Page 2 – The Pulse of Football

Jan

2026

Preview: Madrid get back down to business against Rayo in LaLiga

Álvaro Arbeloa’s side were on the wrong end of one of the Champions League’s most dramatic moments in the competition’s history in midweek. Now, they need to put that behind them and keep Barcelona within touching distance in LaLiga.

By Alex Roberts

Rayo Vallecano aren’t in the best form heading into this one. Toothless defeats in their last two league games against Celta Vigo and Osasuna, conceding three goals and scoring just one means Real Madrid are HEAVY favourites.

Still, Real Madrid’s record against Vallecano isn’t great, winning just twice in their last seven meetings. Arbeloa is yet to grab the imagination of the fans, anything other than a win here could be calamitous.

The best on the planet?

There’s a big ol’ debate about who the best forward in the world is at the moment. Is it Harry Kane, tearing it up in Germany? Perhaps Man City’s giant Norwegian robot Erling Haaland, hunting Arsenal down at the top of the Premier League?

Well, if you’re inclined to say either of those two, let us introduce you to a certain Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman is in absolutely absurd form, carrying his side through the rougher parts of the season with 11 goals in his last 10 games across all competitions.

*Mbappé is the leading goalscorer in Spain and the Champions League this season*

Mbappé is Real Madrid’s main man, that much is certain. No matter what happens come the end of the season, no one could blame him if it’s ultimately a failure, even in the defeat to Benfica he scored a brace.

Really struggling for goals

What Rayo Vallecano would give for someone who could score ten goals never mind a player like Mbappé. The third lowest scoring side in LaLiga (17 goals), Iñigo Pérez needs to solve that problem quick before they slip even farther down the table.

Jorge de Frutos has shouldered most of Vallecano’s goal scoring responsibility so far this season, with six from his 19 La Liga games. That’s not a terrible return, but beyond him, options are limited to say the least.

The Madrid based side that finished eighth last season are just one point above the relegation zone and have lost seven of their 11 away games in 2025/26. To make matters worse, they haven’t won at the Bernabéu since 1996. Perhaps all of that means a sensational win is written in the stars?

Team news

Real Madrid’s season defining defensive injury crisis isn’t over just yet, but it’s looking better than it once was. Antonio Rüdiger is close to returning from his knee injury, although this game looks like it’s come too soon.

Reports are linking Trent Alexander-Arnold with a move away just months after joining. Like Rüdiger, he’s close to returning, and once he does, he has several points to prove. Don’t expect him to be playing today, though.

We’re still some way off seeing Éder Militão (tendon) and Ferland Mendy (ankle) in their famous white shirts.

As for Vallecano, the good news is that Abdul Mumin is back in training after the ACL injury that has ruled him out since last March, but Andrei Rațiu (hamstring), and Iván Balliu (muscle) are out.

Prediction

Real Madrid are in desperate need of a win here, and the odds are heavily stacked in their favour. So, we’re going with a 3-1 win for Árbeloa’s lads.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Manchester City visit Tottenham Hotspur in a must-win situation

After ebbing and flowing around the turn of the year, the gap at the top of the Premier League is back down to four points. As they approach the final third of the season, Manchester City now have to keep building the pressure on their rivals.

By Neel Shelat

Both sides’ crucial midweek successes

Fixture congestion is a huge concern for top teams around Europe in this period of the season. Both of these teams have been kept quite busy lately as this will be their fifth match in 15 days. With that in mind, it should be easy to understand why their top eight finishes in the UEFA Champions League could prove crucial going forward.

Manchester City will be particularly glad to have snuck into eighth place as it leaves them with an open midweek on either side of a tough league match against Newcastle United. Moreover, Tottenham Hotspur’s direct progression to the Round of 16 could also benefit them as Spurs face Arsenal on the same weekend. If City are to profit at all, though, they will first have to ensure they pick up all possible points in the intervening period.

Spurs remain Pep Guardiola’s bogey team

Among opponents that Manchester City have faced more than thrice under Pep Guardiola, they only have a lower win percentage against Liverpool and Real Madrid than Tottenham Hotspur. In fact, in the Premier League, no other side has a better record than Spurs’ 8-3-8.

The North London club have won three of the last four meetings between these sides, including the reverse fixture on the second matchday of this season. Of course, much has changed for Thomas Frank since the end of August, but his side have every chance of coming away with a result in this match.

