Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Coming off the back of the 2025-26 Premier League triumph, Mikel Merino already had a sterling season at club level, but the Spain international went one better as he lifted the World Cup trophy at the MetLife Stadium in the summer.

Speaking to the media before Arsenal's Champions League tie against Slavia Prague, the 30-year-old reflected on international glory at the 2026 World Cup.

"It is an honour and privilege to be part of those little ones [group of players] that have won the World Cup and the Euros and have had success with the national team and, honestly, it lifts your confidence," Merino said.

"It is something that gives you energy to keep working and reflects the hard work that you put in. I am extremely proud and full of confidence because of that as well."

So far, the midfielder has featured in 13 out of a possible 15 games for the Gunners as Arteta's side look for European glory after losing the 2026 Champions League final to Paris St-Germain on penalties.

"I believe that having won before gives you that experience to win again, and having players around that have won the Premier League, international players that have won international trophies, that helps a lot to create that winning culture that we want to create at Arsenal," he added.

Although England did not meet Spain in the 2026 finals, Merino said his Three Lions club team-mates were "happy" for his international success and that there was a "lot of banter" in the dressing room.

"We are friends and we are family. We can make jokes between each other. If I didn't win it, I would have loved my team-mates to have won it," he said.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal bounced back from the ignominy of a cup exit to League Two opposition by winning at Anfield for the first time in 16 visits and 14 years.

The Gunners top the Premier League table by three points and are undefeated in the Champions League this season.

They next face a Slavia Prague side unbeaten domestically in this campaign but at risk of equalling the record winless run of 23 European Cup games.

Did you know?

• Slavia Prague are winless in their past 22 Champions League games (D8, L14), since winning their first game in the competition in 2007. Failure to win here would equal the longest winless run in European Cup history, held by both AEK Athens (1989-2006) and FCSB (2006-2013).

• This is the first time that Slavia Prague have qualified for the Champions League in consecutive years. Before last season, they had only qualified for two in their history.

Image source, Getty Images

Key Slavia Prague player - Emmanuel Ayaosi

The 22-year-old winger created the late equaliser last time out against Fenerbahce.

He has attempted more dribbles (10), won more duels (18) and had more touches in the opposition box (21) than any other Slavia Prague player in the Champions League this season.

Ayaosi joined Slavia from MFK Karvina last summer.

Slavia Prague team news

Slavia could be missing up to seven players: Adonija Ouanda (muscular), Elias Pitak (ankle), Ivan Schranz (unspecified) are all out, while Samuel Isife, Jakub Markovic, Caumenan N'Guessan, and Lukas Provod are doubts.

Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie is on Barcelona sporting director Deco's list of centre-back targets. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Bayern Munich are continuing to monitor Martin Odegaard while uncertainty surrounds the 27-year-old midfielder's next contract at Emirates Stadium. (Caughtoffside), external

Meanwhile, Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi is prepared to consider leaving Arsenal during the January transfer window. (Team Talk), external

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

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George Booth
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Slavia Prague at Fortuna Arena (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Arteta said French defender William Saliba is "in a good place" as the 25-year-old looks to make a return from a back injury which he suffered during the World Cup semi-final with France.

• Arteta added: "The process, the timing and the manner that the injury has been dealt with and especially the feeling that Willy has been having along the way has been very, very positive. Now we have to give him the moment, and the right amount of minutes. Hopefully, that is very soon."

• The Arsenal boss doesn't believe it is a "problem" having defensive options as Saliba returns to the squad, and believes Ezri Konsa could play at full-back, but the 29-year-old's natural position is at centre-back.

• He added: "So far, we haven't had that luxury. The moment they're fit and available we have opportunity to give players, to load the players and to manage the congestion of the players."

• On Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died after suffering a serious injury during a Spanish second-division match, Arteta said: "Absolutely heart-breaking. To lose his life in such a manner is beyond any words that I can say today. On behalf of everyone at the club, we want to send our condolences to the family of Jesus de Miguel and all his loved ones."

