The New York Times

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has said that they will not sign a new centre-back before the transfer window closes.

The Athletic reported on August 5 that Spurs wanted to add another defender to their squad to provide back-up to first-choice centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. Van de Ven missed a large chunk of last season with a hamstring injury while Romero struggled with toe and quad issues.

Radu Dragusin is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury which he suffered in January. The Romania international should start training with his team-mates again in the next couple of weeks but he will be slowly eased back into competitive action.

Spurs signed Kota Takai from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale in July but he has not played yet due to a foot injury while 18-year-old Luka Vuskovic has been allowed to join Hamburg on a season-long loan. It means Kevin Danso is the only fit alternative to Van de Ven and Romero.

“We have right now three centre backs: Micky, Romero, Danso and Ben (Davies) can play there if necessary,” Frank said ahead of Spurs’ game against Bournemouth on Saturday. “We have Kota the young central defender we bought this summer and is running now and training with the team next week. There’s not many left behind. And then Dragusin is coming back in a couple of months (to playing games) so that should be enough.”

Frank was then directly asked if they needed to sign another defender.

“Not as it stands, no,” the 51-year-old said.

Spurs confirmed the signing of the Netherlands international Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig on Friday while full-back Destiny Udogie has returned to full fitness after a knee injury. However, they suffered from a crippling injury crisis during the 2024-25 campaign which disrupted their progress in the Premier League under then head coach Ange Postecoglou.

Frank has tried to carefully manage the squad since he replaced Postecoglou on a three-year contract in June. For example, he named Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur on the bench for their 3-0 victory over Burnley but they both started last weekend’s 2-0 win against Manchester City.

Is Tottenham’s squad big enough to cope with the Premier League and the Champions League?

“The perfect picture, unfortunately it’s not often perfect, is that you have 20 players plus three (goalkeepers),” Frank said. “Two in each position. All of them robust. Of course you get injuries. And then you probably don’t need 20 top players because they also need the balance of getting enough minutes to feed their ego, where they are in the stage of their career. So that’s the perfect scenario but it’s not often you get that.

“We had too many injuries last year. You can’t get around that. Hopefully we solve the problem with the process we put in place. That can help. But we need to be aware there is a long season, hopefully with 60-plus games so we need to be good enough at building the players, rotating at the right time, which is an art and very difficult, and good enough to have the right amount of players. You can’t have too many because that’s also not good.”

(Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho has left his position as Fenerbahce head coach after just one season at the club.

The 62-year-old was appointed at the Istanbul club in 2024 and oversaw a second-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig, 11 points behind champions Galatasaray.

Fenerbahce were eliminated from the Turkish Cup at the quarter-final stage and exited the Europa League in the round of 16 to Rangers.

Mourinho’s exit comes days after the club missed out on a spot in the Champions League league phase after a playoff defeat to Benfica, meaning they will compete in the Europa League this campaign.

Fenerbahce have four points from their opening two league matches of the campaign, and return to action on Sunday with a trip to Genclerbirligi.

Mourinho’s exit comes a day after Istanbul rivals Besiktas terminated the contract of head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Istanbul club have not won the Turkish Super Lig since 2014 with a Turkish Cup in 2023 their only major success in the past decade.

Mourinho won 37 of his 62 matches at the helm, a win rate of 59.7 per cent.

Mourinho has won 26 trophies across a managerial career which has spanned more than two decades. He won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, in addition to league titles with Chelsea and Real Madrid.

He also had stints in charge of Manchester United — winning the EFL Cup and Europa League in 2017 — and at Tottenham Hotspur.

His previous job, at Roma, saw him guide the Italian club to a first European title since 1961 with the Europa Conference League in 2022.

The following season they lost the Europa League final to Sevilla in a penalty shootout.

In October 2024, Mourinho said that he would be “ready to go” back to the Premier League when he left Fenerbahce.

(Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur are set to complete the signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

The clubs have agreed a deal worth €60million (£51.8m; $70m) for the 22-year-old Netherlands international attacker.

Personal terms are also in place and Simons completed a medical on Thursday ahead of finalising the proposed transfer to the north London side, which is now only subject to Simons closing off the last details of his exit with Leipzig

The Athletic reported on Thursday Spurs had submitted an opening bid for Simons after Leipzig had granted him permission to travel to London as they looked to resolve his future.

​​Spurs are interested in the playmaker as they aim to strengthen head coach Thomas Frank’s attacking options before the September 1 transfer deadline — having missed out on deals for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze and lost James Maddison to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Chelsea have also been interested in a move for Simons this summer, and on Thursday reached an agreement with AC Milan over the transfer of forward Christopher Nkunku.

