Supercomputer predicts if Arsenal will break Chelsea's defensive record

Arsenal went on a record-setting winning run of form in the month of October, not conceding a single goal while winning six games in all competitions.

The Gunners’ dominance has been founded on one of the best defences in Premier League history, as David Raya has had to pick the ball out of his net just three times so far this season, a rate that if it continues will see them break Chelsea’s record for goals conceded in a single Premier League season.

Gabriel Magalhães has drawn PFA Player of the Year shouts in recent weeks, while Raya is chasing yet another golden glove and Jurrien Timber is emerging as one of the best right-backs in world football.

What is Chelsea's record and can Arsenal beat it?

Chelsea’s 2004-05 team led by Jose Mourinho conceded just 15 goals in a 38-game Premier League season. Arsenal have so far conceded three times in nine games, which at 0.33 per game would total between 12-13 goals, but it’s not that simple…

The AI supercomputer gave three scenarios for Arsenal’s final total, taking into account fatigue, injuries, game states and the possibility of other teams adapting to their style of play.

It also concluded that fine margins – such as individual errors or controversial decisions – will add up over the course of a season.

Another factor harming their efforts may just be their own brilliance. Arsenal are predicted to win the Premier League by a whopping 13 points, which would mean they have games at the end of the season with little to play for other than this record. For context, Liverpool failed to win all four of their remaining matches after wrapping up the title last season, conceding nine goals in that time.

Best case

13–14 goals

Arsenal sustain current defensive dominance and stay injury-free

Most likely

17–19 goals

Small regression due to fixture congestion and natural variance

Worst case

25–27 goals

Defensive injuries, fatigue, or tactical shifts increase vulnerability slightly

Predicted total: Arsenal will concede 18 goals in the 2025-26 Premier League season

Given the likelihood that Arsenal progress far in several competitions – they are currently fourth in the Champions League table and still alive in both domestic cup competitions – it is likely that fatigue and injuries will affect their ability to keep clean sheets later in the season.

Arsenal’s squad depth has been an issue in recent seasons, falling behind Manchester City in the 2022-23 campaign after they lost William Saliba to injury, but Bukayo Saka has hailed the level of the current group after more than £250million was spent in the summer.

“This year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality. We’ve suffered already a lot of injuries, but the players that have come in have shown that we can all keep the level at the highest,” said the England international.

“I think that’s where we’ve slipped off in a few seasons, but this season, we’ve got that and it’s making me really believe we can do it.”

Supercomputer predicts every 2025/26 Premier League game and final table

Look away now, Liverpool fans…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 28, 2025

Phillies' Rob Thomson Explains Controversial Decision to Bunt at End of Loss to Dodgers

The Phillies' comeback against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Division Series fell short on Monday.

The Dodgers took a 4-0 lead in the seventh inning, but the Phillies fought back with a run in the eighth inning. After holding the Dodgers without a run over the final two innings, the Phillies added two more runs early in the ninth inning.

The Phillies were trailing by just one run when Bryson Stott came up to the plate. With no outs and Nick Castellanos on second base, Philadelphia was in good position to tie up, if not win the game with a walk-off. Phillies manager Rob Thomson decided to have Stott bunt, and though he got the ball down, the Dodgers were able to get Castellanos out at third. The Dodgers got the final two outs of the game on the next three plate appearances, and took a 4-3 win.

Thomson explained the unpopular choice to have Stott bunt after the game, saying, “Left on left, we’re trying to tie the score. I liked where our bullpen was at, compared to theirs."

"Mookie did a great job of disguising the wheel play," Thomson added. "We teach our guys if you see wheel, just pull back and slash because you're getting all kinds of room in the middle. Mookie broke so late that it was tough for [Stott] to pick it up."

The Dodgers now have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series after Philadelphia failed to win either of their first two home games. The Phillies will head to Los Angeles where they'll face elimination when they play on Wednesday.

Avaí x CRB: onde assistir ao vivo, horário e escalações do jogo pela Série B do Brasileirão

MatériaMais Notícias

O Avaí recebe o CRB nesta terça-feira (13), pela quinta rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. A bola rola a partir das 19h (de Brasília), na Ressacada, em Florianópolis (SC), com transmissão do SporTV e do Premiere.

