Arsenal

We asked you to send in your questions for our Arsenal reporter Alex Howell to answer. In the first part of a special Q&A, he addresses squad rotation and the plan for Max Dowman.

Larissa asked: Mikel Arteta seems determined to keep his favoured line-up every week, despite having two strong players in each position, except left of attack - is the squad morale beginning to suffer already?

Alex: The issue of a lack of rotation is definitely something that could have been put to Arteta in previous seasons. It is why Martin Zubimendi looked a shell of the player who started last season, after being run into the ground and playing some of the highest minutes in the squad.

It is right that Arteta has players he favours and he has previously used the example of how elite players in the game play every three days, but he has recently started to speak about how the demands of the schedule mean he needs to utilise the squad.

The signings of Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa show that he wants any player to come in and the quality of the starting XI not to drop. Arteta doesn't gift minutes to any player but now, with the depth they have, I think he will rotate more than in previous seasons.

Image source, Getty Images

Brendan asked: Where can Arsenal send Max Dowman on loan? Brentford perhaps?

Alex: I don't think it is a definite that Dowman will go on loan. He has already shown he can make an impact in the Arsenal first team and he is only 16 years old.

He has so much time to go out on loan and Arteta may feel that keeping him around a side competing at the top of the table, and keeping him close so he can manage his development, is the best option at the moment.

• Read England Under-21s manager Lee Carsley's thoughts on Dowman

Keep across this page for parts two and three of Friday's Q&A, which will look at subjects including Andrea Berta's relationship with the club scouts, the need for a world-class striker and January transfer plans.

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has been sent for a scan after leaving the pitch injured during Germany's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in the Nations League on Thursday.

Havertz went down with a suspected hamstring injury and came off in the 30th minute. Germany head coach Jurgen Klopp said the 27-year-old is likely to miss the rest of the international break.

Speaking to radio network RTL about the injuries to Havertz and Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala, Klopp said: "At the moment, both are on the MRI [scans].

"Of course, that's not great now. I just hope this is nothing bad.

"The boys are probably out for us, but hopefully then also relatively quickly available again."

Havertz has made seven appearances for Arsenal this season, scoring three goals and starting all five games in the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you to rate Arsenal's start to the Premier League season and tell us what Mikel Arteta should be focusing on during the extended international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Rachel: Arsenal seemed to start the season with intent and they delighted us with their slick passing game. Looking back, were they a bit over-confident? The defence has looked rather shaky at times. The same old story in front of goal has resurfaced and it's difficult to see where the goals will come from. Frustrating!

Richard: We've handed out and been given one tonking (Coventry and Brighton, respectively). That aside, the games have largely been pretty even but have gone our way. A good start overall but the Brighton game showed what can and will happen if we're not at the races.

Ivor: Start has been just fine notwithstanding last Saturday, which we'll put down to a bad day at the office. Team seems to be playing with more freedom. I watched the Chelsea game and some of the football was beautiful - almost Wenger-esque. The primary focus for this break should be to manage our injury list and to work on Eze as a left-sided attacker.

Ian: Fantastic start to the season. Slightly less than perfect because of the Brighton result, but also feel it's exactly what the team needed as every challenge faced so far they had overcome. Brighton deserved the win, and it gives Mikel and the team something to work on.

Dinyando: It's still early on in the season to say that they are not doing well. We just lost one game. I believe we'll come back stronger after the international break. I think we should make one or two signings in the January transfer window and the coach should accommodate Gyokeres more because we need goals.

Michael: Overall, good. The performance against Brighton was very poor of course, but I'm confident that will be a blip. Retaining the title may look harder than it did this time last week, but I'm still confident that we can do it.

Andrew: It's been good so far. I know we could get better and I know we will get better - what happened on Saturday will not happen to us again. Arteta will make sure of that.

Barcelona have ruled out signing Argentina forward Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid in January, with the 24-year-old waiting to see whether Arsenal or Paris St-Germain make a bid for him, or whether he should stay put. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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

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Arsenal podcaster Alan Alger says Mikel Arteta "didn't learn" from Brighton's fine start in their 3-0 win over the Gunners on Saturday.

The Seagulls' high press smothered Arteta's side, who struggled to match the intensity of their opponents, before Pascal Gross opened the scoring after half an hour.

