Two of the Premier League’s four remaining perfect records collide at the Emirates this afternoon, and according to Opta’s supercomputer, the numbers are firmly on Arsenal’s side.
Mikel Arteta faced the media at London Colney on Friday for his pre-Chelsea press conference, and it was easily his most newsworthy sit-down of the week — his first public comments since the transfer window closed, addressing Gabriel Martinelli’s exit for the first time, fielding pointed questions about the club’s business, and delivering a genuinely encouraging round of fitness updates two days out from Sunday’s Emirates derby.
Gabriel Martinelli is no longer an Arsenal player. After weeks of speculation, the Brazilian winger’s move to Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal is “done and confirmed,” closing the book on a seven-year Emirates Stadium career that began when he arrived as a raw, largely unknown 18-year-old from Ituano back in 2019.
Three games played, six points, six goals scored, none conceded — Arsenal’s start to the title defence has been about as clean as it gets. On Sunday, September 6, it faces its sharpest test yet, as Chelsea arrive at the Emirates unbeaten themselves under new boss Xabi Alonso.
Reiss Nelson’s 18-year association with Arsenal is officially over, with the winger completing a free transfer to Feyenoord this week — a return to the club where one of the most memorable spells of his career first began.
While the football world was fixated on deadline day fireworks, Arsenal quietly completed one of their shrewdest pieces of business of the summer — agreeing a deal to sign 17-year-old Georgian sensation Andria Bartishvili, in a move that says plenty about where the club’s recruitment strategy is heading.
