^ ^ Former Chelsea striker defends Arsenal star who has ‘become a scapegoat’

Has this Arsenal star become a scapegoat? (Photo: Getty)

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has defended one Arsenal star, claiming the under-fire England international has ‘become a scapegoat’.

England take on Croatia in the Nations League tonight and Thomas Tuchel has four Arsenal stars at his disposal after Ezri Konsa recovered from an injury scare.

Bukayo Saka started against Spain and Czech Republic last week but his performances have attracted criticism, especially when compared to Anthony Gordon’s headline-grabbing exploits on the opposite flank.

The 25-year-old has been an ever-present for club and country on the right-wing for the past several seasons but his form has dipped since suffering a lengthy hamstring injury in 2024.

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But Cascarino doesn’t believe the criticism is fair, telling talkSPORT: ‘The amount of [people] questioning Saka…

‘Saka’s done brilliant. He’s 25-years-old, he’s had an amazing time. The only time I’ve seen him not play his best football is when he was recovering from injury.

‘He’s started this season with three goals in five games for Arsenal, so he’s in really good form. I feel like Saka’s become a little bit of a scapegoat. I think he is a huge bonus for England.’

Bukayo Saka underwhelmed for England against Spain and Czech Republic (Photo: Getty)

With Chelsea duo Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer, as well as Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha waiting in the wings, there have been calls to drop Saka.

Cascarino couldn’t disagree more however, adding: ‘I think he’s still the one to beat, he’s still got the shirt for me, the starting place.

‘I think he’s underrated in some ways because his work effort is always the same. He always gives a really hard shift.

Saka has three goals in five Premier League games so far this season (Photo: Getty)

‘He always offers a lot to the team, he always wants the ball. He has his great moments where he’ll drive towards the byline, he chips in with goals. There’s a hell of a player in there.

‘Is he as good as the best in the world? No, there are other wingers that are ahead of him. That doesn’t mean Saka might improve again in the next year or two.’

Tuchel will have a tough time selecting his right-back, likely to be Trent Alexander-Arnold or Jarell Quansah, recently revealing their relationship with Saka plays a big factor.

‘All wingers are reliant on their full-backs, that’s where the game has changed,’ Cascarino noted.

‘The relationship now, wingers are expected to do way more defending and also they get the support from full-backs. When he plays his best football with Arsenal, it’s normally when Ben White’s behind him.’

Tuchel admitted he had planned to call up Saka’s club teammate, only for White to pick up an injury just before the international break.

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^ ^ Pep Guardiola plans surprise Manchester City return after Premier League verdict

Pep Guardiola is planning to return to Manchester City this month (Copa/Getty)

Pep Guardiola is planning a surprise return to Manchester City after the club were found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.

An independent commission has found that City arranged ‘sham contracts’ and had been ‘relying on sham agreements to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs’.

City have been accused of artificially inflating the club’s commercial revenue by £830 million between 2009 and 2018.

Earlier this week, Guardiola broke his silence by backing City’s owners and told supporters ‘we will get through this together’.

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According to The Mirror, Guardiola is now planning a show of solidarity by attending City’s next home fixture, which is a Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain on October 14.

The report adds that Guardiola has told senior figures at City that he would like to ‘be with his people’.

Pep Guardiola with Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak (Reuters)

Guardiola’s return this month would be his first time back at City since his departure in May.

In his message on social media this week, Guardiola posted a picture alongside City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and wrote: ‘I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever.

‘I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano, CEO], the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear – we will get through this together. I love you all.’

Man City's upcoming fixtures

(PA Wire)

October 11 | Liverpool (A) | Premier League
October 14 | PSG (H) | Champions League
October 17 | Ipswich Town (H) | Premier League
October 20 | AEK (H) | Champions League
October 24 | Aston Villa (A) | Premier League
October 28 | Brighton (H) | Carabao Cup

On Friday, City confirmed that they are launching an appeal against the guilty verdict.

‘The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe,’ City said in a statement.

‘The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.

‘We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.’

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^ ^ Thomas Tuchel’s treatment of Trent reveals the England fear that led to World Cup failure

Time to trust Trent? (Picture: Getty/ Metro)

How do you solve a problem like Trent Alexander-Arnold? To start with, it’s probably best to acknowledge that there might not be that much of a problem at all.

The England and Real Madrid defender/midfielder/playmaker/nobody-quite-knows-what-er made his first start under Thomas Tuchel against Czechia on Tuesday and proved the difference in creating the first goal to break down a stubborn defence just after half-time.

Trent, as he likes to be called these days, has always confused England fans and pundits alike.

Should he play at right back and attempt to recreate his Liverpool form? What about on the left where he can drift inside to join the midfield? Or maybe we skip the middle man and turn him into England’s Luka Modric instead?

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That central midfield ship has probably sailed, and for good reason too as Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are going nowhere fast, but the perception that Trent ‘can’t defend’ has followed him around from a young age and is partly to blame for the fact at 27, he’s racked up only 34 caps.

Trent created Anthony Gordon’s opening goal on Tuesday (Picture: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

Trent’s fellow former flying fullback, Andy Robertson hit back at the idea this week.

‘In Trent’s best games he was an unbelievable 1v1 defender,’ he told The Overlap. ‘I’ve seen him lock up Mbappe for PSG, in the Champions League finals he was unbelievable.

‘The way we defended was very different. Sadio [Mane] helped me out so I knew I could probably be a bit more aggressive and if I missed hopefully Sadio would be there. The way we played, we allowed Mo [Salah] not to kind of [defend], we didn’t want Mo back in our box, so a lot of times Trent was waiting for Henderson to come over so that’s where I sometimes felt a bit sorry for him.’

"I've seen Trent lock up Mbappe, but he had this stigma around him that he couldn't defend!" 🗣️

Andy Robertson knows first-hand just how good Trent Alexander-Arnold can be! 👏 pic.twitter.com/M8jbqVgxk5

— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) September 26, 2026

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There’s an obsession from many with focusing on what a player can’t do instead of what they can, and often their flaws are over-exaggerated for effect too. Kai Havertz can’t finish (except he can), Virgil van Dijk is too casual (except he’s not), Trent can’t defend (except he can).

There’s a fear that the flaw may be a fatal one, but when a player has strengths as unique as the Madrid man, surely there’s a best of both worlds situation where he can play for the national team on a more regular basis.

To be fair to Tuchel’s predecessor, Gareth Southgate, the choice for years was between Trent and Kyle Walker – someone who could most definitely defend well. But given the consistent injury problems that Tuchel favourites Tino Livramento and Reece James have, the time to trust Trent should be now, especially as ability to play raking long passes seems to fit pretty well with Tuchel’s plan to get runners beyond Harry Kane and behind the opposition’s defensive line.

Trent’s creativity should be a key asset for England (Picture: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)

England’s World Cup came to be defined by fear, with the fallout of the team’s inability to get out against Argentina likely to affect the national psyche for quite some time.

The fear of what might go wrong helped create the conditions for Argentina to push them back and eventually win the game.

Would Trent have made a difference? It’s impossible to say for sure, but seeing as the winning goal went in via a free header after England defenders fell asleep at the back post… it’s not like he would’ve done a worse job either.

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^ ^ Senne Lammens responds to Paul Scholes criticism over Man Utd form

Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens (Picture: Getty)

Senne Lammens said he has to be ‘mentally strong’ after Paul Scholes suggested the ‘jury is still out’ on the Manchester United goalkeeper.

Belgian goalkeeper Lammens completed an £18.1m move to United from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day last summer.

But despite his moderate fee and low profile, Lammens quickly displaced Altay Bayindir to become the first choice under Ruben Amorim and his replacement Michael Carrick.

