The new English Premier League season kicks off in two weeks. Former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna tells CNN’s Senior Sports Analyst Darren Lewis how this Arsenal squad has a family-like atmosphere.

London

Former Arsenal player Bacary Sagna has expressed confidence in Arsenal's current direction, emphasizing the strong sense of unity and family within the club under manager Mikel Arteta. Sagna highlighted Arteta's deep understanding of Arsenal's identity and praised the positive environment fostered for both players and staff.

Sagna also commented on Chelsea, noting a loss of the club's previous identity due to changes in squad structure and contract strategies. He pointed to Aston Villa as a club with a solid structure and a promising model, citing their careful spending and successful youth development as reasons for their potential to surprise in the upcoming season.

Former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna previews new season

I still believe Arsenal is really strong as a team, as an entity also. I think they have a fantastic mind in Michael Arteta because he breathes football and he understood the club from the first minute he walked in. He was first a captain, he had the Arsenal identity and I believe he brought the right people around him to look like a family and I witnessed them training in Dubai in December during their training camp and at the end of the day they all sat in the middle of the pitch because they had a really strong second part of the season to play and it was not only the players or the coaches, it was also the staff, the people helping and it was a strong image for me because I really saw a family, a strong family and I had and I exchanged words with some of the staff also. What did you talk about in general terms? They had only praise for the club, for Michael, for giving them opportunities. I witnessed this and I can tell it's on the right way to be successful. You were part of an Arsenal side that was successful so you'll know all about the importance of the right environment and clearly from what you're saying that's what Michael Arteta has created at Arsenal. You have to understand being a player is 80% mental. You need to find yourself in the right place before you can perform and I think players are happy to go training every day because they know they will be loved first of all, they know they will find someone to support them and vice versa and I think it's the best way to enter and wear the shirt because when you have the support and when you understand the impact it can have on the game it's terrific and I wish the fans could understand the impact they're having whenever they support the team. Let's just spin through a couple of the other clubs who are in the mix to win things next season. What do they look like defensively for you, Chelsea? I'm thinking about the old Chelsea. I'm nostalgic. I miss the old Chelsea. Why? Because you had warriors on the pitch. I think Jose Mourinho didn't need to be on the pitch. He had enough warriors on the pitch in Drogba, John Terry, Lampard. They were like… Ivanovic. Yes, yes, yes. Galas. Ashley Cole. They could deal by themselves and they would have been fine actually without a coach. I had the feeling that Chelsea lost that identity of it because of the number of players they had. They had 40-plus players. They put players on an eight-year contract. Of course, I respect their strategy but do you really think a player will really work hard if he knows he has still six years on his contract, sitting on a contract? I don't think it's good for the human being, not especially for players. Do you think it takes away the hunger? Yes, of course. If you know that you start the game and you still have more than 80 months to be able to cope and to get back on track, what difference would it make if you miss a game, if you score? Because you know your life is set. But when you know you have to perform because at the end of the season you might be gone, some players might come and take your position, and you need to go and shine to find a new club, it's different. The mindset is different. Tell me whether there is another team outside of what we used to call the established top four who you think might surprise us next season. I like Aston Villa because of the structure of the club. It's a solid team. They never spend a lot but they spend right. They have young players that are hungry because it's first of all one of the best academies in the UK. But no wonder the first team is solid because if you race right, you're going to perform right. And they are doing this perfectly and I think they understand they want to go gradually and not too fast to the top. I think as a model, Aston Villa to me is a team that looks maybe the best.

Iran's parliament on Sunday (September 28) condemned what it called "illegal" sanctions, after the United Nations reimposed restrictions over the country's nuclear program at the weekend.

Tehran

Iran parliament slams reimposed UN sanctions as 'illegal'

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Russia for the new wave of attacks, which killed at least four in Kyiv, including a child, and accused them of deliberately targeting civilian positions to incite fear and terror. At least 70 others were injured.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

At least four killed as Russia launches major offensive on Kyiv

At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 injured on Saturday (September 27) in a stampede at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu said.

Tamil Nadu

Dozens killed in political rally stampede in India

Hezbollah has commemorated one year since the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel during their conflict. At a gathering in Beirut, the group's secretary-general Naim Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah's refusal to disarm, despite ongoing Israeli attacks and a ceasefire agreement.

Beirut

Lebanon's Hezbollah refuses to disarm

Colombian President Gustavo Petro brushed off reports that his U.S. visa had been revoked, saying, “I don’t care.” The leader was filmed outside United Nations headquarters in New York, where he joined thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters during the General Assembly.

Manhattan

‘I don’t care’: Colombia’s Petro dismisses U.S. visa revocation

Surveillance video obtained by CBS News showed the moments a gunman shot at detainees and agents who were in a van at a Dallas ICE facility on Wednesday. One of the victim's pregnant wife also speaks out.

