Stories By Graham Ruthven

• Sport

  How their new defensive pairing is key to Arsenal resurgence

  Not so long ago, Arsenal sat slumped at the foot of the Premier League table after three straight defeats to start the season. Serious questions were asked of Mikel Arteta and his so-called ‘process’ with evidence that the Gunners should continue with the Spaniard in charge thin on the surface.

• Sport

  Can Steven Gerrard take Rangers to the next level?

  Expectation has been heaped on Steven Gerrard from the moment he arrived at Rangers three years ago. The former midfielder has succeeded in restoring the Ibrox club as Scottish football’s predominant force, but his record of just one major trophy in there seasons means some are of the belief he should have achieved more by now.

• Sport

  Who should be the next Manchester United manager?

  Manchester United’s home defeat to Liverpool was so catastrophic that the discourse around Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future as manager immediately accelerated to a discussion over who could replace him.

• Sport

  Could West Ham have another shot at Champions League qualification this season?

  Two points is all that came between West Ham United and qualification for the Champions League for the first time in their history last season. There was a point at which it looked likely that the competition’s famous anthem would ring around the London Stadium but the Hammers had to make do with the Europa League.

• Sport

  Bayern Munich and Julian Nagelsmann bringing the best out of each other

  If the quality of Bayern Munich this season was in any doubt, it certainly isn’t after their 5-1 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. Billed as a top-of-the-table clash between two sides capable of going the distance in the Bundesliga, the defending champions proved why they remain the predominant force in German football.

• Sport

  Premier League success not a flash in the pan for Brentford

  Brentford are certainly making the most of their first ever season in the Premier League. While fellow promoted sides Norwich City and Watford are struggling for points near the foot of the table, Thomas Frank’s side are flying high in seventh place, just four points off Liverpool in top spot.

• Sport

  Is Mo Salah already one of the best in Premier League history?

  No player has scored more times in the Premier League this season than Mohamed Salah. Indeed, the six goals the Egyptian has scored in the seven games he has played for Liverpool this term demonstrate that the level the 29-year-old is currently operating at.

• Sport

  Benitez making bright start to winning over Everton doubters

  Nobody, besides the people who hired him, wanted Rafael Benitez at Everton. He was, after all, a former Liverpool manager. One that had achieved great success during his time at Anfield and labelled the Toffees a “small club.

• Sport

  John Stones facing another huge battle at Man City

  It’s been a while since John Stones last played a club game. Indeed, last season’s Champions League final was the last time the central defender made the pitch in a Manchester City shirt with the 27-year-old since losing his place in Pep Guardiola’s favoured XI to Aymeric Laporte.

• Sport

  Ismaila Sarr reaping the benefits of loyalty to Watford

  Abdoulaye Doucoure didn’t hang around at Watford following their relegation from the Premier League two seasons ago. He was, after all, more than good enough for the top flight of the English game and so the Vicarage Road outfit didn’t have to look too hard to find a buyer for one of their prize assets, with the midfielder sold to Everton for £20m.

• Sport

  Have Leicester City missed their chance to crack the top four?

  The last two seasons have followed a pretty consistent pattern for Leicester City. Indeed, Brendan Rodgers’ side started both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons well, looked nailed on to finish in the top four only to fall away in the final phase and miss out on Champions League qualification.

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