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New aspiration
Theo Walcott has admitted when he was an Arsenal player, the aim was top four and not the title.
He explained: “So as players we were like, ‘right, top four is good’ – we were not thinking, to be fair to some extent, of winning the league – it just didn’t really come to that at times.
"There was elements, like when Eduardo had his injury, when maybe we should have won it or could have done better to win it, but then it came to an expectation just to finish top four."
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City have 'fear factor'
Arsenal hero Theo Walcott is confident the club will win the title this season - but he is worried by how strong Man City look.
He told PA News Agency: “I have said Arsenal will win the league – and they are going to have to be exceptional to win the league.
“The way Manchester City have started, they have just wiped people to the floor and they have the fear factor now that when they walk on the field, the opposition players and their fans are terrified.
“I would, though, be worried as a league that we don’t want it to be a one-horse race.
"We have got to be wary of Liverpool as well, they have started exceptionally well.”
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Why Arsenal wanted Sterling
Ahead of Raheem Sterling's potential debut in Sunday's North London derby, SunSport have analysed what he will offer Arsenal and why Mikel Arteta pushed to sign him on Deadline Day.
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'Lack a killer up front'
Ex-Arsenal defender William Gallas believes the club should have spent big on a striker in the summer.
He told Prime Casino: "When you’re competing against Manchester City and you’ve got Tottenham and City away, back-to-back, you can’t drop two points at home to Brighton, even if you are playing with ten men.
"They had the chances in that game to win it, a killer would have won that game for Arsenal.
"A Salah or Haaland, but they didn’t do it. That’s my concern about Arsenal. They don’t have a killer who will score 20-25 goals."
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Arsenal can win title
Former Arsenal star William Gallas has backed the Gunners to win the Premier League if their mentality is strong enough.
He told Prime Casino: "I tipped Arsenal to win the Premier League this season, and that’s where I’m putting my coins, but from what I’ve seen after three games, it is going to be really, really hard for them to do it.
"For them to do it this season, for me it isn’t a question of their quality, it’s a question of their mentality."
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Spurs star charged before derby
Tottenham star Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged by the FA over remarks made about team-mate Heung-min Son.
The player has since apologised to Son and put out a statement on social media.
But the FA have still charged him with a "breach of FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute."
He will still be available to play in the North London derby.
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Buk the trend
Arsenal legend Robert Pires claims Bukayo Saka is not as good as Jeremy Doku.
Explaining his bold claims, Pires told Wettbasis.com: "Bukayo still lacks a certain level of consistency and experience, especially in the big games.
"Perhaps this season, especially in the Champions League, he will show a more convincing face than last season when it counts.
"For example, in my opinion Doku from Manchester City is a bit better because he is technically stronger, has better dribbling skills and is more imaginative."
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Arteta's pay rise
The Mail claim that Mikel Arteta's new three-year contract could see him double his wages.
Arteta is supposedly on £9m-a-year at Arsenal, but back in May, reports emerged claiming the club wanted him to sign a new deal worth as much as Pep Guardiola's at Man City.
The five-time Premier League winner is on around £20m per year.
A deal within that region would make him Arsenal's highest-ever paid manager.
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Arteta's record
- Played: 235
- Wins: 139
- Draws: 39
- Losses: 57
- Win percentage: 59.15
- Trophies: 1x FA Cup and 2x Community Shield
Credit: PA
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BREAKING: Arteta signs new contract
Mikel Arteta has agreed a new three-year contract with Arsenal.
The Spaniard's deal was due to expire at the end of this season, but he has now put pen to paper to keep him at the Emirates until 2027.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal and Arteta agreed the new deal to "eliminate any uncertainty" over the manager's future.
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Future boss?
Jorginho has opened about his future after retirement and revealed he has hopes of becoming a manager.
He told the Seaman Says podcast: "I came to Arsenal and they asked me if I would like to do my badges.
"At the beginning I was like: ‘No, I don’t want to be a coach.’ They’re like: ‘Are you sure? Why not do it just to have it?’
"First session, I fell in love. I was like: ‘Oh no, why did I do it?' Now I’m in trouble."
"I think I will go for it. I think so. To be on the pitch and be with the players, it was so satisfying.
“When you see things coming out, working out the way you expected to - so good."
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Ster crazy
Jorginho has opened about Arsenal signing Raheem Sterling, hinting that he thought the rumours were false when they first emerged.
He said: “I am honestly not there looking at the news and stuff like that, because it’s mad.
"It’s different now, there’s even too much information there, and sometimes it’s not even true.
"“It was the day of the game, I woke up and people were talking, I was like: ‘What?’
"Then we found out that Raheem was coming and he’s going to be great for us with his qualities.
"What he has won already, I think it was a good signing and I think he can add a lot to the team.”
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Top tackler
William Saliba has been impressive in the Arsenal defence and is the club's top tackler this season by quite a margin.
The defender has mace TWELVE more tackles than his partner Gabriel Magalhaes in Arsenal's first three Premier League fixtures.
