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Nigerian giants Kano Pillars have crashed out of the Caf Confederation Cup after a disappointing 3-1 aggregate defeat to ASC Diaraf in the preliminary round.

Goals from Assane Mbodj, Junior Sambou and Makhtar N'Diaye had condemned Sai Masu Gida to a 3-1 defeat in the first leg staged at the Stade Lat-Dior, Thies.

In Saturday’s return leg, however, the result ended 0-0 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium as the hosts were punished for their inability to convert the few chances that came their way.

Also, elimination from the competition gives coach Lionel Soccoia a dreadful start to life as handler of the four-time Nigeria Professional Football League winners.

The Frenchman was appointed to help the club in their continental assignment but his team’s failure to move to the next round could see the management of the Nigerian top-flight side show him the way out in the coming days.

Pillars went into the encounter against Diaraf without the trio of Emmanuel Anyanwu, Achibi Nwenike and Victor Dennis due to several injuries.

At the blast of the whistle, they went in search of early goals with the duo of Nwagua Nyima and David Ebuka troubling the Senegal Premier League side, while the quartet of Rabiu Ali, Auwali Ali, Muhammad Jamil and Mustapha Salisu held sway in midfield.

Even at that, they failed to find the net as they were punished for failing to convert the few chances that came their way.

Having in mind that they boast a two-goal advantage, Abdoulaye Sarr’s men were contented with sitting back while relying on counter-attacks on a few occasions, although, goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleso was rarely threatened.

Despite dominating most of the ball possession, Pillars failed to score. Soccoia’s men played like a wounded animal in the last 45 minutes, notwithstanding, the game ended on a no winner, no vanquished note – a result that sent them out of the Caf Confederation Cup.

With this result, Diaraf will face Cote d’Ivoire’s FC San Pedro in the first round of the second-tier African club championship. San Pedro, 2019–20 Cote d'Ivoire Ligue 1 runners-up were drawn a bye from the preliminary round.

Eric Dier admits to having mulled over a move away from Tottenham before earning the trust of Jose Mourinho, a new contract and a settled position at centre-half.

The 26-year-old committed to fresh terms with Spurs over the summer that are set to keep him in north London until 2024.

There was, however, a stage when the England international was readying himself for a move elsewhere.

Dier was reluctant to remain a bit-part player in the final year of his previous deal, with a regular role proving hard to come by following Mourinho’s arrival.

On the big future call he faced, Dier told the Daily Mail: “That [leaving] was definitely on my mind. I didn't feel like I was achieving what I wanted.

“When your contract starts to come to an end, you question if you're part of the future.

“I had no desire to be at a club in the last year of my contract. The club knew the summer would see a decision made either way.”

Dier hit a personal low last season when he was hauled off in a Champions League clash with Olympiakos after 29 minutes.

He admits that outing was “one of the toughest moments in my professional life”, adding on his situation at that stage: “The manager was completely right to take me off. I wasn't performing. And we won the game.

“But having to take steps back from the commitment I had made to my new position at that time was very difficult for me.

“I had played [Mauricio] Pochettino's last two games at centre-back, so it was difficult to go back to playing in midfield again.

“I explained that to Mourinho. I said to him: 'This is where I want to play. In defence'. But I knew it was a risk.”

Mourinho eventually came round to the idea of using Dier as a centre-half, with a versatile operator now feeling settled and happy again in his current surroundings.

Dier said: “After Chelsea he came to me. He just said: 'Ok if you want to play centre-back, now is your chance. Show me'.

“I thrived off that challenge. It was what I had wanted to hear. It was an opportunity. 

“My main focus is always to be in a position competing to play. Feeling there's a plan in place for me is important, too. 

“They were the major factors in me deciding to stay here and I couldn't be happier.”

Dier will be looking to earn a spot in Spurs’ starting XI when they take in a derby date with north London neighbours Arsenal on Sunday.

Manchester City opted against making a single substitution in a Premier League game for the first time in 15 years against Fulham on Saturday, despite manager Pep Guardiola leading the calls for the number of changes permitted to increase from three to five.

First-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne secured a routine win for Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium,  though it could and perhaps should have been more given the number of chances they created.

The game was also notable because Guardiola opted against bringing a player off the bench, the first time City have chosen not to make a substitution in a Premier League game since a 2-2 draw against Charlton Athletic in 2005.

