As of January 3, 2025, here are the top five news stories on Arsenal FC:
1. Paul Merson Urges Arsenal to Sign Alexander Isak: Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has advised the club to "break the bank" for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, valued at £150 million. Merson believes Isak would be a better signing than Erling Haaland and could significantly bolster Arsenal's title ambitions, especially in light of Bukayo Saka's two-month absence due to a hamstring injury.
Let's get real here: Isak is no Haaland. Yes, he's on form. Haaland is a monster, whom, incidentally, Arsenal can contain when they put their collective minds to it. Isak is still something of an unknown quantity to me. The Newcastle striker has delivered and he is a class act, but every member of Arsenal's team is expected to deliver defensively and even Haaland doesn't do that. Therefore, £150 is too much. For an out-and-out striker, it's £50m, if he doesn't track back. That's Arsenal's going rate, as they can get goals all around the park: it doesn't have to be the striker only!
2. Gabriel Magalhaes' Cheeky Dig at Tottenham: Following Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Brentford, defender Gabriel Magalhaes delighted fans by playfully taunting Tottenham Hotspur during an Instagram live session. When a fan commented negatively about Spurs, Gabriel responded with a smile, further endearing himself to Arsenal supporters.
On a personal note, I'm very wary of poking fun at Spurs. Arsenal need to focus on trophies. St Totteringham's Day is a bit of fun, but ultimately it's all about the silverware not the bragging rights.
3. Mikel Arteta Confirms Kai Havertz's Availability: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that attacker Kai Havertz, who missed the previous game due to illness, will be available for the upcoming Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion. However, Raheem Sterling remains unfit, and defenders Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are still recovering from injuries. The good news is White's only a 'few' weeks away. Does that mean three weeks or more?
4. Arsenal Faces Challenges in Pursuing Alexander Isak: Arsenal's pursuit of Newcastle's forward Alexander Isak is encountering significant obstacles. Isak is reportedly considering staying with Newcastle if they secure a top-four finish, and the club has set a high asking price exceeding £150 million to deter potential suitors. Interest from other top European clubs further complicates the situation, prompting Arsenal to explore alternative options.
Okay, this is becoming an old chestnut already! £150m is crazy money for a very good striker. He's not even the best in the world in his position, for Christ's sake!
5. Jamie Carragher Suggests Key Signings for Arsenal: Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has identified two key signings Arsenal should make to challenge for the Premier League title. Carragher emphasizes the need for Arsenal to acquire top attacking players to add depth and versatility, especially following Bukayo Saka's injury. He suggests that fresh attacking options could play a crucial role in Arsenal's title bid.
If Carragher bankrolled the club, he'd be entitled to come out with this kind of stuff. Although I do have a lot of respect for his punditry, I think he's just assuming money's no object and if you throw money at a problem it will go away. When Newcastle signed Asprilla back in the day, it backfired, but they were top of the table. Arsenal have some catching up to do on Liverpool but splashing the cash indiscriminately is probably not the answer.
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