Graham Ruthven

Graham Ruthven is a freelance football writer based in Glasgow, Scotland. He has written for the New York Times, Guardian, ESPN, Eurosport, Grantland, The Scotsman, Bleacher Report, Four Four Two, Vice, Al Arabiya, Sports on Earth and Scottish TV among many other publications and outlets.

Stories By Graham Ruthven

• Sport

  Arsenal can no longer justify ‘big six’ tag

  Brentford deserved their 2-0 win over Arsenal on opening night of the 2021/22 Premier League season. This, however, wasn’t the most damning thing about the result for Mikel Arteta’s side. What was most reflective of the situation Arsenal find themselves in right now was that so many predicted this outcome and are questioning their standing as a member of the so-called big six.

• Sport

  Premier League increasing power in wake of European Super League flop

  There isn’t a ‘Big Six’ club in the Premier League that has failed to make at least one big-money signing this summer. While Chelsea and Manchester City have both broken their club transfer record with the capture of Romelu Lukaku and Jack Grealish respectively, Arsenal (Ben White), Liverpool (Ibrahima Konate), Manchester United (Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane) and Tottenham Hotspur (Cristian Romero) have also made significant moves of their own.

• Sport

  Has investment made this the strongest Premier League ever?

  Almost every summer, there are wide-eyed predictions of tight title races, top four scraps and relegation fights to the death. Every Premier League campaign, if pre-season tips are believed, is set to be the best and most compelling ever.

• Sport

  Patson Daka could take Leicester to the next level

  Red Bull Salzburg know how to harness the potential of a young centre forward – there’s a certain Norwegian currently playing in the Bundesliga who stands as proof of this. Indeed, Erling Haaland, who is now considered one of the most lethal strikers in the game, found his cutting edge in Austria.

• Sport

  Does Ange Postecoglou already regret joining Celtic?

  Ange Postecoglou has only been in Scotland for two months but the new Celtic boss speaks like and has the demeanour of a man with regrets. A left field appointment from the start, the Australian who had never previously coached in Europe spoke of changing the Glasgow club’s culture and style of play.

• Sport

  Cristian Romero signing could transform Tottenham

  There is barely a ‘Big Six’ Premier League club not in the market for a new central defender this summer. Raphael Varane is expected in England this week to complete a move to Manchester United while Arsenal have spent £50m on signing Ben Write from Brighton.

• Sport

  Which players could Arsenal sell this summer?

  This summer promised to be a pivotal one for Arsenal with Mikel Arteta at a critical juncture in his moulding of the squad at the Emirates Stadium. But with the start of the new Premier League season not far away, the Gunners have made just one significant signing in the transfer market – the £50m capture of Ben White from Brighton.

• Sport

  The most important Liverpool signing this summer is Mo Salah

  When it comes to transfer windows, Liverpool tend to skip the last-gap trolley dash of deadline day. While other clubs scramble for signings, the Anfield club are usually more considered in their business, and so with Ibrahima Konate their only addition this summer, with the new Premier League season starting in just a few weeks, it seems unlikely many more will walk through the door.

• Sport

  Jesse Lingard could play a big part for United this season

  Jesse Lingard’s first Premier League appearance of last season came on February 3, when he left Manchester United to sign on loan for West Ham. This illustrates the extent to which the 28-year-old had become a forgotten figure at Old Trafford.

• Sport

  Kalidou Koulibaly would be a huge signing for Everton

  Ambition hasn’t been in short supply at Everton in recent years. While the Toffees have struggled to make much of an impression on the top half of the Premier League, only finishing 10th last season and 12th the season before, the Goodison Park outfit have made no secret of their plans to become Merseyside’s second footballing superpower.

• Sport

  How can Southgate improve England ahead of Qatar?

  Gareth Southgate had an extra year to think about what went wrong for England at the 2018 World Cup before Euro 2020. Indeed, the postponement of the tournament due to the Covid-19 pandemic allowed the 50-year-old to plot and plan.