This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
James McNicholas, of The Athletic, spoke about Arsenal’s troubles in playing out from the back following their 2-0 loss against Leicester City.
What did he say?
Many involved with Arsenal were left disappointed following the loss at the hands of the Foxes, having left a nine-point difference between the two teams.
Various issues were inevitably being discussed among fans after the game’s culmination, with one bemoaning Arsenal’s inability to keep hold of the ball.
To this comment, which was made as part of a Q&A, McNicholas replied: “Our only strategy to pass out from the back seems to be ‘give it to Luiz’.”
Ineffective play
Looking at Arsenal’s centre-backs and wing-backs, Luiz’s pass completion rate of 84% was the highest any of them recorded.
McNicholas’ point, that there was an over-reliance on the Brazilian in this regard, is particularly backed up by an incident which saw Hector Bellerin try to force the ball towards him, but ended up sending it to Ayoze Perez who hit his effort over the crossbar.
There were also various other times throughout the 90 minutes where the Gunners attempted to pass it out, only to end up handing possession to Leicester and allowing themselves to be blocked in.
The question around Arsenal’s ability to play out from the back is not a new one – The Guardian’s Jonathan Wilson recently contemplated whether the risk involved is worth it, following the goal conceded against Watford when they attempted to pass out from a goal kick.
With Unai Emery insisting that his side will continue to play out from the back in September, it doesn’t seem as though the method of play will be changing.
However, Arsenal simply must find a more productive way of going about this if their fortunes are to improve, and more players to take the lead when they’re looking to build up play from defence.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Real Madrid are getting back into some La Liga action this weekend after their more than just successful triumph over Galatasaray on Wednesday. But seeing how they will still face a tricky opponent, their midfield star, Casemiro, might have a crucial role to play come Saturday afternoon.
On the chalkboard
Casemiro’s importance has been second to none this season and he’s now an irreplaceable part of the squad.
The 27-year-old destroyer was always a big part of Real Madrid’s family but this campaign has seen him rise up the ranks immensely. And now, after 15 games played across all competitions, the Brazilian is Zinedine Zidane’s most-used player in the squad with 1290 minutes under his belt already.
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That means that he has played the full 90 minutes in 13 games and 60 minutes in the remaining two of the 2019/20 season.
By all standards, quite an incredible achievement that further solidifies his importance.
But his defensive skills and prowess might be put to the test on Saturday when he comes face to face with Eibar’s most dangerous player, Fabian Orellana.
A key battle
Seeing how they are facing a team struggling to stay afloat in La Liga, it would be easy for Real Madrid to face them on auto-pilot.
But Eibar, and especially Orellana, are quite dangerous when given a chance.
Watch Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale answer the internet’s weirdest questions in the video below…
Just the fact that the 33-year-old veteran has already scored four goals and assisted further four in the process as well tells enough of what he can do if not taken seriously.
But not only that but he has also tallied two shots, 1.9 key passes and 2.2 dribbles per game in the 2019/20 La Liga campaign so far. By all standards, quite impressive figures for someone who plays for a side currently in 14th place in the table.
Luckily for Real Madrid, however, Casemiro is more than capable of completely shutting down his opposition.
So far, he’s averaged 3.7 tackles, 2.5 interceptions and has been dribbled past two times per game.
These figures match up against Orellana’s quite nicely but it still doesn’t mean he will have an easy job to do on Saturday.
When everything is said and done, however, the 27-year-old Brazilian is the man you want to count on when push comes to shove.
Let’s see if he can continue the trend moving forward.
It might not always feel like it for the fans, but Tottenham Hotspur are undeniably a club on the up.
The North Londoners have an exciting and progressive manager at the helm in Ange Postecoglou, an array of exciting young talents like Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray and Mikey Moore in the squad, and to top it all off, have one of the best stadiums in the Premier League.
Moreover, only last season were the Lilywhites named the wealthiest club in London, and that, combined with Postecoglou's ambitions, can only lead to great things.
