Arsenal news: Granit Xhaka transfer decision, seven players to miss Chelsea, Arteta warning

It is game day at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta will take charge of his first home game as Gunners head coach and there is sure to be a big crowd inside the Emirates for the clash.

Not only because it's Arteta's first home match, but because Arsenal are taking on big rivals Chelsea too.

It is set to be a big clash, with the Gunners knowing they can cut the gap to the top four to just five points with a win and put themselves back in with a real shot of qualifying for the Champions League again.

All the build-up to the match with the Blues and everything transfer related is right here in our round-up of the biggest news stories from around north London.

Art de Roche's first week in charge and Granit Xhaka

Arteta warning

It will be interesting to see how both Arsenal and Chelsea perform on Sunday.

Neither side are in good form, with Chelsea's stranglehold over a top four place in some doubt now.

However, they do hold onto a record that will be a warning to new Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta.

Read all about that here.

Granit Xhaka transfer decision

Hertha Berlin have been tipped to sign Granit Xhaka in the January transfer window.

The Swiss international fell out of favour with the fans earlier this season, although he has started five of the Gunners' six games in December.

He looks set to leave the Emirates, however, with Mikel Arteta happy to let him leave, as long as the price is right.

And the fee has been the stumbling block so far, although there could be another issue, with Hertha making a transfer decision already.

Read all about that here.

Injury crisis

Mikel Arteta has something of an injury crisis on his hands for the visit of Chelsea.

The Gunners welcome their London rivals to the Emirates Stadium for Arteta's first home game in charge.

Sokratis during the game against Standard Liege at Stade Maurice Dufrasne (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

But Arteta is already up against it, not just in terms of where the club are in the league table, but first team headaches too.

The new head coach could be without seven players for the game with the Blues.

Find out who's missing here.

Transfer rumours

There are already plenty of transfer rumours doing the rounds.

January is not normally a time in which Arsenal are busy, but they could decide to back their new head coach i the market next month.

Arteta will certainly be hoping so.

Here are the latest Gunners rumours.