Arsenal

There are two matches in the Premier League on Friday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Brentford (19:30)

• Arsenal v Ipswich (20:15)

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all the action and reaction

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

This week he takes on Eats Everything, aka DJ & producer Daniel Pearce.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Ipswich missed the suspended Liam Delap in their heavy home defeat against Newcastle. He will be back for this game, but I don't see him making much difference to the outcome.

Saturday was the kind of thumping that might put a massive dent in Ipswich's confidence and this is a big test for them. I know they have already won in north London this season, when they saw off Tottenham in November, but it is hard to see them getting anything at Emirates Stadium.

It is important for Arsenal that Gabriel Jesus is back in the goals. They are going to miss the injured Bukayo Saka for the next few weeks but they will still have too much firepower for Ipswich.

The Tractor Boys are in the relegation zone at Christmas and I want to say that I feel sorry for my daughter's teacher Mr Fields, who is an Ipswich fan. To be honest, that's nothing new, though - I always feel sorry for all Ipswich fans.

Being serious, I still think they have got a chance of staying up and I still rate their manager, Kieran McKenna, very highly - but that Newcastle defeat was a big blow for them. They are still without a home win this season and that has to change quickly if they are going to have any chance of beating the drop.

Eats Everything's prediction: 3-0

If Arsenal turn up there is no contest, really. Ipswich gave United a good game and they are not a bad team, but they concede too many goals.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Arsenal are monitoring Wolves' 25-year-old Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha, who could become available if the Midlands club are relegated to the Championship. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says adapting to Bukayo Saka's absence with injury can transform him into a better manager.

Saka - who has five goals and 10 assists so far this season - faces "many weeks" on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring in Arsenal's 5-1 win at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Fellow winger Raheem Sterling, will also be absent for a period of time after he suffered a knee injury in training.

When asked before the visit of Ipswich on Friday if coping without Saka will turn him into a better coach, Arteta said: "I think so, yes. We started the season with one of the thinnest squads in the Premier League, and we knew that.

"If we have the thinnest squad, what do we need? We really dug into that to make sure that we utilise every player in the best possible potential, and everybody has to feel part of it.

"You need to rediscover players in different positions, and different relationships. It's a really good exercise and the boys are willing to do anything we demand them to do, so that's a really good thing, too."

Saka's absence comes before a busy period for the Gunners with nine matches in January.

There has been much talk over the congested English football calendar with Arteta calling the fixture list, "unsustainable unless we can find ways to physically turn the players into monsters who can cope with anything".

"The fact that you train and recover, that's not a good pattern because the body needs to train, the muscle needs to train," the Spaniard added.

"If you just play and recover you start to lose a lot of factors in your body that are key to physical performance.

"Not just to play not to get injured, but to become a better athlete, which is very different, and to keep evolving as an athlete.

"I hope the players are being listened to but whoever is in charge, can they actually do something right now with the commitments that are already in place over the next three or four seasons? It is very challenging and very difficult."

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Arsenal have had more 14 different goalscorers this season, the most of any Premier League side.

Image source, Getty Images

For me, wherever I played, I'd always see where the first game was, where the last game was, and where we were at Christmas.

There is such a big difference between being at home on Boxing Day versus being away because, depending on what your manager is like, if you've got an away game there is a chance you're training on Christmas Day.

Some of the toughest times I had was when we had away games on Boxing Day and we had to come in to train at four or five on Christmas. That's when everything is just starting at home and everyone is really enjoying themselves and you have to leave.

If you lose you are sat in the hotel having walked away from friends and family all for no points. It's not the best feeling and as a consequence you bring home some of that disappointment with you.

But, in reality, you just know it is the busiest time of the year. The floodlights are always on for the games, the conditions get that little bit tougher, you've got games it feels like every three or four days.

I think it's an exciting part of the season because you can gain real, significant momentum but ultimately it comes down to are you winning games.

I think the Christmas period itself can be tough if you have got family but in reality it always feels nicer when you get that win on Boxing Day. The atmosphere in the stadiums is a little bit different, the atmosphere among the players is a bit different.

You're very thankful to get the chance to do what you do, but if you end up losing on Boxing Day or around that spell it is rubbish because it almost feels like it was a waste of time with all the efforts you put in.

But, I get it. The fans love it, there is a lot of clamour around it. You lose track of days just like everyone else does after Christmas and before New Year but it is great to play in front of those types of crowds and it just does feel different playing during that week or two.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

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The North London Derby is the first date I look for when the fixtures are released ahead of the new season. It is a day of terror, where the stakes are so high that it makes for genuinely unpleasant viewing. The April 2024 edition proved no different.

Arsenal were in the middle of a difficult run of fixtures, of which the away trip to Tottenham was perhaps the hardest. With the right result, Spurs had a genuine chance of stopping Mikel Arteta's side from winning the league, a scenario which was simply unthinkable for Arsenal fans.

But after 38 minutes, with Kai Havertz heading home to complete another set piece masterclass, Arsenal were 3-0 up. Three, at their biggest rivals, before half time. This was one of the moments I thought the title was headed to North London. Spurs had been so keen to spoil Arsenal's party, and yet when the half time whistle was blown, boos could be heard from the home fans. They had been embarrassed. We were giddy with happiness.

Fast forward to the 88th minute, and as Son Heung-Min stepped up to take the penalty that would bring the scoreline to 3-2, I turned the TV off, and walked down to the end of my garden. I sat on an upturned plant pot, and genuinely wondered what life was about to be like if Arsenal squandered their three goal lead. I couldn't bear it.

Five minutes after the game my mum came to get me, gently informing me of the result, and slightly concerned for my welfare.

