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Mikel Arteta says he is happy if his Arsenal team stir memories of George Grahamâ€s famously miserly champion vintage at the club as he prepared to face another defensive master – Diego Simeone, who brings Atlético Madrid to the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Artetaâ€s players are fresh from their 1-0 win at Fulham on Saturday, a result that has left them three points clear at the top of the Premier League with an eye-catching defensive record. After eight games in the competition, they have let in three goals and not conceded in two Champions League ties and one Carabao Cup game this season.

“One-nil to the Ars-en-nal†was a popular chant for Grahamâ€s team, who won the league title in 1989 and 1991. Arteta, who is seeking to end the clubâ€s 21-year wait for a similar triumph, made the point that if victory was everything to Graham, no matter the margin, it remained the case for him.

“Yes, it is and especially now,†he said. “In modern football, the margins and the results you see … itâ€s one goal most of the time. That defines whether you win or not so we have to be happy and comfortable with those small margins and find ways to win.

“Iâ€m not so much aware of the detail [of Grahamâ€s team] as it was a different era. But to be associated with successful teams and teams that brought joy to our supporters and the club is, for me, more than welcome.

“Collectively, we acknowledge the importance of defending. We know that if we excel in that part of the game, the chances and the probabilities to win more matches is going to be very, very high.â€

George Graham hugs Alan Smith after Arsenal won the First Division title at Anfield in 1989. Photograph: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images

Arteta was asked for his reaction to Arsenal being installed by bookmakers as the favourites for the title. “The only thing that I embrace is when I see the team, the energy, the temperature, the commitment and the quality that they can deliver … it gives me that conviction that we can go all the way,†he said.

Arteta was full of praise for Simeone, who has been in charge at Atlético since December 2011. When the Argentinian took over, the club were 10th in La Liga and he would lift them to a fifth-placed finish. They have never come in outside the top four in any of his full seasons.

It is possible to see the similarities between Arteta and Simeone; the passionate way that they live the matches on the touchline, their love of unyielding, physical lineups – with gamechangers in particular areas. But Arteta knows that there is a major difference. Simeone has won La Liga twice.

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Thiago Almada scored the only goal of the game as Atlético Madrid beat Osasuna 1-0 in La Liga on Saturday. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

“Atlético have won major trophies, been in two Champions League finals [losing both to Real Madrid] and made all the right steps when they need to do the important step,†Arteta said. “We need to try and do that and we are on the journey to try and achieve that.

“First of all [with Simeoneâ€s team], it is the willingness to win. You can sense that in every single ball, in every single yard, the way that they play. Itâ€s about how they compete and then after how they play. They are two very different things.

“The levels of organisation and discipline are really high and then they have acquired a lot of talents throughout the years that are very specific for the way they want to play. They are very good at exploiting those opportunities.â€

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The former Gunners attacker is a unique voice when it comes to breaking into the first-team picture at an early age, having signed for Arsenal from Southampton at the age of 16.

Walcott was named in the England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, just months after his Highbury move and on reflection believes everything was thrust upon him at once.

Speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo ahead of punditry duties on Amazon Prime Video’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League this week, Walcott says the current crop of young players coming through at the Emirates Stadium is ‘exciting’.

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Theo Walcott: ‘It’s important not to give them everything too soon’

Theo Walcott on punditry duty (Image credit: Getty Images)

“I look at it really differently as well, because when I came to the club, I couldn’t relate to any of the players because of my age gap. And I look at Max [Dowman] coming through, and you see Ethan [Nwaneri], a couple years older, and maybe not even that, Myles [Lewis-Skelly] again, [can] all relate, probably doing the same things together away from the game.”

Walcott’s Arsenal arrival came after the youngster had impressed during the first half of the season at Championship side Southampton, where he had become the Saints’ youngest-ever player at 16 years and 143 days old.

Theo Walcott broke through initially at Southampton

Nwaneri and Dowman, both aged 15 at the time of their Arsenal debuts, are the Gunners’ two youngest-ever appearance-makers.

“I think it’s important to just to bring them back down to earth at times, and not to give them everything too soon. I’m not saying I had it too soon. However, it was very different for me coming through and that patient side of it, keeping the guys away from the media at times, protecting them.

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“I was thrown straight into it with that World Cup. ‘Go, bang.’ And so it was a different dynamic for me to deal with. I turned out okay, it could’ve gone a different way, it really could.”

Walcott didn’t play a minute of football at the tournament in Germany that summer, despite England’s lack of fit and available attackers; Sven Goran Eriksson subsequently drew criticism for his decision to select the teenager in the first place.

Theo Walcott on England duty whilst still a teenager

Arsenal’s youngsters will face challenges and media scrutiny of their own in the years to come but Walcott believes keeping them grounded is the first step towards helping them fulfil their potential.

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“I think it’s important, even like Max has not played for a while now, just being around the squad, it was like me when I went with the England team, being around the squad, knowing in time I will be there at this level, but not ready.

“He’s not quite ready, because he’s got quite a lot of guys ahead of him. However, he’s an option, and he’s someone that is the unknown. And when I was the unknown, no one really knew what I was going to do.”

Walcott’s speed and unpredictability made him a difficult customer for defences, particularly when given space to run in behind. He still regards his assist for Emmanuel Adebayor in a 2008 Champions League tie versus Liverpool as ‘my goal’ having dribbled almost the length of the pitch and past several Reds players before laying it on a plate for the Togolese striker.

