Mikel Arteta has played down fears over Gabriel Magalhaes after the Brazilian defender was forced off during Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Olympiacos. The centre-back went down following a collision with David Raya and received treatment before being replaced, but the Gunners boss later revealed the issue was only a precautionary concern.
Leeds United were given a reality check on Saturday when they were hammered 5-0 by Arsenal at The Emirates in their first away game of the Premier League season.
The Whites beat Everton 1-0 at Elland Road on the opening day of the season, lifting the mood instantly, but were brought crashing back down to earth against the Gunners.
During the Sky Sports commentary of the clash with Arsenal, Gary Neville noted that the starting front three for Leeds needed everything to be “perfect” for them to make an impact, due to their lack of physicality.
That front three included Dan James, Joel Piroe, and Wilfried Gnonto, who were all key players in the Championship title-winning campaign last term. The Premier League is a different beast to the Championship, as Neville explained, and Daniel Farke needs more physicality in his frontline.
Leeds will be well aware that they will not be able to be in control in matches as much as they were in the second tier, which means that they will have to do a lot more scrapping and fighting to earn points at this level.
That is why the 2024/25 Championship top goalscorer, Piroe, may eventually find himself watching on from the sidelines more often than not.
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To his credit, Farke has tried to remain fairly faithful to the players who got the club to the Premier League in the first two matches, starting the Dutch striker in both games ahead of Lukas Nmecha.
Unfortunately, however, Piroe’s lack of physicality has already been very apparent. The striker has lost ten of his 11 duels in the top-flight so far, per Sofascore, which shows that oppostion centre-backs have found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical battles.
This is not a new concern over the former Swansea City marksman, though, as the left-footed centre-forward struggled with the physicality of the Championship at times in the 2024/25 campaign as well.
Dribble success rate
31.8%
Bottom 27%
Successful dribbles
0.41
Bottom 35%
Fouls won
0.44
Bottom 9%
Duels won
2.24
Bottom 3%
Duel success rate
26.9%
Bottom 10%
Aerial duels won
0.90
Bottom 12%
Aerial duel success rate
21.4%
Bottom 17%
As you can see in the table above, Piroe ranked very poorly among his positional peers in a host of physically-based metrics, which is why his start to the Premier League season has not been a surprise.
Leeds were a dominant team that did not need to scrap for second balls and constantly engage in duels in the Championship, which allowed the striker to simply focus on tucking away chances, which he did very well.
Piroe scored 19 goals for Leeds last season, per Sofascore, but his lack of physicality may prevent him from making a similar impact in the Premier League.
Leeds make contact to sign LaLiga star
That is why a fresh report linking the Championship champions with interest in a physical forward should come as very bad news to the current Whites striker.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to AS, as relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs to have made an approach to Getafe over a potential deal to sign Christantus Uche this summer.
The report claims that the Whites have made contact with the Spanish side to register their interest in the versatile attacker, but they have not formalised their interest with an offer as of yet.
It adds that Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley have also made contact with Getafe in pursuit of a possible deal for the Nigeria international.
AS also reveals that Getafe are preparing to cash in on Uche to improve the club’s finances and have currently set an asking price of around £17m, but it remains to be seen whether or not any of the four mentioned clubs are prepared to pay that much for him.
Why this is bad news for Joel Piroe
As aforementioned, Piroe’s lack of physicality appears to be an issue for him, and the team, in the Premier League, and it could cost him his place in the starting XI.
The club’s reported interest in signing Uche is, perhaps, a sign that Farke recognises the need for more physicality at the top end of the pitch, because the Getafe star is an incredibly physical attacker.
In fact, the Nigerian star has played 31 times as a central or defensive midfielder in his career, per Transfermarkt, and U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed that he could be developed into a “midfield monster”.
Whilst, due to his experience and potential to play in that role, Farke could utilise Uche in the middle of the park, the 22-year-old played as a striker for Jose Bordalas against Celta Vigo on the opening day of the LaLiga season.
