All posts by z3u9t.icu

More points. Yet more points have gone begging in what is turning out to be a rather trying Premier League campaign for Arsenal so far.

A couple of weeks ago it looked like the Gunners had their mojo back, putting 12 goals past Nottingham Forest, Sporting and West Ham.

However, since then, they’ve not had things all their own way. Arsenal drew with Fulham a week ago and were left to rue more dropped points, this time against relegation-threatened Everton.

You won’t find many games that Mikel Arteta’s men fail to get going but this was a real abject performance at home.

In truth, nothing seemed to click and when Bukayo Saka had a goalbound effort phenomenally denied by Jordan Pickford at the near post in the second half, you perhaps knew it wasn’t going to be the hosts’ afternoon.

So, where did all go wrong on Saturday afternoon?

Why Arsenal drew with Everton

Arsenal have not found it difficult holding onto the ball in recent weeks. Against Everton this weekend, they left the field having had 77% of possession but ultimately, they only ever created one big chance.

That really told the story of a lacklustre attack that only really saw Saka generate much of note in red and white.

That’s a familiar tale, really. Give the ball to Saka and hope. If something isn’t created by him then they’ll probably have to rely on a corner. Neither worked on this occasion.

You could put a lot of the blame on a dysfunctioning left-hand side again. What Raheem Sterling or even Gabriel Jesus have to do to potentially start on that left-hand side remains to be seen.

Passes

William Saliba – 103

Touches

Gabriel – 118

Key passes

Bukayo Saka – 3

Crosses

Saka – 10

xG

Martin Odegaard – 0.59

Defensive actions

Ashley Young – 14

Blocked shots

James Tarkowski – 3

Interceptions

Young – 3

Tackles

Young – 7

Duels won

Gabriel & Gueye – 9

It appears as though the issue stems from the day Granit Xhaka left the club. Let’s cast our minds back to the 2022/23 season. Arsenal may have finished the season five points behind Manchester City but it was some of the best football we’ve witnessed at the Emirates in years.

That was helped by a flexible structure across the pitch and one that wasn’t solely reliant on things happening from one side of the pitch.

There is no doubt that the combination of Saka and Martin Odegaard has worked a treat on the right but since Xhaka left, they’ve not had the same combination play on the left.

During that aforementioned season, Xhaka was involved in 16 goals while Gabriel Martinelli, who seemed to love playing on that left flank, had a hand in 21 goals.

Arsenal looked to have semi-fixed that in midweek with Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly featuring on the left with Trossard in behind.

In fact, it was a combination on the left that led to the opening goal, scored by Saka. Lewis-Skelly retained the ball brilliantly before feeding not Trossard, but Jesus, who swept a cross towards the back post.

There was no such luck this time with a “dull and inspiring” Martinelli – in the words of European football expert Zach Lowy – not at the races once more.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Gabriel Martinelli's performance in numbers

Martinelli starts one game. Trossard starts the next one. And repeat. That’s been the story of Arsenal’s season as far as their left flank is concerned and it’s now becoming quite the problem that neither of them can find much form.

Trossard did score in back-to-back games against Sporting and West Ham but his performance a week ago against Fulham didn’t amount to much, producing just a solitary key pass.

Martinelli replaced him late on and looked to have produced the game-winning moment, crossing to Saka at the back stick only for the Brazilian to be deemed offside in the build-up.

That painful moment didn’t impact Arteta’s judgement too much as the former Ituano winger has now started the last two matches.

His lack of impact, though, was alarming, particularly when you consider he was up against 39-year-old Ashley Young. In total, he attempted four dribbles but didn’t complete a single one. As it happens, Young wasn’t dribbled past once and won seven of his nine duels. Martinelli’s numbers in comparison were damning, winning just one of his eight duels.

Minutes played

74

Accurate passes

23/26 (88%)

Key passes

2

Shots on target

1

Shots off target

0

Dribble success

0/4

Cross success

1/3

Duels won

1/8

Offsides

1

Possession lost

14x

To make matters worse, the 23-year-old gave away the ball 14 times and produced just two key passes, while having a solitary effort on target.

Handed a 5/10 match rating by Football.London’s Kaya Kaynak, the reporter noted that the attacker’s ‘end product remains an issue’. Indeed, the Brazil star has only scored three times in the league this term and assisted two goals.

Contrast that with the right-hand side where Saka has contributed five league goals and ten assists and the difference is stark.

In all honesty, if Arsenal are going to win a Premier League title anytime soon, they need a high-functioning left-hand side. That feels unlikely until they sign another winger with end product.

Arsenal want to sign "blistering" £57m star who's like a right-footed Saka

The incredible forward would be the perfect addition to Arsenal’s attack.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 10, 2024

Arsenal are now keen on signing a “monster” attacker who plays for a rival Premier League club, according to a report.

Arsenal struggling with injuries

With both Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling on the treatment table at the moment, Mikel Arteta is a little light on options in attacking areas, although the manager has confirmed that the latter player will be back quite soon. As such, the Gunners may look to strengthen in the January transfer window, as they continue their pursuit of league leaders Liverpool, and they have now identified a number of potential targets in attacking areas.

Arsenal have now made contact with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal for striker Omar Marmoush, moving ahead of the other Premier League clubs in the race for his signature. Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani has also held talks over a move to the Emirates Stadium this winter, with recent reports detailing that his time with the French champions will soon be coming to an end.

Arsenal contact club over signing £50m striker amid new contract standoff

The Gunners are ready to take advantage.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 31, 2024

The Gunners have identified a range of targets from across the continent, but there is now a feeling that there could be a potential option from much closer to home. According to a report from Caught Offside, Christopher Nkunku is pushing to leave Chelsea in the January transfer window, which could open the door for a move across the capital.

Nkunku is keen on a move to Arsenal this winter, with his representatives currently exploring potential destinations, and the Blues would be willing to sanction his departure if he makes it clear that he wants to leave.

PSG are also on the attacker’s radar this winter, so there may be competition for his signature, should Arsenal choose to pursue a deal over the next few weeks.

Nkunku could help Arsenal's Premier League title bid

The 27-year-old has found it difficult to get consistent game time at Stamford Bridge so far this season, but he has impressed when given the opportunity in the Conference League, scoring five goals and picking up three assists in five outings.

Lauded as a “monster” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Frenchman is extremely impressive on a number of key metrics, notably ranking in the 99th percentile for interceptions per 90, when compared to his positional peers.

As such, there are indications that the £195k-per-week forward could pitch in defensively, should he be deployed in a wide area, if he were to complete a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Nkunku’s versatility could make him an attractive option for Arteta, given that he is also capable of playing at striker, with question marks still lingering over Gabriel Jesus and Saka of course set to take the RW role back once he returns.

It is currently unclear whether Arsenal would be interested in making a move for the France international, but his willingness to move to north London is a sign a deal could be there to be done, so it is definitely a move worth exploring.

Liverpool have now been credited with an interest in a versatile star defender for Arne Slot as they look to build a squad capable of continuing their push for success on all fronts, according to a fresh report.

Liverpool lose at Tottenham as Alexander-Arnold dropped

Liverpool suffered just their second loss of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg in north London. A goal from Lucas Bergvall, who many felt should not be on the pitch, proved the difference between the two sides and handed Tottenham a slender advantage heading to Anfield for the return leg next month.

It was just the second defeat of Arne Slot’s tenure, having also lost at home to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. However, the Reds remain in the driving seat to scoop at least one trophy this season, with the Merseyside outfit six points clear of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest while also having a game in hand over the two below them.

Liverpool identify "world-class" £75m striker as ideal Nunez replacement

The Reds have set their sights on a new forward.

ByDominic Lund Jan 9, 2025

In the Champions League, they are already assured of qualification to the next round, and are the only side with a 100% record in the competition, meaning that they can afford to drop points in their final two outings and still reach the next round.

However, there remains concern about the future of key men at Anfield, with none of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk or Trent Alexander-Arnold having penned new deals at the club, and all three set to become free agents this summer as things stand.

Of those three, Alexander-Arnold is the most likely to leave, with Real Madrid keen to land him and even making a January offer to sign him, though that was promptly rejected. Now though, the Reds could have found an ideal replacement, after Conor Bradley took the local lad’s place against Spurs this week.

Liverpool target free agent defender

That comes as a fresh report from Spain has revealed that Liverpool are now monitoring Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich as he heads towards the end of his contract in Bavaria.

The Germany international is down to the final months of his monster £300,000 a week deal at the Allianz Arena, and has yet to pen fresh terms at the club he has spent the last decade at, a situation that Liverpool fans will be all too sympathetic with.

Dubbed “an absolutely phenomenal player” by ex-Premier League boss Jose Mourinho, Kimmich has spent this season playing in midfield but is an incredibly versatile player, having spent several years of his career at right-back too.

Defensive midfield

262

Right Back

127

Central midfield

62

Centre-back

22

His arrival would allow Slot to rotate Ryan Gravenberch as well as offering an alternative to exciting talent Bradley at right-back, all while blocking the progression paths of neither.

Though now 29-years-old and on wages that would put him among the highest earners at the club, his £16m per season would be cheaper than trying to sign a player of his quality still under contract, whose transfer fee would likely be several times Kimmich’s yearly salary. Could he be the perfect option for Slot?

Glasgow Rangers finally won an Old Firm match under Philippe Clement on Thursday as the Ibrox side blew Celtic away with a phenomenal display in the traditional festive clash between the two.

Given the respective form of both teams, a 3-0 win for Rangers certainly didn’t appear on the radar, but the performance must give the manager hope that the second half of the season can be better than the first.

Much of the improved display against Celtic was down to a dynamic front four who worked well together to cause the defence all sorts of problems. Nedim Bajrami showed his class as a number ten, while Hamza Igamane’s movement drew opposition players out of position regularly.

It was the two wingers – Ianis Hagi and Vaclav Cerny – who proved to be the most creative in attack. Cerny hit the woodwork twice while Hagi not only scored the opener, but he also delivered eight crosses into the box and made four key passes during the course of the game.

It looks as though he is finally back to his brilliant best after a contract dispute threatened to end his Ibrox spell sooner than expected.

If he can maintain this sort of form, the Romanian will be a huge asset to Clement between now and the end of the campaign. That’s a certainty.

Ianis Hagi’s Rangers statistics

It is hard to believe that Steven Gerrard signed Hagi five years ago. The baby-faced attacking midfielder enjoyed a solid first few months in Glasgow, with the highlights being the two goals he scored against Braga to seal a 3-2 comeback win.

Throughout the 2020/21 season, the player played a starring role as the Gers won the Premiership title unbeaten. Hagi not only registered 18 goal contributions – seven goals and 11 assists – in the top flight alone, but he averaged one key pass per game while creating nine big chances.

Metric

2020/21

2021/22

2024/25

Goals

7

2

1

Assists

11

0

3

Big chances created

6

2

3

Shots per game

1.8

2.4

2.2

Key passes per game

1

1.5

1.9

Hagi looked to build upon this during the following campaign and while he was a regular in the starting XI, against Stirling Albion in a Scottish Cup tie, the playmaker suffered a season-ending injury which halted his progress.

By the time he returned to full fitness, Michael Beale was in charge and clearly didn’t fancy him, sending him on loan to Alaves in La Liga for the 2023/24 season.

His commitment to the club is clear, managing to sort out the contractual dispute which threatened to end his stay in Glasgow, and it now looks like he could be an important player for the team.

With the winter window now open, Clement will be keen to make a few signings to add some much-needed depth to his first-team squad.

There have already been a few names linked with a move to Ibrox, but there is one player who has been touted with a move to Rangers before. Not only that, but he could be the next Hagi for the club…

Rangers keen on signing Romanian sensation

Before Christmas, the Daily Record claimed that Rangers were reportedly keen on a deal to sign FCSB midfielder Darius Olaru when the January transfer window opened.

The player has a release clause of just €4m (£3.3m) inserted into his contract, which makes him an attractive option for Clement, especially if some deadwood could be moved on this month.

The Ibrox side first began to show interest in Olaru a couple of years ago, even going as far as sending scouts to monitor his performances when Beale was in charge.

No move ever materialised then, but could 2025 be different? £3.3m might sound lavish considering the current financial issues as the club, but if a few players are sold, then a move for the FCSB star should be a priority.

Darius Olaru’s season in numbers

The 25-cap Romanian international has been in excellent form for his club side this season. Across 30 appearances in all competitions, he has scored 15 goals while registering seven assists.

Domestically, the attacking midfielder has been on fire. He has created six big chances, averaging three key passes per game along with averaging 3.3 shots per game, proving that he is a major attacking threat.

He has even shone in the Europa League, registering three goal contributions in just four matches, although he did miss the clash against Rangers due to suspension.

Bringing in a player of his ability would certainly boost the club, and it would also be beneficial for Hamza Igamane, who could work well playing ahead of Olaru.

Olaru could be a dream signing for Hamza Igamane

Igamane has been excellent since making his debut for the Light Blues at the start of September. He has scored eight times for the Light Blues in that time and has even attracted the interest of Everton too.

Having someone of Olaru’s stature playing just behind him and creating chance after chance would certainly allow the Moroccan striker to score more regularly.

When compared to positional peers in the Europa League this season, Olaru ranks in the top 10% for key passes per 90 (2.85) and in the top 19% for crosses per 90 (4.56), indicating that his teammates benefit from his creative talents in the final third.

Scottish content creator Kai Watson lavished praise on the midfielder in November 2024, saying:

It would be money well spent should Rangers make a concrete move to bring the Romanian to Ibrox and, after the success of his compatriot Hagi, Olaru could have a similar impact at the club.

Much will depend on other factors, but if Clement has the money available, then signing the FCSB sensation could improve further during his time in Scotland.

Rangers star who didn't even score just dropped a masterclass vs Celtic

Rangers secured a stunning win over Celtic at Ibrox today

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 2, 2025

Sheffield United have now made their first move to sign a new forward for Chris Wilder as they look to bolster their chances of promotion back to the Premier League come the end of the campaign, according to a fresh report.

Sheffield United transfer news

Speaking last week, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told fans that he expected signings before their next Championship game against Norwich, even adding that one name on their list of transfer targets was “ridiculous”.

“We’ve been talking the last 48 hours, continually working and trying to progress deals through”, the Blades boss explained.

Sheffield United could land their next McAtee in "wonderful" PL gem

Chris Wilder is looking at adding this exciting loanee to his Sheffield United squad.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 12, 2025

“I’ve talked about selling clubs or players who are loaned out – they want the best deal and they wait for better offers coming in as well. It really is that type of situation, but we’ve moved stuff forward, so I’m sure hopefully we’ll see some progress in the next four or five days leading up to the Norwich game.

“If I told you about one of the deals you’d find that ridiculous, but you have to wait. It’s a bit of a game of poker at times. But we’ve got players who want to come here, which is the biggest thing. And we’ve got owners and a chief exec who are working tirelessly to try and bring players in, which is good enough for me.”

One player who is seemingly on the verge of joining is Hamza Choudury, with a loan move on the cards for the Bangaladesh midfielder, while there is also hope that Ben Brereton Diaz could return too.

Now, Sheffield United have reportedly returned to Leicester in a bid to snatch another of their talents with a bid having already been made.

Sheffield United make £7m bid for Leicester forward

That comes as Football Insider report that Sheffield United have tabled a £7m offer to sign Leicester City forward Tom Cannon this month. The striker spent the first half of the campaign on loan with Championship strugglers Stoke City, and hit nine goals in 22 appearances.

Appearances

22

Goals

9

Assists

1

Minutes per goal/assist

207

Goal conversion

16%

Shot accuracy

55%

He also found the net in the EFL Cup and in the FA Cup for the Potters and had emerged as a key figure for them, only for Leicester to exercise their recall option on the forward in the winter window.

During his time with Preston last season, Cannon was hailed as “outstanding” by Hull City boss Liam Rosenior, and there is understood to be significant interest in his signature this winter.

To that end, Sheffield United have made an opening offer with “a formal £7m bid” having been tabled, with the Blades having also been keen to land him last summer before he ultimately moved to Stoke.

As it stands, Wilder’s side sit just outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference. They will be hoping that attacking reinforcements in the second half of the season will help them secure an instant return to the Premier League.

Still looking to commence their January business, Liverpool are now reportedly battling against former manager Jurgen Klopp to sign a future star who is attracting plenty of interest.

Liverpool transfer news

Having opted not to splash the cash in the summer transfer window upon Arne Slot’s arrival, some may have expected the Reds to hand the Dutchman one or two reinforcements this month, but so far that has not been the case. Top of the Premier League and top of the Champions League – and both very convincingly so – those at Anfield have so far decided that Slot’s squad good enough as it is.

Liverpool "in the transfer race" for £85m ace who could revive Nunez

Manchester United and Chelsea are also in the race for this “special” talent.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 25, 2025

Instead, Liverpool have been forced to think about potential departures this month. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are still yet to put pen to paper on new deals and that has only sparked exit rumours, particularly in the case of Alexander-Arnold. With Real Madrid’s interest no secret these days, the right-back has seen his name linked to the Bernabeu since the beginning of the month.

That’s not to say no rumours over potential incomings have arrived, however. According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Liverpool are now battling Klopp to sign Ryan One from Sheffield United. The 18-year-old has impressed for the Blades and earned interest from Anfield, Brighton & Hove Albion and Red Bull clubs RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg as a result.

Whether the Reds make their move as early as this month remains to be seen, but seeing Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes square off against Klopp in the transfer market would certainly be an interesting scenario a year on from when the German announced he would leave at the end of the last campaign. That said, One could be a player to watch in the final days of the winter window.

"Powerful" One is a rising star

At just 18 years old, One is already making an impact for Sheffield United’s senior side under Chris Wilder, scoring once in two starts and 10 appearances in the Championship. As things stand, the only way is up for the young forward who may yet have the biggest decision of his career so far to make in the coming weeks or months.

The striker role is certainly one that is up for grabs at Liverpool, even for a player as young as One. With Darwin Nunez yet to convince, Diogo Jota proving unreliable thanks to his injury record and Luis Diaz merely a square peg in a round hole, any forward who is good enough should be considered ready enough to lead the line at Anfield.

One has unsurprisingly found himself at the centre of praise in recent months, including from Scottish football experts Scotball, who described the young Scotland forward as “powerful” at the start of the month.

A player to watch, One could find himself playing Premier League football with or without Sheffield United by the time that next season arrives.

Manchester United have sent scouts to have another look at a “special” player this week, as they eye a potential summer move, according to a recent report.

Man Utd sign Dorgu but continue poor form under Amorim

It has been a rather difficult few days for the Red Devils, as defeat to Crystal Palace put an end to their recent upturn in form, and the failure to bring in one more player before the transfer window closed will also have been a disappointment.

INEOS working on new contract for Man Utd star who wants huge 1,000% raise

As the transfer window is now closed, Man Utd are turning their attentions to securing the long-term future of a key player.

ByBrett Worthington Feb 5, 2025

United allowed Antony and Marcus Rashford to both leave the club on loan to Real Betis and Aston Villa, respectively, and while Ruben Amorim’s bosses brought in Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu, for him they failed to bring in an attacking replacement.

The Red Devils were heavily linked with a move for Mathys Tel, but United pulled out of any transfer, as they were unwilling to meet Bayern Munich’s demands.

Away from transfer news, United suffered a big injury blow on Sunday afternoon as defender Lisandro Martínez was stretched off the pitch after falling to the ground in a relatively low-impact collision. United are yet to confirm the Argentine’s diagnosis, but it’s been reported that Martinez has suffered cruciate ligament damage, which would rule him out for the remainder of this campaign and likely the start of the 2025-26 season as well.

Man Utd scouts run fresh checks on £25m midfielder

The Red Devils may not have brought in any new attacking players in January, but they have their eye on potential reinforcements for the summer, as according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Man United’s scouts were in attendance to watch Sunderland’s Chris Rigg in their game against Middlesbrough on Monday night.

United scouts have already taken in Rigg’s performances for the Black Cats, with Crook reporting this was a fresh look at the young midfielder, as they are among the teams interested in securing his signature. INEOS see Rigg as a young player who is available for a reasonable price, with them having the potential to sell him on in the future.

At the age of 17, Rigg has become an integral part of Sunderland’s midfield as they look to make their long-awaited return to the Premier League. Rigg scored two goals in 21 Championship games last season, and he has already surpassed that in this campaign, scoring four times in 26 league games.

Minutes played

72

Touches

27

Accurate passes

14/20 (70%)

Key passes

1

Long balls (accurate)

2 (1)

Ground duels (won)

6 (1)

Aerial duels (won)

3 (2)

Possession lost

9

Fouls

1

Clearances

2

Rigg, who has been labelled “special” by Sunderland fan and pundit Dougie Critchley, is under contract until 2027, and it’s been reported that he could cost United or any other interested team £25 million.

However, if Sunderland achieves promotion to the top flight, that figure could significantly increase. The Red Devils have added some very exciting young players to their squad in recent transfer windows, and Rigg looks to be the next on their list, who would fit straight into their first team plans and could be a long-term replacement for Christian Eriksen, who looks set to depart Old Trafford at the end of the campaign.

