MIKEL ARTETA

This season can hardly get any better for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

LONDON — (AP) — Arsenal showed how to fight back on Boxing Day, traditionally a busy time in English soccer, by beating West Ham 3-1 to stretch its lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points. Chris Wood’s penalty and a sublime strike by Miguel Almiron put Newcastle 2-0 up against Leicester after only seven minutes, with Joelinton adding a third just after the half-hour mark for the Magpies' sixth straight league win. LIVERPOOL WINS AGAINLiverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 for its third straight league win and stayed sixth, a point behind Manchester United. Liverpool’s third straight victory moved the club five points adrift of the Champions League spots. Southampton lost its fourth straight league game and dropped to last place.

Arsenal showed how to fight back on English soccer's traditionally busy Boxing Day by beating West Ham 3-1 to stretch its lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points.

The Premier League is getting ready to pause for the World Cup and some unlikely storylines are in place for the second half of the season.

The win at Villa Park saw Emery taste triumph — at the first opportunity — with his new club, something the Spaniard hadn’t achieved in his previous seven games with Arsenal. Arsenal's win against Chelsea overcame the latest test of its title credentials. And when Gabriel pounced after 63 minutes at Stamford Bridge it strengthened the growing belief that Arsenal can maintain a genuine challenge. “Individually, collectively, that’s as good as I’ve seen an Arsenal team in years,” former defender Martin Keown told BT Sport. TEN HAG: ‘NOT ACCEPTABLE’Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag criticized his players after the defeat at Villa.

Arsenal's win against Chelsea overcame the latest test of its title credentials. The celebrations at Manchester City after a late 2-1 win against Fulham on Saturday underlined the level of threat Arteta's Arsenal presents to the reigning champions. And when Gabriel pounced after 63 minutes at Stamford Bridge it strengthened the growing belief that Arsenal can maintain a genuine challenge. “Individually, collectively, that’s as good as I’ve seen an Arsenal team in years,” former defender Martin Keown told BT Sport. TEN HAG: UNACCEPTABLEManchester United manager Erik ten Hag criticized his players after the defeat at Villa.

Mikel Arteta is making believers out of Arsenal doubters while his predecessor Unai Emery has unfinished business in the Premier League.

Lionel Messi is back in supreme form and it’s just in time for the World Cup.

Pep Guardiola says he can sense the coming tide and the Manchester City manager will be even more convinced of the new threats to his team’s dominance after the latest round of Premier League games.

Pep Guardiola says Liverpool fans will have to improve their aim after claiming coins were thrown at him and missed during Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat at Anfield in the Premier League.

Still, after recording another statement win — 3-2 over Liverpool on Sunday — Arteta was sticking to the script. “We haven't done any of that.”Well, if anyone is going to stop City, it looks like it will be Arsenal. The same cannot be said of Liverpool, which dropped 14 points off Arsenal not even a quarter of the way through the season. Darwin Núñez scored the first equalizer and Roberto Firmino — the replacement for Diaz — canceled out Saka's first goal. It was Ronaldo's 144th goal for United across two spells at the club.

It must be getting harder and harder for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to deny his team is a genuine title challenger in the Premier League this season.

It's looking increasingly like Arsenal is the real deal in the English Premier League. The only defeat for Arsenal came at Manchester United, but that was only after an encouraging and dominant performance for large spells at Old Trafford. Liverpool, the 2020 champion and the biggest league rival of dominant Manchester City in recent years, is already 11 points behind Arsenal and has won only two of its first seven games. Conor Gallagher scored a 90th-minute winner for Chelsea in its 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace, the team where the midfielder spent last season on loan. City can climb back to a point behind Arsenal with a win over crosstown rival Manchester United on Sunday.

It’s looking increasingly like Arsenal is the real deal in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri broke an English Premier League record in the club's 3-0 victory against Brentford to Sunday by becoming the youngest player to make their debut.

LONDON — (AP) — Walking off the field at Brentford’s small stadium in west London had a very different feel for Arsenal this time around. Everton finally has something to enjoy as well: a first win of the campaign. Frank Lampard's team beat fellow struggler West Ham 1-0 at home in a game with few clear-cut chances for either team. All Premier League games this weekend paid tribute to the queen with a minute's silence before kickoff followed by a rendition of the national anthem. There was also a minute's applause after 70 minutes at each game in celebration of the queen's 70-year reign.

Walking off the field at Brentford’s small stadium in west London had a very different feel for Arsenal this time around.

Playing as the center forward for Brazil at a World Cup is one of the biggest honors in soccer and Gabriel Jesus knows all about it.