Uche scored and grabbed an assist in a 2-0 win for Getafe away at Celta Vigo, and the clip above shows how the attacker used his mobility and strength to find the back of the net.
Appearances
33
1
xG
3.73
1.01
Goals
4
1
Big chances created
7
1
Assists
6
1
Duels won per game
6.8
9.0
Aerial duel success rate
42%
75%
As you can see in the table above, the £17m-rated forward also showcased his physicality in LaLiga last season, winning 6.8 duels per game on average, compared to Piroe’s 2.24 in the Championship.
Whilst, perhaps because of his outings in midfield as well as up front, Uche is not a prolific goalscorer who is likely to go and score 15 or 20 goals in the Premier League, the Getafe star could be the physical outlet that Leeds are currently lacking.
Having a ‘monster’ like Uche to hold the ball up, win flick-ons, and compete with Premier League centre-backs in duels could help the Whites in tight games where they will not be in complete control of the ball.
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Not just Gruev: Farke must drop 4/10 Leeds star who lost 100% duels
Daniel Farke should ruthlessly drop this Leeds flop as well as Ilia Gruev for the next Premier League game.
ByDan Emery Aug 24, 2025
This is why the club’s interest in the forward is bad news for Piroe, because the 22-year-old star is the profile of player who could send the Dutchman down to the bench.
كشف مصدر بمنتخب مصر الأول، عن وجود اهتمام من قبل الجهاز الفني، بلاعبين من صفوف نادي بيراميدز، بعد تألقهما في الفترة الأخيرة.
ومن المنتظر أن يخوض منتخب مصر معسكرًا خلال فترة التوقف الدولي، نوفمبر المقبل، من أجل الاستعداد لخوض منافسات كأس الأمم الإفريقية في شهر ديسمبر المقبل، في دولة المغرب.
وعلم بطولات، أن ثنائي بيراميدز، محمود مرعي وأحمد عاطف قطة، يدخلان حسابات الجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر في معسكر نوفمبر المقبل.
طالع.. خاص | منتخب مصر يتلقى عرضًا لخوض ودية قبل كأس أمم إفريقيا
ويعد الثنائي من أبرز الوجوه الجديدة المرشحة للانضمام لمعسكر المنتخب في نوفمبر.
وتوج بيراميدز ببطولة السوبر الإفريقي للمرة الأولى في تاريخه على حساب نهضة بركان المغربي، بهدف دون رد أحرزه فيستون مايلي.
يذكر، أن منتخب مصر حسم تأهله إلي نهائيات كأس العالم 2026، المقبل، بعد تصدره المجموعة الأولي في التصفيات برصيد 26 نقطة من الفوز في 8 مباريات والتعادل في مواجهتان.
ويتواجد منتخب مصر، في المجموعة الثانية من بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، مع منتخبات زيمبابوي، أنجولا وجنوب إفريقيا.
