All posts by z3u9t.icu

Arsenal are one of the many clubs looking towards the January transfer window to bolster their squad, as Mikel Arteta aims to keep his title-challenging trajectory going in preparation for the second half of the 2023/24 season.

The Gunners have struggled with injury considerably after just 12 Premier League games played, leaving the manager and Edu in a position to once again consider the depth in quality at the club.

A host of names have been speculated to be of interest to the north Londoners, with a report from the Mirror explaining that Arteta will hope to strengthen his side’s midfield in particular this winter.

Arsenal transfer targets – Joao Neves

According to news in Portugal, Arsenal are one of the clubs to have been ‘seduced’ by Benfica teenager, Joao Neves, who is excelling in defensive midfield in Liga Portugal.

A report from O Jogo, relayed by Paisley Gates, claimed that both the Gunners and Liverpool are impressed by the 19-year-old’s rise to prominence with the Eagles, however, his talents won't be easy to come by.

In January 2022, the Portuguese champions reaped the benefits of selling to English clubs, as Benfica received £106.8m from Chelsea for the signing of Enzo Fernandez, with Neves’ price set to be of a similar calibre.

As relayed by O Jogo, the teenager has a release clause of €120m (£105m), with the club making it clear that such figure is the only price they would allow their starlet to depart for, but why is he worth so much?

What Joao Neves could offer to Arsenal

In the 2023/24 edition of Liga Portugal, no midfielder averages more touches per 90 (97.07) than the Portugal international, and as a player who loves to be on the ball, the defensive maestro has a lot to show for it.

Lauded as a “sensational” asset to his boyhood club by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Neves, with his playing style credited as that of a “box-to-box phenomenon” by talent scout Jacek Kulig in his scouting report of the teen.

Described as a “perfect midfielder” by Kulig, the 2004-born dynamo is hailed for his ability to hold himself in physical battles, as well as staying “one step of the opposition” when it comes to progressing play.

For Arsenal, the signs shown by the youngster make for encouraging viewing, particularly with reference to the individual the Gunners seek to complete their midfield.

After signing Declan Rice in the summer, there was hope that the Englishman could thrive alongside Thomas Partey, however, his Ghanaian counterpart has struggled to stay fit, with rumours also rising to suggest his future in north London is under threat.

Joao Neves

Declan Rice

88.0%

91.2%

7.07

6.96

1.56

1.41

1.80

0.53

3.12

2.11

0.96

1.41

2.16

1.50

1.92

0.97

As portrayed in the table above, Neves could be the perfect suitor to partner the £105m star going forward, with his ability to progress and act as the anchor putting the Benfica starlet in good position to be Rice’s partner in the engine room pivot at the Emirates.

The Tavira-born sensation treasures his strengths in progressing into the final third, as well as being an accomplished tackler, holding the keys to allow the Englishman to roam forward – something that could well take him to the next level as a midfielder.

Kulig stressed that it could be “incredible to think” of just how good the 19-year-old could become, making Arsenal’s reported interest an exciting prospect, as the eye-capturing midfielder continues to showcase his fearless edge in his homeland.

Newcastle United failed to make it back-to-back victories in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon with a disappointing 1-1 draw away at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Gaining all three points would have seen Eddie Howe’s Magpies really lay down a marker when it comes to their top five aspirations, but this draw means the tussle between themselves, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest will only intensify more ahead of a thrilling May to follow.

On another day, however, the Tyneside outfit could have returned back home empty-handed, with more heroics from Alexander Isak thankfully bailing the visitors out.

Isak's heroics on the South Coast

It’s hardly a surprise now when Isak’s name flashes up as a goalscorer for the Toon, with the unerringly accurate Newcastle number 14 now up to 27 goals in all competitions after firing home a last-gasp penalty on the South Coast.

The spot-kick beating Bart Verbruggen also means Isak is now on a hefty 23 Premier League strikes, with this total being the most lethal tally a Newcastle player has managed in league action since Alan Shearer’s 22-goal haul during the 2003/04 campaign.

Amazingly, Howe’s men had actually had two penalties overturned via VAR before Isak’s was given, meaning it was crucial that the lethal Swede fired home with confidence, and he did just that to send the away masses into momentary delirium.

Away from his effort from the spot wrongfooting the Seagulls goalkeeper, it was somewhat of a quiet day at the office from Isak in open play, seen in the 25-year-old only registering two efforts on goal and 20 accurate passes, away from his last-gasp moment of quality.

