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Celtic failed to get their first win of the European season on the board when they were beaten 2-0 by Braga at Parkhead in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The Hoops were held to successive 0-0 draws, losing on penalties in the second leg, by Kairat in the Champions League qualifiers, before they were held to a 1-1 draw by Red Star Belgrade in their first match of the league phase in the Europa League last week.

Their 2-0 loss to Braga in front of their own supporters, who made their feelings clear at full-time, means that they have failed to win four successive matches in Europe this season.

Celtic may feel hard done by, though, as VAR ruled out Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal with a call that was described by Chris Sutton as “possibly the worst decision of all time”.

Celtic have been dominant domestically, with four successive league title wins, but they have not had much success on the European stage, in any competition, and it is a step up that even some of the club’s best players have struggled with.

Kyogo Furuhashi, for example, struggled in the Champions League last season as he came towards the end of his career with the Scottish giants.

Why Kyogo Furuhashi struggled for Celtic in Europe

Something that can be underestimated about European football is the step up in physicality as well as quality in comparison to some Scottish Premiership matches.

In terms of how players use their strength, how they use their speed, the intensity of their press, it can sometimes feel like a different game in Europe, which is why Kyogo, in particular, had some tough nights in European games.

The Japan international, who scored 85 goals for the Hoops, was never the most physical centre-forward for Celtic, but it appeared to effect his European form more than his domestic form, possibly due to the reasons listed above.

Kyogo (Champions League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

6

7

Touches

14

13.1

Goals

2

1

Big chances missed

2

3

Duel success rate

33%

39%

Aerial duel success rate

0%

0%

Duels won per game

1.3

1.0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kyogo lost the majority of his duels, failing to win a single aerial battle in the Champions League in his last two seasons with the club, scoring three goals in 13 matches.

Because of how dominant opposition centre-backs were with the Japanese striker, the experienced marksman failed to provide regular quality at the top end of the pitch.

Moments like the one in the clip above against Atletico Madrid were far and far between, unfortunately, and the increased intensity and physicality of European football may be the reason behind that.

Now, another member of Ange Postecoglou’s treble-winning side appears to be suffering from similar issues in the current team for Brendan Rodgers.

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Callum McGregor captained the Scottish giants once again in the middle of the park, but turned in a worse performance than Benjamin Nygren for Celtic.

Why McGregor is on his way to becoming the next Kyogo

Like Kyogo, the Hoops captain is not the most physical player in terms of his mobility or intensity, which is understandable given that he is a tempo-setting number six in the Premiership.

His composed play on the ball, completing 94% of his passes in the Premiership (Sofascore), helps him to dictate and control matches for the Hoops in domestic action, but the increased physicality and intensity of European football has had an impact on his performances.

Celtic average 73.2% of the ball per game (WhoScored) in the Premiership, which illustrates their total dominance, but they only had 56% of the ball against Braga at Parkhead on Thursday night.

Because Braga had more intensity to their press than a lot of the teams that Celtic face domestically have, McGregor, Nygren, and Paulo Bernardo had more of a fight on their hands than they usually do in a Hoops shirt at Parkhead.

Nygren outperformed the captain with his play in and out of possession, showing greater physicality and intensity, winning three more duels and twice as many tackles in 23 fewer minutes on the pitch.

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McGregor lost 80% of his duels on the night. That came after he won four of his nine duels, making one tackle, in 90 minutes against Red Star Belgrade last week, per Sofascore.

The Celtic veteran’s physical struggles in the Europa League should not come as a huge surprise, though, as he has also lost 53% of his ground duels in the Premiership, per Sofascore, which shows that he has been slightly off the pace in his battles on the deck in domestic action.

Kyogo’s exit did not result in an immediate replacement in January, as the Hoops felt that Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda offered enough cover in the centre-forward position, and a similar situation could arise with McGregor.

That is not to say that the left-footed star will be sold by the club he has spent his entire career at, but the Hoops could get to a point where the captain may find himself out of the team to play a more dynamic and physical midfield that is capable of scrapping it out in matches to win duels and fight for points.

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Therefore, McGregor could be in danger of becoming the new Kyogo because of his struggles with the intensity and physicality of European football, based on recent evidence.

