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Arne Slot reportedly pulled out of receiving an award in Manchester following Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. The Dutchman was supposed to accept the Football Writers’ Association Northern manager of the year accolade on Sunday after guiding the Reds to the Premier League title in the 2024-25 season. But a sixth loss in seven games may have put off Slot from attending the event.

Liverpool's woes continue

Liverpool's thumping at the hands of Forest on Saturday saw them drop to 11th in the Premier League as their hopes of retaining their title all but ended. Despite this latest setback, former Feyenoord boss Slot struck a defiant tone, saying that his side will turn their results around. 

When asked if his players are low on confidence, he said: "I don't feel this, or I don't see this. After we go 1-0, we struggled. I tried to pump them up and give them the information to start the second half well. Immediately, they go 2-0 up. The players kept trying, I can't blame them for that. They blocked every shot we had. The solution is not that far away. We created chances in every and it's not as if we give away 10 chances. That will not go on forever but we have to look at ourselves and what we can do better when we concede a goal. Two games in a row, we haven't scored."

He did add, however, that his charges were in low spirits following another defeat. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSlot misses awards show

According to The Athletic, Slot had been due to collect the award in person but pulled out on the morning of the awards' dinner. Instead, Liverpool sent club ambassador and former player Gary McAllister to collect the prize on the 47-year-old's behalf. The Scot reportedly apologised for Slot's absence and said the Dutchman was "extremely proud" to have won this award.

Incidentally, Slot appears to be shouldering the blame for Liverpool's wretched run of results. 

He told reporters on Saturday: "It is my responsibility, whether we win or lose. But what I also see is a team keeping on trying until the end and the fans as well by the way, who stayed to the end to support the players. Lately, it’s almost constantly that we miss our chances and the ones we concede go in. That will not continue throughout the whole season. But we need that moment of energy of scoring a goal when playing well and going 1-0 up. The opposite thing happened as Forest got a big energy boost from scoring. I see a lot of things where in a normal situation the result would have been different but we’re now in a difficult situation."

Van Dijk defends Slot amid criticism

While there is a growing section of Liverpool fans pointing the finger of blame at Slot, especially after spending more than £400 million on transfers this summer, captain Virgil van Dijk believes his team-mates are "letting the manager and ourselves down". The "angry" centre-back has now called on his side to get themselves out of this "mess".

"You should be angry and the main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility," he said. "It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this. We’re definitely letting the manager down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. At the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact. As the champions we can’t be in the situation we are in right now. What are we going to do about it? We’re going to try to turn it around and that’s the mentality everyone should have."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Liverpool?

Liverpool have a chance to bounce back from this drubbing when they entertain PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday. They then host lowly West Ham on Sunday in the Premier League, before taking on promoted sides Sunderland and Leeds United in early December.

The former Bangladesh captain joins Sazzad Ahmed in the senior women’s selection panel

Mohammad Isam20-Sep-2025The BCB has appointed Salma Khatun as the country’s first woman selector. The former Bangladesh captain will join Sazzad Ahmed in the women’s selection panel. Bangladesh are in the last stage of preparation ahead of the Women’s World Cup next month.Salma was Bangladesh’s first captain in international cricket. She went on to lead the country in 65 WT20Is and 18 WODIs. At the time of her last WT20I, she was Bangladesh’s most-capped women’s T20I cricketer, having played 95 matches. She has also played 46 WODIs.Salma was also the ICC’s No 1 bowler in WT20Is in 2014 and 2015. She took 84 T20I wickets with her offspin at an average of 18.57, with best figures of 4-6 against Sri Lanka.”I think this is a revolutionary decision by our [BCB] president [Aminul Islam], as having someone like Salma involved will provide great support for women’s cricket,” Iftekhar Rahman, the BCB’s media committee chairman, said. “This is the first time such an appointment has been made in Bangladesh.”The board has also promoted Hasibul Hossain to the senior men’s selection panel. He will join chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain and Abdur Razzak. The third position had been vacant since Hannan Sarkar left the role in February this year.Hasibul, the former fast bowler, played five Tests and 32 ODIs. He played in Bangladesh’s inaugural Test match against India in 2000, and was involved in the famous leg-bye that won Bangladesh the ICC Trophy final in 1997.Hasibul had been a junior selector in the BCB since July 2016, having worked closely with the Bangladesh Under-19 side that lifted the World Cup in 2020.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking at signing a Manchester City player in the January transfer window, it has been revealed.

