Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports, on Max Dowman: "It was a great moment. Especially the way the goal built up and we had 10-15 seconds to really enjoy what was about to happen!

"It was magical. On the bench and all the players together, jumping with the crowd. It was a beautiful day.

"It is not only the goal that he scored, he changed the game. Every time he got the ball, he makes things happen and we are more of a threat. To do that at that age, in this context with the pressure, the expectations to win the game, it's just not normal.

"It's so organic for him, he doesn't feel the pressure. He goes, gets the ball, stops on the ball. It's natural for him, that's the best thing, so just make sure he does what he feels.

"When you have such a talent then I'm sure good things are going to happen."

On instructions to Dowman and Gyokeres: "The impact that the finishers are having this season is remarkable.

"Everybody is important, everybody is adding to the team and there are moments that we have to be patient because with all the dominance and the shots when you don't score, the anxiety is building.

"You have to stay composed and be relentless in your desire to make something happen and the team really had that spirit today."

On Gyokeres' impact: "He does so many good things for the team and today he scored a massive goal. You have to be in the right spot at the right moment."

On the title race: "Job done from our side. The performance in many situations was very, very good. What we are doing every three days, the players deserve a lot of credit.

"What we do is create memories and create moments. For many years, I think people who were in the stadium today will say 'I was in the Emirates that day when that kid at 16 scored a goal at such an important stage of the season'."

Did you know?

• At 16 years and 73 days, Arsenal's Max Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Mikel Arteta rotates his squad after Arsenal's trip to play Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Kai Havertz starts up top while Noni Madueke looks to be starting from the left wing. Riccardo Calafiori also comes in for Piero Hincapie at left back.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Madueke, Eze, Saka, Havertz

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Hincapie, Jesus, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman

Everton make two changes, with Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski both out. Michael Keane starts alongside Jake O'Brien at centre-back with James Garner in at right-back.

Everton starting XI: Pickford, Garner, O'Brien, Keane, Mykolenko, Gana, Iroegbunam, McNeil, Dewsbury-hall, Ndiaye, Beto

Subs: Travers, Dibling, Coleman, Patterson, Barry, George, Rohl, Aznou, Armstrong

Alex Howell
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The family of former Arsenal academy graduate Billy Vigar will attend the Gunners' Premier League match against Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Vigar died at the age of 21 when he suffered a "significant brain injury" in September, when it is thought he collided with a wall while playing for Chichester City at Wingate and Finchley.

The Football Association announced a review of perimeter walls at football grounds in the National League system after his death.

Vigar was a graduate of the Arsenal academy, leaving the club in 2024, and also had spells at Derby County, Eastbourne Borough and Hastings United.

Vigar's family will be in attendance of the match as guests of Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker.

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Burnley v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Sunderland v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Arsenal v Everton (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Chelsea v Newcastle (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• West Ham v Man City (20:00)

Kick-offs 15:00 unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Sunderland v Brighton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Everton", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal have the chance to temporarily go 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday when they host away-day specialists Everton at Emirates Stadium (17:30 GMT).

The Gunners are in action before title rivals Manchester City - who travel to West Ham United later in the day - and can put the pressure on Pep Guardiola's side. Even with two games in hand, a double-digit deficit would feel like a lot for the chasers to claw back.

Everton represent stern opposition though, especially when they are on their travels. They have the fourth-best away record in the division this season and a European push is very much on the cards for David Moyes' side. They sit eighth going into the weekend fixtures.

Stacked Arsenal squad can crank up the pressure

It is Arsenal's turn to try to put the heat on City this weekend. After Pep Guardiola's side were annihilated 3-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek, they could be a little fragile heading into their fixture at London Stadium.

Arsenal, by comparison, seem to be settling well into the run-in grind and will be buoyed by their 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen thanks to a late Kai Havertz penalty.

If the Gunners were to win on Saturday then it would be their biggest advantage at the top so far this season. The nine-point gap they had on 7 February over City and Aston Villa was their largest, although City had played a game fewer at that point.

With the matches coming thick and fast, there will be an onus on Mikel Arteta to use his squad effectively. It is something he has done well so far, especially in terms of his in-game changes.

This season, the Gunners have more goal contributions from substitutes than any other team.

