New York State

Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign

Gary Neville says former Manchester United star is now ‘actually perfect’ for Ruben Amorim

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Danny Welbeck of Brighton & Hove Albion congratulates Yankuba Minteh of Brighton & Hove Albion he scored their side's third goal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Chelsea FC at Amex Stadium on February 14, 2025 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Gary Neville says Danny Welbeck would be ‘actually perfect’ for Manchester United (Getty)

Gary Neville believes Danny Welbeck is ‘actually perfect’ for Manchester United and has branded suggestions that the Brighton striker is not good enough for Ruben Amorim’s side as ‘absolutely rubbish’.

The 33-year-old has been in excellent form for Brighton this season, scoring six goals and registering four assists in the Premier League so far.

On Friday night, Welbeck delivered another impressive performance as Brighton sealed a 3-0 victory over Chelsea.

Welbeck came through United’s academy and made 142 first-team appearances before he was sold to Arsenal for £16 million in 2014.

Neville believes United made a mistake in selling Welbeck and feels the striker would be good enough to help Amorim’s side, who are currently 13th in the Premier League.

‘He was let go too quickly at United because if you think about Louis van Gaal, obviously his style of play is very precise, and Danny wasn’t precise in his game back then. So he just let him go, he just didn’t fancy him at all,’ Neville told Sky Sports.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - February 14, 2025 Brighton & Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck in action with Chelsea's Moises Caicedo Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..
Danny Welbeck impressed in Brighton’s 3-0 win over Chelsea on Friday night (Reuters)

‘But he’s actually perfect for how Manchester United should play, threatening space in behind, playing off front players.

‘This idea that he’s not good enough for Manchester United is absolutely rubbish. He’s good enough to be in a pool of three or four strikers at Manchester United.

‘Just like, for instance, Liverpool have three, four, five forward players across that front line. They all have differing abilities, different talents, Salah is the standout one, then you might move back to Gakpo and others who maybe aren’t as good but they all contribute at a certain point in the season, Divock Origi did it at Liverpool.

‘I’ve seen Nicolas Jackson last year being talked about at Chelsea as not being good enough. He is good enough to play at Chelsea, maybe if he had another striker up front to take the weight off his shoulders he would be one of two very good strikers at the club.

‘Sometimes we sort of tag these players with, ‘oh he’s not good enough’ – no, he is, to be part of a 20-man squad at a top club. He [Welbeck] can still play at the very top level.

‘He’s destroying defences, he’s torn Colwill and Chalobah to shreds tonight, that front four, and he was a part of it, a big part of it.’

Read More »

Mikel Arteta told £60 million Arsenal star will not be hugely missed

Arsenal Training Session
Mikel Arteta is currently dealing with an injury crisis at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have been told they will be able to cope without Kai Havertz by Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson.

The Gunners were dealt a seismic blow earlier this week when it emerged that the Germany international had suffered a season-ending injury.

Havertz, who has scored 15 goals this term, tore his hamstring while attempting to block a shot during a set-piece drill while the club were in Dubai on a warm weather training camp.

It remains unclear as to whether the former Chelsea player will require surgery, but Arsenal released a statement on Thursday that confirmed the 25-year–old was unlikely to feature again until pre-season at the earliest.

Despite his importance to the team and Arsenal’s chronic lack of attacking cover, Lawrenson insists Arsenal still have the tools at their disposal to compensate for the absence of Havertz.

‘Leandro Trossard will probably play as the number nine for Arsenal,’ Lawrenson told Paddy Power.

‘Teams have played without a recognised striker before, and it can work for them, but Arsenal have some difficult games before the end of the season.

Newcastle United v Arsenal - Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg
Kai Havertz will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury (Photo: Getty)

‘I think it’ll be difficult for Arsenal but it’s not the end of the world because even the very ordinary teams in the Premier League make chances and we know Arsenal score from set pieces.

‘Collectively, they have to give a little bit more if it’s possible. Would you say they’re going to miss Kai Havertz? Probably not.

‘He’s a decent footballer but he’s not a decent scorer. There’s no doubt that he can play, scoring just doesn’t come naturally to him.’

Despite his preferred forward line being unavailable, Arteta agrees with Lawrenson and remains confident Arsenal have enough of a goal threat to worry opposition starting with Leicester on Saturday.

Arsenal Training Session
Bukayo Saka has been sidelined for nearly two months with injury (Photo: Getty)

‘It’s a question of when. He has the right qualities, to play out wide or centrally. We must adapt to the strengths of our players,’ Arteta said of the teenager.

‘We’re going to have to adapt and it brings another opportunity. We have unpredictable players in one-vs-ones, who are creative and sharp and it will cause headaches to the opposition.’

After league leaders Liverpool conceded a last-minute James Tarkowski equaliser in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby against Everton, second-placed Arsenal sit seven-points off the summit.

Former Toffees midfielder Arteta believes the next block of fixtures will be decisive as to how the table shapes up come the end of the season.

‘When the gap becomes shorter when it’s not expected then it’s really positive and it can generate momentum,’ he said.

‘The next few weeks is critical, we need to see where we are after the international break in six or seven weeks.’

Read More »

Beyond roses and romance: Abel Mutua’s Men’s Conference 2025 redefines Valentine’s Day

Abel MutuaFor years, the so-called Men’s Conference was nothing more than an internet meme – an excuse for men to sidestep Valentine’s Day and other women-centric celebrations. But on February 14, 2025, content creator Abel Mutua turned satire into substance, hosting the country’s first real Men’s Conference with a powerful message: accountability. Mutua, a well-known filmmaker […]

Read More »