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It is believed that a Chelsea player is ready to quit the club in January despite his love for the west Londoners, and two sides have been offered his signing.

Chelsea undergoing quiet January

Despite reports indicating that Maurico Pochettino is very keen to add a striker to his ranks, there has been little in the way of genuine activity as we go over the half halfway point of this January transfer window.

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So far, the only business Chelsea have conducted is allowing both left-back Ian Maatsen and striker David Datro Fofana go out on loan in search of more game time – with time running out for the club to make necessary additions.

A new forward is particularly needed at the club, with Pochettino's side still among the Premier League top ten's lowest goalscoring sides.

Chelsea have been heavily linked to signing Napoli star Victor Osimhen, though that potential swoop is more likely to gather pace in the summer. They do have alternatives to the Nigerian, with red-hot AZ Alkmaar striker Vangelis Pavlidis among the names offered to Chelsea this month.

It will be interesting to see if Pochettino does get his desired new number nine before January 31, but for now, Chelsea could be looking to trim more unwanted players off his squad to raise funds and make room. The west Londoners, according to recent reports, have even been considering a shock sale of star midfielder Conor Gallagher in an attempt to bolster Pochettino's transfer kitty.

One player they'll be more happy to part company with, though, is midfielder Trevoh Chalobah.

Chalobah ready to quit and offered to Serie A

The versatile ace, who is said to "love" Chelsea (Fabrizio Romano), will also cast emotions aside in search of more minutes on the field.

He is now surplus to requirement under Pochettino, and as a result, Chalobah is ready to quit Chelsea this month. That is according to an Italian journalist, who claims the Englishman has been offered out to both AC Milan and Napoli by intermediaries.

Milan in particular are in desperate need of another central defender, so it will be interesting to see if they advance any further in pursuit of Chalobah. The 24-year-old was a regular under Graham Potter and Frank Lampard, with the former singing his praises as an "impressive" character.

"Very professional, very determined. He’s an impressive character, very focused on his football," said Potter last year to the Chelsea website.

"He’s a bit of a soldier. He’s played in all the games, we’re having some problems in terms of availability for players, but he’s stood up, stood in and he’s performing at a really good level."

Meanwhile, Lampard has said Chalobah is actually a "delight" in training: “He’s a delight to train with every day because he comes in with an enthusiasm, low maintenance, and when you talk about the things you want, he tries to do them on the pitch, which is a great thing."

Aston Villa have made some exciting signings under Unai Emery and reporter Dean Jones has had his say on a known target who he believes could be a "sensational" addition in the West Midlands.

Aston Villa's high-profile transfer strategy…

Last summer, the Villans made an impact in the market by recruiting high-profile players ahead of the 2023/24 campaign commencing, with Youri Tielemans, Nicolo Zaniolo, Clement Lenglet, Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres arriving at Villa Park.

On the face of it, their transfer strategy has worked and Emery's men are nicely positioned for a tilt at finishing in the top four at the bare minimum. However, they could go one step further and challenge for the Premier League title, form permitting.

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Despite a quiet first half of the window for the Villans, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Crvena Zvezda full-back Kosta Nedeljkovic is close to joining the club and will subsequently return to his current employers on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha has been linked with a shock move back to England this month and Aston Villa have reportedly made contact over a swoop for the Ivory Coast international in a potential signing that would produce more fanfare than Nedeljkovic due to his age and experience.

Now, journalist Jones has signalled his belief that an alternative target linked with the Villans would be a "sensational" piece of business by Emery, as per reports.

Dean Jones drops verdict on Aston Villa target Paulo Dybala

In the last few weeks, Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Roma attacker Paulo Dybala, according to reports in Italy via Birmingham Live. The report states that the Argentina international has a release clause worth around €13 million (£11.2m), though it does expire today and contact is believed to have been made between both parties.

Similar players to Paulo Dybala (FBRef)

Player

Club

James Maddison

Tottenham Hotspur

Cole Palmer

Chelsea

Oihan Sancet

Athletic Club

Chris Fuhrich

Stuttgart

Phil Foden

Manchester City

Speaking to GiveMeSport, reporter Jones thinks that he would be an astute piece of business as the Villans continue on their upward trajectory, as he told the outlet:

"A deal for Dybala really would be sensational and obviously there will always be part of any Villa fan that would like that to happen but Emery and the recruitment team have to be very careful that if they are to pursue something like that it is for the right reasons and he fits with the philosophy and character of the side.