"It's not even one of those defeats where you can come up with lots of excuses and say 'maybe this would have been different if this had fallen our way'," said Alger.

"I've never seen Arsenal beaten so fairly and squarely in Arteta's reign and that includes some quite heavy defeats where he had a bit of bad luck.

"They were just not at the races from the off. My one big criticism of Arteta is that in his quotes he said 'we will learn from this' - but he didn't learn from watching the first 20 minutes happening in front of him.

"It was extremely clear that they would get pressed and not have time on the ball. I would have got a message onto the pitch saying the players cannot pause on the ball and do their normal thing.

"They needed to get it long and use their speed in behind because Brighton were pressing with five or six players.

"Surely the response to that would have been just to hit the ball long and do things a bit unorthodox, which is as well drilled and well coached as Brighton were at the weekend normally.

"None of that came through and it petered out into a 3-0 defeat. They didn't deserve a goal."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds

As we enter the first international break, we want to hear your thoughts on the opening five games of the Premier League season.

Arsenal enjoyed a fine start to life as champions, winning their first four league games to establish themselves as the early pace-setters, but Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Brighton has shown that Mikel Arteta's side might not have it all their own way in their title defence.

Time will now tell if that was a minor setback, or symptomatic of weaknesses that may be exposed again as the campaign takes shape.

One positive since that disappointing defeat is news that Arteta has agreed a new long-term deal at Emirates Stadium.

How do you rate the Gunners' start to the season and why? And what should Arteta be focusing on during the extended break?

Get in touch with your views here

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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The penalty awarded to Sunderland against Arsenal earlier this month should not have been given, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has ruled.

However, the KMI panel also felt the error did not reach the threshold for a video assistant referee intervention.

Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot in the 54th minute for a holding offence by Ezri Konsa on Dan Ballard, but Gunners goalkeeper David Raya then saved Enzo le Fee's spot-kick.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was furious after the match, even though his side went on to win the game 2-0, saying the match "was unprotected".

"It's a judo roll from the opponent. Ezri [Konsa] does nothing. Just watch it," Arteta told BBC Match of the Day.

"We have a lot of cameras and VAR, we have to take responsibility to protect the game.

"Today the game was unprotected and it could have cost us the game and the momentum which is a really, really serious thing."

The five members of the KMI panel unanimously voted that the spot-kick should not have been given, with a split 3:2 vote in support of no VAR review.

"Although it was a very untidy challenge in which Konsa initially had arms around Ballard, Ballard engages in a holding action which pulls Konsa onto him so they both fall to the floor," the KMI panel noted.

"The non-VAR intervention was supported, with the majority considering that the on-field decision was not a clear and obvious error, given the combined actions from both players."

It is possible for the KMI panel to reach what would appear to be contradictory judgements.

The vote on the on-field call assesses what the best outcome should be.

But the VAR vote considers whether the on-field call can be justified, taking into account what the referee has seen and the available replays.

Arsenal will use the September international break to finalise the details of a new long-term contract for 27-year-old midfielder Declan Rice. (Football Transfers), external

The Gunners have the option to extend Rice's current deal by 12 months but they would like to tie him to a long-term deal, in keeping with the club's policy towards players seen as being key by Mikel Arteta. (Guardian), external

Celtic and Rangers are among a long list of clubs keen on a January loan move for Arsenal midfielder Max Dowman, who turns 17 years old on 31 December. (TeamTalk), external

Arsenal came so close to signing Brazil forward Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid in the summer that the 26-year-old's team-mates thought it was a foregone conclusion he would move to Emirates Stadium. (Cadena SER - in Spanish), external

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

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley admits it is inevitable Max Dowman will progress into his squad but is eager not to rush the Arsenal teenager's international elevation.

The 16-year-old has been called into the England Under-19s this month as Carsley resists the temptation to select him in his squad.

Dowman scored twice in the Gunners' 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Ipswich and came off the bench in Saturday's defeat at Brighton.

But despite the spotlight on the exciting forward, Carsley is urging patience over his international future.

"He's definitely an outstanding talent. It's inevitable that he's going to be with the Under-21s because of his talent," said Carsley, who guided the Under-21s to glory in Euro 2023 and Euro 2025.

"But we have to make sure we do that at the right time, that he comes away with us and plays minutes and competes with the other players that are in his position.

