All posts by z3u9t.icu

And breathe. Just when Manchester United and Erik ten Hag needed it most, the Red Devils secured a thrilling 2-1 victory following a remarkable late comeback at home to Brentford on Saturday afternoon, with super-sub Scott McTominay proving an unlikely hero with a brace at the last.

Amid what was an emotional atmosphere following the sad passing of Lady Cathy Ferguson – wife of legendary manager, Sir Alex – it was somewhat apt that it was a Scotsman who stepped up to snatch the win in 'Fergie time' in front of a raucous and relieved Old Trafford crowd.

It looked like the chance had gone when an earlier effort was disallowed following an offside in the build-up, yet that man McTominay made his mark with two goals of priceless quality to lift the mood heading into the international break.

Such an outcome had looked improbable following yet another setback in the first half, with the man in the sticks, Andre Onana, likely to count himself lucky that he will not be stealing the headlines yet again.

How did Andre Onana perform against Brentford?

There's no denying that it has been a grim start to life in Manchester for the former Inter Milan stopper, with the 27-year-old having now shipped 19 goals in just 11 games in all competitions to date, including the odd clanger or two.

The Cameroonian titan has been particularly woeful in the Champions League after failing to keep out Leroy Sane's strike away to Bayern Munich, while also playing Casemiro into trouble in midweek against Galatasaray – a game in which he was also unable to stop Mauro Icardi's tame dink.

In need of a response to silence the critics, Onana produced yet another blunder after seeing Mathias Jensen's effort squirm underneath him, with that limp attempted save having looked likely being costly until the madness of stoppage time.

The under-fire 'keeper wasn't alone in having stunk the place out at the Theatre of Dreams, however, with experienced midfielder Casemiro also enduring a dire first half prior to his early withdrawal.

How did Casemiro play against Brentford?

The Brazil international has not been at his best it is fair to say this season, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst stating earlier today that the former Real Madrid man has "looked like a testimonial player all season", having gone through the motions at times.

It was a particularly poor outing this time around – leading to his inevitable substitution at the break – with the 31-year-old producing arguably "the worst half he's had yet" since his £70m arrival last summer – in the words of Luckhurst.

Such a grim performance was epitomised by the fact that the five-time Champions League winner lost possession on five occasions from his 30 touches and was dribbled past once in his 45-minute showing, with Christian Eriksen subsequently taking his place at the interval.

The one-time Porto man was particularly culpable for the visitors' opener after giving away the ball in the build-up, with GOAL's Richard Martin writing that he was ''cumbersome in possession and lethargic out of it.'

In truth, it looks as if this upcoming halt to proceedings at club level has come at the best possible time for the £350k-per-week asset – and for Onana – with Ten Hag having a decision to make as to whether he persists with the pair once play resumes later this month.

In the meantime, however, the former Ajax boss can at least momentarily enjoy what he will hope can be a season-defining win for his struggling side.

Leeds United have endured and enjoyed their fair share of transfer blunders and blinders over the years as they have dealt with big flops and surprise stars.

The Whites have been unable to unearth a number of gems over the years and Daniel Farke will be hoping that a few arise from his crop of summer signings, which included Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Sam Byram, and Karl Darlow, among others.

Joe Rodon was brought in on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and the Yorkshire-based side will be hoping that he has a similar impact to the one that Pontus Jansson made after his arrival, initially on loan in 2016.

Sofascore rating

7.44

Appearances

34

Clean sheets

12

Pass accuracy

85%

Jansson's 2016/17 Championship form (via Sofascore)

Leeds snapped the Sweden international up on a temporary deal from Torino for the 2016/17 campaign and he caught the eye throughout the season with 34 Championship starts and a duel success rate of 67%.

How much was Jansson worth when Leeds signed him?

The Whites then secured his services on a permanent basis in the summer of 2017 and Transfermarkt valued him at €2.5m (£2.2m) at the time of the move.

Jansson turned out to be an exceptional signing for Leeds as he produced consistently impressive displays at the back and outperformed captain Liam Cooper at the heart of the defence.

