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And so Arsenal march on. Seven games into the new Premier League season and the Gunners remain unbeaten, having gone into the latest international break just a point behind Liverpool at the summit and level with champions, Manchester City.

Even without talismanic skipper Martin Odegaard, the north London side have continued to pick up positive results in recent weeks, having also powered to a convincing 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

It’s not been plain-sailing – not least due to red cards for the likes of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard – but the Emirates outfit have scrapped and fought to maintain this string of positive results, proving to their title rivals that they are here to stay at the top of the table.

The bedrock of Mikel Arteta’s success remains that of Europe’s “best central defensive pairing” – as hailed by ex-England defender Matthew Upson – in the form of William Saliba and Gabriel, while Hale End hero Bukayo Saka continues to terrorise with seven assists in as many league games.

It would be foolish, however, to overlook the impact of another of Arteta’s “main players” – as the Spaniard has himself described him – with former Chelsea man Kai Havertz having quietly emerged as a vital figure for the club in 2024.

Havertz's start to the season

The midfield experiment has been abandoned, and Havertz is looking all the better for it.

Plucked from Stamford Bridge for a hefty £65m fee in the summer of 2023, it’s fair to say that the German’s early months in an Arsenal shirt with rather uninspiring, as he chipped in with just four goals and one assist in the league before Christmas.

In truth, it wasn’t until late February and early March of this year that the silky striker truly began to find his feet after shifting to a number nine berth, having scored in four successive league games. He hasn’t looked back since.

After ending last term with 13 league goals to his name, the former Champions League winner has continued that red-hot form into the new campaign, registering six goals in just ten outings in all competitions.

While once looking like a player who couldn’t find a home on the pitch, the 25-year-old is now a centre-forward in every sense, shown no more so than his brave header in the win over PSG.

As that effort indicated, Havertz is now a “real threat around the box” – as per his manager – with the hope being that he can now be supplied with regular, quality service, even in the absence of Odegaard.

That could then call for Arteta to make a bold tactical tweak in the coming weeks, with there perhaps an argument for the aforementioned Saka to take on a new role moving forward.

How Havertz could be made even better

On the early evidence, the records could tumble this season, with Saka already likely to have an eye on Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s all-time tally of 20 assists in a Premier League campaign.

Not just a goalscorer, the Englishman is marking himself out as a more than capable creator too, thus raising the question as to whether his strengths could be better utilised in a number ten berth, rather than on the flanks.

That is the verdict of data analyst Ben Mattinson, at least, who has suggested that the 23-year-old’s “output would skyrocket” if he was to make that switch to a central role, as it would prove “much harder for teams to double up on him and give him no space too”.

A possible “game-changer” of an alteration – in the view of Mattinson – this different role could then help to make Havertz even more effective in and around the box, as he would be able to link up more directly with Saka through the middle.

Saka’s ability to thread a pass and tee up Arsenal’s main marksman has already been showcased this season as he has remarkably created 12 ‘big chances’ to date, while averaging 3.9 key passes per game. To put that into perspective, the most ‘big chances’ created by a player in the division in the whole of 2023/24 was Mohamed Salah, with 22.

Rank

Player

‘Big chances’ created

1.

Bukayo Saka

12

2.

Cole Palmer

8

3.

Dwight McNeil

7

4.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

5

4.

Leif Davis

5

4.

Bryan Mbuemo

5

4.

Bernardo Silva

5

4.

Youri Tielemans

5

There may be those questioning why then should the academy graduate be relocated if he is already thriving on the right flank, but allowing him to operate in even closer proximity to Havertz could prove a masterstroke for both parties.

On current form, the latter man is proving that he can provide that clinical touch in front of goal. If supplied with regular service by Saka in a new number ten berth, who knows the goal tally he could end up with come May.

Arsenal sold Haaland & Kane hybrid for £4m, now he's outscoring Havertz

Arsenal sold a striker over the summer who’s been a man in form for his new club.

1 ByMatt Dawson Oct 8, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur proved their breadth of quality in attack rivals any frontline across the country, dispatching West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.

Admittedly, the Hammers were sorely out of shape, but it was still a triumph that has set the north Londoners back on track after capitulating against Brighton & Hove Albion before the October international break.

There’s one man above all others who’s supercharging Postecoglou’s attack: Dejan Kulusevski.

