September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nThere was a slight scare for Viktor Gyokeres (\u00a39.0m) owners on Tuesday when the striker suffered a blow to the head after a mid-air clash with Gabriel Magalhaes (\u00a36.1m).<\/p>\n
The Swede suffered a nasty cut after half an hour of the Champions League opener in Bilbao, being bandaged up for the remainder of his appearance.<\/p>\n
He re-emerged for the second half, eventually going off after 65 minutes. There doesn\u2019t seem to be any concern about him or Mikel Merino (\u00a35.9m), who also sustained a knock to the noggin.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they are all good.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta on Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres<\/p>\n
As mentioned above, there was no Odegaard after his Saturday shoulder injury. Ben White (\u00a35.4m) was also still absent, along with the other longer-term ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cGabi [Jesus], Kai [Havertz], Ben [White] and Martin [Odegaard] are still out.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta speaking in his pre-match presser<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there are still quite a lot of things to go through. It\u2019s very early to understand when and which week he\u2019s going to be available. But he will certainly be pushing to be available as quickly as possible.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta on Bukayo Saka, speaking in his pre-match presser<\/p>\n
EZE UNDER THREAT?![\"injury](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-164.png\")
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For the second game running, Gyokeres racked up four goal attempts. Three of them were headers, the most presentable of which came from a Rice cross. Gyokeres led the way for xG (0.55) and penalty box touches (eight) in this match, too.<\/p>\n
Noni Madueke (\u00a37.0m) was a menace on the right, if sometimes lacking the end ball, but it was a quiet evening for Eberechi Eze (\u00a37.5m). He nearly got on the end of one Madueke cut-back but ultimately he ended up shot-less, coming off after 71 minutes.<\/p>\n
The replacements for Gyokeres and Eze, Leandro Trossard (\u00a36.9m) and Gabriel Martinelli (\u00a36.9m), did the damage. A goal and an assist apiece, although the two strikes were perhaps fortunate: Martinelli\u2019s breakaway goal should have been saved, while Trossard\u2019s sealer was deflected.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, food for thought for Mikel Arteta this weekend, especially on the left flank. Might Martinelli\u2019s pace on the counter be a better fit for a clash with Manchester City?<\/p>\n
\u201cI was sure that Gabi was going to react like that. He raised the level to Gabi and he was going to do that. He has such a mentality, he\u2019s a player that is constantly willing to learn and improve himself, very demanding with himself. That\u2019s the moment that hopefully is going to give him the confidence again to go, because he\u2019s done a stunning play.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta<\/p>\n
ARSENAL DEFENCE SOLID AGAIN![\"injury](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Athletic-Club-Arsenal-2025-09-16-1024x785.png\")
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Arsenal faced the heat from the hosts and the terraces at a bouncing Estadio de San Mam\u00e9s, coming under the cosh in the first half.<\/p>\n
But Athletic Club\u2019s pressure didn\u2019t really amount to serious chances. David Raya (\u00a35.5m) didn\u2019t actually have much to do, with his two saves routine, and the Basque side\u2019s 11 shots only amounted to a meagre 0.43 xG.<\/p>\n
As if we needed it, this was another reminder that Arsenal\u2019s defence is, arguably, the best in the business.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they took us to play a really direct and physical game, we handled it. When it was very transitional, we handled it. When it was against the low block, we handled it.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta<\/p>\n
SPURS DEFENCE KEEPS ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET![\"injury](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Tottenham-Hotspur-Villarreal-2025-09-16-1024x785.png\")
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The Spurs defence emerged with more credit than the starting attackers from their clash, too. This was their fourth clean sheet in their last five matches.<\/p>\n
The Lilywhites squeaked a tight encounter against Villarreal, a spectacular error from visiting goalkeeper Luiz Junior allowing Lucas Bergvall\u2018s (\u00a35.4m) cross to creep over the line.<\/p>\n
Spurs struggled to create much, in truth. Xavi Simons (\u00a37.0m) whistled over a shot early on, while Pape Matar Sarr (\u00a35.0m) tested Junior from distance. That was, in fact, the only shot on target from either side in an edgy 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
Thomas Frank\u2019s troops had only two shots after half-time, with Richarlison peripheral.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t quite as convincing from the Spurs backline as it was from Arsenal\u2019s, despite the lack of shots on target conceded. Nicolas Pepe thrice fired narrowly wide, while Tajon Buchanan should have scored from a Pepe pass.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy with the clean sheet. I\u2019m happy with the defensive side of the game. I think we were extremely good and limited Villarreal to very little throughout the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, offensively, we struggled on the day to create something against a good team.\u201d \u2013 Thomas Frank<\/p>\n
FRANK ON SIMONS<\/p>\n
Simons was again on the left flank here, with Mohammed Kudus (\u00a36.6m) on the opposite wing.<\/p>\n
It was a mixed bag from the Dutchman, as it was with most Spurs players. He\u2019s also perhaps more effective in the \u201910\u2019 role, which he\u2019s yet to start in.<\/p>\n
Frank discussed Simons\u2019 relationship with Djed Spence (\u00a34.5m) after the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we are building the offensive structure more and more. Xavi Simons has just come into the club. It\u2019s fair to say he and Djed need a little relationship, of course, to get going.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the right side, Pedro and Kudus, they definitely have something going. I think Lucas came over to that side, it looks right. I think on the left side, Xavi and Djed, good against West Ham, but it\u2019s not 100% in sync when maybe it\u2019s not going, as an example. We gave so many times the ball away, where we could have played it more second half, which just happens sometimes.\u201d \u2013 Thomas Frank<\/p>\n
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