The former Torino ace played 42 Championship matches and caught the eye with 9.3 clearances per game and an aerial duel success rate of 72%, which showed that he was in the right place at the right time and dominated opposition forwards in the air.

Cooper, on the other hand, made 5.8 clearances per outing and won 58% of his aerial battles across 30 league outings for the club during the 2017/18 season.

How much was Jansson worth when Leeds sold him?

At the time of his transfer to Brentford in the summer of 2019, Transfermarkt valued Jansson at €6m (£5.2m) and this means that his value soared by 140% in just two years at Elland Road, which shows that the club struck gold with his arrival.

That move to London came after another impressive campaign for Leeds throughout the 2018/19 Championship season, in which the Swedish titan outperformed Cooper again.

Jansson made 4.7 tackles and interceptions and 4.2 clearances per match across 39 outings, to go alongside a duel success rate of 60%, as per Sofascore.

Whereas, the Scotland international made 3.9 clearances and 4.1 tackles and interceptions per clash over 36 league games, alongside a battle success rate of 63%, as per Sofascore.

These statistics show that the former Serie A defender, whose professionalism was hailed as "immense" by Brentford boss Thomas Frank, made more defensive interventions to cut out opposition attacks in comparison to Cooper across both campaigns.

Jansson also averaged a pass completion rate of at least 83% across those two seasons whilst the Scottish battler never completed more than 82% over an entire campaign.

This suggests that the Sweden international was also more reliable in possession of the ball to go along with his superior defensive qualities.

Overall, he was a fantastic signing by Leeds who was able to hit the ground running in the Championship as a big upgrade on Cooper, and they can look back on his time in Yorkshire as a success.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could have a chance to offload one of their players in January after a surprise contender emerged for his signature, according to reports.

Jadon Sancho Man United's future

Jadon Sancho has been a major talking point at Old Trafford this term following his controversial public spat with Ten Hag after the Dutchman criticised his performance levels in training, culminating in the England international being left out of the Red Devils' in their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal earlier in the season.

Replying to Ten Hag's criticism, Sancho took to social media platform X, stating: "Please don't believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue. I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won't get into, I've been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair! All I want to do is to play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team."

In turn, a frenzy has followed from the media and other internet platforms as speculation continues to intensify over the former Borussia Dortmund winger's long-term future at Old Trafford, which has still not been resolved after Sancho refused to apologise to Ten Hag for his role in developments.

Sancho is also said to be angry at Brazilian winger Antony's continual involvement at first-team level despite his inconsistent performances for the Red Devils. Nevertheless, there could now be a way out for Sancho at Manchester United, with a surprise contender now emerging to potentially lay claim to his services, according to latest developments.

Jadon Sancho's time at Man Utd (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

82

Goals

12

Assists

6

Jadon Sancho wanted by Tottenham

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is keen on Sancho and Spurs are believed to be seriously contemplating a swoop for the England international for a fee in the region of €35 million (£30 million).

In a move that would enable Sancho to stay in the Premier League, Lilywhites boss Postecoglou is believed to see his potential arrival as an important quest, with injuries to the likes of Manor Solomon and Ivan Perisic limiting his pool of available players on the left-hand side of his attack.

Controversy off the field surrounding Sancho has detracted from the fact that the 23-year-old possesses game-changing ability when on his best form, which is reflected by the fact that he fares well in regard to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues in the art of shot-creating actions, having carried out around 5.23 per 90 minutes in the last 365 days, putting him in the 93rd percentile for this metric. (Sancho stats – FBRef)

Labelled "brilliant" by Manchester United boss Ten Hag earlier in 2023, the London-born man clearly has something to offer at the elite level and a move away from the pressure associated with his time at Old Trafford could do him the world of good, making this one to watch.

Chelsea head into their crunch tie against Manchester City off the back of a confidence-boosting 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the week.

Of course, this was against nine men, but the three points will hopefully be a catalyst for Mauricio Pochettino’s men as they chase a European spot.

