The Gunners held off a late Spurs fightback to claim north London bragging rights and keep the pressure on Manchester City.
Arsenal kept their Premier League title hopes alive, surviving a nervy ending to claim a thrilling 3-2 win at north London rivals Spurs.
Mikel Arteta's side knew a victory was imperative to keep the pressure up on champions Manchester City and they looked to be cruising to all three points as an own goal by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and strikes from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz gave them a 3-0 lead at half-time.
But an awful error from David Raya gifted the hosts a lifeline on 64 minutes, when he passed the ball straight to Cristian Romero, who finished well.
Declan Rice then gave away a penalty when he kicked Ben Davies, allowing Son Heung-min to reduce the deficit even further with just three minutes remaining, but Arsenal managed to withstand a series of set pieces in stoppage time to claim another crucial win.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
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Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya (5/10):
Got away with one rush of blood early in the second half when he came out and got nowhere near Romero, who headed over. But was made to pay by the Argentine soon after for his horrendous clearance that gifted Spurs a lifeline. To his credit, he responded very well and had an excellent final 20 minutes, claiming every cross that came his way.
Ben White (8/10):
Really strong performance, first against Werner and then against Johnson. A player in top form.
William Saliba (7/10):
Solid enough game. Both he and Gabriel dealt with the pressure well for the majority of such an intense contest.
Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):
Looked largely comfortable, aside from a couple of set pieces in the first half.
Takehiro Tomiyasu (7/10):
Dejan Kulusevski caused him some problems early on, but he settled into the game well. Could have done better with a header he put over early in the second half.
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Midfield
Thomas Partey (7/10):
Grew into the game as it went on. Arsenal looked at their best when he managed to beat the Spurs press and get the team moving forward.
Declan Rice (7/10):
Superb corner for Havertz's goal. Didn't stop running. Looked calm early on when others looked nervy. Gave away the penalty late on when he didn't see Ben Davies coming.
Martin Odegaard (7/10):
Couldn't get on the ball anywhere near as much as usual, but when he did get it he looked threatening. Worked his socks off.
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Attack
Bukayo Saka (8/10):
Superb touch and finish to make it 2-0. High class stuff from the winger. It was his corner that led to the own goal as well. Excellent performance.
Kai Havertz (9/10):
Magnificent pass to send Saka away for the second goal, then rose highest to make it 3-0 from Rice's corner. Another game when he's made a huge impact. Led the line superbly.
Leandro Trossard (6/10):
Got caught in possession a few times in the first half, looked a bit off the pace of the game.
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Subs & Manager
Gabriel Martinelli (6/10):
Had a couple of openings after coming on which maybe he could have done better with. The end product just isn't quite there with him at the moment.
Jakub Kiwoir (N/A):
Came on late on to help try and see the game out.
Mikel Arteta (7/10):
Arsenal's manager will be delighted with the result, that's all that matters at this stage of the season. He got the team right. Could maybe have brought Jorginho on to steady the midfield.
Aston Villa have enjoyed an excellent start to the 2023/24 campaign and are continuing to thrive under Unai Emery's management after a successful debut season at the club.
The Villans have only lost one of their last eight matches in all competitions and are currently in the race to secure a top four finish in the Premier League.
They are sitting in fifth place as it stands and two points off Arsenal in fourth after 11 matches, whilst they are also top of their Europa Conference League group with three wins out of four games.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
Villa have won seven of their 11 top-flight clashes so far during the 2023/24 campaign but their fantastic form does not mean that Emery and sporting director Monchi will not look to the January transfer window to make further additions to the squad.
One player who has been touted with a possible switch to Villa Park at the start of 2024 is Brondby attacking midfielder Nicolai Vallys, who has caught the eye this season.
Aston Villa transfer news – Nicolai Vallys
Last month, according to Ekstra Bladet, via Sport Witness, Aston Villa were credited with an interest in the talented Danish attacker ahead of the January window.
The report claimed that fellow English sides Manchester United and Southampton, who are currently competing in Championship, are also eyeing up the forward.
All three clubs are said to have sent scouts to check in on his progress during the 2023/24 campaign, whilst European outfits VfL Wolfsburg, Real Betis, Marseille, and PSV Eindhoven have also been in attendance to watch him in the flesh.