Theo Walcott skips past Xabi Alonso (Image credit: Getty Images)

“That’s an assist,” Walcott tells FFT. “You know, when you see players, like Reece James touched it to [Neto] the other day, and that’s an assist. Okay, I suppose it touched you last but when I look at assists, that goal, dribbling past those players – and when you see Saka, and he goes past you and he cuts it back to someone or whatever – they’re the real assists for me.

“That goal I can still re-live it constantly in my mind. I can just picture all the players that are running after me, the players that missed the ball, and [Steven] Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Mascherano, and Adebayor’s dance, the slap I got from Cesc Fabregas still hurts to this day, but it was great.

“A lot of people are, ‘Oh, Theo Walcott’s decision-making at times’, but those people may not be able to run as fast as that. Everyone has different attributes, and they make decisions their own way. And I don’t think there would have been any other player to do [that].”

Arsenal host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night with Walcott featuring pitchside alongside presenter Alex Aljoe and comedian Jack Whitehall.

Prime Video’s coverage of Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid is available at no additional cost for Prime members.

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Ray Parlour’s 13-year stint at Arsenal saw him rack up more than 450 appearances and score 32 goals as the ‘Romford Pele’ proved he was more than just a cult favourite in north London.

His everyman quality would serve him well with the fans, but as his career progressed, so did his leadership abilities as he became one of Arsene Wenger’s unsung heroes.

Parlour would hoist up nine major trophies with the Gunners – but which games meant the most to him?

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The games that changed Ray Parlour’s life

Parlour made his debut at Anfield in 1992

Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal, First Division, 1992

“My professional debut. At that stage, you’re used to playing reserve games in front of 150 people, then you’re suddenly given your big chance. I made my debut at Anfield – such an iconic ground. You don’t get much more daunting than one of the best stadiums in the world. A few days before, George Graham told me I’d get my chance and, honestly, I just tried not to think about it too much, because I wouldn’t have slept with all the nerves and excitement.

“I remember my dad came to watch – he sat in the directors’ box and said he was so proud to see his boy running out at Anfield. That one means a lot to me.”

Ray Palrour celebrates with Thierry Henry on 2004 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal 4-0 Everton, Premier League, 1998

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“Arsene Wenger’s first Double and a brilliant season for me. The Everton game, when we clinched the title, sticks out. We battered them and Tony Adams scored with a lovely half-volley.

“I put in one of my best performances that day, running my socks off, even though I didn’t score. I won Arsenal’s player of the season that year – that’s no easy feat up against Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka.

“But I played my part in an iconic season. I was one of the Invincibles too, but felt at my best during the Double campaign. As soon as a game finished, I just couldn’t wait for us to play the next one.”

Parlour fires home against Chelsea (Image credit: Getty)

Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea, FA Cup Final, 2002

“Growing up in my house, the FA Cup final was everything. It was the biggest game of the year and one of the only live games you could watch on TV at the time. My parents were really into it, and I’d sit with them and my brothers every year.

“To later play in those games was massive for my whole family. I’d played in the 1993 FA Cup Final, which we won in a replay against Sheffield Wednesday, but I scored in the 2002 final with Chelsea – a nice curling goal too. Scoring in an FA Cup final on your way to winning the trophy is everything that you dreamed of as a kid. One of the best days I’ve ever had.”

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Arsenal should have sold Leandro Trossard over the summer, really: it would have made sense.

The coldest decisions often prove to be the best ones: a fact that has seen Bukayo Saka enjoy an ascendence to the throne of English football, and Mikel Arteta shift his crosshairs to bring in physical beasts over technicality in recent years.

For under £25m, Arsenal’s acquisition of Trossard over a flashier name in 2023 ranks as another example of sensibility over passion – especially when considering the trajectories of the Belgian and some of the other names the Gunner have been linked to in the years since.

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Leandro Trossard has come back into the Arsenal team – and been exceptional

Arteta looks on against Brighton (Image credit: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Yet Trossard reached an obvious crossroads last season: he was never going to better his Midas goal haul of 2023/24, and at 30 years old, his goals were now punctuating scatter-gun displays in which little would stick.

Arsenal have long struggled to sell at players’ peaks, and with three forwards targeted in Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Ebere Eze – not to mention the fact that Arteta had looked to use Mikel Merino on attack ahead of the Belgian – Trossard seemed likeliest for the cut.

Another set piece goal for Arsenal!Leandro Trossard gives the visitors the lead! pic.twitter.com/jhd5yTROWmOctober 18, 2025

It makes his start to 2025/26 all the sweeter, and Trossard has a new role.

The former Brighton man has always excelled in tight spaces, and with Arsenal finding even less room in the final third, Trossard has left his touchline-hugging role to come inside and combine with Eze, Saka and others – yet he hasn’t lost his penchant to drift, find space and play the ghost at the back post, as he did for Arsenal’s winner at the Cottage.

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But more significantly than that, Trossard was Arsenal’s oldest starter against Fulham. Arteta lost Jorginho, Raheem Sterling and Neto as his elder statesmen over the summer, while Martin Odegaard has been in and out of the team following injury.

Seniority matters. Arsenal have more vocal leaders but in the experience of Trossard, Arteta has found a calm presence who has a chameleonic knack of twisting his game around his team-mates.