The statistic is given extra significance because the Catalan has been vocal in his desire for the Premier League to change the rules  and allow teams to make five substitutes in a game once more.

The rule was introduced during Project Restart to ease the strain on players given the hectic schedule. But, while other leagues in Europe have continued to allow teams to make up to five substitutions, clubs in the English top flight have twice voted against the idea and returned to a maximum of three.

There are some who believe the five substitutes rule disproportionately benefits the bigger clubs, who have larger squads.

Speaking in October, Guardiola dismissed that suggestion,  saying it is simply to protect the players, many of whom average a game every three or four days.

That is certainly the case for City, who have played 17 games in 75 days since the start of the season, with two international breaks also taking place in that period.

City have also been hit by key injuries with Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus, Benjamin Mendy and Nathan Ake having fitness issues, strengthening Guardiola’s argument that too much strain is being put on the players.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is another top-flight manager who has argued for five substitutes, saying England boss Gareth Southgate will suffer  because of the workload Three Lions players face between now and the European Championship next summer.

New Young Africans (Yanga SC) striker Saidi Ntibazonkiza has promised to help the club reach set targets for the 2020-21 campaign.

The Burundian striker was signed by the Jangwani giants after the window had closed last August, but he is now eligible to play for the club and has already arrived in Dar es Salaam to start work with the team.

The player, who received a warm reception on landing at Julius Nyerere International Airport, has now said he will not let the fans down and will strive to help Yanga achieve their targets, which include winning the Mainland Premier League title.

“I do not have a lot to say other than promising that a lot of work will be seen on the pitch,” Ntibazonkiza said as quoted by Daily News.

“Yanga belongs to citizens and I am pleased to see that you have put your trust in me to play in the team. I also thank the warm reception you have given me as such, I will not let you down, God willing.

“I do not speak a lot because I let my work speak for me and allow people to judge.”

The striker also expressed confidence that his arrival, at a time when Yanga is top of the 18-team league table and with an unbeaten run, will help him to work even harder to help the team.

Ntibazonkiza started to play football at Vital'O and as an asylum seeker, he came to the Netherlands in 2005. NEC was the nearest professional football club, and because of that, he trained with their youth team.

Eventually, NEC signed him on a permanent deal. At the beginning of the 2006-07 season, he began playing for the youth team but was shortly thereafter promoted to the first-team squad. On November 18, 2006, against Sparta Rotterdam, Ntibazonkiza played his first game in the Eredivisie.

After receiving a Dutch residence permit, Ntibazonkiza signed a contract binding him to NEC until the summer of 2009. He also signed another contract extension until 2012 in January 2009.

On February 10, 2017, Ntibazonkiza signed for Kazakhstan Premier League club Kaysar Kyzylorda. After being released by Kaysar Kyzylorda, Ntibazonkiza returned to his first club, Burundian side Vital'O, where Yanga have secured his services.

Asante Kotoko's scheduled 2020-21 Caf Champions League preliminary round second leg home fixture against Mauritanian side Nouadhibou on Saturday was called off after over an hour of kick-off delay.

The Ghanaian side only mentioned "medical-related issues" as the reason for the no-show at the Accra Sports Stadium but Goal understands the concern in question was to do with detection of coronavirus cases in the camp of the visitors.

The Ghanaians are having to hold their home games in Accra due to ongoing renovation works at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi where the club traditionally host their matches.

Saturday's fixture was to decide the winner of a qualification ticket to the first round of the competition, the first leg tie having ended in a 1-1 draw away in Mauritania.

"AKSC vs Nouadhibou: Kick-off delayed due to a medical-related issue concerning the visiting team," Kotoko tweeted 43 minutes after the supposed kick-off time.

Moments later, the Porcupine Warriors released another update on Twitter, saying: "Our Caf Champions League preliminary round second-leg clash is officially called off. Stay tuned for more details."

Unconfirmed reports indicate two Nouadhibou players were detected positive for the coronavirus moments before kick-off following a test conducted on both teams on Friday.

Reports indicate the match officials directed both players to be excused from the game and immediately be isolated but the visitors refused the order on suspicions of collusion between the officials and the home teams to destabilise their side.

The match officials, though, held on to their decision, refusing to sanction the game to proceed, a situation that led to a long kick-off delay.

After over an hour of failing to reach any agreement, the match officials decided to call the game off altogether.

