Chido Faces Arsenal For First Time

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A roundup of this weeks top stories

• Andrea Berta emerges as leading candidate for Arsenal Sporting Director role
• Benjamin Sesko remains primary striker target with £66m release clause
• Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly make history as first English teenage duo to combine for UCL knockout goal
• Joshua Kimmich set to stay at Bayern Munich despite Arsenal interest
• Max Dowman (U15) continues to impress in Arsenal U18s
• Bukayo Saka nearing return from injury

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Latest News

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Arsenal Closing In On Berta

Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano 🚨🔴⚪️ Arsenal are close to completing the appointment of Andrea Berta as new director to replace Edu. There are still formal details to sort with documents yet to be signed, but Berta is still giving priority to Arsenal. More to follow next week. 8:26 PM • Mar 8, 2025 508 Retweets 4112 Likes Read 221 replies

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Sesko Story Continues...

afcstuff @afcstuff 🚨 @David_Ornstein on striker links: “Arsenal will have done a significant amount of work on many options & to my knowledge, none more so than Sesko. That doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to sign him because there is the Isak interest & also they are not the only club pursuing… https://x.com/i/web/status/1897943229506494893 9:31 AM • Mar 7, 2025 112 Retweets 1870 Likes Read 52 replies

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Unlikely But I Would Sell

AFTV @AFTVMedia How much would you value Gabriel Martinelli at? 💰 2:1 PM • Mar 5, 2025 189 Retweets 4656 Likes Read 720 replies

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Chido To Face Arsenal For First Time

Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano 🔴⚪️⚠️ Arteta: “Chido Obi leaving us for Man United? I wasn’t much involved in that decision”. “When a player decides the best pathway for him is to leave is not much you can do… Unfortunate, because we want to keep our players from the academy to be successful”. 5:55 PM • Mar 7, 2025 1923 Retweets 33136 Likes Read 347 replies

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My Boys

Le African Gooner @leafricangooner 🚨 BREAKING from @OptaJoe: Myles Lewis-Skelly & Ethan Nwaneri are the first two English teenagers that ever combined for a goal in UEFA Champions League history! 😍 8:36 PM • Mar 4, 2025 331 Retweets 3891 Likes Read 12 replies

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Are We Sleeping On Calafiori

Alex @AMonFootball Riccardo Calafiori. If you want to give up on him or write him off as not good enough after 9 months in a new league, when… 🔺He’s had 4 separate injuries & missed 14 games 🔺 He’s joining the best defence in the world & expected to immediately match the level 🔺 We’ve seen it… https://x.com/i/web/status/1897771158109335894 10:7 PM • Mar 6, 2025 236 Retweets 4032 Likes Read 124 replies

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Wait, What??

͏͏͏𝐉𝐚𝐲 ⌖ @cagiago_ Lamine Yamal - 17 UCL appearances and 2 goals. Ethan Nwaneri - 2 UCL starts and 2 goals. 8:31 PM • Mar 4, 2025 1392 Retweets 13647 Likes Read 134 replies

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Who Is Andrea Berta

Early Career & Rise

• Began in banking before transitioning to football management with Serie D club AC Carpenedolo (2002–2006).
• Scouting roles at Parma (2007–2009) and Genoa (2009–2012), where he stabilised squads on limited budgets.
• Joined Atlético Madrid as technical director in 2013, promoted to sporting director in 2017.

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Transfer Market Mastery

• Key Signings: Jan Oblak (€16m, 2014), Antoine Griezmann (€30m, 2014), Rodri (€25m, 2018), Luis Suárez (free, 2020).
• Major Sales: Griezmann (€120m to Barcelona), Rodri (€70m to Man City), Lucas Hernández (€80m to Bayern).
• Recent coups: Julian Alvarez (£82m, 2024) and Conor Gallagher (loan-to-buy, 2024).

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Philosophy & Style

• Prioritises alignment with managers (e.g., Diego Simeone’s defensive grit and counterattacking ethos).
• Balances youth integration (Marcos Llorente, Thomas Lemar) with marquee signings.
• Expertise in navigating financial constraints, including post-pandemic austerity.

Manchester United Vs Arsenal

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Where to watch & time

Date:

9th March 2025

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UK

​16:30 Sky Sports

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US

12:30 PM ET NBC, Telemundo, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue & Peacock Premium

Scout Report

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Match Context:

• Arsenal aiming for back-to-back league wins at Old Trafford for the first time since 1979
• Potential record of five consecutive Premier League wins over Man Utd
• Mikel Arteta's 200th Premier League game as Arsenal manager

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Manchester United Form:

• 14th in Premier League table, turbulent season
• Ruben Amorim struggling: 18 points from 16 league matches
• No consecutive league wins yet this season

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Manager Insights:

• Mikel Arteta: Emphasises strong performance vs PSV (7-1 win), warns Man Utd still capable despite struggles
• Ruben Amorim: Highlights fatigue issues and injury concerns, acknowledges pressure for results

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Team News:

• Arsenal:
  • Out: Saka, Martinelli, Jesus, Havertz, Tomiyasu (long-term injuries)
  • Available: Myles Lewis-Skelly (returned from suspension)
• Manchester United:
  • Out: Lisandro Martinez (season), Diallo, Mainoo, Martinez, Bayindir, Heaton
  • Doubts: Mount, Evans, Shaw
  • Recent injuries: Maguire, Ugarte (Fulham game)
  • Suspended: Patrick Dorgu

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Key Stats:

• Man Utd lost last four league matches against Arsenal
• Arsenal scored in last 10 league visits to Old Trafford
• Man Utd poor home record against higher-placed sides: 1 win in last 8 games
• United conceded first goal in 12 league games since Amorim's arrival
• Arteta highest win rate vs Man Utd (70%) among managers with at least 5 games

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Recent Meetings at Old Trafford:

• Arsenal won two of last four league visits
• Last season: Arsenal won 1-0 (Trossard goal)
• Previous defeats: 3-1 (2022), 3-2 (2021)
• All five of Arsenal's Premier League wins at Old Trafford have been 1-0 scorelines

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My View

“ I expect we'll see another tight, low-scoring game at Old Trafford—they rarely make it easy for us, even when they're struggling. United look vulnerable right now, and with Arteta clearly getting the best out of the squad despite injuries, there's a sense we can properly capitalise. But there's always that lingering feeling that United step it up against us, and I genuinely hope Chido doesn't have one of his better days if he's involved. On our side, Skelly thrives in these big matches—City, Tottenham, he's shown he can handle the pressure—so for me, he gets the nod over Calafiori. Just Keep Your Head!!! ​ Manchester United 0 - 1 Arsenal — Cordell Hayes

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Predicted Lineup

(With Saliba & Gabriel swapped!)

Cordell Hayes Editor/Owner