All posts by n8rngtd.top

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he has plans to buy a football club and play the role of owner after he retires.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ronaldo does not plan to go into coaching
• Plans to become club owner after retirement
• Ronaldo edging towards the end of his career

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A lot of questions have been placed on Ronaldo with regards to what the future will hold for one of the best footballers to have played the game as he slowly winds down towards the end of his career. The Portuguese legend has now revealed that he does not plan to go into coaching but may look to become a club owner following his retirement.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  WHAT RONALDO SAID

  Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, Ronaldo said: "I'm not a coach. I'm never going to be a coach, president of the club? No. Maybe owner of the club.

  When asked if he plans to become a club owner, Ronaldo replied: "Probably. I will see. It will depend on the moment, the right opportunities.

  "Have I got any in mind? Not yet, a few maybe."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  At the moment, there is no real clue as to which club Ronaldo may look to buy after his retirement as all his former clubs barring Sporting CP may be a little out of his budget despite having a reported net worth of £636 million ($800m). However, as per SportBible, Ronaldo could also be offered a chance to buy a club in the Saudi Pro League as the Public Investment Fund (PIF) will be keen to keep him in the country.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  For the moment, Ronaldo is said to have no plans to retire as he aims to play the 2026 World Cup in the United States.

Thomas Frank has warned Bryan Mbeumo's suitors that they have next to no chance of signing the Brentford striker in January.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Mbeumo wanted by multiple clubs
• Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle hovering
• Frank wishes them 'good luck'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbeumo has suitors from across the Premier League, with Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle all monitoring his situation at Brentford. He has scored 10 goals thus far this term but he has a contract until 2026, and Frank has ruled out the prospect of a mid-season departure.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbeumo has been with Brentford since 2019 and has clocked 221 appearances for the Bees. He has scored 60 goals and registered 44 assists in that time, and Frank maintains there is "no chance" he will depart in the next transfer window.

• WHAT FRANK SAID

  He said: "In January? I would say good luck. We love Bryan. He loves playing here. He has had a fantastic season, so nothing will happen."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Brentford play Arsenal on New Year's Day. They are currently 12th in the Premier League table, while the Gunners are third.

Moments. That's what decides a title, particularly in the Premier League. Arsenal had many moments last term, for good and for worse that determined the destination of the trophy.

That late defeat to Aston Villa didn't help. Neither did their record around the festive period. But, there was good. Oh, there was plenty of good. That Declan Rice howitzer against his former employers. That Bukayo Saka goal at Tottenham, that late winner versus Luton and the mesmerising victory against Manchester United at the Emirates.

Ultimately, they were missing that final ingredient, the tonic that would have bridged the two-point gap that Manchester City were ultimately crowned champions with.

What is that ingredient? Well, a certain Erling Haaland would do.

Erling Haaland's 24/25 season in numbers

Arteta is trying his very hardest to topple Man City and in the process of doing so is taking inspiration from the way they line up and complete business.

The signing of Riccardo Calafiori this summer – a centre-back turned marauding full-back – is potentially their answer to Josko Gvardiol but they are still lacking that Haaland-type figure. Isn't everyone, you may ask?

Arsenal looked at signing a new striker this summer but their plans were forced to change when one of their main targets, Benjamin Sesko, signed a new contract with RB Leipzig.

So, the Gunners went without and it wasn't until they welcomed Raheem Sterling to the club on transfer deadline day that an attacker was added. A former City player – it's rather typical, isn't it?

Haaland has already shown why he could be the difference this season. He's scored back-to-back hat-tricks to take his early seasonal haul to seven goals in three outings. It's ludicrous stuff from one of the greatest goalscorers we've ever seen in English football. It's hardly a surprise that the Norwegian is valued at a mighty £152m by Transfermarkt, not that City would let him go anytime soon.

So, without that relentless goalscoring figure, Arsenal will need to share the spoils around the team.

Arsenal's Haaland-like figures

The closest thing Arsenal have to Haaland in the squad is Kai Havertz. The German is by no means a scorer of goals on the same regular basis but standing at 6 foot 4, they are the exact same height. They're also left-footed which certainly helps with that comparison.

