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Journalist Charles Watts has expressed his disappointment at Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka after he suffered “brain freeze” and missed the chance to score a great goal this weekend.

What’s the latest on Granit Xhaka and Arsenal?

The Gunners cruised to a routine away win the Premier League on Sunday afternoon as they put three goals past Fulham inside one half to keep their lead at the very top of the division.

Indeed, Gabriel Magalhaes opened the scoring with a fine header before Gabriel Martinelli doubled Arsenal’s lead and then Martin Odegaard made it 3-0 before the break, and that was how things finished at the final whistle.

However, Mikel Arteta and his men could have won the game by a much greater margin and Xhaka could have got his name on the score sheet when a slick passing move saw Leandro Trossard tee him up with only Bernd Leno to beat.

However, Xhaka failed to cap off the brilliant attack as he lost composure and saw the ball simply hit his toe and roll into the goalkeeper's arms.

While speaking about it on his YouTube channel, Watts expressed his dismay, saying (2:19): "Such a shame Granit Xhaka didn't score that shot, just seemed to have a bit of a brain freeze when he went through.

"He didn't know if he should take a touch, or you shoot first time, and in the end kind of didn't either and the chance had gone. It would have been such a good goal, it's a real shame he didn't finish that off but a really fabulous performance from Arsenal.”

Has Xhaka scored more goals this season for Arsenal?

Xhaka has actually been able to deliver a lot more in an attacking sense this season. For instance, he has three league goals to his name this term which is as many as he had in the past three seasons combined.

On top of that, he also has five assists which is two more than the three yellow cards he has picked up in 27 games – proving just how his game has been adapted to play higher up the pitch and be more of a creator than a destroyer of late.

Even still, he hasn’t scored in 2023 so far and his potential rust in front of the net was on full display against Fulham as he just lacked that little bit of composure to finish what could have been one of the goals of the season.

Emile Smith Rowe is reportedly among five Arsenal players facing uncertain futures this summer.

The Lowdown: Injury woes

Smith Rowe’s season has unfortunately been jeopardised by injury so far, as he has been limited to just 62 minutes of senior football in total across all competitions.

He did play 45 minutes in an U21s game against Chelsea earlier this week in order to help regain his fitness, and will be hoping to make a swift comeback in the senior team over the next upcoming fixtures.

The Latest: Future in doubt

As per The Times, Smith Rowe is one of five Arsenal players with their futures in doubt at the Emirates Stadium come the summer transfer window.

The sale of Kieran Tierney could be used to fund deals, while loanees Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Folarin Balogun are also likely to be sold.

The Verdict: Shock

It would be a real shock if the Gunners allowed Smith Rowe to leave this summer.

A Hale End graduate, the 22-year-old has managed to break into the first-team set-up, and was a regular in the Premier League last season, notching up an impressive ten goals and two assists from midfield (Transfermarkt).

Sure, the injuries have been frustrating for him and the club this term, but the Englishman still has such a high ceiling, and if he can get back to full fitness, Smith Rowe remains an integral part of the squad.

Matty Longstaff is reportedly ‘set to leave’ Newcastle United on a free transfer this summer.

The Lowdown: Contract expiring

The 22-year-old’s contract is set to expire in the summer, meaning that he can leave St James’ Park as a free agent.

He is currently ruled out with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that he picked up while on loan at Colchester United earlier in the season, and it is not clear when he will be able to return.

The Latest: ‘Set to leave’

As per Football Insider, Longstaff is ‘set to leave’ for free this summer, as Newcastle are ‘not planning’ to offer him a new contract.

He is ‘attracting interest’ from suitors in the Championship and League One, and the player himself thinks that he will move on from his boyhood club.

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The Verdict: Time to go…

Given his ACL injury, it is unlikely that Longstaff will be able to feature again this season, and seeing as he will soon be out of contract, it seems like the right time to move him on.

The 22-year-old has only made 20 senior appearances at St James’ Park and has been sent out on loan three times in the past two seasons (Transfermarkt).

