Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on midfielder Jorginho after the Italian signed a new contract.
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Michael Beale is looking to make a positive start to life as Sunderland manager, and an update has emerged over new signings and his involvement in them.
Beale named Sunderland manager
The 43-year-old has been confirmed as the Black Cats' new boss, taking over from Tony Mowbray, who was relieved of his duties earlier this month.
While some may feel that his sacking was harsh considering Sunderland still found themselves in the top half of the Championship table, those high up at the club clearly felt that a fresh start was required.
Beale was most recently manager of Rangers, where his time at Ibrox was ultimately disappointing, but he has been a highly rated coach for some time, working at Liverpool earlier in his career and being lauded by Steven Gerrard, who said: "It would take me 15-20 years to become as good as Michael Beale as an on-pitch coach, delivering sessions on a daily basis."
It is, therefore, an exciting appointment of a young manager who hopefully has a big future in the game, and the hope is that he can guide Sunderland into the play-offs at the end of this season.
With the January transfer window close to opening, Beale will have a chance to bring in the right players, and a key update has emerged regarding his involvement in the buying and selling of individuals.
Beale to have say on Sunderland transfers
Speaking to The Northern Echo, Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman revealed that Beale would have a major say on the club's transfers moving forward.
He said: "The stuff around the other components, the team selection is the coach’s choice and when it comes to recruitment, the coach has a huge say. We don’t sign players that the coach doesn’t want.
"Ultimately, we have to try to ensure those players are able to come and hit the ground running. Sometimes they hit the ground running straight away, sometimes they take a little bit longer. There’s loads of context in there, some of which is sometimes difficult for fans and stakeholders to understand."
This is really encouraging to hear from Speakman, considering it is only right that a manager gets to acquire exactly the players he wants in terms of the best individuals for his style of play.
Seeing a sporting director or even an owner get too involved can be detrimental to a team's chances of success, and managers have to be shown trust in the transfer market, or faith in them can be lost from the moment they take charge.
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It remains to be seen who Beale will look to bring in next month, but he will surely be desperate to add a few new faces, not only because they will be the right fit for him, but also in order to boost Sunderland's squad depth and aid their hopes of going one better than last season and making a return to the Premier League via the play-offs.
West Ham have apparently "set sights on signing" one club's all-important front man after Michail Antonio's injury.
Antonio suffers knee problem
The 33-year-old, in a big blow for Irons manager David Moyes, could be set for a "significant" spell on the sidelines after limping off during Jamaica's 2-1 loss to Canada in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final. Antonio has travelled back to London for treatment and will play no part in their second leg clash today, and it has been claimed that he could miss two or three weeks due to a strained medial ligament in his knee.
The forward has been a mainstay for Moyes this season and, yet again, is preferred as the forward option to Danny Ings. The latter has played just 68 minutes in the Premier League, so it is clear Moyes has little faith in Ings with both Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus even playing in makeshift centre-forward roles at times.
Bowen also pulled out of England duty with a knee injury of his own, but it is believed the winger's issue won't be a serious one and his withdrawal from international duty is more of a precautionary measure (The Mail).
Either way, Moyes could find himself pretty short of natural striker options for the foreseeable, depending on the severity of Antonio's knee problem. West Ham had been targeting a striker regardless, with insider ExWHUemployee claiming last week that it is technical director Tim Steidten's "main focus" for January.
“Tim Steidten’s role at the club has grown in seniority since his arrival,” stated Ex on Patreon (via West Ham Way).
“His knowledge, targets and dealings have really impressed Sullivan, who now fully trusts Tim as his right-hand-man. This will almost certainly mean that Steidten will be leading the search for our next manager in the future. However, its understood his main focus for now is player contracts and January recruitment – with a striker top of the list.”
West Ham "set sights on signing" Solanke
According to Football Insider, following Antonio's injury blow, West Ham have "set sights on signing" Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth. The 26-year-old has already matched his best-ever tally in the Premier League this season, and his form has attracted real attention from West Ham. Bournemouth are reluctant to sell in January, though, so Steidten and co may need to pull out on offer too good to refuse.
Moyes' side are apparently "long-term admirers" of Solanke and made approaches in the summer, but Bournemouth took a firm stance at the time.
Former Cherries boss Gary O'Neil, speaking to the press last season, called Solanke an "absolutely massive" player at the Vitality Stadium.
“It’s hard for Dom," said O'Neill when reflecting on the task of leading Bournemouth's attack.
“I feel for him at times, but that’s the nature of the league. We’re not going to dominate all of games all the time.
“Dom works his socks off for me and you can see he comes off and we’ve not created loads of chances for him and he’s put in a load of work. People that maybe don’t know, could underestimate how big Dom is for this group.
“Absolutely massive. I couldn’t ask for a better number nine to go and face the challenges that we’re faced with.”
Chelsea, led by chairman Todd Boehly, are now "vying" to sign a World Cup-winning star in the January transfer window.
The high-profile stars linked with Chelsea
Boehly, assisted by co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, is reportedly turning his attention to the winter market after splashing out close to £400 million on new signings in the summer.
Chelsea are currently mid-table and on a fairly inconsistent run of form, having picked up impressive results against the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City only to be humbled by Man United, Brentford and Newcastle.
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Manager Mauricio Pochettino has a very large squad of stars to pick from and you could argue it is a real challenge for the Argentine to gel them together in perfect unison.
Despite this, there are still some areas which could use improvement – namely at centre-back and going forward. Thiago Silva could leave at the end of this Premier League season, prompting reports that Chelsea are interested in Jonathan Tah of Bayer Leverkusen as one option to replace the Brazilian.
Meanwhile, in terms of strikers, a big name linked with moving to Stamford Bridge is Napoli star Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian is rumoured to be a top target for Boehly and Pochettino, with Osimhen emerging as a key Chelsea transfer target.
The Blues have also gathered quite a reputation for buying young stars since Clearlake Capital's acquisition, and there is another who Chelsea are pretty fond of.
Chelsea "vying" to sign Almada
According to reports out of Spain, Chelsea are vying to sign Atlanta United star Thiago Almada in January. The Argentine, who was a member of his nation's World Cup-winning squad last year, is attracting serious interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United as the English quartet all chase his signature.
Chelsea view Almada as a player who's "perfect" for their long-term project. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season in the MLS this year, scoring a brilliant 13 goals and assisting 16 others to boot.
"Thiago’s talent is incredible, it's amazing," teammate Giorgos Giakoumakis said (via 90min).
"His ability, his vision is amazing. It's all about his ambition and where he wants to end up. If he wants to make the next step, it will be up to him. If not, he will be one of our leaders in Atlanta and I'm really happy I've shared the field with him."
Almada's next move will be an intriguing development to follow as he looks to be one of the most promising young players out of Argentina right now.
Thiago Almada's major strengths (via WhoScored)
Through balls
Key passes
Dribbling
Long shots
In a possible boost for Chelsea, Almada has made it clear he wants to go to Europe, namedropping the Premier League as one of his preferred landing spots.
“I want to leave, I want to go play in Europe. I feel like leaving now,” he said to ESPN (via AS).
"If I have to choose, I would like to play the Premier League or the Spanish league, but either."
Tottenham Hotspur return to action this week following the November international break, and Ange Postecoglou will be determined to bounce back after successive defeats in the Premier League.
Despite finishing eighth last term, Spurs have been electric under the Australian's guidance and have fought for top spot against the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal over the opening phase of the campaign, despite losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich at the end of the summer transfer window.
But calamity struck against Chelsea earlier this month to derail the resounding start, with a 4-1 home defeat inflicted after two dismissals and detrimental injuries to influential signings – Micky van de Ven and James Maddison – presaging a tough task in navigating through the winter period.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' dramatic turnaround in the smouldering embers of the last outing in the English top-flight has indeed cast doubt over the reliability of the squad options, and, as such, it's paramount that reinforcements are secured in January.
Tottenham transfer news – Malick Thiaw
According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, Tottenham are indeed set to prioritise the central defence this winter as Van de Ven faces an extensive spell on the sidelines.
With Eric Dier deemed under-par and set for release in June, the process is only accelerated and AC Milan's Malick Thiaw has been earmarked as a top target.
The report claims that Spurs will maintain their strategy of signing young, talented prospects to grow into first-class Premier League stars, and Thiaw, aged 22, fits the bill.
Valued at €30m (£26m) by CIES Football Observatory, the German defender is aggressive and combative and while he is noted to have inferior pace to Van de Ven, he is robust and touted for big things.
Malick Thiaw's style of play
Thiaw signed for AC Milan from Schalke for just €7m (£6m) plus bonuses in August 2022, following the German side's promotion to the Bundesliga.
As per Sofascore, he was instrumental in securing an instantaneous return to the top flight for his beleaguered outfit, winning 61% of his duels and averaging 2.6 tackles and 3.4 clearances per game.
Since arriving in Serie A, he has only nurtured his talents and now looks like a player capable of cementing a place as one of Europe's standouts in the future, having been described as "solid as a rock" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
#
Player
Club
1
Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool
2
Marc Guehi
Crystal Palace
3
Sinaly Diomande
Lyon
4
Raphael Varane
Manchester United
5
Kevin Danso
RC Lens
*Sourced via FBref
As per FBref, Thiaw ranks among the top 18% of central defenders throughout Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 19% for tackles per 90, showcasing his natural crispness and tenacity in his defensive application.
Last season, his first in Italy, Thiaw made 20 league appearances and impressed with his ball-playing skills and precision in the tackle, completing 88% of his passes and winning a noteworthy 62% of his duels, also averaging 3.3 clearances each outing.
Given Postecoglou's implementation of a possession-based, energetic and intense system, he really does look like he would slot right in.
As the graph above portrays, he boasts qualities similar to some of the Premier League's most prominent defenders, with the £17k-per-week machine's likeness to Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi likely a defining factor behind Postecoglou's interest.
It's unlikely that the Rossoneri would be willing to let their man go cheaply at the season's midpoint – especially considering the fact that they are currently attempting to close the distance on league leaders Inter Milan and second-placed Juventus.
But should Spurs present an enticing offer, then who knows what could happen…
Why Tottenham should sign Malick Thiaw
To be honest, there are probably easier avenues to delve down this winter but this is actually a testament to Thiaw's ability and the lengths that the Lilywhites are willing to go to to snap him up.
Guehi has been persistently linked with a move to north London over recent months, with 'a well-placed source' revealing that Tottenham wanted to complete a transfer in the summer – as per Football Insider.
It is understood that the Selhurst Park side have set a £60m asking price for their colossus, and while Spurs would love to add him to the fold, such a value just isn't realistic for the January window, especially considering that more than one signing will likely to on the agenda.
Signing for the Eagles from Chelsea for £18m two years ago, Guehi has developed into one of the Premier League's most exciting centre-backs, with Spurs matched in their intrigue by the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and the Blues – who seemingly regret their decision to offload the 23-year-old.
Guehi ranks among the top 12% of positional peers for successful take-ons per 90, evidencing his physicality and corroborating claims from former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik that he is an "absolute tank".
Given that the 6 foot 4 Thiaw has been dubbed a 'rock' and boasts similarities to Guehi, it seems like the German's signature might be the one to go for, given his Palace counterpart appears to be unattainable.
And with Postecoglou having attempted to secure his signing at Celtic in 2022, to no avail, it's understandable that Spurs might be prioritising his name, as he is a clear favourite and is viewed as someone who naturally fits the manager's system.
While Tottenham's preferred defensive axis of Van de Ven and Romero is as impressive as any throughout the Premier League scene, there is no denying that the thinness of the squad is threatening to ravage the potential of the 2023/24 season.
Look at Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal. Do these sides boast just two players capable of cementing a starting spot in the respective squads? Spurs need depth, and Postecoglou will move to sign players fit to enhance the fold in January.
Thiaw fits the profile age-wise, has previously been scouted by Postecoglou and bears a semblance in style to Guehi – such elements can be stirred and melded to form a wonderful concoction, tailor-made for a key role in this exciting Tottenham revolution.
MatériaMais Notícias
O contestado gramado do Maracanã foi alvo de críticas novamente. O comentarista Sormani reclamou do estado da grama do estádio na vitória do Flamengo sobre o Coritiba no último sábado pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, alertando a Conmebol em relação à final da Libertadores, que será realizada no palco no dia 30 de janeiro de 2021.
