Arsenal’s imperious display in a 2-0 victory over Liverpool has reignited optimism at the Emirates.
Following two straight shut-outs the London club finally netted and tasted victory with Lukas Podolski breaking the three hour plus, goal drought.
Podolski alongside fellow new signing Olivier Giroud, has the ominous task of replacing last season’s Premier League top goal scorer, Robin Van Persie.
The win went some way to removing the shadow of the Dutchman that looms over the London club. Podolski told SkySports, “It was a good match, I think we played very well and the two goals were amazing.
“It was a good day for us and for me, scoring my first goal for Arsenal.”
Santi Carzola got the Gunners second goal, the Spaniard has become an instant hit on North London and once again delighted with his illusiveness and creativity.
The only man, who could rival Carzola for the man of the match gong, was Abou Diaby who was colossal transitioning from defence to attack. After a succession of injuries hampered recent seasons for the Frenchman, he could benefit most from Alex Song’s departure.
He added, “Last season was a difficult season for me. I’m just happy to be back and I hope I can stay fit for the whole season.”
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As we fast approach the January window the one club you can expect to be active is Liverpool FC given that Brendan Rodgers has been running the show on the barebones of a squad, given the fact he was let down by FSG in the summer.
One particular area that the Liverpool manager will be looking to strengthen is the strike force, as Rodgers has repeatedly had to call on Luis Suarez to the lead the front line. The Reds are continually being linked with a move for Daniel Sturridge and why the Chelsea man will be a decent acquisition; you do feel that Rodgers will look to bring in extra reinforcements in attack.
This list looks at potential targets that Liverpool should be looking at and who should feature on Brendan Rodgers’ wishlist.
Championship high-flyers Leicester City welcome Premier League Fulham to the King Power Stadium in the hope that they can continue their good form and progress in to Round 5 of the Capital One Cup.
Nigel Pearson has seen his side become promotion contenders this season and will truly believe his side are strong enough to overcome Premier League opposition in the form that they are in, with goals seemingly available from almost all areas of the pitch.
The Foxes boss has insisted this week that Leicester are not necessarily underdogs in this tie and, whatever way you look at it, it’s hard to find a case to argue with him.
Fulham’s season so far has been a frustrating one. Their league form has been hit and miss, while they overcame an unbeaten Everton side the previous round of this competition – a game in which they were the underdogs.
And Pearson could be forgiven in suggesting that Leicester can compete with Fulham on their day. After all, despite their respective divisions, it’s Leicester who go in to this game brimming with confidence and well prepared to continue their run of seven wins in a row in all competitions at the King Power Stadium.
But Leicester’s all-time record against Fulham is less than impressive. They’ve lost four of their last five meetings with them and have managed just 25 victories from their 81 competitive meetings to date. However, the last time Leicester beat Fulham in this competition – after a penalty shoot-out in round five – they went on to win lift the trophy in 2000.
Martin Jol will be asking his side to show their Premier League quality here, though, with several of his players under performing so far this season and only on-loan Aston Villa striker finding the net on more than two occasions (3).
Fulham were ripped apart by Southampton at the weekend and were lucky to come away with just a 2-0 loss having not registered a single shot on target during the game, compared to Saints’ six.
Pearson may have to do without top-scorer David Nugent is doubtful through illness, but he has Chris Wood waiting in line to fill in, who provides ample enough back up.
Martin Jol needs something to kick-start his side’s season and is therefore unlikely to ring too many changes from the side that faced Southampton on Saturday. But captain Brede Hangeland looks unlikely to feature having missed the weekend’s game with a leg problem.
If form is anything to go by then Leicester should be favourites to progress in this tie, but Fulham have enjoyed some good results in the cup to cushion the blow of their poor start in the Premier League. A place in the quarter-finals and a step closer to Wembley in February will be a prospect neither manager will want to pass up here.
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West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce admits he will pick an experienced team to face Manchester City in their Capital One Cup Semi-Final second leg at Upton Park.
The Hammers go into the game having lost the first leg 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium two weeks ago and would have to pull off one of the greatest sporting come backs of all time to make Wembley in March.
But Allardyce believes he can use the game to field a number of players returning from injury, as well as give some game time to some first-team players who haven’t played regularly, as opposed to fielding a team of youngsters.
“We will not have anybody of inexperience out on the field, apart from probably Ravel Morrison, who’s still early in his career at this level of football,” he told West Ham’s official website.
“The rest of the team will be very, very experienced in terms of their games at this level.