But, any negatives from his overall game were quickly brushed under the carpet after the penalty trickled in.

Whereas, one of Isak’s attacking teammates might well find his starting spot is up for grabs after an entirely unmemorable performance against Fabian Hurzeler’s hosts.

Chalkboard

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

The 5/10 Newcastle star who could now be dropped

It’s clear when reading over the match numbers that there were a whole host of underperformers from Newcastle’s perspective.

Indeed, having posted two assists last weekend, Kieran Trippier was nowhere near his rampaging best down the right flank when squandering possession 15 times, whilst Joe Willock struggled too in an attacking capacity when making just 17 accurate passes, also booked for diving.

But, Jacob Murphy would be the biggest letdown for Howe, considering the usually electric number 23 has eight goals and 11 assists next to his name across 32 Premier League outings this season, but offered virtually nothing when bombing forward against the Seagulls.

This would result in Howe putting Murphy out of his misery on the 56th minute mark, with the Magpies boss clearly fed up by the fact the 30-year-old had registered just one effort on Verbruggen’s goal when still on the pitch, among other lacklustre numbers.

Minutes played

56

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

30

Accurate passes

17/22 (77%)

Accurate crosses

0/2

Accurate long balls

0/1

Shots

1

Successful dribbles

1/2

Total duels won

1/4

Frustratingly, Murphy would also tally up no accurate crosses, no accurate long balls and just one successful dribble when attempting to create an opening for the visitors, on top of also failing to be aggressive when needed when winning just one duel from four attempted.

Arguably, the 30-year-old’s replacement in Anthony Gordon offered more from his limited minutes on the Brighton turf, with one of the overturned penalties on the day coming about from the ex-Everton man’s burst of pace, alongside the lively attacker winning four of his own duels.

Northern Echo journalist Scott Wilson would hand out a low 5/10 rating to the former Norwich City winger subsequently stating that his afternoon was defined by a number of promising crossing opportunities being ‘wasted.’

It could well be time for Howe to axe Murphy from his starting lineup to freshen up proceedings, therefore, with the Magpies boss hopeful that both Gordon and Harvey Barnes next to Isak can cause Chelsea all sorts of bother in a huge Premier League clash up next.

In-demand player would rather join Newcastle despite offer from Barcelona

The Magpies could land his signature…

1 BySean Markus Clifford May 4, 2025

Former Arsenal star Ian Wright has been left thrilled after an "amazing" gesture by Tottenham Hotspur supporters for their Spurs side.

Latest Tottenham news

Spurs are absolutely flying under new manager Ange Postecoglou and the feeling around north London is one of real excitement.

The north Londoners, just six months after Antonio Conte's infamous rant attacking Tottenham, have put the Italian's tenure to bed with some rip-roaring displays this season.

Spurs have tasted victory in four out out of their opening four Premier League games so far; remaining unbeaten while standing out as the division's third-highest goalscorers.

Postecoglous brand of exciting, attack-minded football has been on full display for all to see, with Tottenham sealing impressive wins over Man United, Bournemouth, Burnley and Sheffield United.

The Lilywhites were forced to really dig deep for their latest victory against the latter side, and it took two very late goals to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

Gustavo Hamer's strike against the run of play was later overturned courtesy of dramatic, last-gasp strikes from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski – with Postecoglou later hailing his side's elite mentality.

The signs of promise are very, very evident and Tottenham's manager believes supporters shouldn't lower their expectations atoll.

“No, no, no, let them go, let them go and enjoy it," said Postecoglou to the media.

"My role is not to burst people's bubbles. Let them get excited, let them get ahead of themselves. That's the beauty of being a supporter.

"They go through enough pain mate, you want to let them enjoy it. If they think we're going to be world beaters then great, that's up to us to match that expectation. Our supporters deserve to have some happiness and enjoy it any way they want to.”

What Ian Wright has said about Tottenham

Speaking to Premier League productions [18/09/23 at 2:10 pm], Wright has reacted to Tottenham's latest win while holding special praise for supporters.

Taking aim at the "celebration police", the former Arsenal star turned pundit claimed Spurs supporters shouldn't be criticised for their incredible celebrations after Kulusevski's last second winner – praising their gesture of real excitement.