Dejan Kulusevski's performance vs West Ham

Kulusevski has long been regarded as one of Tottenham’s most exciting players but he’s starting to hit his stride this season, with Postecoglou regularly unleashing the typical winger in a more central and dynamic midfield role.

It’s paying off handsomely, with Spurs still lacking fluency and defensive solidity but starting to look more refined and cohesive as a unit.

Against West Ham, this was showcased spectacularly, and Kulusevski was at the heart of his side’s football, awarded an 9/10 match rating by football.london’s Rob Guest, who hailed the Swede’s parity-restoring goal in the first half, his link-up play with skipper Heung-min Son, with his sky-high confidence threading it all together.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

1

Touches

59

Shots (on target)

4 (1)

Accurate passes

29/35 (83%)

Key passes

2

Possession lost

17x

Dribbles (completed)

6 (2)

Tackles

3

Total duels (won)

15 (8)

The 24-year-old is embracing his more talismanic role in Postecoglou’s system and, with James Maddison hooked at half-time as more purchase was sought, looks like the main man. He might even be shaping into the Lilywhites’ own version of Martin Odegaard.

Ange's own version of Odegaard

Kulusevski’s energy and application make him an indispensable member of the Tottenham team. His comparative raise in prolificness is merely a welcome bonus.

Pundit Graeme Souness once hailed Kulusevski as “De Bruyne-esque” but perhaps such praise could be more aptly attributed to that of the Arsenal captain.

FBref’s number-crunching model has revealed that Odegaard is one of Kulusevski’s most statistically similar midfielders, for both left-footers are natural goalscorers with a ball-carrying expertise and combative streak.

Odegaard has been named Arsenal’s Player of the Season for successive years and is one of the finest and most influential players in the Premier League, and it would be quite a thing for Postecoglou to fashion Kulusevski into a star of a similar ilk.

With two goals across his past three matches in the top flight, the Tottenham sensation will be hoping to sustain this searing-hot run of form and fire his outfit back into the Champions League and toward the deep end of a cup competition.

As you can see from the graphic above, Kulusevski is growing into one of Europe’s finest midfielders, and he could be a real difference-maker for his side across the coming months, perhaps rivalling Odegaard down the line for London’s finest occupant of the playmaking tag.

Spurs thought they had Eriksen's replacement, now he plays in League One

Tottenham have had their fair share of attacking players in recent times.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 18, 2024

Birmingham City cruised to yet another victory in League One against Bolton Wanderers last time out, with both clubs once Premier League regulars now scrapping it out in the lower depths of the EFL.

Chris Davies’ men are certainly doing better this season, with the 2-0 win over Ian Evatt’s men helping matters, as the Blues sit top of the pile whilst the Trotters occupy an unsatisfactory 14th spot in the division.

Birmingham will already be dreaming about an immediate return to the Championship off the back of their top-of-the-table heroics, with fans that have stuck by the Blues throughout years of turbulence in the league above aware that there have been faces that shone in the tricky league over recent years, even as their side routinely fought off relegation.

Top performers for Birmingham in the Championship

They even have one on their books right now, with Jay Stansfield crowned Birmingham’s top scorer in league action last season with a promising return of 12 strikes from 43 games, as the ex-Fulham man consistently stood out as a bright spark even as relegation was confirmed.

Another striker by the name of Lukas Jutkiewicz also sticks out as a recent hall-of-Famer at St. Andrew’s – who is still present in Davies’ camp too – with the imposing centre-forward amassing 336 appearances for the Blues to date regularly playing in the second tier, reliably chipping in with 66 goals along the way.

Other notable names include Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, who began his playing days at the Blues before going on to become a world-class talent in Spain, alongside the likes of Demarai Gray who now plays out in Saudi Arabia after scoring eight goals from 77 games once on the books of Davies’ men.

There is another figure that could spring to mind in the form of Che Adams, who ended his time with Birmingham by registering a sublime 22 league goals during the 2018/19 season, before a major switch to Southampton came to fruition.

Adams' move to Southampton

Before that breakout campaign, the ex-Birmingham number nine hadn’t always been a devastating goal machine, only registering 12 league strikes the two seasons prior to his big moment in the spotlight.

