Saliba

Donyell Malen (Aston Villa): A weird start to his Aston Villa career – he came in from Borussia Dortmund and it looked like he would be helping them in the Champions League but he didn’t make the squad because of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio. Then he was a bit-part player, did OK but didn’t look like he had the confidence. Against Burnley he got a start and scored twice. I think he’s someone who needs to start and build into the game, he’s better starting than coming off the bench. The two finishes were magnificent.

Mason Mount (Man Utd): This is a bit of a wildcard but he was excellent against Sunderland. Has struggled with injuries and left Chelsea for United under a bit of a cloud. He hasn’t really hit the ground running because of the injuries but looked back to his best. Calm, composed, worked hard for the team and got his goal. When he came off after 65 minutes the game lost its rhythm – he was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth): I’m running out of words for this guy – he just keeps scoring. He was relatively quiet against Fulham but somehow he goes from strength to strength. We didn’t see much of him for 70 minutes but all of a sudden he’s got two goals – running at players with pace and intent. He’s developed into a top player that top clubs must be looking at. He has signed a new deal at Bournemouth but I can see the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea being interested.

Erling Haaland (Man City): He is just the man. We’re in a world where people want to look at everything that players are doing, but he just scores goals – he’s a throwback. He bullied two centre-backs and had no right to score that goal at Brentford, but it has kept Manchester City on a forward trajectory. Everyone was speaking about Yoane Wissa and Alexander Isak in the summer and we all forgot about the big man. He is letting everyone know the guvnor’s back in town.

VIKTOR GYOKERES’ penalty should not have been overturned. The Arsenal forward went through on goal and was fouled by Nick Pope.

Newcastle goalkeeper Pope got a touch on the ball but he did not win the ball. The touch does not negate the award of a penalty.

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Why did VAR get involved? It was not a clear and obvious error from referee Jarred Gillett. The on-field decision should have stood.

Gyokeres played it onto Pope, that is how he got the touch and then there is a late challenge and brings him down.

How many times do you see a foul given for a player that wins the ball and follows through?

The touch does not mean it is not a penalty. VAR should not have got involved.

We saw this last season at Brighton when William Saliba was adjudged to have committed a foul on Joao Pedro after he headed the ball.

Newcastle then wanted a penalty of their own late on after Anthony Elanga’s cross struck Gabriel’s arm inside the box.

But Gillett got this right. It was not a penalty.

It was a blocked tackle, it came back off Elanga and hit Gabriel’s arm, which was in a natural position.

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When you go to ground, where else can your arm go? Your arm has got to be in the air.

And look at the pace of the ball and the close proximity.

I would have been amazed if Gillett would have recommended a review.

DECLAN RICE was rewarded for his brutal shift as Arsenal battled back to beat Newcastle.

However, Cristhian Mosquera failed to make the most of his chance after he was thrust into the starting XI alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.

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Arsenal were stunned in the first half after falling behind after a Nick Woltemade header in the 34th minute.

Mikel Arteta‘s side had dominated much of the first half and were denied a penalty by a VAR decision.

The visitors avoided defeat as Mikel Merino was the hero, nodding in an equaliser in the 84th minute.

The turnaround was complete as Gabriel scored in the winner in the dying seconds of the match.

Scroll down to see how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the Arsenal players’ performances…

DAVID RAYA – 6

Had very little to do and was let down by Gabriel for the goal.

Swept up well when needed.

JURRIEN TIMBER – 8

Strong performance from the Dutchman up against Anthony Gordon and he wasn’t found wanting once the game turned into a physical battle.

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Should have done better with a header when presented with a great chance to equalise but a strong performance from the full-back.

CRISTHIAN MOSQUERA – 4

His mis-kick gifted Newcastle the corner that led to their opener and he didn’t recover.

Struggled once the game turned into a scrap and by half-time his manager had seen enough as he was replaced by William Saliba.

GABRIEL – 6

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Looked rattled up against Woltemade and his weak attempt to buy a foul allowed the German to nod home.

His head had gone after that and he was fortunate when no VAR check caught his swing at Woltemade before the break.