The Blues haven’t exactly enjoyed the most encouraging of starts under the former Paris Saint-Germain boss, winning just four Premier League matches so far this season, losing to the likes of Brentford and Nottingham Forest in the process.

The Argentinian spent vast sums in the summer transfer window in order to bolster his squad, yet it has taken some new arrivals longer to settle down than others.

Cole Palmer has arguably been one of the better signings since joining from City, scoring three goals and grabbing four assists, but Chelsea’s struggles in front of goal this term could see Pochettino delve back into the transfer market in the coming months.

Chelsea transfer news

The 51-year-old is seemingly keen to strengthen his squad and according to TEAMtalk, the Stamford Bridge side are interested in making a staggering move for PSG forward Kylian Mbappe.

Pochettino worked with him during his spell in charge of the French club, yet they face serious competition if they are to bring him to England.

Real Madrid are seen as the obvious favourites to secure his signature at the end of the season once his contract at the Parc des Princes expires, yet Chelsea have been named alongside three other Premier League clubs as competition for him.

City, Newcastle United and Liverpool are the other three teams keeping tabs on his situation and there could be a major battle for his services in the coming months.

The capital club rejected a world record offer of £257m from Saudi club Al-Hilal during the summer and despite the player being valued at €136m (£119m), according to Football Transfers, it looks as though he will be available for free come next summer.

Chelsea’s highest scorer this season is Nicolas Jackson, who has scored six goals in 13 matches, yet it is clear that Mbappe would be a major upgrade on the former Villarreal forward.

The stats that show Kylian Mbappe would be a good signing for Chelsea

It feels as though Mbappe has been around forever, and it's remarkable to think he is still only 24-years-old.

Having enjoyed a breakthrough season at AS Monaco during the 2016/17 campaign, he secured a move to PSG and the French sensation has hit new heights in the capital.

He has since gone on to win five Ligue 1 crowns along with scoring 224 goals across just 274 matches, establishing himself as one of the finest players in the world.

The Champions League has alluded him thus far, yet Mbappe became the first teenager to score in a World Cup final during the 2018 tournament while just failing to win another world crown last year, as Lionel Messi powered Argentina to a first triumph since 1986.

His form has led many coaches and players to lavish him with praise, most notably from Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti back in 2022 after PSG defeated the Spanish giants.

He said: “Mbappe is the best player in European football.

“Mbappe is unstoppable, we have tried to control him. [Eder] Militao has done very well, but he is a player who always invents something.”

When compared to his positional peers in Europe's top five leagues, the 24-year-old currently ranks in the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.71) along with ranking in the top 1% for touches in the opposition box per 90 (9.09) and in the top 1% for progressive carries per 90 (5.06), indicating how impressive he has been in an attacking sense.

Compare these stats to Jackson’s and it's evident there is a big difference in quality. Indeed, compared to his peers, Jackson ranks in the top 12% for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.35) while ranking in the top 11% for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 (6.25) and the top 7% for progressive carries per 90 (2.84), demonstrating that Mbappe would be a major upgrade should he join Chelsea.

Kylian Mbappe’s statistics for PSG this season

The Blues signed another Frenchman – Christopher Nkunku – from RB Leipzig ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, yet he suffered a serious knee injury prior to the season starting, and it was a big blow for the club.

He managed to score 23 goals for Leipzig during 2022/23 and was one of the most in-demand forwards in Europe, with Chelsea eventually winning the race for his signature.

10

5

1

0

3

1

2.1

1.4

2.1

1.8

Mbappe managed to score more than his compatriot, however, netting 41 times across all competitions, and he has carried this form over into the current season.

The forward has featured on 14 occasions for PSG during 2023/24 and has already scored 12 goals, with there no doubt he could break through the 40-goal barrier once again.

In Ligue 1 for PSG, the former Monaco starlet currently leads the way for goals and assists (11), while also ranking first for shots on target per game (2.1), second for successful dribbles per game (2.1) and third for big chances created (three), suggesting that he has arguably been their finest attacking option during the current season.