It is currently unclear whether winning points will be awarded to Kotoko or a new date will be set for the second leg fixture.

The ultimate winners progress to the next round of the competition where a date with Al Hilal Club of Sudan or Ugandan outfit Vipers awaits.

Kotoko are looking to reach the first round to boost their chances of making the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2006.

Last season, the Kumasi-based side were eliminated by Tunisian club Etoile Sahel in the first round. 

Orlando Pirates will feel they should have claimed more than just a point after they drew 2-2 with Cape Town City at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Saturday afternoon.

This is the view of former Pirates winger Dikgang Mabalane, in his capacity as an analyst in the SuperSport TV studio.

The Soweto side twice showed good character to come from behind and to claim the draw, thanks to a brace from Vincent Pule.

Overall it was the visiting side who created more chances on the day, and had they been more clinical, they may have snatched a victory.

Not helping their cause were some missed chances, some excellent saves by home keeper Peter Leeuwenburgh, and the woodwork, which twice came to City's rescue.

Mabalane feels that his former club passed up on an extra two points.

"Pirates as a team, as a whole, they need to start winning games. For them having such quality in the team, the players, the acquisitions that they have made, I think they should start getting maximum points now," the ex-player known as the 'Terminator' in his day, said.

"With Pirates, they will be the more disappointed. I mean, pound for pound, they've got the players to do it, they've got the players to win the game for them. When you compare the quality they have in the team against Cape Town City. Not taking anything away from City, I think they are a well-organized team."

Zakhele Lepasa had some good moments in the match, but also missed a few chances. Mabalane thinks the young striker could find himself under pressure, as fellow forward Gabadinho Mhango comes back from injury.

"Unfortunately the pressure will always be on him," Mabalane said.

"He's been given an opportunity. Mhango was injured and he got an opportunity. Yes, he hasn't done bad, but he needs to start scoring goals.

“Because when Mhango comes back and he starts scoring goals, then he (Lepasa) will probably be relegated to the bench. But I think he works hard, he's a striker who works hard."

Robert Lewandowski has hailed Lionel Messi as one of football's greats, suggesting it could be another century before a player of his quality comes along again.

Lewandowski led Bayern Munich to a domestic and European treble last term, scoring a remarkable 55 goals across all competitions.

The 32-year-old has picked up where he left off this season, with 15 goals from 14 appearances ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga clash with RB Leipzig.

Lewandowski scored one and set up another as Bayern trashed Messi's Barcelona 8-2 en route to their Champions League triumph in August, a result which contributed to the Blaugrana's talisman asking to leave Camp Nou.

Messi did not get his wish, however, and ultimately agreed to stay on and see out the final year of his contract.

With the Argentinian set to become a free agent at the end of the season, a number of Europe's biggest clubs will be on high alert, and Lewandowski believes Messi is such a unique talent that it may well be another 100 years before another player of his ilk comes to the fore.

"He is a great player, one of the greatest in the history of football," Lewandowski told Ole.

"I know that the expectations around him are enormous and what he has already achieved as a footballer is something that perhaps no one will achieve.

"Maybe you have to wait 100 years for someone like him to be born again. With what he has already done, he is and will be one of the greatest in all of history."

With the Ballon d'Or not being awarded for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lewandowski has at least been nominated alongside Messi to be named The Best FIFA Men's Player.

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi received the FIFA award last season and Lewandowski chuckled at the suggestion the 33-year-old should stand aside for somebody else.

"I know that he also wants to win it!" Lewandowski said. "It is logical. It's our job."

Lewandowski also paid tribute to Argentina great Diego Maradona, who passed away last month.

"A great sadness. The news was very ugly," Lewandowski said. "That a player as fabulous as Maradona has left is very sad for all of football.

"We are all very sad but it happened, sadly. When he played, I was hardly born, but I know very well what he did in football and in the 1986 World Cup, how many great games he played.

"As a person it was the same as a player. He liked to have fun and enjoyed life both on and off the field."

Gor Mahia have qualified to the next round of the Caf Champions League after a 3-1 win over APR Rwanda at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday, winning 4-3 on aggregate.

Samuel Onyango scored for the home team in the first-half before substitute Keddy Nsanzimfura equalized for the visitors in the 81st minute. It seemed APR were cruising to the next stage but Sydney Ochieng' and Nicholas Kipkirui struck late to win the tie for the Kenyan champions.

