Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have been utterly transformed.

The North Londoners were stuck in tenth place and looking downwards when he took control, and now they’re genuine contenders for the Premier League title.

However, for everything he’s got right, the Spaniard has made his fair share of mistakes tactically and in recruitment.

The likes of Fabio Vieira, Pablo Mari and Albert Sambi Lokonga are all players who have failed to live up to their billing, but arguably the worst signing made under Arteta was Willian, and now it looks like he’s found his new version of the Brazillian.

Willian's disastrous Arsenal career

Willian joined Arsenal in August 2020 on a free after his deal with Chelsea expired, but while he didn’t cost the Gunners a fee, he was on a hefty wage of around £138k-per-week, which in turn meant there was an expectation that he’d be a useful first team player.

That looked like it would be the case following his debut away to Fulham, as in just 76 minutes of action, the Brazilian winger managed to chalk up two assists in what was undoubtedly his best performance for Arteta.

Unfortunately, things quickly started to go downhill for the former Blues star, and across his next 17 league appearances, he’d provide just a single assist.

He eventually ended the campaign with a tally of one goal and seven assists in 37 appearances across all competitions, and for an experienced player on the money he was on, that simply wasn’t good enough.

Moreover, his actual performances were so poor that he’s now often cited as one of the club’s worst signings in recent history.

Appearances

25

9

2

1

Goals

1

0

0

0

Assists

5

2

0

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.24

0.22

0.00

0.00

By the time the 20/21 season came to a close, it was crystal clear that the Ribeirão Pires-born ace was not of the level required to help move the club forward, and to his credit, he opted to rip up his contract instead of demanding a large payout, which reportedly surprised the board.

In all, while the 36-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant career, he was undoubtedly a disaster for Arsenal, and now it looks like Arteta has found his next Willian.

Arteta's new Willian

Despite remaining just about within touching distance of Liverpool in the Premier League and finishing third in the league stage of the Champions League, it would be fair to say that most of Arsenal’s attackers have underwhelmed this season.

Leandro Torssard and Gabriel Martinelli only have 11 goal involvements a piece, Gabriel Jesus only just started to perform prior to suffering his ACL injury, and while Kai Havertz has found the back of the net 15 times already, he’s still incredibly profligate, as demonstrated by Understat’s data suggesting that his nine league goals have come from an expected goal figure of 11.76.

However, none of these attackers could be fairly described as Arteta’s new Willian; that rather unfortunate tag belongs to one Raheem Sterling.

There are several reasons why this comparison fits, such as the move from Chelsea to Arsenal and the fact he’s a big-name player, but the most significant is that, like the Brazilian, the Englishman has been incredibly disappointing in North London.

In all, the Kingston-born attacker has made just 18 appearances for the Gunners, in which he’s scored a single goal and provided just two assists, and worse yet, two of those three goal involvements came in a League Cup tie against League One Bolton Wanderers.

Saka

24

9

13

Havertz

34

15

5

Martinelli

35

7

4

Trossard

36

5

6

Jesus

27

7

2

Nwaneri

23

7

0

Sterling

18

1

2

The former Manchester City star looks a shadow of the player who used to terrorise Premier League defences for fun, and while it sounds incredibly harsh, it’s hard to disagree with content creator Connor Humm’s assertion that his loan move has been an “absolute waste of time and money” for the club.

Ultimately, Arteta has worked wonders during his time as Arsenal boss, and for the most part, his signings have worked out one way or another, but Willian’s move was unquestionably a mistake, and it looks like the same will be said of Sterling’s come the summer.

Arsenal must rue selling £35m ace who's outperforming Trossard & Martinelli

The talented international would be a useful addition to Arsenal’s squad.

3 ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 8, 2025

Leeds United were unable to extend their lead at the top of the Championship table on Sunday when they were beaten 1-0 by Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

The Whites were left frustrated by their lack of quality in the final third as they allowed too many presentable chances to come and go throughout the match.

Daniel Farke’s side created three ‘big chances’ and 2.36 xG worth of opportunities on the day, yet ended the game without scoring a single goal.

Joel Piroe missed both of his ‘big chances’ in front of goal, firing straight at Nicolas Schmid in the first half and overhitting one in the second half, and both of those opportunities came with the score at 0-0.

What Leeds could have done with a player of Raphinha’s quality to make the difference against Pompey, as the Brazilian forward’s form this season has reminded supporters of what they have missed since his departure in the summer of 2022.

Raphinha's form for Barcelona this season

The Brazil international, signed from Leeds for a reported fee of £55m ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, has been in electric form for Hansi Flick for the Spanish giants this term.

Raphinha has racked up an extraordinary return of 25 goals and 18 assists in 40 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona, which is more than one goal or assist every game on average.

The 28-year-old sensation has shown that he has the quality to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch at the highest level, with nine goals and four assists in nine appearances in the Champions League to date, including a hat-trick against Bayern Munich.

Leeds supporters will be far from surprised by his world-class form for Barcelona this season, however, as they saw the magic that he is capable of during his time at Elland Road.

Victor Orta signed the Brazil international from Rennes for Marcelo Bielsa ahead of the 2020/21 campaign and it is fair to say that Raphinha was a big hit in West Yorkshire.

The winger was reportedly on a wage of £63.4k-per-week at Leeds, per Capology, and racked up 17 goals and 12 assists in 67 appearances in all competitions for the club across two years in England.

Starts

26

34

Goals

6

11

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

12

10

Key passes per game

2.1

1.9

Assists

9

3

Dribbles completed per game

1.9

1.8

As you can see in the table above, Raphinha delivered 17 goals and 22 ‘big chances’ created in his two seasons in the Premier League, offering a big threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals to keep the Whites in the top-flight.

Leeds were, of course, relegated the season after his move to Barcelona in the summer of 2022, as they failed to replace his quality in the final third.

Looking back, the club got incredible value out of Raphinha, who was on just £63.4k-per-week at Elland Road, as he produced consistent quality in the Premier League, whilst they currently have a player on more money and failing to contribute in the Championship.

Leeds United's highest wage earners

The Whites are back in the Championship and vying to get promotion back to the top-flight, which means that their wage bill has gone down since they had the Brazilian forward on their books.

Wage Burners

However, that has not stopped the club from having a player who currently earns more than Raphinha did during his time at Leeds, whilst also having several players on similar wages.

Patrick Bamford

£70k

Junior Firpo

£60k

Manor Solomon

£60k

Dan James

£50k

Pascal Struijk

£50k

Brenden Aaronson

£45k

Ethan Ampadu

£40k

Joe Rodon

£40k

Max Wober

£35k

Wilfried Gnonto

£30k

As you can see in the table above, former England international Patrick Bamford is – per Capology – the highest earner in West Yorkshire, on just under £7k more per week than the current Barcelona star used to be on with the Whites.

With his incredibly high wages, and contract that runs through to the summer of 2026, in mind, Farke must finally ditch the 31-year-old striker this summer.

Why Leeds should sell Patrick Bamford

The experienced centre-forward has not offered enough, in quality on the pitch or availability to play, to justify the outlay of £70k-per-week – over £3m-per-season – for the club moving forward. He is draining the team of millions per year and has offered little back in return, particularly this term.

Bamford has not hit double figures for goals in the league in any of the last four seasons, since his 17-goal haul in the Premier League in the 2020/21 campaign, and he has not scored a single goal in 11 appearances this year.

The English attacker has missed 15 matchday squads in the Championship this season, whilst he has also been an unused substitute on 11 occasions. This shows that injuries have plagued his campaign and that Farke has been reluctant to call upon him when he has been available.

He was available to play for the majority of last season, playing 33 of the club’s 46 Championship matches, but still left a fair bit to be desired from his performances.

Appearances

33

xG

9.52

Goals

8

Big chances missed

9

Big chances created

1

Assists

1

Duel success rate

40%

As you can see in the table above, Bamford underperformed as a finisher, with eight goals from 9.52 xG, and offered very little as a creative threat for his teammates.

With all of this in mind, Farke must finally cash in on the English dud when the summer transfer window opens for business, as he has not offered enough to the team to justify him being the highest earner at Elland Road.

League One high-fliers Wrexham were linked with a move for the striker in the January transfer window, which shows that there is interest in the former Chelsea man, and the Whites must finally ditch Bamford if any tangible offers come in for him at the end of the season.

Barring a late resurgence from the number nine to become a reliable and consistent performer in the final weeks of the campaign, to fire the team to the Premier League, it appears as though time is up for the forward who is draining millions from the club.

Fewer touches than Meslier: Farke must finally drop 3/10 Leeds star

The Leeds forward should be dropped from the team for a “dynamite” ace to come in.

1 ByDan Emery Mar 10, 2025

Ruben Amorim has faced a vast number of challenges during his first few months as Manchester United’s manager, with his tenure yet to go to plan.

After taking over from Erik ten Hag back in November, the 40-year-old has only won eight games in all competitions with the Red Devils still sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

However, they fell to yet another defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon, after an injury crisis emerged at Old Trafford, leaving Amorim with only one senior option in Victor Lindelof on the bench

.

Amad Diallo is the latest absentee, sustaining an ankle injury ahead of the clash in North London last weekend, with the manager confirming that the Ivorian is set to miss the remainder of the campaign.

Such a setback will contribute to the current problem in attacking areas which has seen the Red Devils struggle massively over the last couple of months.

Man Utd’s attacking problems in 2024/25

Since the start of the season, United have massively struggled in front of goal, scoring just 28 times in their 25 league outings, with only four teams registering fewer – three of which occupy the relegation places.

Marcus Rashford looked at one stage as though he could be the main man under Amorim, scoring three times in his first two outings of his reign, but after a fall-out behind the scenes, he was quickly banished from the side, eventually joining Aston Villa on loan.

Joshua Zirkzee is another player who’s failed to live up to expectations after his own move to the club, scoring just five times in his 37 appearances for the Red Devils across all competitions.

He’s subsequently dropped behind Rasmus Hojlund in the pecking order despite the Dane’s own lack of form, notching the same tally as his fellow forward in five fewer games.

The 22-year-old cost a huge £72m from Atalanta back in the summer of 2023, but like Zirkzee, has been unable to match expectations, subsequently being outperformed by one player who was sold a handful of years ago.

The former United ace who’s outscored Hojlund in 2024/25

Ole Gunnar Solskjær starred as a player and manager at Old Trafford, cementing himself as a real legend with the work he did on and off the pitch.

After his retirement, he took the plunge into management, eventually going full circle and taking charge originally temporarily in Manchester, before securing the role on a permanent basis ahead of 2019/20.

The Norwegian would land winger Daniel James in a £15m deal from Championship side Swansea City during the summer of 2019, looking to strengthen the attacking options at his disposal.

The Welsh international would score on his debut at the Theatre of Dreams, adding the seal to a 4-0 win over Chelsea – with the Red Devils looking like a force to be reckoned with.

After such a display, Solskjaer labelled the youngster as “exceptional”, but his first season would be his best at the club, before dropping down the order, limiting him to just 28 appearances over the following 18 months.

Most combined goals & assists in the Championship (2024/25)
Rank	Player	Team	Tally
1.	Joel Piroe	Leeds United	20
2.	Borja Sainz	Norwich City	18
3.	Finn Azaz	Middlesbrough	17
4.	Dan James	Leeds United	16
5.	Emmanuel Latte Lath	Middlesbrough	14
=	Josh Maja	West Brom	14
=	Josh Sargent	Norwich City	14
=	Manor Solomon	Leeds United	14
Stats via FotMob

He would subsequently join Leeds United in a £25m deal in the summer of 2021, banking the club a hefty profit, but potentially living to regret their decision amid his form in the Championship over the last two years.

James registered 13 goals last season as the Whites narrowly missed out on promotion, before already notching 10 goals and six assists this time around, outscoring current forward Hojlund as a result.

Whilst it’s safe to say his time at Old Trafford was a disappointment, the 27-year-old appears to have recaptured his best form, becoming the latest former United player to thrive away from the club.

The jump to the Premier League from the Championship is undoubtedly a big one, but given his consistent form in Yorkshire over the last few campaigns, the decision to allow James may be one they live to regret – having the pace and end quality that has been missing throughout 2024/25.

Ten Hag axed "ice-cold" Man Utd man, now he's outscoring Garnacho & Hojlund

Man Utd may wish they had his goals this season

3

By
Joe Nuttall

Feb 19, 2025

Everton have languished for far too long, and David Moyes decided that enough was enough.

The purple patch that has followed the Scotsman’s galvanising return to Goodison Park will not be maintained in its total fluency. There will be twists and turns.

Sean Dyche deserves credit for steering the Toffees away from danger, keeping them afloat last season despite an eight-point deduction – and comfortably at that.

But Dyche and his team had run out of steam, falling into a state of discordancy that effectively precluded any impactful attacking style.

Farhad Moshiri’s dysfunctional rule came to a head in the overtures, with The Friedkin Group completing their much-anticipated takeover in December and quickly realising that change was needed at the Premier League club.

One of the core cruxes of the issue stands as the countless transfer blunders in recent years. There have been many misfired signings, but what about the sales that should never have been?

Everton's biggest transfer blunders

There have been several bitter sales for the Merseysiders in recent years, but the decision to sell homegrown star Ross Barkley to Chelsea for only £15m in 2018.

He’s been through the ebb and flow of a football career but has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, a valued member of Aston Villa’s squad right now after being hailed as “not far off player of the season” by pundit Paul Merson when Luton Town were in the big time.

Ademola Lookman would certainly add to the frontline, with the Atalanta forward understood to boast a £50m price tag as Arsenal weigh up a bid later this year, having been sold as a flop for £22.5m, a decent figure at the time but it hardly scratches the surface now.

More recently, Everton have been searching for a new centre-forward and appeared to shortlist Tom Cannon in January, looking to sign the Championship goalscorer for £10m after cashing in on him in September 2023, sold to Leicester City for about £7m.

Selling a rising talent before their time is a blunder that the Toffees have suffered before – perhaps Moshiri should have learned his lesson after getting rid of a young Antonee Robinson for a paltry fee.

Everton must regret selling Antonee Robinson

This season, Robinson has been one of the standout full-backs in England, perhaps Europe. The Fulham star is firing on all cylinders, blending attack with defence with athleticism.

The 27-year-old has been on fire this term; Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley has even gone as far as to describe him as “one of the best left-backs in the world.”

The USMNT international cut his teeth with Everton, awarded the club’s U18 Players’ Player of the Season in 2015. He never actually made his senior debut for Everton, instead transferring to Wigan Athletic for a nominal £2m figure in 2019 after a loan spell with the Latics.

Now a fully-fledged sensation with Fulham, Jedi has proved that he can throw down with the best of them, certainly head and shoulders above Everton’s current left-back: Vitalii Mykolenko.

Mykolenko hasn’t been disastrous at left-back this season, but he’s not set the division alight. By contrast, Robinson has showcased incredible pace, power, and potency up and down the flank, moving to and fro, to and fro, with such skill and assuredness that it’s perfectly understandable why outfits like Liverpool have been gearing up to make a potential summer bid.

Assists

0.40

0.00

Shot-creating actions

2.56

1.12

Touches

73.20

48.37

Passes attempted

61.44

37.99

Progressive passes

3.72

3.60

Progressive carries

3.52

0.99

Successful take-ons

1.00

0.22

Ball recoveries

4.20

2.56

Tackles + interceptions

4.40

3.06

Clearances

3.20

4.36

Even from a defensive standpoint, Mykolenko’s domain, Robinson is more active and decisive in winning balls and making crunching challenges. The Everton man makes more clearances, but this is indicative of his shoed-in nature.

The fact that Wigan paid just £2m to snap him up speaks volumes, especially with Liverpool’s aforementioned interest leading to a reported valuation of up to £50m, which marks an incredible 2400% rise from his value when last on Merseyside.

With ten assists from 25 Premier League matches in 2024/25, Robinson is proving to be a player of many parts, each slick and stylish and significant. No defender has claimed more assists. He’s also won 62% of his aerial battles and has yet to make a single mistake, as per Sofascore.

Everton must curse the day Marco Silva sold him.

Moyes has hit the jackpot with Everton ace who's giving "Pienaar 2.0 vibes"

David Moyes is righting the wrongs at Everton.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Feb 20, 2025

The visitors have lost their last four ODIs, and may need to tailor their approach to suit a tricky Bloemfontein surface

Firdose Moonda28-Jan-2023

Sisanda Magala impressed with three wickets in the first game•Getty Images

Big picture: Can England bounce back on sticky Bloemfontein surface?
South Africa ticked an important box in their bid to automatically qualify for the 2023 World Cup with victory in the first ODI on Friday night. Even if they go on to lose the series, that one win is enough to keep their hopes of finishing in the World Cup Super League top eight alive. Though they will have to beat Netherlands 2-0 and hope other results go their way, Friday’s win has allowed them to keep their fate in their own hands. Five wins will guarantee them a spot in India, even though they’ve emphasised that results are not the main focus right now.That may seem like a strange thing to say when their next four ODIs have so much riding on them but South Africa are concentrating more on building a white-ball identity after losing it in the last few years. The tenets of the new approach are not yet clear but it seems to be built on the principle of bouncebackability that has become synonymous with the South African DNA. Even when they looked 50 runs short with the bat after England stormed to 146 without loss inside 20 overs in a chase of 299, South Africa’s bowlers won them the game.The result asked familiar questions of South Africa: how wide is the gulf between their batters and bowlers? And are their batters keeping up with modern scoring rates? The answer to the latter might be no, but it was enough to beat the World Cup holders, so there can hardly be much complaining with that.England, too, are still working out their best formula as they look for ways to climb out of their rough patch. They’ve lost their last four ODIs but all of those matches have been squeezed into the calendar at what seems the most inopportune time. The Australia matches came off the back of their T20 World Cup win and these South Africa ones – postponed from 2020 – are in the midst of two franchise tournaments involving England players and with their Test squad en route to New Zealand. In fact, Test captain and recent ODI retiree Ben Stokes cited the schedule as the single biggest issue in England’s ODI set-up but they won’t want to use that as too much of an excuse.