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    Ten Hag slams reports he’s set to be sacked as ‘FAIRYTALES’ but admits Man Utd ‘have a mountain to climb’

    ERIK TEN HAG says rumours of his imminent sacking are “fairytales”.But he admits that Manchester United simply are not good enough right now.Erik ten Hag is under huge pressure with Manchester United 14th in the Premier LeagueNew co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, left in green jacket, could sack Ten Hag if results get any worseCredit: AFPTen Hag’s job is hanging by a thread after their worst ever start to a Premier League season sees them in 14th place going into this weekend’s home game against Brentford.Still, the Dutchman feels rock solid in his position at Old Trafford, even if others are finding that difficult to believe.Ten Hag said: “The only noise is only coming from the media. Bringing up stories, creating stories, making fairytales. We are all on one page this club.“I said that before the break, and several journalists they didn’t believe me, I see the reports but internal in the club it’s quiet.”READ MORE ON MAN UTDHowever, he knows things have to improve starting with the visit of Thomas Frank and his team, another manager linked to the Old Trafford hot seat.Ten Hag said: “Of course, we are unhappy in the position where we are and we have to turn the corner with a strategy to turn this corner but ultimately we are quiet, we are composed, we stay where we are, we stick to the plan and we are convinced we will make it a success.“Also we have to climb a mountain, that’s top football and sometimes you have to face challenges, sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down I am sure we will make it a success like we did the last two seasons.“We are in a direction, underneath I see good patterns, good steps that confirm we are in a direction but the ranking is not lying, it is not good enough.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMan Utd have not won in five games in all competitionsCredit: GettyThomas Tuchel was another manager tipped to take over from Ten Hag and was even spoken to by the club over the summer as they sought out a new boss only to stay with the man they had.Now he has become England manager and Ten Hag believes it is a good choice.Darren Bent claims Thomas Frank is ready to take over from Erik ten Hag at Man Utd He said: “I think it’s a very good choice from the FA. He is a top class manager who has proved himself, creating top teams, creating teams who win.“England hasn’t won since 1966 so I think it’s a very good appointment to get a win because England has world-class players to make a team and they have the opportunity to win the Euros or the World Cup.”United just need to win a few more games to take the heat off Ten Hag whether he thinks stories of his position being under pressure are fairytales or not.The players look like they are feeling the pressure particularly in front of their own fans with a shocking performance in the 3-0 defeat against Tottenham last time out at Old Trafford.He stabilised things with away draws against Porto and Aston Villa.And Ten Hag said: “I think the players do well, we won a trophy last season, maybe you forgot and when we face problems sometimes we have to line up teams that were not in the right balance because the players were not available.“In general, the players do perform well and we have to start scoring and that part is the most important part in football if you want to win games.“That part we have to improve, we are entering the final third, the box, we are coming in good positions to score but now the most important part is to net.”READ MORE SUN STORIESUnited go into Saturday’s game without Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire who are out for a fortnight each injured.There is good news on Noussair Mazraoui, however, who is available after a procedure on his heart.Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten HagERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.Gareth SouthgateEnjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.Kieran McKennaTalks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.Roberto De ZerbiAllegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.Thomas FrankBrentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.Marco SilvaFulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.Mauricio PochettinoFell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.Thomas TuchelMade a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.Ruben AmorimSporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.Roberto MartinezPortugal manager was considered in the early stages. More

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     ‘Jhon Duran was like a runaway train as a youngster… we couldn’t fine him so we used to make him run laps’

