#squad-depth

#squad-depth

No, we haven't trained yet, so today's going to be the first training session with the players who started against Villa. We will know more this afternoon. On Declan Rice's fitness Not yet, and we have another session today, so let's see how he comes in today and how that's feeling, but [the Villa] game was too early for him.

I think in all the press conferences I've been in, I've always said I don't think we'll be doing loads of business in January. If we find some players, we'll be delighted to do it and the CEO will be as well, and the owners, if we can do it. But I think it's more to do with trying to have a plan where the ownership want us to have a plan and want us to prepare and do everything in a certain fashion.

Yes: they have more players and can rest ThuLa, for example, with substitutes that no other competitor has in their squad. Good rotation, the kind that allows the team to maintain its level, can bring important results. Milan and Napoli don't have the same level of substitutes, although I'd put the Azzurri behind Inter once they've recovered all their injuries. The other teams will be fighting for a Champions League spot.

One of the benefits of having a healthy roster is that the coach has choices. How he uses that decision making power is another question. At the moment, Hansi Flick is evaluating his players one game at a time, and based on performances, choosing who gets the start. This has been possibly recently, because finally, most of the team is fit and available. The results are starting to roll in, and so far, meritocracy, as manifested through the eyes of the manager, is working.

When you play in several competitions, it's important to have several players in the same position. I'm very happy I have that. This improves all the players. We have a lot of competition. The competition between Ferran and Lewy is good for them and for the team. Lewy or Ferran are both in perfect form. We'll see who starts.

OL Lyonnes have one foot in the UEFA Women's Champions League top four, as if there was ever any jeopardy over that, considering they've won every match this season in France and Europe, bar one -- their 3-3 draw with Juventus. Alongside Chelsea and Barcelona, they're favourites to win the whole thing and showed why again on Wednesday just outside Manchester.

The 18-year-old is back to full fitness this season after a long spell out injured but has been used carefully by Hansi Flick so far in the 2025-26 campaign. His situation has sparked talk of a move but Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona have "completedly ruled out" the possibility of Bernal going out on loan. Barcelona are instead hoping that Bernal can play more of a role in the second half of the season

Arsenal have been handed a potentially significant injury boost as Declan Rice has claimed he's fine after hobbling off against Brentford last night. The Gunners beat the Bees 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium but their rotten luck with injuries continued in what has been the only real negative of the club's season so far. Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba missed this game, while Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke featured after only recently returning.

Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge kept them top of the Premier League table, but the big talking point was the surprise absence of defensive star William Saliba. Just hours before kick-off, the French centre-back was ruled out, leaving Mikel Arteta without both Saliba and regular partner Gabriel Magalhaes, who is already sidelined. That left the Gunners forced into an entirely new-look pairing with summer signings Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera stepping into the heart of defence.

It's certainly looking up. We delivered a strong performance out at Sturm Graz, we didn't get the goal we needed but it was a very strong performance. It's good to come back here, especially after the Liverpool win, so to back that up with a win is great. That's the main thing for me: keeping that mentality, particularly here at home because of the fanbase, and keeping that consistency in our performances.

I think obviously at Newcastle there's been a lot of talk about their squad and is it strong enough? Probably big concern for Eddie Howe is maybe the lack of cover, especially at fullback where they've had injuries to the likes of Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento. So maybe cover at left back and right back with Kieran Trippier not getting any younger either. That could be something that Newcastle could look at.

"There's great competition for places in a lot of positions. People know their positions and who their competition is," said Kane. "I think it allows people to come into the camp and feel free. There is that healthy competition that pushes each other to a higher standard. "The boss is really clear when he talks to players, and I think it will be the same all the way up to the tournament. "There will be some players who don't get to play, but he will make it clear on roles."

Chelsea are hoping to sign him for the next season, and they are preparing 150 million to sign the World Cup winner. They are prepared to smash the Premier League transfer record in order to get the deal done, as per Fichajes. They are also hoping that Enzo Fernandez can help convince the player to join the club. It remains to be seen whether the South American midfielder can play a role in convincing his compatriot to join the club.

The talented young England international was one of the breakthrough stars of last season, becoming a regular in Mikel Arteta's first-team after rising up from the Gunners' academy. This led to Lewis-Skelly making his England debut, and many will have expected him to continue this way and to start for Thomas Tuchel's side at next summer's World Cup in the USA.