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Everton are finally back in Premier League action again today, and will feel quietly confident of securing a result against a high-flying Arsenal side…

Who should start for Everton vs Arsenal?

Although the Gunners come into this fixture in fine form whilst the Toffees do not, the Goodison Park factor is one that cannot be denied as Mikel Arteta once again returns to the place where his playing career in England exploded.

The Spaniard will be seeking to maintain his unbeaten league start, but despite facing a side that has yet to record a win, it is not the cut-and-dry result that it may seem on paper. After all, the Merseyside outfit have won four of their last five home games against the north London side.

What will also buoy Sean Dyche is the return of many absentees, with the international break coming at the perfect time to allow them to reset today in front of a rampant home crowd, as the likes of Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison near full fitness – albeit with the latter man having been ruled out for the visit of the Gunners.

The former in particular is someone who simply has to start if the former Burnley manager is to secure a result, with his wand of a left foot poised to terrorise Arsenal.

How good is Dwight McNeil?

The Toffees' poor start to the season is largely down to their profligacy in front of goal, as despite dominating three of their four league games, they have just one point to show for it. That is whilst creating 3.3 big chances per game and raining down 14.8 shots per game, via Sofascore.

So, being without last campaign's top scorer was always bound to put a dent in that proficiency, as the 23-year-old's seven goals and three assists made him integral in their survival push.

His creativity in particular will likely be key in feeding Beto, or another of his size, with his deep corner in this same fixture last term meeting James Tarkowski as they combined to secure a 1-0 win. Before that many assumed Arteta's men would roll over the hosts, who were welcoming Dyche in his first game in charge. However, he and his fellow former Clarets had other ideas.

Throughout the season McNeil would also maintain a 7.06 average rating in the league too, having created 11 big chances despite only registering three assists. This is easy to imagine when the £20m maverick averaged 1.4 key passes per game too, via Sofascore.

He is one of few within their squad truly capable of pulling something out of nothing, and against a well-oiled machine like Arsenal, they will have to rely on that.

Journalist Joe Thomas lauded another piece of "magic" from Everton's number seven back in 2022, which Goodison Park will hope to play witness to that again. Dyche has certainly been vocal in his praise for McNeil in the past: "Fantastic, he’s a real talent. I’ve said it for weeks now, and a long time ago when he first came into the side.

“He’s a really good player, he’s improving, his calmness at the end – I’m saying get it in the corner – but he cuts in, and his calmness to cross it into a dangerous area, and then gets his reward. Before then, his calmness to dribble out of trouble – he’s a really good player, really good, and he can only mature.”

Although the odds are completely against them, this will suit the hosts down to the ground. A moody Merseyside will expect fireworks, cheering on every big tackle and every towering header. The chance of the latter happening is certainly increased exponentially with McNeil in the team, which will hopefully be to create a winner.

Glasgow Rangers recorded a confidence-boosting victory over Real Betis in the Europa League group stages last night, netting a second-half winner which Michael Beale will hope kick-starts the club into gear.

The win means the Gers have won two from two since returning from the international break and if they have any ambition of claiming domestic prizes and embarking on a deep run in Europe, then this form must be continued over the coming months.

It’s fair to say that some of Beale’s summer signings haven’t quite bedded in, yet Jack Butland was in excellent form against the La Liga side, making four saves while taking 45 touches of the ball, proving that he is getting back to the form which saw him capped for England.

A deep continental run will also improve the finances, with the club failing to offload a player during the summer for a substantial fee, especially compared to 2022, when three players all left for extravagant amounts.

Nathan Patterson (£16m), Joe Aribo (£10m) and Calvin Bassey (£23m) all raked in major profits for the club, yet these were the first big player sales for a long time.

Indeed, the last player to be sold for a truly substantial amount was Alan Hutton back in 2008, and he broke the club record upon his departure. It wasn’t until Patterson left 14 years later did that record get smashed.

How much did Rangers sell Alan Hutton for?

In January 2008, the Light Blues were still in four competitions, and although they didn’t know it at the time, the season would become one of the most dramatic in recent history.

Hutton had been in impressive form and was attracting interest from the Premier League, most notably Tottenham Hotspur, and they eventually got their man, signing the right-back for a fee of £9m, breaking Rangers transfer record, which had been held by Giovanni van Bronckhorst since 2001.

The late Walter Smith was clearly disappointed with his departure, but wished him well, saying: "The clubs agreed a fee a couple of weeks ago and it was up to Alan to decide what he wanted to do.