The Mumbai captain also explained that the decision to retire out Tilak Varma in the previous match was a “tactical” one
Shashank Kishore07-Apr-2025Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians (MI) captain, explained that the decision to retire Tilak Varma out during their previous match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) was a “tactical” move, though an injury also played a role.Tilak, who was called back with MI needing 24 off seven against LSG, contributed 56 off 29 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Monday, his 89-run stand off just 34 balls with Hardik (42 off 15) setting the stage for a thrilling finish, before RCB fought back to seal the game.”Tilak was fantastic,” Hardik said at the post-match presentation. “Last game, a lot of things happened. People made [up] a lot of things about it, but people don’t know he had a nasty hit the previous day [in the nets]. It was a tactical call, but because of the finger injury the coach felt someone fresh can do it. But he was fantastic today.”Related
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Hardik also explained the rationale behind moving Naman Dhir down the order. Dhir made 46 off 24 from No. 3 in their previous game to set the tone for the chase of 204. On Monday at Wankhede, he was pushed to No. 7. By the time he came into bat in the 18th over, MI needed 34 off 14.”In the original skeleton of our team, Naman was always batting down the order. Last game Ro [Rohit Sharma] wasn’t available [knee injury] and we had to push someone up. He has the multi-dimensional game where he can come up and play at death as well. But once Ro was back, we knew Naman had to come down.”Hardik didn’t want to pin the blame for MI’s third loss in four games on his bowlers, especially in conditions he felt were unforgiving. “I think the way the wicket was, the bowlers didn’t have anywhere to hide,” he said. “It came down to execution. If someone executed well, you couldn’t stop the batters, but I don’t want to be harsh on the bowlers, it was a tough track, they didn’t have many options.”Hardik expressed delight at having Jasprit Bumrah back from a long injury layoff. Bumrah was MI’s most economical bowler, conceding just 29 off his four overs, while every other bowler went at over 10 an over. “Very good, having him makes the team, any team really special,” Hardik said. “He came and did his job. Having him is good, very happy.”Asked where this defeat put his team as far as the season goes, Hardik had a simple message: “In life, never back down. Always see the positive side of it. The message is clear: go out, play the best cricket of your life, back yourself. We are all backing them. The team knows that, hope for result to come our way.”
Marcus Rashford has been backed to take one of Robert Lewandowski's key jobs at Barcelona by Gary Lineker. The England forward, who endured a rocky spell under Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, has found new life under Hansi Flick, showing flashes of the ruthless finishing that once made him one of England’s brightest stars.
AFPRashford shining in Spain after Old Trafford escape
After being frozen out by Amorim and shipped off to Aston Villa on loan in January, Rashford’s Premier League comeback hopes looked bleak. Yet, after sealing another surprise loan move to Barcelona in the summer, the 27-year-old has finally rediscovered his spark, and Lineker believes he’s already proving he belongs on the biggest stage.
AdvertisementLewandowski under fire after shock penalty miss
Barcelona’s 4–1 defeat to Sevilla in their latest outing was a big setback for Flick's side, but for Lineker, Rashford’s individual brilliance still stood out. The forward scored his first La Liga goal in the game, a confident first-time volley that reminded fans what he’s capable of. However, Lewandowski sent a crucial penalty wide that may have changed the course of the game. It was a shocking blunder that sparked questions over whether the Polish veteran should remain Barcelona’s first-choice spot-kick taker.
Getty Images SportLineker’s verdict: 'Best player on the pitch'
Speaking on podcast, Lineker didn’t hold back in his praise and said: "I’m pleased for Marcus [Rashford], I don’t think he could’ve had a much better start. I mean, admittedly, they lost this particular game, but through no fault of his, in fact, I think he was probably their best player."
While giving his verdict on Lewandowski's penalty miss, Lineker added: "It’s funny, I was at home and thinking ‘Let Marcus take it [the penalty], he’s a brilliant penalty taker’ and obviously Lewandowski has taken them and I always knew he would take it, but I had a feeling and then he hit it wide.
"So Marcus will be champing at the bit, to I suspect, to get that gig, but I don’t think he’ll get it while Lewandowski is there, cause strikers, however many they miss, unless they miss possibly two on the bounce, they tend to keep taking them."
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The return of penalty king Rashford?
It’s been years since Rashford was a regular penalty taker. Back in 2019-20, he was United’s go-to man from the spot, until Bruno Fernandes’ arrival changed everything. Since then, Rashford’s only taken nine penalties across five seasons, though he did briefly reclaim the role during his short loan stint at Aston Villa. His record, however, speaks volumes. Out of 24 penalties in his senior career, Rashford has buried 21; a stellar 88 per cent conversion rate. The few misses include his unfortunate effort in the Euro 2020 final shootout against Italy.
With a 100% record to maintain, Liverpool travel to newly-promoted Burnley as the undeniable favourites and a certain Alexander Isak lying in wait to make his debut.
