Daily Cannon

Tottenham Hotspur bid for Leandro Trossard before Arsenal secured the forward’s signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, according to a report.

Isaan Khan reports for the Daily Mail that prior to Arsenal signing Leandro Trossard in January of 2023, Tottenham Hotspur had made a bid for the winger in the same window.

According to the report, Brighton wanted £20m plus add-ons at that stage of the window. Spurs were only willing to pay £15m plus add-ons, so the deal fell through.

Brighton’s firm stance ended up paying off, as Khan reports that Arsenal ended up paying £27m for the player. By that later point in the window, with the Gunners seeing their move for Mykhailo Mudryk hijacked, the club were willing to offer the asking price.

Even if Arsenal ended up paying significantly more than Spurs were willing to bid, the decision to meet Brighton’s terms has paid off for Mikel Arteta’s side so far.

Trossard has over 60 goals and assists for Arsenal in under three years, including many in big games against the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, PSG, Bayern Munich, FC Porto, and others.

Arsenal have been so impressed with Trossard’s form that over the summer they handed him a pay-rise without extending his contract.

According to the same Daily Mail report, Trossard was told prior to signing his new deal that he’d likely be used as a squad player rather than as a consistent starter this season.

But after an excellent few months, we’ve now reached the point where Trossard was reportedly rested against Bournemouth to be ready for Thursday’s big game against Liverpool.

No Arsenal player has more goals and assists than Trossard this season, so it makes perfect sense Arteta would want him available for the big games.

Thomas Frank has admitted he didn’t notice he was using a cup with an Arsenal logo before Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday night.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank watched his team slip to another costly defeat on Wednesday, losing 3-2 away to Bournemouth to slip to 14th in the Premier League table.

Yet the night may well be remembered for something that happened before the game even kicked off, with Frank spotted walking around the pitch at the Vitality Stadium holding a cup with an Arsenal logo printed on it.

The Spurs manager was spotted by media photographers, who caught him on camera cradling the Arsenal cup. Speaking afterwards, Frank insisted he had no idea about it, and added it would have been “extremely stupid” of him to do it on purpose.

“Definitely [did] not notice it,” Frank said. “I think it’s fair to say that we’re not winning every single football match so it’ll be absolutely completely stupid of me to take a cup with Arsenal (on purpose).

“So anyone thinking I’ve done that or the staff has done it… You know, [Arsenal have] been in the changing room of the game before us, it’s normal, take a cup, give me an espresso, [I] do that before every game.

“I think actually it’s a little bit sad, in football, that I need to be asked a question about that. I think we’re definitely going in the wrong direction if we need to worry about me having a cup with another logo of another club.

“Of course, I will never do that [deliberately], that’s extremely stupid.”

Frank’s explanation makes sense. Arsenal were indeed the last team to visit Bournemouth’s home ground, the club probably left some spare unused cups in the away dressing room, and someone must then have picked up a cup without spotting the Arsenal logo.

Unfortunately for Frank, it doesn’t much matter whether he took the cup deliberately or not. The optics are the same either way, with an underperforming manager on the day of another defeat starring in photos holding a cup branded with the logo of his team’s biggest rivals.

At best, Spurs fans will forgive it as an honest but embarrassing mistake. At worst, it’s another stick to beat him with.

Antoine Semenyo has rejected Tottenham Hotspur and appears likely to move to Manchester City, Manchester United, or Liverpool in the early stages of the January transfer window, according to reports.

Speaking live on NBC Sports on Sunday night, David Ornstein reported that a January transfer for Antoine Semenyo appears very possible, and it’s likely to be sooner rather than later.

That’s because Semenyo has a £65m release clause in his Bournemouth contract, but it’s only valid until around January 10th. The clause will become active again in the summer at a lower value, but it currently looks as though the winger will be gone long before that.

Ornstein reports that Arsenal might have looked at the situation, but more in terms of a summer move. So with Semenyo seemingly unwilling to wait, that may rule the Gunners out of the race.

Instead, Ornstein reports that Manchester City and Manchester United are emerging as the leading contenders, with Liverpool also having great admiration but not moving on their interest to the same extent so far. That could change with Alexander Isak’s injury on Saturday.

