Arsenal’s rise since the arrival of Unai Emery has been fantastic to witness. The Gunners have really turned it around, and whilst things still aren’t perfect at the Emirates, it’s evident that the new manager has the quality needed to succeed.
The way that he’s improved the team on the field has been remarkable, and best of all, he’s made a few players that were previously struggling far more consistent, and that’s played a crucial role in their rise.
Clearly, Arsenal are in a transitionary period, and their side is going to look very different in a few years to that which struggled under Arsene Wenger.
That, naturally, means that the Gunners could be looking at a few departures over the coming months and years, and one man that is surely on the verge of an exit is goalkeeper Petr Cech.
His contract expires at the end of the season, and there’s no reason for the club to offer him fresh terms.
Bernd Leno has come into the team as of late, and he’s done well. Against Wolves, he was arguably the main thing that kept the Gunners in the tie, with a handful of brilliant saves serving to really solidify Arsenal’s defence. He’s agile, he’s quick and he’s a fantastic shot-stopper, and in truth, there’s nothing he can’t really do.
Petr Cech, meanwhile, had a poor start to the season, Mistakes were a regular occurrence for the goalkeeper, and though he was forced out of the team through injury, it was likely only a matter of time before he lost his place anyway.
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The truth is, over the last year or two, Cech has been well below average, and so for Arsenal, it’s time to look ahead. Leno is the future of the Gunners, and this time next year, Cech will belong in the past – you’d expect.
Marko Arnautovic has become a key figure in the West Ham United squad due to his presence in the final third.
The Austrian is the main man up front when fit, but he has had some problems with his knee this season, and it appears to be an ongoing issue.
As well as that, there have been rumours floating around suggesting that Arnautovic is open to moving to another club in the future to fulfil ambitions of playing in Europe.
The striker’s brother and agent Daniel Arnautovic recently told gianlucadimarzio.com that his client is ready to take a step up.
It is unclear whether the forward will push for a move, but there are reports that the Hammers are hunting for new strikers.
According to the Daily Mail, the East London outfit are one of a number of clubs keeping tabs on Nantes striker Emiliano Sala.
Check out the video below to see Playmaker FC’s American Soccer Fan give his take on all six ‘field goals’ in West Ham v Burnley…
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The forward has scored 13 goals in 14 games in all competitions, and this recent speculation led us to ask you if he would be a suitable replacement for Arnautovic.
As you can see from the results below, there has been a mixed reaction, but most think that the Austrian is better.
According to a report by WalesOnline, Premier League strugglers Cardiff City are lining up a surprise January move for out-of-favour Liverpool full-back Nathaniel Clyne, and fans of his former club Southampton have been quick to react.
Saints sold the England international to the Reds in the summer of 2015 in a £12.5m deal, and while he quickly established himself as a first-choice option he has found first-team minutes harder to come by in more recent times.
Injuries have played a big part in that, and the 27-year-old now finds himself behind both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez in the right-back pecking order under Jurgen Klopp, featuring for just 90 minutes this term.
Clyne’s replacement at St Mary’s was Cedric Soares, and while he enjoyed a successful debut campaign on the south coast he has largely flattered to deceive since then.
The Playmaker FC squad decided to wind-up some unsuspecting Brazil fans at the Emirates on Saturday night. Watch the hilarious results in the video below…
Southampton supporters have taken to social media to give their thoughts on the link to Cardiff, and while one described him as “5 times the player Cedric is”, another said they would “take him back tomorrow”.
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According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, Everton are interested in a move for midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Frenchman currently plays his football at fellow Premier League outfit Watford and has done so since leaving Rennes in 2016, with his masterful efforts in the heart of the Hornets midfield attracting interest around the English top-flight.
And Marco Silva’s Everton are the latest side to reportedly seek to sign the £13.5 million-rated star (as per Transfermarkt), and while a deal for the 25-year-old would likely delight many Evertonians, it could spell seriously bad news for current Toffees star Tom Davies.
The Breakdown
Ultimately, Watford’s Doucoure has proven to be one of the most effective central midfielders in the Premier League in the last two seasons, with the 25-year-old combining brilliance on the ball with tenacity off it to prove himself as a seriously good top-flight midfielder.
And with four assists already this time round for Javi Gracia’s men, adding to the seven goals and four assists he contributed last term, Doucoure is continuing to prove his worth and deliver the goods for the Hertfordshire-based outfit – it’s no surprise that Everton are reportedly keen on his services.
And that’s because there does appear to be something of an issue in the centre midfield ranks at Goodison Park, as although Andre Gomes appears to have made that spot his own alongside Idrissa Gueye, the other options at Silva’s disposal haven’t been inspiring confidence.
