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🚨Gary Neville on William Saliba’s return from injury and what it means for Ezri Konsa: 🗣️“Saliba has been the best defender in the world for the past three years. There’s no doubt about that. His return is brilliant news for Arsenal, but there’s an interesting situation with Ezri Konsa. Konsa has been fantastic. He’s partnered Gabriel Magalhães in Saliba’s absence and, in my opinion, has barely put a foot wrong. He’s been solid, composed, aggressive when needed and very comfortable on the ball. What does Mikel Arteta do? Bring Saliba straight back and leave Konsa out? That’s difficult because Konsa hasn’t done anything to deserve being dropped. You can’t ignore performances like that. But Saliba is Saliba. He’s an outstanding defender, probably the best in the world, and when fully fit, you’d expect him to play. That’s football. Arsenal face a ridiculous number of games this season across the Premier League, Champions League and domestic cups. You can’t expect the same two centre-backs to play every match if you’re serious about winning trophies. Konsa becomes really important. He’s not just a centre-back; he can play right-back too, giving Arteta another option. He’s the sort of player every top manager wants – he can come in, do a job and the team doesn’t lose quality. This could be a blessing for Arsenal. Saliba doesn’t have to play every three days, Konsa gets the minutes his performances deserve, and Arteta has two very good options. You need competition to win the biggest trophies. This isn’t a problem for Arsenal – it’s a massive strength. They’ve got one of the best defenders in world football coming back and another who has been excellent in his absence. That’s a very good position for Mikel Arteta.”

🚨🇨🇿 Slavia Prague head coach Jindřich Trpišovský on facing Arsenal: 🗣️ Reporter: “Jindřich, you’re preparing to face Arsenal. How do you assess this team, and what challenge do you expect?” 🗣️ Jindřich Trpišovský: “This is a completely different game for me. Arsenal are arguably the best club in the world right now, alongside PSG and Bayern Munich. Watch them play and you see how difficult they are. They have the best defence in the world: organised, physically strong and disciplined, making chances extremely hard. What makes them more dangerous is they punish you in so many ways. You cannot just defend against Arsenal; they hurt you through possession, quick transitions, individual quality, crosses and counter-attacks. World-class players in every position mean one mistake costs you. This team knows how to win. They are Premier League champions for a reason, with the confidence and mentality that shows. They do not rely on one style; they adapt and find different ways to win. We know what awaits us and respect Arsenal enormously. It will be incredibly difficult, but these are the matches you want as a coach. We must be brave, stay organised and give everything, because against Arsenal you cannot afford mistakes.”

🚨🇫🇷 Thierry Henry on Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool: 🗣️“First of all, what a performance from the boys. Winning at Anfield for the first time in 14 years is special, especially while restricting Liverpool to zero shots on target. That was a champions’ performance. Arsenal fans need to embrace this football. Don’t let Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool or other fanbases make you question it. Ignore the noise. Some aren’t used to Arsenal dominating games, defending so well and competing at this level. They can’t bully Arsenal anymore, and that frustrates them. People talk about attacking football, but attack wins games and defence wins titles. This team understands both. They can hurt you going forward, yet defensively they are on another level – the best defence in Europe right now. Look at the mentality, organisation, discipline and quality. Controlling a game at Anfield isn’t something every team can do. I’m genuinely impressed. This side knows what it takes to win trophies, and performances like this are why Arsenal are the champions. What a team!”

🚨 Mohamed Salah on Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield and why he believes they could win back-to-back Premier League titles: 🗣️ Mohamed Salah: “I was watching the game with Firmino and honestly, we were both shocked by how good Arsenal have become, especially defensively. There was a time when we played against Arsenal and we could score three or four goals without too much difficulty. But look at them now. Liverpool couldn’t even register a single shot on target against them at Anfield. That tells you everything about how far they have come. They showed exactly why they won the Premier League last season. They are no longer a team you can dominate or simply walk through. They have quality in every position, they defend together, they fight for every ball and they know how to win difficult games. I have to be honest, after watching that performance, I don’t see many teams in this league capable of competing with Arsenal right now. They have everything required to defend their title. If they continue playing like this, I genuinely believe Arsenal will win the Premier League again and become back-to-back champions.”

