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The captain barely impacted the game as his team threw away a lead to end up drawing on home soil

Aston Villa came from two goals down to earn a magnificent 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Saturday. After Leandro Trossard had set up Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz to give the hosts a deserved cushion, Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins popped up at the other end to earn Unai Emery's side a point and stun the Emirates Stadium into silence.

Amid their bright start, the Gunners came agonisingly close to getting an opener just nine minutes into the game. In typical fashion for the home team, the danger came from a corner and it was worked to Thomas Partey deep in the Villa box, but his shot sailed over the bar.

It took until the 34th minute for Mikel Arteta's men to break the deadlock. Martinelli reacted perfectly to Trossard's cross, getting in ahead of Ian Maatsen to get the ball over the line despite Emi Martinez's block. If that wasn't bad enough for Villa, they suffered another blow at the same time as Amadou Onana had to go off injured.

Trossard was the catalyst again as the Gunners made it 2-0 – this time he collected the ball and took his time up against Matty Cash before creating the space to send a deadly ball in for Havertz to volley in.

Less than five minutes later, though, Youri Tielemans got his head to a fantastic cross from substitute Lucas Digne to send it beyond Raya. The Belgian midfielder came close to tying it up a minute later but his shot hit the post. On both occasions, he left Mikel Merino scrambling – and failing – to stop him.

Villa weren't done there. In the 68th minute, Cash's cross flew just over Havertz's head and dropped to Watkins in loads of space at the back post to lash in the equaliser.

Arsenal pushed to regain their lead and thought they had won the game when Merino, who had been useless for much of the contest, sent the ball bouncing into the net, but VAR intervened to disallow the goal for a handball from Havertz. Merino came close yet again in stoppage time but ended up hitting the post and then Trossard fluffed his lines as he went through on goal.

Villa were able to hold on from there and collect a point, leaving Arsenal six behind a Liverpool team who boast a game in hand.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Emirates Stadium…

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David Raya (5/10):

A rather shaky performance despite one strong save in the first half.

Thomas Partey (5/10):

Gave Ollie Watkins a great chance when he sent a throw-in right into his path and then totally abandoned the Villa striker as the ball came in for the equaliser.

Jurrien Timber (7/10):

Looked sound in Saliba's place in the heart of the defence.

Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):

Had huge responsibility on his shoulders with a much-changed backline but was solid up against the threat posed by Watkins.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10):

Looked good on the left side of the defence and had a dangerous low cross cleared.

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Martin Odegaard (5/10):

A really tame performance from the club captain. His crosses were off and didn't do enough to spark Arsenal's attack into life.

Declan Rice (7/10):

Fantastic in his passing and fought for the ball as he took control of the midfield for much of the game.

Mikel Merino (5/10):

A quiet display as he barely added anything to the stability of the midfield until very late on when he had a goal disallowed and then hit the post.

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Gabriel Martinelli (7/10):

Took a while to become a proper threat despite getting into good positions for most of the first half, but he did so well to meet Trossard's cross and get the opener.

Kai Havertz (6/10):

Had a tough time getting on the ball and looked too slow for this one, but he didn't need pace to blast in that Trossard ball for his goal. Unfortunate the ball hit his arm to stop Merino claiming the winner.

Leandro Trossard (8/10):

Caused problems from the very beginning. Sent in deadly balls for both Martinelli and Havertz for the two Arsenal goals but should have scored the winner deep in stoppage time.

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Raheem Sterling (5/10):

Replaced Martinelli after 82 minutes and tried to find Odegaard but the captain was too slow to catch up to the ball.

Mikel Arteta (6/10):

Had a lot of absences to deal with but will have expected his team to see it out at 2-0 up. He waited until after 80 minutes to make a substitution even though Villa had pulled level and despite a strong finish, they couldn't get over the line.

أدلى لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، فيديريكو فالفيردي بتصريحات صحفية، قبل مواجهة مانشستر سيتي بمسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا 2024/25.