• On facing Slavia Prague: "Tough. A really good team. Really competitive team, great mindset. It is a clear mindset and principles that they want to apply. We know that is going to be a really difficult game."

• Arteta said World Cup winner Martin Zubimendi is a "very important" player for the Gunners, but has been "unlucky" with injuries recently. "We have options in midfield, like everybody else everyone has to be ready. Everybody will have the chance to play and then it is about performing. His energy, application and will to help is always there."

• The Spaniard said the squad and Max Dowman have "moved on" from the 16-year-old's red card against Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup and added, "that is a chapter that has gone".

• Arteta confirmed he has a "massive library" of clips which refer to "shirt pulls and grabs" after Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt in the penalty area but escaped punishment against Liverpool in the 1-0 victory.

Follow Wednesday's Champions League action on BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes Arsenal have grown in terms of strength and depth over the past "three or four years", with no team "really matching them physically these days".

The Gunners went three points clear at the top of the Premier League table with their 1-0 win over Liverpool last time out.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "Arsenal were quite a small team under Arsene Wenger in the end, but Mikel Arteta has gradually built a team of giants.

"The biggest compliment you can pay Ezri Konsa at the minute is that nobody really talks about William Saliba anymore. He has been a brilliant signing. Those two will have to be rotated when they're both available, and that is a lovely position to be in.

"That is the position Arteta wants to be in, though. He wants to be able to rotate and rest players without it affecting his team. If you look at their bench against Liverpool, it was so strong.

"That is the difference between this Arsenal team and an Arsenal team of three or four years ago. It is just really difficult to see any team matching them physically these days.

"It is about winning, and winning in whichever way possible, for them."

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Centre-back William Saliba is back in Arsenal first-team training as he nears a return to playing.

The defender has not played at all this season because of a back injury which he was managing at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

The issue ended Saliba's World Cup early when he came off in the 30th minute of France's semi-final defeat by eventual winners Spain. The 25-year-old did not have surgery.

Arsenal signed Ezri Konsa with Saliba expected to be out for the long term and the England international has been one of the Gunners' standout performers this season.

Is Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice "world class"?

That's the question BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club have been debating after the 27-year-old recorded his fifth league assist of the season against Liverpool.

Since leaving West Ham United in a deal worth over £100m in July 2023, Rice has registered 25 assists in the Premier League - more than any other Arsenal player - with only Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah delivering more league assists in that period.

"It surprises me a little bit because he doesn't get all the headlines those other two players do," former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given said on the England international's stats. "But it also doesn't surprise me because some of his performances are just immense.

"He is absolutely world class box-to-box. I know he got a bit of stick recently from Graeme Souness, who mentioned that he perhaps isn't world class or at the level people suggest, but his all-round performance against Liverpool was world class for me."

Mikel Arteta said he had a talk with Rice at the beginning of the season and told him he is no longer Arsenal's "lighthouse" - a nickname he had given him - and that he expected more this season.

The Arsenal boss said he will reveal Rice's new nickname at the end of the season, but that chat clearly stuck with Rice, who referenced the conversation after the Liverpool win.

"The way I've started this season is the position that suits me the most," Rice told Match of the Day. "The conversation that I had with the manager at the start of the season I've done well, but he believes I can still do more and he has drilled that into me."

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also called him "world class" after his latest dominant performance.

"He is one of the best midfield players Arsenal have ever had," Carragher said. "They have obviously had some great ones, but he is right up there with the best of them.

"He is the best midfield player in the Premier League by a long way. It isn't even a debate."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Read Alex Howell's article on how Arteta is getting the best from Rice

Arsenal want to sign Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi in January but face competition from Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain for the 20-year-old Frenchman. (Mirror), external

Juventus' Turkey winger Kenan Yildiz, 21, is also of interest but Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is focused on strengthening his striking options. (Mirror), external

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

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

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Rob: Excellent display after a nervous start. We looked competitive and dominant so plenty of reasons to be cheerful. Stonewall penalty not even looked at, which is another VAR disgrace. Also, the nonsense about a "defensive masterclass" from Arsenal - no, they parked the bus and Liverpool just lacked a finishing touch. Besides, Arsenal could and maybe should have been 3-1 down at half-time.