"He took his time as he has told me that he was enjoying his football here and he wasn't in too much of a rush to go anywhere. But, as the weeks have gone on, he has decided it was the right time for him and we wish him well in that respect.

"Throughout the club there is disappointment that he's leaving, but clearly it was an offer we couldn't turn down.”

Captain Barry Ferguson also lauded Hutton. He said: "Hutts has been a tremendous player for us and I'm sad to see him go.”

How many appearances did Alan Hutton make for Rangers?

The full-back broke into the first team setup during the 2003/04 season under Alex McLeish having made his senior debut during the treble-winning campaign the season before, and he was looking to follow in the footsteps of Ferguson as a talented youngster who could make an impression in the first team.

He made ten appearances in the league in 2004/05 and was beginning to emerge as a player who would cement a regular spot in the starting XI before disaster struck against Kilmarnock in February 2005, when he broke his leg and missed the remainder of the season.

Not to be deterred, he came back even stronger and went on to play 60 games in the subsequent two seasons before really coming out of his shell under Smith during 2007/08.

Hutton, who was regularly dubbed the ‘Scottish Cafu’ loved getting forward as much as possible, and he registered five assists across 29 matches that term, which clearly impressed Spurs, and he went on to make 112 appearances for the club.

Although disappointing to see him leave, Smith had just netted the Glasgow side a profit of £9m as Hutton had come through the academy, and it was clearly too high an offer to reject as the Gers struck gold on the Scot.

What happened to Alan Hutton?

Hutton was just 23 when he moved South of the border and arguably hadn’t even hit his peak yet. Under Juande Ramos, Spurs were looking to move in a positive direction and after just a few weeks at the club, he played a part in their League Cup victory over Chelsea. So far so good.

Unfortunately, this was to be his highlight during his time in London as the former Gers defender went on to make just 66 appearances for Spurs before going on to join Aston Villa on a permanent basis in the summer of 2011.

Following several loan spells, it looked as though Hutton’s time in England was going to be seen as a major failure, yet he signed a new contract in September 2014 and this revitalised the defender as he went on to make more appearances for the club, while he continued to star for Scotland, going on to win 50 caps for his country.

He even drew praise from Sir Alex Ferguson just months after joining Spurs, who said: “He's without doubt as good a full-back as there is in Britain. He's got great attacking qualities.”

By the time he retired in 2020, Hutton had made over 200 appearances for the Midlands outfit and while he didn’t quite live up to the vast promise that he displayed at Rangers during the early stages of his career, there is no doubt Hutton sparkled at times down South.

Rangers hit the jackpot with the player and his sale allowed Smith to further strengthen his squad during the summer of 2008, despite suffering the agony of losing the UEFA Cup final and the league title on the final matchday of the season.

Not to be deterred, the Gers went on to win the next three Scottish titles and establish themselves as the dominant force in the country.

Hutton enjoyed a wonderful spell at the club between 2003 and 2008, and his sale remained a record for the club for 14 years, before Patterson shattered it last January.

Manchester City star Erling Haaland believes Dominik Szoboszlai has been an "amazing" signing for Liverpool ahead of their crunch clash at Anfield.

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• Liverpool host Man City at Anfield
• Haaland relishes heavyweight clash
• Singles out 'amazing' Liverpool player

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Cityzens are looking to climb to the summit of the Premier League and only a victory in Merseyside on Sunday afternoon can guarantee that. Ahead of this heavyweight contest, the City striker singled out midfielder Szoboszlai for praise – with the £60 million ($77.1m) summer recruit scoring six goals and bagging four assists in all competitions so far.

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  WHAT ERLING HAALAND SAID

  He told City's website: “I think how the Premier League is, it all comes down to being up there and to then, in the last few months, be the best team. That is how you have to do it. It is going to be a really massive game and there are loads of upcoming nice games over the next months. That is why we play football, because of these games. They have got some great players as well. They have bought some new players too. [Dominik] Szoboszlai is amazing. Liverpool have many great players, but the good thing is that we also have many good players. We need to be brave when we play our football, and we need to be ready. We will try to beat them.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Both City and Liverpool have a huge amount to play for in this contest as the former are looking to secure back to back trebles and the latter are aiming for an historic quadruple. A win for either side will hugely dent the other's Premier League title chances and may deliver a psychological blow in their pursuit of other silverware.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  After this box office encounter, Liverpool host Sparta Praha in the second leg of their last 16 Europa League tie on Thursday – where they hold a 5-1 aggregate advantage. City, on the other hand, take on Newcastle United next Saturday in the quarter finals of the FA Cup.

