Arsenal players fighting to get fit for Tottenham derby

After the international break on November 23rd Arsenal host Tottenham in a London derby. News from the training ground and the Emirates Stadium points to Gabriel Jesus being available for action and Gunner’s striker Viktor Gyokeres and winger Noni Madueke also hope to be fit in time. The news is also positive for club captain, […]

After the international break on November 23rd Arsenal host Tottenham in a London derby. News from the training ground and the Emirates Stadium points to Gabriel Jesus being available for action and Gunner’s striker Viktor Gyokeres and winger Noni Madueke also hope to be fit in time. The news is also positive for club captain, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli. Odegaard’s knee problem has been well managed by the club’s medical team and he is taking part in light training during the current international break. Havertz is fighting to get back but it could be another two or three weeks before he is fully fit.

 

Pep still showing energy and focus

If anyone doubted Pep Guardiola’s commitment to Manchester City, his celebration when Jeremy Doku scored what might well be the goal of the season against Liverpool and when Nico Gonzalez made it 2-0 his response proved he is still as keen to win the league as he ever was. This was Pep’s 1000th game in charge as a manager and coach and seeing him jumping up and down, running about and hugging his assistants proved that the great man is still totally driven, focused and energetic in his 18th season at the top level of coaching. He still takes on young players, improves, and turns them into world-class talent. Doku and Phil Foden being prime examples of what he can do with raw talent.

Of his 1,000 games he has won 716, drawn 156 and lost 128, that is an impressive 71.6 per cent win rate.

City are serious title contenders and will battle Mikel Arteta’s Gunners right up until the last game of the season and with Liverpool falling away at an alarming rate the title race is definitely on for Guardiola.

 

Slot seeking excuses after suffering Man City demolition

It might sound stupid but fans chanting, “You’re getting sacked in the morning” to Arne Slot after Liverpool’s demolition by Manchester City does focus the mind on the Red’s problems and particularly points fingers at the manager.

Slot seems to have lost his mojo and the champions are now down in 8th place in the league and he is facing difficult questions about his football strategies. For instance, Slot hates the current trend of long throw-ins despite having capable players such as Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to meet the high balls. He regularly criticises time-wasting which he claims is costing Liverpool points and his favouritecomplaint, the standard of refereeing.

At the Manchester City/Liverpool press conference after the match, the usually calm and cool Slot went into a mini-rant. Why did the referee disallow Virgil van Dijk’s header when Andy Robertson was penalised for being offside and impeding goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma? The Referees Association have since backed the decision.

 

No answers to Newcastle’s horrible away form

Another club looking for a kick-start to their season is Newcastle. Why are they so bad away from Tyneside? They have suffered five away defeats, won nothing and drawn four since last April.

Manager Eddie Howe is calling his players “unrecognisable” when visiting opponents’ grounds compared with last season.

He said after the 3-1 defeat to Brentford, “I think it’s really important that I support the players. We know we have good players; we have got a very good team but we just need to stay grouped together in this difficult period. I blame myself for our current position.”

It certainly is a difficult period with Newcastle only two points off the relegation places.

Weirdly they are performing well in the Champions League and are level on points with

Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Real Madrid. Why they cannot match that impressive impact away from home in the Premier League is beyond anyone at the club at the moment.

 

Moyes wants Ivan Toney to score Everton goals

David Moyes has revitalised Everton and after returning to his position as coach after a number of years the club is now respected again and not just seasonal relegation contenders.

He intends to strengthen in the January transfer window.

Moyes has lost patience with his two strikers Beto and Thierry Barry, who cost the club £27million during the summer. Saturday’s victory at home over Fulham saw defender Michael Keane and defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye score Everton’s goals with nothing coming from the strikers.

Moyes has talked to his recruitment team and backed by the club directors he intends to launch a bid for ex-Brentford striker Ivan Toney who is currently playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli. I checked with my sources and whereas Tony is comfortable playing in the middle east, he is interested in a possible return to the Premier League.

There are however, hiccups along the way for Everton. If Toney is out of reach for Everton the other possibility being discussed at the club is bringing Richarlison in from Tottenham who will be working furiously in January to get into the Brazilian squad.

 

Pogba keen on Premier League return

Paul Pogba is back and making his first appearance for two years and has his eye on a return to the Premier League. He has told close friends that he follows the elite league every week and he think he still has a lot to offer a Premier League team. He was sacked by Juventus after failing a drug test in 2023. However, Pogba’s four-year ban was reduced to eighteen months and at 32 years-of-age he is back. After being involved in several training sessions to regain his fitness he is likely to return for Monaco where he is now based.

 

Isak wanted by Sweden

Newly installed coach of Sweden Graham Potter has called up Alexander Isak in what is his first squad in his new job. Liverpool’s most expensive player has not played for Liverpool since October 22 because of a groin problem. His career at Anfield has not exactly gone according to plan and he has made no impression on the Kop at all.

Potter hopes Isak could face Switzerland on Saturday and Slovenia in World Cup qualifying matches.

Sweden have a very poor record in international qualification competitions and the Swedish FC have made it clear to Potter that they want a dramatic improvement for the country on the world stage.

Potter has not selected Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres after he was hurt in the PL match against Burnley but Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga and Lucas Bergvall of Tottenham have been named in Potter’s squad.

Sweden face an uphill battle after winning only one point from their opening four matches in World Cup Group B.

 

Amorim says Heaven is United’s future in defence

Manchester United plan to build much of their defence around Ayden Heaven next season.

The centre-back was not on the club’s summer list offering for sale almost all United’s players at the right price. He is a ball-playing defender who, at age of 18, proved he is reliable and effective at

6ft 2ins which enables him to challenge the biggest of strikers. He currently has a contract until

June 2029 and United have a one-year option should they decide to keep him when he will still be only 23 years-of-age. As a left-footed player he gives coach Ruben Amorim options at the back and the coach has been training him especially alongside Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Nathan

Mazraoui. Amorim has already told those closest to him that he sees Heaven as a future captain of the United. If he does prove his current potential it will be a loss for Arsenal who let him go to United last January for only £1million.