Arsenal are facing competition from Real Madrid in their pursuit of Martin Zubimendi, who rejected the chance to join Liverpool last summer in order to stay at Real Sociedad

Mikel Arteta has admitted he is disappointed at Arsenal's failure to land a striker in the January transfer window as his side continues to chase Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

While Newcastle United fans scrambled for trains, tickets and hotels around London for next month’s League Cup final through blissfully blurry vision, wide-eyed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was leading his side on to an Emirates flight to Dubai for a much-needed warm weather winter training break.