The attacking midfielder has been promised a consistent role at the Bundesliga club this season, despite exit rumors
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The Allianz Arena is the next venue for Arsenal to attend, as Bayern Munich welcomes the English side to their back garden on Wednesday evening.
The last time that the Gunners won away at the German giant was in 2013, and a similar scoreline will be needed this time around if they’re to progress into the quarterfinal.
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Arsenal 2-0 Bayern: Starting XI for 2015 home win |
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GK – Petr Cech |
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RB – Hector Bellerin |
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CB – Laurent Koscielny |
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CB – Per Mertesacker |
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LB – Nacho Monreal |
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CM – Francis Coquelin |
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CM – Santi Cazorla |
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CAM – Mesut Ozil |
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RW – Aaron Ramsey |
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LW – Alexis Sanchez |
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ST – Theo Walcott |
The Champions League anthem had already rung around the Emirates this time last week, when the tie ended in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Unfortunately, the preparation going into the game hasn’t been ideal, with Aston Villa defeating Mikel Arteta’s side 2-0 last weekend, and therefore, the boss may look to change a few individuals ahead of the season-defining clash.
Gabriel Jesus hasn’t featured quite as much as anticipated in the Premier League this season, with the Spaniard often opting for Kai Havertz up front.
Nevertheless, the Brazilian has made 22 league appearances, scoring four goals, but despite his best return coming in the Champions League, netting four goals and providing three assists in seven matches, he may not make the starting lineup for this evening.
The former Manchester City star did start at the weekend in the defeat, where he failed to get on the scoresheet for a seventh consecutive game.
With Bayern set to be an even tougher opposition than Villa, particularly when playing at home, it wouldn’t be a surprise for Jesus to drop out of the side completely, even being replaced by a midfielder.
Jorginho has been fantastic when featuring for Arsenal this season, playing 22 games in the English top flight and eight in the Champions League.
The Italian has often been drafted into the side ahead of important ties, notably the recent match against Manchester City and the second leg versus Porto.
However, on Wednesday night, the former Chelsea player will once again have an enormous task on his hands, and that is to stop Jamal Musiala from working his magic in the gaps between the midfield and backline.
Last week, the 32-year-old started against the Bundesliga side, and he impressed during his 67 minutes on the field, influencing the side from both an in-possession and an out-of-possession perspective.
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Jorginho vs Bayern |
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Stats |
Jorginho |
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Minutes |
67 |
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Touches |
48 |
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Pass accuracy |
85% |
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Possession lost |
7 |
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Duels won |
5/8 |
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Tackles |
3 |
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Dribbled past |
1 |
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Interceptions |
1 |
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Via Sofascore |
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Tonight, it may not be Jorginho’s technical ability that makes him so important, but more so his experience of performing on the big occasion, which we’ve seen when Italy won the Euros and when Chelsea lifted the Champions League trophy.
With Bayer Leverkusen knocking Bayern off their perch in the league, the atmosphere could become overwhelming, which suits the level-headed and composed star.
Furthermore, the “ridiculous” midfielder, as labelled by football analyst Ben Mattinson, is extremely composed in possession, often making the right decision and hardly losing the ball, as shown by the earlier table.
However, during the first leg, he also showed his defensive capabilities, making three tackles, one interception, and only being dribbled past once, which is an achievement in itself against the tricky Musiala.
Overall, Arsenal must play as a unit, and Jorginho could just prove to be the glue that keeps the side together. Therefore, he simply has to start alongside Declan Rice.
Arsenal lining up £51m Jorginho replacement as a priority summer target
The Gunners are reportedly interested in the impressive central midfielder ahead of the summer.
By
Dan Emery
Apr 16, 2024
If you ask any Tottenham Hotspur fan what period in recent times was the most enjoyable and successful, almost every individual would say the run from 2015–19.
The core of that success involved the likes of Heung-min Son, Harry Kane, and Jan Vertonghen, but there was one player who was just as influential.
