All posts by n8rngtd.top

Leny Yoro and Christian Eriksen were shock absences from the Manchester United squad announcement ahead of their game with Tottenham Hotspur.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Eriksen and Yoro ruled out for game
• Bench includes eight academy players
• Spurs and United both going through tough seasons

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United's injury crisis has been deepened yet further due to the unavailability of Yoro and Eriksen, with Ruben Amorim forced to name eight academy players on the bench. Eriksen had been expected to come into the starting line-up following injuries to Kobbie Mainoo and Manual Ugarte and Yoro would have been an option for the Portuguese coach in a defence missing Lisandro Martinez. United have also been rocked by the news that Amad Diallo is set to miss the rest of the season due to an ankle injury.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE EXPLANATION

  Yoro and Eriksen have been ruled out of Sunday afternoon's game through illness and were not well enough to even make the bench. Their absence means that Victor Lindelof is the only player named on the United bench over the age of 21 and the only senior professional.

• WHAT AMORIM SAID

  Speaking to Sky Sports, Amorim said of the selection crisis he is facing at Old Trafford: "Amad [Diallo] was alone, [Manuel] Ugarte was a kick. Toby [Collyer] and Kobbie [Mainoo] felt something. It is what it is, but we have the kids and they have the opportunity to be on the bench. It is a really hard season and we have to deal with that.

  "I don't see it like [the world is against us]. Maybe we will find new ways to create situations. We have kids with less responsibility, less weight on their shoulders. They are good players. If needed we will put the kids to play and maybe we will find good things in this moment. It is a very good moment in their lives, no matter the moment of our club. We are ready to try to win this game. We want to win this game, we need to win this game. Whatever happens in the end it is my responsibility."

  Asked to confirm whether Amad will miss the rest of the season, Amorim replied: "I think so. Sometimes things happen and seasons where everything happens at the same time."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

  After facing Spurs, United are due to host Everton on February 22, four days before another home fixture against relegation-threatened Ipswich Town as Amorim bids to guide his team out of the Premier League's bottom half.

Is Everton’s glass half full? It’s starting to feel like so, with the Friedkin Group expected to complete their takeover from Farhad Moshiri, acquiring the Iranian businessman’s 94% stake.

TFG will have plenty on their hands when they kick off the new Everton epoch, and while much talk of incomings will be raised, there are one or two internal issues that need dealing with.

Sean Dyche’s future felt like a tenuous thing after an abject start to the term, but the gruff-talking manager has placated such calls through a recent purple patch.

What happens with Dominic Calvert-Lewin is arguably more pressing, for the first-choice centre-forward is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's final hour

Calvert-Lewin has been a focal presence for Everton right since he completed a £1.5m move from Sheffield United in September 2016, though fitness has not been his friend and he has been beset by fluctuating fortunes on the injury front.

Last season marked a comeback for the 27-year-old striker, whose muscular physique and focal command of the box add so much to Everton’s attack. However, he’s not quite found his shooting boots in 2024/25 despite starting each of his side’s nine Premier League fixtures.

Perhaps he’s not quite hit his stride, for whatever reason, or perhaps it’s woven closer into the fact that his contract is reaching its final few months.

Come January, Calvert-Lewin will be free to discuss a pre-contract agreement with suitors overseas. Serie A giants Juventus are known admirers, and though the England international appears to be keeping his options open, fears are rising that he will soon leave the club after nine years of service.

Should Everton fail to renew his £100k-per-week contract, they will of course need to look for a viable alternative, but do so while keeping the finances in check. Calvert-Lewin is one of the Merseysiders’ top earners, but a high-priced replacement won’t necessarily mean successful output.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

Just look at one of Everton’s former forwards, Bernard, and see that this is the case.

Bernard's total cost at Everton

Bernard earned even more than Calvert-Lewin when he plied his trade at Goodison – and Jordan Pickford, for that matter.

A nifty and tricky winger, Bernard joined Everton under the wing of Marco Silva, marking a major coup for the Blues, who had signed him on a free transfer despite ostensible enquiries from a host of Europe’s top clubs.

Having sealed the acquisition, Silva gushed over his new addition’s quality: “Bernard is a quick player, very good technically and he can play on the left or right wings and as an offensive midfield player behind the striker.

“He has experience of playing in the Champions League for Shakhtar Donetsk for the past five years and the fact he has 14 caps for Brazil is a further reflection of his quality.”