This concoction of favourable tailwinds should hopefully mean that, unlike in the past, Spurs could keep the next superstar player they develop instead of selling them off to the highest bidder. That said, one such player, whose value soared under former manager Mauricio Pochettino and beyond, was finally sold for a massive sum that, at the very least, could be reinvested.
Spurs' most prominent sales
So, while most big transfers involve attacking players moving from club to club, one of Spurs' biggest sales saw a full-back leave the club in Kyle Walker.
Kyle Walker playing for Tottenham
The England international joined the Lilywhites from Sheffield United in 2009, and after a few loan spells away from North London, the talented right-back would go on to make 229 appearances for the club before sealing a £50m move to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the summer of 2017, where he has since won everything there is to win in the game.
Moving slightly further up the pitch now to a star who wasn't sold for quite as much but has arguably gone on to have an even better career than Walker: Luka Modrić.
The Croatian icon joined the North Londoners from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2008 for a fee of just £15m, and over the next four years, would make 160 appearances for the club, in which he'd score 17 goals and provide 24 assists and catch the eye of Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants secured the midfielder's services in August 2012 with a £30m offer, and while he famously struggled in his first year with Los Blancos, he has since etched his name into the club's history books and will retire as one of their greatest players of all time thanks to the ludicrous number of trophies he won there.
However, the former Zagreb ace wasn't the only player Spurs sold to Madrid in the early 2010s.
Welsh legend Gareth Bale made his move to the Spanish capital just a year later for a mammoth £85m fee thanks to his incredible displays in N17, where he had just ended the season with 26 goals and ten assists in 44 games.
So, from defence to attack, Tottenham have sold some incredible players over the years, but there is one more megastar the club have cashed in on in recent years.
The sale of Harry Kane
Yes, the final star in question is, of course, Harry Kane, who, after spending his entire career and part of his childhood with Tottenham, was finally sold to German behemoths Bayern Munich last summer for a fee reported to be around £86.4m at the time.
Harry Kane scores for Tottenham.
Now, while there have been more significant sales from other Premier League sides in the past, the fact that the England captain is an academy graduate of Spurs meant that his sale was entirely profit, which must have made accepting the Germans' offer that bit easier.
The Walthamstow-born marksman came to define an era for Tottenham fans, and while he was still banging in the goals after he left, the start of his career coincided with the arrival of Pochettino.
For example, according to Transfermarkt, the 31-year-old was valued at just €3m – £2.5m – two months after the Argentine was appointed as manager.
That means that the world-class number nine was sold for a fee 3356% higher than that valuation from August 2014, which, when looked at like that, is quite remarkable, although based on his output and ability, entirely justified.
Appearances
435
Goals
280
Assists
61
Goal Involvements per Match
0.78
In his 435 games for the club, he found the back of the net an extraordinary 280 times – which made him the club's outright top goalscorer – and provided 61 assists to boot, meaning he maintained an average of a goal involvement once every 1.27 games – talk about a one-season wonder.
Ultimately, while losing Kane last summer was far from ideal and a sad moment for Spurs fans everywhere, the club could at least get a hefty fee for him, and who knows, he could still come back for one last season in a few years.
Sold for just £750k, Spurs flop has seen his value rise 1900% after leaving
Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie believes one Newcastle United player "could have played his last game" for the club, with a move away now on the cards.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies made it seven points from a possible nine to start their Premier League season on Sunday afternoon, battling their way to a 2-1 win at home to Tottenham. Granted, Eddie Howe's side weren't always at their best, but they dug deep when Spurs were on top after equalising in the second half, an impressive feat without so many first-choice defenders.
The victory came after a relatively frustrating summer of transfer business at Newcastle, with the manager hinting at not being happy with the options within his squad and the financial restrictions in place, although they did push to get one deal sorted.
The Magpies are believed to have made a late attempt to sign Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, but ultimately failed to get a move over the line. It was reported that they tried to include Miguel Almiron in a player-plus-cash transfer, but ran out of time to convince the Midlands outfit.
While the English window has now slammed shut, there is a chance that some business could still be done abroad, and it looks as though one Newcastle player is on his way out of the St James' Park exit door.
