The four key changes to the starting eleven Arteta must make to hand Leeds their first defeat of the season

By Danong and 1970s Gooner 

Gooners cannot wait for this international break to end and for the Premier League to return.

That 3-0 loss to Brighton still aches, and only a convincing victory will put things right.

If Arsenal is to jump back to winning ways, the players will need to be at their absolute best, because a stern test awaits against Leeds United.

Still unbeaten in the league with two wins and three draws, Leeds are proving a tough nut to crack this season. Even so, the English champions must overcome them to close the gap at the top especially with Manchester City facing a stern test against Liverpool.

Team News

Cristhian Mosquera is expected to be fit for the Leeds match, provided there are no setbacks.

Kai Havertz’s injury, which he picked up while playing for Germany over the international break, although not expected to prove very serious, means he's unlikely to be risked for this game. Especially taking into account the serious hamstring problem he had last season.

Christos Tzolis is also expected to miss the fixture after the hamstring injury he suffered while representing Greece. He is set to be out for at least a month.

Piero Hincapié, Ben White and Marley Simon all returned to training. This doesn't mean however that they will be risked to start. Jurian Timber however is one step ahead of them as he started the Netherlands game at Greece two days ago.

That said, which side might Mikel Arteta select to stun Daniel Farke? He could go with:

Raya  

Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori  

Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Ødegaard  

Saka, Gyokeres, Eze

Looking at this line-up, Eze has a massive opportunity to show the quality he displayed in his final year at Palace. If he is to break into the side, this is his chance. If he doesn’t show up then Arteta can bring Madueke on on the left hand side and it would be interesting to see him terrorise Leeds from that side with his speed on the ball.

Gyokeres now has the chance to get a run in the side and bring his goalscoring form on the international scene into the Premier League. This means that Arteta will need to prepare the players to play at Gyökeres’s strength by playing the early ball for him to chase and look for him in the box. 

A midfield of Martin Ødegaard, Bruno Guimarães and Declan Rice proved against Brighton & Hove Albion that it lacks the chemistry and balance Arsenal have seen with Myles Lewis-Skelly.

That Hale End graduate brings something different. He brings midfield physicality, defensive security, and energy going forward. More importantly, the engine room looks compact when he plays there. He is difficult to play through and can support both phases of play.

With him at the centre of the park and Eze in the side, the Gunners could hold the key to beating Leeds and starting a winning run of games.

The starting eleven for Brighton but with a twist

By Danong 

Arsenal are back in action on Saturday afternoon, heading south to take on Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

Unbeaten so far this season, the Gunners will be hoping to keep that record intact. However, they face one of the fiercest Brighton sides they've come up against in recent years.

The Seagulls have made a decent start to the campaign. Despite a defeat to Chelsea on matchday two, Fabian Hürzeler's side have shown they mean business, netting more goals than anyone else four games in.

This Brighton side won't sit back and hope to survive. On the contrary, they'll believe they can hurt Arsenal.

Sometimes the most compelling games are the ones where both teams walk onto the pitch believing they can win, and this looks like one of them.

Arsenal have won the last three meetings between the sides, and they will be looking to make it four.

With that in mind, here is the line-up that should give Brighton a reality check:

Raya

Rice, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori

Lewis-Skelly, Guimaraes, Odegaard

Saka, Havertz, Tzolis

The big talking point will be at right-back. Ben White remains a doubt, Jurrien Timber is being carefully managed following his return from injury, and Cristhian Mosquera is edging closer to a first-team return.

Consequently, Declan Rice could fill in at right-back, before shifting back into midfield once Timber comes on as a second-half substitute.

That said, when it comes down to it, this is exactly the type of match where attacking quality, composure and sharp decision-making will make the difference.

The real reason Gyökeres is sitting on the bench?

 By 1970s Gooner 

Victor Gyokeres has sat on the bench for Arsenal's first two games of the season. Arteta did not even bring him on at the later stages of those two matches. Isn’t that strange?

For the game against Coventry the game was done and dusted by midway of the second half and Arteta surely should have given Gyokeres minutes that he surely needs to get up to speed. 

Similarly at the Villa game Havertz was dead on his knees in the latter stages and again Gyokeres was by passed when the open spaces Villa were leaving behind would have suited him perfectly. 