Looked a lot more confident and composed once Saliba joined him in the backline and he put a difficult afternoon behind him by holding off Dan Burn to head home the winner at the death.

RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 6

Marshalled Jacob Murphy well in the first half but offered little going up the other way.

Was fuming when the referee put a stop to him using a towel for a long throw.

Got hooked midway through the second half as the Gunners had to go for it, but not before going into the book for a daft foul.

EBERECHI EZE – 6

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Forced Pope into an early save and unleashed another great strike before the break.

Was a constant threat throughout but he was bought to get goals in these big games and he failed to do that.

MARTIN ZUBIMENDI – 6

Struggled with the pace of the game at times and also failed to provide enough protection defensively, fortunately, he had Rice alongside him to help.

He did produce a fantastic outside of the boot pass to put it on a plate for Timber but that was the highlight of his afternoon.

DECLAN RICE – 8

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Tried his best to make things happen and did brilliantly to track Jacob Murphy and deny him a second.

Covered a lot of ground and got his reward when Merino capitalised on his brilliant cross.

BUKAYO SAKA – 6

Enjoyed a good battle against Dan Burn but the Toon defender just about edged it.

Helped out full-back Timber really well but just wasn’t his day up the other end.

LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6

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Another who tried his best to make something happen but he just couldn’t make it click.

Replaced late on without really causing too much of a threat.

VICTOR GYOKERES – 6

Headed straight at Nick Pope early on and then became the pantomime villain after being denied the penalty.

Rarely had a sniff after that as he struggled against the imposing Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman.

SUBS

WILLIAM SALIBA (for Mosquera, 46) – 7

Helped manage the physicality of Woltemade a lot better than the man he replaced.

The Gunners looked a lot more composed defensively while he was on the pitch.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI (for Saka, 70) – 6

Struggled to really get involved upon his arrival. Had one long-ranger late on but that was about it.

MIKEL MERINO (for Calafiori, 70) – 7

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Injected fresh life into the middle to keep Arsenal’s hopes of a comeback going and produced a great header to equalise. 

MARTIN ODEGAARD (for Zubimendi, 82) – 6

Could see Arsenal’s confidence grow as soon as he got on and he provided the magic for a winner. His brilliant corner was placed perfectly for Gabriel to head home.

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (for Trossard, 88) – 5

His pace was a threat during the closing stages but failed to carve open a clear-cut opportunity.

Liverpool and Barcelona want Julian Alvarez, Real Madrid remain keen on Arsenal’s William Saliba and Spurs still want to sign Savinho from Manchester City.

Former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez, 25, is considering leaving Atletico Madrid next summer, with Liverpool and Barcelona interested in signing the Argentina international. (Fichajes – in Spanish, external)

West Ham’s concerns over Nuno Espirito Santo’s financial demands could open the door for Slaven Bilic to replace Graham Potter, who is clinging on to his job after the Hammers’ poor start to the season. (Guardian, external)

Barcelona want to do a deal with Manchester United to sign on-loan England forward Marcus Rashford, 27, for £26m – a fee short of United’s valuation, which is closer to £35m. (Star, external)

Real Madrid watched Arsenal centre-back William Saliba, 24, in action against Manchester City on Sunday and maintain their interest in signing the France international. (TBR Football, external)

Crystal Palace captain and England centre-back Marc Guehi, 25, is still eager to join Liverpool as a free agent next summer, having nearly signed for the Premier League champions on deadline day. (GiveMeSport, external)

England captain Harry Kane, 32, has a clause in his contract which means the striker could leave Bayern Munich for £56.7m next summer – but only if he announces his intention to depart the German champions before the end of the winter transfer window. (Bild – in German, subscription required, external)

Tottenham retain an interest in Manchester City winger Savinho, 21, and could revisit a potential deal for the Brazil attacker in January. (Teamtalk, external)

Meanwhile, Spurs are prepared to offer up to £35m to sign Real Sociedad’s Spain midfielder Brais Mendez, 28, in January. (Fichajes – in Spanish, external)

Chelsea are monitoring Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly, with Leeds United, Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon also interested in the versatile 20-year-old. (Football Insider, external)

Manchester United have prioritised a “major goalkeeper signing” next summer. (Sun, external)

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is a target for Newcastle, Chelsea are stepping up their interest in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, while Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain are keeping tabs on Arsenal defender William Saliba.

