da betsson： Manchester City have some fantastic academy talents in their current squad. Pep Guardiola has the luxury of calling upon some of the most exciting homegrown talents, but arguably none fit the bill more than Phil Foden.

da bet7k： He has now made over 300 appearances for his boyhood club and has scored and assisted over 150 times. He has an extraordinary record as a City player.

Some of the other academy talents at Guardiola’s disposal this season include Rico Lewis and James McAtee, with Oscar Bobb another player who came through the ranks, although he has been injured for most of the campaign.

City’s homegrown crop could have been so much better had director of football Txiki Begiristain not made the mistake of selling some exciting talents.

The exciting academy talents who Man City sold

Perhaps the biggest mistake the Citizens have made in recent years was to sell Cole Palmer. The Wythenshawe-born attacker moved to Chelsea in 2023 for £42.5m and has since gone on to become a deadly attacker.

The England international already has 60 goals and assists in just over 70 appearances for the West Londoners. Jamie Carragher said at the start of the season that if he continues at the current trajectory, he could be considered “the best player in the Premier League”.

Another blunder City made in the transfer market was to sell Morgan Rogers. Now at Aston Villa, he originally joined Middlesbrough from City’s academy, where he is just shy of 50 games for the club. In that time, he has over 20 goals and assists, and has made his England debut.

The East Mancunian side sold another deadly finisher last summer, letting Liam Delap join Ipswich Town. He has over ten goal involvements already this term, playing for a Tractor Boys side struggling for form.

However, perhaps the worst sale of an academy star in recent seasons is a player who broke City’s heart in the Champions League earlier this week.

Man City’s biggest sale error

It has been a tough week for City, who lost 3-2 in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Goals from Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and former academy star Brahim Diaz were enough to earn Los Blancos all three points.

After rising through the ranks in City’s academy, the Morocco international went on to make 15 appearances for the first team under Guardiola. He scored two goals in that time, both coming in the Carabao Cup against Fulham.

The 25-year-old left the club for Madrid in January 2019 as a teenager. He reportedly cost the Spanish giants £15m, including add-ons, which, given his record at the La Liga outfit, seem like they surely have been met, at least partly.

He has played 96 times for the club so far, scoring 18 goals and registering 18 assists in that time. Last season, the Moroccan was on fire and managed eight goals and seven assists in 31 La Liga games as Los Blancos lifted the title.

Once again, Diaz has been in excellent form for Madrid in 2024/25. He has four goals and six assists in 30 appearances across all competitions, averaging one goal involvement every three games.

Diaz record by competition for Madrid 2024/25

Competition

Games

Minutes

Goals

Assists

La Liga

18

775

3

2

Champions League

6

315

1

1

Copa Del Rey

3

223

0

3

Suerpcopa

2

16

0

0

Super Cup

1

7

0

0

Stats from Transfermarkt

Given his impressive exploits since making the move to the Spanish capital, Diaz’s value has risen greatly. The “Messi-esque” superstar, as Owen Hargreaves once described him, is worth £52.9m according to CIES Football Observatory.

That is an incredible rise in his value compared to what the Citizens sold him for. In fact, the Real Madrid number 21 has seen his transfer value increase by 252%, an incredible rise for someone who was allowed to leave for such a cheap fee.

Reflecting on the value, it is surely something which must make City wish they had kept Diaz all those years ago. He has gone on to be a fantastic player at one of the world’s biggest clubs, and might well have scored the goal which, in theory, could have knocked them out of the Champions League.

It is a decision that Begiristain might wish he could reverse.

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da bet esporte： West Ham United are now keen on signing a “superstar” striker, having identified him as their top target for the summer transfer window, according to a report.

West Ham's striker issues

da wazamba： The Hammers never seem to have much luck when it comes to signing strikers, with some big-name signings such as Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca failing to adapt to life in the Premier League.

Niclas Fullkrug was also brought in last summer, but the German struggled to replicate his form in the Bundesliga prior to picking up a hamstring injury, while Michail Antonio is set to be ruled out for the foreseeable future due to a car crash.

Jarrod Bowen is always a reliable source of goals, once again getting on the scoresheet in the 1-0 victory against Arsenal yesterday, but Graham Potter is keen to bring in an out-and-out striker in the summer transfer window.

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Talks have been opened with Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto, but the 23-year-old may just be a back-up option, as The Guardian have now revealed West Ham’s top striker target is Lille’s Jonathan David.

