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Unai Emery has tried a plethora of different formations this season, but his favoured seems to be the 3-4-1-2 formation, a system that doesn’t work as successfully without Nacho Monreal.

The Chalkboard

Emery has played a 3-4-1-2 in victories against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Napoli and Valencia and it seems the system covers all the bases of Arsenal’s strengths and papers over the cracks of their weaknesses.

Arsenal have no wingers, so the width is provided by their wing-backs Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac. The Gunners’ centre-backs have struggled so the inclusion of a third gives more protection. Emery’s side boast two wonderful forwards who both get to start in their favoured position, and they even have depth in the number 10 role, Mesut Ozil being their main man who can float and create with wide options and two strikers to target.

The Spanish coach’s preferred back three includes Nacho Monreal with club favourite Laurent Koscielny and summer signing Sokratis. Despite the other two being more renowned for defensive excellence, it’s the ex-Malaga man who’s so vital to ensuring Arsenal execute the system correctly, making it easier for his two partners to his right.

Balance and distribution

Monreal brings two key elements to the back-three system that allows the Gunners to play it as effectively as possible.

The first is his history as a left-back. Similar to Cesar Azpilicueta at Chelsea, both Spaniards have been converted to central roles in a back-three perhaps less for their stature and dominance and more for their intelligence and the balance they bring to the defence.

When the wing-backs get forward, it’s so vital that either side of the defence is covered by someone able to get across from centre-back, but also someone familiar with the role and positioning a defender needs to take up when protecting the channels.

One point separated City and Liverpool but twenty-five separated them from the rest! Fans discuss who could reduce the deficit next season in the video below?

Monreal’s understanding of what to do in these areas of the pitch allows Sead Kolasinac to attack far more comfortably knowing that there’s suitable defensive cover.

The second part to Monreal’s job is his distribution from the back. In modern football, we see holding midfielders become more and more gifted in possession as they’re expected to be more than ball-winners and start attacks from deep for their side. In the back-three Arsenal play, the Gunners don’t have this luxury as there is only a midfield two sitting ahead, so there’s no natural deep-lying playmaker.

This means Monreal, advantaged by being left-footed in that position, has the responsibility to step up into midfield and thread balls through to the pivot. He can do this confidently as the back three will have more defensive cover with the extra partner. The right and left centre-back are charged with the responsibility of beginning a phase of attacking play and using their intelligence and passing range to pick out players in space.

None of this can be done as effectively if the defender in question isn’t capable on the ball or has the intelligence to understand how to cover the areas vacated by marauding wing-backs. This is why Arsenal have looked a lot better defensively all season when Monreal has played as part of a three, rather than when opting for a more natural centre-back like Shokdran Mustafi to slot in at left centre-back instead.

Chelsea remain on course to have a decent season this term despite plenty of chat about Mauro Sarri not getting what he should out of his team.

The Blues can still capture the Europa League, while they also remain on course to land a spot in the top four, something which would surely constitute a successful season for the Italian manager.

However, there is a big summer ahead for Chelsea, with the club in the midst of a transfer ban – something they are indeed appealing – and looking at some of their top stars like Eden Hazard potentially moving away from the club.

If Chelsea can indeed overcome the transfer ban though, then we here in the Tavern feel like they need to be going all out for Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt, who despite interest from Barcelona has revealed that he might well be interested in a move elsewhere in the summer.

The Ajax youngster has been nothing short of superb for the Dutch side this year, leading from the back as Ajax have moved within one game of landing a spot in the Champions League final.

Ajax have a historical link with Barcelona which has naturally led to De Ligt being linked with a move for the defender, but Chelsea are desperate for younger players in their squad who are ready made for first-team action, something which De Ligt falls right into.

It does of course come down to Chelsea being able to get some good fortune from the powers that be in relation to their transfer ban, but if they can get out of it, then signing De Ligt has to be a priority.

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Speaking on TalkSPORT (May 17, 6:25AM) Ray Parlour stated that he would be amazed if Marcelo Bielsa wasn’t the Leeds United manager at the start of next season.

The former Arsenal midfielder went on to praise the Argentine for the job he has done at Elland Road this season.

What’s been said then?

The footballer turned radio presenter was told be his co-host that there were rumours Bielsa would leave the club this summer.

“I’d be amazed by that,” said Parlour.

“He’s done a great job.

“They’ll be kicking themselves as they were in the top two for most of the season. I think Bielsa has done a great job and they’ll be absolutely gutted they’re not in the Premier League next season.

“They need to take stock now, have a good pre-season and have another go next season.”

Lack of knowledge

Parlour’s comments saying that he would be ‘amazed’ if Bielsa wasn’t at the club next year show a gap in the former midfielder’s knowledge about the current Leeds manager.

Bielsa famously doesn’t stick around at clubs for a long time and defeat in the playoffs may just be enough to push him out the door at Elland Road.

This is the same man who left Lazio after just two days, and left Lille after less than six months.

It shouldn’t come as a great surprise to anyone if Bielsa decides that now is the right time to walk away from Elland Road.

The Argentine will not be short of options if he does choose to leave the Championship side and he may want to have a crack at the Premier League before he bows out of the game.

Retirement may not be far off for the former Marseille boss, and this may be his last chance to move to a top club.

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Charlton sealed third spot with their 4-0 trouncing of Rochdale on the final day of the season last weekend and will now face sixth-placed Doncaster Rovers in the play-offs, with promotion to the Championship at stake.

The Addicks enter the weekend’s fixture as the league’s form team and will be full of confidence when they walk out onto the turf at The Valley, although Donny boss Grant McCann has been foolish to suggest that Charlton’s spectacular run will matter little in the play-offs.

Will this underestimation come back to bite him and his side?

What did he say?

Well, speaking to Doncaster Free Press this week, McCann said:

“Momentum is a good thing and it can be used in any way you want, but I don’t think it matters when you come into the play-offs.

“It’s two games over two legs and it comes down to whoever fancies it, whoever is good enough or whoever is better on the day is going to win it.”

Tempting fate

Lee Bowyer’s side have lost just once in their last 10, scoring a total of 10 goals in their last three – a run of results that puts them top of the league form-wise.

Check out what happened when two of Charlton’s best players faced-off in a game of ‘Splat’ in the video below…

The Charlton boss has repeatedly stressed the importance of players chipping in with goals from all over the pitch this term and has got exactly what he asked for in recent weeks, with Josh Cullen, Krystian Bielik and Joe Aribo all getting on the scoresheet.

The SE7 outfit seem to be running at full throttle going into the biggest fixture of their season so far and McCann’s suggestion that this doesn’t matter is nonsense.

Of course, anything can happen in a one off tie, but Charlton have been brushing their opponents aside with ease of late and McCann would be foolish to count on momentum going out the window at The Valley this weekend, otherwise he runs the risk of his side suffering a similar fate to the likes of Rochdale, Scunthorpe and Gillingham.

Liverpool fans may not have Divock Origi down as one of the most important players at the club, but when it comes to big games and having an impact he’s there. That was obvious on Tuesday as he scored an opportunistic brace against Barcelona, and now the Reds have been claiming that the Belgian has a long-term future at Anfield.

Origi opened and closed the scoring at Anfield against Barcelona, with the two goals making up his double coming either side of a two-minute brace from Georginio Wijnaldum. After that game, and considering some of his other displays this season with crucial goals against Everton and Newcastle, it seems the Belgian has done enough to convince the Kopites he deserves to stay.

When looking at Jurgen Klopp’s options in reserve to his front three, Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri are two who will certainly be staying on, whilst Daniel Sturridge will likely be shipped off when his contract expires this summer. Origi just offers something different, and he has all of the raw attributes to make it as a top striker, even if we only see glimpses of brilliance from the 26-cap Belgian.

You can read the Reds’ verdict on whether Origi has a Liverpool future here:

The Reds are desperate for Origi to make his Anfield stay a long one and will hope the Belgian can carry on making big moments like he did in the week.

حافظ ميكيل أويارزابال لاعب ريال سوسيداد على صدارته لجدول هدافي الموسم الحالي من بطولة الدوري الإسباني، رغم غيابه عن التهديف أمام قادش في الجولة العاشرة.

وغاب كريم بنزيما نجم ريال مدريد عن التهديف كذلك في تلك الجولة، حيث لم يشارك أمام فياريال نتيجة الإصابة.

وأحرز جيرارد مورينو لاعب فياريال هدف تعادل فريقه أمام ريال مدريد في الجولة المذكورة.

كذلك لم يسجل نجم برشلونة ليونيل ميسي أي أهداف خلال مواجهة أتلتيكو مدريد، في هذه الجولة، والتي شهدت أيضًا غياب لويس سواريز عن اللعب مع الأتلتي لإصابته بفيروس كورونا. ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإسباني بعد نهاية الجولة العاشرة

ميكيل أويارزابال، ريال سوسيداد، 6 أهداف.

باكو ألكاسير، فياريال، 5 أهداف.

جواو فيليكس، أتلتيكو مدريد، 5 أهداف.

أسباس، سيلتا فيجو، 5 أهداف.

جيرارد مورينو، فياريال، 5 أهداف.

لويس سواريز، أتلتيكو مدريد، 5 أهداف.

بورتو، ريال سوسيداد، 4 أهداف.

كارلوس سولير، فالنسيا، 4 أهداف.

ويمكن متابعة ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإسباني مُحدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

With the transfer window in Scotland days away from opening, Steve Gerrard is already trying to get the most of his summer dealings done early.

A plethora of new faces have already been confirmed to be joining the club this summer with more expected to come as the Rangers manager aims to build a side that can compete with Celtic for the upcoming season, although not every player linked with the club can help achieve this goal.

According to Sky Sports News journalist Keith Downie, Rangers are one of the clubs interested in Middlesbrough playmaker Stewart Downing, who is likely to be released this summer at the age of 34, and if Gerrard is aiming to build a side that can compete with Scotland’s best, the former Liverpool man isn’t the answer.

Downing has not been at his best for a very long time, and although he is a fairly big name and could have done a job in Scotland three or four years ago, at this stage of his career, the former England international is simply way too past it to be even considered an actual signing.

The veteran playmaker will be unable to match the impact Ryan Kent made at the club last season and Downing would also be an expensive signing on the wage-bill front, with a currently reported wage of £35,000-a-week on Riverside.

Gerrard should be looking for players that can make the fans excited and make rival supporters fearful, however, signing Downing will have the opposite effect, and the club should reconsider their options this summer when it comes to replacing Kent.

Rangers fans, who should the club bring in this summer to replace Kent? Let us know!

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It seems that a number of West Bromwich Albion fans are currently not prepared to commit to buying a season ticket for the 2019-20 campaign after prices were announced on Thursday.

The Baggies finished fourth in the Championship during the 2018-19 season, which saw them paired with rivals Aston Villa in the semi-finals of the playoffs.

West Brom recorded a 1-0 win over Villa in the second leg of their semi-final but ultimately lost on penalties.

As a result, the team will be in the second tier for at least another campaign.

Dwight Gayle has already returned to Newcastle United as the Championship outfit have admitted that they cannot afford to sign the striker on a permanent deal.

And the fans are still waiting for a new manager to be confirmed.

It was probably not the best timing for the club to post a tweet about season tickets and therefore it was not a surprise to see a host of furious responses.

Indeed, it seems that many of the supporters want to know what is going to happen in this summer’s transfer window before deciding to commit to next season.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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According to CM Jornal, Benfica have informed Everton that Andrija Zivkovic is available for €35m (£31m) in this summer’s transfer window.

The 22-year-old did not score a single goal in 30 appearances for Benfica during the 2018-19 campaign but he did contribute seven assists.

According to CM Jornal, Everton have approached the Portuguese giants over a potential move for the right-sided midfielder and have been told that the price is €35m.

The Merseyside club’s fans have been on social media discussing the speculation and it would be fair to say that there are a lot of differing views on the subject.

Indeed, whilst there are those who want their club to move for the Serbia international this summer, others are not interested in landing the versatile midfielder.

Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!

It is shaping up to be a very interesting transfer window for Everton, who will be looking to close the gap on the top six in the Premier League next season.

A selection of the Twitter reaction to the report can be seen below:

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Celtic face a decision in the coming weeks as to who will be the club’s permanent new manager, with Neil Lennon’s chances potentially taking a hit following the disappointing 2-0 Old Firm derby defeat on Sunday.

The Scottish giants’ board have plenty to consider in the near future, with plenty of managers both in and out of work potential candidates to succeed Brendan Rodgers next season.

One of those is David Moyes, who has been out of work for a year after leaving West Ham United, while he has now been joined by Chris Hughton, who was sacked by Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday after narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

“Lionel Messi is Barcelona’s James McFadden!” – Watch Scottish football fans name their clubs’ Lionel Messi in the video below…

The murmurs of course started instantly that the 60-year-old could become a target seeing as he wouldn’t cost any compensation, and lots of Celtic supporters have made their feelings on who they would prefer out of the former Newcastle United man and Moyes very clear.

One Bhoys fan said they would “take him over Moyes”, another said “Hughton is better than Moyes man”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…