Arsenal’s Hale End academy has churned out talent after talent over the previous 25 years, from the likes of Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy to Jack Wilshere emerging and becoming stars in the first team.

Mikel Arteta now has his own generation of youth prospects to pick and choose from, with the academy arguably having never been stronger than it has been under the Spaniard’s tenure.

Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson, and Eddie Nketiah have all made massive strides under the 40-year-old, yet it is Emile Smith Rowe who could perhaps be the surprise package, with his value skyrocketing.

How much is Emile Smith-Rowe worth now?

The 22-year-old has been unlucky with injuries this term, missing 13 matches in total while only playing nine matches across all competitions.

However, his sparkling form since breaking into Arsenal’s first team in the 2020/2021 season has seen his value rise, with Transfermarkt rating him at a whopping €38m (£34m).

That is a staggering 1316% increase from the start of the aforementioned campaign when he was valued at just €2.7m (£2.4m).

The Englishman made his name at Hale End, scoring 21 goals and grabbing eight assists for the U18 and U21 sides, and these numbers caught Unai Emery’s eye, thus giving him some experience in the Europa League in 2018/2019.

Two goals in four appearances in the competition was an encouraging start and loan moves to RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town convinced Arteta that Smith Rowe was ready for regular first-team football.

Last season, the attacking midfielder was in superb form, scoring ten Premier League goals, creating three big chances, making 0.9 key passes per game, and succeeding with 60% of his attempted dribbles with his attacking output was key for Arsenal.

Indeed, he ranked second behind only Saka for goals, third in the squad for shots on target per game (0.7), and fifth for big chances created.

Despite his injury this term, Arsenal have been excellent and Arteta will be pleased to have the youngster back in the squad ready to gain some vital minutes ahead of what could be the most important two months in the club’s recent history.

The £40k-per-week star certainly has an extremely bright future with former Gunners player Mesut Ozil dubbing him a “difference maker” in 2021. That was certainly a testament to just how impressive he looked upon breaking into the senior side.

Having cost nothing, Arsenal have definitely hit the jackpot with the 22-year-old and if he can recapture the form he showed last season over the next eight weeks, Arteta may well have a secret weapon he can utilise.

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Pablo Sarabia’s injury is ‘not expected to be serious’, according to journalist Liam Keen.

The Lowdown: Injury concerns

The Spaniard made the move to the Premier League from Paris Saint-Germain back in January and has made an instant impact at Molineux, though he’s recently been the subject of concern.

The Old Gold winger was noticeably missing from the match-day squad for the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, with no confirmation beforehand that he’d had a problem, though a positive update has now emerged.

The Latest: Sarabia fitness update

Taking to Twitter, Keen relayed an update from Julen Lopetegui on Sarabia’s fitness after Sunday’s loss at St. James’ Park. He wrote:

“Lopetegui has confirmed Pablo Sarabia has an injury. He didn’t confirm what kind of injury, but I believe it’s his heel. The head coach also did not confirm how long he’ll be out, but it’s not expected to be serious.”

The Verdict: Boost for Lopetegui

Wolves are currently the joint lowest-scoring team in the division and need all the attacking help they can get, so Sarabia not facing a long spell on the sidelines will be a boost for Lopetegui.

The Madrid native already has one goal and a man-of-the-match award to his name and is averaging 1.4 shots per top-flight game (WhoScored).

The 30-year-old also has the flexibility to operate in an outstanding nine different positions so can play pretty much anywhere the manager requires him.

Sarabia will have a significant role to play in whether the Midlands outfit are able to maintain their top-flight status between now and the end of the season, and the boss will be delighted to have him back in the coming days and weeks.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter is expected to remain in charge at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the season, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Uncertain future

The Premier League boss has been under huge pressure after a poor run of form, which has seen several candidate names being linked to take over in the capital.

Todd Boehly reportedly made contact with Mauricio Pochettino and is an admirer of Zinedine Zidane, but the 47-year-old has since secured his side a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

After Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund, the Blues coach was spotted celebrating with the owner in the tunnel, who appears to have made a short-term decision on his future.

