Arsenal news: Brutal Odegaard verdict given as star's transfer stance confirmed

Arsenal news as Mikel Arteta confirms his stance on selling a striker and Martin Odegaard is given a reality check

Mikel Arteta has two major tasks on his agenda - get Arsenal's Premier League title challenge back on track and get ready for the January transfer window. Last weekend, the Gunners saw their lead eroded further by the 2-1 defeat at resurgent Aston Villa, while Manchester City beat Sunderland to close to within two points of top spot.

Things are looking rosy for Arsenal in the Champions League, with Wednesday's 3-0 cruise against Club Brugge making it six wins out of six.

But the Premier League form will be a slight concern for Arteta, who could be without up to eight players for Saturday night's home clash with rock-bottom Wolves. Here's a round-up of the latest Gunners news.

Arteta confirms transfer stance

Arteta has insisted Gabriel Jesus will not be sold and can be Arsenal’s first-choice number nine. Jesus made his injury comeback as a second-half substitute against Club Brugge after 11 months out.

The Brazil international, 28, brings an extra dimension to Arteta's frontline but he has just 18 months to run on his current contract. After splashing out £64million to sign Viktor Gyokeres and with Kai Havertz, albeit currently sidelined with a knee injury, another striking option, Arsenal could be tempted to cash in on Jesus, possibly as soon as next month.

However, Arteta said: "No, I don’t consider that [selling him], especially with the situation that we have right now.

"Gabriel has a lot to offer to the team and he’s proven that straight away in the first minute that he was available to play. He’s put so much to be in this position again and now the focus is to be with us."

Pressed on whether he can be Arsenal’s main number nine, Arteta said: "Yes. A player of his quality, a player that has given us so much. He's certainly a player that has to be pushing and aiming for that."

Odegaard sent brutal message

Martin Odegaard has been told he can't expect to play ahead of Eberechi Eze every week just because he is club captain. The Norwegian midfielder recently returned to action following injury, starting the last two games.

While the pair can play in the same team, they are rivals for the number eight role, with Eze impressing in Odegaard's absence. Former Gunners striker Jeremie Aliadiere expects Arteta to prioritise Odegaard, but says that shouldn't automatically be the case.

The Frenchman told AceOdds: “This will be a difficult choice to make for Mikel because it will be tough to choose between them.

"It's all about having a squad and rotation options. I don’t think Odegaard being captain means he has to start. Mikel will pick players that are fit and ready to start.”

On Eze, Aliadiere said: "I love Eze’s calmness on the ball. There’s no panic no matter where he is on the pitch, who’s around him and how many players are near him. He’s not scared of taking the ball and keeping it. There’s a finesse, a calmness and composure he has."