All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers are still on the hunt for a permanent first-team manager. With each day passing, the Ibrox faithful will become more anxious about who it might be.

Pre-season will likely start in late June, which doesn’t give the board much time to find the right candidate for the job.

The takeover by the 49ers Enterprises is showing plenty of progress, but will it be completed by the time preparation begins for the 2025/26 campaign?

That much remains to be seen. There have already been a few names linked with a move to Rangers. José Mourinho was reportedly keen on a move to Glasgow, according to TEAMtalk last month, but his massive wages, plus the fact that a compensation fee would have to be paid to Fenerbahçe, surely rule him out.

Elsewhere, former RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose is another potential candidate, especially due to his connections with the Red Bull football group.

Again, his wage demands might prove to be out of reach, although things may change once the 49ers complete their takeover deal. One man who may or may not be returning to the club is Steven Gerrard.

Latest on Steven Gerrard's potential return to Rangers

The Englishman, who led the Light Blues to their last Premiership title in 2021, has been one of the favourites to become the next permanent manager.

On the surface, the move makes perfect sense. He is out of a job, knows what makes Rangers tick and most importantly, knows how to get the better of Celtic domestically.

There are differing claims over whether Gerrard is in the running to make an incredible return to Ibrox, however, with Chris Jack of the Rangers Review outlining: “It is understood that the appointment will be a manager with no previous involvement with Rangers. The new era will be a new beginning.”

That said, journalist Mike McGrath has suggested that Gerrard’s name is among the lengthy list of candidates being considered. In any case, with Athletic Club being knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage, the Gers will now enter the Champions League at the second qualifying stage.

2021/22

22

12

1.86

2020/21

56

44

2.52

2019/20

54

36

2.17

2018/19

60

32

1.9

Via Transfermarkt

Those ties begin towards the end of July, indicating how urgent it is to bring a new manager in as soon as possible.

Could Danny Rohl be an ideal fit for the role?

Rangers could turn to Danny Rohl as their new manager

German manager Rohl could be the man that the 49ers are targeting as the new head coach, if recent whispers are to be believed.

It was reported by talkSPORT that the manager has left Sheffield Wednesday just days after the end of the 2024/25 Championship season.

It was believed that he had a release clause of £5m in his contract with the Owls – a figure which surely would have ruled out a move by Rangers – but now it appears as though he is without a club.

Regarding his future, Rohl has always seen himself aiming higher than the English Championship, saying: “I’ve always said that I’m very grateful to Sheffield for the opportunity I’ve been given there. And I’m someone who always wants to develop the club further.

“And to do that, you have to weigh up how far that’s still possible or whether the maximum has perhaps already been reached under the current conditions.”

If Rohl is indeed a free agent ready to be snapped up, then the 49ers could do no worse than take a look at the 35-year-old.

Why Danny Rohl could be more exciting than Steven Gerrard

Gerrard’s spell at Ibrox will live long in the memory of the supporters, especially after ending a barren decade-long wait for a league title. There were difficult times, too, however. The first couple of seasons saw the Gers struggle, especially after Christmas.

After winning the Premiership crown, Gerrard wasn’t backed sufficiently and thus failed to kick on from that moment, allowing Celtic to return to the summit of Scottish football.

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows under the former Liverpool captain, and his exit still rankles with a few of the fans, that’s for sure.

In Rohl, what exactly would the Ibrox side be getting? He doesn’t have much experience managing at the highest level. Indeed, his only senior role was the Sheffield Wednesday job, where he took charge for 89 matches across all competitions, winning 34 games.

He tends to utilise a 4-2-3-1 formation, which would work out well with the players he could inherit at Rangers, no doubt about that.

Although his lack of managerial experience will be held against him, Rohl has won plenty as an assistant. Between August 2019 and June 2021, he was second in command to Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich.

Of course, the Bavarian side won the treble during the 2019/20 campaign and Rohl played a key role in this success as arguably the brains behind the trophy-laden season.

He followed Flick to the German national team, spending time as an assistant between August 2021 and September 2023. Germany failed to get out of the group stages at the 2022 World Cup, however.

Dubbed as “unbelievable” and the “best head coach” he played under by Josh Windass, it is clear Rohl has plenty to offer as a manager.

Under difficult circumstances at the Owls, he avoided relegation in 2023/24 and led them to 12th in the most recent season, missing out on a playoff spot by just ten points.

He might not be perfect, but the fact that he offers something fresh could be exactly what the 49ers group are after, instead of going over old ground with regard to Gerrard.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

By moving in a different direction, the Light Blues will look towards entering a new era this summer as they look to finally end years of hurt by challenging Celtic for the domestic title.

Will Rohl be in the dugout come July? Only time will tell.

Earns more than Diomande: Rangers flop should never play at Ibrox again

The 49ers must ensure that this Rangers flop who earns more than Mohamed Diomande never plays at Ibrox again.

