All posts by z3u9t.icu

It hasn’t come together for West Ham United under Julen Lopetegui. The atmosphere hasn’t quite turned toxic but there’s an undeniable sourness about the London Stadium right now, with limp performances yielding poor results.

This evening, the Irons have a chance to turn such concerns around, though will find a tough test against Liverpool at Anfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, who won the trophy last year, swept West Ham aside in the quarter-final with a 5-1 thrashing, though Klopp is now going and Arne Slot’s side have already lost against Nottingham Forest on home soil this year.

1.

Jarrod Bowen

44

20

2.

Mohammed Kudus

45

14

3.

Tomas Soucek

52

10

4.

Lucas Paqueta

53

8

5.

Michail Antonio

32

7

6.

James Ward-Prowse

51

7

Liverpool are not infallible, and Lopetegui has a ferocious frontline that could hurt the hosts. Jarrod Bowen is invariably effective up front, while Mohammed Kudus and Crysencio Summerville offer pace and electric quality to swarm and overpower their opponents’ wide zones.

West Ham team news

West Ham enforced a host of changes for the second-round Carabao Cup victory over Bournemouth at the end of August, and you can expect Lopetegui to do the same after the battering handed by Chelsea on Saturday.

Niclas Füllkrug will be assessed after a period of injury – the £27m summer signing from Borussia Dortmund, aged 31, has yet to score for the Irons and has missed the past two top-flight fixtures with an Achilles injury.

But that aside, there are options aplenty for the club’s Spanish head coach to pick from. Expect some of the most infrequent starting members to receive the nod.

West Ham's last game against Liverpool

Let’s be candid – it’s going to be a tough one. Liverpool might have been beaten on home turf already this season but have looked pretty devastating for the most part, with the squad slotting into their new way of life.

27/04/24

Premier League

London Stadium

2-2 draw

20/12/23

Carabao Cup

Anfield

5-1 loss

24/09/23

Premier League

Anfield

3-1 loss

26/04/23

Premier League

London Stadium

2-1 loss

19/08/22

Premier League

Anfield

1-0 loss

West Ham have not defeated Liverpool in any competition since a thrilling 3-2 victory in the Premier League in 2021, one of the Reds’ two defeats in a season that saw them miss out against Manchester City to the title by a single point – again.

But last time out, David Moyes’ Irons halted a five-match losing streak against the forthcoming opposition, effectively ending Liverpool’s fading hopes of winning the league with a hard-fought 2-2 draw that saw Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp come to a fractious blow.

There were many impressive performances, with Moyes hailing West Ham’s “incredible” performance. There was one player who put in a storming display. He must be unleashed alongside Jean-Clair Todibo, who joined this summer.

Who Lopetegui should unleash against Liverpool

Todibo started against Bournemouth in the previous round but that stands as the sole starting berth that the Frenchman has been awarded since moving from OGC Nice on a loan deal that has a purchase option of around £35m.

He struggled to influence the game and was withdrawn by Lopetegui at half-time. Todibo, 24, has not played since, but with West Ham’s defence struggling, this is the time for him to be unleashed and prove that he can become a starring member. But he would do well to find a reliable anchoring midfielder in front of him to help against the Reds’ attacking tidal wave.

Indeed, Edson Alvarez could be key on Wednesday evening. Todibo’s ball-playing quality could ensure the Mexican midfielder, who is so tough and authoritative in the tackle and duel, refinds his feet after flattering to deceive against Chelsea on Saturday.

Minutes played

90′

Touches

58

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

29/35 (83%)

Key passes

1

Dribbles (completed)

1 (1)

Tackles

4

Interceptions

3

Clearances

4

Total duels (won)

14 (7)

Alvarez was awarded an 8/10 match rating by Hammers site Claret & Hugh after his last effort against Liverpool, with the publication writing: ‘Made same crucial blocks and interceptions one of which started the move which led to the first goal. Slow to close down for the Liverpool equaliser but otherwise back to his best.’

It was an excellent display, and one that saw Luis Diaz and Salah thwarted in their efforts to score and send Liverpool back into title contention.

That kind of relentless duel output will determine West Ham’s success in the midfield battle. Liverpool are purring with a partnership of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister in the Premier League but there’s a high chance that both could be rested for this one, and West Ham must capitalise.

Alvarez also won ten duels against the Cherries in August, and if he can bring that kind of iron-clad energy to this one, he might just prove to silence Diaz and Salah again.

The 6 foot 1 titan ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 14% for interceptions, the top 2% for blocks and the top 5% for clearances per 90. It’s evident that, when at his best, he is one of the most robust and active defensive midfielders in the game, and this could be vital in ensuring that Todibo succeeds.

Liverpool will present a tough test indeed, but if West Ham can battle and match the physicality of the Anfield side, there’s a good chance that they can inflict some damage. Remember, a draw at 90 minutes will take the match to spot-kicks…

Lopetegui needs to axe West Ham ace who earns more than Soler & Todibo

He’s not been at the races this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 24, 2024

Leeds United head into the October international break frustrated that they did not claim all three points against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Championship on Friday night.

