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Arsenal were the better team against Newcastle United on Tuesday night but for the first time this campaign, they dropped points at the Emirates Stadium.

Indeed, the Gunners dominated possession (67%) and fired off over double the number of shots (17) than the Magpies, to no avail.

It was certainly a resolute and turgid defensive display from the visitors as none of Mikel Arteta’s frontline could find a way past the best defence in the Premier League.

Bukayo Saka was a key man in the final third, having fired off two shots and made three key passes, and such a display saw the Evening Standard’s Simon Collings name him as his ‘Man of the Match.’

However, despite Newcastle not being as threatening as the north London giants, they were equally impressive at the back, led by Brazilian titan Gabriel Magalhaes.

He has been the better of Arsenal’s two centre-backs in recent outings and it was much the same at the Emirates again. ‘Dealt well with the threat of Callum Wilson. Went close to scoring a header,’ the aforementioned reporter wrote in the same column.

Meanwhile, football.london’s chief Gunners writer Kaya Kaynak also waxed lyrical: ‘The Brazilian is such a useful tool from set pieces and nearly caused havoc on a few occasions. Looks to be the more solid of the defensive pairing at the moment. Some excellent passes towards the end too.’

A lot of Arsenal’s build-up play began with the former Lille colossus – who cost around €26m (£23m) back in 2020 – as he registered the third-most touches of the ball (83) of any player on the pitch. It was the same for the number of successful passes (65) and he did so with the best success rate (94%), via Sofascore.

Elsewhere, Gabriel also won 60% of his ten duels, made two tackles, put in three clearances and had one interception, only further highlighting just how much he was on his game on Tuesday night.

To top everything off, the Brazilian also should have won his side a penalty after being pulled down by Dan Burn inside the penalty area. Some would call it stonewall but it wasn’t to be.

As such the £50k-per-week “rock” – in the words of former Gunners striker Kevin Campbell, who has also previously dubbed him a “big player” – was arguably Arteta’s true standout star in the 0-0 draw with Newcastle.

AND in other news, Arteta eyes Arsenal move for “incredible” £33m gem, he’s a great Tielemans alternative…

Aston Villa are expected to provide their manager, Unai Emery, with a new striker in the January transfer window, according to journalist Dan Bardell.

What’s the latest?

There are strong reports suggesting the Villains could be set to lose their striker Danny Ings this month with a lot of interest in the 30-year-old coming from numerous clubs across the Premier League.

It is believed Everton, Southampton and Bournemouth have all expressed an interest in the Englishman amid the winter market as all look to bolster their fight for survival.

And with the reports suggesting Villa could be set to allow Ings to leave this month, Bardell has told Sky Sports News that he expects the Villa owners to provide Emery with a new goalscorer as well as potentially keeping hold of Ings:

(14:50) “Danny Ings is a reliable Premier League goalscorer. I think he’s scored six goals for Villa this season. He came on and scored last night [Wednesday] against Wolves. But I think the key thing here is Villa are playing with two upfront at the moment. Villa are in the market for a striker themselves, I believe.”

One Ings one out?

It is slightly odd to hear the suggestions that Villa would not stand in Ings’ way if an offer was to arrive this month to see him signed permanently by another Premier League side.

The Englishman has not been the flavour of the month under Emery with the striker making just one league start under the Spaniard since his arrival at Villa Park.

However, his form under Emery has been pretty impressive with three goals in his five appearances in the Premier League with the 51-year-old on the sideline.

And given he has only made one league start under Emery, Ings has returned three goals in just 130 minutes of Premier League action, securing him a stunning record of a goal every 43 minutes.

In comparison, Ollie Watkins has only provided Villa with three league goals across the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign in which he has started 16 games (via Transfermarkt).

Under Emery, Watkins has provided a healthy return of two goals and two assists in more minutes than Ings but it is still slightly odd to see Ings outcasted when Emery is playing with a two-man strikeforce.

Nevertheless, whether Villa fans want Ings to leave or not, it will surely provide them with some reassurance that someone will be brought in over January as a potential replacement.

Given Cameron Archer has also been loaned out to Middlesbrough, perhaps Villa could do with more than one new striker if they are also to lose Ings.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared an update regarding Everton’s plans for the upcoming January transfer window. 

The Lowdown: Everton’s season so far

After bringing in numerous new players during the previous summer transfer window, the Toffees have had a difficult start to their season.

With 15 games played, Everton have won three of them, drawn five and lost seven, leaving them with 14 points on the board in 17th place.