David is set to be available on a free transfer in the summer, upon the expiration of his Lille contract, and he is attracting the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Inter Milan and Juventus also keen.

The report claims the Canadian now looks certain to leave Lille at the end of the season, but it remains to be seen whether the Hammers will be able to meet his high wage demands.

"Superstar" David destined for the top

The 25-year-old has been lauded as a “superstar” by Canada teammate Jonathan Osorio, and he has a very impressive goal record over the course of a number of years in Ligue 1, arriving in 2020 after impressing in Belgium with Gent.

Season

Appearances

Goals

2020-21

37

13

2021-22

38

15

2022-23

37

24

2023-24

34

19

2024-25

21

12

The Brooklyn-born forward also has 31 goals in 59 games for his national side, so it is little wonder he is attracting the attention of some big clubs, and it is promising news that West Ham are in the race for his signature.

Fullkrug has struggled in his debut season at the London Stadium, scoring just twice in the Premier League, but even if he finds his feet, the 32-year-old is not of an age to lead the line for the long-term future.

The same applies to Antonio, who is now arguably in the twilight years of his career, so a younger striker will be a necessary signing in the summer, and David fits the bill at 25-years-old.

Given the Lille star’s ability, it may be difficult for the Hammers to get a deal done this summer, especially considering they are very unlikely to have European football on offer, but if they are able to pull it off, he could be an excellent long-term addition to the squad.

da bet7k： Pep Guardiola is widely regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time.

da stake casino： Not only has he won an unprecedented number of titles in Spain, Germany, and England, but the Spaniard has also revolutionised modern football with his distinct style of play that emphasises possession, quick passing and tactical fluidity. Guardiola’s influence has left an indelible mark on the sport, shaping how the game is played today.

However, it’s not just his coaching brilliance that has captivated the football world.

Like his former rival Jürgen Klopp and former coach José Mourinho, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss is also known for his wit and sharp remarks, making him a constant source of entertainment for fans.

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Some of his quotes are borne out of pure joy, while others stem from moments of frustration – but regardless of the emotion behind them, they always manage to leave a lasting impact.

Here are some of Pep Guardiola’s best quotes.

1 "It rains every day"

Guardiola’s Manchester City had faced a relatively tough start to the 2020/21 season, particularly struggling in front of goal.

However, after a 4-1 demolition of Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup in December 2020, Guardiola was understandably pleased.

Despite the emphatic win, however, he wasn’t ready to claim his side had fully found their form. Instead, he compared their performance to the unpredictable weather in Manchester.

“It’s like in Manchester. It rains every day. When one day the sun rises it doesn’t mean the weather is going to change,” he said. “It is just one game, but we will see what happens in the future.”

After Manchester City won the treble in the 2022/23 season, Guardiola once again referenced the city’s unpredictable weather during his speech at the club’s victory parade, over which the heavens had opened.

“We had to be the best parade with this rain, otherwise it is not Manchester,” he said. “We don’t want sunshine, we want rain, so it was perfect.”

2 "Like a jazz musician…"

Guardiola is renowned for creating teams that operate as a fluid unit, where every player contributes in defence and attack to form an unstoppable footballing force. Even the incomparable Lionel Messi, despite being given more freedom than most, was not exempt from Guardiola’s team-based philosophy.

In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Guardiola humorously summed up his attitude towards individualism in his teams with a hilarious quip about jazz music.

“In some parts of the pitch, of course you have to be creative and take the chance,” he said. “But I don’t like it when people say: ‘I like freedom; I want to play for myself.’ Because the player has to understand he is part of a team, with 10 other players. If every player plays like a jazz musician, it will be chaos. They will not be a team.”

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Posts 3 "I got better contracts"

Speaking of Messi, Guardiola has consistently showered the Argentinian with praise, calling him the greatest footballer of all time on multiple occasions.

However, perhaps the most memorable and amusing compliment came in 2022, when, in an interview with Telemundo Deportes, he compared Messi – who scored 211 goals in 219 games under Guardiola at Barcelona – to NBA legend Michael Jordan, and also took the opportunity to thank him for the significant impact he had on his career and his bank account.

“For me, Messi is everything in my career and he made me more competitive,” Guardiola said. “Without him, we would have won [trophies], but not as many. I compare Messi with Michael Jordan when Phil Jackson could feel what it was like to have the best player and he won six [NBA championship] rings. I also won because he made it easy.”