But along with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur are out of the January race. Ornstein claims Spurs were very keen and willing to pay significant wages for the signing, but the player politely turned them down.

There may have been an Arsenal element to that decision, with Semenyo previously admitting he’s an Arsenal supporter.

“I am an Arsenal fan,” Semenyo told The Athletic amid links to the Gunners last year. “I don’t conflict the two with my job.

“It is great to play against Arsenal, a team I have watched all my life and I want to play for the top clubs as well. In order for that to happen I need to prove it.”

Despite Ornstein’s suggestions that the two Manchester clubs might be ahead of Liverpool at the moment, Mark Dobson reports for The Guardian that Semenyo has actually agreed personal terms with the Merseyside club, adding that he favours Liverpool over the alternatives.

That could well be a new development following Isak’s injury, with Liverpool suddenly short and in need of additions. But let’s see how things play out over the next couple of weeks.

If Liverpool do move for Semenyo, it’s not impossible his first game could come against Arsenal. With that January 10th deadline for his release clause, if a deal is going to happen it could well be done in time for the Arsenal match two days earlier.

Arsenal travel away to Bournemouth on January 3rd, so if a deal is done even earlier then Semenyo might miss that game at least. The Gunners then host Bournemouth on April 11th.

Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager Matt Wells is close to becoming the new manager of Kroenke-owned Colorado Rapids, according to a report.

TalkSPORT report that Tottenham Hotspur assistant Matt Wells is closing in on becoming the new manager of the Colorado Rapids, his first senior managerial role.

Wells currently works as a first-team coach under Thomas Frank at Spurs, having previously coached under Ange Postecoglou, but he looks to be on the way to the MLS.

The Rapids reportedly interviewed multiple candidates from the U.S. and abroad, but Wells was the most aligned with the club’s transfer strategy.

As many Arsenal fans will be aware, Colorado Rapids share their ownership team with the Gunners, as the MLS side operates under Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.

The Rapids’ Arsenal connection was likely part of the reason they considered hiring Jack Wilshere in the past, interviewing him in 2023. But Wilshere has gone on to become the head coach of Luton Town instead.

Instead, it now looks like the Rapids will be making the much less expected appointment of a Spurs coach.

There’s no great rush to get Wells appointed, given the Rapids are currently in their offseason. They won’t have a competitive game until next February.

On the other hand, confirming the appointment early will help with transfer business ahead of the new MLS campaign.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope has been ruled out for the next three weeks of action, meaning former Gunner Aaron Ramsdale could face multiple of Arsenal’s London rivals.

Sky Sports News report that Nick Pope is set to miss the next three weeks of action with a groin injury, with a likely return date set for Newcastle United’s match away to Manchester United on Boxing Day.

Sky add that Pope was informed of the news from a specialist after picking up an injury in training on Friday, and former Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is set to start in Pope’s place for the next few weeks.

Newcastle have some significant fixtures during that period, starting with the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night. Ramsdale’s previous association with Spurs’ north London rivals will likely add some extra spice to proceedings.

Newcastle also face Chelsea on December 20th, as well as playing a League Cup quarter-final against Fulham on December 17th. Two more games that could have an indirect impact on Arsenal’s trophy hopes.

On top of that, Ramsdale will face his former Arsenal teammate Granit Xhaka in the Tyne-Wear derby on December 14th, Newcastle’s first game against Sunderland this season.

But before most of those games, Newcastle host Burnley on December 6th and play a key Champions League match away to Bayer Leverkusen on December 10th.

If Ramsdale had the choice, he might have selected a slightly easier batch of games for his first serious run in the Newcastle team. But if he can really impress during this period, he may find himself competing for starts even when Pope returns.

The Arsenal u18s secured a draw away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday despite missing their head coach and receiving two red cards during the game.

The Arsenal u18s took on Spurs away from home on Saturday, with 16-year-old Marli Salmon dropping back to the team for his first u18 Premier League game this season.

Salmon has primarily represented the Arsenal u21s this campaign, as well as playing for the u19s in the UEFA Youth League. But this was his first u18 appearance, perhaps in light of the fact it was a derby match, or perhaps to prepare for the FA Youth Cup.

Ife Ibrahim also dropped down to make just his second u18 PL appearance of the campaign, having similarly spent most of this season with the Arsenal u19s and u21s.

Though on the negative side, Arsenal u18 boss Adam Birchall was unable to attend the game due to illness.

If the inclusion of a couple more players in the squad gave the Gunners a pre-match boost, it showed in the early stages.

Just six minutes into the match, Ibrahim squared for Ceadach O’Neill in the penalty area, with O’Neill converting for his 16th goal contribution in 16 academy matches this season. More importantly, the goal put Arsenal 1-0 up.

The Gunners didn’t make it to half time with the lead though, as Luca Williams-Barnett drove in a low free-kick for 1-1.

Things went from bad to worse early in the second half, as Williams-Barnett scored a penalty in the 48th minute to give the hosts the lead.

Arsenal rallied, with Spurs scorer Williams-Barnett giving away possession and then compounding his error by conceding a free-kick. Teshaun Murisa fired in the rebound after O’Neill’s set-piece was partially headed away, and the Gunners were level at 2-2.

After that, the game started to get even more fiery. Salmon committed a foul in the 57th minute, and a confrontation with Spurs’ George Feeney afterwards saw both players shown red cards.

Spurs started to push for a winner, hitting the crossbar and the post with a couple of chances, though substitute Louis Zecevic-John also went close for the Gunners.

Just before the end of the 90 minutes, Spurs were handed an advantage as Josiah King was sent off as well. The foul was relatively innocuous, but deemed enough for a second yellow card.

Spurs hit the bar again in injury time, but couldn’t secure the three point against Arsenal’s nine men.

“We’re obviously disappointed not to get the win, but I think the team did well and we’re happy to go away with a point,” O’Neill said afterwards.

Theo Julienne agreed, adding: “I think we had to fight hard for the point, which is important because you don’t want to keep losing games. We say, if you’re not going to win, don’t lose, so that was important today.

“Obviously, we want to win every game, but we had to fight for the point today, and we’re happy to achieve that.”

Arsenal u18 lineup vs Spurs

Porter, King, Ogunnaike, Salmon, Hamill, Ibrahim, Thompson, Murisa, O’Neill, Julienne, Bailey-Joseph

Substitutes

Owusu-Gyasi (for Thompson, 64), Zecevic-John (for Murisa, 64), Hashi (for Bailey-Joseph, 80), Chapman (for O’Neill, 90+3), Lupinski

What’s next

The Arsenal u18s face Crystal Palace on December 6th, and both Salmon and King will be serving suspensions for that match.

King should then be available for the FA Youth Cup game on Monday, December 15th, but unfortunately it looks as though Salmon will still be banned.

Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze is an unsurprising inclusion in multiple Teams of the Week, following his hat-trick heroics in the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

Considering he scored three goals in a 4-1 win over Arsenal’s local rivals on Sunday, it probably won’t surprise many readers to learn that Eberechi Eze has been a staple of the various Teams of the Week on Tuesday morning.

Troy Deeney selected Eze for his BBC team, writing that the midfielder is “the man of the moment”.

Deeney added: “Goals, composure, he ran the show. The best player on the pitch.”

WhoScored also selected Eze for their Team of the Week, giving the Arsenal player a 10.0 rating.

It’s only the second time a Premier League player has achieved a perfect score from WhoScored this season, with the last player to do so also an Arsenal player – Jurrien Timber against Leeds United in August.

Eze achieved the feat by scoring three goals from his four shots on target, as well as creating a big chance, completing three of three attempted dribbles, and winning seven out of nine ground duels. It was a dominant performance from the summer signing.

Eze also made it into the Sofascore Team of the Week, and it will probably be a challenge to find one he doesn’t appear in after that derby success.

Jamie Carragher has apologised for his previous assessments of Arsenal signing Eberechi Eze, now suggesting the move could help the Gunners win the Premier League.

The signing of Eberechi Eze this summer was one that certainly excited the Arsenal fans, particularly given the fact he’d been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur just days earlier.

