The English Football League has criticised the “undermining” of the Carabao Cup after it was forced to compromise on the date of Crystal Palace’s quarter-final because of fixture congestion.
Palace will now face Arsenal in the last eight at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, 23 December at 20:00 GMT.
The other three quarter-finals take place the previous week but the Eagles’ commitments in the Uefa Conference League – they host Finnish club KuPS at Selhurst Park on 18 December – has left them with four games in nine days.
Palace host Manchester City on 14 December and are away to Leeds on 21 December, either side of the KuPS game.
A statement from the EFL was critical of the “expansion of European cup competitions” which it believes was “implemented without adequate consultation with domestic leagues”.
The EFL said it had “shown a willingness to compromise” but scheduling conflicts are “now entirely unavoidable”.
“To continue making endless concessions only serves to undermine the reputation of the EFL Cup,” said the statement.
“It also challenges the traditional scheduling of the English football calendar and strength of our domestic game.”
Uefa’s European calendar now stretches across 10 midweeks, rather than the six of two seasons ago, with the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League each given a standalone week for exposure.
It has caused a huge logistical headache, with the third round of the EFL Cup having to be seeded and played across two weeks to keep clubs in the Champions League and Europa League apart.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner said last week it would be “irresponsible” if the club were forced to play two games in three days.
The EFL said it shared the “frustration and concern” of managers and players concerning the congested programme which deprived clubs of the “necessary time for preparation” and ability to “field their strongest line-ups” in the EFL Cup.
Boxing Day fixtures have been a long-standing tradition in English football but this year the only Premier League game will be Manchester United’s home match with Newcastle United (20:00 GMT).
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praises Eberechi Eze’s “unbelievable technique”after he scored the only goal of a tight game against Crystal Palace to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
There is never a bad time for a striker to score, but Viktor Gyokeres’ relief was obvious as he ended a barren run with two goals in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid. It can be the start of a prolific spell, manager Mikel Arteta believes.
After three goals in his first four matches, £64m signing Gyokeres failed to find the net in Arsenal’s next seven games and looked visibly frustrated at times.
But his team-mates continued to praise his overall impact and Arteta said he gave the striker a hug after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham on Saturday in appreciation for the effort he was putting in.
The 27-year-old has had to play more than was planned at this stage of the season because of a knee injury to Kai Havertz, featuring for 90 minutes seven times in Arsenal’s opening 12 matches.
But after finding his clinical touch again in the thumping win over Atletico on Tuesday, Gyokeres’ tally now stands at five goals in 12 matches and his manager thinks the strikes were reward for his persistence.
“He deserved it because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks, there was no debate about that,” said Arteta.
“It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely.
“I think he has certainly done that today, [he had] a big smile on his face.
“Look at his team-mates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him because he fully deserves it.”
Victor Gyokeres ends drought with brace in Arsenal’s 4-0 win against Atletico, while PSG hit seven and Barcelona six.
Arsenal stormed to a third successive Champions League victory by blowing away Atletico Madrid 4-0 thanks to a devastating second-half broadside at the Emirates Stadium.
What had been a compelling clash with little between the sides in the first period on Tuesday became an Arsenal rout, with goals by Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and a brace from Viktor Gyokeres leaving Diego Simeone’s side shell-shocked.
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Shortly after Julian Alvarez hit the crossbar for the visitors, Gabriel broke the deadlock by heading in a Declan Rice free kick in the 57th minute.
Martinelli finished off a sweeping move seven minutes later, and Gyokeres then prodded his first goal of the night via a deflection as Arsenal ran riot, with the Swede ending a nine-game scoring drought for club and country.
Gyokeres then bundled in his second, as Atletico were again unable to deal with a set piece.
Victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to nine games and put them on nine points in the group phase, well on the way to qualifying for the knockout phase.
Atletico have three points and will have to dust themselves down after their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an abrupt end.
Holders PSG hit magnificent seven at Leverkusen
Paris Saint-Germain scored seven, Barcelona hit six, and Erling Haaland struck his 24th goal of the season on an action-packed night.
PSV Eindhoven routed Italian champions Napoli 6-2, while Inter Milan had a big win to maintain their own perfect starts in Europe.
It is defending champions PSG that lead the way at the top of the standings after a wild 7-2 win against Bayer Leverkusen in a match that saw both teams reduced to 10 men.
Barcelona’s 6-1 win against Olympiakos saw them bounce back from a loss to PSG at the start of the month.
Last season’s finalists Inter beat Union Saint-Gilloise by the same score.
Haaland’s goal helped Manchester City to a 2-0 win at Villarreal.
Fermin Lopez hat-trick and Rashford brace for Barcelona
Fermin Lopez scored a hat-trick and Marcus Rashford hit two goals as Barcelona ran riot.
Barca took full advantage when the Greek champions went down to 10 men after a contentious red card for Santiago Hezze in the second half, scoring four goals to complete the rout.
It was Lopez’s first hat-trick of his career, with Lamine Yamal also on the scoresheet from the penalty spot.
Olympiakos had no answer when Hezze was shown a second yellow card in the 57th minute, despite replays appearing to show he did not make contact with Marc Casado, who was trying to pull him back.
Just three minutes earlier, the visitors had got back into the game at 2-1 after Ayoub El Kaabi’s penalty.
Two clinical finishes from Lopez had given Barcelona a 2-0 half-time lead. Then, with the extra man, the Spanish champions overwhelmed Olympiakos with four goals in 11 minutes – starting with Yamal’s spot kick.
Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, now has four goals in three games in the Champions League this season.
Kazakh team Kairat picked up their first point in European football’s elite club competition with a 0-0 draw against Pafos.
Arsenal, who host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday (20:00 BST), have changed their style this season to be more direct and play through defensive lines quicker, which has meant Rice moving deeper alongside Zubimendi when starting attacks.
A recruitment specialist working in top level football told BBC Sport how the signing of Zubimendi has complemented Rice’s game.
He said: “It hasn’t changed what he can do as he has done it before, but it [Zubimendi’s arrival] has given him more ability to be an all-rounder.
“He already had the ability to contribute in the holding game but now he is able to excel in attacking phases.
“His ability to take the ball on the half-turn allows his first touch to be always forward when he receives it.
“The attacking role hasn’t phased him. He has grasped it really well and you can tell it’s something he’s always had.”
Rice already has three assists and one goal in his 11 games for Arsenal this season.
For his goal against West Ham, Rice arrived late into the box to meet a bouncing ball and finish well to score Arsenal’s opener in their 2-0 win.
And the recruitment specialist believes Rice, though known for his running ability, does not get the plaudits he deserves.
“A lot of people don’t really give him the credit he is due for his athleticism,” he said. “He is extremely athletic and a good mover.
“He has the freedom to create in the attacking area of the pitch, he is excellent in holding, he is such a fluent player and performs with the freedom he has been given.
“A good player, good passing, but can also be gritty and break up play. He is a commanding midfield player.