Arsenal's turnaround under Mikel Arteta has been sensational, but it was not a process that happened overnight.

Trusted to oversee a long-term project following the failures of Unai Emery's reign, the 41-year-old was plucked from Pep Guardiola's side and thrown straight in as a head coach with one goal in mind: returning the Gunners to the apex of English football.

Once a footballing powerhouse, the north London outfit had wilted during the final years of Arsene Wenger's reign, with their occasional FA Cup victory papering over the cracks of a side seemingly incapable of competing for elite honours.

That was something which the former Manchester City assistant manager sought to change, achieving that goal last term as he led his side into a title race in which they would fail painfully short late on.

Such frustration is only set to stoke the fire that is building at the Emirates Stadium, set to light up the Premier League once again as they currently remain one of two sides still unbeaten.

What makes such a feat even more impressive is the mini-revolution overseen over the summer, with the likes of Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, David Raya and Kai Havertz all brought in to take them to the next level.

However, those acquisitions were not to be without some casualties, and the exit of Granit Xhaka stung far more than many would have predicted it might have three years ago.

How good was Granit Xhaka?

Having maintained a redemption arc of his own, evolving from a reckless midfielder at odds with his own fanbase, last campaign marked a true standout for the Swiss international and a perfect way to bid farewell following a fine if somewhat tumultuous career in north London.

The 31-year-old would score seven and assist a further seven, as the firepower he surprisingly injected from the engine room proved pivotal in spearheading their push for silverware. As such, he would boast a 7.05 average rating, making him the eighth-highest-rated player within Arteta's squad, via Sofascore.

Then, as if his tenure could get no better, Xhaka would recoup an impressive £21.4m fee upon leaving for Bayer Leverkusen, having made 297 appearances for the Gunners, earning praise from his former boss: "For me (he's been) crucial – really, really important at every level, and I think for the team and the club as well.

"In the great moments like this season he has had, and in the difficult ones, because I think we have become a better club and better people and we have understood certain situations much better than just judging them.

"When you look how he behaved. We have some others who are absolutely a joy for those boys, the way they treat them. And he has an honest and unique willingness to help them. It's not an act, it's genuine."

However, as mentioned above his time in England was not a completely seamless period, and such goalscoring consistency was far from the norm. In fact, in the six seasons beforehand, he had only surpassed two league goals on one occasion.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Yaya Toure would be widely regarded as a far better footballer, and coincidentally a star that Wenger could have signed once upon a time.

Did Arsenal nearly sign Yaya Toure?

"Completely average," was how the legendary French manager would describe the display of the now Legendary midfielder back in 2003, as he trialled to cement his spot in Arsenal's first-team.

Brother of Kolo Toure, expectations were high for the tall, technically proficient maestro who earned praise from the club's reporter Richard Clarke in the run-up to that pre-season clash with Barnet: "Yaya has the build and languid touch of Patrick Vieira," he said. "The similarity was sealed by the fact that he started the afternoon in central midfield and was wearing Arsenal’s No 4 shirt."

However, what followed was a display that did little to endear him to the hierarchy, reportedly missing a sitter from close range as he nodded wide. " It seemed a simple job to nod the ball home, but Yaya sent his header wide," noted Clarke, whose damning assessment was clearly mirrored by Wenger, who opted against signing him.

He would instead move to Ukraine, before building a now iconic career that arguably reached its peak with Man City.

How good was Yaya Toure?

Eventually moving on to Olympiacos and AS Monaco, when Barcelona came calling in 2007, it was a prospect too good to turn down. Already he had proven the 73-year-old former Gunners boss wrong, but this would only mark the start of his success.

Securing untold silverware in Spain, winning two La Liga titles as well as the Champions League among other honours, a fractured relationship with Guardiola forced him into the arms of the Cityzens, who would gladly acquire his services for a modest £28m sum.

All stats via Transfermarkt

There, he truly began to shine, slowly emerging into one of the Premier League's greatest-ever midfielders, with power and poise in equal measure that devastated opposition defences.

The four-time African Footballer of the Year would go on to feature 316 times at the Etihad, ushering in an era of unprecedented success consisting of three league titles, one FA Cup and three EFL Cups too.

