Mikel Arteta's Arsenal squad will need to be managed very carefully with the club's fixture list set to pile up following the postponement of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
The postponement of the match, which had been due to be played on Thursday night at the Emirates Stadium, comes following a Covid outbreak within the Liverpool camp.
But with the game now being pushed to January 20th the Gunners fixture list is piling up, during a month where a number of key players are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
It comes after the club was charged for its players' conduct against Man City last weekend, following the aftermath of the dismissal of Gabriel.
Here are Mirror Football's latest Arsenal headlines.
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Fixture list pile up
Arsenal will now play the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool on January 13 – at Anfield.
It means the Reds have surrendered their second-leg home advantage and the tie will come to its conclusion at the Emirates January 20.
While Arsenal fans have reason to be excited by that news, it has left the club facing a fixture pile-up, with the north London derby away at Tottenham Hotspur taking place between those games on Sunday, January 16.
And the problems for Mikel Arteta's side don't stop there as the Carabao Cup fallout is set to hit the Gunners hard.
FA charge
Things have taken a further turn for the worst following Arsenal's disappointing result against Manchester City on Saturday.
The Gunners have been charged by the FA for "failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 59th minute".
Gabriel Magalhaes was shown a second yellow card in the 59th minute after blocking his compatriot Gabriel Jesus.
It came just minutes after a penalty was awarded to City following Granit Xhaka's foul on Bernardo Silva, with Gabriel picking up his first yellow card in the aftermath as he scuffed the penalty spot.
And tempers flared as the Brazilian was given his marching orders, with Arteta now on a tight deadline to decide whether he wants to appeal the charge.
Arteta eyes £46m signing
Mikel Arteta's side have improved considerably this season and despite losing to City on Saturday fans still gave his side a standing ovation at the final whistle.
It comes after the club suffered a difficult start to the season and were rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table after three games.
City boss Pep Guardiola even admitted after the match that the Gunners had been the better side – and Arteta now has his gaze on improving his side.
With the January transfer window open, he is eyeing a £46m striker who could make his team a ver formidable opponent.
