Southampton have been granted permission following a managerial application ahead of Championship action returning, it has been revealed.

Southampton fan pundit calls for “experienced” manager

The Saints and Sport Republic have taken their time in regards to appointing Will Still’s permanent successor after sacking him at the beginning of the month.

A number of bosses have been linked with the St Mary’s vacancy, but it is interim manager Tonda Eckert who has been catching the eye after back-to-back wins against QPR and Sheffield Wednesday prior to the international break.

There have been suggestions the 32-year-old is in line to receive the permanent Southampton manager job, however, the pressure is on Sport Republic after a number of failures in recent times. Southampton fan pundit Ray Hunt even stated that supporters “want to see an experienced manager” come in.

“Sport Republic have appointed five permanent mangers in their three full seasons in charge. During that period, they have overseen two relegations from the Premier League, and one promotion with their only success, Russell Martin, but failed to give him the tools needed to succeed in the top flight.

“Moving forward, fans will want to see an experienced manager, who’s widely respected with a clear structure. We cannot repeat mistakes from the past. It is a huge task they simply have to get right. Take your time, give Tonda time in that interim, but ultimately make the right decision. The fans won’t tolerate another failure.”

Meanwhile, it has been added that Eckert is set to get the next three Championship fixtures to increase his chances of landing the role.

Now, it has been revealed the lengths the Saints have had to go to for Eckert to be in the dugout over the coming weeks despite already being employed as U23 coach.

Southampton apply for new visa to keep Eckert in charge

According to Sport 1, ‘Southampton applied for a work visa for Eckert for the upcoming matches so they could continue working with him’. It is claimed that the Saints ‘already received this visa for the next few games – meaning Eckert can continue’.

Tonda Eckert’s coaching career

Role

Years

1.FC Koln U17

Assistant manager

2013-2016

RB Salzburg YL

Assistant manager

2016-2017

RB Leipzig YL

Assistant manager

2017-2019

FC Bayern U17

Assistant manager

2019-2020

Barnsley

Assistant manager

2020-2022

Genoa

Assistant manager

2022-2025

Southampton U23

Manager

2025

Southampton

Interim manager

2025 – present

Eckert had a different visa as U23 coach, with the situation labelled ‘complex’ as ‘England’s employment law is extremely complicated, especially in football’, with clubs needing to ‘provide detailed justifications to the authorities as to why they prefer a foreign coach to an English candidate’.

Should Eckert get another positive result at The Valley this weekend and then again at home to Leicetser City and away to Millwall, then the speculation surrounding him landing the job on a long-term basis will only increase.

Southampton told to appoint new manager over Eckert who "ticks every box"

Tottenham are looking to sell a Spurs regular who Thomas Frank no longer wants with the January transfer window looming, according to a new report today.

Tottenham's rumoured plans for the January transfer window

If there’s one thing the last month has taught us, it is that the Lilywhites are still far from the finished article.

Tepid London derby defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea in the last few weeks, where Spurs barely managed to threaten in either encounter, significantly highlight the need for more firepower in particular.

Striker Dominic Solanke remains out with an ankle injury that required minor surgery, while star playmakers James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are still working to come back from their respective long-term problems.

This has left Spurs starved of attacking quality at times, with summer signing Xavi Simons largely failing to impress bar a player of the match display at home to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.

A silver lining for the north Londoners was Randal Kolo Muani’s exceptional outing against parent club PSG in Europe on Wednesday, where the Frenchman bagged a brace and an assist during the thrilling eight-goal thriller in Paris.

However, amid Solanke’s injury problems and the uncertainty surrounding Kolo Muani’s long-term future, considering he is only on a dry loan, reports suggest that Tottenham could look to sign a striker in January.

Co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are also targeting a winger, with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo on their radar.

Semenyo, who has stood out as one of the Premier League’s finest attacking players this season, could leave for just £65 million during the early stages of January due to a release clause in his contract.

Ex-club chief now tips Tottenham to sign Man City star for £50m in January

A deal is apparently there to be done.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 28, 2025

Some media sources claim that Tottenham are prepared to shatter their winter transfer record by signing both Semenyo and FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, with the latter in excellent goalscoring form right now.

To fund such a big investment, player sales may be needed, and one man believed to be on the chopping block is striker Richarlison.