Team news

Both teams will have to contend with pretty long injury lists. Spurs have seen Micky van de Ven, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall and Ben Davies all suffer issues in January, joining James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski on the treatment table.

City have been missing centre-backs Joško Gvardiol, Rúben Dias and John Stones amidst a defensive injury crisis, with Mateo Kovačić also out for a good while. Up front, Savinho and Oscar Bobb have not featured for a month or so, while Jérémy Doku went off with a calf issue in the last match against Galatasaray.

Key players

Erling Haaland ended a five-match goal drought and scored his first open-play goal in 10 appearances in midweek. He already has 30 goals this season despite that dry patch, and will be raring to resume his battle against Cristian Romero.

At the other end, Marc Guéhi will have a key role to play in just his second league start for Manchester City, as the returning Dominic Solanke will fancy his chances against a weakened back line. Rodri could play a big part in helping his defenders out, while Conor Gallagher will look to disrupt the Spaniard’s game.

Prediction

These two teams have not played out a goalless draw in their last 36 meetings, so a dramatic match is to be expected. In the end, City might just have enough to eke out a victory.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Man United host Fulham in latest test of Carrick’s credentials

Can Michael Carrick’s Manchester United team build on impressive wins over Manchester City and Arsenal to further highlight their progress?

By Graham Ruthven

Carrick’s at the wheel

Michael Carrick couldn’t have dreamt of a better start to his second stint as Manchester United interim manager. Indeed, wins over Manchester City and Arsenal have pushed United into the top four where they now want to stay.

Sunday’s home fixture against Fulham will be a different sort of test. Against City and Arsenal, United could stay compact at the back and play in quick transition. This is an approach that clearly suits their players.

*Table standing prior to Saturday’s games*

Fulham, however, will attempt to flip the script at Old Trafford. They will likely set up to play on the break and have lost just one of their last eight league games.

Under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United regularly struggled to break down low defensive blocks, demonstrated best by the recent poor performances at home against Wolves, West Ham and Everton.

Carrick has made a strong start, but United must win more matches at home to keep their place in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Key players

Nobody has registered more goal contributions (15) for Manchester United this season than Bruno Fernandes who has rediscovered his best form since being moved back into his usual number 10 position.

By using Fernandes ahead of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, Carrick has given United some much-needed balance in the centre of the pitch. All three midfielders are expected to start on Sunday.

Bryan Mbeumo has scored in each of his last two appearances and could once again feature as a mobile centre forward with Amad Diallo in line to start on the right wing. Matheus Cunha could come into the lineup after scoring the winner against Arsenal.

Harry Wilson is in the form of his life at the moment, scoring stunners for fun. Indeed, the Welsh international has found the back of the net four times in his last five games for the Cottagers.

Raúl Jiménez will pose a threat as a physical centre forward capable of matching up against Harry Maguire in the air inside the box. Fulham have scored seven set piece goals since December, hinting at an area they could exploit at Old Trafford.

Calvin Bassey will be briefed with tracking Mbeumo’s movement. The Nigerian hasn’t featured for Fulham since playing at the Africa Cup of Nations for his national team.

Team news

Manchester United will be without Patrick Dorgu after the Danish wide player was sidelined for the next 10 weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in the win over Arsenal.

Matthijs De Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee are also unavailable. Otherwise, Carrick has a fully fit and available squad to choose from for his third match in charge.

Rodrigo Muniz, Saša Lukić, and Kenny Tete won’t make the trip to Old Trafford with all three Fulham players currently out through injury. Tete, however, isn’t too far away from a return to action.

Prediction

After the highs of their last two results, the Londoners could be exactly the sort of opposition that bring the Old Trafford crowd back down to earth. We’re going to go a with a frustrating draw for the home side: Manchester United 1-1 Fulham.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Barcelona travel to Elche on Saturday evening

Elche host Barcelona as the home side look to end a dismal run against Hansi Flick’s men. Barcelona have won the previous nine meetings between the two sides, with Elche’s last point coming all the way back in 2014.

By Matt Smith

When the two sides met earlier in the campaign, it was a comfortable victory for Barcelona, with Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford all getting on the scoresheet that day.

