If Matthias Jaissle needed a reminder of the task he has inherited at Newcastle United this season, he got a rather harsh one inside 45 seconds at St James’ Park on Saturday.

Bayer Leverkusen were the prestigious visitors for the first part of a pre-season double-header a week before the new Premier League season. The sides met in the Champions League in December, drawing 2-2 at the BayArena. But the Magpies are on a very different path now, a fact that was made eminently clear from the moment Ibrahim Maza fired past new signing Lukas Hornicek at the Gallowgate End from distance. Newcastle recovered to level before half-time through Malick Thiaw before substitute Victor Boniface scored the winner.

On Sunday, Will Osula scored in another disappointing draw with French side Strasbourg, ending in defeat on penalties. Both games taught Jaissle more about what he was missing than what he had.

Newcastle United had two friendlies over the weekend – with plenty to learn in each

Maza was the difference on the first afternoon, offering Leverkusen the sort of creativity the Magpies have badly lacked for years. Every time he got the ball, he was in space and faxing goal, seemingly knowing where all of his team-mates were.

Although staff has since changed on almost every level, Newcastle tracked the Algerian as a teenager while he was at Hertha Berlin. Eddie Howe was criticised for a lack of ingenuity in his side, and Jaissle has gone on to lose Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes who could have gone some way to providing it.

The German likes to utilise a no.10 in a 4-2-3-1 system; not only was Maza making Leverkusen tick, he was showing what Newcastle were missing. You sense if they were to try and move for him now, he’d cost three or four times what he would a year ago.

After a harrowing summer of change on Tyneside, there is a need not only for three or four experienced players to strengthen particular positions, but signings that excite and prove to the existing squad and fans, that the Saudi-led project is still alive. Five years on from the takeover, the hard reset has left many contemplating the Public Investment Fund’s appetite for it given the changing political landscape in the Middle East.

Judging on pre-season is always a risk because results, by definition, don’t matter. Stretching the first team squad over two games just before the competitive action starts, though, seems somewhat counterintuitive. With both squads made up by benches full of academy players, it was always hard to read what would happen once substitutions were made.

“We needed to split,” Jaissle said on Saturday.

“First of all, because it doesn’t make sense that the the lads play two games in a row. But the most important thing now in the last friendlies that you see everyone over 90 minutes, and there are different approaches.

“Some of them, they could use one more training day, especially the guys who returned later or came back from an injury. So there are many aspects to consider, and again, it has nothing to do with with a starting XI or not.”

Across both days, Jaissle was forced to face reality in a number of different ways. Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, the two forwards hastily signed under Howe to replace Alexander Isak in 2025, are not quite clicking together. Wissa is undoubtedly sharper than he ever has been in a black and white shirt, but that bar was painfully follow. Woltemade still looks like a square peg in a round hole, and although there is goodwill and a desire to make their record signing a success, a nagging sense that club and player should part ways is growing.

Then there is Osula: the most unpredictable striker at the club. Every touch of the ball generates anticipation, with any moment possessing the potential to be stunning and magical or a complete let down. In that sense, he is the perfect poster boy for the era to come at St James’ Park.

Excitement at the unknown is to be commended, because the usual response is fear. Based on both of these games, Newcastle are far from ready. They insist more business will follow before the transfer deadline, with Benfica fullback Amar Dedic likely to be confirmed this week, but that alone won’t be enough.

Someone like Maza would flick a switch and instantly reinvigorate everybody, giving Jaissle a stronger chance of making an impact. As of now, though, with Liverpool and the opening day less than a week away, Newcastle are undercooked and playing catch up. Turning things around will only get harder from here.

The best player on Earth right now, arguably, is Barcelona's right-winger. It's arguable, too, that Arsenal's, Chelsea's, Manchester City's, Manchester United's and – up until this summer – Liverpool's right-winger are all better than their left.

Scroll through the most valuable players in the world on Transfermarkt, and on the right, you'll be spoiled for choice: Lamine Yamal heading up the list ahead of Michael Olise, Desire Doue, Bukayo Saka, and new Real Madrid man, Yan Diomande. Transfermarkt actually values the top 10 right-wingers in the world right now to be a full £200 million more valuable than the top 10 on the left.

It begs the question of why there's such a difference between the two roles – which should surely be mirrored.

The dearth of world-class left-wingers has something to do with maths

Let's start with the very basics. Most left-wingers are right-footed attackers who cut in on their favoured foot to attack the goal: it's been that way ever since the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho revolutionised the game in the 2000s, but has a lot to do with players like Thierry Henry popularising the notion that an attacker in the opposite half-space to their favoured foot has more of the goal to aim at.

Estimates of how many players are left-footed fluctuate wildly, from 10 to 25 per cent – meaning that the vast majority of footballers on Earth prefer to use their right foot. From that, one may deduce that surely, there should be more quality left-wingers than right-wingers?

It's not quite that simple, however. Think of the maths.

Imagine you're coaching an academy team with five young attackers, who can all carry the ball, beat a defender, pick a pass and strike a ball with venom. Statistically, only one of them will be a left-footer. It simply makes sense to play the left-footer on the right wing, because he can do something the others can't: cut inside on his natural foot.

Right-footers thus end up elsewhere. Had Eden Hazard, Neymar, Jamal Musiala or Florian Wirtz been left-footed, they would have almost exclusively played on the right wing growing up – but because they're both right-footed, they've played plenty of football at No.10. Even a more physical profile like Jude Bellingham could have been developed as a right-winger, had he favoured his left foot.

By the time a left-footed attacker makes it in senior football, he has probably spent most of his development in the right-wing funnel. He knows that position better than anyone on the pitch – but having played his entire life with a touchline over his right shoulder, he may lack the 360-degree awareness that a right-footer may have had from having played a handful of attacking positions in his development.

It seems strange to imagine someone like Arjen Robben or Mohamed Salah regularly playing centrally, for example – but while Alexander Isak or Marcus Rashford have several of the same traits (speed, movement, finishing), the latter two have played as centre-forwards a lot more than the former. Their preferred foot has something to do with that.

There's certainly a perception, too, around what we expect from left-footed players. We expect lefties to be naturally more creative – they certainly look more graceful to the naked eye to some people – and that almost certainly has something to do with the fact that we just don't see them very often. There's a case, too, that left-footed right-wingers grow up in a right-footed world, and thus have to find solutions that right-footers will never have to.

And then there's the excitement of finding ‘the next Lionel Messi’ from those bringing the next generation through. If you have a mercurial left-footed attacker in your academy – whether that's Martin Odegaard or Ryan Gauld – there will be an effort to ensure a pathway: you've found the most valuable commodity in the game, after all.

The Barcelona side that gave Messi his platform has become so influential that dribbly midfielders and ball-playing centre-backs have both been prioritised in youth football over the last decade – to the detriment of several other roles in football. The role of a traditional playmaker has been phased out, with chance creation now mostly generated from a high press. Box-to-box midfielders have become rarer, as teams search for specialists.

And specialised right-footed left-wingers have usually either moved up front or into midfield, depending on their physicality and finishing – while players like Morgan Rogers and Junior Kroupi play behind a No.9, rather than straight from the left.

The lack of world-class left-backs

Thanks in part to that Barcelona side, we have more midfield profiles in the modern game than we know what to do with. A top-level midfielder with intensity can play right-back these days – just ask Arne Slot last season or Declan Rice over the World Cup – whether they're inverting or overlapping.

To highlight the maths once more, how many left-footed right-backs have you ever seen, compared to the other way around? Well, if fewer than 25 per cent of players really are left-footed, there's a fair chance that the average youth team doesn't even have a leftie in its back four.

And if this imaginary team really does have a left-footed left-back, capable of offering good support to the left-winger ahead of him, the chances of him being good at defending, too, are slim. Besides, even those left-backs who were world-class going forward and simply fine in defence – Bukayo Saka, Gareth Bale, even Alphonso Davies for Canada – usually get moved further up the pitch. Left-back is seen as one of the last priorities of any manager, despite how much world-class full-backs can elevate your XI.

Coaches are simply picking from a much bigger pool when it comes to right-backs: that's reflected in the lack of genuinely world-class left-backs at the top level. Just in English football, Gareth Southgate's golden generation was defined by its talent at right-back, with the likes of Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James all fighting for a berth. The left full-back spot was all Luke Shaw's if he was fit: Ben Chilwell's, if he could make a case for it, and by the end, Trippier's.

But the game has changed significantly, and so many teams don't attack with Roberto Carlos-style full-backs anymore. That's partly down to increased physicality in the modern game, demanding more of what players are physically capable of – but it's also down to tactical shifts. Teams prefer to invert full-backs, or leave them at the back for building play. Wingers are expected to hold the width a bit more instead. Even the likes of Riccardo Calafiori and Nico O'Reilly – who really are attack-minded left-footed left-backs – aren't there to support their left-winger: often, the left-winger is there to hold the width for them to attack the box.

Which brings us to the left-wingers thriving in the modern game, and their constant behind them.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola are lucky enough to play with arguably the best left-back in the world in Nuno Mendes. Vinicius Junior's best football at Real Madrid arguably coincided with Ferland Mendy's. Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz both played best alongside Andrew Robertson. Raphinha and Marcus Rashford both benefited from Alejandro Balde, Rafael Leao was world-class alongside Theo Hernandez, and Kingsley Coman was at his best with Alphonso Davies behind him. Cristiano Ronaldo had Marcelo, Hazard had Cesar Azpilicueta, Neymar had Jordi Alba, and Franck Ribery had David Alaba. Look at Ronaldinho and Carlos, or Henry and Ashley Cole.

Jeremy Doku has sparkled at times, and both Phil Foden and Leroy Sane were left-footed left-wingers holding width – but the right-wingers always shone more for Guardiola's Manchester City. Arsenal have had consistent right-backs in Ben White, then Jurrien Timber, while the left has been somewhat of a problem position, with arguably their last world-class left-wing option, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, having Kieran Tierney to work with behind him – while even Saka and Sead Kolasinac offered a solid overlap. Even Matt Targett and Ben Davies were solid Premier League-level players, there to provide a service for Jack Grealish and Son Heung-min, respectively: there are simply fewer and fewer of those bombing left-backs around these days.

That's not to suggest that any of those left-wingers wouldn't have made it without a left-back behind them to support. But it feels like the current generation of left-wingers are already at a disadvantage to their predecessors, when the standard and profile of left-back has changed so dramatically over the last decade.

And that's not even to mention the obvious: if top-level left-backs are in such scarcity, it's no wonder that the average right-winger looks so much better. The average left-winger is up against a right-back who, statistically speaking, fought off much better competition.

If Paris Saint-Germain value Barcola to be worth over €100m, there's a good reason for that. If Arsenal decide not to pursue an alternative to Vinicius Jr, that may well be because there are so few game-changers in that position in world football. If Nico Williams becomes a nine-figure transfer, that's maybe down to how few of his contemporaries are on his level. If Juventus charge more for Kenan Yildiz than RB Leipzig did for Diomande, it's not because of talent; it's because of scarcity. And perhaps, in a roundabout way, the cheapest way to sign a world-class left-winger is to sign a left-back who can improve what you already have.

Because strangely, world-class left-wingers have almost become a more precious profile than the Palmers and Sakas on the opposite side – despite all the odds. Does football need to evolve to produce more superstar left-wingers?

For over a decade, Manchester United treated the transfer window like a global billboard, spending over a billion pounds on individual fame, while the actual football team fell apart.

They bought the clout instead of the profiles, paid the ‘United tax’ without question, and trapped themselves in a toxic cycle of bloated wages and broken dressing rooms. But today, that era is dead.

From walking away from extortionate fees to signing Premier League-proven quality, here is why Manchester United can finally be trusted in the transfer window again.

Manchester United chased the biggest names on Earth – with fees to match

Following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Man United stopped operating as a football club and started operating honestly as what felt like at times a click farm. The commercial department discovered a lucrative cheat code: sign the biggest names in the world, dominate the digital news cycle, and watch the shirt sales and sponsorship deals soar so that you can then afford the biggest and best players.

And the cycle continues. Di Maria, Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, and the emotional homecoming of Cristiano Ronaldo weren't always tactical additions – they were also brand activations.

In the boardroom, these transfers were triumphs. Pogba's announcement broke the internet (#Pogback). Sanchez playing the piano gathered millions of impressions. But on the pitch, the evidence was damning.

Across 10 years and five permanent managers, United consistently ranked among the highest spenders in Europe with a staggering 1.5 billion paid out on new players post-Fergie, while producing little to shout about on the pitch aside from a couple of trophies, none of which will be standing front and centre alongside the others in the club's illustrious trophy cabinet.

The structural conflict was unavoidable. Managers were handed expensive collections of individuals rather than compatible profiles. Louis van Gaal wanted functional system players; he was given superstars. Jose Mourinho wanted defensive steel; he was given commercial assets and untameable egos. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer built a fluid counterattacking side only to have it disrupted by the arrival of an ageing Ronaldo.

United was zigging when they should have been zagging. The ultimate lesson was painfully obvious: clout produces instant social media numbers, but without a unified tactical blueprint, it guarantees long-term sporting decay.

And nowhere was this more damaging than when they were getting out the chequebook. Because every club in Europe knew United lacked a modern scouting strategy, knew they had the money to spend due to the size and revenue of the club, and knew there was an air of desperation to get back to the top and sign the latest shiny toy, they applied a surcharge on every deal. It was the classic “they saw you coming” you give to your mate when he's paid 19 quid for two pints. The problem was they didn't learn their lesson and stamped up the cash every single time. This was the birth of what was known as the ‘United tax.’

When Ajax demanded £86 million for Antony, a winger who was valued at half of that just a few months earlier, United paid it. When Leicester held out for £80m for Harry Maguire, a fee deemed way too much by Man City, United folded.

United's wage structure was a mess

Worse than the transfer fees, however, was the wage structure. To convince world-class names to join a Europa League-level project, United handed out astronomical long-term contracts.

Alexis Sanchez was on nearly £500,000 a week, and David De Gea became the highest-paid goalkeeper in history. Despite constant rumours of a departure for the Spaniard, this created the sort of financial paralysis that crippled the club for a decade. When a player underperformed, United couldn't sell them. No club in Europe – only pretty much Saudi Arabia – was willing to match the wages of United's benchwarmers. Players like Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek, and Eric Bailly sat on high salaries for years, eroding their market value to zero while soaking up big chunks of the wage budget.

Internally, too, it was a nightmare because when a long-standing player or new signing sees a teammate earning £300,000 a week, wage demands across the entire squad skyrocket. It destroyed the dressing room hierarchy and left the club unable to maneuver in the transfer market without risky moves or suffering big losses.

United's greatest weakness was a total absence of, let's call it, “walking away power.” By overpaying for everything, they built a cage that kept bad players in and modern success out.

And perhaps the most damning of all signings was Jadon Sancho: £73m to sign him, five years of inconsistency coupled with a few loan spells away from the club, hundreds of thousands of pounds per week in wages, and then released on a free at the end of it all.

So, how have INEOS turned things around in the past couple of years since taking over? And why does it feel like an image rebrand as well as a footballing one?

United never lacked a posterboy: they just lacked everything else

In years gone by, it's always seemed like Manchester United's success was defined by an enigmatic posterboy of a leader – a star individual or two backed up by the ones willing to do the dirty work. Cantona, Beckham, Ronaldo, Rooney. They won more titles than we care to recall for United. But that success doesn't happen without Neville, O'Shea, Carrick, Park. That was then though, and this is now.

Bruno Fernandes has been one of the best players in the Premier League for years. But without the squad around him, that isn't reflected in United's team success. Statistically, Bruno's output since arriving in 2020 is staggering. Nobody has created more chances in Europe's top five leagues. But relying on one man to be the primary creator, presser, and emotional anchor created an unhealthy dependency. When Bruno had an off day, Manchester United had an off day.

The strategy during those post-Fergie crisis years didn't change with the times, though. They still bought headliners and prayed they could hide the cracks in the ceiling. Enter Varane, Zlatan, Pogba, Rashford's new contract – Casemiro to an extent, although he did make a better go of it towards the end of his stint at Old Trafford. This hero complex crippled the development of a modern team structure.

Elite sides like Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City don't rely on ‘heroball’. They rely on raising the floor of their squad so that everyone is capable of producing a certain level of quality regularly, whether in the starting XI or on the bench. Every player knows where to stand, where to pass, and where to press when the ball is lost.

Is this mechanical football the best to watch? No. Would we rather watch players enjoy themselves and play with this indescribable joy that can't be taught? Yes. But modern football is modern football, and it's been working for a while now.

Needing a hero also stifles youth integration. Young academy players coming through weren't entering a functional, well-oiled machine that protected them; they were being thrown in at the deep end. That sort of thing has worked in the past. To be fair, nothing typified this more than when Marcus Rashford played out every club's dream scenario: the big club giving the opportunity to a young star, and he hits the ground running and never looks back. What a story. You don't, however, need me to explain why that isn't the greatest of strategies because you just can't rely upon it.

But now the story is different, and the most recent transfer windows are the proof. United are doing three things that have elevated their recruitment strategy and earned plenty of trust back from the supporters.

The critical change in United's fortunes

First, they are targeting Premier League-proven players that make sense from a value-for-money and squad-improving perspective. The additions of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha represent a complete pivot in strategy. Let's face it, going from shopping at Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund to Wolves and Brentford is quite the switch. They aren't vanity signings designed to sell shirts around the world, but high-intensity, ready-made, proven profiles bought to win matches in the Premier League.

Secondly, they've got rid of an astronomical wage bill in favour of something more structured. Gone are the De Gea, Casemiro, Varane, and Sancho days. Now, salaries are reportedly all kept under 200 grand per week. That probably explains why Sandro Tonali wasn't of interest with his 270,000 per week deal that would have blown the bloody doors off that structure immediately. It's also evident in the wages of Mbeumo, Sesko, Cunha, and Tielemans, all between £150 to 180k per week.

And lastly, United have rediscovered the most powerful tool in negotiation: that walking away power we mentioned earlier. When faced with crazy, ransom-style demands for targets like Fernandez from West Ham, United didn't panic or overpay, but calmly walked away. Instead, they secured Youri Tielemans for an incredible £35m release – a move driven by his suitability to United's starting XI and financial sanity behind it all.

You could say that the quiet, pragmatic move lacks the thrill of a 100 million pound marquee signing that a club like Manchester United needs to be seen making to draw in show-stopping talent. But why would they continue to bang their head against the wall if it doesn't work? Tielemans provides immediate control and experience in the midfield, and he also does it without blocking the development runway for the talented Kobbie Mainoo. Mainoo remains the long-term heartbeat of the midfield. The throne is still his for the taking eventually, but for now, he's supported by experienced heads rather than overshadowed or competing with someone the same age who could literally block him for his entire career.

For the first time in over a decade, United aren't buying to solve a PR crisis or win a transfer window. They're buying to assemble a sustainable, modern football team – one that can compete not only at the top of the Premier League, but in European and domestic competitions, too. PSG have proven that ditching the superstars can reap rewards. And whilst they are in a completely different domestic situation to Manchester United, it's not a terrible model to follow. As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Arsenal are no strangers to seismic transfer targets. They're not even strangers to the idea of landing a huge players from Real Madrid.

Mesut Ozil proved that when he became the Gunners' record signing from Los Blancos in 2013 for a whopping £42.5 million: but he was of an age when Arsenal were regularly linked with Karim Benzema and Sami Khedira. The Gunners were credited with more than a passing interest in Kylian Mbappe when he exploded onto the scene; Luis Suarez's release clause was even triggered.

To see Vinicius Jr at the Emirates Stadium would be groundbreaking. To see him linked with the move is not, if you consider the last 15 years. But to see Mikel Arteta's side so deep into a saga with such a huge talent? That's very telling.

Arsenal control their own narratives now: they wouldn't have let the Vinicius Jr saga get out unless they have confidence

Arsene Wenger had a few cliches, and chief among them was the hindsight that Arsenal could well have signed just about every elite talent under the sun.

Cristiano Ronaldo was on the radar before Manchester United gazumped them; Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a trial; Lionel Messi was among the Barcelona throng that Wenger scouted when he eventually signed Cesc Fabregas. It used to grate on Gooners that the club missed out on quite so many superstars – and that their manager was so keen to admit it.

But while Arsenal very famously failed to land the likes of Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kante, Gonzalo Higuain and others, things are different these days. Manager Mikel Arteta had a few setbacks in trying to sign the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Lisandro Martinez – but since the Gunners returned to the Champions League, they haven't been involved in these big-name transfer sagas unless things are genuinely close.

Arsenal's name rarely appears in bidding wars these days. They were nowhere to be seen when Jude Bellingham was leaving Borussia Dortmund, when Alexander Isak moved to Liverpool or when Bernardo Silva went to Real Madrid this summer – despite noted interest over the years in all three players.

Instead, the players Arsenal tend to be heavily linked with have only been when a lot of groundwork has been laid. Mykhailo Mudryk was said to be “singularly focused” on Arsenal before pivoting Chelsea. Moises Caicedo posted a farewell to Brighton fans on social media, after Arsenal bids. An agreement with Benjamin Sesko, meanwhile, was no issue: Arsenal only moved onto Viktor Gyokeres when it became clear RB Leipzig wouldn't budge enough in their valuation. It was a similar story for both Jeremy Monga and Morgan Rogers this summer.

Let's be clear: Arsenal haven't suddenly started landing every player they set their eyes on, with those aforementioned five as proof. What it does prove, however, is that Arteta only wants those who want Arsenal.

This isn't a situation like Raphinha in 2022, where Arsenal will submit a bid to Real Madrid for Vinicius Jr and hope for the best. They're not getting strung along here. Even if Vini decides to remain at Real, his entourage have given strong indication to Arsenal that he is considering their move – otherwise, it simply wouldn't have gotten this far.

Is Vinicius Jr really unsellable from Real Madrid's perspective?

Vinicius Jr is one of the best players on Earth right now. The perspective from fans is that Real Madrid are not in the business of letting players like that leave.

Except, they are – and they have been for a while now. Real were happy to let Cristiano Ronaldo join Juventus for a monster transfer fee, in one of the most shocking transfers of any player over 30 in the last decade. They signed off on Ozil to Arsenal. They let Angel Di Maria leave for Manchester United.

They received an offer too good to refuse when United came in for Casemiro. The same has to be said of Raphael Varane. Karim Benzema may have stayed another year or two – Sergio Ramos, too – if not for interest elsewhere. President Florentino Perez knows that sentimentality is a defect found on the losing side.

Granted, Vinicius Jr is still in his prime – perhaps even approaching it – and Real are on the back foot for a few reasons. They risk losing the Brazilian for free next summer if they hang onto him without him committing to a new contract. They aren't used to players in their prime considering jumping ship to the Premier League. Regardless of their usual stance, there will be reluctance in letting go of a player who has scored two Champions League final goals after two trophyless seasons.

Jose Mourinho will likely want to keep hold of his no.7 – but there is almost certainly a recognition from the 15-time European champions that having two passengers in a high press (the other being Kylian Mbappe) has held Real back in the last couple of seasons. The Bernabeu is home to two world-class left-sided attackers – and if you're going to let go of one of them, it won't be Mbappe.

Vinicius Jr to Arsenal is a gamble – because it risks everything Arteta's built

Arsenal won the Premier League without a killer in attack. They reached the Champions League final conceding a mere handful of goals in open play. They're by no means the best team in Europe overall – but they are the best by a mile defensively.

And that extends beyond the partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba. It's more than just having Declan Rice screening the backline and having full-backs who are natural defenders: Arteta demands donkey work from the attackers.

Arsenal don't have an Erling Haaland. Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz instead are hard runners who will press, keep up the intensity and look to run themselves into the ground for the cause. Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke, similarly, are hardly prolific – but they put in the work ethic. Even Martin Odegaard is a far cry from a luxury no.10, with his importance to Arteta not measured by his chance creation but how he leads the team out of possession.

As much as Arsenal are in desperate need of a superstar left-winger to give them balance, create something from nothing and to give them a spark against a Paris Saint-Germain, it comes with a risk. This is a well-oiled machine that attacks and defends as one, with plenty of chances coming from turnovers in the final third and a humility among the group meaning that goals are shared and big injuries to key players don't result in too much of a drop-off from the overall performance.

Vinicius Jr threatens that. He is not a typical Arteta player off the ball. Arsenal would have to adapt to his game as he would to his new club: that's something that everyone knows, though to what extent, none of us are sure. It is a calculated gamble to bring in a star of Vini's quality – but Arteta would be looking to succeed where a similar coach in Xabi Alonso failed to.

Yet Arteta has worked superstars into his team before. People sometimes overlook that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave him hard work out of possession, before the pair's fallout. Even Ebere Eze and Gyokeres have had to come on leaps and bounds in their work off the ball.

Don't be surprised if this deal is close. Don't be surprised if Vinicius has bought into Arsenal – both as a move, and tactically. This is a different kind of Arsenal to the one that signed Mesut Ozil all those years ago, after all.

