The contest ended with a 4-2 win for the hosts.

The win comes at an important time for West Ham, as they have endured relatively negative results to start the new season.

This win over a strong side in Wolves can only push the Irons to add to this victory and will surely boost their confidence levels.

Even though there are still several fixes that need to be made, especially defensively, the team proved in this match that they are capable of being extremely dangerous from an attacking perspective, as the variety displayed in this match in terms of attacking solutions was remarkable.

On the other hand, César Peixoto’s side were unable to prevent West Ham United from dominating the game.

Defending against two strikers made Wolves struggle to win the ball back quickly or advance often.

It is definitely a lesson that needs to be learned for Wolves to be more prepared for teams that like to change their attacking system so often.

In this West Ham vs Wolves tactical analysis, we look at how Nuno Espírito Santo’s side attacked while shedding some light on their defensive weaknesses.

West Ham United Vs Wolves Lineups & Formations

West Ham United Lineup Vs Wolves

Nuno chose to start the match in a 4-4-2 formation with Mads Hermansen in goal, Kyle Walker-Peters at right-back, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman at centre-back, and Oliver Scarles at left-back.

The midfield was made up of Divine Mukasa and Arne Engels as central midfielders, Manor Solomon and Jarrod Bowen as wingers, with Joël Piroe and Pablo Felipe forming the attacking duo.

Wolves Lineup Vs West Ham United

On the other side, Peixoto preferred the 4-2-3-1 formation with José Sá in goal, Jackson Tchatchoua at right-back, Nasser Djiga and Toti Gomes as the centre-backs, and Hugo Bueno at left-back.

He relied on André and Marshall Munetsi as central midfielders, Fer López as the advanced playmaker, Rodrigo Gomes and Mateus Mané as wingers, with Raúl Jiménez as the main striker.

West Ham United Wing Threats

Wolves forced West Ham to defend in their own half a lot early on.

Progressively, they were able to create attacking actions, though, and relied mainly on the quick exchanges of passes inside the final third from central areas to wide areas in order to pave the way for their wingers to cross.

In fact, West Ham’s attacks became more frequent as time progressed, and these actions had a common feature: Starting from the wings and penetrating through the box or crossing into the box.

In this action, for instance, it was Bowen who made the difference on the right wing, as he played a one-two with Felipe and advanced quickly to receive the ball back in the right spot and continue his penetration before serving Piroe.

This type of action highlights the usefulness of the 4-4-2 formation for West Ham since it allows the team to attack with four players continuously, without counting the central midfielders.

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And there are already several talking points.

With fixture swings, wildcards and free hits entering the conversation for Gameweek 3, it’s time for a review.

Let’s dive straight in and discuss the biggest takeaways, with the numbers that mattered.

1) Arsenal Defence: Ezri Konsa Emerges As A £4.4m FPL Bargain

Arsenal have an xGC of 0.53 through two games.

Eleven shots conceded, total.

The next best defence in the league, Manchester City, sits at 1.31 xGC.

We know William Saliba is out for around three months with a back injury, and Jurriën Timber is still working back from a groin problem.

Cristhian Mosquera went down with a hamstring scare at Villa Park on Monday night.

Enter Ezri Konsa.

If Mosquera’s fitness becomes a greater concern, Konsa at £4.4m, in this incredible Arsenal defence, is impossible to ignore.

Bottom line: own an Arsenal defender, or maybe two.

2) Chelsea Attack: João Pedro, Cole Palmer And Morgan Rogers Offer Major FPL Potential

Chelsea have a front three that’s up there with one of the best combinations in Europe.

João Pedro: 1.85 xG, 1.94 xGI, two goals and two assists already banked.

Cole Palmer: 0.94 xG, 1.26 xGI, two goals and an assist.

Morgan Rogers: 1.10 xG, 2.21 xGI, one goal and one assist.

Defensively, Chelsea sit 7th in the league for xGC at 2.74; they have offered up seven big chances to the opposition and have conceded five goals.

This team is built to outscore their opposition.

Bottom line: their attackers are great options for our FPL teams, and do not expect them to keep clean sheets.

3) Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes Leads Expected Goal Involvement

Bruno Fernandes has an xGI of 2.84 through the opening two gameweeks, which is the highest in the league.

He has four goal involvements (in one game) to show for it.

So yes, there is a touch of over-performing, but the underlying numbers look great.

The big problem is his price.

At £12.0m, he needs to be in the captaincy conversation to justify keeping him in our FPL teams.

There is no doubt that he will keep ticking along with returns, but another monster haul feels unlikely.

Other premium options with favourable fixtures could take the captain’s armband off him.

Bottom line: Bruno will keep doing Bruno things for Manchester United.

But we need to be open to utilising his funds to get other players with favourable fixtures.

At your own risk, of course.

4) Manchester City Attack Shows Strong FPL Potential

Erling Haaland got off five shots and scored two goals, with an xG of 0.66, against Crystal Palace on Friday night.

Rayan Cherki got off three shots and scored two goals, with an xG of 0.35 and xGI of 0.90 in the same game.

Phil Foden posted 0.87 xG and 1.32 xGI.

These are all good signs for Manchester City.

Antoine Semenyo also contributed, but his underlying numbers are less impressive.

They have Coventry City (H) in Gameweek 3.

You could argue it is a triple captain fixture for Erling Haaland.

Bottom line: triple up on Manchester City assets if you can; it is a very strong fixture.

5) Newcastle United FPL Assets Impress Despite Underlying Attacking Concerns

Newcastle United have ripped the script after their summer exodus.

However, their underlying numbers urge caution.

As a team, they’ve generated just 2.31 xG after two games, while only four sides in the league have created less.

Yoane Wissa has started the season strong with a 1.34 xG, 11th best in the league.

Anthony Elanga has performed well, but his underlying data shows he’s converted from unlikely goal-scoring opportunities (0.42 xG).

Bottom line: they have good fixtures on the horizon, but I wouldn’t necessarily triple up.

Yoane Wissa is my favourite pick.

I also like Lewis Hall and Malick Thiaw at the back.

6) Hull City Defence Offers Budget FPL Value Despite Concerning Underlying Numbers

Hull City fans are in dreamland.

Their game plan is clear: a defence-first mindset.

They sit a respectable 10th in the league for xGC at 3.12.

But they’ve already faced 32 shots.

John Egan looks to be benefiting the most with this tactic in terms of defensive contributions.

He earned 21 DEFCONs in GW1 and followed that up with 13 in GW2.

Bottom line: John Egan is a legit budget option - but primarily for DEFCONs; the clean sheets won’t last forever.

7) Liverpool FPL Assets Underwhelm Despite Promising Alexander Isak Numbers

Liverpool’s “heavy metal” football in years past was embodied by fullbacks Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson bombing up and down the flanks and providing excellent service to the attackers.

