All posts by h716a5.icu

Chelsea will battle title-chasing Arsenal tonight as the Blues attempt to restore some pride to their horrendous season, whilst halting the Gunners’ attempts to return to the top spot.

However, this will be a humongous task considering the abysmal form that the Blues currently find themselves in.

Since Frank Lampard took charge as caretaker, the 2021 Champions League winners are winless in five games, only scoring once and conceding nine.

Mikel Arteta’s men also find themselves in patchy form, drawing three of their last four matches, but they will be desperate to bounce back in this London derby.

In Chelsea’s last outing, the side produced a dismally depressing showing against Brentford, slumping to a 2-0 defeat.

One player who drastically struggled was Cesar Azpilicueta and should be dropped for the encounter this evening.

Should Chelsea drop Azpilicueta vs Arsenal?

The Spaniard is currently the club’s longest-serving player and has been the captain since Gary Cahill’s departure in 2019. He has made over 500 appearances for the Blues across 11 years and in January 2023 he became the sixth player to reach this milestone.

His reliability, longevity, and consistency are three unteachable traits that have to be applauded. However, the 33-year-old has unsurprisingly declined and that was painfully apparent against the Bees.

Nowadays, full-backs are expected to be a versatile blend of defensive solidity and attacking flair, but Azpilicueta didn’t impress in either of these categories.

The 44-cap international made only his 12th top-flight start of the season, but it quickly soured. The former Marseille man failed to register only any tackles or blocks, as well as being unable to win any ground duels.

The £180k-per-week veteran also failed to contribute to any offensive phases of play and didn't offer any accurate crosses, key passes, or successful dribbles.

A miserable display was capped off by an own goal from a corner, and he was hauled off at half-time to spare his blushes.

With Reece James being ruled out until the end of the season, Chelsea are missing one of their primary creative forces and the skipper fails to even moderately mirror what the Englishman offers.

Although Azpilicueta should only be used sparingly for the rest of the season, it makes a huge amount of sense to retain the experienced leader beyond this campaign in this period of change and difficulty.

The defender has won every available trophy in West London and will be remembered as one of the club’s most successful players, but starting him at the Emirates tonight would invite trouble.

Manchester United could be boosted by the return of Alejandro Garnacho when they welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford on Sunday, reports the Manchester Evening News.

What's the early team news?

The Red Devils welcome a high-flying Villans side to Manchester on Sunday in what has suddenly become a hugely important fixture in the race for European football. The hosts can move themselves nine points clear in the race for Champions League qualification, while Villa have their own aspirations and could actually sit just three points behind Erik ten Hag's side with a win of their own.

Unai Emery is expected to be without Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara, Philippe Coutinho and Leon Bailey, but United have some problems of their own, with first-choice centre-back pairing Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane both sidelined.

One piece of good news however is the return of Garnacho, after the teenager participated in training on Friday, the same day on which the club announced a bumper new contract for the rising star.

According to MEN, the 18 year-old, who has not played since March, "took part in first-team training on Friday afternoon at Carrington", which suggests he "could be available" when Villa come calling in what the paper describes as a "boost" for the manager.

Will Garnacho play vs Aston Villa?

The Argentina U20 international has been praised for being "dangerous" and having a "massive influence" when he plays by none other than Paul Scholes, and it's not hard to see why.

Capable of playing on both wings and terriying defenders with his quick feet and directness, Garnacho has mustered up nine direct goal involvements in 31 senior appearances for the club, a phenomenal return for such a young player.

With Anthony Martial not quite looking his best since injury and Wout Weghorst still failing to really make his mark, having Garnacho off the bench could prove to be the difference when the game gets stretched and Villa's legs are tiring.

If he is indeed fit enough to give Ten Hag 30 minutes of his usual high-tempo performance, Garnacho's return is indeed a massive boost and he should be granted the opportunity to make his mark.

Leeds United youngster Crysencio Summerville is wanted by Newcastle United in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

Is Summerville having a good season?

The Whites are having a tricky time in the Premier League, with survival still far from a given, and too many players have struggled to perform this season. Summerville is one who has arguably done better than some expected, however, proving to be an important figure at times.

The £15,000-a-week-earning Dutchman has scored four goals and registered two assists in the campaign to date, including a memorable late winner away to Liverpool back in October, and he has made 27 appearances in all competitions. Unfortunately, an ankle injury disrupted his season earlier this year which halted his progress, but it has still been a positive campaign on an individual note.