He added: “I still owe him a bottle of wine because thanks to him, I got better contracts.”

4 "All the alcohol in Manchester"

While Guardiola is undoubtedly a stickler for success, he also knows how to let his players enjoy the fruits of their labour.

In May 2023, City were confirmed as Premier League champions for a third consecutive year after Arsenal lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest. The next day, City beat Chelsea, lifting the Premier League trophy and collecting their medals in celebration.

However, before their upcoming trip to Brighton & Hove Albion just three days later, Guardiola’s squad made time for a proper knees-up. Photos emerged of the team enjoying a night out at a nightclub, soaking in the moment after their hard-earned title.

City played out a 1-1 draw on the south coast, and Guardiola praised his team’s performance, especially considering the celebrations they’d enjoyed since the weekend.

“The game we played, 40 hours after I think we drank all the alcohol in Manchester, 40 hours later we behave and we showed why we are the champions,” he told Sky Sports after the match.

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Posts 5 "I won't leave"

Since taking charge of Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola has transformed the club from a talented but inconsistent team to the most dominant force in European football.

So when the club was hit with 115 charges for alleged breaches of financial rules in February 2023 and rumours began circulating that City could face relegation as punishment, fans understandably feared Guardiola might be on his way out.

However, addressing the issue in November, Guardiola reassured supporters by stating that he remained fully committed to the club, regardless of the outcome of the charges.

“I will not consider my future [if] it depends [on] being here or being in League One,” he said. “There is more chance to stay if we are in League One than if we win the Champions League. What people accuse us of – we do not agree with what they say.”

“We are going to defend [ourselves] and after the resolution is done, I will be here, like a spokesman for my club,” he added.

6 "Everyone in this country supports Liverpool"

For much of his time as Manchester City boss, Guardiola’s main rivals have been Liverpool, with the Reds consistently going toe-to-toe with City for the Premier League title and other major honours.

In May 2022, the two teams were once again locked in a fierce battle for the title, with Jurgen Klopp’s side trailing Guardiola’s by just one point with only four games remaining.

After City thumped Newcastle United 5-0 to move within three wins of the title, Guardiola took a not-so-subtle dig at Liverpool, suggesting that the general public preferred to see them win the title over his team.

“Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone,” he told beIN Sports. “Of course, because Liverpool has an incredible history in European competition. Not in the Premier League, because they have won one in 30 years, but it is not a problem at all.”

7 "We cannot replace him"

One of Guardiola’s more emotional moments came in May 2021, when he couldn’t hold back the tears as he paid tribute to club legend Sergio Agüero after his penultimate game for Manchester City.

Agüero came off the bench to score twice as City, already Premier League champions, thrashed Everton 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium in what was a fairytale goodbye.

“We love him so much, he is a special person for all of us,” Guardiola said of Agüero, who won five Premier League titles during his time in Manchester.

When asked how the club planned to replace him, Guardiola, with tears running down his face, gave what has since become a memorable quote: “We cannot replace him. We cannot.”

8 "Happy New Year"

Sometimes, just sometimes, Guardiola lets his emotions get the better of him, lashing out at whoever’s in his path – whether that be a referee, a player, or even the substitutes’ bench, which he gave a good kicking during City’s draw with Arsenal in September 2024.

On occasion, he also loses his cool with reporters, just as he did with BBC Sport’s Damian Johnson back in 2017 following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Burnley, where Fernandinho was sent off after 32 minutes for a two-footed challenge on Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

Despite his side winning, Guardiola was visibly frustrated and found himself involved in a tense exchange, giving a series of short, abrupt answers.

Asked about his view on Fernandinho’s red card, he replied: “You are the journalist. Not me.”

Johnson replied: “You’re the manager. I’m sure the fans would like to know,” to which Guardiola shot back: “Ask the referee, not me.”

After insinuating that the interpretation of the rules was different in Spain and Germany than in England, Johnson commented, “You don’t seem that happy that you’ve won.”

Guardiola’s response has since become an internet meme: “More than you would believe. More than you would believe, I am happy.

“I’m so happy, believe me. I’m so happy. Happy New Year.”

da bet esporte： Well, that was not the sort of performance Tottenham Hotspur fans would have been hoping for to kickstart their efforts in the Europa League knockout rounds.

da spicy bet： Instead of taking the game to their hosts, Ange Postecoglou’s side were timid, predictable and looked bereft of ideas right up to the last few minutes of the game.

