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Alex Iwobi believes Everton are as good as his former Arsenal team and they have the quality to perform well in European competitions.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side made a promising start to the 2020-21 season and the 24-year-old has likened the talent at Goodison Park to Arsene Wenger’s men.

Everton, currently placed seventh on the table, endured a four-game winless run in the Premier League back in late October, with three consecutive defeats to Southampton, Newcastle United and Manchester United, which has made the Nigeria star call for more consistency in their performances for the remainder of the season.

“I think we are good enough to compete in Europe,” Iwobi the club website. “This Everton side is as good as the Arsenal teams I was in, 100 per cent.

“We have talented, international players, in the team and on the bench.

“The chemistry in the dressing room is great. Seamus grabbed us together and said we could do better.

“We always discuss our potential and what we should be achieving. It is good to get every player’s idea on what they believe we can improve.

“We know we can give a lot more in games like those at Southampton and Newcastle – we see the quality in training every day.

“It needs to consistently come out on the pitch and all of us know we can improve and offer more.”

Iwobi started his football career at the Arsenal academy at the tender age of nine before he earned his maiden professional deal at the Emirates Stadium.

He became a key player for the Gunners and later moved to Everton on a five-year deal in 2019, but the Super Eagles midfielder revealed why he owes his success to his family and his supporters.

He continued: “Every day I try to prove to myself I should be here, that I should be playing for Everton. That I should be in the starting XI. That I should be representing my country.

“I always have that motivation. Especially because of what my family went through for me to get where I am.

“It gives me that hunger to improve myself and I work every day to try to do that.

“I had a lot of downs growing up. Moments when I was told I wasn’t good enough, times when I was almost released by Arsenal.

“I want to fight for not just me but the hundreds of thousands of Evertonians and the people who follow and support me. I feel I owe it to them to give 100 per cent every day.

“And I always want to do well for my family. Everything I do is for them.”

Iwobi missed Everton's 1-0 loss to West Ham United on New Year's Day, but he might be in contention for their FA Cup outing against Rotherham United on Saturday.

Odisha FC registered their first win of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) season after a 4-2 win over Kerala Blasters at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa, on Thursday. 

An inspired performance from Diego Mauricio saw Stuart Baxter's men script a comeback after going down to an early goal. 

Odisha FC head coach Stuart Baxter was a relieved man after their first win in nine games. He praised his charges for playing as a unit. He, however, mentioned that this was not the first instance when the Kalinga Warriors showed spark this season. 

"Very pleased. Very pleased with the players. We changed the way we are going to play. We had Jacob (Tratt) at right back. We had Gaurav Bora playing as a centre back. Giving away a goal and then coming back totally dominating in the next 75 minutes of the game, it was an awesome performance," Stuart Baxter said after the game. 

"We have shown that potential in almost every game. In the beginning, it was sporadic, we made too many mistakes, all the way to the East Bengal game. We gave away too many goals which made the hill to heavy to climb," he added. 

Odisha FC pressed Kerala Blasters with purpose and Baxter said that it was a part of the game plan as they wanted to break the opponents' game early and capitalise on their mistakes.

"It was part of the game plan. With only two centre-midfield players, we wanted to breakup their play earlier. We were going to commit Nandhakumar and Jerry (Mawihmingthanga). If we lost the ball, we had four payers ready to counter. We want to press the ball," Baxter said. 

The British manager is confident that the win will be a catalyst for his team to improve their performances. He also pointed out that the squad is on a high and becoming better with time. Besides that, Baxter wants his players to give in their all in the remaining matches. 

"I certainly hope so. We started the season with defeats. I have never seen that glum feeling. I am hoping this is a bit of catalyst to go on a better run. The squad has been on a positive spiral we are becoming better and better. I think it's getting better. I was really really upset after giving away two goals against East Bengal," he said.  

"The minimum for me is that every player gives everything he has got in every situation. And the end of the season I want to see if they end on fourth place or 10th place or whatever," he added.  

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Folarin Balogun for the progress he has made since joining the club. 

The forward teamed up with the Gunners’ youth team in 2008 and was handed his first professional contract in February 2019.

Balogun was promoted to the first-team in October 2020 and made his debut against Dundalk in a Europa League game.

The young attacker has been turning heads since linking up with Arteta’s men, scoring twice in as many appearances in the European competition, amid other dazzling displays.