However, the outlet did cast doubt over whether or not any of the interested parties would be willing to splash out millions on a player who recently turned 27, although there is no mention of how much Brondby would demand for the experienced gem.
It also remains to be seen if Monchi and Villa are willing to press ahead with an official offer for his services in January after going to watch him in action this season.
Monchi could, however, secure a potential upgrade for Emery's side if he is able to secure a deal for the 27-year-old wizard as the Villans target could be a dream upgrade on loanee Nicolo Zaniolo.
Villa signed the attacking midfielder on a season-long loan from Turkish giants Galatasaray and he has failed to catch the eye in a positive way so far this season.
He arrived in England off the back of a return of five goals and zero assists in ten Super Lig outings for his parent club throughout the 2022/23 campaign.
Zaniolo's statistics this season
The former Roma starlet has not displayed a knack for scoring goals or showcased his creative ability in his time with the Villans so far this term.
He has been unable to deliver quality at the top end of the pitch and has done little to suggest that Monchi should be looking to sign him on a permanent basis at the end of the campaign.
In the Premier League, Zaniolo has been given plenty of opportunities to impress by Emery as he has started six matches and played nine in total.
However, the 24-year-old lightweight has failed to produce a single goal or assist in any of those matches and is yet to create any 'big chances' for his teammates. The Italian is also not able to blame anyone else for his lack of goals as he has missed two 'big chances' and accrued 1.45 xG.
Alongside his struggles in the final third, Zaniolo has also failed to use his 6 foot 3 frame to outmuscle opposition players as the Galatasaray loanee has lost 67% of his duels and 64% of his aerial battles across those nine games.
The Europa Conference League has not been a happier hunting ground for the left-footed attacker as he has zero goals, zero assists, and zero 'big chances' created in four outings, including two starts, in the competition.
A duel success rate of 36% in Europe also shows that the attacking midfielder has not been able to impose his physicality on the opposition domestically or in European competitions for Villa so far this season.
These statistics show that Zaniolo is not providing the side with quality in or out of possession as he has not been able to contribute with goals or assists, at all let alone regularly, and has allowed opponents to get the better of him far too often.
Therefore, there could be scope to improve the team in January by bringing in a player to take up his minutes and, hopefully, make more of an impact at the top end of the pitch during the second half of the season.
The statistics that show why Vallys could be an upgrade on Zaniolo
The 27-year-old gem, who was hailed as "unique" by his boss Jesper Sorensen, is yet to play in one of Europe's major leagues but his performances for Brondby this season suggest that the potential is there for him to be an exciting addition.
Vallys came into the current campaign off the back of a return of eight goals and nine assists in 30 Superliga outings throughout the 2022/23 term.
The attacking midfielder, who can also play out wide, has already matched that goal tally after 14 league matches for his club so far this season.
He has also showcased his creative quality with four 'big chances' provided for his teammates and 1.4 key passes per game, which has resulted in two assists so far.
These statistics suggest that Vallys has the potential to provide more quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a number ten position in comparison to the current Villans flop.
Whilst the 6 foot 2 maestro is not a man mountain by any stretch, his 45% duel success rate this term is more impressive than Zaniolo's aforementioned lack of strength for Villa.
Therefore, the Brondby star could offer more physicality to go along with his potentially superior attacking play, if he can adapt to English football and hit the ground running in 2024.
This is why Monchi should look to strike a deal for Vallys as his impressive statistics this season suggest that he could be a dream upgrade on Zaniolo.
Manchester United are keeping close tabs on the situation of a defender who is already in the Premier League, according to a report.
Man Utd centre-backs
Erik ten Hag currently has Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans as his options at centre-back, but there is a chance that the boss could be losing at least three of those at some stage next year. Maguire has been linked with an exit ever since the summer so his future remains up in the air, whilst Lindelof and Evans will have both reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the season (Man Utd contracts), meaning that the boss may have to dip into the market to search for possible replacements.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah has emerged as a candidate having fallen hugely out of favour under Mauricio Pochettino after making zero appearances across all competitions this season (WhoScored – Chalobah statistics), showing how low down in the pecking order he is.