Havertz, now charged with leading the line, will no doubt be vital this season and if he carries on his current trajectory is looking at a 20-goal campaign. As a striker, the former Chelsea man has scored ten goals and registered eight assists in 21 matches for the Gunners.

Leandro Trossard – newly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia – will also be important. He scored 17 times last term, meaning he ended the campaign only behind star boy Saka in that regard.

Saka will, of course, be the biggest player that Arteta depends on, even with the arrival of Sterling last Friday night.

He is the generational talent that Arsenal call upon in tough moments. He is the poster boy of the club and is only getting better. Last season the winger scored 20 times in all competitions, supplying 14 assists in the process. It's not Haaland levels of scoring but he's pretty damn good.

The Englishman, who enjoyed a brilliant Euro 2024, has been straight on it during the new season too, scoring once and supplying three assists in as many matches.

Now valued at £118m by Transfermarkt, his rise from a bubbly academy star to a tough-minded first-team player has been so enjoyable to watch.

Also key to their fortunes this term will be Rice. Whatever you think about the red card against Brighton, he is still one of the finest midfielders in the division, ranking as he does in the top 6% of positionally similar players in Europe for progressive carrying distance and the top 12% for defensive actions that end up leading to a shot on goal for his team.

In short, Rice is a monster and an extremely tough one to stop. His reading of the play is first-class and he's even become a threat in the final third. Now trusted with corner-taking duties from the left-hand side of the pitch, his delivery is often inch-perfect.

Why Declan Rice was sent off against Brighton

Arsenal dropped their first points of the season on Saturday lunchtime.

By
Matt Dawson

Aug 31, 2024

He registered ten assists during his debut campaign in north London and also scored seven goals. Despite not being signed as a replacement for Granit Xhaka's no.8 role, he's still performed a pretty good job there when tasked with featuring in a more advanced role.

Currently valued at £101m by Transfermarkt, it means that both Rice and Saka combined are worth more than Haaland. Between them, they could well help to bridge that two-point gap from last season. They have been brilliant assets and will continue to be key as the title race takes shape over the months to come.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has reflected on his downfall at the club after being named as San Diego Wave's new head coach.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Miedema left Arsenal last summer
• Eidevall resigned a few months later
• New San Diego Wave reflects on his downfall

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 41-year-old resigned from his Arsenal role in October after a poor start to the Women's Super League season. Ahead of taking over at National Women's Soccer League side San Diego, the Swede believes the Gunners' call to not renew Vivianne Miedema's contract last year led to his deteriorating relationship with the fans and that ended up "hurting" the team.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT JONAS EIDEVALL SAID

  He told : "I think that when we didn’t renew [Vivianne] Miedema’s contract my relationship at the time with the fans was hurting the team. I thought [leaving] was the easiest quick fix for the team to be able to perform again. That was an incredibly difficult personal decision for me to walk away from, but sometimes you have to do that when it’s what you think is best for the team. I’m also preaching that to any team. I always preach [that] you have to do what’s best for the team. Sometimes you lose as an individual, but if everyone is committed to always making the best decisions, then everybody will win in the end, and this time it was my decision to take the most difficult decision. I think that was the right decision for me, personally and I think the team has been playing well, so I’m really happy."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Eidevall won two Women's League Cups with Arsenal during his three-year stint with the club. But the Gunners appear to be better off without him as they are flying high with interim boss Renee Slegers. But his contribution at the north London team will not be forgotten; as will Miedema's, who joined Manchester City last summer after seven years at Arsenal.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Eidevall is the long-term replacement for Casey Stoney, who was sacked by San Diego in June.

  On this new role, he said: "I am honoured and proud to be named the head coach of San Diego Wave. This is a club with a clear vision for success, both on and off the field, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me to lead this talented team by the Leichtman-Levine Family and Camille Ashton. San Diego is a city with passionate fans and a vibrant football culture, and I'm eager to contribute to building a winning legacy here. Together with the players, staff, and supporters, I look forward to achieving great things and making unforgettable memories for this club."

Liverpool supporters have fallen head over heels for Arne Slot already, with the new era at Anfield spearheaded by the ex-Feyenoord boss starting on a fantastic footing.