“This one? This is the latest ever? Wow,” said Wright (as transcribed by HITC).

“Look at the crowd. What I was pleased to see there is the rapturous applause and the celebrations of Spurs.

“We (Arsenal) have already had one of those this season (against Manchester United) where you score a late one, it’s what it is about.

“At the latter stage of a game and you snatch it. Fans should be enjoying it. People say ‘oh, the celebration police come out’. They say ‘why are they celebrating, it’s only five games?’. It’s amazing.”

It was a match full of emotion and perhaps exemplifies the stunning job Postecoglou, his Spurs staff and players have done to reinstill much-needed positivity at the club.

Tottenham lost star striker Harry Kane to Bayern Munich over the summer; a transfer which seriously worried sections of the fanbase given just how crucial he was for many, many years.

However, despite his departure, the club have come on leaps and bounds under Postecoglou – and it will be interesting to see if they can challenge for top four/silverware.

Tottenham Hotspur have a rich history of academy production, with their current squad propped up by a strong youthful core, and teams of the past having been built around graduates who fans can relate with.

Making your way up and eventually featuring for your boyhood club is a dream every supporter has so to watch a youngster achieve it makes it that much more special when they perform. It is what made Manchester United's 'Class of 92' so special, and what led the Lilywhites to fall so madly in love with Harry Kane.

As one of the most famous products of the north London outfit, which has played host to some truly outstanding players in recent memory, the current England captain arguably stands out above all given the records he would shatter.

He outlived numerous managers, and although his departure was a gut-wrenching one over the summer, the renewed hope that Ange Postecoglou has brought has eased the pain that such a move would have otherwise facilitated.

The Australian was appointed to oversee a revolution in N17, after numerous failed tenures that did not deliver on the silverware promised. Now, the former Celtic man is seeking to usher in a fresh, exciting era at the club, hopefully laden with the trophies they have been avoiding.

It is a testament to his start to life at his new club that few are complaining about Kane's sale, but that does not mean it is not worth mentioning.

Is Harry Kane a Spurs legend?

When they offloaded the 30-year-old, the north Londoners lost far more than just the goals they were essentially promised every year. Although, that by itself was astronomical.

The current Bayern Munich man made an astonishing 430 appearances for Spurs across his 19-year tenure, stretching back into his youth days, and would score 278 times.

His clinical nature saw him surpass Jimmy Greaves' record for most goals scored for the club, whilst Kane even added elite creativity to his game that made him one of the best strikers in the world. This was perfectly outlined during the 2020/21 Premier League term, where he scored 23 and assisted 14, winning both the Golden Boot and the Playmaker award in the same year.

During this period, he unsurprisingly earned praise, with pundit Paul Merson even noting: "He's got an all-round game and I personally think he's the best centre-forward in the world, he's the only player I know who has got the whole package. People will go 'oh (Erling) Haaland, he's 20, he scores goals, that's what he brings to the party'. Kane brings everything to the party.

"He's got an array of passing, he can put people in, he can join the play. I can't talk highly enough of the lad, I really can't, he's a special, special player."

This was extended even into his last year in north London, where his 30 league goals marked an astronomical figure for a side that had been so poor. Postecoglou may have pleaded with him to stay, but the £100m offer from the Bavarian giants proved too lucrative to decline.

2022/23

30

3

7.44

2021/22

17

9

7.38

2020/21

23

14

7.63

2019/20

18

2

7.24

2018/19

17

4

7.29

All stats via Sofascore

The 58-year-old tactician would still speak highly of the man he oversaw briefly: "It's only fair on a day like today that our supporters do have a sense of mourning and loss, as despite the lack of success at the club, he's been a hero to them."

However, Kane's success has not solely been tied to his club form, as in March he actually surpassed Wayne Rooney to become England's all-time leading scorer. It was widely expected that, had he remained in England, Alan Shearer's Premier League record was massively under threat too.

Despite that, he is a man who no longer plays for the club, with all his successes now a thing of the past. Postecoglou is promising a brighter future regardless of that setback, with one of his youngsters potentially set to step up to fill this vacancy.

Who is Alejo Veliz?

As he acted shrewdly in the market to recover from such a crushing loss, the signing of James Maddison, in particular, having paid off as the Englishman only recently took home the Premier League Player of the Month award for August.

It is exciting to see the direction he seeks to take the Lilywhites, although that number nine position still feels rather empty.