The Stamford Bridge outfit’s 24-year-old is therefore expected to leave at the start of next year having been told that he doesn’t feature in their long-term plans, and the academy graduate’s availability appears to have alerted chiefs that there could be an opportunity to recruit him up for grabs.
Man Utd interested in Trevoh Chalobah
According to TEAMtalk, Trevoh Chalobah is of interest to Manchester United, alongside two overseas clubs in Germany.
“TEAMtalk understands Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is set to be forced out of the club, with Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund all keen on signing the 24-year-old.
"However, both German sides could face further competition as sources have indicated that Manchester United are also monitoring Chalobah’s situation closely and are considering a move to try and keep him in England.
"Chelsea will be looking for a fee in the region of £45million, but there is a degree of flexibility as the club want to sell so they can bring in multiple new signings during the winter window. Sources also say that Chalobah would be keen to stay in England if possible and a move to a top six side could be hard to refuse.”
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah.
Whilst Chalobah hasn’t been given a chance to prove what he’s capable of this season, Man United will know that he’s got bags of potential which he showed last campaign, averaging 2.2 clearances and 1.2 aerial wins per top-flight game.
Standing at 6 foot 3, Chalobah also has the versatility to operate everywhere across the backline and even in three positions in the midfield, so his ability to cover in roles outside of his own could make him a wonderful option to have available should any injuries occur (Transfermarkt – Chalobah statistics).
Chalobah, who has been dubbed an “ice cold” defender by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, even shares the same representative, CAA Base Ltd, as Varane (Man Utd's squad agents), so this existing connection that his management have to the club could give them a small advantage should they chase a deal in January.
Glasgow Rangers look entirely rejuvenated in just a few short weeks of Philippe Clement being in charge, since he arrived at the start of last month.
The difference is stark. Under Michael Beale this season, Rangers played 14 matches in all competitions, winning eight and losing four, while the Ibrox side scored 23 goals during those games.
Under Clement, the Gers have won six out of their previous seven ties, drawing the other, and they have scored 18 goals in the process.
It does not take much to work out that the Light Blues are currently in a far better place during the current international break than where they were at back in October, as the Belgian has turned around their fortunes.
Glasgow Rangers managerPhilippe Clement.
Beale did not help himself with a lack of identity on the pitch or with his questionable signings off it. The club spent money on signing Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers to bolster their attack, yet they have been repaid by the duo scoring just eight goals between them since the start of the 2023/24 season.
Their early struggles did not exactly help the Gers get off to a good start in the Premiership, while they failed to reach the Champions League group stages too.
Not all of Beale’s signings struggled. Jack Butland has been a commanding presence in goal for the club, while Abdallah Sima has been effective on the left wing, filling the void left by Ryan Kent.
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland
Danilo could arguably turn into one of his finest signings, however, as the Brazilian is finally beginning to show his class under Clement of late.
Danilo’s market value at Feyenoord
After Alfredo Morelos departed the club during the summer, Beale desperately required a new striker and Danilo was earmarked as one of his main targets.
The 24-year-old had impressed during his spell in the Netherlands, playing for both Ajax and Feyenoord during the previous two seasons.
The Brazilian scored ten Eredivisie goals for Feyenoord last term as they won their first league title since the 2016/17 campaign and this form clearly made Beale sit up and take note.
Danilo
He even ranked second across the squad for goals and assists (13) along with ranking second for scoring frequency (a goal every 134 minutes) and he was an effective option in the final third.
When compared to positional peers, the striker ranked in the top 2% for touches in the opposition box per 90 (7.24) while also ranking in the top 5% for total shots per 90 (3.78) and in the top 11% for successful take ons per 90 (1.48), clearly indicating that he was impressive when compared to players in a similar league.
Just before he left the club to join Rangers, his valuation was sitting at €6.5m (£5.6m) according to Football Transfers, and just a month later, he moved to Scotland for a fee in the region of £6m, with the Dutch side getting just slightly more than his market value at the time.
Danilo’s market value at Rangers
Since making the move from the Eredivisie to the Premiership, the striker demonstrated flashes of his talent under Beale, yet he was largely underused.