The Netherlands international is available this summer, despite only joining the Bundesliga club on a €50m permanent deal from Paris Saint-Germain in January.

The Athletic reported in July that Bayern Munich had enquired about Simons after he expressed a desire to leave their Bundesliga rivals.

Spurs and England midfielder Maddison is expected to miss the majority of the season following surgery on his ACL, while Eze joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace and Gibbs-White signed a new contract at Nottingham Forest.

Spurs have already completed the permanent signings of attackers Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel, who spent the second half of 2024-25 on loan at Spurs from Bayern, alongside the loan arrival of Joao Palhinha.

Simons spent time in Barcelona’s La Masia academy before stints at Paris Saint-Germain, PSV Eindhoven and Leipzig.

‘Simons yet to find his best role’

Xavi Simons was meant to be one of the hottest properties during this window. When he told RB Leipzig that he was ready to leave, back in May, a deal for one of Europe’s most talented playmakers was expected to be concluded even before the summer had even begun.

It still hasn’t happened. Why?

Like a few of his team-mates, Simons suffered from Leipzig’s relatively poor season (they finished seventh, which was the lowest Bundesliga finish since being promoted in 2016), even though his individual production was relatively healthy.

The bigger problem has been that teams don’t really know what to do with him. Simons has played in a Leipzig system that uses a very specific type of No 10 — part wide-forward, part supporting striker — and there aren’t many teams in the top-five leagues who can accommodate such a player.

With that doubt, clubs baulked at the prospect of paying such a large fee for a player who remains somewhat theoretical. What actually is he? What is his best role? And it seems only now, with Leipzig more lenient on their asking price and keen to move on, that interest is being properly formalised.

(Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur will face a few familiar opponents in the group stages of this season’s Champions League.

They will make return trips to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt and Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, who they beat in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of last season’s successful Europa League run.

Thomas Frank’s team will also travel to Paris for a UEFA Super Cup rematch against Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.

The teams they will face — not in chronological order — are Borussia Dortmund (H), Paris Saint-Germain (A), Villarreal (H), Frankfurt (A), Slavia Prague (H), Bodo-Glimt (A), Copenhagen (H), Monaco (A).

Which game most excites you?

Tottenham have been to Monaco, Bodo/Glimt and Frankfurt (twice) in recent years, so the most exciting away trip is Paris Saint-Germain… the team they played in the Super Cup earlier this month.

But that was Spurs’ first-ever game against PSG, and this will be their first-ever away game at the Parc des Princes. They are the reigning European champions, playing a level of football last season not seen by anyone in years. It should be a memorable night for Tottenham fans who travel, and a chance to tick off a ground that, on a big European night, can create a special atmosphere

Which game worries you?

Spurs made the trip to Bodo/Glimt look easy when they went there in the Europa League semi-finals last season. Might the Norwegian champions be out for revenge when Spurs return there in the league phase? They could well be desperate to prove why they had such a fearsome home record before Spurs flew up to face them. And if they finally hit the levels they had shown in the past, it could be a much trickier return to the Arctic Circle for Tottenham.

What is Thomas Frank’s biggest issue to confront in the tournament?

Tottenham clearly struggled last season with balancing the twin demands of domestic and European competition. The squad was not deep enough to do both simultaneously, and Spurs suffered an injury crisis that derailed the whole season.

Of course, Ange Postecoglou still found a way to manage the squad through to glory in the Europa League final in Bilbao. But it came at the cost of Spurs having to de-prioritise the Premier League, leading to their 17th-place finish. It was a unique situation which will surely not be repeated this year.

So Frank will have to find a way to balance the Champions League with the Premier League, managing his players through two difficult fixtures every week.

Who could be a breakthrough talent for Spurs in the Champions League?

Pape Matar Sarr had a brief taste of Champions League football under Antonio Conte, but he has improved so much since then and has been one of the most impressive players in Frank’s brief Spurs tenure so far. He has started all three games in an advanced midfield position and made himself an absolute nuisance to opponents, making the most of his energy and intelligence in winning the ball back.

He has shown that he can flourish on the big occasions, crossing for Brennan Johnson’s winner in Bilbao. And he will play a big part in anything that Spurs do in Europe this season.

Which team do Tottenham most want to avoid in the latter stages?

No Tottenham fan would relish a two-legged tie against Arsenal, or for that matter, Chelsea.

Spurs’ record against those two in recent years is not much to boast about. But with so many English teams kept apart in this year’s league phase, if they all progress, then the chances of a London derby in the knockouts will obviously go up.

What would be considered a successful finish?