Edwards calls Wolves return a “dream”

Rob Edwards’ return to Molineux as Wolves manager was sealed during the international break, with the 42-year-old costing around £3m in compensation from Championship side Middlesbrough.

The former Old Gold defender, coach and interim head coach has signed a deal in the Midlands until 2029 and is now preparing his side for a Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Wolves vs Crystal Palace

November 22nd

Aston Villa vs Wolves

November 30th

Wolves vs Nottingham Forest

December 3rd

Wolves vs Man Utd

December 8th

Arsenal vs Wolves

December 13th

Wolves vs Brentford

December 20th

Liverpool vs Wolves

December 27th

Man Utd vs Wolves

December 30th

Talking to Wolves’ official media, Edwards revealed that a return is a “dream” and that he is “ready” to try and take the club off the bottom of the table.

“It means a lot. This club’s really special. It’s special anyway, but it’s special to me because it’s where I’ve spent most of my professional career and where I played most of my football.

“Then to have done a lot of the roles that I’ve done, I’ve got to be honest, this job was always my aim. This is the dream.

“I know the situation that we’re in right now, but this is just something that I’ve always wanted, and I’m ready for it. I’m ready for the challenge, I’m up for it, and it’s been great getting around everybody, seeing so many faces that I know, and new faces as well.

“The staff are all up for it and we’ll meet the players next week when everyone arrives back, and I know the lads will be as well.”

To help Wolves try and avoid the drop, Fosun are ready to back Edwards in the January transfer window with the necessary funds to make new signings.

Now, another transfer target has emerged for those in the Midlands.

Wolves looking to sign Kalvin Phillips from Man City

According to Football Insider, Wolves have set their sights on signing Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

It is claimed that Wolves ‘will explore both loan and permanent deals’, with Edwards ‘eager to add some top-flight nous to his ranks’.

Phillips, on £150,000-a-week at the Etihad Stadium, looks set to leave Pep Guardiola’s side in the New Year after failing to get a move away in the summer.

He has been called a “monster” in the past and has the experience of a relegation battle with Leeds United, avoiding the drop with the Whites in the 2021/22 season before earning his move to Manchester.

However, nearly four years on, the England international could be set for a permanent return to a side battling at the bottom, rivalling the likes of Andre, Joao Gomes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Marshall Munetsi for a starting role in Edwards’ side.

Wolves offer for "world-class" Real Madrid player, want deal done quickly

Paul Skenes was a guest on Late NIght with Seth Meyers on Tuesday night. Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher, was there to promote MLB The Show 25 on the day it was announced he was one of the three cover athletes along with Elly De La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson.

Meyers made sure to cover a number of topics during the interview, including, but not limited to the 11-year old who recently found Skenes's one-of-one rookie card (which Meyers really wants to see), his stoic meme from when he won rookie of the year, the though process behind his mustache and even his relationship with Livvy Dunne.

Meyers showed the clip of Skenes messing around on gymnastics equipment and he ended up finding out that was actually a rather frustrating experience for the professional athlete. Not because it was embarrassing, but because he couldn't get out of that foam pit.

“The ball pit was genuine frustration," said Skenes. "I was genuinely pissed off. Those things are like ten feet deep. I’m tall, I’m not that tall. I’m just trying to throw the balls out, trying to get out. There’s nothing to grab onto."

Meyers joked that he must have been in there for hours, but Skenes reiterated his exasperation. "I was working up a sweat in the middle of November. It was pretty frustrating.”

So there you have it. Before you consider dating a gymnast keep in mind that they might encourage you to jump in a foam pit and it will be very difficult to get out. No matter how nice your mustache might be.

Arsenal went on a record-setting winning run of form in the month of October, not conceding a single goal while winning six games in all competitions.

The Gunners’ dominance has been founded on one of the best defences in Premier League history, as David Raya has had to pick the ball out of his net just three times so far this season, a rate that if it continues will see them break Chelsea’s record for goals conceded in a single Premier League season.

Gabriel Magalhães has drawn PFA Player of the Year shouts in recent weeks, while Raya is chasing yet another golden glove and Jurrien Timber is emerging as one of the best right-backs in world football.

What is Chelsea's record and can Arsenal beat it?