Even with Heung-min Son's hat trick last time out, it is unlikely that the South Korean will play there for a full season, even with Richarlison's faltering form.

So, it will be a welcome sight to see youngster Alejo Veliz training with the first-team, with the Argentine one of those aforementioned summer additions that perhaps went under the radar. "Alejo is finally on the pitch, which is great." Postecoglou recently noted. "It was his first session yesterday. He's been impatient waiting to get started. It was good to have him involved yesterday and he'll be available from here on as well."

The 19-year-old joined for a £13m fee, with great reviews from his homeland. In fact, Daniel Bertoni, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1978, was desperate to praise the teenage striker: "Congratulations to Tottenham, who took Alejo Veliz from Rosario Central. For me, [Veliz is] a phenomenon.”

Postecoglou would supplement this by profiling his newest forward: "He’s got a lot of talent for a youngster. He’s got a great profile. He’s a big guy but he’s very mobile and he works hard."

To already be tearing up senior football at his age is a hugely impressive feat, with his 11 goals in the Argentinian top flight last term a fine figure to build on the six he had scored the year prior.

Adding to this, he also notched three times in four matches at the recent U20 World Cup, as if to emphasise his international pedigree too.

Although far from a similar profile to Kane physically, as he seems like a far more hard-working and brutish forward, the goals he could score might make him the heir to the position left vacant by their legendary ex-marksman.

With Richarlison once again faltering in front of goal, having recorded just one league strike last term and seen his position taken by a natural left winger already this season, it seems an opportunity is opening up for someone to step into Kane's place. Despite his youth, Veliz has all the attributes to be that man.

Chelsea and Todd Boehly by extension could be forced to sell a "clever" star in January, even if Mauricio Pochettino "may be keen" for him to stay.

Latest Chelsea news

The west Londoners spent £397 million on the signings of Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Djordje Petrovic, Angelo and Deivid Washington in the summer transfer window, but it hasn't exactly been a wonderful start to the new Premier League season.

Pochettino's men have dropped points against Liverpool, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and, most recently Aston Villa – despite creating a host of chances against Unai Emery's side last weekend. The Blues slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, with the Chelsea boss giving a damning assesment of his squad who need to "grow up".

“We need to grow up like a team, not only in an individual way,” Chelsea’s head coach said.

“I think players like Nico who are so young and feeling the Premier League, they need time. In this type of game, we are competing and want to win and football is about winning. But also players, when they are young, need to learn, and experience and make mistakes. That’s why we feel disappointed as there are too many situations like this.”

Next up, Chelsea take on Fulham in a west London derby clash at Craven Cottage on Monday, and supporters will be hoping they can turn their dismal form around sooner rather than later.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

On the field, things aren't going to plan at the moment, but off the field, there could be some interesting developments. Indeed, Pochettino's side are reportedly one of the teams plotting a January move for Brentford star Ivan Toney, while certain squad members could face the axe.

Left-back Marc Cucurella is being linked with a Stamford Bridge exit, and despite his good form under Pochettino, another player who could depart is young Dutch ace Ian Maatsen in the same position. The 21-year-old has been introduced on four separate occasions by Pochettino this season, and the coach is actually a big admirer of him.

"I am so happy with him," said Pochettino in a recent press conference. "He is a player that can play in different positions. He has quality, he understands the game, and he is such a clever player. So far, he is in my plan, yes. I am so pleased with him, as I’ve said, because of his attitude, commitment and his understanding of the game."

However, according to journalist Matt Law of The Telegraph, Chelsea could actually be forced to listen to offers for Maatsen in January if he doesn't sign a contract extension – coming after they had agreed a fee with Burnley in the summer window. Given Cucurella could well depart the club, Pochettino "may be keen" for Maatsen to remain where is given the lack of cover in that position.

Maatsen could also be a crucial player in the next two games, as Malo Gusto, Reece James and Ben Chilwell are all out right now.

Sunderland may be flying high in the Championship at the moment, but they are at risk of losing an influential figure in 2024, according to a new update.

Sunderland heading for Championship playoffs

The Black Cats equipped themselves impressively on their return to the Championship last season, arguably faring a lot better than many had expected. Tony Mowbray's side only just missed out on a place in the playoff final, which was a great effort after being in League One the previous year, and big things were again expected this time around.