When Riccardo Calafiori overlaps, the Belgian adds numbers in the centre. When David Raya plays long, Trossard is a runner looking to catch Gyokeres’ second ball. Even when truly on his game, he never does one thing exceptionally: he just does an exceptional amount to a good standard, getting the best out of Eze, Saka and even Martin Zubimendi with his movement and license to roam.

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Trossard controls the ball against Fulham (Image credit: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

And nothing’s particularly changed for Trossard either. This is simply a version of Arsenal that suits him so much more than ever before – he’s not the star, he’s a foil for others.

He is still the pint-sized, silver-haired hard-runner who put in wing-back shifts at the Amex, the false nine who impersonated Gabriel Jesus after signing for Arteta, the wingfielder who filled Odegaard’s time-sheet last term and the man who struck against Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Tottenham and inevitably, Brighton.

Sometimes, he is every one in a transitional 15 minutes for a young Gunners side who are still gelling. He loses the ball, he doesn’t dictate – but he makes life easier for those around him in and out of possession.

Trossard has been a brilliant signing for Arsenal (Image credit: Getty Images)

Trossard never does one thing exceptionally: he just does an exceptional amount to a good standard

“He has this quality to create these magic moments when the team needs it the most,” Arteta claimed after the win at Fulham. “And that intuition: he’s in the right place at the right moment.

“And that’s a huge quality for the team and a massive weapon for us, so [I’m] really happy. I think he’s been very, very good in recent weeks, and now we have a lot of players in a really high emotional state and performance level, which is really good to see.”

Few saw Trossard becoming anything more than a stopgap for a superstar when he joined, let alone this latest renaissance. In an Arsenal side that made eight signings over the summer, this latest iteration of an existing fringe player might just be the best addition of them all.

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Enzo Maresca has said Cole Palmer will miss another six weeks with a groin injury, raising doubts over whether the Chelsea forward will be able to regain his England place before the 2026 World Cup.

Palmer, who has been unavailable during the past two international breaks, has been struggling with his fitness since the start of the season and has not played since limping off against Manchester United last month. Chelsea have tried to manage the 23-year-oldâ€s groin injury with rest and are confident it does not need surgery but Maresca has dashed hopes of his most influential player making a swift return.

“Unfortunately he needs to be out for another six weeks,†Chelseaâ€s head coach said as he prepared for his sideâ€s trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. “We try to protect Cole as much as we can. The most important thing is when he comes back he is fully fit. The medical staff are not magicians. We hope six weeks are enough.â€

Cole Palmer will be sidelined for longer than initially expected. Photograph: John Walton/PAShare

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner revealed yesterday that club captain Marc Guehi will leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season. Guehi came close to joining Liverpool in a £35million transfer on deadline day before the deal collapsed at the last minute. He will now leave as a free agent next summer.

Glasner said: “I think Marc has already told us that he doesnâ€t sign a new contract, so he will leave next year. The club wanted [him to stay]. They offered Marc a new contract. But he said, ‘no, I want to make something differentâ€. And thatâ€s normal.

“And for us, itâ€s how we can deal with this situation? [What] is the best way to get this next step done? And thatâ€s all about how we are talking together.â€

Marc Guehi will leave Crystal Palace as a free agent at the end of the season. Photograph: Matt McNulty/Getty ImagesShare

Speaking of Nottingham Forest, Ben Fisher will be on hand at 11am this morning to answer any questions you may have about the club.

Be sure to email matchday.live@guardian.co.uk with your questions for the Q&A session or leave a comment below the line.

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Ange Postecoglouâ€s future at Nottingham Forest is on the line this afternoon. The 60-year-old is yet to win a match with Forest and is already at risk of being sacked – despite only arriving just over one month ago.

Postecoglou urged the clubâ€s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, to maintain faith in him during his press conference yesterday.

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Todayâ€s Premier League fixtures

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea (12:30pm BST)

• Sunderland v Wolves

• Burnley v Leeds United

• Crystal Palace v Bournemouth

• Brighton v Newcastle

• Manchester City v Everton

• Fulham v Arsenal (5:30pm BST)

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Preamble

Hello, good morning and welcome to another Matchday live! Premier League and EFL football is finally back after (what felt like) a long international break and business resumes as normal. Iâ€ll be bringing you all the latest updates until the early kick-off which sees Nottingham Forest take on Chelsea at the City Ground.

Weâ€ll also go over some of the top talking points from yesterdayâ€s press conferences – including a huge update on the future of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi – and preview each of todayâ€s Premier League fixtures.

So, without further ado, letâ€s get cracking.

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Updated at 03.18 EDT

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Informative, passionate, entertaining.But enough about me and my prose, thatâ€s also the tagline for Moving the Goalposts, our weekly womenâ€s football newsletter. Hereâ€s the latest edition.

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Manchester United, who have been down to 10 players since before half-time, lead 1-0 against Atletico in Madrid. You can follow the last quarter of that game with Yara El-Shaboury.

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Team news

Four changes for Arsenal from Sundayâ€s 1-0 win over Brighton. Lotte Wubben-Moy, Taylor Hinds, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Beth Mead come in for Katie Reid, who is injured, Katie McCabe, Frida Maanum and Caitlin Foord.

Benfica (possible 4-3-3) Pauels; Amado, Gomes, Ucheibe, Lund; Tristao, Cameirao, Gasper; Alves, Diana Silva, Moller.

Subs: Rute Costa, Prat, Joana Silva, Martin-Prieto, Almeida, Carole Costa, Engesvik, Martins, Pauleta, Davidson, Boeckmann, Guedes.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)Van Domselaar; Fox, Wubben-Moy, Catley, Hinds; Little, Cooney-Cross; Smith, Caldentey, Mead; Russo.

Subs: Codina, McCabe, Maanum, Kelly, Foord, Pelova, Nighswonger, Blackstenius, Harwood, Liddiard.

RefereeMiriama Bockova (Slovakia).

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Updated at 14.11 EDT

Preamble

Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of Benfica v Arsenal in the WCL. Arsenalâ€s Champions League defence got off to a false start last week with a 2-1 defeat at home to Lyon; and while itâ€s too early to talk of must-win games, theyâ€ll be keen to get up and running in Lisbon tonight.

It wonâ€t be straightforward against a Benfica side who have won five Portuguese titles in a row. They also started this seasonâ€s competition with a 2-1 defeat, in their case away to Juventus. But unlike Arsenal, Benfica donâ€t have much pedigree in this tournament – at least not yet. Their best run, two seasons ago, ended with a 6-2 aggregate defeat to Lyon in the quarter-finals.

Benfica, and Portuguese football more generally, will want to make a dent in the competition as soon as spossible. Victory over the reigning champions would be a nice place to start.

Kick off8pm

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been handed a blow after discovering how long his skipper Martin Odegaard will be sidelined for.

The 26-year-old suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury during his side’s 2-0 victory over West Ham on October 4, when he was subbed off after just 30 minutes in what was Arteta’s 300th match in charge of the club.

The club would initially rule the Norway star out until the current international break without setting a timeline for his return, but have now confirmed when they expect him to be fit again.

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Arsenal learn Martin Odegaard timeline

Martin Odegaard suffered a knee injury against West Ham (Image credit: Getty Images)

Now, according to the BBC, Odegaard is not expected back until after the November international break.

This means that the Gunners captain will miss Premier League fixtures against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sunderland, plus Champions League clashes against Atletico Madrid and Slavia Prague.

Odegaard has completed 90 minutes just twice this season (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal’s first match back after the November break is a north London derby against Tottenham on November 23, a match which Odegaard will be targeting to make his return.

Arteta will be aware, however, that this latest problem came after Odegaard was forced off during the first half of three consecutive Premier League matches.

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Spain international Mikel Merino has been Arteta’s first-choice replacement for Idegaard, who struggled with a shoulder injury, slotting in alongside Declan Rice, with Martin Zubimendi sitting behind them.

Other options to replace the former Real Madrid man in his usual role include summer signing Eberechi Eze and homegrown talent Ethan Nwaneri.

Arteta addressed Odegaard’s absence following the West Ham match, saying: “Yeah we haven’t had him since the start for one reason or another. The shoulder twice and then this injury. We have to wait and see the extent of the injury.

“We will have to find solutions but obviously [Odegaard] is our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with things that he can do, especially in the attack.”

Arsenal moved ahead of Liverpool before the current international break and currently sit one point clear at the top of the early Premier League table.

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Mikel Arteta knew and so did Win. Dogs just do. “Well, of course,†Martín Zubimendi says, cracking up. The July day he walked through the doors at the Arsenal training centre, the clubâ€s resident chocolate labrador – a therapy dog the head coach had brought in to bring the kind of calm wanted from the new signing too – was the first to welcome him. “It was lovely. I arrived with my parents, my agent, a small group, and he came straight to me, sat by me, rolled on the floor at my feet; that was very nice.â€

It was also the way he would have wanted it, part of the plan. “Heâ€s a bit like yours,†the sporting director, Andrea Berta, offered as Win lent against the midfielderâ€s legs. Zubimendiâ€s dog, Lea, hadnâ€t made it to London – heâ€s hoping she will soon – but this was a good start. There was a letter from Mikel Merino and a video call from Martin Ødegaard, teammates at Real Sociedad, yet no friendlier face than this. That can help when youâ€re departing the city you were born in and the club where you have been since you were 12.

Zubimendiâ€s welcome at Arsenal included meeting Win, Arsenalâ€s therapy dog. Photograph: David Price/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

“I hadnâ€t left home yet; going was a radical change,†Zubimendi says, and there is a glimpse of that here, at Las Rozas with the Spain team, preparing for World Cup qualifiers against Georgia in Elche on Saturday and Bulgaria in Valladolid on Tuesday. When youâ€re away, he admits, you appreciate these moments even more. “The climate, the language, and above all itâ€s lovely being with these mates – the atmosphere is great,†Zubimendi says. “But the change was what I was looking for. I didnâ€t have too many doubts.â€

Not any more, not by this summer. A year earlier, Zubimendi had chosen not to leave home, where he has had the same mates since he was three or four. Arne Slot admitted that Liverpool had tried everything to sign him and he had listened but, unlike his teammates, friends and fellow European champions Robin Le Normand and Merino, he didnâ€t take the final step. Twelve months on, he did. Why wait? What changed?