Tottenham looking to offload Richarlison in January

According to recent reports, despite selecting him 20 times this season, whether that be in the starting eleven or from the bench, Frank views Richarlison as ‘expendable’ heading into 2026.

Now, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told Football Insider that Tottenham are looking to sell Richarlison in January.

Amid concerns surrounding inconsistent form and the fact his contract expires in 2027, it is clear to see why.

The Brazil international has actually scored six goals and bagged a further two assists this term, including two stunning goal of the season contenders against Burnley and Arsenal respectively.

However, Richarlison has still come under criticism this season, and January represents an opportunity to offload for a significant fee before it is too late.

The 28-year-old cost £60 million to sign from Everton, and reports suggest that Richarlison could return to Goodison Park as one mooted destination.

Australia captain also pointed to how other teams have been struggling with poor starts and collapses

Vishal Dikshit11-Oct-2025Scores of 128 for 5 and 76 for 7. There was also the 190 all out against India just before the World Cup. Australia captain Alyssa Healy brushed those collapses aside with her trademark half-a-smile and stated those scores were not a concern, but something they would like to “rectify” against India and for the rest of the World Cup.Healy also pointed to how other teams have been struggling with poor starts and collapses. India have struggled up front in their three games, South Africa were bowled out for 69, England stuttered their way to the 179 target against Bangladesh, while Australia, on their part, had recovered well from their own collapses with centuries from Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney to top the table at the time.”I mean, we’re allowed to lose games of cricket and we’re allowed to be put under pressure at times, in particular in World Cups,” Healy said a day before their India game on Sunday. “I think you’re going to be put under the pump in unfamiliar conditions, against unfamiliar sides at times. I think that’s the nature of the game, and like I’ve said all along, I really back our depth in our side and also in our squad that the 11 that we put out on the park are going to be able to get the job done for us. And we’re fortunate that it’s been a different person every time that stuck their hand up and said, ‘yep, I’ve got this, I can get us to a total or I can take the wickets to restrict the team’. I wouldn’t say it’s a worry, it’s something we’d like to rectify and I think there’s a lot of teams that are probably wanting to rectify that as well.”The low scores in this World Cup – with 300 breached just once – are down to the nature of the pitches. Guwahati and Colombo, which have hosted four games each so far, have offered purchase for the slower bowlers, some turn and grip. The moisture, because of the rain, has also not made run-scoring straightforward. Indore was among the flatter venues where Australia put on 326 against New Zealand and in the other South Africa chased down 232 in the 41st over without much trouble. Visakhapatnam, where India and Australia play on Sunday in front of a sell-out crowd, also had runs on offer for both teams, but also some help for the bowlers.Related

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“I think the wickets have still been good,” Healy said. “I think probably maybe a little bit of pressure has come into play at times and teams have got themselves into a little bit of a pickle. Obviously, Colombo was slightly different conditions than what we faced over here. So having to adapt really quickly is going to be really important. And I still remain that – obviously we’re here at a new destination, a fresh wicket, fresh outfield, fresh everything against a really good side – so we’re just going to have to pick up on that really quickly. And yeah, on the sort of collapse sort of situation, I think it’s on our top order to make the bulk of the runs and I think we can speak on that from both sides.”The varying conditions and facing oppositions they often don’t “makes this World Cup so unique” and “really challenging to win,” which makes adapting to the conditions quickly the key. Their collapses and a new ground in Visakhapatnam, where Australia have never played before, will, however, not deter Australia from going hard at the top, when Healy and Litchfield open the innings on Sunday.Phoebe Litchfield fine-tunes her reverse-hit•ICC via Getty Images”I actually still think the powerplay plays a crucial role in this World Cup,” Healy said. “I think if you can get off to a pretty decent start, it seems to be throughout the middle overs that some sides have been managing to squeeze oppositions, but I still think if you can get off to a good start and set a platform, that’s going to be really important to putting a good total out there or chasing something down. There’s a little bit of a fine balance in that regard, but I think both of us at the top of the order are quite aggressive players, so we’re not exactly going to curb that at any point. It’s just probably making a few better decisions and taking a few smarter options, knowing and feeling the conditions out there at that moment in time, and hopefully that’ll lay the platform for what is a really dominant middle order of ours to set a big total or, like I said, chase it down.”There have been memorable India-Australia games in the last few World Cups, both T20 and ODI. It’s also been one of the fiercest rivalries in the game. Australia took down India by six wickets in the last ODI World Cup, in 2022, but in the one before that Harmanpreet Kaur had played one of the most jaw-dropping knocks in World Cup history, an unbeaten 171 in a rain-shortened game.”Yeah, I think the rivalry continues to grow,” Healy said. “I think I’ve said it previously that I feel like they’ve been a really, almost a sleeping giant in the women’s game for a long period of time. It’s probably since the WPL has come into play that they’ve realised the depth they’ve got and they’ve figured out a style of play that they want to use, especially in this format, and they’re really sticking to that, which I think has been really impressive to see. So, in their home conditions they’re obviously going to play really well and be a real threat. But as we’ve seen throughout this World Cup so far, there’s lots of teams that are pushing everybody.”

