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Manchester United's pursuit of Dan Ashworth has taken several sharp twists in the space of the last 48 hours as reports suggest Newcastle United will now request even more than previously reported to break his gardening leave.

Man Utd kick start new era under Ratcliffe

It's all change at Old Trafford at the moment, with news of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 25% stake in the club being approved acting as one of the most positive updates in some time.

The boyhood United supporter is clearly looking to make his presence felt, as the Red Devils hopefully look to move away from the leadership of the Glazers despite their stake in the club, with big changes happening off the pitch.

Ashworth has emerged as the top target for United, with the 52-year-old excelling as Newcastle's sporting director currently, helping mastermind some excellent signings at St James' Park and working well alongside Eddie Howe, following a superb spell at Brighton.

The Magpies were of course keen to keep hold of one of their most prized employees, but reports revealed on Sunday that the clubs would negotiate in the coming days.

"Manchester United are prepared to push again next week in order to bring Dan Ashworth to the club," Fabrizio Romano reported on X over the weekend. "Ashworth has already accepted, United will now insist in negotiations with Newcastle to agree on compensation."

And the allure of working for such a global superpower clearly appeals to the 52 year-old, who informed the Magpies of his desire to leave shortly after that update, and was then immediately placed on gardening leave.

Newcastle change gardening leave demands

Reports had initially suggested United would need to spend around £20m to break the transfer guru from his leave clause so he can work on the summer transfer window, but replying to a fan question on Monday morning, The Telegraph's Luke Edwards claims PIF will actually set their starting price above that number.

It is clearly not going to be cheap for United to get their man, but considering the impact he has made at Brighton and Newcastle, Ratcliffe should be willing to break the bank for a genuine expert of his craft who may make the club ten times that figure over the course of a career at Old Trafford.

Moises Caicedo to Chelsea

£24m

£100m

Marc Cucurella to Chelsea

£15m

£56m

Ben White to Arsenal

Free

£51m

Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool

£8m

£36m

Yves Bissouma to Tottenham Hotspur

£15m

£25m

Ashworth is arguably one of the leading sporting directors in Europe at the moment, and the difference he could make with United's recruitment has the potential to be great, with Gary Neville tipping him to have a huge impact.

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To have not had an expert sporting director in place at a time when rivals such as Manchester City and Liverpool have excelled with one has made so little sense, and recruiting Ashworth has to be considered a priority for that reason.

Arsenal look like a team peaking at the right moment of the season.

Mikel Arteta's men have won five games in a row since January 20th and have won their last two by an aggregate score of 11-0.

Competition

Opponent

Result

Premier League

Crystal Palace

5-0 Win

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

2-1 Win

Premier League

Liverpool

3-1 Win

Premier League

West Ham United

6-0 Win

Premier League

Burnley

5-0 Win

The Gunners look like a serious proposition, and a team that could lift the Champions League trophy come June 1st.

However, they'll have to make their way through some tough opponents to get there, with FC Porto being the first.

While the north Londoners have been electric in the last two games, the sterner opposition, record in Europe and the fact that it's away all suggest that Arteta should make one change to his XI, with Kai Havertz sitting the first leg out.

Kai Havertz's game vs Burnley in numbers

Now, the first thing to clear up is that this change to the lineup is not down to Havertz's performance, but instead, it is about the opposition and occasion.

Much like the rest of the team, the German was brilliant against Burnley on Saturday, was involved all over the pitch, and scored a brilliant goal of his own.

The Standard's Simon Collings gave the former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder an 8/10 for his display at Turf Moor, claiming that he 'caused Burnley problems with his runs in behind', which he certainly did.

His numbers from the game also make for pleasant reading, as he registered an expected goals value of 0.64, took 49 touches, played one key pass, completed the one dribble he attempted, won eight of his ten aerial duels and made two clearances.

Minutes

84

Touches

49

Goals

1

Expected Goals

0.64

Accurate Passes

22/30 (73%)

Key Passes

1

Dribbles Attempted (Completed)

1 (1)

Aerial Duels (Won)

10 (8)

Clearances

2

Interceptions

0

Possession Lost

12

However, there were also a few less-than-stellar stats to come out of his game, such as the fact that he only completed 73% of his 30 passes, made no interceptions and lost the ball 12 times.