In recent weeks and months, the Anfield crowd has become increasingly passive; those in the crowd becoming a mirror of the team on the pitch.

The relentless, high-octane football of Liverpool's previous era has long gone, and in its place, a slower, often this season laboured, style of play has been the offering from Arne Slot’s side.

Slot’s desire for controlled football and the resulting atmosphere from such a different style to his predecessor, and thus what both those in the stands and those on the pitch are used to, was even pointed to after the Dutchman’s very first home game in charge.

At the time, Slot said he didn’t think it was an issue. “My way of doing things is to let the team play in the best possible way and they enjoy the team playing and in that way they will hopefully admire,” he said in his first month in charge in 2024.

Back then, Jamie Carragher described a strange atmosphere, with less of an end-to-end match, to which Slot said: “Normally, at most clubs - you know better than me if Liverpool is an exception to this - but normally it starts off with the players putting in a lot of work rate and being real intense and then the fans go behind it.

“Sometimes you see it the opposite way, that it starts with the fans and then the players come. How is that at Liverpool in your opinion?”

Given that Slot and several Liverpool players had invoked the need for supporters to back the team ahead of their last-16 Champions League tie, maybe there’s a realisation from the Dutchman that the players need the crowd more than he had initially asserted.

But after the draw, which very much felt like a defeat, against Tottenham three days ago, much discussion revolved around both supporters leaving early and large sections booing at full-time.

“I’m 100 per cent sure that our fans will be like they always are, especially on European nights,” Slot said in his pre-Galatasaray press conference.

With no away fans in attendance at Anfield on Wednesday night, you could have been forgiven for thinking it might be quite a flat atmosphere.

But that isn’t the Liverpool way, not, especially, on a Champions League night when the team needed a turnaround. The crowd were strong in their backing from before kick off, and when they saw attacking football on the pitch - Liverpool seemingly more direct than recent times - they kept that energy going.

Thus, the players fed off the crowd and the symbiotic relationship showed. The crowd need attacking football and the players on the pitch need energy in the stands. It’s what they’re both used to, too.

That is very much The Liverpool Way.

This was like watching a Liverpool game from the era before Slot; high energy, pressing, forcing mistakes, getting the crowd going, having Mo Salah more involved, and thus creating a five-minute spell that saw three goals scored - albeit one that was disallowed.

Fans watching in the stands enjoyed it, but could also be forgiven for wondering where this performance was three days ago. What had changed in the two days between these two games? Had Slot told them to imagine Jurgen Klopp was in charge?

Perhaps that’s harsh, and the quality and type of opposition must be taken into account here. But this was certainly more Klopp-like Liverpool than Slot-like.

Fans too, were encouraged to see the team go for more goals after going ahead, rather than sitting back and inviting the opposition, as was certainly the case against Tottenham three days earlier.

Liverpool lined up with the team in a shape and style that most supporters have been screaming for all season. 

Salah played a lot closer to the goal and centrally, rather than hugging the touchline as he has in recent weeks.

The Egyptian scored a stunner, laid on a superb assist, missed a penalty, smashed the crossbar, created two big chances, had six shots on target, took seven shots and had 13 touches in the opposition’s box.

On the other side of the attack, Florian Wirtz was deployed in the floating left side role, creating the most chances by a Liverpool player in a Champions League match since Opta records began.

It is the role the German is most accustomed to and the one where most supporters would prefer him to play - for three reasons. Firstly, Wirtz looks most at home there. Second, it allows Dominik Szoboslai to play his best and most influential role centrally behind the striker, and thirdly, because Cody Gakpo has proven extremely frustrating on the left wing.

What was also evident was how the full-backs, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, provided the width, thus allowing Salah and Wirtz to move inside and be involved more centrally - where they are both most effective. 

The team played with intensity, with fluidity, with purpose and - something that has been lacking for long parts of this season - an identity that looked like a Liverpool team.

How long will it continue for? Is this the new direction or another false dawn in a season of them.

It’s back to the Premier League for now, but then it’s PSG in the quarter final - an opponent and match up that Slot has repeatedly praised over the year since the French side knocked Liverpool out in the last-16 last season.

It will be a tougher test than Galatasaray provided. Slot and Liverpool will need the crowd involved. They can do that by providing the crowd intensity from the off. 

Goalkeepers in Football Manager are always a tricky prospect.

In FM26, there are precious few wonderkids between the sticks who go on to make the grade at the elite level, with this one position that you have to wait longer than most to find a top option.

So, who should you bring to your club to keep net?

The best goalkeepers to sign in Football Manager 26

1. Tommaso Martinelli

No relation to Gabriel, Tommaso Martinelli is perhaps the best goalkeeping prospect in the game this time around.

Those physical stats are a little shaky, but that's to be expected from a 19-year-old. Everything else is a solid platform to develop, and at under £15m, the Italian is more than capable of starting for a Champions League-chasing club within three years.

2. Matvey Safonov

Going for a backup goalkeeper of a big club is never a bad idea for an FM save (more on that later).

Matvey Safonov's composure will aid him in penalty situations, while his reflexes and jumping reach are standout, too. Available for under £30m, he could be a steal if you get him out of Paris Saint-Germain early enough.

3. Alex Meret

If it's reliability you're after, then Napoli stopper Alex Meret is the type to plug in your side and forget about.

Strong at all the fundamentals and at aged 28 when the game starts, he's about to hit his peak years and shouldn't break the bank either.

4. Anthony Patterson

One of the best young EFL stoppers last season, Black Cats academy graduate Patterson comes loaded with a steady set of stats and - crucially for this exercise - no glaring weaknesses.

Priced at the £6m mark in the game, the 25-year-old ticks all the boxes for either an upward-looking Championship side, or a solid top-tier back-up.

5. Ferran Quetglas

Already priced in the £20m+ bracket at the age of 20, the Spanish prospect is one of the most promising stoppers in the game.

Good with his feet, Quetglas has the attitrubes to succeed as a modern goalkeeper and can grow into a reliable No.1 for the biggest of teams over the course of a long save.

6. Giorgi Mamardashvili

One of the most expensive goalkeepers in the game, the Georgian comes with the stats you'd expect from a player whose value soars past the £50m mark… but why not seek a loan for your first season?

The 24-year-old is the kind of stopper to build your defence around, with his reflexes, command of the area and communication among his best attributes. At his age, you're likely to get bored of your save long before his performance starts to dip.

7. Josep Martinez

If your side's budget wouldn't even get you Mamardashvili's right glove, then 27-year-old Spanish stopper Martinez is a rock-solid option between the sticks.

Able to command his area with aplomb and cool under pressure, Martinez may not be a natural with his feet, but at that price, he can be a bargain for the right team.

8. Mile Svilar

The Serbian stopper is another superb long-term option for a team competing at the highest level.

He won't come cheap, with his value sneaking past the £50m mark, but at 25 years of age, the Serbian international can fit into most tactical systems and consistently deliver for your side.

9. Vicente Guaita

At age 38 when the game starts, the ex-Crystal Palace stopper isn't one to build your team around, but if you find yourself in a short-term goalkeeping pickle, he's an excellent option.

Available on a free, the Spaniard's experience and attributes mean he's a good short-term option or potential back-up.

10. Diogo Costa

Another stopper for the high rollers, as the Portuguese No.1 will likely set you back the best part of £60m.

But with one of the best sets of stats you'll see in the game, it'll be worth it, as the 25-year-old balances the mental side with his ability between the sticks to provide one of the most reliable options in the game.

Defenders in Football Manager 26 have taken on even more importance than ever before.

A little while ago, the defensive side of the game didn't matter so much, so long as you were playing a high-octane style of play – but in FM26, defending in a low block can actually yield results, and so bringing in top defenders along your backline is a necessity like never before.

Don't worry: we've got just the men for the job…

The best defenders to sign in Football Manager 26

1. Danilho Doekhi

The Netherlands is a hotbed for defensive talent right now, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Micky van de Ven, Jurrien Timber, Jan Paul van Hecke, Matthijs De Ligt, Lutsharel Geertruida, Jorrel Hato and Ian Maatsen (phew) competing for places in the national set-up.

Danilho Doekhi is an affordable alternative to the plethora of Dutch defenders that the Premier League boasts: he's a physical monster with 16 for strength, and 17 for heading and jumping reach, meaning that he can be a threat in both boxes for you. With the ability to play in defensive midfield and at right-back, too, you can pick up a versatile squad player for around £10m in most saves.

2. Filippo Terracciano

Casciavit – that's Milan, to you or me – have loaned Filippo Terracciano out at the start of the 2025/26 season. It's worth seeing how he develops within the game, because the Italian has all the minerals to become a top utility man in defence.

Superb all-round physical stats, along with steady scores for crossing and passing mean that he can play virtually any role at right-back, from an overlapping wing-back to an inverted full-back. And all for under £15m if you get him at the right time.

3. Abakar Sylla

Abakar Sylla crops up on most scouting databases in FM for his superb leadership: the 22-year-old has a 17 rating and is a great figure to bring into your squad for that side of his game.

Beyond that though, Sylla is a solid left-footed option in defence. He's strong, 6ft 2in and has bags of aggression and bravery: you can retrain him to play at left-back, too, if you need – but he's the perfect player for the left side of a back three.

4. Willy Kambwala

According to FM, Manchester United should never have let Willy Kambwala leave the club. This is one of the highest-potential players in the game, and the Frenchman soon becomes a top-level centre-back in your save.

With superb pace and acceleration, Kambwala is a great covering centre-back who matures quickly – though that determination is a little low, and yes, it can prevent him from reaching his peak in some saves. Keep an eye on his first season and be prepared to pay £70m+ for him if he's developing nicely – it'll be worth it for the consistency he brings.

5. Givairo Read

The best right-back prospect in the game, and yes, another deadly Dutchman in defence, Givairo Read is as must-sign as you can get when it comes to FM.

The Feyenoord man is as well-rounded as they come: with great pace and crossing, you can use him as a wing-back to devastating effect, while his ability to play centrally, too, means that he's a decent inverted full-back as well. You can even use him as a winger in an attacking formation in possession, and a full-back out of possession: he has the stamina to perform both roles.

6. Igoh Ogbu

Looking outside of Europe's top five leagues is always a good place to start for a bargain, and Igoh Ogbu is another top centre-back you can snare for around £10m if you're clever.

The Nigerian is a top ball-playing centre-back with a 15 rating for passing, but with great strength, teamwork, heading and acceleration, he's capable of being converted into a defensive midfielder, too. At 25, he's just entering his peak.

7. Eivind Helland

At just 20 years old and with 17 for determination, Eivind Helland is a must-have wonderkid you can sign for £20m, who will double his value within two years.

While his tackling, strength and aggression are all standout traits – and yes, he has the ability to play in midfield and full-back – it's his box dominating that really sets him apart. The Norwegian is 6ft 5in and has 17 for jumping reach, coupled with a 14 for heading that will only rise as he develops.

8. Mario Gila

Mario Gila will become world-class within your save, can play any centre-back role – even stepping into midfield, a la John Stones – and you can sign him for £30m. What's not to love?

The Spaniard is a more aggressive type who will defend the channels well and complement a more cultured ball-player alongside him. With an 18 for determination, you can be sure that he'll reach his potential within a couple of seasons, too.

9. Ivan Fresneda

Tipped to be a world-class wonderkid just a few years ago, Ivan Fresneda stalled a little and signed for Sporting in Portugal – but you buy the dip for a reason.

The Spaniard still matures nicely as a starting full-back for an elite club in FM26, with a ‘fairly determined’ personality that will see him reach potential. With good height and defensive stats, you can retrain him across your backline, too, and use him as a utility man.

10. Kevin Danso

Kevin Danso hasn't exactly set the world alight since moving to Tottenham Hotspur – no one has – but the Milton Keynes-raised Austrian (yep) is still perhaps the best defender you can bring in for £40m.

At 6ft 3in with green stats for jumping reach, pace and natural fitness, Danso is a reliable squad player for a top side, but it's the long throws that you're signing him for. He has a 17 rating for them – and with set-pieces ever more key in the game, you'll be getting a master from the touchline.

Your Football Manager 26 scouts will bring you plenty of reports on plenty of players over the course of your next save.

But sometimes, you just have to say no: for whatever reason, you can't sign everyone in FM26, and often, one poor signing can set your whole project back for a year or two.

To confirm, this list is purely reflective of the game: and we are categorically not stating that following players are not worth signing in real life. So without further ado…

10 players in Football Manager 26 to avoid signing

1. Assan Ouedraogo

Assan Ouedraogo is one of the most promising footballers in the world and an absolute gem in real life: but if you get him in FM26, you're going to need to consider that low level of natural fitness when it comes to his best position, in central midfield.

The German also lacks the positioning and marking attributes to contribute defensively there: you can play him on the wing, but he's not as lethal or productive as other options there. For the price you'd pay – at least £70m or more – it's best to look at cheaper alternatives.

2. Kostas Koulierakis

Kostas Koulierakis is a 21-year-old defender with brilliant physicals and a standout determination attribute, meaning that he'll almost certainly be among the best on Earth in three years time. But for that price!?

Wolfsburg will demand at least £80m for his services, and that's assuming he doesn't sign a new deal in the game. Koulierakis matures into a top centre-back, but there are better options there: Zeno Debast, for example, is a level-raiser for a similar price, while Willy Kambwala will go for around £20m more and become one of the best on Earth. It's worth weighing up.

3. Samuel Soares

Samuel Soares has 20 for kicking, which certainly catches the eye if you're looking for a world-class ball-playing goalkeeper: and the Portuguese certainly reaches a solid level within two seasons, and remains attainable for under £40m.

Unfortunately, Soares comes with a trait of not liking big games. We're sure he's fine in real life – but in FM, you need to avoid anyone who doesn't like big games like the plague, as they will inevitably let you down in a derby or a cup final sooner rather than later. As a first-choice keeper at Benfica, Soares is unlikely to want to be your backup, either.

4. Luis Muriel

We've all signed a player like Luis Muriel, who we recognised as a reliable bagsman in Europe and thought could do a job as a backup striker. Potentially, in Muriel's case, on the flanks and behind the no.9, too.

Don't be fooled by the virtual version of the Colombian, however: he is a flat-track bully, who will score against relegation fodder but doesn't provide all that much on the biggest stages. Given that he's labelled ‘not for sale’, too, you're going to have to shell out for him: it's not worth it, really.

5. Jose Gimenez

Who wouldn't want a defender who's spent most of his career under Diego Simeone, playing at the very top of the game? Jose Gimenez might be one to steer clear of, however, and there's a massive clue in the image above.

The Uruguayan begins the 2025/26 season injured, and it won't be his last. Gimenez is prone to time on the sidelines throughout the game, so unless you're prepared for that, it's probably best to invest in someone younger.

6. Nobel Mendy

Real Betis – or Real Hispalis, as they're known in-game – have several solid left-footed defensive options in the game. Natan is their best left-sided centre-back, ahead of Valentin Gomez in the pecking order, while stalwart full-back Ricardo Rodriguez can play there in a pinch, too.

Nobel Mendy is a decent prospect behind them, but beware: though his stats are good in the main, there's a distinct lack of composure, concentration and decision-making. If you're playing a back four, that might just hinder you.

7. Jack Grealish

In a recent save for FourFourTwo, Jack Grealish was made available on a free transfer at the start of 2027. He had completed his Everton loan, gone back to Manchester City, wound down his contract and was still available come August.

With electric flair and excellent dribbling ability in the game, you might think he's worth a punt – but there may be some truth in why City lost patience in real life. Grealish just doesn't put up enough goals and assists in FM for you to make those wages stick. By the time he's available for a free, he's declined a little, and you're better off signing Gilberto Mora: trust us.

8. Marcus Edwards

A few short years ago, Marcus Edwards was a must-sign wonderkid: an English talent that Sporting wouldn't charge the Earth for. The flair, dribbling and agility – along with his ability to play on either flank – may still convince you to give him a shot.

But that work rate stat is particularly low – you'll find yourself pulling the winger up on his poor training – and with a determination level of just 6, he's not going to develop into the world-beater he did a few saves back.

9. Domenico Berardi

On first glance, there's nothing to dislike about Domenico Berardo: the physical stats are solid, with good finishing, crossing and dribbling for a winger. He has superb determination, too.

But while the Italian plays for a midtable Serie A club, his wages are far from average. You'll have to give a major raise to a 30-year-old on £92k-a-week who may come with injury issues – and the pay-off just isn't worth it.

10. Paulo Dybala

There is so much to like about Paulo Dybala in Football Manager – not only are the passing and vision stats both green, he's a set-piece master. Even at the age of 31, this is a world-class no.10 on paper, and he can even tick an objective if your board are asking you to sign big-name stars.

But he comes with his baggage. Dybala is on £215-a-week at Roma and won't reduce his demands to any less than half of that when his contract expires – and even then, there's an issue with producing the goods regularly. The Argentine ranks low when it comes to consistency: you're better off saving those wages altogether.

You can't win a game of football without scoring a goal, and for scoring goals, you're going to need a top-class striker.

Your scouts on Football Manager 26 are no doubt bringing you endless names from across the game, many unsuited to the way you're wanting to play, so we've produced this handy guide – including wonderkids, untapped gems and beyond.

Let's take a look at the top 10 overpowered strikers in FM26 that you need to be signing in your save.

The best overpowered strikers in Football Manager 26

1. Santiago Castro

For the uninitiated, Santiago Castro may sound like the lead character from the next cult-classic football film, but trust us, he's very real and tearing it up for Bologna in Serie A.

His mental stats leap off the page, which should ensure he's got it in him to deal with any stage, but his physical stats could use some working on for a target man. Castro won't be cheap, but his driven personality should help him reach his full potential in your squad.

2. Karim Konate

Karim Konate has been a cult favourite in this game for quite some time: you can't sign him right away, given that he's recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but he's a solid second-season buy – and with a 17 for determination, he's going to recover well.

Konate is a rapid and will play on the shoulder of an opposition defence. He's not going to link up too well with poor passing and target man traits… but does that particularly matter with that finishing acumen? An excellent option in a possession-based side.

3. Evan Ferguson

Currently on loan at Roma, Evan Ferguson is an all-round centre-forward perfect for building your side around, with excellent stats when it comes to running in behind, collecting from the midfield and winning aerial duels. He is good enough to play for a Champions League club within three seasons.

With determination a little lower than some of the other options on our list, there is a possibility that he won't reach his lofty potential, though: keep an eye on him when his loan ends and he returns to Brighton.

4. Mason Melia

17-year-old Tottenham Hotspur wonderkid Mason Melia is a long-term project – but when the fundamental physical attributes are there with a plyer this young, there's certainly something to work with.

There are obstacles: Melia is already on £20k-a-week in North London and as with any youngster under 18, he could be reluctant to leave Spurs unless it's a super offer. With a strong right foot and excellent speed though, you could be converting this lad into a inside forward. The possibilities are vast.

5. Isaac Romero

From the Adurizes to the Aspases, La Liga have had their fair share of reliable hitmen over the years ready to be picked up in their prime on FM – and Isaac Romero is the best option from Spain that any ambitious club can be snaring.

The Sevilla man is entering his peak, able to play any forward role and can be signed for under £25m if you're lucky. He will bring you 15-20 goals in all competitions, too. Not bad value.

6. Samu Aghehowa

Bite the bullet, pay £80m and sign Samu Aghehowa before he explodes. He will become a world-class striker within 12 months of your save.

While Samu is best suited as a target man, he can play any forward role regardless of whether you're a team that dominates the ball or not. Excellent composure in front of goal underpines his fantastic physical attributes, too: he'll command around £100k-a-week.

7. Andrej Kramaric

Remember him? There's life in the old dog yet.

He may be 34 but former Leicester City man Andrej Kramaric has one last big season in him on FM26 before the stats begin to wane – and given his versatility, he's a plug-and-plug forward option that will come incredibly cheaply and provide good cover for top forwards. Wages may be steep, though: watch out.

8. Endrick

Endrick is the best wonderkid centre-forward on the game: he starts the season at Lyon – he went on loan from Real Madrid in January – but wait a year and you can bring him in, too. Potentially as his next loan.

At 5ft 8in, his stature hinders him as a target man but the rest of his physicals are great: and with good acceleration, pace and dribbling stats, he may work best as a right-winger. He'll score goals, wherever you play him.

9. Dusan Vlahovic

The hype may have died down from his Fiorentina days but in FM26, Dusan Vlahovic a guaranteed goal machine in Europe's top five leagues, with excellent finishing, heading and strength attributes, along with a handy 16 and 16 respectively for free-kicks and penalties.

There are a couple of issues, however. If you're playing in Europe, Vlahovic will count as a non-EU squad player – and those £375k-a-week wages will be a hurdle in buying him. There's a good chance he'll leave at the end of your first season, if you want to wait it out and speak to his agent.

10. Francesco Camarda

Francesco Camarda is a Milan youngster – or ‘Casciavit’ as they are in the game – also on loan for the first season of your save. With superb all-round fundamentals, though, it won't be long until he competes at the top – and determination of 15 will see to that.

Camarda is best as a poacher or a target man and can develop into a hard worker to lead the line for you: you can probably sign him for £20m and keep his wages to £50k-a-week, too. Bargain.

The end. The collapse. The exhaustion of 11 Arsenal players, slumping to the turf against the glittering backdrop of a Toon foil display. Mikel Arteta’s thousand-yard stare. Granit Xhaka’s chevron brow. The Sisyphean mission on St James’ Park’s infamously subtle slope to fight thunder, demons, Bruno Guimaraes, and the rumble and boom of 50,000 passionate Geordies. When you lose – and lose comfortably – it’s as if the ground beneath your knees swallows you up whole.

The night was May 16, 2022 – an evening that defined a blossoming Arsenal side, crushed underfoot by Newcastle, 2-0. It wasn’t the first time that Arteta’s tender team had neatly folded at the opportune moment. It may have been the most definitive. “It’s true: we couldn’t cope,” Arteta sighed in the game’s aftermath. Xhaka was far more cutting. “If some minds are not ready for this game, stay at home,” the midfielder growled. “Don’t come here. We need people to have the balls to come here and play.”

Arsenal were soft yet again – a label haunting the Emirates Stadium since the famous Highbury clock declared its first kick-off of the new era. That night, Arteta vowed that never again would his men be accused of lacking steel, finding as much in common with the ferocious philosophy of George Graham’s compactness as he had from Arsene Wenger’s evocative expressionism. “What did Arteta do? Build a wall!” was the assessment from Graham himself, speaking to FourFourTwo.

A wall became a fort, with hard-earned notches against rivals. Extensions were added, renovations readily realisable, and in time, Arteta’s cathedral emerged from the smoke. Home is a very different place these days. Where spotlights used to converge and shrink their subjects, Arsenal’s young guns dance under the lights in the vibrancy of a venue that’s been transformed, nearly four years on from their North-East nadir.

That collapse wouldn’t be the last, however. Arteta would also see his side combust in three successive pressure cookers: second in 2023, second in 2024, then second again in 2025, mirroring fans’ anguish during a similar sequence of runners-up finishes in 1999, 2000 and 2001, before Wenger’s bridesmaids returned to the throne in 2002 as fully charged Double winners.

That’s the goal again in 2026. History is never committed as ink onto a new blank page, but as fresh paintstrokes on a canvas that gains depth with each layer. Arteta stands, wielding a brush dripping with the club’s heritage: the classic back four, the midfield pass masters and the fiery pace in behind. The feeling has shifted from pain, to hope, to expectation. If that Highbury clock could chime, it would surely ring that it’s now or never.

Reconnecting the soul

Premier League football had been back for a month in 2022/23, following the mid-season break for the World Cup, when Arsenal reached 50 points for the campaign in just 19 games. The Gunners were five points clear at the top with a game in hand and on course to equal the Manchester City side that racked up 100 points in 2017/18.

“During that first title challenge in 2022/23, the atmosphere was the best I can remember since Arsene Wenger’s first season or two,” Arsenal writer and podcaster Tim Stillman says. “Everyone realised something was coming together that was more than just hoping to finish fourth, which many of us would have still taken at the start of that season. We saw that this manager was building something bigger.”

Sporting director Edu had remodelled the side. William Saliba joined on loan, while Gabriel Jesus was the big buy who gave a young side an unpredictability in attack and a first real voice of someone who’d been to the promised lands they were shooting for.

“Jesus brought a huge winning mentality with him,” former Gunner and fellow Brazilian Gilberto Silva tells FFT now. “Not everyone fully appreciates the work he’s always done.”

Bukayo Saka grew taller, dropping his boyish smile a little more to show his ruthless side. Gabriel Martinelli came in from the cold to hit 15 goals and lead the title charge. “The manager told me to be patient and wait for my time,” he tells FFT. “That’s what I did.”