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➡️ As melhores e mais variadas ofertas para o Brasileirão estão no Lance! Betting! Abra já a sua conta!

Confira todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre Palmeiras e Cuiabá (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
AVAÍ X CRB
SÉRIE B – 5ª RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: terça-feira, 14 de maio de 2024, às 19h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Ressacada, em Santa Catarina (SC)
📺 Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere
🟨 Árbitro: Yuri Elino Ferreira da Cruz
🚩 Assistentes: Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha e Schumacher Marques Gomes
🖥️ VAR: Vitor Carmona Metestaine

➡️ Assine o Premiere e assista esse e mais jogos de graça por 30 dias!

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

AVAÍ (Técnico: Gilmar Dal Pozzo)
César Augusto; Marcos Vinícius, Tiago, Gustavo Vilar e Mário Sérgio; Judson, Willian Maranhão, Pedro Castro e Giovanni; Pottker e Garcez.

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CRB (Técnico: Daniel Paulista)
Matheus Albino; Hereda, Saimon, Fábio Alemão e Willian Formiga; Falcão, Rômulo e Gegê; Labandeira, Anselmo Ramon (João Neto) e Léo Pereira.

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AvaíCRBFutebol NacionalOnde assistirSérie B

'We stay connected' – Sunderland boss hints at move to sign former Arsenal ace Matteo Guendouzi

Regis Le Bris has responded to mounting speculation linking Sunderland with the signing of Marseille's Matteo Guendouzi. While the Black Cats boss did not commit to an approach for the ex-Arsenal midfielder in the January transfer window, he spoke positively of their relationship. Le Bris was managing Lorient's B team as Guendouzi was coming through the ranks at the French club.

  • Guendouzi to reunite with Le Bris at Sunderland?

    The 49-year-old manager revealed that he and his former player keep in touch. Le Bris gave Guendouzi his first foray into senior football back in 2016. The defensive midfielder pushed on from his time Lorient's reserve team, establishing himself in the Ligue 2 outfit's starting XI before making the switch to Arsenal for an undisclosed fee.

    Their close relationship and Sunderland's excellent start to life back in the Premier League could be enough to convince Guendouzi to trade Rome for Wearside. Guendouzi joined Lazio from Marseille in on a permanent basis in 2024 after an initial season-long loan spell, for a reported fee of €15 million (£13.2m).

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    Black Cats boss coy on official approach

    Despite their positive relationship, Le Bris was coy about the speculation, suggesting the club had not committed to an approach in the coming transfer window. He said: "We still have connections with players and Matteo is one of those players. I worked with him (previously) in Lorient so we stay connected. But at the minute it’s too early to speak about the January transfer window."

  • Guendouzi not surprised by Le Bris' Sunderland success

    Based on his previous comments, a reunion would please Guendouzi, who has credited Le Bris for his impact on his career. Since leaving Lorient in 2016, Guendouzi has made 312 senior appearance in club football and represented his country 14 times. 

    The 26-year-old said Le Bris' success on Wearside comes as no surprise to him. Since taking over at the Stadium of Light, the Frenchman has exceeded all expectations leading the Black Cats back to the Premier League for the first time in eight years. Sunderland have punched above their weight so far this term, taking points from Arsenal and Chelsea. Le Bris' side are currently fourth in the table. 

    "Honestly, his results at Sunderland don't surprise me," Guendouzi said recently. "A year with him is perhaps the equivalent of three with other coaches. You learn a lot about yourself. Without him, I wouldn't be where I am today."

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    Will Guendouzi make a return to the Premier League?

    Guendouzi could well look at at a return to England as a chance to right some unfinished business. He flashed moments of promise in Unai Emery's side, however, he was quickly sidelined by Mikel Arteta. 

    Joining a massive club like Arsenal with limited senior experience at the age of just 18 presents a steep learning curve for any player. There were moments of discipline that suggested a player that needed to mature to excel in the world's toughest domestic competition. Now at 26-years-old, Guendouzi could well fancy a reunion with his ex manager, and his midfield running mate Granit Xhaka. For that to happen, the Black Cats will likely have to exceed the €15m fee Lazio paid 18 months ago. 

    In the meantime, Guendouzi will have to focus on his duties for the two-time Italian champions. The Biancocelesti currently sit in ninth place in Serie A. They return from the international break when they host Lecce on Sunday. 

