New role for Jurrien Timber? Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirms defender could be fielded in fresh position this season

Arsenal boss Mikal Arteta has revealed that he could field centre-back Jurrien Timber in a new position this season.

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  • Timber fit to start for Arsenal
  • Arteta suggests new position for Timber
  • Dutchman could play in midfield or as a left-back
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Timber joined Arsenal from Ajax last summer in a highly anticipated move for the Dutchman. However, just two games into the season, Timber suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear and was only able to return for the Gunners' last game of the season. The 23-year-old is now fully fit and in contention to start games again.

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    However, Arsenal have seen the rise of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Slaiba as a centre-back pairing, as the duo led Arteta's side to the most clean sheets in the Premier League as the Gunners conceded only 29 goals in 38 league matches. The return of Timber and the signing of Riccardo Calafiori has now brought upon the question as to where the Dutchman will fit in. Arteta has now suggested that Timber could ply his trade in midfield.

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    WHAT ARTETA SAID

    When speaking to the media, Arteta was asked whether Timber is in contention to play in midfield, to which he said: "Yeah, he is. He can play in various positions. His versatility is one of his biggest strengths. We missed him for 11 months. It’s great to have him back. He played some quality minutes the other day. Like Alex [Zinchenko] did too. I think Alex [Zinchenko] was really good in the first 60 minutes against Wolves. Having that capacity to find what the squad needs in that minute is really valued."

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  • WHAT NEXT FOR TIMBER?

    The Dutchman has only made four appearances so far for Arsenal and he will be hoping that he can get a start from Arteta when the Gunners take on Aston Villa on August 24.

Pela primeira vez desde inauguração do Allianz, Palmeiras mandará jogo fora do estado de São Paulo

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da bet7k: O Palmeiras está concentrado em Brasília, onde foi derrotado pelo Flamengo, pela Supercopa do Brasil, e enfrentará o Defensa y Justicia, pela segunda partida da Recopa Sul-Americana. O confronto continental será o primeiro no qual o time precisa sair do estado de São Paulo, apesar de possuir o mando de campo do embate, desde a inauguração do Allianz Parque.

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da casino
Em mais de seis anos da nova casa, o Alviverde teve de atuar em outro estádio em 30 oportunidades, devido a diversos motivos, como shows, reformas e eventos na arena. A maioria destas partidas foi disputada no Pacaembu, mas a Fonte Luminosa, o Brinco de Ouro e o Morumbi também foram utilizados.

Nessas ocasiões, o Verdão contabilizou um ótimo retrospecto, com 75,5% de aproveitamento (21 vitórias, cinco empates e quatro derrotas), além de anotar 63 gols e tomar, apenas, 24.

Desta vez, a mudança ocorre por conta da proibição de eventos esportivos no estado de São Paulo, que obrigou a diretoria a mudar a sede da decisão continental para a capital do Brasil, sendo esta a primeira partida cujo mando de campo pertence ao Maior Campeão Nacional que será disputada em outro estado.

O Palmeiras entra em campo novamente nesta quarta-feira (14),às 21h30 (horário de Brasília) contra o Defensa y Justicia, pela Recopa Sul-Americana, no estádio Mané Garrincha, situado na capital brasileira. No primeiro embate da decisão, o Maior Campeão Nacional venceu os argentinos por 2 a 1.

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Prestes a definir seu futuro, Thonny Anderson diz: 'O que mais desejo é jogar novamente'

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da betway: Tendo recebido recentemente propostas do Urawa Red Diamonds, do Japão, e do Sport Recife, o meia-atacante Thonny Anderson espera ter o seu futuro definido até o início do mês de abril. Em conversas constantes com seu empresário Alaece Dias, o atleta tem se mostrado bastante animado com a proximidade do acerto com seu futuro clube.

– Neste momento o que mais desejo é estar jogando novamente. Sei do potencial que possuo e do quanto posso oferecer à equipe que me contratar. Estou ciente das negociações com times do Brasil e do exterior e não tenho uma preferência clara por esta ou aquela agremiação. Minha vontade, única e exclusiva, é estar dentro de campo sendo feliz profissionalmente – declarou.

Com 23 anos completados em Dezembro, Thonny já defendeu clubes de peso do futebol brasileiro. Atualmente no Red Bull Bragantino, foi revelado pelo Cruzeiro e é o autor do gol mais rápido da Arena do Grêmio, marcado com a camisa do tricolor gaúcho. Já em 2019 foi uma das principais peças do Athletico Paranaense campeão da Copa do Brasil. O jovem demonstra orgulho pelo histórico que carrega.