Statements were stamped across that campaign. Arsenal completed a double over Tottenham in January – Arteta dragging Xhaka away from offering out the entirety of Spurs’ South Stand at full-time – before death-rattle winners against Manchester United, Aston Villa and most memorably Bournemouth, as Reiss Nelson thundered a 97th-minute clincher that could have registered on the Richter scale.

It was arguably never sustainable, though. In the springtime, Arsenal won just two of eight over the run-in to hand eventual Treble winners Manchester City the title – the coup de grace coming not with mathematical confirmation that their hopes were over following a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, but in the top-two clash weeks before, where Pep Guardiola outclassed his former protege. Arteta lamented losing key duels, and it certainly helped City to have Erling Haaland as they won 4-1 at the Etihad.

But the foundations were laid and the improvement was vast. In north London, there was a newfound connection between the pitch and the stands. “The atmosphere improved in stages,” says Stillman. “You have the Ashburton Army, a group of younger fans, roughly 18 to 30, in the Clock End who are creating an ultra vibe. In the past, the club might have been cynical about that, but they’ve been very open, giving them a specific allocation. Then there’s the stadium’s exterior – the club redid all the panels with supporter input.

“But ultimately, results are what foster that relationship. The effort is visible – all the players run their legs off, which I think contributes to the injuries. Arteta talked about ‘changing the energy’ from his very first interview, having sat in the Emirates away dugout as City assistant a week prior to getting the Arsenal job and seeing a half-empty stadium. That front-row seat to the disconnect stayed with him.” The Gunners lost that game 3-0, with many supporters heading to the exits before full-time.

As Arteta addressed the Emirates Stadium faithful after the final game of the 2022/23 campaign, his message hinged on that relationship, but hinted at ambition to come. “Together we have reconnected the soul of this football club, and the soul of this football club is you guys,” he told the crowd. “We know what our destination is: to bring success, joy and trophies to this club. But in the meantime, please enjoy the journey.” As far as Arteta was concerned, the journey was just beginning; Edu doubled down in the transfer market.

“Edu isn’t just a friend to me – he’s like a brother,” Gilberto explains of his compatriot and former Arsenal team-mate, who had returned to the club in July 2019, initially as technical director. “What was always clear was that he worked in complete alignment with the club’s values and culture. Player recruitment was always about that – about finding players who understood the club’s DNA.

“He arrived at a time when results were poor, pressure was immense and supporters were demanding answers. The team clearly needed rebuilding and that often brings friction, particularly when results don’t follow. But as the years passed and the club edged closer to a Premier League title challenge, the adjustments became far more targeted and far less drastic than at the start.

“His influence on what’s happening now is enormous, even though many of those decisions were made years ago.”

Kai Havertz moved north from Chelsea, before Jurrien Timber signed from Ajax to bolster the defence. Declan Rice then smashed the Arsenal transfer record, joining for £105 million from West Ham, before goalkeeper David Raya completed the spree in August.

A Community Shield shootout win over Manchester City banished a recent demon or two, while another last-gasp victory – this time against Manchester United – truly announced Rice in N5. It took time for confidence to bloom, however. By New Year’s Eve, Arsenal were fourth, albeit two points off top spot. In the second half of the season, sparks caught the wind and the club’s blueprint began to breathe.

Havertz reawakened after a training camp in Dubai as Frankenstein’s forward – a false nine and target man stitched together. Raya began to settle between the sticks, etching his name as the penalty hero against Porto in March. Leandro Trossard, meanwhile, notched 17 goals, cheekily querying, “Are you not entertained?” on social media after scoring against former club Brighton. Oh, the fans very much were, as Rice evolved from a defensive destroyer into an all-action titan in the engine room, running games for the Gunners.

“In midfield, in any top team, you’re the heartbeat of the team,” Rice tells FFT. “The two centre-backs, Gabriel and Saliba, want to play really aggressively in a high line. It helps me to get forward and be aggressive.”

Arsenal picked up 49 of 54 available points from New Year’s Day to the end of the campaign. They’d done almost everything in their power. “We’ve done less and won the league,” Stillman sighs.

The Gunners led the table with seven games left, but Manchester City won every match from that point on. Just one slip up cost Arteta’s side. “We lost at home to Aston Villa the weekend after going out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich,” Stillman adds. “If we’d lost in the previous round to Porto, I think we would have won the Premier League that season. We got 89 points and 91 goals. In almost any other era, that wins the league.”

Efficiency over elegance

Arsenal had enjoyed a record-beating scoring season, outgunning the echoes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino were brought in over the summer of 2024 to sprinkle more grit into the squad, while Myles Lewis-Skelly, a physical anomaly toying with prey in youth football, was formally promoted to the fringes of the squad alongside Ethan Nwaneri.

Arteta’s men looked meaner to beat from the off. Raya began the season in cat-like condition against Aston Villa and Atalanta, Timber returned from injury, and an early title clash at the Etihad showed Arsenal’s stubbornness – drawing and almost hanging on for victory, despite being a man down for 45 minutes against a ferocious barrage of sky-blue missiles.

But their form just couldn’t catch fire – injuries, red cards and sloppy draws were all to blame. Despite Manchester City floundering, a scenario the Gunners had been waiting years for, it was Liverpool who took advantage.

Arsenal struggled on, losing Havertz, Gabriel, Saka and Martin Odegaard at one stage or another, with Jesus, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu also undergoing surgery. Just as in previous crises, Arteta mined the club’s Hale End academy for answers: Lewis-Skelly grew up overnight, while Nwaneri was drafted in on the right-hand side.

Merino, meanwhile, was forced to moonlight as a centre-forward. It had become the team’s problem position – even when Havertz was fit, there was a feeling that Arsenal needed greater presence up front. Compared to the season before, they scored 22 fewer Premier League goals last term, and racked up 15 fewer points.

“Haaland is at the top of the tree, of course, but if you think of 10 top-class centre-forwards in world football, it’s not easy,” former Gunners forward Alan Smith says. “If you do have somebody leading the line, occupying opposition centre-halves, it frees up so much for the other players. It’s a great asset to have, but Arsenal aren’t the only ones who’ve struggled to find that kind of player over the years.”

Not particularly quick or agile, Merino nevertheless translated the role back into Spanish, dropping into midfield and ghosting into pockets of space. He had the muscle to win duels as well as the single-mindedness to convert chances. A patchwork Arsenal side ground out results by any means, with efficiency over elegance.

“I don’t care what style Arsenal play – I’m not entertained if they don’t win,” Stillman admits. “I felt Arsenal lost touch with the unglamorous side of the game under Wenger and the consequences were catastrophic. We were above it. I didn’t like being called babies by Patrice Evra, or Troy Deeney saying we lacked cojones. None of that is entertaining.”

Despite their lack of goals, Arteta’s men only lost four league matches all season – the lowest tally since 2007/08. Two of those defeats surprisingly came to Bournemouth, but Cherries gaffer Andoni Iraola remained full of praise for his fellow Basque boss.

“Mikel is a top, top coach,” Iraola tells FFT. “We have a lot of things in common with Arsenal, especially without the ball and the way we press. But their last line of defence, the way they defend their box, the centre-backs, their goalkeeper and the decisive moments from them… they are elite. They adapt to everything.”

Arsenal finished second in the table again, but not before making a further statement. The overthrowing of Real Madrid in the Champions League said something of the past, present and future. The finest night in Emirates Stadium history, for sure, and proof of Declan Rice as the most magnetic midfielder on the planet, a man who seemingly only deals in the grandiose. That night was a vision of what was certainly to follow, too. Mikel Arteta’s cathedral now glistens like the Sagrada Familia when the Arsenal are on song, glowing gold from the warm floodlights, crimson from the congregation and a lush green from the pristine pitch; the best-kept garden in N5. More nights like that, and silverware must surely follow.

It’s conjecture of course, but Arteta may well have revelled in the grit of the 2-1 return leg triumph against the reigning European champions more than the grace of the 3-0 home win. The delicate imbalance of a contest teetering towards his team is perhaps more satisfying for a man who spent much of his career as an underdog.

Yet over a record summer of 2025, Arsenal allowed no such fine margins in the transfer market. With new sporting director Andrea Berta at the helm, the Gunners sought out eight new recruits, surgically straightening each statistical slip. The arrivals of Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres created the biggest headlines, though Martin Zubimendi perhaps provided the final puzzle piece of Arteta’s first XI.

“Zubimendi complements Declan Rice brilliantly – he’s the guard dog in front of the centre-backs, occupying space, playing simply and efficiently,” Gilberto says – and the Brazilian should know, as a legendary no.6 himself. “He’s the little engine – constantly filling the gaps, offering Declan the freedom to push forward, arrive in the box and even score goals.” The new signings haven’t just fostered competition but closeness.

“We all make each other better,” Noni Madueke tells FFT, stopping for a brief word with us in the mixed zone after the Gunners’ win away at Bournemouth in early January. “You’ve got a team full of top players, top internationals. Nobody can drop their standards. We all hold each other accountable. I think that to be a special team, which is what we’re trying to be, that’s very important.”

It’s an approach that led them not only to the top of the Premier League by the turn of the year, but also to top spot in the league stage of the Champions League – over their first six games, they scored 17 times, conceded just once, and convincingly saw off both Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. Arteta’s side could credibly claim to be the best team in European football.

Having made their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years last term, conquering the continent for the first time ever is a dream this season, too – bookmakers quickly made Arsenal favourites to be crowned European champions in Budapest on May 30.

This is a Gunners team of astounding adaptability. From dead balls or sharing intricate passes like geometric jokes in midfield, in wide open spaces or the more congested corners of the Emirates grass. Arteta’s army will underlap and overlap, drift and dart as red arrows weaving at will. They can either beat you physically or beat you technically. “I’ve always felt they would get over the line in the league eventually,” says Stillman. “This squad is a great age – mostly 25 to 28 now – and they’ve done the course a few times. As long as the core group stays, they will have more cracks at it. The lesson of Liverpool is that if you keep competing, then it will eventually fall for you.”

Not since the days of Gilberto and the Invincibles of 2004 have Arsenal stayed the course all the way to the end and lifted that Premier League trophy. Nearly 22 full years have passed since then – the length of time without a league title has only increased the pressure. That they’ve shown the resilience to recover from their previous disappointments is something that Gilberto believes they deserve credit for. “Staying in the title race for four consecutive years is difficult,” he says. “When you go all the way and don’t quite make it, it takes a toll mentally. But this group alone isn’t responsible for the long gap since the club’s last Premier League title.”

Manchester City had gone 44 years without winning the league when they triumphed in 2012 – they’d go on to win eight titles in 13 seasons. Manchester United’s title drought lasted 26 years before they won the Premier League in 1993 – they would then lift the trophy 13 times in 21 campaigns.

Following up those sorts of numbers would be an extremely tall order, but there’s a possibility that this Arsenal team have been building towards a dynasty. “You just want consistency,” Smith says. “Manchester City have done it, and Manchester United before them. If Arsenal win it, they are capable of being the team to beat. This season could only be the start.”

Just one Premier League title will be more than enough to make Gunners fans happy right now – for those too young to experience the remarkable campaign of 2003-04, it’s a moment they’ve never witnessed. This time, Arsenal don’t need to be Invincibles, they just need to be champions.

Igor Tudor might be the worst manager in Tottenham Hotspur history. He might be. He might not even be the worst that they've appointed this season.

Tottenham and Tudor's temporary trauma bond ranks as potentially the most unsettling month in the club's recent history, and surely an all-time nadir for interimship in the Premier League. It is a maximalist Mason; Stellini on steroids. He has perhaps peaked with a thrashing in the North London Derby; this entire tenure is one long plummet on an upwards escalator with no bump down to earth.

And now, conclusions are being drawn that have never even been pencil-sketched.

Harry Kane is in the conversation for being the greatest striker England has ever produced, for example, but this ungodly 18 months in N17 may have elevated him to a superhuman legacy, given the sheer nuclear nonsense that he must have insulated them from, prior to him getting out for good behaviour in 2023. Diego Simeone is the black widow of the sport's s**thousery, but if he really has watered his own pitch into an ice rink to catch Spurs in a web of their own weaving, it may yet be his piece de resistance in European football. Ange Postecoglou secured a seat on the Lilywhites' Mount Olympus the moment he saw his own reflection in silverware: but perhaps his greatest achievement, true to Mourinhian legend, was qualifying for Europe in the first place with this squad.

And surely, after two years and six promoted teams unable to tread water, we will witness one of the biggest-ever relegations in English football history, with one of three titans teetering.

To survive from this point, you either need vibes or tactics. Nottingham Forest nicked the former, banking on 'Spoons-dwelling Portuguese pintsman Vitor Pereira to split the xG and restore a little good feeling into a souring fanbase. West Ham United have bet on the latter, sticking with Nuno Espirito Santo through the rough and crossing fingers that his flat-pack low block blossoms in the run-in.

Tottenham have gone for neither vibes, not tactics. If it wasn't clear already, it is after last night.

Impressively, Spurs got off to a more distressing start than their last trip to the Metropolitano, in which they conceded an absurd penalty seconds into the biggest game in their history. Tudor's back three returned for another stab, with four changes, a frontline of forwards with little balance or cohesion and, inexplicably, Antonin Kinsky in goal for his first game outside of the League Cup all season. And from there, we all saw what happened, even if we had Newcastle United on instead.

It's not that the Czech gifted two goals to Atletico Madrid in 14 minutes, in a jarring performance reminiscent of Loris Karius: it's more in the scenes that followed. Four Spurs players consoling the 22-year-old down the tunnel. TNT Sports commentator Joe Hart mourning the display as “heartbreaking”. Kinsky himself visibly distraught. And perhaps most damningly to Tudor, Atletico's own fans showing more support to the Spurs keeper than Tudor himself, who blanked Kinsky as he trudged off to meek applause from a contingent of bemused Spaniards.

If Igor Tudor hadn't set fire to his Spurs goodwill with Archie Gray at left-back against Fulham or his meek praise of Arsenal following that 4-1 loss, then he made sure to with a continental headloss. Incredibly, after six hours of insipid football – which have admittedly brought the nation together, with Spurs now event TV – he has now unified Tottenham supporters, too, with that single act, or lack of.

It was perfectly understandable to drop Guglielmo Vicario after a poor run of form, even if drafting in Kinsky to an arena this big felt difficult to explain. The sheer lack of compassion that followed is harder to grasp.

No one quite knew what to expect from the Croatian upon arrival, partly because most of the fallout at Lazio or Juventus came behind closed doors, and partly because the mere mention of the name of a midlevel Serie A stalwart conjures very little these days. Ivan Juric's spell at Southampton did little to mark him out as a memorable Sporcle answer, for example: and despite TNT encouraging us twice a game to tune in on Sunday evening, most English fans are unsure as to which one Sassuolo are from Sampdoria, whether Rafael Leao really exists and what exactly hit Juve for them to go from Claudio Marchisio to Weston McKennie in a little under a decade.

But now we know. Tudor has been so bad that he may have saved Spurs inadvertently, such is the juxtaposition of this car crash. If this stint hadn't been quite so hopeless – culminating in this new low – perhaps he could have feasibly remained tenable in this position.

Not now. Fans are united where once there was discontent and calls for a Sherwood and Redknapp. Spurs' beleaguered post-Levy bosses will restore faith in themselves by relieving Tudor of duties.

There are major issues out of possession stemming from Big Ange's time, injuries and suspensions continue to eat into the squad, and for all the money spent, there is a distinct lack of quality across the pitch. Randal Kolo Muani looks a shadow of the player who tore up the Bundesliga; as does Xavi Simons, who's still not really got going in a Spurs shirt. The leaders of this side are hotheads. January's big buy, Conor Gallagher – a midfielder that the club allegedly bent a wage structure for – is so utterly unmissed by Simeone that Marca claimed this week that “the pitbull who never bit” has “more weaknesses than strengths.” Seriously, what can you do?

But you simply cannot expect to survive relegation with the mood this low: of that we all agree. In the absence of tactics, Tottenham need any kind of vibes at all. Which eligible firefighter they turn to hardly matters: this is their O'Neill-Nancy-O'Neill run. The misery has to end.

They need someone willing to put an arm around a broken bunch. They need someone willing to revel in a dogged display, and build from the very bottom. Thomas Frank might have told his players to watch Artetaball for inspiration: the Arsenal boss started his tenure by celebrating hard-fought draws against Chelsea and establishing standards. That's where Tottenham are right now. They need to follow midtable trends. Even in the nadir, ignoring the play for 30 seconds to speak to Kinsky could have curried favour.

The loss in Madrid is Spurs' 44th since the start of last season. In reaching the Champions League knockouts proper, they didn't beat a single team who also reached that stage.

And tellingly, a 5-2 loss might just be their best performance since Tudor was appointed. TNT's Darren Fletcher may have daftly pointed out that the Lilywhites won the rest of the game 2-1 – those first four goals kind of mattered, unfortunately – but there is truth in this bunch galvanising after the Kinsky shellshock to put in a reaction performance of sorts.

The sad thing is that it came in spite of Tudor, rather than because of him. The club's next move is obvious: and it may just be the most popular thing they do all season.

Bodo/Glimt's rise from Norwegian obscurity to the Champions League knockouts is arguably the most astonishing and intriguing story in Europe in 2025/26.

At the centre of the side – quite literally – Patrick Berg is a third-generation captain of the Arctic Circle outfit after his father and grandfather, and has stood out for his excellent performances against the likes of Manchester City and Inter Milan this term.

Here's your two-minute scout report on the star, who may well be integral to any success that Norway have this summer at their first World Cup in 28 years.

So… who exactly is Patrick Berg?

A true hometown hero for Bodo/Glimt, Berg was born in Bodo, came through the youth ranks at his local club, and a year after making his international debut, he signed for Franck Haise's Lens, who were bringing in talents like Kevin Danso, Cheick Doucoure and Abdukodir Khusanov at the time. Yet mere months later, he'd returned to sender and re-signed for Glimt, becoming the most expensive player ever signed by a Norwegian club.

Berg's failure at Les Sang et Or was put down to difficulty in adapting to the system rather than homesickness – but still, it was a surprise to many that the midfielder returned to Norway quite as quickly as he did, given that he was still capable of playing in one of Europe's top five leagues. Since his return to Kjetil Knutsen's side, however, he's become the fulcrum once more, with his game defined by intelligent positioning, futsal-derived press resistance, verticality in his passing and a robotic consistency that countryman Erling Haaland would be proud of.

Berg's strengths

Passing, verticality and set-pieces: Berg is a key reason as to why Bodo/Glimt can dominate in Norway at the weekend and perform the underdog role midweek. His first thought is to look for the progressive pass, and this comes in particularly handy to get the Superlaget up the pitch in transition. Between the captain breaking lines from deep and offering world-class set-piece delivery – he can whip, feather or loop crosses with stunning precision – his 12 assists in 25 league starts in 2025 are no accident.

Defensive anticipation: While he isn't exactly short by any means for a midfielder, Berg uses his intelligence to win the ball back rather than brute strength. He has superb positional sense – even more impressive given the expansiveness that Knutsen plays with – and he reads the game incredibly well.

Limitless energy: Given that his two biggest duties are screening the back four and offering a final ball for his team-mates, Berg has the stamina to keep up with play, regularly covering every blade of grass horizontally and vertically. As the lone pivot in a 4-3-3, he has proven himself this season as able to maintain intensity at the elite level while performing an unbelievably demanding role for his side.

Tactical intelligence: Kjetil Knutsen relies heavily on system players to bring his unique style of play to life, with Berg the centrepiece of his philosophy. While Berg is good at following instructions, he also has the brain to know when to find space himself, whether dropping into the defensive line in build-up, pushing up to become a no.8 higher up the pitch or using his low centre of gravity to evade a high press and find a team-mate.

Composure and leadership: A moment that encapsulates Berg's calmness on the ball came against Sarpsborg in this season's Eliteserien: with the ball bobbling by the touchline and defenders closing in, the Glimt captain waited for the drop, and volleyed an inch-perfect assist for right-back Fredrik Sjovold to convert. Even for Norwegian football, he's icy calm, and a reference for his team-mates as an organiser across the pitch.

Berg's areas of development

Aerial duels and ‘dark arts’: At under 6ft, Berg can be targeted by target men looking to beat him in the air, and it underlines a problem in his game: he's just too nice. The 28-year-old is incredibly refined with his ball-winning, but he just isn't an enforcer in the midfield to stamp his authority onto a game. Aggressive opponents can overpower him, and he could do with developing a meaner streak to combat this.

Risk-taking: With great verticality comes a great risk. The Norwegian wants to look up and push Glimt forward, but sometimes the better pass is sideways: experience this season, at a higher level than ever before, will perhaps show Berg quite how to pick his moments a little better.

First five yards: Part of the reason that Bodo/Glimt's captain has perfected a positional mastery to screen the defence is that he doesn't have explosive pace to close down runners. He may never develop the raw acceleration to foil a Musiala half-turn at the elite level – few have that – but he is capable of keeping up, and can use his agility and stocky build to impose himself a little more in 1v1s.

Berg's ceiling

With all due respect to Norwegian football, Berg is too good for that level. His performances in the Champions League have proven him to be among the most underrated defensive midfielders in Europe right now, though his ‘clean’ style may dictate just how physical a league he moves to, if he chooses to leave his homeland again. Sander Berge is a more than able partner alongside Berg for Norway in midfield this summer, and should be able to get through the dirty work to allow the Glimt man to dictate.

Football Manager 26 wonderkids are always your first signing – but once you've tried bids for Ethan Nwaneri and Ayyoub Bouaddi, you may have to dig a little deeper.

While there are hundreds of world-class FM26 wonderkids worth signing, some are more well-known than others, and there are plenty of hidden gems either in obscure leagues, valued at next to nothing or with a steep potential that reveals itself slower than others.

Let's dive into the 10 that you need to be speaking to the agents of and looking to bring in over your first couple of transfer windows.

The best hidden gems among Football Manager 26 wonderkids

1. Kota Tawaratsumida

Since the J-League was introduced to FM24, Japanese football has had more coverage in the game than ever before – and with that comes bargains that you may never have found otherwise.

Kota Tawaratsumida is perhaps the standout attacker worth bringing from Tokyo if you're an ambitious Champions League-chasing club, with solid fundamentals, including high acceleration, agility, technique, flair and dribbling, which always goes down nicely for a winger. As a two-footed threat able to be re-trained to play on either flank, you can snare him for under £10m – but you'll have to fight for his signature, since he's wanted by other clubs.

2. Christopher Cupps

17-year-old centre-back Christopher Cupps is a promising and robust defender with long-term prospects that could be yours for a fee in the region of £9 million.

Cupps, currently on the books at Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, is a low-wage addition who offers all the necessary defender's attributes including heading, marking, tackling, bravery and aggression. As an added bonus, Cupps boasts a leadership score of 15, indicating growth and maturity in his future and yours.

3. Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh

Another central defender, Tromso's Gambian wonderkid Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh isn't going to get you many goals, but his all-round defensive and athletic attributes are impressive.

The 19-year-old has 15 for heading, marking, tackling, strength and stamina, with double figures for a whole host of other characteristics. Best used as a no-nonsense centre-back, Sedi Kinteh is likely to set you back around £10m at most, and modest wages make him a very gettable prospect with significant upside.

4. Darwin Guagua

Independiente del Valle winger Darwin Guagua is an 18-year-old Ecuadorian who's already looking quite the prospect in FM26.

Also a useful addition as an attacking midfielder, Guagua's positive creative attributes – crossing, technique, passing, vision and dribbling – come with a little sauce on the side. The teenager ranks well for aggression and fitness, not to mention the off-the-ball work and acceleration that mark him out as an all-round midfield prospect in the making.

5. Andria Bartishvili

Georgian attacking midfielder Andria Bartishvili could be a bargain if you're looking for a solid prospect with a top determination score and the athletic abilities to fulfil your squad needs in the future.

You'll be getting in on the ground floor with this one. Bartishvili is at Kolkheti-1913 and is 16 years of age. You might need to part with seven figures to bring him in but his wages will barely make a dent in your budget. Bring him in and move him on for a profit. It's the modern football way!

6. Julian Gonstad

If you're in the market for a young striker with bags of Football Manager 26 match-winning potential, look no further than HamKam's Norwegian goal-getter Julian Gonstad.

With numbers that can't be ignored for finishing, pace and penalties, Gonstad packs a punch as a promising centre-forward. Available for a bargain fee – on a free at the end of the year if you're willing to hold your nerve – he won't set you back in mega wages, but his determination and off-the-ball characteristics could make him an essential buy for the future.

7. Kanta Doi

It might take a punchy fee to acquire FC Tokyo defender Kanta Doi – around £20m at most – but he could prove to be worth every penny. With tackling, heading, concentration and positioning all heading up to attribute scores north of 15, the defensive characteristics are obvious. There's more to Doi than that.

He also scores well for anticipation, bravery, fitness, composure and especially determination. Doi has the potential to evolve into a no-nonsense centre-back worth having around: with a little positional versatility to boot, those midfield-friendly traits will come in very handy.