ByDan Emery May 8, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta will personally try to convince Mikel Arteta to green-light a move for one PSG star, who he tried and failed to sign during his 12-year stay at Atletico Madrid.

Andrea Berta kick-starting Arsenal transfer plans for this summer

One of Berta’s first acts, following his confirmed appointment in late March, was to reach out to the representatives of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, according to The Guardian’s Ed Aarons, and he’s shown little sign of slowing down since then.

£42m Chelsea target now privately imagining a transfer to Arsenal instead

The Gunners are emerging as favourites.

ByEmilio Galantini May 6, 2025

The Italian’s reputation as an astute operator in the transfer market has excited plenty of on-lookers ahead of his debut window at Arsenal, and it is believed the 53-year-old could spearhead a £300 million spend on as many as seven major signings (GiveMeSport).

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Berta is also pushing to sign Sporting Cp striker Viktor Gyokeres, in a bid to end Arsenal’s long wait for a prolific centre-forward who can guarantee 25-plus goals-per-season for Arteta.

Arsenal are also in the market for wide players and potentially an alternative to star forward Bukayo Saka, with the England international’s spells out through injury at points this season giving Arteta a major headache.

Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané is still a target for Arsenal in that regard, as the ex-Man City star is yet to pen fresh terms at the Allianz Arena, and his contract is due to expire this summer as things stand.

Sane switched agents at the last minute during negotiations over a new deal at Bayern, as confirmed by club president Herbert Hainer, which has now thrown a spanner in the works.

However, if the Germany international does end up officially putting pen to paper, Arsenal will need to move on to other targets.

Andrea Berta wants Lee Kang-in at Arsenal

According to a report from The Sun and journalist Simon Barlow, versatile £119,000-per-week PSG forward Lee Kang-in is attracting attention from Arsenal, and Berta specifically.

As per their information, Berta will push Arteta to approve an Arsenal swoop for Lee, coming after the 53-year-old attempted to sign him for Atletico during his time with the La Liga side.

Berta was apparently the driving force behind Atletico’s pursuit of the South Korea international when he was at Mallorca, only for him to choose a move to the Parc des Princes instead.

Lee has featured in a variety of attacking roles under Luis Enrique this term, predominantly on the right-wing, but also on the left, as an attacking midfielder, a centre-forward and even back in defence. This could be highly attractive from Arteta’s perspective, as he’s known to seriously value versatility in any new player.

PSG are also eager to sell the 24-year-old, as per this report, so a deal could be completed in quick fashion.

Tottenham Hotspur are facing a summer of major change, both in the dugout and in terms of first-team players, with uncertainty surrounding Ange Postecoglou and Spurs anticipating a ‘sell to buy’ transfer window.

Tottenham preparing for season-defining Europa League semi-final

Amid a very regrettable domestic campaign, where the Lilywhites have suffered an inexcusable 19 Premier League defeats, the success of their season rests entirely on the Europa League.

24-year-old confirms decision to leave Tottenham after talks with Spurs

They’ve reached an agreement to mutually part ways.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 29, 2025

After dramatically knocking out Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals, Spurs face this year’s fairytale underdogs, Bodo/Glimt, in a two-legged semi-final which many are expecting them to win.

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

However, even if Tottenham get past the Norwegian minnows and go on to win their first major trophy since 2008, there is still the very real possibility that Postecoglou and Spurs part company – two years after they appointed the Australian to replace Antonio Conte.

The Telegraph reported last week that Postecoglou is heading towards the Tottenham axe, regardless of their success in Europe, and winning the competition could be the most honorable way for him to part ways and end his N17 stay on a high.

Tottenham are already being linked with a host of different managers, from big names to lesser-known quantities, and Postecoglou could be joined out of the exit door by some big-name first-team players.

Matt Law reported recently that Spurs may need to sell players and generate funds for their transfer activity, with right-back Pedro Porro and striker Richarlison among the men tipped to potentially leave. A more regularly mentioned nominee for the transfer list is star defender Cristian Romero.

The Argentine is attracting serious interest from Atlético Madrid ahead of the summer, and it is believed chairman Daniel Levy is growing more open to the possibility of cashing in on him (GiveMeSport).

There are even suggestions that Atlético head coach, Diego Simeone, is personally driving their interest in the £165,000-per-week defender.

Now, another update has emerged courtesy of Spanish news outlet Marca.

Cristian Romero has already told Tottenham he wants to go

The outlet reports that Romero informed Tottenham of his desire to leave in March, and Atlético have been working on a deal for the ex-Atalanta centre-back for as long as five months.

However, they’re postponing formal negotiations for after the Lilywhites’ Europa League campaign, where they may have a better understanding of what it will take to strike a deal for Romero.

While Atlético only wish to bid around £34 million for his signature, as things stand, Spurs are demanding much more for a player who’s been described as “world-class” during his time at the club.

