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Who have been the Frenchman's best servants during an iconic 22-year reign in north London?

Goal1How they line upAdvertisementGetty Images2Dennis Bergkamp

A masterful technician who could make the game look easy at times. Bergkamp was never renowned for his goalscoring prowess but still managed over 100 goals during his time at Arsenal. Although he wasn't a Wenger signing it was Bergkamp who led the line for a new, entertaining Arsenal side under the Frenchman. Another player who has his own statue outside Arsenal's stadium.

Getty Images3Thierry Henry

Arsenal's greatest ever goalscorer. Three FA Cups, two Premier League titles and an Invincible season were part of Henry's honours list. The French striker had a blend of pace, skill and technique which was unrivalled in the Premier League. He even has his own statue outside Emirates Stadium.

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Getty Images4Robert Pires

Pure class. Possessed a perfect touch, precise shot and elegant running style which made it look as if he was gliding across the floor. Pires epitomises those who say 'he's a Wenger player'.

The runaway leaders have set a scintillating pace at the top of the table and boast plenty of players in this side – but who else has made the cut?

Bernd Leno – Arsenal

Bernd Leno may have dropped a clanger against Chelsea on Sunday but the German has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise disastrous Arsenal season, alongside striker and captain Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.

The defence under Unai Emery, Freddie Ljungberg and Mikel Arteta has been calamitous and the Gunners would have been in a much worse position in the table had it not been for Leno making save after save in goal.

Advertisement(C) Getty ImagesTrent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool

The best right-back in the Premier League on talent and on form, and now quite possibly the best right-back in the world too.

One of Liverpool's key attacking weapons as they have made sensational headway at the top of the table. Goals, assists, the 21-year-old has got the lot.

Getty ImagesCaglar Soyuncu – Leicester City

One of the discoveries of the season for Leicester City, the Turkish defender was reluctantly thrown in at the deep end as the Foxes could not find an adequate replacement for Manchester United-bound Harry Maguire.

He has been consistent, smart in possession and one of the main reasons why – until the visit of Liverpool at least – Leicester's defence has been the best in the league.

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GettyVirgil van Dijk – Liverpool

The reigning UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award holder, Van Dijk has worked his way up to become the best centre-back in world football.

Equally assured in possession as he is dominant in his defending, he has also pitched in with three goals this Premier League season.

Much was expected of AC Milan's coveted winger at Stamford Bridge but it was the hosts' rampaging wing-back who stole the show in a 3-0 win.

Chelsea gave their hopes of reaching the Champions League last 16 a timely boost with a resounding 3-0 victory over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Reece James was the star of the show, notching a goal and an assist in the space of six second-half minutes, with summer signings Wesley Fofana and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining the right-back on the scoresheet.

The one major negative for Chelsea on an evening full of positives was a serious-looking knee injury to Fofana that forced him off shortly after he had opened the scoring.

Still, this fine result means that the Blues have moved off the bottom of Group E and their qualification hopes are alive and kicking.

Below, GOAL runs through the winners and losers from a vital victory for Graham Potter and his players…

GettyThe Winners

Reece James:

Yet another player of the match award to add to his collection. James is fast becoming one of the most complete footballers around – let alone wing-backs. Having kept the outrageously pacey Leao quiet in the first half, James flipped the narrative on its head to become the attacking protagonist after the break, crossing for Aubameyang before slamming the ball into the roof of the net himself to make it 3-0.

Kepa Arrizabalaga:

Handed another start despite Edouard Mendy being available again, Kepa repaid that faith when required. This match will be remembered for Chelsea's attacking performance, but Kepa made a key intervention with the score at 1-0, denying Charles De Ketelaere with a spectacular one-handed save from close range. Who knows what would have happened had that gone in?

Graham Potter:

Some eyebrows would have been raised by the manager's team selection, but he got things tactically spot on to thwart Milan's main threats. Leao's pace was matched by James, Fofana and substitute Trevoh Chalobah, Sandro Tonali's creativity was dampened by the tenacity of Loftus-Cheek and Kovacic, and Kepa was there when it counted.

AdvertisementGettyThe Losers

Rafael Leao:

Much of the pre-match chat had centred on this being a potential Stamford Bridge audition for Leao, who has been linked with a big-money transfer to Chelsea in the near future. However, although he threatened to dominate the game early on, the Portugal international was largely kept at bay and was visibly disappointed by being replaced with 20 minutes to go.