8. Jose Reyes

Even a teenager will cost a pretty penny from Real Madrid but Jose Reyes has enough potential to try a tempter of a bid – you're not going to meet his release clause, that's for sure.

If you take the plunge, you'll be signing a prospect with top-notch determination and good scores for pace and acceleration, anticipation, dribbling, first touch, agility and balance. The 18-year-old comes with an excellent Los Blancos pedigree and has worked under Alvaro Arbeloa in the youth ranks. Catch him while you can.

9. Salko Hamzic

Bagging a top goalkeeper with a big future is a must for any Football Manager 26 squad builder and Austria's Salko Hamzic should be near the top of your scouting list for a long-term stopper.

Developing in the Red Bull system as a Red Bull Salzburg player, Hamzic boasts promising attributes across the board, with reach, balance and positioning among his biggest strengths. The teenager might not qualify as a bargain but being a very shrewd addition is certainly within his considerable grasp.

10. Machur Yunes

Teenage central midfielder Machur Yunes is a Chilean ball-playing central midfielder who you can pick up for next to nothing. Defined in Football Manager 26 as a midfield playmaker, Yunes has high scores for first touch and passing, and is above average for vision and work rate too.

Yunes' virtual self is unlikely to be a world beater in FM26 and has some growing to do when it comes to the breadth and depth of his midfield characteristics. As a squad player with a little extra, he could be a significant squad player – and that determination stat shows that he will get there in time.

Is Jon Gorrotxategi the next big superstar out of the Basque Country? There's certainly a case that he could be.

Given the clamour to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad over the past 18 months, with Manchester City, Liverpool, Barcelona and Arsenal all battling for a signature that the Gunners eventually won, a move for the Spaniard's successor is surely on the cards in the next couple of years.

But is Gorrotxategi essentially a Zubimendi regen, or is there more to his game? Here's your two-minute scout report.

So… who exactly is Jon Gorrotxategi?

Jon Gorrotxategi was born in and played for Eibar's youth sides before a move to San Sebastian at the age of 15 to link up with Real Sociedad's Sanse sides. After a loan move to the Spanish second tier with Mirandes in 2024/25, he was brought back to La Real last summer and handed Zubimendi's no.4 shirt, following the Basque midfielder's move to the Premier League.

The comparisons are clear with his predecessor, with Barcelona having already identified him as a long-term option in their midfield. Gorrotxa – as he's also known – is a similarly slight ‘pivote’ with a similar build, passing ability and, like Zubimendi, a surprisingly good aerial duel success rate for his height. There are significant nuances, however, with the Real man a little more conservative as a player, and perhaps more of a leader in time.

Gorrotxategi's strengths

Passing and technical security: As you'd expect of any Spanish no.6, Gorrotxategi is an excellent passer, of both short and long distances. The 23-year-old is comfortable playing vertically but doesn't force play, looking to recycle possession where necessary.

Ability to dictate and ‘pausa’: Gorrotxategi can speed up play for La Real with a first-time ball and slow the pace of a game down to a standstill with his composure in possession. He is exceptionally press-resistant and never looks to take chances on the ball, often returning the ball back to where it came from if he has his back to play.

Anticipation and positional intelligence: With a comprehensive reading of play and an understanding of spacing on and off the ball, Gorrotxategi is comfortable either as a lone DM or in a double-pivot, operating deep for La Real. He likes to drop into defence as a third centre-back to help recycle play, and will drift into space to receive.

Engine and ball-winning: Stamina is a prerequisite at Anoeta to shuttle up and down the pitch, with Gorrotxategi relentless in eating up ground out of possession. He has the terrier-like will to nick the ball away with a refined style of tackling.

Leadership: As a captain at youth level, Gorrotxategi displayed excellent leadership qualities. While it is a little early to tell in senior football, he appears to use his 360-degree awareness to be a vocal organiser in front of the backline while leading by example in his composure.

Gorrotxategi's areas of development

Physicality: At just 5ft 10in, Gorrotxategi competes well for his stature, but may well need to develop that side of his game a little more. He uses intelligence more than power to win possession, and perhaps mastering the dark arts, Busquets-style, could hold him in good stead.

Goal contributions: A criticism of Zubimendi in San Sebastian, Gorrotxategi doesn't contribute very much to the final third. Learning how to box-crash could be invaluable – or even just positioning himself nicely on the edge of the area for the occasional shot from distance.

Weaker foot usage and conservatism: Gorrotxategi has somewhat of a bias towards his right foot and only uses his preferred foot in high-risk situations. He could do with working on his left anyway, but sometimes his desire for control hinders him from doing something a little more unexpected. Again, occasionally releasing his risk aversion may lead to more goals.

Gorrotxategi's ceiling

As yet uncapped by Spain – though he did appear for the Basque Country in a friendly against Palestine in November – Gorrotxategi faces stiff competition for places in midfield, but could well force himself into contention for a place at Euro 2028, especially if Rodri's injury issues continue and Luis de la Fuente wants a like-for-like deputy for Zubimendi. A big move could well happen in the next few years, but though he is 23, his development is a long-term project. If similar profiles are anything to go by, he won't be hitting peak for at least another three years.

Italy are producing a new generation of modern defenders, with Honest Ahanor one of the most exciting prospects of the lot.

The country that brought us the likes of Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi may be in somewhat of a national slump right now, but in the likes of Riccardo Calafiori and Alessandro Bastoni, there is a unique defensive profile emerging from Serie A.

Honest Ahanor might just be the next big hit: here's your two-minute scout report.

So… who exactly is Honest Ahanor?

Honest Ahanor is a very modern Italian defender: rather like Calafiori, he's equally comfortable at centre-back and left-back, can pass and carry, and cites Maldini has his hero. Yet as a son of Nigerian parents, Italian law prevents him and other second-generation immigrants from representing the Azzurri's youth teams – despite the fact that he was born in Aversa.

Ahanor joined Genoa's academy at a young age and made his Serie A debut last season, before moving to Atalanta last summer. The 18-year-old has since appeared in the Champions League and become a regular for La Dia – and now he's the subject of a tug-of-war for his services… at club and international level.

Ahanor's strengths

Tactical versatility: Having played as a centre-back, a left-back and even a left wing-back, Ahanor has the intelligence not just to slot into a multitude of roles but to adapt his game depending on the state and system. While Atalanta have primarily used him at centre-back this season, he is perfectly suited to a hybrid centre-back/full-back role.

Ball-carrying and press resistance: With a leggy, yet graceful, running style, Ahanor is almost unstoppable when he bolts from the back. He's unafraid to run through the centre of the pitch as well as down the left flank, too – and by inviting attackers to close him down before feinting, he's comfortable evading high pressure.

Passing: Ahanor is incredibly composed on the ball. He can disguise his raking balls forward into the channels, offers excellent security over short distances, and his ability to break lines with his passing is superb for his age.

Ball-winning intelligence and transitional touch: With a knack for stepping out from the back to snatch the ball from attackers, Ahanor has good timing for an interception, using his long stride to adjust his position and cover passing lanes: the Calafiori comparisons are apt, though the Arsenal man is a lot more of an aggressive tackler. Ahanor has a great habit, too, of using his first touch when he intercepts to turn defence into attack, controlling the ball for a transition, rather than booting it away.

Physical core and explosiveness: At 6ft tall, Ahanor is a physical specimen for just 18 years old and has a very strong core. His uses every inch of his physique when it comes to battling in and out of possession, and though he isn't a speed merchant of a full-back, he is rapid enough to keep up with even the quickest attackers over the first five yards.

Ahanor's areas of development

Weak foot and angle bias: An issue with plenty of left-footed defenders, Ahanor is particularly one-footed, and the angles of his passing show that. He favours passing inside to midfield and cross-field diagonals, and risks becoming a little predictable. Improving his weaker right could also unlock something for him in attack, enabling him to cut in off his right foot, as well as whip the ball with his left.

Duelling: Despite his height, Ahanor isn't a natural header of the ball – and he could do with working on his duel-winning on the ground, too. Given the aforementioned angle bias, he often approaches 50/50s side on, looking to force attackers wide: but if he is to have a future as a centre-back, he will need to learn how to angle his stance.

Positional discipline: Ahanor has good positional discipline – and is still developing this side of his game – but sometimes, he can be dragged out of shape when he looks to step up and press from the backline. Whether duelling 1v1 by a touchline or as part of a back three centrally, he often looks to bait an attacker into taking him on, before relying on his recovery pace – but that comes with risks.

Ahanor's ceiling

Teenagers with tactical versatility like this are all the rage these days – and looking at a player like Jorrel Hato, it's not hard to imagine a similar trajectory for Ahanor. Luckily, he is currently playing in a system tailor-made development, given that he's featuring on the left of a back three with license to advance forwerd and cover behind him. A full-back role seems likely in the future, should he sign for one of Europe's elite.

It’s not binding yet, but Championship clubs have indicated their desire to expand the play-offs from four teams to six from next season.

There would still be two automatic promotion places, but the teams that finish third and fourth would go straight into the semi-finals. To determine the other semi-finalists, the teams finishing between fifth and eighth would play out a pair of one-legged quarter-finals.

It’s only natural that Championship clubs would be in favour of such a plan – but is it actually a good idea?

A lot of the objections, ultimately, come down to gut feeling and can be repudiated by cold, hard logic.

One is based on pure vibes. As we’ve seen with World Cups, Euros and the Champions League, any knockout tournament that does not have a number of participants that divides neatly into a power of two – two, four, eight, 16, and so on – inevitably has to be compromised by implementing measures like byes, extra rounds and best-performing third-placed sides.

There is just something that feels inherently messy and unsatisfying about that, compared with the majesty of a straightforward knockout. But such feelings are hard to rationalise and thus become difficult to argue with much logical vehemence.

The bigger issue, then, is one of competitive integrity. Does a team that finishes a third of the way down the league really deserve promotion? It’s hard to make an argument that they should. But then, has a team that finishes a quarter of the way down earned it that much more, as can happen in the current system? Not really.

Is it fair that a team that narrowly misses out on the automatic promotion places can end up missing out to a side that picked up 24 points fewer over the season? That’s what would have happened if Blackburn or Millwall had made it into the play-offs last season and gone up while Sheffield United missed out.

On the other hand… Blackburn or Millwall would have had to have beaten three supposedly superior teams to earn that promotion, while the Blades would have been given the task of beating just two supposedly inferior teams. Doesn’t that balance it out a bit? And doesn’t it mean the team that finished third would only have themselves to blame for failing to get the job done when it most counted?

On top of that: last season’s actual play-off winners, Sunderland, finished 24 points shy of automatic last season, and yet have fared significantly better in the Premier League than the automatically-promoted Leeds and Burnley.

An argument has also been advanced, based on York City’s plight in the National League last season, that getting a bye to the semi-finals by finishing in the top two places of the play-offs is actually disadvantageous.

Having finished last season in 2nd place with 96 points, York had to wait two weeks to play their play-off semi-final against Oldham – who finished 23 points behind them – and promptly lost, apparently having lost all momentum while Oldham were able to gather steam.

Incidentally, York had benefited from the opposite in achieving promotion from the National League North in 2021/22, beating 2nd-placed Brackley in the semi-finals and then triumphing in the final – despite finishing 21 points behind them in the regular season.

As we’ll see, though, the general track record of team competing in a six-team play-off does not particularly support that theory.

The National League provides handy examples of how it actually works in reality. Tiers five and six of English football are currently in their ninth successive season of a six-team play-off, giving us eight prior seasons to see how, exactly, this kind of system works.

There have been 22 play-off finals played in that time (not the full 24, thanks to the 2020/21 season getting cancelled midway through in the National League North and South). From those finals:

• Nine of the 44 sides (20.5 per cent) who reached the final got the chance to be there by virtue of two additional play-off spots being made available.
• Of those nine, just four actually won their play-off final and got promoted as a result (an 18 per cent success rate overall). That's one from the National League, two from the National League North, and one from the National League South.
• However, the lowest-ranked side in the play-offs – the team that finished 7th in each division – has made the final just three times (once per division), and all of them lost.
• Two of the four successful 6th-placed sides beat Brackley in the North final. Brackley are infamously dreadful in the play-offs, making it into the play-offs six times in a row without winning it once before finally achieving promotion last season… by finishing top of the league.
• Half of all the play-off finalists received a bye straight to the semi-finals by finishing 2nd or 3rd
• Half of all the play-off winners also finished 2nd or 3rd in the regular league season.
• Only five of the 22 finals did not feature a team that finished 2nd or 3rd in the league at all, and last season was the first time it had happened in the National League proper.
• The team that finished the highest of the two play-off finalists in the league has won the final 14 times out of 22.

* Promoted via the play-off final
† Lost the play-off final
‡ Season interrupted by COVID-19
§ Given a bye into the semi-finals, after Concord Rangers were barred from the play-offs due to failing ground size regulations

Those numbers should dispel a lot of the objections about the effect on the integrity of extending the Championship play-offs. The simple fact is that winning three play-off games is a lot to ask of a team that has crept into the sixth play-off spot, as evidenced by the fact that not a single team has yet managed to go all the way from that position in the National League.

Here’s the thing, though: that is actually the biggest damnation of the idea of extending the play-offs. If there is such little chance of the sixth-best team in the play-offs actually being able to win it, what exactly is the point in them even being there in the first place?

The answer, as ever in football, is a mixture of hope and money. Extra games mean more TV money, more eyeballs on the product, and – in theory at least – more opportunities for high-stakes spectacle.

A teeny tiny chance for the team finishing eighth is still also better than no chance whatsoever, as is the case currently; and every club likes to think they might just be able to be the exception that proves the rule. It’s not so much turkeys voting for Christmas as it is buying a lottery ticket.

Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao is tailor-made to ride the current wave sweeping across football.

Football moves in tides, and physical football is king once more: a centre-back who towers over attackers and dominates the box is a necessity rather than a luxury right now.

But can Raux-Yao offer just as much in possession? Here's your two-minute scout report.

So… who exactly is Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao?

After emerging with Auxerre in France, Raux-Yao didn't make a single senior appearance with the French side, moving instead to Cercle Brugge in Belgium, where he didn't fare much better with appearances; after making a name for himself back in Ligue 2 with Rodez, the Frenchman is now at Rapid Wien in Austria.

Left-footed centre-backs are a rarer breed, and Raux-Yao is a colossus of a defender now entering his prime at the age of 26. Having established himself as the most dominant aerial force in Austrian football, the centre-back has caught attention for his passing ability, too – despite a disastrous Conference League campaign in which Rapid finished 36th out of 36th.

Raux-Yao's strengths

Aerial presence and strength: At 6ft 6in tall, Raux-Yao is a heavyweight when it comes to aerial duels. He has excellent core strength, is adept at neutralising target men and can handle the rigours of a physical battle or a low block.

Ball-winning and positional sense: Raux-Yao is rarely caught out of position, with excellent awareness of where to be at all times. Often tasked with being the ‘sweeper’ rather than the ‘aggressor’ of Rapid's backline, he's good at mopping up, and uses those long legs to time tackles well.

Tactical and technical security: Primarily best-suited as the left-sided centre-back in a back four, Raux-Yao is calm on the ball, press-resistant and despite being primarily left-footed, doesn't have too much of an angle bias, meaning that can play centrally in a three, too. He can be trusted to build play from the back with composure.

Passing: Raux-Yao is an excellent passer in the back line, and his left foot is a valuable weapon in launching long-range diagonals to the right flank.

Raux-Yao's areas of development

Acceleration over five yards: Raux-Yao is comfortable striding forward on the ball and isn't slow by any means – but lacks explosiveness when faced with agile forwards. His build means he can't switch direction quickly and could do with adjusting how he defends in those situations.

Being too ‘ball-focused’: Though he reads the game well out of possession, Raux-Yao is sometimes guilty of ball-watching when it comes to long periods of games without the ball. He can lose blindside runners, which he needs to work out.

Goal contributions: Despite his immense height and power, Raux-Yao primarily uses his build to defend and hasn't yet begun converting chances at set-pieces with his heading ability. A little more work on his attacking movement, and he could be a serious threat in both boxes.

Raux-Yao's ceiling

With recruitment geared towards younger and younger defensive talents these days for big clubs, Raux-Yao represents a major opportunity for a mid-table club in one of Europe's top five leagues to take a punt on. As the game evolves towards an even more physical style, the Frenchman would suit a side who still look to play on the front foot.

Manchester United producing talented midfielders is something most of us have known for decades.

Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Nicky Butt are just three names who spring to mind, but there is a new kid on the block who is beginning to catch the attention of those attending some of United's academy games this season.

Arise, Jim Thwaites, a diminutive number six who can operate in tight spaces and has the deadball specialities much like Becks did across his career. Want to know more about him? Read on as FourFourTwo delves deeper in our latest scout report...

So… who exactly is Jim Thwaites?

Having progressed through the ranks at Carrington, Ruben Amorim acted with haste to call up young Thwaites to first-team training within weeks of being in the building back in November 2024, proving that it isn't only fans who are taking note of a wonderfully gifted footballer, with Erik ten Hag also a big fan of the youngster. Having been troubled with injury so far this season, it would be a crying shame if the Red Devils' academy side does not go on to claim FA Youth Cup glory, with the 18-year-old expected to play a huge part in those aims.

Yet to make his senior bow, Thwaites is having to wait patiently for his chance, but continues to impress onlookers who are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of his footballing credentials. A wonderful number six, the teenager is press-resistant and has deadball capabilities beyond his years, having whizzed a catalogue of free-kicks into the top corners for Manchester United youth teams over the last few seasons.

Thwaites's strengths

Press resistance: Given his small frame, Thwaites is more than happy to receive the ball under pressure and jink one way and dart into a space of green. Almost eerily similar to how Pedri does so, the 18-year-old has already mastered the art of beginning the move and transitioning the ball through the offensive lines.

Line-breaking verticality: Academy football often can be scrappy, but Thwaites is always looking to belt a long pass into a wide man to help get the game moving forward for the Red Devils. Having the likes of Goodwill Kukonki, Noah Ajayi and often Shea Lacey to aim for is handy, but Jim does so with ease and it is a staple of his midfield game he has already seemingly mastered.

Dead-ball specialist: Against Manchester City in the U18 Premier League recently, Thwaites had been on the pitch for only a matter of minutes before he found the top corner with precision from a free-kick. Almost like Beckham was in his youth, Thwaites is able to generate a ridiculous amount of power and precision from tight angles, and Darren Fletcher's side has benefited no end from his special abilities this term.

Tenacity and turn of pace: Again, we expect Thwaites to still have another growth spurt, and this will be crucial if he is to make it at the very top level. What cannot be understated already is his tenacity in midfield when nipping in to win the ball back as soon as half an opportunity arises. A serial 'pocket-picker' if you will, the teenager then also possesses the right amount of acceleration to get away from his man in tight spaces and get the game moving in his favour.

Thwaites's areas of development

Senior experience: Manchester United produce players consistently, and as Kobbie Mainoo did, when you get your chance, you have to take it. Tyler Fletcher, Jack Fletcher, Jack Moorhouse and Toby Collyer are all names currently ahead of him, and Thwaites will have to do well in order to make an impression if he is to be given an opportunity.

Bulking up in size: Thwaites needs to bulk up in terms of stature, and I would say this is his biggest task in order to make it at the very top of the professional game. Now aged 18, Mainoo is the perfect example of how to do so, given the physicality of Premier League football.

Aerial ability: Standing at only 5ft 7, Thwaites could be hindered if he is to come up against a big, powerhouse central midfielder who can bully his way past him in the middle of the pitch. Time will tell whether he does have another growth spurt, but again, you feel it may need to come sooner rather than later.

Thwaites's ceiling

Thwaites has to make an impression over the summer, you feel, and not get stuck into poor loan moves like Ethan Wheatley, Ethan Williams and even Joe Hugill have done over recent periods. He has all the qualities to make it, but the competition is so high at Manchester United that he will have to excel when he gets his chance to even be considered in the conversation moving forward.

Paul Scholes says that if Arsenal finish first in the Premier League after 38 games this season, they should not be awarded the trophy. He reasons that the 2025/26 campaign has been of such low quality, that the Gunners have eked out so many results on the margins of set-pieces, that to crown them the best in the land would be to sully the good name of what should constitute a champion of England. An insult to the Invincibles, a slap to the Centurions.

And as one of the finest footballers to have ever graced our fair isle, Scholes, whose loyalty to one of the greatest teams of all time was rued by the likes of Xavi Hernandez and Zinedine Zidane – for they would never have a chance in hell of playing with him – certainly knows not just what a great champion looks like, but the very technical brilliance that defines the cream of the elite.

So someone had best remind Scholes not just that he once won the league with just 79 points – fewer than Arsenal have managed in two of the last three seasons – but that the Manchester United team he played for wasn’t exactly renowned for free-flowing, beautiful football. And do you know what? That’s absolutely fine.

Scholes was a part of the Red Devils side that – somehow – finished with 11 men after attempting to kick Arsenal off the park in 2004 to end the 49-game unbeaten run. From Ruud van Nistelrooy raking his studs down Ashley Cole, to Gary Neville pinpointing Jose Reyes, United were unafraid of the fight: as they were every time they faced the Gunners. Roy Keane would square up to anyone. It was Arsenal who were the expressionists: Arsene Wenger was the last great idealist of the game, attempting to out-pass everyone, putting faith in uncut gems from across the continent. Sir Alex Ferguson was about blood and thunder and £30 million statement signings and mind games and winning at all costs.

And to repeat. That’s absolutely fine. Two decades later, we’re all learning that sometimes, you have to win things the hard way – or at least try to.

“If they win, no one will ask how they did it,” Fabian Hurzeler said after Arsenal beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 at the Amex. But he did make it clear that he believed, “only one team tried to play football” on the night.

“I will never be the kind of manager to try and win that way,” he continued. “If I ask you if you enjoyed this game, maybe one hand will be raised because he’s a big Arsenal fan. But if they win the league, then they win the league.”

This Arsenal side can play, let’s make no mistake about it. In the past three-and-a-half years, the Gunners have been utterly sublime at times, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz dovetailing like red arrows. And they’ve done it on the biggest stages: Mikel Arteta’s men beat Manchester City 5-1 at their own game, outplayed Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, emptied stadiums for fun in the latter half of 2023/24, evoking the Wengerball of old.

Again: it means f**k all to a team if they don’t have anything to show for it at the end of the campaign.

It was perhaps never demonstrated better than tonight against Brighton – much to Hurzeler's chagrin – where, over the years, Arsenal have been utterly outplayed, outbantered by Neal Maupay and rattled by referees applying the law to the millimetre. Sure enough, six minutes in, Saka was set free from a deft Ebere Eze through ball, as the no.7 opted to square the ball into space and out for a throw. It was a cuter move than his goal, four minutes later, as he cut in from his customary right touchline, and bobbled the ball off Carlos Baleba’s back for the opener. By that point, Arsenal had already had to clear one off the line.

Such is the duality of a top team: never the grace without the grit. And so, Arsenal looked to shut the back door for the rest of the first half, probing with possession where necessary, but for the most part, happy to roll the ball around the backline, take as long as they can get away with on throw-ins and on the occasion that they actually lose the ball, bring Saka and Martinelli back as auxiliary full-backs.

The problem with ‘margins football’ is self-explanatory, though. Cristhian Mosquera was booked in the first 10 minutes for his first challenge. An hour in, with Brighton battering on the door, Arteta decided that he needed to play it safe and bring on a replacement: so Piero Hincapie – outstanding all game at left-back – moved to the right-sided centre-back berth to fill in out of position. It’s not the kind of thing you want to do at 1-0.

We see it most weeks now: Arsenal tried to shut up shop against Chelsea and were pegged back, having to rely on another corner and a moment of Pedro Neto petulance to squeak three points. They tried exactly the same thing recently against Wolverhampton Wanderers and were badly burned as a result. The goal is to hang on in there as long as possible, rather than obliterate opponents: it might not set pulses racing. But still, these players are playing at maximum capacity most weeks.

This is as good as it is going to get: Arsenal aren’t about to suddenly let the handbrake off. If this team – this particular team – go on and finish the job, Scholes is wrong, and Hurzeler is right. They will have grafted like you wouldn’t believe for that trophy.

This is not a team of Galacticos, really. They lack any real killer in the final third – they could well become the only other Premier League-winning side, other than City in 2020/21, to win it without a lethal centre-forward. The superstars of this team aren’t showponies: they’re a workhorse in Declan Rice, a unicorn in Bukayo Saka and stallions at the back. They have some of the best footballers on Earth in their respective positions. They don’t have a David Silva, an Erling Haaland or a Kevin De Bruyne; they don’t have a Mohamed Salah or a Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Generally, you need a bit of both. Generally, teams use both to destroy all others and rack up 85+ points. Arsenal are not doing that. And that, in itself, is fascinating.