🚨🇪🇸 Andoni Iraola on Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Anfield: 🗣️“Watching Arsenal from outside, you might think they’re easy to face, but you only realise how tough they are when you play them. At Anfield, in front of our fans, we didn’t register a single shot on target. That says everything. I can’t remember the last time we failed to shoot on target at Anfield. Arsenal completely limited our attack. Their defensive organisation is incredible, they close spaces quickly, know when to press or drop, and defend as a unit. For me, they have the best defence in world football right now. We wanted to win, create chances and pressure them, but they made everything difficult. Credit to Mikel Arteta; his work is clear. They’re well coached, every player knows his role, and they give nothing for free. Massive credit to Arsenal. They played like champions at Anfield—confident, organised, showing why they won the Premier League last season. They’re probably a top-three team in world football and one of the toughest opponents. We must accept the defeat, learn and improve. No excuses. Facing Arsenal shows the level required. They were excellent and fully deserved the three points.”

🚨 Gary Neville on Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield: 🗣️“That was a champions’ performance from Arsenal. They went to Anfield, one of the hardest grounds in English football, and didn’t concede a single shot on target. Liverpool created no clear chances; Arsenal controlled the game defensively and showed why they are the Premier League champions. Credit to the players and Mikel Arteta. Winning at Anfield for the first time in 14 years is huge, and the way they did it makes it more impressive. This team knows how to win difficult games even when the atmosphere is against them. I’ve seen Liverpool fans complaining about the foul on Isak. He didn’t go down, and the referee and VAR had no reason to treat it as a potential penalty. You can’t spend the whole game complaining about one incident when your team didn’t create enough chances. Liverpool had moments, but Arsenal defended brilliantly, stayed organised and did what champions do. They came to Anfield, won 1-0 with a clean sheet and deserved the victory. Looking at how Arsenal are playing, I don’t see any team competing with them for the title. They have quality, depth, a world-class manager and the mentality to win these games. If they keep this up, I believe Arsenal will win the league again. They look a level above right now.”

🚨Jurriën Timber on his altercation with Alexis Mac Allister during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield: 🎙️ Reporter: “Jurriën, there was a heated moment between you and Mac Allister after his confrontation with Ødegaard. What happened, and what did you say to him?” 🗣️Jurriën Timber: “I wasn’t going to let that go. He fouled Martin Ødegaard and then hit him in the head. I confronted him because you cannot behave like that and expect no reaction. “When I approached him, he shouted at me. I told him, ‘This is a different Arsenal. We are the Premier League champions, and you cannot bully us anymore. Those days are gone.’ “He then tried to provoke Noni Madueke, seemingly wanting him sent off. I told him to his face that he was behaving like a coward. Say it to me if you have something to say. Don’t try to get other players into trouble. “We knew how difficult this game would be. Their side was confident beforehand, and Mac Allister talked as if they would beat us. Football isn’t played in interviews. Prove it on the pitch. “I’m proud of this team. We showed courage, character and discipline. Anfield is tough, but we stood our ground and took the three points. “We are happy with the victory. We beat Liverpool at Anfield, kept a clean sheet and showed why we are the champions. Let them talk before the game. We prefer to do our talking on the pitch.”

🚨🇭🇺 Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai on facing Arsenal: 🗣️ Reporter: “Dominik, the last time you faced Arsenal at Anfield, you questioned whether they were really champions. What do you make of them now, especially after they won the Premier League last season?” 🗣️ Dominik Szoboszlai: “I remember saying we weren’t playing the champions then because the Premier League isn’t easy—you don’t win it by January, and Arsenal hadn’t done enough yet. They proved me wrong by winning the title. Now they’re the team everyone must compete against and deserve respect. Arsenal are one of the best clubs in the world: competitive, quality in every position, and hard to play against. Arteta has built a side that wins in different ways. People saying they only score from set pieces make me laugh. Most of their goals this season come from open play. That shows their level. They score from set pieces, possession, counters, and many other ways. They’re not one-dimensional. We face the champions and no one at Liverpool underestimates them. To beat Arsenal, you must be at your best or they’ll punish you.”