And one of those is 20-year-old Davies, who has come up through the youth ranks at Goodison Park and already has 78 first team appearances to his name, with some mightily impressive displays sandwiched among them to suggest that he is the future of the Merseyside club.
However, while he appeared 43 times in all competitions last season, he has seriously struggled for game time under Silva this time round with just six Premier League appearances to his name, none of which have come in their last five league matches.
Yes, he was indeed made captain by Silva for matches against Arsenal, Fulham, and Leicester City, but he has on the whole failed to prove his worth in that central midfield position – Gomes and Gueye look an infinitely better partnership.
Thus, Davies appears to be out of the first team picture even now let alone were Doucoure to make the move to Goodison Park – and while Gomes’ deal is only temporary until the end of the season, it’s still difficult to see Davies usurping the Watford man in the pecking order.
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As such, while Everton fans will surely be thrilled were their side to land Doucoure, it could spell seriously bad news for current Toffees ace Davies and his future prospects at Goodison Park.
[ad_pod ]Liverpool fans on Twitter have been urging Barcelona striker Luis Suarez to return to Merseyside after his latest tweet about his performanceÂagainst Norwich at Anfield in 2013, where he netted four brilliant goals.However, here at Football FanCast we want to know whether, if given the chance, Liverpool fans would truly like to re-sign the 31-year-old, or if moving on and looking to the future is the best option.
Suarez said that the game against the Canaries was one of the best moments of his career and that it was ‘unforgettable’, and there is no doubt that the Uruguayan was one of the most exciting players that Anfield had seen since Kenny Dalglish.
After three and a half years at the club though, during which time he scored 82 goals in 133 games, the mercurial talent left for Barcelona in a £75m deal.
With his pressing ability and non-stop attitude though, Suarez would be a brilliant fit for Jurgen Klopp’s system and he could certainly still produce the goods for the Reds.
It may take a huge bid to entice Barca to sell, but FSG would surely make Reds fans very happy with a move for the striker, and personally we would love to see him back in the Premier League over any other potential option.
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So, Liverpool fans, would a move for Suarez be wise or should the club be putting their focus elsewhere? Have your say by voting in the poll below.
Wales Online recently reported that former Cardiff City defender Greg Halford is currently training with West Brom, and that a short-term deal may soon be on offer from the Baggies.
However, since then, West Brom boss Darren Moore has explained that the free agent Halford is simply training with his squad to keep his fitness up, and that no plans for a contract offer exist, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Playmaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…
The 34-year-old may well have proved himself an asset at the Hawthorns with his versatility, if given the opportunity. Though, his history of having played for both Wolves and Birmingham City – both local rivals of West Brom – may have seen him struggle to win the Baggies faithful over.
Certainly, plenty of West Brom supporters seem to have no interest in seeing Halford join their club. Of those who took part in our poll, 87% voted against offering the 6’4” defender a deal. Those fans will likely have been glad to hear Moore’s aforementioned statement, though Halford may be disheartened to learn that he’s set to remain without a club for a while longer. See the full poll results below.
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According to The Independent, Wolves winger Diogo Jota will miss the game with Liverpool thanks to a hamstring injury he suffered in last weekend’s win over Bournemouth, and Jurgen Klopp can use this to his advantage.
On the chalkboard
Jota’s injury is a big blow for Wolves, but it is equally good news for Liverpool. In his last three games, the Portuguese winger has netted two goals and provided one assist as the Premier League newcomers won all three on the bounce.
Without this attacking threat Wolves will be weakened down the left-hand side of their favoured front three. However, Jota also works hard defensively and his absence will hamper Nuno Espirito Santo’s team as they look to nullify the threat of the current league leaders.
For this reason, Liverpool boss Klopp can feel more comfortable playing James Milner as an attacking right-back, as opposed to Nathaniel Clyne who started in the 3-1 win over Manchester United at Anfield. With Matt Doherty in excellent form down the Wolves right, their left-hand side could be a weak spot where Liverpool find the most joy on Friday evening.
FFC’s James Jones has identified the one thing that could cost Liverpool the title. Find out what it is in the video below…
Versatility
Throughout his career Milner has proved himself to be an incredibly versatile footballer. Having spent nearly a full season at left-back under Jurgen Klopp, he made his 500th Premier League appearance at right-back in the recent 4-0 win over Bournemouth.
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Klopp likes his full-backs to get forward and be an outlet for the midfield, and Milner’s crossing makes him dangerous when in those attacking positions on the right-hand side, which may be easier to find given Jota’s injury.
Given that Trent Alexander-Arnold is out with injury, Milner at right-back seems the obvious choice for Klopp as the Reds look to get the three points that will see them top the table at Christmas.
Loads of Everton fans have been giving their verdict on Sunday’s devastating setback at the hands of Tottenham, and plenty of fans are fed up with Jordan Pickford.