And he is obviously not carrying an injury otherwise he wouldnt be on the bench. So what is going on?

A plausible explanation is that Arteta may be saving him in order to either sell him on or use him as a makeshift in a part exchange transfer for a new forward coming in (Alvarez ?)

If this is so then expect Gyokeres to come back into the reckoning once the window closes and of course if he hasn't been moved on beforehand. 

Change of style ecpected from Arsenal tomorrow

By Danong 

Arsenal kick off their title defence on Friday night with a clash against Coventry.

A convincing 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City last weekend should have set the tone for how this season ought to pan out.

The Gunners ought to be dangerously sharp in tearing apart opponents while also being rock-solid and impossible to break down.

While Frank Lampard and his side will be looking to upset Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will be looking to stretch his brilliant record against the Chelsea legend.

In the six meetings between the two, Arteta has won four times, drawn once and lost once.

Keen to protect that record and to send a message to the rest of the League, the Spaniard will be setting his team up for a more open attacking display aiming for as big a win as possible. 

Arsenal are expected to welcome Bukayo Saka back into the starting line-up, though Declan Rice could be given more time to recover and may again feature as a second-half substitute.

The starting line-up should look like:

David Raya

White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori

Myles Lewis-Skelly, Guimaraes, Odegaard

Tzolis, Havertz, Saka

Arteta will also have a pretty decent bench to call upon should he need to switch things up. It will be interesting if Martinelli was on it...

Unfortunately, though, Arteta will still not be able to call upon Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, who both remain out injured. 

Understanding between the lines, during his game presser, these two maybe longer term absentees than we thought so. And this may explain our acquisition of Konsa...

Either way, Arsenal go into this game with a strong team and should have little trouble stretching their five-game winning run over Coventry to six.

Arteta makes Vinicius Jr a personal promise as Lewis-Skelly dilemma emerges

Arsenal are closing in on a deal for highly-rated Blackburn Rovers striker Igor Tyjon.

Alan Nixon claims that the Gunners are close to striking an agreement worth around £ 2 million for the eighteen-year-old to sign for them.

Tyjon will prove a fantastic addition to Arsenal's setup, as his pace, movement and eye for goal should see him excel.

Elsewhere, Manchester United look set to test Arsenal's resolve over Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The Red Devils are on the hunt for a left-back and a midfielder, and they may see Lewis-Skelly, capable in both positions, as a tempting transfer option.

Apparently, the suggestion is that a move for Bruno Guimaraes could block Lewis-Skelly's pathway at Arsenal. As a result, the player may grow keen on a move, and a tempting bid could see Arsenal sanction his departure.

However, having let Christian Nørgaard move to Everton, Guimarães would effectively be replacing him rather than Lewis-Skelly. Therefore, Lewis-Skelly should still stay, as he can play a key role. With plenty of games still to come, and with Declan Rice unlikely to feature heavily at the start of the season following a busy summer, Lewis-Skelly can prove useful.

Meanwhile, in pursuit of Real Madrid star man Vinícius Júnior, Arteta has personally told the Brazilian that his Arsenal project will be built around him.

Interestingly, this comes just days after we covered a piece revealing that the attacker had his team assess which club he fits best and Arsenal came out on top.

Vinicius Junior advisors indicate he fits Arsenal best

By Danong 

Arsenal may boast one of the most formidable midfield pivots in the Premier League if reports from Thursday evening prove accurate.

It emerged across various outlets that Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Bruno Guimarães, with the Gunners expected to pay north of £70 million for the Brazilian.

Should the deal go through as expected, it would represent a massive coup for Arsenal, who would then possess a midfield pivot to be envied by every one of their rivals.

Declan Rice would finally have a partner who complements him, someone capable of shouldering build-up responsibility while still allowing him to operate as the deeper-lying six.

Moreover, both players share a knack for crashing the box and finding the net from the edge of the area, and both rank among the game's elite set-piece takers. In short, this would be Mikel Arteta's dream midfield.

That said, while Guimarães arrives, Ethan Nwaneri appears to be heading out. Arsenal have made the bold decision to let him leave, with Matteo Moretto reporting that the youngster is now "not untouchable."

AC Milan hold an interest, as do RB Leipzig, though European clubs are not alone in monitoring the situation; Fulham and Everton are also keeping tabs on developments.