He will be hoping to win the Champions League with the French club by the end of the campaign, thus securing the only trophy that is still eluding him at club level.

Pochettino has worked with Mbappe before and this could potentially be an advantage with regard to making a move for the superstar, although Madrid will still be the favourites to sign him.

The Blues urgently need a consistent goalscorer if they wish to have any success in the near future and Mbappe is the ideal candidate, especially with a midfield bulging with talent ready to create plenty of opportunities for him.

Nkunku will give them a major boost when he eventually returns from injury and he and the PSG gem could even form a formidable duo alongside one another for the Stamford Bridge side.

A "very quick" West Brom gem has been linked with a move away from the club recently, and now another big update has emerged regarding his future.

West Brom transfer news

The January transfer window is gradually approaching, at which point the Baggies could decide to add to their squad, giving Carlos Corberan the best possible chance to take his team from the Championship to the Premier League this season.

It remains to be seen how much money will be available to spend, however, with much possibly depending on whether the takeover of the club has gone through by that point. On the plus side, recent reports claim that progress is being made over new West Brom owners coming in, which acts as a real boost to anyone associated with the Championship side.

In terms of possible transfer targets, the Baggies have been linked with a move for Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles, as have a host of clubs, and a loan move for Villarreal attacker Ben Brereton Diaz has also been mooted. On the flip side, there is always the risk that certain players could leave West Brom midway through the season, and a fresh report suggests that that is the case.

Tom Fellows could leave West Brom

According to an update from Football Insider, West Brom youngster Tom Fellows is wanted by two Bundesliga clubs in January, ahead of a potential move away from The Hawthorns.

"West Brom youngster Tom Fellows is a target for Bundesliga duo Werder Bremen and Augsburg, sources have told Football Insider.

"The 20-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and foreign clubs such as Werder Bremen and Augsburg are weighing up moves for the midfielder – who could sign a pre-contract deal in January. Several English clubs are also interested in Fellows as they look to lure the talented attacker away from West Brom."

Fellows may only have been a bit-part player for West Brom so far this season, but the 20-year-old appears to be a long-term prospect, so selling him is something that needs to be avoided.

He has made his way through the youth setup and into Corberan's first team, with Fellows' stats still showing that he has made six appearances in the Championship this season, all of which have come from the substitutes' bench. A loan move somewhere else in January could make some sense, allowing him to enjoy more regular playing time, but selling him at this point in his career could feel like a risk.

West Brom

15

West Brom Under-21s

26

West Brom Under-18s

35

Granted, Fellows is out of contract at West Brom next summer, so a big decision needs to be made by the club, but handing him an extension arguably makes the most sense, allowing him to grow as a player and for the Baggies to get the best of him in the coming years.

Corberan himself has spoken of his admiration for Fellows in the past, describing him as a "very quick" player, and it would be a shame to see him disposed of so early in his Hawthorns career.

Newcastle United have been dealt a potential major blow after one of their players was withdrawn from training on international duty, according to fresh reports.

Newcastle United's injury nightmare…

As we all know by now, Newcastle United have an enormous injury list and face the prospect of missing some of their key players for a considerable period of time, which is bound to have an impact on Eddie Howe's team selection and potential results. The unavailable players for the Magpies include Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak, Miguel Almiron, Javier Manquillo, Matt Targett, Sven Botman, Elliot Anderson, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes and Dan Burn, with a report on Wednesday revealing Wilson and Botman are facing significant time out.

Sandro Tonali is suspended from footballing activity due to breaching betting rules and will be unavailable until next year, while Bruno Guimaraes served a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards in their 2-0 defeat away to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Down to the bare bones, youngsters Lewis Miley and Ben Parkinson were both called upon during the Premier League clash, which produced a major flashpoint at the end of the game, as Kieran Trippier shared a passionate exchange with a travelling supporter and appeared to respond to their protestations with the question "how many injuries have we got?" after both parties were seen in heated debate.