Across the opening 14 matches of the season, Danilo started just three times, scoring three goals. He suffered a broken cheekbone during a clash against St Johnstone and this further stalled any progress that he was making at Ibrox.
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The injury ruled him out for a few weeks, yet he has returned sharper than ever and appears to be thriving in Clement’s current tactical setup.
Across the previous seven matches, Danilo has not only found the back of the net on three occasions, but he has grabbed four assists too, showing that he has a selfless side also to set up his teammates for goals.
This all-around ability could prove to be crucial if the Gers want to win silverware this season and the Brazilian can not only lead the line well, but also link up with those playing behind him.
Following the 0-0 draw against Sparta Prague last month, Clement praised the centre-forward for his cameo, saying: “Danilo has been out for a while and not played 90 minutes for a long time – he looked bright and we need to focus on making him stronger. It is a work in progress.”
He is slowly getting fitter, and he gave arguably his finest performance for the club in a midweek tie against Dundee a few weeks ago.
Against the Dens Park outfit, Danilo managed to get on the scoresheet, but he also missed four big chances and could easily have scored four or five if he was slightly more clinical.
Whilst it would have been better if he had been able to finish off those chances, it was a sign that the Brazilian gem knows how to get in the right positions to create opportunities for himself.
The striker also made four key passes, succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts and lost possession just three times during the whole match, suggesting that he should be the player who Clement starts as his number nine.
These recent performances indicate that Beale severely underused the former Ajax striker and this was a glaring mistake. His recent performances have also seen his market value shoot up, which indicates that the club have hit the jackpot.
According to Football Transfers, Danilo is now currently worth €8.6m (£7.5m) and if he manages to establish himself as the main striker at the club, there is no doubt that this value will continue to rise.
Although £6m was a lot to shell out on a striker during the summer transfer window, it was clear that a replacement for Morelos needed to be found, otherwise the Gers would struggle majorly.
Danilo
Of course, the start to the season wasn’t as good as expected and it has taken for a new manager to be brought in for the Light Blues to attempt and salvage their campaign.
Clement is doing a wonderful job so far, but with the honeymoon period over, the supporters will now be expecting these types of performances every week.
Utilising the 5 foot 8 dynamo up front on a regular basis will allow this Gers side to score plenty of goals and the onus for him now is to kick on from this solid base and start scoring every game.
The Light Blues have a wonderful talent in their squad, and in the coming years, he could make them a massive profit in the transfer window, which is why Beale hit the jackpot by securing his services.
Leeds United have salvaged a solid start to the Championship season after enduring relegation from the Premier League last year, with Daniel Farke's side a distance away from the top two but firmly in the mix for promotion at this stage.
Appointing Farke was a decision made to strengthen the Whites' prospects of returning to the top flight at the first time of asking, with the German manager having won the Championship on two occasions previously with Norwich City.
However, the task was never going to be easy despite the club's stature and the ostensible quality filling the ranks, with a mass exodus removing many former members during the summer.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
Plenty of fresh faces have arrived, but pundit and former England midfielder Carlton Palmer has tipped "more to come" from the Whites in January, with sights set on closing the gap on frontrunners Leicester City and Ipswich Town.
Leeds United transfer targets
According to journalist Diego Firmino – via Sport Witness – Leeds are following the situation of Joaquin Piquerez from Palmeiras, with the exciting full-back attracting attention from multiple European clubs following his performances in Brazil.
Numerous outfits are indeed supposedly interested, with Premier League sides Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur both receiving tentative links, but Leeds could offer the 25-year-old a starring role and a platform to build from in West Yorkshire.
The cost of a transfer has not yet been made apparent, but there is no denying that Piquerez boasts qualities that would slot right into Elland Road's starting squad and that Farke and 49ers Enterprises will pounce if given the chance.
The dynamo is currently valued at around £6m by Football Transfers' valuation model, and this ballpark fee would likely be required to prise him away from Palmeiras.
Why Leeds want Joaquin Piquerez
Leeds have been impressive in maintaining a charge on the top of the division despite a range of injury problems, and there may be optimism among supporters that a few well-placed winter acquisitions would work wonders in closing the gap on the front of the pack.