RelacionadasFora de CampoFlamengo perde muitos gols e irrita torcedores na web: ‘Inacreditável’Fora de Campo21/11/2020Fora de CampoFórmula 1: SBT entra na briga com Globo para transmitir categoriaFora de Campo22/11/2020ListasBoas vendas! Estudo mostra os clubes que mais faturaram grana com saídas de jogadores na décadaListas19/11/2020
> Veja o chaveamento da Libertadores
-A gente olha para o Maracanã e lamenta ver o estado do gramado onde o melhor time do futebol brasileiro (Flamengo) tem que jogar, e onde será a final da Libertadores. Será que tem cabimento fazer uma final num estádio com um gramado como o do Maracanã? A Conmebol tem que ficar muito atenta. Se o Maracanã não resolver esse problema, a final da Libertadores tem que sair de lá – disse Sormani durante o programa “Expediente Futebol, da Fox Sports.
O gramado do Maracanã chegou a ser trocado em setembro, mas não apresentou uma grande melhora. O estádio recebe partidas de Flamengo e Fluminense.
After a resurgent run of form in the Championship, Leeds United's momentum came to a crashing halt against Stoke City in a frustrating 1-0 defeat for Daniel Farke's side. Now, they must avoid a repeat of their early-season run of results and instantly get back to winning ways against Huddersfield Town. On paper, it should prove to be a routine day at the office for the Yorkshire club, given that Huddersfield sit just one place above the relegation zone.
Leeds could be forced to pick up all three points against the Terriers without a pretty key player, however, with the latest injury news potentially dealing Farke an untimely blow.
Leeds injury news
As things stand, Leeds are already without Stuart Dallas for the long-term, meaning that they could do without any other knocks to add to what is fortunately still a list without extensive absentees. As the fixtures come thick and fast in the coming months, things could change at Elland Road in an instant. And Farke will be well aware of the need to keep his squad as fit as possible, making the latest news even more of a concern.
That news, of course, is that Sam Byram is facing a late fitness test ahead of the Huddersfield Town game. Farke told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "Always someone we have to be careful with his injury record, last time he was able to play three games in seven days but each week is different – we make a late decision with him. He came through the game with a few knocks but we’ll make a late decision.”
Byram will be left feeling frustrated if he does have to sit out, having started ten of the Whites' 13 Championship games this season in an impressive run of fitness for the left-back.
Byram missing out would be a blow for Farke
Byram's stats speak for themselves. The former Norwich City full-back has quickly established himself at Elland Road and has proved to be an upgrade on Luke Ayling. When compared, via FBref, it is the summer arrival who comes out on top.
Player
Progressive Carries
Progressive Passes
Blocks
Interceptions
Sam Byram
23
43
16
17
Luke Ayling
13
21
10
9
With Leeds in need of a win after suffering defeat against Stoke, they could certainly do with having Byram to call upon, who has previously been spoken incredibly highly of by Farke. The Leeds boss said, via Leeds Live: “Sometimes you have to be a bit careful [when assessing players’ fitness]. Whenever you ask a player if they’re ready to go, then normally everyone wants to play and says ‘Yes, I’m top fit, boss. Let me play, everything’s okay.’
“But Sam is really, really honest because he knows also his history and when you ask him you get to always a really good answer. Never a guarantee, but we got a good feeling that he would be in shape at least to go for many minutes today.
“I’m pleased that he was there each and every second on the pitch because there was this one situation in the second half when we need also his experience but overall his quality in this position, his awareness level. He’s quite important for us.”