Inconsistency is a pretty common problem for young goalkeepers, and Pickford is certainly suffering this season.
After an electrifying performance the World Cup, the 24 year-old started the campaign in fine form, but his form and confidence has gone out the window since the derby day blunder.
Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below...
Since the late defeat at Anfield, the Toffees have picked up just two points from four games, and the 6-2 defeat against Tottenham takes the goals conceded during that time to 12.
Pickford was at fault for Son Heung-min’s equaliser on Sunday, and it’s fair to say he didn’t cover himself in glory for the remainder of the match either.
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While most fans are sure the ex-Sunderland star will turn things around, there are plenty of calls for change, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
According to a report by The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest are reportedly on the verge of sacking manager Aitor Karanka as the Spaniard as failed to meet expectations, and fans of arch-rivals Derby County have been quick to react on Twitter.
The Telegraph report that the former Middlesbrough boss was under strict instructions to lead the Reds to a play-off position by the turn of the year following a big summer of spending, but the 3-3 draw with Norwich City on Boxing Day left them three points adrift of the top six – Frank Lampard’s men are in the final spot ironically.
The collapse from a 3-0 lead with 15 minutes left to play continued a poor sequence of results for Karanka including surprise home defeats against Preston North End and Queens Park Rangers, and he now appears to be on the brink.
Derby supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while you may have expected them to be laughing at their arch-enemies, instead they were disbelieving of the rumour.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Playmaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…
Spurs have battled their way into Premier League title contention despite many thinking, before we kicked the season off in August, that it was going to be a two-horse race between Liverpool and Manchester City.
Alas, the north London outfit are above the latter in the table after Pep Guardiola’s men endured a dreadful December but what can Mauricio Pochettino and co. do to ensure they continue to snap at the Reds’ heels right until the last day?
Well, after a silent summer in which Spurs made zero signings, the need for fresh faces is apparent as they’d give a huge boost to Tottenham’s title hopes.
Football FanCast outline three signings that could make all the difference – and then give our readers the chance to have their say on which one should be brought to north London.
Tanguy Ndombele
Now, Spurs fans are surely familiar with this one as the club’s interest in the Lyon man is known but the signing of Tanguy Ndombele this month is non-negotiable – he would perhaps be the most transformative addition to the ranks in recent years.
The north London outfit are excellent at developing young players such as Dele Alli into top class stars, but few transfers in their recent history have had the immediate impact that Ndombele would.
Spurs must replace the waning Mousa Dembele, who has been a key figure in the starting XI since a move from Fulham in 2012, and the Belgian must make way for a much younger counterpart who has all the attributes to excel at the base of the midfield.
Renowned for his powerful dribbling and composure on the ball, Ndombele is in his element when allowed to make surging runs from deep after winning possession and this kind of driving force is essential to Spurs’ success – Moussa Sissoko has been deployed as a defensive midfielder and has impressed for the same reasons, but his output pales in comparison to that of his countryman.
The 22-year-old Frenchman has completed 2.5 dribbles, 1.8 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game in the Champions League this season and is exactly what Spurs are missing.
Callum Wilson
Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson has come into his own this season after an injury-ridden few years, chalking up an impressive eight goals and six assists for the Cherries before the turn of 2018 and earning himself a maiden England call-up.
Key features of the former Coventry man’s game are his positioning and pace, both of which enable him to be a constant threat on the counter.
With Heung-min Son set to miss up to five games while competing at international level with South Korea in the Asia Cup and Fernando Llorente a target for Galatasaray, the Lilywhites could be lacking options up front beyond Harry Kane – Wilson, while surely expensive, would be the perfect signing to offer another dimension to the attack.
Kane’s tendency to drop deep and spray long-balls over the top to a second striker would make him the ideal partner for the 26-year-old, who would score goals galore playing off the shoulder.
Juan Mata
Beyond Christian Eriksen, Spurs lack an out-and-out playmaker and, if you take the Dane out, none of the other attacking midfielders can replicate his vision or passing range.
If the former Ajax man were to sustain an injury, the Lilywhites’ title hopes would be in tatters so finding a player who can offer a similar set of skills must be a consideration this month.
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Manchester United’s Juan Mata can offer exactly that and could be available for a pretty reasonable sum as his Red Devils contract runs out in the summer – Spurs can wait until then to snap him up on a free but they may need the 30-year-old in the coming months as they battle for the title.
The Spaniard made 13 appearances – five from the bench – for the Old Trafford outfit this season before the turn of 2018, recording two goals and two assists, but would surely see these numbers soar with the likes of Kane and Alli for company.
So, Spurs fans, which of the aforementioned signings would you like to see come to fruition? Let us know by voting in our poll below…
CheekySport’s Joel claims Spurs badly need to invest in January after not having “the balls” to beat Arsenal. Check out his uncensored opinion in the video above…