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Off the back of this goal-laden patch of games leading the line for the Championship club, however, a bumper move to the Premier League beckoned, with caretaker manager Pep Clotet selling on the Scotland international for £15m in the summer of 2019.

Southampton

191

48

Torino

10

4

The goals haven’t dried up either for the now 28-year-old forward away from St. Andrew’s, as the one-time Blues youngster played a crucial role in Southampton’s recent promotion exploits by firing home 15 strikes from 41 league games last season.

Ex-Saints boss Ralph Hassenhuttl would even label Adams as “fantastic” when the striker competed in the Premier League, but the conclusion of his time on the South Coast will leave a bad taste in the mouth for those at St. Mary’s who regularly cheered his name.

He would up and leave for Torino on a free transfer this summer just gone, after failing to agree a new deal at Russell Martin’s men, with the Serie A club picking up a smart bargain in the process.

With four goals already under his belt in Italy, Southampton will curse that they couldn’t have at least got some money out of the sale, if he was dead set on departing England.

Birmingham will just be pleased they cashed in when they did, with Adams’ value now at Torino coming in at the £8m mark as per Football Transfers, meaning he is worth £7m less than his previous flashy £15m price tag.

Davies will have everything crossed that his current troops can make an immediate leap back up to the Championship come the end of the campaign, away from the Scotsman’s promising start to life in Serie A, with the likes of Stansfield eyeing up Adams’ 22 goals as a potential target to beat.

Sold for £6.3m: Birmingham hit gold with ace who's now worth millions less

Birmingham City would have been glad to just get this player off their books.

1 ByKelan Sarson Oct 4, 2024

Manchester United secured their first victory of the Europa League campaign with a 2-0 win against Greek side PAOK at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

A double from winger Amad Diallo secured the win for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, as the Dutchman claimed his second victory in temporary charge after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal last week.

The win takes the Red Devils up to 15th in the league phase, three points off an automatic qualification place, despite remaining unbeaten in the first four outings of the competition.

It’s safe to say that Diallo took the opportunity with both hands, staking his claim for a regular starting role under new boss Ruben Amorim, when the Portuguese takes over on the 11th of November.

He wasn’t the only player, with numerous first-team members impressing during the victory, helping Van Nistelrooy kickstart the European campaign.

United’s star performers against PAOK

Captain Bruno Fernandes produced another impressive display for United, registering an assist for one of the goals during the victory – whilst also registering numerous eye-catching figures.

The 30-year-old completed 43 passes at a completion rate of 80%, creating seven key passes for his teammates as he helped the Red Devils end their European drought without a win.

Fernandes also completed four crosses – the most of any player on either side – often looking as the most likely to create opportunities in attacking areas.

Full-back Noussair Mazraoui once again impressed in at right-back, forcing Diogo Dalot to continue featuring in a slightly unnatural left-sided role.

The Moroccan featured for the entirety of the contest, winning five of the six ground duels that he entered – completing 93% of the passes he attempted during the victory.

In what was a disappointing transfer window over the summer, Mazraoui has proven to be one of the best of a poor bunch of additions – looking to be worth every penny of the £17.2m transfer fee the hierarchy paid for his signature.

The same can’t be said for one signing, who time and time again has proven that he’s not been worth the big money splashed out for his services.

Chalkboard

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

The man who dropped a 4/10 against PAOK

Striker Rasmus Hojlund cost the Red Devils £72m in August last year, but up to now he’s only managed to notch a total of 18 goals since his arrival.

He’s often looked sluggish and off the pace, even being ineffective at the top end of the pitch – looking like a talent well below the confidence levels required of a striker who cost such a hefty sum of money.

Last night was no different for the 21-year-old, struggling to make any form of impact on the meeting, only managing a total of 16 touches – with goalkeeper Andre Onana having far more with his total of 51.

Hojlund also only completed four of his six attempted passes, losing possession seven times out of his 16 touches – which saw him lose the ball 44% of the time he had control of it.

Minutes played

89

Touches

16

Passes completed

4/6 (76%)

Possession lost

7x

Times caught offside

1

Fouls committed

1

Duels won

4/9 (44%)

He was also caught offside once, conceding a foul, and winning less than 50% of the duels he entered during the win for Van Nistelrooy’s men at Old Trafford.

As a result of his dismal display, the striker was handed a 4/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst – receiving the joint-lowest rating of any player in the squad.