It could be that Summerville is a wanted man when the summer window arrives, however, and while his current contract doesn't expire until 2026, his head could potentially be turned by an offer from another club if Leeds go down.

Could Summerville join Newcastle?

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, sharing news from his sources, high-flying Newcastle could be a possible destination for the winger at the end of the season, should he depart Elland Road. They are "among the top clubs monitoring the situation" currently.

The Magpies are "ready to pounce in the off-season", especially if Leeds suffer relegation to the Championship, while Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund are also seen as potential suitors. The report does state that the Whites "will find it hard" to keep the youngster if they do go down, which isn't too much of a surprise.

Losing Summerville would be a big blow this summer, considering the long-term ceiling he has, having been hailed as "absolutely incredible" by former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha recently. At 21, he still has so much improving to do as a player, and for Leeds to see him develop elsewhere would be tough to stomach, having seen him mature so much in recent years.

The hope is that the Whites retain their Premier League status and are able to persuade the attacker to stay put, perhaps with the promise of him being even more of a key starter next season. Should the worst-case scenario happen and he demands a move, though, it is essential that Leeds get as much money as possible, in order to bolster their transfer kitty ahead of what is an important summer.

Manchester United were left reeling following their 7-0 demolition at the hands of bitter rivals Liverpool. It launched something of an inquest into the Red Devils, who had enjoyed such a successful season prior.

However, that performance revealed the soft underbelly that the English giants were yet to lose, and something which Erik ten Hag had not been made privy to.

A subsequent draw with Southampton and then a comprehensive loss to Newcastle United threw their Premier League campaign into doubt, as it was thought their grip on top four would slip away. Many throughout the media sought to lambast the squad members, with Bruno Fernandes acting as a lightning rod for such scathing comments.

Gary Neville even said on commentary for Sky Sports during that aforementioned Anfield drubbing: “The second half has been an absolute disgrace, a shambles. Epitomised by no one more than the captain Bruno Fernandes, who I think has been embarrassing at times in this game.”

However, if he is to be to blame for their poor form, then surely the 28-year-old deserves the praise when they turn it around.

Yesterday only exacerbated such a switch in fortunes, as his outfit won their third consecutive league fixture with his exploits at the heart of their latest win.

How did Bruno Fernandes play vs Nottingham Forest?

Having been pushed into a role that has lessened his personal impact, the Portugal international has become a far more selfless player for this club this season. This is no greater exemplified than through his five goals and six assists in the league, a tally dwarfed by the ten he scored last season, and 18 the year before even that.

However, what he does offer is creativity from deep, and a work rate unseen in players of his quality within that engine room.

He showcased this to perfection at the City Ground, in their 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

During his full 90 played, the former Sporting CP star was handed the best rating of anyone on the pitch, upheld by his desire to drive the team forward. Missing key players through injury, their number eight stepped up to record 96 touches and six key passes, creating two big chances too, via Sofascore.

Without actually gaining a goal contribution he did everything but, often being thwarted by his own teammates’ profligacy and some Keylor Navas brilliance too.

Having endured a five-game period without recording a goal or an assist beforehand, which has now stretched to six, displays like yesterday’s stand out as truly mesmeric and unneeding of such a statistic to justify a successful showing.

Journalist Lucas Filus even took to Twitter to suggest that Fernandes was in: “his most exciting phase since arriving at United.”

Given the form he showed during that first full season after his £47m move, this is truly high praise.

Having suffered a slight wobble following that Anfield massacre, the midfield general has dusted himself off with poise and retaken his position as one of the key men within this relentless United side. Champions League football is now well and truly on the horizon for Old Trafford.

As Manchester United continue their push for Champions League qualification and further silverware, a key figure for the Red Devils yet again this season has been Bruno Fernandes, with the Portugal international proving truly influential in the centre of the park.

The 28-year-old – who signed for the Red Devils back in January 2020 – has arguably had his "best" campaign yet since arriving in Manchester, according to journalist Samuel Luckhurst, notably offering the versatility and willingness to feature in a variety of roles for his side, including on the flanks.

Something of an everpresent during his time at Old Trafford – having remarkably missed just one game through injury or illness over the last three years – the former Sporting CP man has again been a mainstay in midfield this term, starting 47 games in all competitions to date.