Newcastle ace once labelled "incredible" set to leave
Taking to X, Downie reports that Newcastle defender Jamal Lewis is closing in on a loan move to Sao Paulo, with a switch to the Brazilian side almost done after he arrived in the country this weekend. Given he only has 12 months left on his Magpies deal, that is likely it for Lewis in the black and white stripes.
A move away feels like the best outcome for Lewis, considering Howe clearly doesn't see him as an important part of Newcastle's future, even though the boss said of him back in 2022: “I believe in him as a player, but he’s just had really bad luck. He’s got a lot to offer physically, we’ve certainly seen that in pre-season – an incredible athlete. He needs consistency of training at the moment – and hopefully he can get that."
Lewis spent last season on loan at Championship side Watford, and the fact that he is now heading off on a temporary basis once again suggests that he may even have played his final competitive match for the Magpies.
Newcastle made last-minute £50m player-plus-cash offer for "brilliant" ace
The Magpies went all out…
1 ByTom Cunningham Sep 1, 2024
The 26-year-old joined Newcastle in a £15m deal back in 2020, but in truth, he has rarely fully justified that price tag over the past four years, only starting 24 Premier League matches in that time. A move away suits everyone, before exiting permanently next summer.
Erik ten Hag hasn’t made many correct decisions at Manchester United. That’s probably putting it politely too.
Despite the Dutchman’s remarkable level of delusion, claiming that two trophy wins eradicate the bad league form, things have not been swell.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag after winning the FA Cup.
The top of the football club now looks a lot more organised but in giving Ten Hag another season following FA Cup success, not a lot has changed. That shouldn’t be surprising.
There were some impressive captures over the summer, namely Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee but with the former out injured for the next few months, there might be a scenario where he never makes a competitive appearance under the current boss.
Indeed, with just three points from their opening three games, things haven’t started brightly for those at Old Trafford.
Compare that to their city rivals and the fortunes could not be starker. Manchester City are already sprinting ahead like 100m king Noah Lyles and are in good shape to win yet another league crown.
Pep Guardiola is the mastermind behind it all but when you have a player like Erling Haaland at your disposal, things are going to be much easier.
Erling Haaland's remarkable record
What is there that’s left to say about Haaland? We’ve run out of superlatives for his simply ridiculous record in English football. Watch out Alan Shearer, the Norwegian is coming for you.
He has started the new campaign with some aplomb and is well on his way to breaking several records. Having scored two hat-tricks in the opening three match weeks to take his tally to the season to seven already, the striking sensation sits among fine company.
1. Sergio Aguero
275
12
2. Alan Shearer
441
11
3. Robbie Fowler
379
9
4. Erling Haaland
69
8
5. Thierry Henry
258
8
6. Harry Kane
320
8
7. Michael Owen
326
8
Throughout his career in Manchester to date, Haaland already has two Golden Boots to his name and has racked up an enormous 97 goals in 102 games throughout all competitions.
He is the best striker in the world, he is inevitable. United looked at adding their own version of Haaland in Rasmus Hojlund but their Scandinavian sensation is yet to reach the same dizzy heights, finding the net 16 times in 2023/24. It’s a decent tally but the difference just across the city is incredible.
So, how do you stop Haaland? Well, you don’t. Only injury, as it did last term, can halt the hulking centre forward in his tracks.
United won’t get anywhere close to stopping them this season, and Pep’s main challengers in Arsenal may well struggle too.
Wouldn’t the Red Devils love a prime Wayne Rooney in their squad? Perhaps even a rampant Cristiano Ronaldo too to help them along the way.
Haaland vs Ronaldo in 2023/24
Back in November 2022, Ten Hag was growing tired of the toxicity surrounding the football club.
One of the main reasons for that felt like their great number 7, Ronaldo. A staple of Sir Alex Ferguson’s final years in the dugout, he left for Real Madrid and Juventus, winning multiple major honours before returning to England for what felt like one last hurrah.
The multiple Ballon d’Or winner scored 24 times in his first campaign back at Old Trafford. It’s safe to say the move was a success.
