Whenever a manager leaves a football club before the start of the season, it always raises questions about the state and the integrity of said club.

Welshman Tony Pulis left Crystal Palace in August less than 48 hours before the 2014-15 Premier League season began. Questions began to be asked about the state of Crystal Palace football club. The reason Pulis left was due to the failure of Crystal Palace’s attempts to land transfer targets during the summer.

Then began the turmoil. Not only did Palace lose their first two Premier League games of the season, but their new manager search was under fire as well. Malky Mackay had been the favourite to take over at Selhurst Park but as that all went pear shaped after allegations were revealed of him sending sexist, racist and homophobic texts. Those allegations also involved Iain Moody, who resigned from his role of director of sport from Crystal Palace.

After all these setbacks, who ended up being Pulis’ replacement? Neil Warnock, back for a second spell with the club after previously taking charge between 2007 and 2010 before the club went into administration. The day after he was appointed, he brought Wilfred Zaha back to the club on loan from Manchester United, who became a key component in his first game in charge against Newcastle.

In this game at St James’ Park, Palace took the lead twice thanks to a Dwight Gayle goal after 29 seconds and a Jason Puncheon volley later on, but then they had to rely on a Zaha equaliser in stoppage time to finish the game 3-3. The point earned in this game was Palace’s first point of the new season and showed a new kind of fight to stay in this league under Warnock.

Palace were able to create a high number of chances, despite only having 36% possession throughout the game and were strong at finishing when the chances occurred as well. From the 12 shots they had, seven of them were on target, a greater improvement compared to their first two games of the season against Arsenal and West Ham.

However, Palace were still quite aggressive with play and lost possession often and this is an issue Warnock will need to address.

Warnock has attempted to address this issue with the signing of Kevin Doyle and James McArthur on transfer deadline day. The immediate impact of Zaha as well shows Warnock knows what Palace need for the fight to stay in the Premier League.

Warnock’s first home game in charge in the Premier League will come this weekend against Burnley. Hopefully he will have established a playing style he would like to play with this Palace squad, which has more than enough to stay in the Premier League.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Crystal Palace is still one of the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League this season but I think Warnock is the right man to lead them towards survival.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

It is quite clear the best striker in the Premier League so far this season has been Chelsea’s Diego Costa. He has taken to English football like a duck to water ever since joining the Pensioners, scoring nine goals in seven league appearances. No player has had the start he’s had since Argentine Sergio Aguero joined Manchester City in the summer 2011 – and scored eight goals in his first five games.

If Costa is the best striker in the Premier League at the moment, who is the second best striker? Here are FIVE players worthy of this name tag.

[ffc-gallery]

CLICK ON ULLOA TO REVEAL THE FIVE

[/ffc-gallery]

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Saido Berahino

The 21 year old has had a great start to the season with West Brom. The Englishman has scored five goals from seven league appearances and has earned himself a shot at being called up to the senior squad internationally. Berahino has hit 63% of his 21 shots on target, and has on average three shots per game.

Leonardo Ulloa

The Leicester City striker has made an immediate impact after joining the club from Brighton & Hove Albion over the summer for £8m. He has scored five goals from seven games for the Foxes, including two important goals against Manchester United. Leicester came from 3–1 down to win the match 5–3. The Argentine has had 60% of his 12 shots find the target, averaging 1.7 shots per game.

Sergio Aguero

The Argentine would probably be the only player on this list most people expected to be near or at the top of any best striker list. Out of the five listed, Aguero is the most likely player to get anywhere near Costa’s goal tally for Chelsea. So long as the Argentine can stay injury free for the Citizens. He shouldn’t have any problems scoring 20+ goals this season.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Diafra Sakho

West Ham’s Diafra Sakho has had a slightly less impressive start, but it’s still been a good one and he’s worth including on this list. The Senegalese striker has scored four goals from five league games, taking on average 2.6 shots per game with a shot accuracy of 60% from 13 shots. Since arriving at the Hammers from FC Metz during last summer for £4.4m, he has scored in every game he has started in.

Graziano Pelle

The 29 year old joined Southampton from Feyenoord for £8.8m last summer and has made former Saints and England International Rickie Lambert feel like a distant memory. The most memorable of his Saints goals so far is an amazing winning goal against QPR back in September, helping his side to a 2-1 victory.