Tottenham have only had two Champions League campaigns since they lost the final to Liverpool in 2019 — and they have both been utterly forgettable.

In both campaigns, Spurs were eliminated at the last-16 stage without putting much of a fight either time: to RB Leipzig in 2020 under Jose Mourinho, and to AC Milan in 2023 at the end of Antonio Conte’s tenure.

There have barely been any positive memories from those campaigns either. A late 2-1 win in Marseille in November 2022 is probably the closest you can get. So, at a minimum, it would be nice if Spurs could feel like they have at least made a real impression on the competition this time. A few memorable nights in the league phase would be a start. Progression to the next stage is important. And getting to a first Champions League quarter-final since 2019 would surely be seen as a success.

Prediction time… how far will Tottenham get?

Their draw does not look especially intimidating, given what they could have got. And unless the schedule really gets on top of them, Spurs should have enough to make it through to the knockout stages. They might not quite have the experience and quality to get top eight, which means they may be at the mercy of a favourable draw in the ‘punishment round’ early in 2026.

But let’s be optimistic and say they will get through that. Maybe a third straight last-16 exit will be where they end up.

(Top photo: David Lidstrom/UEFA via Getty Images)

This weekend’s action delivered plenty of drama for Fantasy Premier League managers — injuries to key assets, breakout performances from potential differentials, and early warning signs for some highly owned players.

It’s still early days, but these moments are crucial in shaping our squads for the weeks ahead.

Newcastle United host Liverpool tonight in the final game of Gameweek 2, but we already have plenty to discuss. Let’s take a look at the standout stories and how they could impact your transfers, captaincy picks and long-term strategy.

Cole Palmer’s injury raises midfield questions

A shock absentee after picking up an injury in the warm-up before Chelsea’s 5-1 win against West Ham United, there’s no clear timeline for the return of Cole Palmer (£10.5m). Keeping a close eye on team news and press conferences is crucial before making any transfers.

If Palmer is out for more than one game, then he’s most likely a sell. There is a case to keep him if he’s only out for one game and you have a good player who can cover.

There is an international break after Gameweek 3, leaving plenty of recovery time.

If Palmer is out for a while, then Joao Pedro (£7.5m) could become a standout pick. He delivered a huge 15-point haul and played the full 90 minutes against Graham Potter’s side. His minutes seem secure and he could be next in line behind Palmer for penalties.

Against West Ham, he started just behind striker Liam Delap (£6.4m), showing how head coach Enzo Maresca is willing to use him in a variety of positions.

Tottenham Hotspur’s stock continues to rise

Continuing their impressive form under Thomas Frank, Spurs kept another clean sheet to round off a solid performance against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Their upcoming fixture run looks excellent too as they come up against Bournemouth (H), West Ham (A), Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Wolverhampton Wanderers (H), Leeds United (A) and Aston Villa (H).

This is a great time to invest in their assets. On the attacking side, Mohammed Kudus (£6.6m) continues to look like the best option — he seems likely to play regularly and is taking corners, too, which could help his assist numbers.

Brennan Johnson (£7.0m) is also looking good, with two goals in his first two games. Although his minutes are not as secure, he should continue to start unless Spurs sign another left-sided attacker.

There’s still reason to be cautious on Richarlison (£6.6m), despite plenty of praise from Frank after two goals and an assist in his first two games. With Dominic Solanke (£7.4m) in the squad, Richarlison is at risk of being benched or losing his place.

If you are looking to make a defensive transfer this week, Spurs have excellent options at different price points. Pedro Porro (£5.5m) comes at a premium but takes set pieces. Cristian Romero (£5.0m) should rack up defensive contribution points — he hit the threshold against Manchester City, bagging himself a total of seven points. Micky van de Ven (£4.5m) represents great value and is nailed-on to start.

Aston Villa’s struggles and what to do with Ollie Watkins

After failing to score in their opening two games, Aston Villa have been a major disappointment. Watkins (£9.0m) has been sold by more than 431,000 FPL managers but is still the game’s fourth-highest owned forward.

Two blanks will raise questions over his place in FPL squads.

However, with an appealing home fixture against Crystal Palace next up, selling him this week might be premature. At this early stage of the season, owners should give him at least another week. Accumulating free transfers can be valuable and Watkins is, historically, a very reliable asset.

Patience could pay off, as we saw with the hauls from Joao Pedro and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres (£9.0m) this week.

Adding to the points in Watkins’ favour, there doesn’t seem to be any standout replacements this week. After his two goals in the 5-0 win against Leeds, Gyokeres faces Liverpool (A) next — not a great entry point — and switching for Joao Pedro, who has Fulham at home, could be a sideways move.

Chris Wood (£7.6m) has a fine fixture against West Ham (H) up next, but then Nottingham Forest travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in Gameweek 4.

Arsenal’s injury concerns

The celebrations after thrashing Leeds were dampened by injuries to Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) and Martin Odegaard (£8.0m).

Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments and the nature of Saka’s hamstring issue strongly suggest he will miss at least a few weeks, which would make him an easy sell for managers.

I would wait for further updates during the week before you make any moves.

One name quickly rising in popularity is Gyokeres, who opened his Premier League account and looks set to be Arsenal’s primary penalty taker, potentially even when Saka returns.

With Liverpool up next, waiting a week before bringing him in makes sense.

(Top photo: Brennan Johnson and Micky van de Ven; Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

When Tottenham Hotspur’s first goal against Manchester City was initially ruled offside, it didn’t stop their head coach Thomas Frank from encouraging and praising his players.

Quick build-up moves that focused on wide combinations to slice through an opponent were a trademark of Frank’s Brentford last season, and there were signs in Spurs’ pre-season that it would be an important attacking solution for them this campaign.

Tottenham’s third goal against Burnley in the opening weekend of the Premier League was one variation of the quick build-ups Frank has brought to the side, where Richarlison dropped to link the attack before Pape Matar Sarr found Brennan Johnson’s run behind the defence.

Johnson’s opening goal against City in Saturday’s 2-0 win followed the same attacking principles, but the combinations came in the wide area and followed a different pattern.

Against City’s 4-3-3 press, where the far winger moved inside, there was an extra fraction of a second for Spurs’ full-back when he received the ball.

During Tottenham’s build-up, City duo Oscar Bobb and Omar Marmoush didn’t stick tight to Djed Spence and Pedro Porro to be able to press inside the pitch when the ball moved to the other flank.

Frank’s side exploited that by starting their quick build-ups through Porro, before using Mohammed Kudus and Sarr further up the field to manipulate City’s defence. Once the right-back received the ball, Kudus dropped to drag Rayan Ait-Nouri out of position, while Sarr attacked the vacant space.

In this example, Marmoush’s role in City’s press means Porro has an extra second on the ball, which allows the right-back to find the dropping Kudus. Meanwhile, Sarr moves forward to attack the vacant space, but the lack of pace in the move means Ruben Dias can easily pick him up.

On top of that, Ait-Nouri stops Kudus from progressing the ball and Tottenham have to start all over again.

In another example, you can see Marmoush’s narrow position as Micky van de Ven goes back to his goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario.

The Egypt winger doesn’t move towards Porro to be in a position to press Romero if Vicario plays the ball to Van de Ven or Spence, which is logical because Erling Haaland is blocking the passing lane into the right side.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s smart movement, however, allows Tottenham to find Romero, with Marmoush not in a position to defend Porro. Romero then combines with the Uruguay midfielder to find the free right-back.

Once Porro is in a position to progress the ball, the second part of Tottenham’s quick build-up kicks in.

Here, he returns the ball to Bentancur, who immediately plays it behind City’s defence. As planned, Kudus drops to drag Ait-Nouri forward while Sarr attacks the vacant space.

Even if Dias is free to defend the Senegal midfielder, the idea is for Sarr to attack the space on the run (dynamically) against a centre-back who is starting from a rest position (static).

Bentancur’s pass was overhit and Sarr may have been offside, but these attacks were a warning sign of what was coming next.

Tottenham’s opener came from the exact move they had been trying to execute in the first half.

In the build-up to the goal, Tottenham again start the attack through Porro because Marmoush’s pressing role allows the right-back an extra second on the ball.

Considering Porro’s technical ability, that is enough time.

As the right-back shapes himself to progress the ball, Kudus drops to move Ait-Nouri’s replacement, Nathan Ake, out of position and vacate the space for Sarr to attack. The Senegal midfielder complements that by sprinting forward as Porro plays the ball towards the target area.

Attacking the pass from a more dynamic position (on the run) than Dias helps Sarr beat the centre-back to the ball, and outjump him to flick it into the path of Richarlison.

Tottenham’s centre-forward then plays the ball across goal to find Johnson, who scores with a one-touch finish.

Johnson’s goal changed the momentum of the game in Tottenham’s favour, before Joao Palhinha added the second from a high-press situation. Frank’s side maintained the same pressure in the second half to wrap up a victory where the goals represented two key features of this Tottenham team.

As Frank explained in his post-match press conference, the three key themes he wanted to build his principles around against City were the “defensive side of the game, being brave in phase one (build-up) and two (ball progression), and set pieces.”

His encouragement of the players, after Johnson’s goal was initially ruled offside, was because they were getting better at executing the passing pattern which is based on Tottenham’s attacking principles.

Frank then looked to his bench to check if the goal would stand. The answer made him give two thumbs up to the players.

The quick build-up move Tottenham were trying from the beginning of the match ended up being key to their victory.

(Top Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Arsenal overtook rivals Tottenham at the top of the Premier League table after a thumping 5-0 win against Leeds United.

Goals from Jurrien Timber (34', 56') after corners, Bukayo Saka (45+1') and Viktor Gyokeres (48', 90+4') sealed an easy win.

Martin Odegaard and Saka went off with injuries before Max Dowman, 15, became the second-youngest Premier League player of all time, winning a penalty on his competitive debut.

Earlier, Arsenal announced the signing of Eberechi Eze for £60m plus add-ons on a four-year deal from Crystal Palace.

Mikel Arteta was coy when asked about Eberechi Eze before the signing was officially announced but now the England international is officially on board, it is a different story.

Here’s what Arteta said about his latest star recruit:

💬 “You could feel it in the last 24 hours that something else was happening. It's something special; we signed a player with enormous talent who has had a big impact in this league.

“On top of that, he has amazing feelings towards the football club, he has made that clear and his family has made that clear.

“I just spoke to him and he had a massive smile on his face so, welcome to the family.”

Gyokeres put aside his struggles against Manchester United last weekend to show why he can be the striker Arsenal have been craving.

Their marquee signing from Sporting CP got off the mark with a brace.

His first goal showcased his brilliance, running onto a pass over the top from Riccardo Calafiori, before cutting in from the left, surging into the penalty area and striking it past Perri in the Leeds net.

The elation on the 27-year-old’s face was plain to see.

He then scored late on from the penalty spot to put the icing on the cake for Arteta’s side.

Leeds will be pleased to have another game in three days. A trip to Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup, where Farke can ring the changes, may be just what they need to wash away this disappointment.

It has to be emphasised: very few people would have expected newly promoted Leeds to come away from Arsenal with anything today.

However, there are ways of losing matches. After a stoic opening 30 minutes, the first goal tested the team’s faith in what they were trying to defend.

Three seasons ago, en route to relegation, this type of game would have disintegrated into even more of a rout. Today’s collapse does not herald the drop in 2026, but the manner and timing of the goals will frustrate Farke and the supporters.

Two sloppy set pieces, a poor giveaway by Ilia Gruev and then meek defending against a Gyokeres run were all punished mercilessly.

Leeds and Farke need to move on quickly and not allow this to disrupt the momentum they took out of Monday’s win.

For the first 30 minutes, Leeds were in a decent place at Emirates Stadium. The makings of a blueprint for the toughest away trips of the season were there.

They had to ride their luck at times, but Arsenal were being kept out in the main in that opening period. There are areas which will need refining, however.

Deploying Joel Piroe as the lone striker against two of the most aerially dominant centre-backs in the world, while playing long to him, never looked like working. Lukas Nmecha is arguably a better fit for these trips to the best clubs in the division.

The other big choice to make is how Farke has Lucas Perri distributing the ball. Going long certainly cleared the imminent danger of conceding, but it only ceded possession to the title-challengers time after time.

Yet, when they went short, they looked badly exposed, too. It’s not an easy problem to solve, evidently, but if Leeds hope to take anything from these games, the blueprint needs work.

It almost goes without saying when you concede five goals that your defence needs to improve.

But how much of this season will be about survival for Leeds?

They needed to survive this game but found it difficult, as Farke explained:

💬 “We knew they would come out of the blocks flying. We spoke about needing to survive in the game. Through the centre, they didn’t create anything but through the wings they were dangerous.

“If you want to travel away with points here on such a night you need to be better with your defending.

“We know that this is not a season-defining game for us.”

And as ever, he has a pretty fair assessment of a challenging afternoon for his side. Here’s what he had to say:

💬 “A difficult game for us, travelling without our most important player and captain Ethan Ampadu. It was their first home game on the back of an important win, their new signing was presented before the game and the stadium was buzzing.

“We had to suffer a bit and it was annoying that we conceded from a set piece. They have five shots on target and it is five goals. That was difficult today.

“Long story short, they were the better side and they deserved to win today.”

If Arsenal ever needed justification for their shopping spree this summer, then losing Kai Havertz to injury in the week and Martin Odegaard then Bukayo Saka going off injured, is why Arteta was keen to add to his squad.

When Saka went down in the 51st minute, the physio was quickly on the pitch and the England international appeared to clutch his hamstring when highlighting the issue.

The club’s obvious hope is that the possible injuries to Odegaard and Saka are not serious and both players are able to feature against Liverpool next weekend.

But with the continued emergence of Nwaneri, who replaced Odegaard, and the arrival of Eze, is that Arteta now has strength in depth at Arsenal to hopefully overcome any injuries in a way they couldn’t last season.

Having played in the right-sided No 8 position in three out of the five pre-season games, Nwaneri, who recently signed a new five-year contract with the club, immediately looked comfortable against Leeds.

This is the latest from Mikel Arteta on the injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, which forced both Arsenal players off during the match.

It sounds like there could be a bit of a wait to learn the full prognosis:

💬 “Martin it looks like a shoulder problem and we will have that scanned tomorrow. Bukayo had to come off when he was sprinting and he felt something in his hamstring.

“It was his other side (to the one he had surgery on last year) but not great news.

“We lost Kai (Havertz) which is a massive player already, that is why the squad needs to have depth because it is a long, long season and we need everyone to achieve what we want to achieve.”

The Arsenal manager was unsurprisingly very happy with his team after that win — here’s what he had to say:

💬 “A really positive afternoon. You can sense the energy has immediately gone up a level and that's what we were looking for. The team played well, we didn't concede anything and attacked well. Five goals and a clean sheet is a very good start.

“Teams are really well organised in the league and you need to get through them and score in various ways. For Jurrien (Timber) to score two goals after such a long injury, the debut for (Cristhian) Mosquera and of course Max (Dowman) at 15 years old was very special.

“We have to see how he (Max) reacts and deals with the situation, see what his team-mates feel about him but it's clear they want to get him on the ball. To get that reaction and bring that energy on your debut at the Emirates is incredible.

“It's credit to the family and the way they are raised and the environment they have made. To raise those kids in that manner and with that confidence is very rare at 15 in the game.”

Shortly before Arsenal’s players emerged from the tunnel, their latest signing, Eze, made his way onto the pitch to be unveiled in front of a packed Emirates Stadium.

Sporting an Arsenal shirt with his name and the No 10 on the back, Eze held his hands aloft, occasionally clapping and even touching the badge, as the home supporters roared in delight at their new player.

It was the perfect way to get the crowd off their feet ahead of kick-off, with the supporters no doubt enjoying it even more given Arsenal got in ahead of Tottenham Hotspur to complete the deal for Eze.

The 27-year-old got as far as the centre-circle before turning back and making his way back down the tunnel to roars of “Arsenal!”.

He then made his way to the directors’ box, where he sat alongside Richard Garlick, the club’s managing director, to watch his new team-mates in action.

The two-goal Arsenal goalscorer today, striker Viktor Gyokeres, chatted to Sky Sports after the match. Here’s what he said.

💬 “Of course, really happy with the result and it was very nice to score two goals as well. There’s always pressure but I know I’ll take my chances sooner or later. It was a great day.

“It was a short pre-season for me, not too many weeks training, and didn’t play any (full matches) in pre-season so it was important for me to get 90 minutes for the rhythm, to get to know the team.

“I felt more comfortable in how we play and you could see that.

He scored twice and grabbed an assist today, so it is no surprise to see Jurrien Timber head home with the man of the match award. Here’s what he had to say when speaking to Sky Sports:

“A special day. It’s nice first home game this season, we felt the energy of the crowd and the team played really well. Scoring two times and assisting as well, it was an enjoyable day. I definitely haven't scored twice and assisted as well before. Most of my family are here, some friends too.

“Everyone can see the potential Max (Dowman) has. Already, playing against grown men like this. He is a joy to watch and hopefully he will have some amazing years.

“It's a message to ourselves (to win 5-0). We did lots of things well, we look forward to next week at Anfield and we have to do well.”

Leeds were never expected to win here but to lose by such a margin is a painful wake-up call.

They showed naivety on the ball on too many occasions in that match, while some fans might question Daniel Farke’s team selection.

Even so, they looked well off it and Arsenal were cruising. Food for thought before their next Premier League match.

Tottenham Hotspur have held negotiations with Hamburg about a loan move for defender Luka Vuskovic.

No deal is imminent and Vuskovic travelled on Saturday to the Etihad Stadium for Spurs’ Premier League game against Manchester City, but Hamburg are keen on signing the 18-year-old centre-half to reinforce their squad following promotion back to the Bundesliga.

The German club have held talks directly with Tottenham and are hopeful of finding an agreement.

Vuskovic agreed his transfer from Hajduk Split to Tottenham in 2023 in a deal worth around £12m, with Spurs fending off interest from other European clubs to secure his signing. FIFA regulations meant he did not officially join the club until 2025, after turning 18.

Vuskovic featured for Thomas Frank’s side in pre-season and was an unused substitute for the UEFA Super Cup final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and victory over Burnley in their Premier League opener.

The Croatia international spent last season on loan with Westerlo, in the Belgian Pro League, having had a loan spell at Polish side Radomiak Radom during the second half of 2023-24.

A move to Hamburg would also reunite Vuskovic with his older brother, Mario, 23, who moved to the Volksparkstadion in 2021, but who is currently serving a four-year doping ban, due to expire in 2026.

(Photo: John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)

Exactly three months ago, Tottenham Hotspur won their first piece of silverware in 17 years. Beating Manchester United in the Europa League final, securing qualification for this season’s Champions League in the process, was supposed to transform the mood around the club and, for a brief time, it did.

After two games of the new campaign, everything feels fragile and tense, despite an encouraging performance in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain and a 3-0 victory over Burnley.

Spurs have stumbled around in the transfer market and failed to build upon the momentum of their Europa League success. Missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White was disappointing, but Nottingham Forest dug their heels in, and it ended up being a messy situation. It looks as though their north London rivals Arsenal have pipped them to the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace at the last minute. This feels much more inexcusable.

Eze grew up supporting Arsenal and spent five years in their academy before he was released at 13. Maybe he was always waiting to see if they would offer him an emotional return. Palace held off selling him because of their Europa Conference League qualifying tie against Frederikstad on Thursday. If Spurs had been bullish and offered more money, could Palace have been tempted into letting the England international leave earlier?

The difference between how Arsenal and Spurs operate in the transfer market has been laid bare. Dejan Kulusevski underwent surgery on his right kneecap in May and is not expected to return anytime soon. Spurs failed to sign Gibbs-White in the middle of July, and a couple of weeks later, James Maddison suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the final night of their pre-season tour in Hong Kong and South Korea. They have known for a long time that they desperately needed to sign a creative midfielder.

Kai Havertz came off the bench in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday and, since then, has suffered a knee injury. Arsenal have acted decisively and ruthlessly to pivot to Eze after showing initial interest earlier in the summer. Spurs have come close but seem to have ultimately failed to finalise deals for two of the best players on the market. They did not act with any urgency after Maddison underwent surgery.

Spurs fans are enraged and it is easy to understand why. Last summer, after Ange Postecoglou led them to a fifth-place finish during his first season in charge, Dominic Solanke was the only new signing who immediately raised the quality of the starting XI. Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall were, and still are, talented project players. Spurs sold several experienced members of the squad, including Oliver Skipp, Emerson Royal, Giovani Lo Celso and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and never replaced them. The squad was undercooked, and they struggled to cope with the demands of competing in the Premier League and the Europa League.

Now it feels like history is repeating itself with their new head coach, Thomas Frank. The 51-year-old is more adaptable than Postecoglou, and if Spurs fail to sign a No 10 before the window closes, he will find a temporary solution. Frank has echoed the claims of chairman Daniel Levy and new chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham, who spent 14 years at Arsenal, that Spurs should be aiming to win the title in the future. How are they supposed to progress when their squad is only marginally better than the one which finished 17th last season? It is arguably weaker when you consider the loss of Son Heung-min, along with Kulusevski and Maddison’s long-term injuries. Meanwhile, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City have all spent over £150million on new recruits.

It is not as if Spurs have not spent money this summer. They have converted the loans of Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso into permanent deals, signed Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus, while Joao Palhinha is on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich. Even so, they are still desperately short of quality in key areas if they want to make a strong impression in the expanded version of the Champions League and reclaim a spot in the top six domestically. Eze and Gibbs-White are experienced Premier League players in the peak years of their careers who would have gone straight into the starting XI.

Frank has used a 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2 formation in his first two competitive games. He had great success with Brentford last season using the former. Mikkel Damsgaard operated as the playmaker who stitched everything together, creating countless chances for Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa, who all scored at least 10 goals in the top flight.

None of the potential options in that role for Spurs are perfect. Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr have operated there but seem more suited to the roles of box-to-box midfielders. Bergvall is supremely talented, but it would also be unfair to expect the Swedish teenager to perform at a consistently high level every week.

Kudus operates as a No 10 for Ghana. He has been thrilling on the right wing for Spurs, and previously West Ham United, using his dynamic one-v-one dribbling skills to break open defences and whip crosses into the box. He provided the assists for both of Richarlison’s goals against Burnley. Moving Kudus centrally would make them weaker out wide. Ideally, you need a creative midfielder who draws multiple opponents towards him and creates more space for the wingers like Kudus, Tel and Odobert to attack isolated full-backs.

