winger

Antoine Semenyo: Bournemouth’s world class winger fires them to ‘unthinkable’ heights

While almost half of Bournemouth’s first team left during the summer, Semenyo was linked with moves to Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham.

But instead he signed a five-year deal back on 1 July.

And that has proved to be fantastic business for the Cherries for he is one of the form players in the Premier League right now.

Last season, the 25-year-old Ghana forward hit double figures for the first time in his career – 11 goals in the league, 13 in all competitions.

This season he has scored six times in his opening seven Premier League games and assisted three more.

Semenyo was asked after the game by the BBC if this was the best form of his life.

“Yeah, I’d like to think so,” he said. “I thank God massively. He’s played a massive part in my life and I’m just reaping the rewards now. So yeah, I thank him always.”

There will be many clubs wishing they had taken the gamble on him before.

Semenyo qualifies for Ghana through his father, but he is from London. He was rejected by Arsenal, Spurs and Millwall as a youngster before ending up in a West Country academy run by former Leeds and Forest Green manager Dave Hockaday.

Bristol City signed him in 2017 but he needed loan spells at Bath, Newport and Sunderland before breaking into the Robins first team in 2020-21.

In January 2023, he made the £10m move to Bournemouth – and he has been improving ever since.

“I think he is a player with confidence,” said boss Andoni Iraola.

“It has been growing with him. He has played in other divisions, earning his way into the Premier League. He is very fundamental for us.”

His numbers are through the roof now. He is first in the Premier League for duels won, first for possession won in the final third, second for sprints and top five for dribbles. Plus all those goals of course.

Team-mate Kluivert said: “He is incredible. He shows it every game now. He is just world class.”

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Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Rodrygo BOOST, Eze updates, multiple Prem clubs chase Gunners winger – latest

Birmingham interested in former Arsenal star

Birmingham City are interested in the signature of Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain, according to reports from Sky Sports.

The 32-year-old plays his football for Turkish giants Besiktas, who are reportedly willing to allow the former England international to move on a free transfer.

Oxlade-Chamberlain made almost 200 appearances for the Gunners in his six-year spell with the club.

He came through the Southampton academy and also played for Liverpool before moving abroad.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Besiktas JK playing soccer.

Arsenal’s unlikely star

Arsenal cruised to a 1-0 victory over Man Utd in their opening game of the4 season, but the difference maker proved to be a surprising name.

All eyes were on new forward signing Viktor Gyokeres to open his competitive tally with the club

But it was defender Riccardo Calafiori who would nod in at the back post after Utd keeper Altay Bayindir fluffed his lines attempting to punch a corner away.

Mikel Arteta is determined to deploy Calafiori higher up the pitch than his size and position might usually dictate, and he could be one to watch this season for his attacking contirbutions.

Broadcast change causes Arsenal controversy

Arsenal found themselves at the mercy of a new broadcast rule introduced for the upcoming Premier League season during their season opener against Man Utd.

Captain Martin Odegaard was caught in the Old Trafford tunnel at half-time and interviewed on camera regarding the game’s events so far.

The out of breath Norwegian said: “It has been a bit too hectic at times.

“So much space is too open, we need to control it a bit better.

“When we get the ball, pick the right moments and be a bit more accurate when we counter.”

The Gunners went on to win the game 1-0 and get their title challenge off to a flyer.

The new interview type was introduced for the upcoming campaign to mixed reception from fans and former pros.

But not everyone enjoys the new insight, with fans questioning the quality of interview that broadcasters will get out of players in such high pressure situations.

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Xabi Alonso speaks out on Rodrygo

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed his position on Arsenal target Rodrygo.

It was uncertain where the Brazilian would fall into the newly appointed boss’ plans, but the Spaniard appears to have found a place for him.

He said: “There are many rumors in the summer, but I’ve seen him well and I count on everyone.

“I count on Rodrygo for sure, 100 per cent.”

Rodrygo of Real Madrid celebrating a goal.

Mikel Arteta defends Gyokeres debut despite fans’ uncertainty

The Gunners boss said: “He did a lot of things very good. You can tell, especially in our high pressing, the rhythm that we demand, especially in the first half, we’re giving a bit too much time.

“It’s something that we have to work on, especially there.

“And then in the finalising situation, he didn’t have that many chances to do that because, as I said, on the previous action before we had to play that last ball that the line was standing still with 40 metres behind, we managed to put the ball through to exploit his quality.

“But overall, coming away to Manchester United, winning your first game with Arsenal, it’s a good start.”

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal during a soccer match.

Eze battle nears its conclusion

Arsenal are set to lose out on priority target Eberechi Eze, if reports from Fabrizio Romano are to be believed.

North London rivals are offering up to a £60million package including add-ons for the England international.

The 27-year-old has been hugely influential in attack for Crystal Palace since arriving in 2020.

He appeared to have opened the scoring with a free-kick in the Eagles’ season opener against Chelsea, before it was ruled out due to Marc Guehi’s proximity to the wall.

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Jadon Sancho: Roma make bid for Manchester United winger

Roma have made an offer to sign England winger Jadon Sancho from Manchester United, where he remains excluded from training with the first-team squad.

United sources have not revealed the size of the bid from the Serie A club, nor whether it has been accepted.

However, the offer in itself underlines that there is interest in the 25-year-old, who has been told to find a new club before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

Juventus, who unlike Roma have qualified for this season’s Champions League, are also known to be interested in Sancho.

The former Borussia Dortmund wide man returned to United in the summer after Chelsea paid a £5m penalty to get out of an obligation to buy him, having spent last season on loan at Stamford Bridge.

There have also been suggestions that Roma would be interested in a loan, containing clauses that could be triggered at the end of the season.

However, that issue is complicated by the fact that Sancho’s United contract expires next summer. The club does have an option to extend it by an additional year, although given Sancho’s salary, it is debatable whether they would be willing to do that.

United are determined to sell Sancho. However, the closer to September they get without a deal in place, the more likely they are to consider a potential loan move, given it would at least take a significant sum off their wage bill.

Four players – Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrrell Malacia – have been training away from boss Ruben Amorim’s squad since the start of pre-season last month as the club believes they will have left before the window closes.

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