Author: JB

Mikel Arteta used an old tweet from Ivan Toney to motivate his players before their rematch with Brentford last campaign, the latest episodes of All or Nothing have revealed. Arsenal lost their opening game of the 2021/22 campaign, getting beaten 2-0 away to Brentford, with Sergi Canos and Norgaard both getting on the score sheet.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After the match, striker Toney tweeted, ‘Nice kick about with the boys’ – a comment which not only wound up Arsenal supporters but also angered their manager too. When the reverse fixture rolled around in February, six months later, Arteta put the tweet on the dressing room tactics board and used it to ginger his players.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ...

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag should drop both Fred and Scott McTominay and play Lisandro Martinez in midfield instead. The Argentine had a difficult debut for the Red Devils, with many critics feeling he was at fault for Brighton’s opening goal in the 2-1 defeat after failing to track his runner.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Martinez also struggled to contain the power and physicality of Welbeck and was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he barged the player over inside the box. But the Ajax defender’s baptism of fire was nothing compared to the examination United’s midfielders received, with Fred – who was replaced after half-time – and McTominay both under fire for their poor displays.      (ad...

Manchester United’s squad is riddled with insecurity as many players feel they’re not up to the standards needed to return the club to the summit of English football. United kicked off the Erik ten Hag era with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford on Sunday.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Despite a good pre-season, United failed to show the type of form that has rejuvenated excitement among fans since the end of the last season. The Red devils’ collapse against the Seagulls points to a bigger problem though, in that the players seem to crumble under the pressure of playing for the club on the biggest stage.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); And the Athletic claim that the squad is gripped with a ...

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has spoken with Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong over a move to Stamford Bridge, though did not get the response he was hoping for. The 25-year-old is at the centre of the summer’s biggest transfer saga, having been chased for severally by Manchester United while Chelsea have now joined the race for his signature.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Barcelona are keen to cash in and get the Dutchman off their books, and cannot register some of their new signings until they get a big fee for De Jong. But, the former Ajax star has little desire to leave Catalonia and is happy and settled in Barcelona, having already rejected a move to Old Trafford despite United agreeing a £73m fee.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsby...

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has dropped a big hint over their rumoured pursuit of Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana, underlining the need to bolster his back-line with a young defender. The Blues started the first game of their new Premier League season with three veterans in their back-line: Thiago Silva (37), Cesar Azpilicueta (32) and new signing Kalidou Koulibaly (31).      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); While Tuchel likes being able to rely on their experience, he has stressed on refreshing his options with young blood – such as the 21-year-old Fofana. ‘It is a lot of experience, it is maybe another of age, it is a lot of experience and they have their quality and they know what they are doing,’ said Tuchel after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Everton. ...

Ben Chilwell is unfazed by competition from new Chelsea signing Marc Cucurella and says they will ‘push each other’ to higher levels. Chelsea spent more than £60m to sign Cucurella from Brighton, with the 24-year-old signing a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The deal raised eyebrows as Chelsea already have Chilwell in the left-back position, with Arsenal legend Martin Keown and Manchester United hero Gary Neville among those to question the signing. Asked about Cucurella’s arrival at the club, Chilwell said: ‘We’re at Chelsea so there’s going to be a lot of good players here.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ‘Competition for places is going to be fierce and obviously we’re going t...

Paul Scholes blasted Scott McTominay and Fred after Manchester United slipped to a defeat to Brighton in their opening Premier League fixture. Erik ten Hag endured a nightmare first competitive match in charge of United as his team were beaten 2-1 at Old Trafford.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pascal Gross scored two goals in nine first-half minutes as Brighton took a good lead which led the home side to be booed off at half-time. United, who finished sixth last campaign, improved after the break but were unable to mount a comeback despite Alexis Mac Allister’s own goal.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); It was Brighton’s first-ever victory at the Theatre of Dreams and marked a poor start to the Ten Hag era at Ma...

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't become Manchester United's hero after coming off the bench against Brighton, and Roy Keane wasn't too surprised. Erik ten Hag turned to Ronaldo after half-time in the Dutchman's first Premier League game in charge at Old Trafford, but Graham Potter's superb Brighton side ruined the manager's debut.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pascal Gross scored a brace in the first half - the second at the end of a flowing Seagulls move that completely tore United apart - and the home crowd were left stunned. In the Sky Sports studio at West Ham, where he is covering the Hammers' game with Manchester City, Keane couldn't hide his contempt for United's display at full-time.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({...