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After a long summer away, Arsenal finally got their Premier League campaign underway at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon.

It certainly wasn’t a vintage performance from Mikel Arteta’s side, as Manchester United looked more dangerous for much of the game, but in a title challenge, all that matters is the three points.

However, there were still a few worrying aspects to the Gunners’ performance, notably their lack of threat and the underwhelming showing by Viktor Gyokeres on his competitive debut.

It’s safe to say it wasn’t the best of starts for the hulking centre-forward who failed to have a single shot, largely due to a lack of service provided by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Fortunately, Arsenal are now being linked with a dangerman who could be the answer to getting the Swedish international firing.

Arsenal target dream signing for Gyokeres

Since securing the services of Gyokeres for a fee of around £63.5m last month, Arsenal have been linked with a host of stars who could form brilliant partnerships with him.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Perhaps the most prominent of those links was to Eberechi Eze, but it now looks more and more likely that he’ll be moving to Tottenham Hotspur, and Rodrygo, another supposed target, now looks closer to Manchester City.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as it appears that the North Londoners are now moving in on another Premier League star, someone who could get Gyokeres firing.

At least that’s according to recent reports, which have claimed Arsenal are now very interested in Antoine Semenyo.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners have been making inquiries about the Bournemouth star, who is “totally keen” on making the move to the Emirates this summer.

However, he recently signed a one-year extension and was valued at £70m earlier this year, so prising the Ghanaian international from the South Coast could prove challenging.

With that said, if there is a chance Arsenal can sign Semenyo this summer, they have to take it, especially as he could get Gyokeres firing.

Why Semenyo would get Gyokeres firing

It might be somewhat simplistic, but there are two ways we can see Semenyo helping to get more out of Gyokeres this season, and the first relates to his ability to create chances, something that the Swede severely lacked on Sunday.

For example, FBref ranked the Cherries ace in the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for shot-creating actions stemming from his take-ons and shots and places him in the top 12% for successful take-on percentage.

In other words, through his brilliant ability to get past opponents, the Ghanian star is a chance-creating machine, and while it resulted in a goal on Friday, we saw that, if anything, he’s now more dangerous with the ball at his feet.

In all, the former Bristol City gem racked up seven assists in 43 appearances across all competitions, but we don’t doubt that number would be significantly higher were he playing alongside the former Sporting CP star.

The second reason Semenyo would be able to get the Gunners’ new number 14 firing this season is the fact that he is such a goal threat himself.

To go along with his seven assists last season, the Cherries’ “monster,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 13 goals, and despite playing against the defending champions away from home on Friday night, he’s already scored two this season.

This would massively help the Stockholm-born marksman open his account, as, with the 25-year-old off the left, opposition defenders would be worried about goals coming from every member of the Gunners’ front three.

After all, as useful as Gabriel Martinelli can be when tracking back, he’s not a particularly dangerous winger, nor one that really frightens opponents.

Ultimately, even though it’ll be a tough transfer to get over the line, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Semenyo this summer.

His ability to create chances for his teammates and the fear he’d instil in the opposition could be the key to getting Gyokeres up and running.

Arteta must axe 4/10 Arsenal star who was worse than Gyokeres vs Man Utd

Arsenal may have secured victory at Old Trafford but there were some negatives.

By
Matt Dawson

Aug 18, 2025

A Glasgow Rangers player who has been hailed as a “fighter” now “desperately wants” to secure a move away from Ibrox before the summer transfer window closes.

Meghoma completes Rangers move

The Gers haven’t made the most convincing of starts to the Scottish Premiership season, drawing their opening two matches in the competition, with Russell Martin already under an element of pressure.

The Rangers manager will be buoyed by the arrival of Jayden Meghoma from Brentford, however, with the left-back arriving on a season-long loan deal from the Premier League club, speaking of his excitement to get started at his new club.

“I am very excited to be here, it is a fantastic club, and I know a lot about the rich history of Rangers. The main thing for me is getting results, Rangers is a big club, I am ready, I am hungry and I am excited to get going. I know Russell from my time at Southampton, and I think he is a fantastic coach, and I know how he likes to play, so I think it will be quite quick for me to integrate into the team.

“He gave me my debut in the Carabao Cup, and I felt comfortable straight away. The way he plays is a lot of possession-based football and that is something I really enjoy. It makes me feel more at ease as I know how he plays. He is a manager I am familiar with, so I can use the learnings from the past. I still remember what he taught me, so I understand how to play his style of football.”