"He’s an unbelievable player but you would need something like that to be happening for the right reasons and his injury record definitely has to be considered. He misses so many games."

Labelled "unplayable" by Massimiliano Allegri, Dybala has contributed on the goal front for Roma this campaign, netting six times and laying on a further six assists (Dybala statistics – Transfermarkt).

Aston Villa have lofty ambitions and a fully fit and firing Dybala could help Emery's men move a little closer to realising their aspirations in 2023/24.

Arsenal are interested in signing a new striker in January, with a fresh report revealing that chiefs have set their sights on one overseas player in particular.

Arsenal's summer arrivals

The Gunners secured the services of four fresh faces during the previous transfer window in the form of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya, with the first three being on a permanent basis, while the latter joined on loan for the remainder of the season.

Despite having Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, Edu and Mikel Arteta will be aware that they could do with signing another senior centre-forward to increase their options in the final third, and it appears that they have already highlighted a potential candidate.

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ByHal Fish Jul 31, 2024

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko only put pen to paper over the summer from RB Salzburg, but having made an impressive start to life under Marco Rose at the Red Bull Arena, he’s already been attracting interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle in the Premier League.

The Slovenia international has also been the subject of internal talks at the Emirates Stadium where chiefs have been discussing whether to make a move for the 20-year-old in the coming weeks, and if the following update is to be believed, they seem to have reached a general consensus.

Edu keen on Benjamin Sesko

According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), Arsenal are interested in Sesko ahead of January. The N7 outfit are believed to want to add to their attacking ranks and are looking at the talisman as a serious option. With the opportunity to move to the top-flight likely to be an attractive prospect, this could be a deal to keep a close eye on leading up to the start of next year.

Sesko has been likened to Erling Haaland

Since the start of his career, Sesko has clocked up 85 involvements, 67 goals and 18 assists, in 155 appearances, showing how prolific he can be in the final third, but it’s not just his clinical finishing with the ball at his feet that makes him a useful option to have up top (Transfermarkt – Sesko statistics).

Standing at 6 foot 4, Radece’s native provides a real physical presence with his height and can therefore also be an ideal target man and threat in the air, meaning that he is a handful for an opposition’s defence to deal with.

Arteta’s target has even been recognised for his outstanding performances on an individual level having previously been named Austria’s Player of the Season and Slovenia’s Footballer of the Year, so the fact that he’s being acknowledged for his efforts represents just how much he brings to a side.

For all of the qualities that he possesses, Sesko has been dubbed the “Slovenian Erling Haaland” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so there’s no doubt that he could be a fantastic signing for Arsenal should he decide to move onto new pastures in January.

It has been an interesting season for Arsenal so far this year as despite looking far from their best for large parts of it, they are currently just a single point behind Liverpool in first place, and were it not for a challenging game away to Aston Villa over the weekend, they would be top of the Premier League – as they were for most of last year.

Mikel Arteta's men have been far more mature in their approach to games, and where their success was built upon frenetic attacks designed to overwhelm opponents last year, they boast the joint-best defence in the league this season.

The team's attacking threat, while not bad, has been somewhat stunted this campaign, and what has made this problem even more pronounced is the lack of a clinical finisher in the side.

Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus have notched up goals in the league, but neither one is prolific, so news that the club are interested in the far more lethal Viktor Gyokeres should excite fans.

Arsenal transfer news – Viktor Gyokeres

According to reports from Portugal (via Sports Witness), Arsenal are one of several top European clubs interested in Sporting Lisbon's new star striker, Viktor Gyokeres, and the Gunners have been scouting the player 'extensively' in recent months.

However, should the north Londoners wish to sign the Swedish striker, they will have to pay his release clause, at least that is what manager Ruben Amorim has said: “I can’t guarantee anything, what I can say is what they tell me and that is any player only leaves through the clause.”

The former Coventry City star joined the Portuguese giants in the summer for a fee in the region of £20m, and his current release clause is said to be €100m, or about £86m, which would represent the second most expensive purchase in Arsenal's history were they to press on.

A move such as this would be a massive sign of intent from the ownership. Still, with the "unplayable" goalscorer, as described by former teammate Maxime Biamou, already netting 11 times in 16 Sporting starts this season, it might well be worth it.

Why Viktor Gyokeres could fire Arsenal to the title

Now, the arrival of an £86m striker would certainly ring alarm bells in the minds of Arsenal's current crop of forwards, but realistically, Jesus has already proven his worth as more than just an out-and-out goalscorer for the Gunners, and so, if a player was going to lose out due to Gyokeres, it's going to be Nketiah.

