Tag: Arsenal

Meet Ousmane Diomande: The Footballing Wonderkid Redefining African Centre-Backs in Europe

Meet Ousmane Diomande: The Footballing Wonderkid Redefining African Centre-Backs in Europe

It’s become a rarity to see African centre-backs playing regularly at the elite level for the elite clubs, mixing it with the best on the continent at the biggest club competition in the game, the UEFA Champions League.

In fact, when naming some of the best centre-backs on the continent at this moment in time, there isn’t one African name in sight.

The reasoning for this could well be down to the pool of talents on the continent taking a steep decline in recent years – elite clubs no longer want to take them on because of the AFCON taking place in the middle of a season every two years or the pathway to those levels for some of these players hasn’t been up to scratch. It’s difficult to pinpoint what the root cause is.

African centre-backs being amongst the best of their positions in Europe is now a thing of the past, a time when we had names such as Lucas Radebe, Rigobert Song, Kolo Toure, and Kalidou Koulibaly being considered global superstars of their respective generations.

We may not know what the solution is to getting top African centre-back talent back on the map on the biggest stages but one player who could yet become the new face of the movement and the leading superstar for the African continent is Sporting’s monstrous & athletic juggernaut Ousmane Diomande.

(Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)

The 20-year-old talent and Ivory Coast international has emerged over the past couple of campaigns in Portugal as one of the most complete centre-back profiles on the continent and was a part of the Ivorian side which won the 2024 African Cup of Nations but only started two of their six games throughout the competition.

However, that is about to change as Diomande is given more exposure in the first team at Portuguese Liga NOS champions Sporting under the guidance and coaching of Ruben Amorim, playing Champions League football next season and should he remain at Sporting, as a key member of the squad as they push for their third league title in four years.

Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim will be looking for a third Liga Portugal title in four years this season

Diomande has emerged as a hot centre-back target for the likes of Manchester United (Daily Express, 31 May 2024), Arsenal and Chelsea (The Sun, 25 March) in the recent past and given his incredible qualities and very high ceiling, it won’t be long before he is playing at the top level every week for an elite club – changing the narrative for African centre-backs.

So who is Diomande, how has he got to this position in his career and just how far can he go in terms of reaching his vast potential?

Who is Ousmane Diomande?

Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Diomande is a product of the Ivorian club Sport Abobo, having joined them at the age of 10 and playing for the club’s academy for six years before getting his big break with a move to Europe, with a move to Danish outfit Football Club Midtjylland.

Abobo have produced many top players in the past, with the club having a significant reputation in Africa and across Europe for their high-end production of footballing talent, and it could turn out that the AFCON-winning centre-back may be their most prestigious ever should he continue on his promising trajectory.

FC Midtjylland paid Abobo an undisclosed fee back in 2020, but Diomande did not go straight into the starting line-up or even the squad immediately upon his arrival at the club.

His first six months in Denmark were rightly spent in the youth system, making 15 appearances for the U19s while also appearing twice in the UEFA Youth League.

Ousmane began learning English two months prior to his transfer to Midtjylland, which majorly helped him settle into his new surroundings much easier.

Given his tremendous growth and development, Midtjylland thought it best to send him out on loan to Portuguese outfit Mafra for the 2022/23 campaign, going on to make 17 appearances during his time there, including a 2-2 draw against his future employers Sporting’s intense rival FC Porto in the Allianz Cup.

The decision to join the Portuguese outfit for the season proved a masterstroke as Diomande was able to showcase his unique talents and understanding of the game, being able to fully utilise and master his abilities on the ball, dictating the game from his centre-half position, breaking lines and doing it under intense opposition press as well as his aggressive and athletic presence in his defending.

Thanks to impressive performances with Mafra, Diomande’s loan was cut short halfway through the season and he transferred to Primeira Liga club Sporting CP on 31 January 2023, signing a contract until June 2027 for a fee of €7.5 million (£6.3m).

It wasn’t long before Diomande was thrust into the limelight in his new home, making his debut for Sporting just six days after his January transfer against Rio Ave, coming off the bench to feature for two minutes, before making his full debut on the 20th of February against Chaves in a 3-2 win.

During his first season at the club, Diomande won more tackles per game (1.33) than his two defensive partners, Goncalo Inacio and Jerry St.Juste. He also averaged more tackles and interceptions combined, at 3.37 which is made all the more impressive considering he was only at the club for six months, making 11 starts in the Portuguese top flight.

Diomande made his European debut on 9 March, coming off the bench to replace Ricardo Esgaio on the 77th minute of a 2–2 draw at home to Arsenal in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg.

Eight days later, on the return fixture in the Emirates Stadium, Diomande started and played the full match, as Sporting drew 1–1 and eliminated Arsenal via a penalty shootout.

Diomande faces off against Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli during Sporting’s penalty shoot-out win in their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie in March 2023.

It was a monstrous showing from Diomande that night, successfully completing 97 per cent of his passes, winning 100 per cent of his aerial duels, winning three ground duels, recording four clearances, two blocks and a crucial goal-line clearance [SofaScore].

He would then go on to bag his first goal for Sporting in a league tie against fierce rivals Benfica in a pulsating 2-2 draw.

The 2022/23 campaign would turn out to be Diomande’s breakout season, given he was only an employer for six months but the 2023/24 campaign was one in which he fully established himself as a placeholder defender in Amorim’s championship-winning team – ending the campaign with Africa Cup of Nations medal as well as a Primeira Liga one.

Diomande is once again set to star for Sporting this coming season – should no transfer bids arrive during the summer window – and also fight for his rightful place as Ivory Coast’s most crucial figure in their defence before the 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in December next year.

Who knows, Diomande could well be playing for an elite-level European club once that competition comes around in Morocco. So why could that be the case and what exactly do the elite clubs see in Diomande that makes him such an attractive proposition in the transfer market?

Why is Diomande so highly rated?

Diomande possesses all the characteristics and attributes to be one of the best modern-day centre-backs of his generation if he keeps up his stunning upward trajectory.

The role of a centre-back is ever-changing in the modern game. They’re not only tasked with providing a defensive wall and shield for their team but are now responsible for providing a base on which to build from in possession with so many coaches now adopting a progressive, ball-orientated and positional approach.

Penetrative threat in possession

Diomandé is a complete CB project, being only 19 he’s such a solid defender with his aggressiveness and strong build, defending his box and other zones with high energy and technical qualities to win the ball back. 

He’s also a very progressive and threatening passer from the back as mentioned previously. Much of the Ivorian’s rocket-style development is down to the tactical conditions that he is provided with at Sporting from head coach Amorim.

Amorim regularly deploys Diomandé as a wide RCB in his 3 at the back system. The team either takes up a 3-2-5 or 3-1-6 shape when in possession, and falls into a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 when the opposition has the ball.

This wider positioning for Diomande complements his attributes and abilities brilliantly, allowing him the angles to progress the ball, and evade the opponent’s pressure but also maximise his capabilities when defending wide spaces, matching wingers/attackers for pace and winning the ball back for his team.

The Ivorian is already at the elite level in terms of his line-breaking passes and carries, finding his midfield teammates in space in the middle third by splitting an opponent’s press or mid-block.

Sporting will often play horizontally, shifting the opposition from one side to the other until space opens up for either Diomandé or his centre-back teammate Goncalo Inacio to play vertically.

The Ivorian is incredibly composed under pressure, possesses a remarkable passing range, and is comfortably two-footed, marking him as the PERFECT centre-back in possession.

The stats amongst his positional peers could not make things any clearer regarding his qualities on the ball.

Amongst centre-backs in Europe’s next 14 leagues after the top five, Diomande ranks in the 91st percentile for progressive passes per 90, 97th percentile for pass completion percentage per 90, in the 81st percentile for progressive carries per90 – highlighting that he not only can pass progressive but carry the ball forward and that is further emphasised in his 85th percentile ranking for successful take-ons per 90 [FBRef].

More tellingly, he ranks in the 96th percentile of centre-backs for passes into the final third per 90, and 85th percentile for passes into the penalty area marking him out as a penetrative weapon when Sporting have their opposition penned in their own half, as seen in the image above.

The above graph may indicate Diomande isn’t as strong in his long passing, but that cannot be any further from the truth. The 20-year-old is an adept long passer.

One of the many reasons Amorim has him on the right of Sporting’s three-man defence is to allow him the angle, opportunity and seal of approval to attempt long switches of play when there aren’t any options on his side of the pitch, but more importantly to stretch the opposition defence and change the direction of play.

(Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Diomande is certainly changing the perception of African centre-backs. They are not only an aggressive, dominant and colossal force in their defending, but are now capable of being just as influential and decisive in possession of the ball.

The 20-year-old is among the best at it owing to his tremendous development at Sporting CP under Amorim. While there is still a long way to go before he’s considered the best, he’s undoubtedly on the right path which is impressive considering his age.

However, there is more to Diomande’s game than his progressive passing attributes.

Defensive monster

As stated previously, Diomande possesses all the characteristics and attributes to be one of the best modern-day centre-backs of his generation and that’s down to his exceptional athleticism.

The eight-cap Ivorian international is an imposing figure on his opponents, standing at 6’3 possessing a lean and rangy size making him the ideal & perfect modern-day centre-back profile.

His long limbs and monster physique aid his dominance on the ground when duelling; standing up to his markers, matching them for pace on the flanks or dispossessing onrushing attackers.

He’s excellent at dealing with strikers/attackers who play with their back-to-goal, coming up behind them and stopping them from turning or advancing into dangerous areas in the final third, either via using his long limbs to stretch and reach the ball to dispossess his opponent or shrug them off balance, as shown below:

Diomande possesses astonishing recovery pace, just like his compatriot and predecessor Kolo Toure used to back in his glory days as Arsenal and Ivory Coast’s captain and leader at the heart of the defence.

When you possess such characteristics, you become an invaluable defensive weapon when playing a high line. If Sporting lose possession, and an opponent swiftly looks for a pass over the top of their defensive line, Diomande’s pace, athleticism and anticipation again give him the advantage over any attacker who may have breached the offside trap.

Tasked as a wide centre-back in Sporting’s 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 shape, he is also more than capable of defending the flanks, holding his own against tricky and pacey wingers. Defending in a back 5 puts a larger emphasis on his channel defending, protecting the space in behind the wingbacks, and Diomandé executes this to a very high standard.

The image below is a perfect example of the number of stances Diomande takes up when defending against tricky wingers:

Standing up like this gives him ample advantage as the winger simply does not know which way to beat him, Diomande has all routes to his own goal perfectly covered before he uses his strength and anticipation to win possession:

His speed, athleticism and defensive nous/understanding of his role allow him the advantage in such scenarios and is evident in the fact he ranks in the top nine per cent of centre-backs for % of dribblers tackled per 90.

Out of every player in the Portuguese top flight last season, he ranked fifth for % of dribblers tackled (77.3%) again indicating his huge strengths and reliability in a wide centre-back role.

Aerially, there seems to be a misconception surrounding Diomandé. If you were to look at his raw numbers on FBRef, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this is a major flaw in his game. However, when watching the centre back, this isn’t the case, and when context is applied, you will find that the numbers look more understanding.

The Ivorian is also destructive in the air due to his excellent physique and size but also his amazing spring when jumping. Once he’s in the air, he overpowers his opponents with his towering presence and tremendous leap.

A tremendous example is his bullet header against fierce rivals Benfica towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign, towering over everyone in the penalty area to bury a stunning header into the bottom corner in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

Diomande ranks in the top six per cent of centre-backs for % of aerial duels won per 90 showing his underrated attributes in the air. Whether attacking or defending corners, the Ivorian has no problems attempting to rise highest to meet the ball, as his goal against Benfica showed.

When analysing centre-backs, it’s important to discuss their penalty box defending. That should be every centre-half’s calling card, putting themselves about and stopping at nothing to ensure the ball stays away from the goal.

Diomande is excellent in that respect, positioning himself well in the penalty area to deal with crosses cut-backs and passes.