With one goal in 10 Serie A appearances, it looks likely that Fernando Torres’ Italian adventure may be a brief one. The Spaniard joined the San Siro giants on a two-year loan deal from Chelsea over the summer, with the transfer appearing to be, effectively, a permanent one with his contract at Stamford Bridge set to end in 2016.

Yet Milan are, according to reports, willing to let him go in January, and Chelsea are believed to be willing to sanction a free deal for the 30-year-old.

With Liverpool struggling, could bringing back a player who once wowed the Anfield crowd be wise? Maybe, and here are FIVE reasons why…

Current crop struggling

Daniel Sturridge, Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli have managed just two Premier League goals between them this season. Shocking! Okay, the former has been out injured since August, but the tally produced by the quartet as a whole is simply awful, leaving Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling as the club’s joint top scorers with three league goals apiece.

Torres was hardly prolific in his spell at Chelsea, but he did at least register superior goals to minute ratio than the majority of Liverpool’s marksmen have this term.

Bargain basement

Reports suggest that Milan are willing to offload the Spaniard, with their desire to get rid so strong that a full on loan termination next month is on the cards. By no means an underpaid star, Torres earns £3.1m-per-season, with no form of fee needed, that cost is one that should be within the Reds’ reach, should they decide to push.

Chelsea may not even kick up a fuss, with the possibility of ‘El Nino’ returning to Stamford Bridge not once Jose Mourinho will be keen on after recruiting three new forwards over the summer after losing patience with Torres.

He was happy at Liverpool

There’s a lot to be said for being happy in the workplace. As the old adage goes, a happy worker is a productive worker, and Torres has not looked truly content since his time at Anfield. The once-prolific forward was, arguably, the best all-round striker on the planet through the late 2000s, with his blend of pace, power and composure making him a danger for even the best centre-backs.

Injuries and ‘that fee’ back in 2011 seem to have wrecked his career, but returning to familiar surroundings and a club he knows has great affection for him – even though a fair few Kopites won’t admit it – may be enough to help the 30-year-old enjoy a few more good years.

Will allow Borini to leave

The fact that Liverpool needed to beat Basel on Tuesday night and Borini was left out of the squad is damning. The Italian was Brendan Rodgers’ first signing upon his arrival at Anfield, yet the once Chelsea and Swansea man appears to be massively out of favour on Merseyside, with his decision to reject a deadline day move to Sunderland or QPR seemingly frustrating for his boss.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

A transfer looks to be the best option for all involved, but Liverpool do need another player in to boost their ranks with Europa League action now a reality.

Knows the Premier League

Having spent seven years in English football, Torres knows what the Premier League is all about. Many foreign imports struggle to adapt to the physical demands and the pure amount of competition, which often makes recruiting from abroad a bit hit and miss. After all, for every Diego Costa, there’s an Alfonso Alves!

Torres knows the game, has proven his abilities in the past and is available for next to nothing. Maybe he is worth a punt.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp has stepped downÂfrom his role as manager of the club.

The former Spurs, Southampton and Portsmouth boss offered his resignation earlier today, which the relegation-battling club accepted.

‘Arry joined the club in 2012 and, despite his best efforts, could not stop them slipping into the Championship in the latter halfÂof the campaign.

He oversawÂ105 games at the helm of the Loftus Road side, many of which came on their way to promotion back to the Premier League last season, which was secured with a dramatic play-off final win over Steve McClaren’s Derby County.

He is set to undergo knee replacement surgery in the coming weeks, and Redknapp believes that the Super Hoops need a boss in place who can work closely with the players, which is something he would be unable to do.

In a statement on QPR’s website, the veteran manager said:

“I have had such a fantastic time at QPR. I would like to thank the Board, the players and all my staff, and especially the supporters who have been absolutely fantastic to me since I arrived at the club for their tremendous support.

“Sadly I need immediate surgery on my knee which is going to stop me from doing my job in the coming weeks. It means I won’t be able to be out on the training pitch every day, and if I can’t give 100 per-cent I feel it’s better for someone else to take over the reins.

“My relationship with Tony Fernandes has been one of the highlights of my footballing career and I wish the club every success. I am confident they will survive in the Premier League this year.â€

Chairman Tony Fernandes was also positive about the situation, thanking Redknapp for his work at the club:

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Harry for everything he has done for QPR during his time in charge.” he said.

“We part on good terms and I would personally like to wish him all the best for the future.â€

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey will take charge of the club on a temporary basis.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Just in case you missed the memo, English football is back in the dark ages.

