Arsenal travel to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium tonight, but they know nothing short of a win will be enough if they want to maintain their dominance at the top of the Premier League heading into Christmas.
Mikel Arteta’s side currently hold a slim two-point advantage over Man City, with the festive period threatening to decide their entire title challenge.
Arsenal have won just one of their last seven away games against the Toffees, with the old Goodison Park historically proving to be a difficult hunting ground.
City, who now face David Moyes’ side in a brand new stadium, have no choice but to win, as a win against West Ham today could see them move into the top of the table.
Recent form provides mixed signals for the Gunners.
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The Gunners have made fresh inquiries.
They managed to beat rock-bottom team Wolves last weekend thanks to a late own goal, but that performance raised serious questions about Arsenal’s cutting edge.
Meanwhile, with the January transfer window looming, many are wondering whether Andrea Berta, who spent nearly £270m last summer, will be active in signings.
Recent reports suggest that the possibility of Arsenal signing him next month amid their injury crisis has not been completely ruled out, but it could also depend on sales.
The BBC reported in November that Arsenal could sign a high-profile player next month if either Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard leave the club.
According to Turkish journalist Serkan Hamzaoglu, the former is currently being offered an offer ahead of a possible exit.
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Hamzaoglu reported via X that the north Londoners have decided to sell Martinelli, with the Brazilian expected to be offered to Turkish giants Fenerbahce during the January period.
It remains to be seen whether Fenerbahce has the financial strength to complete such a deal.
Martinelli’s market value is significantly higher than a typical Turkish league transfer, with Hamzaoglu calling him an “expensive player” that clubs should consider.
The news comes as a surprise considering Martinelli has established himself as a semi-regular starter under Arteta this season, contributing in big games.
The 24-year-old has starred as a left-winger and has scored in every Champions League game he has played so far, including goals against European giants Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
However, given Trossard’s impressive performance and the fact that both their contracts expire in 2027, it is arguable that sacrificing Martinelli to free up space would make more sense given the recent drop in performance.
Arsenal’s decision to sell Martinelli may be driven by a desire to refresh their attacking options following the summer arrivals of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, with Berta thought to be interested in Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.
The fact that Martinelli’s contract expires in just 18 months may also play a role, as Berta and others will be looking to recoup as much money as possible from a potential sale.
Either way, the former Ituano star’s departure seems clearly to be notable.
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The situation is even worse for Mikel Arteta.