The Gunners boss is impressed with the development of the 19-year-old and promised he would continue to have an opportunity to showcase his talent for the club.

"His progression and the use of the time that he's had with us has been incredible. He will keep having chances while he's with us," Arteta told the club website.

Balogun is in negotiation with the Emirates Stadium outfit for a new contract as his current deal is set to expire at the end of the season.  

He will hope to get some minutes under his belt when the Gunners take on Newcastle United in their next outing on Saturday.

The Emirates Stadium outfit are currently 11th on the league table after gathering 23 points from 17 games.

The 19-year-old attacker has made five appearances for Arsenal but he is yet to feature in the English top-flight for the club.

He has, however, played 10 games for the club in Premier League 2 in the current campaign, scoring two goals and providing one assist.

Balogun, born in New York, United States, to Nigerian parents, has represented England at U17, U18 and U20 level.

The forward is, however, still eligible to represent the Super Eagles and has previously revealed his interest to feature for the three-time African champions.

Kaizer Chiefs forward Lazarous Kambole says they are focused on getting the business done when they face former coach Ernst Middendorp in Saturday’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) clash against Maritzburg United at FNB Stadium.

After Middendorp led Chiefs to an agonising near-miss of the league title last season, Kambole says it will be an “emotional game” coming up against their ex-coach.

Amakhosi face a Maritzburg side that has improved under the German and has not lost in two straight games, including recording their first win of the season in their last game against Bloemfontein Celtic.

“Coming from the win I think they are motivated so they are not going to be easy. We just have to go all out and make sure we win the game. It’s going to be an emotional game [facing Middendorp] but business is business so we will talk on the pitch,” Kambole told Chiefs’ media team.

While Maritzburg are satisfied after notching their first victory of the campaign, Chiefs are equally high in confidence after a history-making Caf Champions League outing.

They beat Angolan giants Primeiro Agosto 1-0 on aggregate to reach the tournament’s group stage for the first time ever.

This was on the backdrop of the Soweto giants going for six consecutive PSL games without tasting victory, and they last won a match in October 2020, their only victory in eight league matches.

Amid all their domestic woes and mounting pressure, Gavin Hunt became the first coach to guide Amakhosi into the Champions League group stage.

Kambole feels their Champions League performance will help them pick up form on the domestic front.

“I’m happy with the result [in Angola], I’m happy that we have qualified to the group stage of the Champions League,” said Kambole.

“It wasn’t an easy game. We have not been doing well in a couple of games but we fought in Angola and this game has given us confidence [going into] the next game.

“It’s not going to be easy [switching from Champions League to PSL]. Of course it will be different from the Champions League because PSL has it’s own style of play. We have been playing in the PSL for a very long time so we know what the league is all about. We are prepared. It’s not going to be easy but we are soldiers and we are ready.”

Kambole has managed just a goal for Chiefs in 21 appearances across all competition since arriving at Naturena in July 2019.

But the Zambian, who has featured in just two league games this season, feels that he is on the path to improve his personal fortunes.

“We just have to continue working extra hard, believing in what I can do on the pitch. I am on the right track and by the grace of God I will start scoring and things will get back to normal,” Kambole said.

Guediawaye Football Club have confirmed the appointment of former Liverpool forward El Hadji Diouf as the club’s sporting director.

Five years after calling time on his playing career, the two-time African Player of the Year will commence life as an administrator with the Senegalese second division outfit.

There, the 39-year-old, who also starred for Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, among several clubs during his active days, will be aiming to help the Dakar-based outfit return to the Senegal Premier League at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Following the sacking of former president Pape Thialiss Faye, Guediawaye FC - a team that emerged as champions of the 2014 Coupe de la Ligue - are embarking on a long-term project of establishing themselves in the top tier.

"We have new mechanisms in place to move forward, with a management team, a college for the management of the club. In the college, the novelty is the creation of a position of Sports Director for which we negotiated and obtained the appointment of El Hadj Ousseynou Diouf," said club’s communication chief Malick Sy per Lesoleil.sn.

Should they achieve their aim of earning a berth in Senegal's top flight, Sy further revealed the club are eyeing a place in a continental competition in three years’ time, while their five-year target will be to have a full training centre.