The Kenyan outfit had lost 2-1 in the first leg, and Saturday's result meant the Sammy Omollo-led charges advance to the next round.

Both teams started the game on a high, and within the first five minutes, the hosts created a goal-scoring opportunity. Benson Omalla, who was making his debut for K'Ogalo, managed to latch onto a long ball and set Tito Okello free, but he miskicked the ball from just outside the 18-yard area.

On the other end, Rague Byiringiro managed to beat his marker but Andrew Juma was there to ensure the ball did not reach the dangerous Jacques Tuyisenge.

The Army side won a penalty in the ninth minute after Andrew Juma fouled Oliver Niyonzima in the danger zone. Tuyisenge stepped up but Gad Mathews in the Gor Mahia goal managed to stop him from scoring.

K'Ogalo upped their tempo after APR had missed their chance. In the 17th minute, captain Kenneth Muguna was fouled in a promising position, but the defenders headed the ball only as far as Onyango, who tapped the ball into the net.

Gor Mahia could have doubled their advantage in the 25th minute when Onyango managed to beat his marker before picking out Bernard Ondiek, but the latter wasted the chance.

Fitina Omborenga was caught napping by Okello in the 30th minute. He lost the ball and the South Sudanese unleashed a fierce strike but straight to goalkeeper Umar Ndayisenga, who parried the ball for an unfruitful corner. 

A defensive lapse by the home team then allowed Omborenga to bring in a cross from the right. However, Mathews managed to have a slight touch on the ball to deny the waiting Tuysenge a chance to score late in the first stanza.  

The visitors started the second half on a high, however, they had to wait until the 56th minute to test the goalkeeper courtesy of Tuyisenge's long-range effort. 

In the 70th minute, Omalla was let loose in the danger zone and he unleashed a fierce strike which the goalkeeper did well to keep out for a corner. 

Substitute Keddy Nsanzimfura then seemingly killed Gor Mahia's hopes of making it to the next round with a screamer from outside the 18-yard area which Mathews failed to stop.

However, Gor Mahia were not done yet as Ochieng scored for K'Ogalo in stoppage time before Kipkirui headed in the third just before the final whistle.

Gor Mahia XI: Gad Mathews, Charles Momanyi, Philemon Otieno, Michael Apudo, Andrew Juma, Ernest Wendo, Kenneth Muguna, Bernard Ondiek, Tito Okello, Benson Omalla, Samuel Onyango.

Subs: Levis Opiyo, Geoffrey Ochieng', Joachim Oluoch, Bertrand Konfor, Sydney Ochieng', Clifton Miheso, Nicholas Kipkirui.

APR XI: Umar Ndayisenga, Claude Niyomugabo, Thierry Manzi, Ange Mutsinzi, Jacques Tuyisenge, Djabel Manishimwe, Rague Byiringiro, Olivier Niyonzima, Emmanuel Imanishimwe, Fitina Omborenga, Jean-Bosco Ruboneka.

Orlando Pirates showed character as they came back to hold Cape Town City to a 2-2 draw in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Mduduzi Mdantsane and Abbubaker Mobara handed the Citizens lead, but Vincent Pule scored twice to ensure that the Buccaneers collected a point in Western Cape. 

The Citizens were looking to return to winning ways after being held to a 1-1 draw by 10-men AmaZulu FC away in their previous match.

Coach Jan Olde Riekerink made one change to the starting line-up which took on AmaZulu as Craig Martin replaced Fagrie Lakay, who picked up an injury in the clash against Usuthu.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers were eager to maintain their unbeaten record for this season having drawn 1-1 with Baroka FC at home in their last game.

Riekerink's counterpart, Josef Zinnbauer made five changes to the team which faced Baroka with Vincent Pule and Ben Motshwari among the players, who were returning to the starting line-up.

Pirates should have grabbed an early when Deon Hotto was sent through on goal, but the speedy winger fired wide of the target with his weaker right-foot and City survived a scare. 

City then responded with a goal at the other end when Mduduzi Mdantsane was afforded space and time in the box with Thulani Hlatshwayo back-tracking. 

This allowed diminutive playmaker bent the ball into the top corner beating goalkeeper Richard Ofori hands down to make it 1-0 to City seven minutes into the match.