Team news

Elche could be without a host of players heading into this game, with Héctor Fort and Rafa Mir out injured for the home side. Aleix Febas will also miss out due to suspension, while both Josan and Álvaro Núñez are doubts.

Meanwhile, Barcelona shouldn’t have any fresh injury concerns for their trip to Elche. Gavi, Pedri, and Andreas Christensen all remain on the treatment table.

Elche’s fascinating style

Elche are one of the most eye-catching teams in LaLiga this season. Despite only just being promoted to the top division this term, Elche are giving a fantastic account of themselves, not sitting back and absorbing pressure during games like a lot of newly promoted teams like to do.

Manager Eder Sarabia has kept his style that gained them promotion, looking to dominate possession, sticking with his key principles. In fact, only Real Madrid and Barcelona have averaged more possession than Elche this season (58.8%), an incredible achievement considering they were in LaLiga 2 last campaign.

Barcelona can’t afford too many more slip-ups

Barcelona recently suffered a defeat against Real Sociedad away from home, helping the likes of Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid close the gap. Looking at the form of the two sides behind Barcelona, they can’t afford to make too many more slip-ups if they want to win the title.

Flick’s side have a comfortable enough cushion over Atlético, but Real Madrid are breathing down their neck right now. Barcelona have secured maximum points at home, winning 10 from 10, but they’ve failed to win four of their 11 away trips so far this season. It’s shaping up to be an exciting title race.

Fermín López – new contract?

Reports have claimed that Fermín López is edging closer to signing a new deal, and it’s no surprise considering some of the performances he’s produced in recent months. The likes of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha take a lot of the plaudits in the final third, but the job that Fermín is doing this season can’t be understated.

Fermín made it 10 goals and assists combined in his previous eight appearances last time out, and he could be the danger man for the away side this weekend. Interestingly, Flick deployed both Dani Olmo and Fermín in the same side against FC København, so we could see plenty of firepower from Barcelona.

Prediction

Elche could pose a threat to Barcelona, having lost just once at home this season, but Barcelona should have too much in attack. We’re going for a narrow 2-1 victory for Barcelona.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the LaLiga with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Liverpool meet Newcastle United late on Saturday evening

Liverpool’s 13-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt last weekend as Bournemouth claimed a surprise but deserved 3-2 win. The Reds bounced back mid-week with a 6-0 demolition of Qarabağ in the Champions League and now welcome Newcastle United to Anfield on Saturday night.

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

The only consistent thing about Liverpool this season is how inconsistent they’ve been. The Reds started off perfect, winning their five opening games in the Premier League. They then lost nine of 12 before going on an unconvincing unbeaten run that stretched 10 games in the English top-flight.

The Reds have struggled against teams that adopt a low-block this season. Arne Slot has referenced it in a number of press conferences and the numbers tally up with it too. Liverpool rank top for possession (62%), but are sixth for goals, seventh for Expected Goals, and eighth for Big Chances Created.

Liverpool have a lot of the ball but don’t really know what to do with it. There’s a reason they rank 17th in the form table despite losing just one of their last five matches. Only Spurs, Burnley and Palace have picked up fewer points during this period.

By comparison, Newcastle United top the form table having claimed 10 points from their last five outings. The Magpies are another team to struggle for consistency this term and it’s why they find themselves in ninth position with 33 points. They’re five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and five points clear of 15th placed Crystal Palace. A win this weekend could see them finish the matchday in sixth position while a loss could see them end gameweek in 12th.

Eddie Howe’s side battled it out to a 1-1 draw with reigning European champions PSG on Wednesday. They’ve followed up their last two Champions League matches with defeats in the Premier League.

They’ll probably feel a little confident heading to Anfield though. They don’t have the best record there but their tactics are like kryptonite to their hosts. Newcastle actually have the second best defensive record in the Premier League this term with an xG Against of just 25.2. They’re going to make it difficult for the Reds.

Key Players

For Liverpool, the key players in this game could be Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah. The former is in good form with four goals and an assist since the turn of the year. Salah, meanwhile, looked in fine form against Qarabağ in midweek, bagging a goal and creating a match-high seven chances. The duo combined well in periods during the game and Slot will be hopeful of a repeat showing under lights at Anfield.

For the visitors, the key man is Bruno Guimarães. He picked up a knock against PSV and missed the loss to Aston Villa and the draw with PSG but could return for the trip to Merseyside. His return would be a huge boost for Howe and his team. The skipper leads the way for goals (eight) and assists (three) this season. With him in the starting XI, Newcastle are just better.

Team News

Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are ruled out for the season for Liverpool while Stefan Bajčetić, Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak are out for the foreseeable future. Ibrahima Konaté could miss the match but there’s hope that Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones could return to the first-team picture after missing the mid-week game.

For Newcastle, Howe is still without Fabian Schär, Valentino Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Joelinton and Jamaal Lascelles. Guimarães could well be risked.

Prediction

We’re going with a 2-1 win for the hosts.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Chelsea meet West Ham in cross town rivalry

Not much feels routine around Chelsea these days, and though Champions League knockout football is assured and they’ve won four in a row, it still seems a home clash with London rivals struggling against relegation will be anything but straight-forward for them.

By Karl Matchett

The blues seem to lurch their way from one headline to the next, whether it’s the dissent in the dugout or the bloated squad causing problems. But now, Enzo Maresca has gone, Raheem Sterling too, Benoît Badiashile reintegrated and former boss Antonio Conte vanquished in Europe. Could it all settle down a bit?

Has Rosenior’s start been…good?

Chelsea fans are rarely agreeable on much, even with each other, and the appointment of Liam Rosenior was another example of that, with plenty appearing angered by it. But aside from the League Cup loss to Arsenal, results have been positive: five wins across three competitions. There remain rumblings over potential Cole Palmer discontent, but he came off the bench to nab two assists in Naples too.

The team remains far from perfect but with João Pedro and Enzo Fernández in decent form, they’ll be a threat against all defences – and back-to-back Premier League wins have them inside the top five again there. More to the point, they’ve a huge chance now to consolidate that run: their next four league fixtures are against four of the bottom five.

The whiff of a hint of a bit of a chance

Conceding a last-minute penalty to Morgan Gibbs-White and losing to Nottingham Forest felt like the end – the gap from 18th to 17th was seven points at that stage and West Ham were ten without a win. But football moves fast – that was only three weeks ago and since then Nuno’s side have managed an improbable three straight victories, one being in the FA Cup. It’s still a five-point gap to safety, and both Forest and Leeds above them have been in decent form themselves, but hope springs eternal in the battle at the bottom.

West Ham might look at their following game away to Burnley as a much more “must win” encounter than this one, but fixtures disappear fast and every match is a chance to pick up an unexpected point which might prove pivotal at season’s end.

Recent form

Despite Rosenior’s fine start as boss, Chelsea’s wider home league form is erratic – two wins from the last five and three wins in their last 11 in the league overall. West Ham’s three-match winning run is their best form all season.

Team news

Nothing new for either side with Chelsea having a lot of long term absentees, including Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill and Roméo Lavia.

The departure of Lucas Paquetá means West Ham need the new-look attack of Taty Castellanos and Pablo to click fast.

Key player

Enzo is an in-form everything man: above 91% of midfielders for shots, 92% for chances and 95% for goals, plus the best xG of a midfielder in the league this term.

Prediction

No three in a row for the Hammers, surely, though it feels as though the hosts still have an implosion or two in themselves: Chelsea 2-1 West Ham.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Arsenal look for improvement as they head north for Leeds test

Was the Manchester United result a one-off, or is the Premier League title race really significantly tightening? We’ll all have a better idea by the end of Arsenal’s trip to Leeds United.

By Ian King

With three straight Premier League matches without a win for Arsenal, the title race is starting to tighten again

Perhaps the key question facing Arsenal as they head to Elland Road for their match against Leeds United is how fleeting their current Premier League blip will turn out to be. They’ve now gone three consecutive League matches without a win, and their home defeat to Manchester United last weekend was their first of the season at The Emirates in any competition. They bounced back from this result in the Champions League during the week, but their 3-2 win against Kairat Almaty was a little tighter than might have been expected.

Leeds United have become the Premier League’s draw specialists over the last couple of months. They’ve only lost one of their last ten games in the League, but six of those have been draws, including a 1-1 draw at Everton last week. With the gap between them and the dotted line near the foot of the table now standing at six points, they’re edging their way towards safety, but they’re not quite there yet.

Leeds United haven’t beaten Arsenal in any competition in almost 23 years

Look away now, Leeds United fans, because your team’s record in this fixture is abysmal. Leeds haven’t beaten Arsenal in any competition since May 2003, with Arsenal having won 13 of their last 15 meetings and two draws, the last of which came in November 2020.

Last season, the Gunners won the corresponding fixture 1-0 at Elland Road, while they won 5-0 at The Emirates in August when they met earlier this season.

This match could centre on two injury-prone strikers with points to prove

With nine goals in 21 games this season, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been a revelation for Leeds this season overall, offering up a demonstration of what he’s capable of when not sidelined by the injuries that plagued his time with Everton and leading for calls for his return to the England squad ahead of the summer’s World Cup. But he’s had a bit of a dip in form recently and he’s now gone three Premier League games without a goal, so this weekend would be an ideal time to get himself back on song.

*Calvert-Lewin’s unique shot map from Premier League games this season*

With a goal against Kairat Almaty being his first of the season, Kai Havertz has staked a claim for more game time in the Premier League. Having missed the first half of the season through injury, Havertz is another player with a point to prove. He’s been available for selection since the end of December, and now it’s time for the German international to demonstrate to Mikel Arteta that his return really adds another string to their bow ahead of the championship run-in.

Both Leeds and Arsenal have players that they could welcome back for this match

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber were both rested for Arsenal’s final Champions League group match with minor knocks, but are expected to return for this match, while Arteta can also welcome back Declan Rice and Mikel Merino, both of whom were suspended in midweek. Arsenal’s main absentee will be 16-year-old Max Dowman, who’s picked up a knock to his ankle and will likely be missing until the middle of February.

Daniel Farke could also have players that he may be able to welcome back from injury, with Gabriel Gudmundsson and Daniel James both potential returnees, although neither are certainties by any stretch of the imagination. But Jaka Bijol has a hamstring injury that will be keeping him out for a month, and Sebastiaan Bornauw is likely to continue to deputise for him.

Leeds are far from ideal opponents for Arsenal, following their Manchester United loss

So, will Arsenal’s home defeat against Manchester United turn out to be a pivotal moment in this season’s championship race or a mere footnote en route to a famous title win? A failure to win this match may leave them finishing the weekend with their lead at the top of the Premier League table cut still further unless they win, and if nothing else, Leeds United have proved themselves to be pretty resilient over the last couple of months.

There remain, of course, plenty of reasons to believe the former. With a 100% record in the Champions League group stage, Arsenal were already home and dry into the next round well before their midweek win, and it remains the case that everybody has been dropping points near the top of the Premier League since the start of the new year, while their record against Leeds spanning back more than twenty years is about as good as it could be.

But Leeds have played with a bit of steel in their backbone over the last couple of months, and this isn’t the ideal time for Arsenal to be playing a team who have become difficult to beat since last autumn. Leeds still have work to do in order to secure their Premier League status at the end of this season, and both Manchester City and Aston Villa are still snapping at Arsenal’s heels.

Three matches without a win isn’t a ‘crisis’, but Arsenal need to get back to winning ways in the Premier League. This weekend, though, might not be that time. I’m going for a 1-1 draw in this one, and for the nerves to still be jangling by the time that Manchester City take on their North London rivals Spurs the following day.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Ethan Nwaneri: Loan spell at Marseille could be catalyst for bright Arsenal future

“At 17 years old, to be in a position like he is in at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, I think sums up really well the level that he has.”

By Ross Kilvington

Those words were uttered by Mikel Arteta in November 2024 before a Premier League match against Newcastle. The player in focus? A certain Ethan Nwaneri.

The teenager had made his debut for Arsenal during the 2023/24 campaign, before enjoying a breakthrough last season.

He made 37 appearances for the Gunners, registering 11 goal contributions in the process. It appeared as though he was going to be the next big thing to emerge from the Hale End academy.

Why then, is Nwaneri spending the second half of the season on loan at Marseille?

*Nwaneri’s player traits compared against similar players in top 5 leagues*

Ethan Nwaneri had the world at his feet last season

Arsenal may have finished the season trophyless, but there was no doubt that the emergence of a player like Nwaneri ensured a bright future for the club.

Looking to make a similar impression in the first team that Bukayo Saka did when he burst onto the scene in 2019/20, Nwaneri shone last term.

The 18-year-old either operated on the right wing or as an attacking midfielder under Arteta last season, particularly impressing in the Premier League.

When compared to his peers in the top flight, Nwaneri ranked in the top 13% for goals per 90 (0.4), while also showcasing his wonderful dribbling abilities by ranking in the top 3% for dribbles per 90 (3.75) last season.

*Nwaneri’s possession stats per 90 in the Premier League last season*

In the Champions League, he again ranked highly across a range of metrics. Nwaneri was in the top 10% for successful dribbles, the top 5% for successful crosses and in the top 4% for goals per 90.

While he was fighting for a place in the starting XI, it was evident that the teenage sensation was someone Arteta could rely on.

If 2024/25 was his breakthrough, then surely 2025/26 was when Nwaneri would take his game to new heights?

Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite gone to plan. He made just six appearances in the Premier League, with his sole goal coming against Brighton during an EFL Cup game back in October.

Of course, Arteta found it difficult to shoehorn him into a winning team, but it felt like Nwaneri’s spark – which was omnipresent last term – was beginning to wane.

As such, a temporary move away from the Emirates looked to be the most logical option for the teenager, who signed a new deal during the summer that will run through until 2030.

“Talented players need to have minutes and Ethan in this case wasn’t having enough minutes,” admitted Arteta and Nwaneri subsequently joined Marseille until the end of the campaign.

After just one match, the move already looks like an exciting one for the Englishman.

Nwaneri has started off with a bang at Marseille

Marseille are challenging for the Champions League places in Ligue 1 this season and under Roberto de Zerbi, the club offer plenty of opportunities for young talent.

Current Arsenal defender William Saliba spent a season on loan at the club during the 2021/22 campaign, winning Ligue 1’s young player of the year award in the process.

Arteta will be hoping Nwaneri can replicate that success, especially after an incredibly bright start by the 18-year-old.

Taking on league leaders Lens last weekend, Marseille scored in the third minute thanks to Amine Gouiri before Nwaneri then doubled his new side’s advantage with a well taken effort just 13 minutes in to his debut.

*The shot map for Nwaneri’s debut goal for Marseille*

Receiving the ball just inside his own half, the teen powered his way towards goal, getting the better of one defender before unleashing a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the Lens’ goal from just outside the penalty area.

It was a run that was so often seen at Arsenal last season and this goal could certainly give him plenty of confidence to crack on between now and the end of the season.

Not only did he open his account for the French side, but Nwaneri succeeded with all three of his dribble attempts during the game and played five passes into the final third.

He also won four of his seven ground duels during his 58 minutes on the pitch and there is no doubt De Zerbi has signed someone who could help Marseille add their name to the current two-horse title race being played out between Lens and PSG, the only sides above them in the Ligue 1 table.

The youngster was unleashed in his preferred number ten role, operating just behind Gouiri and this could play to his strengths.

Often at Arsenal, the 18-year-old was switched between the right wing and as an attacking midfielder, especially during the 2024/25 campaign.

The future is bright for Nwaneri at Arsenal, that much is certain. A loan spell at this stage of his career could perhaps be a blessing in disguise, allowing him to get the vital game time that shows Arteta why he deserves more chances back in London next season.

Given his wonderful start on the French Riveria, Arteta will be paying close attention to his progress between now and May.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Ligue 1 with FotMob this season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

FotMob Profile: Antoine Semenyo’s flying start at Manchester City

Antoine Semenyo has hit the ground running for Manchester City and could play a big role in the rest of the Premier League title race.

By Graham Ruthven

Before Antoine Semenyo had even played a game for Manchester City, Pep Guardiola was thanking him. “All I can say is thank you to him,” said the City boss after the Ghanaian’s £65m switch to the Etihad Stadium from Bournemouth was confirmed. Guardiola now has even more reason to be grateful for Semenyo’s decision.

In just four games for his new team, Semenyo has registered four goal contributions. Dropped straight into the Manchester City lineup, the 26-year-old has given Guardiola a different dimension to utilise. With Semenyo in the team, City’s forward line has become even more formidable.

*Semenyo’s outstanding 2025/26 season overview so far*

“He uses both feet unbelievably. He can play as a striker too, with his pace,” said Guardiola at Semenyo’s first press conference as a City player. This was a precursor to the instant impact his new winger would make. Semenyo is indeed two-footed. He’s quick. And he can play as a striker. Guardiola knew what he was getting.

Semenyo’s performance against Wolves on Saturday was his best in a Manchester City shirt to date. Deployed on the right side with Rayan Cherki on the left and Omar Marmoush through the middle, the Premier League’s bottom side simply couldn’t handle the level of creativity and attacking threat that came at them.

No City player registered more shots against Wolves than Semenyo. He was a threat coming inside off the wing. He was a handful combining with teammates in the middle to create overloads. He was determined to get into the final third at every possible opportunity to trouble the Wolves backline.

*Semenyo’s player traits compared against similar players in top 5 leagues*

Some wondered if Semenyo might be used as a depth option by Guardiola. Manchester City already boast a number of top-level attacking figures and so it wasn’t immediately clear how their latest signing would fit in. However, just a few weeks into his City career, Semenyo looks right at home.

Guardiola has historically had a difficult relationship with wingers. Jack Grealish, for instance, arrived at Manchester City for a Premier League-record fee as a swashbuckling maverick. By the time he departed on loan for Everton last summer, he had been moulded into a system player more likely to recycle possession than dribble at a defender.

That Guardiola welcomed Semenyo with open arms suggests the Catalan coach has changed his outlook on what wingers can offer his team. It became clear last season that City needed to add invention to their team in the attacking third, a realisation that led to the addition of Rayan Cherki and Tijani Reijnders.

Manchester City are still in the middle of a rebuild. They have spent over £500m on new players in the last three transfer windows, but their inconsistent form this season has highlighted the process that is still taking place. Most expect Guardiola’s team to fall short in the title race.

Nonetheless, there has been a clear increase in the level of talent at the Etihad Stadium in recent times. Cherki is growing in his influence on the ball. Phil Foden looks more like his old self again. Reijnders has filled the void left by Kevin De Bruyne by giving Manchester City more dynamism through the centre of the pitch.

Semenyo, however, may be the most exhilarating thing about City right now. Everything looks so easy for him. His control of the ball is instant. He’s fast, but deceptively so. Semenyo at half-pace is still quicker than the majority of Premier League defenders. He frequently brushes past them as if they aren’t even there.

*Semenyo is in the 94th percentile for successful dribbles in the Premier League*

With Jérémy Doku on one wing and Semenyo on the other, Manchester City can stretch opponents across the pitch to create space in the middle. It was bad enough when defenders had to worry about one natural dribbler driving at them with the ball at their feet – now City have two of them.

Another tactical approach available to Guardiola is the deployment of Cherki and Foden as dual number 10s. Both players are most effective in the half spaces between the lines and Guardiola has more than once emboldened them in this formation by sending his full backs high and wide to maintain width.

At Bournemouth, Semenyo was clearly ready for the next step in his career. He was good enough to play for a team targeting the game’s biggest prizes and his £65m release clause was attractive enough to spark a scramble among some of the Premier League’s most ambitious clubs.

Manchester City won that scramble ahead of many of their rivals including Liverpool and Manchester United and are now showing why they were so desperate to land him. Semenyo is the perfect Guardiola winger. He could be the player who elevates City’s reconstruction to the next level.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game Chelsea game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

FotMob Profile: Lyon are thriving after avoiding administrative relegation

Ahead of the season, there was a lot of doom and gloom surrounding Lyon. Serious financial mismanagement meant they faced an enforced administrative demotion to Ligue 2, which was eventually overruled.

By Alex Roberts

Now? Everything’s looking alright, actually.

Let’s rewind a little. It all started with John Textor, Crystal Palace fans know him well. An incredibly wealthy American businessman and entrepreneur who bought a 77.4% majority stake in the French club through his Eagle Football Holdings group.

As it turns out, Textor hasn’t been the saviour many heralded him to be. He still owns the club, but their overturned relegation forced him to take a backseat as fans made their feelings known that they would no longer abide by the American.

On June 24^th, The DNCG, a French football authority, sanctioned Lyon and relegated them due to financial issues. The club of course appealed the decision, Michele Kang took over as president, and a few weeks later it was overturned.

The main issue was a hefty debt of €541 million owed by the club and a massively inflated wage bill without much cash flow. To earn their place back in Ligue 1, Lyon needed a cash injection of €100m and to bring another €100m to serve as a guarantee for the next two years.

