Arsenal stay five points clear as Gyökeres and Dowman make the news
Sunday 15 November 2026 · By Sarah Mitchell
Arsenal remain five points clear at the top of the Premier League through the international break, with no league fixture played since their 1–0 win over Hull City on Saturday 7 November. Martin Ødegaard scored in the 72nd minute that afternoon, and Mikel Arteta’s side still have 27 points from ten matches, nine wins and a single defeat. Brighton are second on 22 and Manchester City third on 21.
After that Hull match Arteta said he was “delighted with the win”, adding that “to go into the international break with a win is one of the best things about being a coach or player”. The result completed a fifth successive league victory and left Arsenal with the tightest defence in the division, five goals conceded and 15 scored. The 27-point return equals their best ten-game league start under Arteta, first achieved in 2022–23.
The break has supplied the week’s fresh material. Viktor Gyökeres scored two first-half penalties in Sweden’s 3–2 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday 14 November, after Daniel Svensson had opened in the fifth minute. Armin Gigović and former Arsenal defender Sead Kolašinac replied after the interval. Arsenal’s website said the result secured Sweden’s promotion to Nations League A, and that Gyökeres has now scored in a record-extending eight consecutive Nations League matches.
Max Dowman, 16 years, 10 months and 13 days, came off the bench in England Under-21s’ 0–1 friendly defeat by Portugal on Friday 13 November and became the youngest player to appear for the U21s, breaking Jude Bellingham’s record, according to Sky Sports and premierleague.com. That landmark does not alter his club suspension: he is still banned for Gameweek 11 only and will miss the trip to Newcastle.
Declan Rice started and Ben White came off the bench as England beat Croatia 2–1. Ezri Konsa missed that match with a knee injury but, according to premierleague.com, remains in the squad for Sunday evening’s game in Spain, which had not been played at the time of writing. Ødegaard captained Norway’s 3–1 win over Wales. Jurrien Timber scored his first two international goals in the Netherlands’ 7–0 win over Greece.
There is still no confirmed return date for Bukayo Saka. Arteta said before the Hull match that the winger, out with a thigh problem, would begin pitch work after the break but would remain unavailable for a while. Konsa’s knee kept him out against Croatia; whether he features in Spain, and whether that has any bearing on Newcastle, cannot be stated in advance.
Arsenal resume at Newcastle on Saturday 21 November, kicking off at 17:30 GMT and shown on Sky Sports. Dowman’s absence is the only confirmed restriction for that match. Borussia Dortmund then visit in the Champions League on Tuesday 24 November at 20:00 GMT. The five-game winning run and the five-point cushion travel to St James’ Park unchanged.
Emirates Stadium is Arsenal’s home in Holloway, north London, a 60,704-seat bowl that opened in 2006 a few hundred metres from Highbury. For visiting supporters it is a modern, well-run Premier League ground: cashless, steeply raked, and organised around a colour-coded quadrant system. Away fans sit in the green south-east corner of the Clock End, wrapping from the south goal toward the East Stand. The standard league allocation is about 3,000 seats; cup ties can rise higher. Expect an angled corner view rather than a dead-centre behind-the-goal seat.
The pitch runs north to south, as it did at Highbury. The North Bank sits behind the north goal and is the loudest home end. The Clock End sits behind the south goal and still carries a recreation of Herbert Chapman’s famous Highbury clock. The East and West Stands run the length of the touchlines. The players’ tunnel and dugouts are on the west side, under the main television camera. That orientation matters when you arrive: the away section looks toward the North Bank, so the far goal is the home end rather than the one immediately in front of you.
Gates for visiting supporters usually open two hours before kick-off. Turnstiles for the away allocation are typically K and L on the south-east side. Security searches are thorough, so leave spare time and travel light. Arsenal operate a tight bag policy; large backpacks are refused. The stadium is cashless throughout, including the dedicated away concourse bars and food points. Arrive early if you want a drink before the crush, and note that prices follow central-London matchday levels.
Public transport is the only sensible option. There is no general matchday parking, and surrounding streets sit inside Islington’s controlled zone. Arsenal station on the Piccadilly line is the closest stop, about three minutes from the ground, but it is small, not step-free, and grim after full time. Finsbury Park (Piccadilly, Victoria and National Rail) is the better all-round choice for visiting fans: larger platforms, more exits, and a 10–15 minute walk that keeps you on the south and west approaches rather than mixing through the home funnel at Gillespie Road. Highbury & Islington is another useful alternative. Holloway Road and Drayton Park have matchday restrictions; check before you travel. After the whistle, away supporters are usually steered out toward Drayton Park and Finsbury Park rather than through home areas around Arsenal station.
Pre-match drinking for away fans is limited and segregated. The Drayton Park, next to the stadium, is the usual designated stop and fills early. Mixed pubs nearer Finsbury Park exist but lean home; treat them with caution. Coach parties use designated parking on Queensland Road and Hornsey Road. If you need accessible seating or parking, arrange it through your club’s disability liaison officer well in advance — Arsenal hold a small number of away accessible spaces on a match-by-match basis.
Inside, the bowl is continuous and sightlines are generally good. Lower-tier rows put you close to the pitch; the upper tier is steep enough that the whole field stays readable even from the back. The south-east corner is not the prettiest angle in the ground, but it is a proper football view rather than a restricted one. Flags and banners are welcome in the away section if they meet stadium rules. Keep tickets handy, follow stewards on the way out, and give yourself extra time for the Tube. The Emirates is a polished, big-club stadium — get there early, sit in the green quadrant, and you will have a straightforward away day in north London.