Nevertheless, the England international played down events in an interview with Sky Sports, stating: "The fans are emotional, they have travelled a long way. I had a chat with one of them, saying we are giving everything and there's no need to panic. We got beat and we apologise for that result, but the lads are giving everything."

Now, it looks as if things could be about to go from bad to worse for Newcastle United after one of their players was withdrawn from full-contact training on international duty.

Fabian Schar injury update

According to a report from Switzerland cited via Sport Witness, Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar has been withdrawn from Switzerland's crucial EURO 2024 tie against Israel due to 'muscular problems' and he will instead participate in individualised training in his hotel room with a personal trainer.

Fabian Schar in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

17

Goals

1

Assists

0

Full training is now an option that is off the table for the 31-year-old, who is believed to earn in the region of £40,000 per week at St James' Park, for now, as he recovers from his muscle issue. Switzerland will book their ticket to Germany next summer if they manage to see off Alon Hazan's Israel side.

Performing admirably in 2023/24, Schar has averaged around 3.4 clearances and 1.4 tackles per match in the Premier League this campaign for Newcastle United (Schar statistics – WhoScored).

Despite his impressive form, Schar could now be set to join a lengthy list of absences for Magpies boss Howe to contend with, as he aims to improve on their current showing in the English top-flight that has landed the Toon in seventh position with 20 points from their opening 12 matches.

Manchester United have endured a rather inconsistent start to the new campaign, with positive results often followed by setbacks. The form in the Premier League over the last month has been decent, but Erik ten Hag will be desperate for his side to get a good run of games under their belt across all competitions.

The Red Devils have found their feet in front of goal recently, especially in Europe, but they have struggled overall domestically, netting just 1.38 goals per game.

Two of United’s biggest goal sources, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford, are experiencing a drought, with creativity solely lying on the shoulders of Bruno Fernandes. With that in mind, Man United may look to acquire another maestro in the form of Florian Wirtz.

Man Utd transfer news – Florian Wirtz

According to Sky Sports Germany, Manchester United will battle the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid for the signature of the talented attacking midfielder.

The scouts at the Manchester club are watching Wirtz, but they are yet to make contact with Bayer Leverkusen or the players' representatives.

Wirtz is priced at an astounding £103m as he is an integral part of Xabi Alonso’s side and as per Florian Plettenberg, “Leverkusen can have legitimate hopes that he will stay for at least one more season."

How Florian Wirtz compares to Bruno Fernandes

Hansi Flick classed Wirtz as an “outstanding technician”, which perfectly describes the 20-year-old. The artist views the pitch as a blank canvas with endless possibilities and he is producing incredible numbers for someone so young.

Across the 18 matches he has played in all competitions this season, the number ten has contributed to 16 goals, scoring six and assisting ten. Furthermore, he has the joint most goal contributions in the UEFA Europa League (6) despite only starting three matches.

Just like Bruno Fernandes, Wirtz is the heartbeat of his side, taking on the majority of the creative responsibility.

The two players' passing stats are almost identical, ranking above 90 percentiles, as per FBref, in progressive passes, passes into the final third, and key passes. It is no wonder that the Leverkusen star has been labelled “extraordinary" by Leverkusen's Sporting Director Simon Rolfes, however, they do differ in their style of play slightly both in and out of possession.

Firstly, Bruno usually creates with his wonderful vision and passing range, but he doesn’t use dribbling to open up opponents, completing just 0.69 successful take-ons per match, which is nowhere near Wirtz’s 3.36.

Manchester United severely lack dribblers who can make defenders commit and open up space for teammates. On the other hand, Wirtz is far less involved off the ball than Bruno is, which may be due to Leveruksen’s dominance and the fact that the Red Devils tend to have less possession this season. This is evidenced by the number eight completing a combined tackles and interceptions per game of three and the German registering just 0.69.

Wirtz is a star, a player that can play in multiple roles with ease which would allow him to slot into the Manchester United team, either in midfield or attack. Partnering him alongside the United captain would make Ten Hag’s side far less predictable in attack.

