Arsenal

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

Get in touch with your views

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football reporter at Fortuna Arena

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has made four changes to the side that beat Burnley on Saturday.

Mikel Merino leads the line in place of injured striker Viktor Gyokeres.

There are nine games in the Champions League on Tuesday and BBC Sport will be bringing you every moment.

• Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt (17:45)

• Slavia Prague v Arsenal (17:45) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Atletico Madrid v Union Saint-Gilloise

• Bodo/Glimt v Monaco

• Juventus v Sporting

• Liverpool v Real Madrid - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Olympiacos v PSV

• Paris St-Germain v Bayern Munich

• Tottenham Hotspur v Copenhagen - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

All kick-off times 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Real Madrid", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Before the start of the season, many Arsenal fans had tipped one player to have his best season yet.

Having endured an injury-ridden and relatively inconsistent season last time out, Bukayo Saka seemed ready to return to his scintillating form.

So far though, things haven't quite worked out as we'd hoped.

The England international has two goals this season but is yet to record a single assist.

His goal contributions last season of six goals and 11 assists was also a significant decrease on the previous year. This can partly be explained by his nearly three month absence through injury.

It can't be denied that this is a downward trend. But Saka is still one of Arsenal's most important players and has the potential to become a superstar of the Premier League. So what's going wrong at the moment?

Many Arsenal fans have speculated that he is still managing his way back from the injury that saw him sidelined for a third of the season last year. It's not always obvious when a player is continuing through injury, but Saka's performance against Burnley certainly looked like he was holding something back.

Arsenal's current injury situation has also been a factor. The relationship between the injured Martin Odegaard and Saka has been essential to the Gunners' success on the right, as well as with an overlapping Ben White. With Kai Havertz also sidelined, and teams opting to double-mark Saka, he has looked ineffective against opponents he should be breezing past.

I have no doubt that come May, this period will be seen as nothing more than a blip. But the sooner Noni Madueke returns, at the very least to give Saka a rest, the better. Madueke made a bright start at Arsenal before succumbing to injury. If he picks up where he left off, it could well be the catalyst for Saka returning to his best.

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

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal youngsters Andre Harriman-Annous and Max Dowman look set to be involved with the first-team squad for the Champions League match against Slavia Prague on Tuesday.

Neither player is named in the Uefa Youth League match against Slavia Prague's under-19 side on Tuesday afternoon.

Harriman-Annous and Dowman both made their first starts for Arsenal against Brighton in the Carabao Cup last week, with Dowman becoming the youngest Arsenal player to start a match for the club in its history.

Striker Viktor Gyokeres is ruled out with injury and Harriman-Annous gives Mikel Arteta another option in that position.

The Gunners currently have a number of injuries in that area of the pitch, with Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard all unavailable.

Former Tottenham winger Andros Townsend says he will exercise "caution" in tipping Arsenal to run away with the Premier League title given there is a long way to go in the season.

Townsend delivered his view on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club and says Manchester City's form is also a factor.

But ex-Premier League keeper Shay Given explained he's struggling to see a weakness in Arsenal's game.

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Arsenal and France defender William Saliba, 24, has said a potential transfer to Real Madrid was "tempting" before he signed a new contract with the Gunners in September. (Sports Illustrated), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game against Slavia Prague at Fortuna Arena in Prague (kick-off 17:45 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "Victor Gyokeres is not available, he hasn't trained today, and we need to do some more tests and scans to understand the extent of the injury. I am concerned because he does not have any muscular issues, and for him to leave the pitch as he was feeling something is never a good sign. We'll announce the moment we know more."

• Arteta added that it was about maintaining the "right freshness" within the squad amid fixture congestion, but said he was delighted that the team "is competing in all competitions".

• On their Crystal Palace game being moved: "Hopefully by then they move our Premier League match because to play two days later doesn't make any sense, obviously. We'll now decide the date, and I am sure they will change the Premier League date as well."

