Daily Cannon

Arsenal have been instructed to wear their away kit for this weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, a decision stemming from a colour clash deemed problematic by the Premier League and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

For the first time in 38 years, Arsenal will don their away strip at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, instead of their traditional red-and-white home kit.

The issue arises from the new Arsenal home shirt, which the Premier League and PGMOL have ruled features too much white, clashing with Tottenham’s predominantly white home kit.

Arsenal had attempted to reach a compromise by proposing to wear their red shorts and socks with the home shirt, but this solution was rejected by the authorities.

The decision is driven by the ridiculous concern that the white elements in Arsenal’s home kit could create confusion during the match, despite the fact that Tottenham’s current strip includes significant amounts of blue on the side of the shirt, sleeves and shorts.

The Arsenal home kit for the 2024/25 season includes more white than its predecessors, a design choice aimed at modernising the classic red shirt.

However, the increased white panelling has been judged sufficient to warrant a change for this fixture. This ruling means that Arsenal’s distinctive red kit will not be seen in the derby, a significant departure from tradition.

Arsenal’s away kit, which will be worn instead, is a black design created in collaboration with adidas and the British African heritage brand Labrum London. This kit has been praised for celebrating the club’s connection with the African diaspora in North London and beyond. The black away strip has already seen success, worn when Arsenal claimed victory against Aston Villa last month.

This decision not only impacts Arsenal but also has implications for Tottenham’s future fixtures. Spurs will be required to wear their away kit when they visit the Emirates Stadium in January, ensuring that the same colour clash issue is avoided.

The ruling reflects a strict approach to kit clashes, which the Premier League and PGMOL argue is necessary to prevent any potential confusion during matches. While the decision has sparked some debate among fans and pundits, who view it as overly stringent, the authorities have stood by their choice.

Arsenal’s preparations for a crucial week, beginning with the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, have been overshadowed by a series of significant injury concerns leaving the club counting the cost of the Interlull.

Manager Mikel Arteta will have to navigate these challenges as the Gunners also face Atalanta in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League, making the next few days pivotal for the club’s season.

Arsenal’s injury list has grown significantly over the international break and includes several key players whose absence could impact the team’s performance.

Kieran Tierney, recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during Euro 2024, has resumed individual training. The Scotland international has been sharing updates on his progress via social media, showing he is running on the pitch at London Colney.

Despite this positive sign, Tierney is not yet participating in full team sessions. He is expected to return by the end of September or early October, potentially in time for Arsenal’s League Cup match against Bolton on September 25.

In a more uncertain situation is Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since pre-season. Arteta indicated nearly a month ago that Tomiyasu’s recovery would take several weeks, but no specific return date has been confirmed.

The Japanese defender’s absence continues to be a concern for Arteta as the team faces a grueling schedule.

Gabriel Jesus, another crucial player for Arsenal, is making strides in his recovery from a groin injury sustained during pre-season.

There is hope that Jesus could return to action in time for the Tottenham clash on September 15, 2024. His presence would be a significant boost for Arsenal, given the critical nature of the upcoming fixtures. Despite Kai Havertz’s commendable form, Jesus’s return would provide much-needed support in Arsenal’s attacking lineup.

Midfielder Mikel Merino, who joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad, is also on the injury list with a fractured shoulder.

Merino sustained the injury in training before making his debut, and reports suggest he may be out for a minimum of six weeks. This extended absence will see Merino miss key matches, including those against Tottenham, Manchester City, and in the Champions League.

Adding to Arsenal’s defensive concerns is Riccardo Calafiori, who recently joined the team.

The 22-year-old defender suffered a calf injury while playing for Italy in their UEFA Nations League match against France. Initially, the injury was considered minor, but further evaluations revealed it to be more severe.

Calafiori has been sent back to London for further assessment, and the timeline for his return remains unclear.

Finally, captain Martin Ødegaard’s situation is also precarious. Ødegaard sustained an ankle sprain during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League win over Austria on September 9, 2024. The injury occurred after a tangle with Austrian midfielder Christoph Baumgartner.

