The wait continues to see just who will be named as the permanent successor to Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur, with chairman Daniel Levy still yet to nail down a suitable fit to take on the top job for the long term.
A frustrating campaign for the Lilywhites – which has seen their long-running trophy drought extended – has now become almost farcical amid the uncertainty in the dugout, with the club having only recently taken the decision to sack interim coach, Cristian Stellini.
Quite why the Italian – who had been working as the assistant to his compatriot, Conte – was handed the reins is still something of a head-scratcher, with Levy and co having now been forced to turn to up-and-coming coach, Ryan Mason, to fill the void over the coming games.
While the latter man has admitted that he is "ready" to be the new permanent appointment, the recent speculation would suggest that ex-Bayern Munich boss, Julian Nagelsmann is among the leading candidates for the role.
That being said, however, Football Insider reported last week that the north Londoners are 'not hopeful' of being able to snap up the German visionary, with there a belief among some that the 35-year-old is only using the negotiations as 'leverage' in order to secure a role at one of Europe's elite clubs.
That fact could ensure that Tottenham may need to find a suitable alternative to the one-time RB Leipzig boss, with ESPN having only recently reported that Mainz head coach, Bo Svensson, could be under consideration.
Should Spurs appoint Bo Svensson?
The Danish coach may be an unfamiliar name to most of a Spurs persuasion, although the 43-year-old is seemingly highly respected by those in the game, having been previously described as "outstanding" by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
It was in fact the latter man who took Svensson to Mainz as a player back in 2007, with Klopp commenting that his former asset was a "grenade even then", while also lauding him as a "great, great talent" as a coach.
The reported Spurs target will likely be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the likes of the Anfield icon and ex-Chelsea man, Thomas Tuchel – both of whom began their coaching careers with the Bundesliga side – by making the transition to life in the Premier League from Germany.
Mainz's Bo Svensson
The former FC Liefering coach is already showing signs that he could be able to emulate that stellar duo, having thus far averaged a better points-per-game ratio (1.53) than that of both Klopp (1.51) and Tuchel (1.43) during their respective stints at the club.
Svensson only recently bolstered his reputation even further by leading his current side to a famous, 3-1 win over title hopefuls, Bayern, with that man Tuchel now in charge of the Bavarian giants following Nagelsmann's recent dismissal.
That should indicate that if the latter man is not interested in taking on the vacancy at N17, then Svensson – who has guided Mainz to eighth in the German top flight so far this term – could represent a dream alternative.
Arsenal’s academy production has kicked into overdrive of late, with a wealth of talent currently propping up the first-team exploits that see them sitting atop the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta must also earn credit, as a coach capable of embedding such unproven assets into the senior squad with such ease that they are unburdened by the pressures that these steps up bring.
The likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and more all came as relative unknowns, but their youth was no barrier to their emergence into the top division.
Such is this golden pathway that has since been paved, many of their current academy stars are also now pushing for their opportunity to shine.
One such name who continues to crop up amongst their top Hale End prodigies is Charles Sagoe Jr, with the dangerous winger posing a threat to all full-backs he faces at the U21 level.
As such, the teenager could be seen as the natural successor to Leandro Trossard, who has enjoyed a fine start to life in north London but is far older than many of his attacking teammates, giving credence to the suggestion that his spot will be available in a few years time.
Who is Charles Sagoe Jr?
Billed as a 'livewire attacking player' with immense versatility by Arsenal’s official website, the 18-year-old marvel has truly shone this season in Premier League 2.
Boasting five goals and two assists, his scintillating work in the youth team even led to his place on the bench in Arsenal’s first-leg Europa League clash with Sporting CP.
Journalist George Addo Jr had taken to Twitter only last month to outline how Sagoe Jr’s displays had caught widespread attention too, writing: “Charles Sagoe Jr has been in fine form for Arsenal U21s all season. He's now Arsenal's leading scorer in Premier League 2."
Whilst Trossard has just one goal since signing in January, the 28-year-old more than makes up for his lack of potency with a fine injection of much-needed creativity.