Rangers star Yilmaz desperate for summer exit

Now, according to journalist Serkan Morova on X [via Ibrox News], Rangers left-back Ridvan Yilmaz “desperately wants” to leave the club and seal a return to Besiktas this summer.

The arrival of Meghoma will surely aid the Turk in his efforts to leave the Gers before the transfer window closes, having been pushing for an exit all summer.

Yilmaz hasn’t been a part of Martin’s plan at all yet, and he only made 11 starts in the league last season, even though Philippe Clement did praise him during their time working together.

“He has made a really big evolution – Ridvan is a fighter and we need fighters.”

There was always a risk if Rangers selling Yilmaz without bringing in a tailor-made replacement, but with Meghoma’s signature now secured for the rest of the 2025/26 season, it paves the way for the 24-year-old to depart.

Rangers can forget about Mendy with swoop for "very offensive" £13m star

Rangers can forget all about Nobel Mendy by pursuing a deal to sign this reported target.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 18, 2025

It that does happen, he will leave as a slight disappointment overall, making 77 appearances but struggling to convince for consistent periods of time, despite moments of quality being thrown in, including two goals and six assists.

France Football's editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia has confirmed that Ousmane Dembele beat Lamine Yamal to the 2025 Ballon d'Or by a "wide margin". Dembele and Yamal were the last men standing among the 30 nominees but it was the Paris Saint-Germain star who ultimately claimed the award after a historic 2024-25 season.

• Dembele beat Yamal to Golden Ball

  The 2024-25 campaign proved to be the best season in Dembele's career so far as he won the Ballon d'Or for the first time after leading PSG to a treble. The French giants won every major trophy on offer, except for the Club World Cup, while the Frenchman scored 35 goals across all competitions and provided 16 assists. Yamal also shone with Barcelona as Hansi Flick's side bagged three domestic trophies, but the teenager missed out on the Golden Ball in the end.

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  'Ousmane won it by a wide margin'

  Garcia, who is in charge of the France Football organisation that presents the Ballon d'Or every year, has clarified that the final vote was not close this time around, with Dembele the "clear" winner. He said after the ceremony: "There was no match. Ousmane won it by a wide margin. On all continents, Ousmane Dembele's Ballon d'Or is clear and straightforward. It's a Ballon d'Or that is authoritative for our judges."

• Yamal' father triggers controversy

  Following his son's defeat in Paris, Yamal's father Mounir Nasraoui stirred up controversy by branding Dembele’s Ballon d’Or win as the “greatest moral harm” in football. He further claimed that Yamal was "by far the best player in the world" last season. 

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  What's next for Dembele and Yamal?

  Dembele missed PSG's rescheduled Ligue 1 fixture at Marseille on Monday as he is yet to recover from the injury that he sustained during the international break, but the winger is hoping to feature for Luis Enrique's side in their next outing against Auxerre on Saturday. Yamal, meanwhile, is also working his way back from injury and may not be ready to feature when Barca take on Oviedo on Thursday in La Liga.

When it comes to the greatest players to have donned West Ham United’s famous Claret and Blue in recent history, it’s hard to look past Declan Rice.

The England international joined the club as a teenager and worked his way into the first team before eventually being given the captain’s armband, which he wore as the club won the Conference League in 2023.

At his best, the 26-year-old was a combative number six who was a nightmare to get past, but had in his locker what was, at the time, a hugely underrated passing ability and a sensational left foot.

In all, Rice is one of the best players to have represented West Ham in the modern era, even if his decision to join a fellow London side might have broken a few hearts.

Therefore, fans should be delighted with reports linking the club to a powerful midfield star who has been likened to the Arsenal star.

West Ham target their new Rice

The part of the team West Ham are most in need of reinforcing before the window closes next week is the midfield, and it looks like they’re going to do just that.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, reports suggest that the club have had an offer for Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes accepted today, and AS Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa is set for a medical.

Yet, the Hammers might not be done there, as they’re being linked with another midfield star who could become their new Rice.

At least that is according to a recent report from Sky Sports News, which has claimed West Ham are interested in Aleix Garcia.

The report has revealed that the Bayer Leverkusen star is on a list of players the Irons are interested in this summer.

A potential price for the player is not mentioned in the report, but stories from earlier this week claimed that a fee of €20m, which is about £17m, would be enough to tempt the German side into selling.

At that price, signing the talented and experienced Garcia seems like a no-brainer for West Ham, especially as he’s been compared to Rice.