“We haven’t got too many options to change the team, but what I have got the option for us fresher players that haven’t played on a consistent basis, with our problems recently.”
And Allardyce will also welcome back club captain Kevin Nolan and defender James Tomkins after their respective four and one-game suspensions.
“I have a couple of players back from suspension, which is important to me,” he added.
“They’ll have a top competitive game after being suspended, Kevin Nolan and James Tomkins, which eases the problems that we’ve had recently.
“Hopefully we can give Manchester City a really tough game Tuesday night and try to get something out of it.”
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Picking which Premier League team to manage on Football Manager 2018 can be difficult.
Do you go for the easy save and take charge of one of the big clubs, or do you give yourself a challenge by starting a project at a smaller club down the other end of the table?
The decision tends to come down to how much money you have available from the very start, but you don’t know what transfer funds and wage budget you’ll have until you load up the game and pick your team.
So with that in mind, we’ve done the research and found out exactly what each Premier League club gives managers from the very start, depending on the promises they make to the board.
So read on and learn which clubs are prepared to thrown money at their managers and which ones will require a little more shrewdness in order to be successful in the Premier League…
Arsenal
Minimum transfer budget: £80m
Maximum transfer budget: £90m
Minimum wage budget: £2.8m
Maximum wage budget: £3m
AFC Bournemouth
Minimum transfer budget: £17m
Maximum transfer budget: £20m
Minimum wage budget: £1m
Maximum wage budget: £1.3m
Brighton & Hove Albion
Minimum transfer budget: £17m
Maximum transfer budget: £20m
Minimum wage budget: £970k
Maximum wage budget: £1.1m
Burnley
Minimum transfer budget: £10m
Maximum transfer budget: £13m
Minimum wage budget: £815k
Maximum wage budget: £950k
Chelsea
Minimum transfer budget: £65m
Maximum transfer budget: £86m
Minimum wage budget: £3m
Maximum wage budget: £3.5m
Crystal Palace
Minimum transfer budget: £8m
Maximum transfer budget: £11m
Minimum wage budget: £1.5m
Maximum wage budget: £1.7m
Everton
Minimum transfer budget: £20m
Maximum transfer budget: £33m
Minimum wage budget: £1.9m
Maximum wage budget: £2.5m
Huddersfield Town
Minimum transfer budget: £8m
Maximum transfer budget: £11.5m
Minimum wage budget: £715k
Maximum wage budget: £860k
Leicester City
Minimum transfer budget: £25m
Maximum transfer budget: £35m
Minimum wage budget: £1.5m
Maximum wage budget: £1.9m
Liverpool
Minimum transfer budget: £75m
Maximum transfer budget: £97m
Minimum wage budget: £2.8m
Maximum wage budget: £3.2m
Manchester City
Minimum transfer budget: £80m
Maximum transfer budget: £110m
Minimum wage budget: £3.3m
Maximum wage budget: £4m
Manchester United
Minimum transfer budget: £42m
Maximum transfer budget: £51.5m
Minimum wage budget: £3.5m
Maximum wage budget: £3.9m
Newcastle United
Minimum transfer budget: £10.8m
Maximum transfer budget: £12.3m
Minimum wage budget: £1.1m
Maximum wage budget: £1.2m
Southampton
Minimum transfer budget: £30m
Maximum transfer budget: £48m
Minimum wage budget: £1.6m
Maximum wage budget: £2.2m
Stoke City
Minimum transfer budget: £27m
Maximum transfer budget: £39m
Minimum wage budget: £1.3m
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Making transfers within the boundaries of the Premier League is always a difficult process. Due to the assurance that any player in question is already tried and tested at the top level and acclimatised to the very physical and unique style of the English top flight, any fee is bumped up and over-priced, often by dizzying proportions.
It creates a problem for English clubs, whom often source talent from on the continent, with the most recent trend being to bring in cheaper stars from La Liga and Ligue 1, in an eternal struggle to keep cumulative transfer fees and the wage budget as low as possible.
Well, this summer, the Premier League’s big clubs, namely, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton, don’t have to, as we’ve complied a list of the Ten stars already plying their trade in the top tier of English football, but would not command a huge fee come the imminent transfer window.
Click Here or on Julio Cesar to reveal the Ten Premier League bargains top clubs should plunder
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Charlie Austin’s Queens Park Rangers may have been relegated at the end of the season, but it seems the striker will get a chance to stay in the Premier League after all.
After a spectacular 18-goal campaign, Austin now finds a number of clubs clamouring for his signature. QPR have set a £15 million price tag on his head, but that hasn’t stopped new Newcastle boss Steve McClaren from identifying Austin as his first choice. But Liverpool are reportedly also set to make a move.