– Já realizei bastante coisa em poucos anos de carreira. Sou um privilegiado por ter vestido camisas tão vitoriosas e tenho certeza que ainda incluirei outras, tão grandiosas quanto, no meu currículo – finalizou.

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Ipswich eyeing move to sign "excellent" gem ahead of Leeds

Although much of their focus will undoubtedly be on regaining their automatic Championship promotion place from Leeds United, Ipswich Town could yet get one over on the Midlands club in the transfer market to land a future gem.

Ipswich Town transfer news

No matter which way the promotion race goes, Kieran McKenna and Ipswich deserve massive credit for the position they've battled to be in, having only just bounced back to England's second division last season. It would be a moment to remember in history if they managed to secure back-to-back promotions, but with the automatic spot conceded to Leeds in recent weeks, it remains to be seen whether Ipswich can complete what was once the unthinkable.

Whether they find themselves in the Premier League or Championship next season, Ipswich's transfer policy will remain the same, as they look to build for the long haul. The January transfer window saw the Tractor Boys take a similar approach, as they welcomed 21-year-old Ali Al-Hamadi from AFC Wimbledon as well as 21-year-old Jeremy Sarmiento on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Now, with the summer transfer window fast approaching, McKenna and Co could move to sign another gem. According to the Daily Record, Ipswich are eyeing a move to sign Bobby Wales from Kilmarnock, having seen the forward perform well on loan at Alloa Athletic in Scotland's League One.

Newcastle reporter shares development on Ipswich interest in Paul Dummett

Another Championship side are also keen on him.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 1, 2024

If they do want to secure the 18-year-old's signature this summer, then Ipswich will have to beat Leeds and Stoke City, however, in what could be a tight race. The Tractor Boys will be hoping that, by the time the window arrives, they'll have the advantage of Premier League football to offer over fellow promotion contenders Leeds. The teenager is certainly one for the future, though it remains to be seen just where that future will be.

"Excellent" Wales is one for the future

Given the interest from the Championship, it's fair to say that the forward has impressed whilst out on loan at Alloa Athletic this season, with Wales' stats painting an impressive picture. The young forward has scored nine goals and assisted a further three in just nine appearances in all competitions so far this season. The more game time and goals that come his way, the more that Derek McInnes may have to start thinking about a Kilmarnock first-team place for the youngster.

Wales has certainly earned plenty of fans already in Scotland too, with The Young Team – an account dedicated to scouting young Scotland players – previously posting on X:

It's the type of talent that Ipswich will be hoping to benefit from, especially if they can beat Leeds to his signature this summer to get one over on their Championship rivals.

Lee-Ann Kirby ends 12-year break to join West Indies' T20 World Cup squad

A fit-again Deandra Dottin has returned to West Indies’ 15-member squad, led by Stafanie Taylor, for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.Dottin had been out of cricket for eight months, recovering from a right shoulder injury that required corrective surgery and months of rehabilitation.Lee-Ann Kirby, meanwhile, returned to the West Indies squad after more than 12 years. The 32-year old allrounder from Trinidad and Tobago played the last of her two T20Is in July 2008.Kirby and batter Aaliyah Alleyne are the most inexperienced members of the squad. Alleyne made her debut during the home series against India last November, featuring in all three matches that West Indies lost.The semi-finalists from 2018 are looking to reclaim the title they won in 2016, when they beat Australia in a thrilling final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.The star of that game Hayley Matthews is one of three frontline allrounders – the other two being Taylor and Dottin. Anisa Mohammed, the experienced offspinner, will spearhead the spin attack.The pace department will be led by Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell, both of whom are returning from injuries, along with newcomer Cherry-Ann Fraser.”Lee Ann Kirby returns to the team after an extended absence but she has shown herself to be a prolific scorer,” chief selector Ann Browne-John said in a release.”In addition the introduction of the young fast bowler Cherry Ann Fraser is ideal for the Australian pitches which are generally fast with some bounce. The team has the experience and talent to excel at the World Cup.”West Indies, who last played international cricket in November, will play Pakistan in three warm-up matches in Brisbane ahead of the T20 World Cup.They begin their campaign on February 22 against first-timers Thailand in Perth, ahead of matches against Pakistan (Canberra) and England (Sydney) on February 26 and March 1 respectively. Their final group fixture will be on March 3 against South Africa in Sydney.Squad: Stafanie Taylor, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Lee-Ann Kirby, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman

Fabrizio Romano gives update on Aston Villa interest in Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa kicked off their January transfer window on Monday by completing a deal for Red Star Belgrade full-back Kosta Nedeljkovic for an undisclosed fee. Nedeljkovic will remain in Serbia on loan until the end of the season, but Unai Emery wants to sign another player who can make a more immediate impact too.