It’s hardly surprising that Silva and all those of an Everton persuasion were starting to get excited, for Bernard had notched some 63 goal contributions across 157 matches for Shakhtar Donetsk and offered pace and skills that would enhance a robust and varied Toffees frontline.

Calvert-Lewin was joined by Richarlison and a wealth of others, but failed to bring out the best in Bernard, who had been a regular in the Brazilian national team but fell by the wayside at Goodison Park.

The now 32-year-old lasted merely three seasons in the Premier League, leaving Everton with an eight-goal return across 84 fixtures in all competitions, which is hardly good value.

But wait. Everton didn’t actually fork out a transfer fee for this mercurial talent. Well, that may be the case but Bernard commanded quite the hefty paycheck with his £120k-per-week contract totalling a cost of £19m across the three years of service.

Significant earnings appeared to be the only way to convince the South American to join the cause, but he flattered to deceive and serves as a reminder that paying big money doesn’t mean that you will get bang for your buck.

Everton correspondent Gavin Buckland described the ace as “far too lightweight” and unable to nail down a proper starting berth, one of regularity and success.

It’s one to forget, for sure.

Everton wasted £33m on "the worst signing of the Moshiri era"

Everton must regret “the worst signing of the Moshiri era” who drained them £33m.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 30, 2024

The USL made waves with its announcement for a new top flight, but the logistics are unclear and some clubs undecided

Virtually nobody knew what the emergency meeting was about. There was going to be an announcement from USL League President Paul McDonough. But it was a Wednesday night. These things aren’t normal.

“Guys were taking bets as to what the announcement would be, or what the call was about,” McDonough told GOAL, reflecting on the hastily called meeting among USL club owners earlier this month.

The information shared was nothing any of them expected: The USL was planning to restructure the way professional soccer is played in the United States. The organization, viewed by many as the little brother to MLS, revealed to its owners that within the next few years – likely 2028, McDonough told GOAL – the USL intends to launch a Division 1 soccer league in the United States, on the same level as MLS.

And McDonough told them he planned to go public with the news within 24 hours.

That was Feb. 12. The USL's plan was first reported on Feb. 13. Since then, USL clubs been forced to figure out whether they want to play in the highest division of American soccer, or, effectively, run in place.

• Manica Architecture
  

  'A three-tiered system'

  The regulations are complex. The USL Championship is currently a sustainable league that operates with 24 teams. It has expansion goals of its own and intends to bring in four more franchises by 2027.

  But U.S. Soccer rules dictate that Division 1 leagues have very specific requirements to ensure sustainability. For one, they need to have 12 teams, spanning three time zones. At least 75 percent of the teams have to be in metropolitan areas of at least 1 million people. Stadium seating capacity must be a minimum of 15,000.

  Owners are also required to demonstrate a record of financial stability and prove that they can operate a team for a minimum of five years. Primary team owners must have an individual net worth of $40 million. Ownership groups are required to have a combined net worth exceeding $70M. There are also rules including TV broadcast rights, team employment sizes, and a full-time league operations staff.

  As of now, USL meets some, but not all, of those requirements. Of the 24 USL Championship clubs, 17 operate in markets with populations exceeding of 1 million – including the likes of Phoenix, Las Vegas, Sacramento and Indianapolis.

  The stadium capacity issue, in truth, is where things get more complicated. Eleven clubs currently have soccer-specific stadiums – seven are either in the planning process or have broken ground. Only two stadiums meet capacity requirements – Miami FC and Birmingham Legion. But neither are soccer-specific venues. In other words, this would require immense investment to happen.

  The league insists that it comes down to the individual clubs to decide whether they want to spend in order to meet the criteria. Make the effort to join the top flight, or stand pat? That's a club-level decision. Either way, there is support from U.S. soccer in general, with the governing body offering their backing for a Division 1 push to go ahead, according to .

  “The interesting part is this gives us a three-tiered system, which is a differentiator in the way we structure our league," McDonough said. "Our teams are able to set their own course of destiny based on their own ambition."

Advertisement

• EM Dash Photography
  

  'This kind of changes things'

  Sources in the league, however, told GOAL that some clubs are still waiting for further information before electing to commit to the top flight.

