Four from four, and Arteta is furious
Sunderland 0–2 Arsenal. That is four straight league wins and you are three points clear at the top (3). Arteta was not happy, though. He called the penalty Sunderland were given \"not acceptable\" and said it could have cost Arsenal the title (3). Read that again after a 2–0 win.
The form line is W W W W W. Arsenal have 12 points from 4 games and a goal difference of +7.
Brighton away is next, Saturday, September 19, 16:00 CEST.
Get the next Arsenal FC brief by email
This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
City are level with you on 12 points
Manchester City beat Manchester United 1–0, so both clubs sit on 12 points from 12 (7). You lead on goal difference. Erling Haaland and Phil Foden are firing for them, David Raya and Bukayo Saka are doing the job for you (7). Four games in and the pace is already set.
Arteta's new contract is close
Fabrizio Romano says the talks are in the final stages. \"So Mikel Arteta very very close to signing a new contract at Arsenal. Fantastic atmosphere at the club\" (9). Nothing signed yet, but this is the closest it has been.
White, Saliba, Mosquera: the defensive picture
Ben White, William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera are the three defenders Arsenal fans are watching (2). The latest is good news on the fitness front ahead of the trip to Brighton (2).
Raphinha talk, and a Liverpool teenager
Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly ready to double Raphinha's Barcelona salary in January (10). Unconfirmed, and it is the kind of story that writes itself.
Separately, Arsenal have been credited with a surprise interest in Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha (1), and with tracking another Liverpool attacker (5). Both are speculation only.
The women drop points at the Emirates
Arsenal 0–0 Crystal Palace in the WSL, despite 30 attempts on goal (4). Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Mariona Caldentey were among those who could not find the finish, and Chiamaka Nnadozie kept Palace level (4). Two points gone in the first home game of the season at the Emirates (6).
Fan reactions
The mood on r/Gunners is calm about the football and loud about the referees. A big thread is picking apart the weekend's officiating across the derby and the Sunderland game, while another is enjoying how \"meaner\" this Arsenal side looks as champions. Bukayo Saka's Sunderland highlights are doing the rounds too.