"We had a similar issue a few years ago with Ethan Nwaneri. He was early and he made his debut and he's done really well but there's that tendency to push him on quickly.

"We have to be patient and make sure that ultimately we want them to play for the senior team for a prolonged period so we have to make sure we get the time right with that."

Dowman is the Premier League's youngster goalscorer after netting against Everton in March and has made 13 appearances in all competitions.

Carsley played at Everton with Wayne Rooney, who bypassed the Under-21s to make his senior debut aged 17 against Australia in 2003.

Kobbie Mainoo and Jude Bellingham are also players who have gone straight to the senior squad, but Carsley warned against comparing Dowman to others.

He said: "It's definitely not 'one size fits all'. I think some players are just ready for it - physically, mentally, ready to compete - and they're at the stage where they're just above that age group and we have to make sure that we get the time we want with that.

"Obviously me and Thomas [Tuchel] speak regularly about squad selection and you know of what potentially you might need with the 21s, so Max is always in the conversation because of his talent.

"We're fortunate we've got some really good players in a lot of the forward positions, but he's definitely one we really rate."

Carsley's squad host Kazakhstan at Molineux on Friday and Slovakia in Stoke on 2 October before travelling to Ireland on 6 October as they look to seal qualification for Euro 2027 next summer.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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News of Mikel Arteta's agreement over a new deal at Arsenal will not come as a shock - but it is a major development nevertheless.

The fact his existing deal expires at the end of the season did put a slightly greater emphasis on the speed of discussions than normal.

But Arteta has been transparent about his desire to stay at the club beyond the end of this campaign.

Dynasty building is what has driven Arteta's decision. Winning Arsenal's first Premier League title in 20 years last season is viewed as just the start.

Coming within a penalty kick of winning their first Champions League came as a gut-wrenching blow - but also a huge motivation.

With that in mind, there was never a sense Arteta was preparing to walk away from the team he has built to become one of the best in European football.

So with a deal for their manager to stay now agreed, the foundation of Arsenal's recent revitalisation into a football force remains in place.

Does more history beckon? Arteta is committed to finding out.

As we enter a three-week international break, there is no better time to discuss the start of the 2026-27 season and Arsenal's title defence so far.

Plus, there is plenty to talk over after the news dropped on Tuesday of Mikel Arteta agreeing a new and improved deal with the club.

So what questions do you have about the Gunners? They could be on the squad, injury concerns, Arteta's tactics, the boardroom or a topic of your choice.

Our Arsenal reporter Alex Howell will be on hand to answer a selection later this week.

Get in touch with your question here

Arsenal are interested in 20-year-old Feyenoord right-back Givairo Read, with Liverpool and Manchester City also keen on the Netherlands Under-21 international. (Teamtalk), external

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

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Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Newcastle defender Tino Livramento have pulled out of England's squad for forthcoming Nations League matches.

Everton midfielder James Garner and Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White have been called up by manager Thomas Tuchel and will join the squad on Tuesday.

Tuchel said on Friday that 26-year-old Gibbs-White, who has six international caps, was close to being included in the initial squad.

Palmer had been recalled by Tuchel after being controversially left out of England's World Cup squad, but has withdrawn with a minor injury.

Mainoo and Rashford were assessed by their club after being taken off in the closing stages of Sunday's 1-1 draw at Fulham.

Rice, who played the full game for Arsenal in their 3-0 defeat by Brighton, will also be unavailable to Tuchel, along with Livramento, who has been limited to three substitute appearances for Newcastl this season.

Like Gibbs-White, Garner - who made both his two senior England appearances in March - comes in after not being selected for the 2026 World Cup.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brighton and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Ed: Hats off to Huerzeler. He has managed to meld a team containing several new signings and relative newcomers into a formidable force capable of making the champions look very ordinary. Outstanding across the park and from start to finish. The Amex was rocking when we weren't open-mouthed at the intensity, fitness and skill. We trusted the process and were rewarded with one of the most complete team performances I've ever seen.

Martin: A great effort leaving Brighton looking like contenders for Champions League football next year. One of Brighton's finest displays. Certainly going to ruffle some feathers this season if it continues.

James: Exciting times ahead for Brighton. Arguably playing the most attractive football of any team. Fearless football.