  There are concerns as to how much it might cost to increase the capacity of existing stadiums. Some in the process of building new venues don’t know whether to expand projected plans to the required 15,000 or stick to lower capacities. And there is a widespread reluctance to publicly commit, at least at the moment. Attendance, even for some of the best-established clubs, is a concern. And there are no guarantees that they will be able to fill a whole ground – even if they spend big to expand.

  “I do think our fan base has a lot of room to grow," a spokesman for Louisville City told GOAL. "But that said, we're already averaging about 10,000 fans at games. We've had as many as 14,600 a game. So we’re ready made for this opportunity."

  Still, some clubs have told GOAL that they plan to be a part of the new top flight – at least, in theory. Such is the case with Detroit City. The club plays in the third-largest media market in the USL. Club CEO Sean Mann insists that his team will push to be involved.

  “It's something that we anticipate applying for once the league sets an application process out there,” Mann said.

  Others have said that they are committed to playing at the highest level of soccer possible – without outright stating that they plan on joining the top flight.

  “Backed by an ownership group that consistently invests in the club and the sport, we remain committed to taking Phoenix Rising to the highest level of soccer in North America,” Dr. Pablo Prichard, Phoenix Rising principal owner and CEO, told GOAL in a statement.

  McDonough admitted that he understands that some clubs might be unhappy, or surprised, at the way the league plans were announced. The USL held pre-planned meetings with Championship and League One ownership groups the week after the Division 1 announcement, and McDonough conceded both were spent with clubs asking clarifying questions.

  According to sources around the league, there weren't always concrete answers. But that's not to say there isn't reason for optimism.

  “This kind of changes things,” a spokesperson for Louisville told GOAL. “It gives all these clubs something to aspire to, and get a lot of these stadium plans moving and actually happening.”

• USL
  

  'Enthusiastic supporters of promotion-relegation'

  McDonough officially stepped into the role of USL president 18 months ago. When he joined the league, there had already been concrete conversations about the possibility of promotion and relegation in the United States, he said. A move to Division 1 would turn abstract conversations into a genuine possibility.

  The logistics behind it would seem to be complicated. Relegation in European football, though woven into the very fabric of the sport, is expensive. Clubs lose around 60 percent of their revenue for the drop from the Premier League into the Championship. The English FA has offered so-called “Parachute payments” to clubs to prevent them from falling into financial ruin after falling into the Championship.

  McDonough insists that such losses would not be incurred in the USL. His reasoning? The massive TV deal that Premier League clubs benefit from doesn’t exist in the USL. At least not today.

  “We don't have huge national revenues, so the local revenue is going to stay somewhat the same," he said. "Because what we find with our clubs, the fans support their local club. And we can have a team that finishes in towards the bottom of a league, and they're still getting five or 6,000 people."

  Some USL clubs who intend to play at the highest level are enthusiastic about the possibility.

  “We've been very enthusiastic supporters of promotion-relegation," Mann said. "It is not only the way that the sports are played around the world, it's also, strategically, it's a way for American soccer to differentiate herself in a very competitive sports landscape."

  For clubs lower down the leagues, a system that includes promotion and relegation could bring a sense of drama currently unique to the European game.

  “The bottom-of-the-table matches are sometimes or usually, more exciting than the middle-of-the-table matches, like in England,” FC Naples owner Bob Moreno said. “It's that angle that I love the most. It's just it brings, there's more games of consequence.”

  There is also a tangible sense of hope that comes with the possibility of promotion.

  “I think there's that competitive mindset for teams that are looking to climb up the ladder,” Portland Hearts of Pine president Gabe Hoffman-Johnson recently said. “It’s not a major focus for us, but we're excited about the possibility of what that could look like, I also think it's just good for the growth of the game in this country.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  'We as investors could go get involved'

  Before joining USL, McDonough was chief soccer officer at Wasserman Sports Agency. Prior to that he had worked David Beckham, serving as COO and sporting director at Inter Miami, where he managed business operations and helped lead the club from its nascent phase through its inaugural season.

  Some of the crucial conversations from his previous roles have carried with him until today. One of them? The European interest in American soccer.

  “They look at the angle and they say ‘How do we find the next Weston McKennie? How do we find a cheap player, bring them over, develop them, and sell them?'" McDonough said.

  He heard similar things from would-be investors when he started the USL role.

  “The conversations when I came into the league office with some of the people were, 'Listen, your system's good, because we as investors could go get involved with a club, and we can be our own boss,' " he said.

