Arsenal Women have now concluded their fixtures in 2024, with their winter break now in full force, while the men recorded an excellent double over London rivals Crystal Palace.
The women's final game of 2024, last Wednesday, saw them host Bayern Munich at Meadow Park in the UEFA Women's Champions League - as Renee Slegers' side recorded a 3-2 win thanks to an 86th-minute Mariona Caldentey penalty.
The men first secured their place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with a win at home to the Eagles last Wednesday, before travelling to Selhurst Park where they recorded their biggest Premier League win of the season over the same opposition.
But they suffered a devastating blow early in the game when Bukayo Saka was substituted with a hamstring injury, which is set to rule him out for the foreseeable future.
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The women win, but will Slegers stay?
Their 3-2 win at home to Bayern Munich means that Arsenal Women topped Group C of the Champions League, overtaking the German giants on the final matchday, while Juventus and Vålerenga were knocked out for finishing in the bottom two.
As well as its significance for the Gunners' hopes of European glory, the win also means that Arsenal Women are now 11 games unbeaten under interim boss Slegers, having won just two of their previous seven before this run - form which saw previous manager Jonas Eidevall resign from his post in North London.
While this is a huge cause for celebration for fans, there is now, once again, a huge question surrounding the women's team - as Slegers' future as interim manager is once again called into question.
The young Dutch coach has already seen her interim reign extended by the Gunners' hierarchy, and her stay was most recently extended to the winter break, which is now in full force - meaning that a decision over her future could be imminent.
Few can argue against her credentials to be given the job on a permanent basis, but it is clear that Arsenal do not want to rush into a decision that they could come to regret but, regardless, it is clear that the 35-year-old could not have given herself a better chance of named as the Gunners' next boss.
Should Slegers be overlooked for the role, Casey Stoney has been often mentioned as another contender, and her experience managing in the Women's Super League with Man United, from 2018 until 2021, could prove a deciding factor in any potential decision.
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The men do the double! (over Crystal Palace)
It may not have been the double that Arsenal fans have been dreaming of for decades, but back-to-back wins against Crystal Palace have once again put Arsenal on a strong footing across multiple competitions, and potentially just three wins away from at least one piece of silverware.
After beating Oliver Glasner's side 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, Arsenal learnt that they will have Newcastle United in the two-legged semi-final, with the first leg set to take place in North London on 7 January 2025, before the deciding leg takes place at St James' Park on 5 February 2025.
The Gunners have won the competition just twice in their history, and have not done so since 1993, having fallen to defeat in the final three times, against Chelsea, Birmingham City and Man City, in the 31 years since their last triumph.
With no trophy of any description, excluding the Community Shield, since 2020, there is a real hunger for silverware among the players and supporters, and the Carabao Cup could represent the Gunners' best chance to achieve exactly that this season.
Mikel Arteta's side followed up this win with a 5-1 thrashing of the Eagles at Selhurst Park just three days later, with their biggest Premier League win of the season propelling them back into third place after they temporarily fell to fourth after Nottingham Forest's win earlier on Saturday.
After their goalless draw away to Everton, Arsenal are now just two points behind second-place Chelsea, but remain six points off of league leaders Liverpool - who emphatically won 6-3 away to Tottenham Hotspur - in what was a bittersweet result for Arsenal fans.
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Bukayo Saka injury blow
If you had told Arsenal fans a week ago that they would suffer yet another injury, you would have likely been met by fatigued acceptance, mixed with annoyance, had you said that that injury would be to Saka, immense panic would no doubt have gripped the poor supporter given this news.
That nightmare has now become a reality that all Arsenal fans are adjusting to, after it has been revealed that the 23-year-old will be sidelined for approximately eight weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury in the 5-1 win against Crystal Palace.
On the day, Gabriel Martinelli replaced Saka on the right, with Leandro Trossard coming on to play on the left, and the Brazilian did excellently, providing regular threat before adding Arsenal's fourth goal in the 60th minute.
But, with Raheem Sterling also injured for the next few weeks, according to Arteta, options for coping with Saka's absence look limited to say the least.
His 10 goals and five assists in the Premier League this season mean that Saka has contributed to a staggering 44 per cent of the Gunners' goals in the competition - a contribution that would be difficult to replace, even with a fully fit squad.
Just how big this blow will prove to the club's season remains to be seen, but there is no doubting that Arsenal are a far weaker team without their starboy, with the upcoming months set to be a real challenge in his absence.
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The look ahead
The women will not play again until 17 January 2025, when they face Bristol City in the Adobe Women's FA Cup, as they enjoy a well-earned winter break.
The men, however, are in the midst of their busiest time of the season, with their next game at home to Ipswich Town on Friday, 27 December, before travelling to West London to take on Brentford on New Year's Day.
Full coverage of the Gunners' festive fixture against the Tractor Boys will be available here from VAVEL.
