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Arsenal fans have slammed Granit Xhaka after the Gunners fell to a dispiriting 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Monday.

Unai Emery’s men struggled against a disciplined Blades side that was roared on by a vociferous Bramall Lane crowd.

Indeed, they mustered just three shots on target throughout the entirety of the game, with Nicolas Pepe missing a particularly gilt-edged chance in the first-half.

Nevertheless, Xhaka was the subject of some pretty scathing criticism on Twitter following the game, with many supporters believing that he did not do all he could to prevent the Gunners’ defeat.

Of course, the Switzerland international, who has won 78 caps for his country, has been handed the club captaincy by manager Unai Emery and is now in a position of considerable influence in north London.

Per WhoScored, he had 81 touches of the ball across the 90 minutes, mustering one dribble, two aerials won and three tackles.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

A number of Sunderland fans have voiced their support for Will Grigg after the under-pressure forward missed his penalty in the EFL Cup shoot-out defeat to Oxford United.

Grigg stepped up to take the Black Cats’ third spot-kick against the U’s, but blasted his effort sky high to the left and watched on as it sailed over the bar.

The 28-year-old had entered the action in the 55th-minute for Joel Lynch after the centre-back suffered a knock, although his only telling action of the game came a quarter of an hour later when Grigg won a free-kick in the attacking third.

Solihull-born Grigg has come in for a range of backlash on social media since the Carabao Cup clash, with a quick search on Twitter showing Sunderland fans sharing messages suggesting the pressure of guiding the Black Cats out of League One may be too much for him.

Others have railed in support of the striker, though, with one suggesting boss Phil Parkinson needs to supply Grigg with the right service, as he can then be a 20-plus-goal centre-forward.

Find out what happened when a world-record-holding freestyler attempting skills with the worst pair of boots available on eBay in the video below…

Grigg hit 19 goals in the 2012/13 League One term for Walsall, before later penning 20 in the 14/15 campaign for MK Dons, 25 in the 15/16 season for Wigan Athletic and 19 for the Latics in 2017/18.

Promotion into the Championship for last season again saw Grigg struggle before moving to the Stadium of Light in January, where he only managed to strike four goals in 18 league games before the close of the season.

The 13-cap former Northern Ireland international recently opened his account for the term against Tranmere Rovers, which brought an end to a 21-game goal drought in the third-tier including last season’s Play-Offs.

Here are some of the messages shared from Black Cats supporters who continue to back Grigg…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Having gone through a recent revival, the last thing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have wanted to do for the game against Bournemouth on Saturday, is make wholesale changes. The Manchester United manager has overseen a draw against Liverpool, and three successive away wins in different competitions in just over a week.

But unfortunately for the Red Devils, the sense of goodwill and excitement that has been built by those results may be slightly tempered by the injury update the United boss provided in his pre-match press conference. The Norwegian admitted there are fitness concerns over a number of players ahead of the clash at Bournemouth, including doubts over the likes of Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

“They had treatment yesterday, today (they played in) a light session, hopefully they’re ready. I can’t tell you exactly.”

And with the squad already struggling with more longer-term absentees in the shape of Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly, Solskjaer may well decide to play it extremely cautious with his potential line-up at the weekend. So with that in mind, here is a look at the eleven the Red Devils could be forced to play in their Premier League clash.

So with injury worries over United’s first-choice centre-back pairing, Solskjaer would no desperately be hoping that at least one of Maguire and Lindelof can be passed fit for the game – particularly with Bournemouth likely to play the pacy Callum Wilson up front.

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But if indeed the Norwegian plays it safe, then there could be a rare chance for Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones to hold down the fort together, and a return to more orthodox back-four to alleviate the lack of fit central defenders.

At full-back, despite Brandon Williams’ impressive showing against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in mid-week (he won five total duels and made two interceptions), Ashley Young could be restored to the line-up to add some experience.

In midfield, Scott McTominay and Fred will be hoping to build on their fledgling partnership – the latter in particular has now started and completed the previous three games in the Premier League.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

Further forward, is where things could get shaken up even further, with Rashford potentially ruled out. The England international has returned to his best form in recent games, netting against Liverpool, Norwich and Chelsea. But with the 22-year-old perhaps side-lined, Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira could be the major beneficiaries, as they join Daniel James in playing behind number nine Anthony Martial.

Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to react after it was reported that the north Londoners are eyeing up a £35m move for Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana, but it seems that they aren’t too happy with the link.

Onana – who has eight caps for the Cameroon national team – has made 159 appearances for the Dutch giants at the age of just 23, and starred for the side on their way to the Champions League semi-final last season.

The young glovesman kept a clean sheet in the first leg against Spurs, but it was his spilled save that saw Lucas Moura gobble up the ball and fire home to kickstart the three-goal comeback win in Amsterdam for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Interestingly, the report states that Spurs will need to sell Hugo Lloris before making a move for Onana, as the Frenchman will not want to be second choice in between the sticks.