Chelsea’s 2004-05 team led by Jose Mourinho conceded just 15 goals in a 38-game Premier League season. Arsenal have so far conceded three times in nine games, which at 0.33 per game would total between 12-13 goals, but it’s not that simple…

The AI supercomputer gave three scenarios for Arsenal’s final total, taking into account fatigue, injuries, game states and the possibility of other teams adapting to their style of play.

It also concluded that fine margins – such as individual errors or controversial decisions – will add up over the course of a season.

Another factor harming their efforts may just be their own brilliance. Arsenal are predicted to win the Premier League by a whopping 13 points, which would mean they have games at the end of the season with little to play for other than this record. For context, Liverpool failed to win all four of their remaining matches after wrapping up the title last season, conceding nine goals in that time.

Best case

13–14 goals

Arsenal sustain current defensive dominance and stay injury-free

Most likely

17–19 goals

Small regression due to fixture congestion and natural variance

Worst case

25–27 goals

Defensive injuries, fatigue, or tactical shifts increase vulnerability slightly

Predicted total: Arsenal will concede 18 goals in the 2025-26 Premier League season

Given the likelihood that Arsenal progress far in several competitions – they are currently fourth in the Champions League table and still alive in both domestic cup competitions – it is likely that fatigue and injuries will affect their ability to keep clean sheets later in the season.

Arsenal’s squad depth has been an issue in recent seasons, falling behind Manchester City in the 2022-23 campaign after they lost William Saliba to injury, but Bukayo Saka has hailed the level of the current group after more than £250million was spent in the summer.

“This year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality. We’ve suffered already a lot of injuries, but the players that have come in have shown that we can all keep the level at the highest,” said the England international.

“I think that’s where we’ve slipped off in a few seasons, but this season, we’ve got that and it’s making me really believe we can do it.”

Supercomputer predicts every 2025/26 Premier League game and final table

Look away now, Liverpool fans…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 28, 2025

Luis Diaz's wonder goal against Union Berlin at the weekend has been labelled "world-class" by Bayern Munich icon Lothar Matthaus. The Colombian, signed from Liverpool over the summer, has been brilliant for Die Roten so far. While Matthaus believes that the hard-working left winger "needs to be more clinical in front of goal," he said that his "outstanding" strike compensates for his lack of efficiency.

Union Berlin end Bayern's winning streak

Bayern were brought down to earth this past weekend during a tricky away trip to Union Berlin at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, as Kompany's men could only salvage a 2-2 draw, thanks to a 90th minute equaliser from the in-form Harry Kane. 

The game brought an end to the Bavarian giants' record-breaking 16-game winning streak across all competitions since the start of the ongoing 2025-26 season, breaking the 13-game record set by the famous AC Milan outfit from the 1992-93 season. The result also prevented Kompany from matching Pep Guardiola's record of 10 consecutive Bundesliga victories in the first 10 games of the season, with the Belgian managing to guide his team to nine straight wins before the stalemate against Steffen Baumgart's men.

Even though Bayern left Berlin without maximum points, they certainly came out of the match with a few positives. For a team that has dominated on all fronts across all competitions, the encounter against Union Berlin allowed the visitors to equalise twice following goals from centre-back Danilho Doekhi in each half.

AdvertisementAFPMatthaus lauds Diaz for being the overall package

With Bayern trailing, they tightened the screw and switched gears in search of an equaliser as the game progressed towards the end of the first half. In the 38th minute, Diaz collected the ball on the edge of the box on the left side following a clearance. After collecting the ball, the Colombian passed it to Josip Stanisic and then made a run into the box to receive after a one-two. Stanisic seemed to have overhit the ball, his hands on his head out of disappointment as he saw the ball moving beyond the touchline. Just when it seemed Union Berlin would be awarded a goal kick, Diaz slid and somehow kept the ball into play. After sensing pressure from one of Berlin's defenders, the ex-Liverpool winger's daft touch put the ball past the on-rushing defender before striking into the top corner from an extremely acute angle. 

Moments after his equaliser, Diaz fumbled a one-on-one with the Union Berlin goalkeeper. However, former Bayern player Matthaus is of the firm opinion that the Colombian international shouldn't find himself in the crosshairs of the fans and the media thanks to his work ethic and profound ability to create goals out of nothing.

In a column for , Matthaus said: "After 16 consecutive wins, FC Bayern only managed a draw against Union Berlin . Refocusing completely on the Bundesliga and a match at the comparatively smaller Forsterei stadium after their stunning Champions League victory in Paris wasn't easy.