  McDonough is hoping that a similar pitch will work for others in the coming years – especially with multi-club ownership becoming an integral part of the global soccer scene. Manchester City’s City Group, for example, are invested in NYCFC.

  But there is a key difference. MLS clubs, when they sell to foreign markets, are forced to hand over a cut of their sales to the league and its counterparts – 95 percent goes to the teams. The league collects five percent (as compared to 10 years ago, when teams were only allowed to take 66 percent.)

  “If you can have that freedom and control and put it into a multi-club system, it's not a bad thing," McDonough said. "So if you want to take a young Colombian player, drop them in here, you can sign them on a four-year deal, but you have complete control, and you don't have to ask anyone's permission but yourself. Where you can sell them, where you loan them, you may sell them for just what you put into them, and you get a bigger 50 percent sell on. That's what our clubs have that freedom to do.”

  It would seem to run counter to the original proposals around USL clubs, which have traditionally been owned by local businesspeople. Sacramento Republic, for example, were recently subject of a takeover by a nearby Native American tribe.

West Ham United have had a turbulent start to this campaign under their new manager, after making the decision to take the club in a different direction this summer, hiring Julen Lopetegui.

Heavy investment into the squad, and a managerial change that saw a drastic alteration to their style of play, but some Hammers fans may be scratching their heads, wondering if they should’ve been careful what they wished for.

Since David Moyes left the club, things have gone downhill, and it could go from bad to worse, with Mohammed Kudus’ suspension being extended, during a key stretch for Lopetegui’s future.

Mohammed Kudus' suspension

The 24-year-old attacker has made ten appearances so far this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist, starting much slower than he did last campaign, where the winger made 45 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists.

It is now confirmed that Kudus will serve an extended ban, after being sent off for violent conduct in West Ham’s 4-1 loss to Tottenham. The Ghanaian will now miss the Hammers games against Newcastle and Arsenal, following the international break.

This setback also comes amid claims that replacing the former Ajax man could be something of a long-term issue for the club, with reports indicating that Arsenal are among those who are keen to sign the forward in the near future.

One option Lopetegui has to ease the loss of Kudus – both in the short-term and should he depart – is summer signing Crysencio Summerville, who joined from Leeds for around £25m, following his Championship Player of the Year season last campaign.

But the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss could have one more option that, whilst being risky, could prove to be the best man for the job.

West Ham's perfect Kudus replacement

Luis Guilherme was signed by West Ham this summer, joining from Palmerias in Brazil, for a fee of around £25m. The 18-year-old wonderkid made 45 appearances for the Brazilian outfit, scoring one goal, providing one assist, and totalling 1,345 minutes played.

Yannick Bolasie, an ex-Premier League star, labelled him “electric”, as well as “exciting” and a “tricky customer” when speaking about the young Brazilian.

This is the type of player that gets fans off their seat, and with Lopetegui’s future in doubt, now may be the perfect time to fully unleash him.

Analysing Guilherme’s numbers from Palmeiras so it gives a better understanding of his overall game (as he’s only played twice for the Hammers so far), shows why he could be a better option than Summerville, adding more creativity to the side, as well as progressive metrics that could help the side during build-up.

The 18-year-old Brazilian could replace Kudus’s output, as shown from his higher assists per 90, and slightly lower goals per 90, not quite offering the same shot volume as Kudus, and possibly not as direct, but apart from that, ranking above or very close to Kudus in all other metrics.

With data analyst Ben Mattinson also stating that the teenager’s “versatility reminds [him] of Kudus”, now would be the perfect time for Lopetegui to unleash his exciting weapon signed this summer, as pressure is mounting from the fans.

Bringing an exciting youngster into the side can always give a positive lift in morale to the supporters, giving them something to get behind, and it’s a mentality shift like this that could even save Lopetegui his job.

West Ham must regret selling a star who's rivalling Yamal in 2024/25

West Ham may have made a mistake allowing one star to leave the London Stadium.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 15, 2024

Jurgen Klopp has revealed exactly when he plans to return to Anfield to watch Liverpool, even though he fears he will prove a "jinx".

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Liverpool leading the league
• Slot's side look destined to win title
• Klopp set to make Reds return

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Klopp has confirmed that he will return to Anfield before the end of the season, in what would be his first time back at the club since his exit at the end of last summer. The legendary German boss spent nine years in charge, winning the league and the Champions League during his time in the dugout.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Klopp has admitted that he has feared being seen as a "jinx" to Arne Slot's side and as a result he has claimed he is only willing to watch the Reds at Anfield once they have confirmed their status as Premier League champions. Of course, when Klopp won the title, he did so in front of an empty stadium due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

• WHAT KLOPP SAID

  Klopp was speaking at a charity event in South Korea and confirmed he would attend the final game of the season against Crystal Palace.