The Magpies suffered from multiple injuries and suspensions, ending the year with only 40 goals in 38 games. The Reds also lacked the necessary firepower up front with early exits from the Champions League and Europa League tournaments, and couldn’t sustain a top-four finish.
Both teams would obviously benefit from Austin’s consistent offensive production, but where would the England international flourish the most?
At St. James’ Park, Austin would be pretty much guaranteed a starting slot in McClaren’s lineup. Newcastle are notoriously weak in the finishing and aerial duels department, both of which the 25-year-old excels at. The Magpies also favour attacking down the wings, but putting Austin at centre forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation would add depth to their attacking options and allow the youngster to shine in a fast-paced environment.
Liverpool have already secured a number of signings this summer, including Manchester City midfielder James Milner and Burnley striker Danny Ings. The Reds rely on possession football and strong passing, which isn’t Austin’s greatest strength. Ings is a much better dribbler, and has the versatility to drop back to centre midfielder if needed.
Austin’s goalscoring ability may give him an edge statistically, but it’s hard to see him reaching his potential in a less aggressive, passing-focused style at Anfield.
As the lone bright spot in a dreadful season for QPR, Austin has shown his ability to succeed in even the most dire of situations. He could provide the same spark for Newcastle while adding depth to the team’s attack, with the potential to become the squad’s No. 10 player. At Liverpool, Austin would be a flashier but ultimately less useful option for Brendan Rodgers’ possession game.
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There’s no denying Austin’s impressive ability. But when it comes to where he’ll make the most impact, the striker may be destined to fight another relegation battle.
Whilst many top talents have come and gone from Arsenal throughout the years, reaching a real level of consistency in the Premier League and proving massive hits for Arsene Wenger and his determined Gunners outfit whilst they were at it – Abou Diaby’s recent stint in north London must nonetheless be shelved in the unfulfilled potential category at the Emirates.
His story with Arsenal has rather unfortunately become defined by a series of ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’, in regards to how well the unflappable French midfielder could have actually done at the club. Without the frustrating threat of injuries coming along to restrict his progress seemingly with every passing season, the now 29-year-old really had it in him to take the Premier League by storm, and become an even better asset for his loyal boss, Arsene Wenger.
However, as fate for injury-prone modern day footballers invariably never quite turns out as well as initially hoped for, Diaby is now looking to begin the 2015/16 campaign with Marseille back in his native France, after officially ending his infrequent spell with the Gunners.
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In light of the centre-midfielder’s eventual move away from the Emirates, is it about time Arsene Wenger finally cut the club’s ties with the former Auxerre star and French international, or could Arsenal have perhaps got just a little bit more out of Abou Diaby before he ultimately decided to move on from north London?
Well, from the perspective of what the player can actually do with the ball out on the pitch, Arsene Wenger and the loyal Emirates faithful may have just about lost one of the best midfielder’s to ever set foot at the club in recent history. When Diaby is free from injury and well within the flow of the week-to-week Premier League schedule, the former Arsenal no. 24 has rarely disappointed.
Even when the Frenchman has made just the odd cameo appearance once returning from a long-term spell on the side-lines, the creative midfield enforcer seriously knows how to dictate proceedings for his side in the middle of the park. Abou Diaby is a very clinical passer of the ball, a sheer beast in the tackle yet equally as adept at the technical side of the game, as well as a truly dominant force that can simply provide match winning performances when the situation allows.
The former Emirates favourite was therefore just as solid in attack as he was in defence of Arsenal, making the now 29-year-old a definitive box-to-box master of the modern era. With every single one of his nine Premier League seasons for the Gunners proving difficult in the injury department however, Arsene Wenger rarely got to utilize Abou Diaby’s wide-ranging skill-set on a regular basis.
Whilst it would have been nice to see the recently acquired Marseille man do his thing at the Emirates for a good while yet to come, such a romanticized way going about business very rarely proves profitable for Premier League football clubs in the end. So, even though this current Arsenal outfit would certainly look a great deal stronger with a fit and firing Diaby involved, the Gunners ultimately made the right decision in choosing to let him go this summer.
Sometimes you just have to know when to give up on certain players if you want your club to truly progress into the future, and as the towering Frenchman was definitely more of a spectator than regular player for Arsenal in recent seasons, the north Londoners simply had to cut their ties with Abou Diaby sooner or later – such an outcome was merely inevitable.