If anything, AZ Alkmaar will likely be annoyed that they aren’t taking a more considerable lead with them to North London next week.

There were lacklustre displays all over the pitch for the Lilywhites, but two players stood out for the wrong reasons, one of them being Mathys Tel.

Tels's peformance vs Alkmaar

When Spurs announced the signing of Tel on loan early last month, there was a lot of understandable excitement from fans, but apart from a goal against Aston Villa in the FA Cup, he’s not really done much of anything since joining the club.

Unfortunately, it was much of the same against AZ tonight, as while he had a few chances to make something happen, he was practically anonymous the entire time he was on the pitch.

In fact, the young Frenchman was so ineffective up top that Postecoglu decided he had to take him off at half-time, put Wilson Odobert out wide and move Son Heung-min into the middle, who wasn’t much better.

Unsurprisingly, the 19-year-old loanee did not impress the watching press, as football.london’s Alasdair Gold awarded him just a 3/10 match rating at full-time.

It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion more than backed up by his statistics, as in 45 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goals and assists figure of 0.01, failed to take a single shot, failed in 50% of his dribbles, took just 14 touches and lost 50% of his ground duels.

Tel’s game in numbers

Minutes

45′

Expected Goals

0.00

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.01

Assists

0

Shots on Target

0

Dribbles (Successful)

2 (1)

Duels (Won)

4 (2)

Touches

14

All Stats via Sofascore

In all, it was the right decision by Postecoglou to take him off at half-time, but there was another attacker who was just as poor and somehow played the entire game.

The Spurs star just as bad as Tel

Brennan Johnson started the game off the right, and while he’s been quite effective at points this season, he certainly was not tonight.

Just like his younger teammate, the Welsh international was practically anonymous for large parts of the match, and then when he did find himself in dangerous areas or with the chance to make something happen, he’d wait too long or make the wrong choice.

Gold was equally disappointed with the 23-year-old’s display, giving him a 3/10 match rating and highlighting that as well as offering ‘very little going forward’, he also ‘seemed to stop marking Parrott for the corner that led to Bergvall’s own goal.’

Again, while it might sound overly harsh considering he didn’t score the own goal and there weren’t any stand-out misses, the former Nottingham Forest ace’s statistics more than back up Gold’s damning summary of his performance.

In 94 minutes, he amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.20, failed to have a single shot on target, failed in four of five attempted dribbles, took 46 touches but played just one key pass, failed in 100% of his crosses and long balls, lost 60% of his duels, lost the ball 13 times and committed a foul.

Johnson’s game in numbers

Minutes

94′

Expected Goals

0.02

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.18

Assists

0

Shots on Target

0

Dribbles (Successful)

5 (1)

Touches

46

Key Passes

1

Crosses (Accurate)

2 (0)

Long Balls (Accurate)

1 (0)

Duels (Won)

10 (4)

Lost Possession

13

Fouls

1

All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, it was a dismally poor showing from a player capable of so much more, and just like Tel, Johnson should have been hooked early into the second half at the very latest.

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da esport bet： Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the chance to sign a Bayern Munich star this summer by intermediaries, with a report sharing what their stance is on striking a deal to back manager Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham seal place in Europa League quarter-finals after AZ Alkmaar win

da marjack bet： Spurs’ hopes of ending their 17-year wait for a major trophy are still alive after they sealed a place in the Europa League quarter-finals with a 3-1 win at home to AZ Alkmaar on Thursday evening.

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Wilson Odobert opened the scoring with an excellent finish before James Maddison was on target to make it 2-0, gifting the home side an aggregate lead, with Peer Koopmeiners then handing Postecoglou a brief scare by taking advantage of a misplaced Lucas Bergvall pass to grab one back for the visitors.

Luckily, Odobert was on hand for his second of the game and Tottenham’s third of the match around 15 minutes from full-time. The game ended with a much-needed 3-1 victory for the Lilywhites, who now face Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in the next round.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

Southampton (home)

April 5th

Wolves (away)

April 12th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Bergvall put in a very impressive display, barring his error, while the likes of Odobert, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Son Heung-min and the rejuvenated Djed Spence also had very solid outings against the Eredivisie visitors.

“Really liked the way the boys addressed the challenge tonight,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s performance against AZ.

