The latest Arsenal news ahead of Sunday's all-important north London derby
Eberechi Eze is greeted by Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta before he signs for Arsenal at Sobha Realty Training Centre on August 23, 2025 in London Colney, England.
Mikel Arteta will need Eberechi Eze for the title run-in(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Arsenal have arguably the most important games of the season coming up when they face Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby this weekend with their Premier League lead at risk. The Gunners dropped points for the second consecutive game on Wednesday after Wolves scored a 94th-minute equaliser to end the game 2-2.
This slip-up has allowed Manchester City the opportunity to close the gap at the top to just two points on Saturday night when they face Newcastle United at home. Arsenal will not play until Sunday afternoon and should City claim the three points, they will be faced with a must-win derby against Tottenham.
However, Mikel Arteta has urged his team to harness the "pain" from the Wolves draw to push for the Premier League title. He said: "We need to go through the pain and go through it looking in the mirror and understand what the game requires now and the next action is Sunday.
"We need to keep all that in our tummies to show it on Sunday."
Mikel Arteta exit prediction made
Alan Shearer has predicted Arteta will leave Arsenal if they don't win the Premier League title this season. Despite leading the pack for most of the 2025/26 campaign, the Gunners have wobbled a few times in recent weeks and have allowed City to claw back the points deficit at the top of the table.
Shearer has still put his money on Arsenal to top the table in May but admits it won't be easy. Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, he said: "They’ll probably still win it, just.
"I never expected Arsenal to do it the easy way, I always knew there were going to be bumps and everything else, nervy times.
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 18, 2026 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
Mikel Arteta has been told he'll be SACKED by Arsenal if they don't win the league(Image: Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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"People are going to be chucking questions and bombs and you have to get over that. I did expect this to happen. Let’s see what they are made of.
"If he doesn’t win the league he might not be at Arsenal. After the chances they have had to win it and finishing second, with what they have spent on the players they have got and the positions they are in, they have to win it."
Regarding the north London derby, Shearer believes this tense match has come at the right time for Arsenal. He added: "I think if you need a game after what has happened then it is not a bad one to have in your local rivals.
"I know they have a new manager and it is away, but what a response it would be to go and win at Tottenham at the weekend."
Eberechi Eze's Arteta verdict
Eberechi Eze of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 18, 2026 in Wolverhampton, England.
Eberechi Eze wasn't nervous around Arteta(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Eberechi Eze admits he had no fear in returning to Arsenal in the summer thanks to a helpful conversation with Arteta. Discussing his transfer in an interview with Men in Blazers, the 27-year-old stated he was more than aware of his new manager and was looking forward to working under him.
Eze said: "I spoke to him previously so I already knew the type of character he was and it was very cool. So I knew that’s the type of conversation I could have."
Praising Arteta's character, he added: "He’s an honest guy, he’s straight, he says it how it is. If I’m honest, I wasn’t too nervous."
Arsenal will hope Eze will bring his best for the title run-in after scoring just four goals and assisting twice in 21 Premier League appearances since his return.
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