• When asked whether a request had been made regarding scheduling, Arteta said he "will leave that to the club" and that they "are very clear on what's the best thing and the most logical date to play," though he admitted they may "have to adapt to that."

• On Christian Norgaard: "Exceptional. I knew very clearly of the role that he was going to have and what he could add to the team, and he is doing exactly that. He was in a really good moment before he got injured, and it took him a while to get up to speed. And now he is having some more minutes, and he is available for tomorrow."

• The Gunners boss expressed his satisfaction with the team's "collective organisation," particularly in defence, and highlighted the "individual behaviours" of his players as a key factor in their success.

• On recurring muscular injuries to the forwards: "We looked at everything, but we have four knees (knee injuries) with Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Madueke and Martin Odegaard, which is very unusual with all of them long-term. And then we have muscular injuries with other players, which can happen and is happening at every club. We have to face it, and we have been doing it in a brilliant way."

• On meeting Tomas Rosicky: "I have always said it - Tomas was one of my favourite players to play with and if I have the chance tomorrow and he is available, we will see each other and I will give him a hug and talk a little bit about football."

• Arteta said he has been preparing for a "really tough match" against a Slavia Prague side that has been together for some time, noting they are "unbeaten at home all season and create a massive atmosphere".

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

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport Journalist

Mikel Arteta insisted on the eve of the season that "the gold is going to be there" for his Arsenal side if they "keep digging".

He may well become the man with the Midas touch this season as the Gunners seek a first Premier League title since 2004 after three successive second-place finishes.

While there are 13 instances of teams earning more points at this stage of a Premier League season, Arsenal's six-point lead after 10 matches is the joint biggest in the competition's history. Liverpool had a similar advantage in 2019-20, going on to win the title.

This is Arsenal's 109th top-flight season and they've made their fifth best start. However, history brings a note of caution – the Gunners only won the title in one of the four seasons when they had a better record after 10 games.

Image source, Getty Images

The Carabao Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace has been confirmed for Tuesday, 23 December at 20:00 GMT.

The other three ties will take place the previous week but this is impossible due to the Eagles' Conference League commitments.

It means Palace will play twice in three days after travelling to Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday, 21 December.

Last week, boss Oliver Glasner labelled the football authorities "irresponsible" for allowing such a scheduling.

Image source, Getty Images

Slavia Prague midfielder David Doudera says facing Arsenal in the Champions League is "a difficult task" because they are a side with "almost no weaknesses" this season.

The Gunners travel to the Czech capital on Tuesday, having won nine consecutive games in all competitions of which the last seven have also been clean sheets.

"They have the form and it comes easy to them," said Doudera. "It is very difficult to find anything to surprise them with.

"If you want to attack, they use it to their benefit and they strike.

"I play Fifa with my brother and I buy all the Arsenal players for my team, because they are incredible."

Slavia coach Jindrich Trpisovsky was also full of praise for Mikel Arteta's side and added: "If I had to say what the dangers are of this team I would be here for more than two hours.

"They are a well-developed team, they have games under control, they have a lot of technical quality with big, fast, strong players.

"Inter [Milan, who Slavia lost to in their second Champions League match] were strong at set-pieces, but Arsenal are stronger. They are a top team with the best sporting level, the best fitness and the best evolved."

Slavia should not be underestimated though, as they have not conceded in their last five games and are unbeaten in the Czech First League this campaign.

They have also not lost at their home stadium, Fortuna Arena, since a domestic cup defeat to Sigma Olomouc in early April.

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Opta

Arsenal's dominant start to the season has been underpinned by an imperious defence. An eighth successive clean sheet on Tuesday against Slavia Prague would equal a club record set in 1903.

The Gunners have won seven games in a row without conceding in all competitions for just the second time in the club's history, previously doing so 38 years ago.

A notable stat doing the rounds since Saturday's win at Burnley is that Arsenal have not faced a shot on target in three of their past four league matches.