Diouf was part of the Senegalese golden generation that helped the West African country finish as runners-up at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations in Mali, before making their World Cup debut in South Korea and Japan, where they stunned reigning world champions France in their opening game.

The outspoken forward was hot property back in 2002, with Reds coach Gerard Houllier moving early that summer to secure his signature in a £10 million ($13m) deal from Ligue 1 side RC Lens.

He was, however, to flop badly on Merseyside, recording just six goals in his debut campaign and none in his second. Nevertheless, he would go on to enjoy some success in England with the likes of Bolton and Blackburn, but he was seldom the same player at club level as for his country.

His last active involvement in football was as a player for Malaysian side Sabah FC during the 2014/2015 season, and he was also once invited by Senegal coach Aliou Cisse to assist in the training of the Senegal senior national team on a part-time basis.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Omar Rekik from Hertha Berlin.

The 19-year-old will join the Gunners' Under 23s side after penning a professional contract with the club.

Bild reports Arsenal have agreed to pay Hertha around £540,000 to land the centre-back, who had periods in the youth academies of Feyenoord, PSV, Manchester City and Marseille before joining the German side.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Thursday that the defender's arrival was all but complete, telling reporters at a press conference: "He’s a young talent that we’ve been following for a while that we believe has a really bright future."

The Tunisia Under 21 international is yet to make his senior debut, having played regularly in the fourth-tier of German football with Hertha Berlin II this season, but he was an unused substitute in three Bundesliga matches last season.

"It feels great to be here after a long time of hard work. It feels great. I moved in three weeks ago and I’ve been in quarantine, so I can’t wait to get started," Rekik told Arsenal's website.

"The warmth of the people and the interest that they showed in me, and of course, when a club like Arsenal is interested, I don’t think anyone needs to think twice. 

"I’m a winner. I always want to win, and that’s with everything, not only football, ever since I was a kid. My style of play? I’m a central defender and I like to play with the ball, I like to play out from the back, and I think this is also the structure of the club. It fits perfectly."

Rekik says Arsenal's playing style played a key role in his choosing to continue his career in north London.

"With Mikel Arteta, if you watch the games, he’s not a coach who thinks quickly to play a long ball. Of course, when needed, you have to do it, but I think the style of play fits," he added.

"As a young player, you need to play somewhere where they’re not afraid to give you a chance and you can see a lot of youth players have broken through here, and I want to be the next one."

Rekik, who is the north London side's first signing of the January transfer window, was linked with a move to the English capital in the summer transfer window, but a move did not materialise.

The Gunners recently loaned out defender William Saliba, who has linked up with Nice for the rest of the season.

The 2021-21 season of the I-League is all set to kickoff on Saturday, January 9, with new entrants Sudeva Delhi taking on promoted Mohammedan Sporting at the Salt Lake stadium.

The competition is set to be held in a bio-bubble and there have been numerous changes effected with regards to squad composition and replacement rules. 

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) League CEO Sunando Dhar explained how this year's competition will differ from the previous editions.

"I-League rules for the last few years have stated that injured foreigners can be changed but not the registered Indian players. This year indian players can also be replaced because of injury or otherwise till the middle of February. If you have an all-Indian squad, there is no limit to the number of replacements. If you have foreigners in the team, you can change up to three foreigners and up to three Indian players," he told reporters on Thursday.

It must be noted that Sudeva and Indian Arrows will be playing with all-Indian squads. 

Though the league has lost a bit of star quotient with big clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal joining the Indian Super League (ISL), Dhar pointed out that this is an opportunity for other clubs to utilise. 

"The fan base that clubs that East Bengal or Mohun Bagan have - I don't think any other (Indian) club can replicate that. But the thing is that the void that is left behind after Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have gone to the ISL gives opportunity to clubs like Sudeva. That has been the USP of I-League for the last seven to eight years, to have clubs participate from new destinations which gives players from that state, city or neighbouring areas to showcase their talent," he said.

Due to the pandemic halting football across the country, the Indian FA had to organise the I-League qualifiers (to determine the second division winners) in October 2020 under a bio-bubble. Dhar feels the I-League can take the best practices from that tournament. 

The tournament format has also changed, with the home and away format scrapped.