Piquerez would open up a range of possibilities with his thunderous shooting skills and his direct, barrelling approach, having recently starred at the centre of Palmeiras' 5-0 drubbing over Sao Paulo.
As per Sofascore, he has scored three goals and supplied four assists from 21 matches in the Brasileiro Série A this season, completing 85% of his passes, creating 0.9 key passes per outing and also making 6.7 ball recoveries, 1.8 tackles and 1.6 clearances per game, highlighting his impressive multi-functional ability.
Piquerez has also become a regular member of Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay squad, starting four of the last five matches since the beloved former Leeds boss took the reins earlier this year.
Given the stunning football that was pumped into the Leeds squad under the distinguished Argentinian boss, it's no wonder that the Whites are apparently intrigued by the possibility of signing a player that Bielsa has swiftly deemed an integral part of his national side's setup.
Sam Byram is the current host on the left side of the Whites backline, and while he has impressed since the summer, Farke is probably doing the right thing in searching for a successor to dominate for the foreseeable future.
Why Joaquin Piquerez is better than Sam Byram
Byram joined Leeds on a free transfer in the summer after his contract with Norwich expired, having previously kicked his career off at Elland Road after rising through the youth ranks.
The experienced defender, now aged 30, has enjoyed an impressive campaign so far, with Sofascore recording his performances in the English second tier, having completed 79% of his passes, made 4.4 ball recoveries, 1.8 tackles, 1.7 clearances and 1.4 interceptions per game and scored a goal and an assist apiece.
He is an industrious part of the squad and one who has served well in the absence of Junior Firpo, with the former Barcelona player yet to feature this season due to injury – frankly, few expected he would have remained at the club following the summer.
As per FBref, Uruguayan star Piquerez ranks among the top 4% of full-backs across leagues similar to the Brasileiro Série A over the past year for goals, the top 16% for assists and the top 17% for pass completion per 90, illustrating his natural attacking prowess and his crispness in possession.
Content creator Nathan Joyes was among those to be impressed by United's reported interest, saying: "Would be great business. Tidy left-back, likes to press forward and can certainly pick a pass. Great coup for Leeds if it happens."
This high-octane approach is something that really would slot into Farke's system like a dovetail joint; the 46-year-old likes to implement a possession-based style with an emphasis on intelligent, quick transitions and an understanding of the desired patterns to electrify the opposition on the counter.
Given that Piquerez bombs forward like a machine, he could be the engine on the wing, playing a starring role to catapult the Elland Road side right back into the top flight, serving as the dream heir to Byram.
Byram is a solid and dependable member of Farke's team and offers a balanced skill set across both defensive flanks, ranking among the top 19% of full-backs across leagues similar to the Championship over the past year for shots taken, the top 9% for touches in the attacking penalty area and blocks, and the top 8% for aerial wins per 90.
The links attached to Leeds' interest are admittedly somewhat tenuous, but there is no question that prioritising the left-back position would be a prudent move in the long term.
Former Norwich defender Sam Byram.
Byram has been a good signing and has earned praise for his "important" role in the team by Farke, but age is not on his side and Piquerez could be the perfect addition to dominate the left channel for many years.
Firpo's situation is also somewhat indeterminate, and by landing a free-scoring, robust new star in Piquerez, Farke may yet acquire the tools to break back into the Premier League and then cement a position of prominence.
Crystal Palace could be set to lose one of their most important players in January, with a new report claiming that he is looking to leave Selhurst Park.
Which players are leaving Crystal Palace?
Over the summer, Wilfried Zaha, Luka Milivojevic, Jack Butland and Vicente Guaita all departed the club on a permanent basis, alongside Luke Plange who put pen to paper on loan at League One side Carlisle United for the remainder of the season.
The Eagles could still be forced to cash in on even more of their first-team stars at the start of next year because nine of them will be out of contract at the end of the season, including the likes of Jeffrey Schlupp, Nathaniel Clyne and Will Hughes (Crystal Palace contracts).
Another one of Roy Hodgson’s favourites who might be heading for the exit door despite still having three years remaining on his deal is Marc Guehi, who has made a total of 92 appearances since moving to SE25 from Premier League rivals Chelsea back in 2021 (Transfermarkt – Guehi statistics).