Mets Reliever Had Saddest Reaction After Learning He’d Been Traded During Game

José Butto suited up in his New York Mets uniform and headed to the bullpen to await his opportunity on Wednesday but before he got the chance, news came down that he had been traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Tyler Rogers. Major League Baseball's trade deadline creates these types of situations from time to time where we're privy to the traded player's real-time reaction. And Butto's was emotional.

Butto could be seen processing the information and being comforted by Mets bullpen coach Jose Rosado.

He then took his leave from the bullpen after saying his goodbyes out there.

Upon entering the dugout Butto was embraced by the other Mets as they learned of the news.

Butto had spent his entire professional career with the Mets and broke through into the big leagues in 2022. This year he has appeared in 34 games with a 3-2 record and 3.64 ERA.

Sampaoli enaltece torcida do Flamengo e fala sobre retorno ao futebol brasileiro

MatériaMais Notícias

O técnico Jorge Sampaoli, com passagens por Santos, Atlético-MG e Flamengo, concedeu entrevista ao jornal espanhol “Marca”. Questionado sobre suas experiências em território brasileiro, o argentino enalteceu os torcedores rubro-negros e descreveu a sensação de estar à frente do clube.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFlamengoFlamengo x Grêmio: como é o histórico do confronto?Flamengo12/06/2024FlamengoFlamengo SAF: veja o que candidato à presidência falouFlamengo11/06/2024Fora de CampoÍdolo do São Paulo pede Sampaoli para o lugar de Carpini: ‘Tem que trazer um doido’Fora de Campo16/04/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo

– A pressão é muito grande no Brasil, mas sobretudo no Flamengo. Existe uma grande exigência das pessoas em todos os lugares: aeroportos, hotéis… é muito intenso tudo aquilo que se vive, ainda mais sendo treinador. O Flamengo tem a maior torcida do mundo, são 45 milhões de torcedores. Por lá, você não pode perder um jogo sequer – afirmou o comandante.

Atualmente sem clube, Sampaoli revelou ter recebido aproximações de algumas equipes, mas afirmou ter calma para definir seu futuro. Seu último trabalho foi justamente à frente do Fla, entre abril e setembro de 2023. Pelo clube da Gávea, foi vice-campeão da Copa do Brasil, além de ter caído para o Olimpia-PAR nas oitavas da Libertadores.

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– Tive algumas ofertas, mas estou tranquilo. Não gosto de colocar nomes no meu destino. Quero trabalhar em um projeto onde eu possa estar por alguns anos, três ou quatro, como nunca aconteceu. Não sei se voltaria a trabalhar no Brasil, porque é a liga mais exigente que já estive. Dez mil vezes mais que a espanhola, por exemplo. Você joga a cada dois dias, e tem que vencer sempre, sempre e sempre. No Fla, conseguimos 70% dos pontos disputados, mas não foi suficiente. Perdemos a final, e fui embora. Perder nos ensina, ainda mais se temos tempo para revisar os erros – disse.

➡️ Ex-atacante pede Pedro como camisa 9 da Seleção: ‘Endrick tem que esperar um pouco’

Em 39 jogos, Jorge conduziu o Rubro-Negro a 20 vitórias, 11 empates e nove derrotas, tendo média de 1,82 pontos por jogo. Mesmo após a demissão, seguiu morando em solo carioca com sua família, e disse gostar do país.

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– Eu me dei bem no Santos e no Atlético-MG, e um pouco no Flamengo. Minha companheira é chilena, mas meus filhos mais novos nasceram já no Brasil. Todos nós nos sentimos em casa e adaptados ao Rio de Janeiro – finalizou o treinador.

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Inside the Numbers of MLB’s Surprising Second Half Trends

The 2025 MLB season is fully into its stretch run, and the playoff picture has solidified. While a number of the usual suspects will likely reach the playoffs, a lot has happened since the All-Star break.

When digging into the numbers of baseball's second half, several surprising, even shocking trends have emerged. The Brewers have emerged as a powerhouse. Kyle Schwarber and Nick Kurtz have been the second-half MVPs. Meanwhile, a number of teams and players are doing things you wouldn't expect.

What follows is a look inside the numbers of the surprising trends across baseball since the All-Star break.