  He said: "Yes, the plan is [to be in Liverpool] but not on the bus. I will be there with the people, the people I saw when we were on the bus. That's the idea to be honest, but we will see. I think I will be there for the last game… I didn't want to go earlier to be honest because I didn't want to jinx it all the time.

  "If I'm in the stadium for the first time and they lose: 'oh f*ck sake'. So I go there when it's decided."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Liverpool play Southampton this weekend as they bid to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 16 points.

Everton are once again finding themselves in a precarious situation for the third Premier League season in a row, with relegation a real threat given their recent form.

The Toffees have only picked up 11 points from their opening 12 outings this campaign, winning just two games in the process.

Last Saturday’s meeting with Brentford pretty much summed up the campaign they’re having under Sean Dyche, drawing 0-0 with Thomas Frank’s side at Goodison Park, despite the visitors playing with just ten men for over 45 minutes after Christian Norgaard’s first-half dismissal.

His side were frustrated in attacking areas, unable to find the back of the net and capitalise on the advantage they were handed – ultimately a familiar story of their season to date.

They have struggled to replicate their end-of-season form from 2023/24 which saw them secure survival despite a combined eight-point deduction, with one area of the pitch undoubtedly contributing to their lowly league standing of 15th place.

Everton’s major issue so far in 2024/25

Goals have been hard to come by for Everton in recent seasons, as seen with their tally of just 41 goals in 38 matches during their near miss with relegation last year.

However, Dyche has been unable to transform their fortunes in the final third in recent months, with goals still hard to come by on Merseyside in the Premier League.

His side have only produced ten goals in 12 matches, with Dwight McNeil the top scorer to date, scoring just three goals – a signal as to how much the Toffees have struggled to create opportunities in attacking areas.

In the league this campaign, they have been presented with 16 big chances, with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin missing seven of those on his own, restricting him to a measly tally of just two goals scored.

Dyche’s men have also only averaged four shots on target per 90 since August, the fourth worst of any side in England’s top-flight, which sees their lowly goal tally come as no surprise given the lack of chances directed on goal.

Such records will undoubtedly be a cause for concern to supporters, as they desperately hope to enter their first season at Bramley-Moore in the top division rather than the Championship.

If there is to be a change in fortunes, the 53-year-old could turn to one member of his squad to try and push the club away from any looming relegation threat and maintain his status as manager, with rumours already swirling regarding possible replacements in the dugout.

The man who Dyche must unleash to save his job

Over the summer transfer window, the hierarchy invested money into the playing squad to try and combat their recent issues – most notably in forward positions.

Jesper Lindstrom and Iliman Ndiaye were just additions who arrived at Goodison, but despite the latter registering two goals, Everton’s situation up front still remains the same. In truth, they are missing a figure of the past like Romelu Lukaku, who powered home 87 goals in just 166 games for the club.

As a result, Toffees boss Dyche could turn to fellow summer signing Armando Broja, who – like Lukaku before him – joined on an initial loan from Chelsea on deadline day.

The Albanian international is yet to feature after his temporary signing following a long-term ankle issue, but the 23-year-old has been spotted making his comeback in training over the last couple of weeks.

Broja, who’s previously been dubbed as “dangerous” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has proven he’s capable of supplying consistent goals in the Premier League, as seen during a previous loan spell with Southampton in 2021/22.

He managed to register six goals during the aforementioned year, in what was his first taste of top-level football in England, despite his breakthrough at Chelsea. That purple patch as saw the youngster described as “devastating” by Sergio Porrini, the assistant manager of Albania, at the time.

Whilst it’s to be expected that he will take time to settle into the squad on Merseyside after his recent injury struggles, the under-fire boss must unleash the striker over Calvert-Lewin upon his return to full fitness.

Expecting Broja to follow in the footsteps of that man Lukaku may be a tough ask, although as journalist Gab Marcotti previously stated, he “can do a lot of the things Lukaku can do”.

Time is ticking for the former Burnley manager at Goodison following another slow start, with Broja able to dig the 53-year-old out of trouble and get his own career back on track in the process.