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard.
In just 12 league appearances for the Gunners, the Belgian already boasts seven assists and was named the club's player of the month for March. Not bad for someone who's only been in north London a matter of months.
He will now be the player in which the budding stars of Hale End look at in order to hone their impressive skills and Sagoe Jr should be no different.
Indeed, the fleet-footed youngster boasts similar qualities to the former Brighton ace, with an unpredictable nature capable of causing carnage among opposition defenders.
That was notably picked up on by another Hale End graduate in Reiss Nelson, who spoke directly to the winger, noting: “I’ve been watching you, I watch a lot of the U21 games and literally, I’m not just saying this because you’re here, you have everything to be an Arsenal winger.
“You’re unpredictable, you can move on your left, on your right, you can score, you can assist, you’ve got everything.”
With this huge praise, and the pathway in sight to eventually take over from the offensive exploits of Trossard, Sagoe Jr should feel confident that his time in the senior spotlight is just on the horizon.
Chelsea face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening, with three points a must if the Blues want to keep their slim hopes of a European finish alive this season.
Following the 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa last weekend, Graham Potter was relieved of his duties, becoming the second manager to be sacked in Todd Boehly's brief stint as Chelsea chairman.
Bruno Saltor is the man in charge for the visit of Liverpool, who are having a similarly disappointing season under Jurgen Klopp and boast just one away win in 2023.
How will Chelsea line up against Liverpool?
Here is how Football FanCast expects the Blues to line up tonight, with four changes from the side that started against Villa last time out.
Edouard Mendy is seemingly not yet in contention for Chelsea, so it would be surprising to see anyone other than Kepa Arrizabalaga in between the sticks for the visit of Liverpool tonight.
The Spanish keeper could do little about either of Villa's goals last weekend, as Chelsea's back three formation left them regularly exposed to counterattacks, and the Blues cannot afford to set up in the same way against a dangerous Liverpool front three.
Therefore, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile return in the centre-back positions on either side of Kalidou Koulibaly, which allows Reece James to push up into his preferred wing-back role after he was inexplicably selected at centre-back by Potter.
Marc Cucurella drops out entirely after another disappointing display last Saturday, with his incredibly poor back header allowing Ollie Watkins to steal in and score the opening goal. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is another to be benched.
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Ben Chilwell also features in the left wing-back role, in the hope that he and James can rediscover the form that made them two of the most feared attacking wing-backs in the league not so long ago.
In the middle of the park, there is one change as N'Golo Kante comes in for Mateo Kovacic, with the "world-class" Frenchman – as dubbed by Potter – possessing the work rate and ball-winning abilities to hopefully free up Enzo Fernandez to be at his creative best at Stamford Bridge.
Noni Madueke also comes in from the start after another woeful performance from Mykhailo Mudryk who missed a huge gilt-edged chance in that clash against Villa, with Joao Felix starting again on the left wing.
Kai Havertz completes the attack, although all three of Chelsea's forwards will have to be far more clinical in front of goal if the Blues are going to take their chances and take all three points against Liverpool tonight.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has been spotted as being back to his best form on the sideline following their recent victory in the Premier League.
What has been wrong with Antonio Conte?
The Italian has had to endure a difficult few months off the pitch with the 53-year-old left grieving the deaths of three close friends.
On top of this, he has only just returned fully after undergoing gallbladder surgery earlier this year which kept him out of action for a number of weeks.
All of this has intertwined with a poor run of form for Spurs, which has seen them dumped out of the FA Cup and Champions League in the last few weeks.
However, speaking on the Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham podcast, Alasdair Gold has admitted the thought the Italian looked back to his normal self in the game against Forest:
"On Saturday, he was really fired up, and the goals… each goal, he kind of celebrated like a bit of a madman, and that's what we're used to seeing. And he was enjoying his job again, I feel like. And I think that's key for Spurs.
