Tag Futebol

Arsenal fans want Gabriel Martinelli to start in the Premier League.

The Gunners faced Vitoria in the Europa League on Thursday and the Brazilian youngster netted in the 32nd minute, cancelling out Marcus Edwards’ opener.

Unai Emery’s men went on to win 3-2, with Nicolas Pepe scoring two late free-kicks, and supporters have called on the manager to give Martinelli a chance in the league.

The 18-year-old has made a total of three appearances in the top-flight but those appearances come to a mere 45 minutes of action, against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Sheffield United.

He has played 90 minutes against both Standard Liege and Vitoria, netting three goals, while he also scored twice in the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.

Arsenal face Crystal Palace this weekend before taking on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup – whether Emery will listen to the fans’ wishes grant him a first start in the top flight, however, remains to be seen.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Has he done enough to get a chance?

Well if you look at his past, it shouldn’t really be up for debate.

Lys Mousset has found minutes hard to come by so far this season, restricted to just one start in the Premier League, although he made very good use of that by scoring the winner against Arsenal last week.

He then made it two goals in two games after he came off the bench to score the equaliser away to West Ham United.

So now that he seems to be finding his form at Bramall Lane, it’s time that the question is asked of whether he should now be trusted to start games on a more regular basis?

Watch Sheffield United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

On the chalkboard

He does have plenty of competition for a starting spot, with the likes of David McGoldrick, Oliver McBurnie, Billy Sharp and to an extent Callum Robinson all fighting it out to get a chance in the starting eleven.

The good thing about Sheffield United’s system of 3-5-2/5-3-2 is that with two men up top, it would make his case to be a regular a little bit easier because he isn’t just fighting it out for one spot as he would do in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 that most modern sides play with.

Whilst his record in the Premier League might not look all that promising, with just 6 goals in 65 games, the fact is that the majority of those appearances came as a substitute, so he hasn’t really been given the opportunity to shine.

If you go back to the last time he was a regular starter with Le Havre back in 2015/16, he managed to score 14 goals in 23 appearances and chipped in with three assists as well.

So if he can get a regular run of games under his belt once he is used to a system, which it looks like he has under Chris Wilder, he can certainly prove a threat in this division. He just now has to be given the advantage over the plethora of options they already possess.

But he can’t do that if he is sitting on the bench, he needs to be given the chance to prove himself. If it turns out that he’s not up to it, then the Blades can use one of the many other forwards at their disposal and keep him as a ‘super-sub’. It won’t hurt to try.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Barcelona have a major conundrum on their hands.

Their squad is full of midfielders and the abundance of them is halting the progression of some of their most talented youngsters.

The case of Carles Alena is the most glaring one when it comes to first-team players as the young La Masia gem has been frozen out of the team since matchday one of the ongoing 2019/20 La Liga season.

Watch Spanish Football Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

But worryingly enough, the Blaugrana actually have a problem even bigger than that one that will require their attention sooner rather than later.

We’ve already discussed how Riqui Puig, their 20-year-old midfielder prodigy, simply has to be given a chance by Ernesto Valverde but the situation is becoming much worse with each passing day.

Just recently, Puig suffered a horror tackle while playing for Barcelona B and while he escaped without any serious consequences, it should make one thing abundantly clear for the Blaugrana – he has outgrown the Segunda B Division and needs to move up as soon as possible.

These tackles have now become a regularity because the opposition simply don’t have any other tools to stop the youngster from wreaking havoc through their teams.

According to Sport, Barcelona currently have an internal debate about how to exactly approach this situation and it seems they have taken notice of the harsh treatment their young star has been getting with Barca B.

Watch Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale answer the internet’s weirdest questions in the video below…

The three options they have for him on the table are staying with Barcelona B until he’s ready to step up, go out on loan or get promoted to the first-team instead.

Recently, many of the fans have even requested that he is promoted as they believe he already has the quality to play with the seniors.

But at this point, if promotion doesn’t guarantee him game time, a possible loan deal should definitely be considered by the youngster.

Even that is better than staying put, risking injuries, not improving and playing against opponents that are not really on his level.

The clock is certainly ticking for Blaugrana and they will have to make their decision before it’s too late.

Either make some space for him within Valverde’s squad or send him somewhere that gives him the chance to play at the highest level and keep developing in a much safer environment.

One thing is for sure – something has to give and something absolutely has to change.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

For Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds, the problems are beginning to mount.

It may not define their season as Liam Cooper alluded to after the game but a first away defeat of the campaign and the same old issues lingering around suggests the pressure is slightly on.

Leeds were again dominant – something that seems to be a key theme of their current term. Against Derby and Swansea they had over 60% of the possession but against Charlton it was over 70%.

19 shots were taken and none of them went in, not even Helder Costa could produce when it mattered.

Leeds fans have been calling for his inclusion in recent weeks and after their timid display against the Rams, it had never been so evident that they needed some extra quality after hitting the post and missing a penalty.

After all, this is a player who was involved in 29 goals for Wolves in the Championship over two seasons.