So, with everything in mind, the better opposition in Porto and the potentially hostile atmosphere the players might encounter away from home, it would make sense for Jorginho to start in place of Havertz.

Why Jorginho should start against Porto

So, while there are a few reasons why the Italian international should start this evening, the most obvious one is his performance against Liverpool.

The former Napoli ace, who Arteta described as "one of the most intelligent players that I have coached", was brought into the midfield to play alongside Declan Rice and stop one of the best teams in Europe from gaining a foothold in the middle of the park and playing their natural game.

To say he did a good job of this would be a monumental understatement. Collings gave the experienced veteran a 9/10 on the night and credited him for 'rolling back the years' and giving Arsenal 'more control'.

His numbers from the night reflect this as well, as he took 71 touches, maintained a passing accuracy of 85%, played one key pass, won three of his four aerial duels, made two clearances, three interceptions and two tackles.

Minutes

97

Touches

71

Accurate Passes

45/53 (85%)

Clearances

2

Interceptions

3

Tackles

2

Key Passes

1

Aerial Duels (won)

4 (3)

Possession Lost

11

Moreover, he lost possession just 11 times on the night, and while that wouldn't be great against a team like Burnley, against Liverpool, it's not bad at all. For example, when Manchester City played the Reds earlier this season, Rodri, who many would consider to be the best defensive midfielder in the world, lost possession eight times.

Ultimately, Arteta is in the lucky position to choose between sticking with an in-form lineup or making a change that would see a player who bossed Liverpool come into the XI.

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Either choice could pay off, but given the atmosphere and nature of the game, it just seems perfectly set up for Jorginho to come in and do what he does best.

Leeds United decided to bring in German head coach Daniel Farke last summer as they looked to secure an instant return to the Premier League.

The Whites then backed the former Norwich City boss, who won two Championship titles during his time with the Canaries, in the transfer market.

Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Karl Darlow, Djed Spence, Jaidon Anthony, Sam Byram, and Glen Kamara were all brought in, either on loan or permanently.

The Leeds boss also allowed a host of senior players to move on following the club's relegation from the Premier League, as the likes of Tyler Adams, Rodrigo, Jack Harrison, and Robin Koch, among many others, left either on loan or permanently.

One departure that, perhaps, went under the radar amidst so many senior exits was Cody Drameh's move to Birmingham on loan, with an option for them to make it permanent.

He is out of contract in the summer but Leeds would be due compensation from his next club and Tony Mowbray's side have the first option to snap him up for an agreed fee.

Cody Drameh's 2022/23 season in numbers

The decision to part ways with the 22-year-old dynamo appears to have been an early blunder from Farke as the English ace has been in fantastic form in the Championship over the past 18 months and is a better option than recent loan signing Connor Roberts.

Drameh, who played once in the Premier League last season, joined Luton Town on loan for the second half of the 2022/23 campaign and caught the eye with his superb performances.

The former Fulham youngster quickly established himself as a regular starter for Rob Edwards and played a pivotal role in their promotion to the top-flight.

He started 16 league matches for the Hatters and made a big impact with his contributions both in and out of possession from a right-back position.

Appearances

16

Key passes per game

1.6

Tackles per game

3.1

Interceptions per game

1.1

Duel success rate

55%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Leeds loanee chipped in at the top end of the pitch by creating chances for his teammates and was difficult for opposition players to get past with 4.2 tackles and interceptions combined per match.

No Luton defender made more tackles per outing and only Tom Lockyer (1.6) made more interceptions per game for Edwards' side than Drameh in the second tier last season.

His defensive attributes were on full display in the play-off final at Wembely as he won 100% (5/5) of his duels and made two clearances as the match finished 1-1 after extra-time before Luton won on penalties.

Overall, the young enforcer proved his quality in the Championship with consistently impressive performances at right-back for the Hatters, which helped them to win promotion to the Premier League.

Cody Drameh's form with Birmingham

His displays for Luton were seemingly not enough to convince Farke that he was ready to play week-in-week-out for Leeds, and the German boss sent him on loan to Birmingham.

Meanwhile, Spence was brought in on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and was sent back to the Premier League side in January, as the Whites exercised their option to terminate the deal.

This allowed the club to swoop in to sign Roberts on loan from Burnley until the end of the season, which appears to be a solid signing on paper.

