Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta gets major Viktor Gyokeres boost as star issues telling demand
Arsenal have endured a difficult start to the new Premier League season and will be keen to find some form ahead of the festive period once the international break concludes
by Dan Marsh · The MirrorMikel Arteta will be hoping this international break brings some respite for Arsenal after their rotten luck with injuries this season.
The Gunners boss lost influential captain Martin Odegaard to injury while the Norway star was on international duty back in September and has also been forced to do without other key players in recent weeks.
The likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Odegaard himself all remained at the club during the break, though it remains to be seen who Arteta will actually be able to call upon when Arsenal return to action against Nottingham Forest.
Ahead of next Saturday's big match, Mirror Football rounds up all the latest news from in and around The Emirates...
Gunners get Gyokeres boost
Arsenal's hopes of snaring Viktor Gyokeres in the coming months have been boosted after Barcelona sporting director Deco ruled the Spanish giants out of the race for his signature.
The Gunners were linked heavily with the 26-year-old Sweden star back in the summer transfer window. And after Mikel Arteta an co decided against signing a new striker back then, it's thought the Arsenal boss will eventually seek more firepower up top.
Manchester United and Barca have also been linked with Gyokeres in recent weeks - but Deco has said that the Sporting Lisbon star is not a 'priority target' for his club.
Read the full story on Gyokeres here!
Raya makes PFA demand
David Raya has become the latest Premier League player to speak out against the current gruelling schedule and wants the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) to take action.
The Spain international told El Desmarque: "We know that the calendar is what it is, it is very congested for teams that play in all competitions, now also with a Club World Cup in the summer.
"At least Arsenal are not playing it, but the risk of injury is greater. We players have talked a lot about the subject and the union has to get involved, in our case the PFA."
Read Raya's comments in full here!
Saliba sent damning message
Former Manchester City star Richard Dunne reckons William Saliba is now behind Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate when it comes to ranking the league's top centre-halves.
The Liverpool duo have looked imperious under new head coach Arne Slot, whose side are currently clear of City and Arsenal in the Premier League table.
And while Saliba has been in inspired form for Arsenal during their attempts to wrestle the title away from City over the past two years, Dunne now believes Van Dijk and Konate have surpassed him.
Read Dunne's full comments here!
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