Spurs will now have to look lower down their list of targets, but Frank made it clear in an interview with The Athletic earlier this month that it might not be the best solution. “The squad needs to be big and robust enough so we can compete in all four tournaments,” he said. “But I can’t have too many players. It’s just so difficult to keep everyone happy. It’s almost impossible. Then we want to see if we can add quality. We don’t want to sign players we don’t think can really improve the squad. I would want to wait.”

Are there any players available, at the right price, who are on the same level as Eze and Gibbs-White? Could they move Kudus into a central role and focus their money on signing a versatile forward — like Manchester City’s Savinho? Whatever the solution, it is hard not to feel as though every time Spurs appear to have made a significant move in this transfer window, a new hurdle arises.

There is still over a week left for Spurs to act, but time and options are running out. Maybe this situation is a repercussion of their delayed decision to sack Postecoglou two weeks after the season ended. Frank was then appointed six days later. By that point, rivals had already signed players and laid the groundwork for other potential moves.

As Frank admitted, it will take time for sporting director Johan Lange and head of scouting Rob Mackenzie “to understand what I’m looking for” when it comes to transfers. Acting quicker with Postecoglou and hiring Frank would have helped.

That is what it ultimately comes down to. Potentially losing out on both Eze and Gibbs-White is disappointing, but this is about so much more than one individual player. Those scenarios reinforce the idea that Spurs have failed to properly kick on following their famous victory in Bilbao.

(Top photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal have an agreement on principle with Crystal Palace to sign Eberechi Eze.

The deal is worth in the region of the expired £68million (€78m, $91m) release clause, matching the level of fee Tottenham Hotspur were prepared to pay.

Personal terms are close to being finalised and the 27-year-old is expected to play for Palace against Fredrikstad in the Conference League play-off on Thursday before undergoing a medical with the north London club.

The operation was executed by Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and vice-chairman Tim Lewis.

Eze is set to become Arsenal’s seventh signing of what has been a busy first summer under Berta since his arrival from Atletico Madrid.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, defender Cristhian Mosquera, midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, winger Noni Madueke and striker Viktor Gyokeres have all moved to the Emirates Stadium.

The move for Eze, who was a boyhood Arsenal fan and played for the club’s academy, follows the injury for Kai Havertz, who is being assessed and could be set for a spell on the sidelines.

Eze joined Palace from QPR in the summer of 2020 in a deal worth around £17m and has made 169 appearances for the south London club, scoring 40 times. He has been capped 12 times by England, scoring once.

Why Arsenal want Eze

Analysis from Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas

Arsenal are huge admirers of Eberechi Eze’s talent.

The club initially explored a move for Eze when contact negotiations with Ethan Nwaneri were at a delicate stage. Once Nwaneri agreed a new deal, Arsenal’s interest waned, and they focused on other areas of the squad.

Throughout, Arsenal have held concerns over price: they have been loathe to meet a Palace valuation in the region of £60million.

Their pressing need for attacking reinforcements, particularly in the light of Kai Havertz’s injury, may change things. Arsenal are still awaiting the full prognosis for Havertz, but if he is to be absent for a considerable period, it will weaken their attack.

Eze is not a direct replacement for Havertz, but his signing would potentially free up the likes of Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard to fill in at centre-forward until the Germany international returns.

Aside from Eze’s obvious quality, there’s an emotional component for Arsenal fans: Eze is a boyhood Arsenal fan who was part of the club’s academy. Throw in the prospect of beating Spurs to his signing, and there’s plenty for Arsenal supporters to be invested in…

What he would bring to Arsenal

Analysis by senior data writer Mark Carey

Mikel Arteta has needed to strengthen the left side of his attack this summer.

Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s output was in the good-not-great bucket last season, and it is clear that Arsenal needed players with the same attacking ferocity that comes from their right flank with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Along with Noni Madueke, Eze’s arrival provides that added strength from the left side of the pitch with a truly versatile profile — operating best as a No 10 but able to play on the left side of his team’s attack or drop into a left-sided midfield position if required. Whatever his role, he will look to find the space to impose maximum damage to the opposition with the sharpest efficiency.

In the modern game, those who can break a player-for-player press with a drop of the shoulder or a driving run forward have never been so valuable — opening up the opposition structure with a moment of individual quality as the dominoes begin to fall. Eze also has the ability to thread a pass forward when spaces open up in front of him, making him a double threat in the attacking third.

Acquiring an attacking midfielder of the 27-year-old’s creative profile will be a crucial addition in Arsenal’s attack, and could well be the difference between a good season and a title-winning one.

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