There is a pause. “When any proposal comes, the first question has to be whether to stay at la Real,†he says. “And it wasnâ€t the right moment [to go]. I stayed and it was a hard season but I learned a lot. I wanted to step forward, take that weight after others went.†Fans appreciated his staying. “Well, until you do decide to go,†he says, smiling. “But Iâ€ve always tried to choose the right time and Iâ€m happy with how it happened in the end.

“I had watched Arsenal and I liked everything I saw, in terms of passion, youth, the feeling you got watching them. And when Mikel Arteta called me … Well, if youâ€ve ever spoken to him youâ€ll know that he can be very convincing. Heâ€s mad about football, crazy about having everything under control, trying to get something from every little detail. Heâ€s very clear on everything and the proposal he had was the best for me.â€

The leap wasnâ€t so great, not once he got the initiation out the way. “The worst thing in football,†he calls it; by his own admission, he is quite reserved, after all. “I had to sing: I did La Bachata, by Manuel Turizo.†And how was it? “Horrible, horrible.â€

Otherwise, it has gone well, although he misses Lea. Merino and Ødegaard are there. A footballerâ€s life is similar anywhere, Zubimendi believes, adaptation not so hard. He lives less than 10 minutes from the training ground, north of the city but with London only a train ride away. And he had studied English, even if itâ€s one thing to thinkyou understand the language and another to turn up and test that. On the pitch, the proposal fit perfectly, going to a different league good for him.

Zubimendi holds off Manchester Cityâ€s Erling Haaland during Septemberâ€s 1-1 draw. Photograph: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

There is a confidence about him too, born of continuity at the highest level: a stability, a maturity, recognition now too. He will be at the heart of the Spain team this week. He came on at half-time in the final of Euro 2024, with everyone fearing that Rodriâ€s injury was a disaster – in the directors†box, one Basque member of the delegation rounded on Spanish colleagues unable to believe that they didnâ€t have more faith – and ran the game. He scored the champions†first goal back on Spanish soil. And he has started 10 of Spainâ€s past 11 games.

“I always felt that Luis [de la Fuente, the Spain coach] trusted me but when youâ€re on the pitch [regularly], when you can contribute, you feel more involved in everything. And I do feel that. At half-time, there were nerves for sure. But doubts? None. It also happened so fast, and was so unexpected that I didnâ€t have time to think. Often the issue is [mental]. There are players who have the level but the hardest thing is taking that step, finding a way to be yourself.â€

Zubimendi may be the best in the world in a position where even what it is called says something about how it is conceptualised: the defensive or deep midfielder is a pivot in Spain, the piece upon which it all hinges. When Rodri got injured, De la Fuente said the City midfielder was the best in the world but, not to worry, he had the second best too. If few followed him then, the debate now may be only about the order. Inside the game, it had already been seen. Slot had little doubt; Arteta had even less. Arsenalâ€s manager, after all, is from the same city and played for the same team as his new signing: not just Real Sociedad but their local club Antiguoko.

Zubimendi (left) poses with Rodri after Spainâ€s Euro 2024 final victory over England – his international coach believes the pair are the two best midfielders in the world. Photograph: Pablo García

Arsenal, Premier League runners-up three years in a row, a feeling growing that this year has to be their year, were determined to build strength in depth. “From what teammates have said to me, the problem was the injuries, that when someone got injured, the team came undone,†Zubimendi says.

“This year the club has invested a lot in having two players in every position.†In having different types of solutions, too. As for the 26-year-old, he was the central piece, a qualitative leap towards a title challenge, his profile one they didnâ€t have.

“Actually, I donâ€t agree with that,†he says. “Because the midfield there was already very strong.â€

As for the demands of his position, he says: “The pivot has to be someone who is very complete; he has to have the best qualities with the ball and without it, plus the physical capability. He has to be able to do everything. It completes you [to move]. It would be easy to stay in my comfort zone. But I wanted to leave that environment where I was with Real Sociedad and grow in a personal sense, to see another culture, another football. The more you come out of that, the more you develop.

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Itâ€s in those situations where you are pushed to the limit that you get the best out of yourself. I think I have a lot to learn in the Premier League, a lot to improve, but I think I can do that.â€

Well, if he can learn to belt volleys in from 20 yards, as he did against Nottingham Forest last month … Zubimendi laughs. “Just my thing,†he says.

Is it as brutal as it looks? “Yes. The mentality is: be a man. Go into clashes hard. Itâ€s more direct. In Spain when you get the ball, itâ€s more about keeping it; [in England], whenever you win it, itâ€s straight on to the attack. Transitions are unavoidable, itâ€s harder to control. But [handling] that is not about ability as such, itâ€s getting your mind used to it. Thatâ€s different to La Liga but the thing that has most struck me is the dead ball, how important it is. Iâ€m seeing loads of goals from that and theyâ€re often what opens up the game. We have a set-play coach and we work on that practically daily.

Martín Zubimendi jumps for joy after his stunning volley opens the scoring in Arsenalâ€s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in September. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

“But I choose a team on the basis of my qualities too: what they wanted from me. I have to adapt my play a bit in terms of playing faster, more direct. Iâ€m a pivot, but in this structure I have the chance to take that step forward and Arteta insists a lot that I can play that final pass and make the difference. But I think my profile doesnâ€t change much.

