All posts by z3u9t.icu

If there is one position that Arsenal desperately need to address this summer, it’s centre-forward.

Mikel Arteta might want to add other players to his team as well, but ask the fans, and we reckon the vast majority will want the club to add a reliable goalscoring nine to the squad, someone who can put away the chances created by the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli.

The board appear to share this opinion, as the last few months have seen a slew of top-quality forwards linked with the North Londoners, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko perhaps being one of the most consistent and significant of the lot.

However, while the Slovenian would be a fine addition to the Gunners’ squad, recent reports have now touted another, far more impressive centre-forward for a move to the Emirates.

Arsenal's striker search

As there have been so many strikers linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, it’s only right we go over a couple of them, like Ollie Watkins and Viktor Gyokeres, before getting to the player in question.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The Gunners made an offer for the former during the winter window but failed to match Aston Villa’s £60m valuation, and even if they want something similar again in the summer, it might be a deal worth revisiting, as in 53 appearances he has scored 17 goals and provided 14 assists this season.

On the other hand, while Gyokeres isn’t Premier League-proven, his incredible tally of 53 goals and 13 assists in 51 games this season suggests his upside may be far higher than the Englishman’s and more than justify the reports that he could cost the North Londoners around £55m.

However, if Arteta and Co want to sign a better alternative to Sesko, they might want someone younger than the aforementioned strikers and who is proven in a top-five league, someone like Hugo Ekitiké.

Fortunately, according to a recent report from French publication RMC Sport, Arsenal are indeed interested in the Eintracht Frankfurt star.

The report has revealed that, alongside fellow Premier League sides Chelsea and Liverpool, the Gunners have already approached and held talks with the player and club.

However, on top of dealing with the competition, Andrea Berta and Co will have to stump up a fee of up to €100m – £84m – to get their man.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Ekitiké’s unreal ability and potential, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he’d be a way better signing than Sesko.

How Ekitiké compares to Sesko

So, if the choice for a new striker this summer comes down to Ekitiké and Sesko, who should Arsenal sign? Who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes down to their raw output – what matters most for a striker – it’s the Frankfurt star who comes out on top.

For example, in just 48 appearances, totalling 3645 minutes, the “incredible” Frenchman, as dubbed by teammate Rasmus Kristensen, has scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.20 minutes.

In contrast, the former RB Salzburg gem has scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.66 games or every 120.66 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Unfortunately for the Slovenian international, this is once again another area in which the comparisons heavily favour his competition.

For example, the 22-year-old comes out on top in almost all relevant metrics, including but not limited to actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, key passes, passing accuracy, shots and shots on target, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.91

0.40

Non-Penalty G+As

0.77

0.61

Progressive Passes

1.86

1.74

Progressive Carries

3.26

1.78

Shots

4.00

2.50

Shots on Target

1.55

1.10

Passing Accuracy

75.5%

67.6%

Key Passes

1.54

0.72

Shot-Creating Actions

3.55

1.93

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.34

Successful Take-On %

1.82

1.48

Aerial Duels Won

1.82

2.65

Ultimately, it’s abundantly clear that Ekitiké is a significantly better striker than Sesko, even notably described by journalist Graeme Bailey as “the next Mbappe”, and therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him this summer.

He's like Isak: Arsenal plan talks to sign £105m Gyokeres alternative

The free-scoring forward would be perfect for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 22, 2025

17 defeats. That’s the dismal record Manchester United have been on the receiving end of this season.

Despite that, they could still qualify for the Champions League. It’s funny how football all works out, isn’t it?

Just days ago, the Red Devils were celebrating their place in the Europa League final, but things just continue to go from bad to worse on the domestic scene.

Last weekend, they were on the end of a 4-3 defeat at Brentford and despite that win over Bilbao in midweek, they could not carry any momentum in this weekend’s events.

West Ham were the visitors to old Trafford on this occasion and they came away with a 2-0 win, Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen scoring.

United didn’t get on the scoresheet but they really should have. They may have scored seven across their two semi-final legs but in the Premier League, it’s all been rather laboured in the final third.

Why Man United’s attack is struggling

This was never going to be an overnight fix for Ruben Amorim upon replacing Erik ten Hag but not even the former Sporting coach would have expected things to be quite this challenging.

One of the biggest reasons for their lack of potency hasn’t just been the finishing ability of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund but it could be argued that there’s a lack of creativity and the squad doesn’t possess the right players to get the most out of Amorim’s system.

Patrick Dorgu was signed in January as a wing-back but the manager will need to strengthen significantly in those areas over the summer.

Dorgu

With Amad also injured for the last few months, it’s meant that United have had to rely solely on Bruno Fernandes to carve out goalscoring opportunities. The captain has had a wonderful campaign, registering 38 goal involvements in all competitions, but even his threat has waned in the last several weeks, failing to score a Premier League goal in his last six matches.

