Arsenal news: Declan Rice weakness called out as team-mate sends defiant six-word message

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The 2025/26 season keeps getting better for Arsenal . The Gunners are stringing together victories with ruthless consistency, pulling clear of their Premier League title rivals - many of whom are still stumbling for form.

Arsenal aren't just winning - they're dominating at both ends of the pitch. Mikel Arteta's side have conceded just three goals in 14 matches across all competitions and are currently on course to beat Chelsea's long-standing Premier League record of 15 goals conceded, set in 2004/05.

Their 2-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup in midweek made it eight straight victories and six consecutive clean sheets. With a quarter-final tie against Crystal Palace on the horizon and strong positions in both the Premier League and Champions League , Arsenal are flying high on all fronts.

The schedule offers every chance to extend their remarkable run too. A Champions League meeting with underdogs Slavia Praha is sandwiched between league fixtures against newly promoted Burnley and Sunderland - all before the final international break of the calendar year next month.

Tougher challenges await when the domestic calendar resumes, however, with successive clashes against Tottenham and Chelsea in the league, either side of a European showdown with Bayern Munich . As the Gunners look ahead to a potentially season-defining period, here's a round-up of all the latest Arsenal news.

Paul Scholes has reiterated his belief that Declan Rice isn't one of the best midfielders in the world . The Manchester United legend caused a stir earlier this month when he snubbed Rice from his 'top five' list, which included two other Premier League stars - Rodri and Alexis Mac Allister - as well as Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Vitinha.

Clarifying his position on the Stick to Football podcast , Scholes insisted he left the likes of Rice and Chelsea's Moises Caicedo off his list because he prefers midfielders who can control the tempo of games.

"I get slagged off for this, but I did a top five the other week, and because I don't put people like [Moises] Caicedo and Declan Rice, because I like a different type of midfielder," Scholes said. "I like a Vitinha at PSG , I think he's brilliant - he's amazing. I thought [Alexis] Mac Allister last year, at Liverpool , was brilliant - now he's not started great this year.

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"But I like that more, not so much attacking midfielder, but maybe that more controlling one who can do a bit of everything, not just the defensive one who just gets around it and might score the odd goal here and there, I like the more progressive type."

He added: "People say, 'You didn't have Declan Rice in your top-five,' [that's] because he's not my type of midfield player."

Myles Lewis-Skelly has slipped down the Arsenal pecking order this season but insists he's relishing the battle for the left-back spot with Riccardo Calafiori, who has started every Premier League game so far, defiantly saying: "I'm never going to back down."

The 19-year-old made a big impression last season, breaking through with a series of standout performances that suggested he was on course to become a regular for both club and country. But after managing just 85 minutes of league football in the past three months, the England youngster now faces an uphill task to force his way back into Arteta's plans.

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Despite his new, reduced role, Lewis-Skelly, who assisted Ethan Nwaneri's opener against Brighton, insists he is enjoying the challenge, describing himself as competitive and unwilling to back down, while noting the high standards in the team. "I'm enjoying it," he said. "It's a different experience for me, not playing as much at the moment, but I'm enjoying being part of the team.

"It's important to compete for places and I'm a competitive person, so I'm never going to back down. I enjoy the challenge. Being with these boys is a joy. The standards are high and everyone wants to play. Because the levels are so much higher this season, places are short, but you’ve just got to compete.

"At the end of the day, I just want to express myself. Football's what I love and I'll never make excuses if I am playing or not. I just want to go out there and express myself. As long as I'm doing that, I'm giving the gaffer a choice to make."

The Gunners might have just signed Viktor Gyokeres, but that hasn't stopped them from scouting potential additions to their forward line - whether as replacements, or partners for the Swede. One name reportedly on their radar is Levante striker Karl Etta Eyong, who has been making waves in Spain this season.

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The 22-year-old Cameroonian has drawn comparisons to Robert Lewandowski for his movement and finishing, having scored six goals in La Liga so far - a tally bettered only by Kylian Mbappe's 11.

Arsenal aren't the only club keeping tabs on him. Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also said to be monitoring Etta Eyong's progress, with Barca - in an ironic twist - viewing him as a potential successor to their own 37-year-old Lewandowski.

Mundo Deportivo reported the player has a buyout clause in his contract that's worth roughly £26.5million for La Liga clubs, while Premier League sides would have to pay around £35m.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.