Cole Palmer is outperforming Phil Foden as Mikel Arteta’s three-year-old ‘project’ prophecy offers hope for Chelsea fans, who still need convincing that Mauricio Pochettino is the man to take them forward despite a big win over Newcastle.

“We have created a really strong group, a really strong bond with our players, with our fans, with our staff and that is going to pay some big tribute in the future I think when everything comes back to normality and we are able to work the way we needed to work with some stability.
“I think this project is going to go bang and this is where we are. Sometimes it is difficult to see the moment now, but I’m sure where we are going.”

Those were Mikel Arteta’s words – exactly three years ago – when Arsenal were tenth, on one point fewer than Chelsea have now. The vast majority doubted him, including large swathes of his own fanbase, as we all mocked the pale imitation of Pep Guardiola for an obsession with a “project” which showed little to no sign of bearing fruit before it did indeed ‘go bang’.


Mauricio Pochettino will need more than a win over Newcastle to convince the fans that he can mimic his Arsenal counterpart, but performances like the one at Stamford Bridge on Monday – in which Chelsea exhibited enough moments of quality to suggest that progress is being made towards a worthy ideal – are now more commonplace than games that have been frustratingly written off as a lesson learned for Pochettino’s creche of inexperienced but ludicrously pricey footballers.
Malo Gusto was very good again, combining composure and aggression both in defence and attack, dealing comfortably with Anthony Gordon and then Miguel Almiron on Newcastle’s left, and leaving Dan Burn huffing and puffing through his dribbling speed and link-up with Cole Palmer, with whom he’s creating quite the bond.
Newcastle’s press was about as tame as they come, which allowed Chelsea out all too easily on multiple occasions, but the opening goal still required some precise passing between Gusto and Palmer, who one-twoed their way down the pitch, before the latter’s shot was flicked in smartly by Nicolas Jackson. It was poor on the whole from Newcastle, who had barely left the team bus, and Sven Botman will be particularly disappointed by his attempt at a clearance, which only made it as far as Palmer on the edge of the box.
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after the match is just singing this song without passion,

Gusto was then culpable, along with Enzo Fernandez and Axel Disasi, for Alexander Isak’s equaliser, as the Chelsea trio engaged in a ten-second game of giveaway with a couple of willing Newcastle participants, before Bruno Guimaraes found Isak, whose touch to manoeuvre the ball and finish into the far corner gave Disasi and Djordje Petrovic no chance, such was the limited gap between the two actions.
Palmer got a goal and an assist in the same game for the fifth time this season, more than any other player in the Premier League, and now has 19 goal contributions in total, the fifth most in the division, with this latest brace taking him above Darwin Nunez (17), Jarrod Bowen (17) and – perhaps most significantly given where he hailed from – Phil Foden (18).
His assist was a fortunate one, but Palmer’s goal will have intrigued the watching Gareth Southgate, as will his performance besides. Enzo found Palmer in a tight space on the edge of the box before he whipped his shot inside the near post – a finish which is becoming something of a trademark. There are very few players (of which Foden is one) who can manipulate the ball in confined spaces with as much control as the 21-year-old, who drops a shoulder as well as anyone in the Premier League.

Palmer – who has now contributed to 40% of Chelsea’s Premier League goals – was once again the difference for Pochettino’s side, but Jackson also impressed, flicking on for Raheem Sterling, who rounded Dubravka but couldn’t beat Dan Burn on the line, and then breaking away from the Newcastle defence to create the chance for Mykhaylo Mudryk, who neatly squeezed the ball through Fabian Schar’s legs before calmly doing what Sterling couldn’t. A lovely goal from Mudryk, who was as penetrative and effective as we’ve seen him against a leaden-legged Newcastle.
The Chelsea fans were calling for Jose Mourinho only last weekend, but their side have now lost just one of their last seven games in all competitions, the Carabao Cup final, in which they were the better team in normal time, and that run has featured impressive displays against Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle, as well as a win from behind away at Crystal Palace.

There are now more frequent positives than negatives for Chelsea, who are a point behind Newcastle in tenth and four short of West Ham in seventh, and an all-important likely European qualification spot, with a game in hand.
Pochettino will need to build on this to earn the trust of the fans, most of whom will be rolling their eyes in disbelief at the thought of him following in the footsteps of Arteta. But the Arsenal boss fixed a failing project, and so too can Pochettino, with Cole Palmer set to be the spark whenever, if ever, Chelsea ‘go bang’.

