Arsenal are in yet another rough patch. In truth, this season has been full of them. After the brief period of being overshadowed by red cards and discipline, we are now in the injuries and set-pieces spot.
Only for flashes have Mikel Arteta's men really hit tip-top form. That has rarely been extended beyond a couple of games. The return from the international break at the end of last month promised to be a springboard but back-to-back draws at the hands of Fulham and Everton have dented the confidence.
Questions are now being asked of Arsenal heading towards the January transfer window. Arteta has struggled to get his squad scoring regularly from open play for a while now - and the pressure is firmly on with Chelsea coming from nowhere to mount a serious charge at the top of the Premier League table.
Here, football.london brings you the latest around the club;
Joao Pedro interest
Arsenal have joined the group of clubs interested in signing Brighton striker Joao Pedro next year. He is expected to cost over £58million with Fabian Hurtzeler's side willing to play hard ball over their key forward.
Pedro has scored four league goals this season from 10 matches, assisting three, and is a versatile option able to play across the frontline. He only moved to the South Coast from Watford 18 months ago but has impressed ever since, scoring nine under Roberto De Zerbi last year, too.
Now generating attention from across Europe, Arsenal are described as being alongside Liverpool - the current favourites to land him - as well as Manchester City and Chelsea in watching Pedro. Liverpool could make a play in January to get an advantage over their rivals.
football.london says: Arsenal need a new attacker in January so looking towards Pedro makes a lot of sense. Would they be able to splash on him mid-season, though? Given the level of expenditure when needed in the last two winter windows, it would certainly be a surprise.
Pedro is worth it, regardless. He can operate as a striker - as well as either side on the wings. He is able to drop deep to link up play and create for himself as well as others and is the all-round package. Arsenal could do with someone that answers more direct questions, though.
Kai Havertz has not yet shown the consistency to be a top-level striker, and he's not a No.10 either. Too much reliance is on Bukayo Saka to provide from the right, while Martin Odegaard has not been allowed to settle in gently due to demands on his own spot.
Pedro would ease the workload for both of them, but he still isn't the Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak, or Victor Osimhen-type that Arsenal really lack at centre-forward. Pedro feels more like an Arsenal signing than the others but the profile isn't necessarily right for them.
Raheem Sterling to stay
Despite playing just 356 minutes (excluding stoppage time), Raheem Sterling has zero interest in leaving Arsenal next month. It is reported the 30-year-old wants to remain in north London on his season-long loan from Chelsea.
Sterling has been unused in the past three games by Arteta and is not a Premier League regular, starting just two games since his deadline day arrival. His only goal came in a League Cup tie against League One side Bolton.
Chelsea are thought to be paying a substantial amount of Sterling's wages, something that helped convince Arsenal to take the plunge on a player lacking form or spark. He is not keen on a return to Stamford Bridge prematurely, though. Chelsea signed him for £45million in the summer 2022 window and will not be making any sort of return on that as well as having him on enormous money.
football.london says: Sterling can maybe look across London a little ruefully as he sees a bunch of young, hungry players at Chelsea enjoying themselves under Maresca. But he didn't force this situation - it must be remembered. Maresca himself left Sterling out of the matchday squad for August's season opener.
The aim, presumably, from Arsenal's side, was to see him have a Jorginho-like impact. Even if not used to start, Sterling has the experience to see matches out and help act as a senior figure. He is hardly being picked in Europe either, which shows just how out of the frame he is.
In recent matches he has been left on the bench even as Arsenal were chasing victories. That says a lot. Arsenal aren't really benefitting him and will surely look to add to their ranks anyway in January. The decision might be taken out of Sterling's hands if they find a player worth signing. Chelsea won't relish that option.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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