“I like the fact that he can dictate the tempo of the game. Really good precision in his actions. He has transitioned seamlessly to a box-to-box player.”
Arsenal overcame a fierce test at struggling Fulham to squeeze a 1-0 win that maintained their lead at the top of the Premier League, which had been threatened earlier in the day by Manchester City.
Leandro Trossard’s 58th-minute tap-in turned a game that had seen Fulham, now on a three-match losing streak, dominate the first half at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
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Manchester City had climbed to the top of the table with a 2-0 win at home to Everton, prior to the Gunners’ late kickoff in the London derby in the west of the capital.
The result moves Arsenal three points clear at the top, although defending champions Liverpool can cut that to just a point if they beat Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
Fulham, who had lost at Aston Villa and Bournemouth, prior to the international break, enjoyed the better of the early chances with Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson both dragging efforts that should have heavily tested the keeper.
Arsenal, in contrast, enjoyed some nice spells in possession, but failed to test their former keeper Bernd Leno, in Fulham’s goal, in the opening 30 minutes.
Instead, it was the openings Fulham continued to find that nearly upset the odds when Tom Cairney found room from a corner and rifled a drive back across the face, but there were too many bodies in the way, allowing Arsenal to block the goal-bound effort.
The first moment of note came for record-signing Victor Gyokeres, who had endured a painfully slow start due to a lack of service. The Swedish striker found space in the box, but at a tight angle and his low drive was comfortably parried clear.
The best moment was the final kick off the half when Declan Rice struck a trademark drive from range, but the curl from his instep took the ball just wide of the post with Leno cemented to the spot.
Bukayo Saka nearly opened up Fulham immediately at the start of the second period as he shimmied in from the right and stabbed the ball towards goal. Sander Berge stuck out a leg at the ball and nearly deflected it into his own net, but for a Fulham bundle on the line swinging the danger away.
It wasn’t long until the breakthrough came, though, as Gabriel rose highest to flick Saka’s corner to the back post where Trossard turned in with his thigh.
Saka nearly doubled the lead moments later with a low drive, which Leno did well to turn wide, while the England man also had a penalty awarded and overturned after VAR asked Anthony Taylor to review his decision after substitute Kevin clearly played the ball first.
Despite the respite, Fulham were not able to muster the challenge in the second half that they had in the first period.
Man City eye return to the top of the Premier League
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland kept up his torrid scoring pace with two goals in five second-half minutes early on Saturday, which lifted City provisionally top of the table with victory over Everton.
Pep Guardiola’s men moved to 16 points after eight games, dropping Arsenal and Liverpool to second and third, respectively. Everton dropped to 10th on 11 points.
The 25-year-old Haaland – who scored in an 11th consecutive game for club and country for a season total of 23 goals – broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when he leapt to head home Nico O’Reilly’s cross from the left.
The Norwegian doubled City’s lead five minutes later when he latched onto Savinho’s cross and struck a blistering left-foot shot from the middle of the box that was slightly deflected by Everton’s James Tarkowski past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Haaland was hungry to complete a hat-trick, with three brilliant chances in the dying minutes, with Pickford racing out to save two of them with his legs. Haaland took the ball around Pickford on the third, but his looping shot from an impossibly tight angle dropped wide of the net.
Haaland shook his head in frustration, while the crowd chanted “Haaland! Haaland!” for his efforts.
City’s Phil Foden hailed Haaland for breaking the deadlock, calling the moment “very important”.
“We know he’s got that quality to time his runs to perfection and be in the right position. If they mark him out of the game, he is still capable of scoring, and we know he only needs one chance to score.
“He remained very patient; there wasn’t a lot of space for him today. And as you can see, he is always there for us at the right times; that is the sign of a world-class striker.”
There was no emotional homecoming for Everton winger Jack Grealish, who was ineligible to face his parent club. A TV camera showed Grealish at the game, but the absence of the league’s joint assist leader was a gaping hole for David Moyes’s team.
City, who thoroughly dominated in the second half, had 19 shots to Everton’s five, and seven on target to the visitors’ one.
Everton squandered a handful of chances. Early in the game, Iliman Ndiaye raced down the right side before sending a cross to Beto, who slid to just get his foot on the ball but poked it wide.
City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma tipped a long shot from Ndiaye over the bar later in the first half.
Who: Fulham vs Arsenal What: English Premier League Where: Craven Cottage in London, United Kingdom When: Saturday, October 18, at 5:30pm (16:30 GMT) How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 2:30pm (13:30 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.
Premier League leaders Arsenal will be the heavy favourites when they travel to Fulham on Saturday, but London derbies usually give the underdogs more than a fighting chance, as former Gunners manager Arsene Wenger always used to bemoan.
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The Gunners, who have finished second in the table for the last three seasons, have not won the league since Wenger’s era. Fulham, meanwhile, have hit a blip and languish in 14th position.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at a game where the west Londoners will hope to upset the formbook against their north London visitors.
How have Arsenal fared this season?
Arsenal opened their season with an unconvincing 1-0 win at a surprisingly dominant Manchester United, and have rarely looked back. The Gunners have won eight of their 10 matches in all competitions this season; the only times they have failed to win in the league were the narrowest of 1-0 defeats at defending champions Liverpool and a 1-1 home draw with Manchester City, although that did require a 90th-minute leveller from Gabriel Martinelli.
The Gunners are yet to concede more than one goal in a game this season, and have only conceded twice in their last seven games. At the other end, 20 goals have been scored in their 10 games.
How have Fulham fared this season?
After a bright start, the west Londoners have suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League. One defeat and four wins in their seven games so far, continued the feel-good factor that manager Marco Silva has brought to the Cottagers. Two of the four wins this season have come in the League Cup, but back-to-back league wins, either side of the latest cup win, had appeared to kickstart Fulham’s season.
Both recent defeats, by Aston Villa and Bournemouth, did come on the road, and Fulham remain unbeaten in five matches on home soil this season, where they have only dropped points once – and that after a fine second-half display against Manchester United in their first home game of the campaign.
When did Arsenal last win the Premier League?
The Gunners last lifted the Premier League trophy in 2004 when Wenger’s side were dubbed the “Invincibles” as they went unbeaten through the English top-flight season.
How many times have Arsenal won the Premier League?
The Gunners have lifted the league title in England on 13 occasions, with their first top-flight trophy coming in 1931. They would go on to win the title three times in the four seasons that followed. Wenger’s era was the most successful thereafter, with the Premier League trophy lifted in 1998, 2002 and 2004.
Premier League action returns this week 🤩@Arsenal are currently on top of the table, for the first time since April 2024 📈 pic.twitter.com/02Tkxse4Aq
Fulham have never lifted the English top-flight title and are one of a limited number of teams in the two top divisions in England to have never lifted a major trophy. The highest domestic title the Cottagers have claimed is the second-tier title, which has been won on three occasions – the last being in 2022. Fulham have also been runners-up in the FA Cup and UEFA Europa League in 1975 and 2010, respectively.