United host Leicester City on Sunday afternoon looking to claim just their fourth league win of the campaign, but striker Hojlund should be nowhere near the starting lineup given his terrible showing last night.

The Dutchman could look to bring in Marcus Rashford and utilise him as a central striker, allowing the Englishman to feature in a more natural role – potentially allowing him to regain his confidence and start finding the back of the net once again.

Man Utd want "unreal" signing who could be Ronaldo 2.0 for Amorim

Manchester United are already looking to bolster the attack for new boss Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 7, 2024

Leeds United strolled to a comfortable 3-0 win over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday in the Championship to move up into second place in the table.

The Whites did not allow the away side to register a single shot on goal throughout the 90 minutes and scored all three goals in the first half, which speaks to their dominance in West Yorkshire.

Daniel Farke’s side have only lost one of their opening 13 matches in the division, a 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Elland Road, and they must remain consistent to secure an automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

Leeds fell short in the play-offs in the 2023/24 campaign, losing 1-0 to Southampton in the final at Wembley, after finishing third in the regular season.

The West Yorkshire outfit have had to deal with a number of injury issues already this season to disrupt their progress, though, as Ethan Ampadu, Max Wober, and Ilia Gruev have been sidelined with long-term blows, whilst Dan James recently missed a month with a hamstring injury.

With the January transfer window on the horizon, Leeds are reportedly looking at a player who could bolster their options in the middle of the park.

Leeds interested in English dynamo

Despite signing Josuha Guilavogui on a free transfer last month, the Whites are said to be interested in signing another central midfielder to add depth to the squad.

According to The Sun, Leeds are keen on Lewis O’Brien and could look to bring him over to Elland Road when the January transfer window opens for business.

The report claims that Farke’s side and fellow Championship outfit Hull City have been making enquiries to keep tabs on his availability, as they look to potentially swoop for his services.

O’Brien is currently on loan with LAFC in the MLS, from parent club Nottingham Forest, and his impressive stint there may make it a struggle for Leeds or Hull to snap him up.

The Sun reports that LAFC have an option to make the deal permanent for a fee of £7m and that the English midfielder looks set to complete a permanent move to the American outfit at the start of 2025.

This means that Leeds will have to move quickly and persuade the former Huddersfield Town star, who was linked with a £10m move to Elland Road during his time with the Terriers in 2022, to ditch the MLS to move back to the Championship, with the possibility of Premier League football next term.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

If the Whites can thrash out a deal with Forest and convince O’Brien to make the move to Yorkshire, the left-footed ace could be a dream for current star Ao Tanaka.

Ao Tanaka's form for Leeds

The central midfielder was signed from Fortuna Dusseldorf during the summer transfer window and had to initially bide his time for a chance in the starting XI in the Championship.

Injuries to Gruev and Ampadu, however, provided the Japan international with an opportunity to start week-in-week-out in the league for Farke, and he has certainly grasped his chance with both hands.

The 26-year-old metronome has started each of the last six Championship games for the Whites and is yet to taste defeat as a starter, whilst Illan Meslier has only conceded four times in those six matches.

He is yet to register a goal or an assist in the league, but the Japanese star ranks within the top 17% of midfielders in the division for progressive passes per 90 (6.16).

This shows that Tanaka is making an impact in possession, by consistently progressing the ball forward into dangerous areas, without goals and assists.

Appearances

10

Pass accuracy

92%

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.8

Duels won per game

3.1

Duel success rate

58%

As you can see in the table above, the former 2. Bundesliga maestro has also offered quality out of possession by winning duels and tackles, and making interceptions to cut out opposition attacks.

This shows that he is a well-rounded central midfielder who can make an impact on and off the ball, albeit his work in the final third could be better.

Leeds could now land a dream partner for him in the middle of the park by convincing O’Brien to forget about a long-term move to America and join Farke’s side.

Why Lewis O'Brien would be a dream for Ao Tanaka

Firstly, the English dynamo is a left-footed player and would offer a natural balance to the right-footed Tanaka on the left side of the manager’s double pivot. Whereas, Joe Rothwell, a right-footed ace, is currently playing alongside the Japanese whiz.

Secondly, O’Brien would come in with plenty of experience in English football, with 146 Championship appearances and 13 outings in the Premier League under his belt, which suggests that he could help the former Dusseldorf man to continue to settle into life in the league.