Hailed by journalist Josh Bunting as ‘aggressive driving forward’ and a ‘good player on the ball’, Longstaff has produced some good moments in a Newcastle shirt, most notably scoring the winner against Manchester United on his Premier League debut in October 2019.

Spotted at Wembley to cheer on his team against the Red Devils in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday despite his injury, Longstaff has been a great servant to the club, but unfortunately it is the right time for him to go.

Leeds United seemed to have the majority of their transfer business tied up by the time deadline day rolled around, but that did not stop the rumour mill from kicking into full gear.

Having secured deals for Max Wober and Georginio Rutter, they were decisive and speedy in their completion of the additional acquisitions of Weston McKennie and Diogo Monteiro.

Despite this, and the recent knowledge which has suggested Jack Harrison had all but completed his move to Leicester City, it seemed like Victor Orta remained somewhat keen on adding another attacker to bolster the forward line.

One name which continued to be linked with a move in the other way to Harrison was Ayoze Perez, who seemed destined to exit the King Power Stadium.

It was journalist Ben Jacobs who coined the rumours, as he reported late into the night before deadline day that the Whites had “made an enquiry” regarding the Spaniard.

Despite this, the 29-year-old ultimately joined Real Betis on loan until the end of the season, quashing the links with Leeds late in the day.

Had the Whites secured this deal, it would likely have backfired considering just how unimpressive Perez has been since his £30m move from Newcastle United in 2019.

The £45k-per-week dynamo did enjoy a fine first season at Leicester, but in the subsequent two-and-a-half campaigns he has not managed to surpass the two-goal mark in the league. He was holding on to his eight goals and four assists notched in that debut campaign in the Midlands, but with that now being nearly three years ago, it is somewhat obsolete.

Even before he made that aforementioned move, he had not impressed Danny Mills, who admitted that he would have been “stunned” had Tottenham Hotspur signed him.

The former England full-back continued: “He has been at Newcastle for five years and had half a good season. He has hardly ripped up any trees.”

Since that transfer, the pundit has since been proven right once again.

Leeds completed a clinical January transfer window in which they achieved their business with minimal fuss. Signing Perez could have undone all that hard work by giving into the excitement of deadline day and adding a panic addition to their already bolstered squad.

It very much seems that Orta and co avoided a potential disaster with this failed deal.

Journalist James Copley hailed first-half substitute Edouard Michut for his Sunderland performance this weekend.

The Lowdown: Youngsters continue to impress

Sunderland fans are currently reveling in the form of their side under Tony Mowbray, as they sit just one point off the play-offs and after coming out on top against north-east rivals Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.

In doing so, the Black Cats beat one of the most in-form sides in the Championship while also keeping a clean sheet, which is impressive in itself, but to be doing this well with such a young squad is very promising to see.

In fact, Mowbray is currently managing the youngest squad in the Championship, but it seems that’s not hindering him or the players, with stars such as Michut, Amad Diallo and Dennis Cirkin all making a name for themselves.

The Latest: Michut grasps his chance

After an injury to Corry Evans, Michut was thrust into the spotlight yesterday, but he wasn’t fazed at all as he looked to showcase why people hold him in such high regard at the club, as Copley spoke about on The Sunderland Echo YouTube channel.

He said: “Fair play to Michut, because what was that, 10 minutes in [when] Michut comes on, and he’s a player who we obviously know is hugely talented, everyone says he’s hugely talented – but there’s always that sort of niggling doubt: is he cut out?

“The physicality thing, I know it’s a sort of outdated agreement now, but I think it’s relevant in English football – you do need a bit about you, you need physicality, you’ve got to have the right mindset, and he’s come on and he’s just let his quality show.”

The Verdict: A bright future in-store for Michut

The fact that Michut is still so young and raw at 19 but was seemingly unfazed by his first Tees-Wear derby shows what kind of character he is and the mature head he has on such young shoulders.

While Sunderland would likely love to keep Michut, it would likely be difficult to convince him to join a Championship side when he has the bright lights of Paris Saint Germain to come at the end of the season and also interest from arch-rivals Newcastle United.

Michut has indeed only started two league games so far which will be frustrating for him but if now he can kick on then it’s been a masterstroke from Mowbray to ease him in slowly before bursting onto the scene alongside his fellow young stars.