Arsenal, Tottenham handed lift in chase for AC Milan record-breaker as Serie A giants stall

AC Milan could be susceptible to one of Arsenal, Tottenham or Manchester City stealing record-breaker Francesco Camarda, after contract talks were reportedly ‘postponed’.
Camarda took the footballing world by storm when he became the youngest player ever to feature in a Serie A match. The feat came in a 1-0 Milan win over Fiorentina in November, when he was just 15.

Camarda then also came off the bench in Milan’s next game, too.
That the Serie A giants felt the striker was prepared enough to play senior football for them comes due to the fact he has bagged over 400 goals in youth football on his way up the ladder.
This season, that’s seen Camarda score 12 goals in various youth and academy competitions, with three assists alongside them.
And given he’s making great progress towards becoming a regular in senior football in the coming years, Milan were looking to set that in stone by offering him a three-year professional contract.
However, clubs across Europe have been lining up to ensure that doesn’t happen.
The likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been named as interested sides, with the Citizens having been said to be ‘in the lead’ previously.
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• Related video: 'An offer I could not refuse' - Former star Ibrahimovic on his AC Milan role (SNTV)

Milan postpone talks to let Prem sides in

Now, Camarda’s future in Italy is up in the air, with Corriere dello Sport reporting talks have ‘been postponed’.
The plans were in place for some time, and Milan were hopeful of having the striker pen his new terms and securing his future with the club when he turned 16.
That birthday came and went yesterday, and he’s no closer to having signed that deal.
And given he’s not under contract with Milan, interested clubs still have a chance of luring him on board.

North London battle possible

The report states that Arsenal, Tottenham and City are all currently plotting a swoop for Camarda.
Indeed, scouts from each of those clubs have been present at his games over the past few months, and all have requested information about a deal.
It’s said all remains up in the air, with his family and advisors to decide upon his future.

If it is in England, he’ll not be able to play until he’s 18 years old due to post-Brexit FIFA regulations.
As such, he’d have to continue elsewhere for a couple of years if he was to be signed by a Premier League club, such as the situation recent City signing Claudio Echeverri is in.
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Advantage Arsenal, Liverpool in title race as key Man City star ruled out for up to four weeks

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson is set to miss up to four weeks with the muscle injury he sustained in Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Liverpool.
Ederson was hurt when he fouled striker Darwin Nunez for a Liverpool penalty, from which the hosts equalised through Alex Mac Allister as the two sides played out a thrilling 1-1 draw.
Although the Brazilian carried on after receiving treatment, he had to be replaced soon after by Stefan Ortega.
The 30-year-old is set to miss City‘s next Premier League game at home to title rivals Arsenal on March 31.
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He will also miss this Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final at home to Newcastle, which is followed by the latest international break.
City have assessed the extent of the damage and told the Brazilian FA that Ederson will not be fit for international duty.
German keeper Ortega, 31, could also deputise for City’s home game with Aston Villa on Wednesday, 3 April and their visit to Crystal Palace the following Saturday.
But Ederson’s absence will surely be a boost to both Arsenal and Liverpool in the three-way tussle for the Premier League title.
Related video: Premier League title race hots up - Liverpool and Man City draw 1-1, as Arsenal move top (SNTV)

Guardiola relieved with Man City point

Speaking after the game, Pep Guardiola was happy to come away with a point after seeing his side pushed onto the back foot for much of the second half.
He said: “Good moments from both sides. We started really well.
“We have to never ever forget when we play in this stadium otherwise we don’t have a chance, knowing it will be so difficult.
“It was a tight game on moments. Not a game where all the time a team controls it.
“A lot of credit to Liverpool. They proved again what they have done is unbelievable for this rivalry. I know how difficult it is to come here and win. The players gave everything. I give credit to the opponents and take the point.
“We knew we would have 10-15 minutes when it is a tsunami and you have to survive.
“We are there, we’d loved to have won but we could have lost. It is what it is, we go home and rest and prepare for FA Cup before international break.”
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Prem clubs in stalemate on £998m deal - but agree on FFP rules 'only Man City rejected'

Premier League clubs have reached a stalemate over a new £998m deal for the EFL.
The 20 top flight clubs - including Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly - met in London for two and a quarter hours on Monday but could not even get as far as taking a vote on a financial package. It turns up the pressure on Premier League chief executive Richard Masters who has been urged by Government ministers reach an agreement - or a new Independent Regulator will step in.