Rodgers will be hoping, though, that the 32-year-old star can learn from these last couple of matches and position himself better to avoid duels and take more control of the game in possession in the rest of the league phase.

Glasgow Rangers are currently searching for their next head coach after they ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy to show for their efforts.

The Light Blues had to watch on as Aberdeen secured silverware by beating Celtic on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup, a competition the club were knocked out of by lower league outfit Queen’s Park in one of Philippe Clement’s last matches in charge.

Rangers opted to relieve the Belgian head coach of his duties shortly after that dismal result in the cup, and Barry Ferguson came in as the interim head coach until the end of the season.

The former Scotland international, who played for Rangers in his playing days, only won six of his 15 matches in charge in all competitions, and ended his tenure with a 2-2 draw away at Hibernian.

It has since been confirmed that Ferguson will not be offered the job on a full-time basis and that he will return to his ambassador role at Ibrox.

This means that the job is still available to a head coach from elsewhere, and Davide Ancelotti is a name that continues to be linked with a switch to Glasgow.

Why Rangers should not appoint Davide Ancelotti

RangersReview reported that claims from Spain that the Italian coach is close to being appointed as the next manager are premature, but that there are further talks planned with the former Real Madrid assistant.

Ancelotti and his father Carlo said their goodbyes to the Real Madrid supporters after their final match against Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Saturday, with his dad set to join the Brazilian national team.

It remains to be seen whether or not Davide will join him in Brazil or take up a post elsewhere, but Rangers should opt against a move for him this summer.

The Light Blues need a manager who can bring success back to Ibrox and hiring the former Real assistant would be a massive risk, because he has not managed a team in his senior career to date.

Davide Ancelotti’s coaching career

Club (role)

First-team manager

Matches

Real Madrid (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

233

Everton (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

67

Napoli (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

73

Bayern Munich (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

60

Real Madrid (Fitness coach)

Carlo Ancelotti

119

PSG (Fitness coach)

Carlo Ancelotti

77

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Ancelotti has only worked under his father as a fitness coach or as an assistant to date, which means that he is unproven as the main man leading a team.

His vast experience at gigantic European clubs, like PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, is a plus in his column, but there is no guarantee that he can use that as a head coach in his own right.

That is why Rangers should not appoint Ancelotti as their next head coach, particularly when they are reportedly eyeing up a manager who would be a much better option on paper.

Rangers have held talks with 3-4-3 manager

According to the BBC, Danish head coach Brian Priske has emerged as a contender for the vacant managerial position at Ibrox ahead of next season.

The report claims that the manager, who was sacked by Feyenoord earlier this season, has already held talks with the Scottish giants over a possible move to Glasgow.

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It states that the process is ongoing and that Priske is one of a number of candidates they have lined up to permanently replace Clement, following on from Ferguson’s departure at the end of the season.

The BBC adds that Ancelotti and former Southampton head coach Russell Martin have also been named as managers who could be in the frame alongside the Danish tactician.

With this in mind, the 49ers, Patrick Stewart, and Kevin Thelwell must all agree to pursue Priske further, beyond the initial talks that have been held, because he would be miles better than Ancelotti.

Why Rangers should appoint Brian Priske

Rangers should swoop to appoint the 48-year-old tactician because he is a proven winner who has won league titles in the top divisions in multiple other countries.

Priske, who typically deploys a 3-4-3 system, is an experienced manager who has been there and done it. Whereas, Ancelotti has it all to prove and is yet to show that he has what it takes to lead a team to success on his own.

Rangers will want to get back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership to prevent Celtic from winning a fifth title in succession, which is why they should appoint a manager who has a proven track record of success when it comes to winning leagues, or at least coaching a winning team.

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Priske won two league titles during his time with Sparta Prague in Czechia and won a league title in his first season in management with Midtjylland in the 2019/20 campaign in his home country.

Season (Club)

League matches

Points

Position

24/25 (Feyenoord)

21

39

3rd

23/24 (Sparta Prague)

35

87

1st

22/23 (Sparta Prague)

35

78

1st

21/22 (Royal Antwerp)

40

67

4th

20/21 (Midtjylland)

32

50

2nd

19/20 (Midtjylland)

30

65

1st

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Danish boss has never finished below fourth in a league season, although Feyenoord dismissed him earlier this term with his side in third, so it could have gone either way if he had been kept on.

