#mikel-arteta

#mikel-arteta

you could argue that the two coaches with the strongest credentials to replace Guardiola -- Kompany and Arsenal's Mikel Arteta -- will go head-to-head in a battle between the contenders. But although Arteta was Pep's No. 2 at City for three years before taking the Arsenal job in 2019, he has become the embodiment of his own project at the Emirates to the extent that I can't see him jumping ship for City.

Arsenal have been dealt an injury blow ahead of the north London derby with key defender Gabriel Magalhães ruled out "for weeks." The 27-year-old, an ever-present this season in a Gunners side who have conceded just five Premier League goals, suffered a thigh injury on international duty with Brazil. He sustained the problem on familiar territory, limping off during a friendly against Senegal at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium over the weekend.

Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes will be sidelined for at least a month, sources have told ESPN on Wednesday. The Brazil international pulled a muscle in his thigh in the second half of his country's friendly with Senegal on Saturday. His injury is still being assessed by the Gunners' medical staff but the first diagnosis is a four-week absence. It could be longer too if the injury doesn't scar as quickly as anticipated.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise onto Mikel Merino for the way he's performed up front in recent times. The Spain international arrived at the Emirates Stadium with the reputation of being a hard-working utility man in midfield, but he's shown some superb finishing when asked to fill in up front. Merino had a surprisingly good run in the team as a makeshift striker last season, and he filled in there again last night as Viktor Gyokeres was out injured.

When any proposal comes, the first question has to be whether to stay at la Real, he said. And it wasn't the right moment [to go]. I stayed and it was a hard season but I learned a lot. I wanted to step forward, take that weight after others went. But I've always tried to choose the right time and I'm happy with how it happened in the end.