Paul: Penalty aside - it was a day for experienced heads and, sadly, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas are just not good enough. A learning lesson.

Faisal: Very good, based on a well-executed strategy. Somewhat unlucky not to get away with at least a draw from this match, but overall were the better side. It will be a two-horse battle between Arsenal and Liverpool, as Manchester City will be heavily penalised after their appeal.

Ian: Team has too many non-aggressive, weak players. Isak should be throwing his arms in the air after that shirt pull. Winners have controlled aggression. This is not a trophy-winning team.

Arsenal fans

Charles: Arsenal showed maturity, a strong winning mentality and composure. Shoutout to Arteta and the technical team - this is the kind of character to win big matches and titles. What a period to be an Arsenal fan.

Vince: Another monster defensive performance. It's always nail-biting when Arsenal score early, because you know that hands all the attacking impetus to the opposition. But Gabriel, Konsa, Timber and Calafiori were simply magnificent, repelling all that was thrown at them. Was that a kitchen sink I saw?

Dapo: 1-0 to the Arsenal... It was a gritty encounter but Arsenal showed resilience in the face of it. Anfield away wins don't come easily.

Kofi: It was a good performance and a good win, but we're lucky not to have conceded a penalty. The players have to be aware of unnecessary actions such as time-wasting and getting involved in a brawl they did not start but that results in yellow cards.

Comedian, actor and Arsenal fan Luke Kempner says Declan Rice is now having an "amazing impact" on Mikel Arteta's attack.

The midfielder was imperious in the 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, and was selected as the game's best player by users on the BBC Sport player rater.

Rice has been one of Arsenal's standout players this season, and his assist for Kai Havertz's goal was his fifth of the campaign so far.

Speaking post-match, he said: "We've not won here in 14 years. It was relentless attacks but in the end that way we stuck together, that togetherness we have is undefeated. It's nothing like I've ever seen before."

"He's like Patrick Vieira," Kempner told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "His passing is so good, he controls the midfield so well.

"We saw against Bayern Munich 10 days ago his ability to provide those overlaps on the right-hand side.

"He's got five assists already this season, which equals what he got last year.

"Attacking-wise, especially when he's allowed to go forward and there's someone like Myles Lewis-Skelly sitting in next to him, he's having such an amazing impact."

Listen to the full episode of Football Daily on BBC Sounds

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Arsenal are now two points better off after nine games of this campaign than last season, when they won the title.

The Gunners attack is not yet flowing and they have scored just 14 league goals in nine games

Mikel Arteta has been restricted with his options in the forward line, with Bukayo Saka out injured, Max Dowman suspended after his red card at Fleetwood, Christos Tzolis just back from a hamstring injury, and Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz both struggling for form.

But the Arsenal defence is an elite unit.

The back four only conceded 27 goals last season and, on this performance, they could once again be the difference for the Gunners.

"I'm extremely proud; this is something you want to accomplish," Arteta said after being asked what the win against Liverpool means to him.

"That's the challenge and mission you want to accomplish. I love it when it's something we have not done for many years.

"It was the same with Chelsea away and Manchester United away. To be able to beat all those, that's the purpose and motivation and why we do what we do."

Manchester City are second in the table but waiting to find out what happens, pending their appeal, after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League financial rules.

And with the rest of the big-name sides in the league in a period of transition, Arsenal could find themselves with a healthy lead at the top of the table of the table if things carry on as they are.

Arsenal face competition from AC Milan, Aston Villa and Roma to sign 20-year-old Brazil forward Endrick from Real Madrid. (Calcio Mercato - in Italian), external

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