ويواجه ريال مدريد نظيره مانشستر سيتي ضمن منافسات إياب ملحق دور الـ16 بدوري أبطال أوروبا، غداً الأربعاء، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.

وانتهت مواجهة الذهاب بين الفريق، على ملعب “الاتحاد”، بفوز الفريق الملكي ريال مدريد بنتيجة 3/2 أمام خصمه مانشستر سيتي.

اقرأ ايضاً.. هل رضخوا لمطالب ريال مدريد؟.. الاتحاد الإسباني يفكر في إقالة لجنة التحكيم

وفي المؤتمر الصحفي قبل المباراة قال فالفيردي: “إنها مباراة تحدد مصير البطولة ونحن نعلم مدى أهميتها. بالنسبة لي، إنه لمن دواعي سروري أن أستمر في أن أكون جزءًا من هذا الفريق وأن أواصل تحقيق الأهداف”.

وتابع فالفيردي: “نحاول دائماً تقديم أقصى ما لدينا، لكن الشيء المهم هو المجموعة وأن نكون بخير وأن نكون محظوظين وأن نعمل جميعاً في الدفاع والهجوم من أجل التأهل”.

وحول مركزه الجديد (الظهير الأيمن)، أفاد قائلاً: “أنا سعيد لأنني أؤدي بشكل جيد في هذا المركز، وأقوم بذلك لأن زملاء آخرين في الفريق مصابون. كان علي أن أستجيب لهذا المركز وأعتقد أنني قدمت أداءً جيدًا للغاية. أنا مستعد للعب للفريق والمدرب، أياً كان ما يريده. إنه مركز أستمتع به وأتعلم منه الكثير. ما زلت في التشكيلة الأساسية، وهذا هو المهم بالنسبة لي”.

وواصل قائلاً: “لدينا لاعبون يشكلون قدوة عظيمة بالنسبة لي (كارفاخال وفاسكيز). إنهما أساطير مدريد وأحاول التعلم منهما، أحاول الحصول على أقصى استفادة منهما”.

وحول اختلاف التحكيم في دوري الأبطال عن الدوري الإسباني، أوضح فالفيردي: “لست أنا من يحكم على الحكام، نحن بشر ويمكن أن نرتكب أخطاء، يتعرض الحكام أيضًا لانتقادات كثيرة وعندما يقومون بأشياء جيدة لا يتم الإشادة بهم أيضًا”.

وأشار: “الشيء الوحيد الذي يمكنني فعله هو أن أكون متاحًا للفريق والتأكد من أنه بصفتي قائدًا، يجب أن نعمل على تقديم الأفضل لهذا النادي ومن أجل أن يفوز الفريق بالألقاب في نهاية العام”.

وعن تحذير لاعبي ريال مدريد الذين يمتلكون بطاقات صفراء، أجاب: “لن أطلب من أي لاعب ألا يحتج. يعيش اللاعبون اللعبة على أكمل وجه، هناك لاعبون يعيشونها بطريقة معينة، وآخرون يعيشونها بطريقة مختلفة، ما أريده هو أن يقدم اللاعبون كل ما لديهم على أرض الملعب”.

وعن بيلينجهام: “جود لاعب يريد الفوز دائمًا، ويريد القتال دائمًا. هذه المرة جاء دوره، كما يمكن أن يحدث للآخرين. أحب قتاليته. يجب أن نبقى متحدين كفريق واحد”. 

وأكمل حديثه قائلاً: “أشعر بسعادة كبيرة بالمباراة الرائعة التي لعبناها في مباراة الذهاب، مع الكثير من الإيمان والكثير من الرغبة والكثير من الحافز على التأهل للدور القادم”.

وانهى فالفيردي: “سنحاول أن نجعلها ليلة لا تُنسى غداً وفي أذهان جميع مشجعي ريال مدريد وتقربنا قليلاً من اللقب الأجمل على الإطلاق”.

United knocked out in the second eliminator after producing PSL’s best-ever league stage performance

Danyal Rasool22-Jun-2021The league stage suggested that Islamabad United were red-hot favourites for their third PSL title, but a comprehensive Peshawar Zalmi performance guaranteed that they wouldn’t even make it to the final.A ruthless bowling performance from Zalmi was followed up by a clinical chase, spearheaded by the irrepressible Hazratullah Zazai and debutant Jonathan Wells. Their 126-run partnership led to an eight-wicket rout of Shadab Khan’s side, with the chase of 176 was achieved with more than three overs to spare.Zalmi were on top from start to finish, aside from a four-over spell at the back-end of the first innings, where a spirited Hasan Ali knock ensured that United would at least remain competitive in the contest. The match began with an unfortunate run-out of Usman Khawaja when Shoaib Malik was controversially deemed to have got his foot to a ball that went on to clatter into the non-striker’s stumps. Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz kept a lid on things, even if Colin Munro cut loose from time to time, ending up as United’s most potent hope in the first half of the innings.But it was the middle stages where Zalmi pulled clear. Amad Butt and Umaid Asif came back in strongly to pick up regular wickets, with Shadab, Iftikhar Ahmed and Brandon King all falling cheaply. There was a danger that United would end up being bowled out under 120 before Hasan’s brutal onslaught gave his side hope.In reply, United kept Zazai on a leash for the most part, bowling away from his hitting arc. But the failure to get more wickets up top meant there was always the fear that Zalmi had enough firepower at the end to catch up with a climbing run rate. Wells and Zazai saw off the pressure without throwing their wickets away, the Australian doing particularly well in his first game to adjust to conditions and pace his innings accordingly. It was in Shadab’s third over that they cut loose, smashing the United captain for three sixes in four balls on a forgettable day for Shadab; he would go on to concede 55 in his four. He has never been as expensive in PSL history, and his team was on the ropes.Zazai and Wells seemed to mirror each other for most of the stand, which was finally broken after 126 hard-fought runs when Zazai chopped on to Mohammad Wasim. The asking rate was almost run-a-ball by then, and a Shoaib Malik blitz – 32 off 10 balls – made light work of the last rites.The Hasan Ali cameo Is it really a cameo if a player ends up being their side’s top-scorer? United looked like they had blown their chances at a spot in the final spectacularly after a listless display from the top and middle-order saw them reduced to 110 for 8. Crucially, though, Hasan was still out there, and he wasn’t in the mood to simply bat out 20 overs. Two fours and two sixes off Asif’s 17th over just whet his appetite as the 26-year old let loose in a blur of monstrous shot-making. Zalmi were guilty of being one-paced to him, and Ali loved the ball coming onto the bat; Riaz was tonked for 19 in the penultimate over as the two-time champions plundered 64 off the final four.Wasim offered fantastic support at the other end, thumping a pair of sixes on his own as the frontal assault continued from both sides. Hasan, meanwhile, was heroically run out trying to get back on strike for the final delivery, having raced to a sizzling 45 off 16. No player deserved a half-century more, but the knock had given his side more than a fair chance.Mohammad Irfan’s eventful dayPlenty went on with Irfan today, but one thing it really shouldn’t detract everyone from is the veteran’s unerring consistency of performance. For the third consecutive game, Irfan conceded exactly 21 runs in his four overs, astonishing figures as bowlers around him have found themselves clubbed to all parts. The pace and length variations continue to remain unpredictable, as batters as diverse as power hitters and anchors struggle to settle against the giant Zalmi bowler.He also doubled up with the priceless wicket of Munro at a time when the New Zealander had helped United off to a flying start and looked exceptionally threatening. He was unfortunate not to have had him a few balls earlier, coaxing an outside edge that Kamran Akmal spilled. Off the final ball of the over, though, Munro played at one down leg side, and this time, Irfan had the wicket he deserved.It wasn’t – as we now know – what will dominate Irfan-related chat in the game’s aftermath. He pulled up with an injury at the end of his spell umpire Aleem Dar deemed less than convincing, refusing to allow a substitute fielder in his place. That meant Zalmi were forced to play with just ten players for a brief period before Khalid Usman was permitted to come on as a cover. But Irfan’s most salient contribution to the contest had already been made.Where they stand United are eliminated despite boasting the best ever group stage performance in the PSL. Zalmi go through to face Multan Sultans in Thursday’s final.

After a successful summer of incomings, Manchester United still reportedly have one particular attacking star on their radar ahead of the winter transfer window in January.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils arguably had the perfect summer off the field. Erik ten Hag's side entered the window in need of additions all across the pitch, and months later, they can say they got exactly that. United first improved their backline and attacking options with Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, before adding a standout signing in the form of Matthijs de Ligt.

Then, ending with a bang, those at Old Trafford ended a summer-long saga by finally welcoming Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal reportedly worth £50.5m with add-ons.

Speaking to the club's official website, Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth welcomed the midfielder, saying: "Signing Manuel was another of our primary targets for this summer.

"Manuel is a player we’ve watched closely, and we are excited to see the positive impact he will make on the pitch and in the dressing room as we continue to strive for success."

Ugarte's arrival could be a sign of things to come in the future, too. According to The Athletic, Manchester United still have Benjamin Sesko on their radar despite failing to complete a move for the RB Leipzig forward earlier in the window.

Related INEOS have already struck gold on Man Utd gem who's worth more than Ugarte

Erik ten Hag has undergone a moderately successful transfer window

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The Leipzig star was the subject of quite the saga at the start of the window, reportedly rejecting a move to Arsenal and watching on as United also failed with their own approach. One to keep an eye on when the January window swings open, Sesko could arrive to complete Manchester United's attack.

"Fantastic" Sesko would partner Hoijlund

Given that Zirkzee is more of a modern-day forward who is in between a No 9 and an attacking midfielder, Manchester United would be wise to welcome Sesko, as he could form a deadly partnership with Rasmus Hojlund. With two out-and-out goalscorers, United would be solving Ten Hag's attacking problem once and for all.

The 21-year-old has found himself at the centre of praise this year, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who described Sesko's form as "fantastic" in April.

Those at Old Trafford will certainly be confident in INEOS's ability to get business done following an excellent summer of additions to hand Ten Hag a squad capable of returning to the Champions League this season.

Enzo Maresca insists he wants to keep Christopher Nkunku amid links to Manchester United, as he has explained his lack of league minutes this season.

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Nkunku has struggled for minutesLinked with shock move to UnitedMaresca explains lack of playing timeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Nkunku has been linked with a potential move to United after a struggle for minutes under Maresca. The 27-year-old has made 18 appearances in all competitions, but he has made just one Premier League start, which came on the opening weekend of the season. Since then, he has not played more than 26 minutes in the league.

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Maresca has now explained that the playmaker is not playing regularly because of a need for "balance" in midfield, given the richness of options in attack at Stamford Bridge. In other competitions, the 27-year-old has been productive, scoring six goals in the Conference League and three in two EFL Cup fixtures.

WHAT MARESCA SAID

Maresca told reporters when asked if Nkunku was unhappy: "Not at all. I spoke with Christo days ago – he did not say he is not happy."

He added: "Absolutely [he is not for sale], yes.

"The problem with Christo, not the problem but the same issue we have mentioned many times; if you play with Cole (Palmer), Joao (Felix), Christo, Jadon (Sancho) or Noni (Madueke) – who is defending? Their skill is not defending. The last game, we tried with Joao and Cole together.

"Probably the best moment for Christo with us has been in pre-season, playing in his position. Since we started, he is playing as a nine for us. Against City, he played as a winger; knowing this is not his best position. His best position is as a 10 but Cole is playing there. We need balance."

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

Chelsea face Heidenheim in the Conference League later this week – a game that Nkunku will expect to start. Then, they take on Aston Villa on Sunday in the Premier League.

Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres responded to Gabriel stealing his celebration after the Brazilian scored in Arsenal's 5-1 win in Lisbon.

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Gyokeres hits back at GabrielBrazilian copied the striker's trademark celebrationArsenal thrashed Sporting CP 5-1Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Gunners ran riot against the Portuguese giants as they raced into a 3-0 lead before the interval and then scored two more goals in the second 45 minutes to register a thumping win in the Champions League on Tuesday. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes scored the first three goals for the team while Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard's second-half strikes completed the rout.

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Brazilian defender Gabriel imitated the opposition's goal machine Gyokeres while celebrating his goal. The Swedish forward's celebration has become extremely popular where he covers his mouth with clasped hands – though in this instance, the Gunners star put them over his eyes instead. After the game, the Sporting CP star issued a response to Gabriel over copying his mannerisms.

WHAT VIKTOR GYOKERES SAID

Speaking to after the game, Gyokeres said: "He’s welcome to steal it if he can’t create his own celebration! I didn’t know he did that, but it’s fun he likes my celebration."

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Per , Gabriel's mimicry of Gyokeres was an act of revenge for how another Sporting player acted in their previous clash with Arsenal in the Europa League back in March 2023. After a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the round of 16 tie, the English club took the lead courtesy of Granit Xhaka's strike but Pedro Goncalves equalised for the team. That forced extra time and then a penalty shootout, where Sporting emerged victorious. Goncalves mocked Xhaka by mimicking his celebration where the Swiss midfielder touches his nose with his thumb and extends his hand out.

Napoli star Scott McTominay has opened up on his momentous exit from Manchester United after 22 years at the club.

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• McTominay leaves Man Utd after 22 years
• Had a bright start at new side Napoli
• Opens up on exit and chasing success

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Scotland international ended his two-decade-long association with United this summer to head to Antonio Conte's Napoli for €30 million (£25m/$34m). The 27-year-old is playing regularly for the Serie A side, seems to be thoroughly enjoying himself and admits he wants to have a "successful" career.

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  WHAT SCOTT MCTOMINAY SAID

  He told : "Obviously it’s a big decision, there’s no denying that. It was a huge decision for me and my family and my friends. At times like that in your life you just have to say: ‘Do I want to do it? Absolutely,’ and go for it. There’s no looking back. I’ve never had any regrets in my life or my career and I continue that way to this day. I want my career to be successful and I’m going to go out of my way to try and push myself to be the best football player and best person that I can possibly be."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite having his best-ever season for United in 2023-24, McTominay was always going to be on the fringes at the Premier League side. But now, he is a key player at Napoli – who are top of the league – and has notched three goals and two assists in 10 appearances. It seems it was the right move for his career.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After McTominay represents Scotland in their Nations League games over the next week, he will return to Napoli action on November 24 for a Serie A game at home to Roma.

FC Seoul manager Kim Gi-dong heaped praises on Jesse Lingard as he hailed the English winger as a 'true Korean'.

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FC Seoul boss hails LingardCalls ex-Man Utd star 'true Korean'Englishman is now a leader in the teamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The former Manchester United player and England international left Nottingham Forest as a free agent in June 2023, but it wasn't until February of this year that he joined K-League side FC Seoul. Lingard had his initial hardships in the Asian country and it took him some time to adjust to the new conditions. He also suffered an injury setback just one month after moving to South Korea as he injured his knee and had to undergo surgery.

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However, the player has now adjusted himself to the new environment and has slowly cemented his place in Seoul's starting lineup. He has appeared in 23 matches for the club since joining them and has scored goals and provided two assists as he played an important role in the club finishing fifth in the league and qualifying for the playoffs.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Speaking to reporters, Seoul boss Kim Gi-dong said, "Isn’t Lingard a superstar? When he was at Manchester United, he used to ride a private plane. I remember the first thing he said as soon as he got off at Incheon Airport. Lingard asked: 'Where is the FC Seoul gate?'."

He added, "He played for the best club in the world so there must be many things he lacks now. The stadium, the training ground etc could be incredibly bad for Lingard. But Lingard quietly played his role faithfully and established himself as an indispensable player for the team. He is now a leader who leads the players. He has become a true Korean."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR JESSE LINGARD?

The English winger will be back in action for his club on November 10 as FC Seoul take on reigning champions Ulsan in their second playoffs clash.

Mikel Arteta's side welcome the league-leaders to the Emirates on Sunday in what already feels like a huge title showdown

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When Arsenal went to Anfield on 9 April, 2023, they were on a seven-match winning run in the Premier League and had the title firmly in their sights. Victory against Liverpool would have boosted their momentum heading into what seemed a relatively straightforward couple of fixtures – away to West Ham and home to Southampton – before a showdown at second-place Manchester City at the end of the month.

The Gunners, as they so often did in 2022-23, started magnificently. Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring inside eight minutes, and he turned provider for namesake Gabriel Jesus just before the half-hour mark. Mikel Arteta's boys were turning into men and marching towards the crown.

But not even the most pessimistic Gooner could have foreseen the collapse about to unfold. Mohamed Salah scrambled one home for Liverpool on the stroke of half-time, while he missed a penalty towards the start of the second 45 as Arsenal were smothered out of the contest, eventually clinging on for a 2-2 draw – the first in a run of three successive yet inexplicable stalemates before essentially handing City the title at the Etihad Stadium.

This Sunday, Arsenal face off with Liverpool again, once more in need of three points to ignite their title hopes, once more hoping Martinelli can make a difference. The Brazilian winger hasn't quite been the same since that trip to Anfield 18 months ago, but is coming back into the form that first made him revered and adored around the streets of N5.

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFP'Talent of the century'

Part of Martinelli's unlikely and enjoyable ascent to Arsenal stardom is the fact he was plucked from relative obscurity, arriving in 2019 from Brazilian minnows Ituano in the lower depths of the footballing pyramid.

No one would have blamed the Gunners for easing Martinelli into first-team action, or better yet loaned him out in order to get his palate adjusted to football that wasn't . Alas, he was simply too talented to let go without taking him for a test run.

At only 19, Martinelli was already an established fixture in the squad and someone the Arsenal faithful were hoping could lead their rebuild. The team's soft underbelly and frustrating lack of ingenuity were integral to their malaise, only countered by prospects such as Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe pulling in the other direction.

Jurgen Klopp was first impressed by the Brazilian after the Gunners' Carabao Cup exit to Liverpool late in 2019, remarking, "He's a talent of the century, he's an incredible striker. He's really unbelievable. So young, looks so mature already, is a proper threat. Yeah, he looks like a really decent player. I didn't want to put any backpack [pressure] on his back with this thing, but I just really like good football players and obviously he's a very good one."

There was an obsession that Klopp developed for Martinelli, one that kept creeping up when Liverpool inflicted misery on Arsenal in that same cup competition, later saying in 2022 after dumping the north Londoners out in the semi-finals, "Martinelli, by the way, everyone should remember that name. Outstanding player."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnderrated spark

So we get it, that's some seal of approval. Now Martinelli had to string together some performances and add some goals to his game, make his mark on an Arsenal team now expected to start delivering on their promise.

And there it came. Bang. Out Martinelli came racing out of the blocks for 2022-23, the balancing menace to a formidable front four featuring Saka, Jesus and new club-captain Martin Odegaard – all registered at least 16 goal involvements apiece, spreading the love around in true total-football fashion. The magic was back at Arsenal and they were Premier League-leaders for essentially 90 percent of the campaign.

Though they couldn't hold on to claim their first title in 19 years, the seeds were sewn for the future. This was surely the awesome foursome behind any long-term success to come their way. At this point, some Arsenal fans were making the case for Martinelli to start for Brazil, either alongside or in place of either Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo. There was at least an argument to be made on that trajectory, only that upward trend wouldn't last.

AFPIn a rut

Martinelli ended 2022-23 with 15 goals and five assists in the Premier League alone, yet these tallies fell to six and four, respectively, despite playing only one fewer game in the following campaign. Whatever lightning he had contained in a bottle had scampered, with nothing left but a gloomy storm cloud over the joyful Brazilian's head.

To the outside world, it seemed a strange mystery. Arsenal still maintained their place as City's closest challengers – and this time took the title race to the final day of the season, beating their own points and goals scored tallies from the year prior – yet the life had been sucked out of Martinelli.

It uncovered the type of winger Martinelli truly was. You can pigeonhole him as a touchline dribbler who isn't afraid to get chalk on his boots, you can categorise him as an inside-forward whose main threat is within the 18-yard box. But ultimately, above all else, he is a confidence player.

Arteta's adjustments to make Arsenal more streetwise at the back as well as a constant goal threat saw Martinelli shunted to the fringes of the game, before eventually ceding his spot in the starting XI – he only played two full 90s in the second half of the season.

The departure of Granit Xhaka was also a hurdle which Martinelli failed to really clear. The Swiss' phenomenal final season in north London saw him develop an intrinsic and almost instinctive relationship with the left winger, with both benefitting to the maximum. Though £105m-man Declan Rice proved a fine and able upgrade on Xhaka, his connection with Martinelli has never come close to being the same, while the less said about Kai Havertz's midfield experiment the better.

All of a sudden, you're in a rut. The goals aren't flowing, the head drops, the mind tricks itself. Martinelli still brought the intensity and energy needed to play under Arteta, but was nowhere near the same kind of threat.

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Getty Images SportFinding his feet again

There's still life in Martinelli yet, particularly with Arsenal's style regressing into conservatism in their search for trophies and titles. Arteta has his side playing at a more controlled tempo and digging in deep defensively, with even Saka often tasked with tracking all the way into his own third and sometimes acting as a wing-back of sorts.

A brutal start to the season has taken its toll on the Gunners, who are now in the midst of their worst injury crisis in the Spaniard's tenure. They are leaning on fringe players to fill in and their B-list stars to step into the spotlight – Havertz has largely filled the void and Leandro Trossard is doing all he can to plug the holes here and there.

In Martinelli's last three Premier League appearances, he has two goals and two assists, while he was the star of the show in Tuesday's gritty 1-0 win at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. Speaking to post-match, he repeatedly claimed his work is for the team; there was never a mention of his form, no soundbite to make it about himself, instead trying to spin the positives of the season so far.

Where his team-mates have looked tired and lethargic, slower and steadier, Martinelli has maintained his characteristic doggedness and drive. If you remove last Saturday's blip at Bournemouth, he's come back into prime form at the perfect time for Arteta.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged England supporters to get behind Thomas Tuchel after the German was hired to replace Gareth Southgate.

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Guardiola issues plea to England fansTuchel signs 18-month contractMan City boss was linked with roleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

England hired the head coach with the most pedigree in Tuchel, but the decision wasn’t entirely met with widespread support. Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have both been critical of the FA’s decision to hire a foreign coach, while he has failed to last more than two years in his previous two roles.

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But among the concerns, Tuchel has a supporter in Guardiola, who was also mentioned as a potential candiate to replace Southgate. In an interview with Sky Sports, the Manchester City boss urged England supporters to get behind the German as he bids to lead the Three Lions to World Cup glory in 2026. The two head coaches know each other well from their battles in Germany and England, with Tuchel getting one over Guardiola in the 2021 Champions League final.

WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID

"Thomas is the manager – come on! The federation decide – full support from English people, come on. To have to make the last step they need to win a trophy," Guardiola said. "Gareth Southgate – he was so close. The standards for Gareth [were] magnificent. And the federation want [to make] that step and decide from that."

The City boss was also quizzed on his own future as he approaches the final months of his contract at Etihad Stadium. "I'm happy here [at Manchester City]," he said. "I want to win tomorrow, I want to live day by day. I don't think about what happens in February, in March, in April. It's far, far away. I want to enjoy today in the training session and the day after tomorrow the game."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

Lee Carsley will oversee the Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland next month, with Tuchel taking charge from January 1. His first game in charge will take place next March, although it's not yet known who England will face.