Arsenal

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

I was in London on Saturday to cover Arsenal for yet another utterly predictable episode from them.

We all know the theme tune by now, '1-0 to the Arsenal', but although it is admirable fare, I can't say it is anywhere close to the theatrics you get up north. Maybe Arsenal are saving the real drama until later in the series.

The referee and the VAR did try to add some tension by not giving Kai Havertz a penalty and instead ruling him offside as somehow an entire group of officials got the rules all wrong.

I was commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live and around the planet on the World Service. I will admit to feeling a little pressure as I explained that I thought all these highly trained officials, schooled for years on the intricacies of the rule books, were wrong, and I was right.

Fortunately for me, I was correct in front of the listening millions. More importantly, Martin Odegaard ensured there was no lasting damage by scoring the winner and delivering the correct result in the end.

Arsenal seem to be cruising along nicely but of their five league wins in a row, four have been by a single goal. Mikel Arteta's side are secretly paddling furiously under the waterline - this story has plenty of twists and turns to deliver yet.

Annoyingly, however, just when it has got really interesting, there isn't another episode for two whole weeks and I'm gutted.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

Arsenal and Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 27, has emerged as a potential January transfer target for Atletico Madrid. (Sport - in Spanish), external

The futures of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres and Spain midfielder Mikel Merino could also be in doubt as the Gunners look to balance their finances. (AS - in Spanish), external

But the Gunners have made significant progress in their efforts to secure new contracts for Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard, 27, Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber, 25, and England midfielder Declan Rice, 27, with all three agreements on course to be finalised before January. (Teamtalk), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal have been monitoring Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane as they look at potential forward options to add to their ranks.

The 20-year-old striker is currently out with a hamstring injury but has scored three goals in six games in all competitions this season for the German side.

The forward will be familiar to Gunners fans as he was part of the Leverkusen team that played against Arsenal in the Champions League last season with Mikel Arteta's side winning 3-1 on aggregate in the last-16 stage.

Arsenal wanted to sign a forward in the last transfer window and were unsuccessful in their attempts to bring in Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jnr and Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, while they also had an interest in Morgan Rogers before the England international joined Chelsea.

Kofane has had a fast rise, moving from AS Nylon in Cameroon to Albacete in 2024 where he scored eight goals in 20 games in La Liga 2.

That scoring form saw him noticed by Leverkusen where he signed in July 2025.

Since the move, the Cameroon international has scored 10 goals and registered nine assists in 50 games for Leverkusen in all competitions.

Arsenal have had an excellent start to this season, winning nine of their 10 Premier League games.

However, the Gunners' attacking play has been questioned with Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka the top scorers in the league with three goals each.

Six of Arsenal's wins in the league have been by a single-goal margin and first choice forward Havertz has been caught offside 15 times this season - the most in the Premier League.

Arsenal also have Viktor Gyokeres in their squad but the Swedish international, who scored 21 goals in all competitions during the last campaign, has been second choice to Havertz this season and has started just once in the league.

Arteta said after the 1-0 win over Hull that his side need to be more "efficient" when through on goal and that he feels his players are "trying to score a perfect goal" against teams that defend in a low block.

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

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

David: Another win, another step towards retaining the trophy. But these narrow victories are beginning to feel like we're playing with fire. The margins are too fine, the nerves too frayed. Sooner or later, 1-0 to the Arsenal becomes 1-1. We need to start turning dominance into goals and comfortable wins. You can't keep living on the edge.

Roger: Another win, but another game where Arsenal's lack of firepower was exposed. It will be interesting to see what moves Arsenal will make in January and who will make way.

Harry: OK, so it was another 1-0 victory but more importantly, it's three more points. Ideally we need to sign a proven goalscorer in January, but as long as we keep winning and Manchester City keep dropping points I'll be happy.

Frank: Definitely not flowing right now but I will take it all day long.

Dave: A typical battling display from the Gunners but highlighting the need for a top class striker that fits into the Arsenal style of play.

Hull City fans

Reginald: Kicked us off the pitch. 15 fouls to our six. Five yellow cards to our none.

Tone: I thought Hull put in a good effort to neutralise Arsenal for a large part of the game. Defended resolutely. Not pretty but effective. They can go home feeling pleased to have given the Champions a tough game.