Following their stunning upset over Exeter City, Warrington Town hooligans flooded onto the pitch in an act of violence, sparking memories of 1980’s trouble. It is of little doubt it marred their victory and there were now calls to remove Warrington from this year’s FA Cup.

Sorry, wrong pitch invasion. The above one was actually reported as ‘jubilant scenes’ and used to highlight the real ‘spirit of the cup.’

Now, of course, the invasion that greeted the end of Aston Villa’s quarter-final with rivals West Bromwich Albion was by no means something to condone. People running onto the playing surface before the end of the game was indefensible. However, the scenes that greeted the final whistle were ones of elation, not anger, ones of celebration, not violence.

It is almost as if the two stories in this year’s tournament are of completely different events. Is it an outpouring of jubilation or an act of hooliganism?

The FA are ready to investigate both Midlands clubs for the incidents in their game. The same FA who will no doubt use footage of Warrington’s invasion for years to come, selling rights and sponsorship off the back of ‘The Magic of the Cup.’

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video-small’ align=’left’]

Aston Villa are in the midst of a truly miserable season, struggling in the lower reaches of the League and a national laughing stock in terms of their ‘goals for’ column. Their victory capped off their best week in several seasons, beating one of their closest enemies twice and booking a trip to Wembley.

Those fans who have taken their seat at Villa Park and been subjected to the dire football their team have produced this year deserve their celebrations. They deserve their moment on the pitch. A trip to Wembley may be a once in a generation event.

Who is to say that a lower league upset warrants more celebration than a big win by a Premier League team in a huge game? The fact that the scenes of utter ecstasy came at the end of only a quarter-final, highlights the struggles Villa have encountered, years of pent up frustration spilling onto the turf at Villa Park.

Now, if the FA is to punish Tim Sherwood’s side it should be for the small minority of idiots trespassing during the game. Not the large scale acts of ‘violence’ reported in the national press.

So now the FA has an important decision to make. Punish Aston Villa and set a precedent for every lower league team’s support that celebrates an unlikely victory by crossing the white lines.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

There must be action for the idiots that went over the top, but they were extremely isolated incidents.

Football’s spiral to the dark ages may have been over exaggerated.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Sam Allardyce and everyone involved with West Ham United left White Hart Lane gutted on Sunday. The Hammers squandered a two goal lead, with a last-gasp Harry Kane rebounded penalty giving Tottenham Hotspur a precious point.

Any team that leads 2-0 with ten minutes remaining and leaves with just a point would be naturally devastated. Spurs struggled to deal with Allardyce’s side at times, and were lucky not to fall even further behind. Mauricio Pochettino’s side had to rely on a controversial injury time penalty to get them out of jail.

But it’s the fact that West Ham would have really fancied their chances of getting a positive result at White Hart Lane that’s the difference this year. The Irons may have beaten their London rivals three times last season, but even the most ardent of Hammers’ fans would admit that it was hugely unexpected. However, this season, the way West Ham have played and the results they have produced throughout the campaign just shows how far the east London club have come from last term.

[ad_pod id=’football-friends’ align=’center’]

Despite West Ham enjoying one of their better seasons under Sam Allardyce, it does seem to be a case of no matter where the club finishes this term, he looks more and more likely to be on his way out of the Boleyn Ground in the summer. With the Mail Online reporting that the West Ham board are ready to get rid of Big Sam, and have Michael Laudrup and Frank Rijkaard lined up as possible replacements, it looks as though the 60-year-old boss’ days at Upton Park are numbered.

Sometimes, though, you have to be very careful what you wish for in football. When you really analyse his time in east London, Allardyce has undeniably done a superb job at West Ham. He was initially employed to get the Hammers out of the Championship and back into the Premier League – he did that. Back in the top flight, he has subsequently guided the club to 10th and a 13th place finishes.

The Irons now sit in eight place in the Premier League table, after somewhat tailing off in recent months. But another top half finish would be an excellent achievement by the Hammers boss – setting them up nicely for their last season in the Boleyn Ground.

Allardyce did some superb business in the summer, bringing in the likes of Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Alex Song – amongst many other successful signings. He has turned them into a much better footballing side than what they were at this stage last season.

The protocol at the start of the current campaign would have been survival at all costs. West Ham have obviously done that with ease, but with every good result, the expectation levels have risen slightly.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The club have come an extremely long way this season, and Big Sam deserves an awful lot of credit for that. At present, it’s a very exciting time to be a West Ham fan – and no one man has contributed so much to this as Sam Allardyce.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing to make an offer for Marseille midfielder Florian Thauvin in the summer transfer window.

