Arsenal

Mikel Arteta spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Arsenal's victory against Everton: "It's a big win for us. It was a tough week with the schedule we had to go through, a lot of minutes and the games were coming thick and fast.

"We knew we had a very good opponent in front of us but, overall, we had a good performance and fully deserved to win."

On scoring from a set piece: "I hope now people are enjoying it! Saying we don't score from a set play, now we do. I'm always really happy for the team to find different ways to unlock the opposition and create problems."

On Gabriel injury scare: "We all [thought he would have to come off] by the reaction of his team-mates. It was a really worrying action. We know Gabi and how tough and strong he is - and he seems to be OK."

On performance after making changes: "Delighted. For the most part, I thought we were the better team and dominated the game.

"But Everton had their spells as usual. To be able to change five players and still play at that level is impressive."

Defender Ezri Konsa spoke to Premier League Productions: "Great feeling, it always is. A clean sheet, a goal - my first goal for the club - so a fantastic day overall."

On his goal: "I've been waiting to score my first goal for a while. I spoke to the set piece coach before the game and he told me he's been waiting for my goal as well, so it was only right that I got the goal today."

On Gabriel scoring on his 200th Premier League appearance: "Very pleased for him. He's a top, top player. Top human being. Very happy for him. He's my life easy since I've joined the club and it's been a pleasure playing alongside him."

On good form at Emirates: "I've come to this stadium for many seasons, I know how tough it is to play against us. It's not surprising to me.

"We are champions and to be champions you've got to win games consistently. This is our home and we want to win as many games here as possible."

Did you know?

• Ezri Konsa's opener was Arsenal's first set piece goal (excluding penalties) since May against Crystal Palace, ending a run of 13 games without one.

• In his 200th Premier League appearance, Gabriel scored his 21st goal in the competition for Arsenal. This was his first not to come from a set piece situation.

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This was Arsenal's first match since Bukayo Saka's quadriceps injury which is set to rule him out for at least six weeks.

Saka's absence meant Noni Madueke was back on his favoured right wing and he put in a positive performance with his direct running a constant threat to the Everton backline.

The England international should have scored after being played through by Declan Rice in the first half but Madueke can be pleased with his display in front of watching England manager Thomas Tuchel.

Eberechi Eze was bright on the left wing after scoring in the midweek Champions League draw with Bayern Munich, while manager Mikel Arteta will be delighted that his side have found a way to score from set-pieces again.

Last season, the Gunners led the league with 25 goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) and set a new record for goals scored from corners at 19.

And after a fallow opening seven games, Ezri Konsa's goal got them up and running for this campaign.

Konsa and Gabriel have formed one of the best defensive partnerships in the league but on this evidence, their threat in the opposition box further underlined their all-round assets to the team.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Manchester City (12:30)

• Arsenal v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Coventry City v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Chelsea v Tottenham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Tottenham" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Fulham match", for example.

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

Image source, BBC Sport

New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or on this link

Arsenal were so ugly in the way they beat Nottingham Forest last weekend, but were a lot easier on the eye in the midweek draw with Bayern Munich.

They are going to be without the injured Bukayo Saka for this game, but they are at home and they should still have too much for Everton.

Everton will make it tough for them, of course, but I am not sure how they will hurt the Gunners.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

Finishing was a problem last weekend for Arsenal, who had 74% possession but only one shot on target against Nottingham Forest. It was one of their "finishers", as manager Mikel Arteta likes to call substitutes, who yet again saved the day.

That shot from Noni Madueke, which deflected into the Forest net 10 minutes from time, meant that it was their third Premier League victory in a row in which a player from the bench had scored the winner.

It may not have been pretty but it was enough for three points, and is further proof of Arteta's ability to make game-changing substitutions.

Since the Spaniard's appointment in December 2019, Arsenal have scored more winning goals from substitutes than any other team, and their tally of three this season is already halfway towards the record of six, also set by Arteta's team in 2024-25.

It was Arsenal's 32nd 1-0 win in the Premier League of Arteta's tenure, the joint-highest figure in that time frame, along with Everton. So, there might not be goals galore on Saturday - not least because Everton also struggled in attack last weekend against Chelsea, failing to score in a Premier League home game for the first time since February.

They had just six shots, their fewest in a Premier League game in nearly a year.

They could have their work cut out to improve on that at the Emirates. This season, Arsenal have conceded just five league goals, facing fewer shots on target (21) and having a lower xG against (5.6) than any other side.

The Toffees have won just one of their past 30 away Premier League matches against the Gunners, losing 24 of those. Under David Moyes, Everton have never won away at Arsenal in the league in 13 attempts, losing 10 times in that run.

But Everton had gone undefeated in the league this season until last weekend, so Moyes will have hope of breaking his Arsenal duck, which would also end his side's eight-game winless run on the road, and could propel the Toffees up into the top five in the Premier League.

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal fear Bukayo Saka could miss a minimum of six weeks with the quadriceps injury he sustained in their Champions League tie against Bayern Munich.