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Baumgartner's apology
Austria star Christoph Baumgartner apologised to Martin Odegaard after the Arsenal star suffered an ankle injury.
Odegaard was in agony after spraining his ankle in a challenge with Baumgartner in Norway's 2-1 Nations League win in Oslo on Monday night.
Baumgartner has posted a 34-message on social media to stress the clash was an accident - and to praise his opponent's talent.
He wrote: "Hi guys! I would like to sincerely apologize to Martin Odegaard.
"It was never my intention to hurt this fantastic player.
"I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery! Come back stronger."
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Next up for Arsenal
The Gunners return to action on Sunday in the North London derby against Tottenham.
That is then followed by the first Champions League match of the season against Italian outfit Atalanta.
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Arsenal 'in striker swap deal'
Arsenal have allegedly expressed an interest in signing Marcus Thuram from Inter Milan.
According to Inter Live, the Gunners have been linked with a swap deal that would see Gabriel Jesus join Inter Milan.
However, the Italian giants would also likely demand a "substantial" fee.
Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City two years ago but has struggled with several injury issues.
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Bellerin stars in The US Office video
Former Arsenal star Hector Bellerin starred in Real Betis' hilarious remake of The US Office.
The club produced the video to announce Aitor Ruibal's new contract.
Credit: Twitter @RealBetis 
Credit: Twitter @RealBetis -
Sterling 'buzzin' to get started
Raheem Sterling has insisted Arsenal is a "perfect" fit for him ahead of the North London derby where he could make his debut.
He said: "I'm buzzing. It’s one where we left it late but it’s one I was hoping for.
"Looking at everything, I’m just like: ‘this is a perfect fit for me’, and I’m super happy that we got it over the line.
“It’s a perfect fit for myself to be at a football club like this, where you can see that hunger, that desire, year on year, they are pushing and pushing and pushing. That’s exactly how I am as a person.“Each year you want to get better and do better than the previous year. Hopefully I can gel really well with the boys and get going.
“It’s time now to meet the boys, get settled in and hopefully now see some game time and make my mark.”
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Prem's top scorers
Here is a look at the current top scorers in the Premier League with Erling Haaland leading the way.
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White not spoken to
England's interim boss Lee Carsley has admitted that he has not "planned" to speak with Ben White over a return to the national set-up.
Carlsey revealed that the Arsenal defender has requested not to be contacted by the Three Lions.
He said: "I've not planned to [speak to White], no. We spoke about this in the squad selection.
"Every player that is eligible to play for England is in with a chance.
As far as I'm aware he asked to not be contacted. If that changes, that will change.
"I think it is important that we have real competition all over the pitch, and the more players we have available to pick from the better it is."
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Next up for Arsenal
The Gunners return to action on Sunday in the North London derby against Tottenham.
That is then followed by the first Champions League match of the season against Italian outfit Atalanta.
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Arsenal boost
Arsenal have been handed a boost for the North London derby.
Tottenham have been handed their own injury concern ahead of the clash on Sunday.
Yves Bissouma is a doubt for the game after he limped out of Mali's win over Eswatini.
The midfielder had been in good form for Spurs since his recall to the team and will be a miss for Ange Postecoglou.
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Arsenal fans fume over Bukayo Saka selection
The Gunners star was named in the England line-up as Lee Carsley took charge of his second match as interim boss against Finland last night.
Saka’s start came just a day after Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard picked up an injury while on international duty.
And it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Gunners, with the North London derby on Sunday.
Arsenal fans are fuming at the decision to start Saka with the crucial fixture coming up.
One posted: “Is it necessary to put Saka in today? S**t.”
A second comment: “Why is he starting Rice and Saka? Haven’t we suffered enough?”
A third wrote: “Why is Saka starting?”
A fourth said: ” Let Sake and Rice rest ffs.”
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Inter ‘eyeing Takehiro’
Inter Milan could bid for Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu in the next transfer window.
That’s the speculation tonight amid claims San Siro chief Simone Inzaghi has so far been unconvinced by current right-back Yann Bisseck.
Inter Live claim Japan star Tomiyasu is high up the list of possible options for a transfer approach in the summer.
He’s been rated at £12.6million, with one suggestion being that the Italian giants will consider trying to borrow him with an obligation to buy.
Tomiyasu is currently injured so much can change, including the possibility of him returning to earn a regular starting place with the Gunners.
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Sterling exit to Arsenal is ‘expensive mistake’
Raheem Sterling’s loan exit to Arsenal was poorly handled by Chelsea.
That’s the verdict of financial analyst Stefan Borson after the Gunners borrowed the 29-year-old for the rest of the season but will only pay around half his reported £350,000-a-week wages.
Borson told Football Insider: “Yes, Arsenal has paid £6million, but they also hand the player back with relatively limited resale value next year.
“It’s not a well-managed situation. A player of that cost needed to be handled in a better way. It’s a very expensive mistake.”