It also suggests that the 26-year-old ace, who was hailed as “very special” by ex-boss Carlos Corberan, could hit the ground running in the second tier, given he played 23 times on loan with Middlesbrough during the 2023/24 campaign.

His form for LAFC in the MLS also indicates that he has the potential to be an excellent addition to the Leeds squad, and a dream signing for Tanaka on the pitch.

Appearances

11

13

Key passes per game

1.9

1.4

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.4

1.3

Ball recoveries per game

5.6

2.4

Duels won per game

3.9

1.3

As you can see in the table above, O’Brien has significantly outperformed Rothwell as a defensive presence in the middle of the park, whilst also averaging more tackles, interceptions, and duels won than Tanaka.

The English whiz has also created more chances per game on average than the Bournemouth loanee, which suggests that he could offer more than him in the final third and, therefore, make up for where the Japanese star lacks in his performances.

This is why Farke must push hard to secure a deal for O’Brien in January, as his mobility and defensive work rate, coupled with his creative passing, could make him an ideal partner for Tanaka in midfield.

Farke has struck gold on undroppable Leeds ace who they didn't want to sign

The Leeds United head coach had to convince the club to take a chance on him.

1 ByDan Emery Nov 4, 2024

Hoping to take their place among Europe’s elite both on and off the pitch, Manchester United are now reportedly racing to sign a bargain defensive reinforcement ahead of Barcelona in 2025.

Man Utd transfer news

Given Ruben Amorim’s official arrival, it’s no real surprise that the transfer rumours have been coming thick and fast for Manchester United. The Red Devils are in desperate need of a turnaround and the transfer window should play a large part in that. But Dan Ashworth and Sir Jim Ratcliffe must get things right on that front.

Already, the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and former Manchester City defender Danilo have been linked to Old Trafford in a potential sign of things to come.

There’s no doubt that Gyokeres would be a standout signing, given his reputation as one of Europe’s most clinical goalscorers and one who completed his best work under Amorim. In fact, in the Portuguese manager’s final home game at Sporting CP, Gyokeres netted a rather fitting hat-trick in a 4-1 thrashing of Manchester City in the Champions League.

Before those at Old Trafford splash the cash, however, they could land a bargain defensive reinforcement for Amorim and his backline. According to reports in Spain, Manchester United have now made contact over a move to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah ahead of Barcelona next summer. The Bayer Leverkusen ace may represent one of the smartest deals next summer with his contract coming to an end at the German club at the end of the season.

Amorim can axe Casemiro for “talented" teen who’s not played for Man Utd

The Man Utd ace has been on the bench for the first-team this season

1 ByJoe Nuttall Nov 9, 2024

A player who played a vital part in Leverkusen’s historic invincible domestic campaign last time out, Tah could emerge to form quite the partnership with Matthijs de Ligt for the Red Devils next season.

"Strong" Tah could partner De Ligt and Maguire

Whilst De Ligt is yet to transform the Manchester United backline like it seemed he would when swapping Bayern Munich for the Premier League, Tah’s arrival could go a long way towards doing just that. The German is an experienced defender these days as well as a historic winner who could slot into a back three alongside De Ligt and Maguire to hand Amorim the missing piece to play his favoured system.

Progressive Passes

12

56

11

Tackles Won

5

4

1

Aerial Duels Won

16

20

8

Ball Recoveries

19

53

10

Outperforming his potential future teammates, Tah is the defensive leader that United so desperately need, especially in a back three under Amorim.

The German’s rise is one that his former national team manager saw coming, with Joachim Low saying via the official Bundesliga website at the start of Tah’s Germany career: “He’s a young player with a lot of potential. He’s physically strong and very quick. Everything is possible.”

Earning a reported £45,000-a-week, Tah ticks the boxes for experience, leadership and a bargain option who would not disrupt United’s wage bill.

Arsenal have been named as one of the potential destinations for an “outrageous” forward, tipped to become one of the world’s best, who could now leave his club for under £30 million.

