USWNT striker Sophia Smith married Michael Wilson, the two shared on social media
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Arsenal legend Paul Merson says manager Mikel Arteta has a real headache to deal with ahead of his side’s looming clash against Premier League title rivals Man City at the Etihad Stadium, in what is arguably their biggest game of the season so far.
The north Londoners will be unable to call upon a host of key players for their trip to the Etihad Stadium, with captain Martin Odegaard, midfielder Mikel Merino, defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, left-back Kieran Tierney and Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko all sidelined lately.
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Odegaard will be out for weeks after sustaining ankle ligament damage on international duty with Norway, while summer signing Mikel Merino is out with a shoulder fracture and won’t be back till late next month at the earliest.
Tomiyasu’s knee injury means he won’t potentially be back until their home game against Leicester City next weekend, with Zinchenko missing their last two games after picking up a calf problem.
|
Arsenal’s next five Premier League games |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Man City (away) |
September 22 |
|
Leicester City (home) |
September 28 |
|
Southampton (home) |
October 5 |
|
Bournemouth (away) |
October 19 |
|
Liverpool (home) |
October 27 |
Tierney’s estimated return date is unknown, but a certainty is that he won’t be donning Arsenal red when Arteta’s side travel to Manchester today. Their shortage of midfielders means both Thomas Partey and Jorginho have been absolutely crucial, so sporting director Edu Gaspar will be relieved that he didn’t try and sell either man in the summer window.
The latter started Arsenal’s 1-0 derby win over Tottenham last weekend, playing a key role in thwarting the home side’s attack whilst providing balance in midfield next to Partey.
However, Declan Rice’s return to the fold against Atalanta saw the £110,000-per-week star dropped for their draw in Bergamo on Thursday.
Writing in his column for sportskeeda, pundit Merson believes that Jorginho presents a real problem for Arteta to solve in the form of a selection dilemma.
“It won’t be as comfortable as the game against Tottenham,” wrote Merson. “I have a strong feeling Jorginho will play this game, despite Declan Rice returning from his suspension.
“With Kai Havertz in midfield the other day, it really helped both Thomas Partey and Jorginho. One thing Jorginho does really well is, he keeps the ball. During the 1-0 win at Emirates last season, City could not touch him, he was just too good.
“It’s a real headache for Arteta now. He must decide whether he should play Jorginho or not. A quick word on William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as well, they are the best centre-back pair in the league. But I feel sometimes the work that happens in front of them goes unnoticed. Partey and Rice are both very disciplined and provide a lot of cover for the centre-backs.
“I like John Stones and Ruben Dias together, but they don’t play with each other consistently enough like the Arsenal duo.”
Tottenham Hotspur fell to an embarrassing defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion this evening, putting a dent in the club’s aspirations of securing a Champions League place this season.
Ange Postecoglou’s side led 2-0 at the break after goals from the in-form Brennan Johnson and James Maddison, but it would all evaporate within just 20 minutes of the second half.
The hosts came straight out of the blocks and turned the game on its head after strikes from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck secured the comeback for Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
Spurs’ second half collapse puts an end to their five-game winning streak, giving boss Postecoglou a lot to ponder during the upcoming international break.
Despite the defeat, Welsh winger Johnson continued his excellent form in front of goal scoring for the sixth consecutive outing in all competitions.
It’s quite the turnaround for the £47.5m signing, after being widely criticised on social media for his lack of impact during the opening few matches of the season.
His latest goal against the Seagulls saw him match Harry Kane’s record of most games scored consecutively by a Spurs player in the Premier League, quite the feat given his early season form.
However, his efforts in front of goal would all count for nothing given the second half collapse, with the Lilywhites undoubtedly wanting to forget the outing in a hurry.
Johnson can certainly leave the AMEX with his head held high, but the same can’t be said for one player who was extremely wasteful with the opportunities that fell his way on the South Coast.
Given the recent form of Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski has been forced to operate in a more central position alongside Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur – forming a partnership with the duo in recent weeks.
This evening’s meeting was no different with the Swede starting alongside the pair at the heart of Postecoglou’s midfield – but it was an evening of disappointment from the 24-year-old.
The former Juventus talent only managed 20 passes at a completion rate of 69% and also only won four of the 15 duels that he entered.
Kulusevski also only managed a total of 55 touches during his 90-minute display, a tally that was lower than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario who registered a total of 63.
|
Dejan Kulusevski’s stats vs Brighton |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Minutes played |
90 |
|
Touches |
55 |
|
Passes completed |
20/29 (69%) |
|
Duels won |
4/15 |
|
Possession lost |
23x |
|
Fouls committed |
2 |
|
Dribbles completed |
2/6 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
The Swede also lost possession 23 times during the defeat, the most of any Spurs player, highlighting his wasteful nature as he failed to create any clear-cut opportunities.