To match Pep Guardiola’s superteam almost stride for stride, twice, lose a third title in a row, and go and win it after all – with a team who simply manage their way through duels, rather than play through them – would be an unbelievable achievement. How many have tried to maximise the margins to try and finish a place higher? It’s straightforward to do when you’re scrapping in the lower half of the league, trying to motor away from relegation. To win a title like that would be utterly unheard of. And to have done it playing every three days, potentially playing 60 games this season?

Sure enough, Arsenal clung on by their fingernails against the Seagulls. The final five minutes were agonising for that corner of Gooners – but that’s where the star power lies: in closing out games. Tonight saw the most long passes in a single Premier League game all season. They did not have a shot on target after the goal. It should be utterly impossible to keep that up – and yet Arsenal now three-and-a-half years into doing this for fun.

City transformed the league, and now Arsenal are reverting it. And it’s a bloody difficult league. Six of the 16 best clubs in Europe – if you believe the Champions League – hail from England (though perhaps you shouldn’t believe that, given that one of them is Tottenham). Every team in the league can pose you problems, as Nottingham Forest showed themselves tonight.

When Arteta was told how Hurzeler felt, he simply responded, “Next question”. He was then asked if he cared about other managers’ opinions.

“Depends,” he said. On the manager? “Yes. And what they said.”

And no podcaster can argue otherwise. Facts, not feelings. It’s popular to bait Gooners, for certain City fans with big followings, to claim that they’re the holders of ‘pure’ football and that anyone other than their team winning the title would set the league back, like Arteta is a politically incorrect dinosaur vying to be supreme leader.

Arsenal are not pretty, but they’re pretty efficient. It’s a change from a steamroller romping to the title.

Liverpool's Alexander Isak transfer saga of the summer has largely been forgotten due to the striker’s injury problems this season.

That spending spree attracted a lot of attention, but less was made of the attacking options that departed the club. Luis Diaz was a vital component in Liverpool's pressing system and has arguably elevated his game to a higher level in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

Darwin Nunez had a less successful time at Anfield, although his physical attributes did cause opposition defenders problems, whilst his rawness and unpredictability could be a positive on occasion. The tragic passing of Diogo Jota hit the dressing room the hardest, and his natural finishing and pace on the pitch have been sorely missed; Mohamed Salah’s decline this season, meanwhile, has meant the team overall has needed to find more solutions to score goals.

Hugo Ekitike certainly settled the fastest out of all the club’s new arrivals, as he scored three goals in his first five appearances. He has 11 Premier League goals this term and is set to be the first traditional striker to be the club’s top scorer since Luis Suarez in 2013/14.

The forward's rise from Paris Saint-Germain reserve to Merseyside favourite has been swift: at Eintracht Frankfurt last season, his speed and dribbling ability were at the forefront of the team’s counter-attacks. He illustrated his calm demeanour in the penalty area with 15 goals in 31 starts, whilst his physicality and mobility made him highly sought after.

Against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night, however, his team’s lack of creativity led him to drop deeper throughout the first half.

With just 15 minutes played, the attacker ran from the halfway line to the penalty area, dribbling past several opponents before setting up Jeremie Frimpong for an effort. In the absence of Isak and Florian Wirtz, the forward isn’t getting enough service and has been forced to try and create chances of his own.

On the hour mark, he isolated Yerson Mosquera on the break before his cross was almost turned into Wolves’ own net. In the closing stages, his excellent first touch took him past Hugo Bueno, but as he attempted to run towards goal, he was manhandled to the floor by the Spaniard.

Ekitike isn’t the only one scoring goals for Liverpool, but he will expect more inventiveness from his fellow attackers, and they can’t rely on set-pieces to the same extent as Arsenal.

Salah and Cody Gakpo often look pedestrian and fail to beat their opposing team’s defenders, even though the Egyptian scored the equaliser at Molineux it was his first strike since November. In midfield, they are moving the ball slowly and not finding their striker often enough.

Frimpong looks like he can help ease the burden with his vertical running once he gets more games, and Ekitike was seen giving him instructions in the first half, with his manager intervening.

“What did not change from the last five, six or seven games is that we struggle and find it very hard to score from the open play chances that we do create,” admitted Slot after the match.

“Not as many as I would like after all the ball possession we have, but enough and far more than the other team.”

Whether it’s Slot or someone else at the helm next season, it will be interesting to see how this team progresses in an attacking sense and how they get the best out of both Isak and Ekitike.

If Salah departs, then one option would be to play the two strikers together and play a diamond midfield with Wirtz at the tip.

With Liverpool looking at potential new wingers, another choice could be for one of the forwards to operate from the left and the other take a more central role, alternating throughout.

Either way, Ekitike has shown this term that he can become a hero on the Kop, but he needs more from his Liverpool teammates.

When it became clear that Abdoulaye Camara would leave Montpellier in France, there was a scramble for his signature.

Udinese won the race amid reported interest from Juventus and the Bundesliga, yet the former French under-17 captain is yet to play for the Bianconeri, as the club show him patience, allowing for a two-to-three-year development phase and giving him regular showings in the Primavera 2.

With Camara an unused substitute in nearly 20 Serie A games this season, here's your scout report on the youngster.

So… who exactly is Abdoulaye Camara?

Watford-affiliated Udinese clearly spotted something special in Guinea-born Camara, looking to secure him before his breakout, just as they have with the likes of 20-year-old Colombian full-back Juan Arizala, 19-year-old Senegalese centre-forward Idrissa Gueye and, of course, teenage midfield starlet Lennon Miller from Motherwell. The club have since introduced a new analysis partner Driblab, making new signings particularly intriguing to gauge.

Camara was one who clearly passed the eye test, however. A DM cut from the cloth of recent Les Bleus success stories, Aurelien Tchouameni, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Warren Zaire-Emery, the 17-year-old is physically supreme with the muscle to stamp his authority on a midfield, but has the deftness and technical grace in compact spaces to separate him from the pack.

Camara's strengths

Interception radar and tackling ease: It's easy to see Eduardo Camavinga comparisons with Camara, thanks to his combination of high intelligence to position himself for the interception, and long legs to hook the ball from attackers with relative ease. The 17-year-old is almost always in the right place at the right time – but he also times going to ground exceptionally well.

Press resistance and technical security: Considering he's over 6ft tall and still not yet 18 years old (scary), Camara has remarkably light feet. He's able to shimmy out of tight spaces with simple drag-backs and ‘croqueta’ moves to keep possession.

Line-breaking verticality: Far more than just a sideways passer, there's an element of risk-taking with forward balls that Camara plays, either into the channels or looking to break lines. Squint, and you could be forgiven for thinking you're watching a young Patrick Vieira.

Maturity and mentality: Already a captain at youth level for his country, Camara has been hailed for his professionalism, coupled with a composure in and out of possession. Turning down bigger offers for a move to a midtable Italian side who wanted to develop him over three years certainly suggests that he has his head screwed on, too.

Aerial duel-winning and physique: Camara is reliable in the air and a presence in the centre of the park. His natural strength should certainly aid him with the step up to senior football.

Camara's areas of development

Senior experience: He's excelled in youth football – but Camara is yet to play a senior league game for Udinese. At still just 17 years old, there are going to be bumps in the road over the coming months and years and patience is needed with his development. With the teenager, it'll be speed of thought that needs adaptation rather than any kind of physical change.

Over-commitment and discipline: As with so many young players, Camara is sometimes overly keen to win the ball back and can commit rash, challenges, which will have to be ironed out of his game over time.

Final third output: If Camara is to evolve into a true box-to-box threat, he'll need a little more precision in the sharp end of the pitch. He's currently a master of the build-up phase in possession but could do with using his high intelligence and and positional sense to develop a box-crashing instinct.

Camara's ceiling

Right now, the goal for Camara is to establish himself at Udinese without looking too much further – but the idea of him becoming a Champions League-level defensive midfielder in five years certainly isn't out of the question given his physical fundamentals and mental profile. Refinement is the name of the game and having shown plenty of patience up until now, he will surely make a senior debut before the end of the season with an eye to making a few more appearances next term.

Georgian football has arguably never been this good.

With Khvicha Kvaratskhelia leading the charge in Europe, the likes of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Georges Mikautadze have followed with big moves in the past two years.

Saba Kharebashvili, however, might just be the nation's most exciting prospect in a generation: here's your two-minute scout report.

So… who exactly is Saba Kharebashvili?

Emerging from the same academy as Kvaratskhelia, left-back Saba Kharebashvili – or ‘Roberto Kharelos’, to coin him a ‘Kvaradona’ nickname – is already the youngest player to feature in a UEFA competition at just 15 years old and is regarded as one of the most sought-after teenagers on the continent, having become a regular for Dinamo Tbilisi. He's already made his debut for Georgia's senior side, naturally, becoming the Crusaders' youngest-ever player, too.

The 2008-born defender is a ‘unicorn’ profile of sorts: a proficient playmaker with a wand of a left foot, with a box-to-box engine and the build of a rugged centre-back. Hopes are understandably high for him, with the teenager himself said to be a huge Real Madrid fan, having grown up idolising Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kharebashvili's strengths

Playmaking and delivery: It's obvious from watching Kharebashvili that he was a midfielder at youth level, with his incisive passing, penchant for verticality and comfort in build-up all obvious from watching him at Dinamo. The teenager has exceptional vision, enjoys a raking diagonal and can deliver a cross with whip and pace, first time from tight angles – making him an excellent option from the dead ball, too.

Acceleration and engine: Blessed with blistering speed, Kharebashvili is a weapon in transition, either attacking down a flank or using his recovery pace the other way. He has Kvaratskhelia's ‘shuffly’ burst, offering intensity over short sprints – and he can go again and again, showing very little fatigue playing full games in men's football.

Physique and strength: At 6ft tall at the age of 17 years old, the Georgian has towered over his peers from a young age. While most players with such proficiency on the ball are diminutive players who use low centres of gravity to shield the ball, Kharebashvili uses his frame to fend off challenges.

Tactical versatility: Nominally a left-back, such a blend of strengths makes Kharebashvili capable in several positions: but more importantly, he's a ‘generalist’ of a left-back. He can stay back and operate on the first line of build-up, step into midfield and receive as an inverted full-back, and overlap down the flank, with a skillset comparable to the likes of Riccardo Calafiori or David Alaba.

Precocious maturity: Having been around senior set-ups from an extremely young age and chosen as a captain of his country in various youth groups, Kharebashvili is incredibly mature and already hailed for his temperament. Arguably, perhaps, the surest sign that he can go to the very top.

Kharebashvili's areas of development

Discipline: Though his interception numbers are superb, Kharebashvili can be impatient in his tackling, and with occasional lapses of concentration, there's certainly a case that he's more useful to a team in possession than out. He will naturally develop in time – especially when he steps up to higher levels – but don't be surprised to see him lose runners and commit unnecessary fouls.

Aerial duels: Despite his height, Kharebashvili isn't particularly aggressive when it comes to winning headers. He could do with mastering the dark arts when it comes to aerial duels.

Two-footedness: Kharebashvili's left foot is so good that he doesn't use his right very often. It's not exactly an issue for a left-back, but should he transition into midfield or become a centre-back in time, he's going to have become a little more ambipedal.

Kharebashvili's ceiling

Coaches, analysts and scouts alike clearly believe that the sky is the limit for Kharebashvili, who is already linked with a huge move to Western Europe when he turns 18 in September. With such a unique set of abilities, the only question mark remains how he can transition from Georgian football to one of Europe's top five leagues and how quickly he can adapt to the rigours of a tougher environment. The signs are clearly good, however, given his incredible development thus far.

If you can’t beat them, join them. After spending much of the first half of the season increasingly frustrated by his side’s inability to defend against set pieces, Arne Slot’s side have now become the Premier League’s set-piece leaders.

All three first-half goals in Liverpool’s 5-2 win over West Ham United were statistically recognised as being ‘scored from a set piece’, remarkably meaning that it was seven consecutive league goals scored from such a method for the Reds.

It’s a stark contrast to two months ago when Slot’s side were officially the worst team in the league for set pieces, having scored the joint-least. The champions had scored three and conceded 12, giving them an aggregate of minus nine, something Slot was well aware of.

"It's impossible to be top four, top-five with our set-piece balance, let alone winning the league,” said Slot in late December. "I know the importance of it, it gets more and more, and that's why we are so annoyed by our current record.”

Days later, set-piece coach Aaron Briggs left his role at the club, a role he wasn’t initially appointed to, and Liverpool’s coaching staff have since taken on duties collectively.

Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have now scored the most (non-penalty) set-pieces in the Premier League, with nine - which is three more than set-piece kings Arsenal during that time - and conceded just two.

Quizzed about the turnaround post-match, Slot offered a rather vague explanation that “things went back to normal" but it has clearly been much more than that.

"The first half of the season, almost every set-piece we conceded went in. Now we start scoring from set-pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don’t."

But it isn’t just a case of luck now going their way. Liverpool’s corners are now maximising their two biggest assets: Mohamed Salah’s delivery and Virgil van Dijk’s heading ability.

To the observer, the Reds’ corners look a lot simpler. The concocted corner routines have largely gone and instead Salah or Dominik Szoboszlai put in pretty accurate deliveries to the danger area for Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to contest.

When the ball isn’t headed in from the initial delivery, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are well placed on the edge of the box to then contest the second ball. That worked to great effect for Hugo Ekitike’s opening goal when the Dutchman assisted the Frenchman.

Liverpool go back to basics on set pieces

Van Dijk then headed in directly from Szoboszlai’s delivery and Mac Allister was perfectly placed for the third goal from Ekitike’s knock back.

You could argue that this shows you don’t need to overcomplicate it; get your two best deliverers of the ball on either side, have them deliver in-swinging corners to your two centre-backs, and put your two defensive midfielders around the edge of the box to contest knockdowns and second balls.

“Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively,” admitted Slot. “Our set-up is slightly different, but the biggest reason is that things go back to normal. There was a time when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal, including penalties, and we have closed the gap a bit.”

West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who looked impressive for the visitors, admitted his side had trained around stopping Van Dijk on corners. “These are the details when you play against these big teams,” he mused. “The small details are the difference.”

Those small details are now going Liverpool’s way, which releases the pressure that was being placed upon the team by conceding set pieces so consistently in the first half of the season. That in itself created anxiety on the pitch and in the stands.

Not that the restlessness has completely gone from the Anfield crowd. While it was 3-0 at half time, there were certainly frustrations displayed from sections of the home crowd when sloppy play in defence gifted West Ham several chances.

“I could feel the nervousness in the stadium,” admitted Slot. “That, of course, makes sense because so many times this season we’ve given away a very comfortable lead, completely unnecessary but it did happen.”

Thankfully for the Dutchman, his side proceeded to get their joint-biggest win of the season, scoring five goals in the league for the first time since confirming their title win last season against Tottenham in April.

Cody Gakpo’s first goal in his last eight starts made it four, before the electric Jeremie Frimpong forced an own goal for the fifth.

The business end of the season

Liverpool still don’t look fluid in attack, with Salah extending his Premier League goal drought to 10 games, but with the reliance upon open-play creation being eased by their new effectiveness on set-pieces, they’re heading in the right direction as we enter the business end of the season.

"The last four or five months is when teams show what they can do,” said Mac Allister post-match, whose form perhaps more than anyone’s has mirrored that of the team overall this season.

“We know how important it is to qualify for the Champions League for the club and us as a team. The goal is there and we are going to do everything to qualify and be closer to the teams on top."

With Aston Villa’s defeat on the same weekend, Slot’s side are now just three points behind the third-placed Villans and all of a sudden they looking up the table rather than behind them.

Is Mohamed Amoura the next superstar striker out of the Bundesliga?

With the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Omar Marmoush earning their moves to the elite after shining in Germany, Wolfsburg striker Amoura is a similar prospect in many ways: his game is based on movement and instinct and over the past six months, he's begun to crop up in gossip columns linking him with Premier League sides.

Let's dig into a two-minute scout report on the Algerian.

So… who exactly is Mohamed Amoura?

A smaller centre-forward in the mould of a Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Amoura is a versatile forward who has played all across the frontline. His MO is simple: exploit space with speed and hit the ball with power.

After arriving in Switzerland in 2021, he tore up things with Lugano to earn a move to Tony Bloom's Union Saint-Gilloise; after a season there, he got a loan to Wolfsburg that turned permanent after impressing. The numbers stack up, too. 19 goals and assists in Belgium, before 33 goal contributions in just over 50 appearances in a middling Die Wolfe side; he's scored or assisted in 50 per cent of his Europa League games and 66 per cent of the Conference League games he's played.

Amoura's strengths

Acceleration: Mohamed Amoura is one of the quickest players in the Bundesliga: impressive, given the transitional nature of the league. The Algerian is a cheat code against a high line: at 35km/h, there's no catching him in a foot race.

Finishing with either foot: Eight goals from an xG of 7.17 is an overperformance this season – though Amoura is primarily right-footed and takes the majority of his chances on his right, he's comfortably hitting the ball with power and accuracy on his left, too. Inside the box pouncing on chances or cutting in from left half-space: he has variety, too.

Pressing and off-ball movement: Working like a dog when you don't have the ball comes with the territory of German football and Amoura leads Wolfsburg's press well. When his side do have the ball, he has an excellent habit of finding defenders' blindspots and times his near-post runs well.

Press resistance: Defending against such pace in open spaces is a nightmare – and Amoura is good in tighter spaces, too. His slight figure means he has a low centre of gravity and he can turn on a sixpence, meaning it's hard to know just how much space to give him.

Tactical versatility: Amoura is capable from the left wing, can operate through the middle as a no.9 or play behind a striker. His game relies on movement and space, making him particularly versatile to managers.

Amoura's areas of development

Hold-up play: Amoura doesn't have the height, the strength or the dark arts to effectively buy a few seconds when the ball comes his way. Adapting into a forward who can grab the knockdowns and annoy defenders rather than bully them is a natural evolution for his late-20s.

Crossing: Easily the weakest tool in his attacking arsenal, Amoura looks to shoot, dribble or link up with team-mates when he finds the ball in a wide area. Developing a quick, whipped ball across the face of the goal would make him a multifaceted threat.

Discipline: Amoura needs to polish his game a little in all areas, from his over-exuberance while tackling – which can lead to bookings – to playing the offside trap a little more.

Amoura's ceiling

It's not hard to imagine Amoura as an extremely effective wide threat – or attacking midfielder in a 3-4-3 – in the Premier League in much the same way that the likes of Mohamed Salah or Leandro Trossard have made careers for themselves. The Algerian's base numbers are solid, and football is predictable enough: he is certainly good enough to be playing in the Champions League.

Leonardo Fernandez is a throwback of sorts.

Up until particularly recently, set-pieces were seen as an added extra, rather than an integral part of the game: that was until huge teams started exploiting them and making the corner the new penalty.

All that makes Penarol playmaker Fernandez very interesting indeed: here's your quick scout report as to why.

So… who exactly is Leo Fernandez?

An uncapped, 27-year-old journeyman, Leo Fernandez's career has been unremarkable even to many South American fans up until a couple of years ago. Time in the Uruguayan second division led to a move to Mexico; Toluca loaned him to Fluminense, who in turn terminated the agreement early, with the diminutive no.10 flopping in Brazil.

Then came a loan back home to Penarol on loan, where he finished as the Primera Division's top scorer and led the Carboneros to a Copa Libertadores semi-final. Fernandez has been a revelation, thanks to his incredible dead-ball prowess – and just over a year ago, Penarol smashed the Uruguayan transfer record to sign him permanently.

Fernandez's strengths

Set-piece delivery: Leo Fernandez might be the best dead-ball specialist in the world. He can hit free-kicks from anywhere – on goal or to team-mates – whip corners, and he offers pinpoint delivery from anywhere on the pitch.

Playmaking: Unsurprisingly, Fernandez's vision is statistically elite. He has the ability to slice through low blocks and break lines with perfectly weighted balls: he can be incredibly vertical when he wants to be or dictate tempo in the final third.

Long-range shooting: He can hit them, too. The Uruguayan has the deadly combination of a rocket shot, finesse from his instep and the ‘clutch’ gene. Defences are usually caught in two minds as to whether to step onto him and leave space in behind, or drop deep and invite a long-range effort.

Passing range: Fernandez is unsurprisingly an excellent passer of the ball, from long-range diagonals to sharp, shorter passes. He is the trigger when Penarol are in transition, launching team-mates into space.

Press resistance and dribbling: With a low centre of gravity and purposeful ball-carrying, it's difficult to get the ball off Fernandez. The 27-year-old has futsal-like control in tight spaces and often weaves his wave through opponents with subtle feints.

Fernandez's areas of development

Defensive contribution: With incredible ability on the ball comes significant weakness out of possession. Fernandez lacks intensity in the press and in transition, feeling like a real Mesut Ozil-esque throwback at times. Often, pressing and ball-winning in a structure is less about actually throwing tackles in but positioning yourself to intercept – and Fernandez could do with working on that aspect of his game if he's to improve much further.

One-footedness: Fernandez is utterly elite on his left foot, but elite defenders can defend against him a little easier than most of the Uruguayan top flight. A little more unpredictability may be needed if he's going to rise any higher.

Duel-winning: A lack of defensive contribution is coupled with a physical profile that doesn't exactly dominate in central areas. Fernandez is often outmuscled in physical duels, while at 5ft 5in, he is statistically anonymous as an aerial threat. ‘Luxury’ player would be one way to describe him.

Fernandez's ceiling

With Uruguay's two greatest-ever strikers gone, set-pieces back en vogue and World Cup squads bigger than ever, you'd fancy a secret weapon like Fernandez going to North America this summer as a wildcard. The only problem is that Marcelo Bielsa demands virtually the opposite of what Leo Fernandez represents: he wants battlers off the ball, not luxury no.10s. Still uncapped with March fast-approaching, it looks like the Penarol man could miss out on a call-up again – but stranger things have happened…

Marco Palestra is hoping for a first international call-up in March.

While Italy have an illustrious lineage when it comes to graceful defenders with aura – recently mocked in memes for simply meaning “handsome” – a number of Azzurri leaders at the back are emerging in the mould of the old guard.

With Palestra still just 21, is he cut from the same cloth as a Bastoni or a Calafiori? Here's your speedy scout report.

So… who exactly is Marco Palestra?

Inter Milan passed on signing a 10-year-old Palestra, and the Milanese has been in Atalanta's academy ever since, breaking through with La Dia in 2023. Last summer, he headed out to Sardinia (all right for some) to join Cagliari on a year-long loan, where he has begun to make waves as a right-back in Serie A.

He began in midfield, before moving out to the wing, then settling on a place at right-back – and his upbringing is obviously. Palestra has the enthusiasm of a Denzel Dumfries, bombing up and down a flank all day long, but he doesn't have the power: he's elegant like a trequartista, and reads the game with a maturity that belies his 21 years – a skill that has come in particularly handy when it comes to learning the ropes of building play in the first phase, and positioning himself out of possession.

Palestra's strengths

Passing, delivery and security: It was famously said of a fellow Italian master that passing the ball to Andrea Pirlo was “like hiding it in a safe”, and Palestra has a similar quality. Not only is his passing excellent and his crossing dangerous, he's tidy in possession: he doesn't waste the ball, he doesn't take unnecessary chances and despite being 21 in his breakout season, he's unbelievably reliable.

Technical and tactical versatility: Palestri is incredibly comfortable with both feet and has played both right- and left-back in the past. This is a unicorn profile: someone comfortable as the third centre-back in the first line of play, as an inverted full-back, or as an overlapping full-back… potentially on either side. He's been used as a wing-back in a 3-5-2 and in a back four.

Composure and maturity: Calm under pressure, excellent in build-up and comfortable attacking, too, it's hard to believe Palestri is still in his breakout season. His anticipation and a reading of play that he honed in his time as a midfielder has made him one of the most precocious defenders of his age group in Italy.

1v1 defending: Palestri has a good understanding of positioning and spacing out of possession, making him a good one-on-one defender. He doesn't have the aggressive style of, say, Riccardo Calafiori when it comes to tackling: he's a disciplined defender who looks to time his moment to dispossess rather than lunge in.

Engine: Tall with a long stride and the stamina to get up and down the pitch all 90, Palestra has an underrated engine, and he covers a lot of ground. He's rarely caught out of position in transition either way.

Palestra's areas of development

Physical prowess and aggression: Despite being 6ft 1in and offering a relentlessness at full-back, you wouldn't describe Palestra as being particularly “physical”. He struggles in aerial duels and can be outmuscled by target men: not the biggest issue for a full-back, but he may find himself targeted by muscular wingers like Antoine Semenyo until he bulks up a little. This lack of aggression shows in his passivity in a low block, too.

Focus and consistency: He's still incredibly inexperienced at the top level, so naturally, it's expected that Palestra will struggle to stay switched on at all times. Again, this will come with time.

Risk-taking: Such security on the ball is a double-edged sword. Palestra is composed and safe in possession, but struggles to really slice through opponents or break lines with anything ambitious. Perhaps confidence will change that.

