There is a lot to be delighted about for Arsenal fans at the moment.

In the Champions League, they have won all four of their games; in the League Cup, they’re through to the quarter-finals, and in the Premier League, they’re top of the table.

Moreover, they’re defensively out of this world, unstoppable at set-pieces and have once again introduced another world-class prospect to the squad in Max Dowman.

The 15-year-old looks destined for greatness, and now Hale End appears to be brewing another supreme talent for Arsenal, who could be Bukayo Saka 2.0.

Dowman's rapid rise

There is no getting away from the fact that, for Arsenal, this season is primarily about finally getting over the line in the Premier League.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, one of the secondary stories has been that of Dowman’s rapid rise from 15-year-old academy gem to semi-regular first-teamer.

The Chelmsford-born gem was first introduced to the fans during pre-season, where his eye-catching performances led respected analyst Ben Mattinson to claim he was “humiliating Premier League players.”

The youngster was then given his first taste of competitive football against Leeds United, where he once again ran senior defenders ragged and won his side a penalty.

The next step was his first start in the League Cup against Brighton, a game in which he completed the most dribbles of anyone on the pitch and officially became the youngest player to start for Arsenal.

Then this week, he broke another record, becoming the youngest player to ever make an appearance in the Champions League, coming on in the 72nd minute and once again looking right at home.

After the match, Arteta was full of praise for the youngster, saying: “What he’s done on the pitch – he comes in, the first ball he takes is he takes people on, he starts to dribble and gets a foul. That’s personality, that’s courage – and you cannot teach that.”

It wasn’t just the Gunners’ boss who was impressed, though, as Slavia Prague’s David Zima went so far as to call him “a miracle player.”

In all, Dowman appears to be on track to reach the very top with Arsenal, and now there is another young talent making waves in the academy who could be the next Saka.

Arsenal's new Saka

There are more than a handful of exciting talents coming through Hale End at the moment, with Brando Bailey-Joseph being one of them.

The 17-year-old only signed scholarship terms with the club a few months ago, but due to his impressive performances, he put pen to paper on a professional deal last month.

There is a chance he could be a future Saka-esque player for the club, as, like the talismanic number seven, he has shown an ability to play on both sides of the attack.

In fact, like the Hale End icon, he has also played deeper, on both the right and left of the midfield.

Moreover, while he’s not as prolific as Dowman, he’s shown an ability to score and assist goals.

Appearances

13

Minutes

901′

Goals

4

Assists

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.61

Minutes per Goal Involvement

112.62′

For example, in 13 appearances this season, totalling 901 minutes, he has put the ball in the back of the net four times and provided four assists for good measure.

In other words, the “explosive” attacker, as dubbed by Hale End expert Will Balsam, is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.62 games, or every 112.62 minutes, which is seriously impressive for a winger.

Moreover, what makes him such a “menace” for opposition defenders is, per Balsam, his “quickness & sharp cuts” with the ball at his feet.

Finally, according to Mattinson, what makes the youngster such an exciting prospect is his “good ball manipulation” and the fact that he “releases shots quickly in and around the box.”

Ultimately, he has a long way to go to become the next Saka, but as things stand, Bailey-Joseph appears to have all the raw materials necessary to succeed.

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One Serie A star is believed to be strongly considering joining Chelsea as talks slow down over a new contract, according to one media source.

Sticking to the pitch, Enzo Maresca is looking to put that disappointing 2-2 draw against Qarabağ in Azerbaijan behind him, with Chelsea preparing for their second meeting against the Premier League bottom side in just 11 days.

Estevao

8.2

Alejandro Garnacho

7.5

Leandro Andrade

7.4

Matheus Silva

7.0

Marko Jankovic

7.0

via WhoScored

In late October, Chelsea came out the other side of a thrilling seven-goal thriller at Molineux with a 4-3 victory in the Carabao Cup, but Maresca will be hoping for a much more routine win this time round as he looks to kickstart a consistent run of form.

Managerless Wolves remain the only team in the league without a win, making Maresca’s side the overwhelming favourites, and the statistics paint a very grim picture for the visitors.