So far, it has looked less convincing with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.

Kerkez hasn’t had a sniff with an xG of 0.02 and xGI of 0.06 after the first two gameweeks.

Similarly, Frimpong sits with 0.01 xG and 0.12 xGI.

And they don’t offer much in terms of DEFCONs either.

Clearly, they rely on creating opportunities through the middle of the pitch.

Florian Wirtz should be that creator, but his start to the season has been underwhelming.

Alexander Isak got his goal against Nottingham Forrest, and the underlying numbers look good (2.08 xG after 2 games).

But the eye test suggests we still haven’t seen their best football yet.

Hopefully, there’s some improvement on Friday night against Ipswich Town (A).

Bottom line: hold your Liverpool assets until after Ipswich (A), then reassess.

8) Morgan Gibbs-White Confirmed As Nottingham Forest Penalty Taker For FPL

Morgan Gibbs-White has one goal, one assist and has registered 0.92 xG after the first two gameweeks.

At Anfield, it was confirmed what many expected: he is on penalties.

Nottingham Forrest are not competing in Europe.

Fewer games, fresher legs.

Oliver Glasner has a decent squad, and the recent addition of Daniel Muñoz from Crystal Palace makes them even better.

Bottom line: keep your eye on Forrest.

9) Tottenham Hotspur FPL Assets Raise Concerns

The underlying numbers confirm it.

Tottenham Hotspurs rank 18th for xGC (4.59) and 12th for xG (2.92).

They are giving up too many opportunities to the opposition and are not creating enough for themselves.

Roberto De Zerbi hasn’t found his best XI, and the numbers say there’s real work to do before this squad looks coherent.

Bottom line: stay away until the results (and the underlying data) actually turn.

10) Premier League Transfer Window Creates New FPL Options And Selection Dilemmas

Bradley Barcola to Liverpool, Iliman Ndiaye to Man City (and not Spurs, ouch), Enzo Fernández is Man City-bound too, Nick Woltemade is off to Juventus (thinning the competition for Wissa’s minutes at Newcastle), Jack Grealish back to Everton, and Tosin Adarabioyo and Mykhailo Mudryk have joined Spurs.

A lot of shirt-changing.

Bottom line: resist the urge to jump on the “shiny new toys”.

Minutes security beats hype every time.

11) FPL Gameweek 3 Strategy: Key Transfers, Fixtures And Players To Target

Lean into the Arsenal defence and watch how the Konsa situation unfolds.

Prioritise getting Manchester City assets for your FPL teams for the Coventry City (H) fixture.

And make a plan for Chelsea against Hull City (H) in Gameweek 4.

Is using the Bruno funds the easiest way to do it?

Newcastle are heading into a good run of fixtures with some confidence.

Stay patient and keep learning.

Want To Explore The Numbers Further?

There is still a lot to learn after only two Gameweeks, and some of the early trends above will inevitably change as the sample grows.

For anyone who wants to dig into the numbers in more detail, TFA has recently added a new FPL Maps section under the FPL 2026/27 tab.

It gives you another way to compare players and clubs across a range of metrics, and could be useful when weighing up transfers, differentials or fixture swings over the next few Gameweeks.

Definitely worth checking out if you like making your FPL decisions with the data in front of you.

Newly promoted sides do not survive the Premier League by accident.

You protect the core that got you up and spend heavily on the three or four positions where EFL Championship quality will not translate.

What almost never happens is a FIFA World Cup winner walking through the door.

Before this window, Víctor Valdés joining Middlesbrough in 2016 stood as the only comparable case.

Ipswich Town have now produced the second, and they have done it with a player far closer to his peak than Valdés was to his.

Exequiel Palacios, 27, arrives from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported €22.5m, becoming the first World Cup winner to ever represent the club.

He brings a 2022 FIFA World Cup winner’s medal, 41 Argentina caps, and membership of Xabi Alonso‘s 2023/2024 Invincibles.

This Exequiel Palacios scout report and player analysis examines Exequiel Palacios’ strengths, weaknesses and how he can best be utilised in a Gary O’Neil Ipswich side determined not to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Exequiel Palacios Style Of Play

Palacios is neither a No. 6, No. 8, nor a No. 10.

He is a second pivot and a connector, at his best as the mobile half of a double pivot alongside a metronome.

In Alonso’s 3-4-2-1, Granit Xhaka occupied the metronome role, receiving from the back three, switching play and dictating tempo with long-range distribution.

Palacios occupied the other side of the pivot, and it was the harder job, because Jeremie Frimpong constantly vacated the right side to attack.

Palacios had to provide the short, safe outlet in the build-up while Xhaka took the wider and longer options, covering the entire right channel in rest defence, counterpressing on turnovers, and arriving late in the box.

A good example of this came against FC St. Pauli.

As Leverkusen build their attack, Palacios takes the ball on his left foot with his body shaped as though the return pass to Aleix García is coming.

He holds it for a beat instead, waiting for the opposition to commit, then slides a pass between the lines into Martin Terrier.

Alonso inverted his central midfielders.

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The talent identification framework at 1. FC Nürnberg has established a highly profitable developmental pipeline in contemporary German football.

Over recent transfer windows, the Franconian club has repeatedly generated substantial capital by identifying high-potential talents and selling them for massive fees.

Defensive cornerstone Finn Jeltsch, central midfield controller Caspar Jander, and Greek forward Stefanos Tzimas all represent successful manifestations of this club model.

The latest player to emerge from this assembly line is Mohamed Alì Zoma, who has rapidly transformed into the most lethal attacking asset in the entire 2. Bundesliga.

His transfer to Nürnberg was realised through a strategic analytical partnership with the British data firm Jamestown Analytics, who identified his exceptional statistical profile while he was playing for Italian third-tier side UC AlbinoLeffe.

Plucked from relative obscurity in Serie C for a modest fee, the young forward has validated the predictive accuracy of modern data scouting in remarkable fashion.

His arrival in Germany has provided Nürnberg with an extraordinary offensive focal point capable of single-handedly altering the state of a match.

While the 2. Bundesliga features numerous experienced, physical forwards, none possess the sheer game-breaking dynamism that Zoma displays on a weekly basis.

His impact is felt across every phase of the attacking sequence, making him the primary driver of his team’s offensive efficiency and transition threats.

Through a blend of data-backed recruitment and high-level coaching, Nürnberg have once again unlocked an elite prospect whose market value is escalating exponentially.

An in-depth structural Mohamed Alì Zoma scout report and player analysis demonstrates why he has quickly become the defining attacking player of the current 2. Bundesliga campaign as part of Miroslav Klose‘s side and why he’s reportedly attracting transfer interest from the likes of West Ham United.