South Africa smashed England by 125 runs to qualify for their maiden ODI World Cup final

Valkerie Baynes29-Oct-20258:30

Fire and ice take South Africa through to the final

South Africa 319 for 7 (Wolvaardt 169, Ecclestone 4-44) beat England 194 (Sciver-Brunt 64, Capsey 50, Kapp 5-20) by 125 runsLaura Wolvaardt’s batting masterclass and Marizanne Kapp’s five-for propelled South Africa into their maiden World Cup final, off the back of a 125-run victory over England.Wolvaardt’s breathtaking 169 in the first semi-final in Guwahati carried her side to 319 for 7 from their 50 overs, the second-highest score in World Cup knockout matches.Asked to stage the second-highest successful chase in women’s ODIs – behind Australia’s 331 to beat India earlier in this tournament – England fell short in the face of the brilliant bowling of Kapp, who took 5 for 20. Those wickets included two in the first over of the reply, as England lurched to 1 for 3, and the prize wicket of Nat Sciver-Brunt who had built a century stand with Alice Capsey. Later in the innings, Kapp took two more wickets in as many balls to put South Africa on the brink of victory.South Africa face the winner of the second semi-final between Australia and India for the title on Sunday, which will be their third consecutive World Cup final, after they finished runners-up at the T20 events in 2023 and 2024.Wolvaardt was a class above in the South Africa batting line-up. Her innings was full of trademark elegant drives early on, followed by a brutal leg-side assault as she hit the accelerator in the closing stages. She was supported by Tazmin Brits, who scored 45, but later went off during England’s innings with what appeared to be a wrist injury after landing awkwardly in the field, followed by Kapp’s rapid 42 off just 33 balls. Wolvaardt shared a seventh-wicket stand worth 89 with Chloe Tryon, who finished unbeaten on 33 herself.Sophie Ecclestone overcame a shoulder injury suffered in the previous match against New Zealand on Sunday to finish with 4 for 44 but, apart from her bowling figures, and fifties for Sciver-Brunt and Capsey, there was little to celebrate for England. Only two others – Danni Wyatt-Hodge and tailender Linsey Smith – reached double figures.As if determined to model South Africa’s bowling performance on Wolvaardt’s batting masterclass, Kapp removed Amy Jones with a ball of the highest quality in the first over. A fuller delivery outside off stump jagged back in between bat and pad and clattered into off stump. Heather Knight was more complicit in her dismissal three balls later when, with leaden feet, she prodded at one that shaped away from outside off and edged onto her stumps. The dismissal gave Kapp figures of 2 for 0 from her first five balls.Ayabonga Khaka made it three England ducks in a row just two balls into the second over, when she drew a faint edge off Tammy Beaumont with one that straightened off the pitch for caught behind.South Africa let England off the hook somewhat, as Sciver-Brunt and Capsey took them from such a poor start to 108 for 4, when Capsey fell moments after reaching her maiden ODI half-century. Capsey had been dropped on 28 by substitute fielder Nondumiso Shangase at long on off the bowling of Sune Luus as South Africa struggled to make further inroads with Kapp off the field. Sciver-Brunt, meanwhile, narrowly avoided being run out as she retreated to the bowler’s end.Marizanne Kapp struck twice in the first over of the chase•ICC via Getty Images