How Garcia compares to Rice

In this instance, the comparison between Garcia and Rice stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions from Europe’s top five leagues and concluded that the Arsenal ace has been the eighth most similar midfielder to the 28-year-old over the last 365 days.

We can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by examining the underlying metrics in which the pair ranks closely.

In this case, these include statistics such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, key passes, blocks, shot-creating actions, interceptions and more, all per 90.

In other words, like the Hammers’ former captain, the Spaniard is a defensively solid midfielder who is more than comfortable contributing to the attacking side of the game.

The “outstanding” ace, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, is capable of initiating attacks through his impressive passing ability, as exemplified by his key passes.

Finally, another strength of the “technically gifted” Spaniard, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, that he shares with the Englishman is his ability to play in multiple midfield roles, from a defensive six to a box-crashing eight, and on occasion even further up the pitch.

Ultimately, while he might not be a household name among Premier League fans, West Ham should do all they can to sign Garcia before the window slams shut, especially as he could be their new Rice.

West Ham's stance on selling Lucas Paqueta as Tottenham make contact

The Hammers have to fight off late summer interest from Spurs.

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 28, 2025

Adrien Rabiot was left 'angry' after AC Milan drew 0-0 with Juventus as the midfielder made his first return to the Allianz Stadium since his move to the Rossoneri. While he admitted it was an 'emotional' night, the Frenchman was left frustrated by his side's inability to secure a victory against his former club, pinpointing where Milan must improve to challenge for the title.

• Rabiot unhappy with Milan vs Juvenus

  Rabiot has expressed his frustration after the Rossoneri were held to a 0-0 draw against his former club Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, according to an interview with DAZN via Football Italia. The France international, who spent five years in Turin before leaving in 2024, admitted to feeling "angry" that his side failed to capitalise on their chances in his first match back at his old ground.

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  An emotional return to Turin for Rabiot

  The match marked an emotional occasion for the 30-year-old midfielder, who faced many of his former teammates and staff for the first time since his departure. Despite the warm return, Rabiot's focus was on securing a crucial away win for Milan. "It was an emotional night. I know many of the players at Juventus, the stadium, the staff, even coach Tudor… I was really happy to come back here," Rabiot said. "I wanted to win, but that’s football – we’ll keep going with our journey."

• 'Angry' over missed chances in stalemate

  Milan created several clear opportunities but lacked the clinical edge to find a breakthrough, a fact that left Rabiot particularly annoyed. The match was a cagey affair, with Milan registering 13 shots to Juventus' 12, but only four were on target. "I’m angry because we should have won," he stated. "We had opportunities but something was missing. We have to do more and improve as a team. It’s only the start of the season, but winning here would’ve been important."

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• What Milan lacked against Juventus

  Reflecting on his team's tactical shortcomings, Rabiot identified a lack of aggression and precision in the final third as key areas for improvement. He felt that while a point away to Juventus is a decent result, Milan left two points on the table. "We didn’t use the depth enough, and in front of goal, we have to be better – final passes, shots, second balls, aggression," he explained. "The point is okay, but we could’ve done more to win."

Arne Slot has built on the successful era under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool incredibly well, winning the Premier League in his first year in charge.

In the summer of 2025, FSG also splashed the cash, spending more than £400m on the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

The Reds currently have an annual payroll of £154,440,000 and pay out just under £3m per week. We have ranked every Liverpool player in the first-team squad in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025-26 season, with the help of Capology.

Here are the top 10 Liverpool earners…

10

Federico Chiesa

£150,000 per week

One of four players on £150,000 per week is forward Federico Chiesa. The Italy international arrived in Slot’s first transfer window in charge after being made surplus to requirements at Juventus.

A pacey wide man who can also occupy a central role when required, Chiesa has struggled to break into the starting XI but has become a fan favourite.

9

Ryan Gravenberch

£150,000 per week

Ryan Gravenberch arrived at Liverpool from Ajax in 2023 and had to remain patient to find a permanent role in the starting line-up during his first season with the club.

Under Slot, Gravenberch has been transformed into the club’s new No.6 and may well be used there for the foreseeable future, with his Anfield deal expiring in 2028.

8

Alisson

£150,000 per week

The arrival of goalkeeper Alisson from AS Roma back in 2018 helped transform the Reds under Klopp, with the Brazilian being an ever-present figure during his six-year stay so far.

In total, Alisson has made more than 300 appearances for Liverpool and has kept more than 125 clean sheets.

7

Alexis Mac Allister

£150,000 per week

Liverpool picked up the services of midfielder Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023 after his impressive three years on the south coast.