Burnley vs Liverpool team news
If Burnley are anything as resolute as they were against Manchester United before the international break, then a shock may still be on the cards. Alas, there is no denying that the prospect of squaring off against the Premier League champions is a different challenge entirely to the Red Devils these days.
Whilst there’s no guarantee that Scott Parker will field the same side as that cruel late defeat against Man United, injury doubts for Jordan Beyer and Connor Roberts, who may join Zeki Amdouni on the treatment table, could yet force his hand.
The Burnley boss told reporters when asked about the challenge that lies ahead in his pre-match press conference: “For us it comes down to control and courage.
“Control in how we play and react in every moment, and courage to step forward and back ourselves against the champions. We’ll need to be disciplined and composed, keep calm in certain moments. And we’ll need to be brave and believe in each other, which is something this squad has in abundance.”
As for the Premier League champions, the mood in their camp couldn’t be much better. New signing Isak is finally a Liverpool player and could be in contention to receive some minutes this weekend – although Arne Slot has urged fans to be patient as he gets up to speed.
The likes of Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez could also complete their returns from injury, whilst the only fresh concern that the Reds have regards Curtis Jones.
The midfielder’s injury may see Dominik Szoboszlai return to his usual role in the middle of the park rather than right-back, where he thrived against Arsenal. And, in turn, Frimpong or Conor Bradley could get themselves an immediate start after the international break.
Burnley (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Walker; Ekdal; Esteve; Hartman; Cullen; Ugochukwu; Larsen; Mejbri; Antony; Foster
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley; Van Dijk; Konate; Kerkez; Gravenberch; Szoboszlai; Salah; Wirtz; Gakpo; Ekitike
Burnley vs Liverpool recent results
Of course, the last time that these two sides met came in 2024 when Liverpool eased to a 3-1 victory at Anfield. Then, it was goals from the late Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez that saw the Reds wrap up all three points. This weekend, however, the Reds will need to rely on new stars to get the job done.
Burnley vs Liverpool results
Competition
Liverpool 3-1 Burnley
Premier League
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
Premier League
Burnley 0-1 Liverpool
Premier League
Liverpool 2-0 Burnley
Premier League
Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
Premier League
Without a defeat against the Clarets in their last five games, Liverpool last failed to beat Burnley in 2021 when their 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield came to an end in shocking fashion.
Away from head-to-head records, Burnley have endured an inconsistent start to their Premier League campaign – losing at Tottenham Hotspur, defeating Sunderland and then suffering defeat against Man United.
Liverpool, by some contrast, have won all three of their games but needed three late goals to do so. That, even if only small hope, should hand Burnley some encouragement.
Burnley vs Liverpool predictions and odds
As Premier League champions and the only side with a 100% record this season, Liverpool are undoubtedly the favourites against Burnley, with the odds reflecting that. The Reds are priced at 3/10 by the bookies, whilst the odds for Burnley to pick up a shock victory sit at 8/1 and a draw is priced at 9/2.
Liverpool 'lead' race for 'different class' £224,000-a-week Salah successor
The Reds are serious about doing a deal.
BySean Markus Clifford Sep 13, 2025
Although Slot’s side have needed late goals to survive a number of scares this season, their visit to Turf Moor should see the return of their dominance and perhaps even the true arrival of Florian Wirtz.
Prediction: Burnley 1-3 Liverpool
MatériaMais Notícias
O São Paulo segue atento ao mercado da bola e busca contratações para o segundo semestre. Um nome ventilado nos corredores do CT da Barra Funda foi o do meia Léo Cittadini, do Athletico.
Para os tricolores paulistas apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!
A informação foi publicada pelo jornalista Alexandre Praetzel e confirmada pelo Lance!. A reportagem do L! apurou que o nome foi um pedido do técnico Dorival Júnior, mas a direção do São Paulo não deve avançar nas negociações.