The north London club put in an offer for the 22-year-old in January, but his current club rejected the enquiry. Spurs have been keeping one eye on the winger in the second half of the season and have been impressed by what they have seen.

It is believed the French club are now hoping to offload some of their players to raise some well needed funds for the club. Thauvin can also play behind the striker and while Tottenham are interested, they also have competition from Valencia.

Fans opinions on the Frenchman are mixed, with many not knowing enough about him to decide whether or not he would be a good signing. An online survey between Tottenham fans found 63% thought he would make a good signing.

[ffc-gal cat=”tottenham” no=”5″]

In his first season at Marseille he became an instant sensation, scoring 10 goals and getting six assists, and fans thought he was going to develop into a force to be reckoned with – even calling him the ‘new Frank Ribery.’

Sadly, this wasn’t always a nice comparison as his attitude to other players and officials has grown steadily worse.

This season he seems to be suffering from “second season syndrome.” There is a spooky correlation between players who exceed expectations in their first season at a club and then go on to struggle in their second season. James McCarthy at Everton and Tom Ince at Blackpool are prime examples. In Thauvin’s second season for Marseille both his goal and assist tally has halved.

Last week, the 22-year-old was pulled off at half-time after a dire performance, which saw Marseille beaten 5-3 by Lorient. In recent months the winger has given the ball away too often and hasn’t been as involved in games as manager Marcelo Bielsa would like. In last week’s game Thauvin finished the first half with an accuracy of 66% and only managed one shot on target.

This shot was where his game went wrong. At the time, the scores were level and he took Marseille’s motto “straight to the goal” literally. Instead of using the options he had around him he hit a weak shot straight at Lorient’s keeper Benjamin Lecomte, which was poor for the skill he has shown in the past.

Thauvin is still developing as a player but with only five goals in 33 appearances this season, there are a lot of question marks over his ability. Tottenham are still pushing for European football for next season, and when they spend money over the summer they need a player who can add experience and help them progress in the competition.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

If Spurs are looking for a player that can give them an edge to push for the top four in the Premier League then Florian Thauvin is one which should be avoided.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Anyone who thinks that the last ball had been kicked at Emirates Stadium this season couldn’t have been more wrong!

Competition was still alive and kicking yesterday, as the illustrious ground played host to the inaugural Europcar Cup. The five-a-side tournament, hosted by Europcar, the official car and van rental provider to Arsenal Football Club, gave lucky fans the once in a lifetime chance to show their skills in the home of their footballing idols.

The tournament capped the end of a first full season’s partnership between Europcar and Arsenal, as the team representing the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Arsenal Supporters Club, captained by Ben Roberts, was crowned champions by Arsenal Legend, Ray Parlour.

The former midfielder, and member of the club’s famous ‘Invincibles’ side, had been on hand throughout the day for team talks and a Q&A session with fans before presenting the trophy. At the start of the day fans even prepared for the competition in the official Arsenal changing rooms.

“Today’s tournament was a great way to celebrate a fantastic year’s partnership with Arsenal,” explained Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group. “But, more importantly, it was an opportunity to give back to the people that really make the club such a special place: the supporters.”

There were eight teams competing including four fans teams – each selected through a competition on social media – plus the team from Arsenal’s Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Supporters Club, a team of bloggers, another comprising travel and sports journalists and another made up of Europcar’s suppliers.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“Playing on the same pitch as my heroes was truly a unique experience, and one which I will never forget,” said Ben Roberts, from Hemel Hempstead.  Fellow team members were Rob De Bell, Mark Kenneally, Craig Wiseman, Harry O’Riordan and Sam Rawlings.

“Getting to share this experience with my friends and family has made the occasion even more special. I have been an Arsenal fan for many years and to be able to play, and win, on a football ground that is so special to me means the world. Meeting Ray, getting changed in the official Arsenal changing rooms and then winning. has been an experience I will never forget.”

Manchester United are a big club – one of the biggest in fact – their recent blip but an aberration amongst the glories of the past 20 years. They’ll be back up there soon.

At least, they hope so. But Ed Woodward – ironically, for a man who’s name sounds like a fart in the bath – is making all the right noises. The last two summers have shown that they mean business – big money business, indeed.