Mohamed Alì Zoma Explosiveness & Short-Area Acceleration: The Uncontainable Dynamic Threat

The primary foundation of Mohamed Alì Zoma’s game is an elite physical engine defined by unmatched linear speed and exceptional short-area acceleration.

In modern tactical systems, the ability to generate instantaneous dynamic separation without relying on extensive setup play is one of the most valuable traits an attacker can possess.

Zoma possesses an acceleration curve that is practically unmatched across the German second division, enabling him to reach top velocity within his first three strides.

This rapid burst allows him to bypass defensive structures before opponents can adjust their body orientation or establish a physical tackle angle.

His top-end sprint speed makes him a terrifying threat when attacking open space behind a high defensive line.

He routinely executes deep vertical runs off the shoulder of the last centre-back, timing his movements to break through the defensive line at maximum velocity.

However, relying solely on linear speed often renders an attacker predictable against deep low blocks that deny vertical space.

What elevates Zoma into an uncontainable physical threat is his ability to convert that speed into elite short-area quickness.

When receiving possession in static scenarios or tight half-space channels, he utilises rapid changes of tempo to disarm defenders.

He can drop his shoulder, feint a drive toward the touchline, and instantly accelerate inward into open shooting corridors.

His exceptional balance and low centre of gravity allow him to absorb heavy contact from central defenders without losing his balance or momentum.

When challenged shoulder-to-shoulder, his core stability ensures that he remains on his feet and continues his forward trajectory.

This combination of balance, explosive burst, and structural strength makes him virtually impossible to contain in isolated 1v1 situations along the flank.

Defenders are frequently forced to back off, giving him extra time to scan the field, or step up aggressively, which plays directly into his desire to blow past them.

This dynamic was prominently displayed during Nürnberg’s league fixture against Dynamo Dresden.

For his opening goal of the match, Zoma isolated the Dresden full-back in a wide, low-speed situation along the left channel.

Rather than waiting for overlapping support, Zoma executed a subtle hesitation move that baited the defender into shifting his weight onto his back foot.

The instant the defender committed his momentum, Zoma exploded past his outside shoulder using an explosive two-touch acceleration burst.

The defender was rendered entirely powerless to track the movement, leaving Zoma with a clear, unhindered angle to drive directly into the penalty area.

Once inside the box, the sheer velocity of his entry forced the remaining central defenders to abandon their markers to cover the ball-carrier.

This single moment showcased how his physical traits do not merely beat individual markers but systematically dismantle the structural integrity of an entire defensive block.

His ability to regularly generate high-value entry passes and shot attempts out of isolated 1v1 duels provides his team with a continuous tactical advantage.

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While the teams at the top have already established a clear advantage, the race further down the standings remains wide open, with five sides currently separated by just three points from seventh to 11th.

In this MLS data analysis, we examine the teams fighting to secure their place in the post-season, looking beyond the league table to understand what is driving their respective campaigns.

We will assess their attacking and defensive performances, underlying numbers, and efficiency to determine which sides are best equipped to make the playoffs.

Expected Points Reveal A Race Built On Fine Margins

The expected points model suggests that all five playoff contenders have collected fewer points than their underlying performances would indicate, although the size of the gap varies considerably.

Actual Points Vs Expected Points In The Eastern Conference Playoff Race MLS 2026

New York City FC show the largest discrepancy, with 27 actual points compared with 31.3 expected, a shortfall of 4.3 points.

Their attacking numbers offer little evidence of major finishing problems, with 35 goals from 34.67 xG, indicating that their points total is more reflective of results in tight matches than poor chance conversion.

Toronto FC have also underperformed their expected total, taking 24 points from 26.1 expected, despite scoring 31 goals from 28.94 xG.

DC United similarly sit 1.5 points below expectation, while Orlando City SC are almost exactly on their underlying level at 24 points from 24.5 expected.

New York Red Bulls, meanwhile, have 26 points from 26.4 expected, despite scoring only 31 goals from 37.2 xG, highlighting how their overall results remain remarkably close to expectation despite significant attacking underperformance.

Five Different Attacking Identities In The Playoff Race

The five teams competing for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff places have developed distinctly different attacking approaches, with their dribbling numbers highlighting how they seek to create and exploit space.

New York Red Bulls are the clear outlier, ranking first across MLS for successful dribbles with 442, or 18.97 per 90, comfortably above the league average of 14.08.

Total Dribbling & Dribble Efficiency In MLS 2026

Their output reflects Michael Bradley’s attempt to evolve the club’s traditional high-intensity identity into a more ball-oriented model, with greater emphasis on playing through opponents.

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Napoli, meanwhile, were aiming to get their second victory in a row in the league after beating Genoa in their first match.

Como’s win, in the end, extended Cesc Fàbregas’ unbeaten run in Serie A to seven games.

All three goals were scored in the first half.

Martin Baturina opened the scoring for Como before Rasmus Højlund equalised, showing his quality and danger in small spaces.

Just four minutes later, Como took the lead again.

Baturina recovered the ball high up the pitch, and Anastasios Douvikas finished the attack to make it 2-1.

Baturina stood out as one of the key players of the game, with a goal and an assist.

In this Napoli vs Como tactical analysis, we look at how Cesc Fàbregas positioned his players to break Massimiliano Allegri’s compact block, while also organising the team to defend effectively against Napoli.

Napoli Vs Como Lineups & Formations

Napoli Lineup Vs Como

Allegri set his team up in a 4-3-3 formation with Alex Meret in goal behind a back four of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Rafa Marín and Mathías Olivera, from right to left.

In midfield, he used Frank Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay as central midfielders, with Matteo Politano and Noa Lang as wingers, and Højlund as the striker.

The Italian coach made five changes to his team during the match.

In the 56th minute, three players were withdrawn, as McTominay, Olivera and Lang made way for Kevin De Bruyne, Leonardo Spinazzola and Alisson Santos.

Then, 10 minutes before the end of the game, another two changes followed, with Højlund and Anguissa coming off for Lorenzo Lucca and David Neres.

Como Lineup Vs Napoli

Fàbregas set Como up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jean Butez in goal behind a back four of Yan Couto, Jacobo Ramón, Trevoh Chalobah and Álex Valle, from right to left.

Luis Milla and Lucas Da Cunha started in midfield behind Nico Paz as the No. 10, with Baturina and Assane Diao on the wings and Douvikas up front.

The Spanish coach also made five substitutions during the match.

In the 58th minute, Maxence Caqueret and Ivan Smolčić came on for Baturina and Couto.

Another two changes followed in the 65th minute, with Diao and Da Cunha coming off for Marc Kempf and Máximo Perrone.