Léo Cittadini tem contrato com o Athletico até o final do ano e já pode assinar um pré-contrato com outra equipe para a próxima temporada. Neste ano, Cittadini soma 12 jogos, sem marcar gols nem dar assistências. Ele vem sendo reserva do Furacão, e não entra em campo desde o dia 21 de junho, justamente contra o São Paulo.
Na carreira, Cittadini começou no Santos, onde foi destaque na conquista da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior de 2013. Subiu aos profissionais e foi bicampeão paulista em 2015 e 2016 no Santos. Depois, passou por empréstimo na Ponte Preta até se transferir ao Athletico.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a minor injury for RCB, who picked Yash Dayal, and handed caps to Phil Salt and Tim David
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Mar-20255:47
Kane Williamson on what it takes to be a good IPL captain
Toss Just like 17 years ago at the first-ever IPL match, RCB won the toss and asked KKR to bat first with rain and dew not ruled out at the IPL 2025 opener. RCB were hopeful of not allowing a repeat of a blowout on that night when Brendon McCullum set the tournament alight. This was the first time these two teams were kicking off the IPL season since 2008.Defending champions KKR had a new captain, and wore a new look, with at least the official team sheet not slating Sunil Narine as the opening batter. Wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock and left-arm quick Spencer Johnson made their KKR debuts, edging out Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Anrich Nortje, who was nevertheless named in the list of substitutes. Whether KKR were going to open with Narine was going to be revealed in earnest.RCB’s new captain, Rajat Patidar, got off to an auspicious start, calling correctly at the toss. He didn’t quite remember the names of the possible Impact Players, but made what is expected to be the beneficial call in evening games in T20 cricket: chase. However, there was a new aid for the sides defending – a ball change they can claim after the tenth over of the second innings.RCB handed caps to Phil Salt, who represented KKR last year, and Tim David, let go by Mumbai Indians. Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya were their spinners, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had a minor injury, missed out. RCB instead went with the left-arm pace of Yash Dayal.Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt) 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Varun Chakaravarthy, 11 Spencer Johnson/Anrich Nortje, 12 Vaibhav AroraSubstitutes: Anrich Nortje, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Anukul Roy, Luvnith SisodiaRoyal Challengers Bengaluru: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Rajat Patidar (capt), 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Tim David, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Rasikh Salam, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Yash Dayal, 11 Suyash SharmaSubstitutes: Devdutt Padikkal, Abhinandan Singh, Manj Bhandage, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh
Are Everton… fun now?
Last time out, the Toffees beat Wolves 3-2 at Molineux, thanks to goals from Beto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and then Iliman Ndiaye, albeit Jack Grealish was the star of the show, registering two assists.
That’s now three successive victories in league and cup for David Moyes’ men, who will be looking to make that four in a row, achieving this for the first time since December 2023, when Aston Villa visit Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday; the Villans haven’t even scored a goal yet this season.
With Grealish the poster boy, the Blues are playing a brand of free-flowing, attacking football not often associated with Moyes, but just imagine how good this team would be had they not sold an academy prospect for £400k.
Jack Grealish's Everton renaissance
During his final two seasons at Manchester City, Grealish saw just 1,716 minutes of action in the Premier League, during which time he accumulated a miserly four goals and two assists.
Thus, it was hard to forecast if the England international would be able to rediscover his mojo upon moving to Merseyside, but the early evidence suggests he certainly has.
Having registered two assists against both Brighton and Wolves, Grealish leads the way in the Premier League with four assists; no one else has more than two.
This is, as already mentioned, twice as many assists as he mustered across two league seasons with Man City, so, should he continue this form, he’ll surely force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for games against Wales and Latvia in October.
Grealish is of course only on loan at the Toffees, but they do have a £50m option to buy, which would smash the club’s transfer record which currently stands at £45m.
So, could Everton have saved themselves a potentially enormous outlay by holding onto an academy graduate, rather than selling him for just £400k?