The defeat will sting, especially considering the 2-0 lead Postecoglou’s side boasted at the interval, but the upcoming international break gives the Aussie time to process the defeat and prevent it from happening again in the future.
However, one thing is for certain, Kulusevski needs to be replaced for the meeting against West Ham United in less than two weeks time if his side are to stand any chance of an immediate bounce back after the embarrassing loss on Sunday evening.
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The future of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is very much up for discussion, but he remains in charge of the club for the time being. However, United are already putting plans in place should the Dutchman depart as they now hold an interest in a serial winner, according to a new report.
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Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur has put Ten Hag under serious pressure at Old Trafford, with many believing he has games against Porto and Aston Villa this week to turn his fortunes around. The Dutchman remains in the hotseat, but it hasn’t stopped the speculation from gathering pace on who could be his potential replacement.
Current assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has been backed by former chief scout Mick Brown to become the next boss. Brown played a big role in bringing van Nistelrooy to Old Trafford back in 2001, and he believes the former Dutch striker should be considered to replace Ten Hag.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils also have Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi on their radar should a change in the dugout occur. Inzaghi won Serie A with Inter last season and has built a side that looks capable of competing in Europe now. Sir Jim Ratcliffe will seek the opinions of the Glazers, sporting director Dan Ashworth, and chief executive Omar Berrada before deciding on his next move, but Inzaghi looks to be another option the club may consider.
According to Football Insider, Manchester United are interested in speaking to ex-Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri if they decide to sack Erik ten Hag. The report states that should a change in the dugout happen, United are likely to go after the cheaper option of an out-of-work manager.
Allegri’s second spell at Juventus came to an end in May, but his time in Italy was very successful as he won the Scudetto six times. As well as Allegri being on United’s radar, Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel are also managers that may be considered, according to this report.
Allegri has never managed outside of Italy, as he’s taken charge of teams such as SPAL, Lecco, Sassuolo, Cagliari Calcio, AC Milan, and Juve. As well as being a winner of Serie A, Allegri has also won five Italian Cups and three Super Cups.
|
Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus record |
|
|---|---|
|
Games |
420 |
|
Won |
271 |
|
Drawn |
75 |
|
Lost |
74 |
The 57-year-old has taken charge of over 500 games in Serie A, 302 of which he has won, losing just 98, meaning on average he is picking up two points per game with his favoured 3-5-2 formation. Whether Ratcliffe and Co would be willing to take a risk on such a style – one that is usually boom or bust in England – remains to be seen.
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It has become a familiar sight at Aston Villa.
With the game ticking past the hour mark, Unai Emery looks to his bench in need of a solution, some way to kick the contest into life. Enter Jhon Duran.
The latest entrant to the list of famed Premier League ‘supersubs’, the Colombian marksman has more than made the most of his limited minutes so far this season, netting four times in just seven Premier League outings – all of which have come from the bench.
On the European front, the 20-year-old was also the difference maker in the statement win over Bayern Munich at Villa Park, catching out an advancing Manuel Neuer with his trademark precision and power.
For all the youngster’s stellar impact, however, Emery has so far resisted the urge to deploy the former Chicago Fire starlet from the outset, with Duran’s only start coming against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup – a game in which he also duly scored.
The running theme this season would suggest that the ex-West Ham United target will again be among the substitutes for the trip to Fulham later today, although perhaps Emery might finally relent and give supporters what they want.
The ‘problem’ facing the former Arsenal boss is that he already has a clinical, consistent striker at his disposal in the form of Ollie Watkins, with the Englishman shaking off a slow start to now boast four goals and two assists in seven league games in 2024/25.
Having also looked lively for his country at the weekend – after teeing up Declan Rice for England’s third against Finland – the 28-year-old is now in a rich vein of form and simply doesn’t deserve to be ousted from the starting lineup.
The solution then? Well, Emery could – for the first time this season – start Watkins alongside Duran as the spearhead of his attack, having previously admitted that the pair can play together.
There may be a sense of why change what isn’t broken, but the Villans looked particularly blunt in front of goal against Manchester United last time out, a point rubberstamped by the fact that a 36-year-old Jonny Evans claimed the Man of the Match award.
Of course, perhaps the hangover of the events against Bayern just a few days prior was a factor in that drab affair, yet if there was a time to try out a new look attack, now could well be it.