🚨🇳🇱 Virgil van Dijk on facing Arsenal: 🗣️ Reporter: “Virgil, you’re preparing to face Arsenal. What do you make of this team, especially after last season’s criticism that they relied too heavily on set pieces?” 🗣️ Virgil van Dijk: “Arsenal are an incredible team. Last season, many said they depended too much on set pieces and that most goals came from dead-ball situations. This season, I don’t see that at all. They’re scoring many goals from open play, creating chances in different ways and showing great quality going forward. They’re one of the best teams in the world right now. They have quality all over the pitch, a very strong defence and players who can hurt you in many ways. They’re extremely difficult to play against because they control games, press you and punish the smallest mistakes. We’re talking about the Premier League champions. You don’t become champions without something special, and Arsenal have shown that consistently. They have a very good manager in Mikel Arteta, a clear identity and a squad that understands exactly what’s expected. This isn’t the Arsenal of six or seven years ago. It’s a completely different team. They have developed, matured and can compete with the very best in Europe. It will be a very tough game. Playing Arsenal is always a big challenge, especially at the level they’re at now. We must be at our absolute best; give them too much space or time and they will make you pay.”

🚨🇬🇷 Christos Tzolis reveals what Mikel Arteta told him after his hamstring injury during the international break: 🗣️ Christos Tzolis: “I was really disappointed when I picked up the hamstring injury. I’d been looking forward to playing and suddenly faced missing important games. But Mikel called and immediately made me feel better. He told me not to panic or rush back. Injuries are part of football; recover properly, listen to the medical team and return only when fully fit. The club would support me and I shouldn’t feel I had to prove anything by hurrying. That conversation meant a lot because he showed he cared. I’m now back in training, feeling good and working hard. Hopefully I’ll be in the squad against Liverpool on Sunday and available to help the team.”

🚨 BREAKING: The Premier League are reportedly preparing to take their toughest possible action against Manchester City, with RELEGATION now being considered as a punishment following the club being found guilty of 115 financial charges. According to reports, senior Premier League executives believe that a transfer ban and points deduction would not be enough to reflect the seriousness of the case. There are growing discussions about whether Manchester City should be relegated from the Premier League at the end of this season. If the decision goes ahead, City could find themselves playing Championship football next season, facing one of the biggest punishments in English football history. This could completely change the Premier League landscape, with serious consequences for Manchester City, their players and the future of the club. After dominating English football for so many years, imagine Manchester City being forced to start next season in the Championship. This could be a season they will never forget. 😳

🚨🇪🇸 Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola on facing Arsenal: 🗣️ Reporter: “Andoni, you’re facing Arsenal. What do you make of this team, especially with some people questioning whether they play entertaining football?” 🗣️ Andoni Iraola: “Honestly, whenever I see people questioning Arsenal’s style or saying they don’t play entertaining football, I just laugh. People don’t fully understand how good this team is. They can match any style: entertaining football, possession dominance, or an open attacking game. They have the quality, intelligence and technical ability to compete in any way. Look at how they played Bayern Munich in the Champions League. That was a statement. They went toe-to-toe with one of Europe’s biggest clubs, controlled the game, created chances and made life difficult for the best teams. Arsenal are not just a very good Premier League team. They are one of the best clubs in the world, alongside PSG and Bayern Munich. They have an incredible squad, a top manager in Mikel Arteta and a clear identity. They are strong defensively, dangerous going forward and extremely difficult to play against. People can have their opinions, but facing Arsenal shows the level they are at. They are a serious team, and you must be at your absolute best to get anything against them. We know the challenge and will have to be brave, disciplined and take our opportunities, because Arsenal will punish mistakes.”

🚨 Jamie Carragher on Max Dowman’s red card against Fleetwood: 🗣️“I’ve watched the incident repeatedly and still cannot see how it is a red card. The more I watch, the more I believe Arsenal are officiated differently. Dowman reacted and shouldn’t have kicked out, but the Fleetwood player’s challenge was dangerous and left him frustrated. That’s a yellow at most, not a straight red. I don’t believe the referee would have sent off a player from another club for the same incident. If it had happened to a Manchester City, Liverpool or Chelsea player, would we even be discussing it? I don’t think so. Football requires consistency. Different decisions for the same incident create frustration. Max Dowman is young and still learning, but a straight red feels incredibly harsh. I’ve watched it over and over and still don’t see a red card. Arsenal have every right to feel aggrieved; the referee got this badly wrong.”