“It’s not easy when you’re 1-0 down before the game starts. You know you don’t want to give the opposition any opportunity to get a further advantage. I thought we started the game really well. Really composed and controlled. We didn’t create a lot but at the same time we just had them camped in their half and they didn’t really venture anywhere near our goal.

“Scored a really good goal from our press. And second half started brilliantly, exactly what we wanted to do, got our goal, and then we gave them a goal. That puts the tie again on edge a little bit. But I thought our response to that was really good, scored another good goal, probably should have got another one or two to finish the game off.”

Tottenham stance with Ange Postecoglou offered Leroy Sané

Off the field, Spurs need to address key areas in the squad to avoid a repeat of their underwhelming domestic campaign, which has been summed up by a lack of squad depth and injuries to important players.

Tottenham are believed to be in the market for a new forward this summer, alongside their plan to buy Mathys Tel permanently, and it has now come to light that they’ve been handed the chance to do a deal for Bayern’s Leroy Sané.

The £241,000-per-week winger will be a free agent at the end of this season as things stand, following five fruitful years at the Allianz Arena, with The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey now reporting that he’s been floated towards N17.

It is believed Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign Sane by agents, but as things stand, they haven’t taken the bait and are simply being kept aware of his ongoing situation. The “incredible” former Man City and Schalke star, as lauded by Pep Guardiola, could be one of the bargains of the summer.

He’s racked up 56 goals and 50 assists in total during his time at Bayern, but Spurs would likely need the 29-year-old to lower his wage demands, as Sane’s current salary would make him the club’s highest earner above Son.

da spicy bet： Arsenal are now keen on signing an “exciting” player, who is a “clone” of one of their current first-team stars, with a potential deal likely to amount to over £25m, according to a report.

Arsenal's summer transfer plans

da dobrowin： The Gunners are looking at strengthening their squad in a number of areas this summer, with a new striker likely to be high on the list of priorities, and there has now been a positive update on their pursuit of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

There is now a belief that Sesko has opted to make the move to north London in the summer transfer window, despite widespread interest in the Slovenian’s signature, with Chelsea and Manchester United also keen.

Striker is not the only area in which Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta are looking for reinforcements, however, with talks over a deal for AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen recently being opened, having identified the centre-back as a key target.

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David Raya has been a reliable option between the sticks for Arteta, but the north Londoners are now showing an interest in signing a new goalkeeper, given that Neto is set to return to parent club Bournemouth in the summer.

That is according to a report from The Sun, which states Arsenal are now keen on signing Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who could join alongside teammate Omar El Hilali.

The goalkeeper is expected to cost upwards of £25m, given his importance to Espanyol, but there is a possibility the Spanish side will not be willing to sell two of their key players during the same transfer window.

Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Chelsea (h)

March 16th

Fulham (h)

April 1st

Everton (a)

April 5th

Brentford (h)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (a)

April 20th

"Exciting" Garcia impressing in La Liga

Garcia has been lauded as “exciting” by freelance scout Ben Mattinson, who also claims the Espanyol star is a “clone of David Raya” due to his ability both on the ball and when it comes to dealing with crosses.

The 6-foot-3 colossus put in a Man of the Match performance against Real Madrid in La Liga this season, and Mattinson believes he has a lot of potential.

As such, should the Spaniard be willing to play second fiddle, Arsenal should definitely make a move this summer, and Arteta will be hoping bringing in a strong second-choice keeper causes Raya to up his game.

However, the situation which led to Aaron Ramsdale’s departure will serve as a warning of the problems that can arise when two top goalkeepers are competing for the same position.

da imperador bet： Tottenham Hotspur now want to steal a “very dangerous” forward from a rival Premier League club this summer, having now identified him as a priority target, according to a report.

Spurs looking to bring in attacking depth

da brwin： There have been major doubts raised about Ange Postecoglou this season, with results falling far short of expectations, although the huge injury crisis the manager has been forced to deal with has not helped matters.

However, there have also been suggestions Postecoglou’s style are to blame for the scale of the injury problems, so if Spurs are to persist with the Australian next season, it could be a wise idea to bring in additional depth in attack.

One target the Lilywhites have in mind is Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, who is expected to leave the Serie A side this summer, but there could be stiff competition for the Nigerian’s signature, amid interest from Barcelona and a number of Premier League clubs.

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Sunderland attacking midfielder Chris Rigg has also emerged as an option, with a recent report revealing Tottenham are now leading the race for the 17-year-old, having submitted an opening bid of £38m.