The Whites appeared to be headed for an impressive 2-1 win on Wearside, after goals from Joel Piroe and Junior Firpo had given the away side the lead.

Unfortunately, Illan Meslier had a howler in the 97th minute as he allowed what seemed to be a harmless ball slowly bouncing towards him to slip past him and into the back of the net.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke must now ruthlessly ditch the French goalkeeper from the starting XI when the side is back in action after the break.

Illan Meslier's Championship struggles

On the face of it, Meslier has conceded seven goals and kept five clean sheets in nine matches and that is an impressive defensive record for the Whites.

However, the 24-year-old dud has still managed to concede 1.47 more than the average goalkeeper would be expected to based on the xG of the shots on his goal, which also speaks to the structure of the team and the low-quality efforts they allow on their goal.

The former Lorient man, who completed just 47% of his attempted passes against the Black Cats, also ended the 2023/24 campaign with 4.49 more goals conceded than expected in the Championship, which shows that his weak shot-stopping this term is not an anomaly.

Farke must brutally bin him from the starting XI, allowing Karl Darlow to show what he can do, after the break. Meslier is not the only player who should be at risk of being dropped, though, as Joe Rodon continues to walk on thin ice.

Why Joe Rodon should be dropped

The Wales international has struggled at times since his permanent move to the club from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, after his loan spell last term.

Meslier should absolutely take responsibility for the Sunderland equaliser but Rodon also made a rash decision in charging out of position to contest a header and lost it, which then allowed Alan Browne to send his effort, via Firpo’s head, towards the goalkeeper.

Losing duels has, unfortunately, become a habit for the centre-back this season. He currently ranks within the bottom 3% of centre-backs in the league for duel success rate (41.7%) and the bottom 3.6% for duels won (2.23) per 90.

Rodon lost all three of his aerial duels against Sunderland, including one for the stoppage-time equaliser, and has struggled in his duels throughout the season.

Appearances

9

9

Tackles + interceptions

0.7

2.5

Ground duel success rate

31%

56%

Aerial duel success rate

47%

71%

Error led to shot

1

0

Penalties committed

1

0

As you can see in the table above, Pascal Struijk has significantly outperformed the Welshman in a host of key defensive metrics this season, which suggests that the Dutch colossus has carried his partner at times.

Rodon has been far too weak against opposition attackers, which proved costly on Friday night, and must now be ruthlessly ditched from the team alongside Meslier, to either improve the team or to give them the push they need to improve their own performances.

Leeds wanted to sign £46m star in the making but got Sinisterra instead

The Whites were one of the teams in the race to land the Netherlands international.

ByDan Emery Oct 3, 2024

Declan Rice’s sale was poignant, to be sure, but the West Ham United general won the Conference League in his final match for the club and served as a centrepiece of the meteoric rise under David Moyes.

Indeed, the England international completed 245 appearances for the Irons, scoring 15 goals and supplying 13 assists. His efforts at the club led to widespread acclaim, with his former manager hailing his “incomparable” qualities.

Of course, his sale called for replacements. Arsenal won the race and purchased Rice for £105m, a club record in both directions, but a player of that calibre was never going to be directly recovered.

Instead, West Ham replaced him in the aggregate, with James Ward-Prowse among the incomings.

Why West Ham signed James-Ward Prowse

James Ward-Prowse completed a transfer worth £30m to West Ham in August 2023, joining Edson Alvarez in bolstering the Hammers midfield after losing their linchpin.

1.

David Beckham

18

2.

James Ward-Prowse

17

3.

Thierry Henry

12

3=

Gianfranco Zola

12

3=

Cristiano Ronaldo

12

The former Southampton captain had made a career from his expertise in dead-ball situations. Indeed, only David Beckham has scored more direct free-kicks than the England international, which is quite something. Moreover, one more free-kick goal would place him alongside the Manchester United legend.

The midfielder might have finished the 2023/24 campaign, his sole term in West Ham garb, with a respectable haul of seven goals and 11 assists across 51 matches, however, outside of that aforementioned dead-ball prowess, he left plenty to be desired.

Lopetegui clearly wasn’t a big fan, allowing him to be loaned out to Nottingham Forest this summer after bringing in his own bunch of players.

The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas remarked that “he would have been a good option from the bench”, but perhaps a marginal role was something that the 29-year-old would not abide.

He’s since played four times for Forest and was sent off against Chelsea last weekend after stopping a counter-attack with a peculiar diving effort to stifle Nicolas Jackson.

It’s clearly not been the trajectory anyone would have wished for after just one season of football, and he’s definitely not proved himself to be money-well-spent after Rice’s departure from east London.

It’s a shame that West Ham failed to sign their first-choice target last year, with efforts made to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea but coming short. Imagine what could have been.