Bucs then pressed the hosts and they did level matters after Hotto's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh and Pule scored from the rebound to make it 1-1 in the 18th minute.

Leeuwenburgh became a very busy man as he produced two great saves to deny Zakhele Lepasa, but he was beaten by Motshwari's low effort which was cleared off the goal-line by Thamsanqa Mkhize. 

The Citizens managed to weather the storm and they restored their lead when Abbubaker Mobara found some space outside the box and he beat Ofori with a powerful low effort to make it 2-1 to City in the 32nd minute.

The score was 1-1 at the interval following an entertaining first-half which saw Pirates dominate, but they could only score once.

Zinnbauer introduced Terrence Dzvukamanja prior to the start of the second-half with the left-footed attacker having scored the only goal of the match as Pirate defeated City in the MTN8 match two months ago.

The Zimbabwe international was unlucky as his well-taken shot beat Leeuwenburgh, but the crossbar came to the Citizens' rescue as the Buccaneers pushed for the equalizing goal.

Pirates did restore parity for the second time on the day after a quick move with Hotto setting up Pule, who scored with a low effort to make it 1-1 in the 66th minute with the attacker grabbing a brace. 

The Buccaneers continued to attack after levelling matters and the ball fell kindly for Tshegofatso Mabasa in the box, but the bulky forward's effort hit the outside of the upright.

Leeuwenburg, who had a good match, pulled to magnificent saves to deny Hatshwayo and Mabasa in the closing stages of the game and ultimately, the encounter ended in a 2-2 draw.

The draw saw Pirates remain third on the league standings three points behind leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, while City climbed up to fourth place on the table.

City's next match will be against Stellenbosch FC in the Cape Derby clash on December 15, while Pirates are set to take on Bloemfontein Celtic in the 2020 MTN8 final on December 12.

Alex Iwobi shone as Everton played out a 1-1 draw against Burnley in Saturday’s Premier League game.

The 24-year-old was handed his fourth league start and delivered an eye-catching performance in the encounter.

The versatile forward starred in a wing-back role, pairing Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina in defence.

The Nigeria international hit the ground running in the encounter and came close to helping the Toffees open the scoring as early as the second minute.

Iwobi attempted to send in a dangerous cross but was blocked before Burnley capitalized on a defensive blunder from Allan to score the first goal of the game.

Robert Brady beat goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after receiving a sumptuous assist from Ashley Westwood to put his side in front in the third minute of the game.

Everton, however, levelled proceedings shortly before the half-time break through Dominic Calvert-Lewin after he was set up by Richarlison.

Several attempts from both sides to score the decisive goal proved futile as they settled for a share of the points in the encounter.

Iwobi was one of the stand-out performers in the match with his contribution for the Goodison Park outfit.

The Super Eagles forward had 86 touches on the ball, made 57 passes and completed two key passes in the games during his 90 minutes of action.

The 24-year-old also completed one dribble and made seven crosses to ensure the Toffees avoided their second consecutive defeat.

Iwobi has now made 11 appearances across all competition for Everton this season, scoring one goal and providing two assists.

The draw was enough to help Everton move up one place on the Premier League table after gathering 17 points from 11 games.

Iwobi will be expected to feature when the Toffees take on Chelsea in their next league game on December 5.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has played down reports in Spain that the club are considering curtailing Real Madrid loanee Reinier's scheduled two-year stay at the club.

The Brazil youth international swapped La Liga for the Bundesliga - at least until June 2022 - in a deal earlier this season, arriving at Signal Iduna Park from Madrid.

However, he has struggled for game time after an initial clutch of games off the bench, notching just 38 top-flight minutes to date this term.

Reinier is currently sidelined after contracting coronavirus last month, and has not played for the club since the Champions League win over Club Brugge on November 4.

Reports have emerged that Dortmund are considering whether to draw the 18-year-old's stay to an early close, but Zorc has now poured cold water on the notion.

"Basically, we don't have that idea," Zorc told Deutsche Presse-Agentur. "We have patience with him. I hope he has it too.

"In such cases we make it a two-year loan. A one-year loan would be borderline."

Zorc expressed understanding for Reinier's struggle to adapt to life in Germany after a protracted spell without minutes on the pitch, adding: "He did not have an easy start with us.

"[He] came to us after a period of several months in which he did not play. And now the infection has set him back again."