The 25-year-old will undergo an MRI scan on Friday afternoon to better assess the problem, which forced him off in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena.

Fluid around the affected muscle has made diagnosing the injury difficult, but club medics are estimating, after early examinations, Saka will miss a minimum of six weeks and it could be even longer.

It is a major blow for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

The Gunners boss had been speaking about how the player had been adapting his positioning to be more of a regular goalscorer for the club in recent weeks and the winger has scored four goals in 11 appearances so far this season.

But now Saka has gone down with another muscle injury there are questions about whether he still has the robustness that made him a certain starter in the Arsenal team.

The 25-year-old had Achilles, hip and hamstring problems last campaign and underwent surgery on a hamstring injury in the previous season which kept him out for 101 days.

He also had his game time managed at the World Cup in the summer with England and Arteta acknowledged Saka's robustness and availability has "certainly been different in the last year or so".

The Gunners tried to sign a world-class forward to level up their frontline in the summer but were unable to do so, with unsuccessful pursuits of Vinicius Jr and Julian Alvarez.

They did bring in Greece international Christos Tzolis, but he is currently injured too.

That has left them with Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and 16-year-old Max Dowman as alternative wing options.

Teenager Dowman has had limited minutes this season but Arteta spoke glowingly of his talent and ability to impact matches.

Read more about Saka's latest injury here

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Bukayo Saka's injury after coming off against Bayern Munich: "We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists. Let's be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive answer." The Gunners fear the 25-year-old could be out for two months.

• When asked if it could affect the winger's style of play: "I don't know what's going to happen in the future. It's been muscles, it's been tendons as well, which is something else. That's not just with Bukayo, with many other players as well. We discussed that last year and that's why we need to keep an eye on him."

• On potential options to replace him: "I'm extremely happy with how Eze reacted to the previous game and the impact he had on the team and the performance that he put in. [Max Dowman] is something inevitable. He's training and every time he's got a moment to play, he's showing that he's a player who is going to impact the game, so for sure he's going to have minutes."

• When asked if Saka is "losing robustness": "He's certainly been different in the last year or so, but the demands that go into the players are immense with club and international competitions, and the time between games is getting narrower. There are less than 66 or 67 hours between games, and every hour is important. The support would be really appreciated, and it's the same for every team."

• Defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie are both available to play but the former is "in a different place" because he had a full pre-season.

• Arteta said Martin Zubimendi needs to "earn the right to play" after struggling for game time: "He a had a few [games], then he had an injury and had one game when he was almost fully available to play some minutes. I need to find the right games to give him the opportunity and I know what his response is going to be when I do that. He has been exceptional in whatever role he has had to assume. He is a player who deserves more minutes."

Listen to full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Arsenal are targeting a potential move for Atletico Madrid and Spain's World Cup-winning winger Alex Baena, 25, in the January window. (FootballTransfers), external

The Gunners are also monitoring Monza striker Gustavo Varela, 21, with Napoli and Benfica also interested in the Portuguese player. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Bruno Guimaraes says he wants to feel the same love from Arsenal fans as he received from Newcastle supporters before he left the club in the summer.

The midfielder was a fan favourite for over four years on Tyneside before making the switch to Emirates Stadium in search of a new challenge.

"It was very tough for me to make this decision because I really enjoyed my time at the club, the affection I had for the fans," said Guimaraes, who helped Newcastle win the Carabao Cup in 2025.

"I lost many, many nights of sleep because it was difficult for me, for my family.

"I never felt so loved like the way I was at Newcastle. I hope I can have the same love here at Arsenal. The connection I had was unbelievable.

"When I said bye to the lads, I was crying. They were crying as well, because we were a family there.

"I think I did great for Newcastle. We won a trophy after 70 years. We got into the Champions League twice. We got to two [Carabao Cup] finals. I think I did what I could for the club.

"But sometimes in your life you have to make decisions and in my mind I needed a new challenge. I love to face a new challenge and for me to come here, to get a new challenge in my life, was something that I wanted."

Guimaraes has the first opportunity to face his former club next month when the Gunners head to St James' Park for their first game after the November international break.

We asked for your views on Wednesday's draw against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Here are some of your comments:

Rob: Great team performance. Nice to play against a team that doesn't play an 11-man low block. We really showed what we are about.

Philip: A well-fought contest against tough opponents at a very hard ground. The game flowed well with bags of possession and some very fluid football but too much lateral play and not enough lethality in the final third.

Matthew: Arsenal showed great character to fight back and earn a draw. Declan Rice was outstanding and his late equaliser was well deserved. However, we need to be more clinical in attack and avoid costly defensive mistakes. Overall, a valuable point away from home, but there is still room for improvement.

Vince: Eze was raring to make amends for being substituted at half time last weekend and boy did it show. He was threatening every time he was on the ball, while Gyokeres showed how Arteta can use him by holding up the ball perfectly before touching it on to Rice for the equaliser. Kane's penalty shouldn't have been given - it was ball to hand any day of the week! I'm taking this as a win!