In the image above, Diomande has positioned himself incredibly well to deal with the danger. The Benfica winger on the far right has options in the area to target but the position the Ivorian takes up gives him the advantage in whichever scenario.

If the ball is pulled back to Casper Tengstedt (no. 19), Diomande is positioned to block the shot. More crucially, the lane for a David Neres tap-in behind him (no.7) is blocked because of Diomande’s excellent reading of the scenario and positioning, allowing him to deal with the problem:

Another instance, in the same fixture, shows Diomande excellently defending a proper cross:

The Ivorian is in the ideal position to deal with the cross even before it reaches the six-yard box:

Whether lining up as an RCB or LCB in Amorim’s three-man defence, Diomande possesses the propensity and quality to deal with various scenarios that arise when Sporting are on the back foot from an opponent’s attack.

In another instance, Benfica worked up another promising attacking scenario, with Sporting’s defence on the back foot and their defensive line, especially Diomande (BLUE) breached and in danger:

However, Sporting again are saved by Diomande’s anticipation, defensive reading and unrelenting speed to get into a position to deal with the decisive through ball:

No wonder why the 20-year-old is so highly regarded not just at Sporting but in the whole of Europe.

Everything a top football coach would want in their modern-day centre-back: pace, anticipation, ground and aerial duelling, reading of the game, strength, aggression and most of all ball-playing attributes, Diomande certainly possesses all.

However, there are still some rawness and mistakes in Diomande’s game. The Ivorian can be guilty of losing concentration, can be over-aggressive and exertive and at times complacent and over-confident given his huge potential as a top-level centre-back.

It is why Amorim hasn’t taken the risk to deploy him as the focal point and heart of his three-man centre-halves but deployed him there with great success in the first game of the new 24/25 campaign – a 3-1 Liga Portugal win over Rio Ave on Friday (9 August).

That will be the next step in Diomande’s development, performing consistently in Sebastian Coates’ place – who returned to his native Uruguay this summer – at the heart of Sporting’s three-man centre-back system.

There are doubts about whether he can perform consistently as one of two centre-backs in a four-man defence.

However, these are all expected given his age. Most centre-backs don’t reach their best years ideally until they’re 27 so the Ivorian certainly has a lot of time on his side to iron out his deficiencies and grow into the incredible and complete defender he is primed to become.

In fact, he could well reach these levels well before he turns 26 allowing him to become the best of his generation and arguably one of the best African centre-backs of all time.

These are overly lofty and ambitious words, yes, but that’s currently how good Diomande is and can become.

Diomande’s Future Forecast

The Ivorian international is certainly on his way to changing the perceptions of what it is to be a top-level centre-back from the continent of Africa. They can be good but not quite capable enough to reach the top level.

When watching Diomande, you can certainly tell that the landscape and impressions of an African centre-back are about to dramatically change. He’s already reached the pinnacle of international football for Ivory Coast, but there is clearly more to come at club level.

There are no doubts that Diomande will be playing in one of Europe’s top-five leagues within the next year or so.

The Olympic Sport Abobo youth product has been linked with elite clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal recently but nothing has materialised or emerged as genuine in regards to a move away which means he will still be a Sporting player by the end of August 2024.

With so much rawness in his game, and tactical development still to come, another year at the Portuguese champions will do him the world of good in the long run.

But, it won’t be long before a top European outfit is matching that €80m (£68.5m) release clause in his contract. That isn’t a prediction, it is quite simply a spoiler.

In other #AnthonyScouts news, check out this new West Ham United signing who enjoyed a tremendous 2023/24 campaign. Is he ready for Premier League football?

Meet Dinamo Zagreb’s Martin Baturina: The Next Luka Modric?

Meet Dinamo Zagreb’s Martin Baturina: The Next Luka Modric?

After a runner-up finish in the 2018 World Cup and a third-placed achievement at the 2022 edition, the Croatian national football team have arguably reached the end of their impressive cycle.

Manager Zlatko Dalić has done tremendously in leading his talented group of players to consistently punch above their weight against some of the elite nations in the world but sadly, such achievements have a shelf life in football.

Dalić remains the Croatian manager after nearly seven years in the job and will be entrusted to lead them again for this summer’s upcoming 2024 European Championships and ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

However, whatever happens in Germany, the Croatian Federation and Dalić know they are in for a significant rebuild to ensure the teams stay competitive in future competitions.

Players who have been go-to players for the Croatian coach are certainly on their last stretch at international level; Marcelo Brozovic, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Perisic, Mislav Orsic and Andrej Kramarić have all been crucial components throughout Dalic’s reign.

Though one name considered one of the most decorated performers of all time not just in his beloved country, reaching the latter stages of his fledgling and Ballon d’Or-filled career is one Luka Modric.

Euro 2024 is sure to be – albeit sadly – the Real Madrid superstar’s last international tournament before hanging up his boots.

Croatia need a viable and quality successor to step into Modric’s shoes and one young prodigious talent making shockwaves across Southeastern Europe is Dinamo Zagreb’s midfield maestro Martin Baturina.

The 21-year-old has already in his short career drawn favourable comparisons to Modric and could yet be the next big-money departure from Zagreb, following in the footsteps of the likes of the Real Madrid icon, Mateo Kovacic and most recent departures in Josip Šutalo (Ajax – £17.6m) to Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig – £31.6m & Manchester City – £78m).

The son of former Croatia international Mate Baturina has proven indispensable for a Dinamo Zagreb side that has just claimed its record 25th and seventh straight Croatian top-division title.

The wonderkid has enjoyed another successful campaign in the first team, registering five goals and five assists after a sensational breakthrough season during the 2022/23 campaign where he notched six goals and a whopping 12 assists.

The Zagreb academy graduate has been linked with European giants Arsenal and Juventus over the past year, once again highlighting how highly thought of he is within Europe.

Baturina is now being considered the future of Croatian football and the ideal heir to Modric’s prestigious and decorated thrown.

As pressurising as that may be for the 21-year-old talent, the huge acclaim placed on his shoulders isn’t inflated at all, this is an exceptional talent but how has he got to this position and what makes him so special?

Who is Martin Baturina?

Born in Split, Croatia on 16 February 2003, Baturina is a product of the much-famed Dinamo de Zagreb academy.

Being in the academy since the 2017/18 season, he has been a fast burner, staying only for a season in all the academy squads (junior, U17, U19, second team) before making his debut and establishing himself as a key element and vital player for arguably one of the biggest Croatian clubs in history.

Baturina made his debut for Dinamo Zagreb II in February 2021, in a 1-0 defeat to Bijelo Brdo and it only took a few months before he made his first team bow for Zagreb in May 2021, featuring in a 3-0 league win over Gorica.

The Croat bagged his first goal for the club in March 2022, a 3–0 victory over Šibenik, before playing a significant role in their 2021/22 final matchday 3-1 win over his hometown club Hajduk Split.

He would go on to feature regularly both in the domestic cups and in Europe that year and the 2022/23 campaign was certainly the year, Martin Baturina made his exceptional breakthrough for Zagreb.

In September 2022, Baturina made his UEFA Champions League bow for the Croatian giants, featuring in a 1-0 win against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, a result which compounded the German to his unfortunate sacking by the new Stamford Bridge co-owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s Behdad Eghbali.

The youngster only made a five-minute cameo for Zagreb but that campaign would go on to be his best for the club, registering seven goals and 13 assists from 49 games in all competitions [Transfermarkt].

The 2022/23 campaign certainly established Baturina as one of Croatia’s most gifted footballing products and he’s carried that on to this season, registering six goals and nine assists, eight of those coming in the league as Zagreb recorded their seventh straight SuperSport HNL league title.

His stunning trajectory and consistent form for Zagreb have deservedly handed the midfielder national acclaim.

Having featured in all of Croatia’s youth groups, including making 14 appearances for the under-21s, Baturina was rewarded with his first call-up to Zlatko Dalic’s senior set-up for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, making his debut as a substitute in a 2-0 away win against Latvia back in November.

With Dalić set to name his 26-man squad for this summer’s UEFA European Championships in the coming weeks, Baturina is sure to be rewarded with his continued success at club level with a spot on the plane to Germany – a summer which will signal the end of an era for Croatia but the ushering in of a new one, one which Baturina will arguably be the face of.

Martin Baturina’s Style of Play

There’s an intentional reason why Baturina is drawing stark comparisons to Modric and it’s not just because they play the same position on a football pitch.

Standing at 72cm (5’8”) and weighing 68kg (149lbs), the Zagreb wonder is a diminutive and silky technician possessing a skilful right foot and low centre of gravity, which enables him to twist and turn out of pressure and tight spaces.

Remind you of anyone? Modric in his days at Dinamo Zagreb come Tottenham Hotspur held the exact same technical profile and like Baturina, was considered the topic of the whole nation bursting onto the scene on one of Europe’s biggest platforms.

However, when watching the Split-born sensation, he draws even more comparisons to another unique outlet in Croatian football (read on to see or even guess who).

Zagreb’s Linchpin

The 21-year-old has become a dynamic and crucial presence in the Zagreb midfield, usually performing the role of an attacking midfielder, just behind the main striker or in a left-sided advanced #8 role in a 4-3-3 setup with a licence to roam the half-space or find decisive pockets in between the opposition’s defensive line and midfield.

Before delving into Baturina’s style and influence, it’s important to identify the tactical conditions allowing the Croat wonderkid to express himself and fulfil his undoubted potential.

Zagreb are one of the teams in 1. HNL who dominate the ball and control games, and Baturina is often a big part of that possession-heavy approach.

The Croatian giants line up regularly in a flexible and fluid 4-2-3-1 formation, with Baturina at the forefront of the system, becoming the link between midfield and attack. As stated previously, he is handed the license to roam into space/pockets to disrupt and dissect low blocks.

Their system can alternate from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-1-2 but one constant aspect is that Baturina will always remain their creative linchpin.

This is clearly evident through the numbers. Within Europe’s next 14 competitions after the top five leagues, Baturina ranks in the top 13% of attacking midfielders for passes received per 90, pass completion % per 90, and ranks in the top 11% for passes attempted.

While he isn’t necessarily a tempo setter or a deep-lying presence, Baturina certainly likes to be highly involved and needs to touch the ball often to maximise his influence.

It is why he possesses the tendency to drop deep from his #10 position and get involved with the build-up to progress the ball through passing – ranking in the top 9 per cent of attacking midfielders for progressive passes per 90 – or through ball-carrying, also ranking in the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 and top 16% for successful take-ons per 90 highlighting his tremendous bravery and technical acumen.

Looking at Baturina’s season heatmap, it’s clear his influence has come from the left half-spaces, allowing him to find the perfect angles to thread through balls or unleash long-range shots.

As stated previously, Baturina loves to drop deep and advance high up the pitch, as well as operating centrally or out wide, depending on the team’s needs or where he feels he could make the most impact.

For example, in the image above, Baturina emerges with the ball wide-right with the opposition stretched, he dissects a sublime through ball for Luka Stojkovic at the other end to latch onto and score.

Judging by Baturina’s technical and tactical understanding, movements and selection of positions and space in the middle and attacking third, he is incredibly versatile and flexible in his approach.

It is quite difficult to pin him down solely as a #10 or a #8 but a player of the hybrid mould. To get more out of his game, a deeper role in the #8 seems the way to go for him, just like the great Modric evolved into as his career progressed.

Ball-carrying merchant

Baturina is an all-phase midfielder who likes to be as involved as possible, registering touches across the thirds. Considering he is among the most influential and involved players in his position and considering Zagreb’s possession-orientated approach, it doesn’t surprise us that the Split-born playmaker is also a good recycler and retainer of possession, as the numbers above show.

However, while he likes to come deep to get involved with the play, it wouldn’t be true to define him as an elite ball progressor. Certainly, he can do it, but the midfielder holds a strong preference in his game to receive the ball and beat his marker to break lines through carrying rather than passing – that’s where he probably differs from his potential predecessor, Modric.