What happened the last time Fulham played Arsenal?
Title-chasing Arsenal beat Fulham 2-1 at Emirates Stadium in the Premier League in April in the last meeting between the clubs. Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka gave the Gunners a two-goal lead before Rodrigo Muniz’s 90th-minute strike set up a nervy finish.
What happened in the corresponding fixture between Fulham and Arsenal last season?
The Premier League game at Craven Cottage last season ended in a 1-1 draw in December. Raul Jimenez gave the home side the lead in the 11th minute, but William Saliba cancelled that out seven minutes into the second half of a game short on chances but heavily dominated by the Gunners’ possession of the ball.
Head-to-head
This is the 66th meeting between the Londoners, with Arsenal winning on 43 occasions and Fulham emerging victorious nine times.
Fulham’s last win against Arsenal came at Craven Cottage in December 2023, with Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid turning the game in the home side’s favour after an early strike from Bukayo Saka.
It was the second Premier League meeting between the teams that season, with the reverse fixture ending 2-2 in north London.
It also marked Fulham’s first win in 12 matches against the Gunners.
Fulham team news
Midfielder Sasa Lukic has been an ever-present for Fulham in the Premier League this season, but picked up an adductor injury in the Cottagers’ final match before the international break.
The Serbian international is likely to be out for at least two more weeks and joins Kenny Tete and Rodrigo Muniz on the sidelines, the latter pair having knee and hamstring problems, respectively.
Raul Jimenez missed the defeat at Bournemouth before the break after sustaining an injury in the defeat at Villa, and the striker is a doubt for the visit of Arsenal. Samuel Chukwueze also picked up a knock in Nigeria’s win against Benin on Tuesday, but the extent of the injury is not yet fully known.
Arsenal team news
Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with a knee injury, but it is hoped the playmaker may return to face Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke are both also expected to return from knee injuries for that game, but the Fulham match comes too soon.
Gabriel Jesus could be back before the turn of the year – he, too, has a knee problem; Ben White is a minor doubt after missing training on Thursday. Piero Hincapie is expected to return from a knock.
Wilshere briefly returned to Luton in 2021, being invited to train at the club by then boss Nathan Jones after he had left West Ham.
He says it was around this time that he started considering a move into coaching.
And Wilshere took advice from current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta before taking a managerial job.
“About a year ago I asked Mikel when he knew he was ready,” Wilshere said at his news conference on Monday.
“He laughed and said ‘you just have to jump in and swim as hard as you can’.
“He’s done that really well and this feels a little similar. It’s a different level but Arsenal wasn’t a nice place when Mikel went in.
“The fans weren’t sure what was happening and he built complete unity and trust in what he was doing.”
Yet it was clear to some Wilshere was going to become a manager much earlier in his career.
“You could see the way his brain works, what he sees on the football pitch, how he wants to play the game and change things,” said Paul Robinson, who played with Wilshere when he was on loan at Bolton in 2010.
“You could always see that he would go into [management] and the coaching side eventually.”
Robinson added: “You [can see the] players who could go on and be good coaches, they understand the game, and they can change the game quickly with a different formation or moving players to a different position…
“With Jack, he was always that type of guy. He understood it. He always wanted to talk about different things.
“He was a young player and he always demanded things of you, like he was a senior player. He would always dictate things on a football pitch and make me see the game differently as well.”
Following the tragedy, the FA insisted that it would carry out a safety review of perimeter walls in the National League.
But officials at Wingate and Finchley have already made steps to increase safety around the pitch at the Maurice Rebak Stadium.
The Daily Mail has reported that work has been commissioned to make improvements.
The ground did comply with current regulations, but the club has now demolished the wall completely.
It follows on from a petition calling on brick walls around pitches to be banned reached over 4,000 signatures.
On the immediate review, a FA spokesperson said: “[It woudl] include looking at ways we can assist National League system clubs to identify and implement additional measures at their stadiums that they determine will help to mitigate any potential safety risks.”
Billy Vigar dead: Ex-Arsenal star dies aged just 21 after suffering ‘significant brain injury’ hitting head during match
Meanwhile, the PFA called for an investigation and demanded that players should “not be put at unnecessary and avoidable risk”.
Vigar, from Worthing, West Sussex, spent his youth career with Arsenal after joining at age 14 and signed a professional contract in July 2022.
He worked his way up to the U21 team in North London, alongside loan spells with Derby County U21 and Eastbourne.
He left the club permanently in 2024 after being unable to progress to the senior team, joining Hastings United in the Non-League Premier before his move to Chichester.
Full statement from Arsenal
Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is deeply sorry to hear of the tragic passing of Chichester City forward and former Arsenal academy player, Billy Vigar.
Billy joined our academy on schoolboy terms aged 14, after being scouted at his hometown club Hove Rivervale FC and excelled as a striker at Hale End, scoring 17 goals in his debut season.
In 2020, his performances earned him a scholarship and joined us full-time for the 2020/21 season, his intake including current players Charles Sagoe Jr, Remy Mitchell and others such as Omari Hutchinson, Charlie Patino and Brook Norton-Cuffy.
Quick, powerful and fiercely determined, his first season as a scholar was blighted by a serious hamstring injury, but he made up for it in his second, scoring four goals in 18 under-18 appearances and signed professional terms for the club at the end of that 2021/22 season.
Billy went on to appear for us in the PL2 and EFL Trophy and proved to be an asset across the forward positions and even deputised in defence – his versatility illustrating his commitment to the coaching staff and his team.
He enjoyed loan spells at Derby County and Eastbourne Borough and at the end of the 2023/24 season, headed back to his native south coast, signing for Hastings United – prior to a move to Chichester just last month.
As well as his significant talent, Billy will always be remembered for his love of the game, pride at representing our football club – he once called the day he was spotted by our scouts as ’the most Important of his life’ – and a character beloved by teammates and coaches alike.
Our deepest condolences go out to the Vigar family and his many friends at this extremely difficult time.
The fact it appears to be isolated errors which are proving costly gives Arsenal some hope that there is a clear path to reviving their campaign.
Captain Kim Little said after the match that the team “cannot always be perfect all of the time”.
“We’re in a lower space just now with the current form, but we’ll come back stronger. We go into our league fixture at the weekend for a big three points,” Little told Disney+.
Understandably, Slegers said her side are “not happy” with their form, but their experience which led to winning this competition last year gives them reason to remain positive.
They lacked a cutting edge in attack and only managed half as many shots as Lyon, but they also lost 2-1 to the French side in the first leg of the semi-final in this competition last year and bounced back to win the second game 4-1 in France.
There is no second leg this time, with this a group phase game, but Arsenal will look to rebound all the same at the first opportunity.
“The important thing is that we manage it really well and we give direction moving forward and stand strong,” said Slegers. “The positive thing is that we have strong foundation in a cultural perspective and a football perspective.
“We need to keep on believing in that philosophy and it gave us a lot last year. When it starts clicking, we know how good we are.”