Fikayo Tomori:

This was supposed to be a glorious homecoming for Tomori – a chance to show Chelsea what they had been missing since becoming a Scudetto winner at Milan after being discarded by the Blues 18 months ago. However, things didn't go according to plan. Although he wasn't helped by injuries to a number of his usual defensive colleagues, Milan looked ragged at the back in the lead up to each Chelsea goal – and Tomori was at fault for the second, failing to stop James' cross to Aubameyang. A booking for dissent more or less summed up a miserable evening or the Chelsea academy product.

Red Bull Salzburg:

Having moved top of the group with a handy victory over Dinamo Zagreb earlier in the evening, Red Bull Salzburg would have been hoping for a damp squib between these European heavyweights as they target an unlikely place in the last 16. However, Chelsea's victory throws Group E wide open and hands the big guns the advantage in the three matchdays to come.

GettyChelsea ratings: Defence

Kepa Arrizabalaga (7/10):

Sublime one-handed, point-blank save to deny Charles De Ketelaere.

Wesley Fofana (7/10):

Slotted home his first goal for the club – couldn't miss. Unfortunate to be forced off early with a knock.

Thiago Silva (7/10):

Epic tackle on Leao and a hand in the opener. Won't believe he didn't score himself, though.

Kalidou Koulibaly (6/10):

Started sloppily but largely untroubled throughout.

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GettyMidfield

Reece James (9/10):

Kept Leao quiet, got an assist and popped up with another thumping strike for his repertoire. An fantastic all-round talent.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (7/10):

Though a little sloppy in possession, his energy helped to keep Tonali and De Ketelaere at bay.

Mateo Kovacic (6/10):

Got through plenty of the dirty work with his usual tenacity.

Ben Chilwell (7/10):

Miraculous block to keep Milan out and played a role in the second and third goals.

The U.S. lost Wednesday night's friendly against Serbia, but there will be plenty to be happy about as several players took impressive leaps forward.

The U.S. men's national team's match against Serbia was, by and large, exactly what one would expect from a January camp outing right after a World Cup. It was sloppy, disjointed and chaotic. It also featured a whole bunch of new players, with a few making the kinds of mistakes that new players make.

But it also included some incredibly promising performances from a few potential USMNT stars who are just beginning their international careers.

Brandon Vazquez produced the USMNT's lone goal in the 2-1 defeat, with Luka Ilic and Veljko Simic providing the scoring for the visitors. Like the USMNT, Serbia showed up in Los Angeles with a young, inexperienced squad, but it avoided the range of errors that cost the Stars and Stripes to seal the victory.

Despite the mistakes, this will go down as a positive night for the USMNT. A total of eight players made their international debut, including the potential goalkeeper and striker of the future. A few others, most notably Cade Cowell, proved to be entirely different players than the ones we've seen before in a USMNT shirt.

January camp, in many ways, is about finding those players and giving them the nurturing they need to join the A-team. On Wednesday, a few players showed that they're ready for that leap and, with that in mind, Wednesday night was a win for the USMNT, even if the scoreboard said it wasn't.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Cade Cowell:

Get your Cade Cowell stock while you can because it's only going up from here.

The San Jose Earthquakes star was absolutely electric and was far and away the USMNT's best player. He deserved a goal or two, and could have had a few if not for the post.

Everything to like about Cowell was on full display: his speed, his timing, his decisiveness. The Quakes attacker is just so unbelievably dynamic. It's no wonder big clubs have been interested.

The 19-year-old has shown some glimpses of the spectacular throughout his career so far. Could this be the year that those glimpses become a bit more common? If this match was any indication, 2023 might just belong to him.

Brandon Vazquez:

The FC Cincinnati star got his goal. It was a picture-perfect header that effectively announced himself as the latest entrant to the USMNT's No. 9 competition.

He didn't do much else, to be fair, but that doesn't matter much. For years, the USMNT has watched strikers do all of the little things besides score. To have a player do the opposite is a welcome change.

There were concerns that Vazquez, fresh off an 18-goal season that came from out of nowhere, could be a one-season wonder, but this game showed why he likely won't be. The Cincy striker is a legitimate, professional finisher, who finds spaces to do the most important thing: put the ball in the back of the net.

The debate will rage on when it comes to whether or not he should have been in Qatar. It doesn't really matter now, but what does is that Vazquez has shown why he may have a part to play for the U.S. on the road to 2026.

Gabriel Slonina:

The first of what will likely be many. Gabriel Slonina will remember this one for the rest of his life.

It was the night when he became the youngest-ever USMNT goalkeeper, surpassing the legendary Tony Meola to seal that honor. And he wasn't a bystander, making several big saves in the first half.

His spectacular last-gasp save midway through the first half left him a little worse for wear, but the Chelsea goalkeeper finished it out. There wasn't much he could have done on either goal, but he'd done enough early on to make this night a positive one.