The Argentine’s current agreement with the Reds is for another three years.

6

Andrew Robertson

£160,000 per week

One of the best value-for-money signings in Liverpool’s recent history has to be Andrew Robertson, who cost the Reds just £8m from Hull City in 2017.

The Scot is now into his 30s, though, and with his contract expiring in 2026, Liverpool may soon be without their iconic left-back.

5

Florian Wirtz

£195,000 per week

Costing a whopping £116m from Bayer Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz was Liverpool’s record signing for a matter of months.

The attacking midfielder signed a deal worth more than £10m a season and will look to star at Anfield over the next five years.

4

Hugo Ekitike

£200,000 per week

Hugo Ekitike was one of two star strikers to sign for Liverpool in 2025, with the Reds paying Frankfurt an initial £69m for the French forward.

He scored on his debut at Wembley in the Community Shield and also netted the first goal of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Ekitike is on £10.4m per season on Merseyside.

3

Alexander Isak

£280,000 per week

In what was the transfer saga of 2025, Liverpool eventually splashed the cash on Alexander Isak for a British record £125m.

The forward went on strike at Newcastle to push through a deadline day move to Anfield, penning a six-year contract where he is set to earn a total of £87m.

2

Virgil Van Dijk

£350,000 per week

Centre-back Virgil Van Dijk was signed for an eye-catching £75m fee from Southampton in 2018, a figure which some were shocked by at the time.

However, since then, Van Dijk has comfortably repaid the faith shown in him by the Reds, starring at the back at Anfield and winning numerous trophies. His current deal through until 2027 was signed in 2025.

1

Mohamed Salah

£400,000 per week

Like Van Dijk, star attacker Mohamed Salah also signed a new two-year deal in 2025. The Egyptian King has helped turn the Reds into Premier League and Champions League winners, becoming a Liverpool legend in the process.

During his eight-year stay, Salah has made more than 400 appearances, scoring over 240 goals.

Paul Pogba's long-awaited return to football has hit another snag after the midfielder suffered a minor thigh strain in training. Having not played an official game since 2023 due to a doping ban, the plan for the 32-year-old to make his Monaco debut this month is now in serious doubt, adding to his frustrating comeback trail as he targets a return to the national team ahead of the World Cup.

• Thigh strain threatens to rule out planned return

  Pogba’s highly anticipated debut for Monaco may be put on hold after the midfielder suffered a fresh injury in training, according to . The France international was expected to make his return to competitive action against Angers on October 18, but a minor muscle strain in his right thigh has now compromised his involvement. The club has confirmed the setback but specified that the issue is not related to the knee problems that have plagued him in the past.

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  Frustration grows after two years out

  This latest blow is another frustrating chapter in Pogba's long road back to professional football. The World Cup winner has not played a competitive match since September 2023, having served an 18-month doping suspension before signing for the Ligue 1 club at the end of June 2025. His return was initially pencilled in for last week’s derby against Nice before being pushed back to the Angers fixture to allow for more recovery time, a precaution that has been justified by this new muscular problem.

• Debut to come under new management

  Adding another layer of complexity to his comeback, Pogba will not play under the manager who brought him to the club. Adi Hutter, who signed the Frenchman, was sacked by Monaco earlier this week. This means that whenever Pogba is finally fit to make his debut, it will be under a new head coach, who is yet to be appointed.

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  What next for Pogba and Monaco?

  With the planned return against Angers now in serious doubt, there is no new timeline for Pogba's debut. The club's medical staff are monitoring the thigh strain closely, and a decision on his availability will be made in due course. For now, the former Manchester United star’s long wait for a return to the pitch continues, with both player and club hoping this is only a minor delay on his path to redemption.

Tottenham Hotspur travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon, looking to continue their excellent start to life under new manager Thomas Frank.

The Dane has already won four of his first five games in charge of the Lilywhites, with the most recent victory coming against Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Other wins have come in the Premier League against Burnley, Manchester City and West Ham United – allowing the side to occupy a place in the top four after the first handful of outings.

However, this afternoon they will be coming up against Fabian Hurzeler’s side, who have yet to taste defeat on home soil, subsequently picking up four points out of a potential six.

If Frank’s men are to have any chance of securing another victory, he may have to unleash one talent who’s already demonstrated glimpses of his quality in the current campaign.

Why Frank must unleash Johnson v Brighton

Brennan Johnson has certainly had his doubters during his time at Spurs, but it’s safe to say that he’s produced the goods on a consistent basis over the past 12 months.

