One of the most interesting prospects in the Premier League right now is Evan Ferguson, and Ian Wright is suddenly keen on Arsenal acquiring the striker.

This past weekend, in Brighton & Hove Albion’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, the Republic of Ireland international scored once more, bringing his Premier League total to six goals.

Wright is understandably excited for the Gunners to do everything in their power to get the attacker to North London, given that reports suggest Arsenal has already begun scouting Ferguson.

With Eddie Nketiah still lacking the form that has supporters convinced him he can be a main man and Gabriel Jesus out for the most part due to injury, Arsenal is obviously looking to add a long-term striker to the team.

Wright, however, believes that Ferguson is the player that Arsenal ought to be pursuing because the young player has all he needs to succeed with the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

When questioned about Ferguson through Wrighty’s House, Wright responded, “Oh my gosh, there’s no way I’m not going to say I’d take him at Arsenal.” We’ll observe the outcome.

Ian Wright advises Arsenal to pursue Evan Ferguson.

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar are expected to make significant purchases at the striker position in Arsenal’s roster during the summer transfer window of the next year.

Ferguson might also be a great choice among the few possibilities Arsenal truly has to select from, considering his age and Premier League background.

The 19-year-old Irish talent is still very much in the early stages of his football career, and Ferguson has not yet reached his full potential at Brighton.

However, Ferguson may prove the Seagulls that he is talented enough to play a leading role for a team like the Gunners in the future, and Arsenal might unlock that for the striker.

Suddenly, Arsenal has regained its position at the top of the Premier League after Mikel Arteta’s team quietly started playing very well and took advantage of their opponents’ mistakes over the weekend.

It’s been an odd one; Arsenal’s defensive dominance this season is a clear improvement over last, but the same alluring level of flair has been lost in the attacking department.

With 13 games remaining in the 2023–24 season, the Gunners lead the standings by a single point. They also have the greatest defensive record in the division and have only lost once, at home against Newcastle United.

No team in the Premier League has made less saves than the Emirates Stadium team (18), and only Manchester City has given up fewer shots from open play (72) than Arsenal (91).

William Sarabia, Ben White, Arsenal, Manchester City Premier League, Education, Eta
All of this combines to highlight the players’ increasing maturity and their newly discovered unity on the pitch, which speaks to their championship-winning pedigree.

Being a perfectionist, Arteta will, nevertheless, be eagerly awaiting the January transfer window, when astute spending might lead to the establishment of a more comfortable buffer between the team and its heel-snapping competitors.

The primary transfer target for Arsenal

Arsenal is expected to be keen to add players, and Aston Villa’s general in midfield, Douglas Luiz, is at the top of the transfer wishlist. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Luiz is Arteta’s “top target,” with speculations about Ruben Neves being unfounded.

The Italian reporter, though, has subsequently moved to Twitter to outline Villan boss Unai Emery’s unwavering determination to reject any approaches for the 25-year-old.

Luiz is regarded by the quickly developing Premier League team as the lynchpin in the midfield, and according to CIES Football Observatory, his strong performances this season have earned him a £52 million transfer worth.

Although the North London team is in a desperate attempt to recruit the Brazilian superstar, Football Insider reports that Manchester City is considering bringing back the player they let go for a fee of £15 million in 2019.

The playing style of Douglas Luiz

As Luiz grew into his skin, Manchester City thought he had no place in the squad, mostly because they had just acquired Rodri from Atletico Madrid for £62.5 million. However, Villa saw that Luiz had the potential to become a star.

spurs-skipp-douglas-luiz-aston-villa-transfer-gossip
Luiz has already accrued 171 appearances for Villa Park, with 18 goals and 17 assists. His skill set has impressed teams like Arsenal and his previous company, securing him the prominent position he currently holds.

Luiz’s creative ability has led The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell to refer to him as “the complete player.” According to FBref, he is among the top 9% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for goals, the top 16% for assists, and the top 19% for shot-creating actions per 90.

d. Luis Douglas, Aston Villa
At his core, the ten-cap international is a hard-working center-midfielder, but his expansive plays may demonstrate how he’s eschewing the outdated designations attached to conventional positions.

Rather, his Manchester City upbringing and the opportunity to develop all of his skills at Villa have shaped him into a really unique talent, and he has been playing his best since the summer.

Numbers from Douglas Luiz’s season

Under Emery’s tutelage, Luiz has truly come into his own as Aston Villa has advanced. Far from being merely a cog in the machine, the former Citizen is the vital component holding everything together—clever and crafty, persistent and smart while in possession.

He has five goals and two assists in 13 Premier League games as a central midfielder. On Sunday, he set up a lovely deep pass for Pau Torres to latch onto just before halftime against Tottenham Hotspur, bringing the game back to even before turning it around after the break to advance to the top four.

The £75k-a-week player has been one of the best all-around midfield players in Europe this season. According to Sofascore, he has an 89% pass success rate in the Premier League, averages 1.3 key passes, 2.3 tackles, and 6.1 ball recoveries per game, wins 59% of his duels, and succeeds with 64% of his dribbles.