Everton's homegrown talent starring on the international stage
Unless they keep a keen eye on the youth teams, it is possible that Evertonians have never even heard the name Isaac Price before.
He joined the club’s academy at the age of seven, making 64 appearances for the U21s, but featuring just three times for the first team, totalling 45 minutes, debuting against Boreham Wood in the FA Cup, before late substitute cameos against Arsenal and Brighton in the Premier League.
Thus, no one particularly noticed or cared when, still a teenager at the time, he was sold to Standard Liège, the Blues receiving around £400,000 in compensation.
During 18 months in Belgium, Price established himself as a first-team regular, making 64 appearances for les Rouches, his solitary goal for the club coming during a 2-1 victory over Club Brugge at Stade Maurice Dufrasne.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
These performances must’ve caught the eye back home because, back in January, West Bromwich Albion paid £2.5m to bring him to The Hawthorns.
Having been in and out of the side last season, Price began this campaign on fire, bagging the only goal against Blackburn Rovers on the opening weekend, before scoring a brace during a 3-2 victory over Wrexham at the Racecourse the following weekend.
However, it is his displays for Northern Ireland that have propelled the 21-year-old into the limelight.
He opened his international account against Slovenia in Ljubljana soon after leaving Everton before, back in October 2024, netting a hat-trick during a 5-0 Nations League demolition of Bulgaria at Windsor Park.
This makes him only the sixth man to score a treble for the Green and White Army, after Billy McAdams (1960), Johnny Crossan (1965), George Best (1971), Colin Clarke (1991) and David Healy (2006 & 2007).
His international scoring spree has hit new heights this calendar year, on target during friendlies against Switzerland, Sweden and Iceland, before bagging his tenth for his country with a sweetly struck volley during a World Cup qualifier against Germany at RheinEnergieStadion on Sunday night, making it 1-1.
This goal in Köln makes Price the youngest player to reach ten goals for Northern Ireland, joining illustrious company at that milestone. Like Grealish as a youngster, he’s burst onto the scene in quite some style.
David Healy
95
36
Kyle Lafferty
89
20
Billy Gillespie
25
13
Colin Clarke
38
13
Steven Davis
140
13
Joe Bambrick
11
12
Jimmy Quinn
46
12
Iain Dowie
59
12
Gerry Armstrong
63
12
Josh Magennis
82
12
Jimmy McIlroy
55
10
Isaac Price
24
10
Johnny Crossan
24
10
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout is certainly a fan, labelling Price a “magnificent…box-to-box midfielder”, while his international manager Michael O’Neill, described him as a “brilliant young player”, highlighting his work-rate and pressing. Positionally, he may well be different to Grealish but the same raw, exciting talent is certainly there.
As a result, according to the CIES Football Observatory, he is now West Brom’s most valuable player, with an estimated transfer value of around £16m.
Thus, even with Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye and the recently signed Tyler Dibling fighting for starting positions in Moyes’ team, Price would surely have improved this Everton squad, had they been able to keep hold of him two years ago.
Imagine him & Grealish: Everton may have Baines 2.0 in 19-year-old starlet
Everton’s next Leighton Baines could be a perfect partner to Jack Grealish down the left flank
ByWill Miller Sep 6, 2025
Chelsea’s summer transfer window once again made headlines, combining record spending with significant sales.
After finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, winning the Europa Conference League, and lifting the Club World Cup by beating PSG 3-0 in the summer final, the Blues are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2023.
The club continued to invest heavily, bringing in João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Jorrel Hato, and Liam Delap, among others, for huge fees.
At the same time, Chelsea balanced the books by offloading players such as Christopher Nkunku, João Félix, and notably, Noni Madueke.
Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s youthful squad has shown promise but also inconsistency.
Two wins against Fulham and West Ham have been tempered by draws with Crystal Palace and Brentford, a reflection of a side still searching for rhythm.