The Welshman, who joined in a £47.5m deal from Nottingham Forest, registered 18 goals across all competitions last season – including the winner in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

He also made an excellent start to 2025/26, scoring in each of his first two Premier League starts, before being dropped in the last two matches across all competitions.

Johnson has demonstrated that he has the goal-scoring prowess needed to win a game of football, something which will be vital against a solid Seagulls outfit.

However, he should be the only player recalled to the starting eleven, with one other Lilywhites talent deserving of a start after dropping to the bench in the Champions League.

The Spurs player who loves playing against Brighton

Over the last couple of years, Spurs have had somewhat of a torrid time facing Brighton, often being on the wrong end of numerous high-scoring encounters.

The two sides last met on the final day of last season, with the Lilywhites falling to a 4-1 defeat in North London just days after claiming Europa League glory in Bilbao.

Their last visit to the AMEX saw Ange Postecoglou’s side lose 3-2, that’s despite being two goals ahead at the break, thanks to goals from Johnson and James Maddison.

However, another defeat could be avoided by Frank if he unleashes loanee Joao Palhinha at the heart of the midfield on the South Coast once again this afternoon.

The Portuguese international joined the Lilywhites on a loan deal from Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window, offering a needed ball-winning presence in the middle of the park.

He’s started three league games to date, even scoring in the victory against Manchester City at the Etihad back at the end of October – in what was just the second league game of Frank’s tenure.

Out of possession, the 30-year-old has been just as impressive, winning 2.2 tackles per 90 and 7.8 duels per 90, often being the main player to regain the ball for the Lilywhites.

However, it’s his previous record against the Seagulls that could be another reason to start Palhinha, with the former Fulham star previously impressing against the Albion.

In his three matches against today’s opposition, the Portuguese international, who’s been labelled “incredible” by one analyst, he’s won two and drawn one, subsequently never losing a game against them.

He’s also previously netted a goal against the Seagulls, hopefully replicating such a record if he gets the nod and is recalled to Frank’s starting eleven this afternoon.

Palhinha’s early form in North London has showcased that he’s already been an excellent addition to the squad – potentially playing a vital role in any success in 2025/26.

He and Johnson are both deserving of a starting role once more, potentially able to help the side extend their phenomenal start to life under new boss, Frank.

Forget Simons: Spurs must rue selling their answer to Odegaard for only £8m

Tottenham Hotspur made a huge mistake in selling one player who has starred massively in recent years.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 19, 2025

Chelsea wonderkid Estevao Willian is being backed to emulate Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard by securing legend status at Stamford Bridge, with the Brazilian youngster considered to be “unbelievably good”. He has already been likened to iconic countryman Neymar, with big shoes to be filled there, while also earning the nickname ‘Messinho’ (Little Messi) in his homeland.

• Meteoric rise: Estevao tipped to reach the top

  That goes to show how far the teenager has come in a short space of time. He only made his professional debut at Palmeiras in December 2023 and, less than two years later, is now a senior Brazil international and a Premier League performer being tipped to reach the very top.

  A transfer to English football was completed in the summer of 2025 after turning 18 and facing Chelsea at the FIFA Club World Cup. He admitted when arriving in west London that adjusting to life outside of his comfort zone would be difficult.

  Estevao has, however, hit the ground running with Chelsea – opening his goal account in stunning style when netting a stoppage-time winner in a dramatic victory over defending champions Liverpool. He had already been catching the eye prior to that outing.

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  Next Neymar: Estevao compared to fellow Brazilian

  His quick feet and ability to drift beyond opponents have made him a fan favourite and earned the respect of those who are sat alongside him in the Chelsea dressing room. There is the promise of much more to come, with the hottest of prospects seemingly ready to become the next South American sensation.

  Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has told : “Estevao has been exactly what I hoped for. I think he could be one of the best. It's a lot to ask of a kid who's 18, but he's got everything, everything you need. Next off the Brazilian production line like Neymar. It's a good solid start, but I'll tell you what underlines it. I was at the Chelsea v Liverpool game just the other week and the ball went out to him and the noise in the stadium is different from every single other player. That is wow, not many can do that. So nice solid start, but he's a kid that can go wherever he likes. He's unbelievably good.”

• Chelsea greats: Estevao to follow in iconic footsteps

  Nevin went on to say of Estevao following in some iconic footsteps: “Style-wise, Chelsea have got this long list from Gianfranco Zola, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata was much much loved down there. It goes all the way back to Charlie Cooke. Chelsea have got a whole list of these little creative players that they absolutely love.