Ødegaard was visibly emotional as he was helped off the pitch by teammate Erling Haaland. Although Norwegian team doctor Ola Sand described the injury as a small ankle sprain, Ødegaard’s availability for the upcoming derby and other fixtures is uncertain.

Then, of course, we have Declan Rice, who is suspended for teh game against Tottenham after his ridiculous red card in the final game before the break.

The Gunners’ ability to secure results in these matches will depend on how quickly injured players can return to fitness and how well the remaining squad members can step up. As it stands, Arsenal’s midfield looks set to be decimated for the game against Tottenham.

Arsenal fans will be watching closely for updates on the recovery of their key players as the team faces one of the most important weeks of the season.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been identified as two Premier League clubs that could significantly increase their revenue potential on YouTube by shifting their content strategy.

As platforms like YouTube become more central to clubs’ engagement with fans, monetisation through long-form video content is becoming increasingly important, yet both North London rivals are underperforming compared to their peers, notably Manchester City.

According to Rob Kelly, Head of Content Strategy at Little Dot Sport, while Premier League clubs have collectively garnered impressive viewership numbers, many are not capitalising on YouTube’s full revenue potential.

With clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham, and others lagging behind, there are clear opportunities to boost revenue by optimising content to meet YouTube’s evolving viewer demands.

Arsenal’s YouTube monetisation potential falls short

Arsenal, with a massive global fanbase and world-class players, has the potential to be one of the top earners on YouTube. However, they are missing out on a golden opportunity to maximise their social revenue streams.

Arsenal has posted only 21.7% of their content as videos longer than eight minutes since the start of last season, according to Kelly’s research. Long-form content is key to unlocking mid-roll advertising on YouTube, offering significantly higher CPMs and better opportunities to monetise.

Arsenal, however, has only scratched the surface of its YouTube monetisation potential, with match highlights—due to rights restrictions—often not reaching the eight-minute mark, thereby limiting ad revenue.

Tottenham also trailing behind in social revenue generation

Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in a similar position to Arsenal. With only 17.5% of their YouTube content exceeding eight minutes, Spurs are not fully capitalising on the platform’s monetisation tools, either.

Little Dot Sport’s research points to missed opportunities for both North London clubs. As Kelly notes, “YouTube’s audience has well and truly pivoted towards long-form content, with viewership on Connected TV growing from 6% in 2019 to 13% in 2023, while TV watch time has jumped even further, from 10% to 29% in the same timeframe.”

How Arsenal can catch up

Arsenal have been outperformed by clubs such as Manchester City, Liverpool, and even Newcastle United when it comes to optimising their YouTube content strategies. For instance, Manchester City not only leads the league in 8min+ videos but also capitalises on 15min+ content, which offers even more monetisation opportunities.

Liverpool’s “Inside Anfield” series and Chelsea’s “Trending” videos are given as examples of content that performs well and maximises viewer engagement, something Arsenal could emulate.

Conclusion

Arsenal’s approach to YouTube content has so far left significant revenue on the table.

To close the gap with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, the club will need to reassess their content strategies and embrace the shift towards longer-form content on YouTube, according to Kelly.

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has returned to London after being released from international duty with Italy following a minor injury scare.

The 22-year-old picked up the injury during Italy’s 3-1 victory over France in their UEFA Nations League clash last Friday, but Arsenal remain hopeful he will be fit to face Tottenham in this weekend’s North London derby.

Calafiori, who has been a standout performer for Arsenal since joining from Bologna this summer, was substituted in the 71st minute of the game after a freak incident involving Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembélé.

As Dembélé was tackled, he fell awkwardly on Calafiori’s leg, causing the Arsenal defender to feel discomfort in his right calf.

Despite the injury scare, Italy’s medical team assessed the situation as not immediately serious, but agreed to send Calafiori back to Arsenal for further treatment.

Although the Italian Football Association allowed him to return to London as a precautionary measure, Arsenal’s medical team is optimistic that the injury is not severe.

It is understood that Italy conducted an MRI scan on Calafiori following the match, which revealed no major damage, though the player was reportedly seen leaving the stadium on crutches.