Slonina is still a work in progress, as most players are at 18. He's on his way, though, and could go from USMNT Goalkeeper of the Future to USMNT Goalkeeper of the Present sooner rather than later.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Jalen Neal:

Harsh to have him here, but it gets harsh at the senior level.

This was Neal's first real appearance at this level, as he made his USMNT debut before making his MLS debut with the LA Galaxy. And, for about 45 minutes, he looked so comfortable and so composed. The common thought was "How have the Galaxy not used this guy yet?"

And then, moments into the second half, came the youthful mistake. There were actually a few of them in the run-up to Serbia's second goal, all caused by a bit of indecisiveness. For the first time all night, Neal looked like a youth player playing with the big boys.

It's important to remember that that's exactly what Neal is at this point: a youth player. As a 19-year-old center back, he still has a lot of learning to do. This game was one that provided a lesson or two that will almost certainly make him better for the next time around.

Mexico:

Fans of El Tri won't have been happy seeing the USMNT's XI.

That XI featured four dual-national players, all either eligible, or in one case, have played, for Mexico. Cowell, Jonathan Gomez, Brandon Vazquez and Alejandro Zendejas all could be representing El Tri right now. Instead, they are set to become key pieces for their northern neighbors.

Cowell and Vazquez were the best of the bunch, although both Zendejas and Gomez were solid as well. It's Zendejas, in particular, who will bother Mexico the most, as his controversial history with El Tri makes his recent surge with Club America all the more frustrating.

It remains to be seen what the future looks like for all four, who have not played an official match and are thus still able to change their minds. On Wednesday, though, Mexico got a closer look at several key dual nationals that may have already slipped away.

Getty ImagesUSMNT Ratings: Defense

Gabriel Slonina (7/10):

Several absolutely fantastic saves early on. Nothing he could do on either goal. A promising debut.

Jonathan Gomez (6/10):

Worked well with Cowell and created some chaos on that side.

Walker Zimmerman (5/10):

A fairly casual 45-minute run-out. Could have done better in the wall on the free-kick goal.

Jalen Neal (5/10):

Great first half, disastrous mistake in the second. Recovered well, but, as a defender, mistakes simply mean more.

Julian Gressel (7/10):

What an assist. You know you get that kind of service with Gressel, and his assist to Vazquez was a perfect example of what he offers from the wide position.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Alan Sonora (6/10):

A few good moments, most notably a fantastic ball to play Cowell through. Currently unattached, so interesting to see what comes next.

Aiden Morris (6/10):

A performance that will divide opinion. Some good moments on the ball, a step slow off of it and also a bit selfish on a first-half chance.

Paxton Pomykal (6/10):

Pretty quiet. A feel-good story, but didn't show much to indicate he should have a bigger role.

Gavi assisted two and scored one as Barcelona beat Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup and claim the first trophy of Xavi's reign as manager.

It was almost too easy. Antonio Rudiger gave the ball away. Pedri slipped it to Robert Lewandwoski, who then fed an unmarked Gavi. The midfielder's finish was a calm one, threaded into the far corner for a 1-0 lead. His goal was the first of three clinical moves to lift Barca past a languid Real Madrid side, and hand Xavi his first trophy at the helm.

Barcelona had an early chance, with Lewandowski seeing his shot tipped onto the post by a fully-stretched Courtois. And it was a sign of things to come. Gavi opened the scoring, finishing a tidy move off after Rudiger's blunder.

The two switched roles for Barca's second, with Gavi surging forward and squaring for Lewandowski, who couldn't miss from five yards out.

The Blaugrana grabbed a third halfway through the second half, with Gavi involved again. He scampered down the left and found a sprinting Pedri at the back post, who was already celebrating before the ball went into the net.

But as much as the Blaugrana impressed, Madrid produced a miserable showing. Los Blancos didn't register a big chance until the 92nd minute, when Karim Benzema lashed home off a fortunate rebound just inside the six-yard box.

His finish was a mere blemish on an otherwise dominant performance for Barca. They now have their hands on the first domestic trophy of the season, but the final result means much more than that.

Barca are not only deservedly top of the La Liga table, but their latest Clasico performance proves that a changing of the guard is now complete. Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid are no longer the best team in Spain – that title now belongs to Xavi's ever-improving outfit.

GettyWinner: Xavi

Let's get the obvious one out of the way.

It's been 435 days since Xavi officially became manager of Barcelona, and he had previously failed to deliver a single piece of silverware. There was a Europa League exit to Frankfurt, a Copa del Rey loss to Athletic Bilbao, and another failure in this exact fixture last year. The manager even conceded a few months ago, after being knocked out of the Champions League group stage, that his job could be on the line.