It is widely debated when the peak of his powers emerged, but few can deny how truly outstanding his 2013/14 term was.

Featuring 35 times, he would score 20 and assist a further nine, earning huge praise from his manager Manuel Pellegrini a year later: "Yaya is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League without any doubt. Maybe like any player he can have good games or not so good games but I never have any doubts."

Comparing this with Xhaka's finest year, and Toure actually scored more than the former FC Basel star's goals and assists put together. The two are incomparable, with their respective trophy cabinets further emphasising the gulf in quality.

Although the current Bayer Leverkusen man will likely retain a cult-hero status in north London, the retired 40-year-old is instead in a bracket of his own, rightly lauded as a "legend" by journalist Juliet Bawuah.

Whilst Wenger attests that he could have signed Toure, he did admit that the failed pursuit was one of his biggest failures: "It would be up at the top (of my list of regrets)."

Having witnessed the flourishing career the Ivory Coast superstar enjoyed, it is fair to say that his was a huge blunder from Arsenal, and one not rectified merely by the presence of Xhaka.

Phil Parkinson is adamant that Wrexham have set no points target in a bid to deliver back-to-back promotions for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

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• Welsh outfit flying high in League Two
• Busy month with five more games to come
• Taking aim at a place in the third tier

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  As things stand, the Red Dragons have put 63 points on the board through 35 League Two fixtures. They have 11 more to take in, with a further five remaining in what is a busy March for the Welsh outfit. With the finishing line in sight, Parkinson’s side have reached crunch time in their bid to take another step up the Football League ladder.

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• WHAT PARKINSON SAID

  Wrexham are just three points off top spot in the fourth tier, but Parkinson said when asked if he is putting short-term goals in place at SToK Racecourse during a hectic months: “To get to the end of February within touching distance or in the top three which was always the aim. We knew the fixtures were tough in terms of the travelling, but do I set targets for this month? No, we're just purely concentrating on the next game.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  That next game is a trip to Morecambe on Saturday, with the Shrimps having plenty to play for themselves as they take aim at a play-off berth. Parkinson added on the importance of a meeting with fellow promotion hopefuls: “Every game is of equal importance especially when you get to this stage of the season. We're looking to take the qualities from the weekend, improve on areas as well, that's what we'll be talking with the lads in training tomorrow going into the game. We know what we're up against and we're just looking to build on our performances.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Wrexham did beat Morecambe 6-0 back in November, as Paul Mullin grabbed a hat-trick, but their away form has been patchy this season and Parkinson knows that improvements are required on the road in order for a top-three finish to be secured.

Burnley have been handed a boost as one of their first-team players is set to return for tonight’s game vs Luton Town in the Premier League.

What's the latest team news at Burnley?

This evening, Vincent Kompany’s side are set to travel to Kenilworth Road to take on Rob Edwards’ outfit, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30pm UK time, but the boss could be without two of his senior stars due to injury.

At Turf Moor, Johann Berg Gudmundsson missed the previous 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United alongside Manuel Benson who has a swollen ankle, and it’s been reported that Nathan Redmond isn’t expected to return to action until after the international break later this month, as per BBC Sport.

The Clarets have also been without the services of Lyle Foster but due to suspension rather than fitness problems having received a straight red card during the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest last month, meaning that he had to serve a three-match ban.

In Lancashire, the striker has been the boss’ top-performing offensive player so far this season which shows just how much of an integral role he has in the starting line-up, hence why it’s hugely positive news that the 23-year-old can once again return to the pitch.

What has Vincent Kompany said about Lyle Foster?

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Monday, Kompany was asked to comment on Foster being able to stage his comeback vs Luton. As quoted by The Morning Star, he said:

“It’s massive. Zeki [Amdouni] and Jay Rodriguez have done well with the time they’ve had up top and in every game we’ve had at least two or three big chances. We’re not lacking goals for the lack of creating chances, we just don’t put them away. We have to believe performances are good and we keep creating chances but playing top sides is difficult. But we have to believe we’re on the right track to get results.”

How much does Lyle Foster earn at Burnley?

At Burnley, Foster currently pockets £25k-per-week which he has more than earned since joining back in January from KVC Westerlo, and especially considering the positive impact he’s had so far this season, it will be a massive boost for Kompany to have him back at his disposal to face Luton.

The South Africa international has three contributions (two goals and one assist) to his name in four appearances this term, form which has seen him hailed a “quality” centre-forward by his teammate Josh Brownhill, and he also provides a different type of threat up top.

