Former Chelsea star Diego Costa reignited his feud with former Liverpool enemy Martin Skrtel during a charity match between the Blues and the Reds. Costa, who was infamous for his flaring tempers during matches, has not changed and it was evident in his antics during the game, which was deemed to be a friendly encounter for a noble cause. Costa spent three years at Stamford Bridge between 2014 and 2017.

• Costa reignited feud with Skrtel

  Costa started upfront for the retired Blues stars, while Skrtel led the Liverpool side in the charity clash, which was a star-studded affair. It all started when another Blues legend, Eden Hazard, fed the former Spain international striker with a pass. As Costa tried to go past Skrtel, the ex-Reds star caught him on his legs with a fierce challenge. The striker immediately lost his temper and confronted the Slovak, but the duel was stopped by the linesman.  

  But the fight was far from over as he soon kicked Skrtel on the back of his leg, while challenging him from the break. Skrtel was visibly furious with the challenge as he pointed his finger at Costa and said something angrily, before the referee brandished a yellow card at the striker to warn him. It was supposed to be a friendly clash for charity, but Costa made sure it wasn't short of any drama. 

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• Watch Costa vs Skrtel duel

• Costa's battles with Skrtel

  This is not the first time that the Chelsea and Liverpool players clashed on the field. The pair famously came to blows in 2015 during a Carabao Cup clash between the two Premier League giants. Costa was charged with violent conduct by the FA after he allegedly stamped on both Skrtel and fellow Reds defender Emre Can during the match at Stamford Bridge, which led to a three-match ban for the Spain international. In the first half, Costa fouled Can, which sparked a furious reaction from the German midfielder. Then, in the second half, Costa stamped on Skrtel inside the penalty area.   

  Then Reds boss Brendan Rodgers had heavily criticised Costa for his harsh challenge, as he had said: "He could easily hurdle over the young player and he directs his studs right on to his ankle, which could've been nasty."

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  Liverpool's hot and cold start to title defence campaign

  Arne Slot's side kicked off the 2025-26 campaign on a high as they maintained a 100 per cent win record across all competitions. However, things went south after their loss against Crystal Palace. That defeat led to two more losses against Galatasaray in the Champions League and Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend, as they lost their position at the top of the table to another title favourites, Arsenal. The Merseyside club will next face old foes Manchester United in a derby in the Premier League on October 19.  

Liverpool might have ‘won’ the transfer window, but so often Premier League sides have flattered to deceive after spending liberally across the summer months.

In fairness, Liverpool lost the Community Shield against Crystal Palace last month and looked shaky in defence across their opening couple of fixtures. Florian Wirtz, £116m signing from Bayer Leverkusen, has yet to come alive.

That’s one way of looking at it. There’s also the fact that the top-flight champions have claimed nine points from nine to head into the international break at the summit, with Hugo Ekitike having scored three goals and supplied an assist across his first four appearances in Red.

Liverpool ended their incredible summer window with the record-breaking signing of Alexander Isak, who joins from Newcastle United on a £125m deal. However, some might feel that Ekitike might have already nailed down a starting berth, with three goals and an assist from four appearances.

He’s not the finished article, but Liverpool saw a chance to sign the burgeoning French forward and acted, with the view that he could soon become one of the very best in the business.

Why Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike

After playing so confidently as Eintracht Frankfurt’s senior striker last season, talent scout Jacek Kulig remarked that Ekitike “could definitely reach world-class striker levels”.

Many feel that the jump from a division like the Bundesliga to the Premier League can be a step too far for some talented young players, but Ekitike is not part of that crowd and has indeed been one of Liverpool’s best players so far this season, scoring three goals and supplying one assist across his first four matches.

His fast start shouldn’t detract from the fact that the 23-year-old Ekitike is a work in progress, with his performance against Arsenal last weekend leaving much to be desired, failing to take a shot, blowing both attempted dribbles, completing two passes and losing six of eight contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Still, Isak’s going to have his work cut out on Merseyside this season, battling for a starting spot with this rising France striker.