According to a report from Spain, another target has now entered the frame, with Spurs looking to ‘steal’ Aston Villa forward Donyell Malen, who only moved to Villa Park in January, arriving from Borussia Dortmund for €25m (£21m).

Malen is viewed as an ideal option to improve Postecoglou’s frontline, with the forward’s speed and finishing ability making him a priority target, although he is likely to fetch a higher fee than the price Villa paid for him last winter.

Villa are said to be open to a sale if they receive an attractive offer, although it is unclear what sort of fee they would be looking for.

Malen's Villa career yet to take off

The Dutchman has only featured sporadically since arriving at Villa Park last month, making a number of appearances from the bench in the Premier League, and he is yet to pick up a goal or assist in all competitions.

As such, it is a little unusual for Tottenham to be linked with a move for the former Dortmund man so soon after his arrival in the Premier League, but there are indications he could be a solid signing if he is able to reignite his previous form.

During his time in the Bundesliga, the 26-year-old received high praise from former teammate Mario Götze, who said: “Donyell is extremely fast and very dangerous. If he has a chance, it’s usually a goal, too.”

The Netherlands international was also in fine form in front of goal last season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions. However, his slow start to life in England indicates it may be wise to continue monitoring his performances between now and the summer.

da betcris： Ladies and gentlemen, Bukayo Saka is back. Wow, what a sight that was. Three months Arsenal fans have had to stand by to watch him kick a ball again and boy was it worth the wait.

da 888casino： The club’s heralded number 7 hasn’t been seen since sustaining a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace on 21st December and since then, the Gunners’ title challenge has been extinguished swiftly.

Yet, there is still hope for Arsenal’s season. Despite their 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday evening, a game Saka scored in, they are unlikely to win the Premier League title.

However, the winger’s return is timely with Real Madrid to look forward to in just under a week’s time in the Champions League.

For once, Mikel Arteta has a bunch of positives to swoon over. That hasn’t been said too often about the club’s season now has it?

The biggest positives from Arsenal's win over Fulham

Oh Saka, you little beauty. It’s been a hellish 12 week period for Arsenal since the Englishman took to the field but he is back and back with a bang.

He had only been on the field for seven minutes before he found the net. It wasn’t in classic Saka fashion but it raised the roof off the Emirates Stadium nonetheless.

Mikel Merino moved into the left channel and swung in a ball that was guided towards Saka with remarkable skill and audacity by Gabriel Martinelli.

The returning hero was just inches out from goal and couldn’t miss, heading the ball past former Gunner Bernd Leno.

Saka wasn’t the only positive either, far from it. The aforementioned Merino and Martinelli were both in top form, the former scoring the game’s opening goal and the latter unfortunate not to leave proceedings with a goal to his name as well.

Saka’s return in numbers

Minutes played

24

Touches

13

Accurate passes

7/8 (88%)

Key passes

0

Shots on target

1

Accurate crosses

1/1

Duels won

1/3

Was fouled

x1

Stats via Sofascore.

The Brazilian was a constant livewire, not just providing the assist for Saka’s goal, a game-winning strike, but he also found the back of the net himself, albeit it was ruled out for offside.

Nonetheless, it was phenomenal to see the winger back at top speed. He was a constant nuisance throughout, terrorising Fulham’s Timothy Castagne with a performance that was remeniscent of 2022/23 Martinelli.

He left the field having had three shots, completed two dribbles and produced five key passes.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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Beyond Saka’s incredible return, the biggest positive that aside was perhaps the performance of the club’s makeshift centre-forward.

Arsenal have found their modern-day Olivier Giroud

When Gabriel Jesus went down with an injury during Arsenal’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United, there was a collective panic. But…it was alright…they were going to strengthen in the January transfer window. Famous last words and all that.

Arsenal did not strengthen. Their reward? A season-ending injury for Kai Havertz too.

Since then, Arteta has preferred to field the aforementioned Merino as his out and out centre-forward and it’s had mixed success.

Truth be told, the £28m summer arrival has done an admiral job. He’s scored five goals in eight games as a striker. Had he started the campaign as the club’s number 9, he’d on for a 23-goal season. Not bad indeed.

Unlike many others during the club’s injury-hit season, he’s stepped up big time and in the words of Arsenal writer Oli Price Bates, is “not getting enough credit for his performances.”

