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Mikel Arteta can make eight changes to Arsenal team for Brighton clash including new first start
Mikel Arteta could make as many as eight changes to his Arsenal team
Piero Hincapie and Mikel Merino could both start for Arsenal against Brighton in the League Cup(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s clash against Brighton in the League Cup will bring back bad memories from the 3-1 home defeat in November of 2022. Looking back, it is a credit to the squad’s overhaul just quite how far the Gunners have come.
William Saliba is the only survivor of the starting XI from that day. Karl Hein started behind the Frenchman in goal, with Rob Holding as his defensive partner. Cedric Soares and Kieran Tierney were the full-backs.
This time around, Mikel Arteta may have as many as eight first-team players missing through injury. Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Jesus are out with long-term issues.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned Saliba was taken off with a knock on Sunday afternoon in the win over Crystal Palace, while Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli were also believed to have suffered knocks. Despite all that, Arteta can still make eight changes to the starting XI from the side that beat the Eagles and field a team which, frankly, and with respect, puts that 2022 XI to shame
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Kepa Arrizabalaga is expected to make his second appearance since his first game against Port Vale in the previous round of the competition. Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie and Myles Lewis-Skelly could all start ahead of the Spaniard.
Christian Norgaard could play at the base of the midfield alongside Mikel Merino. Then Ethan Nwaneri operates in the No.10 role with a near-unchanged front three.
Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres both keep their places in the forward line. However, Eberechi Eze is pushed to the wide left role with Martinelli’s fitness in question and Trossard rested for the trip to Burnley.
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Arsenal News Arsenal ready bid to sign huge £71m Trossard upgrade who’s like an “early Thierry Henry” – Report
Arsenal is preparing to make a significant bid for a £71m upgrade on Trossard, who has been likened to an “early Thierry Henry” – opinion
Arsenal is targeting a formidable winger
Even though Arsenal is performing well, there are still some areas of the squad that need strengthening, particularly the left wing.
While Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have made strides this season, and Eberechi Eze can also step in, the left side lacks a truly elite option compared to the likes of Bukayo Saka or Noni Madueke on the right, as well as the three forwards who can start when fit.
This sentiment seems to be echoed by the club, as recent reports from Spain suggest they are keen on Rafael Leão.
The report states that Arsenal is poised to make a substantial move in the winter transfer window for attacking reinforcements, with an offer of around €80m for the AC Milan star, which translates to approximately £71m.
The North London club reportedly sees the Portuguese international as an ideal addition, and Arteta is believed to be a strong admirer. However, with Chelsea, Manchester City, and several French clubs also showing interest, securing this transfer will not be straightforward.
That said, considering Leão’s talent and the fact that he has been compared to Henry, this is a deal worth pursuing aggressively, even if it may signal the end of Trossard’s time at Arsenal.
How Leão compares to Trossard
Given Arsenal’s requirement to enhance their goal-scoring capabilities, the initial aspect to examine when contrasting Leao and Trossard is their performance from the previous season.
Regrettably for the Belgian, this is where he falls short.
For instance, in 56 matches, accumulating 3455 minutes, he netted two goals and assisted ten times, resulting in an average of a goal contribution every 2.8 games, or every 172.75 minutes.
In comparison, the Milan star achieved a total of 12 goals and 13 assists in 50 matches, totaling 3499 minutes, which averages out to a goal involvement every other game, or every 139.96 minutes.
This year, the gap is narrower, but once again, the Portuguese dynamo leads the way.
In eight matches, totaling 470 minutes, he has generated six goal involvements, averaging one every 1.33 games, or every 78.33 minutes.
Conversely, the former Brighton & Hove Albion player has recorded eight goal involvements in 14 matches, totaling 832 minutes, which averages one every 1.75 games, or every 104 minutes.
However, while their output is ultimately the most significant factor, particularly for a team aiming for the title, there is also the aspect of their playing style and entertainment value.
Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, this is another domain where he is outperformed, as although his technical skills can be delightful to watch, he lacks the power and dynamism of the former LOSC Lille star.
Additionally, the 26-year-old’s capacity to retrieve the ball in his own half, challenge opposing defenders, and then slot the ball into the far corner is why former Milan coach Stefano Pioli remarked, “Leao reminds me a lot of the early Thierry Henry.”