Glasgow Rangers will be hoping to add a couple of fresh faces to their squad this month, and there is hope that Michael Beale might not be far away from making his first signing at Ibrox in the January transfer window.

According to Sky Sports, the Light Blues have held positive talks over a possible move for Todd Cantwell, who is reportedly in favour of a move to the Premiership giants.

Beale will surely be especially keen on securing moves for a couple of midfielders this year, especially with Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, and Ryan Jack all out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Another player who has been linked with a move to Ibrox since Beale took charge is Fulham midfielder Josh Onomah, and Rangers could repeat their Steven Davis masterclass by luring the 25-year-old to Glasgow this month.

Rangers have actually completed a Davis masterclass on two occasions, signing him for the club in January 2008 from Fulham and again 11 years later from Southampton, with both moves proving to be extremely popular with many supporters.

His first spell at the club saw the Northern Irishman win six trophies before he left Ibrox to join the Saints. Fast forward to 2019, when Steven Gerrard managed to secure his services as he made the move to Glasgow in January once again and became an integral part of the team which won the club’s first league title in a decade in 2021.

His influence has perhaps waned this season, though, starting just three times in the Premiership campaign up to this point.

Onomah could also secure a move to Rangers during January and, like Davis, he is a central midfielder who has struggled for game-time in recent months, playing just 13 minutes of Premier League football this season.

Last season was a different story, though, with the player living up to Mauricio Pochettino’s praise, his former Tottenham manager having previously dubbed him “a special player”.

Indeed, he registered four goal contributions in 20 Championship matches as Fulham won promotion to the Premier League. He made 0.6 key passes and 1.3 tackles per game while also being successful with 67% of his attempted dribbles, showing his class in numerous aspects.

Beale could secure his services on the cheap considering that Onomah is out of contract in the summer, and there seems little doubt that he could be a shrewd mid-season recruit in the mould of Davis by coming to Ibrox.

Everton manager Frank Lampard is running out of time and could be sacked in the next few weeks, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Everton in dire form

The Blues are increasingly having a season to forget, with results proving to be hugely disappointing on either side of the 2022 World Cup.

Everton are hovering ominously above the Premier League relegation zone, having not won since October, and Lampard is under big pressure to keep his job.

However, a new update suggests that his time at Goodison Park may have slightly longer left to run after Saturday’s draw at Manchester City.

The Latest: Lampard timeline

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Phillips claimed that Lampard probably has a couple more weeks to save his future at Goodison:

“In terms of the amount of time I think he’s got, I think if things don’t get better in the next few weeks, then you might see him in some real trouble then.”

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The Verdict: Time for a change?

With each passing game, the more it does feel as though Lampard has taken this Everton side as far as he can, with performances and results both not good enough even despite the impressive fightback at the Etihad.

The 44-year-old is struggling to get the best out of too many players, with last season’s bright sparks like Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi now struggling, and having had support from the fans for some time, the tide is definitely turning now.

A new manager with fresh ideas may be the sensible option or Everton could find themselves in a second consecutive relegation battle come the spring.

Sunderland have been linked with Brighton striker Deniz Undav recently and the German could prove to be the Black Cats’ next Kevin Phillips at the Stadium of Light.

According to Football League World, the 26-year-old could arrive at Sunderland in the January transfer window in a loan deal from the Seagulls, although the Black Cats will face competition from fellow Championship sides Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, QPR, Norwich City and Coventry City.

The Seagulls signed Undav in January 2022 after some sensational performances with Union Saint-Gillois in Belgium, before loaning him back to the Pro League side for the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign.

He would eventually finish the season on 25 goals and ten assists in just 33 Pro League appearances but has struggled to displace Danny Welbeck in Brighton’s side under both Graham Potter and Roberto de Zerbi. He has just eight substitute appearances in the Premier League to his name, although he did score in one start against Forest Green in the FA Cup.

Upon his arrival at Brighton in the summer, Undav promised a lot of goals but it seems as if he will have to scratch his goalscoring itch on loan for the rest of the season, and Sunderland could be the big beneficiaries.

