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Nottingham Forest's most recent game was a 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal, which kept them 16th in the Premier League.

However, their next match should see Nuno Espirito Santo field a new-look side, with the club's transfer activity never-ending.

That said, the boss only has one position on his mind, as he is desperate to sign a goalkeeper on Deadline Day.

A goalkeeper transfer is the priority

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Strasbourg have accepted that Matz Sels will be leaving the club, amid interest from the City Ground outfit.

It is believed that the 31-year-old is currently on his way to England to undergo his medical.

This morning, it was rumoured that a fee of just over £5m was offered to the Ligue 1 side.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 Sels could be the perfect Aaron Ramsdale alternative

Aaron Ramsdale has been displaced as Arsenal's number one by summer signing David Raya. The 25-year-old has played just five Premier League games this season, with all but one of those being before the Spaniard's debut.

The confidence of the former Bournemouth keeper has clearly taken a hit, and with his lack of involvement in the Gunners starting XI, Forest previously asked about the potential signing of Ramsdale. Unfortunately, the Tricky Trees failed in their attempt, but they could have discovered the perfect alternative, who's classed as a similar player to the England international by FBref's similar player model.

The £18k-per-week ace has been a mainstay in Ligue 1 over the last six years, starring for Strasbourg. The Belgian has been the first-choice keeper since his arrival, and he's played every game over the last two seasons, including this campaign, where he's kept three clean sheets in 19 games.

Nonetheless, the table below shows statistics from the last year across Europe's top leagues, which highlights the similarities between Sels and Ramsdale.

Save %

62.9%

60%

Touches

34.9

31.6

Passes received

18.2

16.8

Pass completion %

73%

74.8%

Errors leading to goals

0

0

Firstly, from a pure goalkeeping perspective, Sels and Ramsdale have very similar shot-stopping statistics, with the duo both averaging a save percentage of around 60%, with the former Gent player performing marginally better in that metric. It's vital for Forest to have a good shot-stopper in goal due to the number of attempts they face each game.

From an in-possession standpoint, Sels is also similar to the Arsenal man. The 6 foot 2 keeper averages slightly more touches and passes received than Ramsdale, which proves that his defenders trust him on the ball. They also have a very similar pass completion percentage, which proves they aren't wasteful, unlike current Forest number one Matt Turner, who has made three errors leading to goals this season.

Overall, Forest signing one of the closest profiles to Ramsdale is a smart move, and Sels' experience could prove to be priceless during their relegation scrap.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on a wonderful run of form that has seen them secure three Premier League wins in a row following their defeat to West Ham United prior to Christmas, along with progression to the next round of the FA Cup.

Gary O’Neil has got his side playing well and getting results, but it is clear he will need to add another forward or two to his squad over the next couple of weeks.

Fabio Silva and Sasa Kalajdzic have been loaned out, while Hwang Hee-Chan is at the Asian Cup with South Korea and their forward options are looking sparse, to say the least.

There have been a fair number of players linked with a move to the Old Gold, yet the latest name rumoured to be on their radar is a player who is currently thriving in the Championship…

Wolves’ search for a new striker

According to Football Insider, Wolves are among a handful of teams showing Bristol City striker Tommy Conway with regard to making a potential swoop for the youngster.

The likes of Glasgow Rangers and Celtic are keen on taking him north of the border, while fellow Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Brentford are monitoring the player who has starred for the second-tier outfit recently.

The player still has 18 months left on his current contract, yet this could be the final chance for City to really rake in a big transfer fee for the centre-forward.

O’Neil needs someone who could arrive in the Midlands and contribute goals straight away and Conway might just be the ideal candidate for the job.

Related Latest Wolves transfer news: £60m Neto claim, exciting replacement eyed

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Posts ByBrogan Clasper Feb 11, 2024

Not only that, but he could even be an upgrade on Kalajdzic, who struggled this term following his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Sasa Kalajdzic’s progress at Wolves

The Austrian titan was looked upon as a solid piece of transfer business by former manager Bruno Lage when he joined for a fee of £15.4m from German club Stuttgart in the summer of 2022.