The Soweto native was averaging two aerial wins per game in the top flight prior to his absence, displaying the excellent physical presence he brings to the final third and the handful he is for the opposition’s defence to deal with.

Furthermore, Foster has the ability to operate out wide on both the left and right flanks alongside his usual role leading the line through the middle, so his versatility makes it easy for him to adapt to the boss’ demands when it comes to formation and team selection.

Ipswich Town’s woes on their own patch continue on as Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur ran out resounding 4-1 victors over the dejected Tractor Boys on Saturday.

Indeed, Kieran McKenna’s men have only won one Premier League clash all season long at Portman Road, with this defeat, in particular, pushing them deeper into the relegation mire off the back of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ big win on their travels to AFC Bournemouth.

Now, the Suffolk underdogs are five points off Wolves who occupy that golden 17th spot in the division, but there were some positives for McKenna to hold onto come full-time, despite the grim reality of another home loss.

Ipswich's biggest positives vs Spurs

Ipswich actually finished the contest with more shots on goal – with 17 to Spurs’ ten – alongside offering up more big chances at a slightly heftier three to the away side’s one, but all of that would ultimately amount to nothing.

Still, the likes of Omari Hutchinson would trudge off the pitch at the end pleased with their efforts, as the ex-Chelsea man got his side back into the contest with a beautifully executed strike deep into the hectic first 45 minutes.

Away from that moment of ecstasy, Hutchinson also amassed three key passes in the game to try and gift his side more of a way into the clash before an unfortunate late collapse handed Spurs all three points.

Jack Clarke stood out down the left flank too, with his assist providing Hutchinson the chance to beat Guglielmo Vicario, whilst Liam Delap was his usual energetic self minus a finish rippling the back of the net.

But, away from those lively performers up top, the Tractor Boys defence did look porous throughout, especially down the left-hand side of the pitch when Heung-min Son was twisting and turning this shaky Ipswich body for fun.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Ipswich's biggest underperformer vs Spurs

Whilst Jacob Greaves didn’t cover himself in much glory throughout, the ex-Hull City man at least lasted the full 90 minutes which can’t be said for another notable underperformer at the back.

Ben Godfrey, again, looked out of his depth pulling on Ipswich blue, with both of Spurs’ goals in the first half originating from Son constantly bamboozling the former Everton defender, before teeing up Brennan Johnson for a somewhat easy finish.

Godfrey’s horror show first half resulted in McKenna hauling him off the pitch at the half-time interval, with the ropey 27-year-old failing to win a single tackle or duel, alongside also only registering six accurate passes when attempting to build attacks away from being routinely under the cosh.

This isn’t the only time this campaign that the ex-Toffees right-back has been hooked off by his new manager after an out-of-sorts defensive showing, with Godfrey surviving just an hour or so on the pitch when Manchester City came to town in late January, as Pep Guardiola’s rampant visitors ran out convincing 6-0 winners.

Looking at the table above, it does feel as if Godfrey can’t cut it against some of the Premier League’s elite attackers, with a worrying seven goals shipped from his 109 minutes of action versus City and Spurs, among other negative statistics.

McKenna will presumably bring Axel Tuanzebe back into the side when his suspension ceases to be, with his replacement not exactly banging the door down for most first-team chances moving forward.

If Ipswich are to stay up, they cannot afford more leaky showings, with the Atalanta loanee needing to be ditched now to give his team a fighting chance at survival.

Ipswich must now sell £35k-p/w flop who McKenna said had a 'high ceiling'

Kieran McKenna could be ruthless this coming summer in ditching this expensive Ipswich Town flop.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Feb 20, 2025

Jesse Lingard sent former Manchester United colleague Paul Pogba a touching birthday message that recalled happier memories for the pair.

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• Lingard wishes former team-mate happy birthday
• Message evokes happier time for pair
• Pogba recently handed four-year doping ban

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The French World Cup winner turned 31 today under the shadow of a four-year drug ban which was recently handed down by Italian anti-doping authorities.

  Lingard and Pogba were youth prospects together at Old Trafford and established first team players when Pogba returned to Manchester after his first spell at Juventus. Lingard's message recalled their early days together at Old Trafford with a clip of an elaborate handshake routine.

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  WHAT JESSE LINGARD SAID

  "Happy birthday to my day1 Paul Pogba," Lingard posted via Instagram Stories.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It's a brief message alongside a daft handshake routine but on some levels it's a poignant reminder of two careers that have gone awry. While Pogba's career hit the heights of a World Cup win with France in 2018, it's hard to shake the feeling that he may never play at the highest level again.