"14th March was when the last I-League match was played (before the Coronavirus pandemic hit). So when we were planning for the qualifiers, we had a clean slate and didn't have anything to fall back on. We had a couple of workshops held by the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) as AFC also started their Champions League matches in Qatar. Obviously, the ground realities are different in every country. So we had to adapt for the Indian model. 

"The I-League is much more complicated. The number of players is more, more games, more hotels. So the coordination level and communication goes up. It's definitely a challenge but obviously having had the qualifiers does help. There are situations that we have planned for. There are 10 things that we have planned for but there could be 15 more that could happen and we have to react to that," Dhar remarked.

The AIFF League CEO informed the protocols to be followed for all the 11 participating teams, referees and match officials and also in case a positive case of Covid-19 is detected.

"There are 11 teams put up in two hotels, the referees and match officials in the third hotel. All officials and players were required to have three negative covid tests before checking into the hotels. For the first seven days, they had to be isolated in their rooms and within those seven days there were two more tests. And only with all five negative tests from the eighth day they could go out for practice. 

"Inside the hotel, we have also created a medical hub because we are trying to minimise the chances of a player going to the hospital (outside bubble environment). In case of an X-ray, stitch or oxygen is required, that facility can be provided inside the hotel. Obviously, we cannot install an MRI machine in the hotel. But other than that, more or less everything will be taken care of by doctors and a medical team available 24x7.

"Everyone will be tested on regular intervals. So we are trying to be as careful as possible and hopefully we will be able to contain the virus," he continued.

"On an average, we are doing about 200-250 tests every day. There have been very few positive cases, mostly among officials and support staff than players. For the positive cases, in each hotel there is a floor that has been booked for an isolation room. After that, once they have three negative tests, they are allowed to get back in the bubble."

With matches to be held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, and the Kalyani Municipal Corporation Stadium in Kalyani, Dhar provided an update on the ongoing jobs at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan. "It should be ready by January end. Hopefully from February onward, we can host matches there."

Jurgen Klopp has acknowledged Liverpool are enduring a tough run but insists performances have not been as bad as results suggest.

The defending Premier League champions are top of the table again but have won just two of their past six matches.

Rivals Manchester United, who have a game in hand, have moved level on points with the Reds at the summit ahead of the sides meeting next weekend.

"We were not waiting for [this run of form] and we do not enjoy it, but it's not unlikely that these kinds of things happen," Klopp told a news conference on Thursday. "I think we only won two of the last six – that's not the standard we expect from ourselves, obviously.

"So, we don't take it easy, but we still see what we can improve, what we have to improve, and don't think everything was bad in the last few weeks.

"The league is too strong, and if you struggle a little bit, immediately the results go the other way because the opponents are fighting with everything they had. You saw that against Southampton [a 1-0 defeat on Monday]."

Liverpool must first focus on the FA Cup, however, with Aston Villa hosting Klopp's men in the third round on Friday.

Last season's run to round five was Liverpool's best under Klopp, with the Anfield outfit eliminated from four of their past six ties against fellow Premier League sides, only beating Everton (in 2018 and 2020) in this time.

The Reds had reached the semi-final in the final season before Klopp's appointment, losing to Villa in the last four to end a six-match winning run against Friday's opponents in the competition.

Despite his underwhelming record in the competition, the manager says Liverpool have always been determined to succeed.

"It's important. It's the FA Cup," he said. "We didn't go far so far in this competition. I didn't think we were blessed so far with sensational draws so far and now we go to Aston Villa, which is a tough one as well.

"We always took it very seriously and will do this time as well, but we cannot forget the intensity of the period we are in and all these kinds of things.

"It's important – football games are important. We are professional football players or coaches or managers and the only thing we have to do is to win football games and to try to make sure that we really can do that. It's a very important competition, so we will try to win that."

Liverpool were beaten 7-2 by Villa in the Premier League this term, shipping seven goals in a single match in any competition for the first time since 1963. Klopp is therefore reluctant to name a weakened team, even with the United game on the horizon.

"We need to find the balance to field a team where we didn't change too much," he said. "We bring in fresh legs again.

"The rhythm [for returning players] is a different issue. That's step by step. We cannot do that in one game. We can't use the FA Cup to give players rhythm – the opponent is just too strong for that.

"After the Aston Villa game, we have eight days between Villa and Man United, so that's a long training week where we can do a lot of stuff in 11-v-11 situations, which will help the players a lot, especially the players who were out for a while. After that, we will be in a different place."