The South London Press recently reported that Manchester United are still keeping close tabs on the 23-year-old centre-back as they weigh up an approach for their long-term target, and if the following update is to be believed, England’s international would relish the opportunity to complete the switch to Old Trafford.
Marc Guehi transfer update
According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), sharing a transfer update on Guehi, Crystal Palace’s talisman would “welcome the chance” to sign for Man United at some stage in 2024.
The Selhurst Park star would be keen to work with Erik ten Hag, and he is likely to cost his admirers £60m, which is the valuation that has been set for him by Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
How good is Marc Guehi?
Standing at 6 foot tall, Guehi isn’t the biggest centre-back around, but that hasn’t stopped him from being a rock at the heart of the backline so far this season, where he’s averaging 4.9 clearances per game in the top-flight alongside a 91.3% pass success rate, which displays his calmness and composure on the ball (WhoScored – Guehi statistics).
The Abidjan native is also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch having posted 22 contributions (14 goals and eight assists) since the start of his career, highlighting the threat he can pose when it comes to set pieces.
Furthermore, Hodgson’s regular feature has the ability to operate out wide at both left-back and right-back as well as his usual role in the middle, so his versatility is another attribute that makes him a great option for the boss to have at his disposal in the capital.
Finally, Guehi has been described as a “beast” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so whilst there’s a strong possibility that Man United will come calling next year, Palace chiefs need to do everything they can to fend off interest and retain the services of their defender.
Rangers supporters have been told that they could still make a "left-field" Ibrox hire amid serious links to Philippe Clement.
Who are the Rangers manager favourites?
Reports in the last week have indicated that the likes of Clement and Yokohoma.F. Marinos boss Kevin Muscat are overwhelming favourites for the job as they hold a final round of interviews in London this week, at least according to Sky Sports.
Ibrox chiefs made the huge decision to relieve ex-manager Michael Beale of his duties just 10 months after he was appointed to succeed Giovanni van Bronckhorst, coming after a poor start to the season for Rangers. Losing three Scottish Premiership matches already, languishing seven points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic already, the Glasgow Giants need to turn their fortunes around and soon. Interim boss Steven Davis lead Rangers to a much-needed 3-0 win at St. Mirren over the weekend, with the Northern Irishman heaping praise on his squad given the mounting pressure.
Rangers interim boss Steven Davis.
"The pressure was on coming into the game, to come to a really difficult place with they way they've started the season, so to score three goals and keep a clean sheet, I'm delighted," Davis told BBC Scotland.
"It's just about building blocks right now. The feeling in the dressing room has been low, so hopefully this will give them some belief. At times we could have done a bit better, we made it harder for ourselves against the 10 men. But for us, it's just about being positive. We move forward after this."
Who else could Rangers appoint as manager?
While Clement and Muscat appear to be leading the race to succeed Beale, Ferguson has suggested to Go Go Radio this week that the Gers could still make a "left-field" appointment (transcribed by TBR). Indeed, the former Scotland midfielder thinks Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson should even be in contention as an alternative to the likes of Clement.
He's a coach that, according to Ferguson, has managed at the "highest level" and could well be an option to get Rangers going again.
“You never know there could be a left-field appointment," said Ferguson.
"I’m trying to think of experienced managers down south, like a Nigel Pearson for example, who’s managed at the highest level, who’s down at Bristol City."
Ferguson went on to reveal who he believes is the current leading contender, saying that Muscat may well be the favourite based off what he's seen. The ex-Teddy Bear, Ferguson believes, would get them "organised" and "working really hard".
“It looks to me at this moment in time, it’s going to be Muscy [Kevin Muscat]. He was a real fiery guy and he would certainly get them organised and working really hard.”
Rangers will be hoping to have an appointment in place by the end of this international break, where they face a crunch run of fixtures. They take on Edinburgh sides Hibs and Hearts in the league, while also facing off against Czech Republic giants Sparta Prague in the Europa League on October 26.
أعلن النادي الأهلي، توفير أتوبيسات لنقل جماهير القلعة الحمراء الراغبة في موازرة الفريق أمام الاتحاد السكندري، في المباراة التي تقام الثلاثاء المقبل بالدوري المصري الممتاز.
