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BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has ripped into Arsenal in his latest set of Premier League predictions, and while he has tipped the Gunners to see off Newcastle United at the Emirates on Monday night he has been far less impressed with their form on the road.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the former Liverpool player believes that Unai Emery’s men will take all three points against the visiting Magpies, but he took the opportunity to also speak about the north London outfit’s sketchy away performances and results.

While only Manchester City and Liverpool – the latter only by goal difference – have better records on their travels in the top flight this term, Arsenal find themselves as the 10th-best team when they aren’t on their own patch.

Their displays away clearly haven’t gone unnoticed by Lawrenson, who told the BBC: “It is a worry the Gunners are so different on their travels, though. What that basically says is that everything is good at home when they have loads of the ball and that is the strength of the team when they are going forward – like they should be on Monday.

“But, when they are away, and under the cosh more, they can’t seem to cope with that. They don’t seem to be able to pick up points on a regular basis, and their results in Europe have been disappointing too.

“Unai Emery has made plenty of changes after replacing Arsene Wenger as manager but in that regard, it is still ‘same old, same old Arsenal’.”

Have Premier League grounds become “lifeless tourist attractions”? Decide for yourself by watching the video below…

Emery won’t want to see this

The Spaniard has clearly made plenty of changes since replacing the experienced Frenchman at the helm last summer, but one thing that hasn’t drastically improved is club’s away form.

The 47-year-old will be well aware of that and will know that a big improvement is needed next term, but he still won’t be happy to see his reign compared to Wenger’s in a negative sense nearly a year after the managerial change was made.

Whatever the case, Arsenal need to find a winning formula on the road if they want success in the Premier League and in Europe in the future.

أوضح رونالد كومان، المدير الفني لفريق برشلونة الإسباني، موقف حارس المرمى، مارك تير شتيجن من اللحاق بمباراة الكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد، المقرر لها 24 أكتوبر الجاري، في ظل تعافيه من إصابته.

كما تحدث كومان عن إمكانية منح بعض الراحة لنجمه ليونيل ميسي، مع الجدول الزمني المتتابع لمباريات الفريق.

وظهر كومان في مؤتمر صحفي خاص بمباراة برشلونة وخيتافي، المقرر لها غدًا السبت، بمنافسات الليجا، ونشرت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية تصريحاته.

وبسؤاله هل تفكر في منح ميسي قسطًا من الراحة؟”، أجاب: “من حيث المبدأ، نريد أن نضع أفضل فريق ممكن في كل مباراة، مشاركة اللاعبين مع منتخبات بلادهم تؤثر على الأندية الكبيرة، عاد الجميع بحماس وفرح، بعد التدريب سنقرر”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. زيدان: لن أعلق على ما يحدث مع جريزمان وما يقال عن يوفيتش هراء!

وعن إمكانية مشاركة ميسي ضد خيتافي ثم ضد فيرينكفاروسي وريال مدريد ويوفنتوس؟، علّق: ” ميسي يلعب بجدول زمني ضيق للغاية منذ سنوات عديدة، علاوة على ذلك، إذا لم يلعب سيكون أكثر إرهاقًا، إنه لاعب يريد الفوز، ويريد دائمًا أن يكون في المباريات”.

وبشأن إمكانية لحاق تير شتيجن بالكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد، أتم كومان: “منذ يوم الثلاثاء كان يعمل في الملعب وكل شيء يسير على ما يرام في الوقت الحالي، لا أعتقد أنه سيصل إلى الكلاسيكو، فلا داعي لتحديد موعد، إنه حارس رائع لكننا هادئون، نحن سعداء بعمل نيتو”.

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Matt Polster has spoken out about his desire for more playing time at Rangers, and Steven Gerrard would be foolish not to heed the American’s advice.

Polster signed for Rangers in January for a small fee, but the 25 year-old is yet to make a first team appearance for the Gers.

He is now fit and raring to go though, and the USA international could actually provide a big boost to Gerrard as the season draws to a close.

What’s he said?

“I’d love to be a part of the derby,” he said, reports The Express.

“Obviously it’s a big match. I haven’t even seen it live. I was away when we played them at the end of the year.

“It’ll be quite a day. The expectation is always the same, you want to beat them.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

“It was quite frustrating missing out against Dundee,” he continued. The January arrival was supposed to make his debut but suffered an injury.

“The manager told me before going out to training that I was going to make my debut – but things didn’t happen as I would have liked.

“I didn’t feel comfortable and I didn’t want to put the team or him in a difficult position where I would start the match but then after 20 or 30 minutes and have to be pulled out.”

Surprise for the Old Firm?

First of all, Polster deserves credit for his team-first attitude, as he certainly wouldn’t have been the first player to force his way onto the pitch despite an injury only for it to cost his side.

His hunger and desire also provide quite the boost for Gerrard, as the squad seems to have lost a bit of bite in the last few weeks, failing to win a single game in the month of March.

Polster is versatile enough to play on either defensive flank or in midfield, and with the Gers struggling to find success with any of their left-back options, could the American provide cover in an unfamiliar role against Celtic?

He certainly won’t lack fight, and that’s exactly what fans want to see in the Old Firm.

