Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has defended Arsene Wenger following criticism from Gunners fans at the weekend.
After taking off Olivier Giroud for Francis Coquelin during the 0-0 stalemate at Aston Villa on Saturday, Wenger was subjected to chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ from the visiting fans.
And while the Spanish midfielder respects that fans are allowed to have their say when they are frustrated, he insisted that Wenger has reasons for every decision he makes.
“They can say whatever they want,” Arteta told Sky Sports News.
“If they feel that way it has to be respected. Even when they say something to one of us.
“I think he has got experience and he has been here for 15 years. He is someone who knows the club better than anyone.
“He knows the players really well and he knows what he can get from each of us.
“So when he puts the team out, obviously it’s because he wants to win it and he’s picked the best team – that day – to win that game.”
Arsenal are currently sixth in the Premier League, five points off the coveted fourth spot after an indifferent start to the season, but Arteta reiterated that the players support Wenger, whatever decision he makes.
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“He is always trying to do the best, you know. And some of the decisions he takes are very unpopular. But if he takes them it’s because he’s got a reason,” he added.
“If he does it once then maybe it’s a mistake but if he does it four or five times then there is a reason why and he’ll explain that better than anyone.”
Rangers have not been reluctant when it comes to spending money to bring new players to the club over the past few years.
However, one player with whom the Gers were linked in recent memory but didn’t end up making a move to Ibrox is Joey Veerman, and missing out on him could now be a great source of regret for the Light Blues.
Back in April 2021, The Scottish Sun reported that Rangers were interested in signing the Dutch midfielder from his previous club Heerenveen.
The 23-year-old, who has been described as a player who “looks beyond his years” by coach Robert Molenaar, ended up staying where he was last summer before eventually making the move to PSV Eindhoven in January in a deal worth a reported €6m (£4.9m).
In his 18 league appearances for Heerenveen in the first half of the current campaign, the midfielder scored three goals and provided six assists, earning himself an overall performance rating of 7.32/10 from WhoScored, making him their second-highest rated player.
Things have just been as impressive for the 23-year-old since joining PSV, having scored two goals and provided four assists in just nine league appearances, earning an overall rating of 7.29/10 to become third-highest rated player at the club according to WhoScored.
Taking all this into account, it’s safe to say that Ross Wilson dropped the ball by not securing a deal which would have seen Veerman join Rangers, based on what he has done on the pitch for Heerenveen and PSV this season.
Given the midfielder’s young age and the fact that Rangers currently have the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Scott Arfield and Steven Davis in their squad – who have all hit the age of 30 and are set to become free agents at the end of the season – Veerman could have been an ideal long-term midfield option for the Gers and would have been worth the investment.
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Alas, it seems as though the Ibrox club will just have to live with their mistake and hope that they don’t miss out on any other reported transfer targets when the opportunity presents itself to strike.
In other news: Van Bronckhorst’s £3.6m-rated “leader” can be Rangers’ “real handful” in Old Firm
West Ham United could be a potential destination for former Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez this summer, with the Chilean’s deal with his current employers Inter Milan set to expire next year.
What’s the story?
According to Calciomercato, Sanchez could be available for just €4m (£3.4m) this summer, with West Ham interested in bringing the 33-year-old back to London after his spell with the Gunners.
Having spent three-and-a-half seasons at Arsenal, where he scored 80 goals, the Chilean joined Manchester United in January 2018. However, he scored just five goals in 45 appearances in a majorly unsuccessful spell at Old Trafford, despite being labelled “fantastic” by his former manager Jose Mourinho.
Sanchez then joined Serie A giants Inter Milan in 2019, initially on loan before making the deal permanent the following year. The 33-year-old forward’s fortunes have certainly improved at San Siro, having scored 17 goals and registered 23 assists in 99 appearances for the reigning Italian champions.
However, he could be set for a return to the Premier League this summer, with West Ham desperately in need of attacking options.
West Ham should sign Sanchez
The lack of strikers at David Moyes’ disposal has been no secret this term, with 31-year-old Michail Antonio the Irons’ only senior striker. Sanchez, who currently plays regularly as a centre-forward for Inter, is exactly what the Hammers need.
Having scored 177 goals in 610 club appearances throughout his career, the Chilean is certainly prolific and has produced the goods on the biggest stages, with the 33-year-old possessing vast amounts of experience.
Moreover, for a fee of just £3.4m, West Ham would be silly not to take the chance on signing a player who has already proven to be a success in the Premier League at Arsenal.
However, the prospective deal certainly comes with complications. The Chilean was on a whopping £390k-p/w at Manchester United and certainly won’t be available for a cheap salary at the London Stadium.