West Ham missed a trick with Conor Gallagher

In July 2023, West Ham bid £40m in an attempt to sign Gallagher from Chelsea, though their efforts fell flat with Mauricio Pochettino unwilling to part with a player he would later call “priceless”. It would have been a significant move from United, who would have benefitted greatly from the player’s industriousness.

Gallagher had risen through the ranks with Chelsea and played 95 times, scoring ten goals and assisting as many more, after a series of successful loan spells with the likes of West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.

Despite playing a central role under Pochettino’s wing last season, very much the lifeblood of Chelsea’s campaign as they sought to put the woes of recent years behind them, the spinning of the managerial wheel at Stamford Bridge spelt the end of the boyhood Blues’ stay, for he was about to enter the final year of his contract and looked set to play a peripheral role under Enzo Maresca.

Atletico Madrid came a-calling, offering the 24-year-old a fresh start. In August, he was signed for a fee of around £33m, ending his career in English football – for now, at least – and snapping any frayed cord from West Ham that clung to the prospect of keeping the centre-midfielder on the radar.

He’s averaged 2.6 tackles and 5.6 successful duels per game in La Liga this season, as per Sofascore, underscoring the defensive quality that has not yet been refined and shaped to Diego Simeone’s design, not fully.

Matches (starts)

37 (37)

37 (34)

Non-penalty goals

5

5

Assists

7

12

Pass completion

92%

90%

Big chances created

11

12

Key passes*

1.4

1.7

Ball recoveries*

6.0

3.9

Dribbles completed*

1.3

0.3

Tackles + interceptions

3.5

2.2

Total duels won*

5.7

2.8

It’s clear that he would have been able to operate in a dynamic and tactically flexible role for the Irons, having been praised in the past as a “pressing and transition monster” by one analyst.

Ward-Prowse might appear, on the surface level, to have matched his fellow Englishman for creativity last season, but the lion’s share of his playmaking came from dead-ball situations. Gallagher was far more rounded and effective across different roles and scenarios.

Gallagher performs like a veritable workhorse in the middle of the park, offering a rounded skillset that is truly a thing to behold when purring.

West Ham missed a real trick with this one. Gallagher is now starring for Atletico over in La Liga and could have been the steely presence required last season.

He might have kept Moyes in a job, had he signed. Gallagher might have been the catalyst for sustained success in the wake of conquering the Conference League. Ward-Prowse certainly wasn’t.

West Ham nearly signed £38m star to partner Bowen but got Kudus instead

West Ham nearly signed an “efficient” partner for Bowen, but ended up with Kudus

ByConnor Holden Oct 6, 2024

Newcastle United are now going to have to make do without an “absolutely outstanding” player for a number of weeks after some team news emerged ahead of the clash with Brighton.

Latest Newcastle news

Transfer rumours continue to circulate regarding the Magpies after a quiet summer, with Bayern Munich superstar Leroy Sane linked with an exciting move to St James’ Park. They are far from alone in showing interest, however, with Arsenal and Manchester United all reported to be in the mix.

Similarly, Lille attacking ace Jonathan David has also been considered a high-profile addition who could take Newcastle up a level in the final third, but there is again plenty of interest in acquiring his signature.

On the flip side, the Magpies will be desperately looking to keep hold of Alexander Isak, given his status as one of his side’s most important players, but he is believed to be wanted by Barcelona, who are eyeing a big-money move for the Swedish marksman.

This weekend, Newcastle return to Premier League action with the visit of Brighton, as Eddie Howe’s men look to kick on further this season. A significant injury blow has emerged leading up to kickoff, though.

Newcastle handed fresh injury blow

Writing on X on Friday morning, following Howe’s press conference, BBC reporter Nisha Joshi shared numerous injury updates, confirming that Kieran Trippier is out injured for Newcastle for “weeks” after suffering a hamstring problem.

At 34, Trippier may not quite be the force he was when he first joined the Magpies, but this is still an undoubted blow, given his vast experience and dependability at right-back. The Englishman’s importance is not lost on Howe, either, who lauded his defender after he won the North East Football Writers Player of the Year award earlier this year.

“What a fantastic choice (The North East Football Writers) made in picking Kieran as your player of the season. Kieran last year was absolutely outstanding in every phase of the play, whether that was creating goals or helping us not concede.

“He also led the team incredibly well during different moments of the season and was always an inspiration off it to help be a role model to the younger players to help progress their careers.”

In Trippier’s absence, Tino Livramento should see this as a great opportunity to shine once again, with the 21-year-old very much seen as his compatriot’s long-term successor at right-back at St James’.

Newcastle must regret losing £10m "monster" who's now worth 320% more

Newcastle must regret £10m sale who’s now worth 320% more.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 18, 2024

In truth, he should now arguably be looked at as the superior option anyway, given the £120,000-a-week Trippier’s waning talents – he has started four league games compared to his teammate’s three this season – but a strong run of form from Livramento in the coming weeks should only strengthen his claim.