The addition of Wirtz would also bring the best out of misfiring Hojlund, who can use his incredible link-up play to devastating effect, as we saw in the build-up to Garnacho’s opener against Galatasaray. It would be an incredible signing – one that transforms the team as Fernandes did all those years ago – but the boss would have to slightly modify his tactics to fit both the Portuguese and Wirtz in.

Arsenal's unbeaten Premier League season in 2003/04 gave that team the nickname, 'The Invincibles'. It's a feat that will likely never be matched again – at least in England, anyway.

In order to achieve something so remarkable, every single member of that squad must have been at their absolute best. Of course, goals and assists aren't everything, but they are pretty damn important.

Football FanCast breaks the squad down (of those with a minimum of ten appearances) in order of their goal contributions across the historic Premier League campaign.

Top 10 best games from Arsenal's Invincibles season

Football FanCast takes a look at the best games from their Invincible season.

ByAlex Roberts Dec 7, 2023 20 Jeremie Aliadiere 0 goals, 0 assists

Arsenal's other French forward, Jeremie Aliadiere mostly played in the FA Cup and League Cup during their Invincibles season. He only managed 10 Premier League appearances and didn't score once or get an assist, but to be fair to him, only three of those appearances were starts. If he had been given more of a chance, he would likely have contributed more.

Invincibles highlight: Starting as the Gunners came from behind to see off Liverpool at Anfield in early October, playing a part in Robert Pires' winner.

19 Martin Keown 0 goals, 0 assists

By the time the 2003/04 season came around, Martin Keown was very much in the twilight of his career. The old centre-back had been a loyal servant to the Gunners since 1993 when they re-signed the Hale End graduate from Everton. Just because he didn't feature much on the pitch, doesn't mean he didn't make a major contribution to the Invincibles season. His wealth of experience and leadership was likely invaluable for Wenger as the season went on.

Invincibles highlight: Begging Arsene Wenger to bring him on during the final game to earn a Premier League medal (or jumping over Ruud van Nistelrooy).

18 Gael Clichy 0 goals, 0 assists

French left-back Gael Clichy was signed that season, with Ashley Cole, one of the best in that position the Premier League had ever seen, ahead of him in the pecking order. The youngster was therefore not going to be given the chance to make much of an impact. Still, when called upon, Clichy proved he was more than capable of filling in for Cole after making 12 appearances throughout the campaign, and would make the position his own when his predecessor left for Chelsea.

Invincibles highlight: Becoming the youngest-ever Premier League medallist at 18.

17 Pascal Cygan 0 goals, 0 assists

Another member of Arsenal's French contingent, Pascal Cygan was only ever going to be a squad player for Wenger. With an incredibly solid defensive partnership of Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell ahead of him, it was going to take a miracle for Cygan to displace them. But, much like Clichy above, he was an incredibly reliable option who definitely played his part (18 times, to be exact) in this amazing season.

Invincibles highlight: Providing solid cover as Arsene Wenger was forced to shuffle his pack over the winter months.

16 Ray Parlour 0 goals, 0 assists

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour was another member of the squad who was approaching the end of an impressive career. Parlour's role was to do the dirty work that many of his counterparts avoided. In his 25 appearances, he got eight yellow cards. Like Keown, Wenger would have loved having such an experienced player at his disposal when needed, particularly when injuries bit.

Invincibles highlight: Captaining the side during Patrick Vieira's absence, including during the Gunners' derby victory over Spurs.

15 Jens Lehmann

It's obviously very harsh to judge a goalkeeper by goals and assists, but it has happened before. Jens Lehmann – a rare goalscorer himself – is without a doubt one of the best goalkeepers the Premier League has ever seen. The big angry German only conceded 26 goals during the 2003/04 Premier League campaign, keeping 15 clean sheets. Not only was he remarkable between the sticks, his never-say-die attitude rubbed off on his teammates as they chased records.