This win might do a bit more than alleviate some of that pressure. The Super Cup is a strange trophy to win. It's not a major honour, and isn't contingent on a massive run, or series of testy knockout games. But it's silverware, claimed in a one-off match against Barca's biggest rivals. And that's a start.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLoser: Real Madrid's midfield

The famous Real Madrid midfield trio took a hit last summer, when Casemiro departed Spain for Manchester United, with the young Aurelien Tchouameni brought in to replace him.

But with Madrid's new no. 6 sidelined, Los Blancos were forced to rely on the old guard Sunday night, with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric tasked with handling Barca's youthful punch. And they never really got going. Carlo Ancelotti fiddled with his formation a bit, starting with Kroos in the deeper lying role, before even entrusting Eduardo Camavinga with the spot. But regardless of the positional setup, the trio was overrun.

Modric was hardly on the ball, tallying only 37 touches in his 65 minutes on the pitch. Meanwhile, Camavinga had a night to forget, as he regularly gave away the ball to a more energetic Barcelona setup. It all amounted to a team lacking in a crucial area of the pitch.

And one man in particular benefitted…

GettyWinner: Gavi

The youngster hasn't quite been at his best in recent weeks. Though he hasn't lacked legs, Gavi's technical quality has sometimes been missing — notably only creating one chance as Barcelona were pushed to a penalty shootout in the semi-finals against Real Betis.

But here, he showed just how good he can be. The Spanish midfielder had a role in all three of Barca's goals, scoring the first before assisting the next two. This wasn't a particularly flashy performance from the 18-year-old. Instead, it was a ruthlessly efficient one. He was direct, deadly, and clinical.

He created the most chances on the pitch, tracked back with regularity, and won all three of his aerial duels. All of this came while being deployed out of position. A natural attacking midfielder, Gavi was charged with playing out wide, starting on the left before cutting in during Barca's build-up.

There's a lot more to come from the teenager. Xavi has asserted that Gavi is better than he was at the same age. And if these kinds of mature performances continue, he might just be on that track.

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Loser: Dani Carvajal

Is everyone else fast, or Dani Carvajal just slow?

To say that the right back looks exhausted would be an understatement. He was badly exposed here, stretched by the trickery of Gavi and raw pace of Alex Balde. Although Barca's goals were wonderfully constructed, both came down the right channel between Carvajal and Eder Militao, with the right-back failing to squeeze the gaps in Madrid's back four.

There was one particularly painful moment, in the build-up to Barca's second goal. Carvajal lunged into a tackle in central midfield, but was a step slow, allowing Gavi 30 yards of space to work with. He turned around to see Gavi sprinting towards goal, and could only stride hopelessly as Gavi simply set up a surging Lewandowski to give Barca a 2-0 lead.

With usual backup Lucas Vasquez out with an ankle issue, Carvajal was left off the pace in the game, mulling around as Barcelona continued to run riot.

The 19-year-old, who could face England on Thursday, is reaping the rewards of a gamble that other young Italian players may soon try to emulate

Willy Gnonto has a simple motto: "To always try to enjoy myself." And for him, that means playing regular football. When he was a kid growing up in Verbania, it was all he thought about. Which was understandable, in fairness. His family lived above a small pitch.

"When I looked out the window," he later explained, "I only saw the ball."

Not much has changed in the interim. Like every footballer, Gnonto just wants to play.

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Unlike some of his peers, though, he's willing to take risks in order to make it happen.

Getty Images'Why did nobody in Serie A sign Gnonto?'

Serie A is earning plenty of plaudits at the moment, with six sides through to the quarter-finals of continental competition.

Italian football, however, still has several major problems, as national team coach Roberto Mancini has been at pains to point out ahead of the commencement of the Azzurri's Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

"We have three teams in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but out of the three teams, there are seven or eight Italians at most," he told reporters. "This is the reality."

He is adamant that Serie A sides need to find more room in their senior squads for youngsters, citing Gnonto as a case in point.

"Why did nobody [in Serie A] sign him last summer?" he asked again during a press conference on Monday. "He could have played at Sampdoria or Fiorentina. Instead, he's a starter in the Premier League.

"Gnonto, then, is one of those kids you have to have faith in, because if you put your trust in them, they'll repay it. But I understand that for the coaches it's not easy, because they're the first to pay [for poor results]."

Indeed, as Udinese scout and former Italy striker Andrea Carnevale told GOAL, "The problem is that the biggest clubs in Italy are all under pressure to win, every single season, and if they don't, coaches get sacked.

"So, they want experienced and proven players, many of whom come from abroad. So, there is no space for the Italian kids.