Arsenal’s newcomers have made an immediate impact by opening the English Premier League beating host Crystal Palace 2-0.

Britain Soccer Premier League Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates scoring during the English Premier League soccer match at St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Monday May 16, 2022. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) (Owen Humphreys)NEWCASTLE, England — (AP) — With his team's Champions League qualification ambitions in ruins, Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka felt it was time to deliver some home truths. This night was all about Arsenal, though, and whether its players could keep Champions League qualification in their own hands. Arsenal will host Everton at the same time and knows a win still might not be enough to get back in the Champions League after a five-year absence. The result meant Chelsea, in third place, was sure of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League.

Arsenal no longer has Champions League qualification in its own hands.

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus scored more goals in 53 minutes than he had in the previous eight months in the English Premier League.

It was a Premier League day that could hardly have gone any better for Tottenham.

Britain Soccer FA Cup Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech, right, celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goalduring the English FA Cup quarter final soccer match between Middlesbrough and Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium, in Middlesbrough, England, Saturday March 19, 2022. It’s now six straight wins since Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich announced he’d be selling the London club, with Chelsea swatting aside second-tier Middlesbrough in a 2-0 win to reach the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday. The remaining quarterfinal matches take place on Sunday, with two being all-Premier League contests: Southampton vs. Manchester City and Crystal Palace vs. Everton. Wrapping up the last eight, quadruple-chasing Liverpool visits second-tier Nottingham Forest, which has already eliminated Arsenal and defending champion Leicester. PREMIER LEAGUEIt's looking more and more likely that Arsenal will be back in the Champions League next season.

Chelsea’s players are managing to maintain their on-field focus amid a troubling period for the club.

Folarin Balogun and Ainsley Maitland-Niles had only just been loaned out when Arsenal told the Premier League it lacked enough players to host Tottenham last Sunday. Applying coronavirus regulations has seen 22 postponements since last month as the spread of the omicron variant has depleted squads and shut training facilities. “The decision to postpone the game was very, very strange,” Tottenham manager Antonio Conte said, with a few days to reflect on his frustration. But confusion over the application of the rules has created a growing sense of farce. Arteta reflects on how the season started with three successive losses, with Arsenal playing despite coronavirus-enforced absences.

The Premier League is exploring new rules on postponements after criticism from clubs over why games are being called off.

Britain Soccer FA Cup Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English FA Cup third round soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) (Rui Vieira)Third-round exits in the FA Cup don't come along very often for Arsenal. “We were not good enough,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said, “and we have to apologize for it.”Tottenham and Liverpool avoided the same fate as Arsenal, launching comebacks after falling behind at home to third-tier opponents. ARSENAL OUTBy conceding an 83rd-minute goal to substitute Lewis Grabban at the City Ground, Arsenal became the highest-ranked casualty of this season's FA Cup. Premier League teams Wolverhampton and Norwich also advanced after beating lower-league teams Sheffield United (3-0) and Charlton (1-0), respectively.

Britain Soccer FA Cup Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English FA Cup third round soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) (Rui Vieira)Arsenal failed to transfer its improved Premier League form to the FA Cup, losing 1-0 to second-tier Nottingham Forest on Sunday in the second big shock of the third round. By conceding an 83rd-minute goal at the City Ground, Arsenal became the highest-ranked casualty at the stage of the competition that sees Premier League teams enter the draw. The FA Cup has served up some surprises at the third-round stage, no bigger than Newcastle losing at home to third-tier Cambridge United on Saturday. Premier League teams Wolverhampton and Norwich also advanced after beating lower-league teams Sheffield United (3-0) and Charlton (1-0), respectively.

Arsenal has failed to transfer its improved Premier League form to the FA Cup in losing 1-0 to second-tier Nottingham Forest in the second big shock of the third round.

Rodri scored a stoppage-time winner to complete Manchester City's comeback to win 2-1 at Arsenal and move the champions 11 points in front of second-place Chelsea at the top of the standings.

APTOPIX Britain Soccer Premier League Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. Never before in the Premier League has Arsenal scored three goals as quickly in a derby. Spurs haven't won at Arsenal in the league since 2010, and they did everything to ensure that dismal run wouldn't end. In fact, the striker managed to give away the ball inside Tottenham's half to Thomas Partey that led to Arsenal scoring again on the break. Wearing protective head gear, the Mexican breezed through the defense in the 61st minute before striking past goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

Britain Soccer Premier League Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures during an English Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at the Bramall Lane stadium in Sheffield, England, Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Tim Keeton, Pool) (Tim Keeton)So much for Arsenal being one of the elite soccer clubs in Europe. Three weeks after being among the instigators of the controversially closed-off and ultimately ill-fated Super League, the English team is facing the ignominy of being shut out of continental competition for the first time in 25 years. A failure to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Villarreal in the Europa League semifinals on Thursday would end Arsenal’s quarter-century run of participating in either the Champions League or UEFA’s secondary club competitions. Arteta said the success of this season will now be determined by winning the Europa League or not.