Palestra's ceiling

Marco Palestra is likely competing with Raoul Bellanova for Atalanta and Italy, with 32-year-old Giovanni Di Lorenzo surely not part of Gennaro Gattuso's long-term plans. Returning to Bergamo in the summer is likely, ahead of trying to establish himself for a club in European competition – if, of course, Atalanta can hold onto such a talent. Palestra has a rare profile found in only a handful of players in elite football: should he continue his excellent development, he could become one of the most valuable players in Europe.

Ezechiel Banzuzi is one of a group of exciting young Dutch midfielders breaking through in top-level European football.

With Kees Smit, Isaac Babadi and Tygo Land getting game time in the Netherlands and Belgium, Banzuzi has made the move to RB Leipzig to develop further, becoming a regular this season in Ole Werner's young side.

But who is he, and is there a future for the midfielder similar to that of former Red Bull graduates Dominik Szoboszlai and Xavi Simons? Here's your handy scout report.

So… who exactly is Ezechiel Banzuzi?

Coming through the NAC Breda academy, Banzuzi didn't spend time at any of the Eredivisie's big three as a youngster and actually left the Netherlands entirely in 2023, signing for OH Leuven in Belgium – and playing under Chris Coleman in the second half of last season. A move to Leipzig last summer certainly suggests that he was going to replace Xavi Simons, but since moving to the Bundesliga, comparisons with Ryan Gravenberch have been far more common.

A physically imposing central midfielder with power, but with the touch of a playmaker, Banzuzi a similar profile to club-mate Assan Ouedraogo: both youngsters exactly the same height, and with similar dribbling styles. Banzuzi has played as a no.6, no.8 and no.10, with each role utilising different areas of his skillset.

Banzuzi's strengths

Physicality, frame and intensity: It's not just that Ezechiel Banzuzi is 6ft 3in: he knows how to use his incredible physique. He dominates the centre of the pitch, can use his long legs to recover possession with ease and he has had no problem adapting to the physical demands of the Bundesliga already.

Ball-carrying: With such long strides comes Banzuzi's brilliance in bringing the ball forward. He is an excellent dribbler: he isn't pacy or explosive, as such, but excels in progressing the ball centrally.

Aerial ability: Banzuzi is already one of the best midfielders in Europe in the air. His aerial duel success rate is good, making him useful in set-pieces, too – both attacking and defending.

Box-crashing: Though not a natural finisher, the Dutchman has a superb sense of timing and knows exactly when to get into the box for a cut-back. This threat makes him a shoo-in for a box-to-box role, despite how capable he is in defensive midfield.

Close control: For a big man, he's got good touch. Banzuzi has great close control in tight spaces, with his background as an attacker having honed his deftness.

Banzuzi's areas of development

Decision-making: Banzuzi has played as a no.10, but more as a powerhouse used to bludgeon the opposition, rather than unpick them. He's often guilty of ‘overplaying’ in the final third, though you can blame that on a lack of exposure at the highest level – something he's getting now at Leipzig. He's only contributed a single assist in the league this season, too – something you can level at a lack of playing time.

Defensive discipline: Five yellow cards in all competitions doesn't seem particularly catastrophic – but in under 600 minutes played, it's clear Banzuzi is over-committing in challenges. His positional sense is improving, and controlling his physical power will come in time, too.

Press-resistance: Banzuzi has good control and can weave his way out of pressure, but he struggles to switch direction quickly or take the ball on the half-turn, in the face of a counter-press. His awareness of the game around him is still developing.

Banzuzi's ceiling

RB Leipzig are still very much refining Ezechiel Banzuzi as a player but the signs are good so far. Such an impressive physical profile shouldn't have a problem adapting to the Premier League, should a move ever materialise – the same can't be said for a few other big-name Bundesliga buys – though the 21-year-old needs regular game time in German football first.

Rodrigo ‘Rodri’ Mendoza is having a breakout season

After rumours that Arsenal were interested in grooming him to become the next Martin Odegaard, Mendoza obliged, swerving North London for Madrid – just as the Norwegian did as a 15-year-old – with Diego Simeone bringing him to Atletico in January.

Mendoza has taken the no.4 shirt vacated by Conor Gallagher – but is such an elegant footballer so heavily compared to Pedri, robust enough to become the centrepiece of Cholo-ball? Here's your scout report on the talent.

So… who exactly is Rodri Mendoza?

Born in Murcia, the same region of Spain as Carlos Alcaraz – the tennis guy, not the Everton guy – Rodrigo Mendoza made his senior debut in the fifth tier of Spanish football for Elche, before a promotion to the first team in 2022. With Elche surely knowing in the summer that they wouldn't be able to keep hold of Mendoza for more than another season, they moved for Inter Miami's Federico Redondo.

The pair's time in Murcia only briefly overlapped. With former Barcelona man Mateu Alemany moving to the Metropolitano to become Atleti's sporting director in October, Mendoza was the third new signing of the window (after Ademola Lookman and Obed Vargas) and the 14th of the season overall – with a view to developing him in the long-term, rather than expecting too much from him in the second half of this term. He could well be Koke's heir.

Mendoza's strengths

Spatial awareness and press resistance: Mendoza has been noted for an incredible ability to “hide” the ball when it arrives at his feet. He has a 360-degree perception of what is happening at all times and excels at collecting the ball in tight areas under pressure. Though he's primarily played as a no.8, his ability to collect from deep makes him perfect as a Busquets-esque first-phase receiver.

Progressive dribbling: Typically Spanish, eh? Rodri isn't a powerful runner, but uses his close control to weave through opponents like they're cones. At 6ft tall, he's a lot taller than Pedri – despite the comparisons.

Passing and vision: It's not just an exquisite range of passing, the playmaker has superb weight to his passing, too. He also has ‘la pausa’, to stop time on the ball and wait for the right opportunity before making a decision.

Counterpressing: Mendoza doesn't just add to a team in possession, he's incredibly hard-working off the ball and his ball-winning is excellent in a counter-press. His reading of the game means that he can anticipate play well and close down passing lanes.

Versatility: Capable of playing in any midfield role – no.6, no.8 or no.10 – Mendoza has also played as a left-winger, too, on occasion for Elche. His tactical intelligence means that he adapts quickly to games around him.

Mendoza's areas of development

Goal contributions: He's not exactly tasked with being a goalscorer, but his record currently sits at two goals a season. Developing the ability to shoot from distance or make late-box runs could be particularly useful in becoming a more complete midfielder.

Physical volume: Mendoza is still 20 years old, but right now, he doesn't have the best stamina or physical strength. He can handle himself in senior football, but expect him to mature in the next few years.

Aerial dominance: Despite his height, Mendoza doesn't win many headers at all. Learning how to position himself to win second balls will be something he picks up at Atletico.

Mendoza's ceiling

The world has changed since Spain's Golden Generation, and with the likes of Rodri, Mikel Merino and Dani Olmo embracing the physical side of the game a lot more than their predecessors, working under Diego Simeone could be the best possible thing in helping Mendoza become an all-round midfielder. Cementing himself as a Spain regular in the coming years is a realistic prospect.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder was selected to speak after Wolves' 3-0 win over West Ham United - the club's first of the 2025/26 league season.

In a broad Mancunian accent, the teenager discussed his goal and assist versus the Hammers. Little was known about the midfielder born just across the water from Portuguese capital Lisbon, close to Benfica's world-famous academy.

Since arriving into the first-team picture for Wolves this season, he has been arguably the only positive from a campaign that has tested even the most die-hard Wolves supporters, who are bound for the Championship next term.

Mateus Mane should be playing Premier League football next season - even if Wolves aren't

Mane moved to England at the age of eight and was scouted by local club Rochdale whilst representing grassroots teams in the north-west.

Despite not making a senior appearance for Rochdale, he was invited to trial with a host of top tier clubs, eventually choosing Wolves for the next stage of his development, perhaps due to the club's strong Portuguese links.

Last season, he averaged a goal or assist every 117 minutes in the U18 Premier League and his progress has accelerated since then, coming off the bench to make his senior debut at the back end of the 2024/25 campaign.

He was also the subject of two international call-ups, one by the country of his birth, Portugal, and the other from England. Mane chose to represent England's Under-18s, debuting against, who else, Portugal.

During the first half of the 2025/26 season, Mane had a sustained impact in various youth football competitions under the Wolves banner and was drafted into the first-team setup by Rob Edwards.

Since then, he has grasped the opportunity with both hands, appearing in the starting line-up regularly and registering two goals from midfield as a result.

Mane is raw but knows how to hit the target, draws fouls well and contributes positively to attacking phases. A year in the second tier will probably do him a world of good, if he stays put.

Manchester United are reportedly sniffing around Molineux, hoping to pick the Midlanders' carcass when relegation is confirmed.

The Red Devils will not be the only club who've tasked their top scouts to watch Mane, though, and there is a good chance he will be playing Premier League football next season, even if Wolves aren't.

DID YOU KNOW: Mateus Mane is Wolves' youngest Premier League goalscorer in the club's history at 18 years, 3 months and 18 days

All is not well in North London. Arsenal are exhibiting signs of a Premier League title wobble despite being the most consistent team in the division this season, while Spurs are teetering precariously above the drop zone.

Last season's 17th place finish was an embarrassment for a club of Tottenham's stature and it was hoped the arrival of Thomas Frank from Brentford in the summer would herald a return to better days. But, the Dane was unable to steer Spurs clear of trouble and paid the price with his job, just eight months after his appointment.

Following Frank's departure, Spurs moved quickly to appoint an interim head coach ahead of this weekend's North London derby with Arsenal. Igor Tudor has been installed on a temporary basis until the end of the season and the ex-Juventus coach has a job on his hands right from the off.

Tottenham's blueprint to defeat Arsenal this weekend revealed

Arsenal may have drawn each of their last two Premier League matches, including the surrender of a two-goal lead against Championship-bound Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek, but they are still a formidable opponent.

The Gunners remain on course for a first Premier League title in over 20 years and boast one of European football's best-equipped squads.

Spurs, on the other hand, have been poor at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, winning just two of their home league games so far, making this Sunday's fixture an anxiety-inducing one for supporters.

Victory in the North London derby would give Spurs a much-needed shot in the arm and foster support for the largely unknown Tudor in the dugout. Not least, it would help the team claw their way out of a relegation battle which in recent weeks has threatened to absorb them.

Tottenham are likely to see less of the ball, despite being the home side, but this has the potential to play into their hands, particularly as Arsenal's resolve appears to have been shaken lately.

Spurs have scored 10 headed goals in the league this season, which is more than every other side in the division except Chelsea (10) and set-piece kings Arsenal (12).

The Gunners' 16 set-piece goals this term is the most in the league, but Spurs' 13 accounts for over a third of their goal tally, suggesting they are rather adept in this regard. The two teams have conceded seven apiece from set-play situations, which is less than most other sides.

What should Igor Tudor do in the North London derby?

The Croatian should, simply, go back to basics. Spurs have one of the Premier League's best crossers of a ball in Pedro Porro, who is in contention to return from a hamstring injury this weekend and trying to play Arsenal off the park will likely end in disaster.

In Dominic Solanke and Richarlison - depending on if the latter is fit - Spurs have two centre-forwards more than capable of competing well aerially, too.

Arsenal dropped yet more points away to Wolves in midweek, succumbing to Tom Edozie's late, ricocheted equaliser after a mix-up between David Raya and Gabriel. The Gunners pair both challenged for a Mateus Mane cross, getting in each other's way, which presented Edozie with the opportunity to level proceedings in stoppage time. Mikel Arteta's side have now dropped 21 points from winning positions this season.

As a player, Tudor was known for his brawn and instilling that into his new players could go a long way to helping the team secure a result against their arch-rivals.

Furthermore, Arsenal's seven set-piece concessions this season accounts for 35 per cent of the goals they've conceded in the league. Routines are highly coachable and with well over a week between Tudor's appointment and Sunday's fixture, there will have been plenty of time to work on how best to punish the Gunners.

Ironically, Tudor has been handed a timely blueprint on how to defeat Spurs' rivals, by Arsenal themselves. The team buckled under Wolves' late pressure and it was a looping cross which foiled Arteta's best-laid plans to go seven points clear at the top.

Additionally, Arsenal's lead could have shrunk to two points by the time they take to the field on Sunday afternoon, if Manchester City defeat Newcastle on Saturday evening, only adding to the pressure on Spurs' visitors.

Growing up happens to us all. Hangovers linger a little longer on a Sunday morning. Framemogging passes you by and means absolutely nothing.

And things slowly but surely become a little less exciting. Nearly four years ago, now, Arsenal went to Roy Hodgson's Watford (uh-huh, that really happened – even Claudio Ranieri managed them at one point), and despite conceding two unnecessary goals, put on a bit of a show. It was a display of Granit Xhaka in a more positive role, Martin Odegaard roaming around and both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli cutting inside.

It feels like a long time ago. Four years is a long time in football. But it's a sign of growing up. Games that felt like opportunities to make statements have become chores for this Arsenal team. Their Premier League season is essentially a countdown.

A trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday was not supposed to raise a pulse. It was a footnote in a television schedule dominated by the Champions League: if you were a neutral, you would be forgiven for not knowing it was even on. The perfect match, the perfect occasion, for being just a little bit boring.

Goal difference is nice – but growing up is knowing that it's more important to conserve energy, ensure that you get the job done and put in a professional display, holding the team 19 places below you at arm's length. After all, as Rob Edwards said after the game, the pressure was on the visitors.

Yes, the majority of the night was boring enough. Arsenal started quickly with a Bukayo Saka header, and then looked to manage the match, allowing Wolves possession, safe in the knowledge that Edwards' side were up against arguably the best defence in Europe. Until the 90th minute, the bedlam of a Wolves equaliser, players on either side squaring up with one another, and Gabriels Jesus and Magalhaes remonstrating with anyone who would give them the time of day.

In his post-match press conference, even manager Mikel Arteta didn't defend his players' mentality, claiming, “Any question, any criticism, any opinion, you have to take it on the chin today: anybody can be right because we didn't do what we had to do.” Arsenal legend, Paul Merson, meanwhile, said he was “worried” about the Basque's reaction, claiming, “I can’t put my finger on it, but something is missing.”

Never mind the end of the season: Arsenal take on Tottenham in the North London Derby on Sunday, and it's going to be a long few days of discourse over whether Arsenal have the stomach to hold onto their top spot. The same few words are already flying about. Bottle. Mentality. Fight.

Yet the issue isn't in Arsenal's heads at all. The issue is out on the pitch.

The league leaders were outfought and outplayed by Brentford last time out, and by Wolves this. The most physically dominant team in the league are looking weaker by the week – and they've painted themselves into a style where they can't seem to play through teams anymore. What on Earth is going on?

Arsenal had four shots on target at Molineux. Last week, fans were bemoaning Gabriel Martinelli's missed chance to grab all three points at the Gtech – but the fact remains: Premier League winners shouldn't need to rely on such small margins. It simply looks incredibly unusual, for the best team in the league (supposedly), to score after five minutes against the worst team in the league (supposedly) and struggle to go for the jugular in the first half.

Liverpool and Manchester City created so much more when they were going for trophies – and given that they had the likes of Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah, they probably didn't need to create so much.

Arteta has Viktor Gyokeres. While his performance in front of goal has been debatable, he hasn't competed physically either. Arsenal were actually penned in by Wolves for swathes of the second half and couldn't get out, because every time they used the Swede as a pressure valve, he couldn't make the ball stick. This is a team that seriously misses Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino, with no physical outlet to get them upfield.

What a strange problem for an Arsenal side. It never used to be way – even under Arteta. Yes, Arsenal have matured in the last few seasons – but when this team first suggested they could compete for a trophy, they were capable of squeezing teams into submission with movement, pace and tempo: last-gasp winners were a staple, with Arteta moving to a 3-5-2 late in games to batter opponents. They still had Gabriel Jesus, perhaps Eddie Nketiah up front.

Nowadays, Arsenal just cross and hope against a low block, seemingly manufacturing set-piece-esque opportunities. It's as if they've coached out the expression. The play is too slow. There is very little unpredictability. Bukayo Saka has been given an opportunity at no.10 – and it's been a welcome sight – but the attack is looking stagnant. More teams sit back against Arsenal, granted, but Arsenal don't do enough to move their opponent around.

And that's the kicker. When Manchester City came to the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, Pep Guardiola did something he had never done before. He sat back. He soaked up the pressure. He had no intention of controlling the game against Arsenal – and Arsenal took it as a compliment. It was a sign of how much this group had grown up that the mighty Catalan respected his rivals that much.

But perhaps that was a lie. Perhaps Guardiola knew that if he sat in two blocks of five against this Arsenal side, they simply wouldn't break his team down. And he was right: the equaliser came from the split second that City lost their shape.

It may be a straight shootout between the two sides as to who lifts the Premier League title. Maybe it should, too: this is a team that needs a statement win if they're going to get their hands on silverware, and there haven't been many of those this season against top teams in the league.

It'll probably come down to the game at the Etihad. Pundits will question Arsenal's bottle, mentality and fight. But the fact is alarmingly different. Arsenal are not good enough tactically right now. If they lose the title, it will lost on the pitch, and not in their heads.

Dastan Satpayev's story is straight out of Hollywood, or Football Manager, depending on your cultural reference points.

Arguably the biggest thing in Kazakhstani football since bursting on the scene with Kairat Almaity (no, it wasn't a particularly big argument), Satpayev has gotten his chance in the Champions League this season from near the Chinese border – and will join Chelsea this summer when he turns 18.

So who is the teenage sensation? Let's have a look, in a quick scout report.

So… who exactly is Dastan Satpayev?

Already heralded as perhaps the greatest talent that Kazakhstan has ever seen, Dastan Satpayev first turned heads as a youngster in 2023 and 2024, netting 27 and assisting 10 times in 28 matches in Kazakhstan's biggest youth league. Naturally, Chelsea snapped him up for around €4 million, as part of their pledge to sign just about any teenager with world-class potential before anyone else.

This one might just be the real deal, though. Satpayev has parts of his game that can't be taught, and as the youngest player to ever debut for the Kazakh senior team, he's already been capped seven times for a burgeoning footballing nation. He's tipped for huge things.

Satpayev's strengths

Acceleration and separation: The difference between good strikers and elite strikers is often down to how quickly they can get their shots off, and Chelsea were clearly convinced by Satpayev due to how easily he shrugs off defenders. That burst of pace is frightening, with the teenager able to get five yards away from his markers in mere seconds, ready to shoot.

Ambipedality: He's primarily right-footed but when the ball falls to him in a split second, Satpayev can generate power and precision on either foot. An underrated plus for a box-dweller.

Off-ball work: Not only does Satpayev have an excellent instinct for knowing when to dart to the front post for a cut-back, he also has the work ethic to keep on doing it, again and again. This willingness to flog himself off the ball is particularly handy in the press, too, with the teenager offering intensity in closing down markers.

Ability against a low block: What Satpayev lacks in height, he makes up for in his agility and balance. He has a low centre of gravity, thrives in tight spaces and when up against a deeper block, he can pick a lock well to find a yard where there isn't one. Sergio Aguero comparisons are apt.

Link-up play: Satpayev is extremely comfortable running in behind, but just as keen to come short and link play. He's not the strongest nor the tallest, but has the intelligence to exchange quick, short passes and drag markers out for team-mates to exploit space.

Satpayev's areas of development

Hold-up play: A lack of any real height really does limit Satpayev's capability as a centre-forward, as he relies on winning second balls and using his pressing to win long balls. A lack of strength means a difficulty in holding up the ball, too, though: he is often outmuscled in duels and will have to either work on his core strength or find solutions when he gets bullied.

Discipline: Three yellow cards in five Champions League fixtures points to an over-enthusiasm that will have to be tamed – but that discipline extends to tracking back and positioning himself in a low- or mid-block. It will come with time.

Consistency: Satpayev tends to score in short bursts. That's not unusual, especially for his age, but it does back up the eye test: his game can fluctuate between keeping it simpler and taking high volumes of shots. He needs to find a happy medium.

Satpayev's ceiling

Joining Chelsea can be a roll of the dice for a young player: for every Cole Palmer, there's a David Datro Fofana, still waiting for an opportunity to impress. Satpayev is still incredibly young and joining the loan army seems highly probable for his immediate development – but his high-intensity style means that there's a good chance he can thrive in Europe.

Richard Rios is going to have a very busy 12 months.

Having signed for Benfica from Palmeiras in the summer, the midfield schemer went straight from the Club World Cup, to European football, with a World Cup with Colombia on the horizon, too.

If you've not watched him, here's your quick scout report on what to expect from the 25-year-old.

So… who exactly is Richard Rios?

A former futsal player who left his home in Vegachi, Colombia, with nothing but a backpack and a dream, Rios wound up in Sao Paolo via Rio De Janeiro, where he initially impressed for Guarani and Palmeiras.

The idea of a ‘complete’ midfielder is thrown around these days – but the Colombian international is unbelievably well-rounded and has played as a no.6, a no.8 and further forward, due to his typically South American skillset: not only is Rios combative enough to bully anyone in the centre of the park, he has the deftness of a diminutive controller. It's as if someone took elements of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

Rios's strengths

Close control and press resistance: Giving the ball to Rios is akin to locking it in a safe. The Colombian is diligent in possession, and with excellent close control, he's superb at coming deep to receive from the backline, even against an aggressive counterpress.

Progressive ball-carrying: Rios ranks highly for progressive carries in Europe. His natural inclination is to bring the ball forward through the centre of the pitch and, using that great control, isn't afraid to run through congested areas to disrupt an opposition's shape.

Physical presence and engine: At over 6ft and with good core strength, Rios is capable of playing box-to-box, providing midfield energy and intensity at the highest level.

Duel-winning: Not only is Rios a high-volume ball-winner when it comes to tackling, he ranks highly for tackles and interceptions at the elite level, and can compete for headers, too, with a good aerial duel success rate. He has a rare combination of flair and fire.

Passing: Rios is technically secure on the ball: his short passing is almost faultless, while he's capable of sweeping diagonals, too.

Rios's areas of development

Discipline: Often, Rios overcommits. He commits plenty of offences with his all-action style and isn't afraid of a yellow card: it's not something that you'd want to coach out of him completely, but learning the art of the tactical foul would be hugely beneficial to his game.

Goals and assists: He can arrive late in the box and his passing is secure – but often, final balls evade Rios. If he could start to deliver numbers in the final third on top of his work in the middle, he could leap to the next level.

Concentration: Rios still has lapses of concentration in-game, such as holding onto the ball for too long or finding himself out of position in transition. Given that he's only played in Europe for a little over six months, this is entirely natural and something that will clean up over time.

Rios's ceiling

As proven under Jose Mourinho this season, Richard Rios is a Champions League-level player and more than capable of moving to an ambitious Premier League side in Europe. There are parallels with Rodrigo De Paul, and he's exactly the kind of player you could see Atletico Madrid going for.

Basically every elite football club in Europe has a file on Francolino Dju.

In an age of essentially everything being known in football these days, the Midtjylland man might just be the best-kept striking secret in the European game, having left Benfica's academy and thrived in Denmark.

Let's fill you in: here's your quick scout report on the 21-year-old.

So… who exactly is Franculino Dju?

Born in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Franculino blazed youth football in Portugal at Benfica and was snapped up by Midtjylland in 2023 as a 19-year-old. He's fast become the best player in Scandinavian football right now, combining the frame and gait of a classy winger with the ruthlessness of a predator in the final third.

But if it's statistics that move you, his are impressive. 54 goals for the Jutland giants in 103 games – that's 13 in 26 European fixtures, and 38 in 72 in the league – is a robotic output. He's started this term with 16 in 17 Superliga fixtures. Surely he'll get his move before long.

Franculino's strengths

High volume shooting and striker's instinct: Franculino is a natural striker. He gets plenty of shots away and does so quickly and efficiently, with his decision-making good enough to know when to pull the trigger. His numbers are no fluke: he takes his chances, and he gives himself plenty of them.

Acceleration over the first 10 yards: Having a striker who can destroy a high line is one thing, but Franculino has something perhaps more valuable in explosiveness. He generates separation incredibly well and has electric acceleration: of course, he's played on the wing.

Shielding the ball: Franculino has excellent core strength when it comes to holding the ball up, using his 6ft frame effectively. He's very good at pinning centre-backs, too.

Pressing and fitness: With a good engine and diligence to press effectively, Franculino has been Midtjylland's first line of defence in the Superliga, hunting down defenders building out from the back. It's easy to see how he could adapt to a top-five league.

Intelligence of movement: The Bissau-Guinean has a knack of always finding himself in the right place at the right time, thanks to timing his runs to a tee. He frequently cuts across the blindside of defenders – and when he finds himself out on the wing, can use his pace to break in from the right.

Franculino's areas of development

Aerial duelling: Despite his height, Franculino is not a renowned header of the ball. The 21-year-old isn't the kind of target man that Midtjylland go long to; instead, he's more valuable chasing a second ball.

