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Leeds United needed to dip into the market to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch during the recently closed summer transfer window.

Daniel Farke led the team to the final of the play-offs, after a third-placed finish in the Championship, and lost to Southampton at Wembley last season.

This meant that the Whites were vulnerable to clubs coming in to poach their best players, ahead of a second season in the second tier, and they lost a number of key players.

Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter were snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur, Rennes, West Ham United, and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively.

The departures of Summerville and Rutter meant that the club had to go out and bring in attacking reinforcements to bolster Farke's options in the final third.

Leeds went and signed Manor Solomon on a season-long loan move from Tottenham and secured the permanent signing of Largie Ramazani, who came through the academy set-up at Manchester United, from Spanish side Almeria.

They were, however, reportedly interested in bringing one of their former players back to Elland Road for a second stint in West Yorkshire – Jack Clarke.

Leeds failed to land Jack Clarke

It was claimed that the Whites were eyeing up a late swoop to sign the English forward from Sunderland towards the end of the summer transfer window.

Leeds sold Clarke to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £8.5m in the summer of 2019, after he had emerged through the academy set-up at Thorp Arch, and attempted to bring him back five years later.

Unfortunately, though, they failed in their pursuit of a deal for the left winger as they faced Premier League competition from Ipswich Town, who swooped in to sign him for a fee of £15m, with £5m in add-ons.

As you can see in the table below, Clarke proved himself to be a huge threat at the top end of the pitch in his two full seasons at Championship level with the Black Cats.

He is a winger who can offer regular quality as a scorer of goals down the left flank, cutting in onto his favoured right foot to cause damage in the final third.

Clarke had also started the current campaign in fine form, with one goal and one assist in two Championship games, before his big-money switch to Leeds.

The 23-year-old came up through the academy system with Leeds and Farke has already shown, with Mateo Joseph and Archie Gray, that he is willing to give young players a chance to impress in the first-team.

With this in mind, the Whites may have a player at Thorp Arch with the potential to develop into the German's own version of Clarke in the future, with U18s starlet Marley Wilson.

Marley Wilson's impressive academy form

The 18-year-old put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the club this summer, signing a one-year extension, and this could be a huge season for him in his development.

Wilson featured on the bench for the U21 team last season and his aim for the current campaign should be to break into the side on a regular basis.

If he can do that, whilst carrying over his form from U18 level, then it will give Farke a decision to make over his involvement in the first-team moving forward.

The left winger, who has been at the club since the age of 10, has made three appearances for the U21s so far in his career, having made the step up because of his terrific performances at U18 level.

Wilson racked up an eye-catching return of 18 goals and five assists in 39 appearances for the U18s, with the bulk of those strikes coming last season.

The talented young whiz, who is currently out with a back injury, produced 12 goals in 14 matches in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign, to end the term as the top scorer for the U18s.

That haul included three goals in four FA Youth Cup outings and seven goals in eight U18 Premier League appearances, as the electric winger showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

Wilson's goalscoring return was particularly impressive when you consider that he scored more goals for the U18s than Farke's current winger, Wilfried Gnonto, managed for the first-team.

Wilfried Gnonto's goalscoring record last season

The Italy U21 international featured heavily for Leeds in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign, predominantly playing on the right side.

He ended the season with a return of nine goals and three assists in 44 matches for the Whites, which included a return of eight goals and two assists in 36 regular season outings in the Championship.

Gnonto failed to hit double figures for goals in the division, or in all competitions combined, and this suggests that he did not offer a regular goal threat for Farke in the final third.

The 20-year-old flanker, who has produced one goal in four league appearances this term, will need to improve his output to be relied upon as a star at the top end of the pitch for Leeds.

Wilson, if he can continue to develop and translate his form to U21 and then first-team level, could eventually emerge as a more prolific option on the flank.

The 18-year-old star has proven his goalscoring quality at U18 level, as a player with the potential to be Farke's own Clarke on the left flank, and it is now down to him to take the next step and shine with the U21s this season, to earn a long-term contract.

Leeds fans should be excited about 19 y/o academy gem who's the next Joseph

Leeds United have a top young star on their hands who could soon be ready for first team action.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 6, 2024

If he can do that then the German boss may take a look at him in pre-season next summer, with a view to him emerging as the next star from the academy.