The 2020 summer transfer window saw West Ham United make four permanent signings, along with two loan deals to bring six new players to the club. This also saw the Hammers let go of seven players on permanent deals, including the sale of Sebastian Haller for just £20m, despite signing him for £45m in 2019.

The biggest signing that summer was the addition of Said Benrahma from Brentford, who joined for a fee of around £20m plus add-ons. The Algerian made 155 appearances in his time at the club, scoring 24 goals, providing 20 assists, and totalling 8,720 minutes played.

Player

Fee (£)

Said Benrahma

£19.3m

Tomas Soucek

£13.5m

Vladamir Coufal

£5m

Jesse Lingard

£3.6m

Frederik Alves

£1.3m

Craig Dawson

£922k

The signings of Jesse Lingard and Craig Dawson were loan deals, with both players making big statements in their time at the club, Lingard making 16 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, scoring nine times and providing four assists, whilst Dawson made 22 Premier League appearances, scoring three times, and contributing to seven clean sheets, prior to signing permanently.

But it was actually one of the departures that same season that upset club legend Mark Noble, who expressed his anger at one sale in particular.

West Ham's own Cazorla

West Ham sold Grady Diangana to West Brom in 2020, for a fee of around £18m. And Noble was quick to let his thoughts on this be known, writing “as captain of this football club, I’m gutted, angry and sad that Grady has left, great kid with a great future”.

Just two years earlier (2018), Manuel Pellegrini stated Diangana reminded him of a young Santi Cazorla, saying he had the potential to emulate the Arsenal legend:

As it proved, the winger made just 21 appearances for the West Ham first team, scoring two goals and providing one assist.

Since joining West Brom, Diangana has gone on to make 176 appearances for the club, netting 22 times, providing 19 assists, and totalling 10,232 minutes played. The 26-year-old has only played 420 minutes this season, yet to provide a goal or assist, and his value according to Transfermarkt is down at £3.3m.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

So West Ham currently look like they made the correct decision, selling the winger for a great fee (£18m), whilst his value was at its peak. But how has the sale of Diangana also impacted the wingers since for West Ham?

West Ham's current crop of wingers

The Hammers have gone on to acquire the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Crysencio Summerville, and even Luis Guilherme as their set of wingers, who all currently look to be outperforming Diangana.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Diangana

Bowen

Kudus

Summerville

Goals

0.00

0.37

0.26

0.24

Assists

0.00

0.19

0.13

0.00

xG

0.06

0.21

0.38

0.25

xAG

0.06

0.33

0.11

0.21

Progressive Carries

2.13

4.02

5.00

3.75

Progressive Passes

5.11

3.91

2.70

1.67

Shots Total

1.06

2.50

3.64

1.67

Key Passes

0.43

2.53

0.68

2.08

Shot-Creating Actions

1.91

4.02

3.38

5.00

Diangana ranks last in eight of the nine metrics analysed above, all of which are considered to be important metrics for wingers/attacking midfielders. The 26-year-old does rank highest for progressive passing, with 5.11 per 90, but he also ranks the lowest for key passes, with 0.43 per 90.

Bowen, who was signed just six months before Diangana’s departure, has the best output of all the wingers (both goals and assists), produces the highest xAG (expected assisted goals), and plays the most key passes per 90.

Whilst at the time, Noble and many others were angry and upset about the sale of Diangana, it seems to have worked for the best, with West Ham now having the likes of Bowen, Kudus and Summerville on their books, all of which are valued significantly higher than the 26-year-old Diangana.

West Ham wasted £52.8m on flop who earned over 2x more than Summerville

West Ham had a howler on the big-money signing.

1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 30, 2024

With Manchester City reportedly uncertain over the future of Rodri once he returns from injury, the Premier League champions have reportedly turned their attention towards a Champions League midfielder who’s open to a new challenge.

Man City transfer news

It’s been a strange couple of weeks for Manchester City, who made it three defeats on the bounce in a rare struggle for form under Pep Guardiola. First exiting the Carabao Cup courtesy of Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues were then shocked by Bournemouth before new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim swept his new rivals aside in his Sporting farewell.

Things don’t get much easier, either, with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion coming up next. It’s been a run of games which have handed those at The Etihad a glaring glimpse into life without Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in a reality that they will not want to become permanent. Following recent doubts over the Spaniard’s future, however, City are already reportedly eyeing a potential replacement.

Man City eyeing £1.3m-a-year Dutch star as possible Gundogan replacement

City brought Gundogan back to the club in the summer, but they already have their eyes on his long-term successor.

1 ByBrett Worthington Nov 4, 2024

According to Caught Offside, Manchester City are now battling to sign Hakan Calhanoglu, who Inter value at €45m (£37m). The midfielder, himself, is reportedly open to a new challenge amid interest from the Premier League champions as well as Bayern Munich ahead of 2025.

A player who has transitioned into a Rodri-like defensive role and thrived ever since in Italy, whilst Calhanoglu wouldn’t exactly be a like-for-like replacement, he has the control and tempo required in City’s midfield and represents an experienced winner these days.

Now 30 years old, the midfielder, who started his career as a classic number ten, could have one last big move left in him in what could result in a Premier League switch. For just £37m too, Manchester City would arguably be getting a bargain in today’s market.

"Specialist" Calhanoglu would offer key versatility

The second-half of Calhanoglu’s career has been the real standout, unexpectedly transforming into an impressive deep-lying midfielder rather than a creative outlet, but that versatility is still there. And if Manchester City want to replace Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne in one swoop then the Inter Milan star may just be the man to turn to in 2025.

Already familiar with Premier League opposition, Calhanoglu scored the winning goal against Arsenal in mid-week, maintaining his 100% record from the penalty spot to send the Gunners packing and earn the “specialist” tag from Opta Paolo.

De Bruyne, of course, is currently set to leave as a free agent at the end of the season to deal Manchester City a major blow. If they were to lose Rodri at the same time, then the club would be left scrambling for options.

The last few years have been nothing short of a whirlwind for Arsenal and their fans.

The North Londoners have gone from a team unable to qualify for the Champions League into one vying for the Premier League title for a third year on the bounce, even if the last month or so hasn’t been great.

A huge component of this dramatic change in fortunes has been Mikel Arteta, whose tactical nous and unbridled enthusiasm has changed the club from top to bottom. Still, alongside that, transfers have made a massive difference.

2019/20

56

8th

2020/21

61

8th

2021/22

69

5th

2022/23

84

2nd

2023/24

89

2nd

The likes of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Ben White and even Kai Havertz have been instrumental in the North Londoners’ rise, but while all of them are still key members of the team today, one of the club’s transformative additions in 2022 who seriously impressed his captain, has now totally fallen to the wayside, and must be sold as soon as possible.

Arsenal's signings in summer 2022

Before we get to the player in question, let’s look at a few other players who joined the club during the summer of 2022, starting with the most expensive addition, Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian striker joined Arsenal from soon-to-be title rivals Manchester City for around £45m.

He enjoyed a stellar first few months at the club, in which he produced ten goal involvements in just 16 league appearances and became arguably the first name on the teamsheet.

However, while at the Qatar World Cup that winter, he suffered a severe knee injury that required surgery and kept him out until mid-March, and while he was still effective upon his return, he was noticeably less dynamic and dangerous with the ball at his feet.

Unfortunately for the former City ace, last season saw him eventually lose his place to Kai Havertz and his two-goal involvements in 15 games this season have done little to suggest he should be anywhere near the starting lineup any time soon.

However, while the 27-year-old is still a part of the squad, the same cannot be said of Fabio Vieira, who joined in the same summer from FC Porto for around £34m, and aside from a few glimpses of brilliance here and there, it’s hard to describe his transfer as anything other than a flop.

The Portuguese midfielder made 49 appearances for the team across the last two campaigns but scored just three goals and provided nine assists, which was clearly not enough for the manager, as he sent the 24-year-old back to Porto on a season-long loan in the summer.

Worryingly, the Santa Maria da Feira-born ace is also struggling at his old club.

In ten appearances, he’s provided just a single assist, which suggests he may not have a place in the squad at all once his loan is over.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, Jesus and Viera aren’t the only signings from 2022 who look like they have no future in the first team.

The Arsenal star who must be sold as soon as possible

So, considering the signings we’ve already gone over, it should come as no surprise that the 2022 addition we are talking about is none other than Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The Ukranian completed his £32m switch from City just a few weeks after Jesus, much to the excitement of Odegaard, who described the defender as “a really great player,” and early on in his Arsenal career, it was easy to see where the Norwegian was coming from.

He immediately replaced Kieran Tierney as the club’s starting left-back, and his ability to seamlessly invert into midfield when his teammates were in possession made a tremendous difference to the Gunners’ ability to control games and overwhelm opponents.

However, there was one significant issue: his defensive fragility.

Yes, for all of his technical brilliance, the former City ace was often exposed at the back, and this issue was on full display in the club’ must-win game at Anfield in April 2023, when Trent Alexander Arnold nutmegged him for the host’s equalising goal.

Unfortunately, it happened again last season, when he was shown up by Mohamed Salah this time, so much so that Gary Neville described him as a “liability,” and just a few weeks before that, former Gunners icon Tony Adams called him a “complete weakness” in defence following the club’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.

Unsurprisingly, now that Arteta has Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori – when fit – and even Myles Lewis Skelly to pick from, the Radomyshl-born ace is getting much less game time.

Season

22/23

23/24

24/25

Appearances

33

35

5

Starts

28

24

2

Minutes

2411′

2082′

178′

So far this season, the 27-year-old has only made five appearances, totalling 178 minutes, compared to 35 appearances, totalling 2082 minutes last season, and 33 appearances totalling 2411 minutes in his first campaign with the club.

Therefore, if the manager is unwilling to play him, the club should be looking to sell as soon as possible, especially when he’s on a whopping £150k-per-week.

Ultimately, Zinchenko helped to raise the floor when he first joined Arsenal, but a combination of poor defensive ability and the arrival of better full-backs have rendered him an unnecessary expense, one that should be sold.

Arsenal target £100m star who could be their best CF since Aubameyang

The incredible striker would take Arsenal to the next level.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 21, 2024

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has become a staple in the footballing calendar since its inception in the 1950s.

First held in 1957 with just three sides, it has evolved to become the major footballing tournament in Africa, and is now held every two years in various countries across the continent.

Ivory Coast are the current holders, having beaten Nigeria in the final of the 2023 competition thanks to a late winner from Sebastien Haller.

In doing so, the Elephants became just the third side in the competition’s history to lift the trophy on home soil, after a run in the competition that had also seen them thrashed 4-0 in the group stages and sack head coach Jean-Louis Gasset.

But despite their success, they remain a fair way down the list when it comes to the most successful teams in the tournament. With the qualifiers finalised for the upcoming edition in December 2025, we’ve taken a look at just who those are.

Rank

Nation

Times won

Last win

Egypt

7

2010

Cameroon

5

2017

Ghana

4

1982

Ivory Coast

3

2023

Nigeria

3

2013

Algeria

2

2019

DR Congo

2

1974

Senegal

1

2021

Zambia

1

2012

Tunisia

1

2004

South Africa

1

1996

Morocco

1

1976

Congo

1

1972

Sudan

1

1970

Ethiopia

1

1962

AFCON: Who are the last 10 winners of the Africa Cup of Nations?

FFC looks in detail at the last 10 teams to win the Africa Cup of Nations and exactly how they did it.

ByJamie Rooke Feb 12, 2024 8 8 teams (1 title each) Senegal are the most recent first-time winners (2021)

With the final tournament having been contested by just 16 sides until 2019, it is a truly impressive feat that eight different nations have managed to get their hands on the trophy once.

However, all of Senegal (2021), Zambia (2012), Tunisia (2004), South Africa (1996), Morocco (1976), Congo (1972), Sudan (1970) and Ethiopia (1962) are able to say that is precisely what they have done.

Of those, Morocco’s sole win – from topping a round-robin in 1976 – is perhaps the most surprising given their recent footballing heritage, while Senegal have made the most of a golden generation of talent with the likes of Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Sadio Mané all part of the squad that lifted the trophy in early 2022.

However, all eight continue to look for that elusive second AFCON title, with none of those sides making it past the last 16 of the competition in its most recent iteration – but six now qualified for the 2025 tournament.

Year

Winner

Opposition

Result

Goalscorers

Ethiopia

Egypt

4-2 (aet)

Kidane, Luciano Vassallo, Italo Vassallo, Worku / Badawi (2)

Sudan

Ghana

1-0

Hasabu El-Sagheer

Congo

Mali

3-2

M’Bono (2), M’Pele / Diakhite, Moussa Traore

Morocco

n/a

1st

n/a

South Africa

Tunisia

2-0

Williams (2)

Tunisia

Morocco

2-1

Santos, Jaziri / Mokhtari

Zambia

Ivory Coast

0-0 (aet)

None

Senegal

Egypt

0-0 (aet)

None

7 DR Congo 2 titles (1968, 1974)

A relatively surprising entry on the list is DR Congo, who have won the Africa Cup of Nations on two occasions.

Les Léopards lifted the trophy in 1968, beating Ghana 1-0 in the final of the eight-team tournament as Pierre Kalala wrote his name into the history books with the only goal.

They were knocked out in the semi-finals of the 1972 edition, but clinched their second title two years later while known as Zaire, beating Zambia. The final ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time, which prompted a replay that they won 2-0. Across both games, Pierre Ndaye Mulamba scored all four of his country’s goals, finishing as the top scorer in the competition with nine goals.

DR Congo have not tasted success since, and finished fourth in the most recent Africa Cup of Nations by knocking out Egypt before narrowly falling at the semi-final hurdle to eventual winners Ivory Coast thanks to a goal from Sebastien Haller.

Now qualified for the 2025 tournament, they will be hoping to add a third title to their trophy cabinet.

Year

Opposition

Result

Goalscorers

Ghana

1-0

Kalala

Zambia

2-2 (aet)

Mulamba (2) / Kaushi, Sinyangwe

Zambia (replay)

2-0

Mulamba (2)

6 Algeria 2 titles (1990,2019)

Algeria are regulars at the Africa Cup of Nations, but have only made the final on three occasions. They struggled to qualify for much of their early history, before finishing runners-up in 1980, losing to Nigeria in the final.

It took another decade for them to return to a final, but they were more successful at the second time of asking. Qualifying automatically as hosts, Les Fennecs didn’t lose a game on their way to the final, before getting revenge on Nigeria with a 1-0 win in the final to lift the trophy on home soil for the first time.

For the next 27 years, they made it past the last 16 on just one occasion, but Algeria produced another astonishing unbeaten run in 2019 with a final win over Senegal to win their second and most recent AFCON as Baghdad Bounedjah scored the only goal of the game.

They will be hoping they don’t have to wait as long again for their third success, with their ticket to the 2025 tournament secured.

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ByRoss Kilvington Oct 30, 2024 5 Nigeria 3 titles (1980, 1994, 2013)

No other team has been around the final four of the competition as regularly as Nigeria, with the Super Eagles the unfortunate side to have lost in the final most often.

They have finished third on eight occasions, most recently in 2019, and their second-placed finish in 2023 was their fifth in the history of the competition.

However, they have also managed to hold their nerve in the final on three occasions. Beating Algeria in 1980, they then endured a series of near-misses for 14 years until they again lifted the trophy, this time with a 2-1 win over Zambia in the 1994 final.

Their most recent success came in 2013, as they met Burkina Faso in the final, having drawn against each other in the group stages.

This time, the Super Eagles made no mistake, edging past their opponents 1-0 to claim their third AFCON success, though they failed to qualify for the competition to defend it in 2015.

A powerhouse in African football and heading to Morocco for 2025, history suggests that they will be there or thereabouts once more.

4 Ivory Coast 3 titles (1992, 2015, 2023)

Given the legendary players at their disposal, it is perhaps a shock to see Ivory Coast so low on this list.

The likes of Didier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Toure, Solomon Kalou and Gervinho all boast Premier League experience, and they helped Ivory Coast lift the trophy in 2015 as they beat Ghana in a tense penalty shootout.

But that was just their second competition win; their first came back in 1992 on their ninth attempt, with the previous eight having seen them finish no higher than third.

Their most recent success leaves them as the team to beat in the 2025 competition, and with a host of household names still littering their squad, the Elephants will be a force to be reckoned with.

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ByBrogan Clasper Jun 11, 2024 3 Ghana 4 titles (1963, 1965, 1978, 1982)

Ghana are next on the list, with their successes coming in short, sharp bursts. The Black Stars won the first two competitions they qualified for in 1963 and 1965 (when only three games were needed to establish a winner), while they were runners-up in the following two tournaments.

In a bizarre turn, they did not qualify for the next three editions, before returning with a bang in 1978 with another title and following that up with their fourth in 1982, beating Libya on penalties.

Since then, they have only flirted with success, finishing as runners-up on three occasions, including most recently in 2015 when they lost to the Ivory Coast on penalties.

In a shock turn of events, they failed to qualify for the 2025 competition, missing out on the final tournament for the first time since 2004.

2 Cameroon 5 titles (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)

You cannot discuss Africa Cup of Nations successes without mentioning Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions have lifted the trophy on five occasions and, in Samuel Eto’o, boast the competition’s all-time top goalscorer, with the former Barcelona man having found the net 18 times.

His goals helped Cameroon to their tournament wins in 2000 and 2002, scoring five across the two competitions.

Those successes came 12 years after Cameroon had last lifted the trophy, with the African giants reaching the final in three successive tournaments between 1984 and 1988.

It has been a fallow period by their own standards since, with Eto’o’s nation only lifting the trophy once in two decades, with their most recent success coming in 2017 as they beat Egypt to secure their fifth AFCON title.

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ByStephan Georgiou Jul 16, 2024 1 Egypt 7 titles (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)

Undisputedly the most successful side in the history of the tournament, Egypt admittedly had an early advantage.

The Pharaohs won each of the first two tournaments, which consisted of just three teams. This was followed by a run of six consecutive semi-final exits for tournaments they had qualified for.

It meant that their next success didn’t come until 1986, beating Cameroon on penalties, and it took another 12 years to follow that up with a fourth competition win, this time a more comfortable 2-0 victory over South Africa.

It was in the early 2000s that Egypt truly emerged as the powerhouse of African football, though, winning three successive tournaments between 2006 and 2010 – becoming the only side in the history of the competition to have managed such a reign of success and doing so without conceding a goal in any of the three finals.

14 years have now passed since their last success, but with Mohamed Salah ready to lead the line once more into the 2025 edition, they remain a side more than capable of lifting a ninth title at the next tournament.

As many as ten clubs are now showing interest in signing a member of Mikel Arteta’s squad in the months ahead, it has been reported, with the Gunners facing a fight to keep him at the club.

Arsenal thrash West Ham to move second

Arsenal have recovered from their Premier League blip against Newcastle and Chelsea in emphatic fashion, following up a 3-0 win against a good Nottingham Forest side with a 5-2 thrashing against West Ham in the London Stadium.

The Gunners were 4-0 up inside 36 minutes as goals from Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz put them on course for a rout of Julen Lopetegui’s side.

However, the Hammers hit back with goals through fullbacks Emerson Palmeiri and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, only for a Bukayo Saka goal on the stroke of half time to restore some breathing room for the Gunners and cap off a crazy seven-goal half.

Arteta’s side didn’t look troubled in the second half as they saw out the win in a professional fashion to move second in the Premier League, though Liverpool’s win over Manchester City means that they remain nine points behind Arne Slot’s side after a quarter of the campaign, having been one of just two sides to take points off the Reds this season.

The Gunners will be hoping that they can narrow that gap in the games between now and the January transfer window, when they may have to step into the market for reinforcements in a bid to catch the Reds in the second half of the season.

Manchester United (Home)

Fulham (Away)

Everton (Home)

Crystal Palace (Away)

Ipswich Town (Home)

But there could be exits from north London too.

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But he has not seen much action this season, with his only starts coming in the Carabao Cup and the defender managing just 374 minutes of action across all competitions.

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The Polish defender has been labeled “extraordinary” by international teammate Robert Lewandowski, but has had few opportunitites to showcase his ability in north London.

And according to CaughtOffside, that has caught the attention of a whole host of clubs, with a report claiming that all of “Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli, Atalanta, Fiorentina, Bologna, Sevilla, Villarreal and Marseille” are keeping tabs on the Pole.

It is added that “the three clubs to ask Arsenal about Kiwior are Milan, Napoli and Sevilla”, and that while Arsenal’s preference would be for a sale, both Napoli and Sevilla have explicitly asked about a potential loan move for the young defender.

The Gunners are certainly unlikely to receive the “€40-45m” that they want for the defender in January, but with the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori they have yet more cover for Gabriel if needed.

Newcastle United earned a last-gasp point against Premier League leaders Liverpool on Wednesday night. It was a hectic game, which ebbed and flowed with both sides leading at different stages. However, the Magpies managed to get themselves a crucial late point at full-time.

It was the Magpies who took the lead, thanks to a thumping strike from Alexander Isak. The Swedish attacker picked up the ball midway inside the Reds half, carrying it forward and firing an effort past Caoimhin Kelleher.

The visitors hit back five minutes into the second half, with England international Curtis Jones dragging his side level, teed up by Mohamed Salah.

Newcastle retook the lead just 12 minutes later, thanks to an Anthony Gordon strike, but that did not last long. Unsurprisingly, it was Salah who thought he had won the game for Arne Slot’s side, scoring in the 68th and 83rd minute, both of which were set up by the ever-creative Trent Alexander-Arnold.

However, all was not lost for the Magpies, who managed to claw things back in the dying moments and equalise through Fabian Schar. It was a satisfying result against a high-flying Liverpool side, but the Magpies might be frustrated they didn’t earn all three points given they led twice. There were certainly some standout players in Eddie Howe’s side.

Newcastle’s best players vs. Liverpool

One of the standout players on the night for the Magpies was undoubtedly Isak. He got a goal and an assist, providing Gordon with Newcastle’s second of the night. It was a vintage performance from the Sweden international.

He received a commendable 9/10 rating from Shield Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr. The journalist described Isak’s performance as ‘outstanding’, noting he was a ‘real creative force’ on the night. It was certainly an impressive showing.

Gordon also excelled and was a constant threat to the Liverpool backline all night long. The England international had some eye-catching stats at full-time on Sofascore. He completed three from five dribbles and created three chances, as well as making a nuisance of himself without the ball. The attacker won nine out of 13 ground duels.

Schar was another player who stood out against the Premier League leaders. Not only was his last-minute goal important, but he made some vital defensive contributions. Scurr gave him a 7/10 for his efforts, praising the fact he ‘kept things tight at the back’ for the Magpies.

It was certainly not a perfect showing from every player in Howe’s side, however, with Schar’s late goal bailing out a few teammates, including winger Jacob Murphy.

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Murphy’s stats vs. Liverpool

29-year-old winger Murphy had a tough night at the office against Slot’s men. Not only did he miss a couple of big chances, but the London-born star was sloppy for Liverpool’s second goal, losing the ball cheaply in the build-up.

Indeed, his chance that rattled the woodwork in the first 45 minutes was a golden opportunity to give the North East outfit the lead. Murphy was played in over the top of the Liverpool defence by Isak, but although his shot went past the outstretched hand of Kelleher, it could only clip the post.

The 29-year-old’s disappointing stats from the game show just how tough of a night it was against the Reds. He was sloppy on the ball, completing just 64% of his passes and losing possession 12 times. Murphy also won just one duel from five attempted.

Stat

Number

Touches

29

Pass accuracy

64%

Passes completed

7/11

Ground duels won

0/3

Aerial duels won

1/2

Dribbles completed

0/1

Key passes

1

Murphy received a disappointing 6/10 rating from Scurr, who was slightly critical of the fact he ‘gave the ball away cheaply’ in the lead-up to the visitors’ goal, noting his missed chances on the night, too.

Murphy will certainly be relieved that Schar managed to draw the Magpies level late on, given some of his errors on the night. It certainly leaves Howe with some selection issues, although he could well decide to drop the winger from the side ahead of a tough away trip to Brentford.

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