The striker netted 22 Bundesliga goals in just 52 matches for the club, and it looked as though £15m was going to prove a bargain should he replicate these figures in England.

Missing the entirety of his debut season was not in the script, however, after he suffered a serious knee injury on his first start for the club.

The 26-year-old managed to recover and went on to make 13 appearances for the Old Gold before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt on loan, scoring three times, yet he only managed to start three games during the first half of the season, and it was clear O’Neil did not place his full trust in the striker.

Hopefully, he can recapture the magic which saw him become such a big hit at Stuttgart, and he returns to the Midlands in the summer ready to challenge for a berth in the starting XI.

Conway, however, could be a big upgrade on the Austrian, while five years younger, meaning the manager could have plenty of time to develop the raw frontman.

Tommy Conway could be an upgrade to Sasa Kalajdzic

The England-born Scotland U21 international not only has more goals than Kalajdzic this season (eight vs three) but he has also taken more shots per game (1.6 vs 0.4) and a higher expected goals stat (5.34 vs 1.07) as the youngster has clearly proven his clinical nature in the penalty box.

According to WhoScored, both Conway and Kalajdizc are excellent in the air, excelling at headed attempts and finishing, which indicates that the City striker could be a similar sort of player to the former Stuttgart forward should he join the club this month.

His prowess in the opposition penalty area has been wonderful recently, and he has even been hailed as the next Jamie Vardy by his former manager Nigel Pearson following his excellent start to life in the Championship.

A move to Molineux could see him improve further, especially as he would be playing with far better players and O’Neil could certainly bring out the best in the 21-year-old who is surely destined for the top sooner rather than later.

What Tommy Conway can add to this Wolves team

The main answer is goals, and plenty of them if he is given enough chances in the penalty area.

The young sensation enjoyed a breakthrough season during 2022/23, scoring 12 goals and grabbing four assists across 38 matches, proving that he could be a standout in the City team.

Conway was even lauded as being on “absolute flames” by the Sky Sports commentary team during the early stages of his breakthrough season, and he has since carried this form into 2023/24.

Tommy Conway's Championship statistics

2022/23

2023/24

Goals

9

6

Assists

3

0

Shots on target per game

0.6

0.8

Scoring frequency (minutes)

213

204

Successful dribbles per game

0.3

0.2

Via Sofascore

He did miss nine matches due to a hamstring injury earlier this season, but Conway has still contributed with eight goals, enjoying his biggest success in the FA Cup against West Ham United recently.

He scored against the Premier League side in the first tie, which ended in a 1-1 draw, before netting the winner in the replay at Ashton Gate earlier this week and his performance was hailed as “clinical” by Statman Dave.

Conway even has three international caps for Scotland at U21 level – qualifying through his grandfather – and has managed to open his account already, netting against Norway in a game where he was even made captain, and his future looks bright, to say the least.

Wolves could bring him to the Premier League this month and give him an ideal platform to continue developing, and it could be a shrewd move for all parties.

City will secure a decent fee for a player they have helped nurture, while the Old Gold will land one of the brightest attacking talents in the second tier and potentially go on to rake in a profit on him in the coming years.

O’Neil may have to move a player or two on this month in order to fund a move for Conway, but in the long term, it could prove to be a smart investment by the club.