This is just ridiculous for a player at his position; in just one game, Declan Rice, for instance, has completed 91% of his passes, made 0.8 crucial passes, 1.8 tackles, and 4.9 recoveries. He has also won 49% of his duels and 55% of his dribbles.

Premier League Douglas-Luiz-Aston-Villa
Rice completed a £105 million move from West Ham United to Arteta’s team in the summer after sparking the team’s efforts the previous several years and culminating in a Conference League triumph this past season.

Journalist Joshua Mbu once referred to him as a “Rolls-Royce,” and he’s more than living up to that shining reputation right now. With Luiz by his side in the engine room, the Gunners might reach new heights.

How Rodri and Douglas Luiz are comparable

Tanswell praised the 5 foot 10 machine this term for his “remarkable” creative talent. The FBref player comparison model has connected the player to Rodri, maybe because of their same core attributes due to their previous involvement with the Etihad Stadium.

Rodri of Manchester City celebrates with Bernardo Silva and Erling Braut Haaland after scoring their second goal.
Journalist Raphael Honigstein asserts that Rodri can “do everything,” making him the best No. 6 in the world right now. Luiz, meantime, is excelling in a variety of midfield game-related areas.

In terms of goals, shot-creating actions, pass completion and pass attempted, progressive passes, progressive carries per 90, and pass completion rates, the £220k-per-week Spaniard is among the top 10% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the previous year.

The 27-year-old has amassed three goals and two assists in 11 Premier League games. He has also completed 94% of his passes, averaging 1.2 crucial passes, 2.0 tackles, and 7.0 recoveries per game, and has successfully completed 75% of his dribbling attempts.

Douglas Luiz: AVFC Squad against. PL Stats 23/24

Statistics

No.

rating of the squad

Objectives

5.

Second

Helps

2.

= Third

Progress carries

30

Second

Progress is made.

71

Second

passes the comp.

716

Third

Obtain success with a pass

85 percent

Fifth

Shot-producing manoeuvres

46

Third

Attacks

30

first

Blocks

15

Second

*Reproduced from FBref

essentially the master of all trades and the jack-of-all trades. Even if he is currently more skilled and productive than Luiz, the Brazilian player has a model to follow—especially considering how highly regarded he is this season in comparison to his colleagues.

Important in a variety of roles, Arsenal must act quickly in January. Although he may be pricey, the Aston Villa player would be well worth the money and could challenge Rodri for the Gunners in the upcoming season, possibly even making the difference in the chase for the elusive Premier League trophy.

After seeing Declan Rice play for Arsenal against Brentford, Garth Crooks has made his assessment of the midfielder.

According to the former forward for Tottenham Hotspur, Rice is just as important this season as Martin Odegaard, an attacking midfielder for Arsenal, was the previous one.

What has Garth Crooks stated regarding Declan Rice, an England international and midfielder for Arsenal? Now let’s examine.

What is the narrative?

Well, Arsenal triumphed over Brentford in their away match this past weekend in the Premier League.

In the 89th minute, Kai Havertz scored the game’s lone goal. At the top of the league table right now is Arsenal.

Declan Rice was a standout for the North London team, even though Arsenal was not playing at its best and players like Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli were having trouble making an impression.

This season, Rice has shown that he is a formidable player for Arsenal in the middle of the park.

Following his summer transfer window departure from West Ham United, the 24-year-old has excelled for the Gunners.

Rice is in BBC Sport’s Premier League Team of the Week, which was put together by former Tottenham Hotspur forward Garth Crooks.

The analyst highlighted Rice’s impact and described how he assisted Arsenal custodian Aaron Ramsdale in the match against Brentford.

Regarding Rice, Crooks stated to BBC Sport: “Arsenal managed to secure a victory despite Mikel Arteta’s criticism of his team’s professionalism and ability to maintain a clean sheet against Brentford.

“It was sheer brilliance how Declan Rice saw that Aaron Ramsdale was having trouble, ducked under his keeper and positioned himself to clear the ball off the line.

“Rice is demonstrating the same kind of influence as Martin Odegaard did for the Gunners during the previous season. Arsenal now leads the standings after their victory, and they have a respectable stretch of games ahead of them before hosting Brighton and Villa away. Which none of them will be easy, but everything is achievable if they can stay at the top come January 1.

At Arsenal, Declan Rice will excel on a global scale.

Declan Rice will develop into a world-class player for Arsenal, in my opinion. The midfield player is headed towards “elite” status, in my opinion.

Rice is among the top midfield players in the Premier League, as we well know. It tells a lot about his perception in the football community that City manager Pep Guardiola wanted to sign him in the summer of 2023.

Rice must be deemed “world class” if he performs admirably over two or three seasons in the UEFA Champions League.

After observing Declan Rice in action against Brentford, Garth Crooks has made a determination regarding the midfielder for Arsenal.

The former forward for Tottenham Hotspur thinks that Rice’s impact has increased to the level of attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard of Arsenal from the previous campaign.

What has Declan Rice, an England international and midfielder for Arsenal, been mentioned by Garth Crooks? Let’s examine this.

What is the tale?

Well, this past weekend saw Arsenal defeat Brentford away from home in the Premier League.

The game’s lone goal was scored by Kai Havertz in the 89th minute. Right present, Arsenal leads the league standings.

Declan Rice stood out for Arsenal despite the North London club not being at its best, with players like Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli finding it difficult to make an impression.

This season, Rice has been an Arsenal midfield weapon to be reckoned with.

Since joining the Gunners during the summer transfer window from West Ham United, the 24-year-old has been outstanding.

Garth Crooks, a former forward for Tottenham Hotspur, has named Rice to his BBC Sport Premier League Team of the Week.

The analyst highlighted how important Rice is and described how he supported Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale in the match against Brentford.

“Mikel Arteta can whittle on all he likes about keeping a clean sheet and the professionalism of his team’s performance against Brentford, but Arsenal got away with this win,” Crooks told BBC Sport regarding Rice.

Declan Rice showed pure brilliance when he saw that Aaron Ramsdale was having trouble, got behind his goalie, and positioned himself to clear the ball off the line.

“Rice is showing to be just as important for the Gunners as Martin Odegaard was during the previous campaign. With the victory, Arsenal is now atop the standings and has a respectable run of games left before visiting Villa and Liverpool and playing Brighton at home. None of which will be easy, but everything is achievable if they can maintain their current position at the beginning of the new year.

Declan Rice at Arsenal will excel on a global scale.

Declan Rice has the potential to be an elite player for Arsenal, in my opinion. The midfield player is, in my opinion, headed for “elite” status.

Rice is among the Premier League’s top midfield players, as we well know. What speaks volumes about his standing in the football community is the fact that City manager Pep Guardiola was interested in signing him in the summer of 2023.

We must refer to Rice as “world class” if he does well in the UEFA Champions League for two or three seasons.

At one point, Pep Guardiola was trying to get Douglas Luiz to play for Manchester City, and Arsenal Sporting Director Edu was trying to help.

The Mirror, which has reported on Arsenal’s interest in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, claims this.

What then has been said regarding Pep Guardiola, Edu, Douglas Luiz, Arsenal, and Manchester City? Let’s examine this.

What is the tale?

The Mirror claims that during the January transfer window, Arsenal is interested in acquiring Douglas Luiz from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

According to the report, Edu, the Sporting Director of Arsenal, is personally interested in seeing his fellow Brazilian at the Emirates Stadium.

Villa is unwilling to part with Luiz. Unai Emery, the former manager of Arsenal, is now in charge of the Villans, who defeated Tottenham Hotspur this past weekend to move into the top four of the Premier League.

According to The Mirror, Edu, who was Brazil’s general coordinator at the time, helped City make their case for Luiz’s work permit so he could play in the Premier League in the summer of 2018.

According to the report, in an attempt to persuade the authorities to give Luiz a work permit, City manager Pep Guardiola “recorded a personal video explaining how he would utilise the then-20-year-old within his Premier League-winning City squad.”

After it fell through, Luiz moved to Villa permanently in 2019. In June 2020, The Birmingham Mail quoted former Villa manager Dean Smith as calling him “unbelievable.”

Douglas Luiz may be difficult for Arsenal to sign in January.

In my opinion, Arsenal may have a difficult time signing Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa, a Premier League competitor, during the January transfer window.

Villa has no reason to move one of their best and most valuable players in the middle of the season unless Arsenal make an absurdly high bid.

Given that Villa wants to place in the top four of the Premier League this year, why would Unai Emery give Luiz away, particularly to Arsenal, his old team? It is completely nonsensical.

The Premier League leaders Kai Havertz’s winning goal in the 89th minute was set up by Bukayo Saka, leaving Brentford manager Thomas Frank to lament a moment of Arsenal genius at the end.

Until the clock reached ninety in West London, neither Bukayo Saka nor Kai Havertz had much of an effect on the game, as Frank stated during his post-match debrief on BBC’s Match of the Day.

All of Brentford’s effort was wasted, though, as Arsenal’s number seven cut in from the right and sent a laser-guided cross into Havertz’s head. The German found a pocket of space with some superb movement at the far post.

Tottenham defeats Brentford

Frank remarks, “I think we did a great job to keep two of the best wingers in the league quiet throughout the game.” Brentford’s doubling-up defence also kept Gabriel Martinelli on the outside.

“So, in the end, it’s just one outstanding action from Saka and fantastic movement from Havertz.”

Only “one top action” was required by Arsenal to take the top spot in the Premier League table back, just hours after Liverpool had held the defending champions, Manchester City, at home.

Two months after Saka gave Havertz more responsibility for penalties, allowing the much-maligned summer transfer from Chelsea to open his Arsenal account two months later, the former provided the latter with far more literal assistance against Brentford.

At last, Kai Havertz scores in open play.

These winners are a little bit late. After then, to rejoice in front of the audience… Havertz, who scored his first goal for the Gunners from open play and headed it past Mark Flekken at the last second, exhaled in relief.

“The cross (made by Saka) was incredible. And I reasoned, “Why not give this run a try?” Perfect ball play led to my goal.

Arsenal has only lost once in its 13 league games thus far this year. At this moment, the Gunners lead Man City by one point and Liverpool by two.