Manchester Metropolis are Arsenal’s closest challengers for the Premier League title in 2025/26. Solely 11 video games into the brand new season, Josep Guardiola’s aspect are 4 factors behind the aspect of his protégé Mikel Arteta.
Final Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool on the Etihad Stadium was a efficiency that underlined simply how deadly the Residents are at their greatest. It was definitely a message to the Gunners that chasing the title may not be as simple as they thought.
With the January switch window simply across the nook, Metropolis could take into account including gamers to their squad to spice up their title hopes. If we had been in a position to carry a couple of new faces to the membership in January, let’s check out their dream lineup.
1
Goalkeeper – Gianluigi Donnarumma
One in every of Metropolis’s gamers to observe this summer season was Paris Saint-Germain’s Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Euro 2020 winner stays Guardiola’s first alternative, regardless of additionally signing James Trafford.
He has made 12 appearances for the East Mantunia aspect up to now, conserving six clear sheets and conceding simply seven objectives. At 6-foot-5, he has an enormous wingspan and it is virtually inconceivable to attain previous him.
His save towards Brian Mbeumo’s shot within the Manchester derby, his debut for the membership, was an instance of simply how nice he’s.
2
RB – Ben White
The primary hypothetical new addition to this Metropolis aspect is a right-back, curiously a participant from title rivals Arsenal. Journalist Graham Bailey not too long ago revealed that Metropolis are “monitoring his state of affairs” on the Emirates Stadium. Mr. Bailey didn’t disclose the worth.
It hasn’t been the season the England worldwide had hoped for. White has struggled to function in aggressive video games underneath Arteta, with Julian Timber the primary alternative at right-back.
White has solely performed six video games in all competitions, with solely a type of appearances coming within the Premier League. The 28-year-old is extremely comfy on the ball, finishing a mean of 5.99 progressive passes per recreation over the previous twelve months. He appears like a typical Guardiola full-back and will carry loads of high quality to the place.
3
CB – Ruben Diaz
Ruben Dias is one in all Guardiola’s first two centre-backs this season. The Portuguese star has appeared in 15 video games in all competitions and his high quality is well-known.
Calm on the ball, distinctive capability in possession and a terrific chief, the 28-year-old has lengthy been one in all Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants. Metropolis director of soccer Hugo Viana known as him the “final skilled” in the summertime and underlined his significance to Metropolis.
4
CB – Josko Guardiol
The opposite half of Metropolis’s centre-back duo is Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian star may play as a left-back, however this season he has discovered himself on the coronary heart of the Residents’ protection alongside Dias.
It is also a job he excels at. Gvardiol is likely one of the greatest ball-playing defenders within the league, averaging 5.62 progressive passes and 1.03 progressive carries per 90 minutes, which highlights his on-ball high quality.
5
LB – Nico O’Reilly
This was a breakthrough marketing campaign for the versatile Nico O’Reilly. Regardless of being traded as quantity 10, he established himself as a left-back within the Metropolis workforce, making 14 appearances in all competitions.
An attacking participant by nature, the Metropolis academy product has contributed one purpose and 4 assists, and appears set to have a productive season forward.
This can be one of many issues that caught the attention of supervisor Thomas Tuchel. The defender has been named in England’s final two squads as hopes of qualifying for subsequent summer season’s World Cup develop.
6
DM – Nico Gonzalez
Tips on how to cope with out Rodri within the aspect was a problem for Guardiola final yr. Nonetheless, Nico Gonzalez’s type in current weeks has been an enormous boon. The Spaniard is lastly beginning to present why Metropolis paid £50m to signal him from Porto final winter.
As soon as among the best midfielders on the planet, the previous 12 months haven’t been simple for Rodri, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament harm early final season. He has been tormented by accidents this season, taking part in simply 415 minutes.
Gonzalez stepped up in his compatriot’s absence. Guardiola described him as a “mini-Rodri” final season and clearly sees loads in his expertise. The previous Porto star has appeared in 16 video games in all competitions and will probably be troublesome to dislodge him from a workforce that has discovered such nice rhythm.
7
CM – Phil Foden
Phil Foden, one in all Metropolis’s greatest academy graduates, has flourished in a brand new position this season. Beforehand a winger, the England star was given extra accountability by Guardiola within the build-up and deeper areas of the pitch, and excelled within the deeper No. 8 place.
In that deeper position, BBC sports activities analyst Umir Irfan mentioned he was “among the best gamers this season”.
25/26 Foden (all comps) | ||
|---|---|---|
standing | round 90 | Season whole |
objectives and assists | 0.5 | 7 |
key move | 3.1 | 38 |
Dribbling accomplished | 0.8 | 10 |
tackles and interceptions | 1.5 | 19 |
Anticipated purpose involvement | 0.44xGI | 532xGI |
Couch rating statistics | ||
This season’s stats spotlight how properly the midfielder has performed. For instance, he averages 3.1 key passes, 1.5 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes.
8
CM – Aleksandar Pavlovich
Foden’s companion in Metropolis’s dream line-up could possibly be Bayern Munich’s second new signing, Germany midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic. The 21-year-old is reportedly a key goal for Metropolis as they appear to strengthen their midfield amid Rodri’s harm issues and Bernardo Silva’s contract expiring this summer season.
The midfielder, value as much as £43 million, is properly considered throughout Europe. Journalist Manuel Wes even urged he may observe within the German legend’s footsteps and turn out to be a ‘second Toni Kroos’, which can little doubt attraction to Metropolis followers.
Regardless of being very younger, he is a good determine at Metropolis and has the nice belief of present Bayern supervisor Vincent Kompany. The Belgian has confronted Pavlovic 14 instances this season. As for the comparability with Kroos, it stems from his wonderful passing capability. Final yr, Pavlovic accomplished a mean of seven.59 progressive passes per 90 minutes, rating him within the prime 8% in Europe.
9
RW – Rain Cherki
The summer season was a busy interval for Metropolis as they labored to enhance the standard of their squad. It is no exaggeration to say that they did precisely that in signing Rayan Cherki. The Frenchman arrived from Lyon for simply £34m, however has flourished at Metropolis like a duck to water.
The France worldwide is a flexible attacker who can play as a quantity 10 or on the suitable. Nonetheless, Cherki has shined this season no matter his harm issues wherever he has been lively. He already has six objectives and an help in 9 video games, and on common is concerned in a purpose each 535 minutes.
10
LW – Jeremy Dok
Final Sunday, towards Arne Slott’s Liverpool, the Etihad Stadium witnessed one in all Jeremy Doku’s greatest performances shortly. He scored the third purpose, finishing seven dribbles and threatening the Liverpool protection.
Already this season, the tough Belgian winger has scored seven objectives and supplied an help. He has shone underneath Guardiola, with Irfan now calling himself “among the best on the earth”.