Three wins from three in Premier League action means the confident Reds are tied at the top of the league with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who are – unsurprisingly – the only other unbeaten team in the division, but Slot's men do boast the fact they are yet to even leak a goal.

Despite these staunch defensive displays, the transfer rumour mill seems to indicate that the Premier League title chasers are eyeing up this new centre-back, who could soon be available on a free transfer.

Premier League Table: Latest EPL standings for 2024/25 season

Stay up to date with the English Premier League standings after matchday 33.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 22, 2025

Liverpool pondering free transfer

As has been reported by Caught Offside, Liverpool are keen on a potential deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah, after the central defender nearly joined German giants Bayern Munich this summer.

With Virgil van Dijk's current deal at Anfield expiring next year, it makes sense that Slot and Co are keeping their options open as to who could join if the Dutch colossus does end up walking away from Liverpool.

Likewise, back at Leverkusen, the reigning Bundesliga champions are unsure about Tah's future at the club with his contract up next year too, with the Reds tempted down the line to try and secure the 28-year-old on a free transfer.

It is noted that a dream move for the Leverkusen number four would be to join the Premier League, having been linked with a move to Newcastle United in the past, with the allure of the Reds far stronger than the Magpies.

How Tah can be the next Matip

Tah could end up being Liverpool's next Joel Matip, away from any talk about the Germany international being Van Dijk's successor, with Matip never looking back after exiting the Bundesliga himself for new pastures back in 2016 when Liverpool came calling.

There are further similarities too, if Tah does end up making the leap to the Premier League, with Matip also joining on a free transfer after his Schalke deal had expired.

The 33-year-old defender would go on to lift a Champions League and a top-flight title during his decorated spell with the Reds, with 11 goals and six assists managed from 201 games, as Matip garnered the reputation for being a consistently steady and reliable option to have around the building.

Tah has also proven his worth for Xabi Alonso's men as a source of goals, with four managed last season on the way to Alonso's side lifting the Bundesliga proudly aloft, on top of managing 12 important clean sheets too.

Calm on the ball with a 95% pass accuracy averaged per game, Tah does play in a similar way to Matip, who managed 49.8 accurate passes per game last season when he was thrown into action by the now-departed Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League.

Slot would have loved Tah being around on the opening day when he had to hook Jarell Quansah off at half-time versus Ipswich Town, with the 21-year-old nervous against the Tractor Boys.

On the contrary, the Leverkusen star – who stands at a towering 6 foot 5 frame – would have knocked Ipswich's confidence by imposing himself on to the contest, with one of his former teammates Christoph Kramer once referring to the 28-year-old defender as a "defensive battleship".

Liverpool didn't go overboard in the recently closed transfer window with Federico Chiesa joining as the only real notable addition, but they could win themselves an excellent deal soon if they end up landing Tah for nothing, especially if he becomes as dependable as Matip used to be for the Reds.

Liverpool let teen leave for £0, now he's worth more than Diaz & Salah

He’d be perfect for Arne Slot…

2

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 8, 2024

Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set for a imminent return to management and is heading to Turkey to take over at Besiktas.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Solskjaer hasn't had a managerial job since Man Utd exit
• Had turned down several offers in the past
• But is set to return to the dugout with Besiktas

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Turkish journalist , Solskjaer is on the brink of returning to the dugout as he is poised to take over at Turkish club Besiktas. The Norwegian tactician has been without a managerial role since leaving Old Trafford in November 2021, but it is understood that he has now been presented with a compelling opportunity. His move, if confirmed, will see him come up against another former Manchester United manager -Jose Mourinho – who is currently in charge of Fenerbahce.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Besiktas have recently parted ways with Giovanni van Bronckhorst in December. Interim boss Serdar Topraktepe has been managing the team in the meantime, but the club’s hierarchy is keen to bring in a permanent solution and Solskjaer has emerged as the favoured candidate. Besiktas have formally extended an offer to Solskjaer, and the deal appears to be in the advanced stages.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Solskjaer previously managed Manchester United for over two and a half years, overseeing 149 games across all competitions. While his tenure had its highlights, including guiding the team to second place in the Premier League and reaching the Europa League final, his reign ended on a sour note following a 4-1 defeat to Watford in November 2021.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BESIKTAS & SOLSKJAER?