The former Chelsea youth product has been a useful player for Arteta in recent years and cemented himself as the club's backup striker towards the end of the 2021/22 season.

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However, towards the backend of last season and the first third of this campaign, it has become increasingly apparent that he isn't a good enough finisher to help the Gunners end their two-decade title drought.

When comparing their respective numbers for this season, it becomes evident that Gyokeres would be a significant upgrade on the Gunners' current number 14.

Viktor Gyokeres vs Eddie Nketiah

Stats (per 90)

Gyokeres

Nketiah

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.46

0.42

Progressive Carries

3.61

1.63

Progressive Passes

2.02

1.20

Shots on Target

1.17

0.87

Shot-Creating Actions

3.77

2.61

Goal-Creating Actions

0.50

0.65

Successful Take-Ons

2.44

0.87

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

The "Premier League ready" forward, as described by Adrian Clarke on talkSPORT, comes out on top in almost every critical attacking metric and produces far superior numbers in areas such as successful take-ons and progressive carries, which could prove vital in helping Arteta's side breakdown frustrating low blocks.

Ultimately, the "one of a kind" striker, as described by his former manager Mark Robins, would make Arsenal a far more potent attacking threat and could genuinely be the difference between a first and second-place finish come May.

Clouds overhead, a green pitch underfoot, conditions were perfect for the kind of searing, prodigious late swing that Trent Boult specialises in, but the thing that really envenomed him – the thing that really set his spectacular burst of six wickets from 15 balls in motion – was rhythm.Bowlers had nipped it off the seam all through the series, but Boult’s spell was the first exhibition of vicious swing bowling – of movement in the air. He swung it exclusively left to right (in to the right-handers). Balls that seemed to be headed way past off stump veered dramatically toward the wickets halfway through their trajectory. Some of those he had trapped lbw were so convinced that the ball was sliding past the stumps, they offered no shot.”It’s all about rhythm – for me anyway,” Boult said. “It’s about getting into a groove. A couple of wickets gives you a bit of confidence and just lets you go about your thing. Sometimes you’re not really thinking about much and it’s kind of happening for you. The plans were simple this morning. It was about building pressure on the guys and it was nice to exploit a bit of their weaknesses with some swing bowling. I was just trying to pitch the ball up really.”Trent Boult picked up six wickets from 15 balls•Getty Images

Boult had been bowling excellent lines and lengths through the course of the series, with little to show for it before this morning. In Wellington, he had collected figures of 2 for 145 from the match, despite comfortably having maintained an economy rate of less than three. On the first day in this match, half of his 10 overs had been maidens, but he had still been unable to claim a wicket.”It’s a funny old game really – it’s probably not how I expected it to happen this morning,” he said. “I suppose it can be easy to get frustrated a little bit, trying to figure out why things aren’t happening. I suppose with a little bit more experience – I’m getting old now – I’m realising it can be a funny game, and it’s probably about turning up with the right attitude, and trying to put the ball in the right areas. I was just lucky enough to get a bit of reward.”It had been Boult’s new-ball partner Tim Southee who had reaped “rewards” for the pressure the pair had built together on the first six days of the tour – Southee claiming a five-wicket haul on the first day in Wellington, and three wickets on day one at Hagley Oval. When Boult was getting wickets on day two, however, Southee did plenty to contribute. He took two catches at third slip, and also ensured that the in-form Angelo Mathews remained at the end he was bowling to, so that Boult could take aim at the Sri Lanka tailenders.”It’s one of the strengths of the side, and of the bowling unit, to bowl for each other,” Boult said. “It’s a strength to stick to that plan and be willing to hang in there and be patient. Timmy got the rewards last week and I’m sure there’s just rewards for the other guys around the corner as well. I think that’s one of the main reasons we are so successful is the way we bowl from both ends, and bowl in those partnerships.”

The last international break for around four months is finally behind us as Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action this weekend.

During the last break, the Gers were in crisis, having just sacked Michael Beale and the Ibrox hierarchy went on a mad dash to find an appropriate successor.

They announced Philippe Clement just a few weeks later, and it's safe to say, the move has gone swimmingly so far.

The Ibrox faithful shouldn’t get carried away, however, as there have been managers in the past who have enjoyed decent starts before their reigns turned into a disaster (looking at you Giovanni van Bronckhorst) and their feet should remain firmly on the ground.

The performances under the Belgian have been much better than what was served up under Beale and with a League Cup final to contest next month, the Light Blues could secure their first piece of silverware in 18 months.

A tie against Aberdeen in the league is first up, however, and following on from their 2-0 victory over Livingston last time out, Clement could make a few changes ahead of the trip to the north-east.

With that mind, here's how the Gers could lineup this weekend

1 GK – Jack Butland

The ever-present Rangers player has featured in every single match this season and his performances between the sticks have been excellent.

While Beale failed to really improve sections of the squad during the summer, luring Butland from England has proven to be a stroke of genius, and he will start once again versus the Dons.

The 30-year-old has kept eight clean sheets in 12 league ties and another one against Barry Robson’s men could be crucial.

2 RB – James Tavernier

The captain will be leading the side out on Sunday as he aims to maintain their recent excellent form by securing another three points.

Tavernier has scored 11 goals and grabbed three assists – no other Rangers player has more goal contributions – and he would love to add to this tally.

If he leads the Gers to a win, it will give them a major boost heading into the League Cup final against the same opposition in just three weeks.

3 CB – Connor Goldson

Connor Goldson has been solid under Clement so far, starting every match during his tenure, and the club have conceded only three goals in that period.

The defender has been a colossus at the heart of the defence, winning 72% of his total duels so far this season, and if he is in this type of mood, the Aberdeen forwards stand no chance.

4 CB – Leon Balogun

The question is, who will partner Goldson on Sunday? Balogun certainly deserves another start following his impressive display against Livingston a few weeks ago.

The Nigerian won a staggering 13 out of 15 total duels during the tie while also making four clearances and three interceptions to keep Livi at bay.

He may be approaching the end of his career, yet the 35-year-old is still a class act on the pitch when given a chance.

5 LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

Three of his four league starts have come under Clement and the Turkish gem should be given the opportunity to show his worth from the start against Aberdeen.

With the future of Borna Barisic still unclear, Yilmaz is the heir to his throne at left back and the more he plays, the better he will become.

6 CM – John Lundstram

The midfielder has returned to some solid form this campaign, and he will be unleashed in the starting XI for the ninth league game on the trot.

The Englishman has created two big chances and averages 1.1 key passes per game, linking the defence to the attack quite nicely, and he will be looking to prove to Clement that he deserves a contract extension.

7 CM – Jose Cifuentes

The former Los Angeles FC midfielder hasn’t started a match since the 3-0 win over St Mirren at the beginning of October, but three sub appearances in the last four matches indicate that he is ready to start.

This means Ryan Jack is dropped to the bench for the tie against his former team. The Scot has entered into the final year of his deal at the club, but he has been impressive this term.

The Ecuadorian needs game time, however, and once he returns to full fitness, he will be a key asset for Clement.

8 RW – Ross McCausland

The young winger has enjoyed a wonderful few weeks. Firstly, he made his first start for the Light Blues in their win over Livingston, winning a penalty and even scored, but the goal was disallowed.

Then, he made his debut for Northern Ireland during their recent Euro 2024 qualifier against Finland and it could be the beginning of a fine career for the starlet.

9 AM – Todd Cantwell

Often deployed out on the right-hand side this season, Todd Cantwell’s best position is just behind the striker.

Indeed, he scored four goals and grabbed four assists from that position during the second half of the 2022/23 season after he joined the club from Norwich City in January.

He should be unleashed by Clement as, when in top form, Cantwell is able to cause opposition defences plenty of trouble.

10 LW – Abdallah Sima

The on-loan winger has been wonderful this season since arriving in the summer from Brighton and Hove Albion.

He has been a solid attacking threat from the left-hand side, scoring nine goals already and his pace has been a valuable asset.

Expect him to start against the Dons.

Crystal Palace have made a quietly impressive start to this term and could now have a second opportunity to bring in one of their key summer targets in the New Year, according to a new report.

Crystal Palace vs Everton

Roy Hodgson's men have quietly gone about their business this campaign and find themselves 11th in the Premier League standings with 15 points from their opening 11 fixtures.

Last weekend, a comfortable 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor was enough to bring a run of three games without victory to an end, with goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Tyrick Mitchell ensuring that the three points would be heading back to south London with the Eagles.

Looking ahead, Crystal Palace face Everton at home on Saturday and could potentially move into the top half of the English top flight should results fall their way elsewhere. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Eagles boss Hodgson has urged his side to generate some crucial momentum by recording back-to-back victories by defeating the Toffees.