Ranking in the 84th percentile of attacking midfielders for successful take-ons per 90, 85th percentile for progressive carries, 93rd percentile for progressive carrying distance and in the 99th percentile for carries into the final third per 90, it is easy to see why Baturina loves his ball-carrying and he is so graceful and classy with it.

Not only does Baturina hold similar characteristics to Modric, but he’s more of a Mateo Kovacic 2.0.

Take the below instance during a Croatia under-21 fixture against England under-21s, Baturina is surrounded by white shirts and looks like he’s about to be swarmed all over and dispossessed.

Given Baturina’s dribbling quality, ball control and press resistance, he’s able to weave his way out of the tight spot…

And drive his team into the final third with such class and finesse.

He is the player with the second-most total progressive carries in the 2023/24 campaign in Croatia (55) and third in progressive carries per 90 minutes (3.7) at the moment of writing.

The 21-year-old uses ball-carrying as a progression tool in deeper areas and as a creation tool in higher ones. While he’s clearly intentional and purposeful with his passing, it’s safe to categorize him as a dribble-first progressor.

He’s not only a tremendous dribbler, keeping the ball close to feint past defenders or change direction but he’s also quick, agile and his ball-carrying style is enhanced by his ability to reach top speeds within an instant and his low centre of gravity – it is extremely difficult to possess him, leaving the opposition with the only real option of fouling him.

As a result of these characteristics, Baturina has no problems whatsoever, receiving the ball with his back to goal.

He will twist and turn to evade the pressure, beat the marker and then conquer territory through his carries, as shown below.

The 21-year-old’s frame gives him agility and flexibility to outmanoeuvre his markers, akin to what Kovacic does so regularly at Manchester City in the Premier League and for Croatia.

It’s how Baturina performs these actions that will stand him in good stead when competing at the elite level every week.

Elite clubs in Europe are always on the prowl for midfielders like Baturina because of his pure and unique ability to evade pressure through the thirds – a very useful tool in disrupting mid-defensive blocks but also allowing for easy and swift access into the attacking third.

Ball progression must equal final-third creation

There’s a reason why Baturina is considered the complete advanced or free #8 package and that’s because of his excellence not just in his mode of ball-progression but that progression leading to goal-scoring scenarios.

He is an effortless creator as much as a unique outlet in his incisive dribbling.

First and foremost, not all of Baturina’s entries into the final third won’t always result in a chance or opportunity but he’s a player who picks his passes well.

The 21-year-old will sometimes carry the ball before linking up with a teammate out wide and then continue his run to provide the team with another advanced passing option.

Once he eventually receives in a high and wide position, his threat and ability in tight spaces usually means he attracts two markers before retaining the ball nonetheless and laying it off to a teammate who is now free thanks to his efforts.

Baturina is so crucial to Dinamo Zagreb’s progression tactics; he evades pressure, provides and creates advanced passing options, and successfully connects the thirds from deeper to higher zones of the pitch.

The advanced playmaker has a clear skillset to influence play and his team’s tactics higher up the pitch. This season, he’s racked up six goals and nine assists from all competitions, a drop-off from 7 goals and 13 assists from last campaign but his contributions and influence are absolutely clear.

Along with nine assists in all competitions, Baturina averages 2.3 key passes per game in the Croatian top flight, has created seven big chances and ranks in the 76th percentile of attacking midfielders in Europe’s next top 14 leagues for through balls.

While the 21-year-old cracks the top 30 in 1. HNL in total key passes played in 2023/24 (6), his per 90 return is not as impressive (0.4). He ranks 12th in the league for smart passes (9) and 15th in smart passes per 90 (0.6). 

We now know Baturina is a smart passer, a player blessed with tremendous vision and quickness of thought in the middle third, but how does that translate to where it matters most – the final third?

The two-cap Croatian international is pretty versatile in his final third distribution. Often, we will see him distribute from the deep and into the runners, but when he gets higher up the pitch, he has no issues breaking the lines and sending a pinpoint pass to the feet of his teammates.

More crucially, he’s proven decisive and influential with his passing in the attacking third.

In the below image, for instance, Baturina (RED) receives the ball in between a crowd of players. Where some #10s choose to distribute it out wide, the Croat is looking for runners instead.

Baturina picks out Stojkovic (ORANGE) with a sublime dinked through ball…

This is what makes Baturina so special and an influential component in the Zagreb team, especially in the higher zones.

He’s not just capable of the penetrating, line-breaking carries through the thirds, but once he gets into the attacking third, he’s composed, agile and adept at selecting the right actions leading to shots. He ranks in the 73rd percentile of attacking midfielders for shot-creating live-ball passes per 90 (live-ball passes that lead to a shot).

The young Blue can also whip in delicious and dangerous crosses, either through set-piece routines or from open play.

Before the young playmaker gets into this crossing position, he once again finds an opportunity to drift out wide and pull the opposition’s defence to one side which leads to Stefan Ristovski ghosting into the box unmarked…

Baturina delivers a picture-perfect cross, evading every one of the opposition’s defenders…

Laid right on the money of Ristovski’s right foot to score beneath a sprawling goalkeeper…

Again, we see the technical acumen of the 21-year-old talent. He’s added so many creative strings to his bow during his two breakthrough seasons at Zagreb making him an attractive midfield proposition for several of Europe’s top clubs.

Shooting

Another strength of Baturina’s game is his long shots. Whenever he finds himself in space on the edge of the box, he’s never afraid to test the goalkeeper from distance, making him a deadly threat from the #10 position.

Whilst he’s more of a creative dynamo, his shooting technique certainly makes him an important factor for his team.

Baturina seems pretty good at finding decent positions to shoot from, and this should, in theory, also predict a positive net return in the near future. His shot type is pretty meticulous and intentional, trying to put some dip to fool goalkeepers and curl when faced with defenders right up in his line of sight as a tool to find the right trajectory and angle for his attempts.

The 20-year-old is very good at manipulating the ball in tight areas, turning and progressing into a good position to shoot from. This is another thing we have to mention that is impacting both his xG per shot and his total output – shooting from a distance.

Last season, he made 13 shots from outside the box in 1. HNL, hitting the target five times and rattling the inside of the net once from those five attempts; all things considered, a decent return.

This season, he’s attempted eight shots outside the box, hitting the target three times, but with no goals to his name. His conversion rate this season compared to last season may well have dipped, but playing in a team that regularly dominates the ball up against deep blocks, Baturina is doing what’s required – taking long shots when necessary, a tool incredibly useful in breaching stout defences.

Off-ball movement

Another tool in Baturina’s unique and heavy artillery is his off-ball movement.

As we’ve pointed out in this piece, Baturina receives the ball in deep zones, directly from the backline and then carries the ball for a certain distance before linking up with a teammate out wide.

However, as all great advanced midfielders do, they’re not supposed to stop there. The Croat possesses the presence of mind to continue his runs, exploiting gaps or little pockets in between the lines or half-spaces to operate in.

Apart from offering himself as a passing option, he also creates space by dragging his markers away, making a gap in the opposition’s defensive structure for his teammates to exploit.

The 21-year-old operates like a player certainly beyond his years, and it is why the comparisons to Modric and Kovacic are so stark and accurate.

He’s street smart, possessing stunning technical and tactical understanding but a raft of tools in his weaponry that also makes him such a decisive and influential player in the final third.

Forecast for Baturina’s Future

Better consistency with the Croat wonderkid’s output will surely take his game to the next level, but one thing is certain, Baturina will be the next big-money departure from Zagreb.

An exhilarating and tantalising footballing prospect who’s bound to leave Croatia to eventually join one of the European powerhouses, should his development continue following the current trajectory.

Arsenal and Juventus are the previous names linked with his services over the past year, but they certainly won’t be the only ones this summer.

Like many other hot talents, Baturina will need to pick his next destination with careful consideration, providing him with the appropriate and progressive conditions to thrive tactically, mentally and physically.

Joining clubs such as a Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, AFC Ajax or a similar-sized outfit in Serie A – where young talents can go to and perform every week without unnecessary pressure and weight of expectation might just be the perfect platform.

Given his burgeoning reputation right now within Croatian football, it will be easy for him to make the huge step to a big club so soon – one he must avoid. Nonetheless, playing within Europe’s top five leagues must be high on his agenda, then he’d be sure to get the international recognition his talents and personality deserve.

Modric 2.0 isn’t a far-fetched label for Martin Baturina. He truly is on course to become the next best thing to come out of Croatia.

#AnthonyScouts 2023 – Mykhailo Mudryk

#AnthonyScouts 2023 – Mykhailo Mudryk

According to widespread reports, Ukrainian sensation Mykhailo Mudryk could well be Premier League bound in the January transfer window. And considering his exciting but yet frightening qualities, he’d be yet another superb and electric addition to the English top flight.

The 21-year-old could have joined Brentford last summer with a deal worth €25million said to be in place, however, the player chose to remain in his native country for the time being. A few months on, with some scintilating performances both at domestic level and in the biggest European stage, the UEFA Champions League, Mudryk’s stock has soared as a result.

According to The Athletic, the Shakhtar wizard is a priority target for Arsenal in January, and sources close to the situation believe that a deal could well materialise very soon. The Ukrainian giants have quoted a figure of around €100million (£85.9m) for Mudryk, with the club CEO stating that if Brazilian winger Antony joined Manchester United for a similar hefty sum, then their most prized asset should cost the same.

However, the Gunners are reportedly looking to drive the price down to secure his signature, but Shakhtar would be forgiven in sticking to their astronomical price tag, considering Mudryk’s stark importance and recent impact before the World Cup break.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a scintilating campaign, registering 10 goals and eight assists from 19 games in all competitions so far, propelling him to become one of Europe’s most devastating young attackers. With Mikel Arteta’s men undergoing a stark renaissance under his stewardship so far, adding the 21-year-old to their ranks in January may just guarantee them a top four finish come May.

But, in order to come to that lofty conclusion, first we must understand who Mudryk is and more crucially what the Ukrainian superstar could bring to the Emirates and the English top flight, should he make the move, as reported.

Who is Mykhailo Mudryk?

Born in a small Ukrainian city southeast of the capital Kyiv, Mudryk took his first steps in football at local club Metalist Kharkiv in 2010. He would go on to remain at the club until 2014 before making a move to FC Dnipro in a bid to enhance his development and youthful experience.

After spending two years at Dnipro, he would then go on to join the prestigious Shakhtar Donetsk academy after they wasted no time in convincing the forward to join their youth ranks in October 2016 following a string of impressive performances at both club and international level for Ukraine’s U15/U16 sides.

Right from the off, it was fairly evident to see that Shakhtar possessed a remarkable burgeoning talent, but also a up and coming superstar. Swiftly rising through the youth system, he was quickly and deservedly promoted to the club’s senior side in 2018, making his debut off the bench on October 31st under then-manager Paulo Fonseca.

Going into 2019, as is the case with most youth players, a decision was needed to ensure that Mudryk’s development did not stall due to limited minutes in the first team; whether continuing to play at U21 level or go out on loan to receive much needed first team opportunities. A loan it would be, as he joined Arsenal Kyiv (making 10 appearances) for the duration of the season, followed by Desna Chernihiv (making 10 appearances) in 2020.

Mudryk would then return to Shakhtar in January 2021, making 3 appearances as the season came to it’s conclusion. Heading into the 2021/22 campaign, Shakhtar appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager; an appointment which proved an absolute masterstroke, not only for the club as a whole but for Mudryk to become a household name in the whole of Ukraine, due to De Zerbi’s propensity to hand youth with vast first team experience.

“If I don’t bring him to a high level, I will consider it a personal defeat”, said the Italian coach with regards to the player’s potential. Over the course of the next couple of months, Mudryk was eased into the team, more often coming on as a substitute.