Link-up play: With the lack of a final ball and limited creativity in his box of tricks, Franculino isn't a complete striker right now. He has the physique and intelligence to certainly develop that a little further, though.

One-footedness: Franculino is incredibly reliant on his left foot. This may pose questions about his ability to get shots off quickly in a better league, if he's constantly trying to shift the ball away from his right foot.

Franculino's ceiling

Franculino is perhaps the most promising forward in Europe outside the top five leagues. There are clear comparisons with Viktor Gyokeres' ruthless style – but though a move back to Portugal could unlock similar levels of output from Franculino, the 21-year-old is a little more promising at generating his own chances. Alexander Isak comparisons are hopeful – but Franculino is a Champions League-level striker in waiting, for sure.

It is perhaps a harsh statistic given the context of the season for Liverpool, but Arne Slot’s side now have fewer points in their last 20 games than Roy Hodgson managed during his 20-game stint as Reds’ boss.

Slot’s Liverpool have won just six of their last 20 Premier League games (30 per cent win ratio, arguably relegation form) and sit sixth, four points outside of the Champions League places.

Had referee Craig Pawson allowed Manchester City’s third goal instead of dismissing Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool would have finished the weekend in seventh, behind Brentford on goal difference.

The reigning champions now have as many league defeats this season as Everton, who sit only two points behind and could move ahead of their neighbours with a win on Tuesday night at home to Bournemouth.

“A feeling of anger, a feeling of disappointment, of course,” reflected a frustrated Slot in his post-match press conference.

“We are getting there, if you compare this to three or four months ago,” said Slot. “You see so much improvement, but the issue is you don't see this improvement in the league table and that is always the most important reflection of where you are.”

Slot’s right in a way. For half an hour, this was a markedly improved performance from Liverpool compared to the one in which they were resoundingly beaten at the Etihad in the reverse fixture in November. That 3-0 defeat saw just one shot on target for the Reds, who went on to lose the next two games by three goals, too (Nottingham Forest and PSV).

The head coach rightly pointed out that his side raised the intensity after the interval, but the problem for Slot is that you can’t win football matches by playing well for just 30 minutes.

You also can’t rely on “individual special moments” as the Dutchman had phrased earlier in the season. Szoboszlai certainly provided such a moment, but then Slot’s side dropped so deep and City’s equaliser seemed inevitable.

To be 1-0 up, backed by a strong Anfield crowd, with 83 minutes on the clock, and still lose, it’s not something Liverpool fans have been used to in the past decade.

Anfield used to be a fortress. Here, City walked away with their first win at Anfield in front of fans since 2003.

For Liverpool, who were again out-run by their opponent, it was their fifth home defeat of the season. In their last six home games they’ve won three; against Barnsley, Qarabag and Newcastle.

Losing, or not winning, at Anfield has been normalised and that in itself should ring alarm bells.

Of course, this result can be explained when viewed individually and in context, given that it also comes with the absence of five first-team players. But then most defeats in football can be accepted when taken only in isolation. When you add results together and see a trend, it’s far more concerning - and Liverpool’s results are far more than a poor run of form, approaching a year since defeat in the Champions League to PSG and the Carabao Cup final that signalled a seeming turning point.

A trip to Sunderland on Wednesday now looks more difficult without player of the season, Szoboszlai.

Liverpool sources, one such unnamed one in an article in the Times over the weekend, continue to back Slot, while sporting director Richard Hughes has also publicly spoken recently in support of the head coach.

In the same interview, chief executive Billy Hogan said: “This has been a challenging last several months, but I think there’s an element of patience which is required – difficult in the world we live in.”

How long will that patience last if Liverpool continue to drop away from the Champions League qualification places?

As Jamie Carragher assessed post-match: “I think if Liverpool continue the way they are with a front four and games end-to-end, I don't see how they can make the Champions League positions, at all. But no matter what he [Slot] does, the make-up of this squad, the balance of the team and the squad is not right. It never looks stable, they never look in control.”

Controlled football was what Slot brought to Liverpool last season en route to winning the league, but now, without such control, there’s a lack of identity or strength to the side.

With Manchester United and Chelsea winning again after changes in their dugouts, Slot needs more than a change of fortune to ensure patience continues to the end of the season and into the summer.

Rejoice, Manchester United fans: you have a new manager who has played for the club before. Finally, someone who understands what Old Trafford is about and won't be about to bring any of that three-at-the-back rubbish with him.

Manchester United seem to oscillate wildly between philosophy: David Moyes, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Jose Mourinho were all ‘traditional’ in their tactics, their aura and their will to firmly replicate the Sir Alex Ferguson model for how to manage in the Premier League, with Louis van Gaal, Ralf Rangnick and Ruben Amorim continental choices designed to bring fresh, modern ideas to a club gone stale.

And so, Old Trafford's overton window has shifted back again towards a former Ferguson disciple, with fans wanting to see ‘United DNA’ once again with Michael Carrick. But will the former midfielder even bother to offer the style of play that United fans yearn for?

How will Michael Carrick play at Manchester United?

Whisper it, but Michael Carrick plays with a back three… only in build-up, though. Most often at Middlesbrough, Carrick would operate with a 4-2-3-1, which would morph into a 3-2-5 shape.

One full-back would push on into the line of attack, with another staying behind in the back three: as you can see below, that's the left-back who's bombed ahead, with the right-back building up. The two midfielders would then roam, waiting to pick up the ball from the backline and progress forwards. It's all very modern and Pep Guardiola, isn't it?

There are other similarities with the sky blue side of Manchester. Like most modern coaches – including Pep, yes – Carrick set up his side in a 4-4-2 shape out of possession, with markers pressing zonally.

The Boro boss wanted to be pressed, too. Carrick would often ask for three or four defenders to stay deep and invite pressure during goal-kicks, even with one of Dan Barlaser or Jonny Howson dropping from the double-pivot between the two centre-backs.

No, it's not particularly ‘United DNA’. Those who want attacking football may be pleased to see that no one scored more goals than Boro during Carrick's first season. They ranked high for possession, so there's certainly the intention to be protagonists with the ball.

But according to Opta, Middlesbrough were the third-slowest team in terms of attack during 2022/23. Yes, the stats bods caveat that by adding that, “Only Coventry had more shots from fast breaks than them (21)”.

This isn't their Unai Emery: it's certainly not a second coming of Sir Alex. It's more like Enzo Maresca or Mikel Arteta. United, like others before them, have fallen down the positional play pipeline (not that it's the worst thing in the world).

Who are the winners and losers of Michael Carrick becoming United boss?

Perhaps it's damning on Amorim's philosophy that the biggest winners are the attackers and the biggest losers are the defenders.

There's one fewer centre-back spot up for grabs now, Manuel Ugarte has lost the man who got the best out of him at Sporting, and Bruno Fernandes could well be finally free of playing a deep-lying midfield position, re-deployed as a no.10 at last.

Patrick Dorgu is a big winner, as one of the more dynamic full-backs who will surely be tasked with the role of being the more advanced of the two: Amad Diallo, meanwhile, is surely a loser of Carrick's arrival, given that Amorim's entire system seemingly only benefited him at times.

He will surely have to now play as a right-winger – and compete with Bryan Mbeumo – or be the advanced full-back under the new boss… and he's not really a full-back. Other big casualties would depend on how Carrick adapts his template at Old Trafford: Luke Shaw can surely only play the more conservative full-back role these days, Mason Mount is a fit for left-wing or no.10 depending on whether Fernandes or Cunha start, and several centre-backs (such as Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro) might have futures as full-backs if the other full-back in the system is more attacking.

Arguably the biggest question, however, is around Kobbie Mainoo – and it's not certain that Carrick will rely on him any more than Amorim did.

The 3-2-5 build-up shape of United resembles Amorim's. There are stark differences between how the two managers get to that shape but Mainoo remains likely to play as one of those ‘2’ – and considering he is better suited to a three-man midfield, Carrick may be as reluctant as his predecessor to place the youngster in such an exposed role.

He'll have to hit the ground running: Manchester United take on Manchester City this weekend when Premier League action resumes.

Conor Gallagher appears destined for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this month with a fee reportedly agreed between Spurs and Spanish giants Atletico.

Gallagher has spent the past 18 months in Spain's capital working under respected Atleti boss Diego Simeone but is now set for a return to London with Thomas Frank's Spurs.

Tottenham find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table and out of both domestic cups, although the team are expected to progress to the knockout rounds of this season's Champions League.

Conor Gallagher signing doesn't solve Spurs' biggest problem

Frank's tenure has not gone to plan thus far, with the team struggling to fashion chances, in particular. Spurs have also punched above their weight in terms of goals scored versus Expected Goals (xG), which is widely regarded as an unsustainable practice.

The North Londoners have recorded the fourth-lowest xG tally in the Premier League this season, but have managed to score 30 goals. Their overperformance is partly down to strong finishing but this cannot be relied upon to continue throughout the second half of 2025/26.

Therefore, the signing of Gallagher has drawn criticism from some corners of the club's support, that they are signing a player deemed too similar to current midfield starter Joao Palhinha.

That is not strictly the case and Rodrigo Bentancur's three-month injury lay-off has necessitated the anticipated Gallagher purchase. The ex-Chelsea midfielder is more box-to-box than his Portuguese counterpart and has scored seven goals in 77 appearances for Atletico, but there certainly are similarities to their respective styles.

Whilst Palhinha is regarded as more combative, Gallagher can be trusted to transport the ball upfield more frequently and with greater success. Neither player is particularly effective at progressing the ball with their passing ability, though, which could be cause for concern for Frank.

Similarly, Palhinha and Gallagher are not prolific chance creators, which is hardly likely to help address their xG overperformance.

Alternatives in the middle of the park Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray are all lacking somewhat in the progressive passing department, placing in the 20th, 14th and 2nd percentile, respectively.

Gallagher is an improvement, ranking in the 31st percentile, however, it is still evidently not a strength of his.

Granted, Spurs' ball progression tends to come from the flanks with Pedro Porro and Djed Spence scoring favourably compared to their midfield teammates, but nullify these avenues and opponents will know that Spurs' ball progression through the middle relies on ball-carrying as opposed to line-breaking passes. Once an opposition manager realises this, it is easier to formulate a plan to stop it.

In FourFourTwo's opinion, the Gallagher signing mitigates for Bentancur's injury which can be seen as a positive, but the squad does need a different profile in the centre of midfield, which the 25-year-old arrival from Atletico isn't entirely.

Antoine Semenyo scored a stunning 95th-minute winner in what proved his final touch as an AFC Bournemouth player, prior to a reported £62.5m move to Manchester City.

The Ghana international’s name rang out around the Vitality Stadium as he was substituted moments after crashing a right-footed drive beyond the reach of Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, as he signed off in style.

The night, which ultimately belonged to Bournemouth and Semenyo, had started well for the visitors, who went in front after just five minutes through Mathys Tel. The Cherries levelled 17 minutes later when Evanilson headed home from a Marcus Tavernier cross, though.

'Dr Tottenham will see you now'

Eli Junior Kroupi then scored his seventh goal of the season – and his second in as many matches – on 36 minutes as the home side turned the game on its head.

Spurs saw the awarding of a 72nd-minute penalty overturned by VAR before equalising six minutes later through a stunning overhead kick from João Palhinha.

And the visitors nearly grabbed an 84th-minute winner but Micky van de Ven was denied by an incredible save from Djordje Petrovic.

There were 27 shots from the two teams combined during a lively match in which a late winner always felt like a distinct possibility. And Semenyo duly obliged, with the most perfect of parting gifts.

Here’s a look at five things we learned from a pulsating night of Premier League football on the south coast…

‘Dr Tottenham’ cures once again

‘Receiving a visit from Dr Tottenham’.

That is how Spurs fans describe the phenomenon of out-of-form teams getting their season back on track with a much-needed result against their team. Understandably, those supporters would have shuddered at the prospect of facing an AFC Bournemouth on an 11-game winless run in the Premier League…

'Dr Tottenham' has reared his ugly head on more than one occasion this season. Wolverhampton Wanderers – on a run of five straight league defeats – picked up their first point of a disastrous season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 27th September.

Fulham meanwhile went into matchday 13 of the Premier League campaign with the joint-worst away record in the division before they ran out 2-1 winners in N17.

And prior to this game at the Vitality Stadium, the Cherries hadn’t collected three points since 26th October. Cynical Spurs fans will say a visit from 'Dr Tottenham' was always going to be the perfect tonic for Bournemouth.

Creative block

Thomas Frank’s managerial reign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been blighted by a significant lack of creativity from his side.

In their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in November, Spurs recorded an xG of just 0.1 – the second-lowest total recorded by a club since Opta began recording Expected Goals at the start of the 2012/13 season.

Prior to this game, Frank’s side had attempted a Premier League low of just nine through balls all season. The teams with the second lowest tally, Wolves and Leeds United, had both attempted 15 each while, at the other end of the scale, Manchester City had managed 73.

After 21 Premier League matches this season meanwhile, Spurs have averaged 10.2 shots per game, with 3.4 on target - the fifth and sixth lowest tallies in the division.

There were some sparks of invention from Spurs at the Vitality Stadium, including Mathys Tel’s run and shot that led to their opener. But ultimately, their lack of cutting edge cost them. Of their 16 attempts on the night, just four were on target.

Tel you what

Just two days after Brennan Johnson completed his move to Crystal Palace, Mohammed Kudus was substituted after sustaining an injury in Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Sunderland. The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath reported that “scans showed Mohammed Kudus was worse than first feared”, adding to the club’s attacking woes.

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison haven’t featured for Spurs all season due to injury, while Dominic Solanke has been absent since August with an ankle problem.

“I think it's pretty fair to say that we are maybe a little bit short on offensive options,” said Frank in his pre-Bournemouth press conference. “I think also it's fair [to say], there's no one who's really grabbed that shirt on the left-hand side. So, I think that's definitely up for grabs.”

On the evidence of his performance at the Vitality Stadium, Mathys Tel could make that left-sided role his own. The Frenchman has had something of a stop-start career with Spurs since joining, initially on loan, from Bayern Munich last February.

The chance to start regularly could be the opportunity Tel needs to reproduce the kind of displays he showed at Rennes and for France at various youth levels that ultimately led to a big money move to Bayern in 2022.

Kroupi again

Speaking of talented Frenchmen, Eli Junior Kroupi has been a standout performer for AFC Bournemouth this season.

The 19-year-old scored an absolute worldie against Arsenal last time out and showed his striker’s instinct against Spurs to get in the middle of the six-yard-box to score from Marcos Senesi’s cut back for his seventh goal of the season.

Kroupi cost a reported £10m last February, which looks like another bargain buy for the Cherries. Bournemouth made huge profits on the sales of Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Dango Ouattara earlier in the season – as they have done with Antoine Semenyo's move to Manchester City. Kroupi will surely have a large sell-on value of his own should he ever depart the Vitality Stadium.

Fairytale ending

The last word on this game has to go to Semenyo.

On his 26th birthday, the London-born winger delivered what his manager, Andoni Iraola, described as a “perfect moment”, adding “he is one of the best players I’ve coached”.

His strike against Spurs is his 32nd for Bournemouth in what was his 110th and final appearance for the club.

Seldom does greatness present itself to us straight away. It shouldn’t, should it?

You wouldn’t have called Lionel Messi a ‘great’ when he first got a piggyback off Ronaldinho, for example. Greatness has to be earned. It takes time to cook: from Kendrick to Kubrick, few get it perfect from the get-go, as knocks and knacks will fell and form, respectively.

There are so few geniuses who have emerged as the finished product and rode on an almost-linear trajectory – even with the finest education – and watching to see how they’ll develop: that’s the fun of talent-spotting. The endless possibilities, the sky being the limit: wonderkids bring our natural footballing instincts to dream big against all established wisdom and experience, and end up disappointed.

With this in mind, and with Arsenal seemingly stacked with generational golden boys in recent seasons, it’s odd now to look back at how Bukayo Saka burst onto the scene. There was little fanfare. None of the fireworks of a Dowman or a Nwaneri, no skyscraper-sized hype, elaborate YouTube video titles or claims of this – THIS – being England’s Messi.

So when Saka first stepped out in a senior Arsenal shirt against Vorskla Poltava – a Scrabble answer as much as a Pointless one – it was just another debut. He was good. But with respect, so were Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Youngsters who came through Arsenal’s academy during Unai Emery’s era were strange cases, unleashed with all the authenticity in the cause of a step-parent dropping slang. Was Unai really locked in with these guys, believing in their ability to challenge the elite? Or was it simply that he really didn’t like Mesut Ozil?

Watching Saka’s early days, you’d have been brave to bet on him becoming Arsenal’s greatest player of the last 20 years by the age of 24. But hey, that’s where we are.

Bukayo Saka is the greatest player Arsenal have had since moving to the Emirates Stadium. Seriously.

For a while, the competition to become the Emirates GOAT felt a little like a Goal of the Month award where most of the entrants were penalties or own goals. Thierry Henry led Arsenal from Highbury up the road to their brave new world, his best days firmly behind him – and with just 12 goals in his final season (before another two on loan in a swift reprise), he can consider himself Arsenal’s greatest-ever, but not of this specific era. Neither can Gilberto Silva, really, or Freddie Ljungberg. Instead, the real candidates begin with the titans who stepped out from the shadows of the Invincibles.

Cesc Fabregas was the Emirates’ first true idol and re-shaped Arsene Wenger’s philosophical direction to a Subbuteo-style pass-and-move style – but he abandoned ship before lifting a trophy as captain, winning the league at Chelsea instead. Undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in the world while in North London, his time in red-and-white is tinged with what could have been – likewise, Robin van Persie sullied his legacy with his exit, and though he also reached a level that arguably no Arsenal striker has since, he never posted more than 11 league goals a season before his final two campaigns, which were essentially warm-ups for winning Manchester United a title.

Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were Galactico-style buys, and each delivered some of the best performances the Emirates has ever seen – along with trophies – but again, more was expected, either rightly or wrongly. None of them feels like a quintessential Arsenal player, perhaps due to how divisive they were, while ‘true’ Arsenal players like, Andrey Arshavin or Tomas Rosicky, burned bright but sporadically. Aaron Ramsey scored two cup-winning goals but never got the love of Jack Wilshere; Santi Cazorla was a fan favourite, but was defined by his absence as much as his impact. Olivier Giroud won everything in football – but most of it after leaving Arsenal, who spent most of his Gunners career trying to upgrade him.

Being the best isn’t the same as being the greatest, though. Greatness encapsulates heart and mind; otherwise, we’d label any old showpony as a superstar. Messi isn’t the GOAT because of what he does, but what he means; that Arctic Monkeys debut album is astonishing in spite of its imperfections, because of what it evokes, and will likely forever be preferred to the more polished AM.

So while Fabregas, Van Persie or Ozil may well take the technical title as Arsenal’s best player since 2006, they can’t compete with what Bukayo Saka represents in N5. Football needs to move us. Culture matters, otherwise frankly, what the f**k is the point of it?

And anyway, he is world-class, so there – and he may already go down as Arsenal’s greatest-ever right-winger. There has arguably never been a player as adored by Gooners, and yes, that includes Henry. And why that is, isn’t blindingly obvious from the outside.

100 goals and assists in your first 200 games helps, but it never guarantees love. The combination of grace, guile, maturity and composure, meanwhile, is a bewitching one to watch: Saka is everything that George Graham and Arsene Wenger distilled as what an Arsenal player should be. But then so was Jakub Kiwior by that logic. Mikel Arteta himself had those traits as a player, and he wasn’t adored even half as much as some of the players he’s signed.

The love goes even deeper than that. Saka stepped into senior football when Arsenal were on their knees. He was quality, as stated, but wasn’t the most precociously gifted footballer that fans had ever seen – and yet he still assumed the Atlas role of carrying the club on his shoulders. He has been at the very core of every defining moment that Arsenal have enjoyed and endured in the past six years and has been a beacon through tough times and triumph.

It may be that Arsenal fans love Saka simply because he saved him, because he’s their best player or because of his local connection: it could be his humility, or how he’s never been afraid to show his vulnerability. It’s probably a combination – while the efforts that Arteta has made to engage the fanbase have no doubt helped to foster connections with every player in that dressing room in a way that Arteta himself never experienced when he captained his own Gunners team.

But Saka is Arsenal’s greatest player since moving to the Emirates Stadium because he’s the embodiment of the club’s values. He’s not just great because he’s good: he wasn’t the first man to captain this club in this ground, it matters not that he doesn’t have the vision of a Fabregas or a rocket shot of a Van Persie.

Because he’s something more. Bukayo Saka is the kind of person and player that the Emirates stadium was built to hold aloft because he represents. He simply is Arsenal. As much as Henry, Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp or anyone else.

Liverpool in 2025/26 are an entirely different proposition to the high-octane football, with fast starts that raised the crowd and created a frenetic atmosphere en route to last season's Premier League triumph. Those things are no longer a trademark of the Reds in their current guise.

In fact, Arne Slot’s side have failed to score in the first half of 12 of their 19 Premier League games so far this season. In 15 games at Anfield, in all competitions, there’s been seven blanks at half-time.

No wonder, then, that the atmosphere was pretty flat as a Leeds side set up at Anfield with a clear game plan. Daniel Farke’s side were organised and disciplined, comfortable even at restricting a Liverpool side who struggle to break down a low block, something Slot himself admitted post-match.

Liverpool's latest Anfield disappointment sees Reds draw yet another blank

“To create chances against a low block you need pace, individual special moments to create an overload. You don't see a lot of 15-to-20-passes goals against low blocks,” he explained.

Slot cited two ways to unlock a 'team that's defending so well in and around their box' - those being either a set-piece or a 'moment of magic.' He added that another way is "from a counter-attack or winning the ball back high up the pitch when they want to bring the ball out from the back.”

That winning of the ball high up is less likely with Liverpool’s far from energetic press. Intensity was a buzzword under Klopp and his assistant Pepijn Lijnders but this Liverpool side now show a lack of it. When players press, it’s often easily bypassed by the opposition.

Leeds’ plan, with in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the bench, was hardly difficult to understand.

If they remained in their deep block, Liverpool would struggle, then look to capitalise on long throws and set pieces, especially late on after introducing the former Everton striker.

It was Leeds, having claimed their first clean sheet away from home, who were celebrating a point at full time, while Liverpool fans welcomed the New Year by watching their team fail to win a home game for the sixth time in their last 10 attempts.

Kopites aren’t exactly entertained. Via statistician Michael Reid, in home games against Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Wolves, the Reds have registered 77 shots but created just four Opta-defined ‘big chances’.

No wonder, then, that Slot seems increasingly frustrated every time his side comes up against a team that deploys a low defensive block.

“Ball possession means not a lot if you cannot create enough chances,” he said.

The problem is, Slot has made it abundantly clear how to frustrate him and his team. Every opponent knows how to restrict Liverpool, and Slot not only appears unable to find a solution but even speaks openly about the only solution being reliant on individual brilliance or a set piece.

The Anfield Atmosphere Problem

Liverpool’s atmosphere can be great, as evidenced time and again, most recently at the back end of last season when celebrating the first league title with fans after 35 years.

But Slot’s style of play, and seeming refusal to buy into the power and energy of the Anfield crowd is wasting a unique weapon that he could have at his disposal.

Very early on in his time at the club, the Dutchman discussed this with Jamie Carragher after the former player noticed what he called a “strange” atmosphere in Slot’s first home game in charge. “Normally it starts off with the players putting in a lot of work rate and being real intense and then the fans go behind it,” said Slot, while asking Carragher what he felt.

Clearly, though, Slot doesn’t put much emphasis on looking for a fast start that can feed into the energy in the stands and in turn fuel the players.

Fast starts have been replaced by slow openings, players holding the ball to decipher the pressing triggers of the opponent. It’s not what Liverpool fans, or the players, have been accustomed to.

There is, also, an issue that has increasingly frustrated supporters this season, as they face long queues to enter the stadium due to new security measures that have been introduced. Those in the upper Anfield Road Stand have faced especially long queues, even when arriving 90 minutes to an hour before kick off.

Fans are entering the stadium already frustrated and cold. It hardly sets the tone for a ferocious atmosphere. So if the fans need the players to provide the ignition, the slow pace on the pitch is certainly not helping.

The players and the fans need to feed off each other. Neither of which are possible under the current circumstances.

No wonder teams fancy their chances going to Anfield now, it’s certainly not the fortress it was.

You'd be wrong to assume a 17-year-old, left-footed defensive midfielder starting regularly for Ajax is yet another product of their world-famous academy.

That said, the club's reputation for developing talent is the main reason Belgian teenager Jorthy Mokio signed for the Amsterdammers on a free transfer last summer.

The youngster is versatile, first and foremost, capable of playing at left-back, central midfield, defensive midfield and centre-back. Ajax managers Francesco Farioli and Johnny Heitinga had no qualms deploying him in various roles, primarily because he's a sweeper-upper.

Who is Jorthy Mokio?