"With all the talk going on and everything that's been said, I think if Conte's got the fire back in him… if we see a similar performance from him and the team on Saturday, I personally would go as far to say I think that Spurs will finish in the top four."
Where does Conte's Spurs future lie?
The reports strongly suggest Conte will not be looking to extend his stay in north London with his contract with the Lilywhites coming to an end this season.
And there have even been suggestions that he could not even see out the end of the campaign with Tottenham on the back of their recent cup exits.
However, it seems as if his flame is still burning after the weekend's victory with the 53-year-old seemingly still fired up on the sideline.
Antonio Conte shouting on the sidelines in Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League win over Nottingham Forest.
And this is certainly encouraging for all at Spurs, with a spot in the top four being the only thing they are able to play for in the remaining months of the season.
Spurs have a tough run towards the end of next month when they will face their three nearest rivals for a spot in the Champions League.
Therefore, it does feel absolutely essential that everyone at the club is on the same page for the upcoming games against the likes of Southampton, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth.
And what will surely encourage Conte is Spurs will now return to playing once a week for the next month until their big week against Newcastle United, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Although it seems as if he may not be at Spurs next season, having a fired-up Conte is something which is in the best interests of the club.
Such is the sheer amount of world class players to have played for Arsenal in the Premier League – some of which went invincible in the 2003/04 season – there have been a few that have been forced out of the spotlight and consigned to the ‘underrated tag’.
It’s natural for players to go under the radar at a side like Arsenal, however; the club is simply that big. In the successful years of Arsene Wenger, in particular, the Gunners had such superstars as Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, with the remainder of the squad left flying under the radar. But, if you took a deeper look, you would have noticed that plenty of underrated aces would have done just as much of the heavy lifting.
We’re here to shed light on those underrated players, too, with our list of Arsenal’s most underrated players of the Premier League era.
10) Nacho Monreal
Though Nacho Monreal didn’t play for Arsenal in their most successful period under Wenger, the left-back was a reliable option as the Gunners picked up domestic trophies and consistently finished inside the Champions League places.
For several years, the Spaniard was Mr. Reliable at The Emirates for what was an occasionally struggling Arsenal side.
Indeed, he made over 250 appearances for the club, appearing in multiple finals along the way.
A dependable hand in a relatively poor side.
9) Olivier Giroud
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This one may shock a few, as some will have Olivier Giroud at the opposite side of the underrated spectrum.
But, we believe that the Frenchman deserves to be held in a higher regard at Arsenal after scoring 105 goals for the club, which included a scorpion kick. He then further proved his quality at Chelsea, and for France internationally.
One has to wonder if Giroud would be more highly thought of had he played in a better team.
However, he did win three FA Cups at Arsenal, and that cannot be sniffed at.
8) Kevin Campbell
When you’re the strike partner of Ian Wright, you’re bound to find a place on this list. And that’s the case for Kevin Campbell, who was, of course, never given the same credit as his legendary partner.
Campbell wasn’t exactly shy in front of goal, himself, however, with 52 in 193 appearances to his name for the Gunners.
He actually came through the ranks at the Gunners, but he is perhaps better known for his spell with Everton, where he played between 1999 and 2005.
Still, a top player who scored plenty of goals for the Gunners.
7) Santi Cazorla
We were gutted when Santi Cazorla left Arsenal and was very nearly forced to retire through injury. In North London, the Spanish midfielder was simply magic.
He could do it, and with both feet, too. Yet, despite how much he is loved at the club, we can’t help but think that the rest of the Premier League doesn’t rate him nearly high enough – something that needs to change.
Indeed, he won two FA Cups at Arsenal, and was also a member of the famed Spain side that won two European Championships.
You don’t get to do that if you’re not very good.
6) Lukas Podolski
If a meteor was colliding with earth, we’d trust the left foot of Lukas Podolski to sweetly connect with it on the volley to clear.
That thunderbolt of his was absolutely unstoppable; he remains one of the best strikers of the ball that we’ve ever seen in the Premier League, yet also one of the most underrated players.