Emery revealed in his pre-match press conference that he will “more or less have every player available”, ensuring there will be a wealth of options at his disposal to choose from.
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If the experienced tactician does deploy Duran alongside Watkins, it certainly shouldn’t come at the expense of January arrival, Morgan Rogers, with the England U21 international boasting three goal involvements from his last three top-flight outings.
The former Middlesbrough and Manchester City asset has earned rave reviews for his form in the early knockings of the campaign, even despite not always racking up goals or assists, with talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino notably likening him to German sensation, Jamal Musiala.
If not Rogers, then one man who could well make way in the attacking set-up is Leon Bailey, with the previously “unplayable” winger – as described by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell – enduring a muted first few months of the new season.
In all, the Jamaican speedster only has one assist and no goals to show for his efforts in all competitions, with Birmingham Live’s John Townley stating after the draw with United that he ‘looks to still be carrying an injury’.
|
Leon Bailey 24/25 PL Stats |
|---|
|
6 games (5 starts) |
|
0 goals |
|
1 assist |
|
2 big chances created |
|
1.0 key passes* |
|
75% pass accuracy* |
|
0.3 tackles & interceptions* |
|
2.8 balls recovered* |
|
0.8 successful dribbles* |
|
46% total duels* |
|
10.2x ball lost* |
|
Stats via Sofascore (*per game) |
Whether that is the case or not, the former Bayer Leverkusen star has gone from racking up 28 goals and assists last term, to looking like the player who flattered to deceive under Steven Gerrard – for whom he provided just three goal involvements in 23 appearances.
Perhaps, taking the 27-year-old out of the firing line would be sensible for the trip to Craven Cottage, with Emery instead utiltising Duran and Watkins in tandem up front, with Rogers on one flank and either the likes of Jaden Philogene or John McGinn on the other.
In a sense, Bailey could then look to take on Duran’s role as that game changer off the bench, with such selection decisions emphasising the depth of quality that the Villa boss now has in these exciting times for the Midlands outfit.
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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers made a host of changes to his first-team squad during the summer transfer window by making a number of signings.
The Hoops moved to sign Arne Engels, Adam Idah, Alex Valle, Paulo Bernardo, Kasper Schmeichel, Viljami Sinisalo, Luke McCowan, and Auston Trusty to bolster the group.
Academy players can sometimes make the breakthrough to alleviate the need for new additions but, for Celtic, they ended up losing two prospects in Daniel Kelly and Rocco Vata, who joined Millwall and Watford respectively.
They are hardly the first Hoops prospects to move on from Parkhead after showing initial promise at academy level, as the Scottish giants once had a starlet who was compared to Lionel Messi.
Coach David Feeney worked with this particular young talent in his teenage days and claimed that the forward was “very similar to Lionel Messi” and that “the sky is the limit” for him.
As a slight, left-footed, midfielder who can play out wide on the right or centrally, the comparison to Messi made sense from a stylistic perspective.
The coach added that he was left “astounded” by the “fantastic” youngster and that he was convinced that the player would go all the way to the top in his career.
That player, you may have guessed it, was former Celtic academy starlet Karamoko Dembele, who had just made his U20 debut at the age of just 13.
The young whiz, who had joined the academy in 2013, eventually went on to make his debut for the club, as shown in the clip below, at the age of 16 against Ross County in the 2018/19 campaign.
He went on to score one goal in ten appearances in all competitions for Celtic, as the youngster failed to establish himself as a regular under Neil Lennon or Ange Postecoglou, before being released for nothing by the Hoops in the summer of 2022.
The winger was snapped up by Reims on a free transfer ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and he failed to provide a single goal or assist in 15 Ligue 1 games that season.
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He was then sent out on loan to Blackpool in League One in England and enjoyed a breakout season at senior level in the third tier down south, with a return of eight goals and 13 assists in 39 appearances.
Dembele was not given a second chance at performing in Ligue 1 by Reims, though, as he was sent out on another loan for the 2024/25 campaign, to Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.
|
24/25 Championship |
Karamoko Dembele |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
9 |
|
Goals |
1 |
|
Big chances created |
2 |
|
Assists |
3 |
|
Key passes per game |
2.2 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, the now-21-year-old forward has had a solid start to the season, with four direct goal contributions in nine appearances.
However, Dembele is some way away from nearing Messi’s return of 743 goals and 356 assists at club level in his career, so it is doubtful that he will ever live up to that comparison, just as the youngster – unfortunately – never lived up to his potential during his time at Parkhead.
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