One player who could relish this encounter is Gabriel Jesus. He has eight goals and one assist in 15 appearances against the Toffees, meaning they are his favourite opponent since moving to the Premier League.

Can Everton continue remarkable away run?

While Everton have found it tough settling into life at their new stadium, Moyes has found a formidable formula on the road.

Since he returned to Merseyside to manage the club last January, only Arsenal have earned more points from away games. This season, it is also only the Gunners who have picked up more wins on the road.

Crucially, Everton may be the team best placed to cope with Arsenal's set-piece effectiveness. So far this season, the Toffees have not conceded a goal from a set-piece away from home; they are the only team in the league who have not.

The Blues' blueprint is clear in their away matches. They sit deep, look to remain tight and then try to pinch something from their attacking forays.

They do not mind surrendering the ball either. Everton have averaged the lowest amount of possession of all Premier League teams in away games this season.

Counter-attacking isn't something they rely on often, although they are effective when they do.

No team has produced fewer fast breaks than Everton's 13 this season, but the Blues have scored three times from them, which is the joint-seventh-best tally in the league.

Arsenal got away with a poor performance against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday thanks to Kai Havertz's late penalty against his former club.

There's a chance that fatigue kicks in for them here but it shouldn't do, because they have got such great depth in their squad.

It was quite a tight affair when these two sides met in December, but Arsenal nicked the points at Hill Dickinson Stadium and I am expecting the same to happen this time too.

Everton will make it difficult for them, and try to hang on in the game. They could easily score too, but I am going for Arsenal to find a way to win again, and get the job done.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Arteta started with an update on Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard, stating he will speak to doctors on whether they can be involved.

• There are no fresh injuries from the midweek game and Ben White is fit and could make his return against Everton.

• He says Fabian Hurzeler reaching out after he criticised Arsenal's style of play shows "positive things" about the Brighton boss: "It's a personal conversation. He's made comments, certain comments he made before, and I think it says a lot of positive things about him as a person. I think he is a fantastic coach and the work he is doing at Brighton is really good."

• When asked if he hopes Tottenham Hotspur stay up for the North London derby he said: "It's one of the most beautiful games that we have because when there is such passion and rivalry, when it's in the right way in sport, I think it elevates the game and the feelings and the emotions after winning to a different level. It's not for me to say what's going to happen, but I can certainly describe how it's been to play against each other."

• After being asked whether the in-swinging corners that everyone is picking up on might "break" the game he said: "That's where there are rules. If we don't want to see long throws it's very simple, give four seconds for the long throws if you need. The biggest problem is the man-to-man. If all managers agree you cannot defend the man-to-man tomorrow you're going to have a different league. I guarantee you a different league."

• When asked why only six Premier League games this season have been won by four or more goals he said: "This is the reality and if you don't want to see it, it's because probably we have to change the glasses of the perspective that we see the game because this is the reality of our league right now."

• On the international break: "It's a period that I don't enjoy a lot, especially when we have 18, 19 players playing and especially with what happened in our recent history with very important players."

• Discussing Bukayo Saka's recent form, Arteta said: "What he's doing for us, for this club, is just incredible at his age and he's continued to have that massive impact for us. He can have an individual performance that is not probably a reflection of his level, like every human, every player in the world. But overall when you look at his strength and the impulse he has in the team, it's just incredible."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got any questions about Brighton? Get in touch using out 'Ask about Arsenal' form

Scarlet Katz Roberts
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal might have gone too early.

Before we continue, let's put in place all the usual caveats. We are lacking our attacking conductor (Martin Odegaard), we have been largely without a fully fit Kai Havertz, and the Premier League is the most competitive league in the world.

But after 10 changes were made to the team on Wednesday, the majority of key players were rested. As it was, we limped out of Leverkusen with a 1-1 draw.

In Arsenal's case, a bit of emotional deprioritisation in Europe is understandable. The title challenge is absorbing most of the energy from fans and players, which is fair enough. It's brutal.

Alexis Mac Allister called it "murder", external, and Liverpool won the league in a procession last season.

Arsenal have had to deal with the pressure of being chased by the much heralded blue juggernaut that has dominated English football for the past 10 years - not to mention the albatross of not winning it since 2004, "second again, ole ole" ringing out around every stadium we set foot in.