Should they fail to beat Brighton in the league on Sunday (14:30 BST), they will have gone a month without a win.
“I think there’s lots to it,” Russo said of Arsenal’s slump. “I think, first and foremost, we need to look at ourselves and how we can push our standards. We’re sometimes letting teams get attacks on us by our own mistakes.
“We need to take accountability, we need to focus on what we can do to control that from everyone. It’s all across the pitch. There’s moments in that that were really positive so we’ll lean on that and get ready for Sunday.”
It was at the start of the game where Arsenal were at their best, getting an early goal and showing their attacking qualities, but they could not sustain it.
“In the first 20-25 minutes, they started the game [well], the goal that they scored… but it is fine margins,” added Smith. “And if you make a couple of errors against a top-quality side like Lyon, then they will punish you.
“In the final third, they just needed to be a bit better, more clinical. But certainly positives to take.”
Estevao struck in added time for Chelsea to inflict a third straight defeat on Premier League champion Liverpool.
The Brazilian slid in at the far post to seal a 2-1 win for the Blues that sparked wild celebrations after a thrilling clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
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The teenager’s first goal since his move from Palmeiras ensured Liverpool goes into the international break having been knocked off the top of the standings.
Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo had given his side a half-time lead following a fierce drive from outside the box, but Cody Gapko levelled.
“Last season, we lost against Chelsea as well. Stamford Bridge is always difficult [to play at]. We were very close to a result. [It’s all about] Small margins,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot said.
The Dutchman also went on to reflect on the defeats at Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday and at Crystal Palace last weekend.
“As I said at Galatasaray, we had a one-vs-one, then they get a penalty,” he said. “We conceded in extra, extra time against Palace. And then today, they score a goal that could go at either end.”
Arsenal claimed first place, a point ahead of Liverpool, after beating West Ham 2-0 earlier in the day.
Manchester United also secured a crucial victory as they won against Sunderland 2-0.
Relief for Manchester United manager Amorim
Ruben Amorim rang the changes and the Manchester United manager got the result he desperately needed.
United’s win may quieten the mounting speculation over Amorim’s position, even if only temporarily. He has still to lead United to back-to-back victories in the league after almost a year in charge, but this was a step in the right direction.
“Of course, it’s really important to win games and have a better feeling, but we need to forget this game and go for the next one,” he said.
Amorim showed his ruthless side by dropping $84m summer signing Matheus Cunha and handing a first start to new goalkeeper Senne Lammens in a game that was seen as another potential stumbling block after losing three of their opening six league matches.
Those decisions paid off with first-half goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko at Old Trafford and a first clean sheet of the season.
This was only Amorim’s 10th win from 34 league games and going into Saturday’s match, he accepted it would be “impossible” to continue in the job if results did not turn.
Which is why victory against Sunderland was crucial in a week when he was criticised by United greats Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville, and before the international break, which has traditionally been a convenient time to make managerial changes.
“There’s always a lot of pressure, especially in a club like this, but we always try to take it in a positive way,” said Sesko, who scored for the second game running after his move from RB Leipzig worth up to $99m. “We did it, and we showed once again that we can play well, that we can win games.”
Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, embraces William Saliba of Arsenal after the team’s victory in the Premier League match [Julian Finney/Getty Images]
Arsenal on a roll
That is four wins in row for Arsenal.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, from the penalty spot, inflicted a first defeat on new West Ham coach Nuno Espirito Santo in Arteta’s 300th game in charge.
“I wanted to celebrate it with a win, I’ve got it,” Arteta said.
After a daunting start to the campaign, Arsenal was back in the title hunt following three seasons as runner-up.
Saka, who scored on his 200th appearance for the club, is convinced Arteta will deliver trophies.
“We’ve had some tough games, particularly away. We are in a strong place in the Premier League and looking forward to coming back and pushing on,” he told the BBC. “Mikel has very much improved my game. I am very grateful to have him as my coach. He will bring this club success and [I’m] looking forward to when that day comes.”
But victory came at a cost after another injury to captain Martin Odegaard.
Kudus gets off the mark for Tottenham
Mohammed Kudus scored his first Tottenham goal to keep Thomas Frank’s team riding high.
Kudus’ second-half strike from the edge of the box secured a 2-1 win at Leeds to move Spurs up to third.
Spurs were unbeaten in their last seven games in all competitions and have lost just once in the league under Frank, who took charge during the off-season.
Kudus was one of Frank’s big signings in the offseason — joining from West Ham — and the forward produced the decisive moment at Elland Road, where he cut in from the right and fired low past Karl Darlow in the 57th minute.
Spurs led through Mathys Tel, whose deflected shot rocketed into the top corner.
Leeds, which was unbeaten at home since February, equalised through Noah Okafor from close range in the 34th.
WE’VE identified five intriguing talking points ahead of Gameweek 7.
We encourage you to notice, observe and scrutinise these points of interest — full immersion in Dream Team is the best way to climb the leaderboard!
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First out the gateCredit: Getty
Cherry Picking
The first thing that demands your attention in Gameweek 7 is the deadline.
Bournemouth v Fulham is scheduled to kick-off at 8pm on Friday night, which means the deadline is 6:30pm — don’t wait until Saturday morning.
It’ll be all eyes on Antoine Semenyo (£4.8m) once the game gets underway as the Ghana international features in over a quarter of teams.
He ranks fourth among midfielders at the time of writing having amassed 52 points from seven outings.
The only downside to owning Semenyo is his limited schedule as the Cherries do not have European commitments and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup early doors.
However, that’s not relevant right now as Gameweek 7 simply consists of a full round of Premier League games.
Semenyo will always come to the fore when every club has the same number of fixtures to fulfil.
Stat Padding
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It’s a numbers gameCredit: Getty
The Saturday lunchtime fixture sees Tottenham visit Leeds, who haven’t lost at home in well over a year.
Thomas Frank will hope the early kick-off time will negate the Elland Road atmosphere, which seems to have drawn out below-par performances from Everton, Newcastle and Bournemouth this season.
Anton Stach (£2.9m) and Sean Longstaff (£2.7m) have produced unexpected mega hauls in recent weeks but Dream Team managers will be more focused on Mohammed Kudus (£4.9m), the fourth-most selected midfielder in the game.
The mercurial 25-year-old is leading the way for both successful dribbles (33) and accurate crosses (18) among all players, an indication of his influence and, more importantly, a consistent supply of bonus points.
Kudus has racked up 45 points but he’s not the best Spurs midfield right now, that honour belongs to Joao Palhinha (£3.7m) on 49 points.
Everyone expected the Portuguese loanee to rack up tackles – only Moises Caicedo (£4.7m) has made more challenges – but he’s been surprisingly effective in final third so far with three goals to his name.
Whether his attacking output is sustainable remains to be seen.
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Arsenal’s tricky run may be at an endCredit: Reuters
Arsenal assets should be at the forefront of your mind now their difficult run of fixtures is seemingly at an end.
