Mbeumo's scare a red herring as Nwaneri and friends justify Arteta's convictions

A miserly defence and the best set-piece show in England does not a trophy-winning team make. But Arsenal showed other attributes when needed on New Year's Day

STARTING IT OFF RIGHT: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (right) celebrates with William Saliba after their side’s victory in the Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium, London. Pic: Steven Paston/PA Wire

Beforehand Thomas Frank laughed off suggestions that Arsenal, or a club of similar size and ambition, might be able to prise Bryan Mbeumo away from Brentford this month to fill, in the Gunners' case, a Bukayo Saka-sized gap on the right.

It was just Arsenal's luck, then, that the Cameroon international decided to usher in 2025 with the sort of goal Mikel Arteta's men will be missing for the foreseeable future now Saka has begun the long road to recovery from hamstring surgery.