Sunderland haven't disappointed in 2023/24 to date, sitting fourth in the table after 11 matches and picking up some superb victories, including a memorable 5-0 win at home to Southampton. It hasn't been perfect, not least a shock 4-0 defeat against local rivals Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light earlier this month, but Mowbray's men look in a strong position to finish in the playoffs.

For that to happen, the Black Cats will need to keep all of their most influential players fit and in form for as much of the campaign as possible, and there are key figures everywhere you look, whether it be Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham or Jack Clarke, to name just a few.

Now, a worrying exit update has emerged regarding one of the first names on Mowbray's team sheet, acting as a possible major setback for Sunderland.

Sunderland transfer news: Bellingham linked with Real Madrid

A Bellingham to Real Madrid claim has emerged in a report from Spain, with billionaire owner Florentino Perez keen on bringing Jobe to the club to play with his brother Jude, who has made a stunning start to life at the La Liga giants.

It is stated that Perez "asked Juni Calafat to send his scouts to bring a full report of Mark and Denise Bellingham's second son", who "caught the attention of those present" when watching England's Under-19s in action, not least because of his likeness to his brother in terms of style of play.

There is no doubt that this would be a massive blow for Sunderland, with Bellingham already such an important presence in the team, despite only being 18 years of age. Mowbray himself clearly loves him to won't want to read a single sentence of the rumours, once saying of him:

"He is very mature for his age. He acts like a seasoned pro, and demands standards. Even in small-sided games, he wants to win. You can see he has a very focused, driven thought pattern on where he is going and how he is going to get there.

"And that is to try to be excellent in everything you do. It's a great mentality. He is not in the team because of his name, it is football ability and his competitive edge and athleticism and technique."

The lure of joining his brother at Madrid could obviously be great for Bellingham, however, allowing him to settle in easier, not to mention play for arguably the world's biggest team, and Sunderland will just hope that he stays loyal to them for as long as possible.

Bellingham's stats this season speak for themselves when outlining his importance, with starts coming his way in all 11 Championship matches, not to mention scoring twice and averaging 1.7 clearances per game.

Nottingham Forest are plotting a move in January to sign an in-demand new midfielder worth just shy of £30m. The Reds will be hoping their impressive form in this campaign can continue right until the end, as they could make a surprise challenge for a European spot.

Marinakis planning Nottingham Forest January swoop for £60m striker

Forest are looking to beat a host of Premier League teams to the signing of a young star.

ByBrett Worthington Dec 4, 2024 Nottingham Forest transfer news

Nuno Espirito Santo has so far defied all odds and got Forest away from any threat of relegation and instead competing near the top end of the Premier League table. They have Chris Wood to thank for a lot of this season, but Nuno will not want to keep relying on one player.

Indeed, Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is on Forest’s radar ahead of January, as the striker is still yet to sign a new deal at Goodison Park, which means he will enter the New Year with only six months on his deal remaining, and this could force the Toffees into selling their forward.

Brighton’s Evan Ferguson has also emerged on the Reds’ radar, as they are looking to make a permanent move for the Irish striker in January. There are several Premier League teams looking into a possible loan deal, but Forest are ready to test Brighton’s resolve by offering a permanent deal. Their January business may not stop there, as Forest are also among the teams keeping a watchful eye on an Italian midfielder.

Nottingham Forest plotting move for Juventus’ Nicolo Fagioli

According to TBR Football, Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Nicolo Fagioli from Juventus in January. The Italian international looks set to leave the Serie A giants in the New Year, as he’s fallen out of favour under manager Thiago Motta.

The 23-year-old has featured in 15 games in all competitions this season, with only six coming as starts, as he’s found himself behind Manuel Locatelli and Khephren Thuram in the pecking order.

The report states Fagioli, who is a similar player to Bernardo Silva according to FBref’s comparison metrics, is available for a loan or a permanent switch in January. Teams such as Forest, Man City, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Crystal Palace are interested in signing the midfielder.

Fagioli

Silva

Apps

11

13

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

3

Progressive carries

17

50

Progressive passes

37

59

Shots per 90

1.87

1.77

Tackles (Won)

11 (7)

13 (9)

However, these teams face competition from European sides such as Atalanta, Napoli, Marseille and RB Leipzig. Juventus are open to selling Fagioli as long as they receive a fee of €35 million (£29 million), but a loan with a buy option looks more likely to happen.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been handed another injury boost, following a torrid few weeks, with the Gunners boss dealt major selection headaches in crucial encounters.