Last week, Villa saw a second bid rejected for Middlesbrough attacker Morgan Rogers, with the Championship side "adamant" that they won't compromise on the fee. There's a feeling that this could become a saga that continues to run as we approach the deadline on February 1.

The player is apparently keen on the move, naturally given that Villa are not only in the Premier League but are also pushing for Champions League qualification. Fabrizio Romano has now provided an update on where Villa stand as Boro hold firm.

Villa determined to make Rogers "main signing"

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano suggested that Villa will make another bid for Rogers. They "really want" him to be their "main signing" this month, and Emery is a strong admirer, so they could continue to push for his signature until the last moment.

Morgan Rogers celebrates for Middlesborough.

"I think they will keep pushing for Rogers because they already made two proposals. Middlesbrough have insisted that they want to keep the player, but I think this is a typical situation where we have to keep an eye on the player until the end of the window.

"Aston Villa really want him and want to make him their main signing of the January transfer window. Unai Emery is a big fan, so I think they will keep pushing."

"Huge talent" Rogers can be creative force at Villa

21-year-old Rogers, who's previously had loan spells at Lincoln, Bournemouth and Blackpool, only left Manchester City's academy to join Boro last summer, but he's already made a big impression. Able to play as a winger and an attacking midfielder, he's made 32 appearances this season, including 14 Championship starts. He would only make Michael Carrick's XI for five of the first 17 matches, but has now been included for nine of the last 11 as he makes himself more and more valuable.

Rogers has played a starring role on his side's run to the League Cup semifinals – they play Chelsea in the semifinal second leg on Tuesday night, looking to protect a one-goal lead – by scoring four goals and providing three assists. Only Liverpool's Cody Gakpo has found the net as many times in the competition, while only the Reds' Darwin Nunez and Blackburn's Andy Moran have set up as many goals.

Overall, Rogers is sitting on direct goal contributions for the season (six goals, nine assists), and the table below shows that he's been an outstanding playmaker, sitting at the top of the Championship on a per-90 basis when it comes to the underlying numbers.

Assists

6

9th

Assists per 90

0.41

2nd

Expected assisted goals (xAG)

5.8

10th

xAG per 90

0.4

1st

Carrick has spoken of his signing in glowing terms, calling him "a huge talent" with a "terrific attitude" and a "very creative" skillset, but he clearly faces a battle to hang onto him in the next nine days or so.

Three dream replacements if Wilfried Gnonto still leaves Leeds

da betano casino: It's no secret at Elland Road that Wifried Gnonto has longed for a move away from Leeds United in the past, the Italian attacker even taking matters into his own hands last year by refusing to don a Whites strip in a bid to get a deal out of the club over the line.

da apostaganha: Yet, in the present, Gnonto could be close to securing a new contract extension regardless of the rumour mill this transfer window suggesting that he could have been on the move away from the club and finally back up to the Premier League.

Daniel Farke's Championship promotion hopefuls will wait with bated breath to see if their previously wantaway winger does commit himself to the Leeds cause, knowing that many twists and turns could still possibly occur.

Leeds forward Wilfried Gnonto.

With that in mind, Farke could well still want reinforcements to bolster the right wing spot at the club regardless of whether or not Gnonto stays or departs owing to assembling the strongest possible squad capable of promotion.

Here are three Gnonto upgrades he could well attempt to sign with the clock precariously ticking ever closer to the window slamming shut…

1 Option 1: David Brooks

David Brooks

David Brooks would certainly be viewed as an improvement on Gnonto, the silky Welshman boasting a Championship promotion on his CV which could make him very useful to Farke's plans.

His numbers at second tier level also help, the current AFC Bournemouth attacker helping himself to nine goals and 11 assists from 69 appearances in the division over his career to date.

In contrast, when Gnonto has been selected this season by his German manager, the Leeds winger has only mustered up a single goal and assist for his troubles.

Brooks could also give Daniel James healthy competition if signed, pushing his fellow compatriot all the way for a spot in the starting eleven.

Once referred to as a "wizard" by Bournemouth Echo journalist Jack Tanner for his skilful nature on the pitch, Leeds will be hoping Brooks has more magic up his sleeve when pulling on a Whites strip potentially with the slick 26-year-old arguably an upgrade on Gnonto.

2 Option 2: Manuel Benson

Manuel Benson

Leeds could well fancy signing Manuel Benson to enhance their squad away from Gnonto this month also, the Burnley winger an absolute revelation at second tier level last campaign under Vincent Kompany.