No sooner had Capsey reached fifty, that she picked out Nadine de Klerk at mid-off with Luus the bowler once more. Either side of her dismissal, Sciver-Brunt reached her own half-century, powering Luus over long-off for six, while Brits put down a difficult chance leaping to her right at midwicket. She fell heavily, forcing her off the field in pain and clutching her arm.Kapp struck in the second over of her return spell to remove Sciver-Brunt, caught behind after she was enticed to drive at a length ball, which wobbled away ever so slightly off the seam and brushed the outside edge. In her next over, Kapp had Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean caught behind off successive deliveries. The energy with which she roared to celebrate her last wicket matched that of her first.Wyatt-Hodge, playing just her second match of the tournament after being brought in for Emma Lamb to bolster a struggling middle-order, faced just seven deliveries for 2 not out against New Zealand. With more time in the middle here, she managed 34 off 31. When she and Smith fell to Nadine de Klerk, however, it was all over for England.South Africa’s resounding victory was a result of their ability to get out of trouble. They fell from 116 without loss to 119 for 3, as Ecclestone took a sledgehammer to the excellent structure laid down by Wolvaardt and Brits, with two wickets in the space of four balls.Brits could have been out for 1 off what would have been the sharpest of return catches by Lauren Bell. She had attempted a reverse-sweep off Ecclestone’s fellow left-arm spinner, Linsey Smith, before ending up in an awkward heap as the ball struck her front pad well outside off stump. When Brits tried it again, it was her undoing, as Ecclestone speared one in full on middle and leg and drew a bottom edge onto the stumps.Anneke Bosch, brought into the starting XI to boost the batting which had failed so miserably against England last time these sides met, lost her off stump as she charged at Ecclestone, yorked herself, and departed for a three-ball duck.Bell put down another tough chance leaping to her left at short fine leg off Kapp, on 36 at the time. But Kapp added just a handful more runs before Ecclestone returned with immediate impact, with Kapp skying a fuller ball outside off stump high over mid-on where Dean ran back and settled underneath it.Another cluster of South Africa wickets fell when Annerie Dercksen, apparently having failed to learn from Brits’ downfall, tried to reverse-sweep Ecclestone. She hit the ball into the pitch outside off, then again through her swing. The second impact ricocheted into the stumps.Having lumped Dean for a massive 82 metre six over wide long-on, Wolvaardt bided her time through Ecclestone’s final over. She then helped herself to 13 of the 15 runs to come off the next, by Sciver-Brunt, including another six over long-on, followed by a pulled four through backward square.Sciver-Brunt conceded 14 off her next over, which also included Wolvaardt’s third maximum. This time, the shot was over deep midwicket, and she raised her 150 with a similar effort off Smith, who leaked 20 off the over, all but one of them to Wolvaardt.When Wolvaardt finally holed out to Capsey as she launched Bell down the ground, she walked off to warm congratulations from her opponents, as well as the gratitude of her team and the rapture of the crowd, who knew they had witnessed something special.

Tottenham’s first transfer window with their new-look, reshuffled boardroom will be a very intriguing one, and a striker is believed to be at the very top of their priority list.

Ever since replacing Ange Postecoglou in the summer, new manager Thomas Frank has been starved of a reliable focal point up front.

Dominic Solanke, who Spurs signed for a club-record £65 million fee last year, has struggled with injury problems that have limited his involvement to just 49 minutes so far this campaign. The Englishman suffered a ‘minor’ ankle problem at the beginning of 25/26, which eventually required surgery, and he’s still on the comeback trail.

Solanke is set to miss this weekend’s pivotal North London derby against Arsenal and won’t be available for their crunch Champions League tie against PSG either, with Frank forced to rely on the out-of-form Richarlison, who’s attracted criticism for his inconsistency.

The Brazilian is a shoo-in to start against PSG next week given Mathys Tel wasn’t named in Frank’s 22-man Champions League squad. Tel, according to some reports, is said to be ‘unhappy’ in London and keen to leave Spurs in January, with Roma taking a serious interest in the Frenchman (La Gazzetta dello Sport).

Solanke’s fitness woes, Tel’s dissatisfaction and Richarlison’s form have fueled speculation that a new striker could arrive at the turn of the year, and Spurs are being linked with a few interesting names.

Chief among them is Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who scored 20 Premier League goals in his best campaign at Brentford whilst working under Frank.

