FA Cup weekend pressures Arsenal, Newcastle and Man Utd
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta tore into his players during half time and again in the dressing room after the loss to Fulham. Christmas brought no welcome presents for Arteta who also lost their London derby match against West Ham.
Next up is the FA Cup game against Liverpool and an Anfield fixture is a challenge at any time but particularly in this crunch Cup match which is the pick of the weekend’s ties.
Arteta’s team have trained hard this week in order to regain their “rhythm, purpose and threat.” The coach particularly worked with Eddie Nketiah because he was largely anonymous in the Fulham game. He is also considering changes as I write this column with academy players contesting places but he will not reveal his team until Saturday morning. Charles Sagoe Jr started at Brentford in the Carabao Cup and the 19 year-old winger could play again but he has serious competition from Amario Cozier-Duberry who has been around the senior team for some time but has only made the bench in a Europa League tie against FC Zurich. In Arsenal’s Under-21 squad matches he has scored five goals and made two assists.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is a defensive midfielder who has already earned an England Under-18 cap. Reuell Walters is another possible after sitting on the subs bench more than a dozen times and at 19 years-of age he is waiting for his big chance. Previous starters Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe could also be in line to play as Arteta refreshes his struggling squad.
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp will not make wholesale changes to his team despite Mo Salah and Wataru Endo heading off to AFCON and Asian Cup matches. Alexis Mac Allister is likely to be fit and returns in place of midfielder Wataru Endo. Klopp also has one eye on a League Cup semi-final against Fulham three days later. He is considering Conor Bradley at right-back giving Alexander-Arnold a well-deserved rest. Jarell Quansah is the most likely to play in defence and he has recently rotated with Ibrahima Konate. Van Dijk will play but Joel Matip is out for the rest of the season. The coach is thinking of playing Harvey Elliott and he could be used going forward. Thiago Alcantara is not yet fit and neither is Stefan Bajcetic. With Salah missing both Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz could play on the right. The versatility of Diaz, Jota, Gakpo and Nunez means they provide a serious strike force.
*A huge north east derby cup match pitches under siege Newcastle against neighbours Sunderland. The teams have not met in the Cup since 1956. Whereas Newcastle are the superior team, coach Eddie Howe is having to pick the same players for each match because of injuries but it is likely a couple of academy players could feature. His team did well in the first half against Liverpool but showed how tired they are in the second. Eddie Howe is facing his worst crisis since taking over two years ago but he said, “We know how important this game is for the city, for the supporters and for us in our season so all our energies are going towards that. I do not want to make excuses but we do have half our team out.” Sunderland and new coach Michael Beale, who are challenging for a play-off place in the Championship, will field a full strength team. Sunderland’s squad was assembled for £10 million and they have a total wage bill of £7 million which is equal with Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes’ annual salary! £10 million wouldn’t buy £56 million Alexander Isak’s left leg! Despite Newcastle’s recent comedy of errors they are still better than Sunderland in physical terms, ability and tactics. It is doubtful any of the Sunderland team would get into Newcastle’s first eleven however Jack Clarke is their current standout player, Anthony Patterson could challenge for a spot between the posts and Dan Neil is comparable to Lewis Miley or Sean Longstaff and the team play a free-flowing crisp passing style. Can Sunderland succeed? Beale thinks they can and Howe is desperate to prove him wrong.
*Manchester United face a tricky tie at Wigan on Monday and coach Erik Ten Hag is so worried about losing his job that he has arranged for goalkeeper Andre Onana to delay leaving for AFCON until after the game. *Tottenham host Burnley without their captain Son Heung-min who left for the Asian Cup this week but he addressed his players after the match against Bournemouth and reminded them how they all stepped up when Harry Kane left and now they must do it again in his absence. *Everton travel to Crystal Palace and Brentford face Wolves. After their 3-0 defeat to Wolves, Everton coach Sean Dyche revealed that Dele Ali has suffered yet another setback to his thigh injury and will not play but Amadou Onana, Dwight McNeil, James Garner, James Tarkowski and Jack Harrison are all fit.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson has been under pressure but a win against Brentford has given him breathing space and with Olise and Eze in sparkling form he believes that even a hostile venue such as Everton will bring him success.
*Potential banana skins include Brighton’s visit to Stoke and Aston Villa’s trip to Middlesborough.
Arsenal seek new No9
Arsenal fans will have to be patient before the club are able to sign a badly needed new No9 striker. The problem for the Gunners is that they will have to sell a big player in order to raise finance to buy a top talent. Supporters want a fearsome battling centre forward and that means Ivan Toney is high on their radar. Brentford’s valuation of £100million will cause a headache for many potential bidders, including Arsenal. Takehiro Tomiyasu will probably leave for the Asian Cup next week and the loss of Julien Timber has left the club dreadfully short of fullback options. An incoming versatile defender is strong on Arsenal’s list. In midfield Thomas Partey is struggling in his recovery from injury.
If Ivan Toney does end up joining Arsenal the plan is to put Gabriel Jesus out on the wide left which would relieve pressure on Gabriel Martinelli. I have been told that Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale and Emile Smith Rowe could all be up for sale if big offers come in.
United’s hands tied bringing in fresh talent
Incoming shareholder Sir James Ratcliffe already has a list of priorities which is longer than most traffic jams in a major city. Do not expect any high profile incoming players this January because FFP rules will not allow United to spend. Ratcliffe is critical of the £400million spent, largely influenced by coach Erik Ten Hag, which included players who have proved to be less than successful. United will be more focused on getting rid of players including Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek, who has a loan deal with Eintracht Frankfurt, Raphael Verane and Casimiro. In-coming players to bolster United will be a problem which is why Ratcliffe is determined to act as mediator in the row between Ten Hag and Jadon Sancho. The time has finally arrived when the club needs Sancho more than he needs United. Events could take over if United accept a loan bid from Borussia Dortmund who have offered to pay one third of Jadon’s £250k a week salary.
Fans will react badly if Chelsea sell Gallagher
Chelsea management could find themselves under fire if they sell Conor Gallagher during the January transfer window. The latest fanzine magazine has Gallagher and Amando Broja on the front cover with the title “Two of our own who must not be sold!” Gallagher is very much one of their own being an academy graduate who has supported Chelsea his whole life. When he plays he gives 100% and never stops running and fighting. The fans love him. As a midfielder he is not stylish, not glamorous but he does bring fight to the midfield and also chips in the odd goal. Chelsea fans believe he has more affection for the club than several of their expensive foreign imports. Chelsea have to balance the financial books or face penalties from the FA and selling a homegrown player gives the club a better chance of meeting Financial Fair Play terms instead of selling a foreign player.
I can tell you that any reports you might have read or heard that Tottenham are talking to Chelsea about taking Gallagher are not true. He has 18 months left on his contract and the Blues have received several enquiries but my inside sources reveal that they are exploring ways to keep him at the club. Bringing in a new number 9 is a priority but I expect a quiet transfer January for the Blues.