This was especially true of Champions League matches, playing 178 minutes over 6 games. However, it was in the league where he had more of an influence — scoring 2 goals and providing 7 assists in 11 matches in the first half of the season. (before Russia launched a full-scale invasion against Ukraine)

With the nation’s future in serious jeopardy, football had to be put on pause to ensure the safety of the people, with Mudryk bravely taking a stand for his country, devoting his time to volunteer work. However, the war took a hefty toll on Shakhtar with the club having to lose most of their foreign imports, but with those adversities came more opportunities for Mudryk to thrive upon the return of Ukrainian football.

Since then, the 21-year-old hasn’t looked back becoming the face of Shakhtar and the hope and foundation upon which Ukrainian football can build upon for the future. And since his international bow for his country in May, he’s gone on to make feature in eight games for his country.

What is Mudryk’s style of play?

First and foremost, Mykhailo Mudryk predominately lines-up on the left-flank for both Shakhtar Donetsk and Ukraine, a position he’s held throughout his development from the youth ranks right through to the Donetsk first team, which means his responsibilities at both club and international are to mostly create chances for teammates and score goals.

On the evidence of the past year or so, Mudryk has phenomenally shown that he can both score and assist at a rapid and unbridled rate. And his numbers this season simply paint the whole picture, so far registering 18 goal involvements from 19 games in all competitions for the Ukrainian giants.

Mudryk is a frightening young player, and his goal involvements only tell half the story. Possessing electric, pace and acceleration, dynamic and fearless on the ball and in his 1v1 battles with opposing defenders, the Ukrainian perfectly fits the description of a ‘wing wizard’. A player who can create moments and opportunities for his team in the blink of an eye. A speed and dribbling merchant.

The most impressive thing about Mudryk is how he controls his speed as seen in numerous instances in his highlights below:

Because of his exceptional balance, close control and low sense of gravity, he’s capable of shifting his speed in various instances to fool his marker and leave them in his wake. From fast to slow, back to lightning speed once again.

However, it isn’t just the pace that’s the most telling element, but his movement and the expertness at which he shifts his body positioning in order to evade a number of markers at a time, or to evade tight spaces in order to progress his team up the pitch. Mudryk’s movement is unbelievably deceptive, but incredibly graceful. He’s player you simply cannot take your eyes off. Blink for even a milli-second and you’ll miss a trick or two.

His feet move remarkably quickly — they’re a blur, like something out of DC comic superhero The Flash. The 21-year-old needs very little time to accelerate or change direction with his great balance and intensity. This often leaves defenders either leaving him with too much space to receive the ball and take them on or overcommitting whilst trying to pressure him. 

And the numbers back up just how devastating he is in the dribble. Last season, he averaged 3.7 progressive carries per 90 — one of the highest in the Shakhtar side and in the entire Ukrainian First division. He also attempted an average of 10 dribbles per game with a success rate just below 50%; very impressive numbers for any winger. In fact, hi underlying numbers amongst midfielders over the past year make for phenomenal reading. Mudryk ranks in the 95th percentile of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for dribbles completed per 90, and in 98th percentile for goal-creating actions per 90.

Mudryk is far from your traditional winger, only capable of getting to the byline and crossing. The former Dnipro loanee is tactically flexible and positionally excellent too. Knowing when to sit high and wide or dropping into the half spaces in various attacking scenarios.

But one of his calling cards is the timing of his runs into half-spaces when one of his progressive teammates have possession. He is disciplined enough to maintain the true width of the pitch before bursting into open space and latching on to through balls with terrific movement. His exploits off the ball are superb and timely, especially for a player of his young age. Movements are instinctive and second nature, once he sees space to burst into he’ll use to devastating effect, whether his team are in possession or when in transition.

His impressive pace is also a huge asset on the counter, especially as he provides the perfect profile to successfully turn defense into attack at such a frightening speed. When passing angles are blocked, he holds tremendous knowledge on other avenues to exploit such as attacking central spaces. 

The £35m-rated wonderkid ranks in the 92nd percentile of midfielders for progressive passes received and in the 93rd percentile for touches in the attacking third per 90 meaning he is amongst the best midfielders on the continent for his threat and ability in attacking areas with which his team regularly looks for him to create opportunities.

In fact, he’s arguably Shakhtar’s most telling threat when it comes to creating chances. Along with his eight assists so far this season, he ranks in the 93rd percentile for expected assists (xA) per90, 98th percentile for assists per 90, and in the 99th percentile for through balls per 90.

Mudryk isn’t a one trick pony, only capable of getting past defenders, but he’s also an influential component when the game slows down, finding the right moments in the half space or out wide to penetrate the opposition defence. But more crucially, when running at full speed, you’d expect most young wingers to hesitate in crucial moments in which an attack breaks down, that isn’t the case for the eight-time Ukrainian international. He’s perfectly capable at picking the right passes even when approaching the attacking areas at full speed.

Not only is there a willingness to ghost past a defender, but to get his head up and look for a teammate too. Indeed, Mudryk is making a modest 0.8 key pass per 90 in the Champions League this season and while it’s a small sample size, it’s a respectable return, especially for a player playing just his second season in Europe’s biggest club competition.

Opponents ae certainly aware he is one of Shakhtar’s primary attacking threats, noted in that he is fouled an average of 1.5 times per 90 in the Champions League this season. Again, it’s a small sample size, but Mudryk is shining in Europe’s elite club competition for a third seed side.

What’s also notable and admirable, considering his huge exploits in attack is that the winger is willing to get stuck in and isn’t just the flashy star of this Shakhtar side. A return of 1.2 tackles per 90 is a notable return for a player in his position, particularly when you consider that Shakhtar rank fifth for tackles per 90 (19.4) in the group stages of the Champions League, with Mudryk working hard for his team.

But, it’d be criminal not to mention his superb exploits at the highest level. Three goals and two assists from six Champions League games is a tremendous return. He is taking the chance when it comes to him. Of the 83 players to have had more than five shots, Mudryk’s conversion rate of 37.5% is the fifth best in the Champions League this season, as per WhoScored.

His goal away to Celtic back in October was simply out of the top draw. Cutting in after a swift break through the Celtic midfield, before unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard drive which ballooned over the despairing Joe Hart and into the top corner. Absolutely ruthless and lethal strike.

A goal which truly showcases why Mudryk is one of the continent’s most frightening and devastating wingers. He’s a consistent influence in the final third, scoring and an assist at an impressive rate both on the domestic front and at the highest level in Europe. To think, Mudryk was criticised for not scoring enough a few months ago. In October & November alone, the 21-year-old hit eight goals in 12 games, putting all those doubts about his goalscoring to bed.

Mudryk is even drawing several comparisons to many of Europe’s best, in Brazilian forwards Neymar and Vinicius Jr. Darijo Srna, Shakhtar’s sporting director, was recently quoted in saying, “In this position (on the left), he is the third best youngster in the world behind Vinicius and Mbappé. That was my opinion a year ago. I haven’t changed my opinion.”

It is lofty comparison, and praise indeed. However, the hype around the Ukrainian is justified due to his stark progress and development over the past few months.

Forecast for the Future

It’s easy to see why Arsenal are willing to break the bank for Mykhailo Mudryk’s services. His attacking threat would provide Mikel Arteta’s exciting crop with a whole new dimension going forward, especially with star man up front Gabriel Jesus out for the foreseeable future.

How Arteta plans to shape his attack in the Brazilian’s absence will be intriguing to see. Also, can they maintain their tactical dominance over their opponents without their star man up front?

Nonetheless, it leaves the Gunners short in attack, and if they are to maintain their healthy lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League table right beyond January, then they’ll need reinforcements and Mudryk fits the bill. He’d fit right in at the Emirates.

A player willing to learn and improve every day can only further enhance the hunger and drive in Arteta’s young squad, and Mudryk indeed fits that profile. The coaches and teammates who work with him unanimously say that he is fully focused on football; coming to training first and staying to do additional practice after. “I have only one dream that surpasses all others, to become a great football player. I want to win the Ballon d’Or and enjoy football”, said Mudryk. “I must improve a lot of moments because I think I can play better… I’m only at maximum 20 percent of my potential.” 

With this mentality and dedication he has displayed in his young career, it’s hard to see why he can’t thrive in England immediately. But more significantly, the atmosphere, vibrancy and mentality currently overwhelming the Arsenal camp right now will be incredibly beneficial for Mudryk to come in and make an immediate impact like summer signings Jesus, fellow countryman Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira have achieved.

The North London Derby: Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview | Premier League 2022/23

The North London Derby: Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview | Premier League 2022/23

The Premier League returns from the international break in perfect fashion with a blockbuster North London Derby at Saturday lunchtime, as Arsenal play host to Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium.

Both teams have started off the campaign superbly, with the Gunners sitting top of the league, picking up 18 points from a possible 21, while Spurs sit in third place a point behind.

The Gunners entered the international break in confident and assured fashion, picking up a comfortable and professional 3-0 victory over Brentford at the Gtech community stadium. Arsenal new boy Fabio Vieira scored the pick of the bunch, after William Saliba and Gabriel Jesus both scored fine headers for a dominant Gunners in the first half.

It was the perfect revenge for an Arsenal side looking a much better and more complete footballing side compared to the team which lost 2-0 on the opening day of the 2021/22 PL campaign.

Ending a four-game run without a clean sheet will have also been an encouragement for Mikel Arteta a his team continue to demonstrate a ruthless and confident streak which has been uncharacteristic of the Gunners in recent seasons, even if their only Big Six clash so far this season ended in a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Credit to Arteta and his coaching staff in transforming the whole team through tremendous recruitment and coaching. Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and even the return of William Saliba from a year-long loan at Marseille have completely uplifted the whole Gunners camp.

Arteta’s men now look well equipped to maintain a strong assualt on a top four place, and the way the table is shaping up right now, maybe, just maybe this Arsenal side could challenge the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title.

Their fierce rivals and Saturday’s opponents Tottenham could stake a claim for the gong on current form too.

Arsenal have won each of their last six Premier League games at the Emirates, though they have conceded at least a goal in all of those games, which will provide Antonio Conte’s goal-ridden side plenty of encouragement heading into Saturday’s engrossing contest.

After facing countless calls from fans and pundits to drop the goal-shy Son Heung-min to the bench, Antonio Conte’s bold decision paid dividends against Leicester City last time out, as the South Korea international ended his profligate streak in sumptuous style.

(Photo by Isabel Infantes / AFP)

The South Korean was introduced in the 59th minute and it only took him 13 minutes to walk home at the end of the match with the match ball, registering a spell-binding hattrick, to complement strikes from Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Rodrigo Bentancur in a 6-2 triumph over the struggling Foxes.

Conte joked post-match that he may bench Son week in week out if he delivers similar super-sub performances in the future, as Tottenham remain strongly on the tails of both Arsenal and reigning champions Man City in third spot heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures.

Tottenham will be full of confidence heading into the North London Derby, however, their away form does not make for good reading. Only two of their last seven competitive matches away from home have ended in victory, and the Emirates is not their happiest hunting ground.

A 3-1 Arsenal triumph in this fixture last season means that Spurs have failed to win any of their last 11 North London derbies at the Emirates in the league, but they served their capital counterparts a slice of humble pie with a 3-0 win in May, denting the Gunners’ hope of finishing in the top four.

WHEN & WHERE?

Venue: Emirates Stadium.
Date: Saturday, October 1st.
Time: 12:30 p.m.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Assistant Referees: Gary Beswick, Lee Betts.
Fourth Official: Robert Jones.
VAR Official: Jarred Gillet.
Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood.

PREMIER LEAGUE FORM

Arsenal: WWWWLW

Tottenham Hotspur: DWWDWW

MATCH FACTS

  • Tottenham have won only two of their past 37 league fixtures away to Arsenal (D14, L21), with those victories coming in 1993 and 2010.
  • Only one of the 23 most recent top-flight meetings has been won by the away side – Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane in March 2014.
  • Mikel Arteta is unbeaten in all seven of his North London derbies at the Emirates Stadium in league and cup, both as a player (W3, D2) and manager (two wins).
(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

  • Gabriel Jesus is unbeaten in all 50 Premier League matches in which he has scored, winning 47 of those fixtures.
  • Tottenham are unbeaten in 13 Premier League fixtures (W9, D4) and are one shy of equaling their longest undefeated streak in the division, set from August to December 2015 and equalled in 2017-18.
  • Son Heung-min has scored four goals in his last five league matches versus the Gunners after failing to score in any of his first nine top-flight fixtures against them.

TEAM NEWS & ANALYSIS

While Arsenal are sure to be without Mohamed Elneny (hamstring), Emile Smith Rowe (groin) and Cedric Soares (knock), there is optimism that Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Thomas Partey will all shake off their physical problems to be ready for the contest.

Takehiro Tomiyasu should be back from injury to feature after his release from the Japan squad due to ‘club circumstances’, while Martin Odegaard recovered from a knock to feature for Norway in the international break which will mean Vieira could return to the bench for the Gunners.

Emile Smith Rowe is set to be a long-term absentee for the Gunners after undergoing groin surgery, but there may be a place in the squad for Reiss Nelson as he aims to make his first competitive appearance of the year following a quadriceps injury.

It will be intriguing to see how Arteta approaches this contest, what will almost be a certainty for the Gunners is that they will indeed be looking to control proceedings with plenty of possession whilst trying to prod and probe Spurs’ narrow and resolute back line. However, they will certainly need to be incredibly wary of the Spurs trademark counter, especially if Heung-Min Son returns to the fold for Conte’s side.

Tottenham have concerns of their own on the injury front for Saturday’s derby, as number one goalkeeper Hugo Lloris withdrew from France duty with a thigh injury, and it is currently unclear if he will be fit to return this weekend.

Lloris’s issue was described as a small one, but Fraser Forster is on standby, and Conte will also hope to have Ben Davies (knee) and Lucas Moura (tendon) fit and available to feature if needed.

Ivan Perisic has also been given the all-clear after being forced off for Croatia in the international break due to a rough challenge from teammate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, but Dejan Kulusevski has reportedly returned to North London with a hamstring problem.

The Sweden international is therefore a doubt for the contest, which could see Richarlison hold his spot in the attack in Conte’s go-to 3-4-3 formation, but there have been calls for Conte to switch to a reserved 3-5-2 and introduce Yves Bissouma from the off, especially to nullify the threat the Gunners pose in the final third. Adding an extra midfielder could aid Spurs in closing up shop and shutting down the space the likes of Odegaard, Jesus and Saka like to operate in.

KEY PLAYERS

HARRY KANE

(Photo by Ian Kington / AFP)

Tottenham’s Mr Reliable. The deliverer and the savior for the Lilywhites. Kane has enjoyed a superb start to the season, already recording six Premier League goals to his name in seven games. Not only does he lead the way on the goal front, but he’s also a reliable and devastating chance creator. It will certainly be a huge test for the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel to keep the England international quiet on Saturday.

The 29-year-old certainly loves a North London derby too, recording 13 goals in 17 games against Arsenal and it won’t be a surprise to see him registering another this weekend.

GABRIEL JESUS

It’s funny how neutrals and Gunners fans are only now realizing how complete and effective Gabriel Jesus is, when he’s featuring regularly.

The Brazilian proved an influential figure for Manchester City, but was never considered the central star, which was understandable considering the plethora of attacking talents available to Guardiola.

Since his move to the Gunners this summer, the 25-year-old superstar has shown so many different and unique facets to his game in just seven games for Mikel Arteta making him an instant star at the Emirates and a real breath of fresh air the club have needed for a long while.

His energy, intensity, unexpected strength, link-play, tactical awareness, skill-set in an around the final third as well as the penalty area and his sharpness in the 6-yard-box means Jesus is quickly becoming the complete forward and the perfect one for Arsenal. Jesus grabbed his 4th goal of the season versus Brentford with a stunning header to add to his 3 assists, and he’ll certainly be hungry to grab his first north London derby goal.

Just note, when Jesus does score in the Premier League, he’s never been on the losing side.

KEY INDIVIDUAL BATTLES TO WATCH:

William Saliba v Harry Kane

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Gabriel Martinelli v Cristian Romero

Bukayo Saka v Ryan Sessegnon

EXPECTED LINEUPS

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Tottenham: Ramsdale (GK); White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Jesus.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs Arsenal: Lloris (GK); Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Perisic, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon; Richarlison, Kane, Son.

#ANTHONYSCOUTS SCORE PREDICTION:

Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

#AnthonyScouts 2022 – Fabio Vieira

#AnthonyScouts 2022 – Fabio Vieira

It is incredibly rare in modern day football for a signing to take almost everyone by surprise, due to its behind the scenes works and secretive talks.

We had a similar case before last season when Aston Villa caught fans off guard with the secretive signing of Danny Ings – a deal which not only shocked supporters but playing staff too.

And in signing Fabio Vieira from Portuguese champions FC Porto, Arsenal and boss Mikel Arteta have pulled off their own major surprise too.

(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

After finishing fifth in the Premier League in 2021/22 losing out on a Champions League berth to fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Arteta is aiming to considerably bolster his squad as they chase a return to the European elite. They’ve already brought in Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, goalkeeper Matt Turner from New England Revolution and Marquinhos from Sao Paulo.

After being linked with a number of high-profile players, however, Vieira’s arrival came out of the blue.

It has been reported that Arteta pushed hard for a deal to be done, with the Arsenal manager having been impressed with Vieira’s performances as Porto won the title in Portugal.

In fact, with the Spaniard looking to build a squad similar to the one Pep Guardiola possesses over at his old club Manchester City, Arsenal now have their very own Bernardo Silva. A player blessed with unerring technical attributes and a creative weaponry that made him one of the most devastating attacking midfielders in Portugal last term.

So what will Arsenal be getting with the 23-year-old?

Who is Fabio Vieira?

Born in Santa Maria da Feira in the Aveiro District, Vieira started out for the FC Porto juniors, playing nine matches as won the 2018–19 UEFA Youth League, and scored in their 3–1 win against Chelsea in the final in Nyon in April 2019.

Vieira went on to make his senior debut with Porto B in February 2019, coming on as a 57th-minute substitute for João Mário in a 1–0 away defeat to Arouca in the LigaPro. Six months later, he scored for the first time with a penalty in a 3–1 away victory over Farense.

Vieira made his first team bow in June 2020, featuring for 19 minutes in the 1–0 Primeira Liga home defeat of Marítimo. Again from the bench, he scored his first goal in the competition the following month in July to help the hosts beat Belenenses SAD 5–0 and went on to feature in eight games at the end of the season for the eventual champions.

He found more space within the first team during the 2021–22 campaign, more significantly in the second half of the campaign following Luis Diaz’ winter transfer to Liverpool in January becoming a crucial figure in attack for Sergio Conceição’s side, replacing the Colombian’s goals and creativity.

The 23-year-old impressed internationally too in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship where he was named player of the tournament in the finals  in Hungary and Slovenia, featuring in all six games and netting once for the runners-up.

He provided two hat-tricks of assists against Moreirense and Belenenses SAD during the 2021/22 campaign totalling 14 assists – second-best in the league – and six goals to help his side to a domestic double of the league and Taça de Portugal.

How did Vieira fare last season? What’s his style of play?

While the 21-year-old only played a bit-part role for the Portuguese champions last season, he became a far more prominent figure in the first team after Luis Diaz’ departure to Liverpool.

Previously hailed as a “rising star“, he already has 11 goals in 19 games for Portugal’s Under-21 side, with his manager there, Rui Jorge, hailing the Porto starlet as “a very technically advanced player’ with a ‘great future“.

With 27 league games under his belt this season, the Portuguese wizard astonishingly recorded six goals and delivered 14 assists, which is more contributions any other Porto player. He also ranked as Liga NOS’ second-best assist maker for the 2021/22 campaign.

A left-footed attacking midfielder who does most of his work in central positions, though he also likes to drift into the right inside channel – just like his compatriot Bernardo Silva. Vieira’s main focus is in the creation of chances for his teammates, and he particularly stands out in that regard due to his wonderful left foot, vision, deftness and accuracy of pass and a tremendous knack for some astonishing defence-splitting passes, as evidenced in the image below.

Vieira is an incredibly intelligent footballer, but more precisely an intelligent and meticulous investigator of space, regularly scanning the pitch ahead of him to pick out pockets of space that he can exploit to hurt opposition defences. His constant positions in between the lines, in the half-space or centrally means he is an expert at operating in tight and congested areas. This is down to wonderful close control, spatial awareness and speed of thought when forming attacking moves or directly creating chances.

His constant scanning ahead helps him spot gaps in the opposition’s back line at an early stage; as he receives, he is aware of pitch ahead, carrying an image in his head of what he wants to target, and executes it to such sublime precision with an incisive pass, as shown above.

He also breaks the last line with passes over the opposition centre-backs. When he turns on the ball having received between the lines or between opposition midfielders, a centre-forward will set off on a direct run in behind. His type of through balls are constant, but differing in style, sometimes on the floor all in the air, and he is incredibly adept at them.

Vieira also has the ability to create chances from set-pieces, particularly when delivering outswinging balls from the left. He can also provide quality balls after receiving a short pass from a set-piece, delivering from a different angle which upsets and unnerves opposition defences.

To further highlight how much of a dangerous attacking figure he is, no other player at Porto has managed to equal the number of crosses that Vieira (95) has made throughout this campaign.

He was also listed in the top 10 for shots per 90 minutes in the Portuguese league last term, highlighting his courageousness in getting shots away.

His overall performances earned him a season rating of 7.45 from SofaScore, making him the fifth-best ranked player in the Porto squad.

This all shows why the midfielder has been likened to Mesut Ozil by football talent scout Jacek Kulig on Twitter, who also said that the player has a “left foot made of gold.” He’s also been stylistically compared by journalist Sam Tighe to Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, who also held the same measured attacking approach before

Blessed with wonderful skill, technical excellence, a sumptuous left foot and the unique ability to operate consummately in the half-space and in between the lines, the Portuguese maestro could well offer much variation and flexibility to Arteta’s weaponry next term due to his versatility: capable of playing on the right-wing, at no.10, even as a false-nine or in an advanced central midfield role.

The 23-year-old maestro is also an adept ball-carrier especially when drifting wider from central areas. One of his most striking attributes is his ability to drive forward with the ball while targeting a specific defender to commit. He locks on to his target, knowing they will have to engage him at some point, while keeping an eye on teammates ahead of him who he can look to slip in behind the opposition.

As the opponent tries to engage with a tackle, Vieira times his release superbly well to supply a teammate through on goal. Last campaign saw him register a whopping 14 big chances created, along with his 14 assists whilst also averaging 1.3 key passes per game showcasing his majestic abilities in the final third.

With outlets such as Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka all capable of running in behind opposition defences, Vieira would well enjoy a field day when threading sumptuous through balls to play them through on goal.

Although he doesn’t dribble and attack opponents 1v1 as much as a winger, his ability to receive and drive forward helps progress play when passing options are initially limited. He times his bursts and decelerations to lose his opponent, before then looking for a penetrative pass.

Taking into account how Arsenal have racked up the eight-best goal-creating actions (82) in the Premier League this season, possessing the qualities of the £13.5m-rated playmaker could certainly propel Arteta’s gameplan at the Emirates.

Such an incredible influence and abilities in the attack means the Gunners could be one of the most exciting teams to watch next season, especially because of the wonderful blend of attacking qualities in the Spaniard’s brilliantly constructed squad.

Noa Lang 2021/22 – Scout Report

Noa Lang 2021/22 – Scout Report

For a number of years now, Netherlands has been the go-to hotspot for birthing some of the world’s most exciting and decorated young footballing talents, especially from the academy of Ajax. The latest in such a prestigious and rich list of household names is Club Brugge forward, and Ajax academy graduate Noa Lang.

The 22-year-old star, already on the watchlist of some of Europe’s most elite clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal, AC Milan and Leicester City is making tremendous waves in Belgium, regularly touted as the most hottest prospect in the Belgian top flight.

Lang was heavily linked to Leeds United in the summer of 2021, but the big move to England did not materialize. Still only 22, there is plenty of time for a Premier League move in the future; for now, first team football in Belgium (as well as European experience) will continue to aid in his development. 

The Ajax academy product has enjoyed a stunning two seasons at Club Brugge, helping them to the Belgian first division title in the 2020/21 campaign last year, as well as a two year run in the UEFA Champions League. Lang hit an incredible 16 goals and seven assists last year, and he’s followed that up this year with an impressive six goals and 11 assists in 27 league appearances.

He also made his national team debut in October 2021, putting him firmly in contention for an appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

There are few things as synonymous in football as the Netherlands and exciting, creative wide players, and 21-year-old Noa Lang only enhances strengthens that relationship.

Who is Noa Lang?

Born in Capelle aan den IJssell, a town in the western Netherlands, Lang is of Surinamese descent through his biological father. He had initially burst on to the scene with Ajax, scoring a hat-trick on his first Eredivisie start against FC Twente, where he subsequently spent a short time on-loan with in the 2019/20 campaign.

Whilst he only made 14 first-team appearances for the senior side, they were a fitting reward for a strong, productive youth career with Jong Ajax. 

He made his debut for the reserve side as a 17-year-old back in 2017, contributed to 0.6 non-penalty goals and assists per 90 minutes across 47 appearances in the Dutch second division. He also scored key UEFA Youth League goals against Bayern München and Real Madrid for the club’s stacked under-19 side that included the likes of Gravenberch, Botman and Brobbey.

It was at the beginning of the 2020/21 campaign that Lang made the transition south to Belgium, and has since taken the league by storm. 16 goals plus seven assists in 29 appearances is an exceptional return, recording an outstanding 0.66 goals per 90 minutes, and 0.29 assists, indicative of his supreme talents and creative and direct threat.

On 20 May 2021, Lang scored as Brugge drew 3–3 with rivals Anderlecht to win the Belgian First Division A title for the fourth time in six years and 17th time overall.

This campaign may not have breaded the same goalscoring return, with just the seven to his name so far, but an improvement on his abilities to turn provider for his teammates, registering 12 assists. the fourth most in the Belgian First Division at the time of writing.

Lang has also significantly strengthened his development, gaining valuable UEFA Champions League experience for Club Brugge following a few cameos for Ajax. He scored his fist European goal against Zenit St. Petersburg – though Brugge were unable to qualify from the group stage. The same is said for this campaign, but Lang put in a tremendous showing against Paris Saint-Germain, in the 1-1 draw back in September. In the return fixture in Paris, he turned provider for Mats Rits with a trademark run in a 4-1 defeat.

Lang was called up by Louis Van Gaal and made his international bow for the Netherlands in October, in a World Cup Qualifier against Latvia, the first of many potential caps for his country.

How good is Noa Lang? What’s his style of play?

This lad is incredibly gifted, so much so he is already drawing favourable comparisons to Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking superstar Neymar Jr. A right-footed wide forward most comfortable coming inside off the left-flank, though he possesses the versatility and nous to play in any position across the attack.

Lang is a true source and hub of creativity and decisive edge in the final third, where his sumptuous and entertaining technical skill, bravery and audaciousness on the ball are the striking characteristics of his education at Ajax’s exceptional De Toekomst academy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIUJZigem6E

It is his immense creativity and knack for the spectacular which is his most obvious trait. As seen in the clip above, Lang has no qualms in attempting to perform the extraordinary, whether its through an ambitious cross, pass or a mazy dribble.

When the ball is at his feet, he is incredibly hard to dispossess. Lang can effortlessly switch from a languid presence roaming between the lines to a more dynamic and direct style with rapid changes of tempo. It is his appreciation of time and space, knowing when to keep the ball, when to delay a pass or a cross, when to speed up the play, that gives such variation but also makes him so unpredictable when facing his markers.

Once he has the ball on the left flank, you simply do not know what he’s going to do next, just be confident in the fact that he is capable of creating something incredibly special.

Lang is at his flawless best when he comes inside off the wing into the half-spaces, as shown in his heatmap above. It’s in those areas where his ability to create passing lanes allows a high involvement in Club Brugge’s play. Here his wonderful imagination and creativity shines through, constantly looking to break the last line of defence in a variety of ways. He can slide runners in using disguised reverse passes through the eye of the needle, often with the perfect weight.

Lang isn’t a soloist like Neymar Jr, but he is a player who can participate in combination play with teammates as well as do his utmost to create chances for his fellow attackers – his signature style is a quick pass and move around the 18-yard-box to change the tempo of play and create uncertainty and imbalances in opposition defences. He is a nightmare when in the mood. He is also incredibly adept at performing improvised chips, dinks, scoops and round-the-corner flicks to breach defences who operate in a deep block.

Just know, when Noa Lang is around Club Brugge always have a chance of scoring goals. He averages 1.9 dribbles per game in the Belgian First Division, and also averaged an astonishing 3.2 dribbles in the UEFA Champions League. He is not one to shy away from the big stages. To contextualise his creative influence within the final third, he is in the higher percentile of expected assists and successful passes into the penalty area, and has created 15 big chances so far this campaign, with an average key passing tally of 1.9 per game.

(Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

He possesses the quality end product to back up his creative, risk-taking and free-reign style of football which is so entertaining to watch.

As put into numbers previously, he is so dangerous when dribbling and carrying the ball too, both in tight spaces to retain and outmaneuver his opponents as well as in open spaces driving directly towards goal. Over the past year, he is averaging 9.91 progressive carries, pitting him in the top 5% of players in Europe’s top five leagues, he is also amongst the top 3% of players for progressive passes (6.15).

Lang’s best asset is his ability to shift his balance and accelerate quickly into space, enabling him to create and maintain separation from defenders in an instant. He also holds a range of cuts, step overs, chops and pirouettes to fool his markers and glide past them with ease. He does tend to sacrifice possession frequently with the levels of risk he operates in, but the value he adds when he does break through and form chances for himself and his teammates means the reward is currently outweighing that risk by some distance.

It is not just his creativity and influence in the final third that is reaping rewards, but the goalscoring threat that supplements it also. The 22-year-old is not afraid to take shots on goal, possessing an incredibly high shot volume, taking over 2 shots per 90 this season, at a rate that many pure strikers would struggle to hit from time to time. He can generate shots for himself through dribbling and quick shifts with the ball to work an angle, or by attempting intelligent forward runs beyond the ball and into the penalty area to receive passes and get shots off.

He generally finishes with powerful driven shots, and in shooting situations he possesses a calm and collected manner that lets him finish ruthlessly and emphatically, a trait that so few players his age on the continent possess. The past two campaigns have strongly shown the high levels of influence Noa Lang holds for his club, but future employers must beware, Lang does have a hot-streak about him as shown through his 3 red cards over the past year or so already.

He must temper his fiery nature at times or else defenders will use it as a stick to beat him with, when trying to stifle his influence on games. Here’s hoping that improves with age, development, learning and maturity.

What does the future hold for Lang?

It’s fair to say Lang is already outgrowing the quality in the Belgian First Division, and you can be certain him and his representatives will be fielding a whole host of calls for his services this coming summer.

The 22-year-old is a UEFA Champions League quality talent, and a player who’s future lies in a top-five European league, but he should aim to find a team who will embrace his high risk style rather than temper it. There are a number of those even in the Barclays Premier League, and in a division that is evolving tactically, possessing Lang’s qualities are extremely vital as seen through Liverpool’s swift capture of Luis Diaz in the winter window, a player who is as risky as the Dutch prodigy.

Regardless, Lang is an incredible footballing talent, and a player well on his way to reaching worldwide acclaim and stardom, keep your eyes peeled on his potential whereabouts this summer, wherever he goes next, they will have a future star on their hands.

Bukayo Saka’s individual brilliance deserves the Champions League stage

Bukayo Saka’s individual brilliance deserves the Champions League stage

How good is Bukayo Saka? It’s no wonder Arsenal football club are so desperate to tie him down to a new long-term contract.

After a painful conclusion to last summer’s Euros, in which Mikel Arteta has described was “great for his career”, Saka has bounced back and fired on all cylinders so far this campaign, hitting back at his racist critics and proving once again why he is indeed one of Europe’s most prestigious young footballers right now.

In fact, we’d go so far as to say Saka is currently the best young player in the English Premier League. We really can’t bat an eyelid at this strong claim. His sumptuous individual performance against Watford at the weekend underlined is undisputed qualities.

It’s true, history tells us we can’t afford to hype up our young British talents any more than we have been, but when a player is performing as stunning and complete as this, you can’t help but heap such lofty praise.

No player under the age of 21 has been directly involved in more goals than Saka this season (8 goals, 5 assists), and his goal and assist at Vicarage Road in an entertaining 3-2 triumph lifted Arsenal into fourth spot in the table.

If you stretch the field further to Europe’s top five leagues, then only Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (7 goals, 10 assists) has more combined goals and assists than Saka this season.

Players of such sublime skill and quality deserve to be playing Champions League football, and both of these flawless young talents have yet to step foot in Europe’s flagship club competition. Maybe, just maybe that will change come the end of this season.

If Saka continues to play to the level that he did at Watford on Sunday then it won’t be long until he is rubbing shoulders with the continent’s best on a regular basis.

Arsenal now sit fourth in the Premier League, a point ahead of Manchester United, who have played three more matches than the Gunners.

With 13 games remaining this season, Arsenal have moved firmly into pole position for the final Champions League spot.

Arteta will no doubt urge caution, and with games against Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United approaching, there is still lots of work to be done before the celebrations can begin. But Arsenal are on a resurgent run of form right now, with much of their football matching the kind of quality they possess in such a young and vibrant squad.

Bukayo Saka is the face of this new and exciting revolution at the Emirates, and Arteta is backing him to a tilt.

“I think Bukayo had an experience in the summer that not a lot of players would ever have and I think it was great for his career, because the football world showed how much they like him and how much they respect him,” said Mikel Arteta.

“That’s another thing you get much more than that in football apart from winning trophies, so I think that was a big boost for him to realise in difficult moments that people are going to give him support and the club did exactly the same as his team-mates.”

That penalty miss against Italy at Wembley last summer will have haunted any player, but Saka has consummately shrugged off that setback and has never looked back. Arteta in his pre-match comments, urged his team to show a “killer instinct” and no one followed those orders more expressly than Saka.

This was not the controlled performance Arsenal demonstrated against Wolves last time out, but it was a ruthless and clinical one. They ended the game with four shots on target and three of those were goals. All three goals were simply mesmeric, including Saka’s and Arsenal’s second.

It was all his own work, possessing the tenacity and resilience to dispossess an unalert Tom Cleverley, before playing a lovely one-touch move with Alexandre Lacazette highlighting the 20-year-old’s incredible knack to make something of nothing, before burying an unbelievable shot into the top corner, no chance for Ben Foster.

A special goal from a special player. One brimming with confidence, style, assuredness and a maturity that is belying his years. The way he dribbles past his markers, links up with the likes of Ødegaard and Smith-Rowe, his courageousness, bravery and unbelievable consistency always marks him out amongst his peers. The 20-year-old ranks sixth in the division for shot-creating actions (90), and eighth for progressive carries (180), as well as averaging 1.9 key passes per 90, highlighting he is one of the best in the division, for his efforts and influence in the attacking third.

Saka was at the heart of all Arsenal’s goals against Watford, highlighting his huge influence on this Arsenal side. He is the main man, the heartbeat alongside Martin Ødegaard. The combination between both of them for the opener was pure Arsenal football at its finest. The third, just as good. Saka taking a quick throw which resulted in a slick move that Gabriel Martinelli emphatically finished.

Arsenal’s success this season has largely been down to their young players and it is fitting they are rising to the occasion as the pressure mounts with every passing week. The Gunners have scored 41 Premier League goals this term; 29 of them have been scored by players 23 or under.

Saka was excellent at Vicarage Road but was so Odegaard, and the pair’s relationship is growing every week.

Then there is Emile Smith Rowe, who missed yesterday’s match after testing positive for Covid-19. Saka is leading the way for goals and assists by Premier League players under the age of 21, but Smith Rowe is second to him and ahead of Phil Foden. Martinelli is fifth on that list.

It all points to a bright future for Arsenal, but suddenly they have the chance to make the present just as exciting.

After a miserable start to the season, losing their opening three Premier League games, Champions League football is within Arsenal’s grasp – and that is exactly where the qualities and brilliance of Bukayo Saka belongs.

Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson is a future Premier League star

Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson is a future Premier League star

Nottingham Forest fans are daring to dream.

Sunday’s extraordinary 4-1 FA Cup fourth round win over Leicester City in a raucous City ground certainly wasn’t just about progress to the next round but about endless possibilities, and a marker as to where Steve Cooper can take this impressively-built and talented group of players.

It was an afternoon packed full of emotion, celebration and no little drama — and one that only delivered another bucket-full of encouragement for the Forest faithful.

This kind of game, against a club that have enjoyed their own fair share of fairytales in recent years, fans may feel should not be a rarity, but a regular event.

No club currently in the Championship can say they’ve battled and fought for a place in the Premier League as much as Nottingham Forest have in recent memory.

Steve Cooper is the 21st permanent manager to take on the task of leading Forest back into the top flight since they dropped out in 1999. The stats tell an accurate story of frustration, failure and a habit of chop and change.

But after knocking out both of the last two FA Cup winners in Arsenal and now Leicester, Forest continue to suggest that this side — one assembled with a blend of homegrown talent, astute additions and loan signings who somehow feel at home — just might be capable of achieving something.

This is indeed a Forest side packed full of youthful enthusiasm, togetherness, determination and, most importantly, no little ability.

It is really hard not to get carried away if you’re a Forest fan, especially seeing the likes of their very own homegrown talents stealing the show under the lights of the City ground, and one player in particular who is allowing the Forest faithful a chance at hope is the ridiculously flawless young Welsh forward Brennan Johnson.

While all the talk in the Sky Bet Championship surrounding young fledgling young talents have been about Fulham’s very own Fabio Carvalho, and rightly so, Forest fans are constantly pushing their own young maestro into the conversation, and you’d be hard-pressed to disagree with them.

In fact, Brennan Johnson may well be topping Fabio Carvalho to becoming the young face of the Championship. The 20-year-old holds more goals and assists to his name than Carvalho, but its also evidently clear that Carvalho isn’t the only one who could well be impressing in the English top-flight any time soon.

Whilst Carvalho garnered much interest from Liverpool during the January window, Brennan Johnson’s abilities and talents was also emphasised by his very own transfer saga last month.

Forest have not tasted Premier League football since 1999, yet still rejected a £18 million bid (with further add-ons) from Brentford for the 20 year old prodigy, in the final week of the window. Forest turned down a huge profit for a player who joined the club’s academy at the age of eight, in the hope of him helping to propel the club back into the top-flight under Steve Cooper.

Once the season draws to its conclusion come May, Brennan Johnson will be plying his trade in the big one way or another, and Forest will be hoping its with them when the new season kicks off in August.

The 20-year-old is indeed a flawless young talent. A player who has on many occasion this season, gotten the Forest faithful up off their seats with his admirable bravery, courage, youthful exuberance and raw attacking qualities. In his first season as a Championship regular, Johnson has now notched up seven goals and six assists, in 29 starts.

Lining up in the front three of Steve Cooper’s well-balanced and fluid 3-4-3 system, Johnson has not only developed tactically on a personal level but has provided Forest with the attacking potency, cutting edge and swiftness they need to be effective under Steve Cooper.

Since his appointment in September, no team in the Championship has garnered more points (39) than Cooper’s men. Under his stewardship, Forest have risen from the relegation places into eighth in the Championship, two points off the play-off places, an impressive feat.

Under Cooper, Forest have played with more confidence, purpose, intention and vigour and much of that has been down to the excellence of Brennan Johnson, along with Philip Zinckernagel, Djed Spence, loan signings Keinan Davis and James Garner from Aston Villa and Manchester United respectively, and Joe Worrall.

Though, Johnson has been the pick of the bunch. The 20-year-old is currently playing like a footballer plying his trade in the Premier League, and his performances against two of the English top-flight’s elite clubs in Leicester City and Arsenal have evidently shown that he is not out of place playing against elite footballers.

Brennan Johnson is well on his way to becoming a future Premier League star. A throwback forward, one who loves to drive down the wing and pick out telling crosses for his teammates, it may seem pretty ordinary, but the Forest academy product does with such panache and graceful wizardry. He’s quick, agile, tactically intelligent, a livewire when he gets going and almost impossible to stop.

His six assists in the Championship so far this season highlights how creative he is for Nottingham Forest. In the Championship, he averages 1.2 key passes, 1.7 shots per game, 1.2 dribbles per game showcasing just how crucial he is to Forest’s attacking play. What Steve Cooper has instilled in his side, is the freedom to express themselves, even personally telling Johnson ‘don’t be boring, be positive’ and the forward has taken on such advice with spirited excellence.

His goal against Leicester City on Sunday once again highlighted the freedom of confidence he is currently performing at, possessing the quickness of though, anticipation and hunger to latch onto a mistake from a Leicester City player before coolly slotting the ball through the legs on his fellow countryman Danny Ward to put Forest 2-0 up.

It is a mindset and the sort of performance levels that has elevated Johnson and seen him become one of the most coveted young players outside the Premier League.

Steve Cooper has a proven track record with young talent, leading England’s under-17s to World Cup glory in 2017, and Johnson’s progress over the last six months is clear to see.

Johnson’s loan spell at Lincoln City last season also reaped good rewards, notching 11 goals and 5 assists in League One.

Last season his technical ability allowed for tactical flexibility as he was deployed on the left, centre and right of an attacking midfield three within Lincoln’s 4-2-3-1 setup. Based on his time at Lincoln it’s visible that he operates well in an attacking three that all posses similar attributes, such as the ability to operate as an inside forward and combine via the use of halfspaces up and down the pitch.

One of Johnson’s many key attributes is the ability to identify off the ball space in which set himself up for goal scoring opportunities.

Johnson has the mercurial ability to produce a chance out of very little when things fall into place for him. Be that with a sharp dynamic movement that wins his side a penalty, dangerous set-piece situations or an effective progressive carry into space which is enabled through his athleticism and gazelle-like strides when hitting top speeds. His gracious movement accompanies his close control ability well which allows for fast turns of pace as well as avoiding oncoming challenges through an acute change of direction.

Johnson is certainly a jack-of-all-trades type winger, not only does he back his own talent in certain attacking scenarios, he also has the salient ability to make split-second decisions which are often the correct idea when faced with tough decisions to make, especially on the counter or through patient attacking build-ups. It’s because of these impressive traits, Johnson will look at right at home with a number of Premier League clubs in future.

One things for sure, it won’t only be Brentford in the picture for his signature this summer, but several of the top clubs in the country.

There is a long list of young fledgling talents who have stepped up from the Championship and made their mark amongst the elite in the Premier League and Brennan Johnson looks certainly on his way to becoming the latest of those who will go on to become an English top-flight star.

5 strikers Arsenal could sign this summer to spearhead their promising attack

5 strikers Arsenal could sign this summer to spearhead their promising attack

With so much uncertainty surrounding Arsenal’s striker trio, Mikel Arteta’s search for a long-term target has arguably become more urgent in recent weeks.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not played for the club since he returned late from a trip to France in early December, and as a result being stripped of the club captaincy. He is currently away representing Gabon at the African Cup of Nations.

It remains to be seen whether he’ll be included in a Arsenal matchday squad again.

Even if there is some sort of making up between player and manager, he is still a 32-year-old with 18 months on his current contract. Arteta admitted recently that there was a “cloud” over the striking situation at the club, and that is true.

Alexandre Lacazette is in fine form, and Arteta’s current leading man up front, but is already 30 and has six months remaining on his current deal. Eddie Nketiah is another whose deal expires in six months. If an offer arrives for him in this months transfer window, it will be considered.

Gabriel Martinelli is thriving on the left-wing – an area Arsenal were intending to strengthen long-term – while Folarin Balogun appears to be on the brink of a loan move to Middlesborough in the Sky Bet Championship.

It is evident that Arsenal will need a striker in the summer. The Aubameyang and Lacazette situation could act as catalysts to accelerate the pursuit of a forward for the long-term.

So, who might Arteta and his recruitment staff be looking to fill the potential void at the Emirates?

In the last summer transfer window, the club made six signings aged 23 or under. A clear plan and identity in attempting to shape and rejuvenate an ailing squad.

So that will probably be the same route Arsenal take in their striker search. A player who is young, with a high-ceiling in terms of potential, one who could be moulded to be the club’s main-man for years to come:

Dusan Vlahovic, Fiorentina

Arguably one of Europe’s most potent goalscorers right now.

21-year-old Dusan Vlahovic is currently being touted around with some of the continent’s biggest clubs linked with a move for the Serbian hotshot.

It’s easy to see why: his record in front of goal this season is simply astonishing, with 17 Serie A goals from 20 appearances. Only Robert Lewandowski has scored more goals in Europe’s top five leagues.

One of the first striking elements of Dušan Vlahović’s characteristics is his striking size. At 6’3”, he stands quite literally, head and shoulders above others, especially some defenders who are tasked with taming him during a game. This has all the makings of a familiar fairytale story when it comes to young prodigy’s especially strikers, that their size immediately strikes fear into their opponents.

Like Erling Braut Haaland, Dušan Vlahović is built of a similar ilk.

Vlahović is a potent and clinical penalty box presence, a devastating finisher and his 16 goals in Serie A this season showing that at the tender age of just 21, he’s got so much to give in goal scoring situations. It’s also worth noting that this figure is backed up by four penalty goals.

He is a very deadly penalty taker, with 17 goals from 17 career attempts to date.

While Vlahović possesses the frame and tenacity to impose himself, he is certainly not short of pace, in fact, the quickness at which he reaches top speed is superb, and that element coupled with a fire in his belly is a frightening sight for even the best defenders in Serie A.

He offers such a dynamic threat in behind. For a striker of his stature and presence, his movement is surprisingly very effective. Intelligent and varied, and it is certainly possible that he learns to adapt his movement to suit the demand that derives from Fiorentina’s attacking play. He is so skilled at timing his runs beyond the defensive line to keep himself onside. He is a real danger when he is through on goal too, and is very content to shoot once the opportunity presents itself – his xG per 90 (0.59) is truly indicative of a forward who gets into dangerous areas, as one would expect from a player with such incisive movement.

Good movement, clinical finishing – Vlahović already looks the complete young package. As a bonus, he works hard off the ball too, he is tenacious, and plays the game like his life depends on it. He is not the type of player to be around when you have the ball, he will hustle and bustle until he regains possession, a real terrier-like performer.

All things considered, Vlahović has quickly morphed into a well-rounded forward, one well suited to the demands of the modern game. He holds a lot of rawness in his game for managers to work with, whether at Fiorentina or elsewhere. While there is a lot of hype surrounding his future at the top-level, one should in fact wonder how well he would transition at this stage to a more stringent and methodical tactical framework.

Vlahovic’s contract with Fiorentina is due to expire in 2023, and the indications are that he will not be signing a new one. That means the Italian side know they need to sell in the next two transfer windows if they are to maximise their return. 

With his potential to get even better, its a proposition that Arsenal simply cannot afford to ignore.

Jonathan David, LOSC Lille

The 21-year-old Lille forward has been on Arsenal’s radar for some time, but the North London club aren’t the only ones with Liverpool, West Ham and Paris Saint-Germain also scouring for his services.