The Gunners have already been to Old Trafford, Anfield and St James’ Park, not to mention a home game against Manchester City, but the schedule flips in their favour now with an appealing string of match-ups until the November international break.
Mikel Arteta’s side are due to face West Ham (h), Fulham (a), Atletico Madrid (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (h), Burnley (a), Slavia Prague (a) and Sunderland (a) over the next five Gameweeks.
It’s notable that the hardest opponents of that bunch (Atletico and Palace) are both home games.
If you’ve resisted Arsenal players until now because of their tricky fixtures, consider this a turning point.
Backers of David Raya (£4.8m) and the first-choice defenders will be particularly hopeful of substantial points this autumn.
Cue Jarrod Bowen (£5.2m), boosted by Nuno Espirito Santo’s new manager bounce, playing the role of party pooper on Saturday.
The Hammers’ talisman ranks third among forwards at present, a mighty effort without European fixtures.
Mo Problems
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Write him off at your perilCredit: Getty
At the time writing, Mohamed Salah (£7.3m) is the third-most transferred-out player ahead of Gameweek 7.
It’s extremely rare that the Egyptian superstar suffers a significant dip in popularity when fully fit and available.
He mustered just four points in Gameweek 6, worlds away from the massive haul achieved by a certain Norwegian poacher, but he remains the second-best performer among players in his position.
Given Salah’s history, might everything be set up for a statement performance at Stamford Bridge this weekend?
The Blues haven’t won in the league since August and with absentees in defence, they may find it hard to resist Arne Slot’s troops.
Alisson (£4.1m) is unlikely to recover before the weekend and so Giorgi Mamardashvili (£3.5m) is expected to start between the sticks for Liverpool.
Salah has registered nine goal involvements in 15 league meetings with Chelsea.
Wouldn’t it be typical of him to take revenge on the swarm of gaffers who have ditched him this week?
Best for Last
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CenturionCredit: Getty
We’ve skirted around the issue but it’s time to address the elephant in the room that is Erling Haaland’s (£7.7m) otherworldly form.
After just six Gameweeks, the relentless striker has 105 points to his name and a lead of 41 over his closest rival.
A brace against Monaco in the week took his goal tally for the season to 11 — nobody else has scored more than five.
Haaland will take to the stage last in Gameweek 7 as Man City’s trip to Brentford is the late kick-off on Sunday.
And who would bet against another double-digit return?
The Bees are 13th in the table but their underlying numbers are a concern.
Only Burnley have conceded more shots than Brentford while Keith Andrews’ mob rank dead last for shots taken.
Igor Thiago (£3.3m) and company have the capacity to make life difficult for their opponents but Pep Guardiola will expect one-way traffic in his favour at the Gtech.
The captaincy conversation is a non-starter, it’s Haaland and anyone that sees it differently is playing with fire.
*18+ New UK customers. Bet £10 on accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0). Get 4x £5 Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
Starting against Olympiacos, Odegaard dictated play alongside Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino and, as well as providing chances, he was denied a goal by a superb Konstantinos Tzolakis save and follow-up block by defender Panagiotis Retsos.
“He has all the licence in the world to go forward,” said Arteta. “And to play with that freedom and with that level of play, level of threat.
“Not only with the passes; the way he was taking the ball and carrying the ball and making runs and arriving in dangerous areas.
“He put three people through to score a goal, he should have scored a goal as well. Great to have him back, he played some very good minutes in Newcastle to help us win the game and I think [here] he was phenomenal.”
Arsenal have changed their style of play this season, adopting a more direct approach to get the most out of their new signings and particularly striker Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swede’s strong burst into the box ended with Tzolakis pushing the finish on to the post and Martinelli tapped in the rebound for the 12th-minute opener.
It followed a pass from Odegaard, who said: “That is what I want to do, especially with those forward players, especially with Viktor who is so aggressive and always a threat.
“That is my job, to create things for them. I could have had a few more assists, but we got the win and I enjoyed it.”
ARSENAL continued their impressive start to the season with a professional 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League.
Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Buakyo Saka at polar ends of the game ensured the Gunners made it two wins from two in Europe.
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Gabriel Martinelli sent Arsenal on their way to a victory over OlympiacosCredit: Getty
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Bukayo Saka added a second in injury timeCredit: AFP
Martinelli made the most of some fortune after just 12 minutes as he tapped in the ball following a rebound off the post which presented itself to him basically on the line.
The Greek visitors threatened to create their own odyssey in north London as they forced David Raya into an excellent save at full stretch.
But super sub Saka proved to be their Achilles’ heel as he squeezed a second goal through the legs of Konstantinos Tzolakis in injury time.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners at the Emirates.
DAVID RAYA – 8/10
Another Champions League wonder save for the collection, tipping over brilliantly from Daniel Podence’s curled volley from 10 yards out in the first half.
Also made two lightning-fast reaction stops after the break. He barely has to do anything, but when called upon he never lets you down. Surely he needs to be considered one of Europe’s very best?
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 7
Looked like a man with a point to prove and did so with a confident performance for a teenager who has been forced to watch from the sidelines for most of this term with Riccardo Calafiori preferred at left-back.
At 18, he already looks so at home on the European stage. Arteta will have a selection headache on his hands for this weekend.
Has been in the spotlight after signing a new five-year deal, but had a few nervy moments at the back letting long balls bounce, putting the back four under pressure.
Yet as he always does, the Frenchman recovered well.
Arsenal’s William Saliba snubs Real Madrid to sign huge five year contract
GABRIEL – 6
Not troubled much but was almost caught out with a looping cross that saw Olympiacos level only to be saved by the offside flag.
BEN WHITE – 5
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Ben White was berated by Mikel Arteta at one stage of the matchCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Received a rollocking from Arteta when taking a throw-in about his positioning and movement on the ball, and the Englishman gave some back in a worrying exchange.
This was a chance to try and usurp Timber as Arteta’s first-choice right-back, but he just looks off the pace and is reliant on right-side pal Saka to look good in attack.
At this rate, White will not be winning back his starting jersey any time soon.
MARTIN ZUBIMENDI – 7
He may be small, and a pest, but his influence is mighty. There is a reason Arteta barely ever rests him.
Tough in the tackle, accurate on the ball and the middle-man between defence and attack, giving Odegaard license to roam and dictate wherever he pleases.
It’s been said before, but he will turn out to be one of Arteta’s most important signings in his Arsenal tenure.
MIKEL MERINO – 6
Some good moments on and off the ball, adding a bit of bite to midfield, but also some moments where his final pass or attacking intent could have been better.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 9
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Martin Odegaard is getting his groove back after injury problemsCredit: Reuters
Has his zip back, constantly creating in dangerous areas and covering every blade of grass with a purpose.
So unlucky not to double Arsenal’s lead inside the final 10 minutes and then picked up an assist for Saka in stoppage time.
Some more minutes in the tank after his shoulder issues is good to see as Arteta tries to get him back to the form that saw him notch goals and assists for fun in recent years.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 8
After shining off the bench for the majority of the season – starting just three times so far – he got his chance from the off to prove he can be the main man.
