Is being ‘nearly 35’ really Arsenal right-back’s problem?

Matt Stead
during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Blackpool at Emirates Stadium on October 31, 2018 in London, England.

Gun show
Daily Mail back-page headline: ”GUNS’ SMUGGLED IN TO OLD TRAFFORD’

Daily Mail first paragraph: ‘Manchester United are reviewing their security after a man who invaded the pitch during their Champions League clash with Juventus was found to have smuggled two toy guns into Old Trafford.’

Alternative headline: ‘TOYS SMUGGLED IN TO OLD TRAFFORD’

 

Sterling work
Most of Friday’s newspapers lead on the claim that Raheem Sterling has verbally agreed a new Manchester City deal. After starting the season with four goals and four assists, having scored 23 and set up 17 last season, you could hardly argue that he doesn’t deserve it.

The Sun report on the story by putting Sterling’s reported wages – ‘a whopping £300,000 A WEEK’ – in block capitals, because of course they bloody do.

They tell us he ‘is set to become the Premier League’s best-paid English player’. Harry Kane is the current holder of that title; did The Sun describe his wages as ‘whopping’ or seek to clarify it was paid in WEEKS, not DAYS or MINUTES? Did they heck.

The Daily Mail take a different stance, and it all just feels a bit weird. Their back-page headline says that ‘Sterling hits the jackpot’, while the headline within the paper tells us that he is ‘to top £100m by 25’. Apparently he ‘will become the first Englishman to surpass £100m in career earnings – including commercial deals and bonuses – before he reaches the age of 25 in December next year.’

The first Englishman ever? The first Englishman in the current squad? The first Englishman called Raheem? We need answers.

The Mail actually go on to mention that Sterling ‘is set to open an academy in London for children from deprived areas’, and that he ‘wants to offer opportunities for disadvantaged kids’. Which is lovely, and a nice change from the usual stance taken on him. It just jars a little when we have to be told how ridiculous his earnings are first.

What’s £25,000 between friends?
‘Raheem Sterling is set to become the Premier League’s best-paid English player on a whopping £300,000 A WEEK’ – The Sun (their seemingly bemused capitalisation, not ours).

‘After months of negotiations, the England star and his representatives have finalised fresh terms with City – believed to be worth £275,000 a week’ – Daily Mirror.

Plenty in reserves
The Sun do actually report on the actual football that occurred on Thursday, which is something of a renegade move. Ken Lawrence tells us a Manchester City’s ”reserves” – containing John Stones, Vincent Kompany, Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus – swatted aside Fulham.

Neil Custis was also at the Etihad Stadium, and was far from surprised at the scoreline.

‘Even those who bet responsibly would have put their house on this result.’

Probably not if they bet responsibly, Neil.

‘John Stones was the only survivor from Monday’s starting line-up for the 1-0 win against Tottenham at Soldier Field…sorry, Wembley.’

It was not funny on Monday night. It is not funny three whole days later.

 

Merse code
Paul Merson reckons Arsenal will “show some big cracks” on Saturday. Kinky.

“I just think the defence is terrible, all over the place, and no different to what it was before,” he tells Sky Sports

“If Hector Bellerin is injured, you’re talking about Granit Xhaka at left-back, a central midfield player, and Stephan Lichtsteiner at right-back, who has been a good player but is nearly 35 now. How many 35-year-olds are there in the Premier League?”

Three who have played this season. One is Michel Vorm, who has been a bit rubbish. Another is Ben Foster, who has been excellent. The third is Glenn Murray, who has outscored everyone except for Eden Hazard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018/19.

So yeah, perhaps being ‘nearly 35’ is not Stephan Lichtsteiner’s problem. Being a bit sh*t might be.

 

Shock treatment
Writes Martin Lipton in The Sun:

‘Mat Ryan is a shock target to replace David De Gea at Manchester United.

‘Old Trafford bigwigs are secretly planning for life without their Spanish keeper after he decided not to sign the new deal that has been dangled in front of him.’

Old Trafford bigwigs will presumably be more than a little pissed off that you’ve let the secret out, then.

 

Recommended reading of the day
Eni Aluko on Arsenal’s managers.

Miguel Delaney on Liverpool.

 

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