Players like Isak and Wirtz are almost outliers in Liverpool’s transfer strategy, both having arrived on record-breaking deals this summer. There lies the truth of Liverpool’s new position of strength at the top of the food chain.

But Ekitike, though arriving for a hefty figure, has several years of development to undertake before he reaches the refined level of someone like Isak.

Liverpool saw an opportunity and they snatched at it. As is FSG’s way. Just look at the transformational signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion two years ago.

Liverpool struck gold with Alexis Mac Allister

Admittedly, Liverpool forked out a far prettier penny for Ekitike, wowing the Premier League when landing World Cup hero Mac Allister from Brighton for just £35m.

Jurgen Klopp oversaw the move, shipping off some of Liverpool’s long-standing midfielders in a clearout which sparked this new wave of success, Slot taking the wheel.

And while Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo have all played roles of differing, yet noteworthy, importance, none have exuded Mac Allister’s control, composure and quality across the full span of their time on Merseyside.

The Argentina international’s first Premier League term with the Reds, he stabilised the ship. Then, after a change in management, the £150k-per-week talent played a talismanic part in winning the top-flight title, so authoritative and dynamic in the middle of the park.

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

35 (30)

Goals

5

5

Assists

5

5

Touches*

74.2

55.8

Pass completion

88%

87%

Big chances created

3

6

Key passes*

1.4

1.3

Dribbles*

0.5

0.5

Ball recoveries*

5.9

4.2

Tackles + interceptions*

4.1

3.3

Ground duels (won)*

5.0 (50%)

4.3 (50%)

Shifting between midfield berths was never going to pose a problem for the South American, whose technical qualities and athleticism lend themselves to different roles. Pundit Joe Cole took note of this, remarking that the “superstar” is adept enough to “play anywhere” he is tasked to perform.

He might not be positionally comparable to Mac Allister, but Ekitike might be required to occupy various positions in a similar way, jockeying for a place with Isak at the front of the Liverpool ship.

However, his early foray into life in Red certainly suggests that Ekitike has both the talent levels and the adaptability to thrive under Slot’s leadership, as has been the case for Mac Allister over his two differing years at the club.

Renowned for his shooting ability and maestro-like vision in the middle of the pitch, Mac Allister has also been one of the division’s consistent tacklers over his time at Liverpool, finishing sixth with 94 won last season and sixth with 98 during the 2023/24 season.

Is it any surprise that the former Seagull’s market value will have risen exponentially over these past few years? Indeed, according to Football Transfers, the 26-year-old is worth a jaw-dropping £116m fee right now, bearing testament to his progress across the past several seasons.

In fact, not only is Mac Allister worth a lot more than Ekitike, who might be hoped to follow a similar path, but the difference in value between Mac Allister’s £35m signing and his current worth exceeds the entire sum Liverpool paid Frankfurt for their Les Bleus forward just over one month ago.

That goes to show that Mac Allister made the right decision in furthering his career at Liverpool, and that Ekitike too could find himself falling into a similar ballpark, especially after his promising start to life in Red.

For now, though, Mac Allister is the man with the shiny price tag, having quietly put himself alongside the cream of Liverpool’s crop, those such as Isak and Wirtz.

Forget Leoni: Liverpool have a homegrown Guehi in 18-year-old "Rolls-Royce"

Liverpool may have to look inwards after missing out on signing Marc Guehi on deadline day.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 2, 2025

Liverpool and FSG splashed the cash in 2025, forking out more than £400m in the club’s biggest summer spending spree of all time. Alexander Isak rounded off the Reds’ dramatic window, costing a British record fee from Newcastle United.

But who else is on Liverpool’s most expensive signings list? Here’s the top 20 with a detailed look at the top 10.