علّق ميكيل آرتيتا المدير الفني لفريق آرسنال الإنجليزي، على مفاوضات ناديه مع حسام عوار، لاعب ليون الفرنسي.

ويرتبط الجانرز بالتعاقد مع عوار، لكن لم تحسم المفاوضات مع اقتراب غلق نافذة الانتقالات الجارية.

وتحدث آرتيتا عقب هزيمة فريقه أمام ليفربول في الجولة الثالثة للبريميرليج، بنتيجة (3-1).

ونشر موقع “فوتبول لندن” تصريحاته وبسؤاله: “ما أخبار صفقة عوار؟”، أجاب: “ليس لدينا أي أخبار عن ضم لاعبين جدد أو من قد يغادرون النادي”.

وأضاف: “لم يتبق سوى أسبوع على نافذة الانتقالات، وأعتقد أنه سيكون مزدحمًا حقًا للأندية الأخرى، لأنه لم يتم إنجاز الكثير من الصفقات، لنرِ ما سيحدث”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. رئيس ليون يحدد موعدًا نهائيًا لرحيل ديباي وعوار

وبسؤاله مجددًا: “هل سيكون أسبوعًا مزدحمًا بالنسبة لك؟”، رد آرتيتا: “أعتقد أنه سيكون مشغولًا حقًا للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، لا أعرف بالنسبة لنا كيف سيحدث ذلك”.

من جانبه صرّح جان ميشيل أولاس رئيس ليون، بشأن عرض آرسنال لعوار: “كان عرضًا بسيطًا، ولم يجعلنا حتى نفكر في بيعه”.

وبسؤاله: “كم تريد؟ 40 مليون يورو أم 50 مليونا؟”، أجاب: “أكثر من الرقم الأول الذي ذكرته”.

JM Aulas about Aouar #Arsenal deal: “There was a timid offer, it was not an offer that was even susceptible to making us consider a sale”.
How much you want? €40m, €50m?
“More than the first number that you mentioned…”. [@GFFN].#AFC are still in contact with his agent. ⚪️🔴

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 28, 2020

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Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been sidelined with injury since he was forced off the field in the Champions League semi-final last year, but a return to full fitness looks set to arrive during the final months of the campaign after he was added to the club’s Champions League squad, as per the London Evening Standard.

What’s the word?

Liverpool’s injury list has been piling up in recent weeks but the latest development concerns the return of a lengthy absentee.

According to a recent report from the London Evening Standard, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been added to Liverpool’s Champions League squad ahead of the last-16 tie against Bayern Munich.

The England international had initially been expected to return in the summer, but the progress he has made behind the scenes is pushing him towards a return this season.

Ki-Jana Hoever has also been added to the list, replacing Nathaniel Clyne following his loan move to Bournemouth, as per BBC.

A game-changing boost for Liverpool

Liverpool’s typically rampant, free-flowing and fearful midfield has become uncharacteristically devoid of creativity in recent weeks.

The combination play in midfield has become rather predictable, but the injection of dynamism Oxlade-Chamberlain would provide could transform the effectiveness of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield trio.

With Liverpool still in the hunt for both the Champions League and the Premier League, the German manager will need as many quality options as possible at his disposal, and the return of the Ox will effectively feel like a new signing.

It may take the 25-year-old a few games to find his feet once again, but his performances – whether they be off the bench or from the outset – could represent a game-changer for the Reds.

According to Calciomercato, AC Milan would be willing to part ways with long-term Wolves target Franck Kessie for just €25m (£23.3m).

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Ivory Coast international was the subject of a mega-money bid from the Midlands-based side in 2018.

Back then, Fosun offered a whopping €40m (£37.2m) for the former Atalanta man, plus €20m (£18.6m) in bonuses which was rejected by the Italian giants.

Following on from that bid, Wolves were again believed to be planning a swoop for Kessie as recently as November ahead of the January window, when Gazzetta revealed that the club were plotting to invest more than €20m in the Ivorian’s services.

However, no move to Molineux materialised, but following Calciomercato’s recent report on AC Milan’s new asking price, perhaps it was a bullet dodged for Fosun.

Why was it a bullet dodged?

At a first glance, Kessie’s stock has clearly been dented for whatever reason seeing as AC Milan are now happy to take just £23.3m for him, having rejected an offer of over half that sum in 2018.

For a club to turn down an offer of nearly £60m for a player, only to then deem his asking price as roughly a third of that figure means questions have to be asked in regards to how efficient a use of cash that would’ve been from Wolves, had their 2018 offer been accepted.

However, what also makes this situation feel like Fosun dodged a bullet in 2018 is the fact that Nuno Espirito Santo already has a wealth of midfield options, and the 23-year-old may not have fitted into the side anyway given the Wolves boss’ stubbornness.

Call yourself a Wolves expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Nuno has used just 20 players in the Premier League this season, fewer than any other club, and with the likes of Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Leander Dendoncker, Morgan Gibbs-White and Bruno Jordao all vying for a starting role, it feels far from certain that Kessie would have even been one of the first names on the teamsheet.

In other news, this Jorge Mendes client has proven to be an excellent value for money addition by Fosun…

Everton caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson addressed the rumours linking Carlo Ancelotti with the vacant role during his Arsenal pre-match press conference on Friday.

Watch Everton Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

The 47-year-old has been at the helm ever since Marco Silva was sacked earlier this month, leading the Merseyside outfit to four points from a possible six in the Premier League against Chelsea and Manchester United, before drawing 2-2 with Leicester City in the Carabao Cup in midweek – although they were eliminated from the competition on penalties.

Watch Everton vs Burnley Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

The Telegraph has reported that the Italian is expected to be announced as the new boss this week following successful talks with majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, and the Scot was asked the question by the press ahead of the visit of Mikel Arteta’s Gunners side this weekend.

He said, via The Liverpool Echo: “The same rumours as everyone else has heard. That’s it really. I’ve not spoken to anyone.

“It’d be fantastic to work under a top manager. I have in the past and I’d like to continue doing that.

Asked more about Ancelotti, he added: “I don’t want to really comment to be honest because I don’t know who the manager is going to be next… but the guy’s an incredible manager. He’s won everything, hopefully we’ll get a top top guy coming in.

“I think we’re really ambitious as a club. We want to attract the best guys to the club. It’s a massive club Everton and we’d love these type of guys at the football club.”

How much do you really know about the Farhad Moshiri era? Answer 25 simple questions below…

While certain media outlets seem convinced the 60-year-old is set to be named as Marco Silva’s successor, no announcement has yet been forthcoming even though The Telegraph report that he should be in and ready to start work on Monday morning.

If he is his first match in charge would be against Burnley on Boxing Day, and he will be tasked with firstly dragging the club away from the relegation battle they currently find themselves in, lying just three points above 18th-placed Southampton.

In other Everton news, a report has named the two players Carlo Ancelotti wants to build his team around when he arrives at Goodison Park…

Everton climbed into sixth place in the Premier League table thanks to their 1-0 win over Cardiff City at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Gylfi Sigurdsson was the game’s only goalscorer after he found the back of the net just before the hour mark, though the Icelandic playmaker is not the sole Everton player to receive plenty of plaudits for the club’s latest victory.

The Breakdown

Andre Gomes, who joined Everton on loan from Barcelona during the summer, also impressed, and Marco Silva has since hinted that he is keen to add the 25-year-old to his squad permanently.

“I think in the right moment we have to do something to achieve one player like Andre,” Silva was quoted saying by the Daily Mirror.

“We have time to do that. We are happy with him, he is enjoying the moment here and I don’t think it is a good moment to talk every week because it’s better they [Barcelona] forget a little bit about Andre.”

It is still early days, of course, but Silva is absolutely right to want to keep hold of £13.5m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Gomes. He is a player who has already brought so much to this Everton team.

The Portugal international can play different types of passes efficiently and is great at playing out of opposition presses, something that will undoubtedly prove to be of great importance to the Toffees considering how Silva wants to play.

All in all, Gomes is a player who oozes class and one that Everton must do the utmost to keep in their squad.

Leeds United are sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table during the international break.

The Whites have made an excellent start to life under Marcelo Bielsa, winning four of their opening six fixtures in the league. No one would have expected the squad to adapt so quickly to the Argentine’s methods, but their superb start has made Leeds one of the favourites to be promoted. Despite lumbering to a draw in their last fixture against Middlesbrough, United remain top of the division.

The ex-Bilbao manager was recently named as the Championship Manager of the Month and forward Kemar Roofe was given the Player of the Month award. Bielsa will be hoping to return to winning ways against Millwall following the international break. The former Chile boss has had two weeks to fine-tune his preparation and ensure their unbeaten streak continues.

Despite Roofe’s form in front of goal, Leeds could target another forward in January. Bielsa should return to his former league and sign Nantes striker – Emiliano Sala. Valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, the 27-year-old has been in fine form since joining the club from Bordeaux in 2015. Sala netted 12 times and registered four assists last season, the second consecutive year he hit double figures for goals.

His form has continued into the new campaign, netting three goals in four appearances in Ligue 1 so far. Should Leeds continue their form, Sala could be tempted to move to Elland Road. Working with his countryman Bielsa could give him the chance of an Argentina call-up given the Argentine formerly managed the national side.

Sala could help the Whites secure their long-awaited return to England’s top flight.

Leeds fans, thoughts?

Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk was part of the Southampton side that beat Everton 4-1 in the Premier League at St Mary’s on Sunday, and Reds fans were quick to have their say on his performance.

Jurgen Klopp wanted to bring the Netherlands international to Anfield during the summer, but the Merseyside outfit were forced to issue a statement and public apology after they were accused of tapping the centre-back up.

The 26-year-old is now a permanent fixture in the Saints backline after being demoted to train with the U23s earlier in the campaign, and he had little to do against the Toffees in truth with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s stunning strike one of Everton’s few shots at goal.

However, he was strong in the air and calm on the ball, and Klopp would have been impressed having seen his team fail to keep a clean sheet again in their 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Saturday.

Liverpool supporters were quick to analyse his display via social media, and while one praised his “great balance and athleticism”, another believes he is “overrated”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…