Gary: Just a point dropped, not disastrous for the mighty Tigers, but the slide down the league isn't fun after a great start.

Al the Tiger: A good effort. Solid defensively throughout but we just couldn't create enough chances or take the ones that we made. It just all came down to one error from Konstantinos Tzolakis and that was enough for Arsenal to win it. High scoring Brighton next... it doesn't get any easier!

Mike: Yet further proof Hull are no pushovers. What they lack in class is made up with hard work and resolute defending. However, how far it will take them is the hard question. In the Premier League you also need to score and that will, I fear, be their eventual downfall. Arsenal on the other hand, far from convincing, even their goal had an element of luck. Not the side of last year, Hull made them look ordinary. COYT.

Arsenal starting XI:

David Raya: A good save when Elliot Stroud drilled a low cross into the area. 6

Jurrien Timber: Not his best game in an Arsenal shirt. 5

Ezri Konsa: Another good performance, which is what is expected from him since signing for the Gunners. 7

Gabriel Magalhaes: Caught on the ball once in the middle of the pitch but the usual solid performance apart from that. 7

Riccardo Calafiori: A good defensive performance but not his usual impact when going forward. 6

Declan Rice: Went closest for Arsenal in the first half with an effort from the edge of the box but subbed as Arsenal chased a goal. 6

Bruno Guimaraes: The midfielder still seems to be getting up to the pace of the season. 6

Martin Odegaard: Scored the crucial goal for Arsenal. Injected pace into the Arsenal play whenever he got on the ball and deserved to score the winner. 8

Christos Tzolis: Lots of energy but not much quality from the winger. 5

Noni Madueke: A dangerous ball in followed by a driving run early in the game. Alongside Odegaard the winger was Arsenal's main threat and his shot resulted in the winner. 7

Kai Havertz: Disappointing first half and turned back instead of shooting when played through. Went down after a shirt pull for a penalty but was given offside after a VAR check. A poor performance. 4

Arsenal substitutes:

Gyokeres (on 63, Havertz): Did not make much of an impact. 5

Merino (on 63, Rice): A calming influence when he came on. 6

Eze (on 69, Tzolis): Added some flair to the Arsenal attack. 6

Hincapie (on 69, Calafiori): A more traditional left back and overlapped as Arsenal pushed for the win. 6

Zubimendi (on 89, Guimaraes): N/A

Subs not used:

Arrizabalaga, White, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Very happy with the performance and the victory as well. I think it is time to praise my players. What they have done not only today but after the international break is remarkable because of the games.

"We had to wait and be patient in the last part of the game to make the difference and win the game. We kept generating chances, the final pass was missing or the last shot was blocked. We said at half-time if this is the case it will go all the way to full time but at some point it would come.

"We have some great moments, we need to put the chances we are creating against the opponent into the scoreline, That is what we need to improve."

On the decision not to award Arsenal a penalty: "I don't know. When they called the referee to the monitor I thought it was a penalty but then I heard the decision was made because of the offside decision. We don't have clarity on it."

Did you know?

• Arsenal have 27 points from their opening 10 Premier League games this season (won nine, lost one), only Chelsea in 2005-06, Manchester City in 2011-12, Manchester City in 2017-18 and Liverpool in 2019-20 have had more to begin a campaign in the competition (all 28).

• Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last 4 games in the Premier League, their last longer run of games without conceding a goal in the competition was a run of 5 games from 26th December 2005 to 14th January 2006.

• This was Arsenal's 34th 1-0 win under Arteta in the Premier League, more than any other side in the competition since his first game in charge in December 2019.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal showed their champion mentality on Saturday to keep coming at Hull despite initially struggling to create chances.

Things could have felt very different if Martin Odegaard had not have swept home his winner though.

Mikel Arteta's team had had a penalty shout turned down in the first period after Kai Havertz's shirt was pulled in the box by Nobel Mendy.

The decision was not given on the field although the Video Assistant Referee told referee Farai Hallam to look at the pitchside monitor.

Hallam then informed the crowd Havertz had been fouled, but no penalty would be awarded as the forward had been in an offside position.

Similar to an incident in their win over Liverpool last week in which Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt but the Reds were denied a penalty, the decision may have been headline news if Odegaard had not gone on to net the winner.