Their return to the Champions League offered a reality check about the demands of competing at Europe’s highest level. While Madueke thrived for Arsenal, a Blues winger struggled.
Noni Madueke: From Chelsea to Arsenal
Madueke was once seen as a cornerstone of Chelsea’s rebuild.
The 23-year-old right-winger scored 20 goals and registered nine assists in 92 appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Explosive when on form, he could change games with pace, dribbling, and direct running.
However, his Chelsea career was defined as much by frustration as by highlights.
The club decided to sell him to Arsenal for £52m this summer, a transfer that drew an immediate backlash from Gunners supporters.
More than 5,000 fans signed a petition under the hashtag #NoToMadueke, questioning the move.
Arsenal pressed ahead regardless, handing Madueke a full 90 minutes on his Champions League debut against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.
Statistically, Madueke has always been a player who offers high involvement in forward play.
Last season, he averaged 6.81 progressive carries per 90 minutes, a measure of how often he drives the ball upfield.
He also attempted a high volume of shots, posting 1.33 shots on target per 90 minutes with an accuracy rate of 37.5%.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
These numbers highlight both his intent and his end product – a winger eager to make things happen, though not always efficient. One Chelsea winger is like that now.
Chelsea's new Noni Madueke
Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener showed just how raw this youthful team remains.
Defensive errors – including Trevoh Chalobah’s own goal after Michael Olise’s cross and a clumsy Moises Caicedo foul that gifted Harry Kane a penalty – set the tone for a tough night.
In attack, Pedro Neto was handed the role of left-winger in Maresca’s 4-2-3-1.
It proved a difficult evening. Neto was replaced in the 68th minute after a performance that earned him a 5.8 match rating.
His individual numbers reflected the struggle:
Neto vs Bayern Munich
Touches
25
Accurate Passes
11/14 (79%)
Crosses
1 (0 accurate)
Dribble Attempts
4 (2 successful)
Grounds Duels
7 (2 won)
Possession Lost
9 (2 won)
Source: Sofascore
Neto’s inconsistency mirrored some of the very frustrations Chelsea fans once voiced about Madueke.
He can explode with pace and creativity, but also drift out of games, as he did in Munich.
Across last season, Neto managed 35 matches with ten goal involvements – identical to Madueke’s tally in 32 appearances.
While Neto averaged fewer progressive carries (5.00 per 90) and shots on target (0.67 per 90 at a 28.8% accuracy), he outperformed Madueke in progressive passing distance, covering an average of 96 metres per 90 minutes compared to Madueke’s 82.0.
The data illustrate why Chelsea’s decision to sell Madueke and entrust Neto with a similar role has sparked debate.
Both wingers bring pace and unpredictability, both contribute to chance creation, and both are capable of flashes of brilliance. But the numbers confirm their limitations as well.
Madueke’s higher output in progressive carries and shots suggests a winger more inclined to take risks and force opportunities.
Neto, on the other hand, contributes more in ball progression through passing, reflected in his superior progressive passing distance.
Each offers something slightly different, yet neither has consistently delivered match-winning influence.
When comparing shot creation, the two players are virtually inseparable. Madueke averaged 3.50 shot-creating actions per 90, while Neto produced 3.57.
This parity shows that both are involved in their teams’ attacking buildup, even if their execution varies.
Madueke’s numbers underline why Arsenal were willing to pay a premium despite fan scepticism.
His willingness to carry the ball forward and threaten goalkeepers with regular attempts makes him a high-upside option.
Neto’s profile fits Chelsea’s philosophy under Maresca – linking play, stretching the pitch, and helping transition through midfield – but his display against Bayern revealed how much more is needed to reach Champions League standard.
For Chelsea, the swap of Madueke for Neto feels less like a fresh direction and more like a gamble on a winger with a strikingly similar profile: exciting, unpredictable, and still searching for the consistency required to define matches at the highest level.
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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 18, 2025