Arsenal remain willing to sanction a permanent departure but do not wish to relinquish their hold on the player entirely, so an interesting clause may well feature in any exit deal.

Meanwhile, Vinícius Júnior, according to Hand of Arsenal, has been advised by his representatives, following an analysis of where he might move next, that he suits Arsenal's tactical setup.

Consequently, a switch to the Emirates could well represent the best path forward for him.

Is Vinicious having us on?

By Danong and 1970s Gooner 

It is now merely a matter of days before Bruno Guimaraes can finally make the switch from Newcastle United to Arsenal.

On Saturday, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported that serious talks would take place this week, with the Gunners set to offer more than the initial £70 million they had lined up for the midfielder.

As fans look ahead to how these talks pan out, it will interest Gooners that Newcastle boss Eddie Howe seems to suggest that Guimaraes' future is out of his hands entirely. He told the media over the weekend:

"Look, I do not know what is going to happen with Bruno's future. That is for other people to, one, speculate about, but also conversations that I am not part of."

That aside, over the weekend David Ornstein dropped the bombshell that Arsenal are toying with the idea of signing Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior.

If there is any remote chance this deal can happen, Arsenal should go for it. One big concern surrounding the move has been whether the English champions can afford Vinicius' hefty salary.

However, sources suggest the Gunners are willing to meet the winger's wage demands, meaning it could now come down to Real Madrid's willingness to sell and Arsenal's willingness to splash the cash. 

The latest news on this however is that Real Madrid and Vinicius representatives are to meet in order to come to an agreement on a new contract with improved wages of course. 

This may in fact stink of a deliberate attempt by Vinicius' entourage to use Arsenal's interest for the player to draw Real back to the negotiating table. Dont be surprised if in a few days time Vinicius is kissing the Real Madrid badge...

Elsewhere, as Arsenal focus their energy on Vinicius and Guimaraes, they may well miss out on another top target in Alex Scott. The Gunners are known admirers of the AFC Bournemouth star, and if they truly consider him a must-have, it may be time to act, otherwise they risk losing him to city rivals Chelsea.

The fact that Berta has not made a move for Scott up to now shows that the capture of Guimaraes may be considered as very likely...

Guimaraes agreement reached as Arteta moves to offer key man for top attacking target

By Danong 

Arsenal are finally set to approach Newcastle United as they push on with their pursuit of Bruno Guimaraes.

According to Fabrizio Romano, personal terms are already agreed; now all that remains is a club‑to‑club agreement before the Brazilian midfielder swaps St James’ Park for the Emirates.

The Gunners are expected to table a £70 million offer, though many feel that will not be enough to convince the Magpies to sanction a sale. Even so, it should at least bring both sides to the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, as Arsenal hope to strike a deal for Guimaraes, Chelsea, as per Simon Phillips, are also keen on the midfielder. Even then, the suggestion is that Arsenal remain favourites in the race.

Speaking of favourites, The Mirror report that Manchester United have now stepped away from the Alex Scott chase. The Red Devils cannot afford to pay £70 million plus for the Englishman, and that U‑turn reshapes the battle for the Premier League standout. It is now an Arsenal‑versus‑Chelsea fight for Scott. Notably, Chelsea have already seen a £60 million bid rejected, with Bournemouth determined to resist a sale.

Elsewhere, keen to find cover for William Saliba, who is set for a spell out with a back issue, the English champions have, according to Caught Offside, been offered the chance to sign Sporting CP’s Zeno Debast.

Although the move is yet to receive Arsenal’s green light, it is one to watch, especially with uncertainty surrounding Saliba’s return after he opted against surgery in favour of rest and rehabilitation.

Furthermore, as per Gary Jacob, Mikel Arteta is desperate for Arsenal to sign Julian Alvarez.

The Argentine is his dream attacking addition, and Arteta wants him so badly that he is willing to include Viktor Gyokeres in a deal to bring the Atlético Madrid striker back to the Premier League.

On a brighter note, Christos Tzolis has already been unveiled as an Arsenal player. All eyes now turn to what he can deliver. There is plenty of expectation on his shoulders, particularly with the need to replace Leandro Trossard’s goals. Yet with 22 goals and 29 assists last season, he looks well equipped to step up.