But that's not the case in Europe, and it showed in Arsenal's absolute dominance of the league phase. This Leverkusen fixture was an opportunity on two fronts - first, to take this favourable draw by the scruff of the neck and use it to provide respite in a busy season, and secondly, to progress in a competition that is desperately hard to win and deeply prestigious.

In short, Arsenal are betwixt and between. The line-up was good enough to go and win that game. But the quality of the players is irrelevant if they don't play to their full ability.

Since we took the lead against Chelsea, you could have been forgiven, glancing at Arsenal's past four games, for thinking it was late in the game and we were defending a lead.

But we're not there yet. In the context of the season, how we're playing is the equivalent of dropping deep in the 60th minute. It's too soon to dip for the line.

This Champions League draw is an opening we might wait years for again. We must find a way to take the initiative.

Find more from Scarlet Katz Roberts at the Goal Difference podcast, external

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

It's tense at the top. With matches running out, here's how the Premier League title race is looking.

Arsenal enjoy a seven-point lead over Manchester City but have played a game more.

Looking at the remaining fixtures, the Gunners have a slightly easier run-in on paper, although their eight remaining games include what could be a title-defining trip to the Etihad on 19 April.

Beyond that, it is worth noting that four of Arsenal's next five league games are at home against mid-table sides, while four of Manchester City's next five are away, including a trip to Chelsea.

While some have questioned Arsenal's ability to go on and win the league, it's clear City haven't been the terrifying force of seasons past.

In fact, only twice under Pep Guardiola have they had fewer points after 29 games than their haul of 60 this term – in their first season under him back in 2016-17 (58) and last season (48).

If we look at both teams' expected goals numbers, neither has been as dominant as the title-winners in recent years – whether due to their own flaws or the Premier League being more competitive than ever – so there's a chance of both sides slipping up in their remaining games.

Good news for Arsenal fans is that the most dominant team statistically - in terms of expected goal difference per game, excluding penalties - have won the Premier League in three of the past four seasons.

The exception came when Manchester City pipped the Gunners to the title two years ago.

Read more on how the run-in is shaping up in the battle to avoid relegation and the chase for Europe

Arsenal continue to court Newcastle and England full-back Tino Livramento, 23. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Chris Howard
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

At one point in Wednesday night's game, I saw Eberechi Eze pick the ball up from deep, take a touch, then very smoothly roll the ball out to Jurrien Timber. It was just inside the Arsenal half. He had got on the ball quite a bit up until that point. It struck me that it wasn't the first time it had happened.

Indeed, I then counted half a dozen times in which a similar situation unfolded.

Eze had 56 touches of the ball against Bayer Leverkusen - he was involved, he was a central part of the team, I was positive - but the trouble Arsenal had was that he wasn't involved in the part of the pitch where we want Eze to be.

If I think about the times he has been able to cause maximum impact this season, it has been in the box and around the edge of the opposition penalty area by the D.

It felt like he never really got into those positions on Wednesday, which felt like a microcosm of Arsenal's overall performance.

In attack, they faced a well-organised side who were happy to let the Arsenal players have the ball, but only in areas where it did little damage.

In Arsenal's defence, other than the goal Leverkusen scored, they offered just as few opportunities.

But the role Eze played just felt like a bit of an explanation as to why the game was low on events - for both teams.

If Arsenal want to get over the line in competitions in Europe and domestically, they have to find a way to lean into Eze's skills.

Wednesday night felt like he was doing a bit of an Martin Odegaard impression. It didn't quite work.

Find more from Chris Howard at Suburban Gooners, external and the Same Old Arsenal Podcast, external

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Gabriel Martinelli has backed Kai Havertz to score "many more goals" for Arsenal as they approach the climax of the season.

Martinelli played the full match as Arsenal drew the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

The winger hit the crossbar in the first half before the Gunners fell behind, with Havertz coming off the bench to slot home an 89th-minute penalty to ensure Mikel Arteta's side will head into the second leg as favourites.

"He has a big personality," Martinelli said. "He is one of the penalty-takers in the team and everyone trusts him. We are happy for him to be back and scoring an amazing goal."

Havertz has missed a large part of this season through injury but has returned to fitness and featured in Arsenal's past four games, and has now scored three goals this season.