Jimmy Neesham, Tom Blundell and Will Young have been offered New Zealand central contracts as part of the 20-player group for 2019-2020.They replace Adam Milne, Corey Anderson and George Worker from the contracted names in the 2018-2019 list.Allrounder Neesham and wicketkeeper-batsman Blundell have been included in New Zealand’s World Cup squad. Young, the 26-year-old batsman, was set to make his Test debut against Bangladesh in March before the final Test was cancelled following the Christchurch terror attack.Tim Seifert, who narrowly lost out on a World Cup spot when Blundell was preferred, missed out on a contract.For Young and Blundell this is their first central contract while Neesham returns to the list having missed out last year following a struggle for form. He revealed last month that he came close to quitting the sport before being talked around and he made a successful return to the New Zealand one-day side last season.”Jimmy had a very good season and made excellent progress with Wellington, New Zealand A and the Blackcaps. He’s made every post a winning one,” selector Gavin Larsen said. “Will receives an offer on the basis of the sheer weight of runs he scored last season, both for New Zealand A and the Central Stags.”Tom has acted as a back-up for BJ Watling on the tour of UAE, has recently played for New Zealand A and is in the World Cup squad as the wicket-keeping understudy for Tom Latham. We see this offer as a strong vote of confidence in his future.”Of those cut form the list, Milne and Anderson have continued to struggle with injuries which ruled them out of contention for the World Cup squad. Milne briefly returned to the New Zealand side in the T20Is against Pakistan in the UAE last year, but has managed just four matches since and pulled out of the IPL.Last year Anderson, who also played the T20Is against Pakistan, said he would be focusing purely on white-ball cricket to try and make the World Cup but couldn’t do enough to force his way back into the New Zealand one-day side and has recently undergone shoulder surgery.Players have until May 9 to accept to decline the contract offer.Players offered central contracts for 2019-20 Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, James Neesham, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

Premier League clubs are pushing for the 3pm blackout rule to be scrapped with an eye on the 2027 TV rights negotiations.

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• Premier League clubs want blackout scrapped
• Looking to make changes for TV revenue increase
• No broadcasts on Saturday between 14:25 and 17:25

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Daily Mail have reported that there is once again a growing wave of Premier League clubs that are pushing for the Saturday, 3pm blackout to be scrapped going forward in a bid to improve their financial gains from broadcasting rights, with TV negotiations set for 2027. The push is also coming after the EFL announced that all of their opening matchday games for next season would be broadcast including the Saturday, 3pm fixtures.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It is said that clubs with a majority American ownership are pushing for this change in an attempt to attract more revenue. They are reportedly interested in broadcasting 3pm kickoffs as mid-morning games would be highly appealing to US viewers during a period when there aren't any live sports occurring in the country.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  The football blackout is the policy that prohibits live television broadcasts of Premier League, Football League, or FA Cup matches on Saturdays between 2:45 and 5:15 p.m. While games can take place on that day and at that hour, they cannot be aired. On Saturdays, kickoffs for televised matches typically take place at 12:30pm or 5:30p.m.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR THE BLACKOUT?

  The blackout is the responsibility of the Football Association (FA) and if it is to be scrapped, the FA will have to apply for the rule change to UEFA before the revision can be brought into effect.

Liverpool dropped off the top spot in the Premier League on Sunday as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Manchester United at Anfield.

The Reds were the dominant force in the match as they had 68% and ended the clash with 34 shots, which came to 2.38 xG, to their opponent's six.

They are now one point behind Arsenal, who sit at the top of the table, ahead of their clash with Mikel Arteta's side at Anfield next weekend.

Jurgen Klopp's side are in the title race, having failed to finish in the top four last season, but their chances of coming out on top may depend on the reliability of their attack in the business end of the campaign.

Darwin Nunez, in particular, has been erratic since his move to Liverpool last year and is not a player, at this moment in time, who can be trusted to turn up when it matters during the run-in.

Klopp could, however, unleash Mohamed Salah in a new role through the middle ahead of the Uruguay international by swooping to sign reported transfer target Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich.

Liverpool transfer news – Leroy Sane

Journalist Christian Falk claimed that the Reds have a 'concrete' interest in the Germany international as they eye up a move to bolster their forward line.

His current deal with the Bundesliga giants is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and they are said to be keen to sit down with him to discuss an extension.

Last month, the former Manchester City star told reporters that he has not given a new deal any thought and confirmed that the club do want to have talks with him. However, the left-footed whiz wants to focus on the current season before making a decision on his future.

This could open the door for Liverpool to swoop in, whether that is in January or next summer, as Bayern may not want to run the risk of letting him run down his contract to leave on a free transfer in 2025.

If Klopp is able to secure a move for the exciting forward then that could allow Salah to move from the right wing and into a central position, as Sane could operate down the right flank, and this would leave Nunez on the bench.

Nunez's Premier League goal record

The former Benfica ace has not been reliable in front of goal for the Reds since his move from Portugal ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He made 29 Premier League appearances for the club last term and contributed with nine goals and three assists. In that time, the attacker missed a staggering 20 'big chances'.

Liverpool's "unplayable" academy star could soon usurp Gakpo and Nunez

Jurgen Klopp could soon unearth Liverpool’s next big thing…

ByRosie Tudball Nov 22, 2023

The 24-year-old whiz has followed that up with four goals and five assists in 16 top-flight outings this term. His finishing has left a lot to be desired, once again, as Nunez has spurned 15 'big chances' for Liverpool.

This means that he has scored 13 goals and missed an incredible 35 'big chances' in the final third for Klopp since the start of last season in the Premier League.

Mo Salah's goal record as a striker

Liverpool could, therefore, benefit from utilising another player as their focal point at the top end of the pitch and Salah could be unleashed in a new permanent role.

The Egypt international does have experience of playing as a number nine during his time on Merseyside, with a return of 28 goals and seven assists in 34 matches – a goal or an assist every 0.97 outings on average.

Whereas, the 31-year-old dynamo has produced 172 goals and 79 assists in 290 games as a right winger for the club – a return of a direct goal involvement every 1.16 clashes on average.

There is no doubt that Salah, who has scored 11 goals and missed seven 'big chances' in 17 top-flight matches this term, is a phenomenal right-sided attacker as he has proven himself over the course of almost 300 outings in that position.

However, his record from his relatively, in comparison to his appearances on the wing, short time as a striker for Liverpool suggests that his output could increase in this new permanent role.

He has outperformed his xG at league level by 9.57 throughout his career. Whereas, Nunez has underperformed his xG by a staggering 10.47 goals in two seasons at the club so far.

This shows that Salah is considerably more clinical than the former Benfica man and that is why he could thrive as a centre-forward and be an upgrade on the Uruguay international.

The statistics that show why Liverpool should sign Sane

Liverpool's left-footed superstar could be unleashed in that new role if Klopp is able to sign Sane, as the German whiz is a terrific right winger who can be an outstanding signing for the club.

In the Bundesliga this season, the 27-year-old star ranks within the top 2% of his positional peers for shot-creating actions (6.76), xAG (0.56), assists (0.59), and non-penalty goals (0.59) per 90.

He has produced eight goals, eight assists, and 11 'big chances' created in 14 top-flight appearances for Bayern during the 2023/24 campaign.

The £330k-per-week dynamo has also made 3.4 key passes per game for his side, which is 0.7 more per match than any Liverpool player has managed in the Premier League – Trent Alexander-Arnold leading the way with 2.7.

Sane, who manager Thomas Tuchel once described as a physical "machine", has showcased his ability to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch, whilst playing predominantly on the right flank.

He is an outstanding attacking talent who could be the chief creator for Klopp, based on his aforementioned creative statistics this season in comparison to Liverpool's current options, whilst also being able to carry a significant goal threat.

The German speedster would also come in with Premier League experience as he racked up 25 goals and 32 assists in 90 league games for City prior to his move to Bavaria.

Therefore, the Reds boss could bring Sane in and deploy him out wide on the right flank to consistently contribute with goals and assists, and that would also free up Salah to move into a new permanent role through the middle to be a big upgrade on Nunez.

Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong broke down in tears after being stretchered off against Real Madrid – just months before Euro 2024 begins.

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• De Jong suffers ankle injury in El Clasico
• Barcelona star breaks down in tears
• Setback occurs months before Euro 2024

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Barca midfielder grimaced in pain following a challenge from Madrid's Federico Valverde just before half time. It soon became clear the 26-year-old could not continue, with the former Ajax man not hiding his devastation as he was taken off the field. Before Pedri replaced him, both sets of fans applauded the Netherlands international.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While De Jong will be missed by Barcelona in the short-term this season, the Dutchman may be worried about whether or not he will be fit to play for his country in this year's European Championships – which start in less than two months' time.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Since joining Barcelona in 2019 for an initial £64.5 million ($80m), De Jong has played 212 times for the Blaugrana – scoring 17 goals in the process. In his time with the Spanish giants he has won La Liga once, the Copa del Rey once, and the Supercopa de Espana once.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  While De Jong may be set for a spell on the sidelines, second-placed Barcelona face Valencia after this Clasico encounter on April 29, whereas top of the table Madrid travel to Real Sociedad next Friday.

A BBC pundit has described a potential exit rumour surrounding one West Brom hero as "crazy", with his Hawthorns future up in the air at the moment.

West Brom's January transfer plans

The Baggies may have lost 2-1 away to Southampton in their last Championship game, but they still find themselves in a good position to finish in the playoff places this season. Granted, they have just slipped out of those positions and into seventh place currently, but they are only behind Sunderland on goal difference, and look primed to continue their good run for the rest of the campaign.

When the January transfer window opens in the New Year, there will be a chance for West Brom to bring in some new faces, with Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles seen as a transfer target. On the flip side, Baggies midfielder Tom Fellows has been linked with a move away from the club in January, with his contract at the Hawthorns expiring next summer.

Tom Fellows West Brom exit claim

Speaking to Football League World, BBC pundit and former England international Carlton Palmer described talk of Fellows potentially leaving West Brom as "crazy".

"Tom Fellows, West Brom's talented young forward, is attracting attention from elsewhere. West Brom are working hard to get Tom to commit to a new long-term contract and are hopeful of doing so.

"Tom's contract expires in the summer – I can't understand why West Brom have put themselves in such a difficult position before the January transfer window, it's just crazy. Before he commits to a new long-term contract, I'm sure Tom will want assurances about much-needed game-time.

"West Bromwich Albion need to do everything in their power to get him to sign a new contract – failing that they need to sell him in the January transfer window, which would be a huge blow for the club given he has come through the youth ranks and the academy and the money that's been invested in him.

"I really can't believe that clubs are still at this moment in time are not securing the services of talented young players on long contracts, and then putting themselves in the position that WBA have currently done."

Palmer is spot on in his assessment that West Brom have played the situation surrounding Fellows' future badly, with the 20-year-old now in a position where he could look for a new challenge and even leave for free at the end of the season, if he doesn't sign a new deal.

Tom Fellows' West Brom Under-18s record	Total
Appearances	35
Goals	12
Assists	9

The Englishman has been hailed as "very quick" by Baggies manager Carlos Corberan, and still has so much to give the team, even if Fellows' statistics so far this season show that he has only made seven appearances in all competitions, all of which have been from the substitutes' bench.

While the youngster leaving in January wouldn't necessarily be the end of the world in the short-term for West Brom, they should be looking to keep hold of their best emerging talent, so losing him would have to be considered a blow, especially if it was to a rival.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted that he wouldn't swap one of Paris Saint-Germain's players for his own.

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Laporta backing Barca to beat PSGTwo sides meet in Champions League quarter-final Kylian Mbappe expected to start for ParisiansWHAT HAPPENED?

Barca's outspoken president gave an impassioned speech prior to his side's Champions League quarter-final with PSG, in which he insisted that his side – considered underdogs for the tie – could get a result in Paris. The Blaugrana, he claimed, have a better squad than the Parisians.

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Laporta's statement notably avoided mention of Kylian Mbappe. The winger is set to join Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid this summer, and looks to be the Parisians' most apparent threat when the two sides meet. He should also be fresh after playing just 24 minutes of PSG's 1-1 draw with Clermont Foot at the weekend.

WHAT JOAN LAPORTA SAID

In a statement for his club's Twitter channel, Laporta rallied his Barca side: "I am prepared, fully prepared. I see the players very motivated and this motivates me. The message for our fans is to believe in our players and our coach. We have a great team. We are very focused and it is very important that they know I wouldn't change any of our players for one from PSG."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

The Blaugrana face PSG this evening, and then have La Liga action to worry about this weekend. Xavi's side face Cadiz on Saturday, where they will look to keep their slim hopes of domestic success alive.

West Ham United will be "front of the queue" to sign a "dictating" player in the January transfer window, according to reports this week.

Who will West Ham sign in January?

David Moyes and the Hammers have enjoyed an excellent start to the new Premier League season, winning four out of a possible eight league games so far. Impressive victories against the likes of Chelsea and in-form Brighton have displayed their brilliance as a very hard to beat side, with just Man City and Liverpool able to defeat Moyes' men this early in the campaign. West Ham's record-breaking European run is also something to be praised, as they're undefeated in their last 17 encounters outside of England.

Regardless, it is still believed Moyes, technical director Tim Steidten and sporting director Mark Noble are plotting ways to reinforce the Irons squad this winter. Amid doubts over the futures of defensive duo Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma, a new centre-back could come through the London Stadium doors. Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba and AC Milan ace Malick Thiaw have been linked with moves to West Ham most recently, while they could also sign a new left-back like Chelsea starlet Ian Maatsen (TEAMtalk).

An injury to striker Michail Antonio would spell trouble for Moyes as well, prompting reports of a potential striker move. Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy, who's racked up a quite incredible 13 league goals in just seven domestic outings already, is one name rumoured to be on the West Ham agenda for 2024.

Harry Maguire transfer update

Going back to the centre-back position, West Ham were targeting Man United defender Harry Maguire in the summer, but after a move fell through, they opted instead to sign Greek star Konstantinos Mavropanos. Maguire, who's an established player at international level with England, hasn't quite enjoyed the same form at club level over the last year.

Starting just one league game under Erik ten Hag this season, the £200,000-per-week ace has been subject to fierce criticism and may well opt to leave Old Trafford if his fortunes don't improve. This is where West Ham come in, as a report by Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke shares the latest Maguire transfer update.

It is now believed the Irons are in pole position and will be "front of the queue" for his signing, if Maguire does in fact decide to leave in January. Any deal will likely be an initial loan, but a transfer will be "hard" to facilitate given the defender's stance on leaving mid-season and his sky-high salary. Despite his questionable form in parts, Maguire has been praised by United's manager for his "dictating" style of play.

Likes to play long balls

Indirect set-piece threat

"Definitely. I'm really happy with the progress that Harry is making in this moment," said Ten Hag to the press in March.

"He's more dominant and dictating, he's taking more initiative on the training pitch and I think also in the Real Betis game, he showed leadership, especially in those aspects of initiative and dictating of the game."

Arsenal put in a tenacious performance against Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday and claimed a huge victory in the context of their season against Pep Guardiola's men.

Mikel Arteta will be hugely satisfied with his side's grit and determination as Gabriel Martinelli's deflected strike on 86 minutes proved to be the difference between the sides in front of a raucous atmosphere in north London. For long periods, it looked as if the deadlock would not be broken at either end as solid defensive displays from both backlines indicated that the crunch tie would end goalless; however, Arsenal showed their mettle as genuine contenders for the Premier League title, which they will hope to claim for the first time since 2004 come next May.

We at FootballFanCast take a look at the best and most inefficient Gunners performers from today's encounter, which will surely go down as one of Arsenal's more memorable wins in recent years as they join rivals Tottenham Hotspur at joint-top in the league standings.

GK: David Raya – 6/10

Despite a nervous start to proceedings and nearly giving away a goal on the cheap due to a loose clearance that fortuitously ricocheted wide, the Spaniard recovered and was able to keep a clean sheet for the Gunners, though he was helped out by his defence, who were resolute throughout the entire 90 minutes.

RB: Ben White – 7/10

England international Ben White enjoyed a productive time of things against Manchester City, completing three tackles and two clearances in a solid defensive display on the right-hand side. The former Brighton & Hove Albion man also carried a threat going forward and was accurate in his passing and can be proud of his performance against a notoriously difficult opponent.

CB: William Saliba – 7/10

William Saliba just oozes class, doesn't he? The Bondy-born ace was once again a dependable presence for Arsenal and used his pace, power and aggression expertly to thwart Manchester City's attack. Keeping the likes of Erling Haaland quiet is no mean feat and his central defensive partner, Gabriel, can also take great pride in his work; however, we will come on to him next.

CB: Gabriel – 7/10

As partnerships go, Gabriel and his teammate Saliba possess a nice blend of youth and experience and both complement each other well, with the same notion extending to their collective exploits today. Gabriel made three interceptions in the tie and also maintained a pass accuracy of 92%, which isn't bad against a team dubbed the greatest on the planet by many over the last few months.

LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7/10

Oleksandr Zinchenko slotted in well and took on the role of playing as an inverted full-back with minimal difficulty for vast spells, showing quality and a keen eye for a pass in his 75 minutes on the field before being replaced by Takehiro Tomiyasu.

CM: Martin Odegaard – 7/10

Club captain Martin Odegaard continues to rise to the mantle of carrying the torch for his side during clutch moments and delivered another energetic display in the engine room against Manchester City.

CM: Declan Rice – 8/10 (Man of the Match)

Declan Rice enjoyed a dominant performance against a depleted Manchester City midfield at the Emirates and managed to win some crucial tackles, thus setting his side on their way to fashion attacking opportunities. The England international's graft in the middle of the park may have gone unnoticed due to Martinelli's late winner; nevertheless, victory wouldn't have been possible without his hard work in the engine room.

CM: Jorginho – 7/10

Veteran midfielder Jorginho was quietly effective for Arsenal and played his part in their crucial victory over the visiting Citizens before being replaced by Thomas Partey.

LW: Leandro Trossard – 5/10

Leandro Trossard has been a fantastic addition since joining Brighton & Hove Albion in January; however, he didn't capture the imagination of Arsenal supporters today and was subsequently hooked for Gabriel Martinelli at half-time.

RW: Gabriel Jesus – 6/10

Perhaps unfortunate not to be rated higher, Gabriel Jesus worked his socks off for Arsenal despite being deployed out wide by boss Arteta and his ability to get up and down helped to suffocate any momentum from Manchester City down the left-hand side.

ST: Eddie Nketiah – 6/10

Similar to Jesus, Eddie Nketiah's hard work will have been appreciated by the Gunners' support today as he endeavoured tirelessly while leading the line for his side. Despite not getting on the scoresheet, he can be pleased with his performance today and his ability to occupy defenders with his pace and movement.

Substitutes

Kai Havertz (for Eddie Nketiah) – 6/10

Gabriel Martinelli (for Leandro Trossard) – 7/10

Thomas Partey (for Jorginho) – 6/10

Takehiro Tomiyasu (for Oleksandr Zinchenko) – 6/10

Manager

Mikel Arteta – 8/10: Tactically, Arteta got almost everything spot on today and recorded arguably the biggest win of his managerial career against the reigning Premier League champions, making it a job well done from his perspective.