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Lens earned an enormous win as they got here from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 in a memorable first dwelling recreation of the season within the Champions League, whereas Newcastle noticed off Paris Saint-Germain in some type because of a equally energetic environment at St James’ Park.
So, combined success for Ligue 1 groups, however I don’t assume it’s a coincidence that the 2 groups that got here out on high had been the 2 groups who’ve been away from the Champions League, and certainly the European stage, for an extended, very long time. Each side had been taking part in in entrance of actually electrical atmospheres, which I believe made an enormous distinction.
Nonetheless, in Arsenal’s case it’s additionally vital to notice that the match modified for them with the damage to Bukayo Saka. I do assume that might have an effect on Arsenal’s season, relying on how lengthy he’s out for. With Newcastle, it was a implausible efficiency and a completely deserved win, however equally if a few different probabilities had gone PSG’s method earlier within the recreation, it might’ve been a special story. On that first objective for Newcastle, you’d additionally count on a lot better from a participant like Marquinhos within the PSG defence.
Total, not the most effective nights for Arsenal or PSG, however with the vital caveat that these had been very particular events for the house workforce on the evening, and that may make for an intimidating environment that additionally allowed Newcastle and Lens to play above and past themselves.
The stand-out performer for Lens on the evening was matchwinner Elye Wahi – a participant who was on the radar of numerous high golf equipment over the summer time, most notably Chelsea, however I used to be additionally impressed by the response of Adrien Thomasson, who made a mistake for the opening objective by Gabriel Jesus however who then scored the equaliser.
I used to be impressed by Lens’ resolve, and the truth that they didn’t attempt to do something too completely different, whereas in PSG’s case you must query why Luis Enrique determined to solely go for 2 central midfielders and 4 attackers when any minimal quantity of match preparation would have proven that that was a suicidal strategy. Lens, against this, didn’t change their strategy for Arsenal and performed in the best way that’s bought them to the place they’re – their robust understanding and intimacy inside their set-up I believe was key to getting themselves again into the sport.
Wahi is the massive identify on this Lens facet, however I assumed there have been numerous spectacular performers actually, notably Nampalys Mendy, who has settled in very well regardless of solely being on the membership for round six weeks. Kevin Danso was additionally actually stable in defence and Brice Samba, the captain, made some vital saves. You couldn’t actually argue that they didn’t deserve this win.
I can affirm that Hugo Ekitike is not wished at PSG following transfer rumours about his state of affairs and a attainable transfer to the Premier League. The curiosity from Crystal Palace, which was additionally there in direction of the tip of the summer time switch window, has been very problematic for PSG as a result of he and his agent didn’t inform PSG that they had been making an attempt to barter a mortgage transfer to Crystal Palace. This was across the time PSG had been negotiating a transfer for Randal Kolo Muani and Ekitike was of curiosity to Eintracht Frankfurt at that time.
Ekitike has now been dropped from the squad, he’s not on PSG’s checklist for the Champions League, so his future on the Parc des Princes seems very bleak. There have been hyperlinks with Everton as nicely, however I believe curiosity from Newcastle is up to now now. Nonetheless, I definitely count on Ekitike to be on the transfer this winter as a result of there’s no future for him in Paris.
It’s going to be very troublesome for PSG to get the type of a reimbursement that they paid for him. PSG already knew they had been over-paying for the participant as a result of the payment was agreed earlier than his preliminary mortgage transfer, throughout which he misplaced huge worth. They tried to get out of this deal however they had been obliged to finish it.
Realistically, PSG would now be fortunate to get a paid mortgage with a view to a everlasting switch for round €20m, if all the things had been to go nicely, however I believe it’s clear they’re going to have to simply accept a big hit on this switch, until he can exit on mortgage and actually impress and construct up some worth.
Moussa Dembele laid into his former membership Lyon in an interview with Foot Mercato, saying: “I left like Malo [Gusto], Castello [Lukeba] and Bradley [Barcola] did, they usually did nicely to go away with a view to enhance, get pleasure from higher momentum for his or her growth and earn more cash. Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes had been additionally proper to go away. Have a look at the enjoyable they’re having! Bruno Cheyrou mentioned the gamers had been property, what an absence of respect. The place did he assume he was? A slave ship? In a cotton area? I’m not an asset, I’m a human being! If we’re property, what are the followers? Customers? That is such a harmful and disrespectful take.”
There has undoubtedly been an institutional disaster happening at Lyon for a number of years now, there have been critical query marks about how complacent the membership has been, going again to the tip of Jean-Michel Aulas’ reign.
Dembele was one in all numerous gamers who, being completely sincere, under-performed a bit, however, equally, there was a malaise that was allowed to set in across the membership. Houssem Aouar is an effective instance of this – a massively gifted participant who rose up by way of Lyon’s academy however whose type actually dropped off a cliff as soon as a transfer to Juventus was blocked.
I believe numerous gamers will probably be feeling equally, however now that Dembele’s moved on, he’s in a position to communicate out about it. It’s definitely one thing that’s been brewing for a number of years, and even this week there have been stories that one in all John Textor’s traders already desires out of the mission only a few months into his possession. It’s a extremely sad place proper now, so Dembele’s feedback don’t actually come as a lot of a shock in any respect.