Scoring 12 times and assisting a further three goals, the Belgian machine was instrumental in his Clarets side lifting the Championship title with an unbelievable 101-points total accumulated come the end of the 46-game season.

Benson could well fancy returning to the second tier to play for Leeds to gain another promotion on his sparkling resume in a similar fashion to Brooks, meaning Gnonto would tumble down the Whites pecking order as a result.

Showboating for fun with the Clarets on the way to that title, the 26-year-old also showed his goalscoring expertise in curling many a wonder strike past a hapless Championship goalkeeper that campaign.

Manuel Benson for Burnley.

Yet, despite all these heroics, Benson finds himself cut adrift at Turf Moor currently and rumours suggest Leeds are in the driver's seat to land his signature this month subsequently.

Benson could well be a very effective weapon to deploy by Farke when games are tight, with Leeds still very much in the automatic promotion hunt if everything goes to plan and this signing could give them an edge.

3 Option 3: Mateusz Musialowski

Liverpool midfielderMateusz Musialowski.

Leeds could well go down the route of securing a raw and young talent as opposed to wingers who have been there and done that in the division with this potential buy, the Whites reportedly in for Liverpool starlet Mateusz Musialowski on loan this window.

Joined by Birmingham City now in pursuing the Polish attacker, Leeds will hope they have the advantage of being a positive, attack-oriented club near the top of the league on their side to land the 20-year-old talent over the Blues.

This season for the Reds at U21 level, Musialowski has bagged six goals in all competitions with the youngster even playing as a centre-forward on occasion.

Musialowski's flexibility to play in multiple positions could well be what Farke admires in the Reds youngster considering he hasn't cut his teeth playing senior football yet, giving Leeds another striker option potentially if a leggy Patrick Bamford drops off in form after bursting into life again this year.

Gnonto's minutes in the Whites first team could be even fewer and far between with this loan addition, the 20-year-old a smart buy if a deal can be reached.

Aston Villa could sign perfect Cash upgrade in "beautiful" World Cup winner

Aston Villa have had a better season than many could have possibly expected and are sitting merely three points off the top of the Premier League heading into the new year.

However, while head coach Unai Emery will be delighted with his players' performances this season, the Spanish coach may still feel as though one or two areas could be strengthened in January, with the window set to open in just a few days.

Aston Villa could sign "explosive" £20m gem who is better than Diaby

This £20m gem could be the perfect player to make up for Emery’s Diaby mistake.

ByAdam Scully Dec 28, 2023

One player in particular could be Emery's saving grace this winter and would improve Villa's backline immensely, although the signing will certainly come at a price.

Aston Villa transfer news – Nahuel Molina

As per reports in Spain back in October, Aston Villa had emerged as the front-runners to sign Atletico Madrid fullback Nahuel Molina in January. Furthermore, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently revealed in November that the 25-year-old was set to sign a new contract with Los Colchoneros, although this has yet to be made official by either party.

The Argentine defender moved to the Spanish capital from Serie A club Udinese at the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign for a reported £17.3m fee. Since then, Molina has helped guide Atletico to a third-place finish last season and even picked himself up a World Cup winner's medal midway through the term with Argentina in Qatar.

Molina was Argentina's first-choice right-back in the Middle East last winter and scored a goal in the quarter-finals as the South American side eventually beat the Netherlands on penalties en route to glory. Journalist Josh Bunting described the Atletico defender as "beautiful to watch" during the tournament.

As a result of his superb performances over the past twelve to eighteen months, Molina's market value has soared to £70m, according to the CIES Football Observatory.

Nahuel Molina's stats this season

One area of Aston Villa's team that Emery has tried to mask the deficiencies of over the past few months is at right-back. The manager predominantly deploys Matty Cash on the right side of the back four during games against weaker opposition. However, when tasked with facing stronger opponents, such as Manchester United, Cash drops to the bench.

Matty Cash.

Emery prefers having a more defensive player in that position against the top teams, hence why Ezri Konsa has been asked to fill in as a right-back multiple times this season already, including during Villa's Boxing Day defeat to Manchester United. Up against Marcus Rashford on his return to the starting lineup, Konsa did quite well, winning 11 of his 15 duels and 67% of his tackles while also making eight ball recoveries.

Then, in theory, Emery will use Cash against teams with less quality than Villa, such as Sheffield United. However, the Poland international has struggled in recent weeks to offer anything on the right flank. In the 1-1 draw to the Blades last week, Cash lost possession of the ball 25 times and was handed a 4/10 match rating by Birmingham World for his errant display.