So, with Fernandes faltering, they’ve not really had an answer elsewhere. That was all too apparent against West Ham on Sunday.

Yes, the squad may have been fatigued, but it’s evident that, first and foremost, Fernandes doesn’t thrive as well in a deeper position and secondly, that Kobbie Mainoo does not suit this system, playing in one of the central no.10 positions.

He doesn’t score many goals at the best of times and even a re-energised Mason Mount couldn’t expose the Hammers this weekend.

Chalkboard

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

Hojlund too has struggled, largely due to a lack of service. Truth be told, he should have found the net against Graham Potter’s men, only emphasising the problems Amorim faces in their forward line.

How Hojlund is now becoming Man United’s new Martial

Let’s cast our minds back to the summer of 2015. It’s September and Anthony Martial has just become the most expensive teenager of all time, trading the principality of Monaco for a move to the north west of England in a deal worth £36m.

At the time, he was being billed as one of France’s next great football players. In fact, Martial was rated so highly that one part of the terms in his move involved a Ballon d’Or clause which would see Monaco receive another payment should the forward be named the world’s best player.

Well, it’s safe to say he never even came close to living up to that hype. Martial spent nine years at Old Trafford in a stint where he failed to live up to the immense promise many expected of him.

Across 317 appearances in United red, he did actually score 90 goals which is a pretty impressive record by all accounts.

15 of those came in his debut campaign and there was there was even the 23-goal season of 2019/20 to shout about. However, from that moment onwards, he only bagged another 20 in United colours before departing in 2024. He’s now at AEK Athens in Greece.

There are certain similarities between Hojlund and Martial here. Signed for an enormous fee as a young forward, a ridiculous £72m to be exact, the Dane had a promising first season and could still come good.

He netted 16 goals in his first season at the club, one more than Martial’s opening year, but it does feel as though Hojlund’s United career will also go down as a story of unfulfilled promise.

The simple fact is that despite boasting some impressive attributes, namely a powerful running style and the ability to gallop down the channels, he’s an incredibly frustrating player all the same.

There has certainly been a lack of service for the former Atalanta striker this season but even when given chances, he’s fluffed his lines. That was certainly the case against West Ham on Sunday.

Minutes played

90

Touches

31

Accurate passes

9/15 (60%)

Shots on target

2

Shots off target

4

Expected goals (xG)

1.31

Successful dribbles

0/2

Big chances missed

2

Ground duels won

1/6

Aerial duels won

3/8

Possession lost

13x

In the process of amassing just 31 touches and only completing 60% of his passes, he wasted two glorious chances which rather typified his season.

To his credit, Hojlund busted a gut to get on the end of the first one, but after Amad had played his teammate in, the 20-year-old could only stick the shot straight at the on-rushing Alphonse Areola. The second opportunity was even more glaring.

About three or four yards out, the net was gaping and ready for Hojlund to find the net, only for Areola to race across his line and keep out the shot. It was a remarkable save but it certainly looked easier to score than it did to miss.

The £85k-per-week forward was handed a low 4/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst as a result, who himself lamented that late effort that Areola denied.

While there are some pretty obvious differences between Hojlund and Martial, notably that the latter did go through a prolific spell, their stories of being signed for a colossal sum of money at a young age bear similarities.

Amorim and Co will just hope he can find more consistency than the Frenchman ever did on English shores.

Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd star who was as bad as Ugarte vs West Ham

Manchester United suffered a 17th defeat of the Premier League season.

1 ByMatt Dawson May 11, 2025

As Manchester United romped to a brutal first-leg victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Thursday evening, the performance of a certain Rasmus Hojlund quietly went under the radar in that semi-final clash.

With all the talk centred around the experienced trio of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Harry Maguire, the lively display of United’s number nine was easy to overlook, with the towering Dane notably winning the penalty that proved a key turning point in the tie.

Speaking after that bright performance, manager Ruben Amorim suggested that it was the 22-year-old’s “best game” since he took charge at Old Trafford, with the struggling number nine perhaps beginning to find his groove after netting at the death against Bournemouth last week.

That recent revival could prove vital if United are to claim European glory come the end of May, although in the long term, the fact remains that the former Atalanta man has scored just four Premier League goals all season – a simply dismal return for a striker.

Whether the £64m signing stays or goes this summer, a real upgrade is needed at the top end of the pitch ahead of next term – the Red Devils simply can’t afford a Hojlund repeat.

Man Utd's search for a striker

Amorim has gone from witnessing the heroics of Viktor Gyokeres – who scored 66 goals under his watch in just 68 games – back at Sporting CP, to now having to witness his goal-shy group toil in Manchester.

It is then no surprise that United have been heavily linked with a move to reunite the 40-year-old coach with his former talisman, while recent reports have also suggested that Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick could represent a wildcard option this summer.