Reinier was one of three major signings made ahead of the 2020-21 campaign by Zorc, but has so far failed to match the minutes amassed by fellow new recruits Thomas Meunier and Jude Bellingham across all competitions.

The teenager, who began his career with Flamengo, originally made the move to Europe in January this year after Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A and Copa Libertadores triumphs in his home country.

Dortmund have enjoyed something of a muted start to the new campaign, as they attempt to dethrone Bayern Munich once more atop the Bundesliga standings.

They have, however, secured passage to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a game to spare following their 1-1 draw with Lazio in midweek.

Steven Gerrard leaving Rangers is “inevitable”, claims former club chairman Dave King, but the Liverpool legend is expected to bide his time before seeking out a new challenge.

The Reds icon is expected to return to his roots at Anfield at some stage in the future.

It has been suggested by many that a path back to Merseyside is already being cleared for the 40-year-old ex-England captain, with his terms at Ibrox mirroring those of Jurgen Klopp.

Both men are tied to contracts through to the summer of 2024, with a man calling the shots with the reigning Premier League champions revealing that he will walk away at the end of that deal.

A door would then be opened for Gerrard, who has been impressing in Scotland with Premiership title hopefuls Rangers.

King accepts that a highly-rated manager will depart Glasgow as his stock continues to rise, but he hopes another stepping stone to Liverpool is not taken any time soon.

“I think it’s (Gerrard’s leaving) inevitable,” King said in a Q&A session with STV.

“I guess that there will be suitors but I certainly get no sense from Steven that he has any intention of leaving Rangers anytime soon.

“I think he’s probably ahead of where we thought he’d be. He’s not the type of person – as I understand it – that is going to be flattered by money. I think Steven is trying to do the right thing for himself, for his career.

“I don’t think Steven, he’ll speak for himself, but in my experience of him, I don’t think he’d think the job would be done even winning one title this year.

“I think he’d want to cement that with one or two years more and maybe have a go at the Champions League.”

King added on Gerrard staying put before weighing up any offers put to him: “In my view, Steven sees himself as being at Rangers for the next couple of years and I don’t see him being tempted away, barring one club, and I don’t think that opportunity is available shortly.

“We extended his contract so my understanding is after this year he has another three years to go.

“I think if we were to win the league this year, or even if we didn’t, I still think another three years is a nice time frame for Steven to establish himself, to win titles, defend titles, and play Champions League.

“I think that’s important for him in the development of his career, plus I think he’s really loving being at Rangers.

“He’s loving the opportunity, he’s enjoying being in Scotland and the challenges he’s got. I really don’t see his attention being diverted at this point in time and I really think he’ll see the position at Rangers out.”

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been “atrocious” for Arsenal this season, says Paul Merson, with the Gabonese striker accused of offering “absolutely nothing” to the out-of-sorts Gunners.

On the back of signing a lucrative new contract, the club captain at Emirates Stadium was expected to spearhead quests for more major silverware in 2020-21.

He has, however, delivered just four goals across all competitions, with only two of those efforts coming in an inconsistent Premier League campaign that has Arsenal sat in the bottom half of the table.

Questions have been asked of Aubameyang’s mindset on the back of penning fresh terms, while it has also been suggested that he needs to be brought in off the wing in order to rediscover his prolific touch.

Merson admits that something has to change in north London, with too many so-called stars underperforming for a Gunners side that have been making some surprising selection calls.

"Arteta is struggling because his go-to players haven’t turned up this season and that is a big, big problem,"  former Arsenal star Merson told the Daily Star.

“Willian has not got going at all, and is having a real nightmare. And Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been atrocious.

“What does he bring to the party? Absolutely nothing at the moment. You need big performances from your big players when things aren’t going well. Arsenal aren’t getting that. That’s a dangerous thing.

“Has Aubameyang relaxed too much after signing his contract? Only he can answer that. But he’s not earning his money.”

Merson added, with a World Cup-winning playmaker currently frozen out under Arteta: “Mesut Ozil would make a difference in this team. Who else have they got who can pick a pass or thread the ball through the eye of a needle? I really worry for Arsenal at the moment.

“Don’t get me wrong. Arteta is safe. They won’t make a change, so I don’t think he’s under that much pressure. He’s there for the long haul.

“But at the start of the season everyone was saying: ‘Oh it’s strong management leaving Ozil out’. I think it’s come back to haunt them now. They have no guile.

“I don’t even think they have a plan to get players like Aubameyang and Willian on the ball. They hardly touch it in some games. If you touch the ball 80 times in a game, you are going to do at least 10 good things.

“But I watch him in the Premier League and at the moment, Aubameyang is doing absolutely nothing at all.

“You have got to get them into the game. Get them more involved somehow. Arsenal are a bit too predictable. But they wouldn’t be so predictable with Ozil in the team.”

Things are not about to get any easier for Arsenal, as they prepare for a meeting with table-topping rivals Tottenham on Sunday, but a north London derby date could provide the springboard the Gunners need to get their domestic campaign back on track.

Bruno Fernandes sees himself being a “natural” leader at Manchester United, with the Portuguese embracing his standing as a talismanic presence for the Red Devils.

It was the 26-year-old’s creative qualities that first brought him onto the recruitment radar at Old Trafford.

He has, however, always been an ambitious performer who is determined to bring the best out of himself and those around him.

United have embraced those qualities through a productive 12 months in England, with Fernandes providing considerable value on the back of a €55 million (£47m/$60m) deal.

He has taken the captain’s armband at times, but is eager to point out that he is someone who prefers to lead by example – rather than taking on the role of skipper.

Fernandes told United’s official website of his ability to inspire for the Red Devils: “I think it’s something natural in me.

“I don’t do anything like saying ‘I want to be a leader or I want to do things in a different way to someone’, it’s the natural way I have. It’s something that’s in my game.

“Sometimes you have to improve also on this because you need leadership from different players in different modes.

“For me the point is helping everyone with my voice when I can and also with my energy and everything I do in the game to help the team.

“The most important thing for me is helping my team-mates in any way I can, if it’s with my voice then it’s with my voice, if it’s with my energy then it’s with my energy.”

Fernandes has contributed a further 10 goals and five assists to the United cause this season, with those efforts helping to keep Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side competitive across multiple fronts.

The Red Devils have been particularly strong away from home, with their key playmaker taking considerable heart from a run of four successive Premier League wins on the road that have required a fightback to be staged on each occasion.

He added ahead of a trip to West Ham on Saturday: “The spirit is good of course but for me most of the time when we have come back in the games it’s because we believe. We believe and we trust ourselves and I think this is the most important thing.

“When you concede a goal normally everything is bad but the belief and the trust we have in each other is the most important thing.

“I think everyone knows Christmas time is one of the most important times in the league because we know what we have to do.

“We have a lot of games now and if we do well we can be where we want to be. So we have to win our games, focus on what we have to do and the most important thing now is to focus on West Ham and bringing three points home.”

Thembi Kgatlana provided a brace of assists for Eibar but they bowed to a 4-2 defeat against Deportivo La Coruna in Saturday's Spanish Primera Iberdrola contest.

The South Africa striker had only started twice this season for the Gunsmiths since arriving from Portuguese side SL Benfica in July, with the last coming in the recent 2-2 draw at Sporting Huelva.

In a search for first win in four matches, manager Iker Dorronsoro handed the Banyana star her third start of the season and she stood out despite her side's defeat.

The hosts made a false start to the encounter at Unbe Sports Complex as Athenea del Castillo set up to Peke Barea to hand the visitors an early lead after just one minute of action.

Nine minutes later, Kgatlana inspired her side's fightback when she provided an assist for Sara Navarro to level matters for Eibar.

In the 20th minute, the 24-year-old continued to cause the visitors' defence problems and this time, she teed up Arola Aparicio to give the hosts the lead for the first time.

In the second half, Deportivo stunned the hosts as Gabriella Garcia found a breakthrough to equalise 10 minutes after the break.

In the 62nd minute, Castillo and Barea combined superbly once again to give the visitors the lead before Alba Merino netted from the spot 10 minutes later to condemn the hosts a defeat.

The South African, who has three goals to her name and provided four assists in eight matches so far for Eibar, was in action for the duration of the match for the second consecutive game.

Besides Kgatlana, Nigeria striker Charity Adule was also in action for the second 45 minutes after replacing Navarro, while Spanish-born Equatorial Guinea's Ruth Alvarez played the last 15 minutes.

The defeat sees Eibar drop to 13th after eight games and they will aim to end a four-match winless streak against Sevilla next Saturday.