Arteta set to welcome Arsenal stars back from injury soon

While no update has come to light on versatile defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was recently sidelined with another injury after just returning from a knee problem, Arteta has at least been handed some good news this week.

Mikel Arteta praises "big" unseen talent at Arsenal and teases full debut

The Spaniard could play him very soon.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 30, 2024

Riccardo Calafiori will be missing for a “few weeks”, according to Arteta, but the Italy international, Tomiyasu and Martin Odegaard appear to be Arsenal’s only major concerns right now.

Club captain Odegaard has been sidelined for over a month after sustaining ankle ligament damage on his last international tour of duty with Norway, but Arteta is optimistic that the 25-year-old could now be back before the next international break.

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

Chelsea (away)

November 10

Nottingham Forest (home)

November 23

West Ham United (away)

November 30

Man United (home)

December 4

“Hopefully yes but we’ll have to see how he goes,” said Arteta on Odegaard returning before internationals re-commence.

“He’s been on the grass for a few weeks. But there are still a few boxes to tick. How fast we can do that last stage of the rehab is a question we have to answer when we have players around and he starts competing with the team, something he hasn’t done yet.”

Arsenal were dealt a scare in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool when star defender Gabriel Magalhaes made way for Jakub Kiwior on 54 minutes, but the manager has since confirmed that his problem isn’t serious.

“We are still assessing him, it doesn’t look bad at all,” said Arteta on Gabriel’s current condition.

“He was much better than expected, so hopefully he’ll be fine.”

Arteta also confirmed that Jurrien Timber is match fit, and his removal against Liverpool for teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly was merely a precaution.

This trio of boosts for Arsenal has now been complemented with a rare update on Kieran Tierney, with the Scotland international closing in on a return after he suffered a serious hamstring injury at Euro 2024.

Tierney suddenly close to Arsenal return after months out

While Tierney is very likely to leave Arsenal in 2025, Arteta could still choose to call upon the former Celtic star after including him in the club’s Champions League and Premier League squad lists for this season.

Speaking ahead of their tie with PNE this evening, Arteta says that Tierney is suddenly “close” to returning from injury and is looking “sharp” behind the scenes at London Colney.

“I think he’s quite close,” said Arteta on Tierney.

“He’s looking really good. I think he’s over the period where he was still struggling, so he looks really sharp out there. He hasn’t trained with the team yet but hopefully he can do that in the next week or two.”

The “incredible” 27-year-old hasn’t featured for Arsenal since their Community Shield win last year, but it will still be useful for Arteta to have the experienced left-back to call upon if needed.

Sporting director Edu Gaspar will also be eager for Tierney to come back fit and firing, as the Brazilian attempts to find him a new club next year.

Still over a week until Arsenal can hurl themselves back toward the ascendency in the Premier League. The international break has taken centre stage, and the best that fans across the world can do is watch various Gunners perform for their countries.

Not all within Mikel Arteta’s squad have jetted off to compete for their nations for the third of such pauses since the season began three months ago – almost to the day.

In fact, some pretty salient names have been kept back.

Why Arsenal stars have stayed in north London

There’s been a degree of frustration within the Three Lions camp concerning the spate of absences in the build-up to the November international break. Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are among those to have opted against the call-up, citing injuries.

Elsewhere, Martin Odegaard made his anticipated comeback last time out and proved crucial in the draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, arcing the delivery for Gabriel Martinelli’s opener.

However, after such a long layoff, the skipper’s decision to stay in north London, instead of linking up with the Norwegian national team, was one of great prudence.

As the dynamic midfielder recuperates, another Arsenal star has found an opportunity to step up this week and put in a top showing ahead of the next round of gruelling domestic action.

Indeed, Mikel Merino ran the show for Spain.

Mikel Merino's stats for Spain

Arteta was bound to have taken note of Merino’s display against Denmark on Friday evening. Arteta, after all, is Spanish, and his compatriot is starting to grow into his skin after an injury-affected start to life in the English capital.

Merino joined the north Londoners from Real Sociedad this summer in a deal worth £32m but found himself languishing in the infirmary until October, having picked up a shoulder injury before he could make his competitive debut.

The 28-year-old has since completed nine appearances and scored during the draw against Liverpool. His combative and silky style brings much to Arteta’s squad, and he showcased such qualities superbly on the international stage this weekend.

