Arsenal Lead Premier League by Four Points Amid Injuries

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta enters the final international break of 2025 with his team firmly at the top of the Premier League table, four points clear of Manchester City after 11 matches. The Gunners' strong start includes an unbeaten run in the Champions League, but a 2-2 draw at Sunderland last weekend allowed City to close the gap following their 3-0 victory over Liverpool. Arteta has expressed satisfaction with the position, noting that such a lead would have been welcomed at the season's outset, though injuries to key players remain a persistent challenge ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on November 23.

The injury list has tested Arsenal's depth throughout the early campaign. Striker Viktor Gyokeres, a 64 million summer signing from Sporting Lisbon, has missed recent games including the Champions League win over Slavia Prague and the Sunderland draw due to a hamstring issue sustained on November 1 against Burnley. No firm return date has been set, but medical staff continue to monitor his progress. Defender Riccardo Calafiori, dealing with a hip problem, trained separately with Italy's national team but was omitted from their World Cup qualifier...