The 24-year-old kept eight clean sheets in his 32 Premier League appearances last season, with former Red Devils midfielder Owen Hargreaves labelling him United’s ‘signing of the season’.

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But United’s sluggish start to this campaign has not left everyone convinced that Lammens is the long-term solution between the sticks.

Speaking after United’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, United legend Scholes said: ‘What team have you seen win the Premier League without a top-class goalkeeper?

‘Lammens might be that, I don’t know, I think the jury’s probably still out on that. 

Lammens joined United last season (Picture: Reuters)

‘You need a top class goalkeeper. You think of Liverpool’s team with Alisson, City’s teams, Raya at Arsenal. Man United with Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar.

‘They’ve all got brilliant, brilliant goalkeepers. You start from the back, of course you do.’

Asked about Scholes’ comments and the eyeballs on him at United, Lammens insisted that the scrutiny ‘is not easy for everyone’.

Paul Scholes suggested the jury is still out on Lammens (Picture: Getty)

‘I have not changed character by playing football at Manchester United,’ Lammens said.

‘You have to be mentally strong and self-confident in the face of all those people who express their opinions. I can imagine that this is not easy for everyone.

‘I love playing all those Premier League matches. Premier League, Nations League…. That doesn’t feel any different.’

Meanwhile, Belgium boss Mark van Bommel was keen to praise Lammens’ mental fortitude, saying: ‘Senne’s strength is that he always remains the same regardless of the circumstances.

‘That’s his character and his quality. If you see how quickly he adapted to Manchester United.

‘The club is richer, the stadium is bigger than at Antwerp…. He has a good connection with his defenders. That’s worth a compliment.’

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^ ^ Sir Alex Ferguson reveals why he sold ‘incredible’ Man Utd star despite threats from fans

Sir Alex Ferguson sold a Man Utd star despite receiving threatening letters from fans (Photo: Getty)

Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up on the decision to let one Manchester United player go despite receiving threatening letters from fans over the transfer.

The legendary United manager was renowned for his transfer acumen during his 27 years at Old Trafford, not just in the players he signed but judging when it was the right time to move them on.

There were a few occasions however when talented stars were sold while still in their prime due to a seemingly strained relationship with Ferguson.

One such case was Paul Ince, who made 281 appearances for the Red Devils between 1989 and 1995, playing a key role in the clubs early success under the Scot.

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The midfielder won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

And yet, Ferguson chose to sell the 53-cap England international to Inter Milan for £7.5million. Ince would only spend two seasons in Italy before controversially signing for United’s arch rivals Liverpool.

Speculation over Ince’s move to Inter sparked outrage among some sections of United’s fanbase, with a BBC interview revealing some of the threatening letters Ferguson received as a result.

Paul Ince (right) won six major trophies in as many years at Man Utd (Photo: Getty)

‘One read: ‘Don’t sell Incey to Inter – or you’ll regret it’, while another said: ‘Every Red is disgusted with you’.

Opening up on the saga, Ferguson said: ‘Paul was a tremendous footballer, there’s no doubt about that.

‘He had incredible ability, but I just had that feeling that he just got carried away a bit at the time.

Ferguson and Ince reconciled years ago and are now good friends (Photo: Getty)

‘He then got this offer from Inter Milan. I’m trying to weigh up one thing against the other. I’m looking at Paul Scholes and I said “should we?”

‘Milan’s offer went from £7m to £7.5m and I said “do it”.

‘That’s what your job is as a manager. You have to make hard decisions, and some decisions don’t suit everyone.’

While very contentious at the time, it ultimately proved to be the right call as Ince’s departure allowed for United’s famous Class of 92 – including Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Gary Neville, to emerge.

The saga wasn’t over there however as Ferguson later called his former player a ‘big-time Charlie’ during his time at Anfield, something the 84-year-old now regrets, adding his relationship with Ince has now healed.

‘I regret saying that. That was a mistake,’ he added.

‘He’s a good friend of mine. He used to come over and play snooker with me. He texted me not so long ago.’

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