Another game came and went against Fulham where the Spaniard made quite the impression. His goal was a scruffy finish, finding the net via a deflection but it was a crucial goal all the same.

It’s not the first time the former Real Sociedad man has come up trumps, notably scoring that brace off the bench in the 2-0 win over Leicester City.

Since then, he’s been much-maligned, rather in the same way as a certain Olivier Giroud. Now, there are clear differences between the two. Giroud was a direct centre-forward first and foremost.

However, there are specific similarities in the way the two play the game. The Frenchman scored some beautiful goals but he always had quite an awkward play style, a technique that looked rather awkward. At the same time, his left peg was certainly pretty special.

Those traits can certainly be applied to Merino too. He’s not the most technically elegant – he’s a bit scruffy and awkward like Giroud. He’s also pretty underappreciated and underrated. That’s not to mention their ability to act as target men and link play too.

Merino vs Fulham

Minutes played

90

Touches

28

Accurate passes

14/16 (88%)

Key passes

1

Shots

2

Shots on target

1

Accurate crosses

1/1

Duels won

3/9

Tackles

2

Interceptions

1

Stats via Sofascore.

Against Fulham, the Spain international certainly showcased that. He scored the opening goal and went on to complete 88% of his passes and make a key pass too. The 28-year-old was subsequently handed an 8/10 player rating by GOAL.

Merino’s future is certainly not in the final third but credit where credit is due, he’s been a huge servant to Arteta in the back end of this unforgiving season for Arsenal.

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da esoccer bet： Few Manchester United players in the modern era have been quite so polarising, quite so newsworthy as that of Paul Pogba, with the mercurial Frenchman enduring a turbulent six-year second spell at Old Trafford, to say the least.

da dobrowin： Signed on an £89m deal back in the summer of 2016 – four years on from having left under Sir Alex Ferguson on a free transfer – the towering midfielder failed to truly justify that club record fee, despite scoring and assisting 87 goals in 233 games for the Red Devils in total.

Plagued by injuries in his final few seasons in Manchester, the World Cup winner was repeatedly touted for an exit by his then-agent, Mino Raiola, throughout his time at the club, while failing to build on the Carabao Cup and Europa League success from his first year back in English football.

The former Juventus man may not have been surrounded by the greatest United side of recent times, but neither has Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese playmaker epitomising everything that his ex-teammate could have been.

Deployed in a deep-lying role, as a number ten, or even on the flanks, Fernandes has repeatedly delivered the goods over the past five years, having now chalked up 95 goals and 82 assists in 277 games to date. There have been no excuses, no apparent desire to leave – the 30-year-old has relished the role of being United’s talisman.

Pogba, however, never took on that mantle, even despite his hefty price tag, with the Red Devils certainly needing to steer clear of any suggestion regarding a potential reunion.

The latest on Pogba's potential Man Utd return

Having been approaching the end of his contract in the climax of the 2021/22 campaign, Pogba’s United career petered out in a sorry manner as he was notably booed off by the Old Trafford faifthful during the 3-2 win over Norwich City, having then limped off just minutes into the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool away at Anfield.

That had looked like a fitting end to a disappointing chapter for the 91-cap France international, although there had been reports of late that an unwelcome homecoming was on the cards.

The 32-year-old has been out of action across the last 18 months or so due to a suspension for a doping breach, having endured a miserable return to Juve, following his United exit in 2022.

Now currently a free agent, Pogba was linked with a short-term switch back to Manchester in recent months, albeit with those claims subsequently quashed, amid the player’s own desire to join a club competing in the upcoming Club World Cup.

Forking out for the wages of a player who hasn’t played competitively since 2023 would make little sense too, with a final swansong in Saudi Arabia or MLS looking a more likely destination for the ageing star.

For all concerned, Pogba’s United story wisely looks to be resigned to the past, although Ruben Amorim and INEOS may be fearful of having found their next version of the 6 foot 3 hotshot among the current ranks.

Man Utd may have found Pogba 2.0

For all the criticism mentioned above – with club legend Gary Neville among those to admit that Pogba’s move “failed” – there were no doubt flashes of quality from the midfielder at times in a United shirt.