The Old Gold have picked up just two points in 10 top flight games this season from two draws and eight losses, and every single Premier League side in history with two or fewer points at this stage of the campaign has gone on to be relegated.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are likely to extend their unbeaten streak across all competitions to three games, with Joao Pedro looking to impress once again, having been involved in six goals in his last nine Premier League appearances. His next game will be his 100th in the competition, becoming the 31st Brazilian to reach that milestone.

However, while Chelsea are expected to pick up all three points against Wolves, there are still gaping holes in the team that Maresca needs to address.

Defensively, it is believed that Chelsea are prioritising the signing of a centre-back in January after Maresca appeared to demand one in the summer window, but they could also sign a new goalkeeper.

Robert Sanchez committed five errors leading to goals last season, more than any other Premier League shot stopper, and Chelsea attempted to bring in AC Milan star Mike Maignan as an alternative earlier this year.

The 30-year-old, who’s poised to leave Milan as a free agent in 2026, is still attracting serious interest from Stamford Bridge heading into the new year, and Chelsea could offer Maignan a pre-contract in January ahead of a Bosman move next summer.

Mike Maignan "quite firmly leaning" towards Chelsea move next year

According to journalist Marco Pasotto, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Milan News), Maignan himself is pretty keen on the idea of joining Chelsea.

The Rossoneri had wanted to extend his deal, but those talks have apparently slowed down, opening the door for Maresca’s side to move for him.

Maignan is among the best goalkeepers in world football and France’s undisputed number one, captaining Les Bleus in their last game against Iceland, so signing him on a free would be one of the biggest transfer snips of next year.

Chelsea haggled over Maignan’s price in the summer and couldn’t reach an agreement before September deadline day, but with Milan soon to be out of the equation, the only worry for BlueCo is rival interest from abroad.

Liverpool keeper Alisson has branded him an “elite” shot stopper and one of world football’s finest too, so it could be deemed a no-brainer to at least attempt finally getting him over the line.

Real Madrid have suffered another setback as Dean Huijsen has withdrawn from Spain duty due to muscle discomfort, raising concerns of a relapse of the soleus injury he suffered in October. The defender has been sent back to Madrid for tests, joining Kylian Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga as the latest Los Blancos players to return early from international duty.

Huijsen’s new setback and return to Madrid

Madrid were dealt an unwelcome blow after Spain confirmed that Huijsen had been released from the national team camp due to renewed muscle discomfort. The defender was unavailable for the match against Georgia earlier in the week, and further assessment by La Roja’s medical staff confirmed he was not fit to continue.

He will now return immediately to Valdebebas, where Madrid’s medical department will run full tests to determine whether this is a fresh issue or a recurrence of the soleus injury he suffered in October. Spain face Turkey next, but Huijsen will take no further part in the international break.

Madrid are relieved he was not risked, but the timing raises concern. Only last month he was sent back from Spain duty with the same calf problem, treated in Madrid, and managed to recover just in time to rejoin the squad for El Clasico. The early fear now is that this latest discomfort may be a relapse of that injury.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow the injury began and how Madrid coped last time

Huijsen’s current setback traces back to the soleus muscle tear he suffered during Spain’s October camp. The injury occurred in training, forcing him to withdraw before their World Cup qualifiers. Los Blancos confirmed a minor tear that required rest and a tailored recovery plan, keeping him out of the matches against Getafe and Juventus.

During Huijsen’s absence, Madrid relied heavily on Eder Militao and Raul Asencio to stabilise the back line. His recovery was smooth enough for him to rejoin full training ahead of the season’s first El Clasico on October 26, where he made his return without complications.

This month’s relapse comes during a period in which multiple Madrid players have been recalled early from international duty. Mbappe and Camavinga were also withdrawn from France’s squad earlier in the week.

Mbappe and Camavinga also sent back from France duty

France were forced into late changes when Mbappe and Camavinga were both released before the final World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan. Mbappe continues to manage recurring inflammation in his right ankle, an issue that resurfaced the morning after France’s 4-0 win over Ukraine, where he scored twice and reached 400 career goals.

Although he completed the match, renewed discomfort prompted a joint decision between the French Football Federation (FFF) and Madrid to send him back for further evaluation. The French federation stressed that the decision was precautionary, with no indication of a serious injury, but Madrid preferred immediate testing to avoid aggravation ahead of a heavy schedule.

Camavinga, meanwhile, had not trained all week due to left-hamstring discomfort. With no improvement and Khephren Thuram already brought in as cover, he was deemed unfit for both fixtures and was sent back to Spain. Madrid expect him to recover in time for the La Liga match against Elche on November 23.

Both Mbappe and Camavinga are projected to be available after the break, but their simultaneous withdrawals underline the physical strain Madrid’s core players have been carrying.

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Getty ImagesHow will Xabi Alonso navigates the weeks ahead?

For Xabi Alonso, the coming days will revolve around clarity. Huijsen’s scans at Valdebebas will determine whether he faces a short spell of rest or a longer recovery similar to October. With Mbappé and Camavinga returning early as well, the manager must prepare for three possible absences as Madrid enter a demanding stretch of fixtures.

Madrid resume their season against Elche on November 23, followed by a crucial Champions League match against Olympiacos on November 26 and a top-of-the-table meeting with Girona on November 30. Alonso may turn once again to Militao and Asencio if Huijsen is unavailable, while midfield rotation will depend heavily on Camavinga’s fitness and match readiness.

The next 72 hours of medical evaluations will shape Alonso’s approach, but what is clear is that Madrid enter the post-break period with caution and the need for careful management of their biggest stars.

MatériaMais Notícias

O técnico da Seleção Brasileira, Dorival Júnior, e o preparador-físico Celso Rezende vão assistir nesta semana três jogos de times paulistas: Corinthians, Palmeiras e São Paulo. Eles dão sequência ao trabalho de observações técnicas. Antes de convocar os jogadores na sexta-feira (10), eles assisitiram mais de 40 jogos no Brasil e na Europa.

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A série de partidas vai começar na terça-feira (14), quando Dorival e Celso vão assistir o Corinthians enfrentar o Argentino Juniors, na Neo Química Arena, pela Sul-Americana. No dia seguinte, a dupla acompanha o confronto entre Palmeiras e Independiente del Valle, pela Libertadores. Na quinta (16), eles fecham o giro pela capital paulista no Morumbis para assistir o São Paulo contra o Barcelona de Guayaquil, também pela Libertadores.

– As observações fazem parte de um trabalho constante do Departamento de Seleções. Enquanto o Dorival e o Celso estarão nos estádios, o restante da comissão técnica vai ficar no Rio planejando toda a preparação para a disputa dos dois amistosos e da Copa América. Eles estão detalhando toda a programação de trabalho dentro e fora do campo, além dos conteúdos dos treinos – afirmou o coordenador executivo geral das Seleções Brasileiras Masculinas, Rodrigo Caetano.

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O Brasil fará dois amistosos antes do início da Copa América. O primeiro será no dia 8 de junho contra o México no Texas, Já o segundo será contra os Estados Unidos, no dia 12 de junho, em Orlando, na Flórida.

A Copa América começa no dia 20 de junho. O Brasil está no mesmo grupo de Costa Rica, Colômbia e Paraguai, e Dorival convocou 23 jogadores para os dois amistosos e a disputa do torneio. 

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Antes, ele e os integrantes da comissão técnica percorreram o Brasil e a Europa observando os jogadores. Foram mais de 40 jogos e 50 atletas monitorados pela comissão técnica.

Lawrence Butler of the Athletics went to extreme lengths to not hustle during a game against the Tigers on Tuesday. Butler came to the plate with one on and no out in the bottom of the eighth in a tie game and hit a towering pop fly.

Butler, who came into the game hitting .208 on the season, swung at the first pitch he saw and popped it up so high the announcer to commented it would have been a "home run in a silo."

A dejected Butler wandered around home plate waiting for the ball to be caught. Except it wasn't. None of the Tigers were able to settle under it and it dropped halfway between home plate and the pitcher's mound.

The ball had been in the air for approximately seven seconds by the time it dropped and all Butler had done was haphazardly walk towards the dugout. Pitcher Troy Melton picked the ball up and fired it to second to get the lead runner and then it was thrown to first for a double play as Butler had basically shut it down as soon as he hit the ball.

Butler recently told an interviewer that he was "fed up" with umpires because they "don't give a f—."

Compare this to what happened in the Red Sox-Orioles game on Tuesday. David Hamilton hit a pop fly with two outs and everyone ran hard. When the ball dropped Hamilton ended up on second with a two-run double.

Amazingly, neither play affected the outcome of either game. The Red Sox were already winning and never gave up a run and the Athletics ended up winning in the 10th inning.

Butler even worked a walk in a six pitch at-bat to set up the walk-off walk and got to celebrate with his teammates.

Manchester United are pursuing new reinforcements in January and could now be set to submit a bid for one of Europe’s most high-profile midfielders.

Man Utd looking towards the January window

Admittedly, the Red Devils have enjoyed a mixed start to the Premier League season and will now look to take advantage of the chance to move up a few places within a tight collective of sides all vying for a spot in the European slots.

On Monday, Manchester United’s frustrating defeat at home to Everton brought back some old scars that have been a feature of Ruben Amorim’s tenure at the club, with his side unable to break down a spirited Toffees outfit despite having a man advantage for most of proceedings.

Falling flat in attack, Joshua Zirkzee’s emergence after failing to earn a regular place in the side this season was questioned by BBC Radio Manchester’s Gaz Drinkwater, who believes Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount should’ve been brought into the starting side instead.

He said: “Bring Mount and Kobbie Mainoo into the starting XI. He obviously doesn’t see Mainoo as a midfielder because he can’t get in the team in that position. Amorim sees him as a number 10 or maybe even a false-nine type player where maybe they [the front three] interchange a bit.

“I don’t understand the logic of bringing in a totally cold Joshua Zirkzee into the game, who has basically had zero minutes this season, and he did nothing.”

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Without doubt, the Red Devils will need to recruit wisely in January as they begin to feel the effects of a hefty schedule, and they could now be set to lodge a bid for a high-profile midfielder.

Man Utd ready bid for Federico Valverde

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are preparing a £87m bid for Federico Valverde, and he may be allowed to depart amid a spate of up and down performances for Real Madrid.

The Uruguay international may now be set for a change of scenery and would be open to a move elsewhere, potentially re-establishing himself as the central part of a project at Old Trafford.

Five similar players to Federico Valverde
Declan Rice	Arsenal
Bernardo Silva	Manchester City
Eduardo Camavinga	Real Madrid
Nicolo Barella	Inter Milan
Moises Caicedo	Chelsea
All data courtesy of Football Transfers

Labelled “superb” by Thibaut Courtois, Valverde has registered four assists in 17 appearances across all competitions this season. Overall, he has scored 32 times and laid on 35 goals for his teammates in 340 appearances for Los Blancos, cementing himself as a fan favourite.

Amorim is confident that his versatility, quality and combativeness could form a new dynamic in the engine room as they look to reclaim their place among the elite of English football.

Real Madrid aren’t totally closed off to selling Valverde, creating a scenario that could work out for all parties if the 27-year-old makes a headline-grabbing move to English shores.

Idrissa Gueye was shockingly sent off for Everton after striking the face of team-mate Michael Keane in their Premier League game at Manchester United. Seconds after the Red Devils shot narrowly wide, the veteran angrily confronted the defender, before appearing to hit out at him. Referee Tony Harrington immediately issued a red card as the Toffees went down to 10 men after just 13 minutes.

• Early drama at Old Trafford

  In shades of Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dier for Newcastle United in 2005, Gueye clashed with Everton team-mate Keane on Monday night. The former was soon giving his marching orders, with the Premier League quickly moving to explain the decision.

  The Premier League match centre posted on X: "The referee’s call of red card to Gueye for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed to be a clear strike to the face of Keane."

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• Watch the clip

  On Sky Sports' commentary, United legend Gary Neville expressed his shock at what he had just seen, while praising Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for trying to diffuse the situation.

  He said: "There's a coming together between him and Michael Keane. It always looks unsavoury when it is team-mate on team-mate. Idrissa Gueye has gone towards Michael Keane, who hasn't really reacted. He just pushes them, and then there is not much in it. I think Jordan Pickford does a very good job, to be fair to him."

• 'Game's gone'

  @agbnufc_ wrote on X: "Shades of Bowyer vs Dyer you love to see it."

  @ChelsChris03 tweeted: "That is the softest red card I’ve ever seen. Let’s just say if that was 2 united players it’d never be a red card."

  @0xJonnyDee commented: "What a moron. Slapping your own teammate and getting sent off for it. Not seen that in a long time."

  @ViscogliosiLuca mused: "Is that really worthy of a red card?. A bit of handbags, nothing more than that."

  @brxdzQPR quipped: "Get a camera in that half time dressing room and interview Gueye at half time immediately. Only time I’ll advocate a half time interview."

  @Alexander_divi exclaimed: "MICHAEL KEANE CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT HE JUST WITNESSED. HE GOT SLAPPED IN THE FACE BY HIS OWN TEAMMATE WHO THEN GOT SEND OFF."

  @mevans_11 agreed with Neville, writing: "Think a yellow would’ve been fine. If that’s against an opponent, I think it’s a yellow 50% of the time. The fact that it’s his own teammate should see it even more likely to be a yellow."

  @ftbIdxniel put: "Game's gone," and @Ash_LFC7 added: "So pushing your own team mate gives you a red card now. Honestly the PGMOL are an utter embarrassment. Football is a dying sport."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Everton make unwanted history

  According to BBC Sport, Arsenal, and now Everton, have been shown more red cards than any other side in Premier League history at 110. Moreover, Gueye became the first player to be red carded in the division for fighting with a team-mate since Stoke City duo Ricardo Fuller and Andy Griffin in December 2008.

  Incidentally, the laws around 'violent conduct' state: 'Sending off offence – Striking an opponent or any other person on the head or face with their hand or arm, unless the force used was negligible."

  And according to Neville, it could have easily been avoided if the correct card was dished out. 

  "Was it negligible? That's the question. I think it was negligible. I don't think there was much in that at all," he said. "They were not fighting, it wasn't a scrap. It could have been dealt with by a yellow. I don't think it needed to be a red. I'm now trying to imagine what Gueye and Keane say when they get to the dressing room. How is that one going to go?"

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has revealed that he may still be in interim charge of the club when they face Dundee at Parkhead on Wednesday night in the Scottish Premiership.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph claims that there has been a delay in finalising the deal to bring Wilfried Nancy to the club from MLS outfit Columbus Crew, which is why the Northern Irishman may still be in the dugout in midweek.

The French boss will surely be keeping close tabs on how the team fared under O’Neill in November, and will already be thinking about how he wants to set the side up moving forward.

The Celtic players who will have impressed Nancy against Hibernian

In the 2-1 win over Hibernian in the Premiership on Sunday, several players showed that they can be key players for the next head coach, whenever he finally takes charge.

Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels are the two obvious ones after they both got on the scoresheet in the first half, with the former tapping into an empty net and the latter bravely burying a header in just seconds later.

Reo Hatate also excelled in a number ten role ahead of Callum McGregor and Engels, biting into the tackle to then set up Maeda for the opening goal.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel also made a couple of impressive stops late on in the match to secure all three points, and he will surely be Nancy’s number one, in the short-term at least.

Whilst several players, mainly the ones mentioned here, will have impressed the incoming boss, Nancy may already have an idea of the players he wants to move on when the January transfer window opens up.

The first Celtic player Nancy should sell in January

After a confident first-half showing, academy graduate Colby Donovan was forced off with an injury at the break and replaced by experienced full-back Anthony Ralston.

Within minutes of his introduction, the Scotland international was caught out defensively before playing a poor pass back that went straight out of play on the right touchline.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ live coverage of the game, former Hoops striker Chris Sutton described Ralston’s play as “really sloppy” and claimed that the defender “hasn’t recovered” from his below par showing against St Mirren.

Minutes

72

Tackles won

0

Ground duels won

1/2

Aerial duels won

0/2

Dribbled past

1x

Key passes

0

Crosses attempted

0

In that win over the Saints, as shown in the table above, the Scottish flop lost 75% of his duels and offered virtually nothing to the team from a creative perspective.

His disappointing displays against St Mirren and Hibs in recent weeks have not been a blip, unfortunately, as he also left far too much to be desired from his performance against Midtjylland in the Europa League at the start of November.

Ralston made it far too easy, as shown in the clip above, for Mikel Gogorza to beat him and score, which came just moments after the Spaniard had danced past the defender to cross for the opening goal.

He ultimately left the pitch with 45 touches, nine fewer than goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, while he also failed to have a shot, provide a cross or key pass and he also only made one interception.

Therefore, the 27-year-old dud’s performances on and off the ball this season have not been up to scratch, which is why he may already be a player who could be on the chopping block for Nancy.

With Alistair Johnston to come back from his hamstring injury and Donovan emerging as a genuine first-team level option at right-back, Ralston may not be needed beyond January, as potentially the third-choice option in his position.

That is why the incoming Celtic boss should make the experienced flop the first player he axes at Parkhead when the January transfer window opens for business, whether that is by sending him out on loan or by selling him on a permanent basis.

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Whilst you never know who will shine with a clean slate under Nancy, it is hard to look past Ralston as the first player he needs to move on from the squad when the next transfer window rolls around at the turn of the year.

The Premier League is back, and it’s a massive weekend for Arsenal.

On the one hand, title rivals Manchester City have to play away to Newcastle United; on the other, they host bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Moreover, while Mikel Arteta has usually gotten the better of the Lilywhites, he’ll have to make do with defensive stalwart Gabriel Magalhaes.

With that said, the Gunners should still come out with all three points, especially if Arteta drops Eberechi Eze for one of his most important players.

Why Eze should be dropped

So, the first thing to make clear is that Eze is an outrageously talented footballer who will undoubtedly play a large part in Arsenal’s season as the year goes on.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, it would be fair to say that what is equally true is that he’s yet to show his full breathtaking ability in red and white, and therefore, should probably drop to the bench in this vital game.

After all, while he has racked up two goals and three assists for the team, he has just one goal involvement in the last six league games, and can, at times, go missing.

Now, if this were last season, there would be a solid argument for moving him out to the left, but Leandro Trossard has rolled back the years and is, frankly, undroppable.

So far, the Belgian has racked up eight goal involvements for the North Londoners, of which three have come in the last four league games.

Therefore, the former Crystal Palace star might be best served coming off the bench late into the game, as his ability to produce moments of magic is second to none.

Then, in his place, Arteta should bring one of the club’s best players back into the lineup, someone who has been compared to Dennis Bergkamp.

The Arsenal star who should replace Eze

While it would be a surprising move, Arteta should look to play Martin Odegaard instead of Eze tomorrow afternoon.

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, this is predicated on the Norwegian being fit enough to start.

However, considering he was training with the first team earlier in the week and the manager was rather vague about his status, it feels like he might be.

Moreover, it’s not as if the Spaniard doesn’t have a track record of suddenly bringing players straight back into the side.

With all that said, why should the 26-year-old come back into the side for this game?

Well, beyond him being the captain and this being a heated derby, he adds an element of control and metronomic understanding to the midfield that Eze doesn’t.

Moreover, on top of leading the press, the former Real Madrid wonderkid can play a sensationally weighted pass in behind a defence, which is what he was starting to do again before his recent injury.

It’s this ability to see a chance before most other players and act on it that led former Arsenal star Ray Parlour to describe the Drammen-born ace as “very similar” to the legendary Bergkamp.

The 67-capped Norwegian obviously isn’t on the same level as the Invincible, but that is something he shares with him.

Appearances

205

Starts

177

Minutes

15595′

Goals

41

Assists

40

Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

192.53′

Finally, even though he had a poor campaign last season, the former dynamic difference-maker still has an excellent record, producing 81 goal involvements in 205 appearances.

Ultimately, so long as he’s fit enough to start, Arteta should replace Eze with Odegaard for Arsenal’s game on Sunday.

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Mason Greenwood’s international future has sparked fierce discussions among Jamaica’s players, with senior squad members warning it would be a “farce” for the Marseille forward to join only for the World Cup. As the Reggae Boyz stand one step from qualification, figures inside the camp insist loyalty, commitment and integrity must come before marquee talent.

Greenwood call-up fury erupts

The Marseille forward's form has reignited questions over whether he will feature at next summer’s World Cup, but Jamaica’s senior players have pushed back sharply. The 24-year-old, who has one England cap, recently gained his Jamaican passport and is eligible to represent the nation of his grandparents. Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts has publicly expressed hope that Greenwood will join the squad for March’s intercontinental play-offs, saying the forward was “excited to get his documentation sorted out.”

However, Greenwood did not accept a call-up in September despite being passport-ready, instead keeping his international options open. That decision has caused tension inside the Jamaican dressing room, with senior figures warning that a late arrival ahead of a possible World Cup appearance would undermine those who have carried the team through qualification.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportIssac Hayden slams ‘farce’ scenario

The strongest criticism has come from former Newcastle player Isaac Hayden, who has earned 12 caps since switching allegiance last year. The QPR midfielder told he would “not see why” Greenwood, or any player, should be allowed to join only at the final hurdle after skipping earlier qualifiers. 

“I've only played for Jamaica for a year, and there was some resistance to me when I started, but I have played 12 games and everyone can see my passion and the way I play the game,” Hayden said. “I give everything on the pitch, and I wanted to be there to help Jamaica progress to the World Cup."

He insisted the squad deserved respect for their role in reaching the brink of qualification. “They want to have the best team on the pitch, but I said it to the JFF: ‘If a player is not willing to commit for the last round of qualifying, unless they're injured, I do not see why they should be joining the group in March or at the end of the season if we qualify’. There is no way that should be allowed to happen.”

Hayden then delivered his most pointed message, calling Greenwood’s potential late arrival a threat to team integrity. “The quality of the player, his numbers, what he is producing, is of the highest level,” he admitted. “But it comes down to principle and integrity. If players can just rock up because of a World Cup, it would make the whole thing a farce. That would say a lot about the player, and the organisation for allowing that to happen.”

Squad concerns for Greenwood as Bell warns of ‘controversial’ call-up

Defender Amari’i Bell, a regular with 29 caps, echoed Hayden’s concerns and stressed the emotional weight carried by Jamaica’s long-serving players. “Many of us for years have put our blood, sweat and tears into playing for the nation, with a lot of things happening in the background,” he said. “We've had to deal with all that. It wouldn't seem fair to people who have been through that whole process and will never get another chance to play at a World Cup. It's a bit controversial.”

Meanwhile, England boss Thomas Tuchel publicly distanced himself from the idea of recalling Greenwood, saying in September that he “had not spoken to him” and that the forward “is not in our thoughts for our team.”

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AFPJFF plans vs player loyalty: what's next?

The JFF has pushed hard to secure Greenwood, especially given his resurgence at Marseille, where he leads Ligue 1 with 10 goals in 12 games. But his refusal to join September’s qualifiers has intensified scrutiny from players in Jamaica, who question whether a World Cup carrot should outweigh loyalty and commitment.

Greenwood’s complex disciplinary past, including his 2022 suspension by Manchester United and the subsequently dropped charges, remains part of the wider conversation.

Jamaica are two games away from qualifying for their second ever World Cup finals, having previously reached the group stage in 1998. They face New Caledonia in March and the winner of the tie will meet DR Congo in the play-off final, and with that window rapidly approaching, the JFF must decide whether to push again for Greenwood or respect the views of senior players who insist late additions undermine the squad’s integrity.

The final decision may shape not only Jamaica’s World Cup bid but also team culture ahead, and if Greenwood joins, the federation will certainly have a challenge to manage dressing-room sensitivities.