The tactician has apparently held ‘direct’ talks with Toney about a January move to Spurs, according to some reports, while others believe that the Lilywhites are in pole position to sign him at the turn of the year after ‘preliminary’ negotiations (TEAMtalk).

While links to the 29-year-old are rife given his obvious connection to Tottenham’s manager, co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are considering other options.

Tottenham eye 'dream' move for FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa

As per TEAMtalk, FC Porto talisman Samu Aghehowa is a ‘dream’ target for the club.

Sources believe the 21-year-old, who’s bagged nine goals in 14 appearances already this season, fits perfectly into Frank’s long-term vision. Spurs’ boss is also said to have ‘repeatedly’ emphasised his desire for a physically imposing, mobile striker capable of pressing aggressively and connecting play.

Insiders within Tottenham’s recruitment structure apparently think of Aghehowa as the “younger, longer-term” striker successor they genuinely desire, despite ongoing interest in Toney as a potential 2026 alternative.

Standing at a lofty 6 foot 4 with surprising pace for his height, the Spaniard has even been compared to former Chelsea star Diego Costa during his prime years, thankfully not the version we saw at Wolves.

However, this all being said, a January move appears very unlikely.

Portuguese sources state that Porto are refusing to entertain winter offers, especially as they pursue a first Primeira Liga title in six years. President Andre Villas-Boas has reportedly informed intermediaries that Samu is not for sale “at any price in the winter”, casting major doubt on Spurs’ ability to prise him away mid-season.

Porto have also set an £71 million asking price for Aghehowa, meaning the north Londoners may have to fork out a new club-record fee. With that in mind, Frank and Lange will apparently continue to monitor Aghehowa’s development whilst maintaining Toney as a backup option.

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Chelsea once came ‘very close’ to signing the forward, and he’s a player with ‘huge potential’.

The five franchises in the WPL are set for a revamp, with the BCCI deciding to hold a mega auction ahead of the 2026 season. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the franchises have been told informally about the mega auction, which is likely to be held by end of November.The franchises are awaiting confirmation from the WPL on the number of retentions, the auction purse, the retention slabs and how many right-to-match (RTM) card options would be available. Those decisions will be finalised by the WPL committee, but there is no confirmation on when they are likely to meet. The dates for the 2026 edition are yet to be announced, although the BCCI had indicated earlier that the tournament would be held in the January-February window.The five-team WPL, the most lucrative event in women’s cricket, was launched in 2023 with Mumbai Indians emerging as the inaugural champions. Mumbai are the defending champions, while Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won the title in 2024.It is understood that both Mumbai and RCB, along with Delhi Capitals, losing finalists in all three seasons of the WPL so far, are three teams who were not in favour of the mega auctions. All three franchises, it is learned, reasoned that they have worked hard to build their squads over the past three seasons and asking them to dismantle just when the WPL brand is getting established, could prove to be counter-productive.It is understood, however, that the two other franchises – Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz – support a mega auction. Both these teams have never made the final and are keen to overhaul their squads and rebuild. One WPL official said that while they understood the reservations of the three franchises against the mega auction, it was important to ensure the tournament had five strong teams, otherwise the imbalance could only harm the brand. The official also pointed out that franchises like RCB have shown in the IPL that they can build their brand identity independent of the players retained, though they agreed the presence of Indian star Virat Kohli was well leveraged by the franchise.Mumbai Indians celebrate with the 2025 WPL trophy•Getty Images

This official pointed out that at the same time, the WPL would ensure that teams would still have the opportunity to retain their core. It is understood while some teams were in favour of being allowed to retain at least six or seven players, the WPL could lean closer to five. What also needs to be worked out as part of the retention formula is how many RTMs each team could exercise at the auction along with the combination of capped and uncapped players.For the IPL mega auction in 2025, each of the 10 franchises were allowed a maximum of six retentions via a combination of retention and RTM. The six would comprise a maximum five capped players (Indian/overseas) and maximum of two uncapped Indian players. The RTM option gives a franchise the chance to buy back a player during the auction by matching the highest bid made for the player by another franchise once the bidding is over. The RTM rule has never been used in WPL auctions.The WPL has been viewed as a gamechanger in women’s cricket, especially because of the monetary benefits for players. In 2023, Viacom 18 bought the WPL broadcast rights for INR 951 crore (USD 116.7 million approx.) for the period 2023 to 2027. The per-match value was worth INR 7.09 core (USD 866,000 approx.). India’s star batter Smrit Mandhana, the first player to be bought at the inaugural WPL auction (2023), remains the most expensive buy at INR 3.2 cr ($415,000 approx.).

