All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

As is the case with every club of their size, Arsenal have had some truly special players represent them in the Premier League era.

The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pirès terrified defenders, while Sol Campbell and Tony Adams did the same to opposition attackers.

The Gunners have also been blessed with some incredible midfielders over the last 25 years or so, such as the legendary Patrick Vieira.

Nobody has quite been able to live up to the Frenchman since, but there is one player in Mikel Arteta’s side who’s starting to emulate him.

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Additionally, the players must no longer be at the club, as currently, Arteta’s side are yet to win anything significant.

With that out of the way, coming in at number three has to be the incredible Gilberto Silva.

The Brazilian monster joined the club in the summer of 2002 and went on to make 244 appearances over the next five years, scoring 24 goals and providing 14 assists.

Once described as the man who “carried the piano for Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo to play their tunes on” by the outlet Veja, the often underappreciated titan carried out a similar role in North London that saw him leave with one league title, two FA Cups and two Community Shields.

Just pipping Gilberto into second place is Cesc Fàbregas, as while he was no stranger to playing higher up the pitch, he spent most of his time in North London playing centrally.

The Spaniard may have left on poor terms, but he did so with an incredible record of 57 goals and 95 assists in 303 games, in which he won one FA Cup and one Community Shield.

Finally, first place simply had to be for Captain Fantastic himself, Vieira.

Arriving from AC Milan in the summer of 1996, the French international would go on to help transform the Gunners’ midfield and leave as a bona fide legend.

In addition to captaining the side during the Invincible season, the monstrous midfielder eventually left the club after making 405 appearances, during which he scored 32 goals, provided 47 assists, won three league titles, five FA Cups, and three Community Shields.

The Arsenal star becoming Arteta's Vieira

While they need to win something significant first, there are several stars in this Arsenal team who could easily become legends in their own right over the coming years.

However, when it comes to the player who could, and looks like they will become Arteta’s own Vieira, it has to be Declan Rice.

The Gunners’ £105m has been a brilliant player for them since his mega money move in the summer of 2023, but over the last year, and especially this season, he has really stepped it up and is now starting to emulate some of the Frenchman’s best qualities.

For example, while he is no longer an out-and-out six, he remains a defensive and physical powerhouse and someone who is more than happy to throw his weight around to disrupt opposition attacks.

For example, Fbref still ranks him in the top 16% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for the percentage of aerial duels won per 90 minutes.

Moreover, while he does not have the armband for the club, he is still one of the most vocal players on the pitch and is one of the five players in the manager’s leadership group.’

Finally, in addition to possessing the attitude and physical characteristics of the Gunners legend, the former West Ham star is also comparable in terms of footballing ability.

Appearances

118

Starts

107

Minutes

9442′

Goals

18

Assists

24

Goal Involvements per Match

0.35

Minutes per Goal Involvement

224.80′

Whether it’s a dead-ball situation or during play, the Englishman is one of “the best in the world,” per Thomas Frank, and has the ability to ping the ball exactly where he wants it, and over the last couple of campaigns has become far more of a goal threat.

Both of these traits were on full display against Burnley at the weekend and will undoubtedly be again for the next game.

Ultimately, while the comparison won’t be truly appropriate until he lifts a title with Arsenal, it is clear that Rice is becoming Arteta’s own Vieira.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 3, 2025

It has become a frustratingly familiar sight at Liverpool, with Alexander Isak trudging off in the second half against Inter Milan having had little impact up against last season’s beaten Champions League finalists.

The man whom Virgil van Dijk lauded as “the most in-form striker” in the world ahead of March’s Carabao Cup final, the 26-year-old looks like a shadow of his former self right now.

With just two goals to his name in all competitions thus far, only one of which has come in the Premier League, the Reds are in need of far better, with Isak running out of rope despite the potential impact of a lack of pre-season.

Of course, a delayed start to life at Anfield, following that need to get up to speed fitness-wise, has played its part in the Swede making just 14 appearances to date, while the chaos around him has likely not helped matters either.

Indeed, as the explosive Mohamed Salah debacle has epitomised, Arne Slot has yet to settle on a consistent forward line in 2025/26 – might that all change in January, however?

Latest on Liverpool's transfer search

For all the talk of a £450m spend over the summer, there is evidently a need for further reinforcements at Anfield heading into the New Year, with centre-back still an area of concern amid the lack of depth beyond Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

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Having come agonisingly close to moving to Merseyside on deadline day, Marc Guehi seemingly remains a leading target ahead of the winter window, with the Englishman now left with just six months on his existing deal at Selhurst Park.

Of course, the exclusion, and potential exit, of Salah has also highlighted the need to bolster the ranks at the top end of the pitch too, with Slot particularly short on depth on either flank.

Well, with that search underway, the Reds might have received some welcome news, with TEAMtalk reporting that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has made Anfield his ‘preferred destination’, if and when he does decide to leave the south coast side.

As per the report, despite rival interest from the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, it is Liverpool who are believed to be the Ghanaian’s ‘first choice’, with there a ‘real chance’ that he could move on next month.

Available for £65m, due to his much-publicised release clause, the 25-year-old wouldn’t exactly break the bank, but he could be the missing piece for Slot’s attacking jigsaw.

How Liverpool could finally get Isak firing

There’s no denying it, Liverpool look like they’ve been burned by their £125m investment in Isak, with the 6 foot 4 marksman almost unrecognisable from the player who terrorised Premier League defences for the Magpies.

It may matter little considering his current form, although it’s worth remembering just how highly-rated he was just a matter of months ago, having ended 2024/25 with 23 league goals to his name, after netting 21 times in the top-flight the year prior.

The difference? Well, in the view of Slot, it could be the lack of a suitable supplier from the flanks, with the Dutch coach pointing to the fruitful partnership that Isak enjoyed with Jacob Murphy at St James’ Park.

As per Transfermarkt, Murphy assisted his free-scoring colleague 11 times in all competitions for the Tynesiders, with the unsung hero offering a reliable source of creativity from his right-wing berth.

While no doubt a step above the Englishman, having been hailed as the “best winger in the country” by Chris Waddle, Semenyo could be the Murphy-esque figure that Isak is in need of, having wreaked havoc down the flanks in recent seasons.

Erling Haaland

18

Igor Thiago

11

Bruno Fernandes

10

Antoine Semenyo

9

Phil Foden

8

Richarlison

8

Cody Gakpo

7

Leandro Trossard

7

Jean-Philippe Mateta…

7

Currently looking “unstoppable” under Andoni Iraola, in the view of pundit Darren Bent, the ex-Bristol City man has six goals and three assists to his name this season.

With blistering pace and lethal on either foot, Semenyo is in the form of his life right now, having also ended 2024/25 with 16 goals and assists in the Premier League.

The key benefit for Isak would be the 11 ‘big chances’ that the £65m man created last term, as per Sofascore, highlighting how he could emerge as Isak’s chief supplier under Slot’s watch.

As was evident with his stunning, solo goal on the opening day at Anfield, the Bournemouth talisman can also turn defence into attack in an instant, while occupying defenders to free up space for those around him.

That sense of chaos and unpredictability could help to breathe new life into Slot’s forward line, with Isak likely to be the big beneficiary if he can convert the ample opportunities that should fall his way.

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