Pogba’s PL record at Man Utd

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2021/22

20

1

9

2020/21

26

3

3

2019/20

16

1

3

2018/19

35

13

9

2017/18

27

6

10

2016/17

30

5

4

2011/12

3

0

0

Total

157

29

38

Stats via Transfermarkt

The elegant star notably dazzled in the 2018/19 campaign, amid Jose Mourinho’s dismissal, having scored 16 goals and registered a further 11 assists, after being pushed into a more advanced role by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Pogba also impressed down the left flank in the early knockings of 2021/22, having memorably chalked up four assists during the 5-1 thrashing of rivals Leeds United on the opening day.

Ultimately, however, a man signed to play in a midfield two never really looked comfortable in that role, with The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell noting after his exit that ‘his physical stature suggested a defensive side to Pogba’s game that was not really there’.

Parallels between that signing from Serie A can certainly be made then with the relatively recent capture of Joshua Zirkzee, with the 6 foot 4 Dutchman arriving on a £36.5m deal from Bologna last summer.

Like Pogba – who registered 23 goals and assists in 2015/16 at Juve – Zirkzee had dazzled in Italy’s top-flight, having ended last term as the division’s Young Player of the Year, while even being likened to Ronaldinho by then-boss, Thiago Motta.

Much like the Frenchman, the former Bayern Munich was signed for one role but has largely been at his best elsewhere, having swiftly moved away from operating as a number nine and instead been deployed as one of Amorim’s two number tens.

That switch has proved fruitful, amid notable goals against the likes of Leicester City and Real Sociedad in recent months, although, like Pogba, the 23-year-old’s pace and physicality has been called into question, having been described as almost “admirably slow” by journalist Charlie Parrish.

As Italian football expert Mina Rzouki has also outlined, ‘it doesn’t help that Zirkzee’s physical stature suggests he ought to be a different type of striker’, again mirroring the towering Pogba, who was not, despite his appearance, a particularly dominant midfielder.

A player that seemingly “belongs to a different era”, in the words of Parrish, Zirkzee’s almost casual style also bears a resemblance to Pogba strutting his stuff in the centre of the park, with the pair both possessing that knack for gliding up the pitch with the ball at their feet. The silk is there, but is there the steel?

The Netherlands international, to his credit, has shaken off an early withdrawal against Newcastle United to earn almost cult hero status – something his midfield counterpart was never able to achieve – with there perhaps a sense that he can kick on under the Amorim regime in the coming years.

That nagging stylistic likeness to Pogba does persist, however, with the question remaining as to whether the £105k-per-week maestro can truly carve out a regular role for himself in this system, as well as whether he really is up to the task amid the rigours of the Premier League.

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da dobrowin： With The Friedkin Group looking to make their mark at the beginning of a new era at Everton, the new owners have now reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign an in-demand defensive target.

New era approaching at Everton

da bet vitoria： Preparing to bid farewell to the historic Goodison Park in the coming weeks, it’s all change at Everton and they’ll be desperate to commence a new era in fine fashion this summer. Attempting to add the signings to match an impressive new stadium, the Toffees have already reportedly set their sights on the likes of Liam Delap and Vangelis Pavlidis.

The former will reportedly be available at the bargain price of just £30m if Ipswich Town are relegated back down to the Championship this season, which is beginning to look like an inevitability. If Friedkin are looking for a statement of intent, then winning the race to sign the impressive forward would certainly provide exactly that this summer.

It’s not just attacking reinforcements that David Moyes will need if he is to take Everton away from the misery of relegation battles once and for all, however. The former West Ham United manager will also need some fresh faces within his backline, especially in the face of Michael Keane’s likely exit as a free agent this summer.

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Just what Friedkin’s budget will be ahead of the summer window remains to be seen, but it looks set to be a busy one for Everton, who have already reportedly submitted an opening bid for one star.

Everton submit opening bid to sign "perfect" Hancko

Looking to commence their summer transfer window with a bang, those in Merseyside have reportedly made their first move. According to Tuttomercatoweb, Friedkin have now submitted an opening offer worth €25m (£21m) to sign David Hancko this summer, only for Feyenoord to reject that opening bid in pursuit of around €30m (£26m) for their defender.

Whether Friedkin will be keen to up their offer will certainly be interesting to see, especially given how close they already are to Hancko’s reported valuation and amid competition from Bayer Leverkusen.

A player who has the “perfect profile” to act as the modern-day hybrid between a centre-back and full-back according to analyst Ben Mattinson, all signs are pointing towards a move away from Feyenoord for Hancko this summer whether it’s to Everton, Leverkusen or elsewhere.