This shows that Priske has won two league titles in the last three seasons, and three in six seasons as a manager, which is why he would be miles better than Ancelotti as an option for the Gers.

He has the relevant experience and success to suggest that Rangers would be making a brilliant decision to bring him in, whilst Ancelotti would be a huge gamble given his lack of experience as a first-team head coach.

Priske also won the Dutch Super Cup with Feyenoord and the Czech Cup with Sparta Prague, which shows that he can also handle cup competitions and has the potential to deliver success in the League Cup and the SFA Cup.

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Therefore, the Light Blues must swoop to appoint the Danish head coach as their permanent replacement for Philippe Clement because he appears to be the ideal candidate on paper.

It’s been a tough campaign for Tottenham Hotspur this season, made all the more so by Wednesday night’s defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby.

Ange Postecoglou’s side went into that game with not much to lose and hoping to put the nail in the Gunners’ Premier League title challenge, but despite taking the lead, they came away empty-handed.

The Lilywhites were not terrible on the night, but aside from Son Heung-min’s goal, they struggled to lay a finger on their bitter rivals, as the indomitable Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba kept them at arm’s length for most of the encounter.

The Brazilian was the flashier of the pair, but the French international put in yet another performance that reaffirmed his place among the best centre-backs in world football, and interestingly, recent reports have linked Spurs with a defender who’s been compared to him.

Tottenham's search for a centre-back

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several clubs interested in AC Milan star Fikayo Tomori.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that fellow Premier League sides West Ham United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also keen, while Serie A giants Juventus are also thought to be ‘preparing a formal offer’ of around €25m, which is about £21m.

However, there is no indication of whether that would be enough to tempt the Rossoneri into selling, and according to the report, new manager Sergio Conceicao wants the Englishman to stay ‘and play an important role in his tactical set-up.’

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Tomori’s ability and the fact he’s won comparisons to Saliba, it’s certainly one worth fighting for.

How Tomori compares to Saliba

So, before we get into some of the other reasons Spurs might want to sign Tomori this month, let’s examine this comparison to Saliba and where it comes from.

Well, it primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the Frenchman is the second most similar centre-back to the Englishman over the last 365 days.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, passing accuracy, expected assists, tackles won, tackles plus interceptions, clearances, fouls won and more, all per 90.

Tomori & Saliba

Statistics per 90

Tomori

Saliba

Passing Accuracy

92.9%

94.0%

Expected Assists

0.01

0.04

Tackles Won

1.22

1.30

Tackles + Interceptions

2.44

2.80

Clearances

2.68

2.95

Fouls Drawn

0.49

0.47

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

With that said, while being compared to one of the most highly-rated defenders in the game today is certainly reason enough to sign the Milan ace, there are others as well.

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For example, the “phenomenal” 27-year-old, as dubbed by content creator George Benson, now has bucket loads of experience, from playing in the Premier League and Serie A to winning domestic cups and the league itself with Milan; he’d bring a much-needed winners mentality to Posetcoglou’s dressing room.

Ultimately, it could be a tricky transfer to get over the line, but signing Tomori this month would help massively improve Spurs’ defence and squad overall, so Daniel Levy and Co should do what they can to get it done as soon as possible.

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Newcastle United may be relying on striker Alexander Isak to lead the line effectively as they chase a top-four finish in the Premier League, but the Swede is one of the best forwards in England.

In seven games for club and country this term, Isak has scored four times while grabbing one assist, emerging as a key player for both Newcastle and Sweden.

If he remains healthy, a consistent run in the starting XI will give Eddie Howe and his men the ideal chance to secure a return to European competition.

Could this perhaps mark the end of Callum Wilson’s spell at the Magpies?

Callum Wilson’s Newcastle statistics

The striker joined the Toon in 2020, costing £20m from Bournemouth. The Englishman had scored 67 goals for the Cherries during his spell on the south coast.

He impressed in the Premier League, which saw Newcastle snap him up, where he has continued to shine. Indeed, over the previous four seasons, the Englishman has scored a very respectable tally of 48 goals in 108 matches, meaning he registers a goal nearly once every two matches.