    JHON DURAN is the blockbusting strike sensation who steams through defences like a runaway train.Yet when he was a kid, that unstoppable incendiary style once threatened to derail his own dreams of glory.Aston Villa star Jhon Duran has come a long way from humble beginnings in ColombiaCredit: GettyDuran started out at Envigado where he learned under Wilberth Perea and James Rodriguez’s fatherCredit: GettyPerea worked hard to help Duran unfold his full talent before his move to VillaDuran, 20, has been Aston Villa’s star of the season so far, capped by a stunning winner in the club’s 1-0 Champions League victory against Bayern Munich.Although nine of his ten appearances have come off the bench, his six goals top Villa’s scoring charts and made him a Holte End hero.The Colombian’s pace and power makes him impossible to knock off the ball.But in his early days at Envigado FC back home, that heart for a battle and refusal to back down once brought more cards than a casino croupier.Read More on FootballYouth coach Wilberth Perea, the man Duran sees as a second father, knew he was a special talent.Perea, whose assistant was Colombian legend James Rodriguez’s father, revealed: “He first got my attention at 11 and always had an overwhelming personality.“Jhon had such a strong character who didn’t back down from anyone and was afraid of no one.“He had the heart and soul of a child but when competing was totally different. He always played at the limit, no matter the cost. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”He’s doing it against the best defenders in England but even as a young player, against older and more experienced ones who played dirty, he didn’t care.“Even then he was like a runaway train. Jhon just crushed them without giving them a chance and his style of play meant he got so many cards.”Jhon Duran ’causes chaos with s—housery’ as Aston Villa ace performs controversial gesture amid West Ham transfer linkFining the up-and-coming Duran was no option as the kid from the humble background had little money.The solution came with punishing laps of the pitch — plus a series of rockets from his coach that often reduced him to tears.Perea added: “We couldn’t impose fines, so made him run round the athletics track at the stadium, that’s why he has an explosive capacity and such a long sprint trajectory.“There were many moments in the Under-15 locker room I had to show such a temper at times it made him cry.“His mother and father, Saturnina and Regino, are humble people and I knew how hard it had been for them to support their family. I told Jhon, ‘You have to give your parents a better life. Please don’t waste the chance’. It touched his pride and, at times, he didn’t like it.”Yet he knuckled down and, when he signed pro, the club gave him a place to live where he could bring his parents.Skipping schoolThere were still hiccups along the way, though — like skipping school so often that Perea would make regular trips just to check he had turned up.He joked: “I would make surprise visits to school and if Jhon wasn’t there, I’d furiously go round to his house and he’d be in bed listening to reggae!“Sometimes I felt like grabbing him by the ears and throwing him out of the window. The school janitor used to laugh and said I was the student, not Jhon.”Duran is passing every footballing test with honours this season.After a stuttering start to life at Villa, who signed him from MLS side Chicago Fire for an initial £14.75million last term, his career has exploded.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd when he hit that stunning lobbed winner against Bayern, Perea admitted it left him sobbing with pride.He said: “I called Saturnina and we were both crying. All those days he said he was fed up and wanted to throw in the towel, now he’s scoring against the best teams in the world.”Who are these famous footballers? More

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    Chelsea trademark new emblem as they claim they’re ‘London’s true club’ – but it won’t replace their badge

    CHELSEA have trademarked a new crest and have staked their claim as “London’s true club”.The new badge, which will NOT replace the current one, features the iconic blue lion above the letters “LDN”.Chelsea have trademarked a new emblem to celebrate the club’s 120th anniversaryCredit: ChelseaThe new crest will not replace the current oneCredit: RexThe emblem has been released to celebrate the Blues’ 120th anniversary in March.Reports from the Daily Mail claim the logo will be seen on club branding in the coming months.Designers Uncommon Creative Studio called it a “new icon designed to show Chelsea as London’s true club.”They added: “This new visual identity will continue to come to life across the club, stadium and players throughout the season. Stay tuned.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLChelsea applied to trademark the crest back in August, with other parties given two months to oppose the ruling.But none of their capital rivals like Tottenham, Arsenal or West Ham objected – despite the Hammers having the word “London” on their badge already.The emblem is now registered to Chelsea for at least the next ten years.Fans were split on the design, with one saying: “It’s beautiful.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnother added: “I hope they don’t use LDN underneath, use CFC.”A third commented: “I’m all for the Lion crest. It’s clean and modern but the ‘LDN’ underneath it feels very franchisey.”How Chelsea can shock Liverpool in ultimate ‘game of chicken’ with high-risk ‘tension-ball’ tacticMeanwhile, the club has also applied to trademark the words “Chels” and “The Chels”.A decision from the UK Intellectual Property Office on those is due next month. More

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    Bayern Munich make TWO subtle changes to iconic badge but can you spot it?

