The Gameweek 27 Scout Notes continue with Tottenham Hotspur 1-4 Arsenal and Crystal Palace 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers, including a fitness update on Bukayo Saka (£9.8 million).
SAKA FITNESS LATEST
Saka was fit to start after his second-half substitution at Molineux and was again sent off in the north London derby.
After Xavi Simons (£6.5 million) accidentally landed on him towards the end of the match, requiring medical attention before eventually hobbling away.
At least he could leave the field.
Saka also appeared to be moving freely after full-time, and Mikel Arteta made no mention of the injury in his post-match presser, suggesting it is not too serious.
Elsewhere on the injury front Martin Odegaard (£7.8m) made his return as a substitute in the second half, but Ben White (£5.1 million) and Kai Havertz (£7.3m) completely missed.
‘With Kai [Havertz]it was too early, but Martin [Odegaard] It’s okay to play for a few minutes. With Ben [White]”He had a little problem yesterday and couldn’t make it to the match.” -Mikel Arteta
When he returned to Saka, he was excellent before his withdrawal.
After his run-out as ’10’ at Molineux, he was back on the right wing for this match and then provided an assist. He also scored five shots, all in the penalty area.
“I loved his attitude, his presence, how dominant he was in the game from the start. The first reaction was immediately: he wants to seize the game and he really wants to say: I am here. And that’s what I love, he didn’t score, but he was in every action. I think he was really good.” – Mikel Arteta on opening Saka
EZE + GYOKERES BEAUTIFUL
Arsenal looked like a team looking to prove a point on Sunday, and they caused Spurs all sorts of problems throughout.
Key to this performance were God bless you (£7.2 million) and Viktor Gyokeres (£8.8 million).
After his heroics in the reverse fixture, Eze started in a number 10 role and bagged a brace. He has now scored six goals in the Premier League this season, five of which came against Spurs.
“… he’s scored five goals in the last two games against them, which is extremely difficult to do, but I could tell he wanted to prove something. He was angry, even with me, because the other day I didn’t play against him from the start and some of the decisions I made. And I’m starting to understand how we’re going to get the best out of him now.” – Mikel Arteta on Eberechi Eze
In a dominant display, Gyokeres also looked very sharp.
His two goals on Sunday took him to five in as many league games.
“I think so. His overall play was unbelievable. The efficiency, the goals he scored. He was really good today.” – Mikel Arteta on whether this was Viktor Gyokeres’ best performance for Arsenal
Jurriën Hout (£6.4m) found Gyokeres in a central position for his first goal, but was taken off remarkably early, leaving the field behind after 56 minutes. The Dutchman looked a bit leggy before his withdrawal, but was shown a yellow card and so Arteta replaced him with Cristhian Mosquera (£5.3 million).
Elsewhere, Declan Rice (£7.6m) collected defensive contribution points (DefCon) for the fourth consecutive game.
TUDOR’S 3-5-2
In Igor Tudor’s first game as Spurs boss, he rolled out a 3-5-2 formation.
Of Dominic Solanke (£7.2m) fits just enough for a spot on the sofa, Randal Cole Muani (£6.9 million) was named as the main striker, with Simons playing against him.
Simons has been Tottenham’s best player in recent weeks, but he really struggled to make a similar impact here Conor Gallagher (£5.4 million).
And despite their back-five shape when out of possession, Spurs looked vulnerable defensively and left far too much space for Arsenal to exploit, allowing the visitors to create six big chances.
“Right now the team is full of problems. The only key is to work on training day after day and be humble. We have to be more aggressive, we have to be more compact. These are the keys.” -Igor Tudor
The equalizer for Spurs came courtesy of Kolo Muani after Rice was eliminated at the back.
The Frenchman, who previously did very well under Tudor at Juventus, also received another heavy-handed exclusion, but with Solanke and Richarlison (£6.3m), both on the bench, it is difficult to know exactly who will start for Fulham on Sunday.
HENDERSON-HAUL, GLASNER ON LACROIX
Despite much unrest from the terraces, Palace took their first victory at Selhurst Park since November on Sunday.
Of Maxence Lacroix (£5.1m) injured, Oliver Glasner’s back three consisted of Jaydee Canvot (£4.5 million), Chris Richards (£4.4 million) and Chad Riad (£4.0 million).
However, they were exposed far too easily in the first half and essentially owed their clean sheet to it Dean Henderson (£5.0 million), which saved Three Arokodares‘s (£5.4m) poorly taken penalty on the way to a 16-point haul.
Further forward it was often slow and sideways for Palace, but Jeremy Pino (£5.8m) hit the post in the first half, before the substitution Evann Guessand (£6.2m) grabbed the late winner to seal the finish Tyrick Mitchell‘s (£5.0 million) cut.
Starved of service, Jorgen Strand Larsen (£6.1m) had just one shot blocked.
As for Lacroix, he should be back on Thursday.
“It’s a minor abductor injury, but he should be back on Thursday. We can’t take any chances.” – Oliver Glasner on Maxence Lacroix
Wolves remain winless on the road this season.
At Selhurst Park they were the better side in the first half, with Matthew Manen (£4.6m) lively and won the penalty, but despite getting into some decent positions they weren’t clinical enough, the story of their season.
Wolves have scored just five goals in fourteen away games in 2025/2026.
Sunday’s defeat didn’t help that Ladislav Krejci (£4.5m), who was sent off in the space of a few minutes for two bookable offenses and will now miss Friday’s Gameweek 28 opener against Aston Villa.
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