Ashwin will extend his stay in England to take in the final two rounds of the County Championship
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2018
R Ashwin’s guile was too good for the batsmen•BCCI
India spinner R Ashwin will extend his stay in England after the upcoming Test series after signing for Worcestershire. Ashwin, who had his first taste of county cricket with Worcestershire last season, will return for their final two Championship games in 2018.Ashwin, the fastest bowler to 300 Test wickets, is likely to start as India’s lead spinner for the five-match series with England, while also providing vital runs in the lower order (he has four Test hundreds). Currently out of the limited-overs sides, he has joined up with India’s Test squad for their warm-up match, against Essex at Chelmsford, starting on Wednesday.Last season, Ashwin had a major impact at Worcestershire, taking 20 wickets in four matches while averaging 42.50 with the bat. As reported by ESPNcricinfo in May, the club were keen to bring him back and clearance has now been agreed with the BCCI.”We are delighted to have Ashwin coming back for what could be a key part of the season,” Worcestershire’s chief executive, Matt Rawnsley, said. “He is one of the best spinners in world cricket and the influence he had when here last season cannot be underestimated.”The lads all speak so highly of him, the impact he had on the field and the way he slotted in so well off the pitch and he was willing to offer advice to our young spinners like Ben Twohig.”Ashwin will be available for Worcestershire’s trip to Essex, starting on September 18, and the home game against Yorkshire the following week. Currently bottom of the table, they are looking to avoid being relegated to Division Two for the fourth time in ten years.”Ashwin is world class and he loved it at Worcestershire,” head coach Kevin Sharp said. “Conversations have been ongoing about him coming back and I’m sure he will be a great fillip for us. He had a massive input for us on and off the field last summer in helping us gain promotion and he is a high class individual.”Although Virat Kohli had to pull out of a stint with Surrey due to injury, several Indians have enjoyed spells in county cricket this summer. Cheteshwar Pujara spent the first half of the season at Yorkshire, while Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron played for Sussex and Leicestershire respectively, and Axar Patel has signed for a spell at Durham.
Sussex have strengthened their middle order for the Vitality T20 Blast by securing New Zealand batsman Tom Bruce for the entire tournament
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jun-2018
Tom Bruce pulls the ball away•AFP
Sussex have signed New Zealand international batsman Tom Bruce for the duration of their 2018 Vitality T20 Blast campaign.Bruce, a T20 specialist with 14 caps, will be available for all 14 of the team’s matches in the South Group, as well as the knockout stages should the Sharks progress.Sussex supporters will have a sneak preview of Bruce in a Sussex shirt on Friday when he forms part of the men’s side that takes on a touring Aboriginal XI at Hove.Sussex’s move for Bruce has come because of a knee injury for their South African batsman, Stiaan van Zyl, which is expected to rule him out of much of the tournament.Sussex head coach Jason Gillespie said: “The injury to Stiaan forced us to reassess our squad for the Vitality Blast and we’ve decided that we need to bring in a quality overseas batsman for the duration of the tournament.”Tom has experience on the biggest stage with New Zealand and is exactly the type of dynamic middle order strokemaker we’re looking for.”To have him available for the entirety of the competition will offer us continuity, which is very important in tournament cricket.”The extent of Van Zyl’s absence is not yet known but Sussex have suggested that he needs “an extended period of rest and rehabilitation”.Bruce’s most recent international appearance came during the tri-series between New Zealand, Australia and England earlier this year.He burst onto the New Zealand domestic T20 scene in the 2015-16 season when he finished that year’s competition as his side’s second leading run-scorer behind the Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene.In his 41 career T20s so far, he has scored 958 runs at an average of 28.17. His career strike rate of 150.39 puts him in 26th place on the all-time list.Sussex begin their Vitality Blast campaign on July 4 against Essex at Chelmsford.
Arsenal are set to enjoy a quick turnaround after Sunday's taxing clash with rivals Tottenham Hotspur, as they now face cup action with a trip to Brentford.
Although on paper it marks another gruelling outing for Mikel Arteta's men to face, their task has been made slightly easier by Everton of all teams, who showcased the fragility of Thomas Frank's team with a battling win at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. Given they were a side who lost just two home games in the whole of last season, perhaps they will not be so unbeatable again this year.
However, this is a notion that the Gunners will have to work for, with the Bees always willing to provide a workmanlike challenge to whomever they face.
Fortunately, a bright start to the new campaign for the visitors suggests they will rise to the challenge, as they find themselves fifth in the Premier League table having yet to taste defeat. Then, as they kickstarted a new Champions League term, they would run riot as the Emirates played host to the 4-0 demolition of PSV Eindhoven.