Furthermore, the signing would be a short-term fix, as he will turn 34 in December. If Sanchez were to join West Ham, Moyes would still need to add further attacking personnel to his arsenal, preferably someone significantly younger who would be a long-term asset in east London.
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With West Ham looking to secure European football once again next season with a top-six finish, they will certainly need to add to their frontline in the summer regardless of whether or not they are successful in reaching their main target for the campaign.
Considering the impressive tally of goals he has scored over his career, and for some elite clubs, Sanchez would be an excellent addition to the Hammers’ squad, for the short-term at least.
AND in other news – Forget Vlasic: “Stupid” £12.5m-rated Irons dud who lost 75% duels failed Moyes against Sevilla
Arsenal have been dealt a fresh injury update with Mikel Arteta now set to be without a key player until 2026.
Arsenal's state of play with injuries
According to a recent report by The Telegraph, 17 of Arsenal’s 25-man squad have missed at least one game through injury or suspension — so it is safe to say their bad luck has carried on from last season.
Arsenal’s title ambitions face mounting scrutiny as a result, with Arteta confronting a defensive injury crisis that threatens to derail their Premier League title charge during the congested festive schedule.
Ben White’s hamstring injury sustained against Wolves represents the latest devastating blow, with scans revealing the England international will miss at least a month.
The 28-year-old pulled up while tracking back during Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 victory, clutching his left hamstring in visible discomfort.
His absence proves particularly cruel given he had only recently re-established himself following extended periods managing knee problems throughout last season.
Berta to consider January move for 'big-name' Premier League star amid Arsenal worry
It would be a surprising move.
ByEmilio Galantini
Gabriel Magalhaes has been absent since November’s international break after representing Brazil, with his return not expected until late December or even in the new year.
Cristhian Mosquera faces a similar timeline, with his ankle injury far worse than initially anticipated. The versatile Spaniard could miss another six weeks, as per the BBC, so his return isn’t expected until late January to early Feb.
The simultaneous absences create significant tactical headaches for Arteta.
Both White and Mosquera provide crucial versatility, capable of operating at right-back or right-centre-back, yet Arsenal now possess no obvious alternatives to William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.
The situation forces reliance on academy prospects Marli Salmon and Josh Nichols, both recently involved in first-team training despite their inexperience.
15-year-old wonderkid Max Dowman adds to Arteta’s concerns after suffering ankle ligament damage during an Under-21 friendly against Man United, ruling him out for approximately two months.
Meanwhile, Kai Havertz continues his lengthy rehabilitation from August’s knee injury, and he was once battling to be in contention to face Tottenham in the North London derby back in November.
Kai Havertz out till early to mid-January after Arsenal injury setback
However, after suffering a setback, the prognosis is now much longer.
As per The Mail’s Isaan Khan this afternoon, Havertz is ‘set to be sidelined’ until early to mid-January, meaning he won’t be available again for the festive period and faces a wait until after the new year.
The 26-year-old has been a sore miss for Arteta, and will carry on to be after this update.
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The German international’s absence since August removes a crucial dimension from Arsenal’s forward line.
Havertz offers unique qualities as a false nine capable of dropping deep to link play, while possessing the technical intelligence to operate between defensive lines too.
Viktor Gyokeres has struggled to replicate Havertz’s complete game despite his goalscoring pedigree, managing just six goals across all competitions while appearing isolated during Arsenal’s recent labored performances.
The Swedish striker’s limited involvement against Wolves, completing merely three passes, highlighted Arsenal’s difficulties creating chances without Havertz’s movement and link-up play.
With Arsenal navigating nine December/January fixtures across multiple competitions, including crucial clashes against Everton, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Aston Villa and Liverpool, Havertz’s continued absence forces Arteta into compromised team selections — precisely when squad depth matters most.
Arsenal to hand fans 'huge Christmas gift' with new deal 'close' after Berta talks
Players come and go at football clubs every year and teams are never going to get every transfer right as Sunderland have proven many times over the years.
A player failing at a club does not always mean that it was their fault or that they are a bad player though and that is showcased by how well some gems have done after leaving the Stadium of Light.
One example of this is Belgian international centre-back Jason Denayer, who has blossomed since his spell with the club in the 2016/17 campaign.
He joined the Black Cats on loan from Manchester City in the summer of 2016 and was one of David Moyes’ signings ahead of that season.
Prior to this switch, then-Belgium national team boss Marc Wilmots heaped praise on him, saying: “Jason is like Eden Hazard. Always calm. I’ve never seen him nervous; he has a lot of confidence and there will be someone with experience standing next to him.
However, he was unable to catch the eye on Wearside as he endured a difficult campaign as Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League and he consistently delivered subpar performances. Denayer averaged a WhoScored rating of just 6.54 in the top-flight, which placed him 16th overall in a squad that failed to avoid the drop.