Injuries have largely hindered the 27-year-old’s season, which has been the case for a lot of Tottenham players, but Romero has certainly showcased his serious quality alongside Micky van de Ven in Postecoglou’s high line, especially last season.

Arsenal have made contact with a potentially low-cost striker option who’s scored north of 170 career goals, with new sporting director Andrea Berta registering serious intent already ahead of his first summer at the club.

Andrea Berta's rumoured striker targets for Arsenal

One of Berta’s key items on the agenda is signing a prolific new striker.

Arsenal make "ambitious" offer for £170k-p/w forward after Arteta request

The Spaniard’s personally asked for him.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 19, 2025

Their need for a proven goalscorer was evident before Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus were sidelined with long-term injuries, but their absences have left it beyond all doubt, with Mikel Arteta even forced to use midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency makeshift striker over the last few weeks.

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Truth be told, the Spain international has done very well – scoring four in his last eight Premier League games and helping to bury Real Madrid in Europe – but Merino is hardly a long-term solution going forward.

Instead, Arsenal are developing a serious interest in Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, who’s bagged a pretty incredible 47 goals in his last 46 matches across all competitions, not to mention a further 11 assists.

These numbers, combined with the intense competition for his services from Arsenal’s rivals, mean Sporting will demand a package of up to £60 million with additional add-ons to let him leave (Fabrizio Romano).

Berta is said to be a fan of Gyokeres, while it is reported elsewhere that Newcastle star Alexander Isak is a “dream” signing for Arsenal, with a move for the Swede looking far too difficult to pull off in terms of price.

RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko is another striker on Arsenal’s target list, despite their failed bid to sign the Slovenian in 2024 (Fabrizio Romano), and they internally discussed the possibility of striking a deal in January.

All these names will come at a premium, especially when factoring in the overall costs, including wages, commission fees and signing bonuses.

Arsenal make contact with Lille star Jonathan David

Bearing this in mind, journalist Graeme Bailey is reporting for The Boot Room that Arsenal are throwing their hat in the race for out-of-contract Lille star Jonathan David.

It is quite surprising that no elite side has taken the plunge with David yet, considering just how incredible he’s been for Lille over the last few seasons, but it is now a matter of time before he seals his big move.

The Canada international is set to leave on a Bosman this summer, and Arsenal held initial talks with David’s representatives in their pursuit of a striker.

The 25-year-old, who’s racked up a grand total of 176 career goals for club and country combined, is also a big-game player. David boasts seven strikes from his 10 Champions League outings this term, scoring against the likes of Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, so notions he can only score in an inferior division have been put to bed.

Despite being a free agent, he could still set Arsenal back around £28 million, including his yearly demands, signing-on fee and additional commission fees (Sacha Tavolieri), but this is still far cheaper than some of Berta’s other striker targets.

Manchester United are now set to make an approach for an “immense” defender, with Ruben Amorim believed to be a big fan, according to a report.

Man Utd pursuing defensive reinforcements

Amorim has made it clear that he will not compromise on his style of play, having implemented a three-at-the-back system ever since arriving from Sporting CP, which means the manager may need to recruit another centre-back in the summer transfer window.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie is one of the names on the shortlist, with Man United looking to hijack Real Madrid’s move for the defender, while they have also sent scouts to watch Fiorentina’s Pietro Comuzzo in action.

Comuzzo is being targeted as a potential replacement for Lisandro Martínez, who may not be back until 2026, which underlines the need for a new centre-back to be brought in prior to the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Man Utd make contact for "unbelievable" £62m star as agent flies for talks

The Red Devils have set their sights on a striker, whose agent is set to fly to England for talks.

ByDominic Lund Apr 8, 2025

According to a report from Football Transfers, not only is Amorim concerned by Martinez’s injury woes, but the manager also has doubts over whether the Argentine is suitable for his three-at-the-back system.

As such, the 40-year-old wants to bring in a new centre-back this summer, and he has demanded the signing of Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio.

Amorim knows Inacio well from their time working together in Portugal, and he remains a huge admirer, with Man United expected to make an approach of some description over the next few weeks, although there are yet to be any formal talks.

The Portuguese defender is protected by a €60m (£52m) release clause in his contract, but there are indications he could be available for as little as €35m (£30m), which would make him a relatively low-cost addition to the squad.

"Immense" Inacio impressing in Portugal

Sporting are once again challenging for the Liga Portugal title this season, and the 23-year-old has been one of their most important players, making 22 appearances, during which time he has picked up three goals and three assists.

Not only is the Portugal international a threat going forward, but he is also strong defensively and solid in possession of the ball, as showcased by his performance on some key metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Blocks

2.22 (99th percentile)

Tackles

2.04 (84th percentile)

Passes attempted

88.70 (97th percentile)

With Amorim having doubts over whether Martinez is capable of playing in a three-at-the-back system, it would make sense for the manager to bring in a player he can trust, and the “immense” Sporting star is showing signs he could be a success at Old Trafford.

