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Manchester City are just over a week away from their opening game of the 2024/25 campaign as they prepare to face off against Manchester United in the Community Shield.

Pep Guardiola may have been disappointed by his side's trophy haul last season as they only came away with one piece of silverware – the Premier League title.

The Spanish boss may want more success in the cup competitions, domestically and in Europe, this time around as the Cityzens go in search of another treble.

There has not been much change to the City squad during the summer transfer window, though, as they have only made one new signing so far.

Brazil international Savinho has signed on a permanent deal to bolster Guardiola's options on the right side of the attack, after spending last season on loan with Girona in LaLiga.

There is still a few weeks left to go before the summer transfer window officially slams shut, however, and this means that there is still time for the Premier League champions to make further alterations to the group, with outs and ins.

Potential attacking transfers for City

TEAMtalk recently reported that Manchester City forward Jack Grealish is a target for his former club Aston Villa ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The outlet claimed that the Villans are keeping a close eye on his situation at The Etihad and are weighing up a move for his services, after they qualified for the Champions League last term.

It stated that Unai Emery's side would like to sign the England international on a season-long loan deal, with an obligation to make it permanent next summer. However, there was no mention of how much they would be willing to pay for him.

Guardiola could sanction an exit for Grealish amid this interest from Villa by swooping to sign another attacking midfielder to take his place in the squad.

The Sun reported last month that the Cityzens are one of the teams eyeing up a potential swoop to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace this summer.

It was claimed that City and fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are both interested in landing the England international and would be willing to pay his £60m release clause if they decide to go ahead and pursue a move before the end of the window.

The Eagles wizard could come in as a fantastic signing for Guardiola who would allow the ex-Barcelona boss to brutally ditch Grealish from the team.

Jack Grealish's struggles with Man City

Man City showed huge faith in the English attacker when they smashed their transfer record to pay a whopping £100m to sign him from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021.

Given the money spent to prise him from Villa Park, the 28-year-old winger has endured an underwhelming time on the pitch with the Cityzens so far.

He has racked up 14 goals and 18 assists in 125 matches for the club in all competitions over the last three seasons combined, and has not hit double figures for goals or assists in any of his Premier League campaigns.

As you can see in the table above, Grealish is coming off the back of a disappointing year in the top-flight with the Cityzens, having been directly involved in just four goals in 20 appearances in the division.

He ranked within the bottom 24% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League for assists per 90 (0.09), which illustrates how poor he has been at creating chances for his teammates to find the back of the net.

For £100m, the England international has not provided consistent quality as a scorer or a creator of goals from a left wing or attacking midfield position, which is why Guardiola should be open to allowing him to re-join Villa this summer.

His exit would leave the team light in the wide areas, particularly on the left flank, though, and that is why the club should swoop to sign Eze.

The Palace star's arrival would then allow City to brutally ditch Grealish without having to worry about being left short for depth ahead of next season.

What Eberechi Eze could bring to City

Whilst the current Cityzens forward has failed to provide enough quality in the final third in recent seasons, Eze has been in impressive form for the Eagles.

He could come in as a big upgrade on Grealish and offer more as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a left wing or attacking midfield role for Guardiola.

In the Premier League last season, Eze contributed with 11 goals, four assists, and seven 'big chances' created in 27 appearances for the London outfit.

The 26-year-old wizard ranked within the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.44) and the top 13% for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.82), which shows that he excels at scoring goals and creating opportunities for his teammates to shoot.

As you can see in the table above, Eze has been directly involved in 29 goals in his last 65 Premier League appearances for Palace over the last two seasons.

He has hit double figures for goals in each of the last two campaigns in the top-flight – a feat Grealish has failed to achieve in any of his seasons with City.

These statistics suggest that the £60m-rated star, who was once described as a "delight to watch" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, could come in and improve Guardiola's squad.

Eze could arrive as an upgrade on Grealish, due to his superior quality in the final third, and add more firepower to the Spanish manager's forward line, which could help them to compete on all fronts.