Callum Wilson’s Premier League statistics

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24 (Newcastle)

20

9

1

2022/23 (Newcastle)

31

18

5

2021/22 (Newcastle)

18

8

0

2020/21 (Newcastle)

26

12

5

2019/20 (Bournemouth)

35

8

1

2018/19 (Bournemouth)

30

14

9

2017/18 (Bournemouth)

28

8

2

2016/17 (Bournemouth)

20

6

0

2015/16 (Bournemouth)

13

5

0

Via Tranasfermarkt

Since the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign, however, Wilson has missed 42 matches in all competitions, failing to reach the heights of his first couple of years in the north-east.

With the signing of Isak two years ago, Wilson’s stature in the team is very much playing second fiddle to the Swedish gem, but when fit, he can still provide a solid option for Howe to call upon.

Isak might not be at the club for much longer should he maintain his current form, though.

What the future holds for Alexander Isak

Following a wonderful campaign, the summer transfer window saw Isak begin to attract attention from elsewhere. Indeed, Chelsea were just one of the clubs looking to make a move for the former Borussia Dortmund striker in a bid to strengthen their attack.

With the Toon missing out on Europe ahead of the new season, it was only natural for the supporters to be worrying whether Isak would still be at the club, particularly when considering his desire to play in the Champions League.

Nothing materialised and he has been playing well so far. The Swede will move on from St James’ Park eventually, but Howe will be hoping to get as many years out of him as possible.

The talk of replacements will soon arise. Do the Magpies have a player in their academy who could potentially be the next Isak, however?

Newcastle's next Isak

Over the previous few years, Newcastle hasn’t exactly been a breeding ground for prodigious young talent.

Yes, Andy Carroll departed for Liverpool in 2011 for a staggering fee of £35m, having emerged from the academy to first-team regular, but since their promotion back to the top flight in 2017, the club have been starved of youngsters looking to make an impression in the first team.

Lewis Miley broke through to the first team aged just 17 last season, making a total of 26 appearances, which included three in the Champions League. The 18-year-old could be the next academy graduate to secure the club a major profit in the next few years, no doubt about that.

Another name on some people’s lips is that of Ben Parkinson. A year older than Miley, the 19-year-old made his debut last season too, coming on as a substitute against Bournemouth in November 2023 during a 2-0 defeat.

The youngster was also on the bench during the Champions League games against both PSG and Dortmund, yet failed to make an appearance.

Operating as either a right-winger or centre-forward, Howe has a player who could become important in the coming years, especially judging by his form for the U18s and U21s recently.

11 goals and five assists came during his time with the younger age group, while he has made the step-up to the older group with ease, registering ten goal involvements in just 28 matches.

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He trained with the first team on numerous occasions last term, which earned him praise from U21 coach Ben Dawson, who said: “Ben’s had a longer period than most, in terms of days spent with the first-team group, and you can see that in some of his play.

“He’s always had that knack of being in the right place at the right time and was fortunate enough to be in the right place to score tonight which should have been the goal that killed the game off.”

Wilson has less than a year left on his contract, while Isak’s future could come into question should Newcastle fail to make the Champions League this season.

While both may not leave at the same time, a player like Parkinson could potentially take full advantage of some gaps in the squad to emerge as a first-team player in the next few months.

The teenager has trained plenty of times with the senior side, while also making the bench various times last term, suggesting he won’t be fazed by whatever Howe throws at him.

Should he succeed, it could inspire plenty of other academy players to follow suit in the coming years.

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Despite Newcastle United's injury crisis this campaign, it has come with a positive as it's allowed boss Eddie Howe to give valuable first-team minutes to multiple youngsters within the club.

Lewis Miley and Elliot Anderson have been the main beneficiaries for the Magpies, with the duo making 36 Premier League appearances between them this season.

18-year-old Miley has impressed under Howe despite his tender age, becoming a real key part of the Newcastle side, after the injuries and suspension to Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, respectively.

He's contributed with four goals and assists combined, a respectable return for such a young player in his breakthrough campaign as a professional.

After Miley's brilliant start to life in the first team under Howe, the Magpies boss and Saudi PIF should step up the chase for another teenage talent who has been linked with a move to the club.