"And it's a difficult problem to solve, because this need that the clubs have to win all the time isn't going to change any time soon."

AdvertisementGnonto's gamble

So, what can be done? Well, one possible solution, at least from the perspective of Italy's most exciting prospects, is to do as Gnonto did.

At 16 years of age, he made an incredibly bold move: he turned down a professional contract with Inter and decided to leave the club he'd been with since the age of eight for FC Zurich.

"Many people said that I left only for the money, but it wasn't like that," he later explained. "It was the right thing to do in order to play in the first team."

And he wasn't wrong. Gnonto started out in the Zurich Under-21s, but progressed rapidly to the first team and quickly became a fan favourite.

'The Willy Gnonto song' may not have taken off quite like 'Numero Uno', a German ode to Luca Toni, but its mere presence on Youtube and Spotify was testament to his popularity among the Swiss side's supporters.

The lyrical comparison to the Looney Tunes character 'Taz' also felt apt, given the whirlwind nature of his impact, but Gnonto himself revealed that while it was Lionel Messi who had made him fall in love with football, he felt that when it came to his playing style, Raheem Sterling was his source of inspiration.

A desperate Mancini simply saw a young talent of enormous potential and called Gnonto up to the senior squad, even though the winger had yet to even make an appearance for the U21s.

Just like Zurich, Mancini felt compelled to gamble on Gnonto. And his risk was rewarded.

Getty ImagesMaking history with Italy

Just five minutes into his international debut, in a Nations League game against Germany against Bologna, he set up the equaliser for Lorenzo Pellegrini.

In the return clash in Monchengladbach 10 days later, Gnonto opened his Italy account, thus becoming the country's youngest-ever goalscorer.

It was at that point that a return to Serie A seemed inevitable, because it wasn't just Sampdoria and Fiorentina who were interested, as Mancini noted.

Newly promoted Monza and Sassuolo, who have an excellent reputation for developing players, were also in the race for a teenager who had scored eight times during Zurich's Swiss Super League triumph.

In the end, though, it was only Leeds who agreed to meet the €4.5 million (£4m/$5m) asking price (plus bonuses and a cut of a future transfer fee).

Right now, that's looking like a bargain. After initially lining out for the U21s, Gnonto broke into the Leeds senior squad shortly before the World Cup and became a regular at the turn of the year.

He scored his first Premier League goal against West Ham on January 4, but his second was even more special.

It arrived in a 2-2 draw at Manchester United and literally silenced Old Trafford – "because it was so unexpected, after less than a minute!"

Gnonto's exploits are making plenty of noise back home, though, with many fans hoping he features, at the very least off the bench, in Thursday's Euro qualifier against England.

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GettyEye on the ball

The clamour for his services in Serie A is also intensifying.

In Italy, there have already been rumours of Juventus offering Leeds a player-plus-cash deal involving Moise Kean to bring Gnonto back to Italy this summer.

But the very real fear a year after he was available for a knockdown fee is that Gnonto would prove too expensive for even Serie A's biggest sides, particularly as there has always been talk of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal monitoring his progress at Leeds.

Of course, if Gnonto's unique career path to date has taught us anything, it's that he'll do whatever's best for his prospects of regular time, and that could obviously mean remaining at Elland Road.

"I'm the same person I've always been and my parents are still the same, so we just try to remain detached from everything that's happening around us," he said after making history with Italy last year.

"It's clear that it's great pleasure to be in the newspapers and on television but we mustn't lose sight of the important things."

In a way, he's still the kid looking out that window in Verbania, with his eyes fixed firmly on the ball.

Where to watch Premier League clash between Chelsea and Brentford – including team news, kick-off time, TV and live stream details.

Chelsea will hope to close the gap to the teams above them as they take on Brentford in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Chelsea have had an extremely disappointing 2022-23 season. They are 11th in the league standings and are without a win in their last seven fixtures in all competitions.

They will be desperate to get back to winning ways under caretaker boss and club legend Frank Lampard. However, they are up against a team who are five points and a place above them in the league table.

Brentford are without a win in their last six matches and will also be looking to stay in the top half of the table as the season comes to a close.

GOAL tells you all you need to know about Chelsea vs Brentford below – including TV, streaming details, team news, squads and kick-off times.

GettyChelsea vs Brentford Kick-off timeDate:April 26, 2023Kick-off time:2.45pm EDTVenue:Stamford Bridge

The Premier League match between Chelsea and Brentford will be played at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, April 26. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2.45pm EDT.

AdvertisementGettyHow to watch Chelsea vs Brentford online – TV channels & live streams

Country TV Channel Live stream

USN/APeacock

Viewers in the USA can stream the game live on Peacock.

Getty ImagesTeam news & squadsChelsea team news & squad

Lampard has confirmed that Mason Mount and Reece Jameswill miss the rest of the season due to injuries.

The Chelsea boss will also be without Kai Havertz for the upcoming fixture against Brentford. Kalidou Koulibaly has missed the last two games and will continue to be unavailable, along with long-term absentee Armando Broja.

Chelsea predicted XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Fofana, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Fernandez, Kovacic; Mudryk, Pulisic, Felix

Position Players

Goalkeepers:Mendy, Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, SloninaDefenders:Chalobah, Cucurella, Badiashile, Chilwell, Silva, Azpilicueta, FofanaMidfielders:Gallagher, Mudryk, Fernandez, Loftus-Cheek, Madueke, Ziyech, Zakaria, Kante, KovacicForwards:Sterling, Felix, PulisicBrentford team news & squad

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has ruled midfielder Christian Norgaard out of their game against Chelsea due to an Achilles problem.

Kevin Schade, who had to be taken off in Brentford's previous outing, will be available for selection. For Kristoffer Ajer who has returned to training, the game against Chelsea will come too soon.

Brentford predicted XI: Raya; Hickey, Mee, Pinnock, Henry; Jensen, Janelt, Dasilva; Mbeumo, Toney, Damsgaard

Position Players

Goalkeepers:Raya, Strakosha, CoxDefenders:Pinnock, Mee, Zanka, Henry, Hickey, Roerslev, StevensMidfielders:Janelt, Norgaard, Jensen, Dasilva, Onyeka, Baptiste, Ghoddos, DamsgaardForwards:Toney, Schade, Wissa, MbeumoHead-to-head record

Chelsea have not been able to beat Brentford since 2021. In the two meetings since then, Brentford stunned the Blues 4-1 before they held them at home earlier this season.

Date Result Competition

October 2022Brentford 0-0 ChelseaPremier LeagueApril 2022Chelsea 1-4 BrentfordPremier LeagueDecember 2021Brentford 0-2 ChelseaCarabao CupOctober 2021Brentford 0-1 ChelseaPremier LeagueJanuary 2017Chelsea 4-0 BrentfordFA CupENJOYED THIS STORY?

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(C)Getty ImagesUseful links

Chelsea team page

Brentford team page

Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

The Argentine arrives at Cobham with plenty to get through in his in-tray beyond the usual pre-season commitments…

"What we can promise is to work hard and defend this shirt until the end. We are going to try do everything for them to feel proud and to show that we really, really care. That is what we can promise." Those were the words of Mauricio Pochettino on Monday as he officially began work as head coach of Chelsea Football Club.

Evidently he is under no illusions as to the scale of the task facing him, as the squad enters the final stages of a 12-month overhaul. There will be no honeymoon period, either, as the Argentine gets straight down to work in what is a pivotal pre-season for the club as it searches for an identity and fresh impetus after an unprecedented clear-out.

Below, GOAL runs through the five biggest jobs facing Pochettino as he starts work in west London…

Getty ImagesContinue the clear-out

After a slow start, Chelsea's clear-out gathered serious pace towards the end of June as the club desperately sought to balance their accounts for the 2022-23 season before the month was out. Co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have been busy, with as many as seven established first-team stars shipped out in a short period, with more to follow.

Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and N'Golo Kante have all headed to Saudi Arabia, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic have remained in the Premier League with Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek has taken on a new challenge in Italy with AC Milan.

It's unclear how much of a say Pochettino has had in the decision-making to this point as a head coach rather than a manager, but he will surely have more involvement in the next phase of the fire sale. Indeed, he will likely have his work cut out.

Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to return to Spain, Callum Hudson-Odoi wants a move and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be cut loose. Meanwhile, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic are highly likely to follow through the Stamford Bridge exits. Romelu Lukaku's future is up for discussion, but he has no desire to extend his stay at Chelsea.

Advertisement(C)GettyImagesForge a togetherness

While Chelsea's clear-out was necessary, there will be some concerns over a loss of identity given just how many long-serving players have departed or are expected to leave, and indeed because of the hoard of new arrivals in the past year.

Pochettino is in new surroundings, too, but he will have to quickly understand what it means to represent Chelsea and the mentality required to succeed at Stamford Bridge before imparting that wisdom onto his squad. The next step will be to foster a togetherness and synergy that will be the backbone to their success, like so many Blues squads of years gone by.

Judging by his first interview at the club, that is something Pochettino is acutely aware of. "We need to be team that shows togetherness, cares about the club, cares about the fans, and that fights until the end for the badge," he said. "That’s the most important thing. The fans need to feel that all the players involved in the game are going to die for the club. That is the most important thing to create this good feeling and for sure feel proud of each other."

GettyChoose a new captain

So, who will be the man to lead this new-look Chelsea team on the pitch? With Azpilicueta's departure imminent, Chelsea will have lost both their club captain and vice-captain in the space of seven months, following Jorginho's move to Arsenal in January.

Consequently, Pochettino needs to establish a new on-field leadership team heading into the new season. The problem is that, courtesy of the clear-out, his choice of long-serving players who understand the club and carry its identity will be limited.

On paper, the most obvious options seem to be Thiago Silva – who has worn the armband in the past – and Reece James, while Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell may also come under consideration. It will be interesting to see which direction Pochettino goes in.

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GettyFitness, fitness, fitness

Despite his nice-guy persona in front of the cameras, Pochettino has gained notoriety for his hard-line approach in pre-season as he pushes his players to the limit in order to achieve the optimum fitness required for his high-pressing, high-energy style of play.

It's been reported they face a gruelling two-week regime, which will likely include one of the Argentine's preferred methods, the 'Gacon test' – an intermittent 45-second shuttle run test where the distances increase each time.

In truth, it is exactly what the group needs to be whipped into shape; interim manager Frank Lampard suggested late last season that many players simply weren't fit enough and many struggled with injury issues throughout the 2022-23 campaign. That is likely a result of himself and predecessor Graham Potter having to work with a bloated, 31-strong squad, with training sessions particularly problematic as individuals were able to avoid scrutiny among the crowd.

Neymar could be the “key” to completing Arsenal’s bid to become Premier League champions again, Julio Baptista has told GOAL.

The Brazil international forward is seeing questions asked of his future at Paris Saint-Germain. Having struggled to win over a demanding fan base in the French capital, the 31-year-old may decide that the time has come to take on a new challenge.

Neymar has already seen Lionel Messi depart Parc des Princes, with it possible that Kylian Mbappe will be following him through the exits. Another high-profile departure could be put in place, with the most expensive player in world football mulling over his options.

Some of those are said to sit in England, with former Arsenal loanee Baptista of the opinion that a modern day icon – one looking to rediscover a lost spark – could be a shrewd addition for Mikel Arteta amid talk of a Premier League challenge being sought.

Getty ImagesFresh start

Ex-Brazil international Baptista – speaking on behalf of – told GOAL when asked what he would be telling Neymar if asked by a fellow countryman for future advice: “It’s interesting. I think Neymar is comfortable at PSG, but maybe the best move for him is to create a new atmosphere at a new club – maybe a club that supports him and gives him all the confidence that he needs. He doesn’t have that at PSG. The fans don’t like him a lot and maybe it is time to move on and try something different. Why not?”

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Pressed further on whether Neymar would be a useful signing for Arsenal, Baptista added: “Why not? Arsenal is one of the best clubs in Europe. We know that the last eight or so years, Arsenal have not produced their best or been as competitive. But now, with Arteta, Arsenal have something different. They have started to construct something powerful. Why not? Maybe this could be the key. In Brazil we say that you have the house, you have everything, and you just need the key to open it. Maybe Neymar is the key to open and complete everything at Arsenal. He is an incredible player.”

GettyFamiliar faces

Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes are already on the books at Emirates Stadium, with Baptista saying when asked if that Brazilian presence would make it easier for Neymar to settle in north London: “For sure. But more than that, I think the league would help him. If he is thinking about moving, then I think the best league for him would be the English league.”

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Getty ImagesHappy days

Neymar is one of the most exciting talents in world football on his day, but he needs to feel valued in order to produce his best. He is someone – like fellow countryman Ronaldinho before him – that wants to play with a smile on his face. Baptista said when asked if Neymar can get that joy back: “When you don’t feel comfortable in one place, it’s time to move on. You move to another place and find the happiness that you need. Maybe at PSG he is not happy and he needs to try and find happiness somewhere else.”

City have already lost two stalwarts and could lose more in what has turned into a summer of upheaval at the Etihad Stadium

On Sunday, Manchester City paraded their three trophies in Tokyo and, after making a sloppy start against Yokohama F Marinos, soon rallied to leave with an emphatic 5-3 win. Erling Haaland got back among the goals with two strikes while Rodri, the hero of Istanbul, showed his appetite for scoring has not been sated as he landed a beautiful long-range effort.

After having just four training sessions since completing the Champions League final in Istanbul and some of their players (yes, we’re looking at you Jack Grealish) having the mother of all parties, it was not bad for their first pre-season outing.

But as they prepare to defend their treble and plot a record-breaking fourth consecutive English league title, City are going through a summer of upheaval. They have waved goodbye to Ilkay Gundogan while Riyad Mahrez is on his way to Saudi Arabia, leaving them without two of their most reliable attacking players of the Pep Guardiola era. And two more pillars of that sustained success could also be on their way, as Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker consider their futures.

Only Mateo Kovacic has arrived so far and the club are still yet to agree a deal for Josko Gvardiol. Meanwhile, all of City’s rivals are strengthening. Guardiola’s side have been the dominant force in English football for the last six years, but that status is under threat and the Catalan coach faces a huge rebuilding task to preserve it.

GettyDifficult to replace 'prime Zidane' Gundogan

Gundogan’s departure to Barcelona was not exactly a surprise as his contract was about to expire and the midfielder had never hidden his desire for a change of scenery. He was also demanding a big salary to stay in Manchester, which contravened the club’s policy on contracts for players on the wrong side of 30. But even if his departure made sense for everyone, he leaves a giant hole that is far from easy to fill.

Gundogan was capable of playing all over the midfield, making huge contributions in defence as well as attack. And he came into his own at the business end of each season. As Walker put it, Gundogan “turns into prime Zidane in the last couple of months”.

Gundogan’s two goals on the final day of the 2021-22 season snatched the Premier League title from Liverpool’s hands, while last season he slayed Everton in the match which effectively secured the title. And who could forget what he did in the FA Cup final against Manchester United, scoring the fastest goal in the history of the final as well as getting the winner?

Gundogan scored more than 10 goals in all competitions and contributed at least five assists in each of the last three seasons. Kovacic, who looks to be his most likely replacement, scored just six goals in five seasons and 221 games for Chelsea. It is also telling that Guardiola wanted to keep the German, saying on several occasions that he hoped the club and player could agree a new contract.

AdvertisementGettyMahrez consistent and reliable

Mahrez’s departure also suits City on one level. The club are about to bank £30 million ($38m) from their deal with Al Ahly, a solid transfer fee for a 32-year-old, especially one who was typically not involved in the biggest matches.

Mahrez started only one of City’s seven Champions League knockout matches last season and was an unused substitute in the FA Cup final. And yet almost every time he was called upon, he delivered.

The Algerian scored five goals and provided 10 assists in the Premier League last season, while he averaged a goal per game in the FA Cup. In one stretch of four league matches between April and May, he provided five assists.

Even if his importance in crunch games was fading, he was a player City could always count on against lesser opponents, allowing Guardiola to rotate his squad and rest others in key stages of the season while still picking up maximum points.

Mahrez ranked 11th in the City squad for minutes played in the Premier League, higher than John Stones, Nathan Ake, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden. That consistency and reliability is far from easy to replace.

Getty ImagesWalker still top choice for specialist defending

Walker is another veteran player who could be about to leave. He wants to move to Bayern Munich and, at 33, is even older than Gundogan and Mahrez. And he is entering the final year of his contract with City, meaning this is the club’s last chance to make any money on him. Once more, there is a compelling argument for City to part with him.

The defender has a bizarre relationship with Guardiola. He was often left out of the team after the World Cup, and in April the coach broke a sacred rule of never criticising his players in public when he said Walker did not know how to play as an inverted full-back.

Walker admitted that those words cut deep and he set about proving him wrong. And in the final six weeks of the season, the defender was one of City’s most important players. He carried out impeccable marking jobs against Vinicius Jr in both legs against Real Madrid and kept Marcus Rashford quiet in the FA Cup final. Only a back injury prevented him from playing in the Champions League final.

Against Yokohama, Walker wore the captain’s armband and helped set up their first goal of the game, overlapping and getting to the byline to find Alvarez, who in turn teed up Stones. He still has plenty to offer the club and when it comes to one-on-one defending and racing back to put out fires, there are few players in Walker’s league.

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Getty Fundamental Silva can't leave too

Then there is Bernardo Silva. Each summer the Portuguese is the subject of a transfer saga, and this year is no different. Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have expressed their desire to sign him, and there has also been interest from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.

Barcelona is reported to be his No.1 destination, but the Catalan club’s deep financial troubles mean they are unlikely to be able to prise him from the Etihad Stadium. City are also desperate to keep hold of Silva, reportedly offering him a bumper new contract worth £300,000 ($385,000)-per-week and pricing him at £70m ($90m).

And it is easy to see why. Silva is the player who knits City’s midfield together and can carry the ball all over the pitch without losing possession. He has been fundamental to the team’s success since he joined from Monaco in 2017, and City really cannot afford to see him follow Gundogan and Mahrez out the door.