Arsenal are back in action on Saturday as they look to put an end to their recent run of poor form against Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta is desperate for a win against Villa in Saturday’s early kick-off after Manchester City claimed top spot with their win 3-1 in north London on Wednesday. The Gunners are second on goal difference going into the clash with ex-manager Unai Emery but do have a game in hand on City.
Arsenal have now gone four games in all competitions without a win, but can return to first place and put the pressure back on City with a win in Birmingham. Arteta has fitness concerns for the match which comes after a short turnaround.
Here is all the latest news from the club.
Partey fitness update
Thomas Partey is a doubt for the Aston Villa game due to a back injury. Partey was absent from the defeat by Manchester City and Arteta is unsure whether he will be back in time to play this weekend.
“We have to assess him today again,” he said in his press conference on Friday. “He had some discomfort, a little muscle discomfort. We have to assess him and see how he is.”
January signing Jorginho started in place of Partey on Wednesday and may be called upon to do so again in the 12.30pm kick-off.
Spurs fan admits assault
Tottenham fan Joseph Watts has pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court to assault by beating after kicking Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in the back during the north London derby last month.
The 35-year-old from Dalston, east London, also admitted charges of going on to an area adjacent to the playing area and throwing a missile on to a football playing area, as well as throwing coins onto the pitch.
He has been banned from football stadiums for four years and ordered to pay Ramsdale £100 in compensation for the ‘psychological impact’ the attack had had on the Arsenal keeper.
Watts arrived at court on Friday wearing a jacket zipped right up with the hood up and a cap on underneath to obscure his face.
Read the full story here.
Arteta not worried about burnout
Arsenal have not had much time to digest their defeat by City and recover physically before heading to Birmingham for Saturday’s early kick-off.
The Gunners were in action at 7.30pm on Wednesday night and will be back on the pitch at 12.30pm on Saturday – a punishing schedule. Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, in particular, have complained about the stresses forced upon their players by TV scheduling, but Arteta has refused to look for excuses for his team’s poor form.
“No worry, we have to play," he said yesterday when asked if he was worried about Arsenal's workload. "I want the players to be in the best possible mindset and physically ready to get that challenge going.” He added: "They are young! They have a lot of energy."