If they have signed me it is because they like what I do. They know this is what I can contribute to the team. If I changed my profile it would be an error.â€

Brought, like Win, to make everyone else feel better, putting them at ease. “Totally reliable,†in De la Fuenteâ€s words, someone who “thinks more about his teammates than himself,†according to Xabi Alonso, his idol first and his coach later. Itâ€s in the person, and the player. The son of teachers, a little less timid as time passes, he is engaging, warm company but there is no show, no desire to be noticed, just to help.

As Spainâ€s coach put it: “Martín doesnâ€t get nervous, even if heâ€s walking along a high-wire without ropes. Heâ€s always so calm, so in control.â€

“Well, I look like it, at least,†Zubimendi replies, laughing again. Inside, youâ€re terrified?

“No, I try to be calm because I think in that emotional state Iâ€m going to make better decisions. When it comes to the ‘caffeine†level Iâ€m cautious.

Overstimulation isnâ€t good. Iâ€m naturally calm. Away from football, too, itâ€s unlikely youâ€ll ever see me out of control or overexcited. But itâ€s also the confidence and trust I have in my teammates that gives me the tranquillity to know weâ€ll be fine.â€

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Arsenal have been found to have breached FA Cup rules when they hosted Manchester United in the third round of the competition in January.

Mikel Arteta’s side went out at the first hurdle despite Manchester United being reduced to ten men midway through the second half, with Gabriel cancelling out Bruno Fernandes’ opener just two minutes after Diogo Dalot was shown a second yellow card – only for the Gunners to lose on penalties.

However, the sanction has nothing to do with events on the pitch that day, but rather relates to how they sold their away tickets.

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Arsenal handed suspended fine over away ticketing for Manchester United clash

Manchester United did not receive the proper ticket allocation for their trip to the Emirates in January, the PGB found (Image credit: Getty Images)

An FA statement explained that they had referred Arsenal to the Professional Game Board (PGB) after they were alleged to have breached FA Cup rule 192, which required all home sides to comply with rule 191.

Rule 191 reads as follows: For competition matches other than a semi-final or the Final, the away club shall have the right to claim either:

• (a) up to 15% of the tickets issued (up to a maximum of 9,000);
• or (b) if the Ground is not all ticketed, up to 15% the Ground’s maximum capacity, provided that:
  • 191.1. the tickets are for admission to a fully segregated area; and
  • 191.2. the request for the tickets is made within four days of the relevant draw.

Manchester United fans were left celebrating after they won the tie on penalties (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal were thus required to offer the full 9,000 tickets to Manchester United for the occasion.

However, Arsenal are reported to have only allocated 8,000 tickets to visiting fans, claiming the decision had been taken on safety grounds.

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The PGB found that Arsenal’s decision put them in breach of rule 192 and has hit them with a suspended £500,000 fine.

The penalty will remain suspended and won’t need to be paid as long as Arsenal confirm they are able to comply with the rules this season and follow through with any home games they face in the FA Cup this season.

Arsenal will now have to comply with the rules this season to avoid having to pay half a million quid (Image credit: Getty Images)

The FA Cup third round is set to get under way on the weekend of Saturday, January 10 2026.

Premier League and Championship clubs do not participate in the first or second rounds of the competition, which will be held on the first weekends of November and December, respectively.

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Matchday One of this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League saw some exciting matchups and gave us a taste of what’s to come.

The UWCL table has a very Liga F look about it, with the top three spots occupied by Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid after some very impressive wins to open their campaigns.

Manchester United, meanwhile, were surprisingly the only Women’s Super League team to bag all three points on Matchday One.

We asked our writers Emily Keogh, Julien Laurens and Sam Marsden to answer some of our burning questions.

– Women’s Champions League: How the new format plays out
– Don’t know which UWCL team to support? ESPN can help
– Yohannes, Caldentey: Who is the MVP on all 18 UWCL teams?

Q1: Melchie Dumornay ranked No. 21 in the 2024 ESPN Women’s Rank, but has her two-goal performance in OL Lyonnes’ win at Arsenal cemented her as a top 10 player right now?

Keogh: I genuinely believe Dumornay will be a top 10 player sooner rather than later. What sets her apart isn’t just the flair, the flamboyant finishes or the fancy footwork — though she certainly has those in her locker. It’s the way she masters the fundamentals: her presence, physicality, intelligent movement off the ball, and clinical, simple finishing. These are the details that elevate her game. We’ve seen top players lose their edge when they stray from the basics, but Dumornay is doing the opposite and she’s building on them. Her football IQ, relentless work ethic, and sharp reading of the game are driving her development at a remarkable pace. Dumornay was a standout in 2023, and she’s only continued to rise. With Lyonnes looking so strong, 2025 could very well cement her as a top star. It’s unfortunate that players from lower-ranked nations often struggle to gain recognition in the global rankings, though. Haiti’s limited international presence could unfairly hold her back, despite her individual brilliance.

Melchie Dumornay punished two Arsenal mistakes to help OL Lyonnes to a 2-1 win over Arsenal at Meadow Park. Molly Darlington – UEFA

Laurens: I don’t want to say I told you so, but I did. (This is my Parisian arrogance at its best!)

Before the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia, when ESPN writers were asked to pick who would be the revelation of the tournament, I picked Dumornay. And she was. I had seen her grow in France, with Reims first as a 17-year-old and then at Lyonnes, and she’s only gotten better. Now 22, she was excellent at Arsenal on Tuesday off the back of a season where she registered 22 goals and nine assists in 28 games across all competitions.