Another Palmer situation: Pep at risk of losing "electrifying" Man City ace

He could leave on a loan or permanent deal

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By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 28, 2024

Therefore, signing the Palace magician would then allow the Premier League champions to send the former Villans captain back to his former club this summer.

Manchester United women's team have been left disappointed by the surprise departure of supportive sporting director Dan Ashworth.

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• Ashworth leaves after five months
• Women's team disappointed by exit
• Sporting director seen as a supportive presence

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ashworth has been sacked from his role as sporting director after just five months in the role. The decision has left the women's team "deflated" as Ashworth was seen as a "key ally" and a passionate supporter of the women's game, according to The Telegraph. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is certainly not viewed in the same way. The INEOS chief recently gave an interview where he made it clear the men's team was the priority at United, with his comments said to have been "dimly received" by the women's team.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Manchester United's decision to axe Ashworth so soon came as a shock, particularly as the Red Devils had gone to great lengths, and expense, to lure him from Newcastle. Ratcliffe made the decision after their relationship deteriorated in the wake of the decision to sack Erik ten Hag. The INEOS chief has also made previous decisions that have been to the detriment of the women's team. He went to watch the men's team rather than see the women beat Tottenham in the Women's FA Cup final and has also moved the women's team into portable facilities while the training ground undergoes a revamp.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  A United source told The Telegraph: "There is a sense of deflation around Dan’s exit. The women’s team have lost a very passionate supporter.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Ashworth may have only just left Manchester United but he is already being linked with a move to Arsenal to take over from Edu. Meanwhile, his early exit from United has seen questions raised about how the club is being run, particularly as it comes in the wake of Ten Hag's departure – just months after the club triggered an extension to his contract.

Aston Villa have been busy this summer, strengthening across the park after defying the odds to qualify for the Champions League with a top-four Premier League finish last season.

Business is still expected throughout the final fortnight of the window, and while Joao Felix is coveted as the "game-changer" signing for Unai Emery's troops – as per The Telegraph – Chelsea are looking to sign the Atletico Madrid forward.

As such, alternatives must be targeted…

Aston Villa transfer news

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo – via Sport Witness – Aston Villa are interested in signing Pedro Goncalves from Sporting Lisbon, with Emery insisting upon completing the deal before the window shuts.

Ruben Amorim is desperate to keep the creative midfielder on the books, however, and is urging the Liga Portugal champions to reject any offers beneath his €80m (£68m) release clause.

How Goncalves compares to Joao Felix

Villa have done their homework on Felix, who has failed to prove himself a high-scoring player across his years of action after signing for Atletico Madrid from SL Benfica for £113m in 2019.

The Portugal international scored ten goals and added six assists across all competitions last season, on loan at Barcelona, and while he impressed – Xavi called him the "difference-maker" at one point – the 24-year-old has not joined Camp Nou on a permanent given Barca's worrisome financial situation.

He'd be a fantastic addition to the Villans unit but it does look like Chelsea will complete the signing; the player's cohort are confident and eager.

No matter, Goncalves could actually prove to be a better signing anyway. His positional flexibility could see him operate across a number of roles this term, while his playmaking quality has even led him to be hailed as "the new Bruno Fernandes" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

He is indeed performing as Fernandes' successor at Sporting, and doing so with aplomb. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across divisions similar to the Portuguese top flight over the past year for goals scored and the top 2% for assists per 90.

It makes a telling comment on his prolificness, something that could translate clearly to life in the Premier League, bolstered by a healthy mix of talent across every area of the Villa Park pitch.

Last season, as per Sofascore, the Portugal international, aged 26, posted 11 goals and 12 assists across 32 league appearances, creating 18 big chances and averaging two key passes and 1.5 tackles per game.

Not just a playmaker, Goncalves is also capable of chipping in readily with defensive work, with this complete skillset even leading journalist Jack Collins to laud him as a "superstar".

