Stories By Greg Lea

• Sport

  Alexandre Lacazette a key part of new Arsenal attack

  Having been in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s shadow for so long at Arsenal, Greg Lea discusses how Alexandre Lacazette and found a renewed importance for The Gunners.   After a largely disappointing few years, there is renewed optimism at the Emirates Stadium.

• Sport

  Could Zaha extend his contract at improving Palace?

  The January transfer market is about to open for business and, for the second window in a row, Crystal Palace have no concerns over the contract or future of Wilfried Zaha. There is no chance of the club’s talisman departing next month and Patrick Vieira will not have to bat away questions about the possibility of Zaha moving on.

• Sport

  Is Raheem Sterling a key player again at Manchester City?

  It is only two months since Pep Guardiola and Raheem Sterling had something of a public disagreement. After the England international admitted he would be open to leaving Manchester City due to a lack of game time, his manager expressed surprise.

• Sport

  Divock Origi embracing super-sub role at Liverpool

  Cometh the hour, cometh the Divock. The Belgian forward once came up trumps for Liverpool on Saturday. In the fourth minute of stoppage time at Molineux, he controlled Mohamed Salah’s pass and fired the ball past Jose Sa in the Wolverhampton Wanderers goal.

• Sport

  All on the line for Benitez in the Merseyside Derby

  There is a good chance that during Wednesday’s Merseyside Derby the Liverpool fans will serenade both managers on the touchline. Much like when Steven Gerrard returns to Anfield 10 days later, Jurgen Klopp will have to share the adulation of the Reds supporters with the man in the opposing dugout.

• Sport

  Have Leicester City missed the Champions League boat?

  Having come agonisingly close to Champions League qualification in both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, could Leicester City have missed the boat when it comes to European qualification?   When Tottenham Hotspur exceeded expectations by challenging for the Premier League title in 2015/16, it was tempting to conclude that this was just the start of something special and, in some ways, it was.

• Sport

  Eddie Howe facing uphill task to fix Newcastle defence

  Newcastle United fans were left cursing their club’s luck when it was revealed on Friday that Eddie Howe had tested positive for COVID-19. The Magpies’ new manager was therefore unable to attend his first game in charge, a thrilling 3-3 draw with Brentford at St James’ Park.

• Sport

  Crystal Palace should enjoy Conor Gallagher while they can

  Conor Gallagher collected possession on the edge of his own area and surveyed his options. The Crystal Palace midfielder then played an inviting ball into the path of Michael Olise, who galloped into the Manchester City half.

• Sport

  Tottenham left repeating mistakes of the past

  Nuno Espirito Santo must be grateful to Manchester United. Their demolition at the hands of Liverpool rather overshadowed Tottenham Hotspur’s meek defeat by West Ham United on Sunday. But as the two managers prepare to lock horns in north London this weekend, Nuno will be feeling the heat just as much as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

• Sport

  United must be ruthless and replace Solskjaer with Conte

  Their hope lasted for five minutes. That was the time it took for Liverpool to take the lead on Sunday before Manchester United’s brutal capitulation. An hour later it was 5-0 and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left to contemplate his future another miserable afternoon at the office.

• Sport

  Dilution of South American World Cup qualifiers is a shame

  Despite European internationals returning to their club teams, there was another round of South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday night. All 10 of CONMEBOL’s national teams took to the field for the third time in the international break.

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