All posts by n8rngtd.top

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro is in no doubt: Florian Wirtz "definitely" would have joined Real Madrid rather than Liverpool during the summer had he been offered the chance to follow Xabi Alonso to Santiago Bernabeu. "But Xabi has less say at Madrid than he did with us," Carro pointed out in an interview with Sport1. "One of Alonso's greatest strengths was his ability to work with our scouting department to define who needed to be in our team, but Florentino Perez decides the transfers at Madrid – not Xabi Alonso."

Consequently, Wirtz was left with three serious suitors to choose from: Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Liverpool. After careful consideration, he went with the latter.

However, as Wirtz wonders – just like the rest of us – whether he'll start for Liverpool in Sunday's massive Premier League showdown with City, it is worth asking if he made a mistake moving to Anfield? And might he actually have been better off at the Etihad instead?

• Getty
  

  'Wanted to be a part of this team'

  There were many reasons why Wirtz picked Liverpool over City and Bayern. He was struck by both the quality of Arne Slot's side – and the club’s facilities – after Leverkusen were routed by the Reds in last season's Champions League. He was also blown away by the stunning scenes of celebration on Merseyside that followed Liverpool's record-equalling 20th English title triumph in May. "I just wanted to be a part of this team," he told the club's official website.

  What really won Wirtz over, though, was the promise of not just becoming a part of Slot's side, but being absolutely integral to it. According to Liverpool sources, it was the Dutchman's detailed plan for Wirtz that effectively sealed the deal.

  Whereas Wirtz reportedly had doubts over whether he would play regularly as a No.10 at Bayern because of the presence of Jamal Musiala at the Allianz Arena, he would literally be central to attacking strategy at Anfield, deployed in his preferred position just behind the centre-forward. However, Slot's plan for Wirtz appears to have already been scrapped – or at least shelved – because of Liverpool's incredibly erratic form.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  'Damages' Liverpool's balance

  Wirtz started Liverpool's first four games of their 2025-26 Premier League campaign – and in his familiar attacking midfield role. However, he wasn't involved in a single goal during that winning run, which inevitably led to online mockery and intense media scrutiny of his transfer fee.

  So, when the Reds' results took a serious turn for the worse, Wirtz became something of a scapegoat, even though his obvious struggles with the pace of the Premier League had absolutely nothing to do with his team's far more costly inability to deal with set-pieces.

  "I think Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool and how they play," former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said on his podcast. "He's a top player and I'm sure he will get better – but he's had a slow start and I think there's no denying that. I've seen players come into this league and it takes time.

  "But it's not the price tag. It's not the player or his ability. I just don't see where he fits into what Liverpool do in that [4-3-3] system. Is he a third midfield player? For me, no, he's more of an attacking player. So, if I have to choose between him and [Dominik] Szoboszlai, then I choose Szoboszlai."

  Worryingly for Wirtz, Slot is now favouring the Hungarian too.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Upstaged

  Amid all of the excitement surrounding Liverpool's unprecedented summer of spending, Szoboszlai became something of an after-thought. The versatile No.8 may have played a major role in last season's title triumph with his remarkable work-rate, but the presumption was that Wirtz would take his spot in Slot's starting line-up.

  The German was widely regarded as a massive – and necessary – upgrade on Szoboszlai, whose end product has been repeatedly criticised by the likes of Jamie Carragher. Even Slot stated earlier this year that he wanted more goals and assists from Szoboszlai.

  In that context, Liverpool's willingness to push the boat out to sign Wirtz made perfect sense. He was the most coveted No.10 on the market, a young man who had already proven himself highly adept at both scoring and creating goals.

  However, while Wirtz has yet to get off the mark for his new club, Szoboszlai has already scored twice, including a fantastic free-kick winner against Arsenal. Even more surprisingly, Szoboszlai, Liverpool's undisputed player of the season so far, also has twice as many assists (four) as Wirtz in all competitions.

  When one also considers that the Hungary captain played a starring role in last season's win over City at the Etihad, there appears little doubt that Slot will field his trusted title-winning trio of Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister on Sunday – particularly as they laid the foundation for the wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid that arrested the Reds' recent slide.

  So, is Rooney right, then? Is there no room for Wirtz in Liverpool's strongest side? And if so, should he have pushed to join City despite his alleged doubts over Pep Guardiola's long-term future at the club?