  “Estevao will be one of them. If Chelsea treat him right, if they stick by him, if he doesn't get injured, he will be in that pantheon. There's a couple of ifs in there, but definitely capable. Which one of them is he more like? He's probably closer to Neymar. He's not really like them. But creative, small, playing for Chelsea and could be world class very soon. He's up there and he should be one of them because he's good enough.”

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  Next for Estevao? Chelsea return to Premier League action

  Another former Blues star, Champions League-winning coach Roberto Di Matteo, told GOAL recently when asked how god Estevao can become: “Let’s not overwhelm him with pressure, but he’s going to be a top player! You can see that he is so advanced in his football development.

  “I saw him before the international break and he looks like a 15-year-old! You look at him and think ‘you are playing already?’ Amazing skills, technically, he’s fast, unpredictable, can go outside and inside. Very good attitude. He’s quite advanced for his age. Ancelotti loves him in the Brazil national team.

  “He’s got a very good family around him as well, his parents have moved over with him. He’s got good management around him so I have no doubt that he’s going to grow and become a top player, a world top player.”

  Chelsea have Estevao tied to a long term contract through to 2033, meaning that they stand to benefit from the unlocking of further potential. He was among the goals for Brazil during the international break, netting a brace against South Korea, and will be back in Premier League action on Saturday when the Blues take in a trip to Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal have been dealt with a fresh injury blow with star players William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli ruled out of action for their upcoming game with Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup. The duo, along with Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, picked up problems in their last Premier League encounter against Crystal Palace, which the Gunners won 1-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

• Fresh injury blows for Arsenal

  Arsenal are off to a dream start to the 2025-26 campaign as they have won seven out of their first nine matches and are four points clear at the top of the Premier League table. After two months of action in the English top flight, the Gunners are being labelled as favourites to finally bag the league title after years of heartbreak.

  However, their journey has been rocked with injuries to several of the first-team stars. Forwards Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke are currently sidelined with injuries alongside captain Martin Odegaard. On top of that, Arsenal were dealt with fresh blows as five new players have been carrying knocks.

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  Saliba and Martinelli ruled out of Carabao Cup clash

  Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has now provided an update on all of his players' conditions ahead of the Brighton clash, claiming Saliba and Martinelli have no chance of playing in the cup game. Speaking to reporters, the Spanish coach said: "[Saliba] is out. We are assessing him, but he won’t be involved this match. [Martinelli] looks as well that he is going to be out. We have to, again, do some more tests and see the extent of the injury. But this game is going to be too early for him."

  However, Arteta also confirmed that the trio of Saka, Calafiori and Rice are all fit and ready to take the field against the Seagulls on Wednesday night.

• Arteta could make wholesale changes to starting lineup

  With a hectic schedule either side of the November international break, Arteta is likely to make several changes in the starting lineup and hand game time to other squad members. In defence, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Myles Lewis-Skelly could feature, while Piero Hincapie could be handed his first start. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga could make his second appearance for the Gunners after making his debut against Port Vale last month. 

  Youth sensation Max Dowman, who has started training with the senior first team, could also be included in the matchday squad after the teenager impressed for Arsenal U19s in Europe and the English youth leagues. Arteta could also consider pushing Mikel Merino to the No.9 role once again, if he plans to rest star forward Viktor Gyokeres.

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  Arsenal backed to win trophies this season

  Manchester United legend and pundit Gary Neville backed the Gunners as favourites to win the league title this year and even revealed the points tally they have to achieve to lift their 14th top-flight title. He said on the Gary Neville Podcast: "This has got to be them, hasn't it? This has got to be their year. This is the fourth season on the bounce that I've had them to win the league, but they're not necessarily miles better, they're repeating their levels of consistency, and that's all they're going to have to do this year to win the league. They're not going to have to go and get 100 points, they're not going to have to get even 90 or 95 points to win the league, mid-80s, high 80s will win them this title, and they can do that. I mentioned before about the other teams [being] inconsistent and unreliable, that's not this Arsenal team. They're very reliable. You can trust them. The way in which they defend is fantastic. They're all around each other. They don't concede goals. They've got a threat up front in multiple areas. They've not got a sensational centre-forward, but they've got a battering ram up there as honest as a day's long, and that can work for them. They've got [Eberechi] Eze, they've got so they've got Madueke, Martinelli, [Leandro] Trossard, lots of players who can contribute goals. They've got Rice who can obviously deliver in set-pieces. They've got four fantastic full-backs and three excellent centre-backs."