The playmaking sensation has racked up a stellar haul of 22 goal involvements across all fronts in that time, with it no doubt unsurprising that Erik ten Hag has followed in the footsteps of the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick in making the one-time Udinese ace his main man.

There will, however, be concern with regard to the over-reliance on Fernandes in that playmaking berth, with the only other senior alternative in that position, Donny van de Beek, having failed to score or register an assist this term, prior to his season-curtailing injury.

As such, Ten Hag could have potentially identified a dream heir or competitor to Fernandes in the form of Feyenoord captain, Orkun Kokcu, with The Mirror having reported that United sent scouts to watch the Turkey international – who could be the subject of a £31m offer from Benfica – in action of late.

Would Kokcu be a good signing for Man United?

Much like United's stand-in skipper – who has been "leading the team" according to Ten Hag – Kokcu is also a "true leader" in his current home, as per talent scout Jacek Kulig, with the 22-year-old having taken on the armband despite his relative youth.

The Netherlands-born maestro – who can operate in a central midfield or attacking midfield berth – has also enjoyed a standout campaign for the Eredivisie title hopefuls, providing 12 goals and four assists in 38 games across all fronts.

Clearly a player who can make the difference in the final third, like Fernandes, the 5 foot 9 gem also shares the Portuguese's creative prowess having created nine big chances and averaged 2.8 key passes per game in 26 league games this season, while the United man has created 21 big chances and averaged 3.0 key passes from his 28 top-flight outings.

Kokcu also clearly possesses that knack for sparking attacks for his side from deep as he has averaged 11.85 progressive passes per 90 over the past 365 days, with that actually far better than what even Fernandes has achieved (6.71).

That standout metric is an illustration of just what a coup it could be if Ten Hag is to utilise his Dutch connections to sign the 20-cap ace from Rotterdam, with it looking as if the youngster could be a dream successor to United's number eight.

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been slammed for his dismal display in the recent defeat at Stamford Bridge against Aston Villa.

Does Potter trust Mudryk?

The Ukrainian was awarded a start in Saturday's Premier League clash as his struggles in a Chelsea shirt continue since his big-money move to the club in January.

Mudryk has now been handed seven appearances in the English top flight and has only been able to return one assist over the course of his 319 minutes in the league (via Transfermarkt).

The winger lasted 59 minutes at the Bridge on Saturday before being hooked off by Graham Potter for another January addition in Noni Madueke.

His display saw Tony Cascarino rip into the £97k-per-week winger on talkSPORT as he suggested he had no idea what was going on around him whilst on the pitch:

(0:40) "Look, they've got great individuals. Look at [Joao] Felix he's a great technical player. There's no doubt he's got the lot, you know, [Kai] Havertz can produce moments. Will he be the long-term [option]? No, I don't quite see that, but I still think he has a role to play at Chelsea.

'You know, but you look at Mudryk, come in and wow, you know, he had a couple of chances, didn't take him that happens. But since he's come, he's looked like he hasn't got a clue what's happening around him."

How bad was Mudryk against Villa?

The 22-year-old had an afternoon to forget on Saturday as the Blues slumped to a disappointing defeat against a side that would not typically be viewed as a competitor in the league.

However, as a result of Chelsea's issues this season, the defeat took Unai Emery's men above Chelsea and push Potter's side down into the bottom half of the table.

And it was not as if Mudryk wasn't handed opportunities during the game, the Ukrainian squandered two huge opportunities to put Chelsea on the scoreboard.

Perhaps the most damning statistic to come out of the game was that Mudryk only recorded 21 touches of the ball despite being on the pitch for practically an hour (via SofaScore).

Out of the two dribbles he attempted during the game, he failed to beat his man on either occasion and gave away two fouls during his display in west London.

Over the international break, Madueke – who replaced Mudryk – shone for England U21s having netted and provided two assists during a brief cameo off the bench against France U21s (via Transfermarkt).

On the back of such a poor display for Mudryk, it will be interesting to see whether interim manager Bruno Saltor looks to make a change on the wing ahead of their game on Tuesday against Liverpool.

Aston Villa return to long-awaited Premier League action today, but face a tough test as they travel to the capital to face a resurgent Chelsea side.

The Blues had enjoyed a fine turnaround under Graham Potter but were halted last time out against Sean Dyche's resilient Everton. He has provided the blueprint for all visiting sides seeking to snatch some points from Stamford Bridge, and Unai Emery will look to build upon it further.