Lastly, in the 81st minute, he changed Paz for Kaiki.

Fàbregas gave opportunities to some new signings in this match.

Chabolah, who joined from Chelsea, Milla from Getafe, and Yan Couto from Borussia Dortmund all started the game.

Brazilian Kaiki also made his debut after coming off the bench, following his move from Cruzeiro on loan.

Napoli Defending Structure

Napoli changed from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 when defending, with McTominay joining Højlund in the first line of the press.

They kept this structure across the pitch.

From Four To Three: Como Build-Up Structure

In the low build-up, Como started with a back four but higher on the pitch; midfielder Milla dropped between the centre-backs to form a back three.

Da Cunha was the only Como player positioned between Napoli’s first and second lines of pressure, while No.10 Paz and left winger Baturina operated between Napoli’s midfield and defensive lines.

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The win comes following a complicated away win over Frosinone and performances that created some doubts within the media and the fans about Juventus’ ability to compete for the top spots this season.

Their performance against Carlos Cuesta‘s side, however, reassured everyone about the team’s readiness to compete seriously both in Serie A and in the UEFA Europa League.

Although there are still some improvements to be made in attack, the determination and ability to play inside Parma’s half for long periods and alternate attacking plans so often is something very positive.

In fact, Juventus need to build on their win and further improve their performances ahead of the upcoming games, which will certainly be more complicated.

In this tactical analysis, we examine Luciano Spalletti’s attacking variation, the movement of the attacking players and the ideas behind their off-the-ball movement, in addition to exploring the impact of Spalletti’s second-half changes.

Juventus Vs Parma Lineups & Formations

Juventus Lineup Vs Parma

Spalletti started the match using a 4-4-2 formation with Guglielmo Vicario as the goalkeeper, Pierre Kalulu at right-back, Gleison Bremer and Jhon Lucumí at centre-back, and Zeki Çelik at left-back.

In midfield, he used Manuel Locatelli and Douglas Luiz as central midfielders, Francisco Conceição and Jeremie Boga as wingers, with Jonathan David as a second striker, and Randal Kolo Muani as the main striker.

Parma Lineup Vs Juventus

For Parma, Cuesta used a 4-4-2 formation as well, with Edoardo Corvi as a goalkeeper, Enrico Delprato as a right-back, Mariano Troilo and Dominik Drobnic as centre-backs, and Emanuele Valeri as a left-back.

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Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, were also looking for their first points after starting the season with a defeat to Brentford.

On paper, the statistics seemed to favour Spurs.

Tottenham had more ball possession, a higher xG, more shots and corners.

However, Newcastle were much more effective in the chances they created.

The Magpies secured a 2-0 victory, with Anthony Elanga opening the scoring with an amazing goal and Yoane Wissa adding a second from a corner.

In this Tottenham vs Newcastle tactical analysis, we will look at how Matthias Jaissle set up his team to deal with Tottenham’s approach and how his tactical decisions helped Newcastle secure their first Premier League win.

Tottenham Hotspur Vs Newcastle United Lineups & Formations

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup Vs Newcastle United

Tottenham started in a 4-4-2 formation, with Antonín Kinský in goal behind a back four featuring the Dutch centre-back duo of Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven, with the experienced Andrew Robertson at left-back and Archie Gray at right-back.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Sandro Tonali played in midfield with Mathys Tel as a left winger and Pedro Porro as a right winger.

In the attack, Mateus Fernandes started alongside Omar Marmoush, who made his debut after joining from Manchester City.

In the 68th minute, Roberto De Zerbi made three changes, bringing on Mikey Moore, Destiny Udogie and Mohammed Kudus for Gray, Robertson and Tell.

After the second goal was conceded, Tonali was replaced by Dominic Solanke.

Newcastle United Lineup Vs Tottenham Hotspur

Jaissle, on the other hand, opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lukáš Horníček in goal, Amar Dedić at right-back, Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman in the centre of defence, and Lewis Hall at left-back.

Nico González and Lewis Miley started in central midfield, while in the attacking quartet, Joe Willock started behind Yoane Wissa, while Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga started on the left and right wing, respectively.

The Magpies made six substitutions during the game.

In the 71st minute, before the second goal, Willock and Nico came off for Nick Woltemade and Sean Steur.

Approximately 11 minutes later, Jaissle changed the team again.

Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy replaced Wissa and Elanga.

Lastly, in the 81st minute, Barnes made way for Bazoumana Touré, who scored one goal in the EFL Cup against West Brom.

Tottenham Build-Up Structure

To understand how Newcastle defended, we first need to look at Tottenham’s build-up.

Fernandes and Marmoush would drop between Newcastle’s defensive and midfield lines, creating a square with Tonali and Bentancur.

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In the transfer market, some deals happen off the back of a player’s name or numbers, while others are easily understood simply by looking at the team’s needs.

Nathaniel Brown‘s move to Bayern Munich falls into the latter category, but it also carries more weight than simply being the acquisition of a new left-back.

The 23-year-old Germany international moved from Eintracht Frankfurt to the Bundesliga champions on a contract running until June 2031, after two seasons in which he impressed with his speed, attacking prowess, and versatility.

Crucially, Brown didn’t arrive in Munich as a long-term project; he has already become a German international, participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he scored and assisted.

What makes this deal interesting is that FC Bayern weren’t simply looking for a left-back.

The club already had several options for that position, but some of them weren’t natural left-backs; Josip Stanišić is more comfortable on the right, and Hiroki Ito is primarily a centre-back.

Brown came in to offer something different: a natural left-back who could also play as a wing-back, on the flank, and even switch to the other side when needed.

In this Nathaniel Brown scout report and player analysis, we examine why Vincent Kompany targeted him to become a key player in the squad.

Nathaniel Brown Tactical Role

The most important point in understanding Nathaniel Brown is not to treat him as a traditional left-back.

His main position is clear, but his style of play allows him to move between different levels on the flank.

At Frankfurt, he appeared as a left-back but also played as a wing-back, sometimes advancing into higher areas of the pitch; in some situations, he was used more centrally during possession phases.

Bayern Munich themselves describe him as capable of playing as a full-back or wing-back.

This flexibility is crucial to Kompany’s system, because a full-back in a team like Bayern Munich doesn’t have a fixed role throughout the match.

During the build-up play, he might need to stay wide to stretch the pitch or move inside to become an extra player in the attacking phase.

When the ball reaches the final third, he can transform into a player who attacks the space behind the wing or pushes into the penalty area.

Brown continues to widen the field while advancing into the middle and final third.

He requests the ball while moving behind the right-back on the blind side, receives the ball, shoots, and scores.