At the end of his time with the Magpies, Transfermarkt valued him at a mere £3.6m. He then spent a season on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey before leaving City on a permanent basis to sign for Ligue 1 giants Lyon.
Since joining the French outfit, Denayer has played 136 times and scored eight goals from centre-back. In four top-flight campaigns for the club, he has averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 6.91 or higher and this shows that he has been consistently impressive at the back in France.
This has led to his value soaring over the years, with Transfermarkt now rating him at £18m as it stands. The Belgian’s value has risen £14.2m since he left Sunderland and this perfectly illustrates why you should never write a player off based on one campaign.
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Had the Black Cats signed him on another loan in the Championship or potentially bought him on a permanent basis then he may well have blossomed on Wearside. Instead, Sunderland may be looking at him thriving in France and be left wondering what could have been, especially as they now sit in the third tier.
AND in other news, NUFC can unearth their new Callum Wilson in £20.8m predator who has “the scoring nose”…
Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Michael Bridge has made a claim on star defender Ben Davies’ future at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Antonio Conte’s first full campaign next year.
The Lowdown: Davies stars for Conte…
The Wales international has, arguably, been one of Tottenham’s unsung heroes under Conte in recent months with Davies attracting real praise.
Conte himself has lavished the 28-year-old for his performances as part of the Spurs back three, calling him ‘really focused’ whilst drawing attention to the left-footer’s fine form – going on to state how Davies is ‘playing very well’ (football.london).
Ex-Lilywhites defender Michael Dawson, speaking to N17 Live (via football.london), called Davies a ‘perfect’ player for Conte ‘who does everything’ a left centre-half needs to.
Dawson also went on to highlight the centre-back’s ‘brilliant’ form as Davies marks himself out as a recent untouchable in the Tottenham starting line-up.
The Welshman has started every Premier League game bar one since Conte’s appointment in north London (Transfermarkt), with Bridge now hinting he has cemented his future at Spurs for next season.
The Latest: Bridge makes Davies claim…
Speaking to GMS, Sky reporter Bridge explains that Davies ‘will be part’ of Conte’s team next year.
He explained:
““Davies will be part of that squad next season because of his versatility.”
The Verdict: Right call…
Reliable transfer source Fabrizio Romano tipped Davies to leave Tottenham last year after Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela, making the player’s turnaround under Conte all the more impressive.
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Amid his great form and status as a mainstay in Spurs’ line up, all the indications suggest Lilywhites supporters will be seeing a lot more of Davies over 2022/2023.
In other news: Paratici sets sights on ‘phenomenal’ £100m man who Spurs have been offered before, find out more here.
According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur have ‘turned their attention’ to a new target as they eye a move for Oxford United defender Luke McNally.
The Lowdown: Spurs eye lower league talent…
The Lilywhites’ on-going search for new defensive additions isn’t exclusive to just the top tiers of European football.
Some of the lower league’s brightest have been linked to Spurs in recent months, including the likes of Djed Spence, who Fabio Paratici lodged multiple January bids for.
Peterborough United defender Benjamin Mensah has also been the subject of interest, as previously revealed by the club’s own director Barry Fry.
Now, however, it seems Tottenham now have their eyes on yet another talent from below the Premier League.
The Latest: Lilywhites turn attention…
According to FI, Spurs have turned their attention to McNally with a recruitment source explaining that one bid of £2 million has already been put on the table.
Tottenham club officials are also apparently being sent to run the rule over Oxford’s towering defender until the end of this season with regular scouting trips planned.
The Verdict: Get it done?
The 22-year-old has been impressing for Oxford in England’s third tier with teammate Sam Long branding McNally an ‘absolute machine’.
Oxford’s centre-back possesses a physicality which could be perfect for the intensity of Premier League football with the player standing at a colossal 6 foot 3.
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The fact he is attracting ‘extensive interest’ from rival clubs is also an indicator of his real potential, leaving little wonder he’s caught Tottenham’s eye also.
As McNally joins the list of talent on Tottenham’s agenda, it’s clear there is reason to believe he could be a promising addition.
In other news: Paratici sets sights on ‘phenomenal’ £100m man who Spurs have been offered before, find out more here.
An update has emerged on Leeds United and their interest in Manchester United’s James Garner…
What’s the talk?
According to The Sun, the Whites are keen on a deal to sign the central midfielder, currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, at the end of the season.
The report claims that the Yorkshire-based outfit want to add to their midfield options in the summer and believe that Garner would be within their budget, whilst fellow Premier League side Southampton are also interested in his services.
Dream deal
Jesse Marsch can land an instant masterclass in his first transfer window at Elland Road by securing a deal to sign the Englishman ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
He has been in sensational form in the Championship for Forest and is showing signs that he is ready to make the step up to the top-flight. Garner has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.14 across 29 appearances in the competition, chipping in with three goals and three assists – making 1.8 key passes per match.