Arsenal target new forward and potential Bukayo Saka alternative

In the last few weeks, Mikel Arteta’s side have been linked with a few interesting wingers, as the club seek to potentially acquire a back-up option to star man Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal preparing January move for £54m England ace with talks already held

He’d be a very popular addition.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 28, 2024

Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo is reportedly on Arsenal’s radar as an option, with the Cameroonian enjoying a sensational Premier League campaign so far – scoring eight goals in 12 top-flight starts.

West Ham United (away)

November 30

Man United (home)

December 4

Fulham (away)

December 8

Everton (home)

December 14

Crystal Palace (away)

December 21

Bournemouth’s Antoine Sememyo is also a transfer target for Arsenal, as per some media sources, but it is likely that both of these players will cost a premium to bring to north London in January.

A more realistic name financially, especially considering Lyon’s dire financial situation right now, is highly-rated French winger Rayan Cherki.

The 21-year-old can play anywhere across the attacking midfield line, including on both flanks, and this has attracted serious interest from elite English sides.

Arsenal could sign Lyon star Rayan Cherki for under £30 million

Lyon have been provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 for next season, unless their finances drastically improve, with a transfer ban also in place at the Groupama Stadium.

This means that Pierre Sage’s side could be forced to offload key men in January, so they can raise funds and prevent what is seen as a bleak future for the French giants.

Arsenal have been named as contenders to sign Cherki in January, with the winger potentially available for just £25 million, despite his status as a player who could become world-class. The Lyon academy graduate has been called “outrageous” for his skill level, so the Gunners could strike a real bargain here.

“At number four. It’s Rayan Cherki, who is just absolutely unbelievable,” said journalist Dean Jones on the Ranks FC Ultras Podcast (via TBR).

“Potential landing spots at the moment for Cherki include Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal. I’m sure you’ll have thoughts on others that should be in the mix. But obviously, this becomes more interesting because there’s a lot of talk that Lyon are going to have to cash in on some players in the near future.

“We’ll have to wait to see whether that actually proves to be true, whether they’re actually tempted. But I mean, you see figures around Cherki and there’s like 25 million pounds is talked about, which just seems like too good to be true. He’s just different, this player.

“If you haven’t seen Cherki play, then just either stop the pod and go and watch him on YouTube for 10 minutes and then come back or just go watch him while we’re talking right now. Because his skill level is outrageous. He feels like he could become one of the best players in the world.”

Arsenal have taken the “first steps” in their pursuit of a forward as Mikel Arteta’s side enter “early negotiations” over his signing, according to a report this week.

Arsenal prepare for Fulham after trip

Their nightmare period from mid-October to mid-November, where they went without a single win in the Premier League, appears to be well behind Arteta and co – who have now won their last four games in all competitions.

Arsenal will look to sell "high level" ace who "could play at Real Madrid"

He’s apparently good enough for a slot in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 7, 2024

Imperious victories over Nottingham Forest, Sporting CP, West Ham and Manchester United have put Arsenal in very good stead and rejuvenated hopes of a first domestic crown in more than two decades, with Fulham awaiting the north Londoners at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Arsenal could be without Gabriel Magalhaes, who has been central to their dominance from set plays with three headed goals this season, and summer signing Riccardo Calafiori for their trip across the English capital.

Fulham (away)

December 8

Everton (home)

December 14

Crystal Palace (away)

December 21

Ipswich Town (home)

December 27

Brentford (away)

January 1

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta also revelled in the club’s tag as England’s corner kings. “We want to be the kings of everything – at set pieces, the best in the world, at high press, the best in the world, attacking open spaces, the best in the world,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s set-piece success.

“We want the best atmosphere in the stadium, and be the best at everything. Before it was about we didn’t score enough, we were so defensive in our mentality, we were not physical enough and could not challenge the top teams and going 22, 17, 20 years without winning away from home in big matches.

“We want to be the best at everything, we want to have the best academy, the best individual development for players, recruit the best players and have the best coaches. That’s the aim and now we have to go and do something else.”

The Gunners are widely expected to dismantle Fulham and maintain their excellent form, but in the background, interim sporting director Jason Ayto and Arsenal are planning to sign a new forward to further back Arteta.

Arsenal in "early" negotiations to sign Wolves forward Matheus Cunha

Earlier this week, reports claimed that Arsenal hold a serious interest in Wolves forward Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian’s seven goals and three assists this season have turned heads across the Premier League. north London rivals Tottenham are also believed to be preparing talks with Cunha’s representatives, despite Gary O’Neil categorically ruling out a January transfer.