Here's a detailed look at Liverpool's 10 most expensive signings:

10

Diogo Jota

£41m from Wolves

Liverpool made sure to capitalise on the additional time before the beginning of the 2020/21 season, which had been delayed due to the pandemic, by signing Diogo Jota on a five-year contract from Wolves.

Jota would go on to become a fan favourite at Anfield but tragically passed away in 2025 at the age of 28 after a road traffic accident. He will always be known as Liverpool’s number 20.

9

Fabinho

£44m from Monaco

Fabinho credited the exceptional infrastructure in place at Liverpool upon his arrival at the club in May 2018, but it was he who ended up being the much-needed spine for his side.

Having made over 150 appearances at his previous side Monaco, the Brazilian midfielder was sought-after due to his ability to play anywhere in the middle of the park.

With Emre Can on his way out as a free agent to sign for Juventus, Fabinho was deemed as the perfect replacement for Klopp’s side.

8

Naby Keita

£48m from RB Leipzig

Naby Keita surpassed Andy Carroll’s 2011 £35m record when Liverpool agreed to trigger the midfielder’s release clause with RB Leipzig in August 2017, securing his move to the club for the following season.

It was mostly a tale of two stories for Keita at Liverpool. The first began with promise, potential and hope; the second ended with injury, inconsistency and, eventually, his inevitable release.

7

Dominik Szoboszlai

£60m from RB Leipzig

When it was announced that James Milner, Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would all be leaving the club, Klopp knew he would need to splash the cash on a brand-new midfield in the summer of 2023.

Soon after completing the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35m, Liverpool told RB Leipzig they would be triggering the £60m release clause for Dominik Szoboszlai.

The Hungary captain had won the DFB-Pokal with Leipzig and secured a strong third-place finish in the Bundesliga, but it was his impressive performances on the international stage as Hungary’s captain that caught Liverpool’s eye.

6

Darwin Nunez

£64m from Benfica

Darwin Nunez signed for an initial £64m from Benfica in 2022 and started so well with the Reds, when his goal secured Liverpool the Community Shield against Manchester City.

However, things never really clicked into gear for the Uruguayan at Anfield, and he was sold to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal in 2025.

5

Alisson

£67m from Roma

Alisson became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in the summer of 2018 when he signed for Liverpool from Roma on a six-year contract.

The deal surpassed Man City’s £35m signing of Ederson in 2017 and turned out to be a pivotal turning point during Klopp’s tenure at the club, having previously lost out on major trophies due to goalkeeping errors.

Although officials at the Merseyside club didn’t reveal the actual fee, his former club, Roma, said the deal was worth up to £67m.

Records are meant to be broken, however, and this one didn’t last long, as Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for £71m just weeks later.

4

Hugo Ekitike

£69m from Frankfurt

Hugo Ekitike was one of two star strikers to sign for Liverpool in 2025, with the Reds paying Frankfurt an initial £69m for the forward as they repalced Nunez.

Like Nunez, the Frenchman made an instant impression by scoring on his debut in the Community Shield, whereas Ekitike also netted the first goal of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

3

Virgil van Dijk

£75m from Southampton

Liverpool’s most expensive defensive signing of all time has arguably been their most important addition in the last decade. Now captain of the Reds, Van Dijk has won multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League at Anfield, establishing himself as a Liverpool legend.

The announcement that Van Dijk would join Liverpool at the turn of the new year in 2018 was a world-record deal for a defender at the time – a fee only since surpassed by Harry Maguire’s transfer to Man United (£80m) in 2019 and Josko Gvardiol’s to Man City (£77m) in 2023 – and has proven to be worth every penny.

2

Florian Wirtz

£116m from Bayer Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz was Liverpool’s record signing for just a matter of months in the summer of 2025 after he sealed a huge £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Germany international seemed to snub joining Bayern Munich in favour of heading to Merseyside with the Reds and signed a five-year deal at Anfield.

1

Alexander Isak

£125m from Newcastle

Alexander Isak is Liverpool’s and Britain’s record transfer, with the Reds finally sealing a deal on deadline day in 2025.