Therefore, his tactical value does not lie in his position on paper, but rather in his ability to move from full-back to attacking full-back to wing-back without looking out of position.

Nathaniel Brown In Build-Up & Progression

In the build-up phase, Nathaniel Brown can offer Bayern Munich more than one option.

When the team builds from the back, he can maintain width on the left flank, forcing the opposing winger to decide whether to come out and challenge him or stay close to the Bayern Munich player positioned inside.

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Ethan Nwaneri has rightly earned a reputation as one of the most talented young players in European football.

At Arsenal, Nwaneri faces the particularly difficult task of competing for minutes in one of Europe’s most tactically demanding sides, with his limited influence inevitably raising questions over whether a move away from the Emirates could accelerate his development.

Several clubs would understandably be interested, but the more important question is which environment best suits his profile.

This Ethan Nwaneri scout report and player analysis assesses Nwaneri in and out of possession before considering which clubs would be best suited to maximise his development.

Ethan Nwaneri Style Of Play In Possession

Nwaneri is a traditional left-sided No. 10 who excels in the right half-space, consistently occupying these areas as demonstrated in the heat map.

Ethan Nwaneri Heat Map 2025/2026

Teams pursuing him should ideally use a system that commits five or six players into the last line, allowing him to operate as a right-sided number 10 with an overlapping player and options inside.

His positional versatility further increases his suitability for elite positional-play sides, as he can rotate into the nine or become the maximum-width holder when required.

The sequence below shows Nwaneri occupying the right half-space.

From this position, he can also cross effectively off his left foot, attempting just under two crosses per game with a success rate of approximately 30%.

Nwaneri excels in small spaces, where his extremely quick feet allow him to receive under pressure and wriggle away from opponents.

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After being heavily linked with the move for over a year, Carlos Baleba (179cm/5’10”, 77kg/169lbs) has finally made the switch from Brighton & Hove Albion to Manchester United.

Baleba’s move makes him the Red Devils’ third central midfield signing of the summer, with the Cameroon international following Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to Old Trafford.

He’s also the most expensive of Manchester United’s three midfield summer signings so far, coming in at a reported €75.9m.

This Carlos Baleba scout report and data analysis examines exactly what kind of midfielder United have signed, using custom defensive metrics and underlying Wyscout data to assess his strengths and weaknesses, compare him with his new midfield teammates and explore the combinations that could allow him to have the biggest impact at Old Trafford.

United are not signing a complete defensive midfielder or someone whose profile is as rounded as that of the departed Casemiro.

His ability to secure possession and progress the ball after winning it remains a clear area for development.

Baleba provides Michael Carrick with a completely different profile to his existing midfield options, and the partner played alongside him has the potential to significantly alter how the Red Devils play.

Carlos Baleba Style Of Play

After accumulating a reduced 1793 minutes for Brighton during a stop-start 2025/2026 Premier League campaign, Figure 1 presents key 2025/2026 percentile ranks using custom-built defensive metrics derived from weighted combinations of Wyscout’s raw event data, benchmarking Baleba against other central midfielders who played at least 800 minutes in England’s top flight last season.

These metrics aim to isolate different aspects of defensive midfield play, from anticipation and ball recovery to duel efficiency, defensive activity and transition value.

Carlos Baleba Out Of Possession Data 2025/2026

Baleba ranks in the 87th percentile in our Defensive IQ metric, the 85th percentile for Defensive Activity and the 77th percentile for Duel Intelligence, with those three standout metrics pinpointing the main defensive highlights of his game.

Meanwhile, Baleba records much more modest scores for Defensive Progression (57th percentile), Ball Recovery (48th percentile), Defensive Reliability (38th percentile) and Transition Defence (32nd percentile).

Team style and specific role requirements relative to the rest of the dataset must be taken into account alongside individual ability when interpreting this data.

At Brighton, Baleba’s main off-the-ball contribution came through active, high-risk intervention.

The Defensive IQ metric, in which Baleba records his highest score, is based on interceptions and loose-ball recoveries.

The high score indicates that Baleba’s defensive contribution is not entirely duel-dependent; he has a strong ability to read the game.

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Fitness is uneven, and the squad you finished last season with is not the squad with which you start this one.

Aston Villa arrived at the Amex, having lost a spine.

Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans? Gone.

Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne? Gone.

Emiliano Martínez? Absent and angling for the exit.

Ollie Watkins? Omitted amid Saudi interest.

Unai Emery could point to the arrivals of João Gomes and Johan Manzambi as intelligent reinvestment, though Manzambi was already unavailable and Gomes was about to have the worst ninety minutes of his career.

Brighton were hardly untouched themselves.

Jan Paul van Hecke had gone, and Carlos Baleba had just been sold to Manchester United, while attackers Evan Ferguson and Yankuba Minteh were unavailable, with Luka Vušković and others arriving to fill the gaps.

That symmetry matters because it is the thing that turns “Villa were dreadful” into “Brighton were excellent”.

Both sides were depleted and had sold a key midfielder.

One produced 3.4 open-play xG, the highest figure Brighton have recorded in a Premier League match since 2021/2022, and 21 shots.

The other produced 0.31 xG, no shots on target, and five touches in the opposition box across the entire game, only two of them before the red card.

Bart Verbruggen was not required to make a single save.

This Brighton versus Aston Villa tactical analysis breaks down how the match was won, the formations both sides chose, the patterns that emerged from them, and the performances of two players in particular: Jack Hinshelwood and Emiliano Buendía.

Brighton Vs Aston Villa Lineups & Formations

Brighton Lineup Vs Aston Villa

Brighton lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape with Bart Verbruggen in goal behind a back four consisting of Mats Wieffer, Luka Vušković, Lewis Dunk and Olivier Boscagli from right to left.

Pascal Groß and Yasin Ayari played in central midfield, behind the trio of Diego Gómez, Jack Hinshelwood and Maxim De Cuyper, with Georginio Rutter up front.

Aston Villa Lineup Vs Brighton

Villa, meanwhile, lined up in what was, functionally, a 4-3-3 with no centre-forward.

Marco Bizot started in goal with Matty Cash, Victor Lindelöf, Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen making up the back four from right to left.

Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley and João Gomes played in midfield, with John McGinn and George Hemmings on the wings, with Buendía leading the line as a makeshift nine.

The two team sheets contain the same idea inverted.

Brighton took a full-back and pushed him forward into more space, while Villa took a No. 10 and pushed him forward into less.

Brighton Asymmetry Vs Aston Villa Flat Three

Brighton’s shape was lopsided on purpose.

The left was the attacking side, and Maxim De Cuyper, a natural left-back, played as the left forward.

Behind him, Olivier Boscagli, a natural centre-back, played at left-back.

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Paris Saint-Germain have signed Ferran Torres from FC Barcelona for a reported €48.5m.