Arteta has played summer signing Viktor Gyokeres for most of the campaign, with Gabriel Jesus also only returning from injury in December.

"We have three number nines who are really good," Martinelli said when asked about the impact Havertz could have.

"Each one has their own way of playing - and we trust all of them. Kai is a player that we love. Everyone likes to play with him as well. Hopefully, he can score many more goals for us.

"Everyone is different. He can play as an attacking midfielder as well, so he likes to drop and play in midfield.

"Sometimes it is good for us because he makes that movement, and it opens up that space for us."

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Champions League game between Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Ned: Painful to watch Arteta's stat-ball approach, but it works. We don't lose. The only question is can they win enough?

Rachel: Being in four competitions is preventing Arsenal from focusing on any one of them. Instead of putting all our energy into one competition we are failing to look threatening in any. I fear we are going to fade away with a whimper. It's not an easy watch for Arsenal fans.

David: Arsenal are struggling through games right now. Time for their second wind to arrive, as the pressure is about to get a lot stronger.

Dyfi: Lacklustre again. Saka needs to start on the bench. He's too predictable at the moment and other teams know how to play against us. We need to reset a bit. Luckily we muddled through somehow.

Finn: Poor performance, bit unconvinced. A gameplan of 'played bad but won' didn't work out, but at home we should be a different force. Kai Havertz to start the next game please.

LJ: This team always plays with the handbrake on. It is frustrating to watch. When will Arteta let loose the dogs of war? Very lucky to draw.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson says Mikel Arteta's attack is "not flowing" as well as it was earlier in the season and has become "stodgy".

The Gunners needed a late Kai Havertz penalty to secure a draw in Wednesday's Champions League round of 16 first leg in Leverkusen but will go into next Tuesday's return leg as favourites.

"Defensively, they deliver consistency really well," Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"The back five is nailed on, I think they're not likely to change.

"The whole team is just suffering a little bit from trying to produce and create goalscoring opportunties. They are not flowing in open play anywhere near as much as they were in October or Novemeber when you think back to that brilliant win over Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

"There was a lot more flow to Arsenal's game and now it is just a little bit stodgy. But, this is the season. It's not going to be perfect for the whole duration.

"The question is how do you get through when performances are like this and at the moment they're getting away with it in terms of results.

"They're plodding along but if suddenly one or two results change with the performances still like this then it will turn into a real problem.

"That is my biggest fear for Arsenal if that happens in the next four or five games and how that would reflect on the team and the mood in the camp."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha thinks both his former club and Chelsea face too much of an uphill battle to progress in the Champions League.

Both face three-goal deficits going into home legs, with Onuoha stating: "While they will have the belief they can do it, I think the margins are far too big. So while the game is still on for all the English sides, the margin of error is tiny for some of them now."

Their defeats come during a week in which English sides have struggled in Europe, with no wins recorded across six ties.

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty said we have seen "24 hours in which the Premier League's self-styled reputation as the best in the world suffered heavy damage".

"The Premier League's power was supposedly emphasised by having six teams in the last 16 following the league stage, but this was something of a cold shower hosed on talk of its supremacy," McNulty wrote.

All six English teams have now been given a lower predicted chance of reaching the last eight by Opta than before the last-16 first legs.

Arsenal remain favourites to progress, while Liverpool stay second favourites despite trailing by a goal after the first leg.

Arsenal will consider a bid for Newcastle and England full-back Tino Livramento this summer, with the 23-year-old yet to show willingness to extend his contract beyond 2028. (Telegraph - subscription required).

Aston Villa will rival Arsenal for the signature of Borussia Dortmund and Germany midfielder Julian Brandt, 29, who will become a free agent this summer. (Football Insider)., external

Liverpool and Arsenal lead the race to sign Stuttgart and Germany Under-21 defender Finn Jeltsch, 19, with Bayern Munich also interested. (Teamtalk)., external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Gabby Logan presents highlights of the first-leg ties from the Champions League round of 16. Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle are the six Premier League clubs in action alongside 15-time winners Real Madrid, current holders Paris Saint-Germain and surprise package Bodo/Glimt

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Real Madrid 3-0 Man City

• Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal

• Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool

• Newcastle 1-1 Barcelona

• Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham