Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has claimed that new Tottenham Hotspur player James Maddison is a better signing than Mason Mount, who recently joined Manchester United.
The former Leicester City midfielder made the move to North London this summer, after the Foxes suffered relegation to the Championship. Signing for a reported £40m, Maddison will hope to hit the ground running under Ange Postecoglou.
Meanwhile, Mount completed his move to Old Trafford for a reported £60m deal, in a transfer that saw over a decade at Chelsea come to a ruthless end.
Between the two England internationals, although he said it was close, Parlour believes Maddison just about edges it, and is a better signing this summer.
The former Gunner knows what he's talking about when it comes to quality, too, after a stellar career at Arsenal. Indeed, it was in North London that he won three Premier League titles, including as part of the famous 2004 Invincibles side, as well as four FA Cups and one League Cup.
So, his verdict on Maddison is certainly high praise.
What did Ray Parlour say?
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, in partnership with Genting Casino, Parlour said: “I'm interested to see how Maddison does…
"But Maddison, £40m, I’m thinking… well, if you keep Harry Kane, with Son [Heung-min], [Dejan] Kulusevski on the left. You know, they've got a decent strike force there.
“And I hope it all goes wrong, if I'm being honest, I hope he starts going out in London, I might try to get him on the debrief [drinking session] with me and Alan [Brazil].
“But that's a good signing for 40 million quid. You know, Mason Mount, £60m. Who would you rather have, Mount or Maddison?
"It’s a close one, isn’t it? I’d probably go towards Maddison a little bit more, with free kicks and all that sort of stuff.”
How did James Maddison and Mason Mount perform last season?
Former Leicester midfielder James Maddison.
After the Arsenal legend's verdict, it's only right to take a look at how Mount and Maddison performed in the Premier League last season.
Both were part of seasons to forget for their respective sides, as Chelsea finished in the bottom half, and Leicester were relegated.
That's not to say they didn't perform on an individual level, however, especially Maddison.
The recent Spurs arrival scored a total of 10 league goals in a struggling Foxes side last season, whilst also assisting a further nine, tallying up to have an incredibly impressive 19 goal involvements.
Mount, meanwhile, struggled to have a hand in such a high number of goals, scoring just three times, and recording just two assists.
Last season's numbers certainly suggest that it was Spurs who got the better deal this summer, but only time will tell whether that rings true this time next year.
After splashing the cash on the respective players, both clubs will be hoping to see their summer business pay off next season, where they'll be hoping to secure Champions League football and challenge for silverware, at the very least.
For now, fans will be eagerly anticipating their official debuts come the start of the campaign in August.
Marcus Rashford exploded last season, cementing himself as one of the most dangerous goalscorers in the Premier League.
Manchester United will certainly hope he can lead them to glory this season – hence his new five-year contract.
Other top clubs will hope to stop him, of course, and one of those is Tottenham Hotspur. They'll try to compete with United once again this season and will come up against Rashford and co. on 19th August.
So how well does Rashford usually fare against them? Football FanCast takes a dive into the numbers to find out.
What is Marcus Rashford's goal record against Tottenham?
Rashford has played 14 times against Spurs and it took him a while to find his feet against them. The forward didn't manage to score in any of his first four appearances, but has since gone on to be a bit of a thorn in the Lilywhites' sides.
He currently sits on five goals in 14 games, with all of them coming within 13 Premier League fixtures. Since his first goal against them, that record stands at five in nine.
What is Marcus Rashford's assist record against Tottenham?
Rashford certainly isn't known for his assists as much as his goals. There are 16 teams against which he's managed more than just a solitary assist, though – a fairly decent record for a prolific goalscorer.
Though, Tottenham aren't one of them. Rashford has just one assist in his 14 games and it actually came in his most recent outing against Spurs. He scored one and assisted another in the Red Devils' 2-2 draw in north London back in April.
What is Marcus Rashford's head-to-head record against Tottenham?
It's very good, actually – and surprisingly so, as United haven't always been comfortably better than Spurs since Rashford broke into the senior setup. But in 14 games against Tottenham, he's been on the winning side nine times. Spurs have won three, with two ending in draws. It's worth noting that one of those wins was in the FA Cup.
That record looks even better in recent times. Since 2019, Rashford has faced Spurs nine times and won seven, losing and drawing one apiece.
What is Marcus Rashford's away goal record against Tottenham?
Manchester United'sMarcusRashford
Rashford has played away at Tottenham seven times in his career. Worryingly for Spurs ahead of their August clash, it's also the ground on which he's done the most damage in this fixture.
The England star has three of his five goals against Tottenham away from home, plus that assist he picked up last season. He's also avoided defeat in his last five trips – a bad omen for Spurs.
Who has Marcus Rashford scored the most against?
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
There are three teams against whom Rashford has more goals than his five in Spurs matches. There are then a further five who have also conceded five times to United's star.
Leicester City are his most common victim, conceding eight times in 16 appearances against Rashford. Then come Chelsea and Liverpool at six goals each in 17 and 15 games respectively.
West Ham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle and Bournemouth all sit alongside Tottenham as having conceded five. It's worth mentioning that Rashford's overall record against Newcastle might be his best against any club: 11 games, five goals, five assists.
How many goals does Marcus Rashford have in August?
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
August isn't a particularly happy hunting month for Rashford as his record in the first month of the season isn't what you would call special. Indeed, he's only got five August strikes throughout his eight-season career. That does, however, include a brace against Chelsea in 2019 and a goal against Liverpool last year.
It's also worth mentioning that the 2020/21 campaign didn't have any games played in August as the season instead kicked off in September. Rashford did grab two goals in the opening month that year, so perhaps it's a little fairer to include those in his 'August' tally.
Rashford has a whopping 45 game-winning goals in his career so far. In fact, he managed 16 last season – an incredible number which actually accounted for over half of his goals.
Two of those game-winners have come against Tottenham, too, so they know full well how dangerous he can be. Indeed, he notched in back-to-back league games against the north Londoners with winners at either end of 2019 – the latter of which was an Old Trafford brace in a 2-1 win to inflict a first defeat at Spurs for Jose Mourinho.
What is Marcus Rashford's overall goal record for Man United?
Man Unites starMarcusRashford
Rashford has now played 359 games for United – doesn't time fly? He's managed to score a very respectable 123 goals in that time, which is a goal-to-game ratio of around 0.34.
But that will only go up with time as Rashford continues to improve. Last season was his best yet – and this coming campaign could well prove to be even better.
What is Marcus Rashford's Premier League record?
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, Raphael Varane andCasemiro
Rashford now has 76 Premier League goals, coming in 239 appearances in England's top flight. That's enough to sit in 60th on the all-time Premier League top scorers list.
But he won't be stopping there. A season like last time out could even see him climb into the top 40 – and who's to say he won't better what he managed in 2022/23?
What is Marcus Rashford's assist record?
Now, different places credit assists in different ways, so the exact number of assists for Rashford is debatable. We'll just focus on how the Premier League credits them.
And with that in mind, Rashford has 37 assists in his league career. That's good enough for 92nd all-time in the Premier League – level with Manchester United greats Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Cristiano Ronaldo. He'll move past both shortly – perhaps even before their trip to Spurs.
How many goals did Marcus Rashford score last season?
Last season was the finest of Rashford's career as he cemented himself as an elite forward. He scored an incredible 30 goals in all competitions, coming in just 56 games.
That was the best haul of his career to date and marked an extraordinary jump on the previous campaign. 2021/22 saw Rashford manage just five goals, which was even fewer than the eight he managed in his debut season as a teenager.
22 had been his previous highest, but now 30 is the figure to beat in all competitions.
That boiled down to 17 Premier League goals in 35 appearances. It's a fine record in a team that was still finding itself under Erik ten Hag and matched his previous best in the competition.
But with things looking a little more settled now, Rashford will want to go even better this time around. That 20-goal barrier just has to be his target.
What is Man United's record against Tottenham?
United's record is fantastic against just about every team in the country. It's no different against Spurs, either, in their 199 fixtures against one another.
That's right, we're coming up on the 200th meeting between United and Tottenham. So far, the Red Devils have triumphed on nearly half of the occasions – 96 times, to be exact.
Spurs have 53 to their credit, with the spoils shared 50 times.
But what about the Premier League? Since the rebrand in 1992, the two sides have met 62 times in the league. United have utterly dominated proceedings, though, winning on 39 occasions. That included a spell from 2001 to 2012 without tasting defeat once.
Spurs have managed just 10 wins in that time, with the majority of those coming since January 2014. There's a long way to go to claw things back and level things up…
What are Man United's recent results against Tottenham?
Harry Kane and Bruno Fernandes competing in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-2 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League.
Very, very good. Spurs have consistently struggled against United historically, but did enjoy a decent spell within the last decade or so.
But that's changed more recently. United are undefeated in the last five meetings, winning four before drawing the most recent encounter. That finished 2-2, with Rashford scoring one and assisting another.
Before that result, United won 2-0 and 3-2 at home, with 3-0 and 3-1 away wins prior to that. So when did Spurs last win against them?
You'll remember it – the 6-1 thrashing at Old Trafford. United have fought back in style after that embarrassment. As for the last time Spurs beat United in north London, you have to return to 2018 and a 2-0 win at Wembley Stadium. Christian Eriksen, now with United, scored the opener before a Phil Jones own goal sealed it.
When is Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United?
Man United boss Erik ten Hag
This latest clash between the two teams will take place on Saturday, 19th August at 5.30pm UK time. It'll be the second Saturday Night Football of the season and is just five days after United's opener against Wolves.
It'll be interesting to see how that affects things – as well as how the two teams line up. Neither team can be sure of who they will and won't have as the transfer window continues to intrigue.
Will Harry Kane be at Spurs? Will United have their new striker? And where will Harry Maguire be playing?
What we do know is that Rashford will almost certainly feature for United, barring an injury. His new five-year contract sets him up to be the star man at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future and it's a role he'll almost certainly thrive in.
Perhaps he'll be the difference once more as these two sides seek early statements in the top-four race.
Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules are often controversial in football, given the amount of money involved in the sport these days. Clubs must ensure that they run a tight ship to avoid any potential breaches.
Of course, the biggest case we've seen regarding FFP is with Manchester City. The treble winners charged back in February, with the case currently ongoing.
Meanwhile, their neighbours, Manchester United, have had similar luck after being hit with a fine for a small breach of FFP rules in a disappointing moment for the Red Devils.
They'll certainly want to avoid any more breaches of the rule.
Why were Man United fined by FFP?
As per Simon Stone of BBC Sport, the Red Devils have been fined €300k (£257.02k) for a minor breach of FFP rules. The club is said to be disappointed, with the fine a result of changes in the way that UEFA treated losses suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In full, he explained: "Man Utd fined €300,000 by UEFA for 'minor' FFP breach. Club disappointed re this. Say fine due to change in way UEFA treated COVID-19 related losses. Utd 'continue to support enforcement of rules to promote FFP + sustainability across domestic + Euro football'."
United reportedly reiterated their desire to support the enforcement of the rules to promote FFP, and sustainability across European and domestic football.
With that said, it seems as though United are keen to avoid any further breaches, given their disappointment over receiving the fine.
United's statement in full, via The Athletic, said: “While disappointed by the outcome, Manchester United accepts this fine for what UEFA acknowledges to be a minor technical breach of its previous Financial Fair Play rules.
“This reflected a change in the way that UEFA adjusted for COVID-19 losses during the 2022 reporting period, which allowed us to recognise only €15m of the €281m of revenues lost due to the pandemic within the FFP calculation.
“Post-pandemic, the clubs’ revenues have recovered strongly and are forecast to reach a record level in the current financial year. The club continues to support the enforcement of rules to promote financial fair play and sustainability across domestic and European football.”
Manchester United's losses
During the pandemic, the Manchester club suffered a net loss of £92.2m in 2021, according to the Financial Times, with revenues falling by 3% compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, failing to bounce back in the 21/22 season, the club announced a net loss of £115.5m, but with a revenue increase of 18%.
United aren't the only club to be hit with a fine, either, with Barcelona also receiving a €500k (£428.36k) fine for wrongly reporting profits on non-player sales.
Fortunately for the Red Devils, as explained in The Athletic, the fine is related to past issues, so it will not damage their transfer budget this summer, as Erik ten Hag looks to build from the foundation set in his debut campaign last season.
Regaining a Champions League spot, United's revenue should receive a boost from featuring among Europe's elite once more, perhaps leading to far better numbers come the end of next season.
So far this summer, they've signed just one player, with that being Mason Mount. The England international arrived from Chelsea for a reported £55m.
It remains to be seen who else Ten Hag welcomes through the Old Trafford doors this summer, however.
Callum Hudson-Odoi has still got breakout potential in the Premier League, journalist Dean Jones told FootballFanCast.
The forward, who spent last season on loan with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen has recently been linked with a summer switch to Nottingham Forest.
What is the latest transfer news regarding Callum Hudson-Odoi?
According to a report from the Athletic, the Chelsea wide-man has decided to leave the club this summer.
The 22-year-old has been with the club for 14 years, having joined the club at the age of eight. However, the player understands that at this point in his career, he has to be playing regular first-team football, and he most likely will not be doing that at Stamford Bridge next season.
Soccer Football – FA Cup Third Round – Chelsea v Chesterfield – Stamford Bridge, London, Britain – January 8, 2022 Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
There are a number of clubs interested in the former England youth international, with Forest and Fulham offering potential Premier League football. Another shock move could be the reunite with former Chelsea youth products Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori at AC Milan this summer.
Whilst the London club have not yet decided on the fee they want for Hudson-Odoi, the forward only has one year remaining on his deal, so this summer represents the final chance for the club to make some money off of the forward who has a €15.00m (£12.8m) market value according to Transfermarkt.
Another report states that the club may sensationally ask the player to halve his wages in order to terminate his contract and leave him free to join any club as a free agent. New manager Mauricio Pochettino doesn't see the winger being good enough to have an impact at Chelsea next season.
Journalist Jones has said that we are still yet to see the full version of Hudson-Odoi yet.
What does Dean Jones think about Callum Hudson-Odoi?
When asked about whether Hudson-Odoi to Nottingham Forest would be a good signing, Jones was full of praise for the winger, citing the potential that he has.
The transfer insider told FootballFanCast: "I still think Hudson-Odoi has got breakout potential in this league. I mean, we've obviously seen him before, but I don't think we've seen the full version of him over a long enough period to know exactly what he would be capable of.
He's still so young, this is a player that should really be playing Champions League football right now. If he had fulfilled his potential and not had injuries."
Should Hudson-Odoi head to Nottingham Forest?
A move to Nottingham Forest could be the perfect move for Hudson-Odoi to get his career back on track.
The Premier League side finished 16th last campaign, but received many plaudits for their front-footed style of play, with players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson, and Taiwo Awoniyi thriving under manager Steve Cooper.
Soccer Football – Euro Under 21 Qualifier – Group 3 – England U21 v Austria U21 – Stadium MK, Milton Keynes, Britain – October 15, 2019 England’s Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
The winger has previously worked under Cooper on the international level with the England Under 17's, where Hudson-Odoi won the under-17 World Cup in the summer of 2017, featuring as part of a squad that included names such as Marc Guehi, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Angel Gomes, Emile Smith-Rowe, and current Forest star Gibbs-White.
The 22-year-old was set for stardom after breaking onto the scene under Maurizio Sarri in the 2018/19 campaign. The forward was so impressive early on in his career that German giants Bayern Munich submitted a loan offer that included the option to buy the Englishman for £70m which Chelsea rejected. However, since rupturing his Achilles Tendon, the forward has struggled to reach those heights again.
A loan move to Leverkusen was tried last season, however, one goal and one assist across 21 appearances was a very disappointing return. The forward still gave some statistical glimpses into his quality though, with his 4.71 progressive carries and 2.02 successful take-ons per 90 still impressive numbers when compared to wingers across Europe's top five leagues. There clearly is still an incredible player there, he's just waiting for the right manager and situation to showcase it.
Forest could lose Johnson to Brentford this summer according to reports, and Hudson-Odoi could be a risk worth taking to fill that void, as if he can begin to realise his potential at the City Ground, then the club may have a potential world-class player on their hands.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bolster his side's defence with the signing of Wolfsburg centre-half Micky van de Ven.
What's the latest on Micky van de Ven to Tottenham?
The London outfit's desire for the Dutchman has been clear for the past several weeks, with Football Insider recently reporting that Spurs will battle against Premier League rivals Liverpool for his signature.
The indication is that Die Wölfe are willing to conduct business with suitors for a fee of around €30m (£26m), which could prompt Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to instigate a move following the club's dismal 22/23 campaign.
Given that Van de Ven is a left-footed central defender, he is something of a rarity and would be a fantastic addition to a Spurs backline yearning for some inspiration and exuberance to dispel the present misfortune.
How good is Micky van de Ven?
Tottenham capitulated in the closing weeks of the 22/23 Premier League season, winning just four of their final 13 matches and hurtling away from Champions League contention to squander European qualification in its entirety.
The crux of the matter? The disastrous defensive displays; the Lilywhites shipped 63 league goals, a tally bettering only Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and the three relegated outfits.
This is why Van de Ven's signing is so imperative to the club's progress, wiping away the cobwebs from a forgettable campaign and restoring the equilibrium at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
At just 22-years-old, the "complete" and "flourishing" defender – as hailed by journalist Ronan Murphy – has made his mark in the German Bundesliga and earned an average Sofascore rating of 6.85, keeping 11 clean sheets from 33 games, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 1.4 tackles per game and succeeding with 64% of his ground duels.
Such numbers are impressive, particularly when you consider only two defenders in the squad – Cristian Romero (2.5) and Clement Lenglet (1.5) managed more tackles per match last term.
The Netherlands U21 international is a burgeoning titan and would likely leave Eric Dier quaking in his boots if he were to arrive in London under Postecoglou's wing, with the 29-year-old culpable of producing poor performances over the past year.
Rebuked by journalist Ryan Taylor for being "nowhere near the required level that Spurs are trying to achieve", Dier has since made 361 appearances since signing from Sporting Lisbon for £4m in 2014.
Also said to be "not good enough" by pundit Darren Ambrose, Dier's ranking across metrics for progressive passing (bottom 40%) and ball-carrying (bottom 24%) could further leave him down in the pecking order, with Postecoglou favouring pass-proficient central defenders to complement his possession-based, free-flowing system.
And with Van de Ven ranking among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, he has the forward-thinking mentality to displace Dier, who also occupies the left side of the central defence.
That's not to mention his frightening pace either, with the centre-back clocking up a top speed of 35.97 km/h in the Bundesliga; a number that defeats even that of Son Heung-min's 34.4 km/h.
With journalist Jonathan Veal suggesting that Dier's "time is up" at Tottenham, it might be time to hoist him from his starting berth and provide Van de Ven with the license to cement a prominent role in an outfit craving a resurgence.
Aston Villa target Pau Torres is set to have his medical and complete his move to the Premier League this week, according to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas.
Is Pau Torres an Aston Villa player yet?
The Spain international isn’t out of contract with the Yellow Submarines until the end of next season, but after 90min reported that he is keen to embark on a new adventure during this window, Unai Emery has been eyeing a reunion practically ever since.
Football Insider initially claimed that the Midlands outfit had made contact to enquire about a deal for the centre-back who was highlighted as a top target, and it wasn’t long before a breakthrough in negotiations after Sky Sports stated that the two parties were in advanced talks.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein most recently revealed that an agreement for the transfer of the 26-year-old had been “reached” alongside personal terms, and it sounds like he could be able to finalise the switch within the next few days.
What's the latest Villa transfer news?
Taking to Twitter on Sunday evening, Thomas confirmed that Torres will fly to England to undergo his medical tests this week to seal his move to Aston Villa. He wrote:
“Pau Torres is expected to travel to the Midlands next week to complete an initial £33m move from #Villarreal to #AstonVilla.”
Villarreal defender Pau Torres.
Emery is not only a compatriot of Torres but he will also already know what he’s capable of having managed him during his time at Villarreal, and having been dubbed a “dream” signing for a Premier League club by content creator Ryan Haber, the centre-back would be a fantastic acquisition.
The World Cup participant averaged 4.1 clearances, 1.7 aerial wins and 1.3 tackles per game last season in La Liga, via WhoScored, so was a real rock at the heart of the backline both on and off the ground, but he equally has an eye on making a positive impact driving forward.
The 6 foot 2 titan ranked in the 99th percentile for progressive carries and the 97th percentile for successful take-ons, so he loves to push his team as high up the pitch as possible and take on his marker when playing out from the centre of defence.
Having been crowned winner of the Europa League in 2020/21, Torres will additionally know what it takes to compete and be successful on the bigger stage – which is what Aston Villa will be up against next season – so he could help to create the winning mentality needed to gain results over European opponents.
Arsenal are reportedly eyeing PSV star Xavi Simons as Mikel Arteta sets his sights on bolstering his squad this summer.
The Spaniard is set to have a busy transfer window at the helm, working alongside Edu to make sufficient reinforcements to ensure the Gunners can continue their form as title challengers.
The latest link could be a marquee signing for the north Londoners, in a player that has cemented himself as a sensational rising star in Europe.
What’s the latest on Xavi Simons to Arsenal?
Arsenal were first linked to Eredivisie sensation Simons earlier this month, with news from the Netherlands stating the Gunners claimed interest in the youngster.
News reported this week has kept the links between the Dutchman and the Emirates alive, with Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur – as relayed by Sport Witness – suggesting that Arsenal have been joined in their pursuit of the 20-year-old.
CIES Football Observatory has valued the La Masia graduate at €60m (£51m).
What could Xavi Simons offer to Arsenal?
This past season was an overwhelming success for the Amsterdam-born gem, who registered 34 goal contributions in a total of 48 appearances in all competitions for PSV (via Transfermarkt).
The versatile attacker, who has featured across the frontline but primarily as a central midfielder and left-winger, has skills in abundance that could suit those at the Emirates.
Lauded as “magnificent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 20-year-old is as creative as he is threatening in front of goal, registering an average of 1.7 key passes per game in the Eredivisie, as well as creating 11 big chances.
While his eight assists and 19 league goals are extremely pleasing in themselves, the Dutchman is mostly identifiable for his playmaking abilities, with him praised as being an “intelligent” asset by U23 scout Antonio Mango.
Arsenal have seen a host of playmaking geniuses in their time; from Dennis Bergkamp to Cesc Fabregas, north London has witnessed some magic in central midfield over the years, with one name prominently astounding in the Emirates era.
Mesut Ozil was integral to the Gunners for the majority of his time in the Premier League, and particularly shone in the 2015/16 campaign that saw Arsenal finish second.
Hailed as a “genius” by former manager and Premier League legend Arsene Wenger (via beIN SPORTS), the German recorded 19 assists that season, averaging a monstrous 4.2 key passes per game, via WhoScored.
Mesut Ozil Arsenal
Ozil ended his time in England having recorded 59 Premier League assists in 184 appearances (via Transfermarkt), with his creative mastery forever ingrained in the club’s folklore.
Arteta could discover his answer to the former midfielder in Simons, who at just 20 years old, is showing signs that he could emulate the playmaking efficiency of the Gelsenkirchen-born gem in north London.
As per FBref, the Dutchman averaged 2.31 passes into the final third per 90 in the Eredivisie this season, as well as recording 4.82 progressive passes per 90 to flex his ability of dispatching the ball into threatening spaces.
Acting as a key creator for PSV, Simons could reinstall an essence of Ozil to the Emirates this summer, as a player that could even succeed the German's influence based upon his impeccable strengths in front of goal – which surpass those of the World Cup winner.
In his best-scoring season, the former Real Madrid ace netted eight goals in the league for Arsenal, with Simons scoring 19 in Eredivisie this term aged 20, showcasing the talent Arteta could have in his possession.
Football FanCast brings you all the key information you should know as this summer's European Under-21 Championship gets underway.
England are seeking to win the tournament for the first time in nearly 40 years, but come into the competition with a poor recent record.
When do the Under-21 Euros start and where can I watch?
The eagerly anticipated Under-21 Euros begins on Wednesday, 21st June and runs through to Saturday, 8th July.
The tournament is made up of four groups of four nations, with the top two from each group progressing to the quarter-finals, which are scheduled to take place on Saturday, 1st July and Sunday, 2nd July.
The competition also acts as a qualifier for the 2024 Olympic Games men's football tournament, although England cannot qualify as Great Britain are the country's Olympics team.
Unfortunately, the tournament is not being broadcast on UK TV, though all matches are available to view for free on UEFA.tv.
Where is the tournament being held?
The tournament will be co-hosted by Romania and Georgia. The latter nation will see fixtures played across three cities, with Batumi, Poti, and Tbilisi all due to host.
Romania will host the action in Cluj-Napoca and the capital city of Bucharest.
The opening match will be played in Romania, and the final will be held in Georgia at the Adjarabet Arena, Batumi.
Who are the tournament favourites?
Spain are considered the narrow favourites, with England, France and current champions Germany all expected to compete towards the latter stages of the competition.
Italy and the Netherlands are also among the predicted contenders whilst Israel and hosts Georgia are seen as the weakest nations, according to the bookmakers.
The Spaniards have been victors in three out of the last six competitions, and hold the joint record along with Italy for the most championships won.
Who is in England's group?
England are in Group C, which holds Germany, Czech Republic and Israel.
Head coach Lee Carsley will lead his side out on Thursday 22nd June, to kick off the Three Lions' opening match against the Czech Republic.
The fixture will be played at 5pm GMT (8pm local time) in Batumi, Georgia.
England fixtures, key dates and kick-off times:
Matchday 1: Czech Republic v England (22nd June, 5pm) Matchday 2: England v Israel (25th June, 5pm) Matchday 3: England v Germany (28th June, 5pm) Quarter-finals: 1st-2nd July Semi-finals: 5th July Final: 8th July (8pm) What is England's record at the tournament?
England are two-time winners of the competition, with their triumphs dating back to 1982 and 1984.
In recent years, however, the Three Lions have suffered group-stage exits in five out of the last six tournaments.
Nevertheless, Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey remains confident and notes that this squad has a different mentality.
“One thing that I will say about this group – when we’ve looked at previous groups before, and previous camps, there’s probably a different mentality,” he said.
Which players are involved?
Many fans will be familiar with Carsley's side, with several high-profile Premier League regulars named in England's 23-man squad.
Chelsea's Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke, Liverpool pair Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, Villa midfielder Ramsey, Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, Manchester City forward Cole Palmer and Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe are all likely to feature.
But who else may catch the eye over the next few weeks? Here are the players who could make their name at the tournament…
Enzo Le Fée – Lorient (France)
The Lorient midfielder made 36 appearances in Ligue 1 last term, scoring six goals whilst providing five assists, helping his side achieve a top-half finish.
Lorient have set a £21.4m price tag for Le Fée, who is attracting interest from Stade Rennais, with some reports suggesting he has already chosen the club as his next destination.
The 5 foot 7 midfielder was the only player in Ligue 1 to record 100 tackles, shot-creating actions and dribbles last season.
Cameron Archer – Aston Villa (England)
Archer enjoyed a fruitful six-month loan spell at Championship side Middlesbrough last season. The 2001-born forward scored 11 goals in 17 starts for Michael Carrick's side and laid on six assists.
Archer netted four times in qualifying and is the only out-and-out striker named in England's squad, meaning he'll likely be a regular at this summer's tournament.
Similarly to Le Fée, the 21-year-old is being linked with a move away leading up to the competition, with Boro keen on bringing the forward back to the Riverside.
Zeno Debast – Anderlecht (Belgium)
The 2003-born centre-back enjoyed a breakout season for Belgian Pro League giants Anderlecht. Debast featured 49 times in all competitions, including 10 appearances in the UEFA Conference League, helping his side reach the last eight of the competition.
Standing at 6 foot 3, Debast has already been capped three times at senior level, starting in each of his three caps under Roberto Martínez.
He is the youngest member of the Belgium Under-21 setup.
Thijs Dallinga – Toulouse (Netherlands)
The towering 6 foot 2 centre-forward netted 18 times last season following a £2.1m move from Dutch second-division side Excelsior Rotterdam in 2022.
He scored a brace in the Coupe de France final to help his side win their first-ever major trophy, thrashing Nantes 5-1.
AC Milan have been linked as potential suitors for the Dutch striker, with the Rossoneri said to be a very feasible destination, but the 22-year-old's dream move is thought to be La Liga giants Barcelona.
Aston Villa are rivalling Tottenham in showing an interest in Galatasaray attacker Nicolo Zaniolo this summer, according to a new report from Italy.
Is Zaniolo on the move this summer?
The 23-year-old has has a curious career to date, in many ways, with horrendous bad luck with injuries coming his way and limiting his progress hugely. He has had a string of fitness issues down the years, including a cruciate ligament rupture, but he is still battling hard to reach his potential.
Zaniolo is currently plying his trade at Galatasarary, having joined from Roma in the January transfer window, and he has shone there, scoring five goals in 10 Turkish Super Lig appearances.
While the Italian signed a deal with the Turkish giants until the summer of 2027, a potential move to the Premier League in the upcoming window is being mooted.
That's where Villa come into play, as they look to do some massive business between now and the start of the season, in what feels like one of the most pivotal summers at the club in years.
Could Villa seal signing of Zaniolo?
According to TuttoJuve [via Sport Witness], Zaniolo is going to be "one of the key players" in the summer transfer window, when it comes to potential outgoings. Juventus are interested in making a move for him, but Villa and Spurs are also believed to be in the mix.
He has a "bigger offer on the table" from an English club, compared to Juve, and the Villans reportedly "dream of signing him" in the coming weeks and months. The £76,000-a-week winger has a €35m (£29.9m) release clause in his Galatasaray contract, so it's a case of whether clubs want to trigger it or not.
Zaniolo could be a really exciting signing by Villa this summer, having racked up 11 caps for Italy to date, scoring twice along the way. A tally of 24 goals and 18 assists for Roma also shows that he can shine in one of Europe's top leagues, and while there would be concerns about his injury problems down the years, the hope is that he is now beyond those woes.
At 23, he is still such a young player who could develop into even more of a force – Claudio Ranieri has hailed him as "decisive" – and Villa signing him would feel like a big statement of intent, as they prepare to play in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season.
Manchester United are internally discussing a move for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, as a potential alternative to Harry Kane, according to a report from The Daily Mail.
Which striker will Man United sign?
Erik ten Hag's biggest priority this summer is to bring in a new striker, and the manager has picked out a number of targets, including Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, with "concrete talks" recently being opened with the 20-year-old forward.
However, Terry Flewers adds that Harry Kane is Man United's "number 1 target", while also claiming they could look at bringing in both players, rather than settling on Hojlund, who only has limited first-team experience.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Kane signing Kane has become an "obsession" for the Red Devils, but it has recently emerged that Tottenham Hotspur may be unwilling to let him join a fellow Premier League club this summer.
According to a report from The Daily Mail, United have been told by Spurs that Kane is not for sale, so they have started to turn their attention to other targets, including the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos.
Man United initially thought that £100m may be enough to tempt Tottenham into selling the England captain, however with that move now on the rocks, they are now discussing other targets, with Ramos re-emerging as an option.
How many goals has Goncalo Ramos scored?
The Benfica star registered 27 goals in all competitions last season, with his tally of 19 in the Liga Portugal ranking him second in the entire division, and he also impressed on the international stage.
All the pressure was on the 21-year-old to perform for Portugal against Switzerland at the World Cup, after getting the nod over Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI, and he more than delivered, netting a hat-trick, while also bagging an assist.
Gary Lineker described the youngster's performance as "remarkable", while football scout Jacek Kulig has also praised him for his displays at club level since returning from Qatar, which helped Benfica win the Liga Portugal title.
Of course, Man United will be gutted to have missed out on Kane, given that he is a proven goal-scorer at Premier League level, weighing in with an impressive 30 goals in the top flight last season.
However, Ramos has proven that he could be a viable alternative, and at 21-years-old, he still has plenty of time to develop further.