He had a successful 2025/2026 season in Catalonia, winning La Liga and Supercopa de España, before going on to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Spain in the summer, ultimately scoring the most important goal of the tournament.

He scored 16 goals and provided two assists in 23 league starts, impressive numbers for a second-choice striker.

His profile is different from the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Torres’ style of play is also different from Gonçalo Ramos, who departed PSG this summer.

In this Ferran Torres scout report and player analysis, we will discuss Ferran Torres’ player profile, how he operates in different areas of the pitch, and how he is operating at Paris Saint-Germain, with examples from his brace-scoring debut performance in which he rescued a point for his side against Stade Rennais this past weekend.

Ferran Torres Style Of Play

Connecting Play

The Spaniard has a higher radius of action than a traditional striker; he helps out in connecting play in several areas across the pitch.

Torres drops during the build-up to offer a vertical option to his centre-back.

He receives on the half-turn and can carry it forward, providing his side an effective outlet for progression.

Being at a strong technical level, he is comfortable receiving the ball in tight spaces centrally.

In situations where his side needs a connector to help shift play, he can drop to play a bounce pass to a different angle.

With the first midfielder under pressure, Torres dropping to open a passing lane helps him retain possession.

As the layoff goes to a different midfielder with more space, he helps his team to keep possession and find a progressive pass.

The Spaniard drags an opponent as he drops to connect with his right-back.

As he lays the ball off to an arriving midfielder, this opens up a passing lane to release a third player in behind.

This action opens up options for the midfielder to either attempt a final ball or shift play to attack from a different angle.

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The game lived up to its billing as a high-scoring, high-drama affair.

This one ended 2-2, with a 90+9 minute equaliser from the penalty spot.

It was a game that saw Newcastle take an early lead through Anthony Elanga.

Liverpool then dominated the ball and the shot count, but had to wait until the 55th minute to actually equalise.

Andoni Iraola‘s side kept things equal for two minutes, when Joe Willock‘s winding run and finish from outside the box gave the Magpies another lead.

Things looked desperate for the Reds in the late exchanges, and Newcastle had another few opportunities with low crosses across the six-yard box to finish the game off.

Yet, in typical fashion for this fixture (see Stan Collymore in 1996 and Rio Ngumoha last season), there was another late goal.

Víctor Muñoz read a knockdown better than anyone else and burst into the box before knocking the ball past Lewis Hall (who was arguably the best player on the pitch up to that point), who took him out.

Dominik Szoboszlai kept his cool and smashed the ball into the goal.

This tactical analysis will look at how both Matthias Jaissle and Iraola set up their sides for the first time, what their teams did well and where they’ll be looking for improvements in the next few weeks.

Newcastle United Vs Liverpool Lineups & Formations

Newcastle United Lineup Vs Liverpool

Jaissle’s first Newcastle lineup was an interesting one.

The North-East club had gone through major losses this summer, including manager Eddie Howe, under a month ago.

They had also lost midfielders Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães to Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, respectively, as well as Anthony Gordon to Barcelona.

New signing Lukáš Horníček started in goal after arriving from SC Braga.

The back four featured three out of four players who were there last season: Hall, Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw.

Amar Dedić started at right-back, having previously worked under the manager at Red Bull Salzburg.

The midfield looked thin going into this, with 18-year-old Sean Steur (signed from Ajax) and 20-year-old Lewis Miley working alongside each other in a double pivot.

Ahead of them were Elanga on the right, Harvey Barnes on the left and Yoane Wissa just behind striker William Osula.

Jaissle used all five substitutions at his disposal.

Willock and Jacob Ramsey came on for Steur and Osula before the hour mark.

Aladji Bamba and Jacob Murphy arrived with 15 minutes to go, and Fabian Schär replaced Wissa in injury time.

Liverpool Lineup Vs Newcastle United

Iraola’s first lineup was expected, with Liverpool’s squad looking small with just a week left in the window.

Alisson Becker started in goal.

Again, there was only one new addition in Liverpool’s back four, Jérémy Jacquet.

He started alongside Virgil van Dijk as his centre-back partner, with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong in the full-back positions.

Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch started as the midfield base, with Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo ahead of them.

Alexander Isak made his return to St. James’ Park as the striker.

Iraola made four subs (maybe pointing towards his lack of options).

Alexis Mac Allister and Muñoz replaced Ngumoha and Wirtz on 63’.

Ronald Araújo replaced Jacquet seven minutes later, and Lewis Koumas came on with 12 minutes of normal time to go for Gravenberch.

Getting Caught In Transition

This game started with incredible intensity.

Both teams showed their attacking intent, and we got our first goal within five minutes.

This goal can be looked at from two angles.

For Newcastle, it was an incredible piece of counterattacking football, using the incredible pace they have in their side to exploit teams.

For Liverpool, it was evidence of some of the issues people had expected for them.

It started with bad decision-making in the final third.

Gravenberch has beaten his man and is driving towards the box; he has options ahead of him, with Szoboszlai (which will play into how Newcastle score) and Gakpo wide, and Isak making his move through the middle.

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The appointment of Carles Martínez Novell as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen represents a fascinating methodological reset for Die Werkself following a tumultuous transitional year.

The Spanish coach arrives at the BayArena with an extensive, highly diverse coaching background that significantly informs his detailed positional possession philosophy.

Martínez began refining his structural ideas at FC Barcelona‘s famed La Masia academy, spending four foundational years mastering positional play, spatial occupation, and rondo-based passing mechanics.

Seeking a broader managerial perspective, his career path took him through youth and national team development roles in Qatar and Kuwait, where he was tasked with implementing structured game models under varied cultural conditions.

His major European breakthrough materialised in Ligue 1 with FC Toulouse, initially serving as assistant manager before taking full charge of the French side.

At Toulouse, Martínez earned acclaim for constructing a team capable of competing against superior individual talent through sophisticated build-up patterns and structural compactness.

Now tasked with guiding Leverkusen into a new era, Martínez introduces a highly refined in-possession methodology to the Bundesliga.

Rather than attempting to copy previous operational templates, he brings a sharp, mathematically precise passing framework focused on controlled progression.

His system relies on strict positional disciplines, asymmetric wide mechanics, and compact rest-defence configurations.

Our Carles Martínez at Bayer Leverkusen tactical analysis reveals a clear, modern tactical structure engineered to dismantle pressing blocks while maintaining structural stability.

Projected Lineup & Structural Profile: The 4-2-3-1 Base Alignment

Carles Martínez organises Leverkusen in a nominal 4-2-3-1 base shape that fluidly transforms during sustained possession phases.

Mark Flekken establishes the defensive foundation between the posts, selected for his clean line-breaking distribution and sweeping capabilities.

The defensive backline features Lucas Vázquez at right-back, flanked by a robust central partnership of Edmond Tapsoba and Facundo Medina, while Miguel Gutiérrez occupies the left-back position.

The midfield double pivot is anchored by Equi Fernández and Aleix García, a pairing explicitly tasked with controlling tempo and breaking the first line of pressure.

The advanced attacking trio comprises Ibrahim Maza on the right, Afonso Moreira on the left, and Malik Tillman operating as a free-roaming central attacking midfielder.

Patrik Schick spearheads the attack as the primary centre-forward, though young forward Christian Kofane is slated to receive heavy rotational minutes to offer vertical depth.

Deep Build-Up Dynamics: Miguel Gutierrez As The Flat Inverted Playmaker

The primary mechanism that defines Martínez’s possession model is the specific structural deployment of left-back Miguel Gutiérrez during first-phase build-up.

In traditional 4-2-3-1 setups, full-backs are frequently instructed to make early, linear overlap runs along the touchline to push the opponent’s defensive line backwards.

Martínez entirely rejects this predictable wide progression, instructing Gutiérrez to maintain a flat, conservative position in line with or slightly ahead of central defenders Facundo Medina and Edmond Tapsoba.

By holding Gutiérrez in this deep, flat alignment, Leverkusen form an auxiliary three-man or asymmetrical four-man build-up shell that completely manipulates the opponent’s first line of pressing engagement.

This deep positioning forces the opponent’s right-sided winger into an agonising positional dilemma.

If the opposing winger steps out aggressively to press Gutiérrez, a massive spatial vacuum opens behind them in the left half-space channel.

If the winger holds their shape to protect the half-space, Gutiérrez is granted absolute spatial and temporal freedom to act as a deep-lying playmaker.

From this deep channel, Gutiérrez does not function as a passive outlet; he actively scans the pitch and executes line-breaking passes directly into the interior pockets.

Because he approaches the ball from a deeper angle, his vision covers the entire field, allowing him to bypass midfield lines with precise diagonal passes.

Furthermore, this flat positioning allows Gutiérrez to invert naturally into the half-space when the ball moves to the right side, transforming into a third central midfielder.

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At the beginning of August, Bournemouth reinforced their defensive line, first signing Portuguese centre-back António Silva and, a few days later, Spanish right-back Juanlu Sánchez.

Sánchez joins after spending the last three seasons at Sevilla, where he became an important part of the team, with over 100 senior appearances for the La Liga club.

He was also part of Spain‘s Olympic gold-medal-winning squad in Paris 2024.

With 21-year-old right-back Álex Jiménez leaving for Fiorentina, Bournemouth decided to bet on another young Spanish talent to fill the position.

Julián Araujo also suffered a muscle injury during the club’s pre-season tour in Austria, reinforcing Bournemouth’s need to recruit a right-back.

In this Juanlu Sánchez scout report and player analysis, we will take a closer look at his style of play, key statistics and the areas where he can still improve.

Juanlu Sánchez Statistical Analysis & Heat Map 2025/2026

Juanlu is primarily a corridor player, capable of playing as a right-back, right winger, wing-back or midfielder.

He’s an attacking full-back; his 2025/2026 heat map shows how much he likes to move forward and be involved in the team’s attacking play.

Juanlu Sánchez Heat Map 2025/2026

Juanlu Sánchez Style Of Play In Possession

Sánchez’s main strengths are his verticality and ability to attack free space, with an impressive 68.8% dribble success rate last season.

He likes to push forward and take advantage of space in front of him.

His pace is also a key part of his game, being able to reach a top speed of 35.15 km/h.

In the next clip, we can see this clearly.

Sánchez combines with the winger before making an underlapping run and carrying the ball forward at speed to deliver a cross into the box.

In the build-up, he can also combine with the midfielder before receiving the ball again on the line.

From there, Sánchez can use his pace to turn and drive forward, taking the team into more advanced areas.

His ability to accelerate with the ball makes him difficult to defend against, as opponents often struggle to stop his progress without committing a foul.

This allows him to break the first line of pressure and create more space for his teammates further up the pitch.

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Part One of this series examined whether football has really changed, while Part Two traced when the most significant tactical shifts took place and how positional play, pressing, and build-up structures evolved in response.

But tactical changes don’t affect every style or player profile equally.

As new approaches emerge and established ideas are countered, some styles gain an advantage while others gradually lose their influence.

In Part Three, the final part of our current data analysis series, we examine which styles of play and types of players have benefited most from football’s evolution, and which have been left behind.

Which Midfielders Learned To Survive The Press?

As pressing has become one of the defining features of modern football, the value of midfielders capable of remaining effective under pressure has risen sharply.

The modern midfielder is increasingly required not only to receive the ball, but to receive it when opponents are actively trying to take it away.

This has elevated the importance of press resistance, a player’s ability to retain possession and continue progressing play when subjected to pressure.

To assess which midfielders are best equipped to operate under pressure, we developed our own Press Resistance Index (PRI), combining multiple metrics to evaluate press resistance through a single measure.

The aim is to combine the key indicators of a midfielder’s ability to receive, retain and progress possession when actively pressed into a single measure.

The index is built around Pressured Pass Completion % (PPC) as its primary component, supported by Turnovers + Dispossessions per 90 as an indicator of how frequently possession is lost under pressure.

The two measures must be considered together; a midfielder who frequently attempts to receive and play through pressure may naturally record more possession losses than a player who rarely takes those risks.

Therefore, the KPI rewards high-pressure pass completion while accounting for the volume of Turnovers and Dispossessions, with possession losses assessed in the context of how frequently a player attempts to operate under pressure.

This approach allows us to move beyond asking which player records the best individual number and instead identify which midfielders consistently combine efficiency with the willingness to operate under pressure.

The resulting Press Resistance Index provides a more balanced framework for comparing players and identifying the profiles that have adapted best to the demands of the modern pressing game.

Our 2020/2021 sample of central midfielders in Europe’s top-five leagues, selected because it falls within a period of increasingly intense pressing and limited to players with more than 1,000 minutes, highlights a clear group of players who had adapted particularly well to the growing demands of playing under pressure.

The Balance Between Passing Efficiency & Possession Losses Under Pressure

At the top of the 2020/2021 sample sits Marco Verratti, completing 91.5% of his passes under pressure, the highest figure in the sample.

His 2.8 Turnovers + Dispossessions per 90 may initially appear high, but the context is important, as Verratti was consistently willing to receive the ball in congested areas and attempt to play through pressure.

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Inter Milan have secured the signing of England international full-back Djed Spence from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported €30m transfer fee.

Spence is lined up as the replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who joined Real Madrid earlier this summer, leaving an obvious gap within Inter Milan’s system.

Inter Milan struggled to replace Dumfries when he got injured last season, and they failed to do it properly since all of the options used did not have a similar quality to that of the Dutch defender.

With Dumfries providing a versatile selection of potential roles and remarkable input both in defence and attack, it was nearly impossible to replace him mid-season.

More importantly, Dumfries’ crucial role in transitions and in penetrations towards the box was something that only a few right wing-backs could repeat.

That’s why Inter Milan considered replacing Dumfries as one of their top priorities in this summer transfer window, and decided to opt for a confirmed player like Spence to provide the required input on the right wing.

In this Djed Spence scout report and player analysis, we explore the profile of Spence, his abilities and strengths in terms of roles and how he would adapt to Inter Milan’s system, as well as compare him to Dumfries.

Djed Spence Potential Roles At Inter Milan

Djed Spence comes to Inter Milan with various mastered roles and positions, even though he is needed essentially for the right wing-back position.

Spence is already experienced in playing on both sides, whether as a left-back, left wing-back, right-back, or right wing-back.

He played in these positions on numerous occasions at the highest level and therefore has the experience needed to perform well in any of those positions and provide extra depth to Inter Milan’s squad.

Under the management of Cristian Chivu, Spence is expected to play mainly as a right wing-back, becoming the first-choice replacement for Dumfries.

At the same time, Spence proved whenever he was used as a left wing-back that he can be extremely useful, especially in playmaking, cutting inside and making progressive runs from the wing.

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Title-winning Arsenal‘s physical and repetitive approach to corners garnered attention from fans and managers alike.

Broader Premier League tactics have increasingly aligned with this approach, and the regulatory bodies took notice of this physicality.

IFAB introduced VAR interventions for attacking fouls on corners before the ball is in play.

Following the recent rule changes, corner tactics at the 2026 FIFA World Cup diverged from the past season’s norms, and the expectation was that these new tactical trends could extend to the English top flight.

This Premier League tactical analysis uses data analysis to compare last season’s corner statistics to early pre-season data, and set-piece analysis to identify the subtle changes occurring in corner tactics.

Rule Changes Driving Tactical Adaptation

The Premier League was at the forefront of the set-piece movement last season.

Clubs favoured low-risk routines, built around inswinging deliveries into a crowded six-yard box.

The derisively named ‘meat-wall’ tactics rely on obstruction: pinning, grappling, and otherwise restraining players through legally questionable means.

In an attempt to reduce this sort of contact, IFAB expanded the scope of VAR to include attacking fouls before the corner is taken.

The rule changes debuted at this summer’s World Cup, where teams made significant tactical shifts in reaction to the increased scrutiny on attacking conduct.

In the previous Premier League season, about 70% of corners were inswinging deliveries, while only 51.2% of corners in the World Cup Group Stages were inswingers.

International teams, including England, opted to use outswingers as a more prominent feature of their corner tactics.

Even during inswinging deliveries, the grappling featured in the Premier League was largely replaced with attacking movements designed for space creation.

International teams seemed to consider the risks of congestion in the six-yard box to outweigh the benefits.

The World Cup appeared to be an inflection point in set-piece tactics, with the rule change acting as a catalyst for new tactical evolution.

Since the IFAB rule change applies to the Premier League, one may expect similar tactical shifts to follow in the upcoming season.

Surprisingly, the ‘Premier League Big Six’ (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur) are persisting with the corner tactics of last season.

Pre-Season Statistical Trends - Data Analysis

It is important to preface that this data analysis utilises pre-season data, which, for a multitude of reasons, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Personnel restrictions and squad rotation typical of pre-season fixtures can result in forced tactical changes.

If a team does not have a left-footed player on the pitch, they are not capable of taking inswinging corners on the right side.

Additionally, coaches are unlikely to deploy their most intricate and practised routines in a pre-season friendly, since opposition analysts will be watching the matches.

Nonetheless, pre-season tactics still reflect the tactical preferences of managers, since it would be wasteful to prepare differently from the team’s planned approach.

The data from last season shows how strongly the Premier League Big Six favoured inswinging deliveries.

As a group, Big Six corners (n=1,307) were comprised of 69.1% inswingers, 15.2% outswingers, and 15.7% short corners.

Premier League Big Six Corner Delivery Stats 2025/2026

Data from three of each club’s pre-season matches indicates that managers still prefer inswingers despite the rule changes.

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In the January window of 2022, there were whispers that Olympique Lyonnais‘ Bruno Guimarães was coming to the Premier League.

The Brazil international’s name was making waves across Europe, and Arsenal looked the likely destination.

What stalled the move was a reservation about scalability, the familiar doubt over whether a midfielder dominating Ligue 1 would still dominate in a more physical, fast-paced league.

While that question was being debated, Newcastle United moved aggressively for the then-24-year-old, paid Lyon around €50.1m and made him one of the first significant signings of the PIF era.

He has been at the heart of the most successful period in the club’s modern history.

This includes being the captain for the last two seasons, an EFL Cup winner in 2025, and the author of 30 goals and 25 assists in 153 Premier League appearances, with goal involvement roughly every three matches from central midfield.

Four-and-a-half years later, at 28, Arsenal have signed him for a reported €87.5m.

Everything that was uncertain about him in 2022 is now evident.

This Bruno Guimarães scout report and player analysis analyses Bruno Guimarães’ player profile, his tactical fit at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s use of him, and the overall benefits his arrival would bring to the squad.

Bruno Guimarães Style Of Play

He is a dual-coded: a No. 6 and a No. 8, rather than a No. 6 who can shuffle forward when asked.

He has been explicit about this himself, per Sky Sports:

“I can play both positions, but Eddie [Howe] has a choice to make and, for me, the most important thing is just to play and to help Newcastle get the three points.

I think my best position is at No 8, but I can play at No 6.

It’s not a problem for me.”

The proof of the flexibility is in the output, shown when former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe used him as the deepest midfielder to return four goals and five assists, followed by seven and eight.

Later, Sandro Tonali took the No. 6 role, and Guimarães moved into his preferred box-to-box position on the right of a midfield three with encouragement to press and arrive late.

Guimarães is very comfortable on the ball and is at the heart of keeping play ticking, as well as being able to pick good passes while being closed down.

In a league win against Crystal Palace, Sandro Tonali plays a pass to Bruno, who is immediately pressed by Jefferson Lerma.

Bruno still manages to slip an outside-of-the-boot pass into space for Yoane Wissa to run onto.

The pass is perfect, which lets Wissa keep his speed and stay composed in the box, creating a clear chance on goal.

Last season, he was fouled 2.71 times per 90, inside the top 1% in the league.

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