Arsenal play their first match since the transfer window closed on Sunday, hosting Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium in a clash between two of the four Premier League clubs still holding a 100 per cent record. The Gunners have not lost to the Blues in more than five years, with Romelu Lukaku and Reece James scoring in a 2-0 Chelsea win in August 2021. The most recent meeting saw William Saliba and Jurrien Timber score in a 2-1 Arsenal victory.
Team news and injury updates
Timber is in contention to return as he continues his recovery from injury. Saliba is further from a return, but manager Mikel Arteta said there have been positive signs in the French defender's recovery. With the window shut, Arteta can focus on on-field matters, though there has been some fall-out from the summer.
Alonso's comments on Rogers
Arsenal were in the mix for Morgan Rogers before the England international ultimately joined Chelsea. Rogers has already impressed in west London, and Blues boss Xabi Alonso has made comments that may leave Arsenal wondering if they might rue their failure to land the former Aston Villa star. “For sure, Morgan was a big, big one to get a player of his stature - in the present and future. He will be a key player for the next six, seven years. He's had a great impact,” Alonso said.
Arsenal signed Christos Tzolis early in the window but did not add another left winger despite losing Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli. They explored a move for Vinicius Junior, but the Brazilian ended up staying at Real Madrid.
Fofana speaks out on move
Malick Fofana was another winger linked with Arsenal, but he ended up at Sunderland after deadline day uncertainty when it briefly looked as though Crystal Palace would gazump their rivals. The Belgian international was reportedly offered to Arsenal at the end of the window, only for the Gunners to pass up on a permanent move. He expressed his happiness at moving to the Stadium of Light.
“I spoke with a lot of people before coming here, and they gave me the feeling they really wanted me,” the 21-year-old said. “It’s been a busy 48 hours, but I can’t wait to get going. I’ve already played in the Europa League, and I hope I can bring that experience here.”