14.3 — fWAR by Blue Jays hitters, best in baseball, to go along with a team-wide 131 wRC+, again, the best in baseball.

8.7 — fWAR produced by the Dodgers pitchers, best in MLB since the All-Star break, a full 1.5 points higher than the Reds and Phillies, who sit in second place. Their team FIP (3.37) is also tops by a wide margin over the Pirates (3.73).

197 — Runs scored by the Astros, which ranks 29th in MLB. Only the Cardinals (185) are worse. Houston's hitters have a collective fWAR of 5.2, worst in baseball among contending teams in the second half.

265 — Runs by the White Sox since the break. That ranks fifth in baseball.

287 — Runs by the Brewers since the break, best in baseball.

3.57 — Team ERA for the Brewers, second-best in baseball behind the Dodgers. So Milwaukee is scoring the most runs and has the second-lowest team ERA since the break.

4.93 — ERA of Mets pitchers since the break, 24th in baseball and worst among contending teams. Their collective WHIP (1.41) ranks 26th and is also the worst among contenders.

14 — Second-half home runs by Trent Grisham, which is second on the Yankees. Aaron Judge's 11 home runs since the break are actually tied for fourth on the team with Jazz Chisholm. (Giancarlo Stanton leads the club with 16.)

20 — Second-half home runs for Kyle Schwarber to lead MLB. The Phillies slugger is slashing .230/.348/.592 with 54 RBIs and a wRC+ of 154 since the All-Star break. The pending free agent seems to have earned himself an obscene amount of money with his performance over the past few months.

21 — Stolen bases by (*) Juan Soto… to lead all of baseball since the All-Star break. Weird. Soto had 25 total stolen bases over the past three years entering 2025 and had never topped 12 in a season before. He only stole 11 bases in 96 games in the first half.

33 — Wins for the Brewers since the All-Star break, best in baseball.

154 — Second half wRC+ for Rafael Devers, who is slashing .269/.367/.538 since the break with 14 home runs. After a slow start in San Francisco, he has found his groove offensively.

220 — Second half wRC+ by Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, by far the best in baseball. Kurtz is slashing .361/.474/.715, his OPS of 1.189 leads baseball, as does the 3.0 fWAR he has produced.

2.5 — fWAR for Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez, best among MLB starting pitchers since the break. He is 5–3 with a 2.67 ERA and a sparkling 2.13 FIP. With Zack Wheeler out for the season, he's Philadelphia's best starter heading into the playoffs.

0.84 — ERA for Cubs rookie Cade Horton, best among qualified starting pitchers since the break. Horton has a 7–1 record in 10 starts, has produced 1.6 fWAR, and is just what Chicago needed after losing Justin Steele for the season.

1.74 — ERA for Paul Skenes since the All-Star break. His 2.11 FIP is the best among qualified pitchers since the break, and he's averaging 11.37 strikeouts per nine innings. If anything, the Pirates star has gotten better as his second season has gone along.

99.5 — Average fastball velocity for Hunter Greene since the break. The best among MLB starting pitchers. The Reds ace is 2–1 with a 2.35 ERA since the break.

101.6 — Average fastball velocity for Padres reliever Mason Miller since the break, best among all MLB pitchers. He's 0–0 with two saves and a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings in that time and is averaging an eye-popping 15.5 strikeouts per nine innings. This one may not be surprising, but like Skenes, he appears to be getting better as his second full season goes along.

Newcastle star has gone from being a "mistake" to worth more than Woltemade

Newcastle United’s PIF bosses are backing Eddie Howe to find solutions to the current hole they have slipped into. It is important that this point is emphasised, with noise levels rising regarding the manager’s future.

Yes, Newcastle are 14th in the Premier League, and their away form has gone beyond merely concerning. But the Magpies are also into the last eight of the Carabao Cup, and have made a confident start to their Champions League campaign too.

However, there is an expectation that Howe will make the necessary adjustments to bring United back into contention at the top of the table.

10

Games

7

7

Wins

1

0

Draws

3

3

Losses

3

20

Goals scored

7

9

Goals conceded

8

2.1

PPG

1.16

There is also an acceptance that a difficult summer transfer window and the bitter sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool have knocked things out of kilter. Luckily, Nick Woltemade has been a shining light, and he proved his skill once again this week for Germany.

Nick Woltemade's start to the season

Since joining Newcastle from Stuttgart for a club-record £69m fee at the end of August, Woltemade has posted six goals for the Toon, quickly bedding in on English soil and proving he has what it takes to succeed Isak in the long run.

Moreover, he has scored three times in his past two outings for Germany, scoring a brace as his side sank Luxembourg in their World Cup qualifier on Friday evening.

Newcastle have their issues this season, but it’s curious that the 23-year-old has made it so his integration in Isak’s still-warm seat has not been one of them.

The 6 foot 6 striker’s unique skillset has seen him dovetail right into a system that has yet to click together, and when wide players like Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga find form, Howe could pull the strings of a frontline capable of throwing down with any defence across Europe.

Of course, football is about more than just the forwards, and there’s another Tyneside star whose performances this season have established him as one of the best in the business.

He’s even worth more than Woltemade.

The Newcastle star worth even more than Woltemade

Newcastle have many fine players contracted to St. James’ Park, but Sandro Tonali is fast emerging as the cream of the crop.

After joining from AC Milan for around £55m in 2023, the 25-year-old faced difficulties, but he rebounded last year and redefined Howe’s midfield, instrumental in a long and brilliant purple patch that led to glory.

Now, he is “the best player by a distance”, according to correspondent Craig Hope, and while Newcastle have some issues in the build-up, Tonali is becoming the defining force alongside Bruno Guimaraes.

Largely, this is because the Italian has become far more progressive on the ball, ranking this season among the top 5% of Premier League midfielders for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

And he is beginning to revel in a new level of recognition, with pundits and observers from afar coming to understand that Tonali is one of the best in the business.

His market value is a reflection of that. Woltemade might be the talk of the town, and in many ways, rightly so, but Tonali cut from a different cloth. He’s a maestro, endowed with impressive athleticism and unteachable technical skill.

There is talk of him falling into the same financial bracket as someone like Guimaraes, over the £100m mark, and this is indeed an accurate emphasis on the calibre of superstar at Howe’s disposal.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said that Newcastle had “made a mistake” when signing the midfielder, given his suspension throughout his first year in England, but Tonali is now showing he’s one of the best Premier League signings of recent years, more so, even, than Woltemade.

The two Newcastle United stars who could be sold instead of Bruno and Isak

The Magpies are set to sell players this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 12, 2024

بينهما كلوب.. ليفربول يحدد اسمين لخلافة آرني سلوت حال إقالته

أفادت تقارير صحفية أن ليفربول حدد أحد الأسماء التدريبية البارزة كبديل للمدرب آرني سلوت، في حال قرر النادي الانفصال عنه.

وخسر ليفربول تسع مباريات من آخر 12 مباراة، في سلسلة نتائج مخيبة للآمال وكانت آخر الهزائم التي تعرض لها أمام آيندهوفن برباعية لهدف في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقاد سلوت ليفربول لتحقيق لقب الدوري الانجليزي الممتاز، وأنفق النادي أكثر من 400 مليون جنيه إسترليني في سوق الانتقالات الصيفية قبل موسمه الثاني.

ووفقاً لصحيفة “ذا صن” البريطانية فإن يورجن كلوب يعد المرشح الأوفر حظاً لخلافة سلوت في حال قرر ليفربول أن التغيير ضروري، ويأتي ذلك بعد استقالة الألماني من منصبه العام الماضي بعد تسع سنوات تولى فيها المسؤولية.

أقرأ أيضاً.. وارنوك: محمد صلاح سيعود لحالته في ليفربول.. ولكن بشرط

ويشغل حالياً كلوب منصب رئيس قسم الرياضة العالمية في ريد بول ولم يستبعد أن يتجه النادي لإعادته لإنقاذ موسمه في خطوة قصيرة الأمد حتى نهاية الموسم الحالي.

ويعد لويس إنريكي هدفاً على المدى الطويل لدى إدارة ليفربول لتدريب النادي، حيث يعتبر أكثر المدربين الذين يحظون بتقدير كبير في عالم كرة القدم وقاد باريس سان جيرمان إلى لقب دوري أبطال أوروبا، وكان الإسباني قد لمح برغبته بالتدريب في إنجلترا في المستقبل.

Forget Santos & Caicedo: Chelsea have "one of the most exciting DMs in Europe"

Are Chelsea outside challengers for the Premier League title this season?

Based on the weekend’s results, they are, as Enzo Maresca’s Blues comfortably got the better of Burnley 2-0 on the road to remain second spot in the early league standings, while Liverpool and Manchester City fell to unwanted defeats.

Maresca’s men managed to pick up that routine win, even with Moises Caicedo out of the starting lineup at Turf Moor, as Chelsea’s standout £115m midfielder was rested after a gruelling international break with Ecuador.

Thankfully, the defensive midfield partnership that did start in Lancashire in Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos rose to the occasion, with Santos stealing many of the plaudits at the full-time whistle, despite Fernandez’s late strike sealing all three points.

Santos' standout performance vs Burnley

Fernandez rightfully received plenty of praise at the final whistle, with the World Cup winner now up to 11 goals and ten assists in 2025 for the Blues as a forward-thinking midfield spark.

But, with Caicedo out of the starting XI, Chelsea also needed a talent prepared to dig deep and do the required defensive work that the South American does week in week out, with the 24-year-old averaging 5.2 ball recoveries and winning 5.4 duels per Premier League contest this season, away from also chipping in with three goals and an assist.

Thankfully, Santos stepped up into his role effortlessly against Scott Parker’s hosts, with two tackles won, seven duels won, and four ball recoveries amassed, showing off the 21-year-old’s full-blooded approach.

On top of that, Santos also ended the game with one big chance created from his 34 accurate passes, with analyst Raj Chohan even stating that he provides a “lot of value” to the team as a stellar stand-in option for the likes of Caicedo.

The promising number 17 will hope he can get more first-team minutes soon, away from being in the shadow of the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion man.

But, he isn’t the only midfield asset being directly compared to Caicedo now.

Chelsea's next Caicedo

It’s clear that Chelsea have great faith in the youngsters rising the ranks at Stamford Bridge currently, with Maresca prepared to start a whole plethora of exciting, young talents, away from just throwing Santos into the first-team spotlight.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Indeed, in attack, Estevao has been handed chances galore this season to impress, with a Premier League goal and assist coming the hotly tipped Brazilian’s way subsequently.

Moreover, Marc Guiu would gift Fernandez his goal at Turf Moor on a plate, with the 19-year-old now becoming a regular impact player off the bench. Could Dario Essugo be the next starlet to make a wild impression?

Already, the £18.5m summer purchase – despite only being 20 years of age – has shone in some challenging environments for two loan sides in Chaves and Las Palmas in Liga Portugal and La Liga respectively.

His attritional, yet polished displays, have even led to scout Jacek Kulig hailing the Portuguese enforcer as a “one-man army.”

Moreover, Kulig also boldly labelled Essugo as “one of the most exciting DMs in Europe” for his continued excellence with Las Palmas, even as they succumbed to relegation.

In the current Chelsea set-up, based on his numbers last season in that relegation-troubled camp, he would surely shine as bright as Caicedo has managed in West London.

Games played

18

27

Goals scored

0

1

Assists

0

0

Touches*

40.8

48.4

Accurate passes*

24.5 (85%)

30.0 (86%)

Tackles*

1.7

2.2

Ball recoveries*

4.2

4.4

Clearances*

1.7

1.6

Total duels won*

5.3

4.9

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that Essugo will be prepared to battle and tussle for Chelsea when first-team chances eventually arrive at his door, winning 4.9 duels per game last season in La Liga action, not a million miles off Caicedo’s 5.4 tally this campaign back in England.

Unfortunately, the only drawback for Essugo so far is that he is sidelined with a nasty injury at the moment, but he did shine briefly in Caicedo’s place against AC Milan in pre-season, with 100% of his ground duels won from just 17 minutes of action.

Thankfully, Maresca has Santos to fall back on in defensive midfield for the time being, if Caicedo continues to look fatigued.

But, do not rule out Essugo exploding onto the scene when he returns from the treatment room, with Chelsea’s midfield options full to the brim with quality.

Shades of Kante: 8/10 Chelsea man had his "best performance" yet vs Burnley

As Chelsea beat Burnley 2-0 in the Premier League at Turf Moor, which player put in their “best performance” for the club, looking N’Golo Kanté-esque?

Nov 22, 2025

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