Mokio wins possession when games are stretched and puts his team back in control.

If there's danger, he'll attempt to snuff it out, get a handle on things and drive with the ball at his feet.

Detractors may suggest his barreling style needs polishing, and that is valid, but he more than makes up for it with his ability to protect the ball, shrugging off opposition challenges and standing firm before releasing possession.

Mokio's journey, albeit a brief one so far, saw him emerge at Belgian club KAA Gent, prior to his Ajax move.

In February this year, Mokio scored a first senior goal on his full debut in European competition and a month later debuted for Belgium's national team, which puts him in the reckoning for the Red Devils' squad at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Ajax is arguably the finest finishing school in Europe for Mokio to be at right now - the club have pedigree when it comes to trusting in youth and providing opportunities that clubs in more established or competitive leagues simply do not.

Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch can attest to that and there are definitely similarities between his breakthrough in Amsterdam and Mokio's currently.

For vastly different reasons, the number 20 took on a special significance for Liverpool in 2025.

Firstly, in April, Liverpool sealed a record-equalling 20th English league title, drawing level with fierce rivals Manchester United in Arne Slot’s first season at the helm. Then, in July – the confetti from those joyous celebrations barely swept away – came the devastating news that one of that champion squad had suddenly and tragically passed away.

Diogo Jota, just 28 years old, a father of three and newly married, was killed in a road accident, alongside his younger brother Andre, on a motorway in northern Spain.

“That news broke my heart,” former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse tells FFT. “I loved the guy, as a man and a player. He was a sweet guy. It was so shocking.” Those sentiments were shared across football, with his former Reds manager Jurgen Klopp leading the tributes. “This is a moment where I struggle,” he wrote on Instagram.

“There must be a bigger purpose. But I can’t see it.” Compatriot and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo also expressed his devastation, while Liverpool team-mate Andy Robertson admitted he “will never get over it”. Countless others shared their own memories and condolences.

Jota wore the No.20 during a five-year spell at Anfield, which brought Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup glory. His 65 goals in 182 games, alongside an extraordinary work rate, were crucial in delivering those trophies, while Jota’s infectious personality helped inspire an iconic terrace chant roared by the Kop to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival song Bad Moon Rising.

For Klopp, it had been a love at first sight. “He’s been on my list for two or three years,” said the German in 2020, after signing a forward who had been crucial in getting Wolves promoted two years earlier. He then helped the West Midlands side into the Europa League, where he scored incredible back-to-back hat-tricks against Besiktas and Espanyol. The first of those trebles came despite him only coming on as a 56th-minute substitute. It was little wonder that he became a Molineux legend.

“For Wolves, he proved not only that he could score goals, but that he was a real team player,” adds Cisse. “With the way Klopp set his team up – aggressive pressing, the forwards as the first line of defence – he was the perfect fit.”

Jota scored on his league debut for Liverpool, in a 3-1 victory over Arsenal. Arguably the standout performance of his maiden season at Anfield came a month later. “I remember that hat-trick he scored at Atalanta in the Champions League, when they won 5-0,” smiles former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey. “Three exquisite finishes. He was pretty much unplayable around that point. It seemed like he was scoring every time he touched the ball.”

In the 2021/22 campaign, Jota hit a career-high 21 goals as Klopp’s side claimed both domestic cups, and were just two games away from completing a historic Quadruple. “Jota’s finishing was at an unbelievable level,” says Danny Murphy. “Only sometimes when a player has gone and left do we focus on their strengths and what they were really good at. He had a phenomenal work ethic and that wonderful ability to compose himself in big moments. Only the top players can do that.”

Heskey agrees. “His technical ability and his ability to sniff out a chance were his biggest assets,” the ex-England man adds. “He wasn’t the biggest lad, but he always gave everything. He had that low centre of gravity where he could turn, get around defenders and score.”

Perhaps Jota’s most impressive skill, given his relatively slight 5ft 10in frame, was the number of headers he scored. Of his 63 Premier League goals, 10 were with his head. “He naturally knew the positions to be in, like Michael Owen,” Heskey explains. “Look at how many headers Michael scored, even though he wasn’t a big lad. It’s about sniffing out the opportunity, understanding where you need to be. I watched Michael beat players who were 6ft tall – his timing was spot on. Diogo had that same knack of timing his run and jump perfectly to beat players much bigger than him.

“He had a few injuries and was really missed whenever he was absent. For me, when he was fit, he was a guaranteed starter – especially as a striker, but he could play on the wing as well, couldn’t he? And as a No.10. He was pretty much a complete footballer.”

After the long period of mourning that followed the car accident that claimed Jota’s life, Liverpool fans planned one minute’s applause – after 20 minutes, of course – in their first game of the current season: August’s Community Shield clash against Crystal Palace. Some things are just meant to be. As the applause began, new Reds signing Jeremie Frimpong lofted a back-post cross that sailed over Dean Henderson and into the back of the net. One little slice of luck as the clock showed 20, one final assist from the heavens. There were plenty more spine-tingling moments while Jota was still playing.

“The memory that springs to mind is his goal against Everton last season,” recalls Murphy of a 1-0 win that kept the Reds on track for the title. “It was huge for Liverpool – off the back of defeat in the League Cup final and going out of the Champions League against PSG.

“Everton at home is always massive, but they needed to get back to winning ways, with some people starting to get worried, saying things had fallen off a cliff and players were tired. The game was tight and Everton were fighting for everything. Jota’s bit of composure and his finish gave everyone a sigh of relief. Liverpool got the win and went on to take the title. That moment sums him up as a player. Big moment, derby, Kop end. Who’s got that composure, that bit of magic? Diogo Jota did.”

That sort of magic earned him 49 caps for Portugal, too, in a career that began at Pacos de Ferreira, before a move to Atletico Madrid and a loan at Porto. Jota had been due to reach his half-century against Armenia in September.

After his final game for his country, he’d posed with the Nations League trophy inside Munich’s Allianz Arena following a shootout triumph against Spain. Two weeks earlier, he’d done the same with the Premier League trophy back at Anfield, his dream of becoming a champion of England fulfilled.

When Liverpool’s players returned for the next Premier League game at their famous old ground in August, without Jota alongside them, Mo Salah lingered in front of the Kop for some time after the final whistle, listening to Reds fans singing his friend’s name.

As Salah walked down the tunnel, wiping tears from his eyes, the singing continued. It hasn’t stopped since. “He’s a lad from Portugal, better than Figo, don’t you know. Oh, his name is Diogo.”

Liverpool's hopes of retaining the Premier League title in 2025/26 are all but dead and buried - and it's only December.

The team have been on a torrid run of late, losing nine of their last 13 matches in all competitions, with the likelihood of being crowned back-to-back champions now decidedly slim.

Slot's men are only nine points off the early pace set by league leaders Arsenal but six league defeats from their opening 13 Premier League fixtures this season paints a very different picture.

Liverpool's set-piece disparity leaves Arne Slot scratching head

Liverpool's recent run has been punctuated by statement victories in Europe, over Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid, however, the team have also been beaten heavily by PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

Plenty of theories have been posited by fans, pundits and armchair experts as to why Liverpool's drop-off has been so pronounced.

While there is no one correct answer, there are myriad factors to consider.

They include Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure for Real Madrid, taking his elite-level ball-progressing capabilities and link-up with Mohamed Salah with him, in addition to the popular verdict that Slot's tactics have been 'found out' by opposing managers after his first year in English football.

Liverpool's decision to spend heavily on the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak - both of whom yet to deliver - and replace their starting full-backs with players less suited to defending, is also likely to have contributed.

One area, though, that has not received the scrutiny it perhaps deserves is Liverpool's performance at set-pieces.

In the modern era where marginal gains are king and set-piece coaches are commonplace among top clubs, Liverpool's underperformance at both ends of the pitch is as stark as it is surprising.

This season, only winless Wolverhampton Wanderers have scored fewer Premier League goals from set-plays than Liverpool. Similarly, only Wolves and Fulham have attempted fewer shots from set-pieces than Slot's side.

Contrastingly, league leaders Arsenal, who have developed a reputation for being particularly effective at making dead ball situations count, have scored 10 goals from such scenarios this term and as a result are reaping the benefits.

Ironically, in the Champions League, Liverpool have scored five times from set-pieces, which is more than every other team in the league phase. They have also averaged seven shots per game from set-plays; their total of 35 is greater than any other side has managed.

At the other end of the pitch, Liverpool's performance at set-plays, specifically in Premier League fixtures, is just as concerning, with West Ham United the only team to have conceded more than the Reds' nine set-piece goals.

In fact, Liverpool's concessions from set-plays make up 45 per cent of the goals they've conceded in the league this season.

Once more, Liverpool's performance at set-pieces in Europe is remarkably different, allowing their opponents just six shots from set-plays in five matches - the second-lowest in the league phase.

The Reds' impressive set-piece efforts in Europe are likely to have been influenced by those employed at the club whose focus is on maximising Liverpool's set-play opportunities. Set-piece coach Aaron Briggs and set-piece analyst Lewis Mahoney are the men tasked with that particular responsibility following previous set-piece analyst James French's departure for Manchester City.

How then, can the team's underperformance in this particular area of the game, solely in Premier League fixtures, be explained?

Is it something to do with the greater intensity and physicality of the Premier League that nullifies the Reds' set-piece prowess in domestic football? Perhaps. But, then surely other English teams would notice a similar drop-off and that has not been the case.

Is there something in the way Liverpool have chosen to prepare for matches and in their planning of set-pieces that makes them more effective in the Champions League? That is also a possibility.

A potential fix would be to employ the same set-piece tactics in the Premier League, as they have in Europe, but that seems an overly simplified solution that surely has been trialled by now, assuming the set-piece disparity has already been identified in-house.

The discrepancy between Liverpool's set-piece performance in European and domestic football is one of the 2025/26 season's great mysteries, it would appear.

Resolving it would not turn Liverpool into title contenders overnight, because there are other contributory factors as to why the team have struggled for form, but improved set-piece efficiency would certainly go some way to improving recent results.

Sunday’s clash between Chelsea and Arsenal could well be the last time the Gunners really feel immediate pressure on this season’s title charge… at least, if it goes their way.

Don’t get us wrong: there is still plenty of time for everything to go south for Arsenal, and nobody knows that better than Chelsea.

Arsenal’s exact record of the league leaders holding nine wins, two draws and one defeat from 12 games has only occurred three times before in a 38-game Premier League season – and all three times, it was Chelsea.

The first time, in Jose Mourinho’s debut season in 2004/05, ended up as a Chelsea whitewash. But on the next two occasions, under Phil Scolari in 2008/09 and Thomas Tuchel in 2021/22, Chelsea ended up finishing third.

On both occasions, the points started dropping in November, which precipitated a poor run of form that lasted throughout December and into January. Scolari lost his job in February. Tuchel was perhaps saved by his side reaching both domestic cup finals (both of which ended in penalty shootout defeats to Liverpool after goalless draws), only to be sacked the following September.

Chelsea would love to be on the other end of the equation this time and puncture the hopes of one of their London rivals. But if they can’t get a victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, all the signs are that Arsenal will already have one hand on the title.

No Premier League side has ever held a six-point lead at the top of the table after 12 games and failed to win the league. That’s happened on six prior occasions: Man United 1993/94, Chelsea 2005/06, Chelsea 2014/15, Man City 2017/18, Liverpool 2019/20, and Liverpool 2024/25.

Of those seven clubs, Arsenal’s 29 points is the lowest – all of the other six sides had at least 31 points in the bag after 12 games. But that just speaks to a fundamental fact about the nature of Arsenal’s season so far: although they are not flawless, they are clear at the top because they have so far shown by far the fewest faults of any of the would-be title contenders.

The worst you can say about Arsenal this season is that at the beginning of the campaign, Mikel Arteta seemed unduly conservative – a criticism that particularly hit home after his side’s defeat at Liverpool and their late salvage job against an unexpectedly defensive Manchester City.

Chelsea would love to be on the other end of the equation this time and puncture the hopes of one of their London rivals. But if they can’t get a victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, all the signs are that Arsenal will already have one hand on the title.

No Premier League side has ever held a six-point lead at the top of the table after 12 games and failed to win the league. That’s happened on six prior occasions: Man United 1993/94, Chelsea 2005/06, Chelsea 2014/15, Man City 2017/18, Liverpool 2019/20, and Liverpool 2024/25.

Of those seven clubs, Arsenal’s 29 points is the lowest – all of the other six sides had at least 31 points in the bag after 12 games. But that just speaks to a fundamental fact about the nature of Arsenal’s season so far: although they are not flawless, they are clear at the top because they have so far shown by far the fewest faults of any of the would-be title contenders.

The worst you can say about Arsenal this season is that at the beginning of the campaign, Mikel Arteta seemed unduly conservative – a criticism that particularly hit home after his side’s defeat at Liverpool and their late salvage job against an unexpectedly defensive Manchester City.

That sounds like a facile point to make: so what we’re saying is the defence are good at defending and the attack are good at scoring goals? Revolutionary stuff!

But after a decade of domination from Liverpool and Manchester City led by the genuinely innovative Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, Arsenal’s approach feels like a bit of a throwback to a time of simple jobs done supremely well.

In that respect, this Arsenal side now has more in common with the early Arsene Wenger sides that won titles in the late 90s than anything else.

That should not be taken as damning Arsenal with faint praise whatsoever: those sides are rightly celebrated and revered to this day in the red half of North London. Wenger's later drift into prioritising aesthetics and philosophy taught Arsenal fans that attractive football is nice, but there's nothing more entertaining and fun than winning league titles.

Get the job done on Sunday, and they may not have to wait too much longer for that next one to finally arrive.

Football isn’t as predictable as some would like to think.

Just like Arne Slot’s first season in England wasn’t supposed to be so easy, replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and winning the Premier League at a canter, the Dutchman’s second season wasn’t supposed to have unravelled in the way it has by early November.

After a record spend, including two club record signings over £100 million, Slot’s side were favourites to win back-to-back league titles, something the Reds haven’t achieved since 1984.

But after five defeats in six league games, the likelihood of retaining the title is looking increasingly slim.

It’s not just the defeats, though, it’s the performances, the lack of any issues seemingly being addressed, an admittance from Slot that his side can’t cope against teams who play long balls, and poor form that actually goes back to March.

Indeed, since exiting the Champions League at the hands of PSG and losing the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle five days later, Liverpool have won just 11 of their 26 matches in all competitions.

The deeper statistics are alarming, to say the least. In six of the last seven league games their opponents have out-run Liverpool. In the league defeat at Crystal Palace, Slot’s side covered 5km fewer than their opponents, but spent almost 5kms more walking.

Defensively, Liverpool are leaking goals at a relegation rate. Since the beginning of May, they’ve conceded 36 goals, which only Wolves, of all teams in the top five European leagues, have conceded more.

And there is little sign of progress. Consistently, Liverpool are being out-run, losing duels, and - especially in the last outing at Manchester City - outmanoeuvred. Against City, Liverpool’s entire midfield, including subs, and their centre-backs made no tackles. In a match they lost 3-0 to a supposed title rival. Passive doesn’t even begin to describe it.

The reasons for this can be debated, and plenty in the media have had their say. There is, of course, the tragedy that the players have suffered following the loss of Diogo Jota.

Most, too, have pointed to the upheaval within the squad in terms of players incoming and outgoing. And while the departures of Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold were player-led, Liverpool are certainly missing those two who were key components of the team that won the title.

For many, Slot has sought to change too much at once. Not content with the huge turnover in the playing squad, the Dutchman has changed tactics, citing a need to change due to teams playing differently against his side in the second half of last season compared to the first.

Who decides on Liverpool's recruitment these days?

But, perhaps, the biggest question is whether all the change was Slot’s desire, or was led by Liverpool’s recruitment team.

When Slot was first unveiled, in a rather low-key and belated press conference seven weeks after his announcement as the club’s new head coach, he was seated alongside the new sporting director, Richard Hughes.

It was somewhat surprising and quite refreshing to hear from Hughes, who had joined from Bournemouth. “I’d say a quiet July and crescendo in August would probably be the way to sum it up,” predicted Hughes.

Liverpool’s summer actually was remarkably quiet throughout, with few outgoings and only Federico Chiesa arriving. Such stability was needed after the off-pitch departures of Klopp, his coaching staff and a host of other backroom figures.

The contrast with the past summer could not be starker. Again, there were departures in the coaching staff, with the goalkeeper department completely changed again, while Diaz, Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez and Jarell Quansah left from the title-winning squad.

They were replaced handsomely, but not necessarily like-for-like. There has been no real replacement for Diaz and the attributes he provided from the left. Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, of sorts, in Jeremie Frimpong could not be more different.

In spending over £200 million on Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, the question becomes what is the actual plan?

Slot has, of course, pointed to the options that having two No.9s of such quality provides, but it seems highly unlikely that remaining with the 4-2-3-1 system can get the best out of each of those, plus Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz.

Liverpool signed a lot of very, very good footballers. But quite what the plan is to get them all on the pitch at the same time appears a mystery, let alone to have them form a cohesive unit that works in the Premier League.

Many have pointed at a potential change to a back three and moving to a system more akin to the one which saw Wirtz thrive as one of the dual No.10s at Leverkusen - a system that would at least seemingly get the best out of full-backs Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

But even then, that would still mean both Isak and Ekitike cannot be accommodated, let alone Salah’s role and whether Dominik Szoboszlai - by far the most important player this season - takes up a deeper role, thus losing his pressing ability higher up the pitch.

The summer spending seems more aimed at a world post-Salah, once the Egyptian has departed the club, allowing for a move to, perhaps, two up front with Wirtz as the playmaking No.10.

But with Salah still here and earning a reported £400,000 per week, it’s a conundrum that few can provide a solid answer to, even on paper, and something that is proving impossible for Slot to solve.

The Dutchman has frequently expressed his admiration for how PSG played last season, and the signings in the summer appear to reflect that and be aimed towards breaking down teams who defend deep (in a low block), plus replacing Alexander-Arnold’s creative output. But with the Premier League becoming more physical and direct, it seems like the team and squad are built for one style of play, and it’s a style of play that doesn’t suit the main competition they play in.

It also seems quite idealistic, but not as good in practice.

What doesn’t help is that Slot is left to answer questions on recruitment and the strategy. Hughes hasn’t given an interview since that opening press conference, but in a rare speech at a Summit in September, the sporting director explained of the transfer fees paid: “In the fullness of time, we hope that, instead of talking now about what a huge fee it is, it has been value for money for the football club whenever we’re making that assessment in the future.

“And because of the ages of the players that we’ve bought, we’re confident that will end up being the case.”

But time isn’t something that football managers are afforded too often in the modern game, which Hughes also acknowledges: “We also want to try and win now, and that’s important as well, so I’m not describing them as works in progress or anything like that.”

Winning now is something Slot must find a way to get back to, and fast.

This season, Arsenal have been accused of being boring, of having little more to offer beyond set-piece brilliance and of lacking much of an edge in open play.

Their victory at the weekend did little to sway the naysayers, either: Arsenal netted their first via a corner, and with Burnley looking resolute, a 2-0 scoreline hardly lifted anyone off their seats.

Yet beneath the exterior of another Declan Rice masterclass, the first half performance in particular highlighted why Mikel Arteta's side may well have overcome their final hurdle in becoming the complete team capable of competing against any side.

Arsenal have made a tactical tweak with their build-up that is reaping rewards in attack

Arteta is often criticised for playing two centre-backs at full-back, in Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori. Of course, they don't actually function as centre-backs: though both have played there for their respective countries, the pair have license to roam in the final third and contribute massively to Arsenal's attack.

By fielding full-backs who are capable of playing centre-back, though, the Gunners not only have a defensive base strong enough to platform their attack, they have two players who can build up in a back three. Arsenal play out in a kind of 3-2-2-3 formation – and both Timber and Calafiori are equally adept at receiving and playing forward in this first line.

As noted last year in Arsenal's 2-0 home win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, however, Arteta wants a teams of ‘generalists’: like Pep Guardiola, he wants as many players capable of playing in differing roles, so that whatever formation or system he's playing, his players can adapt.

This doesn't just mean that he likes versatile players. Take Calafiori, for example: he can play as a defensive full-back man-marking his winger, he can invert into midfield, he can pop up as a no.10, or he can overlap his left-winger: in all of these roles, he's still a left-back… he's just playing different kinds of left-backs.

Arteta wants his players to interchange positionally during games, with build-up a particular area of fluidity – and this season, Martin Zubimendi has even dropped into the first line of build-up to assist Saliba and Gabriel.

By doing this, the Basque no.6 draws a midfielder closer to the Arsenal box and leaves more space for the other two Gunners midfielders in Arteta's 4-3-3.

Yet against Burnley, it was Rice dropping into the first line more: this isn't unusual for this season, but it was significant in Arsenal looking more threatening in the first half.

Declan Rice vacating the midfield helped Arsenal against a dreaded mid-block

Arsenal can play against physical teams, and they can play against teams offering more technical quality. They can play against high lines and their record against both those at the top and the bottom has been astounding for a while.

But it's those midtable sides like Fulham, Bournemouth and Brighton who caused the most problems for Arteta's side last term when they played in a resolute mid- to low-block.

The reason is somewhat tactical, exacerbated by the personnel picked by Arteta. Arsenal's best passers – Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Ethan Nwaneri – were often stacked on the right last term… with low-touch runners like Rice, Gabriel Martinelli or Mikel Merino on the left of the pitch.

Arteta doesn't want his midfield to be quite so rigid. Odegaard has done some of his best work when he's had the freedom to float into the left half-space, while Rice is best when he covers every blade of grass.

On Saturday, Arsenal lined up with Zubimendi in the no.6 role, Rice to the left of him, and Eberechi Eze to the right – but they didn't stay that way, with Zubimendi adding another degree of positional fluidity.

Rice dropping into the first line of the build-up allowed Eze to drift to the left, with Zubmendi to the right. With Burnley sitting off and Arsenal dictating play, they had two more incisive passers in Eze and Zubimendi in more dangerous areas ahead of Rice – who is the weakest of the three when receiving the ball between the lines.

The heat maps of all three show quite how positionally flexible the Arsenal midfield really was, with Rice receiving the ball deeper than Zubmendi or Eze, before taking on a more box-to-box role in the second half when the home side gained more possession a little more.

Arteta even dropped Zubmendi against West Ham United in a sign that he was prepared to give Eze and Odegaard the creative keys – but this weekend was the clearest indication that the Gunners are looking to double down on their own ideals in a bid to find new ways to win.

Tactics are highly dependent on the players carrying out instructions. But with Arsenal's squad now rich in multifaceted players capable of performing multiple roles within a game, Arteta's finding ways to solve problems as they arise in ways that he couldn't last season.

It's a conundrum for England that by far their best defensive midfielder is also one of their best attacking outlets.

Declan Rice can do it all, but the fact he is so competent in deep-lying positions - not an area where England are blessed with tonnes of talent - has at times left him a bit pigeonholed.

Fortunately, Thomas Tuchel seems to have hit on a solution that has helped England into much more encouraging form ahead of next year's World Cup - and one that we have also seen play out for Rice under Mikel Arteta at club level recently.

Thomas Tuchel may have ended England's four-year wait for ideal Declan Rice partner

Former England skipper Alan Shearer highlighted the benefits Arsenal got from giving Rice for license in their recent 2-0 win over West Ham - albeit only after a first-half injury to Martin Odegaard forced a change of plans.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: "They started off with [Eberechi] Eze and Odegaard a little bit further forward, as you'd expect, with Declan Rice perhaps just being that little sitter in midfield.

"There's nothing wrong with that: he's very, very good at it, and Arsenal were still creating their chances and getting into reasonable forward positions. Rice is still the one that's trying to pull the strings as the deepest midfielder, and he plays a brilliant pass in for Saka to create a chance where he's just offside.

"But then Odegaard goes off, Zubimendi comes on, and all of a sudden Zubimendi is the one who's sitting and Rice is 15-20 yards further forward. He gets in the exact same position Eze [missed a chance from earlier], and he gets his goal."

Shearer went on to highlight several other opportunities Arsenal were able to create thanks to Rice's runs into advanced areas against his former club, with Rice finding particularly joy operating in the channels.

"I think Rice is a better player [getting forward] than he is sitting, albeit he can do both jobs equally well" is an exquisite bit of 'Shearering' - but it's easy to see what he means.

Yes, Rice is a superb defensive midfielder - but his attacking talents are so impressive that it feels like a waste not to use them.

Finding ways to make that happen for England have proven frustratingly difficult in the past, however.

In total fairness, it's not like attempts haven't been made. The long-standing issue is who, exactly, should go into the number 6 or 8 role alongside him to ease his defensive burden.

Kalvin Phillips did a sensational job of that as the pair featured together at Euro 2020, - so good, in fact, England got the final and Phillips was voted as England player of the year.

But Phillips' move to Manchester City the following year spelt the beginning of the end for his England career thanks to a lack of club minutes making it nigh on impossible to select him.