    BAYERN MUNICH have changed their iconic badge, but traditional fans will be happy to know it’s nothing major.Bayern are one of the greatest football clubs in the history of the game having won a staggering 33 Bundesliga titles and six Champions League trophies.Bayern Munich have made changes to their iconic badge – with this the version they had been usingThis is the NEW version – can you spot the two changes?Harry Kane and his Bayern team-mates are embarking on a ‘new era’Credit: RexHowever, Harry Kane and co are set to embark on a new era with a new logo.But the Bavarians look set for a very smooth transition as the two changes imposed on their popular badge are so subtle fans can barely notice.Can you tell by looking at the before and after badges above?Spoiler: Bayern officials basically maintained the same design but adjusted the colours with the blue and red shades getting brighter and lighter respectively.Read More on FootballFans stormed social media immediately after the grand unveiling and of course many of them can’t spot any major difference.And that of course led to a series of sarcastic comments on Instagram.One fan posted: “A new era.”Another commented: “NGL, even though there’s barely a difference the new one looks worse.”Most read in BundesligaA third wrote: “Bro just turned the brightness up on his device.”BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThis one said: “The designer took 3 months to create this!”That one stated: “Someone got paid a lot of money for this.”Bayern Munich kick off pre-season with huge 14-1 victory – but German giants beat same team 27-0 last yearAnd another fan used the popular meme from The Office’s US version where Jenna Fischer’s character Pam Beesly says: “They’re the same picture”.Harry Kane reveals his favourite England goalsHARRY KANE is already England’s all-time record goalscorer.But the Three Lions skipper will NOT be stopping there.To mark his 100th cap for his country, Kane spoke to SunSport’s CHARLIE WYETT about some of his special England goals….FIRST ENGLAND GOAL“My debut v Lithuania. March 2015.”There was a lot of talk in the build-up to that camp because I was playing well for Spurs.“I got a great reception and within a couple of minutes I scored a goal.“I don’t think I could have dreamed it any better.“My friends and family were there. That was a really special night.”FAVOURITE ENGLAND GOAL“It’s between two, for me.“Against Germany, the one at Wembley in Euro 2020.“Also, the header against Tunisia at the World Cup in 2018.“That moment of scoring a last-minute winner at my first World Cup was special.”BEST ENGLAND GOAL“The one I scored in Poland away in a World Cup qualifier in 2021. It was from 25 yards.”(Kane picked up the ball from Kyle Walker, advanced towards goal and put his foot through it.)“It kind of drifted away and it was a good strike, probably my furthest-out goal for England.” More

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    Thomas Frank swears as he jumps to defence of Erik ten Hag… despite being linked with replacing him at Man Utd

    THOMAS FRANK has leapt to Erik ten Hag’s defence ahead of Brentford’s trip to Manchester United this weekend.The Bees face a Red Devils side in the midst of their worst-ever start to a Premier League season.Thomas Frank has had his say on Erik ten HagCredit: GettyTen Hag has faced severe scrutiny amid United’s poor start to the seasonCredit: RexBrentford go into the weekend 11th in the table, three places and two points above Man Utd.This weekend’s match will be the Red Devils’ first at Old Trafford since a humbling 3-0 defeat to Tottenham last month.Despite United’s poor start to the season, Frank believes that pressure mounting on Ten Hag is “too much”.Previewing the game for Brentford’s club media, the 51-year-old said: “It’s incredible how much scrutiny he’s had to face.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”As a head coach, I acknowledge how it feels to be in a situation like this. I think [the criticism] is too much.”He’s clearly a good coach, he’s won two trophies in two seasons.”But I understand how it is: if the team wins, the head coach is absolutely fantastic; if the team loses, the head coach is absolutely s***! Whereas it’s probably somewhere in between.”It’s never only the head coach, or the players, or the fans, or the board – it’s a combination of all of these things.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSFollowing the defeat to Spurs, Man Utd drew matches at Porto and Aston Villa prior to the international break.Sir Jim Ratcliffe subsequently met with other United board members in London, although Ten Hag remains in position for this weekend’s game.A day in the life of workaholic Ten Hag revealed by ex-Man Utd coach who jokes ‘his wife is on verge of divorcing him’Thomas Tuchel had been linked with the potential vacancy, only to rule himself out by taking the England job.Gareth Southgate has also been touted for the role, but recently vowed that he will not manage in the next 12 months.Frank himself has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Old Trafford hotseat.Having been linked with the Red Devils, Frank spoke to talkSPORT about his future.He began: “I’ve said many times I’m very happy at Brentford.”Who knows what will happen in the future. Maybe I stay here for many years. I’m open, maybe something happens.”But first and foremost, very happy, just working very hard every day to make the club better.”Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten HagERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.Gareth SouthgateEnjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.Kieran McKennaTalks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.Roberto De ZerbiAllegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.Thomas FrankBrentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.Marco SilvaFulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.Mauricio PochettinoFell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.Thomas TuchelMade a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.Ruben AmorimSporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.Roberto MartinezPortugal manager was considered in the early stages. More

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    World’s richest footballers: Cristiano Ronaldo earns DOUBLE Lionel Messi’s income as top 10 revealed

    CRISTIANO Ronaldo is approaching 40 – but he keeps breaking records both on and off the field.The Portuguese superstar has earned more cash than any other footballer on the planet over the last 12 months.Cristiano Ronaldo continues to rake in huge amounts of cash playing for Al NassrCredit: ReutersCR7 earned more than double that of old rival Lionel Messi in 2024Credit: GettyRonaldo is into his third season in Saudi Arabia after joining Al-Nassr in 2022. The 39-year-old penned a monster three-year deal with the club which runs until next summer.According to Forbes, Ronaldo took home a whopping £218millon last year.That is more than any other football player in history. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLCR7 has also now led the annual list for the sixth time in the last decade.Four of the top 10 best-paid players in world football are currently plying their trade in the Saudi Pro League.Ronaldo earned £168m from his contract with Al-Nassr, raking in another £50m in sponsorship deals. He beat Lionel Messi into a distant second place, with the Inter Miami superstar bringing in a total of £103m over the past year.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe World Cup winner has lucrative deals with Adidas, Apple TV and Konami, meaning he upstages Ronaldo in off-field earnings with £57m.But in terms of on-field contracts, Ronaldo’s eye-watering Saudi deal towers over all his competitors.Cristiano Ronaldo says ‘I’ve always dreamed of this’ as he bags own luxury watch collection with £120,000 showstopper Next on the rich list comes Neymar with £84m, who has endured an injury-hit spell since joining Al Hilal last summer. The club are paying the Brazilian a whopping £62m-a-year, with Neymar bringing in a further £23m in sponsorship. Karim Benzema, another Saudi-based star with Al Ittihad, takes home the second-highest on-field salary with £76m.While Ronaldo’s Al Nassr teammate Sadio Mane takes 9th spot on the list. How Kylian Mbappe’s incredible seven-year body transformation propelled skinny teen into world’s best playerBy Etienne FermieKYLIAN MBAPPE has entered his physical prime as he has FINALLY rubber-stamped his free transfer move to Real Madrid.The 25-year-old has grown from a boy to a man in Ligue 1, first with Monaco and then with current side Paris Saint-Germain.Mbappe debuted for Monaco as a skinny 16-year-old in 2015.He even featured as a scrawny youngster against Tottenham at the old White Hart Lane that year, before fans realised what an icon he would become.The following season, Mbappe really rose to superstardom as Monaco reached the Champions League semi-finals.In a throwback snap shared earlier this week, an 18-year-old Mbappe could be seen chatting to a reporter after grabbing a Champions League brace against Borussia Dortmund in April 2017.Read more on Mbappe’s incredible rise on and off the field.Just three Premier League stars feature in this year’s top 10, with Man City’s Erling Haaland leading the way.The 24-year-old goal machine earned £45m over the past 12 months as he continued to take the Prem by storm. But that figure could be set to rise as Haaland eyes a lucrative new deal with the reigning champions. Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne make up the remaining English-based players.La Liga – who dominated this list just a decade ago – features just two stars, both playing for Real Madrid.READ MORE SUN STORIESFrench superstar Kylian Mbappe earned £69.1m over the past year following his long-awaited switch from PSG. He is joined by teammate Vinicicus Jr., with the Ballon d’Or favourite taking home a cool £42m. More

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    Three tactical tweaks that Mikel Arteta should make to Arsenal to swing the Premier League title race the Gunners’ way

    ARSENAL fans are hungry for success and early signs this season are that this could be the one that sees them end their long wait for a league title. With the additions of the likes of Mikel Merino, to add steel to the midfield, and Riccardo Calafiori, to bring versatility and a touch of class to the defensive unit it is fair to say that Arsenal were already looking stronger as they came into this season. Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka are the key attackers for ArsenalStats show they are not dominant in possessionThis was before aDeadline Day loan to secure the signing of the English star Raheem Sterling from rivals Chelsea.For all that Arsenal have looked strong this season with a very physical line up that excels at set pieces in particular and a rock solid defensive foundation, there are still tweaks that Arteta and his coaching staff can make in order to give Arsenal an even greater chance of beating Liverpool and Man City to the title this season.Here are three key areas that Arteta can turn to in order to end the season as champions of the Premier League.Isolating Bukayo SakaBukayo Saka has for some time been considered one of the best young players in world football. read more in footballNow aged 23, it is time to drop the word young from that sentence. Saka has been playing at an extremely high level for some time but this season his performances have gone through the roof.He is playing at such a high level that he has been the best player in the Premier League this season.His raw attacking output alone has been extremely impressive and in 10 games in all competitions so far this season he already has 3 goals and 7 assists to his name. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThat is before we even drill further down into his performances in possession and better understand the threat and danger that he poses to opposition defences whenever he has the ball. He can carry the ball and beat the defender 1v1 but his crossing, especially when cutting back onto his left-foot and crossing from a deeper angle, and his passing have also created real danger for opposition teams.Arsenal player ratings vs SouthamptonHere, against PSG, Arsenal creates the ideal opportunity for Saka to go 1v1 against the fullbackBukayo Saka played a very attacking role v PSGThe current injury to club captain Martin Odegaard, who normally plays as the most advanced central midfielder closest positionally to Saka, gives Arteta an opportunity to use Saka slightly differently from a tactical point of view. We will still see the England starr stay high and wide on the right-hand side.But now Arteta can isolate him on that side in an attempt to create more direct 1v1 opportunities for Saka to attack the opposition fullback.This is a tactical concept that Pep Guardiola used extensively when he was coaching at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich and to an extent at Manchester City in order to create opportunities to overload one side of the pitch and isolate a dangerous attacking wide player on the other side.Saka receives the ball outside and goes 1v1 against the Spurs fullback. In these situations he can attack the opposition player either on the inside or the outsideGiving Saka more opportunities on the ball in isolated situations would be hugely beneficial for Arsenal as they move towards the end of the season.Compact against the ballIt has been a very notable part of Arsenal’s recruitment strategy in recent seasons to recruit tall and physically imposing players in all areas. From the additions of Ben White or William Saliba in defence to Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in midfield to Kai Havertz in attack. They have recruited players who are more than capable of standing up to the physical demands of Premier League football.This is, in part at least, responsible for the sheet defensive strength of Arsenal this season. They have conceded just six goals in the league and for the vast majority of the matches that they have played they have looked very strong from a defensive perspective. This is partly down to the fact that in William Saliba and Gabriel they have two of the top central defenders in all of Europe.Against Southampton, the Arsenal midfield and defence are very compact and prevent the opposition from being able to build an attackArsenal were very compact in their draw with Man CityAs the season progresses we believe Arteta will look to set up his side to be even more solid and compact out of possession as they look to strangle the opposition and prevent them from being able to break them down in central areas. This is where the size of the players that Arteta has at his disposal comes in. They are big and physical but also mobile and they have a very high technical level. This means that Arteta will be able to have them play in a deeper block against the ball but then also retain possession and build their attacks when they win the ball back.By keeping the players on the pitch compact against the ball Arteta will deny them any space to attack into between the lines of defence and midfield or midfield and attack. This will force the opposition to either go long, where Saliba and Gabriel are comfortable or around the outside where Arsenal will set pressing traps and triggers in order to quickly engage and regain possession.Arsenal were incredibly disciplined against Man City as they work to prevent the champions by refusing to allow any space for a goal scoring chanceArteta has already shown that he is not afraid to use some of the ‘dark arts’ of football so Arsenal fans should not be surprised to see them starting to play slightly more defensively when out of possession.Greater controlArteta is clearly an obsessive and detail-oriented coach who wants to control and micro-manage every aspect of Arsenal’s performances on and off the pitch.This is part of the reason that Arsenal have already reached the level that they have this season, and indeed last season when they finished a credible second, and it is this search for control that will see him look to use his fullbacks in such a way that they can dominate and control matches when they are in possession of the ball.Calafiori was wide but also tucked inside against LeicesterWith the likes of Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori all capable of playing the fullback positions Arteta has developed a set of options in these positions that are comfortable in different positions.They can invert and play inside when Arsenal are in possession as extra midfielders.Or sit deeper in wide areas and almost play as very deep fullbacks who only move forward to support the attack at very specific moments.In the moments before Calafiori’s goal vs Man City, the Italian international is narrow and receives the ball in a pocket of space, instead of moving wide as you might expectMeet the Arsenal Wags from Strictly star to a flight attendantTolami Benson – partner of Bukayo SakaBenson and Saka have kept information on their relationship largely quiet.They do not appear on each others Instagram pages but she was seen speaking to Saka at the 2022 World Cup.Helene Spilling – partner of Martin OdegaardA professional dancer from Norway who rose to fame in the country’s version of Strictly Come Dancing, the pair were first spotted together at the Football Awards in March 2023. Sophie Weber – partner of Kai HavertzWeber works as a model and social media influencer and is the most high profile member of the group on online with almost 400,000 followers on Instagram.They are childhood sweethearts having grown up in the same neighbourhood.Milly White – partner of Ben WhiteThe couple got engaged in 2022 before tying the knot officially in May last year. They have matching “I love you tattoos” on their wrists. Milly White works as a model.Laura Trossard Hilven – partner of Leandro TrossardThe pair met in 2014 before getting married in 2019.They have two sons together, Thiago and Amadeo.Lauren Fryer – partner of Declan RiceLauren Fryer and Declan Rice have been together since 2015. She tends to keep a lower profile compared to some of Arsenal’s other Wags but is no less stunning.She sadly deleted all pictures on her Instagram after suffering horrific abuse by vile trolls.Georgina Ramsdale – partner of Aaron RamsdaleGeorgina Ramsdale works as a flight attendant.The couple got married last June after the Arsenal star proposed in 2022. They originally met in 2019.These movements from the Arsenal fullbacks, whether inverting into the midfield or staying wide and deeper to support the attack, are a way for Arteta to ensure that his side always have control in possession. They give options to receive the ball when Arsenal are attacking but that is not the main reason for the fullbacks to be used by Arteta in this way.The main purpose is that in this kind of tactical shape and with the fullbacks operating and behaving in this manner so that when Arsenal do lose possession they are immediately in a position to defend against dangerous counter attacks from the opposition players. The fullbacks add an extra element of control and security for Arsenal in these situations.Once again we see Calafiori inverted and positioned inside in order to help the build-up play from Arsenal. This narrow position is ideal for ball possessionJurrien Timber is a full back who is comfortable inverting into midfieldArteta is a coach who favours control and security in and out of possession. Now that he has these fullbacks in his squad expect to see them used in this manner more frequently between now and the end of the season.READ MORE SUN STORIESConclusionWith Liverpool under new management this season and with Man City losing their talisman Rodri for most of the rest of the season Arsenal are many people’s favourites for the league title this season. We believe that the three tactical concepts we have outlined in this article will be used extensively going forward by Arteta and they could be the key to finally delivering the Premier League title back to North London for the first time since 2004. More

