Arsenal

There are four games in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, all involving Premier League sides, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Huddersfield v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Bradford

• Tottenham v Doncaster - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Port Vale v Arsenal (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

Kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Huddersfield v Man City" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Port Vale v Arsenal", for instance.

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Both Arsenal and Liverpool have been informed that 25-year-old Brazil winger Vinicius Junior's future is uncertain at Real Madrid. (TBR Football), external

Meanwhile, Arsenal are interested in signing 24-year-old Japan winger Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad during the January transfer window. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup third round game against League One side Port Vale at Vale Park (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Arteta provided an update on Noni Madueke's injury: "Looks like he's going to be out for a few weeks. We will have to scan him at the end of the week. He felt something at the beginning of the match and he tried to carry on. He was gutted, it is very disappointing as he was in such a good state. He's a big miss for us."

• Piero Hincapie has picked up "a little groin injury" and will have to be assessed in the next few days: "Obviously it's been a change of load and he didn't really have a pre-season after the surgery that he had and we'll have to see in the next week or so how he is. I think that would be a short-term surgery."

• Captain Martin Odegaard has been training with the team following his shoulder injury: "No, no surgery. He's totally fine. He's already been training and it will be a matter of days, I think."

• On easing Bukayo Saka back into action: "He needs minutes and he's demanding that as well. Obviously, when he's been out for a while, you just need to get in there. You need to get that confidence on the pitch and repeat actions and exposure. And we will do that, obviously, gradually, because he's been out for a while."

• On Kai Havertz's timeline to return from his knee problem: "With Kai we know that it will be months. We don't know with him because he's a different specimen. So far he's progressing really well."

• On the perception of Arsenal playing with caution: "How can you be dominant against such a team [Manchester City] if you have, what was the word - handbrake. Dominance and handbrake, they are two different words. But I accept everything. I will learn more to have a different vision."

• More on the draw with City and the decision to not start Eberechi Eze: "Could he play 90 minutes? That's a question I put for myself because none of you know the load that he can do. So it's easy to say he could have played with the start. Maybe not. Because he already played two games from the start. And he's never played as a right attacker in his field."

• Asked how senior players responded to Max Dowman nutmegging them in training, Arteta said: "At the beginning, they responded immediately, kick him! That was the first one. And Max, to be fair, he was excellent. He stood up and got into the next one. And now everybody loves him. You just want to hug him, help him. He's such a nice boy as well, and he's very much liked by everybody here."

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The timing is unfortunate for Noni Madueke.

His Arsenal career has got off to a very promising start, while his England performances are going from strength to strength.

So with that in mind, the knee issue that will keep him sidelined for up to eight weeks comes at the worst possible time for Madueke from a personal perspective.

His signing from Chelsea was met with derision from sections of the Arsenal fanbase, but the attacker has quickly won those doubters over.

Of course, it is a blow for Mikel Arteta, too. Madueke has been a regular in his team so far this season.

That said, Bukayo Saka's return from a hamstring injury lessens the damage caused by Madueke's injury.

And with a myriad of attacking options - including Gabriel Martinelli, Eberechi Eze, Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard - at Arteta's disposal, the Gunners can cope without Madueke.

Not that that makes it any easier to swallow for Madueke.

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Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

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While Gabriel Martinelli's finish in the 94th minute on Sunday has rightly grabbed the headlines, it was another Arsenal player who provided the key to unlock a resilient Manchester City defence.

Having signed for the Gunners back in August, Eberechi Eze has now made four appearances for the club. Absurd as it may seem, we can now make our first assessments on his Arsenal career to date.

During the first half of Sunday's game, Arsenal toiled. It was a worrying throwback to the football that saw them drift out of the title race last season. Many fans have been quick to lament the return of the 'horseshoe' passing structure, whereby Arsenal simply move the ball around the edge of the box in a half-circle without ever truly troubling the opposition.

