Forget about the English? Stop talking out of your Archie
Gemmill wrong to say we should settle for second behind Auld Enemy
Manchester United are set to offer midfielder Juan Mata a new deal.
The Spaniard has emerged as a key man in Jose Mourinho’s plans – after initial fears he would be dumped for a second time by the Special One.
Mourinho – who off loaded Mata to United in 2014 for £ 38million when he was Chelsea boss – has been impressed with the 28-year-old.
And Mata, whose contract expires next summer, is now set to be rewarded with a four-year deal. Sunderland boss David Moyes has stepped up his interest in Austrian defenders Martin Hinteregger and Aleksandar Dragovic.
The Black Cats gaffer had the pair watched again when Austria draw 2-2 with Wales in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier in Vienna. Liverpool and E v e r t on ar e gearing up for a £ 6m battle over French Under-20 international Soualiho Meite.
The midfielder, who plays for Lille, is on loan with Belgian side Zulte-Waregem.
West Ham are also keen on the 22-year-old. Spurs scouts are keeping tabs on young Lyon defender Emanuel Mammana.
The 20- year- old, capped once by Argentina, joined Lyon in the summer from River Plate and has a £9m buyout clause. Liverpool are ready to offer playmaker Philippe Coutinho a new deal to fend off Barcelona’s interest.
The Brazilian has caught the eye of bosses at the Nou Camp.
But the Reds will now offer him – and fellow midf ielder Adam Lallana – an improved wage in the new year. E v e r t on ar e chasing teenage Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge.
The 18-year-old has impressed Goodison scouts since breaking into Valerenga’s first team last season.
He’s too young to remember the Scotland legend playing.
When Gemmill scored that wonder goal against Holland, McArthur was a mere twinkle in his father’s eye.
But he’ll have heard all about the diminutive former Derby County and Nottingham Forest midfielder’s achievements.
And being the type of guy he is, the Crystal Palace man wi l l have total respect for what Gemmill did on the pitch.
But this week, when the former Scotland star said Gordon Strachan’s players should forget about England in their World Cup qualifying group, McArthur was having none of it.
Gemmill believes the Auld Enemy are too far in front of everyone else and we should simply concentrate on second best.
The 69-year-old said: “Scotland should look at it as a group minus England. If we can get second position, everyone would be delighted.”
But McArthur can’t play the game that way. Having fought for everything he’s achieved in football, the 29-year- old refuses to accept defeat from any side.
That’s why he’ll be trying to win every game in Group F, as Strachan’s side attempt to reach the World Cup in 2018.
After starting the crucial double header against Lithuania at Hampden yesterday, the campaign now rolls into Bratislava on Tuesday night.
And McArthur will be trying to pick up three points against Slovakia – just as he will aim to do when we go to Wembley on November 11.
When asked i f he agreed with Gemmill ’s attitude, McArthur said: “That’s not my approach. My approach is trying to win every football match I play in. If we go into games thinking, ‘This one doesn’t matter’, that’s not being a footballer.
“It’s just not me. I want to win every game – it doesn’t matter who we’re playing against, whether it’s the best team in the world or the worst. That’s what will make us better and stronger.”
It’s that type of philosophy that has made McArthur a regular in the English Premier League for the Eagles.
He’s now a mainstay in Alan Pardew’s side, keeping the likes of French international Yohan Cabaye out of the engine room.
McArthur is renowned for his allaction style but injuries to his ankle last term and his knee at the start of this season threatened to curtail that.
And such is his sheer love of the sport, he admits that during both enforced spells out he feared that he might not get back to the same level again.
McArthur said: “With my knee, every time I tried to push off there was a pain sensation. I had no power in it at all.
“It was fine in full running. But every