  Solskjaer is expected to attend Besiktas’ upcoming match against Samsunspor as a spectator before officially taking charge of the team. His first game at the helm is likely to be against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on January 22. The Istanbul-based club is currently facing challenges both domestically and in Europe. They are sixth in the Turkish Super Lig, struggling to keep pace with the league leaders and sit 28th in the Europa League standings.

Arsenal have undergone a dramatic transformation in the last five years or so and are practically unrecognisable from the club Mikel Arteta took over in late 2019.

Alongside Sporting Director Edu Gaspar, the Spaniard has completely overhauled the squad, bringing in a swathe of talented players like Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice while getting rid of those who wouldn't help him take the team forward.

However, while there has been so much change at the Emirates since the former Captain returned, a few players have remained and become integral members of this title-challenging team; players like Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Gabriel Martinelli.

That said, while there are no question marks over the future of the Englishman and Frenchman, there are some for the Brazilian, although since the manager took over, his valuation has exploded, per Transfermarkt.

1

Martinelli's market value when Arteta took over

So, on December 20th 2019, Arteta was announced as Arsenal's new head coach, and just ten days earlier, Martinelli saw his valuation rise to €18m, which is about £15m.

It's not an enormous number, but considering he was only signed for £6m from Ituano that summer, it was already a major indication that the club had a special player on their hands.

It was an increase that was more than justified during the season as well.

Despite still being a teenager and suffering a major injury during Project Restart, Martinelli racked up a seriously impressive haul of ten goals and provided four assists in 26 first-team appearances.

2

Martinelli's market value in 2020/21

Unfortunately for the young attacker, his second season in North London was much less spectacular than his first, as he was only able to rack up a total of two goals and two assists in 22 appearances for the club.

However, this disappointing output was mostly due to the severe knee injury he sustained in June, as he didn't even make his first senior appearance until the 19th of December.

That said, as he had still enjoyed a statement season in the campaign prior, his valuation in October 2020 had increased to €25m, which is about £21m, or £6m more than his price tag when Arteta took over.

3

Gabriel Martinelli's market value in 2021/22

The June before the 21/22 campaign saw the dynamic winger's valuation decrease to €22m, about £19m, due to his lack of game time the previous season.

However, this wasn't really an issue as, after a pretty miserable year, the Guarulhos-born gem was able to play some regular football again.

He wasn't just making up the numbers either, as, across 36 matches, the 5 foot 10 ace scored six goals and provided seven assists, meaning that he maintained an average of a goal involvement once every 2.76 games.

Moreover, while he didn't play in every game, he remained fit for the entire campaign, giving the manager another option in attack and boosting his reputation in the process.

4

Gabriel Martinelli's market value in 2022/23

Thanks to his impressive displays in 21/22, Martinelli's valuation was once again soaring ahead of the following season. In June 2022, it reached a new peak of €40m or £34m, and over the next ten months, he would more than justify the new price tag.

Arsenal went into the campaign with the goal of finishing in the top four, but fairly early on, it became apparent that they were suddenly in a title race with Manchester City, and a large part of the reason why was the attacking talent in the team, including the then-21-year-old Brazilian.

For example, in his 46 appearances across all competitions, the "unplayable" dynamo, as described by pundit Owen Hargreaves, scored 15 goals and provided six assists, meaning that just a couple of years after suffering a serious knee injury, he was averaging a goal involvement every 1.85 games.

Unfortunately, the Gunners would collapse near the season's end, but Martinelli had now laid down a marker and showed the league just how good he could be.

5

Gabriel Martinelli's market value in 2023/24

So, after such an incredible campaign, the former Ituano gem's reputation was at an all-time high and in June 2023, his valuation would match that fact, with Transfermarkt valuing him at a whopping €80m, which is about £67m.

However, as so many have before him, the 13-capped international struggled to follow up on his barnstorming year, and over the next ten months, he's become a player who increasingly frustrates a fanbase now expecting their team to push for the title.

In his 44 appearances across all competitions, he could only muster up a fairly uninspiring tally of eight goals and five assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement once every 3.38 games.

Now, this wasn't a dreadful return, and some of the discussion around the 23-year-old since has been hyperbolic, but compared to how well he played just the season prior, it was undeniably disappointing.

6

Martinelli's market value in 2024/25

So, we come to this season, and considering the slight step back he took last year, the Gunners' number 11 has unsurprisingly seen his valuation decrease.

Transfermarkt priced him at €70m in May of this year, which is about £59m or 293% higher than it was when Arteta joined the club.

It's set to be a massive campaign for Martinelli this year, as with all the talk of Nico Williams and other talented wingers over the summer, his place in the starting lineup isn't guaranteed anymore.

Worryingly, in his three appearances thus far, he hasn't looked particularly impressive, and when he was substituted off at Villa Park, his replacement, Leandro Trossard, came on and scored with his first touch.

However, Martinelli is still an immensely talented winger, and even though he's been in and around the first team for five years now, he's still relatively young at 23.

Therefore, while his stock might be quite low at the moment, he has all the raw qualities to turn things around and get back to his very best.

How many games Odegaard could now miss for Arsenal after ankle injury news

The Norwegian may be absent for a long while.

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 11, 2024

Bayern Munich's chances of automatic Champions League qualification are hanging by a thread after a shock 3-0 loss to Feyenoord on Wednesday night.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Bayern Munich lose 3-0 at Feyenoord
• Outside automatic UCL qualification spots
• Gimenez double and Ueda effort secures win

• TELL ME MORE

  After a lengthy interruption due to smoke from the crowd's pre-match pyrotechnics, the hosts took the lead when Kim Min-jae misjudged the flight of a long ball and Santiago Gimenez smashed home in the 21st minute.

  Bayern lost left-back Alphonso Davies to injury in first-half stoppage time and to make matters worse, his replacement Raphael Guerreiro gave away a clumsy penalty moments later and Gimenez made it a brace from the spot.

  An inspired Justin Bijlow made excellent stops to repeatedly deny Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala, and Leroy Sane's header hit the post as the visitors pushed for a way back into the contest.

  Vincent Kompany's men had 30 shots to Feyenoord's eight and 80 percent of possession, but the Dutch giants rubbed more salt into their wounds when Ayase Ueda scored a minute from time to complete a stunning win at De Kuip on Wednesday.

  With one game to go, Bayern now sit 15th in the Champions League table, meaning they are on course to secure a play-off spot but miss out on the top eight automatic promotion spaces.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE MVP

  Feyenoord were clinical when Bayern were not and the man that made this win possible was Gimenez. He took his first goal in brilliant fashion and while his penalty was unconvincing, he did enough to beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

• THE BIG LOSER

  While England captain Kane had an off night, Bayern as a whole were far too wasteful in front of goal. They missed the chance to move into the top eight and they blew it. Moreover, to lose 3-0 is quite the hiding.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Kane's Bayern round off their Champions League group phase campaign next Wednesday at home to Slovan Bratislava, where they will be expected to win comfortably.

Aston Villa moved up to third in the Premier League table over the weekend with a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park on Saturday. A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha had the visitors in front but goals from Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, and substitute Jhon Duran secured all three points in the second 45.

Duran has now scored four goals in five appearances in the Premier League so far this season for the Villans, despite all five of his outings coming off the bench.

The 20-year-old marksman is an incredibly exciting striker prospect for Unai Emery, and Monchi is reportedly looking to add another young gem to the manager’s attacking arsenal as the club look to build sufficient depth around star man Watkins.

Latest Aston Villa transfer news

According to CaughtOffside, the Villans are one of the clubs eyeing up a swoop to sign Besiktas winger Semih Kilicsoy in the upcoming January transfer window. The report claims that they are one of three Premier League sides showing an interest in the Turkey international, alongside Nottingham Forest and Fulham.

Meanwhile, Stuttgart, Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen, and Ajax are also keeping tabs on the 19-year-old starlet, which shows that there is set to be plenty of competition for his services next year.

It states that Aston Villa failed with an offer of €18m (£15m) to sign the forward in the recent summer transfer window, and that they remain keen on the talented youngster. CaughtOffside adds that Besiktas are looking for a fee in the region of €25m (£21m) for the young gem. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Monchi is prepared to up his bid by £6m to land the winger in January.

Why Aston Villa should sign Semih Kilicsoy

Despite his young age, Kilicsoy has already showcased his quality at first-team level for Besiktas and could provide Emery with another exciting attacking option. The winger, who only turned 19 last month, has started the 2024/25 campaign with two ‘big chances’ created and two assists in two starts in the Super Lig.

U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed that the teenage sensation “has the world at his feet” and that speaks to his huge potential as a player, which is backed up by his form on the pitch as an 18-year-old in the Turkish top-flight last season.

Kilicsoy scored 11 goals from an xG tally of 5.59 and this shows that the Besiktas starlet was incredibly effective in front of goal, as he more than made the most of the chances that came his way. The £21m-rated phenomenon produced 15 goals and assists combined in 23 league appearances, which suggests that the potential is there for Villa to land a player who could provide a regular threat in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

At the age of 19, the Turkish ace could initially come in as a rotation option, much like Duran is now, and develop under Emery as an exciting prospect in the years to come.

Watkins & Rogers distracted us from how good one Aston Villa star was

Watkins and Rogers took the headlines as another Villa star shines.

1

By
Connor Holden

Sep 22, 2024

Arsenal are set to allow a high-earner to leave in 2025 as sporting director Edu Gaspar sets his sights on a former Real Madrid star to fill the void in his position.

Arsenal extend unbeaten run with 4-2 win over Leicester City

Mikel Arteta was very nearly dealt an afternoon to forget on Saturday afternoon, but the Premier League title hopefuls came through their clash with Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium with all three points after a dramatic final few minutes.

Manager says he's "convinced" that £50m forward will go as Arsenal eye move

The Gunners are apparently really big fans of him.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 1, 2024

Arsenal were 2-0 up and cruising against the newly-promoted side at half-time – courtesy of strikes from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard – and it looked at one point like it would be a standard day at the office in north London.

However, a brace from James Justin after the restart to make it 2-2 very nearly threatened to cause a huge upset and derail Arsenal’s title challenge, on an afternoon where Man City dropped points away to Newcastle United.

In a huge sigh of relief for Arteta, Wilfried Ndidi’s added-time own goal and a 99th-minute strike from Kai Havertz spared Arteta’s blushes and made sure that Arsenal could capitalise on City’s draw in the North East.

The result also maintains Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season in all competitions, with a few of the usual suspects like Trossard impressing against Leicester. However, there were of course those who didn’t get the nod from Arteta, and face uncertain futures overall.

Jakub Kiwior has been linked with an Arsenal exit this year and had to settle for a place on the bench again, having played just 16 minutes in the top flight this season.

The arrival of Riccardo Calafiori threatens to cast uncertainty over the Poland international’s future at the club, with fellow left-back Kieran Tierney in the same boat, having not featured at all for Arsenal this season due to a hamstring injury and being far down the pecking order.

Arsenal set to green-light Tierney exit as Edu eyes Miguel Gutierrez

The Scotland international was stretchered off at Euro 2024 and has been on the recovery trail ever since, but it is unclear whether he will get any opportunities once he returns to full fitness.

The £120,000-per-week ace spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad, with Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber all ahead of him, considering they can all play left-back.

Now, The Boot Room report that Arsenal will let Tierney leave in 2025, and it is believed that Edu has his eyes on former Real Madrid defender Miguel Gutierrez as a possible replacement for him and Kiwior – who could also depart.

Gutierrez, who racked up seven La Liga assists in 35 starts for new club Girona last season, really impressed under Michel as the Spaniards contended for an unprecedented title at one point.

The 23-year-old can play at both left-back and further up field on the left wing. He arguably fits the mould of an Arteta signing as well, considering his age and versatility, not to mention his attacking prowess out wide.

To add further incentive for Arsenal to consider a swoop, it is believed Gutierrez’s contract includes a £29 million release clause.