Nottingham Forest have made an excellent start to the Premier League season and they will look to keep that form going right through to January, when they will strengthen their squad once more if recent reports are to be believed.

The Reds are unbeaten in their opening four games of the season, with Saturday’s shock 1-0 win over Liverpool being the highlight of this impressive start.

Nottingham Forest eye free agent with best in the world defensive metrics

A defender who produced some impressive numbers last season could be set for a switch to Forest.

By
Brett Worthington

Sep 17, 2024

Nottingham Forest transfer news

After the victory over Liverpool, the week didn’t start in the best way for Forest, as their talisman, Morgan Gibbs-White was linked with a move to Manchester City. The midfielder has been in impressive form for a while now, so much so that the Blues have compiled a detailed dossier on him. City’s scouting network are said to be huge admirers of the player.

A recent report meanwhile has stated that Forest are among the teams interested in signing defender Oumar Solet on a free transfer. The defender left Red Bull Salzburg last weekend after his contract was terminated, and he could now be in line for a move to England, as Aston Villa, Wolves, and West Ham are also keen on landing the player.

While Nuno Espirito Santo looks to bolster his squad now, he and his transfer department also have their eyes on an attacker they would like to bring in during January.

Nottingham Forest agree likely deal to sign £17m+ star

According to Turkish media, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are looking to sign Galatasaray attacker Baris Alper Yilmaz when the January transfer window opens. The 24-year-old, who can play up front or out wide, was linked with a move to the City Ground in the summer but a move never worked out.

But Forest’s interest hasn’t disappeared, as they are said to have worked out an early agreement with the Turkish giants to sign the 24-year-old in the new year.

Galatasaray are looking to get a sizeable fee for the winger, wanting at least 20 million euros, which is roughly £17 million plus, meaning it will be a hefty transfer for the club’s sporting director, Ross Wilson, to work on. Whatever the price ends up, it seems Wilson is getting a head start on proceedings by agreeing everything before the window even opens.

Yilmaz joined Galatasaray in July 2021, and since arriving he has been a consistent member of their starting XI, chipping in with goals and assists. Last season, he scored six goals and recorded seven assists in 37 Süper Lig games, also making a hot start to the current campaign.

His form has also earned him recognition on the international stage, as he’s been capped 21 times by Turkey and has scored two goals along the way. The versatile forward started all five of his country’s games in Euro 2024, as they made it to the knockout stage.

Manchester City wonderkid Claudio Echeverri scored a brace to demolish fierce rivals Brazil in a historic 6-0 victory with the Argentina U20s.

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• Argentina beat Brazil 6-0
• Echeverri scored twice to star for U20s
• Youngster to register with Man City soon

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Argentina wasted no time asserting dominance, finding the back of the net three times within the opening 11 minutes. Ian Subiabre opened the scoring in the sixth minute, setting the stage for Echeverri to double the lead just two minutes later. The third goal came in quick succession as Brazil’s Igor Serrote inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, leaving the Brazilian side reeling. Echeverri scored his second in the 54th minute while Agustin Ruberto and Santiago Hidalgo completed the rout.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT ECHEVERRI SAID

  Reflecting on the game, Echeverri expressed his delight with the team’s performance and said: “We did an amazing job, we were ready for this. We are always motivated to play against Brazil. We will not relax, we need to keep improving."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City secured Echeverri’s signature from River Plate in January 2024, with the agreement allowing the Argentine club to retain him on loan until the end of the year. However, with his loan spell having concluded in December, the Premier League champions are reportedly keen to integrate him into their first-team squad in January.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  The victory was not only a testament to Argentina’s attacking prowess but also a significant step toward their goal of securing one of the top four spots in the championship. These coveted positions guarantee qualification for the U20 World Cup, set to take place in September in Chile.

Tottenham Hotspur recorded their second successive win in the Premier League with a fantastic 3-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke secured all three points for the Lilywhites, whilst the hosts were reduced to ten in the first half after Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a challenge on James Maddison.

The opening goal for Ange Postecoglou’s side came in the third minute of the match, as Micky van de Ven burst through to fire the ball across the box for Johnson to tap the ball in, and that set the tempo for Spurs.