The Sweden international went on strike for weeks at Newcastle before finally getting his wish with a move to Anfield. Isak signed a six-year contract and set the Reds back a whopping £125m.

An additional T20I has been added to Bangladesh’s tour of UAE, making it a three-match series. The third T20I will be played on May 21 in Sharjah, also the venue for the first two games.ESPNcricinfo has learned that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had been the one to request for the extra match and the Emirates Cricket Board agreed to it. Bangladesh are, however, still unsure about their next assignment – a T20I tour of Pakistan. This prompted the BCB to keep their team in the UAE, so they could fly to Pakistan directly if that tour goes ahead as scheduled.Bangladesh beat UAE in the first game of the series on Saturday. They had planned this series to be a precursor to their five-match T20I series against Pakistan, which was initially scheduled to start on May 25. But due to the India-Pakistan tensions, the PSL had to be suspended temporarily, which meant the Bangladesh tour also became uncertain.Related

• Nahid Rana pulls out of Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan

• Waseem and UAE make history after acing 206 chase against Bangladesh

• BCB to finalise Pakistan tour based on government directives

• Parvez Hossain Emon hits 53-ball hundred as Bangladesh brush off UAE

• Bangladesh are all systems go against UAE

Once a ceasefire was announced, a new date for the PSL final was fixed – May 25 – which meant that the Bangladesh tour had to be pushed back. According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board sent the BCB a new draft schedule, which had the first T20I on May 27 and the last one on June 5.The BCB got a directive from the Bangladesh government that the Pakistan tour can go ahead, but the board is now seeking the players’ opinions on the matter. The plan was for the final decision to be made by May 20.

Suryakumar smashed an unbeaten 73 to get back into top three while Boult picked up a wicket against DC

ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-20254:55

Moody: DC panicked when they started to lose

Orange Cap tableSuryakumar Yadav shone the brightest against DC and smashed an unbeaten 73 off 43 on a slow pitch to take MI to a match-winning score. With this knock, he took his tally to 583 runs from 13 innings and moved up by a place to occupy the third spot.Also in action on Wednesday night was KL Rahul. But he managed to add only 11 runs and advanced one place, to be at No. 6 with 504 runs from 12 matches.GT’s opening pair of B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill are still the one-two in the list with 617 and 601 runs.Purple Cap tableMI left-arm quick Trent Boult went past Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after his 1 for 29 against DC, to be third on the list.That apart, Prasidh Krishna of GT remained at the top with 21 wickets, and Chennai Super Kings’ Noor Ahmad, who also has the same number of wickets, is second because of an inferior economy rate.Here’s what ESPNcricinfo’s MVP table looks like.And here are some other IPL 2025 tables that show the season’s best performers in different aspects of the T20 game. Highest batting strike rates Best bowling economy rates Most sixes Best bowling figures in a match

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma appears to be out of Thomas Frank’s long-term plans, or so we thought.

The 29-year-old really hasn’t made a great impression since Frank’s arrival at the club this summer, with Spurs’ new boss publicly damning Bissouma for his lateness to training and repeated disciplinary issues.

The former Brighton star is yet to make a single competitive appearance for Frank since he took charge, thanks partly to injury, but it spoke volumes about Bissouma’s situation when he was left out of Tottenham’s 22-man Champions League squad.

Now, if Bissouma remains in N17, he won’t be able to make a single European appearance until after the league phase, if Spurs even make it that far.

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Frank has been unimpressed with Bissouma behind-the-scenes, and the consensus is that Tottenham are prepared to sell the £100,000-per-week ace before his contract expires in 2026.

Other reports suggest that Tottenham could even let Bissouma leave on loan, potentially to get his wages off the books for a brief period before he eventually departs for free next year — if Spurs cannot find an outright buyer.

In any case, with the Turkish, Portuguese, Mexican and Saudi transfer windows still open, the Lilywhites still have an opportunity to offload Bissouma outside the UK window deadline.