Yet not everyone was so convinced that Eze was what Arsenal needed to get over the line and start winning some trophies, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher among the initial doubters.

Following Eze’s hat-trick in the north London derby on Sunday, Carragher admitted that on reflection, he’d got that one wrong.

“When Eze came I thought okay, you know, maybe it’s not a game changer,” Carragher began. “Les (Ferdinand) knows him a lot better than me, he still said earlier on in the show ‘there’s still more to come’.

“But then we’ve still seen some of his highlights this season, there was still a few great goals in there, and then he goes and scores a hat-trick.

“So apologies, I think I’ve certainly unvalued the importance that signing was, because he looks like he could make the real difference for Arsenal this season in going on to win the title.”

Carragher wasn’t the only one to aim criticism at Eze following his summer move, with Spurs fans understandably keen to amplify the negatives and ignore the positives of the move.

After Arsenal used Sampha’s song Indecision in their announcement post for Eze’s signing, including the lyrics “let it all work out”, Spurs’ official account attempted to hit back after signing Xavi Simons, sharing a post of their own captioned “let it all work out”.

Following Eze’s hat-trick against Spurs at the weekend, Declan Rice shared a post alongside the summer signing captioned simply: “It’s worked out..”

Eze now has more goals and assists than any Spurs player this season. On Simons specifically, the midfielder has no goals and two assists in his 15 games since joining.

Thierry Henry was impressed by Arsenal’s tifo display prior to their north London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur, thanking the fans for helping to put it together.

Ahead of Arsenal’s game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the club raised a tifo banner in front of the North Bank of the Emirates Stadium, with fans in the stands behind holding up sheets of red and white to add to the visual.

The banner contained pictures of celebrations of iconic Arsenal goals against Spurs, including current players like Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard, but also club legends like Tony Adams and David Rocastle.

Sol Campbell topped the banner, in an obvious jab at Spurs for losing their former captain to the Gunners, who then won the Premier League twice and the FA Cup three times with Campbell’s help.

One other former player on the banner was record Arsenal goalscorer Thierry Henry, in the celebration pose the club ended up using for his statue outside the ground.

Henry himself was clearly a fan of the banner, writing on his Instagram story: “What a tifo! Thank you Gooners!”

Unlike the poor tifo attempt by the club earlier in the year against Paris Saint-Germain, this tifo was produced in conjuction with multiple supporters’ groups.

The banner was put together at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground, and the club held a rehearsal the night before the game.

Other than the basic design, one of the other issues with the PSG tifo was that part of the banner wasn’t raised properly. A proper rehearsal this time ensured that wasn’t the case again.

And with the fans behind able to join in by holding up coloured sheets, it was a far superior display all around.

Leandro Trossard has admitted he was surprised by just how defensively Spurs played against Arsenal, with the club setting a new record low for expected goals.

Arsenal defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in Sunday’s north London derby, but the one goal the away side did get flattered their attacking display.

The expected goals statistics for the match only had Spurs at 0.06, meaning that with the chances they had, they’d only be expected to score a goal once every 16 or 17 matches.

Unfortunately, this turned out to be that one in 16, with Richarlison’s long-distance effort creeping into the net. But it was still Spurs’ lowest xG on record, and a sign of just how negatively they’d approached the game, combined with how well Arsenal played.

Speaking afterwards, Leandro Trossard was asked whether he was surprised by how defensively Spurs had set up to play.

“Yeah, maybe a bit,” Trossard admitted. “Because as I said, it’s still Spurs. But we have been facing a back five a lot of times this season, so we’re kind of used to it.

“At the end of the day I think it’s a really, really good performance from us, and we could have scored even more I think. But we’re really happy with the result.

“I think that’s the key, to be patient. Not to rush things if teams come here to sit down and try to defend as much. It’s just up to us, I think if everyone’s at it we can break down any team.”

Spurs’ defensive approach failed them at both ends, as despite naming five defenders in the starting lineup, they ended up conceding four goals. Trossard himself scored one and assisted another of those efforts.

The team now sit ninth in the Premier League table, and they could drop to 10th if Manchester United even pick up a point against Everton in their game in hand on Monday night.