I voted for her much higher than the 21st position in our renowned and respected FC 50 Women’s rankings last year (and 14th last month in the Ballon d’Or list), but she will definitely be in the top 10 this year. She is among the top 10 players in the world right now, and she has all the tools to even break into the top five despite playing for a tiny nation like Haiti.

Marsden: Probably. In terms of posting the kind of numbers at a top club you need to really stand out, and last year’s rank probably came just too soon for her. She’s possibly also been held back by Lyonnes’ failure to win a Champions League since she joined. But last year’s performances and statistics were no fluke; as she showed at Arsenal, and it’s just a matter of time before she’s flying up that list.

Q2: Does Barcelona’s 7-1 rout of Bayern Munich say more about Barça’s strength, or the size of the gap Bayern need to close in order to keep up with the best sides in Europe?

Laurens: When you look at Bayern Munich’s squad this season, they should not be losing 7-1 away at Barcelona after being 2-0 down after 12 minutes. Even their bench on Tuesday included some top international players. This is a terrible result for them. I was not sure that José Barçala was the right choice as Bayern manager in the summer, and I’m even more skeptical now.

Maybe the Germans thought that this Barça side, which went through a bit of a crisis in the summer, was not going to be very good for some reason? What’s for sure is that you can never underestimate Aitana Bonmatí & Co., even with only 15 or 16 players available. But then, Bayern were also battered by Lyonnes last season in the quarterfinals of the Champions League (6-1 on aggregate), so maybe we should not be expecting too much from them anyway.

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1:43

Barcelona’s Brugts: 7-1 win the perfect response to last season’s failure

Esmee Brugts says beating Bayern Munich 7-1 was the perfect start to Barcelona’s attempt to reclaim the Women’s Champions League title.

Marsden: Probably the latter for now. Like Juls says, there is no shortage of talent on that Bayern roster, yet they were awful in Barcelona, with several goals coming from their own slack play at the back. It’s not like they even can claim they were surprised by Barça — coach Barçala said the Spanish champions have some of the most predictable patterns in the game — but they just couldn’t cope with the speed. The good news is they won’t have any harder games than that in the league phase.

As for Barça, it’s hard to proclaim they are as good as they have ever been after one game, but they certainly look like a team desperate to prove a point after last year’s final defeat. The big names are still taking the plaudits for now, but don’t sleep on the younger generation (like World Cup winner Salma Paralluelo) coming through.

Keogh:Bayern played Barcelona at the worst possible time. There’s been a lot of noise around the Catalans lately, and their summer dealings — or lack thereof — has raised real questions about whether they’re still the powerhouse they once were with a dangerously thin squad.

Barcelona, therefore, came into the match with a point to prove and they did just that. But Bayern can’t chalk up the defeat to Barça simply wanting it more. They looked passive, flat, and miles off the intensity we’ve come to expect. Maybe it’s just early teething issues under a new manager, but more likely, it reflects where these two clubs are right now. Bayern have always been a little behind the curve in Europe, but as others pick up momentum, they seem to be slipping further behind. Perhaps a lack of real domestic competition has lulled them into complacency, because they were simply torn apart by Barcelona.

Q3: Taking it a step further, the whole of Liga F really put on a show in MD1, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid racking up 19 goals across their three matches. We know about Barça, but what can the Madrid teams do? Are these results just down to nice fixtures — Atlético thumped St. Pölten 6-0, while Real Madrid beat AS Roma 6-2 — or are they positioning themselves as dark horses?

Marsden: The Madrid teams are ones to watch this year. Given how Barça dominate in Spain, they have slipped under the radar, but both could cause a few upsets.

Real are buoyed by the belief of beating Barça in a competitive game for the first time earlier this year and have gradually increased their investment in the squad. They have quality in the likes of Caroline Weir, Sara Däbritz and Linda Caicedo. They are strong at home — beating Arsenal before losing the reverse leg in last season’s quarterfinal — and should have no problem reaching the playoff round.

Atlético have also started the season well, including a win over Real in the derby, after underperforming in recent years. Luany and Fiamma Benitez are both firing. Next week’s games will be key in telling us just how good both teams are or whether they benefitted from kind opening fixtures — I don’t think they did — as Real go to Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético host Manchester United.

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Caroline Weir reflects on a big win for Real Madrid over Roma

Caroline Weir looks back on Real Madrid’s crushing 6-2 win over Roma in the opening game of their Women’s Champions League campaign.

Keogh:What I find most interesting is that Atlético had 31 shots, with 18 on target against St. Pölten while Real Madrid had 25 with 14 on target in their match. So, there’s no denying the strength of their attacking capabilities. However, when facing a defence that is more disciplined and structurally sound than St. Pölten or Roma, it remains to be seen how effective they truly are.

Atlético’s next test comes against Man United and while their opening match may not offer much to analyse, they did manage to keep VÃ¥lerenga at bay, limiting the Norwegian side to just two attempts. It was a controlled performance, but hardly a definitive measure. Defensive vulnerabilities are showing across the board — Chelsea and Arsenal being notable examples — breaking down a well-drilled, title-contending back line is where I believe Atlético (and to an extent, Real Madrid) will be more accurately assessed. Both sides are strong contenders for the playoffs, but I’m reserving final judgment — particularly on Atlético — until they face a more cohesive press and organised defence.

