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In the end, it was another disappointing defeat away at top six rival for Arsenal on Saturday evening.

The Gunners headed into the Premier League clash against Manchester City full of optimism, with three wins from four and presumably bouncing from their deadline day capture of Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid.

The new signing however had to make do with a place on the bench, but it was another summer arrival who really let Mikel Arteta down: Willian.

The Brazilian arrived on a free transfer from London rivals Chelsea, and after kick-starting life at the Emirates with a fabulous display against Fulham on the opening day when he picked up a couple of assists, things have slowed down considerably for him.

Against City, he was tasked with admittedly an unfamiliar role, playing as a withdrawn striker with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe lining up out wide.

The tactical tweak did Willian no favours, and for the large part of his 69 minutes on the pitch, he was just chasing shadows, caught in no-man’s land between pressing from the front, and dropping deep to collect the ball.

The game simply passed him by, and when you look at his underlying numbers, there’s no question that the former Chelsea man badly disappointed.

As per Sofascore, despite being the most advanced player in a central position, he made just 20 total passes in the entire game, recording 32 touches overall. To put that into context – and perhaps this is more of an indication about how Arsenal struggled creatively speaking to stitch patterns together in their passing – goalkeeper Bernd Leno saw the more 24 more times, with 56.

Willian also registered no shots on goal or dribbles whatsoever, whilst only two of his seven attempted crosses found its target. And if Arteta had positioned him in that false nine role to see him do his part defensively, then he let him down in that sense too, making no tackles or interceptions, and winning just one of three duels.

The Gunners needed their whole team to be fit and firing, but instead, one of their more experienced campaigners just didn’t turn up.

Times are tough for Celtic currently. They are in a rough patch as their last three games have seen them lose two and draw one.

The mood hasn’t been great, with the Hoops receiving a lot of criticism, so it is vital that Neil Lennon reverses the slump sooner rather than later, especially in the Premiership as they are six points behind first place.

However, there is some positive news coming out of UEFA which might make Lennon’s objectives slightly easier to achieve.

UEFA’s breaking news which benefits Celtic

Sky Sports journalist Pete O’Rourke reported: ‘Scottish Premiership clubs have received a major boost as UEFA confirmed Scotland will have two spots in the Champions League qualifying round next season.’

This ruling has come at the perfect time for Lennon

With the recent run of poor results, and Rangers opening up a commanding lead in the Premiership at the early stages, the Hoops would be worried if only one Champions League qualifying spot were available.

However, some of the pressure on Lennon may be eased, knowing that second would at least be good enough for Celtic to get into the qualifiers for Europe’s flagship club competition.

Having won the last nine Premiership titles to get into the Champions League annually, at least the Hoops would have that as a safety net for next season if they finish second domestically this time around.

In other Celtic news, a former Scotland manager has criticised one Hoops star following his poor form. Have a read of the article here!

Manchester United will want to get back to winning ways following their defeat to Paris Saint-Saint Germain on Wednesday night when they travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side saw their four-game winning streak snapped after they slumped to a disappointing defeat to the French Ligue 1 defending champions at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford faces a race against time to face the Hammers having been forced off during the midweek defeat to PSG with what looked like an side-effect of the shoulder injury he sustained whilst away on international duty last month.

However, the England international is expected to return, although Saturday’s game may come too soon for Luke Shaw, who is working his way back to fitness. Otherwise Solskjaer has close to a fully-fit squad to choose from, with Eric Bailly and Jesse Lingard also available for selection.

Here is our predicted line-up for Manchester United this afternoon, which sees Solskjaer ring four changes to the team that lost to the French giants.

Maybe Dean Henderson could come back in, but United’s undisputed No. 1 goalkeeper David de Gea has been in such fine form in recent weeks that we reckon Solskjaer will stick with his first-choice stopper this afternoon having been trusted for every single Premier League game so far this season.

Not only was Victor Lindelof lightweight, he was also largely anonymous against Paris Saint-Germain, so Axel Tuanzebe may be pushing for a recall to reunite with Alex Telles, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire to form the rest of the back four.

The 23-year-old is available once again after missing the Champions League clash with PSG due to suspension so could be in contention to start alongside the club captain.

Donny van de Beek could be handed a rare start next to Scott McTominay after Fred disgraced himself in the midweek defeat, which means Paul Pogba looks set to miss out.

Solskjaer will likely turn to Edinson Cavani to lead the line once more as Anthony Martial has suffered from an inconsistent run of form, so switching Rashford back to the left wing and bringing Juan Mata in on the right could be a tempting option for the club legend, who can also call upon Daniel James if required.

AND in other news, Amad Diallo could be Solskjaer’s ideal heir to Juan Mata at Manchester United…

Leeds United gave an incredible account of themselves over the weekend as they held Manchester City to a draw at Elland Road.

Pep Guardiola’s side have been amongst the best teams in the world over the past few seasons, and United made life very hard for them on Saturday.

One of the brightest sparks from that game was undoubtedly Ian Poveda.

The winger came on at half-time and he immediately had the beating of Benjamin Mendy, completing two dribbles, drawing two fouls and playing one key pass.

The 20-year-old’s showing earned him a lot of praise, with former United star Danny Mills describing him as ‘really sharp’.

Unfortunately, it now seems as though he’s going to slip down the pecking order at Elland Road after the £17m deadline day signing of Raphinha.

Poveda was already second-choice on the right wing behind Helder Costa, and now he may now find first-team minutes incredibly hard to come by after Raphinha’s arrival, because you don’t sign someone for £17m to leave them rotting on the bench.

Unfortunately, Poveda isn’t likely to take too kindly to this decision as he has a history of kicking off over things like this.

The Athletic have reported on multiple occasions that he was annoyed by Pep Guardiola’s decision to move him back to the Under-23s after a short spell with the first-team, before eventually deciding to find a new club due to this treatment unsettling him.

Poveda wasn’t happy playing second fiddle to Riyad Mahrez, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling at the Etihad, three players who have all picked up either PFA Player of the Year or Young Player of the Year awards in recent times.

Costa and Raphinha aren’t on the same level as the likes of Mahrez and Sterling, yet Poveda is likely to be asked to deputise behind them for the remainder of the season.

Marcelo Bielsa needs to make sure he caters for Poveda’s needs, whether that’s continuing to offer him substitute appearances, rotating him in cup games or even playing him in a different position, because the youngster’s acrimonious Man City exit indicates that he could easily become unsettled if his role at the club is reduced.

If Bielsa doesn’t strike the right balance and Poveda becomes unhappy that would be an unforgivable error because he looks ready to be an absolute star at Elland Road for years to come.

Chelsea are set to give West Ham United a clear path to sign Antonio Rudiger on loan with reports the Stamford Bridge outfit could block a potential move to Tottenham Hotspur.

What’s the word?

According to Goal, Chelsea are loath to sanction a deal for Rudiger to join Spurs for the 2020/21 campaign as they envisage they will be competing with their London rivals for league positions and silverware this season.

Tottenham would have been the ideal destination from Rudiger’s perspective, as the 32-cap defender is noted to favour remaining in the capital and be playing for a side who are competing in Europe.

Rudiger’s immediate future at Stamford Bridge is in serious doubt on Deadline Day with the German out of favour under Frank Lampard, having made just one appearance on the bench and failing to make any subsequent matchday squads this term.

The 27-year-old has attracted an array of potential suitors this summer in Spurs, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter, AS Roma and West Ham, although interest in the Italian capital has since cooled with the Giallorossi nearing an agreement with Manchester United for Chris Smalling.

Inter will only move for Rudiger if Milan Skriniar leaves the San Siro, too, while Chelsea potentially blocking the £36m-rated centre-half from joining Spurs could leave the Irons with a clear path to strike a deal given his intentions to remain in London.

Chelsea’s “best” defender

West Ham’s hopes of signing Rudiger will not be fulfilled purely on Chelsea potentially blocking the defender from joining Spurs given his aspirations of playing in Europe this season, but the Blues’ stance will come as a major boost for manager David Moyes.

The Irons will also have to contend with AC Milan and PSG as both are said to be pushing for a loan deal, but coming out on top could see David Gold and David Sullivan land who Arsenal icon Martin Keown considers to be Chelsea’s best current defender.

“We’re asked to analyse now in this job, to look at the detail; have a look at Chelsea’s line,” Keown told talkSPORT host Jim White last month.

“I’ve spent hours watching, their defence is a joke, it’s a disgrace! [Thiago] Silva’s come in, maybe he’ll resolve that, but I think Rudiger is actually their best defender.”

Rudiger started 19 of his 20 Premier League appearances last season after overcoming an early groin injury, in which SofaScore data shows he averaged a whopping 84.4 touches, 64.8 accurate passes, won 4.8 duels, made 1.4 tackles, 2.8 clearances and was dribbled past just 0.5 times a game.

To now be cast aside will leave Rudiger with the sense of having a point to prove ahead of his return to Chelsea next summer, something Moyes can tap into as he strives to better West Ham’s record as the fifth-worst defence from the top-flight last term.

AND in other news, West Ham United are considering a late move to sign a Premier League player who recorded just 0.8 key balls a game in 2019/20.

Fulham haven’t quite got off to the start they would have hoped for after their return to the Premier League.

The Whites sit bottom of the league after four games, and while the 11 goals conceded are a big problem, their own goal tally of three should also have alarm bells ringing.

There are no prizes for guessing who has scored the majority of the London club’s goals either, with Aleksandar Mitrovic netting two of the Cottagers’ three strikes so far.

It’s the same story as we saw last season, Scott Parker was over-reliant on Mitrovic for his team’s goals as he netted 26 of Fulham’s 64 strikes, just over 40% of their goals.

With Premier League defences being tougher nuts to crack, Parker’s side needs more dimensions up top than just Mitrovic, and they might be about to land just the player they need.

Indeed, The Star have linked Fulham with a move for Brentford winger Said Benrahma, and it’s fair to say that this is exactly the player they need.

The Whites’ wingers have been dreadful this season, with Ivan Cavaleiro, Neeskens Kebano and Aboubakar Kamara contributing no goals or assists so far in the league this term, and Benrahma would be able to change that immediately.

The Algerian netted 17 and assisted nine last year, and while that was only against Championship opposition, he has shown he can do it against Premier League sides, something Fulham saw first-hand as he netted a wonder strike against them in the Carabao Cup.

Mitrovic is under a lot of pressure at the moment to get Fulham moving in the right direction, he’s undoubtedly their main attacking outlet averaging 2.5 more shots per game than any other player, but the signing of Benrahma could help alleviate some of the weight on his shoulders.

Kevin Phillips described him as a player who ‘can win a game on his own’ on an episode of Quest’s EFL highlights show last year (via Derby Telegraph), and with Fulham sitting on zero points after four games, they certainly need more attackers who have that sort of ability at the club.

Fingers crossed Tony Khan can get this one over the line.

Wolfsburg and Lyon are set to face each other in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final for the fourth time.

The last round of the competition will take place on August 30 as holders Olympique Lyonnais will try to extend their own record by reaching five consecutive Champions League titles.

Football FanCast spoke with BT Sport pundit and former England international Karen Carney ahead of Sunday’s fixture.

“The football that’s been out there has been really good,” the ex-Chelsea star said. “It’s exciting and I think BT Sport have done a great job with putting it out there. It looks classy, it feels like the men’s Champions League.

“It’s been really well-televised and it’s been done right. That’s what the women’s game deserves.”

Whilst the men’s Champions League run resumed following the break in play, things weren’t as straightforward for the female players. After the abrupt end of the Women’s Super League and Championship seasons, there was uncertainty over whether the European campaign would continue from where it left off back in October.

However, after a long ten months, Lyon have their chance to defend their crown. The French giants will play out their ninth UWCL final in 11 years and are one hurdle away from their seventh title.

Lyon vie for Fifth Consecutive UWCL Title

“I’ve been impressed by Lyon,” reflected Carney. “It’s really hard when you’re the top team and everyone’s trying to knock you off that pedestal but they’ve been classy and just gone about their business.

“I don’t think they’ve played particularly well and they’ve missed a couple of players, but they get the job done. I’m really looking forward to the final.”

Indeed, Jean-Luc Vasseur’s side have been without the clinical influence of Ada Hegerberg after she suffered an ACL injury back in January. Teammate Nikita Parris is also set to miss out on the final after being sent off in the previous round against Paris Saint-Germain.

Wolfsburg were successful in brushing aside semi-final rivals Barcelona following a narrow 1-0 victory. Lyon similarly scraped their way into the final after a tense affair. Along with Parris, PSG’s Grace Geyoro was shown red and the reigning champions capitalised from a set-piece to book their place in the final.

“I don’t think it’ll be plain sailing [for Lyon], I think Wolfsburg have got some key players who will cause problems,” Carney predicted. “Set pieces are going to be massive. Lyon have only scored one goal [in the competition] through open play and that’s because they haven’t got Ada Hegerberg. 

“They miss Hegerberg and that focal point. Someone who is going to be there in the right place at the right time and I think that’s the one little piece of the jigsaw that they’re missing this season.

“But when you’ve got a squad like Lyon’s, they will make up goals elsewhere and they’ve done that through set pieces and grinding teams down with their performances.”

Equal Champions League Opportunities

Carney has highlighted how important it was for UEFA to ensure both Champions League competitions resumed following the break. The England centurion feared it would be ‘a bit of a step backwards’ if the UWCL was declared null and void.

“It’s massive. If the men’s can go ahead then the women’s can,” she said. “I really like how they’ve made a big effort to make that happen, it’s been done with class and it’s been really well-organised.”

Carney went on to discuss the return of the WSL, England’s top flight of domestic women’s football. The upcoming season promises to be an exciting one with blockbuster signings like US internationals Rose Lavelle and Samantha Mewis being announced.

Lyon full-back partners Alex Greenwood and Lucy Bronze have also been linked with moves back to the WSL. The Telegraph recently reported that a double swoop from Manchester City will see the duo leave the French outfit this summer.

“The competition in the WSL is going to be fierce,” Carney said. “The WSL is going to be the best league out there. You’re getting people from America, from all over the world wanting to come and play in England.”

On whether the sport is on the rise in terms of viewer numbers, the 33-year-old said: “Yes, there is more to be done and more that can be done but I think it’s definitely moving in the right direction and given the circumstances, it’s doing really well.”

Watch the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final exclusively live from 6:30pm on BT Sport 1. Also watch for free via the BT Sport app, btsport.com, or BT Sport’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Philippe Coutinho is ‘considering’ a return to the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur firmly in the race to sign the Barcelona star in the summer, reports say.

Coutinho has been cast aside by Quique Setien, as he lost his place to Antoine Griezmann, and he has spent the past season on loan at Bayern Munich.

According to Sport, as cited by The Sun, his agent Kia Joorabchian has been holding talks with Premier League clubs ‘for weeks’ as he plots his return to England.

The report claims Coutinho has rejected an offer from Arsenal, as Mikel Arteta’s side will not be able to afford his wages.

On the other hand, Spurs have been given a major boost in the transfer market, as the fact that they have qualified for the Europa League has enabled them to make a move for the former Liverpool forward in the summer.

However, they will face stiff competition from Leicester City, who find themselves in the same boat.

While Coutinho has failed to find the form he enjoyed at Anfield, he could add that extra layer of quality to Jose Mourinho’s side.

Despite his struggles, the Brazilian has actually earned a higher WhoScored rating than the club’s record signing Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Moussa Sissoko this season.

The Lilywhites looked devoid of options at times throughout the season, as they struggled to score goals during Harry Kane’s lengthy absence.

Failing to replace Christian Eriksen after he left for Inter Milan has been a real problem, although the Portuguese has paired Giovani Lo Celso and Harry Winks together to great effect. Nevertheless, Mourinho still wants to sign a new playmaker to add to his attacking options this summer.

Recent reports revealed Barca are prepared to pay a portion of his salary for him to leave the club this year. However, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy may baulk at his hefty wages, which are reportedly worth more than £200,000-a-week, and Mourinho may have to turn his attentions elsewhere.

Tottenham fans, do you think Levy should sign Coutinho in the summer? Let us know down below!

Tottenham haven’t had the best of times as of late, but they finally had something to cheer on Sunday as they secured a precious win over their bitter rivals Arsenal, beating them 2-1 courtesy of goals from Heung-min Son and Toby Alderweireld.

While a win over the Gunners is always cause for celebration for Spurs supporters, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the white half of north London.

Indeed, the fanbase still had some grievances to air, namely about the performance of Serge Aurier.

Spurs’ 2017 signing had a day to forget, his pass accuracy was barely above 80 per cent, and of the five crosses he attempted, not a single one of them found their desired target.

On top of that, he had more unsuccessful touches than any other Tottenham player, so you can understand exactly where these complaints are coming from.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Tottenham have been able to call right-back their problem position.

Last season it seemed as though Spurs supporters’ favourite activity was to bash Kieran Trippier, but some fans thought Aurier was that bad on Sunday that they actually started to miss the Atletico Madrid man.

Liverpool fans have been left in a frenzy after fresh reports emerged surrounding long-term target, Timo Werner, this week.

According to The Athletic, via Anfield Edition, the Reds could agree to a similar deal to that of Naby Keita with RB Leipzig, meaning the German striker remains in the Bundesliga for another season.

While this hugely remains to be seen, the current financial climate and situation facing football clubs post-pandemic raises plenty of question marks, but that hasn’t stopped the Anfield faithful from going nuts on Twitter.

It’s believed that Werner and Liverpool are destined to meet at some stage given the substantial amount of reports circulating over the past year or so and for the time being, it is hard to envisage him getting a place in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI as Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane still the main trio.

The 24-year-old has been in impressive form this campaign, providing 27 goals and 12 assists in 37 appearances in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

Best of the Decade: Top scorers & creators – Can you name them?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

Sky Sports claim that the Leipzig talisman has a £52m release clause which is set to expire on June 15th, so a decision would have to be made very soon – and clearly plenty at Anfield are desperate to land him.

Here’s what has been said…

AND in other news, Liverpool fans react to Caglar Soyuncu transfer claim…