It doesn’t matter how far down the table United slip, they’ll still be a big club. And that has nothing to do with their history and their fanbase, it has nothing to do with the facilities they have and the trophy cabinet that gleams with silver. It has nothing to do with the players they have on their books, or the plethora of former stars carrying their huge celebrity-names onto our TV screens each week to analyse games and talk up United. It has to do with their mentality.

United have the stance of a big club. There’s an arrogance and a swagger to how they hold themselves, even their manager has the same aura. It’s how the club does business and how it cultivates the public image.

Again, it’s not about class or success, nor is it even about what they do. More about how they do it.

After losing Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill in an emotional and highly destructive few months, United moved swiftly to bring in ‘Ferguson B’.

The appointment of David Moyes was a desperate attempt to avoid the profound sadness and grief that losing a manager of 25 years brings. But the sad fact is that it should bring grief and sadness. You have to grieve for what you’ve lost if you really cared for it. That’s just human nature. Instead, United were like a desperate and pathetic middle-aged man left stunned and broken by the break-up of his marriage to the one woman in the world he ever loved. It was as if they built shrines to Ferguson, preserved whatever belongings of his they could – perhaps they still kept his smell – and tried to replace him with something exactly the same. But it never works. They may as well have appointed a cardboard cut-out of Fergie. It was sad.

It’s because United have had continuity for years that they wanted continuity again. I can respect that, it’s fair enough. Especially when the club puts such a high value on tradition and heritage. But when you break up, you have to move on. Things don’t last forever, they fall apart.

And United are over it now. They’ve moved on and they’ve remembered that they’re a big club. They’ve gone through their grief period and are now swaggering around the European transfer market once again.

How they’ve spent money in the last few years has been ballsy and in some ways it’s been reckless – Luke Shaw cost £30m, for example. I’m not saying he’s not worth it, that remains to be seen, but it’s a lot of money to spend on a full back, let alone one who is still a rough diamond.

But that’s the point. United are a big club, and they’re proving it by going all-out to sign these players. It doesn’t really matter if they don’t quite work out. Angel Di Maria, up until this point at least, should be considered a bit of a flop for the money paid for him. I still think he’s a wonderful player and that he’ll come good, but he hasn’t done what you’d expect from a player who cost so much. But that doesn’t matter to United. They signed prestige and power, and in the process gained prestige and power back for themselves.

United’s spending spree was retail therapy. Sure, they needed some of those players, the squad as it stood wasn’t good enough and the key players – Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Robin van Persie – were ageing. But they didn’t need Radamel Falcao and Di Maria, they just wanted them. And they got them. Because they’re Manchester United.

The signings this summer are potentially similar. Matteo Darmian fills a gap in United’s squad. Memphis Depay adds another dimension up front, and United needed that badly – they relied too much on Fellaini’s height and in successive games against Everton, Chelsea and West Brom they failed to score, even though they dominated overwhelmingly. Depay will add a directness that they didn’t possess last season.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

But the others, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger, they’ll battle out for the same holding midfield place, even though Fellaini can do that job, and if United are going to keep possession for the whole game, Daley Blind and Ander Herrera could probably do that job, too. Of course, Schweinsteiger is much better at it.

But that’s the point. United are signing players who will improve what they have, but they’re doing it for esteem as much as amelioration. They’re a giant putting his foot down, a man of status throwing his jacket over his shoulder and strutting around the city. Like Cristiano Ronaldo launching an underwear range with a 30ft high poster of himself in his pants, they’re showing off their power and doing it because they can.

And that’s why United will always be a big club. After a season wallowing in self-pity, watching re-runs of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ on Comedy Central and eating Super Noodles from the saucepan, this divorcee has finally come out of grief and is once again strutting his stuff on the singles scene.

With the January transfer window now in full swing, speculation involving the Premier League’s top clubs is rife.

The Express recently reported that Arsenal are leading the way in a pursuit of Chelsea defender David Luiz.

The Brazilian has dropped out of contention at Chelsea since manager Antonio Conte left him out of his squad at the end of October.

The former Paris Saint-Germain star was also struck down with a knee injury, but is closing in on a return.

Arsenal have had problems in defence this season, but according to Wenger, Luiz will not be arriving at the North London outfit this month.

While speaking to reporters ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea, the Arsenal boss described the Luiz rumours as “wrong”.

The Frenchman went on to indicate that he is only looking for an “exceptional” player to boost his squad.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

After the manager delivered his thoughts on the speculation involving Luiz, Arsenal fans tweeted their reaction.