Having impressed since joining, the Spaniard is seeking to further separate his side from the eight teams embroiled in a relegation battle and push the Villans ever closer to an unlikely European push.

Surprisingly, these sides actually sit on the same points after 27 games, effectively making this a huge mid-table six-pointer.

To truly give themselves the best possible chance of winning, the Midlands outfit will have to be resolute at the back and clinical in the final third. As such, perhaps it could merit a recall for Lucas Digne in the place of Alex Moreno.

Will Lucas Digne start for Aston Villa?

Although the Frenchman has not had the desired impact since moving from Merseyside, having been signed by former manager Steven Gerrard, the £160k-per-week full-back remains a quality creative asset who is bound to come good eventually.

Perhaps starting him in a game of this magnitude could be the vote of faith needed to reignite the form that saw him revered by the Toffees.

During his final full season at Goodison Park, he provided seven assists for a side that finished decidedly in mid-table, outlining just how important he could be contributing to the attack.

His offensive impetus could prove key in exploiting Chelsea's big weakness, which coincidentally is down the flanks.

Although they have been somewhat toothless going forward, they boast one of the best defences in the league this season. However, given the three-at-the-back system that Potter prefers, it often surrenders plenty of space out wide; especially with Reece James and Ben Chilwell pushing on.

Therefore, Digne could look to overlap into that space, and with that cutting edge, he could be clinical enough to provide a killer blow.

He has maintained 0.8 key passes per game in a season where he is averaging just 65 minutes per outing, as per Sofascore. Especially when he'll be supplementing the red-hot Ollie Watkins, who boasts seven goal contributions across his last eight appearances.

Digne's experience will also help him know when the right time to push forward is, which his former Toffees boss Marco Silva lauded during his debut year in England. He said:

"Fantastic football player, a fantastic professional, works always with a big ambition, and he’s a winner – he likes to win, not just in the matches but in every training session as well."

With Moreno posting the worst rating of any of Emery's starters last time out, this switch seems like the natural decision to exploit that space in behind, so the Spaniard must look to unleash the decisive 29-year-old today.

Newcastle United are reportedly among the clubs showing interest in Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Renato Sanches, with the Portuguese playmaker potentially set to be up for grabs this summer.

What's the latest on Sanches to Newcastle?

According to 90min, the Magpies are among a raft of Premier League clubs – including the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur – who are all said to 'appreciate' the 25-year-old's quality, with those top-flight sides all keen to be 'kept informed' regarding the player's future at the Parc des Princes.

That 'significent interest' from English clubs comes amid the suggestion that the former Lille man – who only made the switch to Paris during the summer – could be moved on at the end of the season, with the Ligue 1 giants already looking to cash in.

There had been claims made last year that the former Bayern Munich flop was of interest to the Tynesiders, prior to his eventual €15m (£12.5m) move to PSG in August.

Who could Sanches replace at Newcastle?

The midfield ranks do appear to be an area that the northeast side need to strengthen this summer, with the departure of Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest in January having left manager Eddie Howe rather thin on the ground in that department.

If the former Bournemouth boss is to turn to Sanches as a possible solution, the one-time Swansea City man could represent a possible upgrade on academy graduate Sean Longstaff in the centre of the park, despite the Englishman having been a regular fixture this season – starting 22 top-flight games thus far.

While the PSG man has endured a difficult campaign to date – after starting just three league games under Christophe Galtier – the £154k-per-week machine remains a truly top-drawer asset with elite-level experience under his belt, having previously played his part in Portugal's European Championship triumph in 2016 – being named the Young Player of the Tournament in that competition.

For all his woes this term, the Lisbon native is still a gifted individual with the ball at his feet as he ranks in the top 3% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes and in the top 10% for progressive carries, as well as in the top 7% for pass completion.

Longstaff, by contrast, is far less effective in an attacking sense, as he ranks in just the bottom 28%, the bottom 17% and the bottom 37% for the same three metrics, respectively, having been unable to truly provide that ball-playing, creative presence in Howe's side.

Equally, despite standing at just 5 foot 9, Sanches is a combative and "powerful" operator in the centre of the park – according to pundit Kevin Campbell – having previously been hailed as a "great ball carrier" and someone who "players bounce off" due to his physical prowess (as per Campbell).

Such dynamism could provide Newcastle with that extra sprinkling of quality next season as they aim to kick on once again, with Longstaff no doubt set to be fearing for his place if a deal can be agreed.