Hodgson stated to the club's official website: "Back-to-back wins in this league are really good, especially if you're not one of the teams right at the very top who expect back-to-back wins. We, who are not in that privileged position, we know if we can get back-to-back wins, those six points that the two wins give you, it really does make life so much more tranquil for a period of time and also boost confidence."

Of course, the 76-year-old has been boosted by some exciting news at Selhurst Park as one of his key men, Eberechi Eze, has put pen to paper on a new three-and-a-half-year deal at the club, ending heavy speculation over his future for the time being.

According to reports, Crystal Palace could now be handed a second chance to acquire someone who was a target during the summer transfer window.

Crystal Palace's next five fixtures – all competitions

Competition

Opponent

Venue

Premier League

Everton (H)

Selhurst Park

Premier League

Luton Town (A)

Kenilworth Road

Premier League

West Ham United (A)

London Stadium

Premier League

Bournemouth (H)

Selhurst Park

Premier League

Liverpool (H)

Selhurst Park

Hugo Ekitike set to be available in January

According to reports from France, via Sport Witness, Crystal Palace summer target Hugo Ekitike is biding his time as he seeks an exit from the Parc des Princes and is set to be on the market again in January following a series of failed moves during the last window.

The report states that the Eagles submitted a loan bid with an obligation to buy that was rejected by the Ligue 1 giants, despite the France Under-21 international being keen to move to Selhurst Park. Paris Saint-Germain then accepted offers from Adana Demirspor, Zenit St Petersburg and Eintracht Frankfurt for his services, with the former two being on a loan basis; however, Ekitike rebuffed their advances and remained in the French capital.

Enduring an underwhelming spell at Paris Saint-Germain, Ekitike, who has previously been labelled "special" by former boss Oscar Garcia, has made 33 appearances in all competitions for his current employers, registering four goals and four assists (Ekitike statistics – Transfermarkt).

Now, a move elsewhere could be in the offing for the striker and Crystal Palace may now look to bolster their forward ranks with the arrival of the former Reims loanee.

One of the most impressive aspects of the PIF takeover of Newcastle United back in 2021, besides the team's obvious improvement in the Premier League table, was the new ownership's willingness to plan for the future by bringing in young and hungry players to the first team.

The likes of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento were signed for big money but are all still quite raw and it is Eddie Howe's job to try and develop each one into a top player.

However, the Magpies also astutely acquired a few youngsters over the past eighteen months who perhaps are not quite as ready for the limelight right now but could prove to be bargains in the near future. Yankuba Minteh springs to mind.

The Gambian superstar

Minteh joined Danish Superliga club Odense Boldklub in the summer of 2022 from Gambian side Steve Biko and made an instant impact, scoring on his debut against Copenhagen four minutes from the end to hand his team an impressive 2-1 victory. The teenager was said to be “the quickest player with the ball at his feet” to have ever worn an OB shirt.

After the youngster put in some impressive performances in Denmark, Newcastle scouts were "alerted" to his potential and managed to secure his services during the most recent summer window for a reported £6m.

Sporting Director Dan Ashworth expressed how happy he was to bring a player with "Yankuba's high potential" to the club and even transfer expert Fabrizio Romano labelled the 19-year-old as a "top talent" when announcing the deal. However, it was made clear from the beginning that Minteh would be loaned out to Feyenoord for the 2023/24 season.

Minteh has been performing at a high level in The Netherlands thus far, even making his debut with the Gambia national team back in September and scoring against Congo during a 2-2 draw in an AFCON qualifying match.

Minteh's stats this season

The winger, who has also played through the middle at times this season, has scored three goals in nine appearances in the Eredivisie for the reigning Dutch champions as well as featuring twice for Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League against Atletico Madrid and Celtic.

The Newcastle loanee started the match against the latter as a centre-forward in a 2-0 win, playing 68 minutes before being replaced by Ondrej Lingr.

According to FotMob, all three of Minteh's goals under head coach Arne Slot have been inside the penalty area on his left foot, while the £6m star is currently averaging a goal every 144 minutes. This works out at 0.63 goals per 90 in a Feyenoord shirt from an xG of 0.81 per 90, as per FBref, so there is a slight underperformance from Minteh in front of goal but not enough to question the attacker's ability in the final third.

In contrast, it makes for interesting reading when comparing the young attacker to fellow Newcastle winger Gordon who is averaging 0.32 xG per 90 and 0.38 goals per 90, while also scoring once every 235 minutes for the Magpies which is well below Minteh's current rate.