Instead Arsenal celebrated their ninth win in 11 matches and extended their unbeaten home run in all competitions to 11 games.

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

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

What did you make of Hull City's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Leeds v Tottenham (12:30)

• Arsenal v Hull City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Hull City are scrapping for points and hanging on in there in a lot of games.

I get a lot of my predictions wrong for their games because I always go for them to lose, but I am not going to do anything different for them this week because of who they are playing.

Arsenal are just monsters, aren't they? They always seem to find a way and do enough to win games, even when they don't play well, and they will grind another result out here if they have to.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal's rare win at Anfield last weekend made it eight wins from their opening nine league matches of the season and sent a message of gritty intent to their Premier League rivals.

It even had football statisticians Opta speculating on the Gunners winning the title by a record margin, an accolade currently held by Manchester City, who finished 19 points clear in 2017-18.

While that may be a bit premature, Arsenal's total of 24 points after nine games is the most by a team at this stage of a Premier League season since Mikel Arteta's side also had 24 in 2022-23.

Only in 2004-05 and 2007-08 (both 25 points) have Arsenal ever had more at this stage of a Premier League campaign. They are two points better off after nine games of this campaign than last season, when they won the title.

Arsenal may not be quite firing yet in attack – just 14 goals in their nine league games – but they look solid in defence, with their five goals conceded the fewest in the top flight.

They have the lowest xG conceded (7.24), have faced the fewest shots on target (24) and have had clean sheets in their past three league games.

The determination they showed at Anfield reflects the fact that they have won all six of the league matches in which they have taken the lead this season.

Arteta's sides have developed a habit of this over his years in the top flight, with the Spaniard behind only Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho in this category.

Hull City are currently mid-table but haven't won a match since August, drawing five of their subsequent seven league games.

Although no promoted side who has had 11 points after nine games has been relegated from the Premier League since 2010-11, the Tigers will be wary of getting dragged into a battle at the bottom.

This will be Hull City's 200th Premier League game. They have lost more than half of the previous 199 (103), and their record at Arsenal doesn't bode well for any immediate improvement of that statistic.

They have won just one of their 13 away games against Arsenal, a 2-1 victory on their first visit to Emirates Stadium in September 2008.

Hull have a joint-high five draws in this season's Premier League, while Arsenal have had none. If the Tigers can come away from north London with a point on Saturday, it will feel like a victory.

Ailsa Cowen
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Hull City at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Bukayo Saka's injury, Arteta said: "After the international break, he's going to start hitting the pitch, doing more activities and seeing how he feels. But unfortunately, he's going to be out for a while."

• There was a positive update on Ezri Konsa's fitness after the defender came off against Slavia Prague: "He is fine. He was feeling much better today. We took him out as a precaution, considering the amount of minutes he has played."

• On the five players called up to the England squad: "It is a proud thing to have a big English core in the national team. It is something that is part of the identity and represents the numbers. They are super happy to be back, you can see that. Let's focus on tomorrow, and then they can go and do their bit for the national team." On Ben White's selection, he added: "He's been brilliant. I'm really happy with him, especially after the history behind what has happened. He looked happy, and he's earned it."

• On avoiding a repeat of what happened at Brighton before the last international break, Arteta said: "We want to attack the game tomorrow, right from the off. We know the momentum we have right now, and we need to increase it, especially going into the international break, because we know what is coming after."

• On the week Viktor Gyokeres has had after scoring in the Champions League, Arteta said: "Yes, incredible. Everybody was so happy to see not only the goals but also how free he looked, how happy he looked and the energy he showed. That's what we need, and that's why we signed him."

• On the file he has kept on managers leaving the technical area: "There is no big file, it is just one file. If I leave the technical area, I am wrong, it's my mistake. As we always say, let's be consistent. I can't help it."

• On Hull City's journey under counterpart Sergej Jakirovic, Arteta said: "What Sergej Jakirovic and the club have done since last year - getting promoted and then performing, despite having some difficult games to get through and trying to get results - has been really impressive. We've discussed with the boys the type of game we're expecting tomorrow. And to make sure it's clear, we have to beat them."

Listen to full match commentary of Arsenal v Hull City on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

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