Cesar Azpilicueta has made 400 appearances for Chelsea and helped the Blues to Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League honours - but the “biggest trophy” available is now in his sights as he looks to chase down Champions League glory.

Success on the grandest of European stages has so far proved elusive for the long-serving Spaniard at Stamford Bridge.

He was snapped up from Marseille in the summer of 2012, a matter of months after the Blues conquered the continent for the first time in their history.

They have remained regulars in Champions League competition since getting their hands on that silverware, but a succession of managers have failed to replicate the achievement of Roberto Di Matteo.

Azpilicueta has been a mainstay for Chelsea in their many quests for more major trophies, with the 31-year-old determined to finish his collection before departing west London.

The Blues captain told the club’s official website, with Frank Lampard’s side due to face Atletico Madrid in the last-16: “It’s the biggest trophy, and being a Chelsea player you have the biggest ambition for trophies.

“That’s one that I would like to achieve. We know it’s a new competition that starts in February, seven games, and every detail counts. We have to learn from the Bayern Munich games last season, make it right and hopefully go as far as possible.”

Azpilicueta has been a revelation for Chelsea following a £7 million ($10m) deal, but he is eager to ensure that his standards do not slip amid added competition for places from the likes of Reece James and believes he still has plenty to offer in his ninth season with the club.

He added on becoming Blues captain and a stalwart at Stamford Bridge: “You couldn’t imagine it then. When you first sign, you see such great players who have won the Champions League, you just want to be part of it and win trophies. I won trophies with Marseille but this was a step forward.

“I try to improve. I always analyse my game, and am sometimes harsh on myself. As a perfectionist you always want more. To be the captain now, I’m really proud, but if you had asked me that back in the day, it would have been difficult to predict.”

Chelsea, who have endured a Premier League wobble of late, will be back in action on Sunday in an FA Cup third-round clash with Morecambe.

Mikel Arteta has hinted that Thomas Partey could be available for Arsenal’s FA Cup fixture against Newcastle United on Saturday.

Partey, 27, joined the Gunners from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £45 million ($60m) in October 2020, however he has made only few appearances on account of injury.

With just 45 minutes into the league clash against Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur, the 27-year-old was replaced by Dani Ceballos having sustained a thigh injury.

As a result of that, the midfielder has missed his team’s last eight matches in all competitions. However, the Spaniard has given a piece of reassuring news as his team prepare to take on Steve Bruce’s Magpies in two days’ time.

“Well, we have an extra two training sessions [before the game] and we will assess after that whether he is completely fully ready to participate against Newcastle, or if we’re going to leave it another few days for the Palace game,” Arteta told media as reported by Arsenal website.

“He is training really good, he is comfortable, he is not aware of the injury right now and he has done more than what he already did before he played after the injury against Spurs, so he is in a good place, a good mood and you can see the player he is when he is training.”

Partey has made six appearances for Arsenal in the first part of the 2020-21 season, five of them in the Premier League.

Before his knock against Spurs, the Black Stars midfielder had missed almost a month of action having initially picked up the injury during the defeat against Dean Smith’s Aston Villa on November 8.

Nevertheless, he worked untiringly to be fit into to face Tottenham and was cleared to play having completed two full days training ahead of the North London derby.

After the showdown at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta and his men host Crystal Palace in a Week 18 English elite division fixture.

Victory for them would help them improve on their position in the log. As it stands, they are 17th after garnering 23 points from 17 games played so far in the 2020-21 campaign.

Jurgen Klopp admits that Liverpool are unlikely to sign a centre-half during the January transfer window, but nothing is being ruled out as the Reds continue to mull over their options.

Having seen Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip pick up untimely knocks, the defending Premier League champions have been left down to the bare bones at the back.

It was expected they would dip into the winter market for reinforcements, with various targets being mooted from Dayot Upamecano to Kalidou Koulibaly via Ben White and David Alaba.

Klopp, however, has always maintained that he will not spend for the sake of it - and that remains the official line coming out of Anfield.

Quizzed again on his recruitment plans ahead of their FA Cup third-round clash with Aston Villa, the Liverpool boss said: “I cannot say definitely we will not bring anyone in, it is just not likely because of the situation in the world. We should not forget that the situation is a tough one for all people, and for football clubs as well.

