Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte believes the battle for the Premier League title this season is ‘perhaps the most difficult one ever’. The Blues rose to the summit with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough on Sunday, with the Londoners being closely pursued by Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham, while Manchester United are currently nine points off the pace in sixth place.
Arsenal have been boosted by the news right-back Hector Bellerin has signed a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium. The 21-year-old Spain international has been linked with a return to former club Barcelona and Premier League rivals Manchester City having become a regular in boss Arsene Wenger’s Gunners’ line-up since he broke into first team in the 2014-15 season.
Petr Cech firmly believes the outcome of Saturday’s clash between Manchester United and Arsenal will have a lasting impact on the rest of the season. The long-time rivals renew adversaries at Old Trafford in what will be Jose Mourinho’s first meeting with Arsene Wenger as United manager.
Striker Olivier Giroud has played down reports that he may be tempted to leave Arsenal if he does not become a regular starter once again. The 30-year-old France international has yet to start a Premier League game this season, having been troubled by a toe injury earlier on in the campaign, with Chile international Alexis Sanchez the current first-choice pick of Gunners head coach Arsene Wenger.
The 21-year-old moved to north London in the summer of 2012 after coming through Barcelona’s youth academy and has been linked with a return to the Nou Camp. Bellerin has made 86 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners, including 67 in the Premier League, as well as featuirng in eight matches for Barnsley during a loan spell at Oakwell in the 2013/14 campaign.
Manchester United will be without leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the Premier League showdown with Arsenal straight after the international break.
Arsenal vs Tottenham
England Premier League.
Date: Sunday, 6th November 2016,
Kick-off at 12:00 UK.
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London.
Arsene Wenger believes Mesut Ozil can become an Arsenal legend if the German midfielder commits his long-term future to the club.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has backed Dele Alli to rediscover his best form and insists he is happy with the 20-year-old.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that striker Harry Kane is back in the fold and in contention to face Arsenal on Sunday.