The only doubt over the signing of Inacio will be the fact he is yet to prove himself in a major European league, unlike some of the other players on Man United’s shortlist, such as Hincapie and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

Manchester United are seemingly willing to sell an Old Trafford star who Ruben Amorim isn’t sure about, with Real Madrid keen on a potential deal this summer.

Man Utd suffer another defeat as INEOS eye summer signings

The Red Devils suffered yet another Premier League defeat following the international break, losing 1-0 to Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Amorim’s side had plenty of possession and more attempts than the hosts, but former winger Anthony Elanga was the matchwinner. The Man Utd boss even brought on Harry Maguire in an attacking role in the final stages, with the centre-back almost netting an equaliser.

Talking about that decision, Amorim said: “In the end of the game, when the opponent is just protecting the box, if you look at the defenders of Nottingham, they are really comfortable. And then with a line of six, not five, a line of six, we can reach the final third but then we have to put the ball inside the box because it’s hard to make the combinations to get inside the box to score goal.

“Harry Maguire, when he’s attacking in set-pieces, is maybe the best player we have in our team, so inside the box, you are not a defender, you are a striker. So it was that idea to put I one man who is really good in the air to score a goal.”

Man Utd now progressing in talks to sign £67m top target to replace Onana

A move appears to be advancing.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 2, 2025

A new attacker to rival Rasmus Hojlund appears to be on the to-do list this summer, especially as Man Utd regret signing Joshua Zirkzee and want him sold, as per recent reports.

Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt is a Red Devils fan and appears to be a target, however, players may need to be sold in order to fund their summer business.

Man Utd ready to sell Mainoo with Amorim unsure on fitness levels

One player who could be on the way out of Old Trafford is Kobbie Mainoo. Linked with a move to Chelsea during the January transfer window, the midfielder stayed put, however, he has missed the last nine games through injury.

Now, according to a report from Spain, Man Utd appear to be willing to sell Mainoo and have set an asking price of €50m (£41.7m), with his current contract set to expire in 2027.

Real Madrid see Mainoo as ‘a serious option to strengthen their midfield for the upcoming season’, whereas Chelsea and Inter Milan are also keen.

Selling Mainoo will help generate funds for summer signing ahead of Amorim’s first full season, and it has been claimed elsewhere that the Man Utd manager isn’t the midfielder’s biggest fan.

In fact, Amorim is ‘not completely convinced Mainoo has the fitness levels to be a success in his system’, and by the looks of things, the academy product could be on the way out of Old Trafford in a matter of months.

In most cases, the Premier League title race feels like it’s done and dusted with weeks left of the campaign, with one team taking on what looks to be an unassailable advantage at the summit.

However, with every big lead at the top comes the prospect of a team completely losing their composure at the crucial moments.

Over the years, even the best sides have suffered from stage fright when the going got tough, found guilty of fluffing their lines with the title in reach.

Here, we’ve looked back at some examples of teams who have squandered huge chances to win the Premier League…

The 10 fastest title wins in Premier League history

Liverpool have looked like champions for a while, but whose footsteps are they following in?

ByStephan Georgiou Mar 31, 2025 1 Man Utd 1994/95 Failure to beat West Ham hands title to Blackburn

In truth, this could very easily have been a section about Blackburn Rovers bottling the title. Indeed, the Lancashire side had only won one of their previous five matches heading into the season finale, which gave Manchester United the opportunity to seal a third straight title should they slip up again.

Despite Rovers’ poor late-season form, they still led the Premier League ahead of their final-day clash against Liverpool, but knew that even a draw could let United in due to the Red Devils’ superior goal difference.

Blackburn’s worst nightmares then appeared to be coming true as they succumbed to a 2-1 loss at Anfield, meaning a win for United would earn Sir Alex Ferguson’s men another league championship.

But United uncharacteristically fluffed their lines, running into an inspired Ludek Miklosko in the Hammers net as they were continuously denied a winner that would have secured the title, settling for a 1-1 draw at the Boleyn Ground.

2 Newcastle 1995/96 Toon squander huge lead as Keegan's Entertainers implode

If today’s Arsenal squad needed a reminder that 12-point leads can vanish, they’d be wise to look at Newcastle United’s collapse in 1995/96 for inspiration.

The Magpies, led by Kevin Keegan, installed a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League by mid-January.

But within two months, Newcastle had lost three and drawn once to allow Manchester United to close the gap.

To make matters worse, the Toon then lost to Liverpool and Blackburn in the space of a week to fully hand the initiative to the Red Devils.

Newcastle even had the chance to head into the final day level on points before two successive draws saw Man Utd wrestle the title back at the first time of asking.