Johnson and van de Ven were both hugely impressive throughout the evening for Tottenham, as they caught the eye with their displays against United.

Johnson and van de Ven's performances in numbers

The Dutch central defender showcased his incredible pace with that early run into the box to assist the opening goal and utilised his speed during the game to push Spurs up the pitch and ensure that they were not caught out in transition – sweeping up any balls in behind the backline.

Van de Ven also completed an eye-catching 98% of his attempted passes and created one ‘big chance’ – the assist for Johnson – in possession, which shows that he was incredibly reliable on the ball.

Meanwhile, Johnson was in the right place at the right time to score the opening goal and came within inches of making it two as he struck the post not long after.

The Wales international, who completed 81% of his attempted passes, also recorded an assist for the second goal as his cross deflected into the path of Kulusevski.

There was a Tottenham player who may end up being the unsung hero of the performance, however, as Rodrigo Bentancur was just as good as Van de ven and Johnson.

Rodrigo Bentancur was the unsung hero

The Uruguay international was not as flashy as Kulusevski or James Maddison, for example, but went about his business in expert fashion in the middle of the park.

With two attack-minded number eights ahead of him, the former Juventus man needed to be reliable in midfield for Spurs and that is exactly what he was.

Football.london handed him a player rating of 9/10 for his display and hailed his calmness on the ball. This is backed up by his impressive statistics from the match.

As you can see in the table above, Bentancur was incredibly reliable on the ball for Tottenham with almost a touch every minute and a pass success rate of 96%.

The 27-year-old star, who made two tackles and one interception, won the majority of his battles on the ground to maintain possession and win the midfield battle for Spurs.

His metronomic passing helped Tottenham, before and after the red card altered the dynamic of the match, to control the game and ensure that they dictated the tempo, which is why he was the unsung hero of the result and as good as van de Ven and Johnson.

Conte wanted Spurs to sign star now worth £62m but got Richarlison instead

The Premier League star would be incredible under Postecoglou.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 25, 2024

Anthony Gordon trolled Arsenal with a brutal "stay humble" comment after Newcastle dumped the Gunners out of the Carabao Cup.

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• Newcastle beat Arsenal 4-0 in aggregate score
• Gordon managed to find the net in both legs
• Forward seemingly took a dig at Arsenal after the win

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gordon scored Newcastle's second goal at St James' Park, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate victory for Eddie Howe’s side. Jacob Murphy opened the scoring for Newcastle after Alexander Isak skillfully outmanoeuvred William Saliba in the build-up. Whereas, Arsenal, despite their recent 5-1 demolition of Manchester City, looked subdued and never truly threatened to overturn the deficit.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After the Gunners beat City at the Emirates, Kendrick Lamar’s "HUMBLE" echoed through the stadium speakers, a possible jab at Erling Haaland’s earlier advice to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to "stay humble." Earlier in the match, Myles Lewis-Skelly mimicked Haaland’s zen celebration after putting Arsenal 3-1 up, adding to the growing rivalry between the clubs. Gordon has now joined the bandwagon and urged his teammates to "stay humble" in what seemed to be an apparent dig at Mikel Arteta & Co. after the victory.

• WHAT GORDON SAID

  In his post-match interview with Gordon said: "It feels amazing. A proper team performance and we got the win. Our fans are never in question, they make it so difficult for the opposition and we did it the right way. We had a game plan we thought would work. Everyone knows we press. It is important for us to stay humble now. It will be a big occasion but it's so far away."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEWCASTLE?

  Newcastle’s triumph marks their third victory over Arsenal this season, with the Gunners failing to score in any of these encounters. The victory also ensures their ticket to Wembley Stadium, where they will aim to clinch the Carabao Cup title after narrowly missing out last year against Manchester United. The Magpies will face the winner of the second semi-final clash between Liverpool and Tottenham.

Sunderland supporters will be proud of their team’s early efforts this Championship season so far, with the Black Cats sitting at the very top of the tree going into the international break.

Nobody really knew what to anticipate from Regis Le Bris when he took over the reins in the summer after a topsy-turvy 2023/24 campaign saw Sunderland finish way below expectations, but the Frenchman has managed to successfully navigate any choppy waters that have come his way so far with an impressive six wins picked up from nine league games.

