Declan Rice also taken off in 2-0 win with back problem Mikel Arteta: ‘Let’s wait, hopefully it’s not that bad’ Mikel Arteta is concerned about Martin Ødegaard’s knee injury after the captain limped out of Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham as they kept up the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. The Norwegian left the Emirates Stadium with his left knee in a brace after being taken off following a clash with Crysencio Summerville before the break. Declan Rice also had to be withdrawn in the second half with a back injury after he opened the scoring against his former club, with the England midfielder a doubt for the games against Wales on Thursday and Latvia a week on Tuesday. Continue reading...

So much for bogey teams. In a week Arsenal have banished the demons of their poor recent record at Newcastle and here against Olympiakos, it was West Ham’s turn to feel the force as Arsenal laid down the gauntlet in the title race with a convincing victory. Other than the concerning sight of first Martin Ødegaard and then opening goalscorer Declan Rice having to be replaced due to injuries, this was a most satisfying afternoon for Mikel Arteta on his 300th match in charge. While 16% of Arsenal’s goals under the Spaniard have come from set-pieces – a figure surpassed only by Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce of those who have managed that many games in the Premier League – they showed they are still capable of breaking down teams who come to defend with a low block as well. Continue reading...

Triple up on Arsenal and keep the captain's armband on Erling Haaland in the Fantasy Premier League team of the week, writes Thomas Woods.

With an enticing run of fixtures coming up and the captain back to his best, an enjoyable autumn seems on the cards And … breathe. As Bukayo Saka shot low, hard and ultimately through Kostas Tzolakis in the Olympiakos goal to complete an occasionally uncomfortable 2-0 win, the noise from the home crowd was more a weary, sofa-flopping sigh than a roar of triumph, with the sense, finally, of a midweek putting-to-bed. This was a game Arsenal always looked like they were winning, despite seeming to realise this a little too early in the piece against eager and purposeful opponents. Nobody attracts the stern and unforgiving eye quite like this Arsenal team, for whom squad depth, the unforgivable act of acquiring a potentially title‑winning team, is the latest crime on the rap sheet. Continue reading...