3 Man Utd 1997/98 Awful run-in lets Arsenal snatch title glory

In fairness to Manchester United, Arsenal were on a hot streak in the latter months of the 1997/98 campaign, but for seasoned winners, their sudden fall from title certainties to also-rans will have been a bitter pill to swallow.

With 10 games remaining, Fergie’s men led the table by 11 points – 12 clear of Arsenal, who did have three games in hand.

March 1998 saw Arsenal reel off 10 straight victories, but United’s position still meant that all they needed to do to retain the title was see off either Liverpool or Newcastle at home – or even take a point from Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Those draws and Arsenal’s winning run (including a 1-0 success in Manchester) meant the Gunners could afford two defeats at the end of their campaign.

It was an opportunity missed for the Red Devils, though they did make up for it with a treble a year later.

4 Arsenal 1998/99 Defeat in penultimate match gift-wraps title for United

Arsenal were aiming to secure back-to-back titles in 1999, but despite getting themselves in a marvellous position to get the job done, they let themselves down just before the final hurdle.

The Gunners had won just 6 of their first 17 matches, but a competitive field that season meant there was still time for a title charge in the new year.

They won 15 of the next 19 matches to go level on points with two games to play, but a dramatic late defeat at Leeds meant United could afford to drop points at Blackburn Rovers and win the title by a point.

This one is more in hindsight, but one more win would surely have been enough to deny United the title – and their historic treble.

5 Arsenal 2002/03 Champions in control until Bolton comeback derails season

Arsenal were in a similar position in 2002/03 as they looked to successfully defend the title.

And despite having the title in their hands after a crunch clash with Manchester United, a late draw at Bolton Wanderers – in which Martin Keown scored an own goal – handed United the advantage.

The Gunners were then shocked at home by relegation-threatened Leeds United to go from title favourites to confirmed runners-up in a matter of weeks.

6 Arsenal 2007/08 Gunners let commanding lead slip after horror March

Arsene Wenger’s Gunners were not expected to challenge in the 2007/08 season, especially with club legend Thierry Henry leaving in the summer.

But the north Londoners produced an exciting start to the campaign, not losing until December and leading by five points with 12 games left.

The turning point came in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Birmingham City, which saw Eduardo da Silva suffer a double leg break and Gael Clichy concede a contentious last-minute penalty.

Arsenal struggled to restore their momentum, and four straight draws and a defeat to title rivals Chelsea saw their lead wiped out.

Despite winning their last four games, they had to settle for third place, having fallen just short in the big games at the business end of the campaign.

7 Man Utd 2011/12 Red Devils lose 8-point lead in final six games

With six matches remaining in the 2011/12 season, it looked for all the world that Manchester United would defend their title thanks to an eight-point lead at the summit.

Manchester City had threatened to knock them off their perch but defeats to the likes of Swansea City and Arsenal seemed to have killed off their challenge.

City then won five on the spin – including in the Manchester derby – to set up the historic final day that saw them win the title on goal difference.

But United could have avoided all the drama by avoiding defeat to Wigan Athletic or holding onto their lead at home to Everton, in games that will still be leaving a scar today.

8 Liverpool 2013/14 Suarez cries as Reds waste huge chance to win PL title

When Liverpool beat Manchester City in April 2014, it looked as if the Reds would finally end their decades-long wait for a league title.

When title rivals Chelsea lost prior to another Liverpool victory over Norwich City, the Reds had extended their lead to five points with three matches to play, albeit with Man City having games in hand.

Then it all went wrong. Defeat to Chelsea in their following match meant the door was open for City, who only had a slender advantage on goal difference.

But an ignominious draw to Crystal Palace when the Reds had led 3-0 destroyed their realistic chances of winning the league.

Man City then got their job done on the final day with a victory over West Ham, leaving Liverpool’s success over Newcastle academic.

The closest title races in Premier League history

Manchester City and Arsenal have delivered a Premier League title race for the ages – here are some of the tightest from years gone by…

ByStephan Georgiou May 20, 2024 9 Tottenham 2015/16 Pochettino's Spurs come third in two-horse race

In Spurs’ defence, they were never meant to even challenge for the title in 2015/16. But then again, neither were eventual winners Leicester City.

It seems a little unfair to call Tottenham Hotspur out on their failure to take a once-in-a-generation chance of winning the title when so many others underperformed, but when you get to the last 11 games and you’re just two points off Leicester in second, anyone would kick themselves.

Unfortunately for Spurs, they won just four of their remaining matches, and collapsed so dramatically that losing their final two games allowed rivals Arsenal to pip them to second place.

Ironically, the following season was more successful from a points perspective, though they were accused of being ‘bottlejobs’ despite barely even getting to within touching distance of a relentless Chelsea. 2015/16 surely hurts more.

10 Arsenal 2015/16 Underwhelming Gunners lose out to fairytale Leicester side

As was the case with Spurs, Arsenal may have performed far better than their expected title rivals this year – Chelsea finished 10th and Liverpool finished outside the European places – but they also failed to convert a fairly unique position into title glory.