However, it could be looked at as a blunder by Leeds as they already fumbled a better option in the form of Drameh, who has been in fine form for Birmingham.

Appearances

22

Assists

Three

Key passes per game

0.9

Tackles + interceptions per match

4.0

Duel success rate

64%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 5 foot 9 star has offered quality at both ends of the pitch in the Championship once again with creativity on the ball and solid defensive work out of possession.

Drameh, who was described as a "Duracell Bunny" by ex-boss Steve Morison, has also provided an outlet in transition with 1.1 dribbles completed per match, with a success rate of 64%.

These statistics show that the Birmingham ace has been an excellent performer in all three thirds this season, as well as last term for Luton.

Why Drameh is a better option than Roberts

His outstanding form for the Blues and the Hatters also suggests that he is a better option than deadline day Leeds signing Roberts, who won promotion to the Premier League with Burnley last term.

Both players were key performers for teams who made their way up to the top-flight but Drameh produced more quality as an attacking threat and as a defender.

Appearances

16

43

Key passes per game

1.6

1.0

Tackles per game

3.1

1.1

Interceptions per game

1.1

0.6

Dribbles completed per game

1.1

0.1

Duel success rate

55%

56%

As you can see in the table above, the Luton loanee outperformed the Wales international in a host of key statistics in and out of possession last term.

He made 2.5 more tackles and interceptions combined per game, whilst winning a similar percentage of his duels, and created 0.6 more chances per match for his teammates in the second tier.

Impressively the talented battler has maintained similar averages, particularly defensively, during his loan spell with Birmingham in the Championship this season, which shows that he can be a consistent performer at that level.

Overall, these statistics suggest that Farke had a blunder by allowing the right-back to join the Blues on loan when he needed a right-back in his squad, as the deal for Spence did not work out and Drameh has already outperformed Roberts in the same division.

At the age of 22, the former Cardiff loanee is also six years younger than the experienced Burnley defender and, therefore, has more room to grow and develop over the years to come.

This means that Drameh could have been a long-term option for Leeds as a player who could have improved with more game time in Yorkshire. Instead, they may end up watching on as he goes on to enjoy a great career, whether that ends up being in the Championship, the Premier League, or elsewhere.

Leeds United return to action in the Championship this afternoon as they travel to Wales to take on Cardiff City in their 27th league match of the campaign.

The Whites were in FA Cup action last weekend as they faced Peterborough United away from Elland Road on Sunday and ran out 3-0 winners.

Current Championship top six (via Sofascore)
Club	Position	Matches played	Points
Leicester City	1	26	65
Ipswich Town	2	26	55
Southampton	3	26	52
Leeds United	4	26	48
West Brom	5	26	42
Sunderland	6	26	40

Daniel Farke's side secured a comfortable win thanks to two goals from Ethan Ampadu either side of a wondergoal from striker Patrick Bamford.

The English centre-forward could keep his position in the side for this clash with Cardiff after that stunning strike and the German head coach must unleash Georginio Rutter in the number ten position behind him, ahead of Joel Piroe.

Bamford's season in numbers

Bamford failed to find the back of the net in any of his first 16 appearances for Leeds this season, and did not provide a single assist for his teammates in that time.

In fact, the 30-year-old striker also missed a penalty in a crucial game against Stoke City away from home, minutes before the hosts scored the winning goal.

However, the former Middlesbrough star was handed his first Championship start of the campaign against Birmingham on New Year's Day and headed in his first goal of the season from Dan James' cross.

Bamford then chipped in with a goal of the season contender, as shown in the video above, and an assist in the 3-0 win over Peterborough last weekend and this means that he has three direct goal contributions in his last two appearances.

Rutter's season in numbers

Farke could now provide the English number nine with the service that he needs to continue that rich vein of form by bringing Rutter back into the team.

The French whiz was rested – as an unused substitute – against Peterborough and should come straight back into the XI to replace Piroe due to his superior creativity.

23/24 Championship	Georginio Rutter	Joel Piroe
Appearances	25	26
Assists	Nine	One
Big chances created	17	Two
Key passes per game	2.2	0.9
Dribbles completed per game	2.5	0.5

As you can see in the table above, Rutter has significantly outperformed the former Swansea marksman in a host of key creative metrics in the Championship this season.