With the January window close to opening, the club recently revealed that Salomon Rondon will be leaving Goodison Park after mutually deciding to terminate his contract.

The Latest: Romano’s update

In a recent Twitter post following the announcement of Rondon’s contract being terminated, Romano had this to say on Everton’s plans for the January window.

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He said: “Everton are now exploring the strikers market after terminating S. Rondon’s contract. Talks will take place in the next days and weeks, they were among 4 clubs interested in [Matheus] Cunha. #EFC Meanwhile, [Alex] Iwobi is expected to sign new long term contract soon.”

The Verdict: Everton need a striker

Now that the Toffees have got rid of Rondon, it’s understandable why they would now be looking to get another striker in the door next month.

Bearing in mind how only three clubs have a lower rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes (10.47) than Everton this season, it’s clear that adding some extra attacking reinforcements should be one of Frank Lampard’s top priorities for January.

In addition to that, the significant injury record of Dominic Calvert-Lewin would also be another reason why signing another striker would be a smart move for the Toffees.

Moving forward, the best thing Everton can do in January is to sign a suitable striker as soon as they can and hope they can hit the ground running in terms of scoring goals and helping the team secure wins that can move them away from the relegation zone.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a huge injury blow regarding Richarlison.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Alasdair Gold, with the journalist revealing in a recent article for football.london that, after picking up a hamstring injury prior to Brazil’s quarter-final loss to Croatia in the World Cup – a fixture in which the forward still played 84 minutes – the 25-year-old will now be ruled out of first-team action for up to six weeks.

However, Richarlison’s latest blow was not the first Tottenham players suffered while on international duty this winter. Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a tear to his adductor muscle in his right leg in Uruguay’s final group stage fixture against Ghana, while Ben Davies also sustained an injury to his oblique muscle during Wales’ group stage defeat to England.

Terrible news for Tottenham

Considering just how impressive Richarlison was for Brazil at the World Cup, Gold’s claim that the forward is now set to spend the next six weeks sidelined with injury is sure to have come as a major blow to Antonio Conte, especially following the earlier injuries picked up by Bentancur and Davies.

Indeed, the Italian would have undoubtedly been hoping for the £70m-rated talent to continue his fine form over his four appearances in Qatar into the Premier League, with the attacker having bagged three goals and created three big chances for his team-mates, in addition to taking two shots and making 1.5 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £90k-per-week forward average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.45, not only ranking him as Tite’s second-best performer in the competition but also as the 13th-best player in the World Cup as a whole.

These metrics represent a rather dramatic rise from the Brazilian’s output over his 10 league outings for Spurs so far this season, in which Richarlison has scored no goals, registered two assists and created one big chance, with these returns seeing the 25-year-old average a rather underwhelming Sofascore match rating of just 6.71.

As such, the loss of the forward so soon after he appeared to have finally turned a corner will undoubtedly be terrible news for Conte and Tottenham, with the manager now set to be short of attacking options when Tottenham travel to Brentford on Boxing Day.

Liverpool transfer target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will cost more than £100m, according to comments made by Lazio president Claudio Lotito.

The Lowdown: Impressive in Italy

Since joining from Genk in the summer of 2015, the Serbia midfielder has been a regular in the Lazio first team and quickly asserted himself as a talisman from his first Serie A campaign onwards. 

Last season, the 27-year-old hit his highest number of returns in a Lazio shirt with 22 direct contributions in the form of 11 goals and 11 assists, in what served as another sign of progression for the Serbian star.

The midfielder has brought that form into the current season and currently boasts a haul of three goals and seven assists to his name from 14 Serie A outings in 2022/23.

Liverpool have been linked with the Lazio star in recent weeks and are said to be ready to battle hard in the race for his services. 

The Latest: Liverpool learn Milinkovic-Savic asking price

Taking to Twitter to share the update, Fabrizio Romano relayed comments from Lotito on Milinkovic-Savic.

The Lazio president said: “Guess how much he’s worth – he scored a goal at the World Cup with his ankle injured and he’s the best midfielder in the world.”

Romano added: ‘Last time, he mentioned €120m (£104m) price tag for Sergej.’

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The Verdict: One of the best

Across the global footballing landscape, there are not many better midfield engine room specialists than Milinkovic-Savic. 

The Lazio star currently tops the assist charts in Serie A and is mentioned as a similar asset to notable talents Jude Bellingham and Kevin De Bruyne in terms of his skill set, as per FBref. 

For the majority of metrics, the 27-year-old is rated in the elite category, with his average of 3.3 shot-creating actions and 80.54 touches per game illustrative of his progressive personality as a midfield general, ranking in the top 17% and 7% of positional peers in Europe for those respective attributes.

Liverpool would do well to get their hands on the Serbian maestro, but that will be a tough ask with Lotito valuing him so highly.

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus will be confident of making Brazil’s World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament in Qatar, especially considering his excellent form since joining from Manchester City in the summer.

With five goals and five assists in 12 Premier League matches, Jesus is hitting form at precisely the right time and could join a plethora of riches in the team, with the likes of Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, and Richarlison all looking like making Tite’s squad.

However, the 61-year-old must call up Gabriel Martinelli for the World Cup as he could be a wonderful option to utilise in Qatar.

Martinelli must go to Qatar

Despite only making his international debut in March this year and winning just two more caps since, Martinelli has been outstanding for Mikel Arteta’s side so far this season, especially in the Premier League.

With seven goal contributions in 12 matches, his attacking skills have been on regular display. The Brazilian also averages 1.8 key passes per match and has created a further four big chances.

By averaging 2.1 successful dribbles per match, his ability to go past defenders could be useful for Brazil, especially if they come up against stubborn opposition.

Martinelli knows what it takes to win a tournament with Brazil, having won an Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 and this winning mentality could also stand him in good stead, with the national side aiming to win the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described the £90k-per-week winger as the “talent of the century” earlier this year, and while this may be a tad over the top or a little premature, there is no doubt he has the ability to shine at a global international tournament.

With just 26 players picked for the final squad, it will be extremely tight whether or not he sneaks into the final roster, especially as he faces competition from the likes of Gabriel Barbosa and Matheus Cunha. It could well be a nervy wait for the talented winger.

Brazil won’t just be targeting success at Qatar, they are constantly looking to the future and if Martinelli is chosen this year, it could give him the experience to become part of the Seleção for the next decade.

Former BBC pundit Noel Whelan has backed Everton in their reported pursuit of Daniel Podence.

The Lowdown: Everton interest

It was reported earlier this week that Director of Football Kevin Thelwell is eyeing up a deal to sign Podence from his former club Wolves next year.

The Goodison Park outfit want to sign versatile attackers who are proven in the Premier League, and Podence’s agent Jorge Mendes is looking to find him a new club over the next few months, with his current deal in the Midlands expiring in 2024.

The Latest: Whelan backs move

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan has backed the Merseyside club to sign Podence ‘on the cheap’, given his contract situation at Molineux:

“When I’ve watched him, I’ve really liked his pace and his direct style.

“He can play on the left and play up front – and he can come up with assists and goals.

“I think Everton can get him on the cheap, too, with his contract situation.

“He’s been in the Premier League three years, knows the demands, and can offer Everton something different out on the field.

“It’s a wise move. It will be well within the budget for Everton and freshen up that dressing room, as well as raise the game of other players in his position.”

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The Verdict: No-brainer

If Frank Lampard’s side can sign Podence for a cut-price, it is surely a no-brainer.

The winger fits the profile that they are looking for, and has plenty of experience in the Premier League, with eight goals and six assists over the last four seasons (Transfermarkt).

Incidentally, Podence has won all three matches that he has played against the Blues, so they know what he is capable of, and taking him from a direct rival would be a sweet bonus.

At 27 years of age, the Toffees would also be signing a player about to enter his prime.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst faces a midfield dilemma for Glasgow Rangers ahead of tonight’s Champions League tie.

The Ibrox side take on Liverpool at Anfield and it could be make or break for the Light Blues in regard to progression from the group stage. A loss would more than likely end their chances.

The Dutchman will surely start John Lundstram at the heart of the midfield, especially after his performance against Hearts, who delivered the complete midfield performance with four duels won and a 91% pass success rate, but who starts alongside the Englishman?

One thing is for sure, Van Bronckhorst should drop Ryan Jack to the bench for the crucial match tonight, with his latest performances not up to the required standard.

On the chalkboard

Since joining the club in the summer of 2017, Jack has progressed into an integral part of the current Rangers team, especially during 2020/2021 when he helped lead the club to a historic 55th league title.

During the title-winning campaign, Jack ranked sixth out of the Rangers squad with a rating of 7.14/10 as per SofaScore, while ranking first for pass success rate (90%), fifth for interceptions per match (1.1), and sixth for key passes per game (1) showing how effective he was in the middle of the club’s engine room, contributing well both offensively and defensively.

Injury restricted him to just 22 appearances in all competitions last season as his influence waned and this has carried through into the current campaign.

The 30-year-old has started just four Premiership matches so far, with no goal contributions while he has won a miserable 29% of his total duels. His Champions League performances haven’t been any better, with the midfielder struggling at the highest level of the European game.

An average SofaScore rating of just 6.5 across the thrashings by Ajax and Napoli means he is only the ninth best player in the squad on the continent, something that suggests Van Bronckhorst should be slotting in someone else next to Lundstram for tonight’s clash, with the experience of Steven Davis perfect for these type of matches.

Previously dubbed “superb” by journalist Jordan Campbell and a “winner” by Steven Gerrard, it’s a shame to see his current decline and with his contract expiring at the end of the current season, he will need to vastly improve to secure a new deal.

Van Bronckhorst has to be ruthless, and benching Jack could work in Rangers’ favour against Liverpool. After all, he has been holding the team back in their recent European clashes.

Sunderland have been crying out for a striker in the absence of Ellis Simms, who was brought off following an injury to his toe in their win over Reading.

The on-loan forward had scored three times in the Championship before being struck down, and was leading the line with a poise and power that belied his age.

Perhaps Tony Mowbray could use the opportunity of his absence and a poor showing from Elliot Embleton last weekend, to unleash an exciting talent from his academy, with striker Max Thompson the obvious candidate.

The 20-year-old joined from Burnley following a seven and ten-goal haul in his past two seasons in the Premier League 2.

Upon joining the Black Cats, he described himself as a “goalscorer and a direct player”, something which for all the praise they have received, Mowbray’s side are certainly lacking without Simms.

He has taken to life on Wearside exceptionally well it seems, as he already has three goals and one assist in his opening three games for the U23s side.

The ability to score goals at any level demands a certain level of skill, and if given the chance, he could convert his proficiency at youth level into goals for his senior side.

He already has suggested his possession of a lethal touch, and actually briefly featured once in the Premier League for the Clarets’ first team, outlining the fact that they clearly believed in his ability to soon be challenging the starting squad.

The fact that the Black Cats then tempted him to join them marks an impressive pull that they still have despite their relegations, and now that they have secured him, he should certainly be given a chance should Simms continue to suffer.

Thompson actually started his career at Everton, which makes him even more eerily similar to Simms.

That said, the 21-year-old will inevitably return to his parent club following the conclusion of this season and if Thompson hasn’t already received minutes as a result of current injuries, it will then definitely be time for the young Sunderland striker to step up and prove himself to Mowbray.

Aston Villa must surely now unleash defender Jan Bednarek against Leeds United when the two teams clash in the Premier League on Sunday.

Steven Gerrard signed the 26-year-old on a season-long loan deal from Southampton on deadline day and he has yet to feature for the club, but his performance for Poland in last night’s Nations League match against Wales may have given the manager food for thought.

The defender received a SofaScore rating of 7.3 for his performance in helping Poland keep a clean sheet in their 1-0 victory which consigned the Welsh to relegation from the top tier of the Nations League.

It marked a major improvement from his last match that saw Bednarek underperform in a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands, achieving a rating of just 6.8 as per SofaScore.

The ability to bounce back and put in a solid display last night won’t do his World Cup chances any harm, while Gerrard will surely have been paying attention.

He managed to keep the effervescent Gareth Bale quiet during the vital win, with the former £85.3m player playing his first full match since a World Cup qualifier against Estonia last September, with his only real chance a header that rattled the crossbar late on.

Bednarek made a whopping ten clearances, produced one interception and had 54 touches during the encounter, while also completing 82% of his attempted passes.

He won 78% of his total duels, proving just how strong he is in a one-to-one scenario and the 26-year-old only lost possession seven times during the whole match, the fourth lowest in the team.

It was a mature performance by Bednarek that puts him in contention to feature at the heart of the Villa defence when they take on Leeds. Indeed, the aforementioned Bale was pretty much anonymous against the Villans loanee, winning just one of his 11 duels in the contest.

With Diego Carlos injured for the foreseeable future, the Polish defender was brought in as cover and Gerrard will be hoping he can be the rock at the back the side so desperately needs.

Journalist Sam Tighe has dubbed the centre-back as a “monster” in the past and the player certainly has all the credentials to make Gerrard forget about Carlos in the meantime.