The Latest: Potter set to stay

According to the The Daily Mail’s Chief Football Reporter Sami Mokbel, Chelsea are expected to give Potter ‘breathing space’ which will mean he can ‘at least’ see out the remainder of the 2022/23 season.

Boehly’s consistent backing is said to have been ‘rewarded’, with concerns that he might have had to dismiss the manager now ‘nothing he needs to worry about’.

The Verdict: Risk worth taking

Potter will know that two back-to-back victories won’t have completely removed him from the spotlight but Chelsea deciding to put their full faith in him is a risk worth taking.

The Solihull-born coach has won 11, drawn seven and lost ten of his 28 games in charge so far, but qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League is a huge statement to make, with cross-town rivals Tottenham crashing out on Wednesday to show just how easily it can all fall apart in Europe.

Kai Havertz has also publicly admitted that the players are 100% behind him to succeed so it’s time for them to step up and start picking up results should they want Potter to remain in the dugout.

A number of Manchester United fans online have slammed Casemiro after he picked up a straight red card for a reckless challenge in his most recent appearance.

Why was Casemiro sent off against Southampton?

In their latest Premier League outing, the Red Devils failed to win in front of their own supporters as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford against Southampton.

Erik ten Hag and co understandably came into the match as favourites, with the Saints stuck at the very bottom of the table but one poor decision from United’s central midfielder made things an awful lot more complicated on the day.

Indeed, with just 34 minutes played, Casemiro lunged in on Carlos Alcaraz and while referee Anthony Taylor initially just booked the 31-year-old, it was upgraded to a red following a VAR check.

This isn’t the Brazilian’s first straight red card of the season either. After all, he was given his marching orders in February against Crystal Palace in another ill-judged moment at Old Trafford.

As a result, he now faces a four-match suspension which could see him miss the FA Cup quarter-final at home to Fulham on top of three league games against Newcastle United, Brentford and Everton.

It seems as though the midfielder’s poor discipline has left some Man Utd fans at their wits’ end. Here are some of the best reactions online…

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been hailed by The Athletic reporter Liam Twomey for his performance in the 2-2 draw against Everton this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Chelsea held at home

After a very difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge for Graham Potter, the Chelsea manager looks to be finally gathering some momentum, with his side unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions.

However, they were held to a late draw at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Joao Felix’s second-half strike put the Blues into the ascendancy before Abdoulaye Doucoure equalised for the visitors. Kai Havertz then slotted home from the spot to regain the lead, but Ellis Simms’ late strike tied a closely contested game.

The Latest: Enzo praised

Despite the impressive performance of Felix, The Athletic’s Liam Twomey took to Twitter during the match to single out Fernandez for special praise, hailing the impact the midfielder’s made since arriving for a British-record fee in January.

Twomey said: “It is ridiculous how routinely excellent Enzo has been in this team from day one. Zero adaptation required.”

The Verdict: Fantastic display

Felix will likely get a lot of the plaudits after scoring his second Premier League goal for Chelsea, but it was another commanding performance from Fernandez in midfield, registering a 90% pass accuracy – the highest of any player that started the match.

Not only did the maestro display his ability in picking out his teammates, but he also won seven of the ground duels that he contested, which was again a higher amount than any other player on the pitch.

Fernandez maintaining his current level will be vital if Chelsea are to continue their push for the European spots during the remainder of the Premier League season, with the Blues next in action at home to Aston Villa after the international break.

Tottenham Hotspur could potentially look to make Thomas Tuchel their successor for Antonio Conte with the Italian expected to be handed his marching orders.

When could Conte be sacked?

There was an expectation that the Italian manager would cut his ties with the north London club at the end of the season when his contract runs out.

However, reports over the last 24 hours have suggested he may not make it until then to make the decision for himself with Daniel Levy set to sack him.

A number of managers are believed to have been shortlisted by Fabio Paratici ahead of Conte's potential departure and one of them is the former Chelsea manager, Tuchel.

Speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel, journalist Fabrizio Romano has admitted the German manager is one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks:

"I would keep an eye also on the final name, and it's Thomas Tuchel, because Tuchel wants to return, too. Tuchel can't wait to be back as soon as possible in football.

"And so at the moment, there are no contacts, but the relationship between his agent and Tottenham is excellent."

Should Spurs hire Tuchel?

Tuchel has certainly enjoyed success at Chelsea having won the London club the Champions League back in 2020 along with a handful of cups from his time at Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.

And in terms of Tottenham's current set-up, the 49-year-old could be viewed as someone who could slot straight into the club having played with a similar formation during his time at Chelsea.

So in that sense, Tuchel could potentially offer Levy an instant replacement for Conte and provide the Spurs players with a fresh voice whilst not making huge changes with 10 games remaining.

However, there have been suggestions that Tuchel may feel there are better jobs potentially set to come available for him over the coming months.

And that could well be seen as Tuchel holding a similar perspective as Conte in that he may be settling for Spurs.

That is something which Spurs fans will surely not want with their next manager needing to be fully committed to the cause with a project seemingly on their hands.

A big task is seemingly on the hands of the next Spurs manager and it will be interesting to see – if Conte is sacked – if someone is keen to take the reins for the remaining 10 games other than Ryan Mason.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope is expected to return from injury when the Premier League resumes after the international break as his injury is ‘nothing too serious’, according to injury expert Ben Dinnery.

The Lowdown: Pope injured

Pope has been forced to withdraw from the England squad ahead of their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine, with it emerging that the goalkeeper missed most of the side’s training sessions last week.

The shot-stopper is said to have played through the injury in Newcastle’s 2-1 victory away at Nottingham Forest last time out, so it appears he does not wish to risk aggravating the issue any further by playing for his national side.

Having made 26 appearances in the Premier League this season, the 30-year-old has well and truly cemented his place as a key part of Eddie Howe’s side, so there would have been understandable concern when the injury news came to light, however it fortunately does not appear to be too serious.

The Latest: Dinnery’s update

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Dinnery indicated the Englishman should be fit to return for Newcastle’s important game against Manchester United at the beginning of April.

The injury expert said: “You’re looking at Pope and thinking, Pickford is number one in that team and who can Southgate bring in to support him and deputise?

“Again, nothing too serious for Newcastle supporters to worry about. It’s more of a management issue and I would expect him to return when the Premier League resumes at the beginning of April.”

The Verdict: Great news

The former Burnley man has been a key component in Newcastle’s unexpected push for the Champions League places this season, keeping a total of 12 clean sheets, the joint-highest amount of any player in the top flight.

This solidity between the sticks has been an important factor in the Magpies managing to maintain the best defensive record in the division so far this season, conceding just 19 goals, six fewer than any other Premier League side.

Newcastle are two points off the top four with two games in hand, meaning they have a great chance of securing Champions League football for next season, but they will need their best players available in the latter stages of the season.

As such, it is fantastic news that their ‘fantastic’ goalkeeper will be available for what could be a real six-pointer against Manchester United next month, while they are also still to face tough opponents in Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Members of the media have reacted to an ‘astonishing’ development involving Richarlison after Tottenham’s aggregate Champions League defeat to AC Milan.

The Lowdown: Spurs out…

Spurs are now out of Europe after a dismal 0-0 draw in north London on Wednesday, having squandered their last opportunity to win a trophy this season.

Head coach Antonio Conte has been under-fire since and rumours around his immediate future are set to keep circulating.

The Italian’s contract expires at the end of this season with Spurs having an option to extend by a further 12 months, yet reports suggest this is highly unlikely.

The Latest: Journalists react to ‘astonishing’ Richarlison message…

Following the game, summer signing Richarlison didn’t hold back in an interview with TNT Sports (via The Telegraph), swiping at Conte’s tactics and freely admitting this season has been, in his words, “s***”.

Reacting to the uncensored post-match interview, journalist Matt Law and Jonathan Veal gave their takes – stating:

“Incredible interview by Richarlison. Often happens when players speak to their own country’s media in the mixed zone.” – Veal.

“Astonishing interview this – particularly from a forward who has scored in one game for Spurs this season, is yet to score in the PL and started the FA Cup defeat to Sheff Utd before being substituted off.” – Law

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The Verdict: Surprising…

The former Everton star has often portrayed himself as an emotional player on the field, but you could be forgiven for never expecting such a brutally honest interview.

Richarlison can have few complaints over his exclusion this season, especially when looking at his overall form for the Premier League top four chasers.

The Brazil international still has zero league goals to his name in a Spurs shirt, contributing just two in all competitions throughout 2022/2023 (Transfermarkt).

While he has found consistent starts hard to come by, you can make the argument he just simply hasn’t delivered when handed the opportunity.

Leeds United have outlined their attack as a real point of concern in recent weeks, yet their match against Brighton and Hove Albion suggested that perhaps it is not the only area for improvement.

The Whites have become a massively struggling outfit, with Javi Gracia the new man desperately trying to ensure their continued status in the Premier League next season.

However, following the results over the weekend, the Spaniard has seen his side drop into the relegation zone.

They were even quite fortunate to gain a point over the Seagulls, so things could have been even worse had they not fought back with such vigour.

Perhaps instead of seeking to solve their scoring problem, they could instead employ a tried and tested tactic for avoiding the drop of shoring up the defence.

One potential partner for the experienced Max Wober to achieve this could come from the academy, in the form of Diogo Monteiro.

Who is Diogo Monteiro?

Having signed in January, the Portuguese youngster arrived with vast potential backing him and a sparkling future ahead.

He had previously impressed in Switzerland for FC Servette, and across his three recorded games had outlined himself as a fine ball-playing defender. His 83% pass accuracy was underpinned by his two duels won and one clearance made per game (via Sofascore).

Football scout Ron Dor has been particularly vocal in his praise for the 6-foot stopper, labelling him a “beast in the making” who has very quickly become a “monster”.

With a penchant for stepping out from the back to start attacks, and the youthful confidence to facilitate this, he could make a fine foil to sit beside Wober, who has starred since his January introduction.

In the Premier League, the Austrian boasts a 7.00 average rating, and averages 1.8 interceptions, 1.7 tackles and 3.3 clearances per 90 (via Sofascore).

It is clear he is more than capable of picking up the defensive slack that Monteiro might leave, whilst the 18-year-old can act as the catalyst for turning defence into offense.

By unleashing him, it could not only add an extra layer of solidity and confidence at the back but coincidentally help bolster their attack too as the teenage sensation would launch them on his own.

A number of Arsenal fans have flocked to Twitter to wish former player Mesut Ozil all the best after the German announced his retirement.

What happened between Mesut Ozil and Arsenal?

On Wednesday afternoon, the 34-year-old took to Instagram to state that he would be hanging up his boots amid recent injury issues.

His statement read: “After thoughtful consideration, I’m announcing my immediate retirement from professional football.

“I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity.

“But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it’s become more and more clear that it’s time to leave the big stage of football.

“It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions. I want to thank my clubs – Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Basaksehir – and the coaches who supported me, plus team-mates who have become friends.”

He also added: “Thank you to all my fans who have shown me so much love no matter the circumstances and no matter which club I was representing.”

In a glittering career, the talented midfielder played 254 times for Arsenal, winning three FA Cups along the way as he impressed supporters with his technical quality and creative skill set – earning the reputation as the “assist king”.

However, it’s safe to say things didn’t end too well for Ozil in north London, as Mikel Arteta dropped him from his side in an attempt to get rid of the German, who was viewed as underperforming while having a mammoth £350,000-a-week contract.

Eventually, he opted to leave Arsenal six months before his contract was due to expire, with the player and club agreeing to a mutual termination back in 2021.

He went on to play for Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce before moving last summer to Istanbul Basaksehir. He ends his career as a World Cup winner, while also winning major trophies in Spain and Germany.

Despite how things turned out for him towards the end of his time with Arsenal, it seems as though many fans will remember him for the good moments rather than the bad.

Here are some of the best reactions…