Minutes played

80′

Shots (on target)

1 (0)

Touches

60

Accurate passes

35/44 (80%)

Long balls (completed)

4 (3)

Possession lost

13x

Dribbles (completed)

5 (4)

Tackles

3

Ground duels (won)

13 (9)

Not only was Merino one of the steeliest figures on the field, winning a whopping nine ground duels and making three tackles, but he also completed four of five attempted dribbles, highlighting a mobile edge that, when enforced under Arteta’s wing, keeps things fluid for Arsenal.

Spain defeated Denmark to extend their lead in League A Group 4 of the Nations League, of which they are the holders, and Merino’s performance was crucial – especially as he was performing in another man’s boots, so to speak.

Indeed, Barcelona superstar Pedri was left on the bench for this one and introduced for Merino with ten minutes left to play. It was a big show of faith from Luis de la Fuente, whose team needed to avoid defeat against the Danes to secure top spot and confirm a place in the title play-offs.

Pedri, 21, has been hailed as “one of Europe’s best young players” by journalist Sam Dean, and despite suffering adversity throughout his fledgling career, the £67m-rated talent is one of the most promising players on the globe.

His technical prowess wasn’t preferred to Merino’s dynamic command of the central circle, however, and Arsenal must rejoice at the quality of midfielder they have brought in this season.

A long season stretches ahead, and duel-winning stars like Merino could make all the difference when the business end draws near.

Every Arsenal game missed by Bukayo Saka through injury

Turns out it takes a lot to take the Arsenal winger out of the game…

ByBarney Lane Nov 15, 2024

Celtic went through the recent January transfer without losing any of their key first-team performers to clubs swooping in to pay big money for them.

The Hoops allowed David Turnbull, who failed to earn a place as a regular starter, to join Cardiff on a permanent deal, whilst Marco Tilio, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, and Mikey Johnston were sent out on loan.

Celtic have a rich history of developing and selling talents for profit in recent years, as the likes of Victor Wanyama, Fraser Forster, Odsonne Edouard, Jota, and Kristoffer Ajer have been bought and then sold on for more money.

Another great example of their super work in the transfer market is current Liverpool and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, who the Hoops hit the jackpot with.

How much Celtic paid for Virgil van Dijk

Neil Lennon swooped in to secure a deal to sign the 21-year-old central defender from Dutch side Groningen for a reported fee of £2.6m in the summer of 2013.

The 6 foot 5 colossus instantly established himself as a regular starter for the Northern Irish boss with 47 appearances in all competitions throughout the 2013/14 campaign, which included 36 in the Scottish Premiership and six in the Champions League.

Van Dijk then played in a staggering 58 matches in all competitions during the 2014/15 season for the Hoops, and chipped in with an eye-catching ten goals and eight assists from centre-back.

His form for Celtic across those two seasons, and ten outings at the start of the 2015/16 campaign, led to interest from south of the border in the summer of 2015.

How much Celtic sold Virgil van Dijk for

Premier League side Southampton won the race to land the Dutch giant for a reported fee of £13m to bolster then-boss Ronald Koeman's defensive options.

This meant that the Glasgow giants made a 400% profit on the £2.6m they paid Groningen to sign him just two years earlier, with the Saints splashing out £10.4m more for his services in 2015.

Lennon, therefore, hit the jackpot for Celtic with his swoop to sign the towering centre-back in 2013, as he provided quality on the pitch and then earned the club a huge sum of money further down the line.

Brendan Rodgers must now be looking at targets for the upcoming summer transfer window with the hope that he can unearth the next van Dijk to earn the club millions in the future.

Willem II to Groningen

2010

£0

Groningen to Celtic

2013

£2.6m

Celtic to Southampton

2015

£13m

Southampton to Liverpool

2018

£75m

As you can see in the table above, the monstrous defender later went on to join Premier League giants Liverpool for a whopping fee of £75m, which meant that the Saints also made a significant profit on him.

The 32-year-old ace has amassed 256 appearances for the Reds in all competitions since his move to Anfield in January 2018, and won the Champions League and the Premier League once each to date.

It seems unlikely that Liverpool will be able to sell him for a profit, given his age and the fee they paid for him, to continue the trend, but they have been rewarded with over 200 appearances and multiple major trophies won.