With Victor Osimhen also reportedly in the frame, as the Nigerian gets set to enter the final year of his Napoli contract, there are proven targets out there for United to consider, as they seek a new centre-forward for the third summer in succession.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Frustratingly, however, it would seem that the man that INEOS have actually identified as the leading candidate is Ipswich Town starlet, Liam Delap, with TEAMtalk reporting that the Old Trafford outfit are making a ‘huge effort’ to bring the 22-year-old to the club.

As per the report, Everton have now joined the race to sign the £30m-rated ace, alongside Chelsea, albeit with there said to be ‘hope’ at United that they will emerge victorious in their pursuit.

A player known well to technical director Jason Wilcox, amid his previous stint at rivals Manchester City, the England U21 international would be an exciting addition – but is he really what Amorim needs?

Why Man Utd could be set to sign another Hojlund

There appears to have become a growing obsession in the modern game with adopting a youth-centric approach in the transfer market. Take Chelsea, for example, whose oldest outfield player this season has been Tosin Adarabioyo, who is still only 27.

Even at United under the INEOS regime, every signing made since last summer has been aged 25 or under, excluding Noussair Mazraoui. Ironically, it would not be difficult to argue that the now 27-year-old has proven to be the best of the bunch.

Equally, Thursday’s triumph away in the Basque Country indicated the benefits of the older heads, with Fernandes and Casemiro proving to be “the difference again”, in the words of journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

United have no doubt been stung in the past by short-term, high profile signings – with transfer fees for those players also likely to prove more costly – although in the case of centre-forward, in particular, the club can’t afford to skimp this summer.

Cast your mind back to 2023, for instance, when Erik ten Hag set his sights on Tottenham Hotspur’s 280-goal hero, Harry Kane, only for the club to instead fork out for a 20-year-old Hojlund, who had scored just ten goals in all competitions for his former employers.

Last summer, meanwhile, another ‘cheap’ option was pursued in the form of Joshua Zirkzee, with the Dutchman available due to a £36.5m release clause in his Bologna contract. After netting just 12 goals last term in Italy, only a further seven have followed in Manchester.

To then consider moving for another young, inexperienced, but affordable forward in Delap could represent a real mistake, with the Englishman not exactly setting the world alight this season. 12 top-flight goals for a now-relegated side is nothing to turn your nose up at, although it’s hardly spectacular.

The Man City academy graduate, as he has shown in 2024/25, is an undoubted talent, with his bulldozing displays for the Tractor Boys seeing him lauded as a “wrecking ball” by Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones.

And yet, it was only last season that the in-demand marksman had scored just eight league goals while on loan at Hull City in the Championship, with the question there to be asked over whether he is indeed ready to make such a seismic, pressurised step up.

Non-penalty goals

0.37

0.21

Assists

0.07

0.00

Total shots

2.30

1.55

Shot-creating actions

2.23

2.17

Pass completion

61%

76.7%

Progressive passes

1.11

0.83

Progressive carries

2.19

1.34

Touches in opposition box

1.41

2.99

Aerial duels won

1.93

1.19

What will also be of concern is that Delap is actually noted as a statistically similar player to Hojlund among those in their position in the Premier League, as per FBref, with it looking as if Amorim could be handed almost a carbon copy of what he already has at his disposal.

Yes, Delap is of far greater status right now, but it wasn’t too long ago that the speedy Hojlund was also earning rave reviews of his own. Who can forget his debut cameo against Arsenal, when the Denmark international ran William Saliba and Gabriel ragged.

As perhaps to be expected of a young striker, the pressure and expectation of leading the line for Manchester United has weighed heavy on Hojlund, culminating in his current woes.

Amorim is then in need of a Gyokeres, an Osimhen, who will shoulder that burden with ease, having repeatedly proven themselves over a number of seasons. Can the same really be said of Delap?

Approaching yet another pivotal summer window at Old Trafford, the club can’t afford any further mistakes. Of course, the tight budget must be considered, although the desire for affordability should not come at the expense of the need for ready-made quality.

Imagine him & Bruno: Man Utd make £68m bid for "one of the best" talents

Manchester United could be about to land a star who would be perfect alongside Bruno Fernandes.

ByEthan Lamb May 3, 2025

It feels like it is going to be a big summer of change at Glasgow Rangers as they look to bounce back from what has been a disappointing campaign on the pitch.

The Light Blues are heading into the final few matches of the season with little to play for, as the league title has already gone to Celtic and they have an interim head coach, in Barry Ferguson, in the dugout at Ibrox.

A new sporting director, Kevin Thelwell, will be in place in the summer, and a takeover involving Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers group is edging closer.

Rangers could also make changes to their playing squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, moving on players who need to be upgraded on.

One player the Scottish giants should be aiming to replace is wasteful centre-forward Cyriel Dessers, who has missed a staggering 59 ‘big chances’ in the Scottish Premiership and European competitions since the start of last season.

The Gers should try to recruit a striker who can be more effective in front of goal, and they could do that by looking closer to home, as they did with the signing of Kris Boyd.