"Their senses might not have been sharp enough at the start, but Bayern came back from behind twice. That was yet another sign of strength.

"Luis Diaz 's goal was world-class. It's great to have a player who works hard for the team, scores goals, and creates clear-cut chances. He needs to be more clinical in front of goal, but his outstanding strike makes him forgivable."

A week to remember for Diaz

It was a memorable week for the 28-year-old. He scored twice in the 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes to maintain their perfect record in the Champions League. Against Union Berlin, his goal automatically makes him one of the contenders for the goal of the season.

After the game, Kane was in awe of Diaz's "special" strike. "Incredible to be honest," said the Englishman, who now has 23 goals from 17 games. "The way he kept the ball in and got past his defender and then score was, just a special goal, a really, really special goal. He's been pulling stuff out like that all season but I reckon that's probably his best."

Kompany, the head coach, admitted that Diaz could have bagged another goal, but stated that he was happy for him. ”We really needed that moment of brilliance from Lucho”, Kompany told reporters after the full-time whistle. “Of course he could’ve scored another goal afterwards, but the quality we have in this team is what we need to achieve our goals during the season. 3 goals he’s scored this week, that was good for him.”

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Getty ImagesDiaz to miss Arsenal clash in the Champions League

Bayern will face Freiburg in their first match following the international break, before traveling to the Emirates Stadium for a high-profile clash with Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side have emerged as frontrunners in the Premier League title race this season, combining domestic dominance with impressive form in Europe.

Bayern will, however, be without their in-form winger when they make the trip to London – a significant setback for Kompany’s men. Diaz, who has tallied 11 goals and five assists this season, received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi, which left the Moroccan defender nursing an ankle injury. As a result, Diaz will serve a suspension and miss the chance to face his former rivals in a familiar territory.

Will Smale’s first Glamorgan hundred not enough as Surrey get over the line

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Aug-2025Will Smale scored the first hundred of his professional cricket career but as Glamorgan, the Metro Bank One-Day Cup’s reigning champions, still lost to a Ben Foakes-inspired Surrey in a rain-shortened affair.Smale, a 24-year-old from Newport playing his 15th List A match, finished on 105 not out from 106 balls and was chiefly responsible for Glamorgan reaching a 50-over total of 308 for 7 at The Kia Oval.But Foakes, captaining Surrey after Ryan Patel turned his ankle in the pre-match warm-ups, smashed 43 not out from just 17 balls and was joined by Josh Blake in an extraordinary stand of 77 in six overs that snatched the game away from Glamorgan.Heavy rain forced a delay of two hours and twenty minutes after Surrey had made 21 for 1 from 5.1 overs. That resulted in a revised target of 146 in 16 overs, following Duckworth-Lewis-Stern calculations and a 5.50pm restart, meaning 125 more runs were needed in 10.5 remaining overs.It looked a stiff task but, with 40 still needed from the last three overs, Foakes hit leg-side sixes off Kiran Carlson and Andy Gorvin – after Blake had also struck Carlson for a maximum to long-on.With eight only now required from the final over, Blake hit the first ball for four before being bowled for 27 by Dan Douthwaite’s third ball. And then, in a slightly farcical finish, Douthwaite bowled a high leg-side no-ball, giving new batsman Cameron Steel a free hit. And when he hit high to deep mid-wicket, from another no-ball, Surrey had won with three balls to spare.Will Smale hit his first Glamorgan hundred•Getty ImagesPut in by Surrey, the Welsh county initially stuttered to 213 for 6 in the 39th over before Smale was joined by Alex Horton in a superb seventh-wicket partnership of 86 in ten overs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Horton, 21 and with just 18 previous white-ball appearances behind him, contributed a jaunty 35 from 30 balls while Smale pressed the accelerator in impressive style at the other end.There were three sixes and seven fours eventually in Smale’s first score of 50 or more in List A cricket, with fast bowler James Taylor and legspinning allrounder Steel bearing the brunt of his late assault.For most of Glamorgan’s innings, however, it seemed as if a predominantly youthful and inexperienced Surrey bowling attack was doing a fine job of working their way through a strong-looking batting line-up.Slow-arm spinner Yousuf Majid might have finished wicketless but he conceded only 41 runs from his ten overs across several spells while fast bowlers Nathan Barnwell and Alex French took 3 for 55 and 2 for 49 respectively.Barnwell had both Sam Northeast (24) and Carlson (25) caught at the wicket before later seeing Zain ul-Hassan lift a straightforward catch to mid-on, while 18-year-old rookie French put the embarrassment of bowling multiple wides in his opening over with the new ball to have Eddie Byrom caught for 9 in his second.French, playing his second List A game, also removed Asa Tribe for 16 in the 12th over and Glamorgan were in danger of underachieving when Douthwaite edged a legcutter from Taylor to give keeper Blake the third of his four catches.Smale and Horton, though, built their stand with steady accumulation at first and then explosive acceleration, with Surrey’s bowlers seemingly powerless to prevent 91 runs being plundered from the final ten overs of the innings.Rory Burns, inside-edging to keeper Horton as he jumped down the pitch on 12 to seamer Ul-Hassan, was an early Surrey casualty and after the restart there was a steady fall of wickets in a frantic finale.Nikhil Gorantla and Ollie Sykes fell swiping – Sykes after two powerful straight fours off Gorvin – and Adam Thomas took 21 off slow left-armer Romano Franco’s only over, including successive blows of 4, 4, 6, 6 before being spectacularly caught diving backwards at long-off by Carlson off Gorvin for 34.