Everton need to sell a star who Richarlison thought was "like Ronaldo"

Regardless of Sean Dyche’s fate, this Everton star needs to be sold in January.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 27, 2024

Brian Rodríguez, Diego Valdés, Alejandro Zendejas and Álvaro Fidalgo scored the goals for Las Águilas

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• América beat Chivas 4-1 in the aggregate

• Alan Mozo was sent off in the first minute of the second half

• Los Azulcremas will face Cruz Azul in the next round of the tournament

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Club América showcased its superiority and defeated Chivas 4-0, eliminating them from the Champions Cup Round of 16. With goals from Brian Rodríguez, Diego Valdés, Alejandro Zendejas, and Álvaro Fidalgo, secured their spot in the next phase of the tournament, where they will face Cruz Azul.

  The match went into halftime with a 2-0 lead for André Jardine’s team. Chivas needed just one goal to qualify for the quarterfinals due to the away goal rule, but just one minute into the second half, Alan Mozo was sent off, and América took advantage to secure a dominant victory.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  arrived at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes with a 1-0 advantage after winning the first leg at Estadio Akron. Meanwhile, América came into the match with something to prove to their fans, as they had failed to score against Chivas in their previous two encounters last week.could not afford elimination, as the Champions Cup remains the only title that André Jardine's team has yet to win.

• Getty
  

  WHAT BRIAN RODRÍGUEZ SAID

  "We had it very difficult, the Clásico is a different game, we had the frustration of going to Guadalajara and not being able to score, but we showed why we are the three-time champions," Brian Rodríguez said. "We came out with a lot of attitude and desire. I want to thank the people who never stopped supporting us."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In the past year, América and Chivas have faced off seven times in El Clásico – and not a single Chivas player has found the back of the net. The only goal Chivas have managed in those seven matches came from an América own goal in last week’s first-leg clash in the Champions Cup Round of 16.

The October and November periods have seen choppy waters engulf the Emirates Stadium. Some might say that water was required after the fire that started but Arsenal have finally eradicated the flames and they are back on track.

There is no secret that the Gunners appear to have blown things this season. Yes, their fixture run has been tough but truth be told, they’ve also not helped themselves.

Mikel Arteta might like to blame some injuries, and he might also like to blame some of the officiating – we’re looking at those Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard red cards – but once all is said and done in May, they will likely look back at this period and rue what might have been.

Defeats to Newcastle and Bournemouth have been seismic and before Liverpool face Southampton on Sunday afternoon, Arsenal sit six points behind the league leaders.

It’s typical really, isn’t it? Manchester City have finally slipped away from their extraordinary standards and their biggest challengers of the last two years are still behind them.

Thankfully, the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday has stopped Arsenal’s own slump and they can now finally focus on a potential winning run.

There were a whole host of strong performers this weekend but let us praise Ethan Nwaneri, a teenager who’s evoking Cesc Fabregas in north London.

Ethan Nwaneri's dazzling cameo vs Forest

What a performance this was. Still, should we be surprised? 17-year-old Nwaneri has been nothing short of exceptional since being given more first-team minutes this term. In fact, he probably should have played more than he has with Martin Odegaard missing around two months of action through injury.

That said, we’ve still seen some exceptional performances from the Hale End graduate. He has scored four goals already this term, finding the net twice against Bolton and once against Preston in the Carabao Cup.

His goal against Forest yesterday, though, felt more important. It was the landmark moment of this young boy’s career so far. He has been waiting for an opportunity in the Premier League and although this outing was only fleeting, he more than made his mark.

The tone was set within moments of the teenager coming on. He danced past stocky Brazilian defender Murillo with a dazzling step-over before bending a shot just wide of the far post.

He wasn’t going to miss his next chance though. Thomas Partey took a quick free-kick and laid it into the path of Nwaneri who burst forward. His next action was to play in fellow substitute Raheem Sterling down the right channel. Sterling cut it back and the youngster was ready and waiting to fire past Mats Selz at his near post.

By scoring, he became the ninth youngest scorer in Premier League history and Arsenal’s second-youngest goalscorer behind Fabregas.

Still, he’s perhaps not the only one living up to Fabregas’ performance in N5.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Arsenal's next Fabregas

Nwaneri deserves the plaudits, of course he does, but there were two other key performers at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.