Why Kris Boyd was a massive success at Rangers

The Scottish centre-forward came up through the youth ranks at Kilmarnock in the early stages of his career and proved himself to be an excellent goalscorer in the top-flight.

Boyd scored 62 Premiership goals across four-and-a-half seasons in the first-team at Killie, having emerged from the academy, and that convinced Rangers to swoop in for him in January 2006.

Because he was a proven goalscorer in the Premiership, it was not too much of a gamble by the Gers, and they were rewarded with consistent goalscoring from the Scottish forward.

Boyd was not a player coming from a foreign league and had all the relevant experience needed to be an instant success at Ibrox, which is backed up by his goal return during his first spell at Ibrox.

09/10

31

23

5

08/09

35

27

5

07/08

28

14

1

06/07

30

20

1

05/06

17

17

0

As you can see in the table above, Boyd consistently scored goals at an impressive rate in his four-and-a-half seasons at Ibrox between January 2006 and the summer of 2010, before his move to Middlesbrough.

The Scottish centre-forward led the Gers to two Premiership titles, in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 campaigns, and his success in Glasgow showed that the club can find top talents from within the Premiership, rather than having to look further afield for their big signings.

With this in mind, Rangers could find their next version of Boyd as they are reportedly looking at a striker who is currently shining in Scotland.

Rangers lining up move for Premiership star

According to the Chronicle Live, Rangers are one of a number of clubs interested in a swoop for Hearts centre-forward James Wilson in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The reports that Premier League side Newcastle United are considering a move for the 18-year-old talent after his breakthrough season in Scottish football this year.

It states that both Rangers and Celtic have ‘checked’ the attacker out, suggesting that they have sent scouts to watch him in action, ahead of the summer.

The Chronicle Live adds that there are other Premier League teams in England who are keen on the youngster, which means that there will be plenty of competition for his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It states that he has a market value of £1m but it remains to be seen exactly how much Hearts would demand for their star youngster in reality.

Rangers, however, should push the boat out to bring him to Ibrox ahead of the other interested parties because he could follow in Boyd’s footsteps at Ibrox.

Why James Wilson could be Kris Boyd 2.0

The 18-year-old talent does not have as much first-team experience as the player-turned-pundit had when he arrived in Glasgow from Kilmarnock, as this is his first season of regular senior football.

However, Wilson could be the next version of Boyd as another young, hungry, Scottish centre-forward who has already shown his quality in the Premiership.

As you can see in the clip above, vastly experienced goalkeeper Craig Gordon believes that the striker is a “special talent”, having worked with him at club and international level.

His opinion is particularly valuable because he has been part of title-winning teams in Scotland with Celtic and knows what players need to be successful at the top of the Premiership, which suggests that Wilson is on the right track.

Appearances (starts)

20 (15)

Goals

5

Big chances missed

4

Conversion rate

26%

Big chances created

2

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, the teen star, who only turned 18 in March, has already scored five goals and created two ‘big chances’ in 15 starts in a struggling Hearts side this season.

He has also, notably, only missed four ‘big chances’. Whereas, Dessers has missed 20 ‘big chances’ to go along with his 13 goals in the Premiership, which suggests that the Jam Tarts youngster is more clinical in front of goal.

Now, imagine if Wilson had the ‘big chances’ that Rangers have created for Dessers throughout this season. The Scotland international could improve his output and improve the team’s effectiveness in front of goal with his finishing quality.

Therefore, the Hearts starlet could be Kris Boyd 2.0 for Rangers as another young Scottish striker with the quality and potential to be an excellent goalscorer for the club for many years to come, if they can win the race for his signature in the summer transfer window.

Rangers must axe £3m flop who has missed more games than Lawrence

Kevin Thelwell has a big job on his hands at Rangers

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 27, 2025

After winger Mohamed Salah’s new contract was announced over the last couple of weeks, Arne Slot can turn his attention to other areas of the Liverpool squad ahead of next season’s Premier League campaign.

The Egyptian penned a new two-year deal at Anfield, extending his stay at the club to over a decade, hoping to add to the success he’s enjoyed during previous years.

However, if the 32-year-old is to achieve yet more glory on Merseyside, the manager will need to strengthen to help the side maintain the levels they’ve reached in the last few months.

With the summer transfer window now just around the corner, the hierarchy will need to identify players who are capable of bolstering the ranks, with a real emphasis needed on quality over quantity.

One department of the pitch could be set for a huge overhaul, with numerous players already touted with moves to and from Merseyside ahead of the upcoming window.

The latest on Liverpool’s pursuit for new attacking stars

With the futures of Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez up in the air at Liverpool, it would be a surprise to no one if both players were offloaded to raise funds for new attackers this summer.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is the latest name thrown into the mix over the last couple of days, with the German on the club’s shortlist ahead of the off-season.

However, the Reds are unlikely to be alone in their pursuit of the 21-year-old, with fellow English side Manchester City also firmly in the race for his signature despite his £111m price tag.

Other forwards like Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké remain on their list, but Ademola Lookman is the latest player the hierarchy are targeting to bolster the front line ahead of 2025/26.

According to new reports from Italian outlet, Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness, Slot’s side are keen admirers of the 27-year-old left-winger.

It’s stated that if Atalanta receive an offer of at least £50m from Liverpool or any other party, the winger’s sale in the summer would be ‘inevitable’.

Why Liverpool’s £50m target could be their best LW since Mane

In the summer of 2022, all Liverpool supporters were shocked by the news that winger Sadio Mané would be joining Bayern Munich, ending his six-year stint at Anfield.

The Senegalese international was a key part of the success they endured under Jürgen Klopp, forming a deadly partnership with Salah and Roberto Firmino at the top of end of the pitch.

The infamous trio catapulted the side to Premier League and Champions League glory during their time together, with Mane undoubtedly one of their best-ever additions.

He cost £34m from Southampton back in the summer of 2016, going on to register 120 goals in his 269 appearances – finishing as the division’s joint-top scorer back in 2018/19.

However, his subsequent departure saw Luis Diaz tasked with the responsibility of filling the void, with the Colombian only notching a total of 11 league goals throughout Slot’s maiden season at the helm.

Such form has led to links to Lookman, with the Nigerian undoubtedly providing an upgrade on Diaz, subsequently making him the club’s best left-winger since Mane departed nearly three years ago.

When comparing their respective stats from the ongoing season, the Nigerian has massively outperformed the 28-year-old in various key areas, showcasing what a sensational signing he would be this summer.

Games played

27

32

Goals & assists

18

16

Progressive carries

5.7

4.2

Carries into final third

2.9

2.1

Shot-on-target accuracy

41%

40%

Crosses completed

4.7

1.2

Shot-creating actions

5.6

4.8

Aerials won

58%

26%

Lookman, who’s been labelled “world-class” by commentator Matteo Bonetti, has managed to register more combined goals and assists than the Colombian this campaign – showcasing the attacking threat he possesses.

He’s also managed to achieve more progressive carries per 90, whilst bettering the current Reds winger’s carries into the final third, highlighting the danger the former Everton ace presents when having the ball at his feet.

His dominance doesn’t stop there, registering more shot-creating actions, along with more crosses completed, and subsequently able to aid other players within the final third.

It may be a brutal decision to drop Diaz in favour of a move for the Atalanta talent, but from the stats produced, it’s evident that he’s a huge talent and one that would inject added quality to the front line.

£50m in today’s market is an excellent price for a player of his quality, potentially allowing the club to sustain the levels of success endured during Slot’s first year in charge.

£111m Szobo upgrade: Liverpool chasing "the best midfielder in the world"

Liverpool will need to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold’s creativity this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 22, 2025

Glasgow Rangers delivered a resolute display in their Europa League quarter-final first leg tie against La Liga side Athletic Bilbao, despite being reduced to ten men early on.

Robin Propper was sent off after he was deemed to have prevented a scoring opportunity and from then on, it looked as though the Spanish side would go on to score a few goals.

Bilbao had 19 shots throughout the match, yet couldn’t find the back of the net. They even had a penalty saved following a decision by the referee after a VAR review and this set up the match nicely ahead of the second leg.

One person who will miss that game, however, is Propper. Perhaps this could work wonders as the Light Blues look to reach the semi-finals.

Why Robin Propper was sent off against Athletic Bilbao

Prior to being dismissed, the Dutchman had yet to win a single duel contested while he lost possession twice, failed to deliver an accurate long ball from two attempts, and took just 16 touches.

After fouling Nico Williams on the edge of the penalty area, Propper was initially given a yellow card for his troubles.

Metric

Highest-ranked

Accurate passes

Daniel Vivian (84)

Key passes

Nico Williams (6)

Tackles

James Tavernier (5)

Shots on target

Oihan Sancet, Maroan Sannadi and Alex Berenguer (1)

Ground duels won

James Tavernier (7)

Following a VAR review, however, referee Istvan Kovacs upgraded this yellow to a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

According to IFAB rules, denying an opportunity outside the box results in a red card, although the sentiment wasn’t quite shared by the Ibrox crowd.

Thankfully, the Gers were able to secure a 0-0 draw that puts them in a solid position heading into the second leg.

Propper hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best maiden season at Ibrox. Did the club sell a player last year who is better than the former FC Twente captain?

The former Rangers star who is miles better than Propper

After spending six seasons with Rangers, making 309 appearances for the club in that time, Philippe Clement sold Connor Goldson last summer to Aris Limassol.

The timing was right, as the centre-back wasn’t at his best throughout 2023/24, but there is no doubt he still would have been a better option than Propper.

Hailed by former manager Steven Gerrard as being “an absolute mountain” back in 2021, Goldson’s influence waned, hence his move to Cyprus.

The English titan averages a 90% pass success rate this season in the Cypriot top flight, along with winning an impressive 75% of his aerial duels and succeeding with 53% of his long ball attempts.

Comparing this to Propper, who has an 89% pass success rate domestically, while winning 64% of his aerial duels and succeeding with 48% of his long ball attempts, proves that Goldson is enjoying the best campaign from a statistical viewpoint.

Furthermore, Propper simply cannot handle the physicality of Scottish football, as opposition attackers can get the better of him, having been dribbled past ten times in the Premiership so far.

Of course, I’m not saying Goldson is the answer to the club’s prayers, but given the choice, he appears to be a better option in comparison to Propper, based off their respective form this season.

As bad as Propper: Ferguson must axe Rangers dud who made just 4 passes

Having battled to a goalless draw at Ibrox, Rangers manager Barry Ferguson must axe his “frustrating” star at San Mamés in next Thursday’s second leg.

Apr 11, 2025

This is why the Gers messed up when they cashed in on the former Brighton man last year because he is currently miles better than the Dutch dud, who is yet to prove his worth at Ibrox.

The Arsenal team today is undoubtedly better than the one from a few years ago.

Bukayo Saka has reached another level entirely, Declan Rice is a monster in midfield, David Raya is a reliable presence between the sticks and the defence looks set to be the best in the Premier League for the second year running.

However, one area that is probably weaker than it was at the start of the decade is striker; as for all their hard work, neither Kai Havertz nor Gabriel Jesus are prolific, at least not compared to former goalscorer extraordinaire Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon international was a force of nature for most of his time at the Emirates – he was the fastest Arsenal player to hit 50 Premier League goals and left with a tally of 112 goal involvements – but now it looks as if Andrea Berta and Co could be about to sign someone who’d be the club’s best striker since the former captain.

Arsenal's striker search

With Arsenal’s most acute area of need heading into the summer window being the striker positions, it’s not a shock that they’ve been linked with a mountain of potential signings over the last month or so.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

One of the most talked-about links has undoubtedly been to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who has already racked up a sensational haul of 24 goals and five assists in 34 appearances this term – an average of a goal involvement every 1.17 games.

However, with the Toon reportedly after £150m for their star man, a move this summer feels increasingly unlikely, so reports have also touted the more affordable Benjamin Sesko for a transfer to the Emirates.

The Slovenian international could be available for around £67m, although at just 21 years old, there is a risk that Arteta and Co would be signing another project player when what they really need at this point is the finished article, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.

Fortunately, according to a recent report from Italy, the Sporting CP phenomenon is not only a target for the Gunners but also their primary striker target.

Moreover, the report has revealed that the North Londoners have now opened talks to try and sign the Swede and that the talks have been “positive” thus far.

A potential price for the marksman is not mentioned in the report, but stories from late last month claimed that he could be available for as little as £58m.

While that is still a sizable sum of money, it could prove to be incredible value for money in this case, and as Gyokeres could be the club’s best striker since Aubameyang, Arsenal should do all they can to get this deal over the line as soon as possible.

Why Gyokeres would be Arsenal's best striker since Aubameyang

Unsurprisingly, when it comes down to it, the reason Gyokeres would be Arsenal’s best centre-forward since Aubameyang was in his pomp is the simple fact that he is a lean, mean, goalscoring machine.

For example, in just 50 appearances last season, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists, which comes out to an average of 1.16 goal involvements every game.

This year, the Swedish monster has done even better, racking up a sensational tally of 42 goals and 11 assists in 42 appearances, which comes out to an average of 1.26 goal involvements every game.

Appearances

42

34

27

MIinutes

3340′

2776′

1204′

Goals

42

15

7

Assists

11

5

2

Goal Involvements per Match

1.26

0.58

0.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

63.01′

138.8′

133.77′

In contrast, Havertz produced 20 goal involvements in 34 appearances prior to his injury this term and Jesus nine in 27 appearances, meaning the German was averaging a goal involvement every 1.7 games and the Brazilian every three games.

Finally, on top of maintaining a level of output that is simply out of this world at the club level, the 26-year-old Sporting star is also incredibly effective at the international level.

For example, in 26 senior caps for Sweden, totalling 1568 minutes, he has scored 15 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.23 games, or every 74.66 minutes.

Ultimately, Arsenal are already an incredible team, but they lack a genuinely prolific number nine; if they sign Gyokeres, that won’t be a problem anymore.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 3, 2025

The dejection was palpable. Emi Buendia’s arcing strike following a goalmouth scramble condemned Arsenal to only their second defeat of the season. It was the last kick of the highly charged contest against Aston Villa.

Perhaps the most frustrating part is that the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League has now been slashed to just two points after Manchester City thumped Sunderland. For their part, Villa are now emerging as bona fide contenders, third in the standings and with 30 points, three fewer than Arsenal’s 33.

Mikel Arteta has done incredible things in north London over the past five years, but this is the season that Arsenal must crown their revival with a gold medal, having finished runners-up in the top flight for three successive seasons.

And, sadly, the manager got it wrong against the shrewd Unai Emery.

Why Arteta got it wrong vs Aston Villa

Credit where credit’s due, Arteta made a few changes at half-time, his side one goal down, and was rewarded for his alteration when Leandro Trossard converted following an initial strike from Bukayo Saka before the hour mark. 1-1.

But the Emirates side would ultimately come away with nothing, and Arteta will be irked by his own decision-making, having opted to play Eberechi Eze out wide and withdraw the playmaker instead of skipper Martin Odegaard, despite the England international having played some knockout stuff from a central berth in recent weeks. He was, after all, named the club’s Player of the Month for November.

Eze, however, did flatter to deceive, at fault for Matty Cash’s opening goal, and the Spanish manager will feel he was somewhat handicapped due to injuries to key defensive personnel, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera all missing out.

Viktor Gyokeres entered the fray at the interval, and though the Swedish striker toiled away, he might have enjoyed a greater impact had he been unleashed from the outset, but Arteta opted to go down a different road.

Arteta must axe 5/10 Arsenal star

Arsenal have been immense this season, a force to be reckoned with. That said, they still need to be more incisive in the danger area, and for all his strengths and clutch ability in the box, Mikel Merino is not the solution at number nine.

Merino has posted five goals and three assists across 21 matches in all competitions this term. He has split his time between the final third and the middle of the park, and seven of those eight contributions have come as a makeshift striker.

It’s remarkable, but it’s not going to work all the time, and this was painfully clear at Villa Park, whose defenders negated his threat. Gyokeres was largely ineffective after the break, having replaced the seven-pass Spaniard at half-time.

Neither impressed, but football.london did award Gyokeres a 6/10 match rating, drawing attention to his energy and the off-the-ball work that evades statistical representation. Merino, conversely, was branded with a 5/10 score, having fumbled a chance with Saka earlier on.

Minutes played

45′

45′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Touches

17

11

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

7/11 (64%)

4/7 (57%)

Chances created

0

0

Dribbles

0/1

0/0

Ball recoveries

3

1

Tackles won

0/0

0/0

Duels won

1/5

0/0

Assessing which of Arsenal’s centre-forwards did better on the evening is akin to splitting hairs. The fact of the matter is that neither received enough service, and this is an issue that Arteta has to overcome, especially with Eze, Odegaard and Saka all on the field at different stages.

Though it’s perhaps telling that Gunners goalkeeper David Raya took more touches of the ball than the pair of them, and given that Arsenal enjoyed 58% of the possession before the break (compared to 49% across the second half), Merino should have had more of an influence.

Gyokeres was signed for a big fee during the off-season to provide the north London side with a solution up top, and it’s surely crucial that he is afforded more starting action going forward, having started from the bench on three successive occasions since returning from the muscle injury that ruled him out for a few weeks in November.

The 27-year-old does need to up his game to the next level, because one thing’s for certain: If Arteta has to persist with Merino at number nine throughout the duration of the campaign, getting his hands on that elusive Premier League title will prove a tall order indeed.

Sterling 2.0: Berta flop already looks like he'll never make it at Arsenal

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ByJack Salveson Holmes 6 days ago

Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph in the 2024/25 campaign allowed numerous players to write themselves into the club’s history books forever.

The Lilywhites ended their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware, and did so in tremendous fashion after defeating fellow Premier League side Manchester United in Bilbao.

Ange Postecoglou handed the fanbase memories to last a lifetime with the triumph, but it wasn’t enough to maintain his position as manager in North London.

Thomas Frank was elected as the man to take the reins during the summer, with the Dane handed the responsibility of taking the club to the next level after the European success.

However, his appointment has prevented numerous players from kicking on in their careers, with the first-team members often struggling to replicate the form they demonstrated under the Aussie.

The biggest losers from Thomas Frank's appointment at Spurs

Yves Bissouma was often one of Postecoglou’s first names on the teamsheet during the 2024/25 campaign, as seen by his tally of 44 appearances across all competitions.

The Malian international featured in 11 of the 15 club’s European outings last campaign, but it’s safe to say his spell under Frank has been far from successful to date.

He was left out of the club’s UEFA Super Cup final after being late numerous times, resulting in missing out on the club’s Premier League squad for the current 2025/26 campaign.

However, he’s not alone in that regard, with Brennan Johnson one of the Lilywhites’ most important players in the previous campaign, as seen by his phenomenal goalscoring record.

The Welshman scored 18 times across all competitions – even netting the winner in the Europa League final – subsequently ending the year as the club’s top goalscorer.

Like Bissouma, he’s struggled for consistency this time around, with the 24-year-old only starting five league games out of a possible 11 since Frank took charge in the summer.

Mohammed Kudus’ arrival has no doubt pushed him down the pecking order, with the manager seemingly preferring the Ghanaian international over him at present.

Spurs star is no longer "one of the best in the world"

Spurs’ £120m spending spree during the summer window has made competition for places even tougher in 2025/26, with the first-team now having incredible depth in certain areas of the squad.

Given the number of competitions the Lilywhites are currently featuring in this season, it’s crucial Frank has the ability to rotate and rest certain players when needed.

Competitions such as the Premier League and Champions League will likely take priority, which has seen numerous players have to settle for minutes off the bench as a result.

Djed Spence has taken his career in North London to the next level over the last couple of years, with the full-back taking advantage of the injury crisis last campaign.

The Englishman made himself a regular starter under Ange last campaign, which has resulted in the 25-year-old now becoming an international regular under Thomas Tuchel.

His starts at right-back has provided competition for Pedro Porro in such an area of the pitch, with the Spaniard often missing out from the starting eleven as a result in recent months.

The 26-year-old has become known for his ability in possession rather than out of it, with Spence the complete opposite and making him an excellent fit for Frank’s system.

In 2024/25, Porro registered nine assists across all competitions, the most in a single season since his move to England – resulting in one journalist labelling him the “best in the world”.

However, in the ongoing campaign, the full-back has only registered one assist to date – showcasing his struggles – with his underlying stats also a cause for concern.

He’s completed just 72% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with such a tally ranking him in the bottom 8% of all players in England’s top-flight this season.

Games played

11

Goals & assists

1

Passes completed

72%

Crosses completed

17%

Duels won

3.9

Times dribbled past

1.3

Fouls committed

1.3

Dribble success

42%

Porro’s crossing success has also taken a massive hit in recent months, as the Spaniard has only completed a total of 17% of his efforts as of the middle of November.

Out of possession, he’s struggled just as much, as seen by his tally of just 3.9 duels won per 90, with such a figure placing him in the bottom 25% of all defenders in the league.

His lack of defensive talent is also evident in his tally of being dribbled past 1.3 times per 90, which is higher than 82% of other full-backs in the division at present.

Such numbers will certainly be a cause for concern to the manager, especially given the quality of players such as Spence already on the books in North London.

Despite his form under Ange, Porro could now find himself on borrowed time in the near future, with the hierarchy potentially tempted to cash in on him and invest in other areas of the squad.

He can end Bentancur's stay: Spurs gem is showing "shades of Mousa Dembele"

Tottenham Hotspur have a star who could end Rodrigo Bentancur’s career in North London.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 19, 2025

AC Milan have now reportedly dropped their price for Rafael Leao, with Arsenal now preparing to accelerate their interest to sign the impressive Portuguese winger.

The Gunners couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the Premier League campaign, but their recent run of clean sheets finally came to an end against Sunderland.

After over 13 hours, David Raya finally picked the ball out the back of his own net courtesy of Sunderland’s Daniel Ballard. And like London buses, when one arrived, another soon followed with the Black Cats netting a last-gasp equaliser through Brian Brobbey.

Slipping up for the first time since drawing against Manchester City at the end of September, Arsenal’s recent run of form has been nothing short of excellent.

Speaking about the draw at full-time, Mikel Arteta told reporters: “The last feeling is disappointment and frustration because we wanted the three points. We had to navigate through a really tough game, we knew that. It was very disruptive; we have to deal with situations that are difficult to deal with.

“They did really well and we conceded a goal that is not in our standards, but after that I think the team reacted really well, showed a lot of personality and courage.

“They scored the first goal, they scored the second goal, we had totally dominated the game and then you have to rely on defending the box when they start to commit six or seven players there.”

Up next, Arsenal have the small matter of the North London derby in a game that represents the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways. It also represents the start of an all-important week, with Chelsea and Bayern Munich following the Tottenham Hotspur clash over a seven-day period after the international break.

It’s the type of period that Arsenal’s stars are made for and the type that Leao could soon get the chance to enjoy following the latest transfer reports.

Arsenal accelerate Leao move after learning latest discount

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are now ready to accelerate their move to sign Leao after AC Milan dropped their price tag to around €85m (£75m) from the winger’s €150m release clause.

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ByJames O'Reilly Nov 8, 2025

Milan’s hierarchy is reportedly preparing for the possibility that negotiations between Leao and themselves over a new contract could yet stall and have adjusted their price tag as a result. As things stand, the Portugal international has until 2028 until his current contract runs out, but Milan’s updated stance suggests that he may not see out the final three years of that deal.

Minutes

453

681

Goals

4

3

Assists

1

0

Successful Take-ons

5

17

When compared to Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s interest in Leao begins to make sense. On the opposite flank to the England international, the Milan star has already been involved in five league goals in just 453 minutes this season – the same as around five games.

Described as “crazy” by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in 2023, Leao is a star who’s ready to take the Premier League and The Emirates by storm.

5/10 Arsenal star had his worst game all season against Sunderland