Television presenter Laura Woods has shared a positive update following a worrying collapse during live coverage of the Lionesses' friendly against Ghana on Tuesday evening. Woods was taken ill ahead of kick off when she fell and was caught by pundits Ian Wright and Anita Asante, and ITV immediately cut to an advertising break. The presenter has now taken to social media to reassure fans and thank those who helped her.

• Worrying scenes as Woods taken ill live on air

  There were worrying scenes on Tuesday night as Woods collapsed just minutes into ITV's broadcast of England's friendly against Ghana. Woods was introducing the game when she collapsed and ITV cut to a break. Woods was then replaced by Katie Shanahan, who explained to the audience that the host had been "taken ill" and then added a little more information at half-time. She said: "As you may all be aware, Laura Woods fell ill at the start of the programme. We want to reassure you that she's doing OK. We all send her our love."

  The popular television presenter's fiancé Adam Collard subsequently posted an update on X that read: "Laura is all OK and with the right people. Thank you for all of your kind messages."

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• Woods shares positive update

  Woods has now offered her own update on Instagram that reads: "Gosh that was a bit weird. Sorry to worry everyone, I'm OK, the wonderful paramedics at Saints have said its probably a virus, just need a bit of rest and hydration. I'm really embarrassed that happened on TV, but a big thank you to my colleagues at ITV who have really looked after me tonight. And to Wright and Neets for catching me and sorry again x."

  Instagram

• Good wishes sent to Woods

  The worry scenes prompted an outpouring of support on social media. Woods, who also presents Champions League coverage on TNT Sports and has previously worked with talkSPORT, received messages of support from both broadcasters. 

  TNT Sports posted: "Everyone at TNT Sports would like to send Laura Woods our very best wishes. Get well soon, Woodsy."

  And talkSPORT added: All of us at talkSPORT send our best wishes to Laura Woods. Get well soon, Woodsy. 

  ITV Football also wished Woods a "speedy recovery" on social media, while the Lionesses wrote a message that read "Sending our love and wishing you a speedy recovery laura woods."

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  Lionesses finish year with a win

  ITV's coverage continued with the Lionesses finishing off 2025 with a 2-0 friendly win over Ghana. Lucia Kendall scored her first international goal in the victory after just six minutes, before a late penalty from Alessio Russo wrapped up the victory for Sarina Wiegman's side.

That was about as perfect a return from the international break Arsenal could have hoped for.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon and, following losses for Liverpool and Manchester City, had a chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Fortunately, and unlike last season, the Gunners made the most of the opportunity, bulldozing their bitter rivals 4-1.

4

Goals

1

57%

Possession

43%

3

Big Chances

0

17

Total Shots

3

8

Shots on Target

2

1

Saves

4

4

Corners

1

448

Passes

330

There were exceptional performances across the entire pitch for Arsenal, but one player really stood out, a player who could be on his way to becoming the new Ian Wright.

Arsenal's standout performers against Spurs

While every single player performed brilliantly for Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, Lenadro Trossard was once again one of the clear standouts.

The in-form Belgian was a huge attacking threat from the first minute to the 78th, when Noni Madueke replaced him, and it was his brilliant touch and strike that saw the Gunners take the lead.

He then provided an assist for the final goal of the game and made it abundantly clear that he should remain the starting left-winger for the foreseeable future.

Chalkboard

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

Likewise, even if Viktor Gyokeres is fit to face Chelsea next week, there is a strong argument, made even more so by his display on Sunday, that Mikel Merino should keep his place leading the line.

The Spaniard didn’t score against Spurs, but it was his incredible pass over the top of their backline that led to the opening strike.

Moreover, his constant dropping back into the midfield constantly gave Arteta’s side a numerical advantage there and allowed his attacking teammates to find space further up the pitch.

Finally, he didn’t get on the scoresheet either, but Declan Rice was utterly superb in the middle of the park and looked every bit the £105m monster the Emirates faithful hoped he’d be when they signed him.