In fact, the 21-year-old magician ranks within the top 1% of forwards in the division for shot-creating actions (4.53), Expected Assisted Goals (0.37), and assists (0.39) per 90. He also ranks within the top 1% for successful take-ons (2.74) and the top 3% for progressive passes (3.66) per 90.

These statistics show that the ex-Hoffenheim prospect has been one of the best, if not the best, playmakers in the league so far this season.

The £34k-per-week star, who was once lauded for his "blistering" pace by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the quality to consistently unlock opposition defences to create high-quality chances for his teammates in front of goal.

This is why Farke must unleash him in the number ten position behind Bamford to provide the English striker with all the ammunition that he needs to continue his goalscoring form.

Lionel Messi has teamed up with Bad Boys stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, as the Inter Miami forward showcases his Hollywood appeal.

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• Argentine plying his trade in Florida
• Teamed up with South Beach cops
• Marketing dream on & off the pitch

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The third instalment of the Bad Boys film franchise, Ride or Die, is due for cinematic release in early June. Smith and Lawrence, who play Miami cops in the blockbuster production, are calling upon the assistance of other Florida-based icons when it comes to a promotional campaign.

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  Messi is being kept busy in his day job, despite being rested for Inter Miami’s latest MLS fixture, and has his sights set on more major honours in 2024 – with club and country. The Argentina international is, however, happy to step out of his comfort zone at times.

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  There was not too much ‘acting’ for Messi to do when linking up with Smith and Lawrence. The video in question, which has been shared on social media, allows Messi to stick to what he knows best – kicking a ball with his wand of a left foot.

For the fourth season running, West Ham United are fighting for one of the Premier League's European places. Furthermore, the Hammers are currently still in the Europa League too, looking to win their second-consecutive trophy in Europe.

Nevertheless, if David Moyes is to keep the London outfit inside the top seven and on course for another European upset, the manager must strengthen his squad, particularly the left side of his attack.

West Ham United transfer news – Wilfried Gnonto

According to a report from SportsLens, West Ham have been keeping their eyes on Leeds United attacker Wilfried Gnonto ever since the summer transfer window and could make an approach for the Italy international before the winter market slams shut at the beginning of February.

Several clubs were said to be eyeing up a purchase of the winger in the previous transfer window after Gnonto handed in a transfer request at Elland Road, although no sale ever came to fruition as the Yorkshire club were reportedly holding out for £30m.

Gnonto's career may have stagnated slightly with the Peacocks as the attacker has struggled for game-time this season under head coach Daniel Farke. The Italian has become a mere squad player, playing just 884 minutes which has been spread across 22 appearances. Meanwhile, he has registered just one goal and one assist in all competitions.

As a result, Football Insider recently claimed that Leeds are now finally open to selling Gnonto, a change from their position six months ago, and West Ham could be waiting in the wings to capture his services.

Wilfried Gnonto stats comparison vs Said Benrahma

Compared to the rest of the sides inside the current top ten teams in the Premier League, only Manchester United have scored fewer goals than West Ham this season. The Hammers have bagged 33 goals in 20 league matches, or 1.5 goals per game on average. However, the Europa Conference League champions have conceded 1.36 goals per game on average, meaning their matches can easily go two ways, as per FBref.

Additionally, from West Ham's 33 goals in the Premier League this term, 17 have come from Mohammed Kudus and Jarred Bowen alone, which is over half. On top of that, only six players have scored more than one league goal for Moyes' side in the 2023/24 campaign.

In the team's midfield and forward line, with the exclusion of Bowen and Kudus, the Irons have several players who can get assists and create chances, such as James Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paqueta, but not enough players that can score goals.

One player who could help rectify this issue is Gnonto. It has been reported that Said Benrahma is on his way out of the London Stadium and Gnonto could be the perfect player to replace the Algerian. Benrahma has failed to score a single goal for the Irons in 21 appearances this season and currently boasts worse stats than the man who could take his spot in the team.

Per 90 Metrics

Wilfried Gnonto

Said Benrahma

Goals

0.1

0

Expected Goals

0.2

0.22

Assists

0.1

0.16

Expected Assists

0.19

0.15

Progressive Carries

6.2

4.76

Progressive Passes

3.54

3.79

Passes To Final 1/3

2.28

1.46

Passes To Penalty Area

1.77

1.36

Stats via FBref

Gnonto is young and will be hungry to prove his talent at a club like West Ham, having been described as a "real diamond" by football scout Jacek Kulig. In 27 appearances last season, the winger bagged five goals in total, showing he has what it takes to play at the top level and a manager like Moyes would potentially bring out the best in him.