Yet, his second term was cut short just months into the 2022/23 season with only three goals to his name in 16 outings. Sluggish, stroppy and not in tune with Ten Hag’s system, everyone decided it would be best if they mutually parted ways.
What was next for Ronaldo? Saudi, of course it was. In the Middle East, the Portuguese sensation has been nothing short of incredible.
One has to doubt the level of competition but he is banging in the goals nonetheless, finding the net a staggering 44 times in 45 matches last season. That’s an even more prolific level than a certain Haaland.
Playing for Al-Nassr alongside the likes of Aymeric Laporte and Sadio Mane, their team finished the 2023/24 term in second place, ten points behind Al-Hilal.
So, Ronaldo is ending his career in style. He’s even been banging in the goals again in the opening weeks of the new Saudi Pro League campaign. This time around, the inevitable forward has bagged four times in as many matches.
United may not have any need for this version of the 39-year-old but you cannot deny his astonishing record throughout the years, even now as his career winds down.
Man Utd "phenomenon" sold by Solskjær is now outscoring Hojlund & Zirkzee
Arsenal have identified the Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia as a summer transfer target as they look to update their options in the middle of the park.
How old is Romeo Lavia?
Despite the Gunners enjoying an impressive 2022/23 campaign, it seems as if Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar are looking to overhaul their midfield this summer.
Indeed, it is believed Granit Xhaka could be heading for the exit doors this summer with reports of interest coming from Bayer Leverkusen.
And on top of the potential exit of the Swiss midfielder, it has now recently been suggested that Thomas Partey could be another name who could be set to depart for a new opportunity over the coming months.
These are two players who played huge roles in Arsenal's starting XI last season with Xhaka making 37 appearances in the league and Partey making 33 league appearances.
Despite this, the Gunners are believed to be seriously interested in bringing Declan Rice to north London this summer to bolster than midfield with a bid already lodged for the 24-year-old.
And speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has now claimed the Gunners could look to make a move for the 19-year-old from Southampton, Lavia:
"It's true that Romeo Lavia from Southampton is one of the players they have in the list, it's correct.
"They like him, they consider Romeo Lavia a top talent. Man City have a buy-back clause on the player but only in summer 2024. Not this summer and the clause would not be valid in the future; it's only valid in 2024 for Man City, not now.
"So Arsenal are interested Chelsea are also interested."
How much is Romeo Lavia worth?
The 19-year-old played a significant role in the Southampton side last season having made 29 appearances in the Premier League alone (via Transfermarkt).
Of course, it was a hugely underwhelming campaign for the Saints which saw them finish rock bottom of the Premier League table.
However, it was not a wasted campaign for the Belgian who was even dubbed as an "absolute monster" by some in the media for one of his displays earlier in the year.
And this can be seen through his returns over the last year with the youngster ranking in the top fourth percentile for blocks made across all midfielders in the top five European leagues (via FBef).
As a result of his impressive displays, it is believed the Belgian has garnered interest from a number of clubs including Liverpool.
But it is apparent any club who is looking to acquire the young talent will have to dig deep this summer with the Saints reportedly placing a £50m price tag on their young star.
Considering Arsenal are looking to spend big money on Rice and potentially also Kai Havertz, this could prove to be another significant financial layout for the Gunners this summer.
Chelsea remain interested in adding another striker to their ranks after completing a deal to sign Villarreal star Nicolas Jackson in the summer transfer window.
What's the latest on Chelsea's interest in Victor Osimhen?
According to 90min, the Blues remain keen on pursuing a possible deal to sign Napoli centre-forward Victor Osimhen to solve their woes in front of goal.
The London giants only found the back of the net 38 times in 38 matches in the Premier League in the season just gone and that came after they struck 76 times in the division in the previous campaign.
90min's report claims that the club are closing in on the signing of Jackson from the La Liga outfit for a fee in the region of £30m to bolster their forward line, but the Senegal international could be joined by Osimhen.
It is stated that Napoli are looking for a fee well in excess of £100m and are aware that the Italian side's valuation of the prolific marksman could prevent them from being able to complete a deal.