An injury to Pablo Hernandez meant he was finally given a chance to start in the league but after all of the hype surrounding him, he failed to live up to expectation.

Costa has been a revelation at times for the Whites in 2019/20, establishing a relationship with Eddie Nketiah that’s seen them combine for two goals – that’s half of the total contributions the Portuguese has been involved in.

Yet, versus Charlton, that creativity and goal threat wasn’t there.

He lost the ball as many as 17 times as he failed to deliver the goods in what was an unacceptable display for what has been expected of him.

The 25-year-old didn’t have a single shot on target while he failed to produce an accurate cross despite playing all 90 minutes, via SofaScore.

Perhaps this was evidence of why he hadn’t yet started in the league and after this performance, he’ll have to work harder to ensure he stays in the team.

In the League Cup this season he’s averaged three successful dribbles but on this occasion, he only managed one as the Wolves loanee was anonymous for large spells at the Valley.

Leeds have had issues when it comes to creativity, particularly from Jack Harrison who has managed just three accurate crosses from 37 this season.

Costa, however, doesn’t look like solving that for the time being.

تحدث لاعب وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، ميراليم بيانيتش، عن علاقته مع قائد البلاوجرانا، ليونيل ميسي، وأكثر ما فاجأه منذ انتقاله إلى “كامب نو”.

وانتقل بيانيتش في الميركاتو الصيفي الماضي من يوفنتوس مقابل ٦١ مليون يورو، ولكنه لا يشارك بصفة مستمرة مع المدرب رونالد كومان.

اقرأ أيضًا | بيانيتش: لن أرحل عن برشلونة.. وكومان لا يتحدث معنا كثيرا!

وقال البوسني الدولي عن علاقته مع ميسي في حواره مع صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الكتالونية، وقال: “رائعة، يتحدث ليو معي كثيرا وكان له الفضل في تأقلمي على الأجواء فى النادي والمدينة”.

وتابع: “ساندني وشجعني منذ اللحظة الأولى، لاعب مذهل ولن نرى مثله أبدا، لا أعرف ماذا سيفعل فى مستقبله ولكني أود أن أكون بجانبه لسنوات عديدة”.

وبسؤاله عن من اللاعب الذي فأجأه مع برشلونة هذا الموسم؟!”، أجاب: “بيدري، لاعب ذكي جدا وأمامه مستقبل مبهر”.

وتابع: “كذلك ديمبلي، ولكن إذا تحدثنا عن جميع اللاعبين سنجد أداءهم جيدا جدا”.

وأضاف: “أتمنى أن تعود الملاعب ممتلئة بالجماهير، وأكون قادرًا على اللعب أمامهم في كامب نو، لقد عشت ذلك الشعور باللعب ضد برشلونة وأريد أن أجربه ولكن بارتداء قميص هذا النادي”.

وعن أمنيته التي سيطلبها من كومان إذا سنحت له الفرصة؟، قال: “الاستمرارية في المشاركة، من أجل إظهار قدراتي على مدار مباراتين أو ثلاث وهذا ما يحتاجه أي لاعب ولكني لن أتوقف عن التدريب الجاد من أجل الحفاظ على المستوى الفني والبدني”.

وعلق بيانيتش على سبب ابتعاده عن التسديد من خارج منطقة الجزاء في برشلونة: “نعم، هذا صحيح ربما يجب أن أقوم بذلك في المباريات يجب أن أسدد أكثر على المرمى”.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Tottenham Hotspur have entered into talks over a January deal for Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, per Football Insider.

What’s the word?

Spurs made a move to sign Dybala in the summer, sources confirmed to Football FanCast, with there actually being a confidence a deal could be struck on deadline day.

Image rights complications saw the deal collapse, however, per sources, and Football Insider now reports that Spurs remain in contact with Juve.

Of course, the Italian giants have a longer transfer window in which to operate and could yet sell him before the end of the month, with the report stating that PSG are interested in securing his signature too.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Sensible behaviour

This makes complete sense.

The report claims that Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, has been in talks with Juve.

Indeed, this is not as though he has had to completely restart negotiations.

The next week will clearly be crucial – PSG could well kill this plan stone dead – but Spurs’ proactivity should impress fans, particularly following their poor result against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Perhaps the 23-cap Argentine could well be in the XI for the return fixture next year, and perhaps he could stop them losing 1-0 all over again.

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[ad_pod ]Wayne Rooney, Manchester City’s bane.The former Manchester United forward absolutely loved a goal against City. Even as you read this, City fans, you’re probably reminiscing about a particular time he slotted one past you at the Etihad or Old Trafford. A certain overhead kick springs mind, for example.Cast your minds back to Monday 21 August 2017 when Rooney travelled to the Etihad, this time in the royal blue of Everton. It took just 35 minutes before he netted his 200th Premier League goal after some sloppy play from Leroy Sane gifted him the opportunity on a silver platter.Rooney’s Premier League goalscoring days may be over now, unless something truly remarkable, and nigh on impossible, happens at Derby County (where he is due to arrive in January), but his top memories will last forever.Especially those conveniently documented on his camera roll, as he’s recently proven in a hilarious throwback photo…

Bowling, Wayne. Bowling indeed.

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يشعر كارلو أنشيلوتي، مدرب إيفرتون، بأنه قد يكون الآن الوقت المناسب لمواجهة ليفربول على ملعب آنفيلد.

آخر مرة ذاق فيها التوفيز طعم الانتصار على الريدز كان في 2010 ولم يفز خارج أرضه منذ سبتمبر 1999.

لكن أنفيلد لم يعد الحصن الذي كان عليه في السابق، حيث تعرض ليفربول لهزيمة من بيرنلي ثم برايتون في الدوري الإنجليزي هذا العام.

ويحل إيفرتون ضيفًا على ليفربول غدًا السبت، في إطار منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وتحدث أنشيلوتي خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة ونشرت صحيفة “إنديبندنت” البريطانية تصريحاته.

وقال الإيطالي: “في كل ديربي تلعبه مع إيفرتون ضد ليفربول، تريد الفوز بالطبع، لقد مضى وقت طويل على فوز إيفرتون في ديربي ويمكن أن يكون الوقت المناسب غدًا (للفوز)”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوارديولا يرد على أنشيلوتي بشأن لقب البريميرليج: أقدره لكن لا أتفق معه!

وأضاف: “قد يكون هذا هو الوقت المناسب، لكن ذلك يعتمد على ما يمكننا القيام به على أرض الملعب غدًا، لا أعتقد أننا نشعر بالضغط (لعدم الفوز على ليفربول لفترة طويلة)”.

وأردف: “أعتقد أننا أفضل الآن مقارنة بالماضي، لذلك أعتقد أنه يمكننا الحصول على المزيد من الفرص للحصول على نتيجة، الدافع كبير حقًا، نريد منافسة جيراننا، وهي مباراة ديربي وخاصة”.

وتعليقًا على سجل ليفربول على أرضه هذا الموسم، استطرد: “بالتأكيد فقدوا دعم جماهيرهم، كان ملعب أنفيلد أحد أصعب الملاعب الذي يمكن اللعب عليها”.

واختتم: “حقيقة عدم وجود المشجعين يمكن أن تكون ميزة للفرق الضيفة، لكن ما حدث لنا وللفرق الأخرى في هذا الموسم بالذات هو نفسه، حيث لا يمكنك الحصول على دعم جماهيرك”.

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Some Everton fans on Twitter took the opportunity to rip into some Toffees past and present following the confirmation of Henry Onyekuru’s move to Monaco on Monday.

The Nigeria international departed Goodison Park having failed to make a single appearance for the club following a move from KAS Eupen in the summer of 2017, with the Merseyside outfit unable to get a work permit for him since.

The winger spent subsequent time on loan with Anderlecht and Galatasaray, but despite signing a five-year contract just two years ago he is already on his way.

Watch Everton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Many Everton supporters on Twitter took his departure as a chance to roast some of the club’s former employers, including Steve Walsh who was director of football and responsible for signings at the time of Onyekuru’s arrival.

Meanwhile, others said that he still made more of an impact than former Toffee Sandro Ramirez despite never wearing the blue shirt, while current players Oumar Niasse and Theo Walcott didn’t escape the criticism either.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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According to The Sun, Manchester United are in a three-way battle with Liverpool and Arsenal for Borussia Dortmund attacker Jacob Bruun Larsen.

What’s the word, then?

Well, according to The Sun, Larsen is in the middle of battle between Premier League rivals Liverpool, United and Arsenal.

The winger has been with Dortmund since 2015 and enjoyed a breakthrough 2018-19 campaign at the club – scoring three times and providing three assists in 30 appearances in all competitions.

Larsen had incredible numbers for BVB’s Under-19 side – netting 31 goals and providing 26 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions.

United have already signed a left-sided winger this summer with Daniel James making the move from Swansea City.

However, The Sun have claimed that the Red Devils are firmly in the hunt for Larsen, who earned his first senior cap for Denmark in March.

Does Larsen fit into United’s summer plans?

Larsen certainly fits the brief – a young, hungry and talented player who would be given the freedom to develop at Old Trafford.

Indeed, ESPN FC reported back in March that the Red Devils would concentrate on emerging youngsters rather than splashing the cash on big names.

The fact that the 20-year-old appeared in 24 of Dortmund’s 38 Bundesliga matches last season is an indication of just how highly he is rated. Meanwhile, a pass success rate of 78% in the Bundesliga and 89% in the Champions League – per WhoScored – is very high for a young winger.

If United were to lose both Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba this summer than there might well be a panic when it comes to finding replacements.

Could United be in the hunt for an £85m blockbuster signing this summer? Check out the video below…

Larsen would not be able to arrive in England and help United immediately return to the top of the Premier League, but his talent was on display last season.

And the Dane, who appeared five times in the Champions League last season, is exactly the type of player the Red Devils should be targeting as they plan for a brighter future.