The former West Ham United captain was here, there and everywhere. One minute he was winning the ball off a Tottenham player, and the next he was marauding through the middle of the park before laying it off for one of his teammates.

In fact, he provided the assist for the Gunners’ second, and with three key passes on the night, could have easily picked up another.

With all that said, while every Arsenal player impressed against Spurs, one stood out above the rest, a player who could become the club’s new Wright.

Arsenal's new Ian Wright

When it comes to the best player on the pitch against Spurs, it’s impossible to ignore Eberechi Eze.

Thomas Frank might’ve been jokingly asking who he was before the game, but by full-time, he was well aware.

The Gunners’ “unpredictable” summer signing, as dubbed by Rio Ferdinand, etched his name in North London Derby history with the first hat-trick in the game since Alan Sunderland in December 1978.

All three goals were excellent as well, with the first requiring some tidy footwork, the second coming off his weaker foot, and the third coming from the edge of the penalty area.

It was the sort of display that could truly kickstart his career at the club, and one that shows he can be just as effective as he is entertaining.

This is just one of the traits he shares with Gunners legend Wright, who not only became the club’s top goalscorer during his playing days, but was also one of the most thrilling strikers to watch.

Moreover, like the North Londoners’ new number ten, he played with a smile on his face and was clearly as in love with the club as the supporters were in love with him – just look at the reaction to his hat-trick.

On top of that, there is the Crystal Palace connection, with both players representing the South London club before making their move to N5 later in their careers than most.

Finally, both have played for England, and so long as he keeps his form up, the Gunners’ new mercurial midfielder should play a key role for the Three Lions at the World Cup next year.

Ultimately, Arsenal have signed an exceptional game-winning player in Eze, and thanks to his personality, playstyle and love of the club, he could become a modern-day Wright.

"Worst I've seen" – Gary Neville not entirely happy with Arsenal's Tottenham rout

The Gunners prevailed 4-1 in the North London derby on Sunday afternoon.

ByDominic Lund Nov 24, 2025

Chelsea kept their unbeaten November form going in both the Premier League and Champions League with a straightforward 2-0 victory away at Burnley on Saturday lunchtime.

Pedro Neto picked up his sixth goal contribution of the league season when handing the travelling Blues the 1-0 lead, before Enzo Fernandez made sure of all three points late on when he gobbled up a chance on the 88th minute that was all Marc Guiu’s making from off the bench.

Away from the goalscorers mentioned, Andrey Santos also stood out in the midfield ranks, with Enzo Maresca no doubt ready to select the 21-year-old more often, off the back of such an assured showing at Turf Moor.

Santos' performance in numbers

The number 17 was thrown into the starting XI in Lancashire, with Moises Caicedo rested back in Premier League action, after lining up for Ecuador deep into the international break.

Thankfully, Caicedo’s absence wasn’t felt whatsoever, as Santos’ individual showing was described as “outstanding” at the full-time whistle by former Stamford Bridge great Joe Cole.

Indeed, the 21-year-old came into the side and looked right at home in Caicedo’s midfield anchor role, winning seven duels and two tackles to really boost the Blues centrally when Burnley attempted to work openings.

On top of that, Santos looked assured and comfortable on the ball, too, without ever really looking flashy with 34 passes accurately registered.

While Maresca will take plenty away from Santos’ polished showing, with one Chelsea content creator stating that he was “everywhere”, he did need the likes of Neto to come up trumps with a moment of quality in attack to seal the win, away from the Brazilian, allowing the visitors to tick.

While Santos has previously showcased an eye for goal and demonstrated his qualities as a box-crashing 8, he’s not the only Blues star evoking memories of Stamford Bridge royalty in Frank Lampard.

Chelsea star could be Maresca's Lampard

Come the end of his illustrious Premier League career, Lampard would bag 177 top-flight goals, with the former Blues captain having a great habit of sneaking into the box and finishing off chances expertly.

Romelu Lukaku would even hail Lampard as an “unbelievable” finisher of chances when reminiscing about his brief time in the Chelsea first team alongside the modern great.

In the here and now, the aforementioned Fernandez also has a similarly impactful knack to be able to finish off chances, with Guiu playing a late pass into a dangerous space up against Burnley, knowing that his captain could be there to kill the game off.

