis-Skelly continues at left-back.
It is ten days since Everton last played, after the Merseyside derby last week was postponed. Sean Dyche’s side beat Wolves 4-0 in their most recent match in what was one of their best displays of the season, form they will hope to carry into this match. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog, featuring expert analysis from Simon Collings at the ground!
Live updates
8 minutes ago
Mikel Arteta confirmed earlier this week that Arsenal are ready to be active in the January transfer window if their injury issues do not ease.
The Spaniard, however, is not expecting lots of business, although the club will be open to market opportunities.
“I never expect January to be super busy but we have to wait and see where we are,” said Arteta.
“Some surprises can come, we are prepared for that. Some opportunities, too. We have to see. Hopefully the availability of the squad will be better in a few weeks. We have to wait and see.”
Mike Egerton/PA Wire
21 minutes ago
Big blow for Everton to be without Dwight McNeil this afternoon.
Ten days since the Toffees last played, but McNeil has picked up a knee issue since then.
27 minutes ago
Players who pick up five yellow cards in the first 19 Premier League matches of the season will receive a one-match ban. The threshold for a suspension after that point in the campaign is raised to 10 bookings after 32 matches.
Arsenal’s match against Brentford on New Year’s Day is the final game in which suspensions will be handed out for a fifth yellow card.
Gabriel Jesus, despite only starting twice in the Premier League this season, has picked up four bookings and so is just one more away from picking up a ban.
More of a concern to Arteta will be that Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are among those on three. Should either of them pick up two yellow cards across matches against Everton, Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Brentford, they will be suspended.
Jorginho and Jurrien Timber also have three to their name as it stands, with the likes of Kai Havertz, David Raya and William Saliba having more breathing room on two.
Four yellow cards: Gabriel Jesus
Three yellow cards: Jorginho, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
38 minutes ago
Another chance for Mikel Merino to prove he is ready to partner Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice midfield...
46 minutes ago
Big news for Arsenal is that Gabriel is fit to start, that’s a huge boost in defence.
Calafiori still not available, so Lewis-Skelly makes his first Premier League start, having impressed against Monaco in midweek.
Rice, Merino and Odegaard is again the midfield trio, with Martinelli getting the nod on the left wing.
REUTERS
49 minutes ago
Everton XI: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure, Harrison, Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Beto, O’Brien, Broja, Coleman, Lindstrom, Armstrong
51 minutes ago
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Partey, Jorginho, Trossard, Nwaneri, Sterling, Jesus
1 hour ago
It’s fairly cold still but the sun is shining over north London this afternoon.
All the team news coming up from the Emirates in the next ten minutes or so.
Focus is on who Arsenal have fit in defence...
1 hour ago
In his programme notes this afternoon, Martin Odegaard writes about his relationship with Bukayo Saka both on an off the pitch, with that key to Arsenal’s upturn in form in recent weeks.
“Bukayo scored two more goals on Wednesday, and he’s in great form right now,” Odegaard says.
“Like all of us, he’s growing and learning all the time as he gets older. It’s a real pleasure to play with him, he keeps proving himself on the pitch and is becoming a leader as well.
“We’ve played together for a long time now, close to each other on the right side of the pitch, so we know each other well. We have a great connection on the pitch, and also off it we are good friends.
“I think that’s the case for a lot of the players in the team – we are really close off the pitch as well, and that helps us find those connections and understand each other when we’re playing.”
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
1 hour ago
It says plenty about Dan Ashworth’s standing in the game that he has not been out of work even a week and already the links to new jobs have started, writes Simon Collings.
Ashworth’s departure from Manchester United was confirmed last Sunday in a 41-word statement after he spent just five months as the club’s sporting director.
No reason was given for Ashworth’s sudden exit, although United said the decision was “mutual”.
It was only in February that Sir Jim Ratcliffe hailed Ashworth as “clearly one of the top sporting directors in the world” and this swift exit will have raised some red flags.
But it should not detract from Ashworth’s impressive body of work, which includes successful stints at Brighton, Newcastle, the FA and West Brom.
That is clearly a viewed shared by others and Ashworth has already been touted for roles at Arsenal and Everton.
The links to Arsenal come as no surprise given Ashworth worked with the club’s managing director, Richard Garlick, over a decade ago when the pair were at West Brom.
Ashworth’s career path suggests he could adapt and slot into what has become a very slick executive team at Arsenal.
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