They also mention that Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Harry Kane was explored as a potential option for Mauricio Pochettino before they moved for Jackson.
How did Victor Osimhen perform last season?
The £90k-per-week ace enjoyed a phenomenal campaign in front of goal for the Serie A champions and his form in Italy suggests that his arrival at Stamford Bridge would go a long way to solving their problems at the top end of the pitch.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen, who was hailed as a "goal-scoring machine" by journalist Josh Bunting, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.21 across 32 appearances in the league for Napoli, which would have placed him third in the Chelsea squad in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old racked up an outstanding 24 goals and four assists in the Italian top flight as he proved himself to be a reliable scorer in a major European league. In fact, the incredible forward ranks in the top 1% of strikers in the Men's Big Five Leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.87) over the last 365 days.
These statistics show that the talented dynamo is one of the best number nines in Europe on current form and would, therefore, be a sensational addition to Pochettino's squad after Kai Havertz ended the 2022/23 campaign as Chelsea's top scorer in the Premier League with seven strikes.
Osimhen has also showcased his ability to make an impact on the European stage. The 6 foot 1 finisher fired in five goals in five starts in the Champions League as Napoli made their way to the semi-final of the competition, which shows that the exciting gem has the quality to be a big player for the club if they are able to return to a continental tournament for 2024/25.
Arsenal could be set to immediately bin one of the club's recent failures, with another big-money move, but this time of Mikel Arteta's choosing.
What's the latest on Samuel Chukwueze to Arsenal?
That's according to CalcioMercato, who claim that the Gunners are battling with many clubs over Villarreal's star winger Samuel Chukwueze.
With AC Milan and Real Madrid also in the race and contact expected to be made soon, it will take an almighty task to tempt this Super Eagles star to the Emirates ahead of such European royalty. This hefty competition likely aids the €80m (£68m) asking price that continues to be referenced by the Spanish club.
Such an astronomical fee will likely have fans of the north London outfit worried that this left-footed right-winger might follow down the same path that Nicolas Pepe took, having struggled since his £72m move in 2019.
In fact, it has been revealed that Edu is currently seeking out a buyer for their Ivory Coast flop, as he aims to trim their squad starting with their biggest duds. Another potential transfer howler is a situation the club simply must avoid.
Is Samuel Chukwueze better than Nicolas Pepe?
Pepe's drop-off since moving to the Emirates was nothing short of astronomical, and was made all the more apparent when Unai Emery later admitted it was a deal he did not sanction.
Given he would go on to play just 121 times, scoring 27 goals, it is clear to see that this once impressive wide man was a fish out of water in England. Especially considering how in his final year before moving from Lille he would notch 23 goals and assist a further 12 in all competitions, nearly equalling that aforementioned tally across four whole years in north London.
Having since been temporarily sent back to Ligue 1 last term, just six league goals are suggestive that their ridiculous investment continues to fall flat.
Meanwhile, in a division ranked as the second-best in Europe just behind the Premier League, as opposed to the fifth-place standing of France, Chukwueze has slowly been growing into a stunning footballer who seems ready to take that next step.
This year has comfortably marked his pinnacle thus far, with the 24-year-old having scored 13 and assisted 11 from that right flank.
nicolas-pepe-arsenal-samuel-chukwueze
Having also dressed that up with an immense level of finesse and flair, it even led his boss Quique Setien to claim:
"For a few weeks, he’s been giving us a lot, he’s a permanent threat. Not just in goals, but in passes, chances, he’s an extraordinary player, who is giving us a lot". This culminated in his status as a "crazy dribbler" too.
With Pepe seemingly already with one foot out the exit door, to spend big once again on another in his exact role would surely mean the end of an Arsenal career that promised much but delivered next to nothing.
Leeds United and their proposed takeover by 49ers Enterprises could happen 'quickly' at Elland Road, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest news involving Leeds United?
According to The Telegraph, Leeds United could be taken over formally by 49ers Enterprises by the end of this week, which would spell the end of Andrea Radrizzani's six-year spell at Elland Road.
