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Arsenal played out a frustrating 2-2 draw against Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Gunners were second-best during the first half at the Stadium of Light, and the Black Cats deserved their 1-0 advantage.

However, the club stepped up after the interval. Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard made it 2-1 with 16 minutes to play.

Arsenal looked on course for a victory, but Brian Brobbey capitalised on a defensive mishap to bag a late 94th-minute equaliser.

As a result, the Gunners saw their advantage at the top reduce from six to four points after Manchester City’s win over Liverpool.

Arsenal will resume their campaign against north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium after the international break.

The Gunners could be handed a major boost for that game with as many as five injured stars anticipated to return for the derby.

Standard Sport claim that Noni Madueke was in contention to face the Black Cats, but Arsenal did not want to rush him back after his knee injury.

Alongside the Englishman, Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli could all be fit in time to face Thomas Frank’s side.

Their involvement could depend on the progress made over the next few days.

Gabriel Jesus seems the only likely absentee against Spurs, given he has just returned to training after an 11-month lay-off due to a serious knee injury.

The Brazilian needs more time on the training pitch compared to the short-term absentees, and may not return to action until the middle of December.

Arsenal face a defining festive period

The Gunners were on a sublime 10-match winning streak across all competitions before the unexpected stalemate at Sunderland. They will be bitterly disappointed after conceding a late equaliser.

This has allowed second-placed Manchester City to reduce the deficit to four points while London rivals Chelsea are only six points behind after their victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Arsenal’s title credentials will be tested during the hectic festive schedule. It should be a defining period for the club, and manager Mikel Arteta will be relieved with several forwards poised to return.

Arteta had no experienced attacking options to call upon off the bench last weekend. Mikel Merino, Trossard and Saka made goal contributions, but the manager could not freshen things up.

The returns of Madueke, Gyokeres, Havertz, Martinelli and Odegaard should provide a major boost.

Arsenal’s squad depth was tested to the fullest in three straight away games this month. With the attacking cavalry coming, they should be better placed to sustain their title challenge.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

Former Arsenal captain William Gallas says it was a no-brainer decision for Eberechi Eze to choose the Gunners over Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

Spurs were close to signing the England international this week, but Arsenal decided to hijack their pursuit after a knee injury to Kai Havertz.

Eze has already agreed on personal terms with the Gunners, and he is expected to undergo his medical tomorrow before penning a long-term deal.

When asked about the move, Gallas said that the 27-year-old has more chances to win trophies at Arsenal despite Spurs’ Europa League success last season.

He said: “If you’re Eze, you don’t want to go from Crystal Palace, where you were the main guy, to move to one of the biggest clubs if you’re not going to play much.

“You don’t want to join a club and become frustrated with your minutes. Eze will try to find the best solution for himself.

“Even if Spurs won the Europa League last year, you probably have more chances to win things at Arsenal over the next few years.

“Does he want to play every week or does he want to get his hands on more trophies?”

Gallas added that Arsenal have no excuses after the huge outlay on new signings.

The Frenchman believes manager Mikel Arteta has sufficient squad depth after the summer spending, and the pressure will be higher on the 43-year-old to deliver trophies this term.

Gallas added: “That is what I and the Arsenal fans were waiting for. They have the striker now in Gyokeres. Right now, they have so many choices.

“If one of the first 11 is injured, Arteta has so many choices. So they don’t have any more excuses. If they don’t win the Premier League, nobody can have any excuses about Arsenal.

“If Arsenal doesn’t win the Premier League this season, I don’t want to hear anything about injuries, or the referee, or a red card.

“Even if Saka or another player gets injured, they need to find a way of working around it.

“So that’s why now I think the pressure will be higher on Mikel Arteta than it has been in the last two years. He’s got to deliver something special for Arsenal this season.”

Arsenal have had an unprecedented summer of spending under Arteta. They have spent more than £260 million on the acquisition of seven players, including Eze.

Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Eze have been signed to freshen up the attack. Gyokeres should be an undisputed starter upfront, now that Havertz is injured.

Eze could be seen as a left-wing solution with Martin Odegaard being an undisputed starter in the number 10 position. The same can be said for Madueke too.

Madueke is a specialist right winger, but has been tried on the left wing in his early Arsenal career, as Bukayo Saka is guaranteed to start every game on the right.

Arsenal have had concerns with the lack of game-changing options off the bench in the past, but they no longer have the same issue after the summer transfer activity.

There is solid competition for every attacking position. Arteta has the opportunity to change things, suppose his regular starters have an off day in certain games.

Havertz’s injury leaves the club short up top, but Arteta still has the choice to field Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli or Mikel Merino if Gyokeres can’t deliver.

Merino can provide the same aerial presence as Havertz in the number nine role on the back of last season’s success. He netted seven goals as a centre-forward.

Hence, an injury or two can’t be termed as an excuse. The onus is on Arteta to end the club’s five-year trophy drought with some form of silverware this campaign.

Gallas was speaking to GamblingZone

Real Madrid star and Arsenal target Rodrygo is not interested in joining Tottenham Hotspur despite reports linking him with Spurs, according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna.

The Gunners want him and Spurs have also made an inquiry for the Brazilian, but there are no talks ongoing between both parties, with the player not keen on joining them.

Rodrygo wants to move to a bigger club than Tottenham if he leaves Madrid, which will be a boost for Arsenal but a blow for Spurs manager Thomas Frank.

The Gunners have held preliminary talks with his representatives as their coaching staff and manager Mikel Arteta are huge admirers of his versatility and quality.

He can play on both wings and even as a number 9, and Arsenal are keen to do a deal if the conditions are right.

Madrid are open to letting the 24-year-old leave, but they could demand top dollar from suitors for his services, and it remains to be seen whether the Gunners will be able to meet his demands or theirs.

Arsenal have already signed a winger after adding Noni Madueke to their attacking ranks, but they could sign another, and Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is an option.

He is Premier League-proven and could cost around £68 million – his release clause – and Arteta may need to decide between him and Rodrygo.

Both players are capable of improving the Arsenal attack given their huge quality and what they bring to the table in terms of experience and skillset, but it will take a lot to sign them and whether there is still enough room for the club to complete another big-money signing this summer is unknown.

The Gunners have spent £200m in recent weeks after signing the likes of Victor Gyokeres for £63.5m, Martin Zubimendi for £60m and Madueke for just under £50m, and they will be wary not to fall foul of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).