Fenerbahçe were credited with a serious summer interest in the African, but a move failed to materialise. Galatasaray also held talks to sign Bissouma on loan with an obligation to buy, according to The Mail, and Spurs are believed to value him at around £20 million.

He played a key role in Tottenham’s route to victory in the Europa League final against Man United in May, even starting the full 90 minutes against Ruben Amorim’s side, but Frank’s stance on Bissouma is crystal clear in comparison to Ange Postecoglou.

Fabrizio Romano shares Yves Bissouma twist out of Tottenham

Now, Fabrizio Romano has shared an intriguing twist on his future, after the consistent reports of him being set for a move away.

According to the reliable journalist, speaking to GiveMeSport’s newsletter, Spurs actually aren’t looking to get rid of Bissouma right now after all, with the situation described as “quiet”.

The introduction of Frank has seriously altered Bissouma’s role in the squad, coming after the ex-Seagulls star shined at times under Postecoglou.

The now-Nottingham Forest boss and Bissouma enjoyed a close relationship, and the player even described him as a father figure. Elsewhere, Pape Sarr praised Bissouma for his influential role behind-the-scenes in 2024.

Marsh scored 67 off 37 before he was subbed out in the second innings

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-20253:45

Moody: LSG need to bring the best out of Pant

It was too late for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) but Rishabh Pant was at his destructive best against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the last league game of IPL 2025. Batting at No. 3 on a mixed-soil pitch in Lucknow, Pant smashed 118 not out off 61 balls – a knock studded with 11 fours and eight sixes. RCB need 228 if they are to finish in the top two.After RCB opted to bowl, Nuwan Thushara shattered Matthew Breetzke’s off stump in the third over with the age-old bouncer-yorker trick. But Pant was off to a flying start. In the fourth over, he hit Yash Dayal for a six and two fours to move to 19 off just eight. This was already his third-highest score of the season.RCB’s decision not to bowl Bhuvneshwar Kumar until the fifth over of the chase was also baffling, especially after Thushara had found swing in the opening over. In the seventh over, with no swing on offer, Bhuvneshwar went short. Pant duly pulled him over deep midwicket for a six. On the next delivery, Livingstone failed to flick the ball back at deep square leg and ended up conceding a boundary. Soon, Pant brought up his fifty, off 29 balls.Mitchell Marsh, who was on 33 off 23 after ten overs, also joined in. Off his next eight balls, he smashed 20 to bring up his sixth 50-plus score of the season.Bhuvneshwar eventually broke the 152-run stand off 78 balls by having Marsh caught behind in the 16th over. But given that Marsh had started that over with two consecutive sixes and Pant ended it with a four, 20 came from it.Pant was unstoppable, though. He brought up his hundred with a Pant shot and followed it up with a Pant celebration. It was a full and wide delivery from Bhuvneshwar. Pant reached out to it and scythed it over extra cover for four. By the time he completed the shot, his front leg was in the air, beyond parallel to the ground, the toe pointing towards deep midwicket. He looked up, removed his helmet and gloves and did a frontflip to celebrate the landmark. The LSG dugout stood up to applaud, as did the home crowd.Jitesh Sharma, who once again stood in for Rajat Patidar, erred in the over distribution. Krunal Pandya, who had bowled the second over of the innings, sent down just one more and finished with 2-0-14-0, while Romario Shepherd registered 4-0-51-1.

It’s been a couple of weeks since the transfer window closed, and it’s hard to remember a better summer for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta got practically everything he could have wanted, from a prolific number nine, to a new highly sought-after six, a backup for Saka and one of the most exciting young defenders in world football.

Moreover, with the signing of Eberechi Eze, he got someone who can replace Gabriel Martinelli out on the left or start as the team’s out-and-out ten.

It’s not even a problem that he’s closer to 30 than some would like, as Arsenal also look to be brewing their own homegrown version of the Englishman, and no, we aren’t talking about Max Dowman.