Dawid: Another excellent team performance with the goals being shared around and a clean sheet against arguably the best Premier League team. With the international break upon us, we can expect some of our injured players to have recovered. How can the manager possibly replace any of the current team? What an enviable problem for him.

Arsenal fans

Philip: A blip was inevitable at some point. The only thing we did positively was to hold the ball - yet we didn't know what to do with it. We were completely discombobulated against Brighton - offensively and defensively. And Brighton were first class - we were rightly humbled. Now we must learn.

Harry: I've been a fan for over 70 years. Some were good years, some less so. So we lost to Brighton - it's just one game. True fans will get behind the team and lift the lads. They certainly won't play as badly again this season.

Kevin: Poor performance but all credit to Brighton. We seem unable to change tactics. Two of Brighton's goals came from outside the box but Arsenal continue to try to walk the ball over the goalline when we have players who can score from distance.

Vince: Brighton deserved their win but it is by no means the end of the world. We gave them too much space in front of the defence for the first two goals - which would probably not have been there if the more defensive-minded Lewis-Skelly had played instead of Bruno. In hindsight, this wasn't the right game to bed a new midfield combo, First, the previous one won us the first four league games and secondly, Brighton is in a mini hot streak of their own. But let's regroup, make those minor tweaks and come back stronger than ever.

Arsenal are interested in 23-year-old Borussia Dortmund and Germany forward Maximilian Beier. (Teamtalk), external

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

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Since taking charge in 2019, Mikel Arteta has made a point of reiterating how much he values physicality and the demands he puts on his side to win duels.

But against Brighton, Arsenal were dominated all over the pitch and lost challenges which they would usually be expected to win.

Arteta said he was "extremely disappointed" as his side were "very far" from doing the basics he expected, with uncertainty in defence, a loss of midfield control and lack of attacking creativity.

Asked why they were below par, the Spaniard added: "Well, the first one because Brighton they were really good, and they had another bite, and at the times it was better.

"There are a lot of moments when the ball is 50-50 and it changes hands and most of the time it was for them.

"Sometimes there were some technical errors very much involved that opened us up in a really difficult way, but that's something to learn."

He was quick to remind the media in his news conference after the game that it was still a good start to the season.

The Gunners had 15 players at the World Cup which meant that a large part of the squad joined up for pre-season later than the rest of their team-mates.

"That's not going to take away what the team has done and the boys have done in the last six or seven weeks since coming back from the World Cup," added Arteta.

"What we've done and the way we've competed and the amount of games we've won has been remarkable, but this is a big lesson for all of us to understand what it takes to win at this level."

Read more here

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal's season had been going perfectly until this heavy loss - against a side who beat them by the same margin at Emirates Stadium in 2023.

The Gunners had conceded just one goal in the league this term during their impressive winning streak, but the performance against the Seagulls was far from the standards Mikel Arteta has demanded from his side.

Bruno Guimaraes was given his first league start, but the Brazilian failed to click with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in the middle of the pitch.

Arteta regularly makes a big point of wanting his side to be physically dominant in games, but the Gunners were beaten in duels all over the pitch as Brighton took control.

Keeper David Raya, usually so dependable with the ball at his feet, looked unsure at times due to the pressure from the hosts, with Arsenal also registering just two shots on target which shows just how much they struggled in possession.

Arteta will also be disappointed with how his side conceded the three goals, with his defenders allowing far too much space and time for shots from the edge of the area for the first two, and the third coming from a set-piece.

This defeat won't define Arsenal's title defence, but will be a wake-up call as the international break starts.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "First of all congratulations to Brighton. I am really disappointed. In the first 20 or 30 minutes, the number of technical errors put us constantly under pressure. It was all related to the start.

"It's a big lesson to learn. What the team has done since the World Cup has been remarkable. But today there is a lot to learn.

"Credit to Brighton for what they have done. I think we were very far from our level. The international break means we have more time to swallow because it's very, very painful. In any game you can get highly exposed if you don't do what you need to do."

Did you know?

• Arsenal suffered their biggest Premier League defeat since May 2023, which was also against Brighton (0-3 at Emirates Stadium).

• This was Arsenal's biggest league defeat in a season where they were the reigning top-flight champions since October 1989, a 3-0 loss at Everton.