الأهلي يلاقي الاتحاد السكندري، يوم الثلاثاء 18 يونيو، في إطار الجولة الـ 26 من عمر مباريات بطولة الدوري المصري، على ملعب برج العرب بالإسكندرية.
ونشر النادي الأهلي عبر حساباته على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي: “توفير أتوبيسات لنقل الجماهير إلى الإسكندرية”.
طالع.. مران الأهلي | محاضرة فنية من كولر وجاهزية لاعب الفريق المصاب استعدادًا لـ الاتحاد السكندري
وقال: “النادي الأهلي ينظم رحلات مجانية لجماهيره إلى مدينة الإسكندرية بعد غد الثلاثاء لمؤازرة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم في مباراته أمام الاتحاد السكندري في بطولة الدوري.
يبدأ تجمع الجماهير بداية من الساعة الثانية عشرة ظهرًا أمام بوابات فرع النادي بالشيخ زايد، على أن تتحرك الأتوبيسات إلى الإسكندرية في تمام الساعة الواحدة ظهرًا.
ويستوجب اصطحاب كل مشجع تذكرة المباراة وبطاقة فان آي دي الخاصة به، كما يحظر اصطحاب أي أدوات تتعارض مع سلامة الجماهير والمنشآت سواء أثناء السفر أو خلال المباراة”.
Tottenham Hotspur have been a side crying out for transparency from the top for years now, as their desire to see the questionable decisions explained has seldom been fed.
Led by chairman Daniel Levy, the 61-year-old has often been on the end of vicious criticism for a lack of spending, terrible managerial appointments, clueless player acquisitions and more, but his work on the financial side of things could rarely be faulted.
He has forged a fine business model with the foundation for huge successes in the near future, as a commercially viable outfit with the football to match of late.
So, what makes things even more positive is his replies at the club's recent Fan Forum, in which he answered openly about the transition from a progressive coach like Mauricio Pochettino to silverware-chasing legends like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte:
"I want to win as much as anyone else. The frustration of not winning and the pressure from some players and a large part of the fanbase impacted me, it was a lot of pressure.
Tottenham's Heung-min Son and Ange Postecoglou.
"We came so close with Poch and we changed strategy and hired win now managers, it didn’t work, wrong hires. So maybe it will take longer, maybe we need this strategy and that’s why I hired Ange."
To see Levy take responsibility marks a refreshing change for the supporters, who largely understood the decision, although it failed spectacularly. Now, with Ange Postecoglou at the helm, hopefully he has his head coach for the foreseeable future, ready to lead them towards trophies in a way that captures the imagination.
That's not to suggest that the chairman is completely exempt from criticisms of the past though, with one failed transfer pursuit in 2016 of Sadio Mane likely still haunting him and the current Chelsea manager given what could have been had they seen the deal through.
Did Spurs nearly sign Sadio Mane?
Speaking on the Athletic’s ‘The View From The Lane’ podcast, journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke noted: "The other forward they looked at in 2016 and they nearly got him I think, was Mane who has obviously turned out to be an unbelievably good footballer."
This was not the first suggestion that they had tried to sign the Senegalese superstar though, who would move to Liverpool for £34m, and has since joined Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr for a further £24m after a brief spell at Bayern Munich
The Times seeks to support such a notion, further outlining Levy's frugality by suggesting that Mane had even visited the club's training ground before the finances got in the way. At the time, Harry Kane remained their top earner on £100k-per-week, despite having just scored a whopping 25 goals in the Premier League the season before.
Unsurprisingly, the former Southampton forward wanted far more of an incentive to pick them over the Merseyside outfit, which Levy could not provide. An inability to find those funds pushed the dynamic winger into the arms of a rival, who went on to explode with the 31-year-old a key cog in Jurgen Klopp's side.
Was Sadio Mane better than Heung-min Son?
Given how Mane starred on the left flank, immediately this failed transfer venture brings up an argument over whether he would have been a more integral figure in north London than Heung-min Son has been.