Newcastle are considering a January move for Manchester United’s 20-year-old England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. (Talksport), external

Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain are monitoring William Saliba’s situation at Arsenal, with talks continuing over a new contract for the 24-year-old France defender. (CaughtOffside) , external

Chelsea are stepping up their bid to sign Crystal Palace’s 21-year-old England midfielder Adam Wharton in January. (Teamtalk), external

Everton may enter the free transfer market for a full-back if their injury problems continue. (Football Insider), external

West Ham, Everton and Nottingham Forest considered a move for Sergio Reguilon over the summer, with the 28-year-old Spain full-back a free agent after leaving Tottenham. (Mail), external

Liverpool are considering versatile Barcelona and Uruguay international Ronald Araujo as a replacement for fellow 26-year-old defender Ibrahima Konate should the Frenchman leave for Real Madrid. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Bournemouth intend to step up contract talks with head coach Andoni Iraola over the next month with the Spaniard’s current deal expiring next summer. (The I paper – subscription required), external

Ruben Amorim is facing a critical period as Manchester United boss, with the next three matches effectively determining whether he will remain in charge at Old Trafford or not. (Daily Express), external

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, former England boss Gareth Southgate, Fulham chief Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Iraola are among the potential replacements for Amorim should Manchester United sack him. (Daily Star) , external

West Ham have also started to consider potential successors to under-pressure boss Graham Potter and want someone who can galvanise the squad and the club’s fanbase. (Teamtalk), external

The agent of Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson says the 24-year-old will never return to Chelsea following his loan move to Bayern Munich. (Canal+ via Transfermarkt – in German), external

Arsenal make contract offer to defender William Saliba, Benfica want Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Besiktas close in on signing Jota Silva from Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal have offered France defender William Saliba a five-year contract extension as talks continue with the 24-year-old, whose current deal runs out in 2027. Real Madrid are monitoring the centre-back’s situation. (FootMercato – in French), external

Liverpool are confident they are leading the race to sign England defender Marc Guehi, 25, next summer when the Crystal Palace defender’s contract expires and are looking at an £87m deal to sign Bayern Munich and France winger Michael Olise, 23. (Caught Offside), external

Benfica presidential candidate Joao Noronha Lopes wants to sign Manchester City attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva in January if he is elected and has already held talks with the 31-year-old Portugal international, who will be out of contract next summer. (Record – in Portuguese), external

England defenders Harry Maguire, 32, and Luke Shaw, 30, are both under assessment at Manchester United as the club look to bring in possible defensive reinforcements next summer. (Teamtalk), external

Besiktas are closing in on a deal to sign Portugal winger Jota Silva, 26, from Nottingham Forest. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Colombia winger Luis Diaz, 28, wanted to leave Liverpool last summer and the Reds proposed swapping him with then-Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez, 25, but the Argentine joined Atletico Madrid instead, while Diaz is now at Bayern Munich. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

AEK Athens are keen to offload France striker Anthony Martial, 29, and have offered the ex-Manchester United forward to a number of Mexican clubs. (FootMercato – in French), external

Martial will travel to Monterrey for a medical after being given permission to do so by AEK Athens. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Juventus are looking at Atalanta’s 27-year-old forward Ademola Lookman as a leading candidate to succeed 25-year-old Serbia international Dusan Vlahovic, who is expected to leave the Serie A club. Manchester United and Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee, 24, is also an option. (Tuttosport – in Italian), external

Inter Milan remain interested in France midfielder Manu Kone and their ambition to sign the 24-year-old could be helped by Roma’s need to raise money to meet Financial Fair Play rules. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Chelsea’s 20-year-old Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo has had an operation on a thigh injury and could be out for a minimum of 12 weeks. (Athletic – subscription required), external