It will all be about keeping this form up when football resumes after international clashes are over and done with, with Jobe Bellingham key to his side’s chances of staying put in first place.

Bellingham's form this season

The 19-year-old continues to be one of the most exciting players at the Black Cats, as the youthful Wearside outfit begin to dream about winning promotion courtesy of their star-man’s heroics centrally.

He may well only have one goal and one assist next to his name so far, but it’s clear there’s plenty more left in the teenager’s tank, having helped himself to seven strikes last season even as his side struggled to leap into the top half of the second tier standings.

It wasn’t a bad strike either to get this 2024/25 account underway, hammering home a stunning effort past the Derby County goalkeeper right at the start of the month to help his team beat Paul Warne’s determined Rams 2-0.

With stunning strikes like these this season, and his exploits from last campaign meaning his spot in Le Bris’ XI is concrete, Bellingham might well feel he is deserving of a pay increase soon.

Sunderland might also want to tie down their top asset shortly, considering he has been looked at by the likes of Serie A titans Lazio in the past.

Away from striking gold with the former Birmingham City youth product, the Championship promotion candidates haven’t always got it spot on with their recruitment in the middle of the park, with one dud from the Tony Mowbray era going down as a costly mistake.

Bradley Dack's wage at Sunderland

Very much a signing typical of Mowbray’s tenure at the Stadium of Light, Bradley Dack – who shone under the watchful eye of the ex-Sunderland boss at Blackburn Rovers – was a poor move last summer when reuniting with the 60-year-old.

Not costing the Black Cats a penny when it came to a transfer fee, Dack still didn’t justify his significant wage at the club, which came in at an excessive £15k-per-week according to Capology.

However, although he wasn’t an expensive capture, his wages ended up being costly when you consider how many games he sat out through injury for the Black Cats, missing a total of 27 games in total last season due to absences on the sideline.

It’s not as if this was a fresh development for Dack moving to the Stadium of Light though, with two horrendous cruciate ligament issues bringing his once-celebrated time with Blackburn to a sombre end.

He would only chip in with a single goal and an assist when fit enough to play 17 contests for the Wearside club, with Bellingham left wondering how he found himself on a lesser £12.5k-per-week salary, next to his injury-ravaged teammate earning more.

In total, the unfortunate 30-year-old would cost Sunderland £780k in wage costs alone, a dent to the second-tier team’s bank account that should have been avoided.

Dack was ultimately let go of by Sunderland in the summer for nothing, with his demise now seeing him back on the books of Gillingham in League Two, who he started his EFL journey with in 2012.

Sunderland won’t dwell too much on their errors, however, as the new-look Black Cats side at Le Bris’ disposal eye up more wins when Championship football kicks back into gear shortly.

Biggest coup since Defoe: Le Bris could land a 'lifelong Sunderland fan'

Sunderland would love to secure this mammoth deal in January.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 8, 2024

GOAL gets the measure of the latest from the football zeitgeist, from CR7's big birthday to a fresh boot drop from Nike

Welcome to the Culture & Clobber Axis, where GOAL runs the rule over all the latest from the intersection of football and culture – from the sublime to the ridiculous, to what's fire and what misses completely.

The longest January on record is finally over, with the end of the transfer window and the turn of the month throwing up storylines and new drops aplenty, as an icon of the game turns 40, Nike reveal some new boots and Joao Felix has a very big week.

But where do the week's biggest talking points from the football zeitgeist place in our comprehensive axis? Let's get into it…

• GOAL
  

  Ronaldo turns 40

  There's nothing technically wrong with Cristiano Ronaldo turning 40, it just makes us feel very, very old. Now an icon of the game, CR7 was just 18 years old when he signed for Manchester United in 2003. The 22 years since have been quite incredible.

  Having hit the big 4-0, the attacker has declared himself the unequivocal GOAT… we're not so sure about that, but it's hard to argue with him being considered the greatest the sport has ever seen.

  GOAL's shout: Blatant own goal

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• Tiote's son is a mascot vs Arsenal

  Newcastle gave a poignant tribute to late former midfielder Cheick Tiote when they hosted Arsenal in midweek, with his son Rafael among the mascots on the 14th anniversary of his father's brilliant volley in the exact same fixture in 2011, when the Magpies came from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 courtesy of his strike.