Despite Onana’s impressive pedigree in goal at just 23 years of age, this transfer rumour doesn’t seem to be one that excites Spurs fans on Twitter.

Let’s take a look at some of the tweets…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Newcastle may have turned a corner with the performance and result against West Ham, and the front-three showed that when on top form they can be a handful for any opponent.

On the chalkboard

Steve Bruce has faced a tough challenge during his first three months in charge of the Magpies, in what was meant to be a dream job for the boyhood Newcastle fan.

From day one, some fans were against him, and though he was given money to spend he inherited a squad which scored just 42 goals in the league, yet lost 23 goals from that total with the departures of Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon.

Despite that, he has done well in parts, and proved that much of the criticism aimed his way has been unwarranted.

He has maintained faith in both his system and his players, and could be about to reap the rewards, starting with Newcastle’s fine display against the Hammers on Saturday, a game they very easily could have led 3-0 at half-time.

With the front three scoring just once between them in ten league games prior to the visit to the London Stadium, some managers would have decided to withdraw them from the team – but not Bruce.

The former Manchester United player has built much of his career on effective man-management. The combination of Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton has showcased both that and his tactical skills, and Bruce was the reason why his team looked so accomplished in their 3-2 win.

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Signs of progress

One of the reasons why Bruce has been somewhat under fire is because of the Magpies’ lack of goals, with six in ten scored before the trip to London.

However, with two summer arrivals starting in attack as well as one who only arrived in January, Bruce should have been afforded more time, as he is now starting to prove that once gelled together, his players are capable of producing winning football.

Alan Shearer noted as much on Match of the Day, as quoted by The Athletic:

“The concern this season for Newcastle has been a lack of creativity and a lack of link-up play between Saint-Maximin, Almiron and Joelinton. But not (against West Ham).”

Bruce knows the limitations of his squad, and should be praised rather than ridiculed for operating with a system which best suits them.

Players like Jetro Willems and Saint-Maximin are beginning to excel under him, whilst his handling of Matty Longstaff and Jonjo Shelvey has also resulted in match-winning moments against Man United and West Ham respectively.

Newcastle may not be a team which dominates the ball, but they have pacy wingers and a target man in Joelinton who, with a bit of confidence, will be able to seek out their runs, and that is now beginning to work well for the Magpies.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Dries Mertens on a free transfer when his contract comes to an end in the summer, as reported by Il Mattino (via Sport Witness).

They are set to battle with Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus and Internazionale to get the 32-year-old on their books ahead of next season.

This could be a brilliant move if the Gunners pull it off, due to the fact that they would be getting someone who made 27 goal contributions in the league last campaign.

He has carried on his prolific touch this season, getting 7 goals across 12 starts and 3 substitute appearances in Serie A and the Champions League.

While this could definitely be a positive sign for the club, it would send the completely wrong message to Gabriel Martinelli.

The 18-year-old has been a revelation since joining the Gunners from Ituano in the summer, scoring 7 goals and getting 1 assist in 5 starts and 4 substitute appearances across all competitions.

This is a very impressive return, considering his age and how new he is to the club.

His electric opening suggests he will eventually be rewarded further down the line with a more prominent role in the team in the Premier League.

But with both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette already ahead of him in the pecking order, a move for Mertens would add an extra layer of intensity to the competition.

Therefore, seeing Arsenal bring in somebody like Mertens, who would likely get in the team ahead of him due to the aforementioned goal statistics, would surely be demoralising for the Brazilian.

It is important that Martinelli is not hyped up too much just yet but there is enough evidence to suggest he’s a player with the potential to make a profound impact in north London.

The Gunners should be looking to mould him into someone who can lead the line for years to come, rather than bringing someone in who will block his route into the first-team.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Troy Parrott will start Monday’s clash with Denmark on the bench but has said that he could have the chance to become a hero, per Irish News.

What’s the word?

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Parrott made his debut for Ireland last week, featuring in the 3-1 friendly win over New Zealand, having played just once for Spurs’ senior side.

However, Monday’s encounter against the Danes brings with it a far higher degree of difficulty.

Indeed, a win for McCarthy’s side would almost certainly see them qualify for Euro 2020, per ESPN, while Denmark are also looking to seal their progress with a victory.

Ireland have not beaten this opposition since 2007 and were thumped 5-1 in a play-off to determine qualification for the 2018 World Cup just two years ago.

McCarthy, though, is hopeful of victory, and Parrott could be given a chance to come off the bench and play a major role in helping his country to next summer’s tournament.

He said: “If the circumstances are right and all the stars are aligned, he might get a chance to come on.

“He might be on the bench and not play and that would be sad for him. [But] It’s an option and when you see his movement, it could be one of those things on a night as it is when it’s made for heroes, he might be the first one.”