Manchester City have really turned a corner in the Premier League with Pep Guardiola’s men entering back into their groove in the top-flight at just the right time.

The rejuvenated Citizens have won four of their last five games in the elite league to now only six points off Champions League semi-finalists Arsenal occupying second place.

A place amongst Europe’s elite is the obvious objective for Guardiola and Co come the end of the sobering campaign, with City then aiming to be a title challenger once more down the line by snapping up exciting targets.

Man City line up £102 move for "superstar in the making"

As per reports from Spain over the weekend, City are preparing to bid a club-record £102m for Paris St Germain ace Desire Doue this summer.

The report states that the 19-year-old attacker has caught the eye of Guardiola who is looking to add even more exceptional youth to his City ranks, having given the likes of 21-year-old sensation Savinho plenty of game-time this campaign.

Winning the signature of Doue – who has already been heralded as a “superstar in the making” by French journalist Julien Laurens – would be a massive statement buy, with that £102m price-tag showing off how much PSG currently value him.

The eight-time Premier League title winners could also gain their very own version of Bukayo Saka with the promising Frenchman, with both attackers in question patrolling the right wing with ease so far this campaign.

Why Doue could be Man City's very own Saka

Saka has been able to show off his class down the right channel for the Gunners over many seasons now, despite being naturally left-footed in approach.

This season alone, the academy product turned North London royalty has managed to tally up a sizeable 25 goal contributions across 31 clashes, including scoring away at Real Madrid to help his team reach the coveted Champions League semi-finals.

Doue has also been unfazed by the big occasion lining up for Luis Enrique’s outfit, with the one-time senior France international actually matching Saka for goals and assists at 25 himself, albeit from a heftier 47 games.

Six of those have actually come about in Europe’s elite competition too, as Doue aims to spoil Arsenal’s mood when the two teams clash this mid-week at the Emirates for a place in the illustrious final.

Total shots

2.94

3.14

Shot-creating actions

5.26

5.35

Progressive passes

6.55

3.54

Progressive carries

5.59

4.64

Successful take-ons

2.98

2.04

Touches in attacking penalty area

5.77

7.94

Progressive passes received

10.92

12.66

Equally adept at using his left-foot whether that be down the left or right wing or even through the middle as a number ten, Doue’s general numbers across the last year for PSG are also similar to Saka’s for Mikel Arteta’s side.

The £102m-rated attacker, whose fifth-most similar player in European football is Saka, via FBRef, even betters his English counterpart when it comes to progressive passes and carries.

Not far off the blistering number seven in other aspects of their games, City will be hopeful that they can win their very own version of Saka if a move was to get over the line, with Doue only likely to get better as he progresses much like the 23-year-old has managed for the Gunners.

Of course, there will be a worry that splashing the cash in such a lavish way could backfire on City, but having proven himself already with PSG on some of the biggest stages, this switch might be just what Guardiola’s men need to further rebuild their elite reputation and get back to being stylish title candidates.