🚨 Gary Neville on Max Dowman’s red card against Fleetwood: 🗣️ “I have to be honest, I don’t think that’s a red card. The Fleetwood player went into that challenge dangerously, and it looked like he could have seriously injured the boy. Dowman reacted and kicked out slightly, which obviously wasn’t the right thing to do, but for me, that’s a yellow card at most. The referee was far too harsh. We’ve seen similar situations before. Cole Palmer did something similar to Matheus Fernandes against Tottenham and received a yellow card. So why is this one being treated differently? You have to consider the entire situation, not just Dowman’s reaction. He’s a young player, and while he needs to learn how to handle these moments, I don’t believe that incident deserved a straight red card. If Arsenal appeal the decision, I genuinely think they have a strong chance of winning. In my opinion, the red card should be overturned, and Dowman shouldn’t have to serve a suspension for it.”

🚨 Max Dowman on his red card against Fleetwood: 🎙️ Reporter: “Do you think the red card was a fair decision, and what did Mikel Arteta say to you afterwards?” 🗣️ Max Dowman: “Honestly, I thought it was a harsh decision. I felt the Fleetwood player came straight for my leg and was going to seriously hurt me. I reacted out of frustration, but I still don’t think it should have been a red card. Mikel spoke to me afterwards and was very professional. He said these are the kinds of challenges young players face as they gain experience. He reminded me that football is not just about what you do with the ball, but also how you handle difficult moments and control your emotions. I was disappointed to leave my teammates in that situation. The manager and other players supported me and helped me understand what I could learn. I’m still young, and these experiences will help me grow. I have to learn from this, move on and handle things better next time.”

🚨 Mikel Arteta opens up on his conversation with Max Dowman after his red card against Fleetwood: 🎙️ Reporter: “We saw you speaking to Max as he walked down the tunnel. What did you say to him, and how do you feel about the situation?” 🗣️ Arteta: “It was a painful moment. I spoke to him as he went down the tunnel and admit I was very angry. In the heat of the game, emotions can take over. Looking back, I could have handled it better, but I was frustrated. “Bukayo Saka is injured, Noni is not fully fit, and we have few wing options, especially on the right. Every player matters, so losing another in that position is frustrating. But that’s no excuse for my reaction. I must be fair to Max. “He’s very young and can’t get everything right yet. He has incredible talent, wants to learn, and has the right attitude. He made a mistake and knows it. We’ll discuss it, analyse what happened, and he’ll learn for next time. “I don’t want one mistake to define him. He has much to learn, like any young player, and our job is to help him improve. We believe in him and what he brings. He’ll learn from this and has a bright future at the club.”

🚨🇪🇸 Pep Guardiola on Luis de la Fuente winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or Men’s Coach of the Year award: 🗣️ “With all due respect to Luis de la Fuente, I think Mikel Arteta should have won it. I have nothing against Luis, but when you look at what Mikel has achieved with Arsenal, you have to ask yourself what more a manager needs to do. “Arsenal won the Premier League last season, reached the Champions League final and showed incredible consistency throughout the campaign. Mikel has built a team that can compete with anyone in Europe, and the work he has done deserves to be recognised. “I know international football is different, and Luis de la Fuente has done a good job with Spain, but we are talking about the best coach of the year. For me, what Mikel has achieved at club level puts him ahead. “I respect the decision, but if I had a vote, I would give it to Mikel Arteta. He has done an extraordinary job, and I honestly believe he deserved to win this award.”

🚨🇪🇸 Iker Casillas on Unai Simón winning the 2026 Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award: 🗣️ “I have to be honest, Unai Simón is a very good goalkeeper, but David Raya deserved this award more. You cannot call someone the best goalkeeper in the world based on a few World Cup performances alone. Raya won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final. Unai Simón had a good World Cup, but are we really going to ignore an entire season of football because of eight games? If the award is based mainly on the World Cup, then why not just call it the World Cup Goalkeeper of the Year? Simón didn’t even win La Liga’s Best Goalkeeper award or make the Team of the Season. And if winning the World Cup is enough to decide individual awards, then why didn’t Lamine Yamal win the Ballon d’Or? You have to be consistent. These awards should recognise a player’s performances across the season, not just a few weeks at one tournament.”

🚨 BREAKING: The leaked Ballon d’Or Top 10 rankings have emerged, with Kylian Mbappé reportedly crowned the winner. 🏆🇫🇷 The football world is NOT ready for this one. 👀