“There might be, I don’t know, there might be some clubs who have absolutely no financial problems, but this club always was and always will be, with these owners, very responsible with the things we do.

“If the world was in a normal place, everything fine, we won the league, Champions League, the club was in the best possible situation.

"Then we had three senior centre-halves, plus Fabinho, plus kids, and the three seniors are all injured. Would that be a situation where normally we would do something? Yes, definitely - but we are not in that situation.

“I don’t know if something will happen or not. Maybe you could do something but that would be a short-term solution, and we don’t have that short-term solution. That’s not right, because it doesn’t help really.

“We have to deal with the situation like we did so far, and get through it. It’s not the best situation for the whole planet, so why should it be for the football club?”

While Liverpool have seen their numbers depleted at the back, they continue to boast an enviable array of attacking options.

Diogo Jota has been removed from those plans after joining the ever-growing injury list, but Klopp says the Portuguese forward will not be forced under the knife and will be given as long as he needs to shake off a knee complaint.

The German added when asked for an update on Jota, who has made an immediate impact on Merseyside: “It will still take time, he is still wearing a brace so that means he is still a few weeks from team training. It takes time. No surgery needed, which was good, but it was a proper injury, not a little knock. No real timeframe there.”

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema is to face trial over his alleged involvement in the attempted blackmail of Mathieu Valbuena relating to a sex tape apparently featuring the Olympiakos star.

The former Lyon forward is accused of trying to extort money from his fellow France international ahead of a friendly against Armenia five years ago.

And, according to AFP, the French forward has now been informed by the Versailles prosecutor’s office that he will be taken to court at an as yet unspecified date.

Benzema's lawyer responded to the news that his client is being charged with conspiracy to attempt blackmail by telling the Efe news agency: "The decision to try him is absurd and is unfair cruelty.

"Benzema has nothing to be ashamed of in this case."

Valbuena's lawyer Paul-Albert Iweins told  L'Equipe that the decision to go to trial is "the logical continuation of the instruction which perfectly established the participation of the various people".

Benzema has spoken out on the matter in question on a regular basis in recent years, with the Frenchman accusing Valbuena of dragging his name "through the mud".

He told L’Equipe in May 2017: "He said he would not have lodged a complaint if he knew I was involved in the story. For more than a year and a half I'm his worst enemy, a bad guy, a thug, I have to be punished, dragged through the mud, my name and that of my family, in the dirt.

"It has been almost two years since I was forbidden to see my best friend [Karim Zenati], if not we go to prison, and he is quiet, but he must stop his crap, and I do not know why he keeps talking about me already.

"[Saying] I am his enemy, I wanted to take money from him... he really has to stop inventing, it makes me mad to keep on lying.

"He just had to tell the truth about what really happened, and he would not have had all of this."

Benzema, who denies any wrongdoing, has been overlooked for international duty with France  ever since the allegations made against him.

The 33-year-old has not figured for Les Bleus since November 2015, when the last of his 81 caps was earned.

A succession of national team coaches have kept him on the outside looking in, despite impressive standards being maintained at club level with Madrid.

Benzema has remained a prolific source of goals for the Blancos, with 261 efforts recorded through 533 appearances. He ranked eighth in Goal 50 in November.

A prominent role at Santiago Bernabeu has been taken on since Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Juventus in 2018, with his contribution helping Zinedine Zidane’s side to another La Liga title in 2019-20.

Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun has been shortlisted for December 2020’s Premier League 2 Player of the Month award alongside Chelsea’s Faustino Anjorin, and Southampton’s Nathan Tella.

The Anglo-Nigerians are among the seven talents who made the cut decided by the Premier League’s Football Development Panel as coaches nominated the best performance by an opposing player in each of the league games.

In the month under review, 19-year-old Balogun scored the winner in the Gunners’ 2-1 win over Leicester City. In that period, also, he made three senior caps for the Emirates Stadium giants, while finding the net once in two substitute appearances across wins over Rapid Vienna and Dundalk in the Europa League before playing a fringe role in Mikel Arteta’s men 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.

Anjorin,19, contributed to the Blues’ 2-1 defeat of Leicester City before finding the net on two occasions and bagging two assists in the 6-1 decimation of Manchester United to leave Chelsea at the summit of Premier League 2 Division 1 at the end of 2020. He also made his full Champions League debut in a 1-1 draw against Krasnodar.