Why Eze could be a game-changer for Arsenal

Even though Viktor Gyokeres was far more prolific and Martin Zubimendi reportedly caught the attention of Real Madrid, Eze feels like Arsenal’s most important signing this summer.

Even discounting the narrative of his returning home and the story of his choosing the Gunners over Tottenham Hotspur, there are a few reasons why we think his move could be the most consequential.

Firstly, unlike some of the other new faces, the Greenwich-born maestro is already Premier League-proven.

Including the games against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest this year, he has made 149 appearances in the competition, during which he has scored 34 goals and provided 24 assists.

Secondly, the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, has proven himself capable of taking high-pressure games by the scruff of the neck and dragging his team over the finishing line.

For example, he scored in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the FA Cup as Palace won their first significant honour last season.

Finally, as we’ve already mentioned, his versatility means he can play out on the left or in the ten depending on what the team need, or which other players are out of form.

However, Arteta has to be careful not to play him out wide too often, as while the former QPR gem can play there, it’s clearly not his preferred position.

We can see this in his heatmaps from last season, when he clearly moves towards the middle the further up the pitch he gets.

Moreover, the vast majority of his goal involvements have come when he is playing in attacking midfield, 56 to be exact.

In all, Eze looks like he’ll be an incredible addition to this Arsenal squad, and in even better news, it looks like the club are already brewing their own version.

Arsenal's homegrown Eze

Now, given the way pre-season went, and the way he’s started the season prorper, some may assume that the player in question is the sensationally talented Max Dowman.

Chalkboard

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

However, that’s not the case, as while he could well develop into an Eze-esque star for Arsenal, he is still just 15 years old, and we haven’t really seen enough of him to determine something like that.

Instead, when it comes to the Gunners’ homegrown version of the former Palace star, we are talking about none other than Ethan Nwaneri.

There are a few reasons for this, and the first is where he plays.

Like his older teammate, the Hale Ender is someone who can play in a number of roles – with Arteta even claiming he could play up top last season – but he seems to have two he’s most comfortable with, which are right-wing and attacking midfield.

Moreover, while he can play out wide, as he did for much of last year, he spent most of his time in the academy playing as a ten, and he’s even told the press that it’s his preferred role.

The second similarity is that the “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, has already proven himself to be a significant goal threat, as well as someone who can create.

For example, in 37 appearances, totalling just 1378 minutes, the Enfield-born dynamo scored nine goals and provided two assists, which comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or every 125.27 minutes.

Finally, like the 27-year-old, the Gunners’ next big thing is an entertainer on the pitch.

He’s not afraid to try something audacious with the ball at his feet, and according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, and that dribbling past an opponent is always one way to get the fans on their feet.

Ultimately, Eze could well be the difference for Arsenal this season, but Nwaneri could end up being just as, if not more, important in a few years.

Arsenal fans gave £60m ace the Madueke treatment all summer, now he's set to star

The Arsenal star could be in for a career revival this season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 19, 2025

It’s been a brilliant few days for Arsenal.

On Saturday, they got to sit back and watch Chelsea, Manchester United, and, most crucially, Liverpool lose, while they went on to claim all three points in dramatic fashion away to Newcastle United.

However, there is no time to get distracted, as Mikel Arteta and Co have another game to prepare for against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

With games coming thick and fast, the manager should be looking to make a host of changes to the starting lineup, including dropping one promising player for a world-beater.

The changes Arteta needs to make to the Arsenal lineup

It was a gruelling game at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, and with another potentially testing match against an improving West Ham United this weekend, Arteta should consider making some changes to the starting lineup to face Olympiacos.

Chalkboard

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

The first of those changes should come between the sticks, with Kepa Arrizabalaga coming in for David Raya, and while the former Chelsea keeper didn’t play in the last UCL game, this one should be a slightly easier affair and a real chance to rest the Gunners’ number one.