Enter Eze. His assist to Martinelli is exactly what fans have been craving. Direct, creative, and accurate, it immediately unleashed the Brazilian who finished sublimely over City's Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Up till now, Mikel Arteta has seemed reluctant to start Eze in a central role, again preferring the midfield of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi. Two of those three were present last season, and it seems that bad habits do die hard.

Many fans on social media have spoken about a need for Arteta to 'release the handbrake'. Merino is slowly becoming a symbol of Arteta's cautious approach in big games when fans are crying out for a more attacking line-up.

Giving Eze the chance to play in the middle from the start could be one way of not only releasing that handbrake, but finally getting Arsenal out of the first gear they seem to keep getting stuck in.

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says Arsenal played too cautiously against Manchester City and lost their creativity by benching Eberechi Eze.

"It's a negative mindset to go out and play cautiously," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "I don't think there was any need for Mikel Arteta to do that against this Manchester City team.

"I'm not saying that the players are too good to play with fear, but I do wonder why he didn't pick Eze. He is arguably their most creative player.

"Why did Leandro Trossard start? It was his first start of the season. I know he scored in Bilbao after coming on from the bench, but I don't get it."

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Real Madrid watched Arsenal's William Saliba in action against Manchester City on Sunday and maintain their interest in signing the centre-back. (TBR Football), external

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

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Former England striker Wayne Rooney spoke about Arsenal earning a late draw against Manchester City on Sunday on the latest edition of The Wayne Rooney Podcast: "Sometimes we're quick to jump at teams who draw a game at home. Those games are tough games - very rarely do you see a team going to win 2-0 or 3-0 in them. They're always very tight.

"It's a decent point. Could they have won the game? Of course they could. But in the main, going 1-0 down and then Manchester City playing a low block [makes it] very difficult to break a team down.

"City have probably flipped what Arsenal did to them a few years ago and they saw how hard that was to break down. So City have done that and nearly got away with it.

"Any point against Manchester City, even though they're not the best with some of the players they have, is a good point.

"Sir Alex Ferguson used to always come in and say to us, after games we drew and have gone into the dressing room annoyed, that point will win us the league.

"And then on the flip side, he used to tell us when we were leading 2-0 or 3-0 to keep going and trying to score more goals. You never know, this league could be won or lost on goal difference, which we obviously experienced.

"So, there are points throughout the season - which only time will tell - that end up being massive.

"If Arsenal win the league by one point, you look back on this game and say: 'You know what, that was a massive result."

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"If Arsenal are going to win the league this year, it has to be because they are on the front foot going to beat teams."

That is the view of former Gunners striker Jay Bothroyd after Mikel Arteta's team selection in Sunday's draw against Manchester City once again drew scrutiny.

Eberechi Eze, Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka all started on the bench and were introduced in the second half with Arsenal fighting to recover from being 1-0 down.

"You sign players like Eze so they can come and light it up," Bothroyd told Radio 5 Live Breakfast. "He's got fantastic ability - we've seen his quality, so I think everyone was disappointed to see that [he didn't start].

"But also in midfield, with [Martin] Zubimendi and [Mikel] Merino alongside Declan Rice you've got three number sixes or three defensive midfield players. You want to see the attacking players on there.

"Everyone was saying 'look how good our bench was' - our bench was better than our starting XI!

"I feel like Arteta needs to be more attacking. I always feel like against big teams, he goes out with the mindset of not to lose. That's a negative."

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has defended Viktor Gyokeres' performance against Manchester City after he only had 22 touches.

Gyokeres has scored three goals in five Premier League games but offered little threat in Sunday's game.

Arteta attributed that to a lack of service, which could also be felt in the stadium as supporters became increasingly frustrated with their side's lack of creativity.

"There were a lot of situations that chances were there but then the final pass was missing," Arteta said. "There were a lot of very good balls in the box, especially I remember three of them that [Gyokeres] was very, very close to doing it against City.

"To have very big open chances is extremely difficult, but he's certainly trying his best to do that.