He said: “I can score inside the box, outside the box, I can score from the middle line, I can score from everywhere. I have no typical type of goal. I try to score with my head, with the left foot, right foot, with my shoulder, with everything.”

This ability in front of goal may well remind Sunderland fans of Kevin Phillips, who finished as the club’s top goalscorer in four consecutive campaigns between 1999/2000 and 2002/03, including 30 Premier League goals in that first season.

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He was adept on either foot, and although his right was his strongest, the former Crystal Palace ace was still assured on his left. Indeed, for the type of goals Transfermarkt have recorded in the later stages of his career, Phillips found the net on 55 occasions with his right and then eight times with his left.

No other player has ever managed 30 league goals in a single season for Sunderland and while it would be unrealistic for Tony Mowbray to expect Undav to bag 30 in the second half of the Championship campaign, he certainly seems confident in his own ability.

The fact he managed 27 in all competitions last term suggests that he knows where the net is and his clinical nature in front of goal could perhaps see him follow in the footsteps of a legend such as Phillips at the Stadium of Light.

Manchester City star Phil Foden has been told he is having his best-ever season after a first World Cup start for England against Wales.

The Lowdown: Foden performs on cue…

The 22-year-old was made to wait for his first start in Qatar by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, despite calls for the City fan favourite to be drafted into the line-up.

Foden’s creativity could have been an asset against the USA, but after England’s dreary 0-0 draw against their cross-Atlantic rivals, Southgate opted to hand Foden the nod against Wales in their final group game.

The Sky Blues star repaid that faith and put in a brilliant display, helping to guide his nation to top spot in their group. Foden finished the 90 minutes of their 3-0 victory as one of England’s highest-rated players and grabbed a goal for his efforts, feeding off a sublime cross from team-mate Harry Kane for their second.

The Latest: Whelan praises Foden…

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has claimed that the City midfielder is having his best-ever season for club and country off the back of his performances.

The 47-year-old explained: “The Wales game was a perfect opportunity to put Foden in. He is the one player who was going to unlock defences, especially as Wales started to push players forward to try and get a result.

“We’re going to need him in the knockout stage, and he needed a game. Everyone knows the quality he has and he’s shown that with Man City so far this season, he’s having the best season of his career so far.

“No one can question the job that Sterling or Saka have done so far but giving them that rest was exactly what Southgate should have done.”

The Verdict: He must start against Senegal

Next up for England – a crunch round-of-16 tie against African champions Senegal on Sunday night.

Judging by Foden’s outing against Wales, where he had a real creative influence in the attacking areas and appeared hungry to prove a point, we believe that he ought to be a sho0-in for England’s all-important knockout tie.

Pundit Carlton Palmer has been reacting to a transfer update involving Leeds United and Birmingham City midfielder George Hall.

The Lowdown: New offer

The Whites reportedly made an offer for Hall’s services over the summer but look set to return with a new bid in January.

Football Insider shared a story in recent days regarding Hall and Leeds, saying that the club lining up a new offer for the midfielder and added that an agreement could be reached before the January transfer window opens.

Hall can play in a variety of midfield and attacking roles and has been labelled a “really exciting player” by Blues academy coach Martyn Olorenshaw.

The Latest: Palmer’s comments

Palmer, who contributes for the BBC, was talking to Football League World regarding the update on Leeds and Hall.

He said that Leeds have been eyeing the youngster for a long time and hinted at a potential deal which would see Hall return to Birmingham on loan.

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“Birmingham are in the financial plight that they’re in and there are a lot of clubs who have been looking at him, but Leeds have been looking at him particularly for a long time.

“And, they may be able to do a deal with Leeds where he comes back on loan and plays because, you know, like I’ve always said, for these players to develop their education is playing football.”

The Verdict: Make sense?

Hall has been a regular for Birmingham in the Championship this season, making five of which have come from the start.

Therefore, it could be wise for Leeds officials to send Hall back to the Midlands on loan for the second half of the season. It could make a transfer easier and some would say it would make sense in regards to Hall continuing his development.