He may have only won one FA Cup during his stint with the Gunners, but he remains an iconic figure, both for his personality and his on-field shenanigans.
He’s one of the players that really understood what it meant to play for Arsenal.
5) Edu Gaspar
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Prior to his so-far successful time as technical director at Arsenal, Edu Gaspar was going under the radar as an important player at the club.
The former central midfielder made 127 appearances for the Gunners, and played a role in Arsenal’s 2003/04 invincible squad under Wenger.
It’s easy to forget that he was so good, because of the work that he’s doing now, but he is as decorated a member of the squad as the likes of Thierry Henry.
It’s time to give Edu his flowers.
4) Tomas Rosicky
If Podolski had a thunderbolt in his left foot, then Tomas Rosicky had the same power in his right boot.
The Czech Republic international famously struck an unstoppable effort in the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur, but he was also responsible for one of the best Arsenal team goals, which came against Sunderland.
While he only won the FA Cup at Arsenal, it’s easy to see why he remains such an underrated player; his diminutive stature and knack for the pre-assist – the pass before the pass that leads to the goal – he’s very reminiscent of Mesut Ozil.
Still, a fantastic player.
3) Lauren
Whilst the likes of Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell received most of the credit in the Arsenal Invincibles’ back four, it was Lauren who was left incredibly underrated.
His work at right-back played a vital part under Wenger, as the Gunners won two Premier League titles with the Cameroon international at the back.
He was also named in the Premier League Team of the Year for the 2003/04 season, etching out a niche as the best right-back in the league.
Arsenal had him at his peak too, as he only played three more seasons after leaving, two for Portsmouth and one for Spanish side Cordoba.
2) Abou Diaby
If it wasn’t for injuries, then Abou Diaby may well have become one of the most successful midfielders to play under Wenger at Arsenal; he could do it all except stay fit for a prolonged period of time.
Though he has often been billed as a failed replacement for Patrick Vieira, the way Diaby moved with the ball was more elegant and careful, whilst he attempted to dictate games.
He did win the FA Cup in the 2013/14 season but Diaby saw his playing time brutally cut off by injuries. He eventually left Arsenal with 180 appearances to his name, but it could have been double that.
1) Gilberto Silva
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When you’re sitting in midfield next to Vieira, the likelihood is that the spotlight will quickly turn into a shadow, but that didn’t stop Gilberto Silva from becoming a crucial part of the Arsenal Invincibles.
During his time at the North London club, Silva won two FA Cups, and one Premier League title in what was a very successful time in English football.
He remains one of the more underrated players of the entire generation, as he was largely the glue that kept that imposing Gunners midfield together.
But being Vieira’s partner, you can understand why that is.
So, there you have it, our list of Arsenal’s most underrated players of the Premier League era. Do you agree with our list? Or, do you believe that we’ve left some big names out? Let us know in the comments!
Mikel Arteta will be well aware of just how much potential and talent his current squad has. But, looking back on the best years under Wenger, it was those outside of the spotlight who allowed the stars the time to take centre-stage.
Finding players willing to play a role besides the protagonists may be crucial to Arsenal taking the next step in their current progression.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir believes Tottenham Hotspur will target new defenders in the summer.
The Lowdown: Tottenham looking to back Conte
It took a very long time – as it did 12 months ago – but Antonio Conte was finally backed in the recent January transfer window by Daniel Levy, who handed him Arnaut Danjuma and Pedro Porro.
However, neither of them started in the 1-0 win against Manchester City yesterday, which may suggest that they aren’t necessarily the first-team-ready options the Italian would have perhaps wanted.
Spurs have been linked with centre-backs in recent times who they could indeed move for in the summer if they secure Champions League football, with players such as Alessandro Bastoni and Marc Guehi said to be of interest.
The Latest: Spurs to improve at the back
Weir insisted on Sky Sports prior to Spurs’ clash against Man City that while the Lilywhites didn’t improve at centre-back last month, they will improve the defence in the summer when they have more time to assess their options.