Man City have hit gold on £111m-rated star who is worth more than Wirtz

Man City have hit the jackpot on a signing made in 2019

1 ByRoss Kilvington Apr 26, 2025

With Arsenal’s adventures in Europe taking priority at the back end of the season, Mikel Arteta has used the last two Premier League games as opportunities to rotate his side.

The title will not be heading in the direction of the Emirates Stadium this season and the manager has clearly realised that too, opting to give his biggest stars some time off with that crunch tie with Real Madrid in mind.

Despite drawing 1-1 with Everton a week ago, that strategy certainly paid off in midweek after that remarkable victory over Real Madrid.

After two appearances as a sub, Bukayo Saka looked revitalised. His return to club action has been managed well.

That said, the club’s league form does leave much to be desired, winning two of their last seven league fixtures. It’s hardly a surprise the title is now but a dream.

So, with another 1-1 draw with Brentford this weekend amid more rotation, those on the fringes didn’t do a whole lot to stake their claim for more regular starts.

Arsenal's biggest underperformers against Brentford

It’s safe to say that Arsenal’s draw with Brentford was rather more sedate than the rip-roaring success of Tuesday night against Madrid.

That was summed up by the sheer number of changes to the Gunners’ teamsheet. In came the likes of Leandro Trossard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Ethan Nwaneri, while goalscorer Thomas Partey started at right-back.

Nwaneri wasn’t able to dazzle as we know he so often can, but it wasn’t a bad performance. Tierney lasted just over an hour, scoring a memorable disallowed goal in the process, and coped well with the threat of Bees talisman Bryan Mbeumo.

However, as for Zinchenko and Trossard, they really did disappoint.

The latter did his best to get on the ball and create opportunities but he lacked goal threat and proved why Arteta has favoured Mikel Merino in that central striker berth since Kai Havertz’s injury.

Trossard did find the net against Everton a week ago but that marked his first league goal since the north London derby back in January.

Trossard had just five touches in the box on Saturday, far fewer than Gabriel Martinelli’s 11, with his display summed up well by GOAL who noted that it was another ‘ineffective display’, hence his 5/10 match rating.

Still, at least he wasn’t as ineffective as Zinchenko.

Zinchenko's performance in numbers vs Brentford

This has been a challenging and difficult season for the Ukrainian who hasn’t earned much game time at all.

Chalkboard

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

Indeed, the 28-year-old has only actually played 11 times in the Premier League despite being in the squad on 25 occasions. He’s only started three league games too.

That’s hardly a surprise really when you consider Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival last summer and the emergence of Hale End superstar Myles Lewis-Skelly.

As a result, Zinchenko’s last two appearances have actually come in midfield. He starred in that position against PSV in the Champions League, starting in the Odegaard role and scoring a brilliant long-range effort in the first half.

While he dominated against the Dutch side, his influence was poor against Brentford. His display was rather summed up by a succession of first-half corners that he and Nwaneri wasted down the right.

Insistent on playing things short, the ball was played into Zinchenko who ultimately failed to really take control of the situation on more than one occasion.

His lack of influence was summed up by the fact that his touch count of 36 was nine fewer than goalkeeper David Raya’s tally. Grim reading indeed.

To make matters worse, the former Manchester City star failed to provide a key pass, register a cross or complete a dribble.

Minutes played

62

Touches

36

Accurate passes

26/29 (90%)

Key passes

0

Completed crosses

0

Long balls completed

0

Shots on target

0

Shots off target

1

Successful dribbles

1/1

Duels won

3/4

Possession lost

5x

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

While the PSV game was a reminder of his qualities, this was a reminder of why Arsenal must cash in on him in the summer. GOAL handed him a 5/10 rating, noting that he was ‘rather quiet’.

Providing the Londoners see off Madrid again in a few days, it’s likely Arteta will ring the changes regularly in the Premier League but Zinchenko shouldn’t start again.

At left-back, Tierney staked more of a claim to feature when Calafiori or Lewis-Skelly aren’t selected while the midfield still has plenty of options who could be chosen ahead of him.

This may well have been his last start in Arsenal colours.

100% duels won, 94% passing: Arsenal star is now as undroppable as Rice

Arsenal failed to overcome Brentford on Saturday evening.

2 ByMatt Dawson Apr 13, 2025

The Premier League title race may now be all but over, but the season is not lost for Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta’s side preparing for a mammoth tussle with holders Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek.