At right-back, Ben White deserves a chance to start another game in place of Jurrien White, who was unreal against the Toon. On the other flank, it should be a second start of the season for young Myles Lewis-Skelly, who added some real dynamism when he came off the bench on Sunday.

In the middle of the park, it might be worth keeping Martin Zubimendi at the base of midfield, especially as this game could provide an opportunity for the manager to start Martin Odegaard alongside Eberechi Eze.

The latter is still getting to grips with how the team plays, so keeping him in the lineup makes sense to help him with that, and then when it comes to the latter, he needs to get back his match sharpness as quickly as possible if he’s going to play a significant role over the coming months.

Moreover, playing both of them in midfield should give the side a far more cutting edge and help deal with a stubborn low block, if that’s how the Greek side opts to play.

Finally, up-top Arteta should keep Viktor Gyokeres in the side as he was looking better on Sunday, and the more chances he gets to bolster his goal tally, the more confident and therefore effective he should become.

Gabriel Martinelli should come in off the Swede’s left, and then on the right, Ethan Nwaneri should be handed another start, as Bukayo Saka no longer needs to be run into the ground anymore, especially when the teenager is more than good enough to cover for him.

With all that said, there is one more area of the lineup that needs to be addressed – an area where Arteta should make another bold call.

Arteta should axe one of Arsenal's most exciting players

So, one of the players who should retain their position at centre-back for the game is Gabriel Magalhães, as he will not want to sit out after scoring that goal against Newcastle.

However, alongside him, Arteta should bring William Saliba back into the side.

Yes, that means dropping the incredible Cristhian Mosquera, who has looked so good already this season that one content creator has already branded him the club’s “signing of the summer.”

However, there is really one key reason why he should be dropped, and no, it’s not because he made the mistake that led to the goal on the weekend.

Instead, it’s the fact that he is still relatively young for a defender – 21 years old – and inexperienced at this level, so it might be wise to take him out of the lineup for a game or two and ensure he’s not overplayed.

However, when it really comes down to it, the reason the former Valencia gem should be dropped is so that Saliba can come back into the team.

The “world-class” titan, as dubbed by Fabrizio Romano, came on at half-time at St James’ Park due to minor fitness issues, and that is one of the reasons he should be in from the start against Olympiacos, so he can build up his fitness and match sharpness ahead of the weekend.

Appearances

140

Starts

137

Minutes

12193′

Goals

7

Assists

3

Points per Game

2.06

Moreover, if the manager opts to play several of his young stars, such as Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, and possibly even Max Dowman, it would make sense to ensure the centre-back pairing is as strong as it can possibly be.

Ultimately, while Mosquera is an incredible talent, Saliba should be in from the start to regain his fitness and provide balance for what could be a relatively inexperienced team.

Not Mosquera: Arsenal have signed a Gabriel & Saliba hybrid in £45m "beast"

The international star could be a game-changer for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 30, 2025

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+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

O lateral-direito deixou o Morumbi mancando e pode ser baixa no Timão para o duelo contra o Cruzeiro, neste sábado (19), pela primeira rodada do returno no Brasileirão.

Contra o São Paulo, Vanderlei Luxemburgo optou por começar com Bruno Méndez na lateral-direita. Após o intervalo, Luxa sacou o uruguaio e colocou o camisa 23, que sofreu um pisão nos minutos finais da partida.

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O Corinthians ainda divulgou a situação clínica do jogadore, e a tendência é que Fagner seja reavaliado na reapresentação do elenco no CT Joaquim Grava, nesta quinta-feira (17).

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Timão no Brasileirão

Caso Fagner não tenha condição de enfrentar a Raposa, a tendência é que Bruno Méndez siga improvisado na lateral-direita. Luxemburgo ainda tem Rafael Ramos e o jovem Léo Mana, que vinha sendo relacionado para os últimos compromissos do Timão, mas acabou descendo ao Sub-20 para reforçar a equipe de Danilo na semifinal contra o Palmeiras, pelo Brasileirão da categoria.

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