Newcastle interested in 16-year-old talent this summer

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Newcastle are battling fellow Premier League side Manchester United for the signature of 16-year-old Sunderland talent Chris Rigg – who looks "increasingly likely" to leave his current side.

The box-to-box midfielder, who currently plies his trade in the Championship, has excelled for the Black Cats, despite the club struggling to secure a return to England's top flight.

He's scored twice in 21 appearances this season in what has been an incredible breakthrough season for the youngster despite his tender age.

Despite the Magpies and United's interest, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa have all registered interest in the talent who is valued at £250k, as per Transfermarkt.

Why Rigg & Miley could be the future of Newcastle

Given the fact Rigg and Miley are both still aged just 16 & 17 respectively, the pair could prove to be the future of Newcastle, with the duo not looking out of place so far this season throughout their respective campaigns.

The "Roy Keane-esque" youngster, as described by former boss Tony Mowbray, has produced some excellent stats in England's second tier this season, with Rigg making two tackles per 90, demonstrating his ball-winning abilities.

He's also averaged 4.2 progressive passes per 90 – a tally that is higher than current Magpies player Miley, albeit in a lower-quality division.

Rigg vs Miley in 2023/24

Statistics

Rigg

Miley

Tackles

2

2.5

Successful take-ons

1.6

0.6

Progressive passes

4.2

4

Pass completion

76%

82%

Progressive carries

2.4

1.1

Blocks

1

1.5

Stats via FBref

Rigg blows Miley out of the water when it comes to progressive carries with the ball, with his tally of 2.4 per 90 more than double than that of the 17-year-old who can only muster 1.1, with the pair seemingly showcasing a complementary mix of talents to make them an effective partnership.

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There's no disputing the Sunderland youngster's quality, especially given he is just 16, with the club needing to push hard this summer to invest in a potential gem for the future.

He would be a perfect partner for Miley in the years to come, with the Magpies also needing to keep one eye on the future as well as the present as they try to reclaim a Champions League spot next season.

Whilst the Black Cats may be reluctant to sell such a star to their bitter rivals, should Howe's side produce a reasonable offer for Rigg, the club may be forced to accept it with the midfielder's family known to be huge Newcastle supporters.

A controversial deal, no doubt, but the Magpies would be foolish not to pursue it.

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A big European club have reportedly held talks with a "crucial" Leeds United player over a possible move, with a transfer potentially now going through next summer.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites continue to battle hard in the Championship promotion race, and while their 2-1 defeat away to Preston on Boxing Day was a disappointing result, they still find themselves in a strong position in fourth place. The January transfer window will give Leeds the opportunity to make more signings, should Daniel Farke feel that fresh faces could make all the difference in the second half of the season.

Larne youngster Jack Hastings is one player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road, but the 17-year-old forward would be viewed as one for the future, rather than a player who is going to come in and make an immediate difference to the first team. Meanwhile, Celtic's Matt O'Riley may also been seen as a possible option again, having seen a bid for him turned down during the summer window.

It is also important that Leeds retain the services of the most influential players at the club, though, especially midway through the season, but a worrying exit rumour has emerged regarding one such hero.

PSG could sign Pascal Struijk

According to a fresh update from L'Equipe, PSG have held talks to sign Leeds ace Pascal Struijk and could yet sign him next summer. The Ligue 1 giants are thought to be keen on the idea of signing a left-footed centre-back and have targeted the Whites man as someone who could be a key addition in that area.

However, Leeds have made it clear that they don't want to part ways with Struijk, seemingly driving up his price tag and holding firm, so PSG certainly won't have it all their own way with negotiations, with the 49ers Enterprises clearly meaning business. PSG have moved on to Sao Paulo's Lucas Beraldo as a more immediate addition in January, the report adds.

The Dutchman has become such an important player for the Whites down the years, and he could be key to his side's chances of earning promotion this season, already making 22 starts in the Championship. The stats also below also outline the influence he has enjoyed:

Pascal Struijk's Championship stats this season

Total

Appearances

23

Goals

3

Clearances per game

3.1

Aerial duel wins per game

2.0

Tackles per game

1.3

Meanwhile, Farke clearly sees him as a valuable figure moving forward, with the Leeds manager saying of him recently:

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"He adapted well to my demands and he’s played a crucial part. We don’t have to talk about his skills with the ball. I’m very pleased with his development."

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The lure of playing for a prestigious club in PSG could be something that turns Struijk's head, however, especially if Leeds don't get out of the Championship, but it is good to see the 49ers standing firm and not buckling at the pressure of dealing with a European giant such as PSG.

Nottingham Forest's pursuit of Sevilla defender Gonzalo Montiel has been well-documented and a big update has now emerged, courtesy of journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Gonzalo Montiel?

The 26-year-old was something of an unknown amongst British football fans until relatively recently, even though he was a perfectly solid performer for Sevilla, having arrived at the La Liga side from River Plate back in 2021.

That all changed at the 2022 World Cup, however, as he tasted glory with Argentina, famously stroking home the winning penalty in the shootout victory over France in the final. It was a truly iconic moment for the country, as they won the competition for the first time since 1986, and it etched Montiel's name into Argentine folklore forever.

At club level, a move away from Sevilla – where he makes £20k-per-week – has looked increasingly likely this summer, however, and it is Forest who have emerged as the strong favourites to snap him up for some time now.

The Reds are still looking for defensive reinforcements and the right-back has stood out as a good option to battle the likes of Serge Aurier and Neco Williams for playing time this season, allowing Steve Cooper to rotate his squad and keep it fresh the longer the campaign goes on.

Now, a fresh update has emerged – one that suggests Montiel could be announced as a Forest player sooner rather than later, as the City Ground welcomes yet another new face to the club.

Will Nottingham Forest sign Gonzalo Montiel?

Taking to Twitter, Romano provided a significant update regarding the Reds' move for Montiel this summer, with the transfer now very close to being completed and medical potentially on the cards imminently:

"Nottingham Forest are closing in on Gonzalo Montiel deal – agreement on personal terms being finalised then medical on Monday. Deal will cost €11m (£9.4m), as @CLMerlo has reported."

This is great news for Forest, at a time when they need to build on last season's Premier League survival and become a genuinely established top-flight club again, rather than finding themselves battling for their lives come the spring.

While Montiel may not be the most explosive of full-backs, he is an experienced head with lots of defensive nous, having made 72 appearances for Sevilla and won 23 caps for Argentina, scoring once for his country, aside from his aforementioned penalty heroics last winter.

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That moment back in December may have given him an extra winning mentality – he also scored the winning spot-kick in last year's Europa League final – which should stand him in good stead and possibly impact on the squad's mentality when he arrives, with World Cup winners a rare commodity in football.

Montiel could come in as a less flamboyant but more solid alternative to Aurier at right-back, having averaged 1.5 clearances and 1.3 tackles per game in last season's Champions League, as well as registering three assists in La Liga in 2022/23.

These are exactly the kind of signings that will make Forest strong moving forward, and at 26, there is no reason why the defender can't be a key man for the next five or six years.

Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan has claimed that Arsenal have had the loudest fans in the Premier League this season.

What stadium has the best atmosphere in the Premier League?

It was a pretty excellent season for the Gunners right up until the final months when they seemed to run out of steam.

Indeed, Mikel Arteta's men spent 248 days at the top – a record for a team that didn't go on a win the division. But ultimately didn't have enough to beat Manchester City to the title.

And while the season ended in disappointment, it was still more than most supporters would have expected from Arsenal going into the campaign and it seems the home crowd have been thankful about that.

Indeed, while speaking about the best atmosphere's across the top flight in England, Hwang suggested that there is no pace louder than the Emirates.

Speaking to Goal about the subject, the £30k-per-week ace said: "Arsenal was good, Liverpool, and Man City also was good."

When asked to specifically clarify who has the nosiest fans, the striker said: "I think Arsenal, I would say Arsenal."

What stadium do fans think has the best home atmosphere in the Premier League?

It's interesting to hear this point of view from a player who will have a slightly different experience to fans on match day as they're actually on the pitch, instead of up in the stands.

In March, as per a survey conducted by sports and betting brand Midnite – who did a survey with 1,002 Premier League away match-attending fans – it was claimed that Manchester United’s Old Trafford has the best home atmosphere in the Premier League winning 20.46% of the vote.