That game encompasses so well what it's been like watching Arsenal in 2024. Utterly ruthless, totally frustrating, but brilliantly entertaining all at the same time. Long may it continue into 2025.

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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The obvious question now being asked about Arsenal is, have they found the answer to their striking problem by simply rummaging about on the bench and discovering Gabriel Jesus sitting there?

Jesus turning up at Christmas time was the perfect present for Mikel Arteta, but the manager must also be wondering if it is a gift that will keep on giving. Five goals in two games is a phenomenal return, but the run before that was far less impressive.

Maybe the real gift is a financial one to Arsenal. There are many other teams out there desperate for a striker, the transfer window will soon be opening and Jesus has suddenly become much more valuable than he was this time last week.

So even though his form is stunning just now, don't be surprised if he is traded to make way for a player the club thinks will be a better longer-term bet.

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We asked you how Mikel Arteta can replace Bukayo Saka in Arsenal's starting side after the winger was ruled out "for many weeks" with a hamstring tear.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: I thought Gabriel Martinelli was far more effective operating on the right after Saka had to go off. Keep him there and play Leonardo Trossard on the left.

John: With Saka out injured, it is time to call on Ethan Nwaneri. Play him wide or up front. Martinelli and Trossard will also have up their game.

Robin: Martinelli on the right, Jesus on the left with Havertz in the middle. As alternatives, use Trossard on the left and Nwaneri on the right, with either Jesus, Havertz or Martinelli through the middle. Effectively rotate those five up front and hope nobody else gets injured.

Okumu: Pay enough money to buy Nico Williams or Ademola Lookman, otherwise Arsenal will finish behind Chelsea and no silverware again this season.

Innes: This is a good opportunity for a young star like Nwaneri to get a chance or, alternatively, it means we can fit the in-form Gabriel Jesus into the frontline with Kai Havertz.

JC: Bring in Nwaneri - he is another fearless young lad, just like Saka when he burst into the league.

John: By signing a new winger and a striker in January 2025.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Ipswich (kick-off 20:15 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Bukayo Saka is out for "many weeks" with a hamstring injury suffered against Crystal Palace.

• Arteta said Saka "was really emotional and really down" after the conformation of the tear but, having not had a setback of this length before, "it is a great learning process for him as well".

• Raheem Sterling is also sidelined "for weeks" with a knee injury and will undergo further tests on Tuesday.

• Arteta said he is "putting some ideas together" as to how he can replace Saka, with Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard all having experience on that right-hand-side.

• On Gabriel Martinelli potentially playing on the right: "He has played there before and he did really well. He scored a goal and created an assist [at the weekend]. It is a good option to have. We are on it."

• Arteta said the challenge of replacing Saka will be a good test for him as a coach and they are "looking at it with positive energy".

• On potential incomings in January: "The preparation is done. We are ready if something happens. The main focus is on how to unlock the big potential in this squad."

• He said the ongoing injury crisis across all teams in the Premier League "is a combination of seasons'" schedules and "it is unsustainable unless we find ways to turn them into physical monsters".

• On opponents Ipswich: "I have been very impressed. You can tell what they are trying to do and they have been very unfortunate in many games."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

How can Arsenal fill the void left by Saka's injury? Tell us here

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Palace fans

Mark: Inevitable. We are carrying too many players who give the ball away cheaply. Plus Arsenal finished their chances and we didn't, unfortunately! We move on with bigger games coming up. We must beat Southampton.

Gary: On a tactical level, we simply didn't learn from Wednesday's defeat. Our midfield was totally dominated and, without Munoz, it was pointless playing a back five.

Gyika: We looked tired and we ended up getting schooled. Individual mistakes cost us dearly. A great finish by Sarr, though - I'm liking him a lot. Hurry back, Munoz, Chalobah and Wharton!

Pedro: I know it is Arsenal, but we just rolled over. We will stay up this season, but it is another season of treading water rather than swimming forward. A massive rethink from the board is needed.

Arsenal fans

Guy: A good win for Arsenal, with confident attacking play and a good range of scorers. We are still too far behind to be challenging for the title, though, and we are still lacking a quality striker. Just because Gabriel Jesus has scored a few against Palace doesn't mean he is clinical enough to lead our line.

Martin: The 5-1 scoreline flattered Arsenal. Palace looked threatening right up until Rice came on and shored the game up. It's going to be a tough run without Saka for a couple of weeks, but Martinelli did well in his position so we should be OK against the opponents we have after Christmas. I hope Jesus scores against teams other than Palace.

Raouf: Arteta's ability to shut games down doesn't get enough attention. At West Ham, we were 5-2 up at half-time and in the second half they were much more solid and didn't give up much. The team were struggling with certain things in this game and he fixed it in the second-half. The formation, with Odegaard and Havertz in midfield, worked well in the first half.

Colin: Arsenal are playing some nice football but I just wish we didn't keep passing back to the goalkeeper so much. I'm sorry, but I'm not very keen on playing out from the back - there are too many mistakes happening.

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Do Arsenal still need another striker in the January transfer window or is Gabriel Jesus finding his form just at the right time?

Jesus' five goals against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and Premier League came from only 10 attempts - an impressive return by any standards.

"He is looking great," said former West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "It is a confidence thing because once you find the back of the net that's it and everything he is hitting is now ending up in there.

"This is the Jesus they wanted from the start when they bought him.

"You could never question his attitude - he just wasn't doing his job and soring goals.

"Now he is and it might have come at the best time for Arsenal. I've always thought that January will show how much intent Arsenal are showing in the title race.

"If they try and re-energise the attacking end of the pitch and get another striker in during the transfer window then they will show us how serious they are.

"They still need to do that, regardless of Jesus."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, including Manchester City's visit to Aston Villa and the London derby between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham 1-1 Brighton

• Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal