Newcastle United’s 2025/26 season has been one of promise blended with frustration.

While their defensive record remains one of the best in the Premier League – six clean sheets already this season – their attacking consistency has faltered.

The Magpies have looked strong at St. James’ Park but sluggish on the road, struggling at times to turn control into goals.

Eddie Howe’s side sit comfortably in mid-table, though many supporters expected more after last year’s Champions League qualification.

Their issues have been familiar ones – injuries to key full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, which forced Howe to shuffle his backline.

Fortunately, Malick Thiaw’s calm presence alongside Sven Botman has provided stability, while Dan Burn has once again filled in wherever required.

Despite these disruptions, Newcastle remain difficult to beat. They boast the second-lowest expected goals conceded (4.9) in the league, a testament to their structure and discipline.

Yet, as they seek greater attacking fluidity, attention inevitably turns to one man who has been the face of their attacking revival under Howe.

Anthony Gordon's form in numbers

Anthony Gordon has become the symbol of Newcastle’s evolution under Howe – an embodiment of energy, aggression, and belief.

Having joined from Everton in a deal worth £45m, he has since justified every penny, developing into one of the Premier League’s most direct and productive wide forwards.

Last season, Gordon contributed 11 goals and nine assists in all competitions, earning a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s most recent England squad.

His end product, once questioned, has improved dramatically thanks to Howe’s coaching.

He ranks among the top 10% of Premier League wingers for successful take-ons (2.47 per 90) and progressive carries (5.91 per 90), while averaging 2.2 key passes per game.

Matches Played

34

Goals

6

Assists

5

Progressive Carries

121

Progressive Passes

98

But Gordon’s greatest asset lies in his mentality.

He presses relentlessly, tracks back, and plays with the intensity Newcastle fans demand.

In recent fixtures, his combination play with Nick Woltemade has been central to Newcastle’s attacking threat, often driving transitions from deep and providing the spark when games look flat.

Howe has nurtured Gordon into a well-rounded, two-way player capable of influencing big games.

However, while the 24-year-old’s rise has rightly drawn attention, there’s another name inside the club quietly making waves – and he could be an even greater attacking weapon in years to come.

Newcastle have the next breakout star in waiting

In the shadows of Gordon’s rise, Seung-soo Park has been steadily earning admiration from Newcastle’s coaching staff.

The 18-year-old South Korean winger, who arrived from Ulsan Hyundai for a modest fee, has been said by Asian football expert John Duerden to be “similar to Mbappé” for his acceleration, close control, and composure in one-on-one situations.

Park’s development path mirrors Howe’s philosophy of patient integration.

Having initially trained with the U21s, he’s now a regular in Premier League 2, also impressing in the UEFA Youth League.

His off-ball intelligence – particularly his timing when attacking space behind full-backs – has caught the eye of the first-team analysts.

At just 18, Park’s statistical profile is already elite for his age group.

Last season, he averaged 4.8 successful dribbles per 90, ranked in the 92nd percentile for progressive carries, and completed 83% of his passes in the final third, as per Sofascore, a rare combination of flair and precision.

His ability to maintain tempo while carrying the ball resembles the traits that made Mbappé stand out as a teenager at Monaco – explosiveness matched with control.

Howe’s staff view him as more than just a development project.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

With Newcastle competing on multiple fronts, Park could soon see first-team action, particularly with the ongoing injury crisis.

Much like Howe did with Lewis Miley last season, the manager has a track record of rewarding academy excellence.

If Park continues his current form, it’s only a matter of time before he steps onto the Premier League stage.

His versatility, able to operate on either flank or even as a second striker, gives Howe tactical flexibility – something Newcastle have missed at times this season.

While Gordon remains the headline act in Newcastle’s attack, Park may yet become the more complete forward.

He combines Gordon’s intensity with an even sharper technical ceiling, blending raw pace, control, and end product that hints at world-class potential.

For a club intent on competing with England’s elite, Howe’s faith in youth could once again be the defining factor of their project.

Newcastle's "world-class" star is becoming another Woltemade-type figure

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are ready to challenge the biggest hitters across the continent this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 16, 2025

West Ham insider ExWHUemployee has shared some “unfortunate news” out of the club with Nuno Espírito Santo dealt another injury blow.

The Hammers had a rare afternoon of celebration last weekend as Nuno oversaw his first win since taking charge.

West Ham put top four-chasing Newcastle to the sword in a 3-1 victory which was also their first Premier League win at the London Stadium in 248 days.

Goals from Lucas Paqueta, Sven Botman (OG) and Tomas Soucek cancelled out Jacob Murphy’s stunning early opener to gift the east Londoners an absolutely vital three points, with Nuno explaining his plan to make the London Stadium a fortress when asked about the fan protests after full-time.

Nuno tinkered with his team once again at home to Newcastle, but unlike his questionable selections against the likes of Brentford and Leeds, his decisions paid dividends.

Jean-Clair Todibo put in what was one of his better West Ham performances in the left centre-back role, with highly-rated youngster Freddie Potts impressing after finally being given the chance by Nuno.

Despite reports suggesting that Nuno doesn’t fancy Callum Wilson up front for West Ham, the Portuguese elected to start him against Eddie Howe’s side and drop Paqueta back to his preferred midfield role.

The striker conundrum is one of West Ham’s major dilemmas, but ExWHUemployee says Nuno could welcome back Fullkrug pretty soon.

Sharing an injury update, the insider claims that he is on track to return ahead of schedule, as is Konstantinos Mavropanos.

However, he also has some bad news.

West Ham dealt Lukasz Fabianski blow as Nuno takes action

Writing via his Patreon, Ex explains that Lukasz Fabianski has now suffered a back injury which required him to be carried off in training at Rush Green.

As a result, Nuno made the personal decision to recall young keeper Finn Herrick from his loan at Boreham Wood.

The Pole, who was released by West Ham only to be brought back in the summer, played 90 minutes for the club’s Under-21s against MK Dons in the EFL Trophy back in September.

The 40-year-old has made 216 first-team appearances for West Ham and was a more-than capable back up to the likes of Areola and Hermansen, but following this injury, it is unclear what the future holds for Fabianski with his contract up at the end of 25/26.

Arsenal look set to go the distance as they fight it out for a Premier League title, though they may now need to fend off interest from Barcelona in captain Martin Ødegaard.

The Gunners made some bold moves in the summer to drastically improve their squad depth, though Mikel Arteta has still had his fair share of injury frustration to contend with.

Nevertheless, good news is in the post for the Arsenal boss after he confirmed Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Ødegaard could be set to return before the North London derby clash with Tottenham Hotspur on the other side of the international break.

Norway international Ødegaard’s injury problems have been frequent over the last few years, forcing the Spaniard into a tactical rethink, with Eberechi Eze featuring as a right-sided midfielder at times despite being a central player by trade.

Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice offer plenty of control in the engine room, which will prompt many to kickstart conversations over the direction Arteta’s side are heading.

Should the Gunners maintain their Premier League form, they will be on course to claim a first title since 2004. Momentum is likely to carry them through that pursuit, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see as few changes made as possible domestically to ensure there is continuity in roles across the pitch.

That could be bad news for Ødegaard, who may take time to get up to speed after his injury, and he could now have a totally different proposition to factor in as he navigates a potentially momentous campaign.

Arsenal set monster demand amid Barcelona interest in Ødegaard

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are looking to convince Martin Ødegaard to leave Arsenal, though

Andrea Berta is set to demand a ‘significant’ sum that could squeeze La Blaugrana’s transfer and wage budget.

Labelled “phenomenal” by Arteta, the 26-year-old is viewed as someone who could revolutionise the La Liga giants’ midfield, which isn’t surprising due to his contribution of 41 goals and 40 assists in 205 appearances for the North Londoners.

Barcelona will need to weigh up where else they can spend and, as a result, are most likely to try and sign the former Real Madrid prodigy in the summer of 2026, given they have no intention of dipping into the January window for reinforcements.

Convincing Ødegaard to move back to La Liga will be difficult, though the player is aware that his career could be in need of a next step later down the line, making for an intriguing potential saga.

Arsenal's next Martin Odegaard could already be at the club

Either way, Berta has the bit between his teeth on this one and if the Gunners’ captain is eventually allowed to leave the club, he will go for an absolute premium.

Former USMNT star Michael Bradley earned his first coaching title as New York Red Bulls II captured the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Cup. His side erased a two-goal deficit to beat Colorado Rapids 2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. A record crowd of 9,095 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., watched the Eastern Conference champs claim the league’s fourth title.

• First NEXT Pro Cup penalty shootout

  Despite creating early chances through forward Roald Mitchell, Red Bulls II found themselves trailing when Colorado's Golden Boot contender Billo Diop connected with Stevie Flores' low cross in the 34th minute. The visitors doubled their advantage before halftime when James Cameron converted from Alex Harris' long throw.

  The hosts mounted their comeback after the break, with Rafael Mosquera scoring in the 65th minute from Nate Worth's assist before Mitchell equalized just two minutes later. Colorado's Antony Garcia restored their lead in the 78th minute, but Mosquera converted a penalty after Worth was fouled to force the first extra time in Cup history, eventually leading to Red Bulls goalkeeper Austin Causey's heroics in the 3-1 shootout victory.

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• Mosquera and Mitchell shine

  The dynamic offensive duo of Mosquera and Mitchell proved decisive in the championship campaign, with each player finishing the playoffs with six goal contributions. Mosquera, a Playmaker of the Year finalist, delivered when it mattered most with his brace in the final, while Mitchell's equalizer helped spark the remarkable comeback.

  Causey's performance in goal during the penalty shootout highlighted the team's composure under pressure, with the goalkeeper saving one of Colorado's attempts to help secure the trophy.

• Developmental league reaches new heights with championship

  The dramatic final represents a significant milestone for MLS NEXT Pro, which continues to establish itself as a critical development pathway for young talent across North American soccer. The record attendance demonstrates growing fan interest in the developmental league, while the high-scoring, back-and-forth nature of the match showcased the quality of play.

  As the fourth unique champion in four seasons, Red Bulls II's victory also highlights the competitive balance within the league, with two Eastern Conference teams and two Western Conference teams now having claimed the title since the competition's inception.

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  Pathway opportunities

  The title triumph positions several Red Bulls II standouts for potential first-team opportunities heading into 2026, with Mosquera and Mitchell likely to receive increased attention from the MLS squad after their playoff performances. For Colorado Rapids 2, despite the disappointment, players like Diop and Garcia demonstrated qualities that could earn them consideration at the next level.

  The win is also a massive one for Bradley, who is widely considered one of the brightest American coaching prospects. 

MatériaMais Notícias

Quem espera sempre alcança. O torcedor do Fluminense sabe disso. Foram 121 anos aguardando a glória eterna. E ela chegou neste dia 4 de novembro de 2023, que passa a ser a maior das datas para a nação tricolor. Venceu o Flu com o verde esperança. Com requintes de sofrimento, na prorrogação. Com Cano fazendo o L, com John Kennedy decidindo, com profecia de Diniz, a equipe das Laranjeiras bateu o Boca Juniors, da Argentina, por 2 a 1, e se sagrou campeão da Libertadores pela primeira vez na história. E o palco não poderia ser outro: o Maracanã. 

O primeiro gol do jogo foi da equipe carioca. Artilheiro da Liberta, Cano marcou o 13º gol dele nesta edição da competição continental e, de quebra, se definiu de forma isolada como o atleta com mais gols pelo Flu na história do torneio. No segundo tempo, o lateral Advíncula empatou para o Boca. O jogo foi para prorrogação, onde o garoto John Kennedy decidiu. Ele saiu do banco de reservas, entrou no segundo tempo e, pouco antes, escutou do técnico Fernando Diniz que seria ele o autor do gol do título. O que aconteceu. 

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CINCO LANCES QUE MARCARAM A PARTIDA

> RIVALIDADE NOS PALCOS: durante a cerimônia de abertura da final, dois palcos foram montados no gramado do Maracanã. Em um deles, o cantor de pagode Ferrugem, que é torcedor declarado do Tricolor, puxou algumas músicas do clube carioca, enquanto o grupo de cumbia Yerba Brava embalou a torcida do Boca Juniors. A disputa começou antes mesmo do apito inicial.

> O CHORO DO PIT: conhecido pelo jeito durão, o zagueiro/volante Felipe Melo não conteve as lágrimas durante a execução do hino nacional brasileiro. Ruf ruf só com a bola rolando.

> L DECIDE! Fazendo o L de Lorenzo e Leonella, o gol marcado aos 36 minutos também foi para Germán Cano fazer o L de Libertadores. Artilheiro da competição, o centroavante consolidou de vez o seu espaço de importância na história do Fluminense.

> DEIXARAM CHEGAR: o Fluminense recuou bastante no segundo tempo. Resultado disso? Gol do Boca. Advíncula, em uma jogada manjada, recebeu pela direita, abriu para o meio, ninguém apertou e o lateral peruano acertou um belo chute no canto direito do goleiro Fábio. Minutos antes, o mesmo jogador havia tentado algo parecido, mas acertou a rede pelo lado de fora, em uma finalização no canto esquerdo.

>A PROFECIA DO PROFESSOR DINIZ! Decisivo durante todo mata-mata da Libertadores, John Kennedy foi o autor do gol título do Fluminense. O atacante entrou no segundo tempo e diante de uma profecia do técnico Fernando Diniz que, antes de colocar o jogador em campo, falou que o atleta faria o gol que levaria o Tricolor à Glória Eterna. E o lance para a eternidade aconteceu aos 8 minutos do primeiro tempo extra, quando Diogo Barbosa lançou, Keno ajeitou de cabeça e o Presidente acertou um chute de extrema felicidade na entrada da área. Gol que também rendeu a expulsão do camisa 9, que já tinha cartão amarelo e recebeu o segundo ao comemorar na escadinha de acesso à torcida no Maracanã.

+ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Fluminense

COMO FOI O PRIMEIRO TEMPO?

O primeiro tempo teve o Fluminense saindo na frente com muitos méritos. Ainda que não tenha criado grandes chances de gol, a equipe carioca foi quem ditou o ritmo na etapa inicial. O único momento de perigo do Boca Juniors foi em uma finalização de Merentiel de fora da área que ficou amortecida na defesa do goleiro Fábio, do Tricolor. E o ápice aconteceu aos 36 minutos, quando Keno caiu pelo lado direito, cruzou por baixo e o centroavante Germán Cano bateu de primeira no canto direito de Sérgio Romero. Artilheiro da Libertadores, o argentino ‘fez o L’ para os filhos Lorenzo e Leonella, mas também de Libertadores. A Glória Eterna que seria alcançada pela primeira fez pelo Flu minutos depois.

A arbitragem também foi personagem na etapa inicial. Pouco antes do placar ser aberto, o zagueiro Valentini deu uma cabeçada no meia Paulo Henrique Ganso, mas o árbitro colombiano Wilmar Roldán não amarelou o defensor argentino.

E A ETAPA FINAL?

Precisando do resultado, o Boca Juniors voltou para o segundo tempo buscando mais o jogo. E um dos seus trunfos era nas investidas do lateral-direito Luís Advíncula. E deu certo. Na primeira oportunidade criada pelo jogador, a finalização de fora da área, buscando o canto esquerdo, pegou na rede pelo lado de fora. Depois, não teve jeito. E o empate dos xeneizes saiu. Advíncula recebeu pelo setor destro, abriu para o meio, ninguém da parte defensiva do Flu apertou e o peruano encheu o pé no canto esquerdo do goleiro Fábio, que nada pôde fazer. Após o Boca empatar, o jogo voltou a ficar equilibrado, com as duas equipes tendo duas grandes chances de vencerem no tempo normal, já no fim do duelo. No lado do Boca Juniors, o atacante Merentiel encheu o pé de fora da área e levou muito perigo. Mas a grande chance ocorreu no último segundo de jogo, quando o lateral Diogo Barbosa apareceu na cara do gol, sozinho, mas bateu cruzado para fora. Keno entrava livre no meio da pequena área, mas também não alcançou.

A PRORROGAÇÃO

Foram 30 minutos de prorrogação que pareceram quase uma partida inteira. Primeiro com o gol de John Kennedy, aos oito minutos do tempo extra. O atacante, que marcou em todas as fases do mata-mata da Libertadores, entrou durante o segundo tempo com o técnico Fernando Diniz garantindo que seria ele quem faria o gol do título. Fez. Em uma jogada que iniciou com Diogo Barbosa, que havia perdido um gol inacreditável no tempo regulamentar. O lateral lançou Keno, que se sagrou o garçom do jogo e deu a sua segunda assistência, ajeitando de cabeça para o Presidente encher o pé no canto esquerdo de Romero, em um chute de primeira. O camisa 9, no entanto, foi expulso por comemorar o gol com a torcida na escadinha do Maracanã. Ele já tinha um cartão amarelo.

Atrás do placar, o Boca teve que se expor e foi para cima. E no fim da etapa inicial da prorrogação os argentinos pediram pênaltis por um suposto toque com a mão na bola dentro da área. O jogador, no entanto, tenha sofrido um toque antes e caiu de forma natural. Durante a consulta do árbitro Wilmar Roldán com os responsáveis pela arbitragem de vídeo, Fabra agrediu Nino e foi expulso. O lance contou com a ajuda do VAR, já que o vermelho foi dado após revisão de Roldán ao monitor. Inicialmente, o colombiano tinha advertido o jogador do Boca com cartão amarelo.

No segundo tempo da prorrogação, o Fluminense teve a chance de matar o jogo. Guga apareceu na cara do gol, mas a finalização bateu caprichosamente na trave. Tinha que ser com requintes de crueldade.

OS NÚMEROS DO JOGO

+ CONFIRA MAIS DETALHES SOBRE A PARTIDA

FICHA TÉCNICA
BOCA JUNIORS (ARG) 1 X 2 FLUMINENSE
CONMEBOL LIBERTADORES – FINAL

Local:estádio do Maracanã, São Paulo (SP)
Data e hora:4 de novembro de 2023, às 17h (horário de Brasília)
Árbitro:Wilmar Roldán (COL)
Assistentes:Alexander Guzmán (COL) e Dionisio Ruiz (COL)
Árbitro de vídeo:Juan Lara (CHI)
Público e renda:69.233 pessoas | R$ 31.702.550,00
Cartões amarelos: Figal, Langoni e Cavani (Boca Juniors); Nino, Keno, Germán Cano e John Kennedy (Fluminense)
Cartões vermelhos: Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors); John Kennedy e Eduardo Barros (Fluminense)

GOLS: 0-1 Germán Cano (36’/1T); 1-1 Luis Advíncula (26’/2T); 1-2 John Kenndey (8’/1TE)

BOCA JUNIORS (ARG)
Sergio Romero; Luis Advíncula, Nicolás Figal (Bruno Valdez, 7’/2TE), Nicolás Valentini e Frank Fabra; Pol Fernández, Ezequiel Fernández (Marcelo Saracchi, 1’/2TE), Cristian Medina (Vicente Taborda, 1’/2TE) e Valentín Barco (Luca Langoni, 32’/2T); Miguel Merentiel (Lucas Janson, 1’/1TE) e Edinson Cavani (Dario Benedetto, 32’/2T). Técnico: Jorge Almirón.

FLUMINENSE
Fábio; Samuel Xavier (Guga, 39’/2T), Nino, Felipe Melo (Marlon, 6’/2T) e Marcelo (Diogo Barbosa, 34’/2T); André, Martinelli (Lima, 34’/2T) e Paulo Henrique Ganso (John Kennedy, 34’/2T); John Arias, Germán Cano e Keno. Técnico: Fernando Diniz.

The MLB Winter Meetings are here, and with Juan Soto reportedly agreeing to a contract with the New York Mets on Sunday night, teams can begin to conduct business unencumbered by a hypothetical $700 million earmarked to one player.

On Tuesday, here are three of the most important rumors to know about coming out of the meetings.

Pitcher Market is Priced High

Jon Morosi reports that a few executives have told him that free agent pitchers are asking for a lot of money that teams don't have an appetite to pay. It's creating a market of opportunity for teams with movable starting pitchers, with Morosi mentioning Framber Valdez (Houston Astros) and Dylan Cease (San Diego Padres) as possible candidates.

Both pitchers are under contract for one more year, so they would be rentals for acquiring teams. Other teams with strong pitchers on contract years could be possible options to sell for teams looking to retool if asking rates on free agent pitchers don't decline.

The rumor was validated later in the day when Max Fried agreed to an eight-year contract valued at $218 million, according to reports.

Kyle Tucker Gaining Trade Interest

Also on the topic of rentals, Kyle Tucker will hit free agency in a year, meaning teams are looking at him as a possible acquisition opportunity. Morosi reports that the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees have expressed their interest in Tucker to the Houston Astros, but that Houston is comfortable with him staying in Houston in his free agent year.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post confirmed the Cubs and Yankees were thought to be fits.

With Houston seemingly not overeager to move Tucker, he could be a candidate that is moved at the trade deadline if the Astros underperform. The price may not be deemed affordable for the Cubs, Yankees, and any other prospective destinations at this time.

Seiya Suzuki Has Garnered Interest From Two Teams

Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that Cubs outfielder/DH Seiya Suzuki has received interest from two possible trade teams. The information comes from Suzuki's agent through Cubs president Jed Hoyer.

Suzuki has a full no-trade clause as pointed out by Rogers, so he can control his destiny to some degree, but his agent admitted that Suzuki prefers to play the field rather than just DH. He told Rogers it's a "small universe" where Suzuki would consider going.

It's unclear which two teams have expressed interest in trading for Suzuki.

Scott Boras did his job this offseason.

The durable sports agent helped client Juan Soto land an astonishing 15-year, $765 million contract to become the next right fielder for the New York Mets. Thursday was a day of celebration in that regard, as the Mets introduced the player they hope will serve as a franchise cornerstone for years to come.

New York's celebratory mood, however, could not discourage Boras from responding to a question about Soto's other suitors with a classic Boras-ism.

"When you're at a wedding, you don't talk about the bridesmaids," Boras said of the New York Yankees, Soto's old team, and other squads.

The Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays were all reputed contenders for Soto's services.

In the end, however, the Mets outbid them all. All that's left to do is see if they can win the elusive World Series title that justifies it.

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have had some genuinely world-class players represent them.

From the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp in the Invincibles era, to Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and their backline today.

However, the Gunners also have more than their fair share of cult heroes, such as Sunderland’s current captain, Granit Xhaka.

The Swiss international left Arsenal in the summer of 2023, but it looks like Mikel Arteta might have someone in his squad today who could be the club’s next Xhaka.

Xhaka's turbulent Arsenal career

It’s summer 2016, and after a reasonably impressive Euros with Switzerland, Arsenal opt to splash around £34m on Xhaka.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Unfortunately, while he certainly wasn’t one of the team’s worst players, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach ace was fairly underwhelming over the following few years.

However, given his experience, combative nature, and general personality, he was chosen by his teammates to become the club’s captain in September 2019, under Unai Emery.

It was a decision that would cataclysmically backfire just a month later, when, during a game against Crystal Palace, he was substituted off to a jeering crowd, to which he responded by throwing the shirt and armband to the floor and swearing.

At that point, it looked like his Arsenal career was well and truly over, but once he was appointed manager, Arteta was able to convince the fiery midfielder to stay and fight for his place.

Over the next two years or so, that is exactly what the Basel-born titan did, and finally, against all the odds, away to Brentford in September 2022, the fans began to sing his name once more.

The tough-tackling, all-action international had his best campaign in red and white that season, ending it with nine goals and seven assists in 47 games as the club launched a surprising title charge.

It would prove to be his final year with the club, but instead of leaving in disgrace like so many thought he would, the Swiss icon was serenaded by an adoring Emirates crowd as he grabbed a brace and said his goodbyes.

Now, two and a half years later, it looks like Arteta could have his own Xhaka-type player in his Arsenal squad.

Arsenal's new Xhaka

Now, arguments could certainly be made for either Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi becoming the next Xhaka for Arsenal, but instead, it’s actually Myles Lewis-Skelly.

It might sound a little out there at first, but there are a few reasons, such as the youngster’s natural position.

Yes, the teenager has played at left-back for the first team, but spent most of his time in the academy playing as either a defensive or central midfielder.

Moreover, when you watch him play, it is so apparent that he’s more of a central player, as not only does he have the spatial awareness and range of passing to thrive there, but he also has the carrying ability.

In fact, it was his incredible drive and assist for Gabriel Martinelli against Atletico Madrid that led one content creator to label him as one of the best in “world football” when it comes to carrying.

Furthermore, the 19-year-old has already shown the physical and mental strength Xhaka possess, and as Rice has pointed out, he seems utterly “fearless” on the pitch, regardless of the opposition.

Finally, in addition to the fiery attitude, the Hale End gem also has a wand of a left foot, and has already chalked up a few assists thanks to his weight of pass.

Ultimately, it is still so early in his career, but it’s clear that Lewis-Skelly shares some of Xhaka’s best traits and could become Arsenal’s new version of the Swiss monster.

Forget Dowman: Arsenal's "explosive" Hale Ender looks like another Saka

The impressive youngster could be the next Saka and the next talent off the block for Arsenal after Dowman.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 7, 2025

They have received plenty of criticism for it over the last couple of years, but Chelsea seem determined to continue building a team full of exciting young talents.

For example, the West Londoners added Jorrel Hato, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Estevao to Enzo Maresca’s side this summer.

However, one player who is just that little bit older than them is Liam Delap, who, at 22, is arguably still a prospect, but at the same time, needs to start delivering on a more consistent basis.

If he does do that, there is also more than a passing chance he could establish himself as an England regular; if not, Cobham is already producing an incredible gem who could surpass him for club and country.

Delap's route into the England team

While Thomas Tuchel arguably has the strongest England squad for a very long time, a narrative that has been doing the rounds this international break is that, after Harry Kane, there aren’t many, if any, obvious strikers to take as backup for the World Cup.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

For example, Ivan Toney is still playing in the Saudi Pro-League, Ollie Watkins has just one goal and no assists in 16 games this season, and Dominic Solanke is still out injured.

In fact, the search for a backup number nine has been so desperate that there are now genuine conversations around recalling Danny Welbeck ahead of the summer, and while he deserves to be in the conversation, he’ll be 35 this month, so he is not a long-term option.

This, then, is how, even though he’s not had the best of starts this season, Delap could very realistically find himself on that plane to the World Cup next summer.

After all, even though he was playing for a really relatively poor Ipswich Town side last season, the former Manchester City prospect was still able to rack up a reasonable enough tally of 12 goals and two assists in 37 appearances.

So, if he can rediscover some form this year, there is surely a place in Tuchel’s squad with his name on it, but if not, one of Cobham’s most exciting prospects in a long time could eventually usurp him for club and country.

The Chelsea gem who could usurp Delap

Cobham have long produced Premier League-level youngsters who have gone on to star for Chelsea or other sides, and it looks like Shumaira Mheuka is the next one up.

The 18-year-old goalscoring machine began his footballing journey on the south coast with Brighton & Hove Albion, but made the move to Stamford Bridge in 2022.

In the two and a half years since, the youngster has gone from strength to strength and is without a doubt one of the most exciting up-and-coming centre-forwards in the country.

For example, even though he was just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists in 30 appearances across the u18s and u21s.

However, while his exploits last year were impressive, what he has been able to do this year has been utterly remarkable.

Appearances

61

Goals

34

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

So far, the teenage phenom, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed “Cobham’s finest,” has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 12 appearances for the youth sides, totalling 997 minutes.

In other words, he is currently averaging 1.33 goal involvements per game, or one every 62.31 minutes, which is frankly ridiculous.

If that wasn’t enough, the Birmingham-born monster is also doing the business for the national side, racking up a tally of 14 goals and three assists in 20 appearances for the u19s.

With numbers and performances such as these, it’s easy to see why Kulig described the youngster as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”

Ultimately, if Delap doesn’t start performing for Chelsea soon, there is every chance he could be replaced by Mheuka, who could also soon make his way into Tuchel’s plans.

Bye-bye Tosin & Chalobah: Chelsea submit bid to re-sign "the world's best CB"

The iconic defender would be excellent for Chelsea, but bad news for Tosin and Chalobah.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 20, 2025

نجح فريق ريال مدريد في إدارك التعادل والإفلات من هزيمة أمام إلتشي، خلال مباراة الفريقين مساء الأحد، بمنافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني “الليجا”.

وحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على إلتشي، حيث التقى الفريقان ضمن مباريات الجولة الثالثة عشر للدوري الإسباني موسم 2025-2026.

وتقدم إلتشي بهدف ثم أدرك ريال مدريد التعادل عن طريق دين هويسن، وعاد أصحاب الأرض بهدف ثان، لكن جود بيلينجهام منح التعادل للنادي الملكي مجددًا لتحسم المباراة بنتيجة 2-2.

اقرأ أيضًا | موعد مباراة ريال مدريد القادمة بعد التعادل مع إلتشي في الدوري الإسباني

وحصل بينيا حارس مرمى إلتشي على جائزة رجل المباراة أمام ريال مدريد اليوم، بفضل أدائه خلال اللقاء.

وعاد ريال مدريد لصدارة الدوري الإسباني برصيد 32 نقطة بعد تعادله اليوم، متقدمًا على برشلونة بفارق نقطة واحدة.

ويحتل إلتشي المركز الحادي عشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني، وقد أصبح لديه 16 نقطة عقب التعادل أمام ريال مدريد.