With their Spanish manager surely seeking to win every competition available, it is unlikely that he will dismiss the EFL Cup. So, with changes expected, the side will still remain strong.
Who could start for Arsenal vs Brentford?
The only issue that arises regarding Arteta's potential squad selection is the speed with which they have been asked to prepare for the latest game, with tonight's clash marking their third fixture in just seven days' time.
As such, some of their stars simply must be rested, whilst there are also numerous injuries to contend with.
Gabriel Martinelli missed the weekend's north London derby due to a hamstring complaint, but it was noted that he was touch and go in the run-up. Although the Brazilian could be fit, it is unlikely he will be risked.
Another absentee from that match was Leandro Trossard, who "felt a muscle tightness" in training before, as Arteta noted. Again, he is one unlikely to be risked.
Both Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka actually started the game but had to be withdrawn due to separate injuries. Their manager would even suggest that the latter could miss their match with AFC Bournemouth at the weekend, noting: "He was limping quite badly after the match. We had to get him off the field, which is never a good sign as well. He hasn’t been able to participate in the session."
22/23 – Brighton and Hove Albion
Third
1-3
21/22 – Liverpool
Semi-Finals
0-0 & 0-2
20/21 – Manchester City
Quarter Finals
1-4
19/20 – Liverpool
Fourth
5-5 (9-10 pens)
18/19 – Tottenham Hotspur
Quarter Finals
0-2
With a true selection headache to contend with, as well as a floodlit ground synonymous with statement victories over the last 12 months, Arsenal will not have it easy as they seek to kickstart a cup run.
How good has Bukayo Saka been this season?
That absence of Saka could prove to be a true hammer blow for the Gunners, who have relied heavily on the exploits of the England international this season.
In fact, such is his importance and ever-presence within the side, their draw with Spurs marked the 86th consecutive league appearance for the 22-year-old, a club record.
And it should come as no surprise to note why, given last term saw him finish on 14 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League alone, with his dynamic exploits down the right flank very nearly spearheading them to a first title since 2004.
Despite falling painfully short, he is set to emulate such blistering form again this year, having already scored four and assisted four across eight games in all competitions, even marking his Champions League debut with a goal and an assist.
There is little Saka cannot do, and as such the winger has been lauded by many. Arteta has been particularly effusive in his praise for a man who lives his life devoted to winning: "He sets himself new targets and new demands year by year. He seems to complete those because he is extremely hungry and willing to learn and improve.
"He wants to be the player that decides games every three days. He's a very focused boy and does everything right – the way he prepares himself, the way he trains, the way he lives his life."
To potentially be without such an outstanding star marks a tough challenge for the staff to contend with, but fortunately in Reiss Nelson, they have an alternative who is more than capable of stepping up in moments of need.
How good is Reiss Nelson?
After all, some of the club's brightest moments last campaign came courtesy of the 23-year-old, with captain Martin Odegaard even naming his late winner at home to AFC Bournemouth as the Norwegian's best memory in an Arsenal shirt thus far.
Although chances were limited throughout that term, with the £100k-per-week livewire failing to make a single league start, when handed an opportunity he often took it.
For example, as Saka was forced off in last season's win over Nottingham Forest, the Hale End graduate filled his boots with ease, scoring twice and assisting another to complete the 5-0 rout.
A former teammate of his, Alex Iwobi, actually sought to praise the mindset that allows the former Feyenoord loanee to thrive despite a lack of starting opportunities: "He was a joke in training,” the Nigeria midfielder told The Beautiful Game Podcast. “He used to do bare tricks, sometimes they’d say to him ‘Reiss it’s only three touch’ and he’d still be twisting up man but still creating a chance.
"I think before we played them and he wasn’t even playing, he was just chilling, and I have to respect that, every time he’s come on to play he’s delivered, I think he’s been the most impactful sub this season, so I have to give it to him.
“For someone to be able to do that and not be playing regularly, to have that elite mindset to know that you’re going into a game and I’m going to do my thing and make sure I help the team win, I have to rate it.”
Now surely set to be handed a chance to shine by Arteta, the 5 foot 9 maverick could stamp a true first-team claim by starring in the absence of all of their key figures.