Dallas

Video shows gunman shooting at detainees, ICE agents

The Trump administration will ask the Supreme Court to decide the constitutionality of the president's executive order on the 14th Amendment, which seeks to curtail birthright citizenship, according to reports. Willie James Inman has the latest.

Washington

Supreme Court to decide on birthright citizenship

Powerful monsoon rains in the Southwest are blamed for several deaths in Arizona. The fast-rising water caused flash flooding and chaos. Meteorologist Andrew Kozak has the latest.

Globe

Deadly flooding in Arizona as intense weather sweeps across U.S

Dozens of people have been killed in Gaza on Saturday, as Israel's assault on Gaza City intensifies. In New York this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about prominent U.S. allies formally recognizing a Palestinian state.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Dozens killed in Gaza as Israel's assault intensifies

At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a stampede at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu said.

Karur

According to the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, a store, ten retail outlets, two apartment buildings, and several non-residential premises were damaged.

Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine goes dark as Russian drone attacks damage facilities

A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a fiery speech at the UN General Assembly, at least 44 people have been killed in attacks across Gaza. Ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza City are forcing more Palestinians to flee.

Trump talks of Israel-Gaza deal as IDF strikes refugee camp

U.S President Donald Trump has signed an executive order outlining the terms of a deal to sell TikTok’s American operation to a group of stateside investors. CBC’s Ashley Fraser breaks down the deal and what it could mean for the social media platform's algorithm.

Toronto

Global Tariffs

Breaking down Trump’s TikTok deal

UN sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal are set to come back in force, essentially killing the landmark agreement. The inability to find a common ground – on all sides - is raising fears of further confrontation.

Sanctions against Iran set to resume after UN vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly in New York City on Friday. The leader made defiant statements about the countries that recently recognized the Palestinian state, while U.N. delegates walked out.

New York

Netanyahu makes bold address as U.N. amid delegate walkouts, protests

UN sanctions are set to be reimposed on Iran on Saturday - after a failed bid by Russia and China to delay them. Only four countries voted in favour of the draft resolution.

UN set to reimpose sanctions on Iran on Saturday

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released more files turned over by the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Washington County

House Democrats release more Epstein files

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wore a QR code at the U.N. General Assembly linking to images of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack as Western nations move to recognize Palestine. Dozens of delegates walked out in protest.

Dozens of delegates walk out as Netanyahu speaks at U.N.

A court on Thursday (September 25) sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison over a scheme for late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential run.

Paris

Former French president Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison

The U.S. Justice Department filed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday (September 25), in a dramatic escalation of President Donald Trump's retribution campaign against his political enemies.

Former FBI chief James Comey charged

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday new tariffs set to take effect next Wednesday, including a 100% tariff on pharmaceutical drugs. There will also be tariffs on a broad range of imported goods, such as kitchen cabinets, some furniture and trucks.

U.S. to impose new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, some furniture, trucks

US President Donald Trump has hosted his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House. The two leaders discussed Türkiye's long-disputed F-35 fighter jets, trade and energy ties as well as regional matters.

Istanbul

Trump hosts Erdogan as U.S. considers lifting ban on F-35 sales

Danish officials say a series of drone incursions they’re calling hybrid attacks at airports were carried out by ‘professional actors,’ and some analysts are pointing to Russia as a culprit. Russia has denied involvement.

Copenhagen

Russia denies involvement in drone flyovers at Danish airports

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of senior military officials to Virginia for an urgent gathering. The pentagon has provided very little details about the purpose of this meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth calls rare meeting of hundreds of senior military officers

Spain and Italy have sent naval vessels into the eastern Mediterranean to escort a flotilla of activists trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. It’s a move that could set up tensions at sea and comes after the convoy says it was attacked by drones.

Madrid

Spain, Italy send navies to escort Gaza aid flotilla

Federal agents in Washington state have seized more than 50,000 counterfeit pills laced with carfentanil, a drug said to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Centralia

Feds seize 50,000 pills laced with drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly virtually after the U.S. revoked visas for him and members of his delegation. CBS News' Olivia Gazis reports.

Mahmoud Abbas promises no Hamas in post-war Gaza government

The widow of one of the 60 passengers aboard the American Airlines regional jet involved in the deadly midair collision near D.C. in January has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines, the FAA and the U.S. Army.

D.C. midair collision victim's family sues airline, FAA and Army

China led several countries in announcing new climate plans on Wednesday and offered a veiled rebuke of the U.S. president's anti-climate rhetoric a day earlier at the U.N. General Assembly.

Beijing

China sets new emissions goals after Trump rejects climate change

World leaders have launched an initiative, “Democracy Now,” on the sidelines of the UNGA to counter far-right extremism and defend multilateralism. As the UN faces skepticism, a new initiative by Brazil, Spain, Chile, Uruguay, and Colombia is gaining support among member states.

Breakdown