Just envision a player capable of executing that once again wearing the club’s red and white and aiding them in breaking their two-decade title drought.
In conclusion, Trossard is a remarkable player and is currently in good form, but if Arsenal has the opportunity to sign Leao in the winter, they should seize it.
Despite dropping points against Sunderland over the weekend, Arsenal fans have plenty to be optimistic about.
Firstly, Mikel Arteta’s team remains firmly at the top of the Premier League standings, and just as crucially, they appeared genuinely threatening in the second half.
While they may have shown some defensive vulnerabilities, the Gunners excelled in their attacking play, with Leandro Trossard continuing his impressive form by scoring a stunning long-range goal.
However, although the Belgian is currently in outstanding form, recent reports indicate that his playing time could be significantly impacted by another international player who has drawn comparisons to the iconic Thierry Henry
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Arsenal compete with Liverpool and Manchester United to sign the wonderkid dubbed the “next Toni Kroos.
Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly going head-to-head in the race to sign rising star
Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha Berlin. The competition for the young European sensation has intensified, with both Premier League clubs eager to land the 16-year-old prodigy — described as the “rough diamond” of Hertha Berlin and valued at around **£17 million
Eichhorn has become one of the most talked-about names in German football after breaking into Hertha Berlin’s first team this season under coach **Stefan Leitl**. Initially introduced as a backup due to injuries within the squad, the young defensive midfielder quickly impressed with his composure and tactical maturity, earning a regular place in the starting lineup and already making eight appearances in Germany’s second division.
His standout performances have not gone unnoticed across Europe. According to reports from **Bild** and **Mundo Deportivo**, Hertha Berlin are open to listening to offers near the £17 million mark, as several top clubs monitor the teenager’s development.
In addition to **Arsenal** and **Manchester United**, other football powerhouses — including **Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt,** and **Bayer Leverkusen** — have dispatched scouts to observe Eichhorn in action at the Olympiastadion. Meanwhile, **Liverpool** and **Manchester City** are also believed to be conducting detailed assessments of the young midfielder, with club representatives frequently attending Hertha’s matches.
Eichhorn has earned praise for his tactical intelligence, game-reading ability, and exceptional control in midfield — attributes that have drawn comparisons to **Toni Kroos**. His manager **Stefan Leitl** expressed full confidence in the teenager’s potential, stating:
> “I don’t care if he’s 16 or 17 — Eichhorn is a major talent for Hertha. You can see in many moments that he’s destined to become a very special player.”
Although Eichhorn extended his contract with Hertha Berlin in July, his rapid rise has made it increasingly difficult for the club to resist growing interest from Europe’s elite. With his maturity, technical ability, and immense potential, **Kennet Eichhorn** is emerging as one of the brightest young talents in German football — and the battle for his signature is only jus
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ANFIELD ON FIRE: Liverpool Drop A Transfer Tsunami, Shock The World With Monumental €130M Bid For PSG’s Midfield Engine.
Report: Liverpool told to pay close to Premier League record fee for 25-year-old target
Arne Slot could be reunited with a familiar face at Liverpool.
Liverpool are interested in signing the PSG midfielder Vitinha in the coming months.
According to a report from Fichajes, Real Madrid are also keen on securing the services of the 25-year-old Portuguese international.
The French outfit have now set his asking price at €130 million. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool or Real Madrid are prepared to pay up.
They have been monitoring the Portuguese midfielder closely and they are impressed by his performances. The Portuguese international has been a key player for PSG, and he helped them win the league title and the UEFA Champions League last season. He is at the peak of his career, and he could make a huge impact at Liverpool or Real Madrid.
Liverpool could use Vitinha
Both clubs need more quality in the middle of the park. They need someone who can control the tempo of the game, add composure and technical ability in the middle of the park as well. The Portuguese International certainly fits the profile, and it remains to be seen how the situation develops.
The asking price is quite expensive, and PSG might need to be more reasonable with their demands in order for the move to go through. The French outfit is under no pressure to sell the player, and it is no surprise that they have set an absurd asking price. They will hope that the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool will walk away from the deal.
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