"We have to provide more for him, that's it."

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Gabriel Martinelli's stoppage-time equaliser showed why it is too early to write his Arsenal career off.

The winger has had an excellent week, scoring and assisting in Arsenal's win over Athletic Club in the Champions League, before earning the Gunners a valuable draw against Manchester City.

Martinelli has lost his starting place - starting two of Arsenal's six game this season - after a difficult time in his career, but has shown just how important he can be when he is at his best.

Ex-Arsenal forward Theo Walcott told BBC Sport: "You can either sit there and sulk about things or you can actually have a look at yourself and think: 'How am I going to affect the situation I am in?'

"I don't think he has ever been in this situation before, actually being constantly challenged in that position. He has had moments before when he has been on the bench, but last year he was a starter.

"This year, he is having to accept he is going to be in and out, but he is definitely going about it in the right way because he is a hard worker and a grafter."

The 24-year-old is one of the quickest players in the Premier League and both his goals this week played to his strengths, with the ball played behind the opposition defence for him to run on to.

"I work for those moments. I leave [selection] for the gaffer. I just do my best to help this football club," said Martinelli.

"Of course I don't want to be on the bench. I want to play 90 minutes every single game, but [Mikel] Arteta knows what he does. He's the gaffer and everyone trusts him."

Martinelli has been low on confidence and aware of the debate about his place in the team.

And Walcott added: "As a player, you also have to deal with the mixed messages that can be created in this kind of narrative, when you are not starting every game.

"Martinelli scored after coming on [against Athletic Club] in midweek and he must have been thinking: 'Right, I am going to start on Sunday.' And then he sees [Leandro] Trossard start ahead of him.

"Again, how do you react to that? Do you sulk about it, or do you get on with it? He obviously gets on with things."

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Man City.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Naeem: Parallels to last years game just opposite teams. City parked the bus and we struggled to break them down. Got through in the end thanks to a super Martinelli finish and it is good to see him scoring after all the critique. Despite this, still not a great display. Need to find a way to get Viktor Gyokeres involved more so he can use that strength to help stride through. Can't be satisfied with a point apiece - we need to be gunning for three points every game.

Chris: Arsenal second again in the Premier League unless Mikel releases the handbrake, particularly at home. Be braver please - you've got the squad for it this season.

Paul: We never gave up and that's what champions do. The team is still finding its feet with all the new signings. Our strong bench is going to be crucial to any title run!

Phoenix: How Mikel Arteta keep doing same thing every time and expect a different results is messing with my imagination. Manchester City was there for the taking. All we had to do was use our best attacking team that doesn't include Mikel Merino in the middle. We keep saying the gaffer knows what he's doing but honestly we have to start questioning his selection. Liverpool are the winners. In just five games, we have started the chasing game .

Man City fans

Russell: First half good, second half terrible. Lucky to come away with a point!

Stella: Despite playing very defensively, this game gave me some optimism. It is the first time City's defence looked relatively solid. People forget that this new team is a work in progress and Nico O'Reilly particularly did very well in an unnatural position. He and Abdukodir Khusanov looked like stable full-backs against some very good players. Arsenal also had two extra days to rest and prepare, which certainly showed as the latter stages of the game were reached with City's players looking close to exhaustion. It was a game we couldn't lose. A tiny green shoot of recovery?

David: City got a very good breakaway goal but they really should have pressed for a second. It was most unlike them to play a very low block like they were scared. They won't win anything unless their better players can express themselves.

Shaun: Pep the bus! Absolute joke, that's not what City are about. Liverpool have got the title in the bag and we will be lucky to get fourth.

Pundits Shay Given and Theo Walcott join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 0-0 Newcastle

• Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa

• Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The Gunners came into this game after an impressive win in Bilbao where the substitutes' bench proved the difference - and it was the 'finishers' who rescued a point on Sunday.