After all, the South Korean had been signed just a year before the £650k-per-week week wizard joined the Reds, and has since enjoyed similar proficiency throughout his time in England that saw the two become rivals.
269
378
120
148
48
80
7.36 (2018/19)
7.50 (2021/22)
12
0
However, former Spurs favourite Robbie Keane sought to dispel the debate, boldly claiming: "For me, honestly, I think he is one of the best players we have ever seen in the Premier League. I don’t think he gets the respect that he should get."
That is not to suggest that Mane was not also on the receiving end of such praise, with Klopp having gone one further to say: "One of Liverpool’s greatest ever players is leaving and we must acknowledge how significant this is. He leaves with our gratitude and our love. He leaves with his status among the greats guaranteed. And, yes, he leaves in a moment where he is one of the best players in world football."
Writer DaveOCKOP would back this statement up too: "A true legend of Liverpool FC, he gave his all for the club."
It is true that Mane became a hero at Anfield, with his exploits helping them to win it all. The speedster played a huge hand in winning the Premier League and Champions League alongside numerous other domestic honours, with his goals proving integral as he showed up in the big moments.
Such a tendency to appear when needed is unquantifiable, but it does lend to the suggestion that he was at the very least more prolific than Son.
Although the current club captain is often lauded for his clinical nature in front of goal, it is a testament to Mane's quality that he has arguably outscored him during their respective periods with these two English greats.
After all, across his six years and 269 games with Liverpool, the 97-cap whiz scored 120 times and assisted a further 48. This meant that he would find the net every 2.24 games, which marks an impressive figure for a natural wide man.
Meanwhile, Son has currently scored 148 goals in 378 games, and whilst he does have more strikes and will almost certainly continue to add to them, this only averages out at a goal every 2.55; slightly less reliable in front of goal.
Not to mention that, during their most recent full campaigns in the Premier League, Mane averaged a 16% goal conversion before departing whilst his two-footed competition could only muster up 12%.
Although it is extremely close with regard to the quality they boasted across their tenure in England, these figures do suggest that the former Klopp favourite just edged the contest.
With goals at the Allianz Arena to fell Bayern Munich in the Champions League, numerous strikes against title rivals Manchester City, debut stunners against Arsenal and even an equaliser in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
It would be unfair to Mane's trophy-winning legacy to suggest that Son, whose only piece of silverware came with his national team, was a more complete and lethal forward than the current Al Nassr star.
Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales were among 16 England players who did not earn IPL deals
ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2018
Mark Wood claimed Cameron White in his opening spell•Associated Press
Mark Wood and Sam Billings benefitted from their names being put through the IPL auction a second time as both were snapped up by Chennai Super Kings.However, England’s limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan and top-order batsman Alex Hales did not earn themselves deals as franchises juggled dwindling budgets and squad size. Tymal Mills, who went for more than £1m last year, also won’t be appearing in this year’s competition.Overall, 16 of the England players who put themselves forward were not bought with eight (nine including Jofra Archer) securing deals.Mills’ stock has clearly fallen since the left-arm quick was part of a bidding war a year ago. He has slipped out of England’s T20 side and was expensive at this year’s Big Bash.Joe Root, who was ignored on the opening day, was not put through for another round of bidding on Sunday and neither was Jonny Bairstow. The availability of that pair due to their Test positions could have been one of the deciding factors.Wood fetched GBP165,000 ($234,000) and Billings GBP110,000 ($156,000) as Super Kings held back a significant portion of their budget. Chris Jordan, who remains a regular part of England’s T20 squad, was also retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for GBP110,000 ($156,000).Wood’s deal is excellent news for a fast bowler who has had to battle numerous injuries during his international career. Though he has been included in the Test squad to face New Zealand in March, the player himself has admitted he continues to have doubts have his durability for the longest format.Billings’ time with Super Kings will cause a few headaches for Kent following his appointment as captain. He will miss five rounds of Championship matches at the start of the season, a significant portion of the four-day campaign.Adil Rashid could not secure a deal, suffering the same fate as the No. 1 T20 bowler in the world, Ish Sodhi, in a competitive field of wristspinners.Sold England players Moeen Ali, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark WoodUnsold England players Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Steven Finn, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Tom Helm, Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, David Willey