Everton produced a monumental comeback in their Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last night and Sean Dyche will be thrilled with the resilience his team showed throughout.

The Toffees climbed to 15th in the top-flight table following their point earned in west London and are now two points clear of the relegation zone with ten games to go.

Despite having only 31% possession, fewer shots on target (3 v 7) and far fewer accurate passes completed (165 v 445), Everton put up a fight until the very end.

It wasn’t until the final 45 minutes of the outing that the action started with Joao Felix giving Chelsea the lead in the 52nd minute, which was followed up 17 minutes later by a strike from Abdoulaye Doucoure to level out the score-line once again.

A penalty converted by Kai Havertz put Chelsea back in front with 14 minutes left, however, it was Everton youngster Ellis Simms who stole the show by earning his team a crucial point with a stunning goal in the dying moments of the game.

Indeed, the Goodison Park faithful will be jubilant following the well-fought draw but not every player put in a performance that was worthy of the 2-2 result with Alex Iwobi having offered very little to his team.

How did Alex Iwobi get on vs Chelsea?

There is no doubt that the Everton midfielder has significantly improved over the last 12 months and has often been a stand-out performer despite the club’s struggles to comfortably compete.

Indeed, he leads the assist chart at Goodison this term with six assists, four more than he managed in 2021/22.

However, in the capital last night, Iwobi was a passenger in his team’s fight for a positive result lacking effort and presence on the pitch.

Over his 90-minute performance, the 26-year-old dud – dubbed “useless” last campaign by Peter Guy – certainly lived up to that tag on Saturday with the ball at his feet.

He lost possession a staggering 21 times, completed just ten accurate passes and lost six of his defensive duels.

In fact, only Seamus Coleman earned a lower rating (6.3) on the entire pitch with Iwobi (6.4) a stand-out for all the wrong reasons, as per SofaScore.

Those statistics would appear to back up reviews from various sections of the media with 90min giving him a 6/10, while saying 'his final pass was poor at times.'

Dyche will surely be happy with the performance but there is still a long way to go before their survival in the Premier League is confirmed and Iwobi’s lacklustre effort could’ve put the club in an even more worrying position if his teammates had not shown moments of quality.

With that being said, Everton must not get complacent as they host Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park after the international break, where they will hope the Nigerian is back to his creative best.

The summer transfer window has almost two months left to run and Rangers have made one first-team signing to date at Ibrox.

Central defender John Souttar, who agreed his move to Glasgow in January, is the only senior addition made by Ross Wilson and Gio van Bronckhorst.

90min recently reported that the Gers have been offered Harry Winks by Premier League side Tottenham this summer.

Spurs are looking to ship the central midfielder on and Wilson could consequently help the gem to revive his career in Scotland.

Ryan Jack 2.0

Rangers must now seal a swoop for the midfielder as he can be Gio van Bronckhorst’s new Ryan Jack at Ibrox next season.

The Scotland international’s last two seasons have been hampered by injuries and bringing in Winks would provide an excellent alternative in the number six role.

Both players are metronomic and dynamic midfielders who can control games with their play in possession. The Englishman, who has been valued at £20m by his club, has plenty of experience at the top level and could be able to slot straight into the team – having played in each of the last six Premier League seasons.

Former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson previously showered the 26-year-old with praise, saying:

“For me, I think Harry Winks is one of the best of the bunch. He dominates the game, defensively and offensively he offers you both and his ball retention, the stats speak for themselves.

“A fit Harry Winks is an important selection for England.”

Across his career for Tottenham and his country, the England man has a pass completion rate of 89.7% and this backs up what Robinson said about his ability to keep hold of the ball for his team.

In the English top-flight last term, Winks completed 88% of his passes and made 3.04 tackles and interceptions per 90. This shows that he has the tenacity and defensive awareness to win possession, whilst also having the composure to retain it by finding a teammate.

Jack, meanwhile, completed 88% of his passes for Rangers in the Premiership and racked up 2.87 tackles and interceptions per 90.

These statistics suggest that they have similar qualities and that Winks may have a slight edge when it comes to the defensive side of the game.

Both of them have the ability to operate as deep-lying midfield players; recycling possession, winning the ball back, and setting the tempo, which is why the Light Blues must now bring the Spurs man in to be a viable alternative to Jack and push him for his place.

AND in other news, Gvb plotting Rangers swoop for £1.3k-p/w gem who “rarely misses”, imagine him & Kent…