Other media sources believe that Arsenal have already made contact over Cunha, with a Spanish report now providing its own update on the situation.

It states that Arsenal are in “early” negotiations over a move for Cunha, and those within the Emirates Stadium regard the £44 million Wolves signing as a “perfect complement” to their already potent attacking line.

The ex-Atletico Madrid star can also play a variety of roles, having featured out wide, as a central attacking midfielder, second-striker and traditional centre-forward at Molineux this season.

Glasgow Rangers enjoyed a great night at Ibrox on Thursday by holding Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur to a draw in the Europa League.

It was Ange Postecoglou’s first return to Glasgow since moving on from Celtic, who he won two Scottish Premiership titles with, in the summer of 2023.

Rangers ended the match with more shots, more ‘big chances’ created, and more xG but failed to come away with all three points, despite an impressive performance.

The Light Blues are now nine matches unbeaten in all competitions and have hit form at a good time, ahead of the League Cup final clash with Celtic on Sunday at Hampden Park.

However, a poor opening few months of the season has left the Scottish giants 11 points adrift of their Glasgow rivals in the race to win the title, with three losses in the division so far.

Celtic have won 14 of their 15 Premiership matches after they were able to strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window, having banked a hefty amount of cash through the sale of Matt O’Riley.

How much Celtic sold Matt O'Riley for

Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion swooped in to sign the Denmark international for a reported Scottish record transfer fee of more than £25m, breaking the record set by Jota’s £25m switch to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023.

This means that Celtic had huge sales in back-to-back summer windows to fund their own incoming business to make their squad stronger across the board, despite losing a couple of key performers.

O’Riley attracted significant interest in his services because of his sensational form in the Premiership for the Hoops during the 2023/24 campaign, with his ability as a scorer and a creator of goals helping him to standout in the division.

Appearances

38

37

Goals

3

18

Assists

12

13

Big chances created

16

14

Key passes per game

2.2

2.5

As you can see in the table above, the English-born magician had an impressive, but not unbelievable, first full season at Parkhead before emerging as their star man last season.

He dominated games and was a match-winner for Celtic on a regular basis, because of his ability to score and create goals, and that helped them to earn more than £25m from his sale.

That allowed the Hoops to sign Auston Trusty for £6m, Adam Idah for £9.5m, and Arne Engels for a club-record £11m, among several other deals.

Meanwhile, per Transfermarkt, Rangers did not sign a player for more than €5m (£4.1m) after their biggest summer sale was Sam Lammers’ £4m move to FC Twente.

Their lack of big money sales meant that they could not spend the kind of money that Celtic were able to, as Nils Koppen had to invest in younger, cheaper, talent, with the hope that they will develop into high-value assets – like O’Riley.

Rangers' promising summer signings

The Belgian recruitment chief, who is now the club’s technical director, brought in eight players to Ibrox on permanent deals, along with three loans, and five of those eight arrivals are aged 22 or under.

Connor Barron was snapped up from Aberdeen after his contract with the Scottish side expired at the end of last season and the 21-year-old ace has enjoyed a strong start to life in Glasgow.

He has made 26 appearances in all competitions and has started 13 of the club’s 15 matches in the Premiership, which shows that Philippe Clement already trusts the Scotland U21 international.

Another impressive young recruit from Koppen’s work in the summer is Brazilian left-back Jefte, who has emerged as a first-choice option for Rangers at the age of 20.

The promising full-back, who turns 21 later this month, has started 17 matches across the Premiership and the Europa League, and caught the eye with his solid form.

Appearances

13

Assists

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.7

Dribbled past per game

0.5x

Duel success rate

51%

Dribbles completed per game

1.5

As you can see in the table above, Jefte has offered a strong defensive presence at the back, with 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game without being dribbled past regularly.

However, summer recruit Hamza Igamane is the player who Clement could hit the jackpot with as his answer to Matt O’Riley, given his impressive form of late.

Why Hamza Igamane could be Clement's Matt O'Riley

The Scottish giants swooped to sign the versatile forward from Moroccan side FAR Rabat in the summer and his market valuation on Transfermarkt at the time of his move was just €1m (£829k).

After around five months at Ibrox, that valuation has already shot up to €2.5m (£2m) to reflect his superb form in recent weeks for Clement’s side.