This season, Molina has been much better offensively and defensively than Cash and looks to be a clear upgrade on the Aston Villa fullback, having outperformed his counterpart across a string of metrics.

Goals

0.13

0.11

Expected Goals

0.06

0.21

Assists

0.2

0.11

Expected Assists

0.12

0.11

Progressive Passes

4.05

4.21

Progressive Passes Received

6.99

5.06

Key Passes

0.92

0.79

Passes To Penalty Area

1.5

0.84

Take-Ons Success Rate %

42.9

28.1

Crosses

3.46

1.76

Ball Recoveries

5.82

4.89

Stats via FBref

Emery doesn't trust Cash to start in big games so signing a new right-back could be of paramount importance for Villa in January. While Molina will be expensive, he'll certainly be worth the money.

Sunderland issued Alex Pritchard boost

Sunderland have been issued a huge injury lift over attacking midfielder Alex Pritchard after he was absent on Monday…

What’s the latest?

Black Cats boss Alex Neil has explained why he was not in the squad for the clash with Plymouth and provided hope for the final three matches of the campaign.

He told the Sunderland Echo: “What we couldn’t do is risk him, the last thing I want to do is put him on for 20 minutes, he breaks back down and we then miss him for the next week.”We’re at a stage now where if you are out for any period of time, you miss all the remaining games.”I’m very, very hopeful that if we get a good week, well three days under his belt [before Saturday], then let’s see how he goes for the next week.” Supporters will be delighted

Supporters will be delighted with this news as Pritchard’s return will be a major boost for the club ahead of a crucial set of games.

The Black Cats are one point above Sheffield Wednesday, having played one match more, in the race for a play-off position and are two points off fourth with a game in hand on fifth and fourth. This means that they have a big chance to land in the top six by the end of the campaign and their clashes with Cambridge, Rotherham and Morecambe.

Therefore, Pritchard coming back is vital for Neil as he has the quality to unlock defences. Sunderland struggled badly in the final third without him against Plymouth on Monday as they failed to create any clear-cut chances to score, managing two shots on target in the 0-0 draw.

In League One this season, the Englishman has created 2.1 chances per game and provided eight ‘big chances’ in 33 outings. This shows that he has regularly been delivering in the final third in terms of being able to create openings for his teammates, which would have helped the likes of Nathan Broadhead and Ross Stewart earlier this week.

The 28-year-old has the magic touch on the ball, with four goals and seven assists this term, and can be the difference-maker as Sunderland fight for a play-off position. This is why the fans will be buzzing to read Neil’s ‘hopeful’ comments regarding his current injury situation as he can play a huge role in the team in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Patterson: £2.7k-p/w SAFC gem with 87.5% duels lost flopped today…

Crazy statistics lay bare Romelu Lukaku's terrible Euro 2024 as Belgium striker continues to fire blanks

Romelu Lukaku has had a terrible Euro 2024 campaign for Belgium, with the stats really exposing his struggles in front of goal.

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  • Lukaku struggling to finish chances
  • Has been denied by VAR on three occasions
  • Has missed six big chances
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Red Devils progressed to the last 16, but they were abysmally unimpressive during their 0-0 draw against Ukraine on Wednesday evening. They lacked the cutting edge in attack and Lukaku's inability to score has been particularly glaring, with the striker failing to capitalise on multiple opportunities.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    However, Lukaku's quest to score at Euro 2024 has been marred by a series of unfortunate events. In Belgium’s opening group game against Slovakia, the striker thought he had scored when he tapped in a rebound from Amadou Onana’s effort. However, the goal was ruled out for offside, leaving Lukaku frustrated. Later in the match, a potential equaliser was also disallowed due to a handball by Lois Openda in the build-up.

    His woes continued in Belgium’s second group game against Romania. Lukaku once again found the net, celebrating what he believed to be a legitimate goal. However, a VAR review determined that he was offside by the slimmest of margins. This marked the third time in the tournament that a goal of his had been chalked off by VAR.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Lukaku's struggles are not just anecdotal but are backed by stark statistics. He currently holds the unenviable record of having the most big chances missed (6) and the most shots on target (7) without scoring. Additionally, his three disallowed goals highlight the fine margins that have worked against him in this tournament. These statistics underscore the frustration and challenges Lukaku has faced in his attempts to contribute to Belgium's goal tally.

  • Getty

    WHAT NEXT FOR LUKAKU?

    Looking ahead, Belgium are set to face a formidable opponent in France on Monday as they aim to progress to the quarter-finals. The match against France will be a significant test for Belgium, particularly for Lukaku, who will be eager to break his goal duct.

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