Points-wise, the Gunners didn’t dip too drastically (scoring just four fewer than the previous campaign), but in a season where they only needed 10 more to win the title, it was a huge opportunity wasted.

It was a season of false dawns for the Gunners, who had beaten both Manchester sides and eventual champions Leicester to lead the table at the turn of the year.

But a series of needless draws and a failure to build momentum after their last-gasp win over the Foxes – which had left them two points off the summit – meant the Gunners were the nearly men once more.

Has the ship already sailed? Will it ever happen for Federico Chiesa at Liverpool?

The forgotten man last season, the Italian winger has again been rather luckless this time around, having been unable to use the Mohamed Salah situation to his benefit this week.

Indeed, even with the Egyptian having been left out for the trip to San Siro, Chiesa could not pounce on that potential opening in the right-wing berth, having been forced to miss the meeting with Inter Milan through illness.

Almost halfway through his second season at Anfield, the ex-Juventus man – signed for a bargain £13m fee – remains bound to the periphery, featuring for just 29 times across all competitions in total.

Notable moments, like his crucial ‘winner’ against Bournemouth on the opening day, have seen the 28-year-old secure cult hero status on Merseyside, although the jury is out on whether he can truly emerge from the shadows.

Latest on Federico Chiesa's future

In truth, the Reds claimed Premier League glory last term without the impact of any new signing, with Chiesa – the only senior addition that summer – having been restricted to just six league outings all season.

Games

6

10

Starts

1

0

Goals

0

2

Assists

0

1

Big chances missed

1

1

Big chances created

0

1

Key passes*

0.3

0.1

Pass accuracy*

93%

74%

Successful dribbles*

0

0.1

Possession lost*

2.2

3.7

Frequently overlooked by Slot in 2024/25, even increased influence this time around has not altered his standing in the attacking pecking order, with all of his ten top-flight appearances coming from the bench.

The man who intervened to deny Wilson Isidor from securing a potential winner for Sunderland not too long ago, there is a will for Chiesa to do well, not least with options not exactly brimming on the flanks.

That being said, Slot – such is his neglect of the one-time Fiorentina star – appears to have other ideas, such has been the winger’s limited game time, with a January exit still being mooted according to recent reports.

As reported by The Athletic, the Euro 2020 hero is said to have a ‘number of admirers’ with the winter window now looming, albeit with it said to pose a potential ‘risk’ if Liverpool do let him depart, considering their relatively small pool of attacking alternatives.

That said, Chiesa himself may wish to push for a move, should his standing not improve, with reports last month suggesting that his agent was in talks over a possible switch, amid hopes of forcing his way back into Italy’s plans ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in March.

A desire to depart would be no surprise considering his lack of use over the last 18 months, with Liverpool perhaps left to reflect on the wisdom of signing off on such a deal.

That said, Chiesa isn’t alone in that department…

Liverpool's pointless signing belongs in the Rodgers era

As harsh as it may be, the minimal impact of Chiesa would force anyone to come to the conclusion that he has been an almost pointless signing, with Slot showcasing little appetite to hand a regular role to the albeit injury-hit forward.

Chalkboard

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

Rightly or wrongly, ‘pointless’ may be the word that springs to mind at present regarding this summer’s marquee signing, Alexander Isak, with the misfiring Swede again looking off the pace against Inter.

Hooked on the 68-minute mark, having made just 25 touches and registered just a solitary shot, the ex-Newcastle United man was again largely a bystander to proceedings at San Siro, with the excuse of his lack of pre-season now beginning to wear thin.

With just two goals in all competitions for his new side, following that controversial, club-record switch from St James’ Park, the 26-year-old has already entered disaster signing territory, with Slot and co in need of a drastic improvement heading into 2026.

There is also a sense that, while depth is needed, was this a move that FSG truly needed to make, considering they had already plucked Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt?

While Isak has toiled, the young Frenchman has dazzled, scoring eight times already from just 22 appearances, rubberstamping the belief that he should be the starting striker.

As for Liverpool’s actual number nine, Isak looks like following in the footsteps of the notable transfer misfires of the Brendan Rodgers era, echoing the post-Luis Suarez world that saw the likes of Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Christian Benteke all flatter to deceive at Anfield.

The summer of 2014, in the wake of Rodgers’ near miss with regard to the title, was particularly egregious, with that centre-forward pairing of Lambert and Balotelli ultimately scoring just seven times between them during their forgettable, brief stays on Merseyside.

Perhaps a better comparison lies with Benteke though, signed a year later, with the Belgian – like Isak at Newcastle – looking prolific in the Premier League at Aston Villa, having scored 49 goals in 101 games for the Midlands side.

Just ten in 42 would follow under Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp.

It might be too soon to write Isak off just yet, and throw him in with that trio of disastrous Rodgers signings, although on current evidence, he is looking like the Benteke of 2015.