On average, they have only allowed their opponent to have 1.9 goal attempts on target per game this season.

If they can maintain that pace, it will be comfortably the best record of any team across an entire Premier League campaign since such data was first recorded in 2003-04.

• Find and follow your club here

Image source, Getty Images

How Arsenal have used their full-backs this season has been hugely important in their rise to the top of the Premier League table.

The Opta visual below shows both Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber ranking among the side's most attacking players, registering more shots and touches inside the opposition box than some of Arsenal's forwards.

It underlines how Arteta's full-backs are no longer just defensive anchors but active playmakers, stepping into midfield or wide attacking zones to help create overloads.

Because they are so advanced, it draws Arsenal's opponents out of shape and helps create more chances from open play as well as contributing to getting more set-pieces.

It is a system that keeps opponents guessing, with both full-backs comfortable rotating into midfield when opportunity arises.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor.

Here are some of your replies:

Burnley fans

Tad: Arsenal obviously have more expensive players and can pay higher wages, but they were also quicker to close down our players, quicker to second balls and hunted better in packs. Burnley have some good players but they need to put in more fast yards if they want to survive in the Premier League.

Graham: We're not overawed or out of place at this level! The better team won but Burnley almost scored against Arsenal. Tactically we showed too much respect in the early stages. It was later in the match that we changed, showing more aggression up front and causing some problems for the opposition. Another encouraging performance against a top team.

Fraser: Burnley looked far more fluid and capable after a multitude of substitutions in the second half, particularly after Hannibal's introduction. You can understand Scott Parker's attempt to nullify Arsenal somewhat with his starting XI. We move on.

Kathy: I was at the match and saw Burnley play far better than has generally been reported. This is a classic case of 'have a big name, automatically get the lion's share of the attention'. This kind of journalism is not in the true spirit of football, for fans or players.

Arsenal fans

Jordan: Arsenal were composed and in control. William Saliba and Gabriel dominated defensively, while the team's structure nullified Burnley's attack. In possession, Arsenal were patient and precise. Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice set the tempo, with Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard stretching the play and creating chances. Viktor Gyokeres put in a good shift up front with his goal. It was a mature and assured performance that showed balance and confidence to go on and win the league.

Steve: Arsenal are a machine this season! They just work so hard for each other and you can see they do not want to concede a goal ever. The work rate is first class and so professional. Keep it up.

Barry: Just awesome. Composed and comfortable, we've got a great gearbox these days. Gyokeres is a cracking centre-forward - he leads the line brilliantly.

Joe: A good win, however playing for an hour after the second goal without scoring is, to my mind, poor. If goal difference is to be the deciding factor at the end of the season, then we need as many goals as we can score. It's no good just defending a scoreline when we're on a roll.

Arsenal and Barcelona are tracking France Under-16s captain Lacine Megnan-Pave after the 15-year-old registered 15 goals and 12 assists in 24 games for Montpellier Under-17s. (Sport - in Spanish), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

In total, 12 of Arsenal's 18 league goals this season have come from dead-ball situations - more than any other side in the top flight and the highest ratio by any team in a single Premier League season.

"I can't see a weakness," former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer told BBC Sport.

"They've scored again from a set-piece but there's been so much more than that in the performance. I like the way they're using [Riccardo] Calafiori and [Jurrien] Timber in advanced positions to create overloads and win set-piece opportunities."

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha said: "When I first started doing punditry in 2021, Arsenal's biggest failing was they are a bit soft-centered, you could almost bully them.

"Now you look at the way they can play. If it needs to be a fight, it will be a fight. If it needs to be a footballing game it can be a footballing game.

"People don't want to be classed as favourites for anything at this part of the season. There is a lot of pressure that comes with that. For the Arsenal side, three years in a row they have finished second, why not have the belief they can finish first?"

Pundits Alan Shearer and Ashley Williams join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

• Nottingham Forest 2-2 Manchester United

• Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea