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Florian Wirtz's situation at Liverpool has been likened to that of Darwin Nunez, with Peter Crouch confident that Reds supporters will take the German playmaker to their hearts. Wirtz has endured a tough start to his spell in English football, on the back of a £116 million ($156m) transfer, but he will boast the full support of those in the stands if he continues to give his all to the collective cause.

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  Big-money signing waiting on first goal involvement

  There has been no doubting Wirtz’s effort since completing a big-money switch from Bayer Leverkusen, with the 22-year-old eager to impress, he has just been lacking in end product. The talented Germany international is still waiting on his first goal involvement as a Liverpool player after nine appearances in all competitions.

  He was briefly the most expensive player in British football when joining the reigning Premier League champions, before that place in the history books was filled by £125m ($168m) Anfield team-mate Alexander Isak. Such a hefty price tag was always going to bring added scrutiny and expectation.

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• Wirtz's situation likened to that of Nunez

  Wirtz showed what he is capable of when registering 16 goals and 15 assists for Leverkusen from an attacking midfield berth last season. Arne Slot needs to find a way of unlocking that potential on Merseyside. Once he does so, then Wirtz should go on to become a fan favourite.

  Ex-Reds striker Crouch believes that a loyal fan base will give Wirtz time in which to find his feet, with 100 per cent effort all that they are demanding for now. They have overlooked supposed flaws in other enigmatic performers, with Uruguayan forward Nunez becoming something of a cult hero despite never being prolific in front of goal.

  Paddy Power’s Crouch, who was speaking at the launch of Paddy’s Sportsbook at The Hippodrome Casino, said: "I think Wirtz is in the best possible environment, I know it from when I was there. At Liverpool, if you attack one of their players, the fans bring you on the inside and you are one of them. Nunez also had a difficult time, but not once did Liverpool fans waiver in their support of him."

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  Did Liverpool get lucky during unbeaten start?

  Liverpool have been searching for a spark as a star-studded squad this season. They find themselves back at the top of the Premier League table, but have been relying on late goals to get them there. A faultless start to the campaign papered over any cracks, with battling victories being secured in domestic and European competition.

  Slot’s side have, however, come unstuck in their last two fixtures. Crystal Palace secured a dramatic 2-1 win over the Reds in Premier League action at Selhurst Park, before a penalty from Nigeria international Victor Osimhen condemned them to a 1-0 reversal away at Galatasaray in the Champions League. Questions have been asked of some big selection calls in those contests.

  There is no cause for panic, with a minor bump in the road being hit, and Crouch is confident that a team of proven winners will come good again once any early-season issues have been ironed out. He added: "I don't think Liverpool have been lucky. Have they been dominant in every game? Absolutely not. They've looked open and fragile at times but they've scored goals and found a way to win. I think they proved last season how good they can be, they're a top side."

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• Liverpool fixtures: Next up for the Reds

  Liverpool will be determined to bounce back in style when returning to competitive action, but are heading into a testing run of fixtures. They have one more game to take in before reaching the next international break, with that contest playing out at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as Slot takes his troops to Chelsea.

  The Reds will then entertain old adversaries Manchester United – who have plenty of their own issues to address – on October 19 before heading out on the road again for a Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.

Rio Ferdinand may not have been teammates with Manchester United players who were knocked out of the first round of the Carabao Cup by League Two Grimsby, but he did still share a dressing room with some frustrating figures.

Of course, when compared to Ruben Amorim’s current squad, some may say that the likes of Anderson and Bebe wouldn’t be bad options to turn to these days – that’s how bad things have become. But the reality is that, under Sir Alex Ferguson, both players were not up to the incredibly high standards set by Ferdinand and others in that Old Trafford dressing room.

Whilst Bebe was swiftly moved on at Manchester United, Anderson’s slow burn from one of the world’s best young players into a forgotten star is one that often frustrated Ferdinand.

Man Utd’s most embarrassing defeats since Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford

The Red Devils have had multiple humiliating losses since 2013.

By
Charlie Smith

Aug 28, 2025

The former centre-back said, when speaking on FIVE: “Anderson was a player that used to frustrate me sometimes. This kid won the Golden Boy, that everyone goes mad about now, he won it when he was at Porto, best young player in Europe.

“The kid was unreal talent-wise but we have a WhatsApp group we always talk about, where he gets hammered. We always appreciate his ability but we’re all frustrated that he didn’t probably apply himself like he could have, because if he did, he might not have got injured as much as he got.”

It also goes without saying that there were plenty more to forget alongside Anderson and Bebe. In the middle of a dressing room full of success, Diego Forlan also failed to live up to the hype – scoring just 17 goals in 98 appearances.

However, as disappointing as Forlan and Anderson were, and as poor as Bebe was, Ferdinand decided to name-drop an unexpected Manchester United legend as his “worse teammate”.

Ferdinand names Rooney as "worst teammate"

Out of all the transfer flops that came and went, it’s Wayne Rooney who’s taken the crown as Ferdinand’s worst teammate. Somehow, some way, the man with the most goals in Manchester United history has found himself with an unwanted title. But Ferdinand has his reasons, as the defender revealed to the Seven Meets Podcast in 2023.

The Manchester United dressing room were never shy when it came to airing their grievances. Perhaps that’s why they proved to be so successful. Although David Beckham and a certain football boot may have something to say about that.

Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has praised his compatriot, AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric, saying the Croatian’s intelligence puts him a step ahead of everyone else. Rakitic also attributes Modric’s longevity to his unique lifestyle, noting that he approaches football differently from most players and genuinely enjoys the game as he tipped the Rossoneri to challenge for the Serie A title.

• Widespread praise for Modric

  Milan midfielder Modric has earned widespread acclaim for his performances since he joined the San Siro side after his long spell at Real Madrid came to an end in the summer. He became the oldest midfielder in Serie A history to score when he netted the winner in a 1-0 victory over Bologna. Coach Massimiliano Allegri says Modric is always a step ahead of everyone else while Milan legend Demetrio Albertini compared him to Andrea Pirlo, praising his ability to elevate those playing alongside him.

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  Rakitic's praise for Modric and his secret to longevity

  In an interview with , Rakitic spoke about how happy Modric is at Milan: "We spoke yesterday, he's very happy, he invited me to Milan. He says Italian football is very different from Spanish football, but he's having a great time. And he's also very happy with his teammates; his family is enjoying this new chapter. He has [director Igli] Tare to thank for all of this: he was the one who brought him to AC Milan."

  Rakitic also revealed Modric’s secret to career longevity: "Luka is totally different from the others in his way of living and working. He enjoys his profession; he lives for football and does everything well. He has a physical trainer he works with every day, but he has a footballing intelligence that puts him ahead of everyone else. Now he's better than ever."

• Milan's scudetto chances

  After Milan collected an impressive four points against fellow Serie A contenders Napoli and Juventus, Rakitic believes that with a coach like Allegri and a winning mentality like Modric’s, the Scudetto is an achievable target. 

  "It will be decided in March. I like teams that grow throughout the year: you don't have to be at their best in November or February, but in the spring. If the players do that, with a coach like Allegri who has won everything, they can win," he added.

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  Milan's upcoming test vs Fiorentina

  Milan and Allegri will rely on Modric’s experience and technique as they aim to mount a Scudetto challenge. The Rossoneri face Fiorentina on October 19 and will hope they can secure all three points against Stefano Pioli’s side.

Real Madrid are believed to be open to the possibility of letting young starlet Endrick leave on loan in the January transfer window amid the striker's lack of playing time under new head coach Xabi Alonso. Having spent the past few months on the sidelines due to an injury, the Brazilian wonderkid has been named in Madrid's matchday squads in recent times but is yet to make his first appearance this season.

• Endrick wants to depart in January

  Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Endrick is expected to go out on loan in the January transfer window in search of regular playing time. The teenager wants to make a case for himself ahead of next year's World Cup. Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid are believed to be in favour of letting the talented youngster depart this winter.

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  Real Madrid are stacked in attack

  Madrid have begun the 2025-26 season with a bang. Alonso has tinkered with his lineups and has implemented a rotation-heavy scheme in the initial months of his tenure at his former club. Some players like Kylian Mbappe, however, have emerged as one of the pillars of the squad. Amid Alonso's obsession to rotate and keep his squad both fresh and competitive, Mbappe has emerged as the one immovable piece in Madrid's attack. Indeed, he has scored 15 goals in 11 games for Los Blancos this season, showcasing his true abilities after a mixed debut campaign in 2024-25. 

  Behind Mbappe – who has been deployed as a number nine and is understood to have completed his adaptation in the centre forward role – in the pecking order is the promising Gonzalo Garcia. The academy hero emerged as one of the stars at the Club World Cup during the summer, finishing as the top scorer of the tournament after scoring four goals in six games. His breakthrough displays earned him a promotion to the first team as well as a new contract. The 21-year-old Spanish forward is currently seen as a crucial piece of Alonso's rotational puzzle. He is the player who helps Mbappe afford more rest, although some may argue that Gonzalo deserves to have seen more than the 105 minutes of action across seven games – six of them as a substitute – so far. 

  Nevertheless, Alonso is determined on keeping hold of Gonzalo for the rest of the season. In recent days, rumours emerged which indicated that Gonzalo will receive numerous offers in the winter transfer window. The former Bayer Leverkusen coach, though, will continue to place his faith in the former academy star as he considers him to be important in his plans.

• Madrid fear Endrick's development could stall

  Endrick has been unlucky not to have made his first appearance for Real Madrid this season. After an impressive debut campaign, in which he scored seven goals in just 847 minutes on the field, it was expected that the 2025-26 season would result in a bigger role for the Brazil international. Things haven't gone to plan, neither for Madrid nor for Endrick.

  At the end of May, Endrick suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg which effectively ruled him out for the next few months, leading him to miss the Club World Cup. His absence was a blessing in disguise for Gonzalo, who took his opportunities by the scruff of their neck. Even though Endrick has been handed the iconic No.9 jersey, he has remained an unused substitute in each of Madrid's last six games. 

  According to a report from on Monday, club insiders are worried about Endrick stymieing his progression should he continue to remain adamant about staying at the club and fighting for a place. Madrid are understood to be of the opinion that a loan move in January is the best possible scenario for all parties involved. Given Mbappe's status as a fixture of the starting XI and Alonso's continued trust in Gonzalo, it is unlikely that Endrick's fate could change in the short-term.

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  A move to Marseille in the making for Endrick?

  Madrid legend Guti has advised Endrick to leave the club in search of minutes. "If he doesn't get any opportunities between now and December, I think his best option is to leave so he can continue to grow," Guti said on a broadcast earlier this month. "For a young player, the best thing is to get playing time. What could be decisive? Well, you never know. There are always injuries and moments where the coach bets on you, but that doesn't seem to be his priority right now."

  Speculation of late suggests that Ligue 1 table-toppers Marseille are leading the race to acquire Endrick's services on a short-term loan. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi is understood to be adding attacking depth to his roster in light of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Amine Gouiri's absences owing to AFCON commitments. What's more, a shock move to Juventus has made the rounds in the media, too.

Tottenham Hotspur fans may not have endured the success they may have wanted over recent years, but they have truly been blessed with an array of attacking talent.

Harry Kane emerged through the club’s academy system before making the jump into the first-team and having a huge impact on their goal tally in the Premier League.

He scored 280 times for the Lilywhites – making him their record goalscorer, with 213 of his efforts coming in England’s top-flight, which sees him sit behind just Alan Shearer in the list.

Gareth Bale was another player who caught the eye in North London, often nailing the right-hand side as his own with his stupendous long-range efforts.

Both players departed the club for huge money, with both fees being over £80m, but it’s undoubtedly left the side short in key moments over the last couple of seasons.

However, Thomas Frank will be hoping that one player in his ranks will be able to replicate the success of the aforementioned duo during his tenure at the helm.

How Kudus has fared since moving to Spurs

In an attempt to bolster the options available to him in wide areas, Frank completed the deal of winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United during the summer window, subsequently forking out £55m for his signature.

The Ghanaian plied his trade across the capital over a two-year spell, having the experience needed to make an immediate impact for Spurs in North London.

He may only be a handful of games into his Premier League career for the Lilywhites, but he’s already adhered himself to the fanbase – playing a part in nearly 50% of their goals to date.

The 25-year-old has notched four assists in his first five league outings, with the latter half of his goal contributions both coming in the 2-2 draw at Brighton on Saturday afternoon.

His pace, combined with his evident end product, is a combination that could provide the needed quality in the first-team squad if they are to build on the Europa League triumph.

However, despite his early success after his big-money move, the club may regret the sale of one player who has since thrived after leaving a couple of years ago.

The former Spurs star who is outperforming Kudus

The Ange Postecoglou reign at Spurs was certainly one that was topsy-turvy, with numerous moments of magic glossing over the dismal spell in the Premier League.

He was responsible for ending their 17-year trophy drought, but also registering their worst ever top-flight finish in terms of losses, falling to a defeat on 22 occasions out of a possible 38 outings.

However, his departure was confirmed during the off-season, bringing his two-year spell in North London to a close, leading to Frank’s appointment for the 2025/26 campaign.

His decision-making was called into question at time, even making bold decisions with transfers – subsequently releasing attacker Ivan Perišić in the summer of 2024.

The Croatian originally joined the Lilywhites on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, joining from Inter Milan and having a huge impact during his debut campaign in England.

He scored once and registered 12 assists in the 2022/23 campaign – the most of any player in the squad – but his progress would be hugely disrupted in his second campaign at the club.

Perisic suffered an ACL injury just weeks into the season, resulting in just six appearances in 2023/24, which saw him brutally released by Postecoglou that summer.

However, the 36-year-old has recaptured his best form at PSV, with the winger, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, registering 26 combined goals and assists across all competitions last campaign.

Even in 2025/26, he’s continued to produce the magic he did for the Lilywhites, scoring once and registering four assists in his first eight league games for PSV.

Such a tally is higher than that of Kudus, subsequently highlighting how impressive Perisic has been lately – especially after suffering such a serious injury in North London.

Questions will be asked about the quality of opposition he’s coming up against compared to the Ghanaian, but there’s no denying the hierarchy made a mistake in allowing him to depart the club.

At 36, Perisic is still proving all the doubters wrong, arguably in the form of his career, and managing to produce some simply spectacular figures within the final third.

As for Kudus, he will be hoping that he can continue his impressive start to life under Frank, with the winger having the opportunity to catapult the club to further glory.

Had Perisic remained at the club, he may have struck an excellent partnership with the former, massively increasing the chances of success given the figures produced away from North London.

Better than Kudus: 8/10 Spurs talent is heading for a Spence-esque revival

Tottenham are certainly taking shape under the wing of Thomas Frank.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 21, 2025

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has named a “complete” star as the greatest player in the club’s history.

Odegaard vying to become first Arsenal captain since Vieira to lift Premier League title

It has been far too long since the Gunners lifted the Premier League title, with Patrick Vieira the last captain to do so, way back in 2004, but Odegaard is looking to end the soon-to-be 22-year wait this season.

Barring the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Liverpool, the Gunners have otherwise made an ideal start to the season, having introduced some star quality into the squad during the summer transfer window.

Perhaps most importantly, Mikel Arteta finally got a new striker through the door, with Viktor Gyokeres joining from Sporting CP, and the Sweden international has gotten off to an impressive start, scoring three goals in two games at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal intensify interest in signing "special" gem ahead of Liverpool

He’s a future star…

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 13, 2025

Following Thomas Partey’s departure, it was also vital to get another top central midfielder through the door, and Martin Zubimendi is looking like he could be exactly that, bagging a brace in the 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The entire squad has the opportunity to write their names into the history books by ending the long wait for a league title this season, potentially placing themselves alongside the likes of Vieira Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Sol Campbell as club legends.

However, in an interview with Sky Sports earlier this year, Odegaard has named a different former Gunner as the club’s greatest-ever player.

When asked whether Thierry Henry is the best player in Arsenal’s history, the Norwegian said:

Henry one of the best in Premier League history

Not only is the Frenchman Arsenal’s greatest-ever player, but he is also one of the best in Premier League history, having been inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2021.

The 48-year-old is a four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, while he also holds the joint-record for number of assists in a Premier League season, chipping in with 20 during the 2002-03 campaign.

The 123-cap France international also scored some remarkable goals during his time with the Gunners, and played a vital role in his side winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, in an era where Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United were dominant.

It will be a tall order for any Arsenal player to eclipse Henry’s achievements in north London, but Arteta will be hoping his side can finally end the long wait for the Premier League title this season, having spent heavily once again in the summer.

Manchester City are eyeing a move to sign a certain "Brazilian Erling Haaland" with a £87 million ($117m) release clause as Pep Guardiola's side look to the future. His name is Wendeson Wanderley Santos de Melo, better known simply as Dell. Just 17, the striker from Bahia is already being whispered about as Brazil’s next superstar, but he has plenty of time to reach his potential.

• City’s next big thing: A Brazilian wonderkid lighting up the future

  The buzz around Dell is growing in Brazil. After making his senior debut earlier this year, still only 16, Dell has gone from local prodigy to global prospect in the blink of an eye. Those who’ve seen Dell play appear to believe that he’s got the cold-blooded finishing instincts of Haaland, but with a Brazilian flair. During the 2023 season, in Bahia's academy, he smashed home 40 goals in 34 matches for the Under-17 side, before following that up with another 12 goals in 21 games the following year. His heroics helped Bahia capture their first Baianao Championships and turned him into a cult figure overnight. It wasn’t long before the locals gave him his now-famous nickname, “The Haaland of Sertão”, a nod to his ruthless efficiency in front of goal and his roots in Brazil’s rugged northwestern region.

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• From national hero to global phenom

  Dell’s lethal finishing earned him a place in Brazil’s youth national setup, and he repaid that faith in style. At the U15 South America Championship, he bagged four goals and two assists, picking up the Golden Boot. Then, earlier this year, he fired Brazil to victory in the U17 edition of the same tournament, underlining his ability to perform when the stakes are sky-high. Next stop? The U17 World Cup in Qatar this November, where Dell is expected to be one of the main attractions. Scouts from across Europe will be in attendance, but City already have an inside track. Bahia aren’t naïve about the gem they’re sitting on. The club recently moved fast to lock Dell down with a professional deal until 2027, including a jaw-dropping £87 million ($117m) release clause, a figure that speaks volumes about how highly he’s rated. Behind the scenes, Dell is represented by Giuliano Bertolucci, one of Brazil’s most influential agents and a man known for delivering his clients to Europe’s elite. And for City, the road is smoother than most, their owners, the City Football Group, hold a 90 per cent stake in Bahia, making any future negotiations far more straightforward. 

• Already dreaming of the Etihad

  In an interview with Dell made his ambitions crystal clear.

  "Every player dreams of playing at a high level in Europe," he said. “I have this dream of playing for a club like Manchester City, which for me is the best club in the world. But I believe things will happen naturally. Before that, I want to play here at Bahia, win titles, become an idol, and then go on to forge my path in Europe. Who knows, maybe win titles and become an idol at Manchester City too.”

  While comparisons to Haaland have become impossible to avoid, Dell takes them in stride.

  "Haaland is an inspiration to many. He’s a guy whose videos I enjoy watching, both outside and inside the box," he said. “I think my movements are similar to his. I have a few other role models, but besides Haaland, a striker I like and have always followed since the youth academy is [Al-Hilal striker] Marcos Leonardo, who came through Santos. I enjoy watching him play.”

  So while Haaland himself remains City’s undroppable hero, Dell could be shaping up to become his heir in the years to come.

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  Madrid plotting: The other side of the story

  But while City plan for their future, another European powerhouse is busy scheming. Over in Spain, Real Madrid are preparing for a seismic shake-up. Reports claim the club could cash in on Vinicius Jr for a staggering €250 million (£217m/$290m) if he doesn’t sign their new contract offer. And if that bombshell move happens, Madrid president Florentino Pérez already knows who he wants next, Haaland himself. The Spanish giants have been tracking the Norwegian goal machine since his Borussia Dortmund days.

Manchester United have now reportedly received a boost in their potential efforts to sign an England international at the end of the season.

Rooney discusses Man Utd's decline

The Red Devils have made a disappointing start to the season, although victory away to Brentford on Saturday lunchtime would be a big step in the right direction, having won at home to Chelsea last weekend.

Ruben Amorim is trying to mastermind United’s return to the top of English football, and opening up to former teammate Rio Ferdinand, attacking legend Wayne Rooney has discussed when he felt the club was declining after decades of glory.

“I think that question I asked then, in 2010, it still hasn’t been answered, been addressed, from 2010. And I think fans have seen… I don’t think, if fans look back, they’d be like, you know what, he actually seen what was coming a little bit. And I don’t think it’s been fixed since 2010.

“We obviously won the league in 2013, but lots changed, obviously. Commercially, social media, everything changed. But I still think when we lost Ronaldo and Tevez, from that moment, we got Robin in, obviously, for a couple years, but from that moment the club has never had a group of forwards like that.”

Top-quality new signings will aid United in their quest to bring back the glory days, and a positive update has emerged regarding one transfer target.

Man Utd boosted in pursuit of England international

Speaking to The United Stand [via The Peoples Person], journalist Ben Jacobs claimed that Manchester United target Adam Wharton has a “gentlemen’s agreement” to leave Crystal Palace next season.

“My understanding with Wharton is there’s kind of a gentleman’s agreement in place allowing him to leave Crystal Palace next summer, so that’s clearly going to be one to watch.

“At this stage it is simply wait and see; you’re not going to get the answers to January this early, but there is concrete possibility that if the right name becomes available, Manchester United will add a senior midfielder this season, and as I said before, it could be two midfielders.

“There’s other names that could be available mid-season if Manchester United have the funds from potentially a Kobbie Mainoo exit; we’ll have to wait and see what transpires.”

The £100m-rated Wharton is exactly the type of player United used to sign with relative ease, in terms of being a highly-rated young homegrown player with a massive future.

The 21-year-old is a fantastic prospect, playing with so much maturity in front of the defence, possessing technical quality, but also a strong defensive brain.

Man Utd now expected to make £60m offer for "physical beast" in January

The Red Devils are showing the strongest interest in a defender, with a bid planned for the upcoming transfer window.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 25, 2025

Former Palace teammate Eberechi Eze has hailed Wharton as an “incredible” player and United should be viewing him as the perfect long-term replacement for Casemiro.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided a worrying update on star defender Gabriel's condition as the Gunners prepare for their upcoming Crystal Palace test in the Premier League. The Brazilian centre-back, who has been in red-hot form since the start of the season, was forced to leave the pitch in the second half in the club's 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League earlier this week.

• Gabriel hit with injury blow after terrific start to new season

  Gabriel has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League with his consistency at the Gunners' backline over the years. The Brazilian is not only solid while defending, but he also contributes with key goals. The Brazilian has enjoyed a purple patch since the start of the 2025-26 campaign and has contributed with two goals and as many assists in 12 matches across all competitions.  

  His latest goal came in Arsenal's 4-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, but the game did not end well for the centre-back as he had to be replaced by Cristian Mosquera in the 72nd minute after picking up an injury.  

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  Arteta provides update on Gabriel's condition

  Ahead of their key Premier League clash against Crystal Palace this weekend, Gunners boss Arteta provided an update on Gabriel as he said: "Big Gabby had to leave the pitch against Atletico Madrid with an issue and we will have to wait over the next 24 hours to see if he is available."  

  While Gabriel's participation is doubtful in the Palace clash, Arteta also confirmed that stars like Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke are all ruled out of the game as they continue to recover from their injuries. Speaking about the three Gunners stars, the Spaniard said: "None are available in the next week or so."

• Can Arsenal break Chelsea's record

  To date, Chelsea hold the record of conceding the least number of goals (15) in a 38-game season in the English top-flight as the Blues, under Jose Mourinho, achieved in the 2004-25 campaign, which also saw them lift the title.  

  Arsenal's defence has worked extremely well in the current season, having conceded just three in their first eight matches. When further asked if he is eyeing Mourinho's Chelsea record this season, Arteta added: "Those kinds of records bring silverware at the end and the trophies that we want. The more we can produce, the closer we will be."

  Adding further on the team's defence, Arteta said: "The teams with the best defensive records most of the time, except the past three seasons, normally win the league – so the stats go against us. The stronger we are in foundation, the better chance we have." 

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  Eberechi ready for 'special' reunion with Palace

  Eze is all set to feature against Crystal Palace on Sunday for the first time since joining the Gunners this summer. The English winger was linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the summer, but the Gunners swooped in at the last moment and secured the transfer for the former Selhurst Park fan favourite. Since his move to the Emirates, Eze has appeared in every Premier League game and Champions League game and has established himself as a key player in the Arsenal squad under Arteta. 

  Speaking about Eze's reunion with Palace, Arteta said: "It will be a special match for what he did for Palace but the focus is on the team. I would love to play all of them but I would rather have this situation. We've been very short in numbers sometimes over the past few years."  

  The Gunners boss also opened up on Arsenal's reputation for playing defensive football instead of his trademark free-flowing style, as he added: "I don't see football like open play and set pieces. I see the game in a different way. "We have given that part of the game the importance it deserves. We have to maximise things we have and be effective. "Ten years ago I had a vision and tried to implement a method and I am surrounded by the best people to deliver that."

Manchester City are reportedly interested in completing the signing of a player who could possibly star at next summer’s World Cup.

Guardiola wants exciting Man City transfer

Pep Guardiola’s side are back in Premier League action after the international break this weekend, welcoming Everton to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.

While there have been improvements in City’s form of late, due in part to the stunning performances of Erling Haaland, new signings need to be looked at, including in midfield, where Rodri continues to be an injury-plagued figure.

Crystal Palace and England star Adam Wharton has emerged as a rumoured target for Guardiola, with City’s boss looking to snap him up ahead of La Liga giants Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown has also emerged as a potential signing for them, with the German an impressive young player, and now another hugely promising ace has been mentioned, too.

Man City eyeing £75m England international

According to The Express, Manchester City are interested in signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, but they face “stiff competition” from Chelsea.

The 22-year-old England international could cost as much £75m, having enjoyed a meteoric rise at both club and international level over the past 12 months or so, with Guardiola becoming a big fan of Anderson and making him a top target.

Anderson’s stock is sky-high currently, with the Forest man developing into a key man for England, excelling in front of the defence and enjoying a strong understanding with Declan Rice.

On current form, he will surely start for the Three Lions at the World Cup, with England manager Thomas Tuchel heaping praise on him recently.

“He’s just a very, very good football player. He has the physicality, he’s very mobile at No 6. He has the body, he loves to defend, he loves to put his body inside to duels. He loves passing, he loves to break the lines, he’s very mobile in this game. It was a pleasure to see. I think the team around him made it as easy as possible for him and he had a very strong performance.”

Rodri’s aforementioned injury problems are arguably becoming a concern, and at 29, he isn’t getting younger, so signing a top-quality successor has to be considered key business for City.

In Anderson, they could have a perfect option, with the Englishman already such a mature performer at the age of just 22, and still having so much time to improve further.

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By
Joe Nuttall

Oct 16, 2025

Whether he has the ability to get close to Rodri’s level remains to be seen – very few do, in fairness – but everything points towards him having a superb career, and if Guardiola believes he can get the best out of him, City should make their move in 2026.