The player in question is Christian Eriksen, who featured in 305 matches for the Lilywhites, scoring 69 times and providing 90 assists.
New boss Ange Postecoglou is keen to strengthen his midfield this summer, and on his radar is a highly-rated Eriksen clone.
As per a recent report from Ben Jacobs via CaughtOffside, Spurs are seriously interested in signing Giorgiy Sudakov.
The Ukrainian star plays for Shakhtar Donetsk, who are known to be difficult to deal with in regards to transfers.
Despite having an incredible £128m release clause in his contract, it’s reported that a fee of around £60m will likely be enough to secure his services in the summer.
However, if Spurs do go ahead with attempting to sign the midfielder, they will face competition from European giants such as Inter and Juventus.
Spurs have a "generational" teen talent who could be the new Dele Alli
This star could rival players such as James Maddison for a spot in Postecoglou’s first-team in good time.
By
Angus Sinclair
Apr 17, 2024
James Maddison’s start to life at Tottenham couldn’t have gone any smoother, with the £40m man scoring twice and assisting twice in his first four league matches.
However, an injury against Chelsea earlier this season saw him miss 13 games of action, and since then, he’s not been quite as impactful, failing to register a goal contribution in his last five matches.
Nonetheless, the interest in Sudakov highlights one of two things: either Postecoglou isn’t entirely happy with Maddison being his first choice number ten, or he intends to tweak the system next season.
The 21-year-old star is an attacking midfielder by trade, but he’s already shown that he can comfortably play as a left midfielder or slightly deeper as a box-to-box this season.
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Sudakov vs Barcelona |
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Stats |
Sudakov |
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Goals |
1 |
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Key passes |
2 |
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Passes completed |
40 |
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Touches |
62 |
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Successful dribbles |
2/2 |
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Via Sofascore |
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As you can see by the table above, the number 10 has shown that he can compete against the very best, as he starred in the Champions League against Barcelona earlier this season.
Playing away to Barca is often a daunting prospect for the most experienced players, but Sudakov proved that he’s not afraid of any challenge, as he was constantly a threat against the La Liga side.
What this game highlighted in particular was that the Ukraine star doesn’t only create, but he’s also a goal-scorer. The fact that he’s netted seven goals in 28 appearances this season further supports that.
Another aspect that was impressive was the way he dazzled the Barca midfield with his dribbling, completing 100% of his take-ons, which certainly highlights his technical ability.
Furthermore, the fact that he had 62 touches and completed 40 passes proves that he’s an extremely confident individual who is desperate to put his stamp on the game, which is what Tottenham need right now in particular.
What makes this potential move even more interesting is the fact that football scout Jacek Kulig has previously compared Sudakov to Eriksen, with the player's range of passing, creativity, and set piece mastery alike.
Sudakov, therefore, is most definitely a promising talent, but surely Spurs wouldn’t spend £60m on a Maddison backup? Either way, the thought of welcoming another Eriksen to north London will be a tantalising one.
Kylian Mbappe has struggled so far since his move to Real Madrid, however, Didier Deschamps has backed the France captain to handle the pressure.
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Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr were frustratingly held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Raed in their Saudi Pro League opener.
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Everton are reportedly now eyeing up a second centre-back on a free transfer after James Tarkowski.
As per the Liverpool Echo, the deal to take the 29-year-old to Goodison Park is now ‘done’, although it is not expected to be officially announced until the end of the month.
The defender will join the Toffees as a free agent, having let his contract at Burnley run down this summer.
As per A Bola (via Sport Witness), Everton are now eyeing up a move for Chancel Mbemba, who is also out of contract at the end of the month as his time with FC Porto comes to an end.
Fiorentina, Trabzonspor, Lyon, Marseille, AC Milan and Real Betis are also thought to be interested in his signature, although the Toffees are said to have an advantage in that the 27-year-old would prefer a return to England, where he used to play for Newcastle United.
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Even though they would be signing him on a free, bringing Mbemba to Goodison Park would be a risky move by Everton.
His last spell in English football did not really work out, as he was part of a Magpies team which were relegated from the Premier League in the 2015/16 season, and he only played 59 times over three years at St James’ Park (Transfermarkt).
However, he was a domestic double recently, and has been described as a ‘fast’ and ‘tough’ defender by former Anderlecht team-mate Steven Defour, qualities that Frank Lampard will surely be seeking in his backline.
Mbemba has had a troubled past in England, but given that he is currently rated at £15.3m by Transfermarkt, signing him for free could be worth the risk.
In other news, find out what big Farhad Moshiri update has now emerged
Aston Villa target Calvin Bassey looks set to make a decision on his Rangers future after he returns from international duty.
That is according to a report from Daily Record who claim that Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is keen on a reunion with the 22-year-old former Leicester City youth prospect, with the player set to decide before returning to Rangers for pre-season.
Amidst Gerrard’s desire to coax Bassey out of Ibrox, the report states that the Nigerian is attracting interest from across Europe, after what was an impressive end to the season with a stellar performance in the Europa League final.
As per a report from Birmingham Mail, it is said that a £25m asking price could be enough to dissuade Villa from a deal, with the club weighing up other options for the man who is rated at £900k as per Transfermarkt.
The signing of Bassey could be Aston Villa’s best piece of business of the entire summer window.
He’s an astute and versatile defender who has shared duties as a left-back and a centre-back this season, playing the most vital game in the Europa League final as a left centre-back, and doing so extremely well.
Defensively speaking, he is more than sound, hence being dubbed “The Great Wall”, offering up numbers that place him in and around the elite category amongst positionally similar players, with his average of 2.45 tackles and 8.11 pressures in the defensive third further evidence of the stability he offers.
Whilst he could turn out to be the long-term successor of Tyrone Mings, he will most certainly provide much-needed competition for Lucas Digne at left-back after the sale of Matt Targett to Newcastle.
His versatility is attractive, but his defensive dominance is what has made him the sought after prospect we see today.
The Villans have landed the signings of Boubacar Kamara, Philippe Coutinho and Diego Carlos but such is the potential of Bassey and his familiarity with Gerrard that this could well be their most shrewd deal yet.
In other news: Lange could land the new James Milner as AVFC plot bid for “athletic” £14.4m-rated gem
Celtic’s heavy amount of business during the previous summer transfer window ended up paying dividends for the Bhoys as Ange Postecoglou guided the club to the SPFL title.
Heading into the upcoming summer window, it seems as though a clue has emerged regarding the possibility of one particular transfer deal taking place at Parkhead that would surely have lots of fans jumping for joy.
Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan had this to say about the current situation surrounding the possibility of Celtic securing a permanent deal for the centre-back.
“I think happiness to a player is very important, feeling wanted and belonging in a place. I think he’s definitely got that from Celtic as a football club and the fans.
“I think Celtic and Carter-Vickers will be trying to do everything to make it happen, for him to stay there.”
The Hoops signed the defender on a season-long loan deal from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur back in August.
With 45 appearances under his belt across all competitions, more than any other team he’s played for throughout his career, the American chipped in with four goals and one assist.
However, it was his defensive work that made him a crucial figure for Postecoglou in their title-winning campaign.
In 33 league appearances, the 24-year-old made more interceptions (43) than any other Celtic player and ended the campaign with a higher average of clearances per game (4.2) than anyone in Postecoglou’s ranks.
His overall performances earned the Tottenham loanee an impressive season rating of 7.36/10 from WhoScored, making him the fourth-highest rated player currently in the 56-year-old’s squad.
Earlier this month, Carter-Vickers shared his wishes that he wants to bring an end to his time as a Spurs player once and for all this summer, which could be why Whelan has said the player will be doing everything he can to join Celtic permanently.
This could then give the Parkhead club a great chance to secure the defender on a permanent basis.
Now that Whelan has suggested that both Celtic and the player will be doing all they can to make this deal come to fruition, this will undeniably be great for the Hoops fans to hear.
Should the league champions secure the defender’s signature in the coming weeks, this would surely give the team a great chance of regaining the title and potentially being successful in Europe given his clear defensive talent.
Rangers’ hopes of signing Mateo Cassierra this summer have been handed a boost after the striker reportedly revealed he was keen on a move to Ibrox.
Rangers have been heavily linked with the Colombian striker in recent weeks and according to the 4th Official, a trusted insider, on Twitter, he wants to join Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side ahead of next season.
They tweeted: ”When pressed on how close the move is in reality, I was told that the player has several options but Rangers is where Cassierra wants to move. But, Rangers would not be paying anywhere close to £8.5m for the striker.”
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a fruitful spell during his time at PF Sochi, contributing 14 goals and six assists in just 23 appearances for the Russian League side.
Recent reports have suggested that they value him at £8.5m but given that his Transfermarkt value stands at just £4.05m and his contract is set to expire next summer, Rangers will surely be looking to negotiate a lower price.
Both Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe only just hit double figures in the league for Rangers last season and after injury problems, van Bronckhorst was forced to start Joe Aribo up front for the Europa League final loss against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Therefore, a clinical striker could make all the difference for the Teddy Bears next season as they aim to go one step further in Europe, as well as reclaiming their place at the top of domestic football after relinquishing their Premiership title last season.
As well as impressing at Sochi, the 25-year-old forward has also enjoyed impressive spells with Deportivo Cali and Ajax’s youth sides, where he was prolific with 42 goals, so he clearly knows where the back of the net is and could be a superb addition to van Bronckhorst’s attacking options next season.
If Cassierra is indeed keen on a switch to Ibrox, then director of football Ross Wilson should act quickly to bring him in, before other European sides begin to take notice of the Colombian’s impressive form in Russia.
An update has emerged on Rangers and their interest in signing a new winger to bolster Gio van Bronckhorst’s squad in the summer transfer window…
According to TEAMtalk, the Light Blues are among a number of clubs monitoring Tom Lawrence ahead of a potential swoop for his services.
Ross Wilson is eyeing a deal for the Derby County gem and will need to fend off the likes of Leeds and Celtic – among others – in order to snap him up.
The Wales international is out of contract at the end of next month and there is set to be a scramble over who will be able to sign him on a free transfer.
A left winger with English Championship experience who likes to cut inside onto his favoured right foot? That sounds familiar…
Wilson can land the next Kent for the Light Blues by securing a swoop for Lawrence this summer, although whether that means him coming as competition for the ex-Liverpool forward or as a straight-up replacement remains to be seen.
Lawrence has been labelled a “fabulous talent” in the past by Gary Bowyer, while Steve Evans has previously dubbed him “unplayable”. The winger’s statistics in the Championship for Derby back up those claims, as he impressed despite the club’s relegation to League One under Wayne Rooney.
The £27k-per-week dynamo produced 11 goals and five assists in the second tier of English football as his side finished 23rd in the league.
Lawrence averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.08 as he turned in consistently good performances whilst chipping in on a regular basis in the final third. At the age of 28, he is also in the prime years of his career and would be a player with the quality to step straight into the first-team to make an impact, given his age and form in England.
Meanwhile, Kent scored two goals and provided eight assists in the most recent league campaign for Rangers, helping the team to finish second in the Premiership, as he averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.06. However, he did register 10 goals and nine assists in the 2020/21 title-winning campaign, so his output has diminished in recent months.
This shows that both players, whilst also being similar in their positions and style of play, are capable of scoring and creating goals. Therefore, Lawrence can be the new Kent at Ibrox and provide a big lift to Van Bronckhorst’s attacking options next season.
AND in other news, Huge boost: Gvb set for big Rangers contract lift that’ll leave supporters buzzing…