Hopefully Ekitike can prove to be the Roberto Firmino…

Fewer touches than Alisson & only 10 passes: Liverpool flop must be dropped

Liverpool returned to winning ways in Italy but it wasn’t all positive for Arne Slot.

1 ByMatt Dawson 2 days ago

There is little to suggest that Liverpool are close to turning a corner and sustaining a respectable level of performance any time soon. What is most concerning is that the Reds and their boss, Arne Slot, have shown little sign of finding a solution to any of the many problems plaguing their campaign.

Liverpool’s Premier League title defence lies in tatters. There is a grudging acceptance across the red streets of Merseyside that Arsenal’s grip on top position is out of reach. Certainly, the gulf in quality between the two sides this season suggests that Liverpool will have to settle for a lesser prize on the league front.

Liverpool have been outclassed in successive top-flight fixtures, and change is surely needed now. Indeed, Liverpool languish in 11th place in the Premier League, having scored 18 goals and conceded 20.

Defensively, it’s been a mess, and the noise concerning Ibrahima Konate is only intensifying after the thrashing dealt by Nottingham Forest brought the French defender’s season to its lowest ebb.

Why Konate is becoming a huge problem for Liverpool

Konate, 26, was immense throughout the 2024/25 campaign, a powerful partner for Virgil van Dijk. He, of course, won the Premier League title, settling as a regular starter in Didier Deschamps’ France squad too.

Now, Konate is only offering the vestiges of that former level. What is most frustrating is that he has proven his quality before, but the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold beside him as exposed Konate’s issues in establishing confident build-up patterns.

But these two versions of Konate are so staggeringly opposed that it is hard to accept this is the same player. Errors and baffling decision-making have been central parts of the £70k-per-week talent’s season, and you can’t help but question whether he is somewhat distracted by outside noise.

Konate is playing out the final year of his contract at Anfield, and though FSG have offered him an extension, there has yet to be a breakthrough as speculation regarding Real Madrid’s interest continues to linger.

The season-ending injury suffered by Giovanni Leoni in his first game for the club after signing from Parma for £27m this summer was a cruel blow. A detrimental blow. The 18-year-old’s absence has been keenly felt, not least because a move for Marc Guehi fell through on deadline day.

With Slot insinuating that Liverpool’s focus this winter might be on areas further upfield (heavy speculation centres on Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo), it might be that the Reds opt to make do at the back.

If this is to be the case, Slot must surely hand one of the club’s most talented young defenders a chance to shine.

Liverpool's academy Konate solution

Slot has shown a willingness to give youth a chance since taking over at Liverpool before the start of last season. Amara Nallo, for example, has been handed a few opportunities at senior level, albeit with those outings on the major stage leaving the up-and-comer beleaguered after red cards in both matches.

However, Nallo isn’t the only teenage centre-back who is playing himself toward senior contention, with 19-year-old Wellity Lucky inching toward a breakthrough after commanding displays for Rob Page’s development side.

The Spain-born defender moved to England aged 11 before joining Liverpool’s academy scene, and he has gone from strength to strength in the years since joining, having now made 60 appearances for the club’s respective youth levels.

Earlier this season, the “highly-rated” defender, as he was described by Reds reporter Ben Bocsak, made his professional debut off the bench as Slot’s side were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.

In the process, he was rewarded after being “outstanding this season” in the Premier League 2, as has been said by youth correspondent Jack Lusby.

A commanding and dominant defender with a promising ability to read and then snuff out opposition attacks, Lucky has shown that he can take his power and potential and transfer that over to contests against senior opponents. In the Football League Trophy this term, Lucky has impressed against the bustle of outfits like Crewe Alexandra and Chesterfield for the U21s.

Front-footed and fast, you could even say that he offers shades of a player like Konate, which could make adding him to the mix an attractive prospect from a stylistic standpoint.

Matches (starts)

2 (2)

Touches*

90.5

Accurate passes

61.5 (88%)

Key passes*

0.5

Dribbles*

1.5

Ball recoveries*

6.0

Tackles + interceptions*

3.0

Clearances*

5.5

Duels (won)*

5.0 (83%)

It might not have been against top-level opponents, but for Lucky to have won 83% of his duels across the two fixtures bespeaks his incisiveness in defensive phases. Moreover, his cameo against Palace last month saw him complete all 22 of his attempted passes while making a recovery too. Small factors, but promising nonetheless.

Slot continues to show a reluctance to give Joe Gomez a run of chances, and if Konate continues to flatter to deceive, it’s surely only a matter of time before things change there.

Could that open up an opportunity for a youngster such as Lucky? After all, he has earned Slot’s approval already this year, and Nallo’s struggles under the boss’s wing suggest that Lucky could be set for a promotion sooner rather than later.