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    ‘I was sacked as an art dealer because I was too obsessed with football, now I’m making history in the Premier League’

    FABIAN HURZELER is equally as comfortable discussing Picasso and pressing — although he has a clear preference.The Brighton boss was once sacked as an art dealer for being too obsessed with football, the sort of dedication which has turned him into a groundbreaking coach.Fabian Hurzeler was once sacked as an art dealer for being too fixated on footballCredit: GettyYou may have heard he is quite young, a fact he is constantly reminded of.But despite being 31, the decision to end his playing career and start coaching at 23 means he already possesses bags of experience.Hurzeler has been coaching as long as Mikel Arteta, 11 years his senior.Although the Arsenal manager never had to flog art on the side to keep things going as Hurzeler did when in charge of fifth-tier FC Pipinsried in his first role as a coach.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe said: “Life in Munich is expensive, like in London. When I sold one picture or one painting in a month, it was like I was done so I could focus more during this time and watch a lot of football games during this time during my work.“That was also the reason why I got fired. The owner, she was very polite but one day she recognised that I’m watching more football during work instead of really working because we weren’t selling any paintings any more. Then I got fired.”Hurzeler got the job in the first place through friend Roman Plesche, a sports-science student who worked in the gallery.Plesche, who would later be Hurzeler’s sporting director in his first post as a head coach, recalled: “I told the boss that my best friend speaks good English and can also sell.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“He had a very good feel for art, he knew how to inspire customers.”We sold an Andy Warhol together. But I think football is better for him than art.”Former Chelsea manager Potter weighs in on Postecoglou’s ‘shell-shocked’ interview after Brighton’s win over Spurs Hurzeler has already enjoyed more than the 15 minutes of fame that Warhol talked about.The German talks a lot about the work ethic his parents instilled in him. But those values also gave him the confidence to end a playing career which had seen him as a young talent in the Bayern Munich academy.His family were still taken aback at the decision, explaining: “Of course they were surprised. I always say, it’s my life and it’s a choice I make. I take responsibility for that.“No one else will take responsibility for my life. It’s something I always try to follow. I have to feel happy with the situation.“A lot of people don’t understand it and because they said I could easily play, maybe in second or third division.“But they will never understand the feeling inside of me, what I really want to achieve in life, my vision in life.”Born in TexasFamily values and vision is something Hurzeler comes back to a lot over an hour chatting at Brighton’s Sussex base.One of four siblings, born to two dentists in Texas before moving to Germany at the age of two, all of them have a fierce competitive streak.The Seagulls boss already has one yellow and one red card for his touchline antics this season and knows that competitive edge can get the better of him, in a football game or even playing Uno or Catan at Christmas. He said: “Honestly, when you talk to some guys who I played against, they would say, ‘What an a*******’.“When we were on the pitch, it was like winning, winning, winning. And that’s the same, honestly, with my family.“When I’m with my family, let’s say at Christmas and we played games and I lost the game, the night was over for me.“We are all made of the same blood, so my sisters and brothers and also my father, when they lose, they were the same. That’s how I grew up, it was a competition all the time.”Fabian Hurzeler has lifted the lid on his competitive sideCredit: GettyThe German was the Prem’s manager of the month in AugustCredit: InstagramThe desire to compete now extends to the padel court with Hurzeler — like almost everyone in football — having become a huge fan of the sport.He is now campaigning for a court to be built at the Brighton training ground. Those luxuries are a far cry from his start as a coach, with FC Pipinsried eight years ago.There was a fast start, promotion to the fourth tier in his first season but then the tests arrived. Losing the first seven games of the new term taught Hurzeler he must be able to adapt.He has always wanted to control a game through possession and with a high line but never just for the sake of it.Hurzeler added: “I had a good start in my career. We went from the fifth league to the fourth in the first year.“But we started by losing the first seven games. I was sitting in a  coffee shop and the media called and said, ‘Do you think if you lose the next game, then you’ll still be the coach or not?’ Then I was like, ‘OK, that’s the business’.”Premier League meetingThere has been adapting to do in the Premier League too.Not even a year ago, Hurzeler was touring English clubs, watching Brighton as well as visiting Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham to try to learn from their experiences.But that only went so far in preparing him for the Prem, admitting: “I didn’t expect it to be this intense and this demanding.“Every team in this league, also the teams who were promoted like Ipswich, they have individual quality in their team to win games.“Then during the game, it’s so fascinating for me… that’s what I learned, you have to work hard for the momentum.“When you have momentum, you have to use it, otherwise the other team will take it.”The final match before the international break was a perfect demonstration of this.Hurzeler said little at half-time, deciding not to go in all guns blazing and it paid off — coming from 2-0 down to beat Tottenham 3-2.He said: “Football is crazy sometimes.”For all the questions over his age, that calm approach after a rotten first half showcased the benefit. Few other managers will have such a keen understanding of their squad’s mindset.READ MORE SUN STORIESAsked what the biggest advantage of being a young manager is, he said: “Speaking the language of the players.“I’m their age, so we have the same needs. We are in the same situations. Maybe we lose a girlfriend. Maybe you experience the same things, you have a similar sense of humour.”Hurzeler sees his young age as a benefit, helping him connect with his playersCredit: Reuters More