Discussing their January business, he said: “Fans will rightly sort of say, ‘oh, but, you know, defence is still a big area of concern’, but that will be targeted in the summer, we understand.”
The Verdict: Levy must bring in new players
Tottenham did improve one part of their defence last month by bringing in a new right wing-back, but they are essentially wingers in Conte’s system, so the heart of the defence is where many may want the squad to be improved.
It will be essential that Spurs sign at least one new centre-back, as they’re still playing Ben Davies in a back three despite the Welshman being a left-back, and of course, Clement Lenglet will head back to Barcelona once his loan deal expires.
Therefore, Levy will certainly have to dig deep into his pockets and find the money needed for Conte to land a top centre-back who can help shore them up at the back, as they have shipped 31 goals in the league already this season, which is the most out of any side inside the top half.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has been tipped to remain at his post at Parkhead for at least the remainder of the campaign, amid the recent reports regarding interest in his services.
What’s the latest?
According to reports emerging from south of the border, the Australian is believed to be one of the potential candidates being eyed by Leeds United.
The Yorkshire club sacked their American boss, Jesse Marsch, on Monday afternoon and have a number of potential candidates said to be on their radar.
And Postecoglou is said to be one of them following the work he has done in Glasgow to take the Scottish crown back from their city rivals.
However, TalkSport’s Simon Jordan does not believe the 57-year-old will follow in the footsteps of previous Celtic and Rangers managers and move to England just yet:
“The first opportunity, the first whiff of a grown-up, Premier League football club, and most of these managers that have managed in Scotland leap.
“So with that in mind, I’m not sure that Postecoglou is cut from the same cloth. He doesn’t have that relationship with the Premier League just yet.
“Whilst he’ll get the message and the memo that the Premier League is the best domestic league in the world, I think there’s something slightly more deeper about his viewpoint on how he wants to build his career, because I get the impression that he’s got a bit of backbone, and he’s got a bit of integrity. And he’ll leave when it absolutely suits him.”
A job to complete at Celtic
Since Postecoglou’s arrival at Parkhead, the Bhoys have taken back the Scottish title from Rangers and look set to make it back-to-back titles this season.
With just a few months to go in the 2022/23 campaign, Postecoglou’s men sit in a favourable position in the table having already opened up a nine-point gap on their city rivals.
And as well as the league title, they will also face off with Michael Beale’s side in the Scottish League Cup later this month in what would be their first piece of silverware of the campaign.
But what has been apparent since Postecoglou’s arrival is that he has brought in his own players and the board have provided him with this freedom.
A huge number of players have come through the doors at Parkhead since the Australian’s arrival and we do wonder whether the 57-year-old would be willing to walk away from the project just yet.
Champions League football could well be on the menu for next season at this rate and we would imagine the Australian will be looking to right their wrongs from earlier in the season.
And this is an opportunity he certainly wouldn’t get if he was to make the move to Elland Road.
West Bromwich Albion are reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa centre-back Lamare Bogarde this month and his arrival at The Hawthorns could allow Carlos Corberan to ditch Semi Ajayi.
The Athletic reported last month that the Baggies could look to bring in the youngster in January as the manager looks to bolster his defensive options ahead of a likely promotion push in the second half of the campaign.
West Brom sit just outside the Championship play-off places after last weekend’s late defeat against league leaders Burnley but appear to have a great chance of a top-six finish if they can maintain their superb form since Corberan took over from Steve Bruce last October.
The manager has preferred a centre-back partnership of Erik Pieters and Dara O’Shea during his time with the Midlands club, which is perhaps partly down to the injury issues of Kyle Bartley and Ajayi.
The latter has made just two substitute appearances in the league since Corberan’s arrival and has struggled immensely on his rare starts this term, averaging a subdued 6.42 rating from WhoScored for his performances.
This ranks him as only the 18th-best performer at The Hawthorns so far in 2022/23 according to WhoScored, so he could be a prime candidate to depart in the January transfer window, especially if the manager can add another defender to his ranks.