Since his move to Lille from Belgium outfit Gent in the summer of 2020, the Canadian has never looked back, although he did endure a difficult start – going on a run of seven games without a goal. However, in the second half of last season, his form picked up. Eleven of his 13 league goals in 2020-21 came after the turn of the year, as Lille done the unthinkable, finishing the campaign as French Ligue 1 champions.

This season, Lille have struggled to maintain their form as they currently sit in mid-table in Ligue 1. However, Jonathan David has continued his tremendous development. He is Ligue 1’s current top scorer with 12 goals from 19 appearances. In a league including Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, that is a superb feat.

An extraordinary forward, blessed with great pace, skill, tenaciousness, trickery and acceleration. The Canadian is tremendously versatile too, capable of playing anywhere in attack; as a no.9, right-winger, left-winger, and a no.10. If fast and speedy players are your type, then Jonathan David is your man. A player whose game is based on an exciting blend of technique, mental sharpness and tremendous physical attributes.

The Canadian has excelled in his work-rate and off-the-ball attributes. So far this campaign, he is recording 5.39 successful pressures per 90minutes. He is in the top 10 percent of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to pressures off the ball owing to his tremendous energy, enthusiasm and work rate. David has traded off some of that defensive work, and remodeled himself as a poacher in front of goal. A record of 0.48 non-penalty goals per 90 is brilliant and is simply going to get better.

He possess the mobility, intensity, and defensive know-how in both positioning and angling to excel for a club like Arsenal, and only grow in his pressing ability.

In possession, David is more than capable of dropping deep in the build up and linking up with speedy runners sprinting in behind. Even if he’s not as creative as Lacazette, he could easily grow into that type of player under the influence of a possession based coach like Arteta. Further, his desire to play with an open body shape rather than with his back to goal would serve Arsenal in their quest to score more goals.

David’s scoring form in Ligue 1 over the past two seasons, and for Canada where he’s been the top CONCACAF scorer in World Cup Qualifying, suggests he could score more goals for Arsenal than their current forwards. David’s movement in the box is superb, particularly in finding little pockets of space in which he can finish off chances created by speedy, dribbling wingers, which Arsenal possess to an even greater degree than Lille. 

Jonathan David’s attacking stats this season compare well to Lacazette and far surpass Aubameyang. 

Notably, David hasn’t scored from outside of the box this season, and the vast majority of his goals (9) have been scored in the eighteen yard box. This suits Arsenal’s current attacking abilities, where they look to build up play from back-to-front, looking to score a high number of their chances in the penalty box through incisive and intricate passing moves, including their counter attacking prowess, which he would flourish in due to having a very direct, vertical style of play with his raw dribbling and running power.

At 21-years-old, the potential is clear. It is unbelievably exciting to imagine what the Canadian forward might achieve in the coming years. Arsenal paid Lille big money for Nicolas Pepe in 2019 – so could they return to the Stade Pierre Mauroy in search of another new hitman?

Alexander Isak, Real Sociedad

(Photo by ANDER GILLENEA/AFP via Getty Images)

Another one of Europe’s most exciting forwards, and a player Arsenal will of course be closely monitoring in the coming months.

Sweden international Alexander Isak signed a new contract in July that not only removed Borussia Dortmund’s €35 million buy-back option, but extended his commitment with Real Sociedad until 2026.

Which means any club looking to prize him away from the Reale Arena, would need to pay big bucks for Sociedad to consider selling. However, Arsenal showed in the summer that they are able and willing to flex some financial muscle in transfer fees to get their targets, and Isak will be no different.

The 22-year-old caught the eye at the European Championships last summer – but those who watch the Spanish La Liga closely will be familiar with his extraordinary abilities long before that. Last season, he hit 17 league goals in 34 games as Real Sociedad finished in a Europa League place.

With a rate of 0.65 non-penalty goals per 90 — the fourth-highest in La Liga and level with Atletico Madrid’s Luis Suarez — it’s no wonder Arsenal’s scouts have been following his progress. This season, however, his goals have dried up somewhat, with only four goals from 16 appearances so far, though considerations will need to be taken given his age and development.

He still offers his team much more than his goals, and that has shown in La Liga this season. Isak’s technical ability is largely fantastic. Despite often receiving possession with his body too square to the ball, his ability to spin and open his posture up is great, as is his awareness to make first-time layoffs and combine with close-by team-mates.

Although his first touch lacks consistency, as do some of his short passes, he showcases consistently excellent close control in tight spaces and an ability to shift the ball and his body in alternate directions very sharply – a skill made all the more impressive when you appreciate his tall, rangy frame. This can also be seen in some of his one-on-one attempts, where he is comfortable shifting possession onto either side of his body.

His positioning and movement for the ball are exemplary too. His sense of how and when to drop closer to the ball are great for linking play from side to side and creating overloads from the flank. Equally impressive is his use of this technique in executing double movements to make sharp runs into the drawn-open channels, putting to use his blistering levels of acceleration.

One intriguing aspect of Arsenal’s interest in the forward is his good on-field relationship with Martin Odegaard during the Norwegian’s spell at Sociedad in 2019/20. They both combined effectively on several occasions, with Odegaard often the provided and a source of Sociedad’s goals with his tremendous creative abilities.

Isak has also proven himself to be a formidable counter-attacking threat. He is comfortable offering and operating down both the left and right sides of the pitch, a testament to his mobility and technical quality; his link play and speed with and without the ball add up to him being a clinical target up front.

A bigger team prying him away almost feels like an inevitability for the 21-year-old, and there is no doubt many clubs would benefit from his presence up front, including Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.

Patrik Schick, Bayer Leverkusen

One of the stars of last summer’s European Championships and one of the leading lights in the German Bundesliga this season, Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick is a player who deserves rapturous acclaim these past six or seven months.

The Czech hitman has scored an astonishing 18 goals in 15 Bundesliga matches this season, with an expected goals rate at 0.82 goals per 90, and his non-penalty xG sitting at an 0.77 pitting him in the top 3 strikers in Europe’s top-five leagues. A goalscorer Arsenal could do well in possessing next season.

Many will remember Schick’s name in relation to his stunning goal from just over the half-way line against Scotland in the Euros.

In fact, his performance at the Euros where he hit 5 goals in as many games finishing as the tournament’s joint top-scorer with Cristiano Ronaldo, many argued Schick should have been in the team of the tournament rather than Romelu Lukaku, and rightly so. The 25-year-old was a true attacking force to be reckoned with at the Euros, as Scotland sadly found out. Schick is already on the list of several clubs around Europe, and yet another flawless Leverkusen talent who could be on the move in the near future.

Given Schick’s large frame, he naturally fits the bill of a traditional target man. Not since Olivier Giroud, have Arsenal possessed a true target-man, and Schick certainly has the assets to back this statement up too. Statistically, he performs respectably winning 46.3% of his 3.63 aerial duels per 90 in all competitions this season.

If players are willing to run off of Schick’s shoulder, then he will oblige by winning headers and helping the ball on. However, he shows excellent awareness of where his teammates are as the ball is in the air, as well as the positioning of the defenders and specifically the proximity of his marker.

Schick can adjust accordingly and can bring the ball down and hold up play when many forwards would simply look to head the ball on. The Czech forward is a tremendous outlet when using his as a focal point in attack, holding the ball up whilst bringing his fellow attackers into play.

Schick is able with the ball on the floor too. Whilst he provides a viable option to hit the ball too aerially, he has a good first touch and can play first time with either foot. He doesn’t panic in possession which will of course be useful in Arteta’s possession-based philosophy and he can receive, hold play up, and find a nearby teammate whilst under pressure. 

Schick is far from being some kind of uber-physical and immobile centre-forward. He has a lean frame, and a deft touch in possession. He can receive line-breaking passes and play first time, as already mentioned, but he can also unlock defences with innovative passes and good vision. It’s why his partnerships with the likes of Florian Wirtz and Moussa Diaby has proven so devastating for Leverkusen this season.

Schick has quality holding the ball up with dribbling ability as well. He keeps the ball close as he dribbles, and is better at navigating tighter areas than he is driving forward on the ball.

Under Gerardo Seoane, Bayer Leverkusen have opted for 4-2-3-1, and in that set up he’s looked to take advantage of the strength of his wide players and the emergence of Florian Wirtz. Spearheading that attack is Patrik Schick. At 6’3” with a lean but strong frame, you’d be forgiven for assuming that Schick operates as a traditional target man. That would be a disservice to him as he is far more well-rounded, and more complete.

With Arsenal trying to play a fluid style, the movement of the forwards is essential to pulling that off. A striker in this system must be able to perform single or double movements to either become part of the build-up play centrally or create space for others to run in to.

One of the first things you notice about Schick is that despite his frame, he’s not just living by sitting up on the back line. He will, if needed drop into space and make himself available to receive the ball, and bounce it either to Wirtz or a wide player and then advance into space to become an option further up field, and its in the penalty box where he comes to life, scoring all types of goals but more importantly showcasing why he has got to be considered as one of the best strikers on the continent.

With any forward coming into the Premier League you do worry about the physical attributes of the player and that should be no concern for the Patrick Schick. He is a player Arteta should consider signing this summer to boost their quota in attack, Schick is a player ready for the next step in his career and Arsenal who are progressively improving under Arteta’s stewardship may prove to be the perfect move for the incredibly promising forward.

Ivan Toney, Brentford

A big wildcard pick in comparison to the players on this list, but Brentford’s Ivan Toney is certainly a player Arsenal should seriously be watching. The 25-year-old certainly proved himself last season, scoring a record 31 goals in the Championship.

With more eyes on him this year, he set the tone for what he would bring to the Premier League on the opening day against Arsenal.

Despite not scoring on the day, he was arguably the most influential player on the pitch — as highlighted at the time. Prepared to play with his back to goal, he bullied and dominated Ben White and Pablo Mari to build a platform for Brentford to attack from.

Toney has grown considerably since then, and continues to be a true worthy opponent for the Premier League’s best defenders, just ask Virgil Van Dijk, Raphael Varane and Ruben Dias.

Although Toney has six goals to Mbeumo’s three in the Premier League, the latter has hit the woodwork seven times to Toney’s zero. (Brentford have hit the woodwork 10 times as a team. Only Arsenal, 12, have done it more often in the division this season).

Toney had also made the most open-play passes leading to shots (25) for the club this season, showing that he is an incredibly creative forward. Whether it be winning aerial duels, retaining the ball himself or winning fouls from long balls up to him, he is laying the groundwork for Brentford to be such a competitive force so far this campaign. For progressive passing, he’s given a 98 out of 99 rating by smarterscout.

His defensive contributions also display he is a well-rounded striker who could lead the line in many respects, Certainly a player Arsenal could do with. He is in the top percentile amongst strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for Aerial duels won per 90 (4.65), clearances per 90 (1.24) and interceptions per 90 (0.71).

Certainly the next step is for him to get more goals in the big time, but that can’t be considered as a fault of his, but more so a problem of Brentford’s in terms of the quality of their attacking play. If Toney was at Arsenal, he’d be guaranteed goals with the likes of Saka, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe and Martinelli creating goal opportunities for him.

Though in fairness, he quality of chances the 25-year-old has had this season have not been great, as he only had an xG of 4.4 (2.8 when excluding penalties) after Brentford’s first 19 matches. In short respect, with four goals scored, he had as many goals as the quality of his chances determine he should at this point in the season – a tally he would need to improve if he does harbour any ambitions of playing for one of the big teams in the country.

According to many reports, Toney is being strongly considered by Gareth Southgate for England. If the striker wants to break into squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup in November and December, he may consider whether a move to a bigger club will help his progress.

Toney being a very good profile for what Arsenal could need post-Lacazette-and-Aubameyang and Brentford being willing to sell are two different conversations altogether, however. Though, Brentford do hold a model in which they develop their talents and sell them for big money and Toney is no different, considering his vital importance to Thomas Frank and Brentford.

#AnthonyScouts🕵🏾‍♂️ pick: Dusan Vlahovic