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti commented on the situation after the game, saying, “Calafiori needs to be evaluated, but with our good doctors, there is a chance he can recover.”

Despite Spalletti’s positive outlook, the Italian national team decided to err on the side of caution by allowing the defender to leave before Italy’s next Nations League fixture against Israel.

Arsenal will be keen for Calafiori to recover quickly. Calafiori’s versatility and ability to operate in both defensive and attacking roles have been key assets, with Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport praising his performance against France, describing him as “among the best in Paris.”

His return to London comes at a critical time for Arsenal, who are already facing a depleted squad ahead of the high-stakes derby against Tottenham. Midfield talisman Declan Rice is unavailable due to suspension, while summer signing Mikel Merino remains sidelined with a fractured shoulder, leaving Arteta short of options.

Calafiori’s ability to seamlessly integrate into Arsenal’s system since his arrival has drawn plaudits, and the club will be desperate for him to regain fitness in time for Sunday’s showdown.

The Italian defender’s composure on the ball and tactical awareness adds much-needed balance to Arteta‘s defence.

The hope within the Arsenal camp is that Calafiori’s injury is only a minor setback, and that he will be fit to play in the derby.

Should he recover in time, his presence will be vital for an Arsenal side looking to maintain their strong start to the season and secure bragging rights over their North London rivals.

Raheem Sterling is planning to train throughout the international break to be ready to face Tottenham Hotspur on September 15th, according to a report.

Simon Collings reports for The Standard that Arsenal loanee Raheem Sterling joined training on Monday and he’s asked to train throughout the next fortnight over the international break.

Sterling was involved with Chelsea in pre-season, notably scoring against former club Manchester City in an early August friendly.

But after his 12-minute substitute appearance in a friendly against Inter Milan on August 11th, the winger didn’t play any part in Chelsea’s opening four games of the competitive campaign.

Though Sterling has been keeping fit through individual one-on-one training with former England physical performance coach Ben Rosenblatt, he effectively needs another mini-pre-season now.

The player is also planning to study Arsenal’s patterns of play over the break, and he wants to be ready to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Gunners’ first game back.

Arsenal were always Sterling’s first-choice destination, and he’s reportedly hoping to play opposite Bukayo Saka on the left. Though he can also play as a false nine or as an alternative to Saka on the right, when required.

If Sterling is ready for the Spurs game, he could be a good option. He has plenty of experience playing against Arsenal’s north London rivals, with 13 career goals and assists against them – more than he has against any other big-six club.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are both in relatively inconsistent form, and Sterling has a point to prove given the manner of his Chelsea exit.

Whether the on-loan winger starts or comes off the bench, he could make an impact.

Archie Gray is set to join Tottenham Hotspur from Leeds United, following tenuous links with interest from Arsenal.

David Ornstein of The Athletic reports that Tottenham Hotspur are nearing an agreement to sign Archie Gray from Leeds United, with the club set to pay £40m.

Joe Rodon is heading the other way for £10m, and Spurs’ view is reportedly that it’s effectively a swap deal, with Gray joining for £25-30m plus Rodon.

Leeds claim the deals are separate, as is becoming increasingly common this week. Various clubs are looking to circumvent Profit and Sustainability Rules using seemingly-inflated deals that net off against each other.

Gray has already completed his medical ahead of the Spurs move, and he’ll sign a six-year contract later on Monday.

The Rodon deal, which is definitely a completely separate transaction, is slightly holding up the unrelated Gray transfer, as Rodon is currently in Las Vegas.

This is all relevant to Arsenal because Simon Jones of the Daily Mail had claimed last week that Arsenal, Chelsea, and Spurs were all interested in Gray.

The links never got any more substantial than that, with the Mail the only outlet claiming the Gunners were interested.

Coincidentally, Arsenal already had a player called Archie Gray many years ago. Arsenal’s Gray joined the club in 1904, playing in the club’s first-ever game in the top flight and spending the next five seasons with the Gunners.

It looks like Leeds’ Gray is set to represent the other north London club instead.

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