Gabriel: Going into this match I very much expected to be handed a 2-1 loss, but I am happily proven wrong. Excellent attitude to fight back after going behind, but we do miss Saliba and I believe the first Bayern goal would not happen if he was there. Prayers for Saka, and bring on the Toffees.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Man City defender on Match of the Day

Image source, Getty Images

As far as the game goes, getting a result like that against Bayern Munich, with Arsenal probably believing they could go on and get the win at the end, is very impressive.

The only negative is seeing one of their star players, Bukayo Saka, having to pull up with an injury early in the first half. He was lying on the floor with his hand up and he knew he was in a bit of trouble, so now the concern will be how long he is out for.

Saka's absence is not necessarily something that means the team will struggle heavily, but there is a reason why he is regarded as one of the best players in this Arsenal team and is seen as being important for them.

They will still be hoping he isn't out for so long.

This is one of the reasons their squad has been built the way it has been, and I think Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze did well on the wings today after Saka came off.

Madueke had started on the left, but switched to the right with Eze coming on to the left.

In terms of options, at this moment in time for Arsenal, it is not going to be an issue... they will miss the star power that he has.

They still have plenty of other wide players who can step up and do the job while they wait for him to come back.

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta says the quadriceps injury Arsenal's Bukayo Saka picked up in the 2-2 Champions League draw against Bayern Munich "does not look good at all".

The 25-year-old winger went down in the 10th minute at Allianz Arena - attempting to play a pass with nobody around him - and had to be replaced by Eberechi Eze, who went on to score the opening goal.

"They are a bit concerned. A player who has to come off with a really sharp pain is never good news but we have to wait and see," Arteta told TNT Sports.

Arsenal's style of play has been criticised this season but, even before Saka's withdrawal, the Gunners played on the front foot and enjoyed more possession than their German opponents.

Losing Saka, who has scored four goals in 11 appearances in all competitions, will be tough to deal with.

But the Gunners have invested heavily in their squad over the past two summer transfer windows and have options.

Madueke can play on both wings, while summer signing Christos Tzolis - although currently out with a hamstring injury - has started the season well.

The Gunners also have 16-year-old Max Dowman as an attacking option, and the youngster has already shown that he can have an impact for the senior side after scoring in the Premier League last season.

Arteta, who was asked what the rest of the forward line will need to do in Saka's absence, said he was pleased with what he saw against Bayern.

"I think Ebs [Eze] had a great game. Not only the ball, but the actions. His overall performance, I think his commitment without the ball as well," he said.

"And when the other ones come in, I think they really contributed to this. First of all, the energy.

"And then to bring different tools that the team needed in that moment to get something out of the game. So, very pleased again."

Read more on the injury

Arsenal are leading the race among Premier League clubs to sign 20-year-old Turkey midfielder Can Uzun from Eintracht Frankfurt. (The Daily Briefing), external

The Gunners want to recoup the £55m they paid to sign Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 28, with a deal more likely to happen at the end of the season than in January. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Arsenal starting XI:

David Raya: A very good save down low from a Serge Gnabry shot in the first half and an even better one from Dayot Upamecano in the second. His long-range passing was a big weapon for Arsenal in this match. 7

Jurrien Timber: Looked like he had regained some of his old sharpness. Some good moments going forward but got caught for one of the Bayern goals. 6

Ezri Konsa: The centre-back was given the tough task of sticking close to Harry Kane and had to follow the striker all over the pitch. A decent performance but also booked for a late tackle. 7

Gabriel Magalhaes: A solid game from Gabriel but part of a backline that conceded twice. 6

Riccardo Calafiori: The left-back is usually known for his attacking ability but he put in a good defensive display even though Arsenal conceded twice. 7

Declan Rice: The usual all-action display from Rice and he capped the performance with an excellent equaliser. 8

Bruno Guimaraes: The midfielder still looks like he is getting up to speed after joining the club. Some nice moments on the ball and almost scored with a header. 6

Martin Odegaard: An excellent pass for the opening goal and looked bright all evening. 7

Bukayo Saka: Started brightly but had to be withdrawn after just 10 minutes as he picked up what looked like a thigh injury, going down when nobody was near him as he attempted a pass. 5

Noni Madueke: Started on the left but switched to the right and was direct all night. Lots of effort and bright moments but nothing to show for it. 6

Kai Havertz: Some nice moments of link play but not enough of an attacking threat. 6

Arsenal substitutes:

Eberechi Eze (on 10, Saka): Scored the opening goal with a great finish low into the corner. A much-needed goal. 8

Viktor Gyokeres (on 68, Havertz): Came on and exchanged passes with Rice for the equaliser. 7

Myles Lewis-Skelly (on 69, Guimaraes): A big game to come on in from the bench and did well. 6

Mikel Merino (on 85, Odegaard): Introduced as Arsenal looked for a winner. 6

Subs not used: Meslier, Arrizabalaga, White, Mosquera, Zubimendi, Dowman.

Get in touch and tell us what you think of Arsenal's performance