The first was Odegaard who reminded us all of why he’s so important to this team. He supplied six key passes – the most in the game – with one of those proving to be decisive, the action that supplied Bukayo Saka’s opener.

Unsurprisingly, it is Saka who has been Arsenal’s star boy this term and his performances are certainly evoking Fabregas’ play.

The Englishman is more explosive than the Spaniard, he’s got more pace, he’s got more swagger to his play. But, they are both creative marvels.

Although the former Barcelona man left London behind in controversial circumstances, heading back to his boyhood club, he should still be remembered as one of the finest players from the Emirates era.

He registered an impressive haul of 95 assists in 303 Arsenal games. Ten of those came during the 2008/09 league campaign and another 15 fell in the 2009/10 league season. To sum things up succinctly, he was an assist machine.

Well, as it happens, Saka has become rather good in that department too. Against Forest, he registered another assist, acting as the supply line for Thomas Partey’s goal.

That moved the 23-year-old to eight assists in 11 Premier League matches this season, and put him on 58 assists in 242 appearances. It ensured he surpassed Arteta’s tally of assists while his goal – Saka’s 51st top-flight strike – saw him move one clear of Fabregas’ own English top-flight goal tally.

It’s not just that goal-scoring nature they share but the levels of creativity we’re seeing from the England international is staggering.

No player has more assists in the Premier League this term, no player has created more key passes per 90 minutes (2.9), and only one player, Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski (33) has created more chances as a whole than Saka (32).

He’s a special talent and if the creativity wasn’t enough comparison, then the fact they’re two of the best young players to grace the club should be enough for you.

Fewer touches than Raya: Arteta must drop 6/10 Arsenal star after Forest

Arsenal returned to form as they defeated Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.

By
Matt Dawson

Nov 24, 2024

Juventus have already started planning for life beyond Thiago Motta, with the Italian club reportedly in negotiations with Roberto Mancini.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Motta's Juventus job in jeopardy
• Bianconeri could miss out on top four spot
• Mancini in pole position to take over

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Juventus' wait to restore their supremacy in Italian football has continued under head coach Motta, who arrived from Bologna last summer. His future in Turin now faces uncertainty, with a report from (h/t Calciomercato) claiming that talks with Roberto Mancini to make him the new head coach ahead of next season have reached an advanced stage.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Motta hasn't enjoyed a successful debut campaign as head coach at the Allianz Stadium. Juventus were knocked out by PSV in the pre-round of 16 Champions League play-offs, while they have struggled to match the level of teams like Inter, Napoli, and Atalanta in Serie A. The Bianconeri are currently in fourth position in the table. A few more disappointing results and they would be under severe risk of missing out on the top four and therefore a place in next season's Champions League.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Per the report from Juve are in advanced talks with Mancini, who just ended his stint as the manager of the Saudi Arabia national team. The report also named Atalanta's Gian Piero Gasperini as another candidate rumoured to be linked with the role, although direct contacts are yet to be established. As things stand, Gasperini is closer to joining Roma, where he would succeed Claudio Ranieri.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS?

  Juventus will face Fiorentina on Sunday as they aim to strengthen their bid to finish in the top four. They are currently nine points behind league leaders Inter.

Multiple reports claim Igor Tudor is to replace Thiago Motta as Juventus boss.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Bianconeri had been linked with Mancini and Zidane
• Reports suggest Tudor may have already signed a deal
• Motta signed on at Juve in June 2024

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Multiple reports appear to suggest ex-Lazio boss Tudor will take the job before Juve's next game against Genoa. Fabrizio Romano believes the ex-Bianconeri defender has agreed a deal which could extend until 2026. Matteo Moretto's reporting appears to back this up, as he believes the Croatian's contract will automatically extend if he leads Juventus to Champions League qualification.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In recent days, Juve had been linked with two other ex-players. Both Zinedine Zidane and Roberto Mancini were heavily linked with the position, although it now appears Tudor will return to the club. Juve currently sit in 5th place in Serie A.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Motta's Juve side have been a tough watch this season. Their back-to-back defeats to Atalanta and Fiorentina were just the second and third in the league this term. However, The Old Lady have drawn 13 of their 29 fixtures, the highest number of stalemates in the league.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS?

  Irrespective of who is in the dugout, Juve will host Genoa next Saturday. Despite their turgid form, they sit just one point behind Motta's previous employer Bologna in fourth. It remains to be seen if that will be enough for Champions League qualification, however.