So much for Arsenal being one of the elite soccer clubs in Europe.

The English and Spanish leagues are pursuing new regulations to try to avert another attempt by elite clubs to form a breakaway European competition.

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor stadium in Burnley, England, Saturday, March 6, 2021. Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka received a short pass from goalkeeper Bernd Leno, took a slightly heavy touch onto his weaker right foot, then attempted a dangerous pass across the face of goal around Burnley striker Chris Wood. “It’s the way we play and the way we want to play,” said Arteta, whose side had gone ahead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He was sent off in the teams’ meeting at Emirates Stadium in December and also in their game in January 2017. The team hasn't played in the Champions League since the 2016-17 campaign, missing out last season after a late collapse.

Racist abuse. And social media accounts allowed to stay active even after spreading bile. English football has reached breaking point with players, coaches, referees and officials aghast at the ongoing proliferation of hate aimed at them on Instagram and Twitter. This is being enforced almost two years after players in England boycotted social media for 24 hours. The government is also introducing legislation — the online safety bill — that could see social media companies fined for failing to protect their users.

Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe, center, battles for the ball with Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, left, and Stuart Armstrong during the Emirates FA Cup fourth round soccer match at St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England, Saturday Jan. 23, 2021. (Catherine Ivill/PA via AP)SOUTHAMPTON – Last season’s FA Cup winner Arsenal was eliminated from the competition in the fourth round on Saturday thanks to Gabriel’s own-goal in a 1-0 loss to Southampton, while Manchester City survived a scare to beat fourth-tier Cheltenham 3-1. In an otherwise close game, Gabriel's decision to try to block a shot from Kyle Walker-Peters proved decisive for Arsenal losing its hold on the cup. It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded since Dec. 26 after five consecutive shutouts. CITY UNDER PRESSURECheltenham came close to one of the biggest shocks in the 150-year history of the FA Cup before Pep Guardiola's City team scored three late goals.

Arteta had billed the coming week, starting with the visit of Chelsea, as a “crucial” period that would determine which direction Arsenal was heading this season. A first league victory in nearly two months was vital, therefore, to boost Arsenal players' fragile confidence — even if it only lifted them into 14th place. “It's something to build on.”It took 90 minutes for the scrutiny that was hovering over Arteta to drift toward his Chelsea counterpart, Frank Lampard. That's three losses in the last four league games for Chelsea, which has dropped to seventh place and whose identity — and best lineup — is increasingly hard to decipher. The result kept Leicester above United in the standings after they started the day in second and third place.

Everton was the last side to relinquish its undefeated record in this most unpredictable of seasons, though the 2-0 loss at Southampton didn’t knock Carlo Ancelotti’s side off the top of the standings on Sunday. Playmaker James Rodriguez was quiet and striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin failed to score in a league game for the first time this season. Aston Villa was the other unbeaten team coming into this round but was outclassed in a 3-0 defeat by Leeds on Friday. The win over Everton came on the one-year anniversary of Southampton's 9-0 loss to Leicester. By stooping to head home a cross from fellow substitute Cengiz Under following a rapid counter-attack in the 80th minute, Vardy scored his 11th Premier League goal against Arsenal.

James Rodriguez joined Premier League club Everton on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020 in an attempt to revive a career that faltered at Real Madrid. Now, they are both at Everton, a team without a trophy since 1995 and living in the shadow of neighbour Liverpool, the recently crowned Premier League champion. KAI HAVERTZ (Chelsea)The most expensive signing of the offseason at a fee rising to $92 million, Havertz might also be the most interesting. Havertz is the youngest player to reach 100 Bundesliga appearances and scored 36 goals in four seasons with Bayer Leverkusen in the German league. With Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech making up Chelsea's likely attack, Havertz won't be short of quality around him.

Liverpool head coach Juergen Klopp arrives for an interview prior to a friendly soccer match between RB Salzburg and FC Liverpool in Salzburg, Austria, Tuesday, Aug.25, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)The new English soccer season is starting in the same month the last one finished. Instead, it is a four-week preseason for the English champions that is still getting interrupted by an international break for Nations League qualifiers. I'll be very surprised if this is the best game we'll play this season, Klopp said. The sight of Jordan Henderson lifting silverware, with his now-trademark stuttering steps, alongside his jubilant Liverpool teammates is something English soccer fans are getting used to. It was Aubameyang, after all, who scored the goals in the FA Cup final that means Arsenal is back at Wembley this weekend.