It did not start brilliantly, nodding a header wide unmarked from a few yards out before finding the net with an even easier chance that came off the post.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 7
Lively down the left. Looks to be enjoying getting more regular game time in an Arsenal shirt, and is becoming more and more useful to Arteta as he tries to rotate his talented squad much more than he usually does.
Wasted a few openings in the second half.
VIKTOR GYOKERES – 6
He continues to do the dirty work with little reward, bumping off two Olympiacos defenders and seeing his shot go through the keeper and onto the base of the post before Martinelli snatched the spoils.
Wasted several chances in front of goal but his link-up play has much improved since he first joined. The goals will surely start flowing soon…
SUBS:
DECLAN RICE (MERINO, 58) – 6
A few nice deliveries from set-pieces but booked for a silly studs-up challenge. Brought on purely to see out the win, and he did that comfortably.
JURRIEN TIMBER (WHITE, 58) – 6
One of Arteta’s most trusted players. Exudes calmness whenever he is on the pitch.
BUKAYO SAKA (TROSSARD, 72) – 8
An instant threat and his driving run and cross should have led to Arsenal’s second before doing just that with a drilled strike through the legs of the keeper
EBERECHI EZE (MARTINELLI, 72) – 6
A few nice touches, but also a few stray passes. Spent most of his time tracking back as Arsenal held on late into the game.
MOSQUERA (GABRIEL, 74) – 6
Was put under a lot of pressure with Olympiacos sending cross after cross into the box with time ticking away, but dealt with it well.
He needed that after his mistake at St James’ Park led to Newcastle taking the lead, and also led to him being hooked at half time.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Germany is the latest country to announce plans for a missile-toting new class of uncrewed vessels that will serve as arsenal ship ‘wingmen,’ supporting conventional surface combatants. The Large Remote Missile Vessels (LRMV) are part of the German Navy’s modernization drive and may be especially relevant to help offset limitations in the firepower of some of its other warships, an issue we have discussed in the past.
A highly provisional diagram shows the F127 frigate (top) and the LRMV (below). German Navy
The plan to procure three LRMVs is outlined in the German Navy’s Kurs Marinedocument, which outlines the fleet that it wants to operate by 2035. While the LRMVs will serve as arsenal ships to supplement the new class of F127 frigates, the German Navy also wants to buy 18 smaller uncrewed surface vessels, known as Future Combat Surface Systems (FCSS), to supplement its corvettes, and at least 12 Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (LUUV) to support its submarines.
Concept for a new uncrewed underwater vessel published in the Kurs Marine document. German Navy
The most striking development, however, concerns the LRMV, which is planned from the outset for uncrewed operations, although presumably they could also be used in an optionally crewed capacity.
It’s not exactly clear what kind of size the LRMVs will be. Presuming a diagram published in the Kurs Marine document is fairly accurate, they would be around half the length of the F127 frigate, which would make them around 260 feet long, roughly corvette-sized. However, according to the German defense and security website hartpunkt, citing naval insiders, the dimensions and displacement of the vessels hadn’t been determined, so not too much should be read into the diagram.
The planned German Navy fleet of 2035, with six F127 frigates and three LRMVs. German Navy
Clearer is the role that the LRMVs will undertake, essentially as floating missile platforms that can bolster the magazine capacity of the planned six F127 frigates, in particular. The arsenal ships will be equipped with vertical launchers for different missiles, to support the F127’s air defense and maritime strike taskings. The number of launch containers is also not yet finalized, hartpunkt reports. Meanwhile, the F127 is expected to feature 64 cells, as part of the popular Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS).
Concept artwork of the forthcoming F127 frigate. TKMS
The VLS cells in the LRMV will likely be loaded with the same weapons that arm the F127 frigate: Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) for general-area air defense and RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) for short-/medium-range air defense. They could also possibly field SM-6 for long-range air and missile defense, as well as strike, and Tomahawk cruise missiles for longer range strike. SM-6 and Tomahawk would require longer “strike length” VLS cells. The preliminary artwork in the Kurs Marine document shows an array of vertical launchers mounted, at least partly, above the deck at the rear of the ship. However, this should be considered highly provisional.
The German government is currently reviewing a plan to buy the Tomahawk, which would place it in an elite operators’ club. Other options could include the 3SM Tyrfing supersonic cruise naval missile currently being developed by Germany and Norway, and potentially even the new “deep precision strike” weapon, a missile with a range of over 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) that Germany and the United Kingdom are working on.
In its air defense role, the ‘parent’ frigate would be responsible for target detection and targeting, commanding missile launches from the smaller LRMV, which will effectively serve as additional floating magazine capacity. This also means the LRMV doesn’t need to accommodate its own expensive sensors. Alternatively, another surface vessel could provide the data, or it could be received from any other platform, with data relayed via satellite link.
Reportedly, the LRMV would also carry some limited self-defense armament, which would presumably have to be controlled from another (crewed) platform.
While seen as a ‘wingman’ to the F127 frigate, it could also complement the anti-submarine-warfare-optimized F126 class of frigates. As we have discussed before, these warships are comparatively lightly armed for their size, with a Mk 41 VLS for up to 64 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 missiles, and launchers for eight Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles (NSM), but no current plans to arm them with Standard Missiles or Tomahawk.
The LRMV makes an interesting parallel with the two new support vessels planned for the Royal Netherlands Navy. These ships will be around 174 feet long and will displace around 600 tons, including containerized weapons and sensors for a variety of different missions, and a relatively tiny crew. Like the German design, the Dutch support vessels will bring additional air defense missiles to help existing Dutch frigates.
The new support vessel design planned for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Dutch Ministry of Defense
As well as being entirely uncrewed, the LRMV is also intended to operate in very different conditions. While the Dutch support vessel is optimized for use in the North Sea and for patrol duties, the LRMV will be an ocean-going design that can serve in the Atlantic. The German ships will need to have much more robust seaworthiness and will likely need to be considerably larger.
Key German Navy operating areas, including likely Russian attack routes. German Navy
On the other hand, the operating concept for the LRMV foresees them loitering in a specific sea area for an extended period, so they won’t necessarily have to have the same level of performance as the F127 frigate, or an equivalent surface combatant.
While the shipbuilding phase for the LRMV is not necessarily a significant challenge, Germany will still need to develop resilient and reliable command and communications to ensure the ships can operate safely in a potentially highly contested environment. Experience with the Future Combat Surface System (FCSS) program, for a more modest arsenal ship, should help in this regard. Having a lower-cost supplement to the F127 class is also a key consideration, with the new frigates being the most expensive current German defense procurement, with a program cost of more than $30 billion for all six ships.
The German Navy order of battle up to 2035, showing the split between crewed and uncrewed platforms. German Navy
Overall, Germany’s plans for the LRMV reflect a growing interest in support vessels with an arsenal ship role. These tend to be either uncrewed or with very small crews, and they are indicative of the current operational realities, in which conventional ships threaten to be overwhelmed by massed missile and drone attacks.
