Arsenal are safely through to the next round of the Champions League but David Raya was absent for their win over Girona and is a doubt for Sunday's meeting with Manchester City

With a showdown against Manchester City looming large, it would be easy for Arsenal to view their trip to Girona on Wednesday as the starter before Sunday’s main course. The fact Girona are part of the City Football Group only feeds into that narrative,

Mikel Arteta fielded a strong Arsenal squad despite the Gunners virtually secured an automatic round of 16 spot as their Champions League group phase ended with victory in Girona

Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly will be available for their next three games after the Football Association (FA) rescinded the red card he had received in Saturday's 1-0 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was pleased that Myles Lewis-Skelly 's red card was rescinded but criticised the abuse aimed at referee Michael Oliver by fans. The 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly has escaped a three-match suspension after the FA overturned Oliver's decision to send him off in Saturday's 1-0 win at Wolves.

Mikel Arteta opted against waking Myles Lewis-Skelly up to tell him his red card had been overturned, but he is confident the Arsenal teenager will have a “big smile on his face”. Lewis-Skelly was facing a three-match ban after he was controversially sent-off against Wolves for tripping Matt Doherty to stop a counter.

Aston Villa are ‘furious’ with Arsenal after they made a shock bid for Ollie Watkins on the eve of their final Champions League group game. The Gunners have been on the lookout for attacking reinforcements in January following the injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

Aston Villa have rejected an approach from Arsenal for England striker Ollie Watkins. Sources confirmed to BBC Sport the Gunners made their enquiry for the 29-year-old on Monday. Watkins started in Villa's Champions League game against Celtic on Wednesday night at Villa Park,

Ollie Watkins has scored 10 Premier League goals this season for Aston Villa. Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/. Aston Villa have rejected a formal offer from Arsenal