For Southampton’s Tella, his only Division 1 match was a memorable one – getting four goals in the Saints’ 5-2 triumph over Leicester City. The 21-year-old who had become a regular face in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first team also came on as a substitute during the senior side’s 1-0 English topflight defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Harvey White (Tottenham Hotspur), Brad Lyons (Blackburn Rovers), Harr Chapman (Blackburn Rovers) and Lewis Bate (Chelsea) complete the final cut as the panel will choose the winner who will take over the diadem from Manchester City’s Liam Delap who won the prize in November.

“Nathan is a player and person we are proud of, who stays the same in terms of attitude no matter if he is with the first team or B team,” coach Dave Horseman said of Tella’s performances per Southampton website.

“The game versus Leicester showed the importance of the B team concept, as it allowed him to perform well using the same principles and philosophies of the first team.

“He plays with pace and energy with and against the ball and is direct when it comes to his thinking and actions."

Born in England, Balogun, Anjorin and Tella who have played for England at youth levels are eligible to represent three-time African champions Nigeria at senior level.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will find himself under pressure at Manchester United unless he delivers a trophy says Gary Neville, with more semi-final heartache endured by the Red Devils in 2020-21.

Having fallen at that hurdle on three occasions last season, questions are being asked of whether the players at Old Trafford are mentally strong enough to land major silverware.

Solskjaer has steered around that debate, with the Norwegian refusing to read too much into what he considers to be a run of back luck.

Having collected many medals as a player, the former United striker is aware of the expectation in Manchester.

Neville believes a coach who has already faced plenty of criticism throughout his reign needs to start hitting targets, as rivals Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have done, in order to remain in his current post long-term.

The United legend told Sky Sports after witnessing a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup: “I said before that I felt there was more expectation on this game for me as a Man United fan than there will be a week on Sunday against Liverpool at Anfield.

"No one this season expected Man United to challenge for the league title, but I think there was a feeling: win a trophy.

“Ole, at the end of this season, will have been there two-and-a-half years, and to go two-and-a-half years without a trophy, it will start to bring a pressure, because it helps you on your way.

“Jurgen Klopp needed a trophy and eventually got the Champions League. Pep Guardiola won the League Cup, Jose Mourinho at various clubs has won the League Cup just to get them going. He needed something and they were so close to a final with this game and in good form.

“It does pose a problem. I wouldn't say, sat here as a Man United fan, it causes me a great problem, that in any way shape or form I'm looking at the manager's job at any point, but it will bring pressure down the line. Because if they go to Anfield and lose, people will then say 'glass half empty' again. It can turn like that.

“The reason Ole will not be resting on his laurels is because when you're in a job which presents the problem he had four, five, six weeks ago when he had people questioning whether he'd make it through to the end of the season.

"When it gets good, like it has in the last couple of days when they're joint-top of the league and have a game in hand now on Liverpool, and they're in a semi-final, people think everything is fantastic, you don't get carried away the other way, either.”

Before the crunch clash with arch-rivals Liverpool, United have an FA Cup third-round date with Watford and a midweek trip to another north west neighbour, Burnley.

Dele Alli is a “goal machine” and “the end of the jigsaw” for many managers says Glenn Hoddle, but a lack of faith from Jose Mourinho at Tottenham will force the England international midfielder elsewhere.

Spurs have been favouring alternative options to Alli this season, with the 24-year-old often finding himself on the bench or overlooked completely.

A lack of game time has sparked plenty of transfer rumours, and a switch to Paris Saint-Germain had been mooted before Mauricio Pochettino took the reins at Parc des Princes, with talk of a reunion with the former Tottenham boss now being stepped up.

Hoddle can see Alli heading elsewhere before the next deadline passes, saying players of his ability deserve of more than he is getting from Mourinho.

The ex-Spurs player and coach told The Sun: “I can't see him getting in at the moment, because they're winning. He's only being used in Europa League and the League Cup.

“He's not going to get in unless there's an injury or a lack of form. The lack of form goes out the window because there's a settled team there. He's going to have to wait for an injury, then he's got to make a big impact on Jose to play.