The Premier League specifically told clubs they were holding two special meetings - on February 29 and March 11 - to ensure a deal gets done and one source described the outcome as a “shambles.”
But Premier League clubs are at loggerheads with each other over who will pay for the new EFL deal and Masters has struggled to bring them together to reach an agreement. There was a vote passed on a new framework for the Profit and Sustainability Rules with Sky News reporting only Manchester City voted against.
That is at the heart of the issue because clubs feel that until they know their budgets for next season and the new-look PSR then they cannot commit to a new EFL deal. There is growing frustration among EFL clubs as chair Rick Parry has insisted huge swathes of their 72 clubs will go under without financial support from the Premier League.
The new Football Governance Bill is due to go through Parliament but there are growing fears it may not be heard before the next General Election even though Ministers are adamant they are confident it will get passed. Boehly said: “There’s been some votes, they will tell you.” Another source insisted they were moving in a “positive direction” but there is no prospect of agreement any time soon with the next meeting scheduled next month.
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No, he's happy. No problem at all.

It has now become a major embarrassment for the world’s richest league still cannot come together for financial support for the rest of the football pyramid. The Premier League said in a statement: "At a Premier League Shareholders’ meeting today clubs agreed to prioritise the swift development and implementation of a new League-wide financial system.
"This will provide certainty for clubs in relation to their future financial plans and will ensure the Premier League is able to retain its existing world-leading investment to all levels of the game. Alongside this, Premier League clubs also re-confirmed their commitment to securing a sustainably-funded financial agreement with the EFL, subject to the new financial system being formally approved by clubs.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly was present at the meeting in London
© Getty Images
"The League and clubs also reaffirmed their ongoing and longstanding commitment to the wider game which includes £1.6 billion distributed to all levels of football across the current three-year cycle. The Premier League’s significant funding contributions cover all EFL clubs and National League clubs, as well as women and girls’ football, and the grassroots of the game."


Meanwhile, organisers of the European Super League have claimed they have held private talks with Premier League clubs since a landmark court ruling in December.
English football’s co-called ‘big six’ – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham – were founder members of the original Super League project in April 2021 but quickly withdrew amid fan protests and pressure from the football authorities and the British Government.
Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22 which promotes the Super League concept, said: after being asked whether dialogue was ongoing: “Yes of course. It’s absolutely a logical and natural process.
“Everyone is trying to get a sense of what the ruling could mean, it’s the professional obligation of clubs to know what this change in club governance in Europe could mean for them.”
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Chelsea lead five clubs in pursuit of £60m-rated Arsenal star who’s decided his own exit date

Arsenal are currently sitting top of the Premier League and have enjoyed a brilliant season that has gone as smoothly as it could have up to this point.
Manager Mikel Arteta has overseen a campaign that keeps his side in the title race – currently top and having scored the most goals – with the end now in sight.

There has been one point of controversy, however, and that is around the goalkeeper position. David Raya arrived from Brentford in the summer to take the place of England international Aaron Ramsdale, who has found himself on the bench despite being a key part of the club’s title challenge the season prior.
Raya hasn’t hit the ground running and many were questioning the decision to bring in the Spaniard – this includes Ramsdale who believes he is good enough to be the club’s outright number one.
Duties have been shared between the pair this season – but with Raya taking most of the league games and all of the Champions League ones bar one – and sources have given an update to the English goalkeeper’s future.
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Sources close to the club believe that the 25-year-old will seek a new move after the upcoming European Championships if there is no guarantee of being first pick at the Emirates next season.
Related video: Havertz's late header lifts Arsenal over Brentford 2-1, putting them at the top. (Sports AlDente)

Arsenal faced Brentford in a thrilling encounter at the Emirates.

There is interest from Chelsea, who are open to bringing him in to challenge Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic.
Sources also state that there is major interest from five other sides in the Premier League and around Europe. Inter Milan have also been spoken about by sources as the club are looking at Ramsdale to challenge current no.1 Yann Sommer.

Arsenal sale provides opportunity to splash cash

Arsenal are well in line with Financial FairPlay regulations and do have plans to spend this summer in a bid to help the club grab its first European trophy in the coming years.
The sale of Ramsdale would therefore allow them to spend even more than they’re currently predicting to over the window.
Sources have stated it would take a bid of around £60million to shift him as the Gunners are in a strong bargaining position given he is contracted until 2026, has a club option for an extra year on his deal and is a full international with European playing experience.
With that experience and a number of clubs lining up to take him on board, it would be no surprise if Ramsdale was lining up in another big side’s goal come the start of next season.
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