After all, that’s amazingly Fernandez’s fourth Premier League goal of the season already, meaning the World Cup-winning star is now Chelsea’s joint-top goalscorer in league action for the season with Neto, which is an accolade Lampard would regularly claim during his celebrated stay in West London.

Yet, there is far more to both the Argentine’s game and Lampard’s game away from scoring big goals, with pundit Micah Richards going out of his way to hail the £107 man as having “everything” in his locker now to be a “leader” at Chelsea earlier in the season.

Games played

11

Goals scored

4

Assists

1

Touches*

70.7

Accurate passes*

46.5 (85%)

Shots*

2.2

Big chances missed

4

Key passes*

1.8

Big chances created

4

Ball recoveries*

3.9

Total duels won*

3.9

The table above very much backs up Richards’ assessment of Fernandez being a complete midfield talent worthy of wearing Chelsea’s club armband, with an energy present in his game that matches that of Santos, with 3.9 ball recoveries averaged and 3.9 duels won per game this season in league action.

However, it is his ability to fashion chances galore and score plentiful goals that really does make that comparison to Lampard even stronger, with Fernandez beating the likes of Cole Palmer to the top prize when it comes to most goal contributions tallied up for the Blues over the last year, as the 24-year-old now sits on a weighty 21 goal contributions, next to the Englishman’s 15.

Fernandez also has a taste for silverware now, too, having lifted the Club World Cup in the summer, as he strives to lift Premier League titles like those before him, with Santos also wanting to mature into a consistent first-team star next to him.

Enzo Maresca now driving Chelsea move for "incredible" £79m Premier League star

The Italian is looking to sign a new defender, who is viewed as an ideal fit for his system.

ByDominic Lund Nov 23, 2025

Liverpool face stiff competition from Atletico Madrid if they are to finally complete the signing of Crystal Place captain Marc Guehi after narrowly missing out on landing him in the summer. The Reds’ couldn’t complete one of their top transfer targets because the Eagles failed to find a replacement on deadline day and now Arne Slot’s side have another massive name to capture Guehi, who has declined the offer of a new contract at Selhurst Park.

Transfer saga left Liverpool high and dry

Liverpool missed out on Guehi when a £35 million deal collapsed with the deal close to completion, as Guehi had even undergone a medical for Liverpool before the move was dramatically cancelled by Palace chairman Steve Parish, a decision driven by manager Oliver Glasner's insistence on having a replacement lined-up. 

The failed transfer has since been described as a missed opportunity for Liverpool, particularly as they have faced defensive struggles and an injury to young defender Giovanni Leoni this season. The situation has become more complex because Guehi's contract with Palace expires at the end of the current season, meaning he is now free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January 1 – which gives Atelti a distinct head start. Liverpool remain interested in reviving their pursuit, potentially with a bid in the January window. 

However, they now face competition from other top European clubs, who are all keen to sign the England international, possibly on a free transfer next summer. Some pundits believe Liverpool have "blown their chances" to agree to a move. 

In recent seasons the Reds have missed out on a number of high-profile signings, including Martin Zubimedi, who eventually joined Arsenal and Leny Yoro, who opted to join Manchester United. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAtleti circle as Guehi contract runs down

Italian journalist Matteo Moretto told Marca: "The latest news is that Atletico Madrid has also contacted his representatives. There are English teams, Bayern Munich, Barcelona… but also Atletico, who are very attentive and very interested."

Simeone has previous for signing English stars

Atletico boss Diego Simeone has shown an appreciation for the mentality of English football, valuing the passion, aggression, and commitment and has noted that playing against Premier League teams is always a "proper contest". In his time at Atletico, Simeone has signed a few English players, most notably England internationals Kieran Trippier and currently Conor Gallagher. Trippier thrived under Simeone, calling him the "best in the world" and praising his man-management. Despite this, he has publicly stated that he thinks Premier League teams often do not defend well, contrasting their high-scoring games with his own defensively solid philosophy. He said: "I like to defend well. You watch English football and there is 4-4, 6-3 games… but no one defends?! I see it and I think that no-one defends. I think that if I can defend well and I can approach them in attack, I can become a champion." 

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Getty Images SportGuehi will be massive loss for Eagles

 Palace could move into the top four with victory over Man Utd at Selhurst Park today and recent history is on their side as the Eagles have won three of their last four league games against Ruben Amorim's side.