Leeds United have now begun eyeing a late alternative to Cameron Archer in the final hours of the January transfer window, according to a new report, as they look to hand Daniel Farke more firepower to ensure promotion out of the Championship.

Leeds want to sign Cameron Archer

Heading into the final days of the January transfer window, Leeds have been pursuing a deal to sign Southampton forward Archer either on loan or permanently.

So far this January, the Whites have not made any signings, with their only real first-team dealing being the departure of Joe Gelhardt on loan to Hull City. Sitting top of the Championship and having just beaten Cardiff City 7-0, it is easy to see why they may have opted to sit on their funds rather than take a risk in January, but even after that thrashing Farke admitted that business was still there to be done if the right player was found.

The 15 most expensive signings in EFL Championship history

The second tier has had its fair share of mega-money deals.

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 3, 2025

“I trust this group and if we go with this group, I am confident we can finish in a top position”, he explained.

“I think it is also our responsibility, as key people in the club, to explore if there is something to improve the group a bit and make it a higher probability we are successful.”

“If we find something and think it’s a good addition and affordable, we will go for it. And if not, then no.

So far, that player appears to be Archer, with Leeds having had an offer turned down for the Southampton talent last week and they are still believed to be pushing for an exit for the Englishman, who was left out of the Saints squad for their win over Ipswich.

However, should they not be able to land Archer, it seems that a late alternative has emerged.

Leeds eyeing fellow Southampton forward instead of Archer

That is according to The Daily Mail’s reporter Craig Hope, who has revealed that Leeds and the 49ers are one of the sides interested in a potential late move to sign Southampton striker Adam Armstrong.

Leeds, of course, will not have fond memories of the Englishman and his knack of scoring goals against them. Armstrong struck the only goal in the play-off final last season and has scored five times against the Elland Road outfit, only managing more against Birmingham City.

After winning promotion for the Saints, however, Armstrong has struggled with his side in the top flight, scoring just twice in 20 appearances. Though he still has over two years left to run on his £60,000 a week deal at St Mary’s, there is a suggestion that he could depart before the end of the transfer window.

Middlesbrough are another side thought to be keen on the 27-year-old, who enjoyed the best form of his career in the Championship and could be a massive boost to any side he joins.

Appearances

232

Goals

77

Assists

33

Minutes per goal/assist

151

Though Leeds proved that they have no problem finding the back of the net, and currently lead the way as the division’s top scorers, could a proven goal-getter guarantee them an automatic promotion spot and a place in next season’s Premier League?

Since defeating relegation rivals Ipswich Town last time out, it’s been one step forward and two steps back for Southampton following frustrating news both within Ivan Juric’s squad and the transfer window.

Southampton injury news

Whilst survival may be still be a world away – 10 points to be exact – victory over Ipswich at least put Southampton on the right path towards attempting the impossible. And it looked as though they were about to follow three points up move with movement in the transfer window, only for their deal to sign Abakar Sylla to collapse in the dying embers of the winter window.

Forced to settle for the reinforcements that they had already welcomed, the Saints will be desperate to see Wellington, Joachim Kayi-Sanda, Rento Takaoka and Albert Gronbaek all leave their mark on Juric’s side.

The latter has already enjoyed a rare Premier League victory at St Mary’s, having started for the first time in his new side’s 2-1 win over Ipswich. But he won’t want to stop there even if the Saints will be forced to cope without one senior figure on the injury front yet again in the coming weeks.

As confirmed by Juric, Jack Stephens is facing another spell on the sidelines after only just making his return to the side from a lengthy month-long injury. The Saints boss stated that he is “not optimistic” about his captain’s setback in what is a frustrating blow for those at St Mary’s.

Sky Sports reporter drops live update as Southampton close in on late deal

The Saints are set to get their man…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 3, 2025

Left to cover for the experienced defender last time out was Joe Aribo, who filled in at centre-back from his usual role in midfield. Speaking to reporters, he reiterated his willingness to adjust if needed once again in the face of Stephens’ injury.

The former Rangers man said: “We are willing to do anything to get over the line. We have to fight together. If I’ve got to go into a position that I’m not familiar with, then I have to play there to the best of my ability. That’s what I was able to do today.”