“I'm talking about playing week in, week out, and he needs that. If he feels he can't do that, he needs to communicate that to the manager, and if he sees it that way as well, a loan deal could be possible. It's only Jose who will know if he sees a long-term scenario for him anyway. If he doesn't, he might feel it's best to cash in.

“I could see Dele going to another club and doing really well in the right system. I don't think he suits this system that Jose's looking for.

“I think at some stage he will move on, when that will be I'm not sure. If he does stay after the window, he's got to knuckle down.

“He's got to play at his very best. The truth is, and he knows it himself, he hasn't played at his best. The only way he can prove that to the manager is to play and I find that door shut at the moment.

“It must be very frustrating for Dele, because he's done such a good job. He's a goal machine from midfield. He's the end of the jigsaw. He'll do that for some team, will it be for Tottenham? There's a question mark about that.”

Mikel Arteta appreciates why questions are being asked of Arsenal’s decision to send William Saliba out on loan - with £27 million ($37m) having been invested - but the Gunners boss says the teenage defender still has a bright future in north London.

The centre-half completed a big-money move to England during the summer of 2020, with a deal having been struck with Saint-Etienne 12 months prior.

Saliba was expected to slot seamlessly into the fold at Emirates Stadium, with his potential ready to be embraced by a Premier League outfit that has suffered defensive struggles.

Arteta is, however, yet to hand the youngster a competitive debut and has now allowed him to head back to France and link up with Nice for the remainder of the season.

The Arsenal boss is eager to point out that he is not giving up on Saliba, with a deal in January done to give him the best possible chance of making an impact for his parent club in 2021-22.

Arteta told reporters: “We signed a big project that we had some issues with because he’s not played enough football over the past 18 months and at that age, and in the development phase he is at, that is crucial.

“I was always very conscious when he came back, when he didn’t do the step that he had to before joining us, that to start a relationship with a new manager, a new club, new team-mates where he is not having any game time is really difficult and I think it is damaging for the future.

“I want to protect the player that we signed and the future we have alongside him and the best way to do that is to give him minutes to play.

"He has been really good, it has been a difficult few months for him to cope with that situation but I see the development that he has made, the progression that he has shown over the months and now he is ready to compete.

“He is going to a really strong league as well, a league he knows really well, he has experience [there] and he needs to play as many games as possible to be ready for us from next season.

“He will come back for pre-season and he will be with us, and hopefully he will come back after playing a number of games and [with] his performances raising and his development progressing in the right way. That is why we made that decision.

“I know that sometimes it is difficult to explain or understand after the money the club spent bringing him in, sending him on loan, but a lot of things have happened to him, he is a long-term player for us and we need to protect him as well.

“Giving him three or four games is not enough for him, he needs much more than that but what has happened over the past 18 months, he has gone through some personal problems as well that we have to try to help him, and stay as close as possible to him, and now he needs to play, play and play and enjoy his profession as well.

“In order for him to do that I think we have found the right club with him, he is very happy to go there right now and hopefully he can enjoy his football and be ready for us next season.”

Saliba made his debut for Nice in their Ligue 1 clash with Brest on Wednesday and did not get off to the best of starts as he was booked inside 11 minutes and conceded twice before half-time in a 2-0 defeat.

Thembi Kgatlana has congratulated Noko Matlou after she made her eagerly awaited professional debut for Eibar on Wednesday.

The striker, who was the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year in 2008, lasted the duration of a 2-0 victory over Logrono in a Spanish Primera Iberdrola encounter.

Matlou had arrived from South African side Maindies in October and so fulfilled her dream of becoming a full professional at 35 years of age.

Eibar star Kgatlana also became the second Banyana star to win the African Women's Footballer of the Year 10 years after Matlou.

Kgatlana took to Twitter to pay tribute to her compatriot's achievement, wishing Matlou "many more games".

"Solid performance from Noko Matlou on her debut. Congratulations mate, here is to many more games!," she wrote on Twitter.
 

Kgatlana continued in her rich vein of form, providing an assist for the opening goal against Logrono, so far racking up five assists and five goals in 12 appearances this season.

Having featured together for the first time in Eibar's victory over the visitors, the Banyana duo will hope to power the Spanish top-flight debutants to more wins in their bid to retain their status.

Iker Dorronsoro's side will be counting on the fine form of Matlou and Kgatlana as they hope to build on their home win over Iker Dorronsoro's team when they visit Athletic Club on Sunday.