Give him a chance, he’ll take it

Parrott is just 17, that must be said.

But at youth level, he’s been scoring goals for Spurs.

He has netted 15 in 13 outings for the U18s, eight in eight for the U19s and four in 13 for the U23s.

The message there is clear: If he gets a chance to score, he’ll likely take it.

And on a night when Ireland will have to be taking the chances that come their way, Parrott could well be their secret weapon off the bench.

A winning goal for the teenager would be what dreams are made of but we’ve seen it happen enough times not to rule it out.

Having hit the back of the net with regularity at junior level for his club, he will be hoping to write his name into folklore at the Aviva Stadium against the Danes.

Things at Liverpool are going pretty swimmingly at the moment.

The Reds are top of the Premier League by eight points from Leicester City and Chelsea, whilst Manchester City are a further point back as well. They are still in all competitions, and they could win the Club World Cup for the first time in their history in December after winning the Champions League last season.

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It seems that there is plenty to be positive about off the field of play too. Work is progressing well on their new £50m training ground in Kirkby, and they are set to move into the new facility before the end of next season.

Not only that, but it has remained on budget. It looks to be a fantastic complex, and Jurgen Klopp and the club’s players are even said to have had some input into the building process.

Whilst there is sadness that the team will be departing Melwood, the club’s supporters are delighted with how it is looking.

They have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

Another week, another narrow win for Liverpool.

Despite winning 12 of their first 13 matches in the Premier League so far this campaign, seven of those victories have been by a single goal. However, it shows that although the Reds are yet to hit top gear during this season, they are still picking up the points they need to give them a commanding eight-point advantage at the top.

On Saturday against Crystal Palace, they were without Mohamed Salah, the division’s Golden Boot winner in each of the last two seasons. Without him, Senegal international Sadio Mane moved over to the right wing to take the 27-year-old’s place, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lined up on the opposite flank. In this match, it was the former’s performance that showed Klopp can deal without the presence of the Egyptian King.

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The former Southampton man set the ball rolling for the Merseyside outfit, netting in the 49th minute after an assist from Andrew Robertson. It was a vital moment, and it was just one facet of a great display from Mane.

That was one of three shots he managed during the match, whilst he also completed the only dribble that he attempted. He also turned creator as well, managing two key passes for his teammates. Only Trent Alexander-Arnold managed more than the 27-year-old. He won 50% of his duels, including two in the air, and he also managed to win two fouls, with Fabinho being the only Liverpool player to beat him in that department.

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Since moving to Anfield, Mane has played more than twice as many games on the left of the front three than on the right according to those where his position has been recorded by Transfermarkt. However, he actually has a better record on that side.

In 40 matches, he has 20 goals, as well as nine assists – as per Transfermarkt – whilst in 91 games on the left, he has 44 goals and 17 assists. The numbers are similar, yet there is a slight advantage on the right. He has scored 0.48 goals per match on the left compared to 0.5 on the right, and he has 0.23 assists per game on the right compared to 0.19 on the other side.

The reason he has been used on the left for the most part is down to Salah’s proficiency. According to Transfermarkt, the £135m-valued ex-Chelsea player has never played on the left wing for Liverpool, but has 61 goals in 96 games on the other side. Clearly, he is less manoeuvrable than Mane, hence why he been used there predominantly. Whilst the Senegalese man may be performing fantastically, the stats show that the former AS Roma man is perhaps preventing him from reaching his full potential. It is something for Klopp to think about.

In other news, Liverpool fans cannot believe they could make a profit on this dud.

Arsenal fans are freaking out over a shock admission from Brendan Rodgers, who openly admitted he “probably” has a release clause at Leicester City.

Rodgers’ Leicester side showed everything Arsenal lack on Sunday. After the Gunners had stumbled to a 2-2 draw at Norwich City, Leicester came from behind in stunning fashion to beat Everton and move within eight points of leaders Liverpool.

They showed grit, determination, heart and of course quality, none of which were on show when Arsenal limped to a point at Carrow Road.

Following the match, Rodgers, who is one of the favourites to replace Unai Emery as the permanent manager at the Emirates, was asked if he had a release clause amidst speculation linking him with a switch to north London.

Rather surprisingly, he was completely open about the fact he may have an out at Leicester, as he told Sky Sports, via The Mirror: “There probably is (a clause) in most manager’s contracts. It is all hypothetical.

“Most manager’s contracts will have something in but my focus is here.”

He of course assured Leicester fans that he is “very happy” at the King Power Stadium, but that hasn’t stopped the Gunners faithful from going wild on Twitter over his comments, with many feeling this is a ‘come and get me’ plea.

Given his success at Celtic and so far with the Foxes, he would almost certainly be an upgrade on Emery, and the Twitter reactions down below tell you everything you need to know about what Arsenal fans think…