To throw Lucky into the deep end would hardly be a propitious move, but if Slot can ease him into life among the big boys, this could add an exciting and fresh dimension to a defence crying out for support.

Read between the lines and you could surmise that Liverpool will prioritise a wide forward this summer. In this, the need for academy support at the rear is significant, and Lucky could be the shrewd solution to thread the connection between the club and the fanbase back together.

Forget Isak: Another Liverpool flop is quickly becoming the new Nunez

Alexander Isak has had a wretched first few months at Liverpool.

ByMatt Dawson Nov 23, 2025

With Arsenal flying high in the Premier League and looking imperious in the Champions League, the narrative from rival fans has been that the North Londoners are boring to watch.

Now, it’s undoubtedly true that set-pieces have been an essential source of goals for Mikel Arteta’s side so far, but the suggestions that the Gunners are unusually dull fall apart when properly scrutinised.

For example, according to FBref, they take the second most shots in the league, play the second most passes into the penalty area, play the most through balls, and take the most touches in the opposition’s penalty area, all per 90 minutes.

Moreover, while Arteta has his fair share of physical monsters in the side, he also has an abundance of brilliant technicians, including one player who’s showing shades of Santi Cazorla in his game.

Why Arsenal fans love Santi Cazorla

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have had plenty of brilliant midfielders play for them over the years, many who went on to win far more at the club than Cazorla did.

So, why is the Spaniard still one of the most beloved to wear red and white?

Well, there was that free-kick that started the side’s fightback in the 2014 FA Cup final.

There is also the fact that he played for the side during a rather barren spell, and so fans were desperate to see some genuine quality in the team.

However, while both of these factors certainly contribute to the high esteem in which the fans hold him, they remain secondary to the primary reason: his style of play.

The former Malaga gem was the epitome of an Arsene Wenger-type player, someone who was brilliantly effective yet also a crowd pleaser and a genuine magician on the ball.

The 40-year-old was seemingly able to do it all with a ball at his feet.

Ping a ball from one side of the pitch to the other? He could do it. Carry the ball through the middle of the park, beating four players in the process? Easy. Play the perfect defence-splitting pass to set up his striker with a one-on-one? Piece of cake.

Cazorla might not get the respect he deserves from rivals, but Arsenal fans correctly hold him up as one of the most entertaining players to grace the Emirates.

So it’s undoubtedly exciting to see one of Arteta’s signings begin to show shades of the Spaniard in his game this season.

The Arsenal star with shades of Cazorla

When considering who in the current Arsenal squad could be compared to Cazorla, most might look to Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, or perhaps even Eberechi Eze.

Chalkboard

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

However, while there are certainly arguments to be made for those three sharing some traits with the Spaniard, it’s Riccardo Calafiori who is showing shades of him in his game this season.

Now, the Italian obviously plays a totally different position to the former Gunners ace, but he still shares several similarities with him.

For example, and this is a negative one, the former Bologna star has had terrible luck with injuries since his move last summer.

In fact, he ended up dealing with six injuries last season, which resulted in him spending 175 days on the sideline and missing 30 games for both club and country.

Fortunately, the 23-year-old also shares a couple of extremely positive characteristics with the 40-year-old, including the freedom he is allowed on the football pitch and the incredible entertainment he brings.

While Arteta can often be quite regimented in his tactics and instructions with the rest of the team, it has become increasingly clear that he wants and allows the Italian to maraud all over and cause as much chaos for the opposition as possible.

This has become obvious from simply watching him play, but it’s even more evident when examining his heatmap from this season, which shows him popping up all over the place.

Crucially, though, the Rome-born “wild horse,” as dubbed by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, is making excellent use of this freedom, helping out attacks by stretching the opposition’s backline, popping up in the box and interchanging with his own attackers.

Amazingly, the £120k-per-week maverick has taken the second most shots in the league for the Gunners this season, and his underlying numbers only further show his attacking prowess.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in the league for shots, the top 4% for expected goals, the top 7% for goal-creating actions, the top 12% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

Shots Total

2.11

Top 1%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 1%

xG: Expected Goals

0.24

Top 4%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.24

Top 4%

SCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.24

Top 4%

Goals + Assists

0.35

Top 7%

SCA (Shot)

0.35

Top 7%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.59

Top 7%

GCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 7%

npxG + xAG

0.29

Top 9%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 12%

Touches (Att Pen)

3.29

Top 12%

Assists

0.24

Top 15%

npxG/Shot

0.11

Top 15%

GCA (Live-ball Pass)

0.35

Top 15%

Touches (Mid 3rd)

29.73

Top 18%

Ultimately, this combination of freedom to express himself and the ability to make the most of it is why journalist James Benge described Calafiori as “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment” and why he’s the most Cazorla-esque player in Arteta’s squad.

Arteta can fix Gyokeres blow by starting Arsenal gem who's "shades of Isak"

The promising gem could be the perfect Gyokeres replacement for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 4, 2025