  Lingard looked to have found his stride again after a superb loan spell at West Ham in 2021 but failed to make an impact when he returned to United and became a free agent after an underwhelming season at Nottingham Forest last term. The winger surprised everyone by signing for South Korean side FC Seoul, who he made his debut for earlier this month.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR LINGARD AND POGBA?

  While Pogba tries to figure out whether there is any way of salvaging his career when he completes his ban, Lingard will take another step on the road to match fitness when his side take on Jeju United on Saturday.

Arsenal's youth production has been stellar over their illustrious history, and there is arguably no better environment with which to promote them from Hale End than the current one which Mikel Arteta has cultivated.

However, some of the outstanding academy stars will have a tough task on their hands overtaking the first-team regulars, with Oleksandr Zinchenko one man who could be under threat…

How good is Oleksandr Zinchenko?

Having joined in the summer of 2022 for £32m, the former Manchester City man marked an imperative acquisition for the Gunners, alongside Gabriel Jesus, to help add some stars already embedded within the system and with a winning mentality sure to rub off on the squad.

Arteta outlined the effect his Ukrainian ace instantly had: "First of all, his mentality. He’s used to winning – winning is the only thing and winning in the right way.

"He’s a perfectionist and a really demanding boy, I know him so well, and after that he brings qualities that we didn’t have in the squad. He gives us a different option to play within the role in different spaces, and I’m really happy to have him."

His tactical dexterity has been paramount in pioneering the inverted full-back in the Emirates, with the defender sitting in the top 3% for passes attempted per 90, the top 5% for pass completion per 90, and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 when compared to other full-backs across Europe, via FBref.

However, in Michal Rosiak, Arteta could be set to unearth an ideal heir to the 26-year-old, who he could mould perfectly in his image.

Who is Michal Rosiak?

Despite naturally being a right-back, his ability to also play in midfield arguably makes him the perfect subject to be converted into an inverted full-back, with his attacking exploits last season for the U21s only acting as further support.

The Polish defender was a key cog in their run to the FA Youth Cup final, and would score four goals in that competition whilst also managing a further ten goal contributions in just ten U18s Premier League matches. Academy expert Jeorge Bird would emphasise the former notion, as he took to Twitter to write: "Michal Rosiak, who has been fantastic in this Youth Cup run, opens the scoring with a brilliant free-kick".

As a silky stalwart who is just as comfortable in possession as he is at snatching it back from the opposition, his reward for such blistering form was a first professional contract back in April which marked a huge show of faith in the teenage sensation who was seemingly built for Arteta's system.

It could even be argued that, whilst he may not be as controlling as Zinchenko is in the engine room, his offensive exploits offer a fine makeweight, given the £150k-per-week star has recorded just three goal contributions across 43 appearances, a tally which Rosiak bettered in the FA Youth Cup alone last term.

Although it might seem a tough task to usurp the defender, who acts as a key pillar of Arteta's system, it is clear that the Poland U19 international has the exact skillset to mimic what makes Zinchenko so successful, certain to begin challenging him in the coming years.

Herve Renard is set to leave his role as head coach of France's women's national team after the Olympic Games this summer.

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• Renard likely to leave France role after Olympics
• Coach took over ahead of World Cup last year
• But set to depart after less than 18 months in charge

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Renard has not even been in the job a year and the French Football Federation (FFF) now looks like it will be searching for a successor, with federation president Philippe Diallo revealing on Wednesday that the coach is likely to move on in just a few months' time.

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• WHAT DIALLO SAID

  Speaking to , Diallo said: "Herve has a contract that runs out after the Games, at the end of August 2024, and he has made it clear that he's not at all sure he'll be staying on after that. He's committed to the Games and then he'll look to his future."

  Asked further about whether Renard is going to leave the role, Diallo gave a clearer answer: "He has hinted at it. It is his wish to complete his mission and not to continue it."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Renard was appointed by the FFF late last March when Corinne Diacre left the role, following announcements by several key players that they would not play under her anymore. Renard led Les Bleues at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but he had little time to prepare his team and the tournament was ultimately a disappointment, ending in the nation's third successive quarter-final defeat.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  France have never won a major tournament in the women's game and will hope that Renard's successor can be the right coach to lead them to that maiden triumph.