As a dynamic asset who can feature on either flank or through the middle, the Leeds starlet could well be the perfect addition to help send Benrahma packing.

With 17 games played in the Premier League, Manchester United picked up their first draw of the season this weekend as they held Liverpool to a potentially instrumental goalless draw.

This point puts United in seventh, six points behind fourth place, which will be their goal for the season.

Goals have been infrequent for Erik ten Hag’s team, netting just 18 times, the lowest goal tally in the top 14 clubs in the table. Therefore, the boss wants to add another attacker to his side.

Man Utd transfers latest – Raphinha

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Raphinha, with a swap deal including Jadon Sancho potentially on the cards this winter, as per Spanish outlet Sport.

The Brazilian is keen on remaining at Barcelona, but the club is willing to listen to offers for the attacker.

However, a move in January is highly unlikely, with the Catalan side said to be demanding €100m (£86m) for the winger – as per the report.

How Raphinha compares to Antony

The ex-Leeds United winger has struggled to lock down the right-wing spot in Xavi's side since his arrival last season, and he has found it even more difficult this time around due to the rise of wonderkid, Lamine Yamal. The number 11 has featured in 13 La Liga matches this season, starting just six, but he has registered a goal contribution per start (two goals, four assists).

Although most Premier League fans are aware of Raphinha, he is a left-footed winger who operates on the right, mostly cutting inside onto his left foot to either shoot or cross towards the back post. He has a relentless approach to the game, both in possession and out of possession, which helps his team regain control.

United fans will be put off by the prospect of an expensive left-footed right winger joining the club after Antony’s troubled time in England, but how does the duo actually compare?

Raphinha vs Antony stats
Stats (per 90)	Raphinha	Antony
Goals	0.3	0.1
Assists	0.38	0.07
Shots total	3.83	3.14
Crosses	6.42	1.52
Tackles	1.2	1.55
Stats via FBref

As you can see, Raphinha offers far more output than his compatriot, which, based on United’s goals scored, is a significant area that needs improving. Ex-Man Utd winger Daniel James labelled the Barcelona star as a “magician” who can do anything on the pitch, and based on his creative output, it is difficult to disagree.

The 27-year-old is a touchline winger who is desperate to make things happen, as highlighted by his crosses and shot averages, and he would offer a much more direct outlet on the right if he were to sign for the Red Devils.

Furthermore, Raphinha clearly boasts superior stats to Antony in all in-possession aspects, but the current United winger – who has no goals or assists to his name this season – has proved to have a slightly better defensive output, yet that is going to be the case when Raphinha plays for a side that dominates the ball so much.

While splashing the cash on another costly Brazilian winger doesn’t perhaps seem like a smart decision, the Barcelona man is “unplayable” on his day – as per LeedsTV presenter Oscar Marrio – and when you consider that Antony continues to frustrate, such an upgrade could well be needed.

Nic Maddinson made it three centuries in consecutive Sheffield Shield matches as he helped leaders Victoria put up a strong total on the opening day against Tasmania in Melbourne.Maddinson followed his 108 last week against Queensland with 136 off 197 balls, the brace of centuries coming after the 162 he scored against Western Australia in December before suffering a broken arm. He now has a tally of 445 runs at 111.25 for the season.Jackson Bird managed to make late inroads but Victoria closed on a healthy 7 for 376.Maddinson added 170 for the third wicket with Marcus Harris who fell just short of making back-to-back centuries when he was caught in the deep off Jarrod Freeman for 94. That followed Harris’ scores of 95 and 174 against Queensland.The pair had helped Victoria recover from early trouble at 2 for 7 after Riley Meredith caused problems with the new ball. He produced a beauty to take the off stump of Travis Dean and then five balls later had Will Pucovski caught behind for a duck with one that bounced to take the edge.Harris and Maddinson counter-attacked as conditions eased, moving along at more than four runs an over although there were a few near misses for both batsmen, especially in the slip and gully area.Meredith claimed his third when he bowled Cameron White but the runs kept flowing for Victoria as Maddinson and Matt Short added 69 for the fifth wicket.Maddinson’s innings ended when he was lbw, missing a pull at a back-of-a-length delivery from Gabe Bell, then Bird had Short taken at second slip – a juggling catch by Alex Doolan – followed by trapping Chris Tremain in front.

Despite the overarching cloud of a ten-point deduction this season, Everton are performing quite well. The side are currently sitting 18th in the Premier League table but have picked up three wins and one draw in their last five outings.

Another victory away at Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening gained some valuable ground for the Toffees on those above them in the table, with Luton Town's defeat at home to Arsenal on Tuesday night meliorating Everton's pursuit of safety.

However, another big task awaits Sean Dyche and his players as high-flying Newcastle United come to town, having beaten Manchester United 1-0 last time out, although the scoreline flattered to deceive the Red Devils.

Despite Everton's win at the weekend, the manager could look to make a couple of changes to his starting lineup to prevent fatigue, with fixtures against Chelsea and Burnley on the near horizon.

Here is the side's predicted lineup ahead of the Magpies' visit to Goodison Park on Thursday night

1 GK – Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford has been the first name on Everton's teamsheet since joining the club back in 2017 and unless he picks up an unprecedented injury, it's highly unlikely that the goalkeeper will be dropped to the bench.

The England number one is in the top 11% of all goalkeepers in Europe's top-five leagues for post-shot expected goals per shot on target which is a metric used to indicate how likely a keeper is to save a shot on goal and so there's little chance Pickford isn't given the nod for this match.

2 RB – Seamus Coleman

Seamus Coleman has yet to play a single minute for Everton this season, having picked up a knee ligament injury away at Leicester City in the previous campaign. However, the captain was on the bench for the Toffees' defeat at home to Manchester United a fortnight ago and the team's victory at the City Ground on Saturday.

Ashley Young has primarily been Dyche's first choice at right-back, but with games coming thick and fast, the £55k-per-week earner will need to have some rest if he is to continue to feature regularly. Coleman will be champing at the bit to get back out on the grass and this could be the perfect opportunity to get some minutes under his belt.

3 CB – James Tarkowski

James Tarkowski was superb at the weekend and managed to make nine clearances, one interception and seven ball recoveries while also playing seven passes into the final third and winning 80% of his aerial duels.

The ex-Burnley defender has been the captain in Coleman's absence which has certainly been deserved as he is Everton's highest-rated performer this season with a 7.29 average, according to Sofascore. Tarkowski will likely keep his place in the starting lineup against Newcastle.

4 CB – Jarrad Branthwaite

Tarkowski was not alone in the heart of the defence in keeping Nottingham Forest out on Saturday. His defensive partner Jarrad Branthwaite was just as instrumental in preventing the ball from going past Pickford in goal and earned praise this season from the likes of Premier League legend Alan Shearer, who called him a "magnificent" defender.

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Branthwaite won 100% of his ground duels and 67% of his aerial duels and made six ball recoveries, six clearances and one interception. Dyche won't want to upset the apple cart by dropping either of his resilient centre-backs.

5 LB – Vitaliy Mykolenko

Vitaliy Mykolenko has been a solid performer at left-back this season and was one of Everton's best performers against Forest last week, earning a Sofascore rating of 7.1. The Ukrainian fullback also made nine defensive actions, two interceptions and seven ball recoveries, while winning 100% of his aerial duels.

Mykolenko has plenty of gas left in the tank to play once more in midweek and will likely keep his place in the starting eleven.

6 RM – Jack Harrison

Despite a solid defensive display at the City Ground, Jack Harrison was one of Everton's worst performers. The Liverpool Echo handed the loanee a 6/10 rating, explaining that the winger "laboured for long periods" of the game. No Everton player received a lower score from the outlet.

Nevertheless, Harrison still recorded an assist for the winning goal to clinch a valuable three points, putting him top of Everton's leaderboard for assists which may have let him live to fight another day in the lineup.

7 DM – Idrissa Gueye

It's difficult to tell at times that Idrissa Gueye is 34 given the energy he brings in the middle of the park. The Senegal international was tremendous at the weekend, making eight ball recoveries and 11 defensive actions during the match. Additionally, Gueye played three balls into the final third and created one chance, showing a creative side to his game as well.

With Amadou Onana still being assessed ahead of kick-off, Gueye will potentially keep his spot in the team once more.

8 DM – James Garner

No player had a higher match rating than James Garner on Saturday evening with 7.6. The former Manchester United man was scintillating in the midfield, defensively and offensively, recording 12 defensive actions, 13 ball recoveries and three interceptions on top of playing nine passes into the final third.

Once called "superb" by Roy Keane during his loan spell with Nottingham Forest two seasons ago, Garner is finally starting to prove he was worth the £15.5m Everton paid for him last year and will likely start alongside Gueye in the midfield again.

9 LM – Dwight McNeil

Dwight McNeil was the man who earned all three points against Forest, with his second-half goal clawing Everton closer to safety. McNeil alone boasted one-third of his side's total 0.67 xG during the game so perhaps it wasn't too much of a surprise that he came up with the winner.

The winger has struggled in recent weeks but showed the fans why Dyche has been persistent with starting him on the left which will continue on Thursday night.

10 AM – Abdoulaye Doucoure

Having initially been brought to Everton as a deep-lying midfielder, Abdoulaye Doucoure has found his calling as a second striker behind the centre-forward. He is currently top of Everton's goalscoring charts alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin with four goals apiece and is a goal threat in a team that are the joint-third-lowest scorers in the Premier League.

Doucoure must start if Everton are to get a result at home to Newcastle United.

The Gunners ended a miserable week on a high to move back above Manchester City in the Premier League title race

Leandro Trossard's strike just before half-time and Martin Odegaard's injury-time finish were enough to give Arsenal an edgy 2-0 win at Wolves which moved them back to the top of the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta's side went into the game on the back of a bruising week which had seen them surrender control of the title race to Manchester City following defeat by Aston Villa and then exit the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich.

So they knew they had to find a reaction at Molineux and they did just thanks thanks to Trossard's spectacular sliced effort, which found its way into the top corner, and Odegaard's angled finish in stoppage time.

It was a crucial win for the visitors at the end of a difficult week, one that now sees them move one point above City, but having played a game more than the champions.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Molineux…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  David Raya (8/10):

  Made on fabulous save in the first half to push Joao Gomes' shot onto the post. Did everything well when called upon.

  Ben White (7/10):

  Got into good positions a couple of times in the first half, but his final ball let him down. Linked up well with Saka and Odegaard and really grew into the game after the interval.

  William Saliba (7/10):

  Another fine performance from the young centre-back. Never really looked troubled at the back.

  Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):

  Solid enough, although made one poor clearance which led to a Wolves chance before the break.

  Jakub Kiwior (6/10):

  Struggled in the first half and was fortunate to escape when his error gifted Joao Gomes a shot on goal that Raya did well to save. Improved as the game wore on.

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  Midfield

  Declan Rice (8/10):

  Arsenal looked better whenever he injected a bit of drive into the play. Could have done better with a couple of shots in the first half. Really came into his own in the final 20 minutes and took the game by the scruff of its neck, which showed with the part he played in Odegaard's goal.

  Martin Odegaard (7/10):

  Worked as hard as ever, but definitely looks a bit below par at the moment. Not playing with quite the same zip, but still crucial to Arsenal's performance. Finished the game off with his fine finish late on.

  Kai Havertz (6/10):

  Almost scored inside 45 seconds when his shot was saved. Never looks as comfortable playing in this deeper midfield role, but played his part in the win.

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  Attack

  Bukayo Saka (6/10):

  Had to deal with Toti man marking him all evening and was on receiving end of some big hits as usual. Looked a threat on the rare occasion he did find some space.

  Gabriel Jesus (6/10):

  Not at his best. Looks to be lacking confidence in front of goal, but played a crucial role in setting up Trossard for his strike at the end of the first half.

  Leandro Trossard (7/10):

  Missed a good chance in the first half but made amends when he broke the deadlock just before the break.

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  Subs & Manager

  Gabriel Martinelli (5/10):

  Had one chance late on which went straight at the keeper.

  Thomas Partey (N/A):

  On for the final 10 minutes.

  Mikel Arteta (7/10):

  He will be delighted with the result after such a bruising and tiring week. Not the best performance from his side, but he won't care much about that.