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Following their 2-all draw with Crystal Palace yesterday it is clear to see what areas of their squad Manchester City need to address in January. Another midfielder is a must. That is an obvious need. But they also need another right-back. That is becoming apparent with every game that passes. This fact stood out even more yesterday come the final whistle.
This season has seen a rapid decline from Kyle Walker. It’s at a point where you can only say that age and battles previously fought have caught up to Manchester City’s captain. It is sad to see Walker’s decline as a player. He has been an absolute warrior for Manchester City and has been crucial to City’s era of dominance. But so often in football, the end of a player comes extremely quickly. That is what has looked to have happened to Kyle Walker. He was at fault for both of Palace’s goals yesterday. That is just the facts of what we saw at Selhurst Park yesterday.
Manchester City need another right-back. Walker needs support and reliable support. Rico Lewis has carried a heavy workload this season. He’s played too much for a player of his age. That’s the legacy of the injuries Manchester City have been forced to deal with this season. Manuel Akanji can play the role but he’s also fatigued and currently injured. When you watch City play, teams are going at Kyle Walker or City’s right-hand side. It’s this fact that makes it clear to see that City need a new right-back next month.
They can’t afford to go on as is. It’s too big a burden to carry. Recent transfer stories appear to hint at Manchester City knowing this. CaughtOffside has reported that City have an interest in signing Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong. David Ornstein has reported for the Athletic that there is a release clause in Frimpong’s current contract for a figure worth around €40 million. It’s at a point, in my opinion, where Manchester City just have to pay that and bring him in if he’s the player they believe can replace Kyle Walker.
But Manchester City must sign a right-back in January. They’re doing Kyle Walker and their squad a disservice if they don’t. Walker has been too good for too long for the world champions to be the target of constant criticism. But that’s the nature of the game. The world champions also need a right-back to strengthen their squad. It’s a move they have to make in January as I feel they don’t any other choice now.
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Walcott names two Arsenal stars who do not complement each other
Theo Walcott has raised concerns about a midfield partnership that Mikel Arteta often employs in high-profile matches for Arsenal, suggesting it does not deliver the desired results. The former winger believes that the manager’s tactical adjustments against stronger opposition can hinder the natural rhythm and flair that typically define the team’s play. Concerns Over Arsenal’s Midfield Balance Arteta has been known to deploy Mikel Merino alongside Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice in midfield when facing elite opponents. While this combination offers defensive stability, it comes at the cost of creativity, leaving the Gunners less effective in transition and attacking phases. Fans have grown frustrated with this approach, arguing that it restricts Arsenal’s ability to play with the ambition expected in such fixtures. Speaking via the Metro, Walcott explained: “Merino isn’t that No10 and I’d like to see someone like Eze up there who is going to be a bit more creative. We’ve got some similar players and you have a lot of players who are left footers as well. Merino and Zubimendi are both that and very similar in that sense and sometimes for me they get in each other’s way. For me, the balance isn’t right.” His remarks underline the view that although Merino and Zubimendi are strong midfielders individually, their pairing in the same system often results in redundancy rather than synergy. Both tend to occupy similar spaces, reducing the overall fluidity of Arsenal’s attacking play. Adjustments Needed for Greater Creativity The two midfielders previously played together at Real Sociedad, and while that familiarity may have encouraged Arteta to pair them at Arsenal, Walcott’s comments suggest their partnership has yet to adapt effectively to the Premier League. Their overlapping roles frequently lead to congestion in midfield, limiting the diversity of Arsenal’s attacking patterns. Nevertheless, both players remain highly capable and have the qualities to succeed in the long term. It may simply require tactical refinement to strike the right balance, particularly in matches where Arsenal need to be more adventurous. Introducing a more naturally creative presence, as Walcott suggested, could provide the spark needed to unlock opposition defences while still retaining defensive security. Merino and Zubimendi bring valuable qualities to the squad, but for Arsenal to thrive in the most demanding fixtures, their partnership must evolve. Arteta’s challenge is to ensure the midfield delivers not only solidity but also the creative edge required to win against the strongest opponents. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Packers HC Matt LaFleur explains what's making him upset
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur isn't happy after his team dropped a NFL Week 3 contest to the previously winless Cleveland Browns. It was a game that the Packers should have won, by all accounts. They gave in as a favorite on the road because over the first two weeks of the season, they looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. That's feedback the Packers were apparently taking to heart before the Cleveland game, in a bad way. This was a team that was clearly overconfident and a squad that perhaps got caught looking at the big picture rather than than the week-to-week grind of the NFL. Heck, offensive tackle Rasheed Walker was talking about an undefeated season before the Week 3 loss. "I think we can go undefeated, honestly," Walker had said. LaFleur calls out the Packers The end result of the Packers' overconfidence was a disappointing 13-10, last-second loss that was ugly, sloppy and uninspiring. The Packers suffered a terrible Jordan Love interception that swung the game, and they lost on a last-second field goal after having what could have been a game-winning attempt of their own blocked. On Monday, LaFleur was clearly fed up and frustrated. "I've said it a million times to you guys — I don't think I've obviously said it enough to our team — the goal is to go 1-0 every week," he said, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. "And it pisses me off when we start talking about things outside of the next game. Things that are way down the road. Like, focus on, keep the focus on the present, on the now, and worry about getting better each and every day." Everyone else can look at the big picture, and for what it's worth, in the grand scheme of things, this is still a Packers team that can win the Super Bowl this season. They've got an elite defense that held Cleveland to zero points through three quarters, and when they're clicking, Love leads an offense that can put up points. A Week 3 loss won't determine the Packers' ultimate Super Bowl aspirations, but it's absolutely a sign that this team needs to get focused and stop reading its own press clippings. The phrase "any given Sunday" is around for a reason. The other team gets paid to try to beat you each and every single week, and the Packers clearly forgot that was the case with the Browns. Can they learn from it? That's clearly the message that LaFleur is trying to get across to his team. "I think it's always a good reminder, like, 'Hey guys, pump the brakes on everything. We're just trying to win one game at a time,'" LaFleur said. "And if you're thinking [beyond that] or have your sights set on anything outside of that, I think you're focused on the wrong things. Like, we've got to be focused on trying to get better. Obviously today, the focus is on first of all being honest about the tape and what the tape says, and then learning from that, and then it's moving on."