Preparations for that mouthwatering meeting have been hampered by the loss of Gabriel to injury, however, with the Brazilian’s absence just the latest in a long line of setbacks for the north London side.

The top end of the pitch, in particular, has been ravaged in recent months, resulting in the bold move to deploy Mikel Merino in a centre-forward berth for the first time in his career – a decision that has since yielded five goals for the experienced Spaniard.

The Euro 2024 winner only served to enhance his growing ‘cult status’ after dropping back into his preferred midfield berth against Everton on Saturday afternoon, however, having won 14 duels and suffered a blow to the head amid a full-blooded display.

While the 28-year-old has provided a much-needed short-term solution as a makeshift centre-forward, that latest outing showcased that his future must lie in the midfield.

The question is, will there be room for him in the starting lineup moving forward?

How Arsenal's midfield could look next season

There may be a headache for Arteta as to who to select as part of his midfield trio for the long-term – we’ll come on to that – but what is set in stone is that Declan Rice will be at the heart of it.

Be it as a number six or as a number eight, the £105m man has become an invaluable presence for the Gunners since his arrival back in 2023, having notably contributed 13 goals and assists in all competitions this season.

That tally included his stunning curling effort in the 1-1 draw away at Old Trafford, with the Englishman developing a knack for making an impact in the final third – as evidenced by his surging run and assist while on international duty for the Three Lions.

With the 26-year-old a nailed-on starter, the role of Martin Odegaard – who started on the bench at Goodison – may be in doubt, albeit with it not too long ago that the Arsenal skipper was being described as “out of this world” by Rice himself.

The Norwegian playmaker, at his best, remains one of the most creative players in the division – as his tally of 18 goals and assists in the league showcased in 2023/24 – with it certainly not the time to write him off just yet.

With that in mind, the final midfield role could come down to either Merino or potential summer arrival, Martin Zubimendi – amid continued doubts over Thomas Partey’s future at the Emirates – albeit with there now another name to throw into the mix who could look to emulate Rice.

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The former West Ham United man has caught the eye over the last 18 months amid his burgeoning set-piece prowess, having produced another whipped, in-swinging corner in the early knockings against Everton, although it is his powerful runs from deep that remain the midfielder’s key strength.

Non-penalty goals

0.12

Top 27%

Assists

0.23

Top 6%

Shot-creating actions

3.31

Top 18%

Pass completion

84.7%

Top 45%

Progressive passes

5.92

Top 25%

Progressive carries

2.68

Top 5%

Touches in attacking box

2.59

Top 12%

Tackles

1.90

Bottom 38%

Interceptions

0.81

Bottom 35%

Indeed, that is epitomised by the fact that Rice ranks in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries per 90, indicating his ability to drag the Gunners up the pitch with the ball at his feet.

That is a trait that, as Saturday showcased, looks to be shared by young Myles Lewis-Skelly, with the 18-year-old producing a magnificent carry from just outside his own box, before winning a free-kick on the edge of the opposition penalty area.

The manner in which the teenager powered his way through a sea of bodies was certainly reminiscent of his colleague and compatriot, with Rice himself having previously likened the Hale End graduate to Tottenham Hotspur icon, Mousa Dembele, due to his mix of strength and ball-carrying prowess.

Of course, Lewis-Skelly made the headlines on Merseyside for all the wrong reasons after giving away a penalty just after the break, albeit with it fair to say that the rising star was harshly penalised for his ‘foul’ on Jack Harrison. As Arteta stated post-match, it was “never a penalty”.

The fact remains that the “insane” talent – as described by analyst Ben Mattinson – had allowed Harrison to get the wrong side of him in the first place, a moment that perhaps served as a reminder that he isn’t actually a left-back by trade.

Lewis-Skelly has fended off the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Riccardo Calafiori to make that spot his own, following his debut against Manchester City back in September, although it was actually in central midfield that he largely operated during his time in the youth ranks.

As Mattinson has stated, while Lewis-Skelly represents an ideal solution as an inverted full-back, in the “long-term” he will most likely slot in as a defensive midfielder or in a left eight role, having shown at academy level that he is an “aggressive dueller, ball-winner [and an] exceptional ball-carrier”.

It could be the case then that a midfield trio of Odegaard, Rice and Lewis-Skelly emerges as the leading option next season, with Saturday’s Merseyside moment having shown a mere glimpse of what the teenager can offer in midfield with his Rice-like quality.

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