Arsenal are sixth favourites to win the FA Cup with several bookmakers.
Arsenal have the sixth most valued squad according to Transfermarkt’s latest squad value survey.
And Arsenal will come sixth according to the Supercomputer predictions after the latest round of Premier League matches.
On squad value – it is on the up (562m euros), and the only one of the top six to increase since the last Transfermarkt survey, but still behind Tottenham at 643m euros. City are out on top 1.02bn euros, followed by Man U (879m), Chelsea (878m), and Liverpool (861m).
Bruno Guimaraes – chances of transfer to Arsenal rising
Reserves and youngsters expected for Forest
Charlie Patino, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand and Omari Hutchinson trained with the first team in the week – and expectations are one or more will be involved in the third-round tie.
Sead Kolasinac and Calum Chambers also trained and would see this as a shop window. Could Kolasinac help in persuading Vlahovic to come to Arsenal?
Transfers and rumours
According to Italian football expert Fabrizio Romano, the deal taking Ainsley Maitland Niles to Roma is just a loan for six months without an option to buy. He has made 132 appearances for Arsenal.
Another six-month loan – Falorin Balogun’s to Middlesbrough is set to be sealed at the start of next week. Again, it is a loan without option to buy. Balogun has only made two first team appearances this season and Mikel Arteta is keen to see him gain experience in the Championship.
The chances of Arsenal landing midfielder Bruno Guimaraes are 75% and rising according to Transfermarkt. Everton are said to be chasing the 24-year-old Lyon defensive midfielder rated valued at £27m.
But the chances of Arsenal land plum target Dusan Vlahovic appear to be decreasing. Transfermarkt put it at 75% but decreasing and 90 minutes says the forward won’t be rushed into a decision this January.
Fall-out from Man City
Arsenal have accepted a £20,000 fine for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion mid-way through the second-half of their match against Manchester City.
Meanwhile Alan Davies has expressed what many Arsenal fans feel when he said of City on the Tuesday Club Podcast:
“There is a stink of Manchester in our league, and I just wish this mob had bought a club in another league. Go buy Borussia Monchengladbach, take them past Bayern Munich to the top of… whatever their league is called, just do that… the Bundesliga.
“Do that, go buy someone else, get out of our league. We do not want your money. Do not pretend you are playing great stuff and Guardiola’s a genius, and this is amazing, we’re so privileged to see you… get out of our league.
“You’re not wanted here. You’re not wanted. Sell up and leave. You’ve had your fun, go away. No one wants the oil b money, no one wants to see this.
“To come here with that attitude to football, that attitude to the opposition, that attitude to the opposition fans, that attitude to Arsenal itself which is a football institution to this country.”