Lyon pulled it off. Aging high earners like Alexandre Lacazette, Saïd Benrahma, and Nemanja Matić were all shipped out, while sales of Rayan Cherki to Man city for around €35 million and Georges Mikautadze to Villareal for €30 million certainly played their part.

Of course, players had to be brought in to replace those that had left, but Lyon made sure to spend shrewdly with the only deal reaching double figures being that of Tyler Morton, who joined from Liverpool for €10 million.

With a backdrop of all these issues, Lyon kicked their Ligue 1 campaign off with a trip to Lens. When the final whistle blew on their 1-0 win, coming courtesy of a goal from Mikautadze before he was sold, Lyon were top of the table… until Monaco beat Le Havre 3-1 a few hours later.

Paulo Fonseca ended up with a solid squad once the transfer window closed, even if it’s some way off the Juninho, Fred and Jeremy Toulalan sides from the 2000s. Not much was expected of them, although anything was better than relegation.

Fonseca took the job in early 2025, blissfully unaware that it would all get a little precarious a few months later. The Portuguese manager proved he can do it in France with Lille, and he’s proven to be an inspired appointment. The Textor regime hasn’t got a lot correct, they nailed it with this.

He could have easily left and probably walked into another job at an elite European club, or perhaps in Saudi Arabia or Brazil, but he didn’t, instead he stayed at the club and is arguably the main reason Lyon have been able to turn things around so effectively.

With 30 wins, four draws, and 13 defeats from his 47 games at the club, Fonseca is a manager that likes to play on the front foot, centring his play around a high-intensity, possession-based system designed for positional fluidity, quick ball circulation, and baiting opposition presses.

One of Fonseca’s best assets as a manager is his ability to get the best out of the players he has at his disposal. On paper, last summer was a fine if slightly uninspiring incoming transfer window, what really matter is on the pitch, though.

This time last season, Morton was hoping and praying for a chance under Arne Slot, now, he looks like one of Ligue 1’s most complete midfielders. He’s a fantastic passer, completing 750 at a success rate of 87.8%, 60 accurate long balls at a rate of 69.8%, and creating 22 chances.

Morton isn’t the only one. Pavel Šulc, a Czech attacking midfielder/striker signed from Viktoria Plzeň may well be the signing of the Ligue 1 season with nine goals and two assists from his 17 games, only ten of which have been starts.

Domestically, Lyon can’t really complain. At the time of writing, they’re in fourth with 36 points from their 19 games, just two off arch-rivals Marseille with a four-game winning run under their belt.

It’s on the continent Lyon are really shining, though. Once their administrative relegation was overturned, the club were free to compete in the Europa League, unfortunately it meant that Crystal Palace would be demoted to the Conference League after a degree of alleged interference from Nottingham Forest.

Heading into the final game of the league phase, Lyon are top, level on points with favourites Aston Villa (18) with six wins and one defeat from their seven games. The only difference is that Lyon have scored more goals, 14 compared to Villa’s 11.

Admittedly, they’ve not had the toughest run of fixtures, but a side can only beat those in front of them, and that’s what Lyon have done. They’re dominating games with an average of 63.5% possession, have the joint most clean sheets (5), and the joint fewest goals conceded per match (0.4).

If it wasn’t for some truly remarkable and ultimately pointless Harry Maguire heroics last season, Lyon would have made it to the Europa League final and would have probably gotten the better of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham.

There has been a lot of change for Lyon since then, notably they don’t have Cherki running the show anymore, but Fonseca has adapted, and they look like genuine contenders to lift the trophy once again.

Lyon’s last game is against one of the best attacking sides in the league phase, PAOK Thessaloniki. The Greek side have created the most big chances (28), and have the highest xG (15.7).

It’s been one hell of a year to be a Lyon fan. Not so long ago, the world was turned upside down, but now, the club once known as the best run in France appear to have turned it around.

It would be remiss of us not to mention Endrick. The Brazilian wonderkid has hit the ground running at Lyon with four goals and one assist in his three games.

Lyon were missing a prolific goal scorer, and although they’ve not been able to register him for the Europa League so far, he can certainly be the lad that fires them to Champions League qualification once all is said and done.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Ligue 1 on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, xG, and player ratings, where available. Download the free app here.