A look at the latest headlines surrounding Arsenal as they gear up for a trip to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League

Premier League champions Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday for the latest examination of their title credentials. The Gunners have started strongly in their bid for back-to-back crowns but it's Manchester City who are out in front.

Mikel Arteta's side have started this season much as they ended the last and are well in the hunt for multiple pieces of silverware. That being said, the manager and other backroom star will have eyes on the transfer market to assess how to improve the squad.

One target in particular may not be on their way to the Emirates next year, however, following disappointing news this week. Mirror Football covers all the latest news around Arsenal as the club looks to continue their recent reign of prosperity.

Guler won't be a Gooner

Arda Guler seemingly won't be on his way to north London anytime soon after reportedly agreeing to fresh terms with Real Madrid. The attacker has been linked with the Gunners for a number of years but is purportedly on the verge of signing a two-year extension at the Bernabeu.

Guler, whose current contract is due to expire in 2029, was previously subject to concerns over his playing time under Jose Mourinho. However, those appear to have been put to bed after he's pitched in with one goal and five assists in nine appearances this season, setting up two goals in Wednesday's narrow Champions League win over Roma.

It's a potential blow for Arsenal if the English giants had indeed planned to make their own move on the player. That will be effectively unfeasible if he puts pen to paper on a new deal that won't expire for another four-and-a-half years.

The Gunners are well-stocked for wing options as things stand, especially on the right flank where Guler often operates. Bukayo Saka looks likely to have that area locked down for years to come and Guler is too talented to play a back-up role.

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The same may not be said for the No. 10 role, however, where Martin Odegaard has functioned for most of this season. The Norway captain continues to deliver but has had injury issues in past seasons, while Arsenal will want to plan for the post-Odegaard era.

A new contract is Guler's reward for worming his way into Real's XI, a project that first started when Arteta's friend Xabi Alonso was in charge. That progress has only continued under Mourinho, who appears adamant on ensuring the Turkey international stays put.

Merino reveals 'secret meeting'

Mikel Merino has revealed how a secret meeting among Arsenal's squad got their Premier League title push over the line. Merino spent a large portion of the title-winning campaign injured but still had some key moments in a historic season.

The Gunners unnerved fans with certain results, including blowing a 2-0 lead to draw against Wolves in January, as well as losing to Manchester City and Bournemouth in April. However, Merino opened up about how the players took it upon themselves to ensure they were mentally prepared to end the club's 22-year drought.

"One slip, and all we heard was ‘same old Arsenal’. To be honest, there were doubts inside the team too," he wrote for the Players Tribune. "Giving away a 2–0 lead should never happen. But the day after the game, the players had a meeting inside the dressing room, without the boss. Everyone spoke up.

"Nobody talked about tactics. This was about how a group of human beings handle adversity together. I spoke about how I saw the team from the outside, and I said that this was something we as players had to handle, because the boss couldn’t do everything for us.

"When one person has so many tasks at one club, you need leaders who can figure things out on their own. Well, at this club, we do.

"In my view, that was the day we won the title. Even when we lost to Bournemouth and City, that meeting kept us together. We decided to use all the criticism as fuel, and thanks to social media we saw everything."