The need to boost naval air defense coverage, in particular, has been made clear by the campaign against Houthi missiles and drones targeting shipping in the Middle East in recent months, as well as Iran’s unprecedented, massed attack on Israel, using the same kinds of weapons. In particular, the limited stock of air defense missiles found on most warships has emerged as a concern, and one that the support vessels will help address. Developments elsewhere in the world, including in China, suggest that swarming drones as well as ever more capable missiles will be a feature of naval warfare from now on.
These same concerns are seeing interest in the United States and other countries in large uncrewed surface vessels with modular weapons payloads, allowing them to be adapted for a range of missions as required. While it’s unclear what kind of modularity the LRMV might offer, having an uncrewed ship, even simply to increase the basic weapons magazine available to surface combatants, could be very useful for the German Navy and help pave the way toward more regular and extensive uncrewed operations at sea.
At the same time, there are a lot of unknowns about actually operating an uncrewed ship equipped with heavy armament on operational patrols and over great distances. Command and control and networking architecture will be a huge factor in the success of any such concept. There are also security concerns, clearly. The idea that more naval capacity can be relatively inexpensively gained through uncrewed surface combatants of the larger variety is extremely attractive, but actually doing it reliably is still something that’s yet to be seen on a wide operational scale.
ARSENAL under-19s midfielder Louie Copley was handed a straight red card in his team’s Uefa Youth League match against Olympiacos today.
The team skipper was sent off for a crunching tackle on Argyrios Liatsikouras just 15 minutes into the game at Boreham Wood’s Meadow Park.
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Arsenal youth midfielder Louie Copley got sent off against Olympiacos in the Uefa Youth LeagueCredit: Getty
Copley, 18, who signed a professional deal with the club in July, could have few complaints with Italian referee Matteo Marcenaro and it certainly changed the game.
Fellow midfielder Harrison Dudziak took the captain’s armband but Arsenal struggled and conceded twice in the first half to trail 2-0.
Ethan Cortes and Christos Filis were on target for the Greeks.
Olympiacos seemed a lot more pumped-up for the game but Arsenal did improve in the second half despite only having 10 men.
And with seven minutes left, Arsenal sub Josh Ogunnaike pulled one back.
The 17-year-old almost got an equaliser with just seconds left to play, but his effort was saved.
The attempted fightback proved to be unsuccessful for the hosts as they went on to lose 2-1 at Meadow Park.
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The U.S. Air Force is reportedly examining the possibility of fielding stealthy flying-wing aircraft that could serve as ‘arsenal planes’ loaded with air-to-air missiles. The broader concept is one that we have discussed in the past, including in relation to a version of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber. According to an article from Air & Space Forces Magazine, the Air Force is also considering other potential flying-wing platforms to fill this air-to-air role.
A senior Air Force official told Air & Space Forces Magazine that this kind of arsenal plane was being studied as part of the Air Force’s plans for how to deal with a high-intensity conflict fought with China in the Indo-Pacific region. The stealthy flying-wing aircraft would be armed with “dozens” of air-to-air missiles, the article states.
The second pre-production B-21 seen arriving at Edwards Air Force Base, California, earlier this month. USAF
According to a former top Air Force official speaking to Air & Space Forces Magazine, “there wasn’t a compelling argument” for an air-to-air version of the B-21 in the past, even though it had been discussed. But the prospect of an air war with China and its rapidly evolving air combat capabilities seems to have changed that stance.
Currently, the study is still at an early stage, but it’s intriguing, to say the least, that the Air Force is looking at the possibility of engaging other manufacturers and employing different platforms than the B-21, which is now deep in flight test.
The same official told the publication that an arsenal plane of this kind would be one way of providing a supplement to or even taking the place of some of the Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones it intends to press into service in the coming years. “There are other ways of achieving ‘affordable mass’ than darkening the skies with CCAs,” the official said.
The basic operational scenario would involve the arsenal plane providing additional air-to-air ‘magazine depth’ for crewed fighters, such as the F-22, F-35, and the future F-47. The fighters would be responsible for detecting and designating targets, which would then be engaged by long-range missiles launched from the arsenal plane, operating at a standoff distance, a concept that we have been discussing for years. CCAs could also be added to the mix. It’s worth noting that a lack of larger numbers of air-to-air missiles in their jets is a top complaint of F-35 and F-22 crews. Smaller missiles optimized for internal carriage and with shorter ranges are in the works to help mitigate this issue.
Artwork depicting various tiers of drones flying alongside an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
There is no mention of whether the arsenal plane would be crewed or not, but the idea of an uncrewed or optionally crewed version of the B-21 has been part of that program from the outset. Furthermore, work has already been done on a possible complementary drone for the B-21, as you can read about here. While this was originally pitched as a bomber drone, such a design could equally lend itself to becoming an air-to-air arsenal plane.
It’s interesting, too, that the idea of an air-to-air role for the B-21 has come up in the past.
Back in 2019, Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Pleus, at that time the Director of Air and Cyber Operations for Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), discussed the possibility of a B-21 “that also has air-to-air capabilities” and can “work with the family of systems to defend itself, utilizing stealth…”
This head-on view of the second pre-production B-21 after its arrival at Edwards Air Force Base. USAF
Even before those remarks, TWZhad explored how the new stealth bomber could serve in multiple roles, including in an air-to-air capacity, while Air Force officials had repeatedly alluded to its multi-function capabilities.
“Many of the B-21’s weapons, which will include everything from JDAMs, to Massive Ordnance Penetrators, to ultra long-range air-to-air missiles, will benefit from the Raider’s high perch,” TWZ wrote as long ago as 2017. “Even potentially lasers in the future will have more range due to this performance attribute.”
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin. U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich Eric Dietrich
The latest Air Force thinking also includes the option of using an airframe other than the B-21 to achieve the same air-to-air task. This is apparently based on concerns about Northrop Grumman’s capacity to build the baseline bomber in addition to a potential air-to-air-tasked spinoff. At the same time, a full-specification B-21 version would be a very expensive asset, and likely its level of sophistication would not be required for an arsenal plane role. A stripped-down model, with no sensors and less communications capabilities, as well as possibly no pilots and slightly degraded stealth could drop that price considerably while leveraging the B-21’s basic airframe.
The Air Force’s publicly stated plan has long been to buy at least 100 Raiders. However, as we have talked about in the past, there is the potential that the B-21 force could ultimately become significantly bigger. In the meantime, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has looked into the options for increasing B-21 production output, including the possibility of opening up another production facility.
Current estimates suggest that Northrop Grumman will be building 10 B-21s per year by the early 2030s. Even with funds to increase that output, it’s far from certain that there will be additional capacity for production of an air-to-air version as well.
The first pre-production B-21 Raider. USAF
Clearly, developing a new stealthy flying-wing arsenal plane from scratch would be a significant endeavor, although likely less costly than producing a high-end bomber for arsenal plane use. At the same time, a specialized design for the role could draw upon technologies developed not only for the B-21 but also for other advanced flying-wing programs, including ones in the classified realm.