Felix is an eminently talented player, a capable forward with a dynamic outlook, but he ebbs and flows and might not bring the same kind of attacking success. Indeed, he's yet to bag more than eight goals in a single league campaign (in one of Europe's top five leagues).

Aston Villa have been busy this summer, yes, but the Champions League have opened up a world of opportunity and now is the time to complete a heady summer of spending with one last lucrative flourish.

Aston Villa could land a bigger coup than Onana in £34m "beast"

Unai Emery has the chance to sign a highly-rated Spanish talent…

By
Ross Kilvington

Aug 15, 2024

Lionel Messi's side have sent their backup striker to New England for general allocation money

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• Leo Campana traded to New England
• Miami to acquire GAM, international roster spot
• Increases offseason flexibility for Lionel Messi and co.

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Inter Miami have traded backup striker Leo Campana to the New England Revolution, the clubs announced Thursday, acquiring an MLS domestic trade fee record of $2.5 million in General Allocation Money.

  The fee will be split between 2025 and 2026, with the club receiving $2 million in 2025 and $500,000 in 2026. Miami also acquires a 2025 international roster slot and a 2026 international roster slot. Inter Miami will retain a sell-on percentage of any future sale of the forward and could receive up to $750,000 in GAM should Campana meet certain performance-based incentives.

  The move is set to increase roster flexibility as it looks to retool following a first round MLS Cup Playoff exit last season.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Ecuadorian striker has been at Miami since the start of the 2023 season. In three full campaigns, he scored 31 goals in 100 appearances in all competitions. He should be in the mix for a starting spot for the Revolution, who scored the fewest goals in MLS last season.

• WHAT CURT ONALFO SAID

  New England Revolution Sporting Director Curt Onalfo spoke about the signing in a statement: “Leo Campana is a proven goal scorer whose arrival strengthens a crucial position of need for our team as we work to improve our offensive production this season. Leo is a forward we have had our eyes on for quite some time, so we are thrilled to have him in our club. We are pleased to have another important piece of the puzzle in place before preseason begins.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MIAMI?

  The South Florida club now have increased financial flexibility to restructure their roster ahead of the 2025 season. Co-Owner Jorge Mas promised last month that the Herons would be aggressive in the market in order to make an MLS Cup run next season.

Leeds United have pulled out of the race to sign a "top Bundesliga player" in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh claim.

Leeds eyeing late-summer business

This summer has been an up-and-down one at Elland Road, with Daniel Farke hit by the exits of some of his most important players. Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter have all left the club, joining West Ham, Tottenham and Brighton respectively, and Wilfried Gnonto could also reportedly be on his way out of the exit door, as he pushes for a move away.

Leeds have also done some important incoming business, however, bringing in Largie Ramazani, Joe Rodon and Jayden Bogle, among other new faces, but there is still time for Farke to add the extra quality to his squad that could make all the difference in their Championship promotion push.

Spurs attacking midfielder Manor Solomon may also be a target for the Whites between now and the end of the month, allowing him to dovetail with fellow winger Ramazani. The former was limited to just five appearances in the Premier League last season, only two of which were starts, suggesting that a move away from north London could be best for his development.

Glen Kamara's summer exit to Rennes has left a lack of depth in Leeds' midfield, highlighting the need for reinforcements, and Lausanne-Sport's Alvyn Sanches has emerged as a possible option to come in and make up for the loss of the Finland international.

Leeds out of race to sign "top" midfielder

According to a report from Bild [via Sport Witness], Leeds owners 49ers Enterprises were weighing up making an improved offer for FC Koln midfielder Dejan Ljubicic this summer, having already seen one £3.3m bid rejected.

The update claimed that the 26-year-old wanted to move to Elland Road before the end of the current window, with the Whites very much "on his mind".

However, since then, a new report from the same outlet, relayed by SW again, revealed that Leeds have now pulled out of the race to sign Ljubicic. Koln wanted £6.7m to do a deal, while it is added that Leeds also found it complicated to deal with Ljubicic and his reps in recent days and that a dream move to Yorkshire is now off.