Another setback for Stephens

Just when Stephens is back remains to be seen, but Juric’s lack of optimism is certainly not a good sign. The Southampton captain has endured a stop-start season, having missed four of the opening 10 Premier League games through suspension and then nine of the last 10 games through injury from the beginning of December into the new year.

His absence comes at a time when Southampton have needed him most too. The Saints have so far conceded 54 goals in just 24 Premier League games – one more than relegation rivals Leicester City and the most in England’s top flight. The argument could certainly be had that with Stephens, that record may have been less damaging.

For now though, Juric must cope without his senior defender once again and search for an internal solution. Whether that sees Aribo drop back once again will certainly be interesting to see in their FA Cup tie against Burnley this weekend.

This season continues to be just one disappointment after another for Arsenal.

While there was an element of hope at the start of the weekend that Mikel Arteta’s side could claw back some more ground in the Premier League title race, their defeat to West Ham United and Liverpool’s win over Manchester City has all but extinguished it.

The Gunners’ biggest problem this season has been their lacklustre attacking threat, which has been made all the more problematic by a slew of injuries to key players since Christmas.

Worse yet, a striker sold for very little by Arteta and Co in the summer is in red-hot form and has even won comparisons to another goalscorer worth an astounding £172m.

Arsenal's 2024 sales

From an incomings perspective, it would be fair to say that the summer transfer window was nothing short of a disaster for Arsenal, especially in light of this season’s non-stop injury problems.

However, Arteta and former Sporting Director Edu Gaspar did oversee a number of quite significant outgoings, including a couple of academy graduates, like Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah.

The former moved to Fulham for a fee that could reach £34m, and while he’s undoubtedly someone the club could do with today thanks to his seven goal involvements this season, his sale represented good value considering he played just 196 minutes of first-team football in the 22/23 campaign and 475 minutes last season.

Likewise, while Nketiah would be able to step into the space vacated by the injured Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus at the moment, the fact the club were able to get £30m for a player who scored just six goals and provided three assists in 37 games last season is really quite impressive.

However, while the Gunners secured decent fees for both academy players last summer, the same cannot be said for another tremendously exciting youngster now outscoring everyone in the team this season and has been compared to arguably the best striker on the planet.

The ex-Arsenal youngster worth a king's ransom today

As things stand, Arsenal’s top scorer this season is Havertz, who has found the back of the net 15 times and behind him in second is Bukayo Saka with just nine, so the fact that both are being outscored by a former youth player sold for peanuts last summer is far from ideal.

Mika Biereth joined the Gunners from Fulham’s academy in July 2021, and over the next three years, he would go on several loan moves to RKC Waalwijk, Motherwell and finally, Sturm Graz for the latter half of last season, where he scored nine goals and provided four assists in 22 appearances, totalling just 1624 minutes.

That means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.69 games, or every 101.84 minutes in Austria, which was enough to convince the club to make an offer of around £4m plus a small sell-on clause, which the North Londoners accepted.

For the first half of this season, the Danish marksman was on fire, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists in just 25 games, which was enough to convince AS Monaco to splash around £10.8m plus another £1.75m in add-ons for him in January.

Despite being a top-five league, and therefore a massive step up, the “terrific” 22-year-old, as dubbed by former Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell, has remained as prolific in the principality and has already racked up a tally of seven goals and two assists in just nine appearances, seven of which have been starts.

That means the former Gooner has scored 21 goals and provided seven assists in 34 appearances, totalling 2580 minutes, this season, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 1.21 games, or every 92.14 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, such an incredible rate of return has seen the young forward win comparisons to some of the best strikers in the world, including Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

The comparison primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Norwegian is the second most similar centre-forward to the Dane.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals, penalty kicks, progressive carries, passing accuracy, goals per shot and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.73

0.68

Penalty Kicks

0.05

0.04

Progressive Carries

0.57

0.69

Passing Accuracy

66.7%

64.8%

Goals per Shot

0.32

0.20

On top of the prestige that comes with being compared to such an incredible number nine, such similarities are also incredibly encouraging for the Monaco ace’s future valuation, as according to Football Transfers, the City star is worth up to €207m, which is about £172m, and considering his form and statistical similarities, who’s to say Biereth won’t be worth something similar in the future.

Ultimately, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but given his sensational form and their struggles in attack, we can’t help thinking that Arsenal made a mistake in selling the 22-year-old goal machine, especially if he could one day be worth a king’s ransom.

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