Invincibles highlight: Superbly denying Craig Bellamy during a tense 0-0 draw at Champions League-chasing Newcastle.

14 Lauren 0 goals, 1 assist

The first player on this list to get a goal or assist, Invincibles right-back Lauren played a pivotal role for Arsenal at the other end of the pitch. The Cameroonian is something of a forgotten man; he may not have had many overly explosive performances, but he was very consistent. Wenger knew exactly what he was going to get from Lauren, and he was the type of player needed to win titles.

Invincibles highlight: For a player as understated as Lauren, it has to be his one assist – a cross put away by Thierry Henry after the Newcastle defence failed to deal with it.

13 Sol Campbell 1 goal, 1 assist

Tottenham Hotspur fans may hate him, but Arsenal fans love him. When Sol Campbell swapped White Hart Lane for Highbury, he immediately became the lynchpin of the Gunners' defence. He was a rock at the back throughout his 35 appearances, but he also popped up with the odd goal, evidenced by the fact he got one in the 2003/04 season. His only goal was the opener against Aston Villa in their 2-0 victory in August.

Invincibles highlight: It has to be his consistency. Only ever missing through injury or suspension, Campbell played the full 90 whenever possible. It is hard to imagine the Invincibles achieving what they did without him.

12 Kolo Toure 1 goal, 1 assist

Kolo Toure may have made a massive two more appearances than defensive partner Campbell, but he didn't get any more goals or assists. Just like Campbell though, he was a man mountain at the back, playing a huge role in Arsenal's season. If it weren't for the Ivorian's calm defensive play, it's unlikely they'd have won the title, never mind gone the season undefeated. He also dropped into midfield when required.

Invincibles highlight: Just take a look at his highlights reel. Enough said.

11 Ashley Cole 0 goals, 3 assists

Ashley Cole may have tarnished his Arsenal legacy by leaving to join London rivals Chelsea two years later, but in 2003/04, he was as good as they got at left-back. The position has evolved since then, and while Cole was more than capable of evolving with it, this campaign shows exactly what he could do defensively. Back then, three assists was a very healthy goal-contribution tally for a full-back.

Invincibles highlight: Dramatic late header in the Champions League aside, his best moment in the league arguably came on the final day, when he won the penalty that drew Arsenal level in their historic comeback win over Leicester City.

Player

Goals

Thierry Henry

39

Robert Pires

19

Freddie Ljungberg

10

Edu

7

Dennis Bergkamp

5

Jose Antonio Reyes

5

Gilberto Silva

4

Sylvain Wiltord

4

Jeremie Aliadiere

4

Kolo Toure

3

Patrick Vieira

3

Nwankwo Kanu

3

Sol Campbell

1

Ashley Cole

1

David Bentley

1

Cesc Fabregas

1

It's no surprise that Newcastle United are already turning their attention towards the January transfer window after suffering defeats against both Luton Town and Nottingham Forest to sum up a season to forget so far. Out of the Champions League and eight points adrift of the top four in the Premier League, to say that Eddie Howe needs reinforcements would be an understatement.

No matter who the Magpies sign in January, they must avoid a repeat of the mistakes they made during the summer transfer window, which saw them fail to recruit enough depth. That said, this time around, Howe has reportedly identified the positions that he needs PIF to strengthen.

Newcastle transfer news

With Sandro Tonali into his 10-month ban, Newcastle must get things right in January, with the season arguably more than salvageable if the right additions arrive. Those at St James' Park have already suffered the consequences for a lack of squad depth and as injuries continue to pile up, the last thing they need is to suffer another setback in the transfer market. When the window opens in a matter of days, they'll certainly be ones to keep an eye on.

According to Luke Edwards of The Telegraph, Howe wants as many as three new signings in January, with a midfielder and forward the reported priorities alongside another goalkeeper. This follows Nick Pope's injury, which could see him miss the majority of the campaign and there have also been concerns over stand-in Martin Dubravka and his recent form.