That data showed Liverpool in second, then Arsenal, Newcastle United fourth and Chelsea fifth – which is surprising that some smaller clubs are not on the list.

And the likes of Brentford, Southampton, Wolves, Fulham and Bournemouth were all in the bottom five.

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It's amazing to think how the perception of the Arsenal stadium has changed in recent times – especially as it once had the reputation for being a bit of a library.

After all, in the Football Ground Guide, opposition supporters have called the home support "pretty poor", with one Leeds United fan noting: "I only heard them a handful of times."

Hwang started against the Gunners on the final day of the season, so this will be fresh in his memory but just imagine how loud it could have been had Arsenal actually won that title! Maybe next season…

Chelsea are showing signs that they will remain to back their manager Graham Potter despite the poor run of form the Londoners find themselves on.

Are Chelsea going to sack Graham Potter?

The Blues have certainly had a shocking 2022/23 campaign so far which sees them slumped down bang in the middle of the Premier League table.

And the worrying takeaway from the table now is that they are as close to the relegation zone as they are Tottenham Hotspur who occupy fourth spot.

Since Potter’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, the Englishman has only been able to provide a win rate of just 35% with as many defeats as victories to his name.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Chelsea board are still expected to provide the manager with their backing:

“What I can say is that internally at Chelsea, they knew that another factor to make things complicated is that all the players they signed in January didn’t have the pre-season, because usually when we have this kind of number of players joining the new club, this happens in the summer, not in January. In January, you don’t have pre-season, you immediately go and play, and so this is a factor.

“The pressure is growing, but the reality is that they’re still backing the manager. They’re still protecting the manager. So let’s see how next week will be for Chelsea, how the internal discussions will go. But at the moment, the feeling is that they’re not changing their position, they’re still protecting Graham Potter.”

Who could Chelsea appoint to replace Potter?

For an owner whose strategy in the January transfer window appeared to be scattergun at best, it is perhaps a surprise to hear he may be willing to give Potter more time at the helm.

A club like Chelsea who have spent the money they have this season should be nowhere near the middle of the table, yet the results are failing to improve.

As we near the completion of the second month of 2023, Potter has only been able to register one win across all competitions this year.

But that being said, the options are limited for the Blues if they are to part ways with Potter which was apparent when the brought in the 47-year-old earlier in the season.

One name which was mentioned then and has been mentioned over the weekend is Mauricio Pochettino who has been out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

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However, there is a feeling he is biding his time for the opportunity in north London to potentially come available in the summer if Antonio Conte is to leave Tottenham.

So there could well be the view there is currently no manager out there that could provide Chelsea with a long-term replacement for the Englishman.

But if the results do fail to improve over the coming weeks, it is difficult to imagine Todd Boehly being willing to sit back and watch their season fade away.

Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Manchester City transfer target Rafael Leao does not wish to extend his deal at AC Milan.

The Lowdown: Man City interest

It has been widely reported that City are interested in signing Leao, whose contract at Milan expires in 2024.

He played for Portugal at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he managed two goals on the way to them reaching the quarter-finals, despite not starting a game (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: No extension

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg has revealed that Leao does not want to extend his deal at Milan beyond 2024, and City are one of three clubs ‘in’ for him:

“Excl. News #Leao: At this stage he doesn’t want to extend beyond 2024. Not confident with the offer. Chelsea, City, Real in. #CFC held talks about him in Qatar. Milan refused Chelseas offer (€70m). They want €150m. The amount of the release clause.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Leao is a player that could make the difference for City this season, should they be able to sign him in the January transfer window.

Pep Guardiola’s side are currently five points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League table, and will be going for the UEFA Champions League again, the one major trophy that still alludes them.

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Hailed as ‘world class’ by European football commentator Matteo Bonetti, Leao boasts seven goals and nine assists in 20 games in total over all competitions for Milan so far this season (FBRef).

The 23-year-old shares a similar playing style to the likes of Mo Salah, Son Heung-Min and Luis Diaz, suggesting that he would thrive in the Premier League, and if the Cityzens can stamp up the cash for him, then Leao would really help bring more silverware to the Etihad Stadium.