From bit-part to centre stage: Six key fringe players for the run-in

This season has been unlike any other. Crammed in to a tighter schedule than ever before, and pretty much running right on from the previous also uniquely difficult season. Nobody has found it easy, apart from Manchester City. But everywhere else weariness is setting in, muscles are twanging and joints are creaking. Managers are searching […]

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Every Premier League club’s most-used Plan B off the bench…

Who are the go-to guys off the bench?   Arsenal 1) Eddie Nketiah – 11 2) Nicolas Pepe – 8 3) Dani Ceballos – 7 Nketiah has played only 10 minutes since Christmas and hasn’t even made the bench for the last five games. West Ham probably sounds very appealing right now.   Aston Villa […]

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Gossip: Five in for Chelsea striker, Spurs rival Leeds for free agent

WEST HAM AMONG FIVE IN FOR ABRAHAM With Tammy Abraham seemingly not much fancied by Thomas Tuchel, there is a queue already forming for the Chelsea striker… Abraham is the Blues’ top scorer this season but he missed the draw with Manchester United on Sunday for tactical reasons. And with Chelsea among the clubs eyeing […]

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Rodgers: Barnes to undergo surgery for knee injury

Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Leicester City star is set to have surgery on his knee after being forced off injured against Arsenal on Sunday. The Foxes lost 3-1 to Arsenal on Sunday in a game which also saw Harvey Barnes taken off on a stretcher with a knee injury. Rodgers said after the game […]

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Ranking the England chances of 68 uncapped PL starters

Gareth Southgate bloody loves naming a big old England squad. Members of that big old England squad similarly love dropping out because Liverpool or Manchester United force them to, thus creating opportunities for players on the outside looking in. So far this season, 70 players who are eligible for but uncapped by the Three Lions […]

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Arsenal top Premier League winners and losers

Premier League winners and losers on another weekend when the big game let us down do badly…   Winners Arsenal A hugely significant week for Mikel Arteta, a man who has been afforded plenty of patience during his 14 months in charge. There are very good reasons for that patience, not least the myriad squad […]

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Leicester 1-3 Arsenal: Gunners fight back from behind

Arsenal carried on their momentum from their midweek Europa League success by beating Leicester at The King Power Stadium. The Foxes took the lead via a great solo goal from Youri Tielemans. Mikel Arteta’s side responded well to going behind, though. David Luiz equalised in the 39th-minute. Wilfried Ndidi handled it in the area in […]

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Leicester v Arsenal: Can Arteta finally stop Vardy?

Leicester v Arsenal is here on Sunday. Or should that be Jamie Vardy v Arsenal?   Tactical pattern The Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka partnership returned last weekend and with it the ponderous football that characterised Arsenal’s worst form of the season. Consequently Mikel Arteta will probably put Dani Ceballos back in the team and […]

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Gossip: Man United in contract talks as City eye £100m move

THE LONG GOOD BAILLY Eric Bailly conceded more goals (6) in 90 minutes against Tottenham in October than in 907 minutes across his other 12 appearances for Man United this season (5). He is pretty good, if not a little injury prone. So Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would quite like to keep him beyond the end of […]

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