LONDON Arsenal is cutting 55 jobs due to the financial damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen fans shut out of stadiums. In a statement issued Wednesday, head of football Raul Sanllehi and managing director Vinai Venkatesham pointed to severe drops in broadcast revenue. But Mikel Artetas side qualified for the Europa League by beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday. We are now entering the required 30-day consultation period on these proposals, the statement said. We know this is upsetting and difficult for our dedicated staff and our focus is on managing this as sensitively as possible.

(Catherine Ivill/Pool via AP)LONDON Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clinched a record-extending 14th FA Cup for Arsenal on Saturday, scoring twice in a 2-1 victory against Chelsea at an empty Wembley Stadium. It not only sealed Arsenal's fourth FA Cup in seven seasons but a place in the Europa League, having only finished eighth in the Premier League. There could not even be a trophy presentation as usual in the Royal Box due to social distancing after this 139th FA Cup final. Never before had the FA Cup final been staged without fans. The American emulated compatriot Carli Lloyd, who netted in the Women's FA Cup final in 2017 for Manchester City.

It was a test of resolve for new Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, but Project Restart was accomplished. No team suffered more after the restart in June than the 2016 champion, blowing an eight-point cushion in the Champions League places. The capitulation was completed by Sundays 2-0 loss to Manchester United, which took the last Champions League place off Brendan Rodgers' lineup. Like Chelsea, Arsenal turned to a former midfielder this season to take charge. But there wont be a fifth consecutive season in the Champions League for the 2019 beaten finalist.

(AP Photo/Peter Powell,Pool)Aston Villa is out of the Premier Leagues relegation zone for the first time in five months. The fight to avoid dropping out of the worlds richest domestic league is heading to the final day of the season, with two relegation places still to be filled and three clubs in realistic danger. Arsenal lost to a relegation contender two days after beating Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinals, highlighting the inconsistency that still bedevils Mikel Artetas team. CITY ROUTIf Watford does go down, at least it wont have to play Manchester City next season. Kevin De Bruyne provided the cross for Laportes goal for his 19th assist of the season, one off Thierry Henrys record for one season.

(AP Photo/Matt Childs,Pool)LONDON Seven months after leaving Pep Guardiola's side, Mikel Arteta outwitted his mentor to ensure his first season as Arsenal manager will end with an FA Cup final. Football shut down for three months in England and resumed in June with City beating Arsenal 3-0 in the Premier League. The FA Cup is the second trophy surrendered by City this season after losing the Premier League title to Liverpool. But City has already successfully defended the League Cup and can still win a double. BURNLEY EYES EUROPEThe number of Europa League slots in the Premier League depends on who wins the FA Cup.

Manchester United's Mason Greenwood celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, July 4, 2020. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP)Some of the top Premier League teams are putting their faith in youth in the high-stakes finale to the longest-ever soccer season in England. Jamie Vardy passed the 100-goal mark in Premier League goals by netting twice as Leicester beat Crystal Palace 3-0 for its first win since the restart. With five more rounds left, Leicester stayed a point clear of Chelsea and three points ahead of fifth-place Manchester United. Finishing in sixth will earn the team a berth in the Europa League next season, as may seventh.

Things are going from bad to worse for Arsenal in the early days of the Premier Leagues resumption. Sure enough, it was the French striker who scored the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Some of their players need to learn what is humility, especially one of them, Maupay said, without mentioning Guendouzi by name. Arteta lost midfielder Granit Xhaka and defender Pablo Mari to injury against City, with Mari unlikely to return before next season. Ben Chilwell was mobbed by his Leicester teammates after smashing home a rising, angled shot off the inside of the post in the 90th minute for what looked like the winning goal.

Workers block the view of the entrance, at Villa Park stadium, a day ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United, as the league resumes play after a 100-day pandemic-enforced shutdown, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, June 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)MANCHESTER Exactly 100 days after the last game, the Premier League is back. When the whole county went into lockdown, every industry sector was wondering when some semblance of normality could be returned to, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said. The Premier League was suspended after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for the coronavirus on March 12. City knows it will be surrendering the Premier League trophy to Liverpool.

An Amazon Prime microphone is pictured ahead of the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England on December 3, 2019. All soccer matches in England, including the top-flight English Premier League, will be suspended until April 4 due to the coronavirus outbreak. "Following a meeting of shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on April 4," the governing bodies for the leagues said in a statement. "Despite the challenges, it is the Premier League's aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by Academy sides, when it is safe to do so." The U.K. has 593 cases of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University data, and eight people have died.