Bogarde could be an ideal option to succeed him, as the youngster would arrive with a very good reputation thanks to his performances in Villa’s youth ranks, with academy director Mark Harrison delighted about the Dutchman’s “immense potential” upon his arrival at the club from Feyenoord.
The 20-year-old, who can also play as a defensive midfielder, made his senior debut for Villa in the 2020/21 season but hasn’t played for them since, so a loan move could be good for both parties this month as he looks unlikely to break into Unai Emery’s first-team.
Given his reputation and potential, he could be a far better option for Corberan than Ajayi in the second half of the season, when you consider the Nigerian’s less than impressive displays under Bruce in the early months of the campaign.
While that would be tough on the former Rotherham man after his injury issues in the autumn, the Baggies must do all that they can to secure a top-six finish this season. Signing a versatile youngster such as Bogarde can only be a good thing for Corberan, even if it means getting rid of Ajayi.
Chelsea look set to complete the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a club-record fee, according to Alex Crook.
What’s the word?
The midfielder, who played a starring role for Argentina at the World Cup, looks set to move to West London, with Chelsea paying a British-record transfer fee.
The 21-year-old won the Young Player of the Tournament award in Qatar, and is set for another move having only joined Benfica from River Plate at the start of the season.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Crook shared details of the potential deal, and stated that he expects it to go through.
“The key here is the terms of the transfer fee. We know it’s going to be in excess of his £105m release clause,” he stated.
“But Chelsea, as I mentioned yesterday, want to pay in three installments to try and get round their FFP limitations.
“The final call is still to be made by the Benfica hierarchy. Enzo Fernandez has already agreed personal terms. He’s already checked out, basically, he thinks he’s played his last game for Benfica, but Scott Minto told us yesterday it wasn’t a particularly good performance, if it was his last game.
“I think this will happen but we’re just waiting for the final green light from Benfica.”
A big gamble?
Although his talent was on full display at the World Cup, the size of the fee is arguably excessive, considering the Argentine’s lack of experience.
Fernandez has played just 25 games for Benfica since his summer move, and even at River Plate he only made 53 senior appearances.
His value has shot up as a result of his national team displays, and he would slot straight into the Chelsea midfield with N’Golo Kante and Jorginho potentially leaving in the summer, but such a large deal for a 21-year-old does carry a risk of failure if he cannot live up to expectations.
After securing a 1-0 win against Preston North End in his first game as QPR manager, it is starting to become clear which players will become crucial under Neil Critchley.
The Hoops disregarded the form table to earn three points against Ryan Lowe’s side on Saturday, with Jimmy Dunne’s goal enough to seal the win.
The former Blackpool boss made just two changes in the win, with Rob Dickie coming on to help secure the three points, while Olamide Shodipo came on for the final stages to give Chris Willock a rest.
It was a rare appearance for the 25-year-old, who can no longer be considered the exciting youngster that he once was viewed as at Loftus Road.
Shodipo has now made nine appearances in the Championship this season, with just two starts, averaging a shocking 6.16 rating from WhoScored which ranks him as the 21st-best performer in the Hoops’ squad.
Had Ilias Chair not been featuring for Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar at the same time as the game, then it seems likely that Shodipo would have been much further down the pecking order in Critchley’s thinking, so when he returns from international duty, the Irishman may continue to struggle for game time.
The former Oxford United loanee has now made 45 appearances for the Hoops, in which he has failed to score a single goal and has just one assist, which suggests that he is far from good enough to be a regular at Loftus Road.
Although he did catch the eye in his loan spell with Oxford, contributing 12 goals and three assists in League One, the £4.8k-per-week earner has failed to bring that form with him to the Championship.
Shodipo’s contract at QPR is set to expire at the end of the season, so Critchley must now look to sell him in January to try and get a fee for the winger, who has progressed from the academy to the first team, without ever really looking like he could be a regular.
Football is a ruthless business and Critchley needs better players if he wants to push QPR up the table in the second half of the season, so Shodipo has to go.