Arsenal are scheduled to face Fulham on Saturday night, giving them a great opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League. Second-placed Liverpool do not play Manchester United until Sunday afternoon, so the Gunners have a chance to pile pressure on the reigning champions by securing a win at Craven Cottage.
Mikel Arteta will be keen to have Arsenal’s international star back after a productive October break. Club captain Martin Odegaard is expected to be sidelined for some time due to a knee injury, but Declan Rice and Pierrot Hincapie look set to be ready for Saturday’s clash. The North London side have a busy schedule ahead of them, juggling Premier League, Champions League and domestic cup competitions. However, Arteta’s side appear to be strong enough to survive this series of fixtures. Here, Express Football brings you some of the latest news coming out of Emirates Stadium this week.
Contract negotiations are underway with Julian Timber
Julian Timber’s impressive performances have also forced Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta to take notice, especially as they have attracted the attention of Bayern Munich. According to reports, the Bundesliga giants have contacted Timber’s agent to gauge his interest in a possible move to Germany.
However, the Evening Standard reports that the Gunners are currently in talks to secure a new contract with the defender to avoid potential suitors. After joining Arsenal and subsequently injuring his anterior cruciate ligament, Timber has bounced back from being sidelined for the season with a newfound belief in his abilities.
Arteta spoke positively of the Dutch international before the international break, saying: “The way he has come back and what he is doing for the team is amazing.
“I think he’s a really good example of a player who will have a long career with us. I think highly of him. When you talk about an overall player, he has almost every quality you want in a defender.”
Timber’s current contract extends until 2028, but the north London club are keen to secure him on an extended deal to prevent a potential exit from the Emirates Stadium.
Dauman impresses during training
Max Dauman caught the attention of the Premier League when he made his debut against Leeds United in August. He won the spot kick in the 93rd minute, making him the second youngest player in Top League history at just 15 years old. This was second only to teammate Ethan Nwaneri.
He is currently being compared to Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal. Cristian Mosquera has praised Arsenal’s young talent, telling The Athletic that Doman will be “world class”.
“I’m not trying to compare him, but his style and the way he plays is similar to Lamine Yamal. His movements are Lamine-like,” Mosquera said.
“I didn’t care about him at all and by the time I got to Singapore he was already training and playing. I couldn’t believe it when they told me he was 15 years old. He’s a really good player and I think he’s going to be world class.”
Arteta is also a huge admirer of Dauman, praising his ability to deal with the physicality of the Premier League with maturity. Asked how the senior players in the first team reacted to the 15-year-old in training, the Arsenal manager said: “At first they reacted straight away and said, “Kick it! That was the first thing.”
“And Max, to be fair, he was great. He got up and played the next game. You get a good impression of someone who was 14 at one point last year when he was doing things for the players. And now, yeah, everybody loves him. You just want to hug him and help him. He’s a really good kid, too, and he’s really well-liked by everyone here. And he just takes care of us.”
“It’s a responsibility to take care of someone with that talent and make sure we do what we have to do to make sure they have the best chance to make the most of that talent. That’s it.”