Details emerge on injury to Cowboys star wide receiver
The Dallas Cowboys’ defense endured another poor outing in Week 3. The team’s efforts to rebound will likely include a shorthanded unit on offense. CeeDee Lamb exited the Week 3 loss against the Bears with an ankle injury and did not return. It became clear afterwards that further testing would be needed to determine the severity of his injury. The All-Pro wideout now looks to be in line to miss time. “Certainly, he’s got a high ankle sprain and every one of those are different,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said of Lamb during a Monday appearance on 105.3 The Fan, via ESPN’s Todd Archer. “We’d love to have him back for Green Bay but at the same time we also got to understand the injury is what it is and we’ll play it out.” The Cowboys will play the Packers in Week 4, so Jones’ comments leave the door open to Lamb managing to avoid any missed time. Based on the reports which have emerged Monday afternoon, however, it appears far more likely Dallas will be without him for a short stretch. A timeline of two to four weeks is being considered internally, as first reported by Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. Since then, both Archer and WFAA’s Ed Werder have pointed to an absence between three and four weeks. Provided those are accurate, Lamb can be considered a lock to at least miss the Cowboys’ upcoming game against a Green Bay defense featuring Micah Parsons. Injured reserve is not being considered in this case, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. As such, Lamb is eligible to return at any time without needing to miss a stretch of four games or longer. The four-time Pro Bowler being back at full strength will be critical for the Cowboys’ offense, of course. On the other hand, it would be sensible to proceed with caution while managing Lamb’s injury. That could especially be true with George Pickens in the fold. Pickens will be counted on to operate as Dallas’ top pass-catching option until Lamb is healthy. It will be interesting to see when that will prove to be the case as the Cowboys aim to improve on their 1-2 start.
Green Bay Packers, Micah Parsons see another Dallas Cowboys offensive starter ruled out for Week 4
The Green Bay Packers are coming off of a frustrating and humiliating loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Going into the game, many expected Green Bay to win easily, but they fell 13-10 in what was one of the worst games in Matt LaFleur‘s tenure as head coach. It was, by far, the offense’s worst game of the season, and the special teams was its usual disappointing self. The Packers defense, though, performed admirably once again, allowing 13 points on short fields. Rashan Gary had two sacks, giving him an NFL-leading 4.5 on the season. Micah Parsons, as has been his norm since arriving in Green Bay, was a wrecking ball, drawing double-teams and penalties while still generating pressure on the quarterback. And as the Packers look to get back to their winning ways, they look ahead to Week Four and a Sunday night showdown with Parsons’ former team, the Dallas Cowboys, who will be without multiple key offensive players. Micah Parsons the Green Bay Packers defense will face a depleted Dallas Cowboys offensive line It is yet to be seen what the Packers offensive line will look like when they play Dallas this upcoming Sunday night. Zach Tom only played one snap against Cleveland before leaving with his oblique injury and Aaron Banks left later in the game with a groin issue. Unfortunately, Green Bay’s depth on the offensive line was not good enough to overcome the formidable Browns defensive front, who made life miserable for Jordan Love all game long. But this Sunday, the Packers will not be the only team taking the field in Dallas with injuries on the offensive line. The Cowboys, too, will be without two of their own starters after rookie Tyler Booker was revealed to have suffered a high ankle sprain: Booker suffered a high ankle sprain to Dallas’ blowout loss to the Chicago Bears. While he finished the game, he is going to be out for the next 4-6 weeks. Additionally, the Packers will not have to worry about All-Pro Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who will also be out for multiple weeks with an ankle sprain. Much has been said lately of Parsons returning to Dallas for the first time since the trade. And, given how beleaguered the Cowboys offensive line is, he could be in for a big game.
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