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  City a better fit?

  It's been widely reported that Guardiola identified Wirtz as the ideal replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, whose contract expired at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, and it would be easy to understand why. Wirtz, with his mix of industry and innovation, fits the profile for Pep’s perfect 10. So, why didn't the German end up at the Etihad?

  Well, that very much depends on who you talk to, because there are those that claim that City felt that Wirtz was overpriced at £100 million ($130m), while others insist that the player walked away from the deal because Guardiola could offer no guarantee that he'd extend his stay in Manchester beyond 2027.

  If Wirtz really did reject City, it is possible that he's regretting that decision now, given he probably would have immediately settled into one of the two attacking midfield roles in Guardiola's 4-1-4-1 formation. After all, Rayan Cherki is already enjoying a more productive start to his Premier League career than Wirtz. Despite being hindered by a thigh problem that ruled him out of action for more than a month, the Frenchman has already racked up eight direct goal involvements since signing for City just before the Club World Cup.

  As plenty of critics have been quick to point out, Liverpool were also considering signing Cherki if their audacious move for Wirtz failed to come off – and it would certainly be hard to argue against the £30m ($42m) signing from Lyon looking like a better-value buy right now.

Real Madrid have made contact with a “special” Manchester City player over a move to the club in 2026, with the Spanish giants potentially having huge funds to spend.

Haaland's stunning form continues for Norway

Pep Guardiola’s side haven’t always been perfect this season, but the form of Erling Haaland has been astonishing, with the 25-year-old discussing being in the form of his life after last weekend’s 1-0 win away to Brentford.

“You can say so, I’ve never felt better than I do now. So yeah you can say so. I think it’s about preparation first of all, getting ready for the games. You can be physically ready but you need to be mentally ready as well.”

Now, Haaland has broken yet another record, becoming the fastest player in history to score 50 goals at international level, following his hat-trick for Norway against Israel, reaching the milestone quicker than the likes of Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, among others.

There arguably isn’t a better player in the world on current form than Haaland, with City well aware of what a priceless player he is for them for many more years to come.

Real Madrid make contact with Haaland

According to Caught Offside, Real Madrid have been in contact with Haaland’s representatives over a move next year, potentially coming in as Vinicius Junior’s replacement, with the Brazilian possibly earning them as much as £217m.

That said, City have “made it clear” that they have no plans to sell the Norwegian, and the striker is “not pushing to leave the Etihad Stadium”, which is significant.

Losing Haaland at this point in his career doesn’t bear thinking about for City, considering he is unrivalled in his position, proving to be unstoppable when in top form. Guardiola knows more than anyone how important it is to keep hold of his star attacker, lauding him last month after one of his latest star turns.

“Erling never disappoints us since he arrived. Erling has the commitment, that is why he signed a contract for many years. He’s a special player.”

The only positive to Haaland leaving is that City are in an extremely strong bargaining position, with the striker’s contract not expiring until the summer of 2034, meaning they can demand incredible money for his services.

But no fee is enough to be open to selling him, though, and it would be a huge surprise if a move to Madrid happens in the near future, unless Haaland himself has a sudden change of heart.

Pep's new Grealish: Man City should have sold "one of their best" players

Manchester City are still in transition as they look to return to the top of European football.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 11, 2025

He is maturing as a footballer all the time, and frighteningly for defenders all over the world, his peak years are potentially only just beginning, and City will hope he becomes one of the greatest attacking players of all time at the Etihad and nowhere else.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' dugout felt the wrath of starting pitcher Walker Buehler on Tuesday night. Buehler, making just his eighth start since returning from a rehab assignment in August, cruised through a blemish-free first inning before hitting a big speed bump in the second frame.

After surrendering a leadoff single to Padres third baseman Manny Machado, Buehler got outfielder Jackson Merrill to hit a grounder to first in what looked like a surefire double play for the Dodgers. But first baseman Freddie Freeman’s throw hit Machado in the helmet after Machado appeared to intentionally angle his running lane to make the throw difficult, and everyone was safe.

In the next at-bat, another ground ball, this time to shortstop Miguel Rojas, failed to result in a double play, and the tying run scored. A two-run double, an infield single, a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer later, the Padres had spotted six runs on the scoreboard, and a frustrated Buehler took out his anger on the dugout.