The £250m Arsenal spent this summer means the club have given Mikel Arteta an abundance of options when things are not going his way, but his team selection in big games is going to be key if the Gunners are to lift a trophy this season.

Having started with the same central midfield - Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino - as in midweek, it was clear early on in the first half that Arsenal needed some more attacking flair on the pitch.

The same trio also began the 1-0 loss to Liverpool and led to criticism of Arteta's conservative approach when playing against some of their rivals.

The home supporters in the stadium became increasingly frustrated with their side's lack of creativity, despite the efforts of Noni Madueke who was the most threatening player in the opening 45 minutes.

Arteta brought on Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka at the break and the impact was immediate as Arsenal upped the ante and managed to pen City in for large spells.

This has been an excellent week for Gabriel Martinelli who has scored two important goals in two games after a difficult time in his career.

However, the questions will continue to come for Arteta about why his side cannot start matches in the same manner they have finished the last two.

Mikel Arteta spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Arsenal's draw against Manchester City: "At the very least [we deserved a point].

"I'm so proud of my players, the way we played, the way we dominated almost every aspect of the game. Very disappointed not to win the game."

On City's goal: "We had the situation, five against two, a lot of a scramble over the ball and in that moment, that split second, Halland runs on and they attacked the space in a great way - that's the quality they have.

"We are in the top end of the pitch, cross the ball and a lot of things have to happen but that's their quality."

On chances for City: "One is a corner, another is a counter attack and the other is a giveaway. That's it. To keep City to just that, chapeau to the boys."

On Arsenal's performance: "I think we played better than last year when we beat them. Much better."

On Martinelli scoring off the bench: "Very happy, that is what they're here for. Ebs [Eze] as well with the ball he plays to Gabi, the timing of the run and the quality of the finish is unbelievable."

On subs making an impact: "They are all going to play. They will all have opportunity. We're going to need them at that level. There is no question that that is something very necessary."

On being five points behind Liverpool: "We cannot control that. They win every match. It's going to be very difficult but if we play at this level, like we did against Manchester City, we will be fine."

Gabriel Martinelli also spoke to MOTD after Sunday's draw: "Of course we wanted to win the game.

"I think we created a lot of chances during the game and were just a bit unlucky in certain moments. Happy with the goal but we didn't want to draw the game, we wanted to win it so let's keep working to win those ones."

On his goal: "I saw Ebs [Eze] getting the ball and I tried to make eye contact with him and once the ball was open, I made the movement and it was a great ball from him. I just tried to put it in the back of the net."

On making an impact from the bench: "I work for those moments. I leave [selection] for the gaffer, he knows what he does. I just do my best to help this football club.

"Of course, I don't want to be on the bench. I want to play 90 minutes every single game but Arteta knows what he does, he's the gaffer and everyone trusts him. We're really happy with him."

On scoring late on: "We play for Arsenal, we know how big this club is and we try our best in the games to win football matches. We didn't want to draw but, in the end, we did."

Did you know?

• Mikel Arteta is the first manager to avoid defeat in five consecutive league games against Pep Guardiola, with his Arsenal side winning twice and drawing the other three across their last five Premier League meetings with Guardiola's Manchester City.

• Manchester City recorded their lowest ever possession average by a Pep Guardiola team in a top-flight league match (today his 601st), while the two lowest have both been in games away to Arsenal in the Premier League (32.8% today, 36.5% in March 2023).

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 City's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Mikel Arteta names Leandro Trossard in his starting XI after his goal and assist in the midweek win over Athletic Bilbao. William Saliba comes into the starting XI after an ankle problem and Bukayo Saka is back on the bench after a hamstring injury.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Trossard, Madueke, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Martinelli, Eze, Mosquera, White, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Saka

Pep Guardiola names an unchanged side from the one that beat Napoli in the Champions League in midweek. City are looking for their first win against Arsenal in five matches.

Manchester City starting XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol,O'Reilly, Rodri, Reijnders, Silva, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Stones, Gonzalez, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis