Category Uncategorized

Glasgow Rangers gave Philippe Clement the perfect start to life at Ibrox as they secured a routine 4-0 win at home in the Scottish Premiership on the weekend.

Hibernian were put to the sword and after just one match, it already looks as though the Belgian is trying to imprint his own tactical style and identity on the pitch, something which Michael Beale failed to do during his final few months in charge.

The victory has certainly begun a new era at the Light Blues and several of the current players will now have clean slates as to impress the 49-year-old tactician and put their teething problems behind them.

This includes the likes of Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers, who have both struggled under the weight of expectations since joining the club in the summer.

They have scored a combined total of five goals and this is not good enough for a club the size of Rangers, especially with the vast sums of money Beale shelled out for them.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, Clement could potentially bulk up his squad by making a few signings and much will depend on the situation the team finds itself in at the current time.

The former Club Brugge manager should consider reigniting a swoop for summer target Michael Olunga, who was linked with a move to Glasgow during the early stages of the window, and he could certainly add some extra firepower to the first team.

Who could Rangers sign in January?

Having lost players such as Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, and Scott Arfield at the end of last season as their contracts expired, Beale had a major rebuilding job to do ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Back in May, Olunga was attracting attention from Galatasaray as they were looking for a new striker according to reports and his agent had even contacted the Turkish side.

Rangers were also mentioned as being keen on the player and on the surface, it looked like a perfect move. With Morelos leaving, there was a clear need for another centre-forward who could lead the line by himself, while also being clinical in front of goal and the Kenyan ace certainly fitted the bill.

Whether or not Clement revives any interest remains to be seen, yet with Lammers and Dessers failing to show their true talents in the final third, Olunga could be a reliable option.

How good is Michael Olunga?

The 29-year-old marksman has accumulated a wealth of experience over the course of his career across stints in Japan, Sweden, and now in Qatar for Al-Duhail.

His scoring rate for the Qatari side is exceptional, netting 88 goals across just 89 games and this is the type of player who could thrive at Ibrox, especially as he knows where the goal is.

He was heavily praised by his manager, Sabri Lamouchi, back in 2021 for a performance in the AFC Champions League where he netted a hattrick, saying: “Olunga deserves, of course, to be the man of the match.

“He’s a special player and his presence has helped us have a lot of attacking options.”

His ability to perform on the highest stage was evidenced by his displays in the AFC Champions League during 2022. He played eight games and managed to find the back of the net on six occasions, scoring every 117 minutes.

The 6 foot 2 goal machine took 3.9 shots per game and showed an eagerness to score as much as possible. With the Gers having to go a season without the goals and aggressiveness of Morelos for the first time since 2016/17, the Kenyan international could be an ideal replacement for the Colombian.

What happened to Alfredo Morelos?

Once a key figure at Ibrox, Morelos’ influence had waned by the time he left following the conclusion of last term, yet his presence is still missed, no doubt about it.

Over the course of his Gers career, the striker ended up scoring 124 goals across just 269 appearances for the Glasgow side and was a thorn in the side of many a team in Scotland and on the continent.

Indeed, his legacy perhaps stretches to that of becoming a cult hero for the club and his tally of 29 European goals is the best in their history.

He eclipsed Ally McCoist’s tally of 21 goals back in November 2020 and there is no doubt that when in his prime, Morelos was a striker capable of doing everything.

His final season was rather inconsistent, however, as he started only 23 matches as the forward was recovering from an injury which ruled him out of the final few weeks of 2022/23 – meaning he missed the Europa League and Scottish Cup finals.

Alfredo Morelos' career	Games	Goals
Rangers	269	124
HJK Helsinki	62	46
Independiente Medellín	23	5
Santos	2	0
Stats via Transfermarkt

Subsequently, Morelos scored only 12 times across all competitions due to the stop-start nature of his final season in Scotland, and it appeared that parting ways was the best move for all parties.

The striker is currently at Brazilian side Santos and none of the new arrivals look like they have the capabilities to be an ideal heir for the 27-year-old it must be said.

There is still time of course and once Danilo gets a solid run in the starting XI, he could go on a scoring run, but much will depend on the system Clement uses.

Taking another look at Olunga could be extremely beneficial and give Rangers another attacking option. He has similar strengths to Morelos, most notably being able to hold up the ball well while also being strong in the air, and these qualities could endear him to the supporters as a perfect heir to the former Gers star.

The Belgian coach may not get much of a budget during January due to the Ibrox side failing to qualify for the Champions League along with their major expenditure during the summer, yet there is no harm in potentially making a move for the 29-year-old gem in the coming months to bolster their attacking options.

Securing wins over his next few games will give Clement plenty of credit in the bank and this could spur on a new era in Glasgow, and if Olunga manages to replace the goals and presence of Morelos, the Colombian could be a thing of the past.

West Ham United had an interesting summer transfer window, with the alarm bells initially ringing over the fact that Declan Rice had departed. The arrival of players like James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez silenced that alarm, and the Hammers have since got off to an impressive start in the Premier League this season to make the academy graduate's exit a forgotten woe.

David Moyes will be well-aware of the need to avoid any further damaging exits, though, making the January transfer window a particularly interesting one. Reports suggest that West Ham do have a plan if one star leaves the club in the winter window, however, with a potential return for a summer target that they missed out on.

West Ham transfer news: Zouma and Maguire

The latest West Ham transfer news, as per 90min, has seen Kurt Zouma linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in January, which would leave the Hammers without one of their most important defenders. The Frenchman has started every Premier League game so far this season, and has taken the captain's armband following Rice's exit.

Moyes is undoubtedly a fan of his captain, previously praising the defender, telling Football London: "We are trying to challenge the top teams because I want to be right there at the top and those players can show they are good enough to play for the international teams. Kurt has played really really well for us. He’s been a colossus in the games he has played so his form will not go unnoticed."

If the former Chelsea man does depart, the latest Harry Maguire transfer news has indicated that West Ham could return for the out-of-favour Manchester United centre-back.

According to 90min, those at the London Stadium are still interested in the England international, despite a move in the summer collapsing after a £30m deal was agreed. West Ham know all about the defender's quality, too, given Maguire's record against West Ham, which has seen him end the day on the winning side eight times throughout his career.

The London club, of course, reinforced their defensive options in the summer window with the arrival of Konstantinos Mavropanos, but the exit of Zouma would leave them back to square one, and in need of yet another arrival within Moyes' defensive line. When the January transfer window does arrive, the Hammers will certainly be an interesting club to watch, especially if they suffer yet another high-profile exit.

How has Harry Maguire performed this season?

Despite remaining out-of-favour, injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have seen Maguire thrown back into the Manchester United side at times this season. And he has, much to his credit, impressed at times, recently earning the praise of England teammate Marc Guehi, who told BBC Radio 5Live, via The York Press: “He is a top professional, a great guy to have around the camp, one of the leaders.

“I think people forget things very quickly, but he was Manchester United captain, someone who has played for England at many, many top competitions and has helped the team and the nation to get where they are today. So, let’s not forget what he has done in a hurry because he is definitely a top player and an even better person for sure.”

Liverpool have seen an abundance of talent take to the pitch at Anfield over the years, with Jurgen Klopp’s current crop of stars on track to have a successful season after their questionable form last term.

The Reds finished in fifth at the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign, marking their first finish outside of the top-four since 2016, forcing them to settle with Europa League football instead of the Champions League.

The season prior, Klopp led his side to a narrow second-place finish, missing out on their second Premier League title by a single point to Manchester City, however things look to be back on track for the squad.

2023 has seen the price of midfielders inflate dramatically, from Chelsea’s £106.8m capture of Enzo Fernandez in January, to the Blues’ £115m deal to sign Moises Caicedo, which has only made Klopp’s summer business more admirable.

The German recruited Dominik Szoboszlai for £60m and Alexis Mac Allister for £35m early into the window, telling of the strength of the deals as both of the acquisitions continue to impress early into their Anfield careers.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Liverpool have struck gold with signings, most notably through the £8.5m capture of Philippe Coutinho in 2013, whom the Reds eventually sold for an eye-watering £142m.

Coutinho wasn’t the only piece of highly profitable business Liverpool had exchanged with Barcelona, with none other than Luis Suarez being one of the club’s biggest sales.

How much did Liverpool pay for Luis Suarez?

In January 2011, Liverpool captured the signature of Suarez from Eredivisie giants Ajax in a deal worth just £23m.

Signed at the age of 24, the Reds locked him down on a five-and-a-half year contract, in what was a stellar piece of business by manager at the time, Kenny Dalglish.

Nowadays, spending around £23m for a natural goal-scoring striker would be considered a vast underpayment, however, journalist Tim Vickery told BBC Radio 5 live at the time that the Reds had paid “top whack” for the Uruguayan.

It was admittedly a lot of money to spend on a player at the time, yet when revisiting the calibre of player that Liverpool had signed in the 24-year-old Suarez, it all made more sense.

Why was he worth that much?

In 159 appearances for Ajax, Suarez contributed directly to 179 goals, scoring 111 and assisting 68 in a remarkable three-and-a-half-year stay in Amsterdam.

Prior to his move to Anfield, the striker had scored 12 goals and registered 11 assists in 24 appearances during the 2010/11 campaign, reinforcing just how hot Dalglish’s signing of the forward was at the time.

Suarez was far more than just a poacher at Ajax, however he fit the description of one extremely well, with his highest scoring season coming in the 2009/10 season in which he netted an astounding 49 goals in 48 appearances, 35 of which came in the Eredivisie.

There was a feeling at the time at Anfield that equipping the side with a reliable goalscorer could pave a lot of cracks, and in adding Suarez to the mix, the Reds were well poised to progress.

How many goals did Luis Suarez score for Liverpool?

The evidence was there instantly that Dalglish had made the correct call on Suarez, as he scored on his Premier League debut in a 2-0 win against Stoke City in February 2011.

During his opening spell in the Premier League, the Uruguayan scored four goals and recorded five assists, showing a sign of things to come.

The 2011/12 campaign marked Suarez’s first full season at Liverpool, and after his 35-goal heroics in Eredivisie in his final full term at Ajax, ending the season on 11 goals was marginally underwhelming, but again, it was just the beginning.

Very quickly, the £23m signing became an unstoppable force, as in his second season, he scored 23 Premier League goals, followed by scoring a magnificent 31 during the 2013/14 campaign, seeing him win the Golden Boot by a sizable margin.

Luis Suarez's Liverpool career

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

2010/11

13

4

5

2011/12

39

17

9

2012/13

44

30

13

2013/14

37

31

19

Figures via Transfermarkt

Suarez became the benchmark for strikers in England to follow during his time at Liverpool, showing a combination of skill, desire, flair and controversy to make him unforgettable.

In 2014, Gary Lineker dubbed the Reds’ hero a “phenomenon” for his ability in front of goal, which was reinforced by the 82 goals and 46 assists he’d secured in a total of 133 appearances for Liverpool.

How much did Liverpool sell Luis Suarez for?

Unfortunately for Brendan Rodgers, who became manager after Dalglish, it wasn’t only Lineker who saw the 'phenomenon' in Suarez, as Barcelona came knocking that summer.

After three-and-a-half years on Merseyside, Liverpool made the decision to allow Suarez to fulfil his dream and join the Catalan giants, receiving a fee of £75m for his services in 2014.

It was a difficult time for Rodgers to part ways with his formidable scorer, as his final season at Anfield concluded with the Reds missing out on the title, after looking as though they would be crowned champions throughout the campaign.

Liverpool finished second that year, and following his big-money exit, Rodgers’ side crumbled, finishing sixth in the 2014/15 term, their first without Suarez leading the line.

How much is Luis Suarez worth now?

In selling Suarez, Liverpool bid farewell to their reliable source of goals, however they did receive a sizable profit for his sale, creditable to how well the club had managed their player and squeezed the very best out of him in England.

The Uruguay international went on to score 195 goals and record 113 assists in 283 appearances for Barcelona, as well as winning the prestigious Champions League alongside his attacking partners Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Now 36, Suarez resides in Brazil, representing Brazilian Serie A club Gremio with a market value of €11.5m (£10m), showing a career that has gone full circle from his time in the Premier League.

While the sale of Suarez was detrimental to Rodgers’ squad’s progression, Liverpool struck gold in signing him in the first place, receiving a fee 226% higher from Barcelona than the mere £23m paid to retrieve him in 2014.

After scoring 11 goals in his first full season, there was little indication that the Uruguayan would hit the heights that he soon after did at Anfield, which is a credit to the club and the player himself.

All the factors along the way of Suarez’s career on Merseyside were attributable to the mega-fee that Liverpool were rewarded with in 2014, in a transaction that will go down as one of the Reds’ best buys and sales of the Premier League era.

Somerset’s victory in the West Country derby satisfied local tastes as Taunton favourite Peter Trego lay waste to the Gloucestershire attack

ECB Reporters Network06-Jul-2018
ScorecardSomerset began their Vitality Blast campaign in style with a rousing six-wicket win over arch-rivals Gloucestershire at Taunton.A 7,000 crowd saw the visitors post 188 for 6 after losing the toss, Ryan Higgins leading the way with 55 off 35 balls and Jack Taylor contributing 34. Roelof van der Merwe was the pick of the Somerset bowlers, conceding only 22 from his four overs.In reply, Steve Davies (60) and Peter Trego (72 not out) set about an injury-hit Gloucestershire attack with a blistering second-wicket stand of 90 in 7.1 overs to lay the foundation for a convincing victory with 19 balls to spareGloucestershire were never able to go into overdrive on a true pitch, losing wickets at vital times. Jamie Overton conceded 20 off the final over and was grateful to see Tom Abell take a brilliant diving catch at wide long-on to end Higgins’ entertaining knock.The late blast meant took Gloucestershire to a reasonable total, having been 158 for five at the end of the 18th over, bowled by wily left-arm spinner van der Merwe.Download our T20 Blast Podcast

Dan Norcross and Jarrod Kimber preview the Vitality T20 Blast 2018
Listen on ESPN Radio
Subscribe on iTunes

Miles Hammond, Michael Klinger, Benny Howell and Ian Cockbain all got starts only to surrender their wickets for scores of less than 23 as Somerset rotated their bowlers constantly,.It took a fifth-wicket stand of 58 in less than six overs between Taylor and Higgins to guide Gloucestershire to respectability. But the entire innings featured only 3 sixes on a high-scoring ground with some short boundaries.The second over of Somerset’s reply saw Davies spilled at deep square by Higgins off Liam Norwell, the ball dropping over the boundary for six. Davies then took a four and another six off the next two deliveries.Higgins then held a catch in the deep to dismiss Johann Myburgh off David Payne, but Gloucestershire’s problems worsened when Norwell, his season already ravaged by injury, hobbled off after bowling only three balls of his second over.Davies and Trego piled on the pressure with some savage strokeplay, taking Somerset to 94 for one off seven overs by smiting 53 off 18 balls, sent down by Howell, Thisara Perera.and Tom Smith. The half-century stand occupied just 25 deliveries.Davies went to 50 off 21 balls with a six off Howell in the eighth over, also bringing up the hundred and Gloucestershire needed a miracle.Higgins had Davies caught on the deep-square boundary, but there was no let-up as James Hildreth smashed Payne for six and collected another maximum off Tom Smith with a reverse sweep.Hildreth fell for 25 to another big swing, but Trego moved to fifty off 30 balls and Corey Anderson (24) helped see Somerset home.

كشف متخصص سوق الانتقالات، فابرزيو رومانو، عن شروط برشلونة لبيع مدافعه خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية.

وارتبط المدافع السنغالي، ميكائيل فاي، بالرحيل عن صفوف نادي برشلونة الإسباني في الفترة المقبلة.

اقرأ ايضاً.. برشلونة يعلن موعد مبارياته الصيفية أمام ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي وميلان

وبحسب ما أكده رومانو عبر حسابه الرسمي على منصة “X” فإن نادي برشلونة لا يمانع رحيل، ميكائيل فاي، إلى نادي بورتو البرتغالي هذا الصيف.

وأوضح رومانو أن برشلونة طلب من بورتو الحصول على ما يقارب 15-16 مليون يورو بالإضافة إلى خيار إعادة شراء ونسبة من البيع المستقبلي لـ اللاعب.

حتى الآن لا يوجد أي اتفاق بين برشلونة والنادي البرتغالي والمفاوضات لازالت جارية بين إدارة الناديين بحسب ما أكده رومانو.

يذكر أن فريق برشلونة للشباب الصيف الماضي تعاقد مع السنغالي ميكائيل فاي قادمًا من نادي إن كيه كوستوسيجا الكرواتي بمبلغ 2 مليون يورو بعقد لمدة أربعة مواسم.

With the dreaded international break now at an end, attention can now return to what really matters, with Leeds United hoping to kickstart their season away to Millwall this afternoon following what has been an underwhelming start to life back in the Championship.

The Yorkshire giants are currently languishing in the bottom half of the table after picking up just six points from their opening five league games of the new campaign, with the arrival of promotion expert Daniel Farke – who twice steered Norwich City into the Premier League – having yet to have the desired affect.

In the German's defence, he has had to steady the ship amid what has been a choppy summer for the club with 15 players having sought out pastures new, although patience will likely begin to wear thin if the 46-year-old – and his nine new additions – don't begin to catch fire before too long.

What is the Leeds United team news vs Millwall?

As Farke revealed in his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Whites' injury woes look to be easing up somewhat, with the likes of Patrick Bamford, Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo seemingly the only definite absentees for the trip to The Den.

The ex-Borussia Monchengladbach boss did, however, reveal that there are doubts regarding the fitness of recent loan arrival, Djed Spence, with the 23-year-old having taken a "knock" to the knee earlier in the week.

Despite that potential setback, the likes Liam Cooper, Dan James and Sam Bryam are all in contention for this crunch clash, while it could also be an opportunity for summer signing Jaidon Anthony to make his first outing for his new club.

Will Jaidon Anthony play against Millwall?

The 23-year-old was signed from AFC Bournemouth on a season-long loan deal on deadline day, with that move seeing fellow winger Luis Sinisterra head in the other direction on an initial temporary basis, after just a solitary campaign at Elland Road.

While the latter man did endure an injury-disrupted 2022/23 season, he was still able to outline his quality after netting seven times in just 22 games in all competitions, while also getting off the mark this season in the 4-3 thriller against Ipswich Town.

To then lose such a "crucial player" – as described by Farke – so late in the window does look to have been something of a blow to Leeds' promotion hopes, although in Anthony, the club have found a "proven Championship player", in the words of his new manager.

The young Englishman was also the recipient of stellar praise from ex-Cherries boss Scott Parker in the past, with the former Chelsea and West Ham United midfielder stating: "…Jaidon Anthony is a player that goes under the radar, massively to be quite honest with you. What he does for this team is nothing short of incredible at times.

"I think we see his quality, his calmness, his silkiness when he makes good decisions."

Such 'quality' was evident during his last stint in the second tier as the London-born speedster scored eight goals and contributed six assists from his 45 league outings for the south coast side, illustrating what a devastating "threat" he can be against Championship defences – as hailed by fan pundit Kris Smith.

To have lost a figure like Sinisterra so late in the day may appear hard to recover from, although if Anthony can rediscover his prior Bournemouth form, then Leeds could well forget all about their £21m addition.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been facing off against one another for well over a century now, with their first meeting coming all the way back in 1896 in a now-defunct competition called the United League. However, the two sides' first meeting in the First Division came in 1909 – a game the Gunners won 1-0.

Football FanCast has everything you need to know as the two rivals prepare to meet once again in the Premier League.

Most teams in the league have now played five games – or more, including other competitions – so we can now start to consider the teams' form when looking forward to upcoming games.

The home side will be going into the game full of confidence after they finally broke their terrible away record at Everton on Sunday. The game wasn't a goal fest for Mikel Arteta's side, but they never looked like they were in any real danger from the Toffees. That win means they go into Sunday with four wins and one draw in the league so far this year.

For their part, Spurs should also be brimming with confidence ahead of this clash. Their last-minute win against Sheffield United last weekend typified everything new boss Ange Postecoglou has managed to achieve at the club so far in his tenure. The dire atmosphere that followed the club everywhere seems to be gone, and in its place, a new, positive expectation that they can and should be winning more than they were.

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: What's their head-to-head record?

Since their first official meeting in the English league in 1909, Arsenal and Tottenham have met a staggering 193 times in all competitions. The Gunners have only played Aston Villa (201), Manchester City (209), Chelsea (211), Everton (222), Liverpool (239), and Manchester United (240) more times than their north London rivals.

Spurs, on the other hand, have played just United more times than Arsenal, with 201 games being played between the two.

While this rivalry has generally been one that's seen tightly fought games and periods where both sides have been dominant, the Gunners generally emerge as victors when they meet. In all, the red side of North London have 80 wins under their belt – a win rate of 41% – whereas Spurs have 62 wins to their name – a win rate of just 32%.

Arsenal Wins

80

Draws

51

Tottenham Wins

62

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: What's their record at Highbury/Emirates Stadium?

Well, given Arsenal tend to win more games than they lose in this rivalry, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise to read that it's the Gunners who have a far better record when it comes to games at their place.

In all, the men in red have won 49 of the 93 games they have played as host, which is more than double the 20 Spurs have managed when traveling to play Arsenal.

Worse still for the Lilywhites is that they have drawn more games away to their biggest rivals than they have won, with their last victory coming back in December 2018 in the League Cup.

Arsenal Wins

49

Draws

24

Tottenham Wins

20

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: What's their record at Tottenham?

The two sides have played three games more at Tottenham than Arsenal, and just like with the reverse fixture, the hosts generally come away from these encounters with all three points.

In all, the Lilywhites have 41 wins to their name when playing at home, whereas Arsenal have 29 – just slightly more than the number of draws, 26.

Arsenal Wins

29

Draws

26

Tottenham Wins

41

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: What's their League record?

Of the 193 times the two North London clubs have played one another over the years, 172 encounters have come in either the old First Division or the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, the record of their league encounters almost perfectly mirrors the overall narrative, with the Gunners picking up 70 wins – a 40% win rate – and Spurs picking up 55 – a 31% win rate.

Arsenal Wins

70

Draws

47

Tottenham Wins

55

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: Which team has the most goals?

In total, there have been 555 goals in this fixture, which means there have been an average of 2.8 goals per game, an absurd and brilliant indicator of how exciting these encounters often are.

For their part, Arsenal scored 296 of those goals, giving them a ratio of 1.5 per game. On the other hand, Spurs scored 259, giving them a slightly worse but still impressive ratio of 1.3 goals per game.

Arsenal Goals

296

Tottenham Goals

259

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: What happened in last season's fixtures?

This won't make for pretty reading for the Spurs inclined among you, but last season saw two north London derbies and two derbies in which the Gunners walked away as comfortable winners.

The first encounter came early in the season and was played at the Emirates. Both teams were in reasonably good form going into the clash, and when it was 1-1 at the break, it looked like we would be in for a tight affair. Arsenal had other ideas, though.

Gabriel Jesus doubled the host's score on 49 minutes before Granit Xhaka added another 18 minutes later, and the game fizzled out from there.

The return fixture was just as one-sided, with the Gunners going in two goals to the good at half time, and it could've been more. Antonio Conte's men came out better in the second half but ultimately got nowhere close to their bitter rivals.

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: What is Arsenal's biggest win?

Arsenal's biggest win came all the way back in March 1935 when they traveled to White Hart Lane for a game in the old First Division and came away 6-0 winners.

The scoring was opened by Cliff Bastin, who scored from the spot before Peter Dougall would double the score, and both Ted Drake and Alf Kirchen would come away from the tie with a brace each.

The Gunners would go on to win the league that season, making it their third on the bounce and their fourth out of the five they would win in the 1930s.

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: What is Tottenham's biggest win?

While Spurs have never put six past their local rivals, they have come out 5-0 winners on two separate occasions.

The first came back in December 1911, when the Gunners were still called Woolwich Arsenal. The goalscorers that day were Herbet Middlemiss, Jabez Darnell, and John McTavish, all with one and William Minter with a brace.

The more recent occurrence of this scoreline transpired in April 1983, where again at White Hart Lane, Spurs would blitz their rivals 5-0 thanks to braces from Chris Hughton and Mark Falco and one goal from Alan Brazil – yes, that Alan Brazil.

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: What are the recent results?

Despite the overall nature of this fixture being fairly balanced, with Arsenal just edging it, the last five games have been anything but.

The last five encounters have resulted in four wins for Arteta's men and just a single win for the Lilywhites, with an aggregate score of 10-6 in favour of the men in red.

That said, while the two games last year were relatively easy wins for Arsenal, their game away to Tottenham in May 2022 was a demolition job from the hosts as they came away 3-0 winners.

Will it be a continuation of the trend come Sunday? Or can Postecoglou finally break it?

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: When is it?

Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 24 September at 2pm British Summer Time. The North London Derby is already one of the most hotly anticipated fixtures in the English footballing calendar, one only made more exciting with how both sides have started their seasons.

That said, the two sides will be going into this one with different objectives and points to prove.

For the hosts, they have to maintain pace with league leaders Manchester City and keep churning out wins on a weekly basis. They'll be looking to use this match as a signifier to the rest of the league that they can halt Tottenham's momentum with relative ease and that they're once again City's primary challenger for the title.

On the other hand, Tottenham will first and foremost be looking to avoid yet another defeat away to Arsenal, given their last league win at the Emirates came back in November 2010. That said, Postecoglou has already shown himself to be a footballing purist and won't look to sit back against the Gunners, and so if they can come away from the game with a point or three whilst maintaining their attacking style – that'll be a big statement to the rest of the league.

There are also players that will want to prove themselves. Kai Havertz will be desperate to show what he can do in an Arsenal shirt, and there really is no better game to do that than a North London Derby, and the same can be said for Richarlison. Oh, and there's the small factor of no Harry Kane this time, a man who has been a perpetual thorn in the Gunners' side in these games.

Overall, this should be a thrilling game – even more than usual – and you will not want to miss it.

أعرب تيبو كورتوا حارس مرمى فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي ريال مدريد الإسباني، عن سعادته بخوض النهائي الثاني مع ريال مدريد لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

كورتوا قاد ريال مدريد للفوز ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا على حساب ليفربول في نهائي نسخة 2022، عندما تألق ضد محمد صلاح ورفاقه.

الحارس البلجيكي كان مصابًا في بداية الموسم، قبل أن يستعيد عافيته ويخوض 4 مباريات بنهاية الموسم تحت قيادة المدرب كارلو أنشيلوتي، مع شكوك حول مشاركته في النهائي مع تألق الأوكراني لونين.

طالع أيضًا.. أنشيلوتي يحذر من بوروسيا دورتموند قبل نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا: أتمنى حصول كروس على اللقب

وقال كورتوا في تصريحات لوسائل إعلام ريال مدريد اليوم الاثنين: “لم أكن متأكدًا من أنني سأتمكن من اللعب في مايو، لكن الآن أنا سعيد بالعودة والجاهزية للمشاركة”.

وأضاف: “كنت متوترًا ضد قادش. لأنها كانت المباراة الأولى بعد 9 أشهر من الغياب، ثم في مواجهة ألافيس، شعرت أنني بحالة جيدة للغاية. وقلت لنفسي (لقد عدت)، وحاولت أن أظهر ذلك على أرض الملعب”.

وعن مواجهة بوروسيا دورتموند: “يعتقد الناس أنها ستكون مباراة سهلة، لكن بوروسيا دورتموند فريق صعب للغاية. يجب أن نكون جاهزين بنسبة 200% لتحقيق الفوز عليهم”.

واختتم: “أنا سعيد جدًا لكوني جزءًا من تاريخ ريال مدريد، وأسعى لمساعدة الفريق مثلما حدث منذ عامين، وأن نحصل على اللقب الخامس عشر”.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in making a swoop for Sevilla defender Gonzalo Montiel, as Unai Emery seeks further summer reinforcements ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Spaniard alongside Monchi has welcomed the signings of Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby to Villa Park, in three moves that pose as significant upgrades to the squad.

The four-time Europa League winner could now delve back into the market to once again steal some talent from LaLiga, just as he did with Torres.

Could Aston Villa sign Gonzalo Montiel?

As reported in Spain (as relayed by Sport Witness), Villa have made ‘simple contacts’ over Argentine full-back Montiel.

The report claims that the 26-year-old is unhappy at Sevilla, making a potential reunion with Monchi a possibility this summer.

After just two years in LaLiga, the right-back could be on the move again, with his value currently sitting close to €12m (£10m), as per FootballTransfers.

How good is Gonzalo Montiel?

Most notable for his World Cup-winning penalty in Qatar back in December, the defender lived out his dream to secure his country the greatest prize of them all at a moment where room for error was incredibly slim.

Aside from his World Cup heroics, the former River Plate full-back has been a solid presence at the back in Spain, making 28 league appearances for Sevilla last season, and becoming an integral member of the squad.

Deployed exclusively on the right side of the defence, the Argentine has been lauded as an “animal” by a figure well known in the Midlands, former boss and Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui.

A combative player, Montiel has been identified as a player known to be ‘active in transition’ by scouting site Target Scouting, who pinpointed such attributes when analysing the full-back’s performances at River Plate.

Such claims have been supported by his numbers last season in LaLiga, suggesting that he could be the perfect acquisition for Monchi to chase this summer.

As per FBref, the Argentine averaged 3.37 progressive passes and 2.01 progressive carries per 90 for Sevilla, showcasing his abilities going forward in support of offensive patterns of play.

Lining up as a defender, the former River Plate favourite made his defensive strengths clear through his averages in LaLiga last season, recording an average of 1.54 tackles and 1.12 interceptions per 90.

The potential arrival of Montiel could represent another reshuffle at the back from Emery, in a player whose arrival should be feared by some in his position.

While Matty Cash has been a reasonably solid signing for Villa since arriving at Villa Park from Nottingham Forest back in 2020, the Poland international could see his place taken if the opportunity arises for the Argentine target to occupy the area.

Last campaign, the former Forest defender had his place in the squad covered by veteran Ashley Young whilst he spent time on the sidelines nursing a calf injury.

Young was a valued yet ageing member of the squad in the Midlands for his duties representing the club over the years, but now missing additional game time with a backup of the calibre of Montiel could leave Cash with the problem of being usurped in the pecking order.

While contact is rumoured to have been made, no official bid has been reported yet, however with the start of the 2023/24 season around the corner, Emery should act quickly to get his squad into shape ready for the new calendar.

Southampton are still in the hunt for a new attacking right-back following the departure of Tino Livramento to Newcastle, and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential target.

What is the latest Southampton transfer news?

According to Football League World, Tottenham are looking to send Djed Spence out on loan this summer with Southampton being one of several clubs showing an interest.

Since joining Spurs in July last year, the 23-year-old has only played 41 minutes of senior football and with his development continuing to stagnate in north London, a loan move away could help him get back to his "swashbuckling" best – as he was once described by Ian Wright.

Despite a whole host of clubs circling for his signature, including Crystal Palace, the report also states that Ange Postegcoglou wants to send Spence to a club that would be the right fit for him and given the Saints play a possession-heavy style under Russell Martin, they certainly fit the profile.

How good is Djed Spence?

From being one of the standout players in Nottingham Forest's promotion-winning campaign to virtually playing no senior football at Spurs, it's fair to say that Spence's career has taken a turn for the worst in the past year, though a Championship loan this summer can help spark his career back into life.

After being sent out on loan by Middlesbrough in the 2021/22 season, Spence went on to make 39 appearances, scoring twice and assisting five times, but it was during Forest's shock victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup that he announced his name in lights.

Lauded by Stephen Warnock as "outstanding" following this exceptional performance, the pacey 6 foot right back was a thorn down the Gunners' left side all evening, wreaking havoc with his electric pace and monstrous ball-carrying.

This magnificent display drew praise from several high-profile pundits but the most flattering of compliments came from Arsenal legend Wright, who said: "I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time."

He then continued to wax lyrical about his display by saying: "I said to him, in all seriousness, 'that level we saw there? You should be in the Premier League'. Simple as that."

While Spence would later get his dream move to the top flight, it hasn't worked out as he would have desired, but dropping to the Championship and playing for Southampton can see him resurrect his career and become the heir of Livramento.

Similarly to Livramento, Spence has pace to burn in possession, can carry the ball in an effortless motion and thrives in one vs one situations, which are all strengths that saw him quickly rise to stardom at Forest and become one of the most sought-after prospects in the second tier.

He exemplified his ability to carry the ball long distances and become a driving force for his team through his excellent attacking metrics, ranking in the top 1% in the division during 2021/22 for his progressive carries (4.35), the top 4% for his successful take-ons (1.89) and the top 5% for his carries into the final third (2.54) with Livramento recording 3.23, 1.23 and 2.21 for those metrics in the same season, albeit in the Premier League.

With Arsenal reportedly eyeing up a move for Kyle Walker-Peters following the injury to Jurrien Timber, this would leave a void that needs filling and if Spence can return to the form he showed while at Forest, then Southampton should strongly consider acting quickly in their pursuit of the 23-year-old.