This shows that he has an attacking flair to his game as he has been able to regularly provide chances for his teammates from a midfield position. He would, therefore, be able to feed the likes of Raphinha and Patrick Bamford with killer balls in the final third next season.
The 20-year-old has made 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game whilst also winning 4.2 duels at a success rate of 54%. This shows that he can handle the physical demands of the Championship and excels at winning the ball back off the opposition by either tackling them in a direct duel or reading the game to make an interception and get his side back on the ball.
He was dubbed “different class” by Forest teammate Jack Colback and ex-Red Devils coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed that he is the “next Michael Carrick”.
At the age of 20, he is still in the infancy of his professional career and has many years ahead of him to grow and live up to that hype.
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Marsch could work with him over the course of a number of seasons to help him improve and fulfil his potential, which is another reason why this transfer would be a masterstroke by the American coach as he could have an impact in the short and long term.
This deal makes sense from a footballing and financial point of view as his value could increase if he is able to work with Marsch and kick on to bigger and better things. His statistics in the Championship suggest that he is ready for the step up and Leeds should offer it to him.
AND in other news, “Definitely”: Insider drops teasing Elland Road claim that’ll have Leeds fans buzzing…
A major Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged over Lille centre-back Sven Botman…
What’s the talk?
Amanda Staveley has opened up on the club’s pursuit of the Dutch central defender during the January transfer window…
She told The Athletic: “We had to encourage players – ‘we’ll be a safe place for you, we’ll deliver and grow’. Some desperately wanted to come to us, like Sven (Botman), who still does very much and has talked very openly about that.
“Coming through all that showed us we can do it, that we can stick to our plan and if we get criticised on the last day for ‘oh, you’re going after Jesse (Lingard)’, well, Jesse wanted to come to us.
“We did everything. We never stopped. From the start to the finish, we did not stop working.”
Delight
Newcastle fans will surely be delighted with these comments for multiple reasons.
Firstly, it suggests that the club worked their socks off until the deadline closed to bolster the squad and any mishaps or failures were not from a lack of effort. Whilst they were unable to strike a deal for Botman last month, they were able to complete a number of signings to boost Eddie Howe’s squad.
Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood all came in, with the Magpies now seven games unbeaten in the Premier League and four points clear of the relegation zone.
This shows that PIF’s work last month has had a huge impact on the team, so imagine what they could do with an entire summer and one window’s worth of experience to work with ahead of next season.
Supporters will also be pleased to read that Botman wanted the transfer and is now open to a move to the club at the end of the campaign. They will be buzzing about this as he could be a terrific addition to the team to improve the starting XI.
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In Ligue 1 this season, the former Ajax machine has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.14. He has won 67% of his duels and made 4.7 clearances per game, showing that he has what it takes to perform consistently at the top level despite only turning 22 in January.
Meanwhile, Dan Burn’s score of 6.99 in the highest rating any Newcastle centre-back has managed in the Premier League. This suggests that Botman would come in and be an immediate improvement on what Howe has to work with at the moment, which is why fans will be delighted with Staveley’s comments.
AND in other news, Lost the ball every 2.7 touches: “Annoying” NUFC passenger blew his big chance vs Bees…
‘It doesn’t seem likely’ that Matt Targett will be at Newcastle United next season, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.
The lowdown
In January, the 26-year-old sealed a loan move from Aston Villa to St James’ Park until the end of the season. He was one of five players signed by Eddie Howe in January, along with Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes and Chris Wood.
The Shields Gazette have reported that Newcastle will have the option to purchase the left-back in the summer for a fee of around £15m.
The latest
Jones has said that Targett’s future is uncertain, but as it stands, the journalist doesn’t think that it lies at St James’ Park.
He told GiveMeSport: “Matt Targett’s future is up in the air at the moment. There is a possibility that he will join Newcastle but, at the moment, it doesn’t seem likely.”
The verdict
This is certainly a surprising revelation from Jones, as you would think that both parties would be keen on extending Targett’s stay on Tyneside.
It may well be best for the 26-year-old to leave Aston Villa permanently following their £25m January signing of Lucas Digne, who also plays in his position, while Howe has selected him every time he has been available in the Premier League.
In those seven games, he has averaged 2.9 clearances, 1.9 key passes (a team-high) and 1.9 tackles per match. Strikingly, his overall WhoScored rating of 6.98/10 is the fourth-highest in the squad.
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Indeed, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher believes that Targett represents a ‘huge’ improvement on what has come before at Newcastle, so losing him would feel like a big setback for Howe and co.
In other news, this injured Newcastle duo are joining their team-mates in Dubai this week