It's hard to blame Buehler, given how the inning went. Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez belted a grand slam in the top of the third inning to cut the San Diego lead to just one run, but that proved not to be enough in San Diego’s 6–5 win. Buehler took the loss after exiting the game with five innings pitched and seven hits, six earned runs and a walk on his ledger.

How on-pitch talent and behind-the-scenes support helped Cape Verde become the second smallest nation to reach the World Cup

The scenes at the Estadio Nacional were jubilant last month. More than 15,000 fans, draped in Cape Verde blue, roared in the stands. The players on the pitch – hailing from all over the world but united to play for this side – hugged, danced and partied. They were from Ireland, North America and Cape Verde itself. 

The tiny island country had, improbably, qualified for the World Cup. It was a human triumph, the culmination of a footballing nation that had built year on year. Cape Verde had flirted with World Cup qualifying a few years before. They were a rising power in the African Football Federation. Their own governing body had made strides on and off the pitch to piece together a side – and a system – that would allow for sustained success. 

But behind it all was a real, sincere sense of global support. Cape Verde's success was certainly organic, but was also buoyed by the financial support and extensive infrastructure of FIFA Forward. Yes, the players on the pitch deserve the credit. But they wouldn't have a pitch to play on, facilities to train in, or exhibition fixtures to fine tune their craft without FIFA, which benefited one of the best footballing stories in recent memory. 

• Getty
  

  Cape Verde, the human triumph

  It must be emphasized, first, that this was very much a victory for the people of Cape Verde. They are the second smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup (pipped narrowly by Iceland to the top spot). They achieved independence from Portugal in 1975. They have had a football federation since 1982.

  They didn't join FIFA until 1986. And they have been involved in World Cup qualification fixtures for just more than 20 years. 

  Recency has certainly has its impact. But this has also been a quick rise to global prominence. They qualified for the African Cup of Nations in 2013. That year, they made the quarterfinals. In 2023, they also advanced to the last eight – and lost to South Africa on penalties. And under current qualifying criteria, they would have had a shot to play on the world's stage four years ago. 

  “With the first World Cup campaign, it was the old format where only five teams could qualify," defender Roberto Lopes said. "I mean, I already missed out on the play-off spot to Nigeria. But I think, off the back of our two Africa Cup of Nations (performances), we gained some confidence, saying that we can mix with the best teams. So, we didn’t fear who was in our group."

  There was an overwhelming sense that this has been coming. But that takes nothing away from what has happened this year. Head coach Pedro Leitao Brito, "Bubista", was born in Cape Verde and played for the national team for 16 years. He understands what this all means.

  "It’s a victory that will lift our self-esteem,” Bubista said after his side secured qualification. “We know we’re still dealing with a lot of difficulties here. We’re a small country, but it’s only small on the map… a small country with a big heart."

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  FIFA forward and its impact

  That they are. But for as much as Bubista and Co. have made all of the right moves – scouting, tactics, performing on the pitch – they have needed help. That is where FIFA comes in. There are countless countries every year that apply for membership, or that make the right moves to do so. But the barriers, mostly infrastructure and financial support, often lead to denials.

  FIFA has tried to change that, federation by federation, and country by country. That takes money. The governing body has come up with ways to help, starting with the FIFA Forward program, a designated fund that works to ensure that football development is possible in the nations that might not have the pieces in place to grow.

  It could mean anything from pitches to play on to kits to wear. Africa, in particular, has been a beneficiary. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced last month that more than $1 billion has gone towards the African Football Federation and its 54 member associations in the last decade.

  As part of the project, FIFA estimated they would open 20-30 football academies by 2027. As of 2025, they have established 40, and 10 African teams could qualify for the World Cup. Representatives from 19 African nations competed at the Club World Cup last summer. 

  "Huge success this summer with four African teams," Infantino said last month. "But almost, I would say, more important, with African countries represented in the 32 clubs from all over the world."

• AFP
  

  Cape Verde benefits

  And Cape Verde is no different. Bubista said that when he first represented the national team, the country quite literally did not have kits to play in. This was a scrappy unit, with little money, scraping together what it could to organize friendlies and exhibitions. Growth, to be sure, has been organic. But FIFA has given them a lift. 

  They have established artificial pitches on Santiago Island – one of a dozen islands that form the archipelagic state in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of West Africa – that have been used extensively for youth soccer. Their funding supported the renovation of the Aderito Sena Stadium, adding dressing rooms and seating that allowed the nation to host a 2022 World Cup qualifying fixture on home soil. 

  More broadly, they have benefitted from participating in a pilot version of the FIFA Series, which allows teams from different federations to play friendlies against each other. There has been a backbone of support, with qualification coming due to their talent, their nous, and their belief. 

  "This victory also belongs to everyone who did their part and helped us," Bubista said after the final whistle. "In terms of organization, the federation has been doing a good job for everyone. When everything is in harmony, the players are united… all that helped us to get to this moment."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Others to benefit, too?

  Cape Verde might not be the only country to benefit. Getting into football federations is increasingly difficult. Staying there, though, is getting easier. And with every World Cup, the task gets a little lighter. FIFA Forward money comes from the global body's revenues, mostly the World Cup. It is distributed equally to member associations. 

  The more money FIFA makes, in theory, the more it is able to distribute. A 48-team World Cup will have its critics, but there could be more Cape Verdes in the future. Member associations that have smaller revenues get more support for the basics: travel, accommodation, equipment. 

  First time qualifiers Jordan and Uzbekistan have seen their soccer structures improved with financial injections. And last month, on a tiny island, a human triumph got a helping hand. And Cape Verde just might be the blueprint for sustained success.

  “I always said – I’ve already had the chance to say this at a CAF Conference – that if there were more spots, the smaller countries would have a bigger chance to fight," Bubista said. "It’s not only us. There are other countries fighting for a place in other parts of the world."

For five games of the 2024 World Series, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone sat in their respective dugouts and attempted to outmaneuver each other en route to a championship. Roberts won the battle and the war, as the Dodgers secured a World Series title with Wednesday's 7-6 win over the Yankees in the Bronx.

But don't think that the competitiveness between Roberts and Boone had any effect on the respect the two managers have for each other. After the game, the two managers met outside the visitors' clubhouse and shared a long embrace. Chelsea Janes of managed to snap a photo of the wholesome moment.

Roberts, who spoke to the media after the World Series victory, told reporters that Boone had "sought him out."

"Aaron is an absolute professional," Roberts said. "He sought me out. Wanted to congratulate me personally. We have a long history of competing against one another. A mutual respect."

"And I think Aaron's the only one in baseball that can really relate to my job in the sense of, either win a World Series championship or you've failed and you're not doing a good job in the respective markets."

Both Roberts and Boone could teach a course on how to handle winning—and losing—in professional sports. Kudos to both for handling the World Series aftermath with class.

Are we witnessing history unfold before our very eyes in Scottish football?

No club outside the Old Firm has been crowned champions of Scotland since Aberdeen in 1984/85, with Celtic themselves hoovering up 13 of the last 14 Premiership titles.

However, right now, it is Heart of Midlothian who lead the way, five points clear of faltering Celtic, and the pair meet at Tynecastle on Sunday lunchtime in, potentially, one of the biggest matches played on Scottish soil for a generation.

Brendan Rodgers will take his team to Tynecastle depleted, potentially without five key starters, so should the Celts’ “exceptional” forgotten youngster come into the team and, belatedly, be entrusted to start matches?

Cameron Carter-Vickers injury latest

On Thursday night, any celebrations sparked by Celtic’s come-from-behind Europa League victory over Sturm Graz were very much tempered by a trio of injury concerns.

Right at the end of the game, Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered a nasty injury, with Rodgers later revealing that the USA international has sustained a serious Achilles tendon injury which will see him sidelined for potentially up to five months.

This came after both Kelechi Ịheanachọ and Alistair Johnston were forced to withdraw during the first half on Thursday, joining Jota and Daizen Maeda in a star-studded and crowded treatment room.

Thus, none of this quintet will feature at Tynecastle on Sunday, with Maeda the only one in contention to return in time for the League Cup semi-final against Rangers a week later, but Carter-Vickers will be a particularly impactful absentee.

Since joining from Tottenham in the summer of 2021 under Ange Postecoglou, initially on loan but then permanently for £6m, he has been an absolutely integral figure, as the table below documents.

As the table documents, since Carter-Vickers’ arrival in Glasgow, only captain Callum McGregor has made more appearances for the club than the American international, featuring in 172 of 224 fixtures, around 77%, despite various injury problems, including requiring knee surgery two years ago, but that ratio will drastically drop in the coming weeks and months.

His performances have earned high praise, with former long-serving captain Scott Brown believing he is the club’s best centre-back since Virgil van Dijk, labelling him “solid, strong and quick”, praising his reading of the game and leadership qualities.

So, how on earth does Rodgers go about filling this ginormous void in the middle of his back line?

Well, now would be the time for him to trust his forgotten “exceptional” youngster.

Celtic's ready-made Carter-Vickers deputy

Liam Scales has been Carter-Vickers’ centre-back partner throughout this season, with fellow United States international Auston Trusty seemingly next in line to come into defence.

However, as documented by Art de Roché of the Athletic, managers of possession-heavy teams are often hesitant to start two left-footed centre-backs together.

Meanwhile, Trusty’s form last season suggests he may not be the best candidate, as he made five errors that led to shots or goals in the Premiership, per Sofascore, more than any other defender in the squad.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Thus, should forgotten man Jahmai Simpson-Pusey return from the footballing wilderness and be thrust into the spotlight at Tynecastle?

The 19-year-old, who is right-footed, joined on loan from Manchester City during the summer, but is yet to make his senior debut, an unused substitute for both legs of the Champions League play-off against Kairat, but otherwise not even on the bench for any other fixture.

​​​​​​​

His sole outing in hoops to date came for Celtic B in the KDM Evolution Trophy, starting a 5-3 defeat to East Fife in front of just 616 spectators at Bayview, probably not what he had envisaged when he made the move north of the border.

Simpson-Pusey,​​​​​​​ though, does boast an impressive pedigree, captaining Manchester City to FA Youth Cup success in 2024, featuring regularly for the Sky Blues in the UEFA Youth League and other underage competitions, notably named Premier League 2 player of the season last year, per Transfermarkt.

With the Citizens enduring something of an injury crisis, he made six senior appearances during the most recent campaign too, starting against Brighton in the Premier League, Sporting in the Champions League, and Salford in the FA Cup, thrown in at the deep end.

Thus, he is certainly highly rated by Pep Guardiola, who labelled him “exceptional” following an EFL Cup tie at Tottenham a year ago, while the Scouting App praised his ‘very good passing ability​​​​​​​’ and ‘physical presence’, noting that he thrives in a high line.

These all sound like comparable traits to Carter-Vickers, who is regularly tasked with playing penetrative passes forward, while his usual starting position is on the half-way line, given how much Celtic dominate possession in domestic competitions.

Thus, stylistically, Simpson-Pusey appears to be the ideal deputy, not that Celtic supporters have seen any evidence of this to date.

The teenager was not included in Celtic’s European squad but, following a change in UEFA regulations, if a player is injured long-term, they can be replaced for the remainder of the league phase; clubs can only make this change once a season.

Thus, Simpson-Pusey could yet feature in the Europa League so, before the Hoops travel to Midtjylland next month, he needs to be given an opportunity to prove his worth, starting with Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash in Edinburgh.

Celtic's "game winner" can replace Kuhn at RW & it's not Nygren

Brendan Rodgers could finally replace Nicolas Kuhn by unleashing this star in a new role.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 25, 2025

The weekend of European soccer brought plenty of drama, and GOAL US unpacks the main storylines from the Premier League, La Liga, and other top competitions in The Euro XI.

So, Liverpool can surely kiss the Premier League goodbye, right? After a 3-0 loss to Man City, the defending champions look finished. They now sit eighth, eight points off the top, and there’s little sign they can rediscover their swagger. It’s a strange place for title holders to find themselves.

But it's not the only bit of drama from the Prem last weekend. Points dropped elsewhere should have meant that Arsenal could kick on at the top of the table. Instead, they drew against newly-promoted Sunderland. And lower down the table, Manchester United and Tottenham delivered on the magnitude of the occasion with a mad last 15 minutes. 

Other top leagues in Europe delivered their share of drama, too. Real Madrid’s scoreless draw was a reminder they’re far from runaway title favorites. Barcelona had to grind past Celta Vigo, and perhaps most shockingly, Bayern dropped points.

GOAL US presents The Euro XI, with 11 key observations from the weekend.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Liverpool's title hopes fade

  Title race over, then? Liverpool were always going to have some growing pains – it's what happens when you sign 10,000 new players – but could anyone have expected this? The Etihad is a really tough stadium to play at, and Liverpool went to the home of their rivals and simply crumbled. The 3-0 scoreline flattered Manchester City, which is pretty damning in a game of such a magnitude. 

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  City find their form

  And then, there's the other side to things. Pep Guardiola managed his 1,000th game Sunday evening. He actually tied his first. This one couldn't really have been more convincing of a win. For all of Liverpool's shortcomings, City were simply magnificent, full of attacking verve and intent. Erling Haaland was quiet, so Jeremy Doku decided to take over. He completed seven dribbles, tortured Liverpool's defense, and bagged an audacious goal to finish it off. And now, they might just be in the title race. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Arsenal hit a bump in the road

  Was Saturday’s result a setback in the Gunners’ chase for their first Premier League title since 2003? It might prove to be if Arsenal keep struggling like this. To be fair, a trip to Sunderland was always going to be tricky – the Stadium of Light tends to shine on occasions like this, and the Black Cats have enjoyed a fantastic start to the season. But Arsenal didn’t rise to the moment. They were muscled out of the contest and, truthfully, a bit fortunate to escape with a 2-2 draw. Then again, they would’ve lost these games in the past – and this season, a draw away to a newly promoted side somehow feels like a point gained.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Dan Ballard, back for revenge

  A word, briefly, for Dan Ballard. The center back was supposed to be part of Arsenal's new era. For 12 years, he was in the Gunners' youth setup, and every bit the kind of central defender that seemed ready to anchor a defensive line long term. But like so many, he never took the step up in time. Ballard landed at Sunderland, and, in a center back-y kind of way, battered his boyhood club. Ballard scored one, assisted another, and made a truly remarkable block in stoppage time to save a point. It's hard to recall a better individual showing this season. 

Spring training is almost upon us as pitchers and catchers have begun to arrive at team complexes. While many teams still have work to do on their rosters, it's getting late in the game for major acquisitions. Several franchises did great work this offseason and have set themselves up for big things in 2025.

Here are the five teams that did the best job this offseason at upgrading their rosters.

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

Arsenal might be flying in the Premier League and Champions League this season, but things have not always looked so rosy for Mikel Arteta.

In fact, in his second season, just half a year after winning the FA Cup, there was a real sense that he could be fired.

After all, the North Londoners were bottom of the table by the first international break, and from the 8th of November to Boxing Day, the team didn’t win a league game.

Amazingly, one of the reasons things turned around for the Spaniard was his decision to unleash academy gem Emile Smith Rowe, who, alongside Bukayo Saka, helped steer the club out of trouble.

Since then, it has felt like Hale End has produced talents in pairs for the club, and it looks like they’ve done so again with a duo who could become the new Smith Rowe and Saka, and no, it’s not Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.

Saka & Smith Rowe's partnership

Smith Rowe made his debut for Arsenal and started a few Europa League games in the 18/19 season, and made a few more appearances the following year.

However, his first Premier League start for the club came on Boxing Day 2020, and alongside Saka, he helped put the club back on track.

He provided the assist for his Hale End teammate, and that started a partnership that finally gave the fans something to be excited about when it came to their team.

In fact, the pair made such an impact as a dynamic duo that the fans created and constantly sang a song about them playing together.

Unfortunately, injuries soon began to take their toll on the Croydon-born gem, and while he was on the sidelines, his Saka started to grow in importance on his own.

Moreover, the overall team began rapidly improving, both from a personnel and performance perspective, so when the dynamic midfielder was fit again in the 23/24 season, he barely featured at all.

This led to the club accepting a £34m offer from Fulham in the summer of 2024.

It might not have ended well, but for a time, Saka and Smith Rowe were an incredible partnership, making 81 appearances together and combining for six goals.

Now it looks like Hale End might be about to produce another dynamic pairing for Arsenal, and it’s not Dowman and Nwaneri.