49ers Enterprises currently own 44% of the Yorkshire outfit and are said to value Leeds United at around £170 million, coming as a consequence of the Whites being relegated from the Premier League.
Leeds United are in the hunt for a new manager to lead them into the Sky Bet Championship next season following Sam Allardyce's departure by mutual agreement last week.
Furthermore, there is a need for a new Director of Football at the club following Victor Orta's sacking earlier in the season, as per The Daily Mail.
There is also the concern that several players are likely to leave Leeds United this summer such as Jack Harrison, Brenden Aaronson and Rodrigo Moreno, which will give 49ers Enterprises a heavy agenda to press on with before the beginning of next term.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Leeds United changing hands at ownership level is likely to happen in the near future.
Jacobs told FFC: "For months, they've been talking about scenarios for both staying up and going down. It's now just a case of what the number is to acquire the football club based upon the relegation to the Championship. That won't be a new discussion, they will have discussed both scenarios, both options, both numbers, which is why the expectation is that 49ers Enterprises will still be able to move very quickly."
Who could Leeds United appoint as their new manager?
To steer any successful ship in football requires a good manager and bringing in a coach that can fire up Leeds United's squad of players ahead of their return to the Sky Bet Championship will be a main priority for 49ers Enterprises once they take the club over.
Former Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has been linked to the vacancy at Elland Road; however, The Sun report that the 50-year-old could be set to take some time away from the game before resuming his managerial career.
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.
The Guardian report that West Bromwich Albion coach Carlos Corberan, ex-Fulham boss Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard are also under consideration for the post.
Journalist Alan Nixon has also claimed that Celta Vigo boss Carlos Carvahal is in the running for the job, signifying that Leeds United are doing their due diligence on multiple candidates as they look to find the right man to take them forward.
Chelsea's negotiations for Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte are moving rapidly.
What’s the latest on Manuel Ugarte to Chelsea?
According to Dean Jones, who was speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Blues are keen to get the deal completed for the 22-year-old as soon as possible, with talks having motored on in recent days.
Reputable journalist Dean Jones said: “It's certainly accelerated faster than I anticipated, to be honest. We'll now have to see how quickly it can continue to move forward and what the momentum is.
"We know Chelsea are interested, but the rate at which this has been moving forward makes me think that they're keen to get it done very quickly."
The Guardian has reported that the Uruguayan has a release clause of £52m and Chelsea have allegedly agreed personal terms with the player, who has a desire to compete in English football.
How could Manuel Ugarte benefit Chelsea?
The eight-cap international has been in magnificent form for Sporting CP this season, as he has averaged the most tackles (3.9) and interceptions (1.8) per game, to ruthlessly underline his status as a formidable defensive-minded midfielder.
As well as his tenacity, the pivot also possesses a brilliant athletic ability to glide around the pitch, showcased by his 1.8 dribbles per game.
Despite his spritely age, the South American has emerged as an impeccably well-rounded orchestrator, who is excellent at protecting the backline.
The beauty of possessing a selfless destroyer like this is that his qualities unlock the potential of more attack-minded players.
From a Chelsea perspective, this could be crucial to unleashing the maximum influence of Ben Chilwell and Reece James, who when fit and firing, are arguably the club’s most dangerous assets, providing 65 assists between them throughout their club careers.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell
Unfortunately for Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard, none of them have been afforded the luxury of being able to consistently start these two full-backs in the team together.
Both their seasons have been ravaged by injury, as the pair have started just 29 (15 and 14) Premier League games together. This problem has been one of the primary reasons why Chelsea have only netted 38 domestic goals.
Tuchel has previously lauded the irrepressible quality of his full-backs and their contribution to the attack.
He said: “We can have a bit of freedom with our offensive movements. The wing-backs can adapt to half positions to support our attackers. It's a matter of repetition and understanding. At the moment, they do very well no matter who plays.”
For the incoming Mauricio Pochettino, recapturing the best form of these defenders will be crucial if he is to succeed in west London and the signing of Ugarte, who has been hailed as a "monster" by writer Dave Hendrick, could be the perfect defensive step in doing this.