Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League table has been cut and Mikel Arteta has decisions to make over his squad with injuries mounting and the January transfer window approaching
07:50, 10 Nov 2025
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are now just four points clear of Manchester City
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Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are now just four points clear of Manchester City
Arsenal let a 2-1 lead slip against Sunderland to draw 2-2 on Saturday night, before Manchester City beat Liverpool on Sunday to cut the Gunners' lead at the top of the Premier League table to just four points.
In better news, the North London giants have finally welcomed back Gabriel Jesus after a gruelling 10-month stretch on the sidelines. The 28-year-old Brazilian returned to training this week following his recovery from an ACL injury sustained in January. Jesus' return coincides with Viktor Gyokeres' injury, with the Swede currently nursing a hamstring issue and missing the draw with the Black Cats.
During Jesus' absence, Mikel Arteta has significantly bolstered Arsenal's attack, making competition for places as fierce as it's ever been during his tenure at the Emirates Stadium. This competitive spirit seems to have fostered a winning environment in North London, with the Gunners marking their sixth consecutive week as Premier League front-runners.
Ahead of the international break, Arteta firmly blocks a potential transfer of one of his stars and we take a look at Arsene Wenger's efforts to ignite Romeo Beckham's defiance against his father, David. Here's all the latest news from the Emirates.
£30m star move
Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal during a training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on January 11, 2025 in London Colney, England.
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Gabriel Jesus is finally back training with the first team(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal have benefited from enhanced squad depth this campaign, despite enduring lengthy spells without Kai Havertz and Jesus through injury.
Nevertheless, their substitutes' bench is poised for reinforcement with the Brazilian's return, having completed his first training session this week since sustaining an ACL injury in January's clash with Manchester United.
The 28-year-old is among numerous attacking choices but finds himself trailing Viktor Gyokeres and possibly Mikel Merino in the pecking order for the striker role.
Mikel Arteta was far from pleased by his Arsenal's side performance against Sunderland
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Mikel Arteta was far from pleased by his Arsenal's side performance against Sunderland(Image: (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images))
Everton have been touted with a £30million January swoop for Jesus, yet any potential winter move is expected to be vetoed by the Spanish manager, who has a decision to make.
When questioned about Jesus's long-term future at Arsenal, speaking to the club's official website, Arteta emphasised his intention to retain Jesus given the injury crisis plaguing their attacking ranks.
He declared: "Yes, because we haven't had [our forwards] and now we don't have Viktor and we haven't had Kai again for three months or many other forwards. Unfortunately, that's becoming something that consistently happens, so we need those options and what an option to have with Gabi."
Famous Arsenal fan
David Beckham and Romeo Beckham
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David Beckham and Romeo Beckham(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
It seems almost unthinkable for a Manchester United legend to have a son who not only doesn't support the Red Devils, but instead is a fan of their big rivals, Arsenal.
However, that is the reality in the Beckham household, with David and Victoria's second son, Romeo, being a staunch supporter of the Gunners.
The England icon can direct his ire at Wenger, who was entirely responsible for Romeo's fandom for the North London side, as David revealed during an interview with former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand, reports the Mirror.
Speaking on Ferdinand's YouTube channel, Beckham spilled the beans on how Wenger cast his spell, revealing: "He was really young and we were in London one Friday and he was like, 'Dad let's go to a game this weekend'.
"So I started to look at the fixtures and I was like 'uh, Arsenal are at home'. So I thought, do you know what, they're always really nice to me when I go down to watch United and Arsenal, and I thought okay, they'll look after us, there won't be any hassle getting in.
"No hassle, sat there. So we walked in, amazing seats. Sat in the director's box. Lunch was unbelievable before the game - it was like wagyu, full on, everything.
"So we walk in, I'm sat there and then Arsene walks in the room and he comes straight over to the table, introduces himself to Romeo, and he says 'come with me son'.
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"So he takes him down to the changing room, meets all the players, gives him a shirt, signed, takes him onto the pitch, walks him back up to the table and then gives him an Arsenal cashmere scarf, and that was it. It was done.
"I've tried to change his mind since but impossible."