Arsenal's new Saka and Smith Rowe

Now, there is an argument to be made that the duo of Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are the closest Arsenal have come to recreating the Saka and Smith Rowe pairing.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, with the latter primarily playing at left-back, that comparison doesn’t really work.

It’s a different story, however, when it comes to Hale End gems Alex Marciniak and Louis Zecevic-John.

The pair have demonstrated an ability to play in several different positions, but the former, who is just 17, is primarily an attacking midfielder, and the latter, also 17, is primarily a right winger.

In other words, they could burst into the first team and, as one content creator put it, become “the new Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.”

Now, that is certainly a lot of pressure to put on youngsters that most fans will not have heard of yet, but based on their form in the youth sides and what those in the know are saying about them, it’s a pressure they might be able to handle.

For example, the “insane” Marciniak, as dubbed by academy expert Will Balsam, has already racked up a tally of one goal and three assists in eight appearances for the U18s this season.

Zecevic-John, whom Balsam has described as “a game-changing attacker” who is “electric with the ball at his feet” and blessed with “blistering pace,” also put up incredible numbers last year.

In 22 appearances, totalling 1539 minutes, he scored seven goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.57 games, or every 109.92 minutes.

Ultimately, there is still a long way to go for both youngsters, but given their positions and undeniable ability, they could one day be Arsenal’s new Saka and Smith Rowe.

Arsenal lost 'one of the world's best', now he's outperforming Saka & Eze

The incredible international is now playing better than Arsenal’s Eze and Saka.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 14, 2025

England boss Thomas Tuchel is expected to offer Liam Delap a World Cup lifeline as he plans to discuss what the Chelsea striker needs to do in order to earn a first international call-up. Delap moved to Stamford Bridge from Ipswich for £30m over the summer after the young forward impressed for the relegated Tractor Boys. The Blues beat Manchester United to the signing of the 22-year-old.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Delap yet to score league goal since Chelsea switch

  Delap looked bright in his opening Chelsea appearances as he scored one and assisted another in the Blues' successful Club World Cup campaign. However, the young forward has largely struggled to transfer his Ipswich form to the west London side. Delap has failed to directly contribute to a goal in his opening four Premier League outings for Enzo Maresca's side.

  The summer signing did miss two months of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in a 2-0 home win over Fulham back in August, which has prevented the ex-Tractor Boys frontman from building up some form. However, Delap's return to action was marred by a second-half red card in a 4-3 League Cup win at Wolves last month, while he was unable to leave a lasting impression in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Qarabag and the subsequent 3-0 win over Wolves prior to the international break.

  Joao Pedro, who joined from Brighton over the summer, has also caught the eye upfront for the Blues and has scored more goals and provided more assists than any other Chelsea player in the Premier League this season. The Brazilian's impact has magnified Delap's struggles as the former Manchester City youth player looks to justify the club's decision to secure his services.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tuchel tipped to speak with Delap before March break

  Delap is expected to be contacted by England head coach Tuchel before long, however, with the German keen to discuss what the young forward needs to do in order to force his way into the national team, according to the Daily Mail.

  The report adds that "the Chelsea striker is hoping a good second half of the season can place him in contention for this summer's World Cup, which is now a little more than six months away", with rival forwards such as Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Dominic Solanke, Danny Welbeck not yet considered to have a guaranteed place on the plane.

  As it stands, England captain Harry Kane is the only striker boasting untouchable status.

  It is understood that Tuchel will speak with Delap before England's next training camp in March to outline exactly what he needs to do at Chelsea to boost his chances of selection.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  England boss expected at Chelsea again soon

  Tuchel was spotted at Chelsea's 1-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League and 2-2 draw with Brentford in the Premier League, but Delap was absent from both games due to injury. The England boss is expected to attend several more Chelsea games before March, though, which will allow him to get a good look at the 22-year-old.

  Chelsea's next home league game comes against Arsenal next weekend following a trip to Burnley on Saturday and the welcome of Barcelona in the Champions League next week.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• England discussing opponents for March friendlies

  England aren't in action again until the March international break having ended 2025 with back-to-back wins over Serbia and Albania to round off World Cup qualification with a 100% record.

  While England's opponents for the March friendlies haven't been confirmed, the Guardian last month reported that they have discussed potential meetings with Uruguay and Japan as part of their World Cup preparations.