  The Toon honoured him on the pitch too, downing the Gunners with a relentless performance to secure a Carabao Cup final place and a huge chance to pick up major silverware. Lovely stuff.

  GOAL's shout: Maverick worldie

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Man City don't like rivalries

  The fallout from Arsenal's 5-1 thumping of Manchester City at the weekend has been tiresome, to say the least, with most of the rhetoric centring on Erling Haaland's now-infamous 'stay humble' jibe.

  Suffice to say, the Gunners probably stay humble' as they indulged in plenty of sh*thousery in their rout of their new-found northern foes, but certain City fans' refusal to take it on the chin and flat-out denial that a rivalry can even exist before Arsenal win a trophy is downright bizarre. This is what it's all about, lads.

  GOAL's shout: Maverick own goal

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• Nike
  

  Nike's unisex United pack

  Nike has shown its commitment to the women's game by bringing together some of the world's leading ballers to form the Nike United collective, with a new boot drop to go with it.

  The unisex United pack features their Tiempo, Phantom and Mercurial silos in a fresh purple and 'volt' colourway, all featuring a bold look inspired by shattered glass that was co-designed by the likes of Lauren James, Naomi Girma and Sophia Wilson (formerly Smith).

  GOAL's shout: Maverick worldie

In an international break full of positives on the injury front for Eddie Howe, Newcastle United have been handed yet another boost with one long-term absentee now in line for a return.

Newcastle injury news

Barring the continued absence of Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman, who suffered ACL injuries last season, Newcastle are all but back to full strength ahead of their meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion fresh from the international break this weekend. This means that both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak are in line for much-needed returns, with the former potentially making his first start of the season.

Meanwhile, Isak’s return will mark his first appearance since Newcastle’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham towards the end of September. Without the Swede, the Magpies have been without a goal from open play in 270 minutes of football in all competitions – a run that Wilson should also help to end of course.

Without a Premier League win in three games, the Brighton game suddenly has added importance as Newcastle look to get back on track. With Wilson, Isak and now one other in line for a return though, their fortunes are certainly looking up.

£100m+ Newcastle star now a top target for Barcelona as new contract stalls

Troubling times for the Magpies…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 17, 2024

As reported by Chronicle Live, Lewis Miley has returned to Newcastle training for the first time in seven months and is in line to make his first appearance of the season in the coming weeks.

The young midfielder suffered a broken metatarsal in last season’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Manchester City and has faced a long road to recovery ever since. Now, seven months later, he has battled back well and will hope to put himself back in contention for Howe’s side as soon as possible.

Still just 18 years old, Newcastle will likely ease Miley back into action in a run that he’ll hope to pick up where he left off at St James’ Park.

Newcastle must remain cautious with "brilliant" Miley

Whilst Miley was one of the few positives to emerge from Sandro Tonali’s ill-timed suspension last season, the Magpies eventually paid the price for their failure to find other options, with their academy graduate soon suffering a long-term injury. Learning a harsh lesson, Newcastle must not rush Miley back now that he’s returned to training. After all, this is a player who could be at the heart of their midfield for years to come.

Starting 17 games for the first team last season, it’s clear that Miley has the quality to earn a place under Howe but Newcastle must not run their young talent into the ground before he even has the chance to reach his peak.

Howe will need to act with caution when it comes to the full recovery of a player destined for great things, as the Newcastle boss pointed out last season, telling reporters via The Northern Echo: “I believe there’s huge growth in every area of his game – athletically, physically, technically, tactically.

“We’ll never stand still with Lewis and will look to continually help him. But what he has got already is a brilliant brain, and that brain allowed him to play so well (against Chelsea).”

Paris Saint-Germain have been busy as the Ligue 1 giants have handed contract extensions to head coach Luis Enrique and four star players.