Minteh also boasts 52.9 touches per 90, with 34.2 coming in the final third of the pitch despite being limited to just 49 minutes per 90. Meanwhile, Gordon is averaging 44.7 touches per 90 with only half coming in the attacking third. Additionally, the former Everton man is on the pitch for 30 more minutes than Minteh per 90.

Newcastle United head coach Howe will undoubtedly be impressed by Minteh's loan spell at Feyenoord and the Gambia international could be coming for Gordon's place in the team next season.

Jesse Lingard has taken to social media after securing his first K-League win with his new side FC Seoul.

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Lingard joins FC SeoulSecures first winYet to make starting XIWHAT HAPPENED?

The former Manchester United and West Ham playmaker took to his personal Instagram account after securing three points in the league for the first time since joining the club.

Lingard has made three appearances for his new side but the 2-0 win over Jeju was the first time he was able to contribute to his new team tasting victory. Goals from Stanislav Illjutcenko and Sung-Yeung Ki proved to be the difference at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

AdvertisementWHAT LINGARD SAID

Posting on Instagram, Lingard wrote: "Perfect Saturday afternoon."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Lingard joined the South Korean side in February after leaving Nottingham Forest on a free transfer at the end of last season. The England international is yet to make his first start for FC Seoul but will be hoping he can build on his first win with more positive performances in the future.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR LINGARD?

Lingard and his teammates will be back in action after the upcoming international break. Their next fixture will arrive against eighth-place Gangwon, where the 31-year-old will be hoping to break into the starting line-up.

Arsenal booked their place in the next round of the EFL Cup last night, with a battling away victory against Brentford.

Having been shown exactly how to topple the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium by Everton last weekend, Mikel Arteta decided to tread his own path, dominating possession but retaining that fighting spirit. In the end, it was the quality of Reiss Nelson that rose above the rest.

How did Reiss Nelson play vs Brentford?

Earning the second-highest Sofascore rating of anyone within the clash, the English winger was trusted to make his first start of the campaign in a tough atmosphere.

However, whilst his goal that was fired home with delightful precision proved the difference, it was not that alone which saw him lauded for an outstanding display. The trickster was a constant threat, striking the woodwork with a late chance too as well as seeing another shot fly wide. This then fed into earning success with his sole attempted dribble, as the 23-year-old remained efficient in possession.

This notion was emphasised further by his exceptional pass accuracy, which stayed at a hugely impressive 96% pass accuracy from the 48 attempted passes.

With Bukayo Saka's fitness recently thrown into doubt, such a performance certainly laid down a marker regarding his first-team aspirations. However, in a game where they consistently sought control, the display of Jorginho was integral in maintaining this.

How did Jorginho play vs Brentford?

As the Italy international made his own first start of the season, the inclusion of the experienced midfield maestro always brings calmness – the north London derby error aside – but perhaps slows down the play to a degree where it sometimes hurts their philosophy.

That was far from the case last night, with the 31-year-old ever-present, but integral in keeping play ticking over quietly whilst offering a fine foundation from which the team could build from.

As such, he managed 107 touches in the engine room, maintaining a 90% pass accuracy too, two of which were key passes, via Sofascore.

Everything came through Jorginho, who made the absence of Declan Rice an afterthought as the former Chelsea star ran the show.

However, his work was not limited to just his passing, as the £110k-per-week general also posted a whopping seven tackles, three interceptions and two clearances, winning eight of his nine ground duels too, as per Sofascore.

2023/24

Community Shield

2020/21

Community Shield

2019/20

FA Cup

2017/18

Community Shield

2016/17

FA Cup

It should therefore come as no surprise to see that journalist Aaron Catterson-Reid would rush to Twitter to laud the ace, noting: "Jorginho has been monumental today to be fair to him, wow."

Such a notion would be supported by fellow writer Simon Collings, who handed the steely ace a 7/10 in his post-match player ratings in the Evening Standard: "Had a nightmare game against Tottenham on Sunday when he came off the bench, but recovered well here. Largely unflappable when in possession."

To bounce back from such disappointment, as James Maddison dispossessed him for Tottenham Hotspur's second equaliser, is the mark of a truly top footballer, and explains exactly why Arteta invested in him last January.

Whether he plays a big starting role in the coming weeks or not, Jorginho's influence in and around the squad could prove imperative in any success they might enjoy this term. Last night's display only emphasised that.