The talented midfielder can now look to the upcoming 2015/16 season with a renewed sense of hope and optimism, as he finally begins a new league campaign away from the injury related frustration developed at the Emirates.
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Tony Pulis and West Brom reportedly wanted to keep the former Arsenal man within the Premier League ahead of the new season, but as the midfielder himself is likely looking forward to turning over a fresh leaf in a new league and different surroundings completely, the prospect of seeing Diaby playing for West Brom next term ultimately seemed like an unlikely one at best.
So then, even though Arsenal somewhat missed a trick in never being able to rely upon their former no. 24 throughout the years, the decision to part way with Abou Diaby this summer was certainly the correct one in the cold light of day.
A name familiar to Premier League fans from his six year stint at Chelsea, Kalou has impressed in the last two seasons in Ligue 1 at Lille. In almost every transfer window since his departure from Stamford Bridge in 2012, the 28 year old has been linked with a return to England with either one of Arsenal or Tottenham. The forward is expected to line up this afternoon against Colombia in a fixture which will likely determine which nation tops Group C.
Kalou has enjoyed a prolific campaign in Ligue 1, helping himself to sixteen goals and six assists over the course of the season. In his time at Chelsea, the 28 year old was mainly utilised as an impact substitute and the forward has thrived in a consistent starting berth at Lille. At a team that has been stripped of superstar names such as Yohan Cabaye and Eden Hazard in recent seasons, Kalou has established as one of the club’s key performers.
A versatile forward, the Ivorian is able to fulfill almost any attacking role. Capable of using his pace to lead the line as the main striker, Kalou is frequently deployed in a wide role on either flank. The 28 year old provides a variety of options that would be welcomed by most managers.
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At the age of 28, the Ivorian has accumulated a wealth of experience at club level and with the Ivory Coast. In his time at Stamford Bridge, Kalou lifted the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup and has now represented his country at two World Cup finals. For a fee rumoured to be as little as £3 million, Arsene Wenger or Mauricio Pochettino could acquire a seasoned international playing the best football of his career.
In evaluating Kalou’s career, there is a sense that he may operate best as a “big fish in a small pond.” Nevertheless, if the 28 year old delivers for his country this summer, there may be a few Premier League managers willing to take a chance on the former Chelsea man.
Over the last sixth months, both North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal have been rumoured to be in the market for a new centre forward, with Fernando Llorente’s name consistently being mentioned as a potential target.
The Spain international has proven himself over the years as a reliable and powerful striker, with the burly forward a star for Athletic Bilbao before switching to Juventus last summer.
Although teething problems limited his playing time in the early days in Turin, Llorente formed a formidable strike partnership with Carlos Tevez in the second part of last season and contributed to the Bianconeri being crowned Italian champions for the third consecutive year.
This season the 30-year-old has been in and out of Max Allegri’s side but has found in recent times that compatriot Alvaro Morata has been getting the nod more often than not, leaving Llorente on the bench.
So with every chance that the Spain international will be available this summer, should Tottenham or Arsenal swoop for him?
Tottenham’s over-reliance on Harry Kane to get goals this season and the low confidence of back-up options Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado mean that it would be a major shock if Mauricio Pochettino did not make a move for a new striker this summer.
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There are certainly positives in a prospective move for Llorente.
In the side’s 4-2-3-1 formation the Spaniard would surely thrive as he has the physical attributes to hold the ball up and the predatory nature to capitalise on the creative presence of others around him.
He would provide Spurs with an aerial threat and allow Kane to drop off into the number 10 role.
However, the player’s age may well be an issue given Spurs’ new-found emphasis on youth and the thrifty Daniel Levy could be reluctant to dish out the required transfer fee with the knowledge that the veteran would have no real sell-on worth.
For Arsenal, Llorente could also fit in as the side’s lone frontman and would surely relish linking up with compatriot Santi Cazorla.
Given the superb service of the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil also, Llorente has the potential to be a 20-goal-a-season centre forward for the Gunners if given a chance.
That said, with Llorente’s attributes very similar to those of Olivier Giroud and the Frenchman on form, it would be something of a shock if Arsene Wenger sanctioned a move for the Juventus star.
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If Arsenal are to sign a new striker this summer it would surely be a truly world-class forward that would be an upgrade on Giroud – it remains to be seen whether Llorente is that man.
In conclusion, Llorente would be an asset to both Tottenham and Arsenal given his physical and technical attributes, with the Spaniard possessing the calibre to bag a lot of goals in the Premier League.
However, he is not an ideal fit to either side and as such don’t expect to see the experienced striker in North London any time soon.