Laurens: I am more on the Real Madrid bandwagon than the Atlético Madrid one, which is not really a hot take. Atleti got lucky in the playoffs against BK Häcken and are now rediscovering this competition after a few years of absence. They have some talent in certain positions (Luany and Benitez especially), but we should not expect too much from them.

However, for Real Madrid, it is a different dynamic. They have to show progress and they’re definitely capable of it. Caicedo is a wonderful talent and needs to carry this team to the next level now, raising her side beyond the quarterfinal loss against Arsenal last season. Pau Quesada is a young manager, and it is a big job for him, but he has to deliver. The recruitment was interesting in the summer (Dabritz, Merle Frohms and Sara Holmgaard all arrived) and their opening destruction of Roma on Wednesday is very promising.

Q4: Let’s give some praise for the minnows! Oud-Heverlee Leuven and FC Twente both grabbed big results, the former holding Paris FC to a 2-2 draw in France and the latter frustrating Chelsea to a 1-1 result. These moments are why the new format was created, but can either side sustain this over the remainder of the league phase?

Laurens:Expanding and reformatting this competition meant welcoming newcomers and smaller teams, and it is great for the game. Leuven, the Belgian champions, produced an excellent second half in Paris against Paris FC to get a point while Twente, the Dutch champions, frustrated Chelsea’s star-studded team to also get a draw and create the first surprise of this campaign. They face each other in Belgium next week in what is already a huge game for both of them in the view of finishing in the top 12 of this league phase. It was not just them either. I thought Norwegian champions VÃ¥lerenga did ok away at Manchester United.

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Pusztai: OH Leuven missed opportunities in UWCL draw

Sara Pusztai reacts to OH Leuven’s comeback draw vs. Paris FC in the Women’s Champions League.

Marsden: Five of the nine fixtures were either settled by just one goal or were draws, which is a good sign moving forward, with only really the Spanish sides — and VfL Wolfsburg against PSG — dishing out lopsided results. Leuven’s comeback against Paris FC was brilliant, but Twente holding English champions Chelsea was probably the result of the round, and the beauty of the calendar means they both meet each other next week.

Looking at their respective fixture lists after that, it’s still going to be a struggle for either side to advance, but Twente, especially after matching one of the favourites, could spring a surprise and creep into the top 12.

Keogh: Leuven celebrated being drawn against Barcelona and Arsenal and now we’re beginning to see why. They know, on their day, they can pull off something special. Their comeback against Paris FC was impressive, and based on their second-half performance, they arguably deserved more than just a point. It won’t be so easy against the two most recent winners, but they’re certainly going to influence who makes the playoffs, even if they don’t themselves.

VÃ¥lerenga, despite their 1-0 loss to United, have managed to avoid the traditional “big four.” While their opening performance wasn’t the standout of the round, there was controversy over the penalty decision — one their manager believed should have been overturned by VAR. Had it been ruled out, the result could’ve looked very different. Twente, too, look like they’ve taken lessons from their previous encounters — especially their match-up with Chelsea last season — and executed their game plan with real discipline.

What we’re seeing is a growing tactical maturity among these smaller clubs. They’re learning, adapting, and finding ways to take points off the top sides. With increased investment, expanded backroom teams, and more footage and data to work with, the gap is clearly narrowing. And that’s a promising sign, not just for the underdogs, but for the competition as a whole.

Q5: Dealer’s choice. What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Could be a player, could be a club, positive or negative. Basically, what’s the one thing you think should be a bigger story?

Keogh: Given the way United claimed their historic first win, you have to give it to Maya Le Tissier for what can only be described as a fairytale moment. Scoring Manchester United’s first-ever goal in European competition to secure their debut victory on the continent — and doing so as captain, at just 23 — is the kind of story that captures the heart of this tournament. Since arriving in 2022, she’s been a rock for this team, quietly becoming indispensable by playing nearly every minute across competitions. But this moment was different. At full-time, she was in tears fully aware of the weight of what that goal meant.

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1:15

Le Tissier: ‘Really special’ to score Manchester United’s first UWCL goal

Maya Le Tissier reflects on a dream start to Manchester United’s first Women’s Champions League campaign.

Laurens: For a long time, PSG were an outside chance of winning this competition. With competitive squads, the Parisians always believed they could cause an upset, make their way to the semifinals — like in 2021, 2022 and 2024 — with an eye on the big prize. The Qatari owners dreamed big for their women’s side, investing in it massively. But while the club finally won the men’s Champions League in Munich last season, the PSG Féminines are in crisis. They lost some key players again in the summer (like Grace Geyoro and Marie-Antoinette Katoto), were humiliated already by Lyonnes in the league, and battered at Wolfsburg on Wednesday too. The Parisians have fallen away quite dramatically.

Marsden: The underperforming Women’s Super League sides. Given their budget, Chelsea should not be dropping points at Twente. Manchester United did what was needed against VÃ¥lerenga, earning a 1-0 win via a penalty, but will need to up their game in next week’s fascinating match against Atlético. Yes, Arsenal can lose to a powerful Lyonnes side, even at home, but more worrying is that the European champions have now failed to win in four matches in all competitions. It is very early days, but I want to see more from what is widely considered Europe’s strongest league.

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