Journalist Pete O’Rourke has provided a big update on the future of Eddie Howe at Newcastle United, with club sources explaining the situation as seen by PIF higher ups.

Howe under pressure despite Newcastle results

On the face of it, the Magpies have enjoyed an impressive start to the new Premier League season, picking up 10 points from a possible 12 and sitting third in the table. Only Manchester City and Arsenal are ahead of them currently, as they look to get back into the Champions League after a year away.

That being said, the nature of Newcastle’s performances haven’t been wholly convincing, with their displays against the likes of Tottenham and Wolves in recent weeks arguably leaving plenty to be desired.

For that reason, there continues to be an element of pressure on Howe, with it becoming fairly public that the relationship between the Englishman and new sporting director Paul Mitchell is not the best. The Magpies chief has been vocal about the lack of transfer activity in the summer, and it appears as though all is not too well between two of the most high-profile figures at St James’ Park.

On the plus side for Howe, he appears to be popular with the majority of Newcastle supporters still, having excelled overall since taking charge, not least guiding them into the Champions League in 2022/23, at a time when few expected them to be in the top four.

Reporter shares update on Howe's Newcastle future

Now, Football Insider‘s O’Rourke has claimed that Howe has the backing of senior club chiefs at Newcastle currently, with his job not believed to be under threat. Sources at St James’ have stated in five key words that that the 46-year-old has “huge credit in the bank” with the higher ups, meaning it would take a significant drop in form or a major fallout with the hierarchy to change the current situation.

Sacking Howe at this point would come as a major shock at Newcastle, considering the position they are in in the Premier League, even if they arguably have more points than the performances suggest. Last season was clearly disappointing, which did hit the former Bournemouth manager’s reputation a little, but it shouldn’t be forgotten how injury-plagued his Magpies squad was, and there was only so much he could do without key men being available throughout the campaign.

The hope is that the situation surrounding Howe and Mitchell’s relationship eases as time passes, allowing them to work effectively alongside one another, bringing further success to Newcastle together as the years pass.

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Eddie Howe has a young talent present in the academy who could replace Wilson…

1

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Ross Kilvington

Sep 17, 2024

Howe has looked like a front-runner for the England job since Gareth Southgate’s exit, but with Lee Carsley impressing in the role in an interim capacity, it is easy to envisage him getting the job permanently. That would be good news for the Magpies, who need to view their current boss as the right man in charge moving forward.

The English top-flight resumes this weekend and there are a number of national-team stars aiming to impress Sarina Wiegman over the coming months

In less than six months, England will begin their first defence of a major tournament title on the women's side, when they head to the 2025 European Championships as the reigning champions after beating Germany in dramatic circumstances at Wembley back in 2022, with Chloe Kelly's extra-time strike securing the Lionesses' maiden major trophy.

Incidentally, as the Women's Super League returns this weekend, Kelly is one of several England stars who need to have big second halves of the season in order to punch their ticket to Switzerland in July, with competition fierce for spots in both the starting XI and the squad as a whole.

So, who will Sarina Wiegman likely be keeping a close eye on over the next few months as she ponders her final 23-player list? GOAL takes a look at eight Lionesses who need to shine…

Getty Images SportHannah Hampton

The fight to be England No.1 is the most talked about individual battle in the team, with Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton going into the New Year neck-and-neck in that race. It has ebbed and flowed for both over the last few months, with each having a perceived lead on the other at various points. Right now, it's arguably Earps in the driving seat, after a strong final camp of 2024 in which her saves helped the Lionesses avoid defeat to the United States at Wembley.

A few days after that draw, Hampton was in between the sticks for the win over Switzerland, but she failed to convince in the same manner as her team-mate. With some shaky moments coming in the defeat to Germany in the camp prior, it all culminates in a feeling that Earps is just ahead at the moment.

But there's plenty of time for that to change. England will have three more camps before the Euros and both players have five months of club action to show Wiegman what they can do, too. While also looking to help Chelsea retain their WSL title, Hampton will also have opportunities in the Champions League that Earps doesn't, and she'll be keen to take them.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLauren James

While the rest of the names on this list need to impress in order to secure a place in the England XI, or squad, Lauren James' situation is a little different. If she's fit, she is all-but-guaranteed to start for the Lionesses. It's not being fit that has been frustrating for her lately.

Injuries hampered the winger throughout 2024. Indeed, she struggled with them through the final stages of the 2023-24 season, missed England's June camp because of a foot problem and has just now come back from three months out, starting for Chelsea in the FA Cup last week having been absent since mid-October.

The second half of this season, then, is all about getting back up to speed, getting back into form and, crucially, avoiding any other setbacks. It's important for Chelsea's fortunes and also for England's.

GettyBeth Mead

After a rather promising first full season back following her ACL injury last term, things have unfortunately been a little trickier for Beth Mead this time around. With just four goals in all competitions so far, and no assists, she is one player that Wiegman would love to see find some more dangerous and consistent form before the Euros, in order to bolster the potency of the England attack.

Some wingers would be pleased with that goal return, but that it is seen as below-par for Mead is an indication of her ability and the standard she has set over the years. As the old saying goes, form is temporary, class is permanent, and the 29-year-old will be keen to remind everyone just what she is capable of in the second half of this season – particularly Wiegman, as she looks to cement a place in her starting XI.

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Getty ImagesChloe Kelly

Worries about Mead's form are only intensified because of the lack of playing time for another England winger, in Kelly. With Lauren Hemp currently sidelined after knee surgery and James herself only just back, the Lionesses' wide areas are suddenly not looking as well-stocked and strong as usual.

Kelly's situation has admittedly caused concern for Wiegman, with her struggling massively for game time at Manchester City. That lack of minutes comes while her contract is set to expire this summer, making a January move a little trickier. Instead, it looks like the 27-year-old will have to make the best of things with the Cityzens in the second half of this season and take advantage of whatever opportunities she can get in order to be included in that England squad.

City boss Gareth Taylor said last week that Kelly looked "sharp" and "fresh" in the team's winter training camp, while brushing off talk of a January move for her. Is that a sign that more minutes could be coming her way? Only time will tell.

Napoli are interested in signing Marcus Rashford on loan to 'appease angry fans' ahead of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's switch to Paris Saint-Germain.

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• Rashford links with Man Utd exit
• PSG set to sign Napoli's Kvaratskhelia
• Italian team eye Rashford loan

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Napoli boss Antonio Conte is a 'huge admirer' of Rashford and the Italian club think signing him could 'appease fans' who are angry about Kvaratskhelia's impending transfer to PSG. The report adds the 27-year-old is up for a switch to Italy and Naples specifically.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rashford has spent his entire career at United but that seems to be drawing to a close after he said he wanted a "new challenge" last month. The England international – who has also been linked with Barcelona, Inter, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and more – may have played his last game for his boyhood club.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Napoli boss Conte spoke about the impending exit of winger Kvaratskhelia, a move that has dismayed the Serie A team's fans.

  The Italian said: "He asked the club to be sold, without mincing his words. This is what was said to me, the player has confirmed his decision to me. Personally I feel very disappointed, because I spent six months trying to make Kvara feel at the centre of the project, working with him, showing him that we could do something great and also working with the club for six months on the renewal."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  United take on Premier League basement side Southampton on Thursday night. It remains to be seen if Rashford will feature in that league encounter, but it seems highly unlikely.

حقق ريال مدريد فوزًا صعبًا على نظيره جيرونا بثنائية نظيفة، ضمن منافسات الجولة 25 من بطولة الدوري الإسباني على ملعب سانتياجو بيرنابيو.

ريال مدريد دخل المباراة ساعيًا للفوز بعد انتصار برشلونة أمام لاس بالماس أمس، وحاول منذ الدقيقة الأولى، ولكن فرص فينيسيوس ومبابي وجدت تألق الحارس الأرجنتيني جازانيجا.

طالع أيضًا.. تيباس يهاجم ريال مدريد: نادٍ كثير البكاء.. وبيريز لا يرضى بخسارة أي شيء  استمر ريال مدريد في الضغط، ولكن لم يتمكن من فك طلاسم دفاعات جيرونا، إلا من خلال صاروخية لوكا مودريتش.

الهدف الأول جاء في الدقيقة 41، بعدما عادت الكرة من الدفاع بعد ركنية رودريجو، سددها لوكا مودريتش ببراعة في شباك جازانيجا معلنًا عن تقدم ريال مدريد.

في الشوط الثاني، دخل آرثر ميلو ضمن 5 بدلاء لـ جيرونا من أجل تغيير النتيجة، ولكن فرص النادي الكتالوني لم تكن بالدقة اللازمة لتهديد مرمى بطل أوروبا.

على الجانب الآخر، دخل كامافينجا وعاد تشواميني للخلف، مع إقحام سيبايوس أيضًا، ليستعيد ريال مدريد السيطرة على الكرة بشكل أفضل.

مرتدات ريال مدريد القاتلة، قتلت المباراة فعليًا وتغلبت على العارضة وتصديات جازانيجا، من خلال تمريرة مبابي في ظهر الدفاع لـ فينيسيوس جونيور الذي يضع الهدف قبل 7 دقائق من النهاية.

فوز رفع رصيد ريال مدريد 54 نقطة ليتساوى مع برشلونة ولكن الصدارة للنادي الكتالوني بفارق الأهداف والمواجهات المباشرة، بينما جيرونا في المركز الثاني عشر برصيد 31 نقطة. أهداف مباراة ريال مدريد وجيرونا في الدوري الإسباني

Sydney Thunder allrounder also believes some of the rules would work well in T20

Andrew McGlashan09-Sep-2021Sammy-Jo Johnson, the Sydney Thunder and New South Wales allrounder, believes the Hundred can benefit the women’s game around the world with the increased exposure it has given players.Johnson, who played for Trent Rockets, finished as the tournament’s joint second-leading wicket-taker with 15 at 10.26 and an economy rate of 1.14 runs per ball. She was one of a group of fringe Australia players who took part following the withdrawal of the main international names although Johnson had been in discussions with clubs before the pull outs.She is still undertaking her two weeks quarantine on return to Australia having had three flights cancelled due to the government cap on the number of arrivals, but was prepared for the potential challenges of the journey and was in no doubt of the benefits for both herself and others players who had the opportunity to make a name for themselves.”I just wanted to go over and mix it with some different people, franchise cricket allows you to mix it with some of the best in the world and I had the opportunity to do that with Trent Rockets,” Johnson told ESPNcricinfo. “I wanted to learn from those sorts of people, play in different conditions and try to advance my skill set. I think it opens up avenues, for someone like me it’s an opportunity on a world-class stage with world-class players.Related

Heather Graham, Sammy-Jo Johnson star as Rockets flex muscle

Top-placed WBBL team straight into final under new play-off structure

“Especially with the way the world is at the moment, we are going to miss England players and maybe some other internationals who can’t make it to the WBBL and some may pull out due to the restrictions.”Looking at that tournament and seeing how the second tier players like myself [performed] will only be good for them and [maybe] teams will think get them into the Big Bash. It’s like the men’s franchises, you don’t have to be a nationally contracted player to give yourself a name in this short format circuit so I think it will only be beneficial for women’s cricket around the world.”Johnson was also of the belief that some of the new rules used in the Hundred could easily find a place in T20, picking out the new batter being on strike after a dismissal and bowling consecutive overs from one end as being two particularly successful ones.Sammy-Jo Johnson celebrates a wicket for Trent Rockets•Getty Images”In T20, you might pick up a couple of wickets at the back end but if you still have an ‘in’ batter and you can’t get the new batter on strike that’s where you struggle,” she said. “Taking wickets and having the new person face up was crucial at swinging momentum. I think it’s a great initiative and they should bring it into T20 cricket because think it can swing the game, especially at the back end.”Another hugely successful part of the tournament, which came about due to Covid-19, was the double-header match days involving both the men’s and women’s teams from the clubs involved. It is a structure the Big Bash has moved away from with the WBBL now a standalone competition, but Johnson said the brevity and timing of the Hundred helped it work.”The difference from when we had WBBL and BBL double-headers in the past, you had such a big gap which is why it never worked for us. With the Hundred being such a short game and the way they time it, I think it’s fantastic for the game over there. That real franchise feel, doesn’t matter if it’s the boys or girls team, people were showing up in droves, they wanted to support the Trent Rockets, for example, as a whole.”When Johnson emerges from quarantine she will begin preparations for Thunder’s title defence in the WBBL with the early-season WNCL matches having been postponed to December. She is prepared for the likelihood of another period in quarantine before the tournament but said that players will do whatever is needed.”That’s the common theme around the traps, everyone wants to play WBBL,” she said. “There’s the prospect that if I go home I have to do a double quarantine to then participate and that’s something girls are willing to do so we can put this competition on and keep putting highly entertaining cricket on TV if Covid is going to be around. I’m all about entertaining and hopefully we can put on another good show this year.”

West Ham United are on the hunt for attacking reinforcements and have identified one potential new face to add to Julen Lopetegui’s ranks in 2025, according to a report.

Goal-shy West Ham leave Lopetegui under early pressure

Six games into the Premier League season, West Ham have scored just six goals, the same number as 20th placed Wolves. After heavy spending over the summer, they have just one win to show for it, while Julen Lopetegui became the first West Ham boss in Premier League history to lose each of his first three home games.

None of his new signings have got their first goal in West Ham colours either, with Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville and Carlos Soler all toiling without success.

It means that the Hammers are 14th in the Premier League with five points to their name, and will be hoping to see a large improvement in their next run of games, which include clashes with Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest and Everton.

West Ham’s goalscorers 24/25

Player

Goals

Tomas Soucek

2

Jarrod Bowen

1

Lucas Paqueta

1

Danny Ings

1

Own Goal

1

Other

0

But clearly there is a problem at the top of the pitch, with Michail Antonio yet to open his account for the season and Danny Ings largely used from the substitutes bench, leaving the responsibility on Tomas Soucek to score the equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Brentford over the weekend.

At 31-years-old, £25m addition Fullkrug is not a long-term solution to their issues, and they remain on the hunt for a man to lead their line and finally take the mantle from Antonio, who has done so for the last decade but now looks well beyond his best. Now, they may have identified their man.

West Ham chasing Valencia star

That comes as Caught Offside claim that the Hammers are set to rival Aston Villa for the signature of highly-rated Valencia striker Hugo Duro in the upcoming transfer windows. The Spaniard, who has scored twice this season, is still just 24-years-old and is likely to improve in the years to come.

Lost the ball every 3.4 touches: Lopetegui must now drop 5/10 West Ham star

He lost the ball every 3.4 touches

1 ByJoe Nuttall Sep 29, 2024

And that has caught the attention of both Aston Villa and West Ham, with the report claiming that the pair are “in a fierce battle” for his signature. The striker still has four years left to run on his £67,000 a week deal in Spain but is thought to be available for between €25m and €30m (£20.8m and £25m).

It is added that “manager Julen Lopetegui sees Duro’s energy and goal-scoring ability as a major potential asset” for the Hammers, who have looked docile in the final third, while they “have been impressed by the Spanish striker’s talents” and “are keen” to “sign him in the near future”.

It remains to be seen whether a transfer ultimately materialises, but following their failure to land Jhon Duran from Aston Villa over the summer there is clearly work still to be done on the Hammers frontline, and early form suggests that it is an issue that will need to be remedied sooner rather than later.

MatériaMais Notícias

Os membros do Conselho Deliberativo do Flamengo, em caráter de urgência, foram convocados para uma reunião extraordinária nesta quarta-feira, na sede da Gávea. Dentre os assuntos a serem tratados, estão apreciar e votar os contratos de patrocínio com as empresas ABC da Construção e Pixbet. Abaixo, veja um trecho do edital:

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>Em menos de uma semana, Flamengo ‘ganha’ trunfo em busca do treinador

Apreciar e votar o Contrato de Patrocínio e Outras Avenças a serfirmado com a sociedade Empresária ABC Atacado Brasileiro daConstrução S.A. (“ABC”), tendo presentes os Pareceres do ConselhoFiscal e das Comissões de Uniformes, de Finanças e Jurídica desteConselho, as quais foram nomeadas provisoriamente, para este ato.

Apreciar e votar o Contrato de Patrocínio e Outras Avenças a serfirmado com a empresa estrangeira PIX STAR BRASILIAN N.V.(“PIXBET”), tendo presentes os Pareceres do Conselho Fiscal e dasComissões de Uniformes, de Finanças e Jurídica deste Conselho, asquais foram nomeadas provisoriamente, para este ato.

> Veja a retrospectiva do LANCE! sobre os jogadores de defesa do Flamengo

A primeira convocação está marcada para 19h, enquanto a segunda para 19h30. Ainda vale destacar que a reunião será exclusivamente presencial na sede do clube. Nesse sentido, álcool em gel será distribuído e o uso das máscaras sociais será obrigatório.

Fresh from the international break, Oliver Glasner would have been hoping to use his Crystal Palace side to the best of its ability, but an injury sustained this week stands in the way of that possibility.

Crystal Palace injury news

So far this season, Glanser's side have been one of the most difficult to predict. They opened their campaign with a narrow 2-1 loss against Brentford which could have gone either way, before West Ham United eased them to one side and then went on to earn a hard-fought point at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Attempting to evaluate just where this Palace side sit feels an impossible task at this stage.

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He’s found his goalscoring touch after leaving Selhurst Park.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 13, 2024

That inconsistency should come as no shock, however, following the departures of Joachim Andersen and Michael Olise in the summer transfer window, alongside the arrival of fresh faces such as Maxence Lacroix and Eddie Nketiah.

Selhurst Park will likely get the chance to see their new stars in action for the first time on Saturday against Leicester City too. Glasner was quick to point out that a club doesn't spend such money on players of Nketiah's calibre, in particular, without handing him crucial minutes.

The Palace boss said: "Yes, he's ready to start. Otherwise, we wouldn't have spent about £25 million. We don't spend £25million for a player to be on the bench. He can play different positions – he's very smart. He is a different profile to Jean-Philippe."

Whilst one summer signing is in line for his debut, however, Glasner revealed that Trevoh Chalobah may now miss multiple games after suffering a muscle injury in his first session at the club. Earning a reported £50,000-a-week, the defender and Palace will be hoping that it's not a sign of things to come.

It's incredibly frustrating news for the defender, who is yet to play a single minute this season having initially been cast aside at Chelsea before completing a late switch to London rivals Palace.

"Great" Chalobah can compete with Lacroix

When he does return from this early setback, Chalobah will be left competing against fellow summer signing Lacroix for a starting place alongside club captain Marc Guehi. It's in that battle that the Chelsea academy graduate will look to rediscover his best form and hand Chelsea the ultimate regret in the process.

Progressive Carries

0.47

0.19

Progressive Passes

2.92

3.02

Tackles Won

1.13

1.11

Ball Recoveries

4.34

4.91

It will also be a battle that Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish will no doubt be keeping an eye on, having praised Chalobah when speaking to the club's official website.

He said: “Trevoh is a talented young man and when the opportunity to bring him to Palace for the season arose, we were determined to seize it. I’m delighted that he has joined us on loan, and we believe he will be a great addition.”

Ipswich Town were given a humbling reminder of the task that remains in front of them this Premier League season at the weekend, with survival the main aim for the Tractor Boys when the campaign is over and done with.

Kieran McKenna’s men can’t afford to pick up many more defeats like the 4-1 loss they suffered at the hands of West Ham United last match if they are to keep their heads above water, as Jarrod Bowen and Co cruised to a straightforward victory to give the Suffolk outfit an almighty wake-up call.

The despondent Ipswich boss will just be glad he has Liam Delap at his disposal up top, who scored another top-flight goal against the Hammers for his new employers, after leaving Manchester City behind this summer.

Liam Delap's form this season

Delap is already on four goals from seven Premier League appearances for his new employers, with his recent brace against Aston Villa, in particular, standing out, as the electric 21-year-old terrorised Unai Emery’s men at the back just before their famous 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

There would have been a worry that Delap wouldn’t instantly hit the ground running when first making the switch, specifically when you glance at his previous mixed form in the EFL away from Pep Guardiola’s men on loan.

However, the 21-year-old looks to be every bit the prolific striker he was at youth level in Manchester in the senior game in Suffolk.

Ipswich

8

4

Hull City

32

8

Stoke City

23

3

Preston North End

15

1

Man City

6

1

Man City U21s

36

35

Man City U18s

17

11

He would only need 20 touches of the ball last time at the London Stadium to fire home a strike, and that killer instinct could prove to be crucial for McKenna’s men, as they strive to pick up some huge results that could see them stay up in the Premier League.

That is a massive ask, with Ipswich well aware of how huge the gulf in quality between the Championship and the top flight is, but Delap will want to play a leading role in his side’s survival story if he can.

In an alternate reality, however, McKenna could have called upon a different face altogether to lead the line against Julen Lopetegui’s hosts, who Ipswich were incessantly linked with all transfer window.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

Who Ipswich nearly signed over Delap

Whilst the Ipswich number 19 has taken to his new surroundings in Suffolk like a duck to water, a certain Armando Broja hasn’t graced the pitch whatsoever for the Toffees to date, owing to an injury problem keeping him sidelined.

Although Ipswich’s interest in this player would go on right up until transfer deadline day, according to reports, Broja was a target regularly linked with a switch to Portman Road before this nail-biting occasion, even before Delap made his move official in July.

All the way back in May of this year, it was reported that that the Tractor Boys were keen on the Albanian’s services, but nothing would come of these rumours, despite talk in the window suggesting that a £30m deal was even done at one point.

This would have been a risky transfer to get over the line, not just when taking into account the excessive fee involved, but also when you consider Broja’s previous ineffectiveness in front of goal in the top flight, with just eight strikes in the division managed from 66 games.

Broja was hyped up by Mauricio Pochettino as a talent with “amazing potential” when he nurtured the 23-year-old at Stamford Bridge, but the Tractor Boys will be relieved they didn’t win his signature in the end, as Everton eventually snapped him up.

Ipswich, instead, won ex-Man City starlet Delap for £20m, which is looking to be an excellent bit of business already, based on his ever-growing goal tally for his relegation-threatened side in the league.

McKenna must now drop 5/10 Ipswich star who lost possession 17 times

Kieran McKenna would have been very disappointed with Ipswich Town’s display at West Ham United.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 6, 2024

What looked like a nightmare run to kick off the season back in August has now turned into a dream start for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are level on points with Manchester City in the Premier League despite playing some of their most challenging away games of the campaign, and after last night, they have four points from six in the Champions League.

The North Londoners had the unenviable task of taking on French giants Paris Saint-Germain, but from minute one to minute 90, they looked like the far superior team and ran out as comfortable winners.

There were excellent performances all over the pitch from Arteta’s men, but perhaps the stand-out was a player who took more than his fair share of criticism last season, Kai Havertz.

Havertz's initial struggles

Arsenal surprised the footballing world last summer when they paid Chelsea a whopping £65m for the much-maligned Havertz, who, aside from scoring the winner in the Champions League final in 2021, had been somewhat of a disappointment in West London.

While Arteta was happy with his new signing, there was more than a little bit of criticism from fans and pundits alike, with former professional Gabby Agbonlahor particularly scathing, describing the transfer as “very strange” and the “wrong deal for the Gunners.”

Unfortunately for the North Londoners, early on in the German’s time at the club, it looked like Agbonlahor was going to be proven right, as in his first 24 league games, the Aachen-born star scored just five goals and provided one assist, in turn lending credence to Gary Neville’s description of his game against Liverpool in December as “terrible.”

However, as fans will now attest, Arteta’s decision to move the former Bayer Leverkusen ace from midfield to centre-forward towards the backend of last season has utterly transformed his form in red and white.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Havertz's impressive turnaround

So, while Havertz had played a few games up top for Arsenal in the first two-thirds of last season, it wasn’t until late February that Arteta decided to make the change a more permanent one, and from that point onwards, the former Chelsea ace has been sublime.

For example, in his 32 appearances in attacking midfield, the 25-year-old scored six goals and failed to provide a single assist, meaning he was averaging a goal involvement once every 5.33 games.

However, in the 18 games he played up top, the 53-capped international racked up a genuinely impressive haul of eight goals and seven assists, equating to a world-class average of a goal involvement every 1.20 games.

Appearances

32

18

Goals

6

8

Assists

0

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.18

0.83

Appearances

1

8

Goals

0

5

Assists

0

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.00

0.75

Moreover, it wasn’t just his raw output that was now winning him plaudits from those who were previously criticising him, but his overall impact on the team, with Neville arguing in May that he was “doing a similar thing to what Firmino did at Liverpool”, which is high praise indeed.

Fortunately for the Arsenal faithful, the “sensational” forward, as his manager dubbed him, has continued his fine form into this season.

Indeed, he currently has a haul of five goals and one assist in nine games, and thanks to the goal against Everton on the last day of last season, he is on track to match Robin van Persie’s record of scoring in seven consecutive home games for the Gunners.

While there have been plenty of excellent performances from the 6 foot 4 poacher over the last nine months, his Player of the Match display against PSG last night ranks among the very best.

Alongside his fantastically taken goal, he completed 100% of his dribbles, took 49 touches, played one key pass, took two shots on target, won two fouls, made four tackles, and really should have got an assist had Gabriel Martinelli not fired his shot right at Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Ultimately, Havertz came in for plenty – possibly too much – of criticism following his £65m move to Arsenal last summer, and while he was slightly underwhelming for parts of last season, he has undoubtedly become one of the club’s best players, and his form in front of goal and general build-up play has made him utterly undroppable.

Not just Havertz: Arsenal star who won every single duel dominated vs PSG

The Gunners sealed a sensational win on the biggest stage.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 2, 2024