Arsenal's perfect Morgan Rogers response as Berta plots to derail City's transfer plans

By Danong 

Arsenal have missed out on their top summer target, Morgan Rogers.

Reports suggest Aston Villa stood firm on their demands, and Arsenal were unwilling to meet the hefty asking price slapped on their attacker. Chelsea, however, saw an opportunity to show their appetite to spend and did just that, giving the Villans what they wanted: £117 million for Rogers.

While the attacker could have snubbed the Blues and picked Arsenal instead, forcing Villa to negotiate with the Gunners, he chose not to. In fact, it is suggested that he preferred Stamford Bridge over the Emirates.

Had the transfer gone through, Rogers would have come in as a left winger. Arsenal have, of course, already secured a left winger in Christos Tzolis, but the Greek is seen as more of a backup to the marquee left-winger signing the English champions still intend to make.

With Rogers no longer an option, Fabrizio Romano has now suggested Arsenal may turn to Yan Diomande to satisfy their left-winger need. 

The Italian transfer guru says, "Arsenal, over the last few days, made some checks with the agents of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig to understand if there was still a chance to enter the deal. Arsenal made some calls to understand the situation."

The Ivorian international is one of the deadliest wingers out there. Explosive and two-footed, he combines electrifying pace with elite one-v-one dribbling skill that sees him easily create goalscoring chances for himself or his teammates.

He too will not come cheap, and inexperienced as he is, it remains to be seen whether the Gunners would offer £100 million plus for his services, the fee Borussia Dortmund want to sanction a sale.

Beyond the winger search, Arsenal must also address William Saliba's fitness, with the Frenchman potentially sidelined for months. He has spent the past few months playing through pain because of a back issue he has been managing.

John Stones and Ezri Konsa have already been touted as transfer solutions, but a new option has now emerged: as per Ben Jacobs, the Gunners are among the clubs interested in Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.

In pursuing the Frenchman, though, they may be setting themselves up for a transfer battle with Chelsea, who are already in talks with Crystal Palace.

A battle with Chelsea will not be the only one the English champions face, either. According to L'Equipe, Arsenal are set to press hard for Ayyoub Bouaddi, and in doing so will go head-to-head with Manchester City for the World Cup standout.

Stones transfer opportunity too good to ignore as Morgan Rogers bid set to open talks

By Danong 

After letting Leandro Trossard leave, Arsenal have moved quickly to sign Greek winger sensation Christos Tzolis.

For only £33.9 million, Tzolis, who scored 22 goals and provided 29 assists in 52 games for Club Brugge last season, arrives to replace the goals Trossard used to deliver.

But interestingly, alongside Tzolis, Arsenal are also set to expedite a move for Morgan Rogers, certainly the Gunners' first-choice left-winger target.

Arsenal now feel motivated to submit their first bid. Whether it proves a winning bid remains to be seen, but it will clearly bring both sides to the table, where they can reach a compromise.

If Rogers arrives then Arsenal will theoretically have three options for the left wing, Tzolis, Martinelli and Rogers. It looks as though Rogers will also be utilised as a left sided midfielder, a versatility that Arteta values a lot.

Beyond Rogers, Arsenal are still pressing for Julian Alvarez. Atletico Madrid are willing to do business, but the ball sits in the forward's court, and he is said to want a move to Barcelona instead. Unfortunately for him, Atletico Madrid are not ready to sell to a direct rival. So, should the Argentine agree to a move to the Emirates, Arsenal can probably strike a deal.

But we shouldn't count out the possibility of Alvarez staying put!

That said, some frustrating news has emerged. It has been revealed that William Saliba may to undergo surgery to treat his chronic back pain and if so Arsenal expect the France international centre-back to be out of action for four to five months. That should certainly impact the Gunners' transfer plans.

While Christian Mosquera can step up, Arsenal would be wise to add another defensive option to fill the gap Saliba leaves behind.

We have already covered reports of Arsenal pursuing Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa as cover for Saliba; whether they go through with that deal remains to be seen.

But what if, instead of Konsa, they turn to free agent John Stones? Stones ranks among the most decorated English players of all time. 

Elite in possession and now available on a free transfer, he represents a no-brainer move for Andrea Berta. He could suit Mikel Arteta's game plan perfectly and provide ideal defensive cover for Arsenal.