Meanwhile, the Magpies still need a replacement for Tonali following his ban and added depth in the forward role. As things stand, Howe has just Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak to call upon, who have both suffered injury setbacks in the current campaign. If the boss gets his wish next month, then the Magpies could rescue their season before it's too late.

Newcastle's mounting injury problems

Whilst failed recruitment has been a large part of their failure, Newcastle's injury list certainly hasn't helped. Speaking ahead of his side's trip to Anfield on New Year's Day, Howe said:

“Of course, we’ve suffered the injuries we’ve had and those players you see aren’t available. I don’t think anyone is coming back in the next few days. It was really good that we had Joelinton return today, he’s been a massive miss for us. And we’ve still got players that are finding their fitness from playing matches, which is never ideal, and there were several players on the pitch today in that respect. We’ve not had it easy, and I think that needs to be acknowledged by me more than anyone else in my reflection of the team.”

Newcastle absentees

Potential Return Date

Sandro Tonali

31/08/2024

Nick Pope

13/04/2024

Jacob Murphy

30/01/2024

Harvey Barnes

30/01/2024

Joe Willock

13/01/2024

Elliot Anderson

13/01/2024

Jamaal Lascelles

No return date

Javier Manquillo

No return date

Matt Targett

No return date

As many as nine absentees, it's fair to say Newcastle's luck hasn't been in so far this season. The January transfer window could change that, however, with Howe identifying three main targets.

Tottenham Hotspur bounced back to winning ways in the Premier League on New Year's Eve as they hammered Bournemouth 3-1 at home.

Spurs came into the match off the back of a bitterly disappointing 4-2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last time out and were in need of an immediate reaction.

Ange Postecoglou got exactly that as Pape Matar Sarr, Heung-min Son, and Richarlison all got on the scoresheet to secure all three points on Sunday.

Whilst Son was sublime on the left wing, the real hero of the afternoon for Tottenham was central midfielder Giovani Lo Celso as he caught the eye with an exceptional showing.

Heung-min Son's performance against Bournemouth in numbers

The Spurs skipper produced yet another exciting performance out wide for the club as he got on the scoresheet for the 12th time in the Premier League this season.

Appearances

20

Sofascore rating

7.66

Goals

12

Assists

Five

Big chances created

11

His standout moment came in the 71st minute as the South Korea international raced onto a ball down the left side and brilliantly found the back of the net with a rasping finish.

He also created one 'big chance' and made two key passes but was not rewarded with an assist for his creative efforts throughout the match.

However, it was not a perfect performance from the experienced forward as the 31-year-old sensation failed in all three of his attempted dribbles and lost six of his eight duels.

Lo Celso's performance against Bournemouth in numbers

Whilst Son was, once again, electric on the left flank, Lo Celso was the driving force in the middle of the park with a fantastic display in and out of possession for the side.

The Argentina international played a crucial role in both of the first two goals for the hosts, firstly teeing up Sarr to lash in an excellent opening strike.

He then assisted the second goal with an outrageous flick in behind the Cherries defence to send Son through down the left channel, which allowed the South Korean ace to fire the ball in.

Lo Celso completed 92% (34/37) of his attempted passes and 100% (3/3) of his dribbles to go along with two key passes – both of which were rewarded with assists. This shows that he was creative and forward-thinking without being wasteful on the ball.

The 27-year-old whiz was also almost perfect defensively with a combative performance. He won 10 of his 13 ground duels to make three tackles, one interception, and one clearance, whilst no opposition player completed a dribble past him.

These statistics show that Lo Celso was effective in all of his actions, in and out of possession, throughout the match, which is why he was better than Son, who left a bit to be desired with his wasteful dribbling and how easily Bournemouth beat him in duels.

This allowed him to make an impact at both ends of the pitch due to his ability to cut out opposition attacks whilst also playing a vital role for Spurs on the ball.

The impressive whiz, who was given a match rating of 8/10 by football.london's Alasdair Gold – who referenced the player's two assists, was the real hero for Postecoglou as he made telling contributions offensively and remained strong defensively.