A rendering of what the stealthy drone commonly referred to as the RQ-180 might look like. Hangar B Productions
While a dedicated air-to-air version of the B-21 might not find AFGSC favor, Raiders armed with air-to-air missiles for their own protection is another matter. This is underscored by evidence that PACOM has already included notional B-21s with air-to-air weapons in war games intended to learn about future campaigns fought against China.
Another option would be to expand (or include if it doesn’t have it already) air-to-air capability in the baseline B-21. Raiders with the option of employing air-to-air as well as air-to-ground weapons would ensure versatility, and these aircraft could even carry mixed load-outs if the mission required it. It should be noted, too, that the B-21 has a smaller weapons carriage capability than the current B-2 Spirit and, at least based on photos of the second aircraft, it lacks side bays for smaller weapons — this could change as development continues.
On the other hand, the B-21 is a very costly plane, and any weapons capacity given over to air-to-air munitions necessarily takes away from its primary bomber mission, something that AFGSC is unlikely to appreciate. It will also be tasked extremely heavily for its central strike role during a major conflict. So, if the B-21s were partially tasked with working as arsenal ships for fighters, more airframes would be needed, which could make taking on this role more agreeable to AFGSC.
In the meantime, there is apparently no shortage of long-range air-to-air missile programs that could yield suitable armament for an arsenal plane of this kind.
There are various very long-range air-to-air missile programs known to have been in the works in the United States, with more in the classified realm. The best known is the joint Air Force/Navy AIM-260, which will offer much greater range than the current AIM-120 AMRAAM, as well as other new and improved capabilities, but will put these in a missile with similar dimensions to the AIM-120. A Raider-sized aircraft could carry a huge number of AIM-260s.
An artist’s impression of a fully upgraded F-22 Raptor launching an AIM-260 missile. USAF/ACC
At the same time, a platform the size of the B-21, or closer to its size, would also be capable of carrying outsized weapons beyond the scope of carriage by CCAs, or even crewed fighters, such as multi-stage air-to-air weapons. As for large, very long-range air-to-air missiles, one option very well-suited to the role would be the AIM-174, the air launched derivative of the surface-launched SM-6 missile. These are currently carried by U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets. Longer-ranged than any other air-to-air missile the U.S. military has ever fielded, it is also tailor-made for the Indo-Pacific theater, as you can see in the video below. Firing it at the direction of forward-operating fighters would very much fit the role of this new flying wing aircraft, which would be able to carry far more than fighters could.
Alternatively, instead of buying large flying wings each carrying dozens of missiles, the Air Force could acquire uncrewed combat air vehicles, or UCAVs, offering a longer range and better survivability than CCAs, as well as a far greater payload. The result would be a more survivable drone carrying a fighter-sized load of missiles. The apparent absence of UCAVs of any kind from Air Force plans is something we have discussed in detail before and have since followed up on.
If this option were to be pursued, it would go some way to address the limitations of a larger flying-wing platform carrying dozens of missiles at once. Simply put, those missiles can only be in one place at any given time. Buying more plentiful UCAVs would mean that they can be in many places at once, and losing a drone of this kind would be preferable to the Air Force losing many millions in the cost of a more exquisite flying wing platform and its missiles.
Boeing’s X-45 Phantom Ray was developed in the late 2000s and flown in the early 2010s before being shelved like the rest of the DoD’s UCAV initiatives. (USAF)
For its part, China is busily developing flying-wing drones, including stealthy UCAVs. Some of these drones are also notably large. Indeed, the latest of these may well even match this latest U.S. Air Force arsenal plane concept, at least by design, although we do not know its exact planned mission or stores configuration. Namely, this is a flying-wing drone with a ‘cranked kite’ planform, a bit smaller than a B-21, but likely with kinetic capabilities. Potentially, it could also be used in an air-to-air combat support role.
Other interesting parallels can be found between the new U.S. Air Force concept and naval programs for ‘arsenal ships.’ These vessels are intended to similarly increase magazine depth, lobbing air defense, land-attack, and anti-ship missiles in support of more conventional surface combatants. Some of these arsenal ships are also expected to operate uncrewed, while others will go to sea with a much-reduced crew complement.
Should the Air Force find funds for an air-to-air arsenal plane of whatever kind, the effect that would have on the CCA and other initiatives is unclear.
The statement that an unnamed senior Air Force official gave to Air & Space Forces Magazinesuggests that a stealthy flying-wing aircraft armed with large numbers of air-to-air missiles could, to a degree, threaten CCA plans, although it could also be a very useful complement.
The CCA program, at least to begin with, is based around drones that can carry air-to-air missiles, meaning these drones can work closely with crewed aircraft, significantly extending their reach while enhancing lethality and survivability.
As it stands, the primary mission of the first increment of CCAs will be acting as flying ‘missile trucks’ supporting crewed combat jets, a fact reflected by the FQ (Fighter Drone) designations, for the General Atomics YFQ-42A and the Anduril YFQ-44A.
The YFQ-42A CCA from General Atomics. GA-ASI GA-ASI
While CCAs would be expected to operate much closer to the enemy than an arsenal plane, they would not be able to carry anywhere near as many missiles — initially, just two AMRAAMs.
There are meanwhile efforts to extend the reach and flexibility of crewed fighters (and other platforms), including the LongShot drone, which is being developed specifically as an air-to-air ‘missile truck.’ The drone will carry the missiles forward to enhance the tactical lethality and especially the survivability of the launch platform. While it is planned to be cost-effective, the LongShot is not reusable, and each one will also carry just two missiles. At the same time, the LongShot could be an option to increase the reach of an arsenal plane, too.
A rendering of a pair of LongShot drones with an F-15 seen at upper left. General Atomics
Indeed, all of these smaller drones will have only a relatively limited weapons-carrying capacity. In this context, a larger stealthy flying-wing with capacious internal capacity becomes very compelling in terms of bringing the largest number of air-to-air missiles to bear against a numerically superior adversary, like China. Furthermore, depending on the degree of standoff range at which the arsenal plane could operate, it wouldn’t necessarily need the same degree of low observability as the B-21.
Also interesting is the timing of the new arsenal plane revelations, in terms of the F-47, which was always intended to be a spearhead of the Air Force’s future air superiority efforts, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
While Boeing has started production of the first F-47 for the Air Force, with a first flight planned for 2028, there are questions about the final number of aircraft to be built and what they will cost, as well as its overall size (and capacity for weapons carriage).
An official rendering of the Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter, the F-47. U.S. Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Publi
Whatever the number of F-47s procured, the Air Force seems to consider that these, plus much larger quantities of F-35s and CCAs, might still not be enough to wrest air superiority from China over the vast distances of the Pacific, especially in any kind of prolonged campaign.
While it would come at a significant cost, a stealthy flying-wing aircraft packed with air-to-air missiles might just be one way of doing that.