The 22-year-old star, who scored against Spurs on Thursday night, has produced six goals and one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions for Rangers so far this season.

Five of those goals and his one assist came in his last five appearances for the club, as he struggled in his first 11 matches because the youngster needed time to adapt after leaving Morocco for the first time in his career.

Appearances

4

Starts

2

Goals

4

Key passes

5

Assists

1

Dribbles completed

5

As you can see in the table above, Igamane has been particularly impressive in the Europa League for Rangers with a return of five goal contributions in two starts in the competition.

He has proven himself on the European stage and his form of late suggests that the forward, who can play on the left or through the middle, is starting to thrive domestically as well.

Igamane, who was dubbed an “exciting young talent” by Koppen, is a dynamic attacker who can hold off defenders, dribble past opponets, create chances, and score goals, as illustrated by his form in the Europa League, and his market value is soaring as a result of his performances.

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If the 22-year-old whiz can continue to shine and develop with more experience under his belt then he could emerge as a high-value asset for Rangers who they later sell on for big money to fund their own summer spending spree, akin to the one Celtic had after selling O’Riley.

It did feel written into the script that Gary O’Neil was going to be axed as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager eventually, even with the Wolves board giving him a vote of confidence after a barrage of losses.

A last-gasp loss to relegation rivals Ipswich Town proved to be the final straw, as Jack Taylor’s dramatic header caused a chorus of boos to fill Molineux at the final whistle, with brawls involving Wolves players souring the mood even more at the close of the tense clash.

Now, it’s up to a fresh face to pick up the Premier League strugglers and breathe life back into proceedings away from O’Neil, with one name looking more likely by the day to be his immediate successor.

The next Wolves manager

That face is Vitor Pereira, with Sky Sports News reporting now that the current Al-Shabab boss is nearing a deal to become the next Old Gold manager.

This would make sense as the struggling club’s next appointment, as Wolves are known to favour Portuguese imports, as seen in previous managers such as Nuno Espirito Santo and the make-up of much of the squad.

But, nothing is set in stone until an official announcement is out in the open, with the managerless Old Gold also reportedly looking at this EFL experienced boss as their next man for the dug-out.

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Wolves' "excellent" Pereira alternative

As per football journalist Ben Jacobs, John Eustace is “in the frame” to be Wolves’ next manager after the disastrous end to O’Neil’s time in the West Midlands, with the 45-year-old currently succeeding at the helm of Blackburn Rovers.

Already well known to football fans in the Midlands region for his time at Birmingham City, the Old Gold hierarchy could well swoop in last minute to hand him the reins over the inexperienced Pereira if that move doesn’t go to plan.

Eustace was a steady presence at St. Andrew’s during some turbulent recent times in Birmingham’s history, so he could well be the desired figure Wolves need for some momentary calm, having overseen 21 wins in charge of the Blues before his dismissal then signalled relegation for the club.

He has since bounced back from that controversial sacking, as the popular 45-year-old has steered the Riversiders into a surprise playoff spot this season to date, with a remarkable defensive record on display that would lend itself well to the leaky Wolves back four.

1. Luton Town

2-0 win

2. Sheffield Wednesday

1-0 win

3. Hull City

1-0 win

4. Leeds United

1-0 win

5. Middlesbrough

1-0 win

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Amazingly, Blackburn have picked up six wins on the trot in the unforgiving division of the Championship, with zero goals shipped across their last five victories against some tough opponents in the form of Daniel Farke’s Leeds United and Rob Edwards’ Luton Town.

With Wolves conceding goals for fun as of late near the foot of the Premier League, having now shipped an abysmal 40 strikes, Eustace could well be an unflashy appointment that works for Wolves in their short-term dismal situation, away from tempting Pereira to leave Saudi Arabia for a relegation battle.

Rightfully praised for his heroics in Lancashire so far this season, with equally glowing words coming his way from football journalist Alan Biggs during his stint at Birmingham who labelled the 45-year-old as “excellent”, the time could be right for him to win himself a Premier League calibre job post.

It does seem likely that the Wolves hierarchy will go in a different direction by appointing Pereira, but for some stability in what is a basket-case time at Molineux, the Old Gold would do far worse than to hand Eustace the role instead.

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