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• Luis Enrique signs new PSG contract through to 2027
• Four first-team stars also sign renewals
• Man Utd-linked Mendes extends until 2029

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Luis Enrique has largely impressed as Paris Saint-Germain boss, leading the Ligue 1 giants to a domestic treble in his first season and to the Champions League semi-finals. This season, Les Parisiens have impressed again as they sit atop the league standings despite losing star striker Kylian Mbappe in the summer to Real Madrid.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  PSG bosses are clearly happy with Luis Enrique's work as the former Barcelona manager has been handed a new contract until the summer of 2027 with the Parisiens also handing extensions to four first-team stars: Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, Manchester United-linked full-back Nuno Mendes and Yoram Zague. Hakimi, Vitinha and Mendes' deals have been extended until 2029, while 18-year-old Zague has been handed improved terms through to 2028.

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  WHAT LUIS ENRIQUE SAID

  Speaking after the announcement, Luis Enrique said to PSG's official website: “I’m very happy to continue this story with Paris Saint-Germain. I feel very comfortable here; we have all that we need in order to work in the best possible conditions. I think that the future looks very bright, and I hope to enjoy a lot more success with the club.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR PSG?

  Luis Enrique has a major task on his hands up next as Paris Saint-Germain will travel to fellow French side Brest to play in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday, February 11 as they look to make their way into the knockout stages.

It’s been an odd few weeks for Arsenal, as while they are just four points off top spot in the Premier League, undefeated in the Champions League and into the next round of the League Cup, it feels like the club are in the midst of a mini-crisis.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been ravaged by injuries, with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and now Riccardo Calafiori all out and on top of that, William Saliba’s red card against Bournemouth means he’ll be out of this weekend’s must-win game against Liverpool.

Moreover, while the North Londoners claimed all three points against Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk last night, they put in a less than convincing performance and will have to seriously up their attacking threat against the Reds come Sunday.

However, a win is a win, and while the display was less than stellar, there were at least a couple of positives to come out of the game, notably Myles Lewis-Skelly’s surprise substitute performance.

Myles Lewis-Skelly's notable cameo

Before last night, Lewis-Skelly had made three first-team appearances for Arsenal this season. However, his only substantial game time came in the League Cup clash against Bolton Wanderers, as against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City the 17-year-old was limited to just one minute.

So, when Calafiori had to come off with 18 minutes to go, and with the Gunners just 1-0 up and looking far from comfortable, it was something of a surprise to see Arteta turn to the teenager, but even with the pressure of a home European tie, the Englishman once again demonstrated why he is so highly rated by those in the know, and why he has an exceptionally bright future in the team.

For example, despite being on the pitch for less than 20 minutes, the “exceptionally talented” Islington-born gem, as dubbed by Arsenal podcaster Adam Keys, took 15 touches, completed 100% of his passes, won a foul, won one of two duels, blocked a shot, and generally looked right at home, which should hopefully see him given more game time in the coming weeks and months.

While the circumstances of his introduction to the team are far from ideal, the fact that Arteta trusted Lewis-Skelly to come on in such an important game speaks volumes of the future he may have at the Emirates. However, it also says a lot about the lack of a future one of his more senior teammates may have.

Oleksandr Zinchenko's future at Arsenal

Yes, the senior player in question is Ukrainian left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was on the bench for last night’s game but, alongside Jakub Kiwior, was overlooked in place of the young Lewis-Skelly.

However, while the Polish international has played 195 minutes of first-team football in five appearances this season, the former Manchester City ace, who cost the Gunners up to £32m in the summer of 2022, has played just 79 minutes of action.

Now, while this is in part due to his consistent injury problems, he was clearly fit enough to make it onto the bench last night, and with his vast experience, it would not have been surprising to see him come on for the injured Calafiori, but the fact he was overlooked could suggest his time in North London is coming to an end.

In fact, his game time has been steadily declining over the last few seasons. For example, in 2022/23 he played 2411 minutes for the first team; the following campaign saw him play just 2082 minutes, and as we have already mentioned, he’s played just 79 minutes of first-team football this season.

Ultimately, the Radomyshl-born full-back is an undeniably talented player with an excellent eye for a pass, but with Arteta clearly favouring a more reliable calibre of defender these days and Zinchenko’s zero minutes of action last night feel like a sign that his career in red and white is all but over.

As bad as Trossard: Arteta must now drop 5/10 Arsenal dud after Shakhtar

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side only just managed to win against Shakhtar last night.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 23, 2024