This week’s soccer questions: where next for Arsenal and did Liverpool fumble Slot’s departure? | Football

The place should Arsenal enhance after their Champions League ultimate loss?

The margins have been so slim that Arsenal might need completed Saturday as European champions had Gabriel Magalhães not skied his penalty within the shootout. Equally, the Champions League trophy could have ended up of their grasp had Cristhian Mosquera stopped himself from tripping Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to present Paris Saint-Germain a means again after the Gunners had taken an early lead.

In different methods, although, the margin of PSG’s victory was big. Arsenal’s possession share of simply 24.7% was the bottom in a Champions League ultimate since data started. Mikel Arteta’s staff accomplished simply 196 passes in 120 minutes of play. Compared, PSG recorded greater than 800, 488 of them within the opposition half.

In fact, possession doesn’t all the time equal dominance and Arsenal actually restricted PSG in a means few groups have just lately. It’s additionally true, nevertheless, that the Gunners want one other dimension to extend their likelihood of successful these types of video games sooner or later. That a lot is obvious. Arteta should evolve his staff to be extra imposing in opposition to the perfect opponents.

Left-wing is the best improve. Leandro Trossard began in opposition to PSG, however struggled to make an affect, failing to register a single contact within the opposition field. Gabriel Martinelli got here off the bench to supply a extra vertical risk, however faltered in his decision-making when Arsenal might need received in behind on the break a few times.

Arteta’s course of up to now has been methodical. Final summer season, he pushed for the addition of a number of depth choices within the perception it could assist Arsenal recover from the road in a title race. He was vindicated because the Gunners gained the Premier League for the primary time for the reason that Arsène Wenger period. Now, he should study classes from what occurred in Budapest to proceed the method.

Did Liverpool wait too lengthy to fireside Arne Slot?

Whereas Fenway Sports activities Group (FSG) have been nonetheless deciding what to do about Arne Slot’s future, Liverpool’s followers have been singing Xabi Alonso’s title. They noticed a staff in determined want of a brand new route to bounce again from a disappointing 2025-26 season and the previous Liverpool midfielder was extensively believed to be the correct man for the job.

So when Slot’s departure was confirmed on Saturday, two weeks after Chelsea appointed Alonso, there was bemusement. Why did Liverpool wait till the plain alternative had accepted one other job supply to make a managerial change? The place was the foresight?

Alonso would have made lots of sense for Liverpool, and never simply because he’s a former participant and a fan favourite. The Spaniard favors the kind of entrance foot, proactive soccer FSG have been transferring in direction of for plenty of seasons. Even earlier than Jurgen Klopp left, Liverpool have been infusing extra management into their play. Alonso would have been a continuation of this.

What’s extra, Alonso was a key determine within the growth of Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong at Bayer Leverkusen. Contemplating each gamers struggled for constant kind of their first season at Liverpool after big-money strikes final summer season, Alonso’s appointment would have been a means for the membership to guard their funding.

As an alternative, Liverpool are near hiring Andoni Iraola. The previous Bournemouth boss is extremely rated, however will arrive at Anfield with out the top-level success Alonso boasts. Iraola’s model is nearer to Klopp’s transition-heavy method than Slot’s possession-orientated recreation. Liverpool followers received what they needed in Slot’s dismissal, however FSG have chosen their very own means ahead.

Will Anthony Gordon be the last word system participant for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona?

As if Anthony Gordon’s £69.3m transfer to Barcelona final week wasn’t stunning sufficient, the Liverpool-born winger opened his mouth at his Camp Nou unveiling and spoke glorious Spanish, albeit with a slight Scouse twang. He had, in accordance with Gordon himself, been making ready for years to play for the Catalans. “As a child I believed I’d play for Barcelona, imagine it or not,” he mentioned.

That Barça have been fascinated about Gordon – by no means thoughts keen to pay a lot for him – was complicated to some contemplating the winger scored simply three open-play targets in 26 league appearances for Newcastle United final season. Gordon’s potential has been apparent since rising as a wonderkid at Everton, however his growth had seemingly stalled at St James’ Park.

Much more puzzling, Barcelona maintain a clause to signal Marcus Rashford completely for simply £25.9m after a season on mortgage from Manchester United, but have as a substitute chosen to spend greater than double that on a participant who could also be behind Rashford within the pecking order for England on the World Cup.

Hansi Flick, nevertheless, might see Gordon for greater than his crude output. He might be the last word system participant for Barcelona, who’ve certainly recognized the 25-year-old for his potential to press from the entrance and use his velocity in transition. At a time when elite-level large gamers are at a premium, Gordon suits the invoice for what the Spanish champions want. The Spanish-speaking Scouser is prepared for Barça they usually could also be prepared for him.