The Austrian has won nine caps for his country, while former Koln manager Timo Schultz has said of him in the past: "He is a player who has a big heart. He is an extremely important player. If he can maintain his performance, he is a top Bundesliga player who will be very important for us."

Ljubicic is now playing in the Bundesliga.2, following Koln's relegation last season, so there is no longer the lure of being in Germany's top flight.

On the list: Leeds keen on Gnonto rival who can “decide a game on his own”

Leeds United won’t be slowing down on the transfer front.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 23, 2024

A box-to-box midfielder who can shine both in and out of possession, the Austria ace scored five goals in the Bundesliga in 2022/23, while last season, he averaged 1.7 tackles per game in the competition, showing what an asset he could have been for the Whites.

Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed how highly manager Mikel Arteta and the squad actually rate a £21 million Arsenal player, and that is quite a lot, with their head coach thinking he'll be "really important" this season.

Arsenal prepare for all-important Tottenham and Man City clashes

Amidst the international break, Arteta and his coaching staff are busy preparing for two of Arsenal's arguable most important Premier League clashes of the season.

Why Arteta personally pulled plug on Arsenal signing £330k-per-week striker

The Spaniard intervened on his side doing a summer deal.

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 3, 2024

Fierce north London rivals Tottenham await Arteta's side right after the internationals, and Ange Postecoglou will be very keen to put another dent in Arsenal's title hopes early doors, following Arsenal's disappointing 1-1 draw against Brighton at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.

Arsenal will be without star midfielder Declan Rice through suspension, following the England star's sending off against the Seagulls, with summer signing Mikel Merino also out until late October at the earliest after a sustaining a shoulder fracture in his first ever training session at London Colney.

Arteta reportedly believes Merino can help Arsenal dominate sides, so the 28-year-old Spain international could be a sore miss for him over these next two months. After their trip to Spurs, Arsenal have an all-important Premier League clash against title rivals Man City at the Etihad Stadium, which could already prove crucial to the Gunners' hopes of winning a first league crown in 21 years.

Arsenal will have another weapon in their armory against Spurs and City, though, with deadline day summer signing Raheem Sterling preparing to make his debut for the club after sealing a season-loan move across London at the eleventh hour last Friday.

Arteta, speaking after his side's 1-1 draw to Brighton, has confirmed that they are using the international break to get Sterling prepared in time for Arsenal's blockbuster next two games.

"We'll have to see and speak to him on what he’s been doing and how he’s feeling about it," said Arteta on Sterling's potentially imminent Arsenal debut.

"We have to try to find quick wins to get him up to speed as quick as possible and him understanding what we are looking for from him and the dynamics of the team. We will use this time to do that and as soon as possible, get him involved."

Leandro Trossard set for "really important" Arsenal role

Despite Sterling's arrival, the club's feelings around star winger Leandro Trossard remain the same.

Romano, speaking to CaughtOffside, explained exactly why Arsenal rejected a late Saudi window bid from Al-Ittihad for Trossard – stating that Arteta believes the 29-year-old is a "really important" player.

“The offer was worth €35m, and Arsenal had two hours to discuss this internally," said Romano.

"They knew in recent days that the bid was coming for Trossard, but their decision is very clear: they have no intention to sell Trossard, he’s not for sale as he’s a really important player for Mikel Arteta, and he’s also a super professional who’s really appreciated and popular in the dressing room.

“So, Arsenal decided against selling Trossard – the decision has been made, Trossard stays at Arsenal, and there’s no chance of the move to Al Ittihad."

The Belgian ace has starred under Arteta since joining from Brighton in a £21 million move last year, with this fee proving to be one of the best Premier League bargains in the last two years.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s links to Paris Saint-Germain have been shut down, with surprising January transfer rumours brought to a close.

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• Contract running down in Middle East
• Return to Europe speculated on
• Shock switch to French capital ruled out

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The five-time Ballon d’Or winner recently claimed that the Saudi Pro League, where he is currently turning out for Al-Nassr, is a stronger division that Ligue 1. Said comments raised plenty of eyebrows in France, but speculation quickly surfaced regarding a potential move to Paris for Portuguese GOAT Ronaldo.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  His eternal rival, Lionel Messi, spent two seasons with PSG after severing ties with Barcelona in 2021. It has been claimed that Ronaldo could tread a similar path as he returns to Europe after two goal-laden years in the Middle East.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has, however, rubbished the shock gossip, saying in a social media post: “Paris Saint-Germain are not in talks to sign Cristiano Ronaldo despite reports. Discussions not even taking place now.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Ronaldo could still be on the move early in 2025 as his record-breaking contract in Riyadh is running down towards free agency. The evergreen 39-year-old is said to be open to the idea of taking on a new challenge, although Al-Nassr remain eager to put fresh terms in place.

Back at the end of last season, Erik ten Hag held the FA Cup trophy aloft, he smiled and batted away any concerns that he wouldn't be Manchester United's manager when the new campaign kicked off.

Despite a wave of criticism and a barrage of torment from pundits, he defied his critics. Well, sort of.

Ten Hag kept his position but nothing has been different about the Red Devils during their opening three matches of the season to date.

They defeated Fulham but it took a last-gasp goal from debutant Joshua Zirkzee to do so. They then suffered a late defeat to Brighton and were swept aside, of course they were, by rivals Liverpool.

They face newly-promoted Southampton on Saturday lunchtime and it's a game where they should take all three points.

Latest Man United injury news

Heading into the game with the Saints, United will still be without the services of Mason Mount and long-term absentee Leny Yoro. It's also likely that Rasmus Hojlund will continue to sit out with the club cautiously managing his return to action.

The biggest blow to Ten Hag's preparation concerns Bruno Fernandes. This has been a dreaded international break and it's lived up to its name with Nathan Ake and Martin Odegaard receiving nasty-looking injuries while playing for their countries.

Well, Fernandes may have suffered the same feat. Playing for Portugal against Scotland, the attacking midfielder lasted the full 90 minutes and scored but was seen limping after a blow to his ankle.

Talking to the media after the game, he was quick to calm any fears over his fitness, saying: "It's just a little bump."

At the moment, his chances of making the game are said to be around 75% with assessments taking place.

It looks as though he'll be fit to play in some capacity but whether he starts remains to be seen.

How Bruno Fernandes could be replaced

If the United skipper is forced to sit out of Saturday's encounter it will be a huge blow to an already down-trodden side.

He is the heartbeat of the team and even if he hasn't scored yet this term, he has proven to be their main man over a number of years now.

Fernandes found the net on 15 occasions last season and also registered 13 assists. To put those numbers into context, only Hojlund scored more (16), while no other player at Old Trafford assisted more goals. So, he's pretty damn important then.

How can United replace him? With great difficulty. Mount is out so that rules out one option which could mean that Christian Eriksen is given his first start of the season in a no.10 role, the position he thrived in at Spurs.

During his career in Manchester, the Dane has usually been restricted by playing in a deeper role but 55 of his 118 career goals have come as an attacking midfielder.

What his inclusion means, however, is that there's a strong likelihood that Casemiro is forced to start in the centre of the park.

Toby Collyer did replace the struggling Brazilian at half-time against Liverpool but with Fernandes out, it would be a gamble to remove so much experience from the side.

That said, anyone is better than Casemiro, right?

The veteran has been a dwindling force over the last year – that's putting it politely too – with the nadir of his time arguably that showing against Liverpool nearly a fortnight ago.

He made two costly errors that subsequently led to the two Luis Diaz goals in the first half of the game and was handed a rather harsh 1/10 match rating by MEN's Samuel Luckhurst.

So, Collyer could replace him or Manuel Ugarte could also be handed a debut but considering he's not played a single minute of club football in 2024/25, that's also unlikely.

If Fernandes does miss out then all rounds point towards another possible inclusion for Casemiro. Hold onto your hats, United fans.

Man Utd must regret selling £9m star who's now miles better than Casemiro

The star has been a real hit after departing Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 9, 2024

Eintracht Frankfurt have slapped a huge price tag on Manchester City target and in-demand striker Omar Marmoush.

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• Marmoush an in-demand striker
• Man City linked with forward
• Eintracht Frankfurt name their price

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Sky Germany reporter Patrick Berger, the 25-year-old wants to move to City and there is a 'complete' verbal agreement between him and the Premier League side. The report adds, however, that the Bundesliga team want €80 million (£67m/$82m) for his services in January.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City are having their worst season in many years and even with the prolific Erling Haaland up front, Pep Guardiola's team looks a shell of their former selves. Allowing Julian Alvarez to join Atletico Madrid may have been a mistake but reported Arsenal and Liverpool target Marmoush could be a good replacement. The report adds City are planning to lodge a bid this weekend but Eintracht would demand a lot less this summer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Egypt international, whose contract at Eintracht runs until 2027, has scored 18 goals and bagged 12 assists in 24 games in all competitions this season.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  All eyes will be on whether or not City make an offer for Marmoush and if Eintracht will be willing to negotiate to get a deal done. A transfer, however, may be more likely in the summer.

The Red Devils have many reasons to be cheerful after their latest scalp, but the north Londoners are edging towards another trophy-less season

The most enticing tie of the FA Cup third round was billed as a tale of two coaches, with Ruben Amorim following a similar path to Mikel Arteta in his daunting task of trying to replicate the Spaniard's success in rebuilding Arsenal by making Manchester United into the force they once were. And after an enthralling 120 minutes and a penalty shootout, it was the United boss who came out on top.

Not only are the Red Devils into the next round of the FA Cup they won last year, they have shown in the last week that, despite their many problems, they can mix it with the very best sides. They pulled off an impressive 2-2 draw at runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool seven days ago and really should have nicked all three points. And now, they have gone to the second-best team in the country over the last two seasons and knocked them out of the cup despite playing more than an hour with 10 men.

Diogo Dalot must be hugely grateful to Altay Bayindir for bailing him out for his reckless tackles by making a brilliant penalty save from Martin Odegaard and ensuring the game ended 1-1 after extra-time. The goalkeeper then helped United win the shootout 5-3 by keeping out Kai Havertz's kick to cap the best performance of his overall disappointing United career, while Joshua Zirkzee also made amends for his recent abject displays in a red shirt by scoring the decisive penalty.

Havertz's woeful finishing underlined Arsenal's need to sign a striker by the end of the month, while Alejandro Garnacho made a convincing argument against United selling him in the transfer window. But the man who was left with the biggest questions to answer was Arteta as he stared at a third consecutive disappointing result after drawing with Brighton in the Premier League and losing to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, edging his side ever closer towards a fifth-consecutive season without winning a trophy.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Emirates Stadium…

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  WINNER: Altay Bayindir

  This was the day Bayindir's decision to join Manchester United was finally vindicated. Before Sunday, he had had a miserable time since switching from Fenerbahce, playing just one game last season – at Newport County – and that was only because Andre Onana was on international duty with Cameroon. He is still yet to play a Premier League game in 18 months at the club and might have thought his season had ended with his embarrassing display at Tottenham as United exited the Carabao Cup in December.

  Amorim, however, gave Bayindir a second chance by making him first choice in the FA Cup, and he was vindicated. It should be said that Bayindir got off to a rocky start in his second trip to north London of the season, misplacing three kicks in the first half and then failing to properly clear Gabriel Martinelli's cross in the build-up to Gabriel Magalhaes' equaliser. But he came into his own when United conceded the penalty, as while Odegaard's spot-kick was by no means a bad one and looked to be heading towards the bottom corner, Bayindir put his huge 1.98m-frame (8cm more than Onana) to good use, flying across the goal to turn the shot away.

  The save gave rocket boosters to his confidence and he made two excellent saves from Declan Rice before again working his magic from penalties in the shootout, covering the goal superbly to frustrate Havertz. The goalkeeper also gave an exemplary post-match interview which will have only endeared him more to United fans, saying, "Even if you are not playing you have to be ready at every second if you are a Manchester United player." He sure was

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  LOSER: Mikel Arteta

  It feels like Arsenal's promising season has unravelled in the space of eight days. The Gunners began 2025 by beating Brentford and recording a ninth win in 11 matches, but since then they have suffered three awful results, each with huge ramifications for their trophy prospects.

  First they surrendered the advantage to draw 1-1 at Brighton in the Premier League, a result which must have felt extra frustrating a day later when Liverpool failed to beat United, meaning the Gunners remained six points behind Arne Slot's side having played one game more. Arsenal, however, only had faint hopes of winning the Premier League title before the disappointing result at the Amex Stadium due to Liverpool's relentless run of results, so their best hopes of winning a trophy for the first time since 2020 lay in the domestic cups. Now, though, all hope is practically gone.

  They face a mountain of a task in overturning the 2-0 deficit to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and now they are out of the FA Cup in the third round for the third year out of five, while they have not gone beyond the fourth round since their 2020 triumph.

  Arteta still has huge respect among Arsenal fans for the way he has transformed the club over the course of his five-year tenure, but the lack of trophies is beginning to become a problem for him, and that has only got bigger in the last week. Arsenal's best chance of silverware now looks to be in the Champions League, which they have never won and not gone beyond the quarter-finals in since 2009.

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  WINNER: Ruben Amorim

  Many were expecting Amorim to make more unwanted history for consecutive United losses as they saw trips to Liverpool and Arsenal on the fixture list after a run of four defeats in a row. Instead, the Portuguese has proven his technical nous by demonstrating a knack for getting results at the toughest places.

  Just like at Anfield, Amorim was pragmatic with his approach, and although he did not stray from his beloved 3-4-3 formation, he showed tactical flexibility in a different way, setting his team up to frustrate their opponents. United gave Arsenal very few opportunities to score while both sides had 11 men on the pitch, while they posed them questions on the counter-attack and grew into the game. It was no great surprise when Bruno Fernandes gave them the lead.

  What was surprising was that United did not cave in at the first sign of a setback, and Amorim's players ran their hearts out for another hour despite being a man down following Dalot's red card against one of the toughest and fittest teams in Europe.

  Amorim also showed his human touch by giving Bayindir an opportunity and by not only throwing on Zirkzee, but trusting him to take the crucial fifth penalty in the shootout.

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  LOSER: Arsenal's strikers

  Long before the January transfer window opened, there was a clamour for Arsenal to sign a striker, and Sunday's events made that case even stronger – albeit for different reasons.

  First, Gabriel Jesus succumbed to a worrying injury which looks as though it could end his season. The Brazilian first went down clutching his knee after being hit in the face by Lisandro Martinez, but he remained on the pitch for another 10 minutes, only to go down in pain for a second time after challenging Fernandes for the ball.

  Arteta said of Jesus: "Big worry. That’s my feeling. To come off with a stretcher in a lot of pain, touching his knee. It’s not looking good. It's the other one [after the 2022 World Cup]. It’s the feeling he had, he had to come off."

  Another injury was the last thing the coach needed after losing Bukayo Saka for several months to a torn hamstring and Ethan Nwaneri for several weeks due to a muscular problem. Arsenal are also missing Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu due to knee injuries, and there was fresh concern for Riccardo Calafiori when he was left out of Sunday's squad due to a muscle problem.

  And even if Jesus' injury was not enough reason for Arsenal fans to demand a new striker, then the performance of Havertz certainly was. The German missed two complete sitters in the second half, first missing the target from less than 10 yards out and then spooning over from inside the six-yard box. That makes it three glaring misses for Havertz in a week after also spurning a free header against Newcastle. To make matters worse for the £60m ($73m)-man, he was the only Arsenal player to fail to score from the spot in the shootout on an afternoon to forget.